RAW, UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT!

Topic | 40 Glocc | Cellski | ProHoeZak | Askari X

ONELOVE
The Godfather Unites Tha Whole Damn Yay!!

E-40 | YUKMOUTH

On a paper chase

San Quinn

Mistah Fab
Far from Hyphy
and more

U C IT!!

big Rich

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PUBLISHER Julia Beverly EDITOR-IN-CHIEF N. Ali Early ART DIRECTOR Tene Gooden MUSIC EDITOR Randy Roper ADVERTISING SALES Che Johnson Isiah Campbell CONTRIBUTORS Big Fase 00 D-Ray DJ BackSide DJ E-Z Cutt Eric Johnson Jessica Essien Joey Colombo Keita Jones Luvva J Regi Mentle Shemp Todd Davis Ty Watkins Wendy Day STREET REPS Anthony Deavers, Bigg P-Wee, Dee, Demolition Men, DJ Jam-X, DJ Juice, DJ KTone, DJ Quote, DJ Strong & DJ Warrior, John Costen, Juice, Kewan Lewis, Maroy, Rob J Official, Rob Reyes, Sherita Saulsberry, Sly Boogy, William Major COVER CREDITS I Love The Bay photo by Vivian Chen.

eing from the Bay is some strange shit. Real talk. Its not me though. Its everybody else. They dont get it. They dont understand why I rep so damn hard. Why I bought all those shirts and sport em every chance I get; why I walk the way I do, why I talk the way I do why I never let go of my Bayness. And its not even something that I consciously hold on to. The shit is just embedded in me, ingrained in my loins, sketched into my thinking patterns and fixed in my speech.

AyE BAy BAy

Low was a party stopper on any dance floor in America that had a Bay Nigga on it.

EDITORS NOTE

Its San Pablo Youth Baseball, the Renegades, Saturday football at CC, AC Transit, Bayview Elementary, the daily trek through Hilltop, The Richmond Auditorium, The Plunge, PAL, the Marina, Blondies Pizza, Fat Slice, Kimballs East, Sweet Jimmys, Foothill Boulevard (the bumpy ass strip), the As, the Oakland Coliseum, BART, the Bay Bridge, my 79 mob, De Anza High, Salesian Boys & Girls Club, burritos from the truck on rd, cheese dogs from Caspers, Nations chocolate shakes and chilli cheese fries at AM, GIANT Burger, Marks Barber Shop, Geoffreys, Jack London Square, the City, the Trees, the Valley Jo, the water, I80, 80, E-40, Too Short, hella, the game, the hustle and a gang of other shit. Mine may mirror another mans experience, but its very obvious to me that a Bayboy is an extremely unique breed. I see it when Im at the club doin my thizzle and they see it the minute I step through the door. That swag, that rhythm, that Cali cool. Its in me and it aint goin nowhere, no time soon. So in the spirit of OZONEs fifth annual Patiently Waiting issue, it seems fitting that the Bay Area graces this months cover, as we know a little something about waiting patiently. Its been upwards of a decade since our last run a time when the Luniz were poppin with the herb anthem, I Got Five On It, Dru Down was the Pimp of the Year, Captain Save A Hoe was on the loose, 40 and Short showed the world what a Rappers Ball was, Richie Rich was signed to Def Jam and the Get

Then came that exxxxtra long stretch where it dried up. And that was okay I guess, cause the independent game in the Bay the coldest on the earth took over. That in and of itself, is the reason why the term out the trunk was coined to begin with. In fact, its the independence of the Bay, in my opinion, that helped resuscitate the rap trend therein (the Bay). No one stopped making music and no one in The Bay, Portland, Seattle, Denver, KC, LA or even New Mexico, stopped buying it. No one stopped thinking and being inventive. No one stopped creating. No one stopped performing and no one stopped having fun. In the process the term hyphy was born in the O and spread like wildfire. Mac Dre continued to push his movement, incorporated his version of hyphy into his shit, along with Keak Da Sneak the undisputed King of Super Hyphy and it was back on again. So I salute the Yay for being dedicated soldiers to a movement that illustrated to the world how to stay afloat whether paddles were plenty or not. Courtesy of Too Short and the Up All Nite Crew, this months main attraction (pages 6-) is all about my soil, my turf, my home The Bay Area. From The Godfather to the Ambassador, the Prince, everybody thereafter and in between, they all showed love, fittingly on a project entitled: I Love the Bay. In the words of Young Turfy, We rep tha Bay!! We dont rep California! Ya Dig?! N. Ali Early West Coast Editor Ali.early@ozonemag.com *Keep ya head up E-Ratic!! Thanks for the pics mayne!

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6 7-17 8 10 12 14 24-25 32 33 34 CHAIN REACTION: MISTAH FAB PHOTO GALLERIES BANGIN 101: BIG WY RAPQWEST WEST IS BACKSIDE: ASKARI X SHORT STORIES TJS DJS & OZONE AWARDS RECAP DJ 2 DJ: DOW JONES SLAP END ZONE

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PATIENTLY WAITING: 40 GLOCC PATIENTLY WAITING: CELLSKI PATIENTLY WAITING: GLASSES MALONE PATIENTLY WAITING: INTERSTATE IKE PATIENTLY WAITING: JACKA PATIENTLY WAITING: PROHOEZAK PATIENTLY WAITING: TOPIC OZONE WEST // 

he new chain I got is called the Mistah FAB piece. Every six months I get a new chain. My jeweler is crazy. His name is Carl The Jeweler of Highline Jewelry. He just got started. Hes really fresh with it though. He did Kafanis piece. He did Keaks piece. He does all the Bay Area shit. He did 40s new piece. The funny thing is, Johnny the Jeweler in Houston is his cousin, so hes really got connections. Hes got whatever you need and hes got great designs. Hes respectable and hell work with you. All my shit comes from there; my bracelet, my grill, everything. He did the Yellow Bus for me and he did this one. Im about to get rid of this one and have him do a new one for me, which will be the Bay Bridge. This one is about seventy-five, eighty carats in blue, yellow and white diamonds. I paid about $7,000 for it. Its basically a reflection of who I am and what I represent. My clothing line is called Color Boy. I like to brighten my shit and have the stand-out look and those colors, for some reason, I was drawn to them. I aint seen nobody else with the same color combination, so I went with it. My mother calls me a Skittle kid, so I rock the Skittle chain and it looks like Skittles on my neck. Its about three or four pounds. The good thing about it is you dont even have to know me and its like, Hey, Mistah FAB! They see that! And that chain shuts major niggas down! The major niggas be lookin like, Damn bruh, who is this nigga? And thats good, cause I like whatever Im doing to go with my movement.

When I was rockin the Yellow Bus, that was my movement. So when cats was seein me with that they could identify me with that. Yung Joc said it himself. He said, Man, I went and got this Hustlenomics chain cause of that Yellow Bus. Man, he was a fool for that. This one is like, yall already know] about the Yellow Bus. Now I want you to know my name. This is my name right here. So when yall see me, thats who it is. Mistah FAB, mayne. Then its like, Oh, you Mistah FAB. Youre from the Bay Area, right? Cause people may not know my face, but they know the name. This is like my nametag. Im tryna go after that Hustlenomics piece with the Bay Bridge. Joc, Im comin for you man. Joc got the coldest chain in the game right now. Him and Lil Jons new shit and Akon when he pulls it out, but Akon dont even wanna stunt. But on the chain game right now, Joc is whuppin they ass. But this next chain is what youre not supposed to do. E-40 said, Dont buy an $80,000 chain before you buy a house. Im definitely not listening to him. Im definitely about to do some ignorant shit with this [next] one. After I get off this tour Im definitely going to see Carl. Im tellin you, with this Bay Bridge Im finna shit on em! Im finna shit on em with the Bay Bridge with the crown on it! Ima be lookin real Slick Rick-ish. I may even go get a patch over my eye. But I aint in no rush, cause the Mistah FAB piece is still wakin niggas up. I be seein major label niggas tuck they shit in. I may hold out, but Im definitely going to have that for my birthday, January rd. // As told to N. Ali Early // Photo by Ray Tamarra

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rty BET Awards pa ivilege for preKeri Hilson @ Pr 04 // Olis & Magnolia Chop @ low da Don, & akland, CA) s Angeles, CA) n, Rich Boy, Po thday party (O video shoot (Lo , CA) 0 // Lil Jo Bay Bay remix uce @ Club 7 for Bavgates bir akland, CA) 09 // Mistah store (Berkeley cane Chris Ay Mistah FABs in (O  // e set of Hurri Rasputin for h FAB & Pooh Sa st, & Kilo @ Youth Uprising & Bay Bay on th t (Oakland, CA) & & Mistah FAB @ CA) 06 // Mista wg, The Game, 0 // Sandman rcy, Miami da Mo bee @ Kuzzo Flys video shoo s (Los Angeles, Foxx, Lil Boosie, @ ) 0 // Phunk Da Nouch & Fedx @ Club Basque les, CA) 08 // Pe Du e, party (Los Ange (Los Angeles, CA )  // Lil Dre & (Los Angeles, CA) 4 // Mous ggs 0 // e-BET Awards (Sunnyvale, CA stah FAB & J Di (Oakland, CA) eo r Debra Lees pr & Traxamillion @ Club Abyss T Awards party rd, CA) 6 // Mi Youth Uprising Boulevard  fo y Bay remix vid o bra Lees pre-BE h FAB loves the kids (Haywa on @ Chris Ay Ba ) 0 // Kuzzy Fly & Nelly @ Boulevard  for De 07 // Nick Cann , CA)  // Mista down on the set of Hurricane B, Mama Dez, Un st (Portland, OR s izzfe // Na Angeles stah FA FAB & fans @ Th s Vegas, NV)  Bay remix video shoot (Los Jon cools hawk Marlon, Mi y D Tha Drivah (La dro, CA) 8 // Lil ggs (Las Vegas, NV)  // Mo Mistah FAB & PS e set of Hurricane Chris Ay Ba e Dragons Studio (San Lean roy & J-Di Th 0 // Ma th Phunk Dawg on , CA) 7 // Meezy & Bavgate @ @ Moses Music (Oakland, CA) ejo y & AMG Crest Park (Vall // Sean Kenned video shoot (Oakland, CA) les, CA) 9 shoot (Los Ange t @ Club 7 for Kuzzo Flys ,8) J Ne Beverly (0,07, of The Pack, & 9,0,); Julia ,4,,6,7, 0,, 4,0,06,08,09, D-Ray (0,0,0 Photo Credits:

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Representing Inglewood, CA, Big Wy is one of the most respected, credible emcees on the West Coast. Recently, I caught up with The Relative and we engaged in a lil Q&A between Gs, Bangin 0 style !
Big Fase 00: A lot of people dont know it, but you were a member of the original Bangin On Wax album in 99. Can you tell me a little bit about that project and how you got involved with it? Wy: That project was very groundbreaking. It was the first of its kind. It fully jumpstarted my career in the industry. I got involved with it through my boy Redrum. He asked me to get on it and I used my gang ties to elevate my rap career as an artist. If one existed, what was the positive message behind the Bangin On Wax project? It showed that money always overrules any type of beef. Bangin On Wax was the same idea as Bloods and Crips getting money on any type of street level. It provided us a way to understand the business side of doing things. You have collaborated with other West Coast artists; how is it that gang members are able to come together with their street rivals to do business? Money. Its the only neutral idea in gangbangin; in the business period, in life as we know it. What do you think about the way gang life, especially the Bloods, has spread across the country in the past ten years? It has its pros and cons. For the better end, it took that [bangin] for people to recognize real talent for me and other artists. For other people, they use it as a gimmick. Its nothing different from when Snoop and the Dogg Pound came out back then. Real niggas know whats happening with whos real and whos not in a sense. The one thing that people dont understand is people that really do it for real that might wanna know the truth of your understanding for gang bangin. There is a lot of depth in becoming a Blood. [Its more] than just throwing on some red. You representin for people that lived it and now are in wheelchairs, dead or whatever happened. People dont understand that you can really get penalized for your gang ties. You can get legally judged just from your gang ties. Free Lil Hawk. How much is Hip Hop to blame for this spread? Hip Hop is not to blame whatsoever. This music is influential in itself. Its the most influential since rock & roll back in the day. So when something is displayed in Hip Hop, its going to get as big as it can

be. No direct faults to it. That just shows how big Hip Hop is and [how big it] can make everything around it. Whats your view on the rappers in the industry who are all of a sudden gang-affiliated? Everybody has fans. Rappers have fans and gangbangers have fans. Youve got a track with G. Malone who is a Crip and J-Rock who is from the Nickerson Gardens Projects. How did this collab come about? We were already friends, on top of me being a fan of their music and recognizing that their movement was strong on the West. So I wanted to do a record with them and make it pop. I understand you just shot a video payin respect to some of the West Coast street legends who are now resting in peace. Tell me about the video and the song. The video and song is a revisiting of the hit single that made Bangin on Wax blow Piru Love 000. One day I was sittin back thinking about the friends I used to hang with, that I also rapped with that passed away. Three of them keep repeatin in my mind. That was Mausberg, Bloody Mary and 4 Bent. Those three artists passed before they really got a chance to bring forth their talent to the world. I feel that its my job to make sure that theyre remembered as well as the people in the pen. You and Billboard of Black Wallstreet did a song together before he passed away. That is definitely a street anthem for the gangstas in red up until this day. What was your mindstate around the time you recorded this track? I mean it was really to push 4. On a street level, we felt that the Bloods wasnt getting represented the proper way. 4 Bent dropped the hook like that and I choose to bring a political side to how being a Blood was supposed to be. What would you say to a youngster out there who is looking up to you as a role model? Get money. By any means. What can we expect from Big Wy in the upcoming months? Checkmate Entertainment the official movement. Production, music, and film. Check out the website (www.checkmatetv.net). I have official partner ownership in the first black owned cognac company Carnivo XO (www.carnivoxo.com), quite a few mixtapes and a brand new album called Hood Hitchcock Vol.  coming out October 4th. Shout out to PoliDony,  and B Fly. //

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big wy

Words by Big Fase 00 // Photo Courtesy of Checkmate TV

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k h FAB, & Bedroc // Kafani, Mista nnyvale, CA) 0 (Los Angeles, CA) 0 // Kuzzy Club Abyss (Su t e Pearl Girls @ Boulevard  mix video shoo // Kia Shine & th rricane Chris Ay Bay Bay re // Mike Kyser & Kevin Liles @ akland, CA) 0 sh, & Rat Hu 07 video shoot (O on the set of Hogg, Baby Ba Francisco, CA) @ Crash (San Diggs, Taz, Boss s record release party ci @ Kuzzo Flys Hurricane Chris, & Donna Gryn s, NV) 09 // JB & Bleu Davin Brannon Scales , n, Tum Tum, & 0 // Mistah FA cisco, CA) 04 // Julia Beverly nsion (Las Vega Band Aid @ Club 7 for J Digg CA) 4 // Kaspa, , the Playboy Ma 06 // John Coste & an @ Crash (San Fr @ Club Abyss (Sunnyvale, CA) , CA) 08 // Jerry Rice & Hasi @ s Angeles, CA)  // Jon Nash e @ Super Hyphy 7 (Petaluma s Angeles, CA) 6 // ok & Traxamillion rty (Los Angeles s & his Dirty Girls @ Sofitel (Lo  // Mistah FAB & DJ Slowp e BET Awards (Lo , Lil Jon, & Baby Fly pa ) Malone after th // Hurricane Chris pre-BET Awards Kam & Glasses CA) 0 // J-Digg day party (San Francisco, CA for Debra Lees s video shoot th (Los Angeles, Angeles, CA) 8 geles, CA)  // Fly @ Kuzzo Fly Cyclone (Los e set of Cyclone DJ Amen, & G Archer @ PKs bir Hittmenn DJs Retreat (Los An on th // Guce & Kuzzo ll on the set of r ,  // K9 scoes fo Aaron Ha tland, OR) 0 (Oakland, CA) ga Rankin @ Ro ) 7 // J-Diggs, Baby Bash, & b Standard (Por , Bay Bay, & Big , CA s Angeles, CA) & Turf Talk @ Clu Hurricane Chris phy 7 (Petaluma x video shoot 9 // J Diggs x video shoot (Lo Hy remi ution @ Super y Bay Bay remi K-Loc & Ca y Bay Bay ne Chris A rricane Chris A 40 Water on the set of Hurrica 4) on the set of Hu & ; Malik Abdul ( Beverly (07,8)  // Hyphy Juice (Oakland, CA) 7,9,0,); Julia 6, 0,,,,, 4,0,06,08,09, Ray (0,0,0,0 oto Credits: DPh

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RAPQ
SAN FRANCISCO (415)

EST

Hit us up and let us know which clubs, DJs and artists are worthy of representing: Ali.Early@ozonemag.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DONT SEE YOUR CITY?

SEATTLE/TACOMA, WA (The 206/253/360)

Get your Hip-Hop & R&B fix at Fanatics, Jilians, Suede, Whisper, Club 6, Loft , LeDuplex, & 0 Ritch. Remy Martin Cognacs 0 artists, 90 days,  interesting summer campaign hit most of them with spokesman San Quinn and DJ Juice on the turntables. Reggae Gold is every second and fourth Saturday at the End-up with resident DJ Rolo -. It goes after hours and is usually packed after all the other clubs let out at  AM. The citys real Mayor has a mixtape in the streets buzzing right now. A collab with DJ Juice, Bay Area mixtape vol. 7, is steady building San Quinns buzz for the highly anticipated Boy To A Man album. Big Rich has a collab with Balance called Da Unda Doggs. Guce has his Bullys Wit Fully brand supporting Messy Marv with the Free Mess campaign. A new group, EvenOdds, is building on their street buzz with the song That Swagg. - Dj Juice (www.djjuice.biz)

Massline Medias star is shining with dope work from Gabriel Teodros & Blue Scholars. The I Support DJ DV-ONE campaign is strong in Seattle, as he defends himself against police brutality and assault charges. Soul Gorilla, the mega-promotion camp, continues to rock Seattle clubs. Tacoma pioneer Wojack of Criminal Nation is cocking the gauge with an overdue project. 06 Zulu Nation and West Coast DJ of The Year B-Mello recently honored radio pioneers Nasty Nes and Glen Boyd at the Asian American Hip-Hop Summit - OG Status! DJ Kun Luvs th Annual Virgo Party goes down every September. Are you ready? - Luvva J (luvvaj@djluvvaj.com)

PORTLAND,OR (The 503)

Portland OG Cool Nutz is a hustler for real. Hes got a new album with Sac-Towns Luni Coleone (Every Single Day) and his name is on Sick Wid It stationary. Take notes! The Rose City continues to host the best with upcoming tour dates from Brotha Lynch, Andre Nickatina and WC. Check for Doug Fir, a bar/club/motel combo in the heart of PDX, and party people need to know about The City and The Greek on Mondays. Portlands finest came out for Illaj & Mikey Vegas at their Unsigned Hype Party. Kia Shine, Cool Nutz, Chill & The Fli Boies fell through. - Luvva J (luvvaj@djluvvaj.com)

DENVER, CO (303/720)
Clubs are getting scarce in the town! Purple Martini doesnt like African Americans, so we need to support our own (Paradise, Reign, Cleatz). Vinyl and DC0 going strong, and we have had more big concerts than usual. Beyonce, Snoop, and Screamfest swept thru Denver all in a  week span. The town is still anticipating the release of Young Does album, Welcome To The Maze, and Gang Green is making noise. DJ Bedz is one step closer to winning the Pepsi DJ competition, and Innerstate Ikes Hunid Racks and Patron is becoming a favorite in clubs and on 07.s Mixtape Show. - DJ K-Tone (djktone@djktone.com)

OAKLAND (The 510) LOS ANGELES (213, 323, 310)

Hollywood nightlife has never been this hot! DJ Mark da Spots schedule is steadily filling up with weekly spots including Star Lite Saturdays at Shag, High Society Sundays at Sugar, Encore Mondays at Basque, Rendezvous Tuesdays at Spider Club, and Miami Live (Wednesdays) at the Day After. Special events in October: DJ Mark da Spots Birthday Weekend & Fashion Show Week (Fashion Show) in Downtown Los Angeles. Check out other local Hollywood hot spots as well: Sexy Fridays at Guys, Fridays @ Garden of Eden, Crush on Fridays at Facade, and Saturdays @ Forbidden City. New not to be missed artists to look out for include Bangloose from Watts with his hot indie single Grey Goose (myspace.com/bangloose), Def Jams Dro, also from Watts, with the single Our World - his album is in stores now (myspace.com/drofromwatts). Hot Dollar from Mississippi has a hit single and hes also signed to Def Jam - Streets On Lock (myspace.com/hotdollar). - DJ Mark da Spot (myspace.com/djmarkdaspot) st Saturdays at Geoffreys is the place to be if you are tryin to hear all the Hip-Hop & R&B cutz, plus all the street anthems! (Yours truly is the resident DJ!) Since the city of Oakland closed down popular Hip-Hop clubs (Mingles & @7th) and with Kimballs Carnival not allowing much Hip Hop, the choices are slim, but not gone. Now that football season is back Qs Lounge inside Everett & Jones is crackin every Monday night from  PM until...! Its sponsored by Remy Martin Cognac & endorsed by the Official Northern California DJ, DJ Juice. Its FREE admission, FREE BBQ (while it lasts), FREE Remy (while it lasts) and no dress code! 0 +? Check for Maxwells & Kimballs Carnival and Karribean City (for reggae heads)! Open mic on Tuesday (at KC) by Bay Life Entertainment. Go snatch Too $hort (I Love The Bay compilation in stores now), Mistah FAB (Da Baydestrian in stores now & Yellow Bus Rydah coming soon), G-Stack (of The Delinquents Purple City Vol. & Color Purple Vol. ), Money B. (Of Digital Underground Mandatory: The Mixtape with DJ Juice & Nu Stylez) and Clyde Carson (Theatre Music, coming soon). - DJ Juice (www.djjuice.biz)

SACRAMENTO, CA (916) LAS VEGAS, NV (702)

Sin City hosted the fall unveiling of the semi-annual Magic Fashion Convention. Attendees included the most elite of the music and fashion industry such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, Diddy, 0 Cent, Young Jeezy, and many more. Jay-Z also broke ground on his new 40/40 Club which will open December 0, 007, inside the Palazzo Hotel. Keyshia Cole lit up the stage with her performance at the House of Blues and J Holiday opened the show with his smash hit Bed. The MTV Video Music Awards made its first appearance in Vegas bringing together the Whos Who of the industry @ the Palms Hotel. The weekend festivities prior to the award show included Snoop Dogg and 0 Cent pool parties, a record release party for Yung Joc, and many other great events. Other celebrity partygoers included Diddy, Rich Boy, Ludacris, T.I., T-Pain, and Lil Wayne. OZONE Magazine hosted a VMAs afterparty @ OPM in Caesars Palace with David Banner, Too $hort, Mims, Sean Kingston, J Diggs, BETs Mad Linx, Buckeey, & more. - Portia Jackson (portia@goldenmeanmusic.com) Empire, Avalon and the Park Ultra Lounge are hot spots, but not Hip Hop friendly. Thursday nights at Zokku Sushi Lounge, Friday nights at Harlows or Hard Rock Cafe do show an appreciation for real urban nightlife. Saturday nights at Tunnel  cracks in Old Sacramento. Sacramento was on fire this summer, with Ike Dola of the legendary group the Farm Boys releasing the hot single Ice like Dice from the just released solo project Dope Illustrator (produced by J-DA Man). New artist and label executive J Gibbs from Take Ova Entertainment also hit with Damn Thing. Sacramento native Doey Rocks Bring Back Double and Sumtin Terribles You Stupid also turned plenty of heads. All of Sac showed up for Buenos album release party at the Zokku Lounge (Ron Artest, Rick Rock and DJ Big Al). DJ Epic spins at The Distillery every Thursday and is sure to be playing I Wont Hurt You by Tone Malone (Omina Bust). - Isiah Campbell of Zaemai Entertainment & Marketing (zaemai@gmail.com )

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(Las Vegas, NV) ger @ Barcode ggs & Haji Sprin Bay remix video shoot (Los , CA) 0 // J Di y etaluma, CA) oot (Los Angeles set of Hurricane Chris Ay Ba remix video sh per Hyphy 7 (P e Ay Bay Bay nna Gryn on th Mistah FAB @ Su , CA) 09 // Mistah FAB & ris s, DJ Amen, & cane Chris, & Do of Hurricane Ch Digg Beverly, Hurri h on the set s Angeles, oot (Los Angeles ley, CA) 06 // J Chris & Big Teac de (Las Vegas, NV) 04 // Julia DJs Retreat (Lo remix video sh in store (Berke 0 // Hurricane Ay Bay Bay ik @ Hittmenn les, rco r Mistah FABs Hurricane Chris shoot (Los Ange oot // Kaspa & DJ Qu B & Dozier @ Ba Haji Springer @ Rasputin fo Vegas, NV)  y remix video by on the set of sh 0 // Mistah FA J Diggs, PSD, & cane Chris & Ba // Lil Monie & Mistah FAB (Las of Hurricane Chris Ay Bay Ba rty Girls @ Kuzzo Flys video // NV) 08 // Hurri t Di n 0 Angeles, CA) 0 E-40 on the se ince (Las Vegas, (Oakland, CA) // J Diggs & the ) 8 // Hurricane Chris & Brya J Pr thday party rricane Chris & geles, CA)  n 07 // J-Diggs & for Bavgates bir rising (Oakland, CA)  // Hu Hittmenn DJs Retreat (Los An & Bleu Davinci (Las Vegas, NV ) 0 // Hittmen Club 7 s Up t (Oakland, CA for Pooh Sauce @ ) h FAB @ Youth in @ Roscoes CA) 7 // J-Digg Flys video shoo B.I.G. @ Kuzzo (Los Angeles, CA // Jamar & Mista Chris, Bay Bay, & Bigga Rank (San Francisco, CA)  Mistah FAB & x video shoot birthday party a, Hurricane geles, CA) 9 // y Bay Bay remi ls @ Mac Dres CA) 4 // Kasp s & his Dirty Gir eo shoot (Los An the set of Hurricane Chris A on CA) 6 // J-Digg Chris Ay Bay Bay remix vid (Oakland, s & Bay Bay t of Hurricane CA)  // J Digg Leach on the se icken & Waffles (Los Angeles, Abdul (,,0) Ch 8,,8); Malik DJs @ Roscoes Julia Beverly (0 ,6,7,9,); 9,0, ,04,0,06,07,0 D-Ray (0,0,0 Photo Credits:

OZONE WEST // 

ou may have never heard of this guy before in your life, but he has been in the rap game since the late 80s. A Bay Area rapper, born and raised in Oakland, he can tell you all about being in jail. Hes practically lived in jail his whole career, only releasing albums about 4 years apart. His most acclaimed song was released while he was locked up (Ward of the State on Righteous Records). Most of his incarcerations were due to parole violations, and between the late 980s and 007, hes spent more time in jail than out (he was released after his last stint this past January). But during his time of incarceration, Askari X has become a rapper with strong political fervor and spiritual awareness. Why have you been in jail so much? Really they were just parole violations, but I want to say all this to explain my disappearances in between albums: Each time I got out, I would have numerous raps on the dome, so people would be impressed. My latest album came out in 000 and now Im about to re-release an album called Ward of the State which is due out September th. Its big for me too because there is a huge movie coming out called Black August in January that will feature the song on the score. What is Askari X all about? The music still as always. The music is the message for the other movements that I do. Building a Master J Temple of Islam, PCC (Prisoners Consciousness Committee) and other ways of getting the message of the new black woman and man to the people. I just want to the get a few words to the people; it doesnt take a lot. With Ay Bay Bay and Crank Dat (Supaman) being the most popular fads in Hip Hop, where are we going as a people? All music reflects the mentality of the people and their surroundings, and what is coming out of these kids are the knowledge of what they know right now. Some of us with our talents are chosen, and its our own job to educate our own culture about other things going on in the black community besides Ay Bay Bay. I cant hate on it though, even though I am dissatisfied, because I cant hate without participating in the solution. If its time to change, then it will be time. So when its time for the Public Enemys and the Scarfaces to bring change, it will come. We have to have the emcee skills too. Where were you and what were you doin during the surge of the hyphy movement? I was down during this period of time. But I do know that as [hyphy] manifested, the devil, or the so-called enemy wanted to get control over it, and now everyone wants to be all goofy. But at the same time, I cant hate on [hyphy] either because everyone needs a little laughter. What should be West Coast Hip Hops main priority right now? Well, you know we are trendsetters out here on the West Coast. And you know the scripture says, the sun will rise in the West and the light will shine all the way to the East Coast. Its timing, but really, all the other regions are waitin for us to come up with our messages and ideas. 0 Cent or Kanye? Thats a tough one, but since they are promoting it like they are, I predict a tie. I dont think that there will be a clear winner unless they go for round two or three! Do you think Obama is gonna win it for us? I think Hillary is goin to take it because America is a dragon. And there was a woman sittin on top of this dragon called The Mother of Babylon the great. But it is ladies night, on the positive tip. What are your 007-008 NFL Predictions? Any Bay teams. The Raiders or the 49ers. We gotta keep it in the Bay! Have you seen Celebrity Rap Superstar on MTV? No, I dont watch too much TV. Wait, I did see the preview. But I didnt watch it though. Speaking of reality shows, I think Flava Flav is doin his thing, Im diggin him and how hes shockin em. Hes black as ever, but hes universal. Hes attracting a lot of love for the black man from a lot of the other peoples. Do you have an iPhone yet? A what? No. Whats that? Im a Black Quaker so, Im just tryin to come up. // For more on Askari X: www.myspace.com/ansar_askari_x Ahuru Entertainment Group (Management) Photo by Clifton Photography  // OZONE WEST  // OZONE WEST

AskAri X
THE WEST IS BACKSIDE:
The Bay Areas DJ BackSide links up with the Best of the West to see whats really goin on in their heads!

ORHIA LOVR CALIFAST PNOTO GALLEEIES WEST CO

g V @ HitRon, T-Roy, & Big day party an Fresh, King th g Records, Haiti s @ Club 7 for Bavgates bir , CA) 0 //  Do gg @ Crash (San oot (Los Angeles 04 // Bavgate, S-Dog, & J-Di ) 06 // Beeda Weeda & Kyzer n DJs Reremix video sh ) CA Ay Bay Bay other @ Hittmen o Flys Park (Vallejo, CA x video shoot (Los Angeles, y, & Biggas br Hurricane Chris e & PSD Tha Drivah @ Crest mi ga Rankin, T-Ro Kafani, Lil Al, & Thump @ Kuzz ates m on the set of at Ay Bay Bay re 0 // Baby & Sli vg rricane Chris , CA) 0 // Bavg les, CA) 08 // Big Rich, Jon Nash, on the set of Hu BET Awards party (Los Ange at (Los Angeles @ Club 7 for Ba Ay Neal, & Mr Pill nd, CA) 0 // Big vgate & the Savage Dragons etmenn DJs Retre Hurricane Chris r Debra Lees pr @ USDA meet & greet (Richmo // Bay Bay, Tony Ba 0  fo d, CA)  // rly on the set of Flys video shoot (Oakland, CA) nk @ Boulevard , Slick Pulla, & guest eo shoot (Oaklan o ach & Julia Beve 07 // Akon & Ta aw, DJ Juice @ Kuzzo Flys vid re (Berkeley, CA) 4 // Big Te eu Davinci & Kuzzo Fly @ Kuzz d @ Hittmenn DJs Francisco, CA) ) 09 // BloodR Rat, & Fatman & Klarc Shepar co, CA) 6 // Bl stah FABs in sto (Los Angeles, CA )  // Boss Hog, Kuzzo Fly, in treat sh (San Francis Rasputin for Mi 8 // Bigga Rank Bay remix video shoot (Los akland, CA stah FAB @ Cra ce & J Diggs @ s Angeles, CA) y video shoot (O CA)  // Balan Aid, Cellski, & Mi video shoot (Lo set of Hurricane Chris Ay Ba party (Oakland, , CA)  // Band ne Chris Ay Bay Bay remix birthday t (Los Angeles Bay Bay on the mix video shoo e set of Hurrica ) 0 // Baby & Bay Bay re h & Dre on th (Las Vegas, NV 7,7,0); 7 // Bryan Leac rcelle Beauvais Beverly (0,0,0 (Oakland, CA) Big Dante & Ga ,6,9); Julia geles, CA) 9 // 0,,,,4, 6,09, Retreat (Los An 8,8) D-Ray (0,04,0 Malik Abdul (0,0 Photo Credits: Angeles, CA)

OZONE WEST // 

obody really knows how I became Too $hort the dirty rapper. Most people only know the story of me selling cassette tapes out of the trunk of my car before I made it big. I didnt write explicit lyrics until I noticed how much people liked it when I used curse words in my rhymes. It was always on some comedy shit. The truth is I didnt even have a car before I made it big; I sold tapes with my rap partner Freddy B on the bus or we walked around the streets of Oakland on foot. Even before crack cocaine hit the streets, Oakland was a tough, violent, no-nonsense city. I quickly learned the codes of the streets and the rules of the game. My friends have been getting arrested and doing time since I was 4 years old and quite a few have been murdered since then. When I moved from Los Angeles to Oakland, I started running with the thugs. But even if I had never moved to Oakland, that wouldve been the outcome. The streets were calling me just like theyre calling so many young homies today. Its always been that way. Some of our fathers and grandfathers were criminals and street thugs when they were young. Ive always understood how the REAL drug dealers and gangbangers justified the homicides they were doing by saying, If somebody kills my homie or family member, Im killing them, but somehow it doesnt settle the same way with me now that Im 40 years old and my homeboys sons are getting shot and murdered in the streets. Somehow, I feel partially responsible for the state of mind these youngsters are in. I cant 00% blame myself, Tupac, Master P, N.W.A., Scarface, any other rapper, or Hip Hop as a whole for the condition the streets are in now, but I know that if you look at the big picture, we all made thuggin, gangbangin, pimpin and being a hardcore rapper look like fun. A lot of people in my generation eventually found out, after the judges started handing out 0-0 year sentences, that we were set up. There used to be lots of career criminals who would be in and out of prison. Theyd make a lot of money, lose it all, and then get it back again - but that was before privately owned prisons, three strikes, and all the Federal laws that were designed to lock drug dealers up forever. I truly feel that the generations older than me have no idea whats going on in the streets and how so many kids became murderers. I dont think any of us have a solution that would stop the killing immediately. They say jobs, housing, education and inner city programs are the solution. They say lock em all up and they problem will go away. I honestly dont know what needs to happen. Ive been working at Youth Uprising in East Oakland for the past year and its not your average youth center. Its located next door to Castlemont High School, one of the toughest schools in Oakland. The building looks new inside and outside. They have recording studios that kids use for free if theyre members (age -4). They also have modeling and dance classes, video editing, counseling and health care among many other things. My only purpose there is to pass down some knowledge and to be a positive role model. Imagine that! I dont get paid one dime. Some residents of Oakland dont like the fact that the dirty rapper is working with the kids but theres nothing to worry about because my generation is the bridge between the youngsters in the streets and the political powers that run the city. I was 7 when crack hit the streets of Oakland. Most of the kids at Youth Uprising were born into the crack epidemic just like the kids in Los Angeles and Chicago were born into the gang culture. The kids dont know how plants grown in Columbia became crack cocaine in the ghetto. The way I see it, its not much different than the blood diamonds in Africa. Kids are killing kids. Earlier this year, I recorded a 0 song CD for Jive Records, the last thing Ill do with Jive as a solo artist. Its a very typical Too $hort album and this time Im not celebrating my album release, Im celebrating my release from a major label. Im looking forward to being independent again.

There are too many young homies getting killed for me to keep writing songs about bitches sucking my dick. Im too intelligent to let my knowledge go to waste without passing down some of this real game to the youngsters. When I talk to politicians, preachers, teachers and parents, they all agree that rappers have a loud voice and we really dont use it to motivate the kids in a positive way. If youre a rapper, you probably already know that if you went into a major label on some positive shit, you wont get any support. You might get dropped. Kanye is definitely on some positive shit but he gives them what they want with his super-fly swagger and his million-dollar wardrobe so they can market his image even though his lyrics are positive. If you go to a record label on some dead prez pro-black, Im-for-the-community shit, you wont get a marketing funds or video budgets. You wont even get a deal. Every time a rapper tells me hes the next big shit thats gonna blow up and then I listen to his music and all I hear is I sold dope, Ill kill a nigga, I got hella cars and money, I wish could make him be original. I wish I could make the next generation of rappers tell the truth about what they really feel. Rap is all about boasting and bragging. Its all about being invincible and coming out on top. Its all about rivals and battles. Its also always been all about uplifting and speaking out against the system.

Some of the kids I talk to at the youth center dont have Hip Hop dreams of fortune and fame. They just say things like, I dont wanna get shot. Im not talking about adults who made the choice to be gangsters. Im talking about kids who have no choice in the matter. They feel like they need to carry guns if they wanna stay alive. Ive seen too many kids wearing R.I.P. t-shirts with pictures of other kids on em. Ive seen too many obituaries of kids who were born in the late 80s/early 90s. I dont even know the majority of them but it hurts like I did. I just jumped on a plane in Oakland and on my way to the airport I saw about  cop cars racing to the scene of a crime and I assumed another youngster had been shot in broad daylight. Maybe not, but I decided to write this and let you all know that Im going to focus on making positive songs instead of nasty sex songs. Some people might misinterpret that as cleaning up my act, or trying to be something Im not, but I already have a history of making positive songs from the start. Check my track record. Ive recorded and released several positive singles in my -year professional rap career - The Ghetto, Life Is Too Short, Money In The Ghetto, and Gettin It, just to name a few. Starting in 008, Im gonna be on some other shit. Im still gonna make party songs and Im still gonna use explicit lyrics but after 0 years on Jive Records, Im not gonna let my voice go to waste once Im independent again. Our youngsters need guidance and every last one of em LISTENS to rap music. //

I CANT 00% BLAME MYSELF, TUPAC, MASTER P, N.W.A., SCARFACE, ANY OTHER RAPPER, OR HIP HOP AS A WHOLE FOR THE VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS, BUT WE ALL MADE THUGGIN, GANGBANGIN, PIMPIN AND BEING A HARDCORE RAPPER LOOK LIKE FUN. THERE ARE TOO MANY YOUNG HOMIES GETTING KILLED FOR ME TO KEEP WRITING SONGS ABOUT BITCHES SUCKING MY DICK. IM TOO INTELLIGENT TO LET MY KNOWLEDGE GO TO WASTE. STARTING IN 008, IM GONNA BE ON SOME OTHER SHIT.

As things are getting worse in the inner cities, us rappers are popping bottles, getting pussy and celebrating lies. Most of us arent Forbes Magazine-rich but weve convinced the youngsters that we are.

4 // OZONE WEST

ORHIA LOVR CALIFAST PNOTO GALLEEIES WEST CO

s Vegas, NV) Music Awards (La tin Prince, the MTV Video // La & Soulja Boy @ Vegas, NV) 0 M for // Mr Collipark afterparty (Las vid Banner @ OP ds (Las Angeles, CA) 0 ies @ OPM for OZONEs VMA ar // Mad Linx & Da r My Car (Los video shoot fo V Video Music Aw & DJ // Too $hort & lad nference (Las Vegas, NV) 06 nner @ the MT Co Vegas, NV) 04 the set of their e & Too $hort on sic Awards (Las Neal, & guests @ Magic Music (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // David Ba )  // DJ Big De & Cha0 // The Pack e MTV Video Mu k Jurand, Tony (Las Vegas, NV )  // Famous ll Out Boy @ th re eo Music Awards & the Dirty Girls @ Hard Rock (Las Vegas, NV awn 0 // Ne-Yo & Fa pact, DJ Vlad, TJ Chapman, De -O & DJ Drama @ the MTV Vid ) 0 // J Diggs VMA afterparty // Def Jams Sh Im NV) 07 // Steve VMA afterparty (Las Vegas, NV OPM for OZONEs s Vegas, NV)  Awards (Las VeJohn Patillo, DJ Conference (La , & Mad Linx @ arty (Las Vegas, terp Mims OZONEs c Music MTV Video Music eo Music Awards OZONEs VMA af // David Banner, Neal, & TJ Chapman @ Magi end @ OPM for rilla Zoe @ the Vid // Buckeey & fri afterparty (Las Vegas, NV)  tillo, Tony c // Yung Joc & Go Bobby Valentino @ the MTV Vegas, NV) 09 ) 4 // John Pa Vegas, NV) 6 & p Weeklys Magi ONEs VMA NV 8 // Court Luv VMA party (Las OPM for Hip Ho n @ OPM for OZ eo Music Awards (Las Vegas, Franze s Angeles, CA) Rolling Stones & Dave Mays @ e MTV Vid Rock for 0 // Cavario for My Car (Lo millionaire @ th Kanye Wests mother @ Hard (Las Vegas, NV) eir video shoot NV) er & VMA afterparty on the set of th rty (Las Vegas, Peckas Costn ck & Too $hort OPM for OZONEs The Hieroglyphics Magic pa DJ Franzen @ r // Uno of The Pa Platinum fo ton, guest, & gas, NV) 7 stah FAB @ The 9 // Sean Kings  // D-Ray & Mi (Las Vegas, NV) Beverly (Las Vegas, NV) Photos by Julia party

OZONE WEST // 

opic T
A

SAVIORS DAY

subject of conversation or discussion is how Webster s Dictionary defines the dictionary of note, it wou wor ld likely read: highly ant icipated West Coast Hip Hop d topic. Culturally speaking, if there were a rap your average cookie cut artists ter West Coast rapper, this artist, capable of flowing and confident posture tho Southern Cali native, app about pretty much anythin ugh, is an extremely defi ropriately dubbed Topic, g. Not ned and molded artist who has weathered nuff storms got swag. Beyond his polished exterior . Born in Los Angeles, Top ic claims the smaller, sub urban city West Covina ban fool you though; this a good thirty minutes from rapper is seasoned as the the city of Angels. Dont y come. By the early 80s affiliation through his fath let the word subur, at only ten years old, Top er and older brothers. It ic was thrust into the gan aint where you from, its it. Im the truest nigga out gbang what you do, he Topic offe here. rs. If anyone wants to test game via me, they can do Music soon materialized as a savior of sorts. By the 9th grade Topic was a cer free flowing with no dire tified backpack rapper. On ction a nostalgic note, he des teach him about really stru or content. It took his good childhood friend Dar cribes his lyrics as ius, who played Eddie Win cturing his raps slow on the hit sitcom Fa with hooks and bars. mily Matters, to He turned me on to ano ther side of life, because he was already making money, Topic explains. He really opened my eyes to what this [rap game] could be for me, and thats when my lyrics went from just being freestyles to actual music. Fast forward past failed deals with Aftermath and WCs label, a 9 month bid in LAs County Jail for a wh ite collar hustle (messing with corporate profiles), and Topic is finally where he wants to be. Long-time associate Big Chuck Norris (formally of Aftermath) helped negotia te a deal with SRC Records, the powerh ouse responsible for breaking mega-succes ses Akon and David Banner. I chose SRC because Ste ve Rifkind is known for breaking indie artists and he also knows about the streets, Topic explains. Its a good situation for me and Rifkind signed me pretty much on the spot. The streets of LA are alre ady abuzz over his street album The Coast Gua rd, hosted by DJ Skee and Kay Slay. Top ics debut album, Topic: If Not Me, Then Who ? is set to drop during the first quarter of 008, and hes convinced it will bring the West back. The West isnt how it use d to be in the Death Row and Pac tim es, Topic begins. People right now are sca red now to throw up the W. That feeling is lost, and thats what my music will bring back. I dont even talk about Crips or Bloods in my music. Girls dont want to go to the club and hear that. They want to party and dan ce and be proud of where they come from . Topic preaches about sta ying at all times and doing you in your lane - two phrases that describe his daily act ivity. Im not wit that bubble gum shit. Tha ts not me, he says, promising, Expect me to come with the real every time. // Words by DJ Backside // Pho to courtesy of SRC

WEST COVINA, CA

6 // OZONE WEST

ORHIA LOVR CALIFAST PNOTO GALLEEIES WEST CO

(Las VMA afterparty M for OZONEs e Dae, Mad Linx, Mad Linx @ OP vid Banner, & Matt Daniels, Dr Dee, Dre Dae, Da Vegas, NV) 04 // Tony Neal, NV) s rty (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // DJ Big Conference (La ds (Las Vegas, wears Magic pa & Tiny @ the MTV Video eo Music Awar ts @ Magic Music ringer @ The Mirage for Roca ards @ the MTV Vid s, NV) 07 // TI aspiring artis ence (Las Vega lson @ the MTV Video Music Aw ards T-Pain, & J Lyriq Vlad give valuable advice to 0 // Dem Hoodstarz & Haji Sp gic Music Confer 0 // Sidekick, Hi Aw Latin Prince & DJ Hip Hop Weeklys Magic party DJ Big Dee @ Ma ds (Las Vegas, NV) 09 // Keri guest @ the MTV Video Music // ars rek Jurand, & ar Vegas, NV) 0 for t, Tony Neal, De rage for Rocawe Video Music Aw b the Jeweler & Big Dee @ OPM lia Beverly, gues son, & Kevin Hart @ the MTV rty (Las Vegas, NV)  // Jaco g Jeezy, & Slick Pulla @ The Mi DJ Impact, & DJ @ the MTV Video man, Wyclef, Ju ck pa un A Yo Chap ar Ja mmon lling Stones VM // Warren G, Sh )  // Roccett, 06 // Mr Pill, TJ The Clipse & Co sic Awards (Las Vegas, s Vegas, NV) 08 Hard Rock for Ro ty (Las Vegas, NV rparty (Las Vegas, NV)  // V Video Mu Music Awards (La // Chamillionaire & Big Jon @ OPM for OZONEs VMA afterpar y Car (Los Baby @ the MT Es VMA afte 0 gston @ OPM for OZON gas, NV) 7 // eo shoot for M (Las Vegas, NV) Awards (Las Ve nes VMA set of their vid $hort & Sean Kin , David Banner, & Mad Linx @ MTV Video Music nna & Lil B of The Pack on the an s, NV)  // Too ck for Rolling Sto (Las Vega 4 // Buttahm ton @ Hard Ro Lil Mama @ the Stu (Las Vegas, NV) ief & Sean Kings gas, NV) 9 // FAB, Tito Bell, & // Mistah Magic party  // Lil Ch ards (Las Ve s Vegas, NV) 6 (Las Vegas, NV) Video Music Aw VMA afterparty Music Awards (La n & Robin Thicke @ the MTV OPM for OZONEs Patto ts @ NV) 8 // Paul Beverly // Maroy & gues rty (Las Vegas, NV) Photos by Julia pa Angeles, CA) 0

OZONE WEST // 7

occ Gl 40
Re AnD nOw he

COLTON CITY, CA

ged from a 40 Glocc emer teran rapper e is neeTory Gasaway, that ve d do odd to know , 40, whose real nam in movies an ly its nearly TX wanted to be first e his way late a native of Galveston, thats com kid, I always ssion for. I recorded my rn od a ith all the go thunderous beginning. Bo iles away. When I was a pa y I knew this m d ething I had From that da disorderly an s sights set thousands of ardom. It was just som d from there. re I am now. hi st continue And he grew up with vid visions of Hollywood The Galleria Mall and it was for me. side rs vi uston, TX, in 40 remembe s in Ho music, popsicles e of my friend peaches and It wasnt all t a reasonable means of music with on ou though. With her family, 40s mother for making due his grandpar d. aumont with left him in Be ise to return. And she di om ents and a pr rhaps the best news his pe p young 40 Arriving with rs could gras t year old ea hern California with eigh to Sout y was moving I was alread s baby sister! a brand new Dre, Snoop, NWA, Compton Dr. lls, realistening to pac, 40 reca e made t Wanted and ov Mos sense the m much soning how to him. City digs (a to his Colton ter settling in les) 40 soon abanAf s Ange structure his suburb of Lo ht knit family doned the tig nged for him, opting arra committed mother had streets. As a stead for the lton City Crips, he relied in e Co ugs member of th ics to get by, dealing dr ct on guerilla ta ing on the daily. All the py ng and gang ba then known as Tiny Slee hile 40 Glocc, an aspiring emcee. Only w ned 40 Loc, remai nfined to a wheelchair, was co 40 commit to after he ly killed, did shot and near music. ew (K-9 and g the Zoo Cr occ landed Upon formin , 40 Gl ) in 997 Natural Born print, Empire ith Miami im a solo deal w debut The Jackal would s His MusicWerks. cade later, he ally a full de le follow. Practic piece of 0 Cents puzz rt al now an integr uldnt be happier to be pa co is G Unit and set on winning. G Unit ad d of a team de eryone has their ups an ev family, a family and . I know with m with c offers a proble downs, Gloc one, you got . you fuck with how G Unit is s all, and that ohind his soph y tailspin be , a Zoo Babies With a health as yet) (untitled d an overall more album on the way an s revival, oup project c gr nding 40 Gloc fanfare surrou is is but a new chapter. ntains th he mai hic has kept d my work et My grind an ese years], he insists ll th something me going [a nt stop until dfastly. I do t give a fuck attitude stea y don is finished. M staining. // su will keep me Davis Words by Todd of OGPR courtesy Photo

8 // OZONE WEST

Cellski
FRISCOS FIneST
henever San Fr an years under his cisco and Hip Hop are men tio be popular acts fro lt he has guest starred on ov ned in the same sentence, ve ry er m RBL Posse an d Master P, to Ge one hundred projects as both seldom is Cellskis name not brought up. Wi a t Low Playaz an Cellski credits m th over  d the late Coug rapper and producer for som os e of the Bay Ar hnut. That was my be t of his success in the rap ga eas most me to Coughnut st friend, thats , wh to this day, he who I came up under. That nigg o gave him his start in the in says. dustry by letting a was the first nigga who put him perform as me on the stag As a rapper an an opening ac e. [His death] st d producer, Cells ill fucks with m t. ki earned a nam when Mr. Predict y head e for himself al er hit the street on s in 99. Tha get heard. t album right th g the streets of San Francisco ere put me on, an he notes. It op d his buzz expanded all thro ug ened a lot of do Mr. Predicter we ors for me and hout the Peninsula nt on to becom a lot of mufuc e ground classic kas to and was lauded an underby many as the best album to ever be rele as Francisco rapp er. Selling 6,000 ed by a San un radio play or pr omotion and fo its with no llowing the success of Master Ps West Coast Bad Level of the Ga me, Cellski cont Boys: Another inued to break new ground. I was producing for Master P, he remembers. H e of fuck with him at fered me $00,000 to come No Limit. Rather than join the No Limit So ldiers, Cellski decided to rem ain cient artist and a completely self-suffifounded his ow n label, Inner City Records, at ag produce my ow e 8. I write my own shit, n shit, executive pr shit, mix my ow n shit. Ive done oduce my own self-contained it all, says the emcee. I own all my publishing. I have a long ca my shit, all talogue I still eat off. With six album s, seven mixtap es an DVDs under his belt, the long ca d  Took TV talogue Cellski speaks of is ab out to get long er as he prepar to release the es mixt by the album Ch ape Coach Cellicheck followe d emical Baby. Sla ary 008 releas ted for a Janue, it boasts gues t appearances the likes of Tw by ista, Lil Boosie, Kille Roccet, Keak da Sneak and Mist r Mike, CTEs ah FAB. Having experie nced the transfo rm Area music first hand from mob ation of Bay music to hyphy and the purgat ory introduce a new in between, Cellski plans to sound to the Ba latest project. y Area with his The phy movement, y think everything is the hyCellski says, no tin Rick Rock, Play -N-Skillz and Mi g DJ Toomp, dnight Black among produc tion credits. W e got real rapp out here that be ers en doing it. Im not tryna saturate myself to the Bay. Ive be en doing that al my life. You go l tta get out ther e. // Words by Keita Jones // Photo by D-Ray

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

OZONE WEST // 9

ses Glas one al M

R TIFIeD RIDe CeR
COMPTON, CA

a emcee who calls a Compton, Californi Malone first hit the e again, thanks to ris tts native Glasses Hop currently on the zz at a fevered follow his lead. Wa ith West Coast Hip in 00. With his bu fitting that others e GAME, it is only ite Lightnin (Sticks) th Black Wall Street per some ed by Wh himself Th f Crack mixtape, follow Malone decided on aligning wi could cement himsel circuit with his The pitch, G. However, before he from Big Fase 00. ding war ensued prodding a fierce bid controversial camp, million. as a fixture in the to the tune of $.7 sic ultimately won one Sony Mu . It was t, Glasses explains d th Black Wall Stree r actually inked wi had. I was a Crip, an I neve ther Fase and I l thing Games bro Angeles. just a mutua look for Los It just was a good they were [Pi]Rus. ud, s and Ted DiBiase pro luld make Lee Major mi nciple, one that wo unprecedented $. The pri ce. An Malones convenien meaning any porwas broken up for create the album, 0 advance got st Coast rapper) to lion (for a We cket and a $00,00 ectly into his po available for tion unused goes dir ing monies ($00,000) were made de started. The remain o Entertainment] ma him n [CEO of Big Eg motions. Mike Lyn citement before sim street pro lone bursts in ex lievably sweet! Ma left. whole team the deal unbe leaving because my mering. I ended up htnin, eets with White Lig g impact on the str 0, made such a stron ion member Mack Having st Side Connect orite of former We ood Hip Hop a personal fav with the Inglew ooth self chopping game uld improbably sm Glasses found him got the call that wo ting down talking rap avyweight when he We were actually sit he eer. t of A&R] over his budding car l from [Sony Executive Vice Presiden ] that they were got the cal shit when I rs. [He told me nt let me r, Malone remembe ntract. Mack would Kawan KP Prathe ease me from my co Hoo Bangin. ually going to rel act me to thout first signing leave the room wi nd phest Coast undergrou y self-respecting We derstandGlasses did what an ned on the dotted line. And Mack, un 8 year m would do and sig himself singing the no uisition, found sh proud of his new acq One such conversation was with Ca ably s with regularity. business interests olds praise cks shared by, with whom Ma Money front man Ba Ball release. or since his 00 Bang nvo, w I got into the co friends and someho it. Mack sent it. Baby and Mack are sted some of my sh Stunna reque out if he Glasses tells. The uld let him put me to it, was no way he wo man he is, agreed Stunna told Mack it ing the business rds, t involved. Mack, be ny to Hoo Bangin/Cash Money Reco wasn s with his solo re we are. From So [and] he cially begin venturous ride offi Glasses Malones ad iser. debut Beach Cru s of the ngster-ism, he say West Coast and ga just as timeless It represents the also wanted it to be out - BMXs, album. I heavily anticipated ny bikes come No matter how ma ach cruisers. // as a beach cruiser. will always ride be le Dynos, or GTs, peop Interscope Records // Photo courtesy of Words by Todd Davis

0 // OZONE WEST

Intersta te Ike
SOUL SURVIVOR
enver, CO is full of dope-selling bl contradictions. Ride the stre ets and youll fin ack nationalists . Denver-reared d Bullets, Bl rapper Intersta both granola-bar-eating Repu survived a 00 essings and Blacktop Music, te Ike reflects th blicans and is a testament shooting that al ose extre not only to his so claimed the appeal as a rapp mes. His new album, life of his best er, but as man friend and fello I was in the ho who w rapper, Colfa sp x Cac. ried about mus ital for four months, he rem embers, citing ic. long days of in tensive physica l therapy. I wa That changed af snt worter he was rele ased and came spanking new home to a studio, a welco me took him a min ute to get back back gift from his mother. It into the groove when he did, it of things, but was on and po ppin. Since January 0 07, Ike has rele ased seven mixt Batman & Robi n, fe apes, two titled Cac. Hes moved aturing pre-recorded mater ial with Colfax over 0,000 un its over the pa a serious feat st eight month co s Mile High are Ka nsidering that the closest m ajor cities to th nsas City to the e Vegas to the we east (0 hours away) and Las st ( hours aw ay Tone, More Gs Than Gucci, drop ). His latest outing with DJ Kped in July and Mile High rapp ers Young Doe, features fellow Mr. Analyzer an d Young Boss. My music is so ulfu spiritual rap. It l, explains Ike, who occasio nally records m turf time under ay be an R&B beat but Im go nna spit that it. Hailing from De nv Latino area that ers Montbello section, a pred ominately wa population, Ikes s once home to the bulk of the citys black willingness to pu wax is whats m ade him a hous t his deepest insecurities on ehold name on ing rap scene. Everybody kn the Miles inclinows me out he mentioning his re, he wo Killa Tay and C- rk with Bay Area mainstays Lu declares, Bo ni Coleone, a breakthrough . Im like an underground ce lebrity ready fo . r For Ike, whos been in the ga me for over  outside attentio years, n Denver is overlo hasnt been easy. Like most Mi getting dwestern cities oked by major , labels. You br people think it ing s all horseback riding and mou up Denver and not bothering ntains, he says to hide his irrita , tion. We got a are doing their lot of artists wh thing. We just do o nt have the na and the backin g to really put tional exposure it out there for the world to se e. Still, if he has an yt paying attentio hing to do with it, folks are about to start n like an Aphilli at me as a top ha t, he says. Im e. I want you to recognize the best unsigne now. // d artist right Words by Jacin ta Howard // Ph oto by Sal G

DENVER, CO

OZONE WEST // 

F eVeR SATIS n

cka Ja The IeD

nown as one-fifth of the super group Mob Figaz (Hu salah, Fed-Ex, Rydah J. Sacramento rap legend C-B Klyde and AP.9), assemble o, Dominick Newton a.k. d by a. The Jacka, is easily one and talented emcees. Afte of Northern Californias r the 999 debut album listeners in the Bay and most active C-Bos Mob Figaz tha beyond, Jacka moved to t announced them to ove establish himself as an ind r 00,000 ependent artist. In a little more than sev en years, the Pittsburgh native has appeared on Trials -, Devilz Rejectz more than two dozen pro and an assortment of Thiz jects, including Mob z Nation mixtapes. Not to proclaimed Mixtape Kin mention his collaboration gs, Demolition Men, Ani mal Planet (hosted by The with the selfabout of its kind and rem Jacka and Husalah), is one ains in demand two years of the most talked after its release. Needless with critical acclaim and to say, the 00 special is still the DJs most pop delivery was met ular and best selling stre et tape to date. Since arriving at this sta ge in his budding career, The Jacka has sur vived some extenuating circumstances to say the least. During the height of the promo tional groups debut, C-Bo caught album for the a case and was forced to sit down as Mob Figaz momentum promised to soar. Years later (in February of 006), Husalah was senten ced to four and a half years in prison over a possession charge that originated in 00. If Allah made me go thro ugh what I had to go through, theres a rea son, Husalah told SFBG Online in July of 06. Im a better person. I learned what not to do. The statistics show its death or jail for a street nigga. So for me it happened to be jail. I feel like its a blessing that Im breath ing. Im healthy. Understandably, fans wan t to know if Mob Figaz will ever reassemb le. Were definitely doing a reunion album, but we aint signing with nobody unless your name is C-Bo, The Jacka says point blank. We could do a Mob Figaz album right now. We got songs with [Husalah] that we did bef ore he went down so we gonna push that, and thats gonna be big. Thats gonna be something for him when he gets out. Jackas third album, app ropriately dubbed Jack of All Trades (006) , seems an afterthought, considering he s com Shower Posse, Andre Nickat pleted The ina Presents: The Jacka, AP.9 and Husalah Mob Trial since then. More importantly, hes readying himself for his fourth solo pro ject Teargas. I really wont drop it unt il Im 00% satisfied with what Im hearing , says the perfectionist, citing a familiar production crew in Bedrock, Traxxamillion and Rob-Lo. But Im just picking beats that we normally wouldnt. Im comin with a whole new sound. Teargas is an album where youre gonna wanna give me a deal cause the sou nd is incredible. // Words by Kay Newell // Pho to by D-Ray

PITTSBURG, CA

 // OZONE WEST

ProhoeZ
SOUL SUR VIVOR

ac
EAST PALO ALTO, C A

he abundance of rol e models in East Pa lo Alto is about as that light of seaso existent as Marriott nal bliss, for some child s Great America tra of the child who ba fficke rely escaped that om ren, threatens to never wake from wi nters dark slumber. rs during the month of December. An nipotent shadow. His d EPA environs may have All a nigga can do been close, but the rapper ProHoeZak knows the course is be a bookworm y sure as hell aint and do right and go I chose the wrong Stanford. to school and beco road. If it wasnt for me so music, Id probably be dead somewhere mebody or just be a nothin, the rap . per / producer confe In choosing the pe rilous side of that sses. twofo equation, Pro, born Simon McKinley, sea ld soned himself in the fine arts of drug peddlin g, gangbanging, petty thi refined an inherited every and in the process, pe his father. The latter nchant for pimping from speaks to the uniqu ing of his name. M e y dad named me Pro spellHoeZak cause he said I ne ed to calm my ass down, he explains. But I wa nted to be creative with the shit, so I spelled it with the Hoe silen t cause hoes aint sposed to speak. Whether misguided or pimp is quick to de unguided, the former nounce his path as misfortune and circumsta nce. Those circumsta nces slowly began to ch ange each time his cousin and original memb er of Public Enemy, Fla Flav, visited the Ba y. I was just aroun va d them back stage and wh atnot whenever the y came to town, ProHoeZak admits. I got to be with them and check out a dif ferent part of life besides being a knucklehea d. Taken aback by the bri overall positive res ght lights, big crowds and ponse to PEs tight kn Pro decided on DJi ng. A natural music it camp, ian even before his love of Hip Hop and the de sire to broaden his horizon s, the young talen t fiddled with the keyboard and other instrume nts at his leisure. But it was Flavs example tha t took him over the top. Whe n I saw them doin their thing, it made me want a piece of it, he rem embers. As such, Pro earne d his and relied on his DJi first record deal in 989 ng production in an ast skills to learn studio onishing two week s. Upon convincing his lab el he set, the talented em ad that he was a vital ascee contributed to up of ten albums fiv e of his own and fiv wards e of which he produced for other artists. In 994 the budding producer/ra pper then known as moved on, landing C Funk a deal with Scarfa ce/Pri ity and San Francisc o veteran emcee Pa orris. Over the next decade, he landed production credits for the likes of Dig ital Underground, E-40 Conscious Daughte rs, Rappin 4-Tay, Cel , ly Cell, San Quinn, Sugar Ra y and Messy Marv, among others. Since uniting with In Ya Face Records , Pro has all but resurrected his career and his new album Did You Get It Yet?, is living proof. I got some shit on this album , he promises. Ev erybody gon say that abou t they album, but I can say it because Ima back mine up. // Words by N. Ali Ea rly Photo courtesy of Top Shelf Ent.

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TJs DJs TaSTEMaKERS MUSIC CONF. // WEST COaST RECaP

TaSTIES FaSHION SHOW
(l to r): Roccett performing during the CTE/USDA Tasties Fashion Show at the Chakra Lounge on South Beach; Bay Area crew in the building for the afterparty; Mistah FAB, Keak da Sneak & Roccett, DJ Skee & Tito Bell (Photos by D-Ray)

HYPHY HaPPY HOUR

(clockwise from left): Clyde Carson introducing DJ Juice to Hyphy Juice during Capitol Records Hyphy Hour listening suite; Clyde and Foxx; Keak da Sneak, Cellski, Clyde Carson, Cuzzo, Beeda Weeda, Mistah FAB, & guest; Mistah FAB, Cellski, Beeda Weeda, Keak da Sneak, Dennis, & Gary Archer; Clyde Carson; Clyde, Keak da Sneak, & DJ K-Tone; DJs Spin & Wild Wayne; Plenty of Hyphy Juice on deck (Photos by D-Ray & Marcus DeWayne) (clockwise from right): Traxamillion and CRUNK!!! models; Kafani, John Costen, & N. Ali Early; Pimpin Ken, J-Diggs, & Dre (Photos: D-Ray); ProHoeZaks models (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Kia Shine, Mistah FAB, Keak da Sneak, & BloodRaw showing off their unique styles on the artist panel (Photo: J Lash); Joker da Bailbondsman, Hawkman, Young Doe, & DJ K-Tone on South Beach; DJ Juice, Cuzzo, & Cellski @ Sobe Live (Photos: D-Ray); DJ Backside & Hot Dollar; Clyde Carson & Killer Mike (Photos: Intl K); Cellski & Sean Kennedy (Photo: D-Ray)

4 // OZONE WEST

TJs DJs TaSTEMaKERS CONFERENCE

2ND aNNUaL OZONE aWaRDS // WEST COaST RECaP

(l to r); Mistah FAB (Photo: Edward Hall), Kafani (Photo: J Lash), Hot Dollar (Photo: Terrence Tyson), Keak da Sneak & Clyde Carson (Photos: Ray Tamarra)

left: J Diggs & the Dirty Girls (Photo: Terrence Tyson); DJ Juice, DJ Backside, & J Diggs (Photo: D-Ray) center: Keak da Sneak & Mistah FAB (Photo: Edward Hall) right: J-Diggs, Beeda Weeda, DJ Juice, Kafani, Cellski, Titi Bell, D-Ray, Mistah FAB, & guests reppin the Bay Area in the media room (Photo: D-Ray)

below: Keak da Sneak & Mistah FAB performing Super Hyphy right: Mistah FAB, Kafani, & Beeda Weeda performing Kafanis Fast (Like a Nascar) (Photos: Ray Tamarra)

I wear these bright ass colors cause Im tired of gettin overlooked. Everybody thinks that all we do is rap about hyphy shit. Go ahead and think that, but once you sit down and talk to me youre going to realize that Im like the Quincy Jones of this shit. We was the most talked about [group] there. - Mistah FAB

OZONE WEST // 

OZONE aWaRD SHOW

baCKSTaGE

RED CaRPET

Images provided by D-Ray, Jaws, Barry Underhill, & Vivian Chen 6 // OZONE WEST

THABAy BRIDGE
Words by N. Ali Early // Artwork by Tene Gooden
By the summer of 006 the word hyphy had taken on multiple meanings. Once used to describe objects, emotions or feelings of unbridled energy, it was soon packaged as an energy drink (Hyphy Juice) and more importantly a way of life. The Bay seemed poised for the comeback it had been waiting on upwards of a decade and a single courtesy of the Ambassador of the Bay E40 seemed to be the track that would push the movement off into the stratosphere. The song was Tell Me When To Go, featuring Mr. Super Hyphy himself Keak Da Sneak. It was all that and a bowl of grits. Equally important was the video, which captured the visual of the growing genre. 40 laid out the Hyphy Commandments on the last sixteen and it was official. Bundles of t-shirts went to press, beeswax sold out in every beauty supply this side of the Town and MTV made a special trip to announce their findings to the world. But months after the release of 40s My Ghetto Report Card major record labels still werent convinced that hyphy was the surefire hit that its cousin crunk was. Even a second single, Blow The Whistle, courtesy of The Godfather of the Bay, Too $hort, couldnt withstand the industrys cold shoulder. In the aftermath, none of the young guns, who desperately wanted to carry the torch, were able to. Thankfully, time has worked to heal the wounds and the Bays talented pool of artists is active as ever. With label and distribution deals secured from the likes of Koch, Capitol and Atlantic, the Bay is arguably stronger and more ready than before. On cue, $hort decided on a compilation album that would effectively re-announce the Bay Area hyphy or not. Appropriately titled I Love The Bay, the  track All Star slapper is a defining moment for the Yay; and in the scheme of things, much more than music. Its a coming together of the ages old and new. Its legends and their would be successors all on one project. This is the Bay Bridge.

ct where I ether a proje s put tog e beats nted to do wa m to rap on th t I wa Wha sked the nything, body in and a ing back or a alled every c t like giv k of vided. It wasn , another wor ing to it that I pro to add someth ted but I just wan o $hort picture.- To art to the big
OZONE WEST // 7

TOO $HORT
Also Known As: Short Dog Love Handle: The Godfather of the Bay Current Project/Product: I Love The Bay Label: Up All Nite Soil: Tha Town (East Oakland)

year or what youre saying about it this year. They dont care. Its a way of life. Straight-laced: Theres a long list of cities that love Bay Area music and if you can create a movement like some of the Bay Area artists have created, major labels would be all over you. But if youre a Bay Area artist and youre getting major love in Alaska, Canada, Seattle and Portland, all up and down the coast, it means nothing. The reason why is because from what I hear the West Coast doesnt have urban radio stations. They play a lot of urban music on the radio stations, but those stations arent categorized as urban stations. Those are like pop crossover stations, shit like that. So when you get those spins, theyre not considered urban spins. BET doesnt give a fuck about a hot urban artist from the West Coast, because its not poppin up on the urban chart. It doesnt show up because its being played on white radio. The Numbers Game: We cant get our videos on BET, so we deal with real numbers. This is what I really did. I sold thirty thousand copies last year and I made $00k. I split it up with the Crew and we gon do it again. Its a damn good job to be a rapper in the Bay and know how to sell your albums. Shout out to Kafani and The Federation who are making their way up to the major labels and going for it. Thats a hard thing to do in the Bay, to get a major label to offer you a deal. Why I love the Bay: The media kind of wants everybodys emotions [to spill over] because of the hyphy movement. I like that shit, but thats not what I love about the Bay. I love the new sound that the hyphy shit brought in. I love the shit, but I also love the fact that the Bay Area is still about musicians and diversity. Youve got every nationality out there heavily involved in Hip Hop. You go to some other places and the Hip Hop scene is just black. You dont go into an event and see an equal amount of Asians, Hispanics and blacks groovin to the same beat. //

nspiration behind the I Love the Bay compilation: Id been working with two producers, Young L from the Pack and Traxamillion. Trax has been doing a lot of work with Bay Area artists and Ls just now emerging on the scene. I like the sound they both have and I like the sound thats coming out of the Bay. And its not just what theyre doing. I like what the artists and other producers are doing in the Bay right now. What I wanted to do was put together a project where I called everybody in and asked them to rap on the beats that I provided. I didnt do that for everybody, but I did that with the majority of the people on the album. It wasnt like giving back or anything, but I just wanted to add something to it, another work of art to the big picture. On the process of completing the album: I didnt wanna just go get the whole Bay. I just wanted to collectively get as many people as I could and make one nice album representing the Bay and where its at right now. I didnt want to play on words like hyphy and box it in. I wanted to have some real hyphy stuff on there, and I wanted to have some stuff on there that had a Southern feel. I wanted to have some traditional West Coast stuff on there. I let all the artists pick the beats that they wanted to rap on. I didnt say, Here, you rap on this beat. So they had a little motivation to take the beat and do something good with it. I like the final results. Were not going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting it and blowin it up and all that. Its just a cool little compilation to ride to or do whatever you wanna do with. Pulling it together: Some guys did the vocals at their studios and some of the guys came to the sessions I booked. Then I had some people working with me. My man Mike Sebastian was calling some shots, doing favors contacting people. My man Mistah FAB was very instrumental in helping me put the project together, picking the right artists and the right tracks. It was a team effort. It wasnt just me on the phone saying, I need you to do this. Mood and motivation: Everybodys pretty much in a decent mood right now. Nobodys really mad or anything. Everybodys kinda comfortable with the struggle and the hustle, just trying to get from point A to point B and elevate their game. Everybodys about gettin their money right now, so it wasnt like you were reaching out and niggas was like, Aw man I aint fuckin widit. It was cool. I told pretty much everybody that if they come and get down with me, I got em. The Bay Area unspoken rule is, You come rap on my shit, Ill come rap on your shit and we dont really have to talk specifics. So anybody thats on that compilation can call me and get one good favor from me right now. We made that connection so they got it like that now. How hyphy happened: I think that a lot of people love that hyphy sound, but when you get to talkin to rap artists and producers, they like to think of hyphy as a part of what goes on out here. Its a major part. Its the newest, hottest thing, but it didnt just wipe out the music scene. It wasnt like every backpacker, every hip hopper, underground, or gangsta artist just threw away everything they ever did and said, Oh, Im hyphy now. It didnt really go down like that. But that media portayed it like, This is the new Bay sound and theyre hyphy and this is all they do. There is a culture out there with the doors open and the sideshows, but everybodys not doin that. Its not like if youre not doing that, youre an outcast. I think the real frustration is knowing that if I sell fifty thousand albums in the Bay, no label is going to offer me a deal. If I sell those numbers in Texas, Atlanta or Miami somewhere, every label is going to be like, Oh, this is hot, we gotta sign him! The CNN Factor: It looked so good in the E-40 video (Tell Me When To Go!), with modern communication and all the different ways to communicate, where everything is instantly blasted all over the world, it was sensationalized. I think the media sensationalizes any fuckin thing now. Its, I need a story, I need a story, and hyphy was the story cause it was the new thing. Now the story is, What happened to hyphy? In the meantime, you got a bunch of youngstas out there that really do that shit and they dont give a fuck what you said about it last

E-40
H

Also Known As: 40 Water, Charlie Hustle, 40 HO, Watermelon, etc. Love Handle: The Ambassador of the Bay Current Project/Product: My Ghetto Report Card, The Ball Street Journal (forthcoming), 40 Water Label: Sick Widit/BME Soil: Tha Valley Jo (Vallejo, CA) Album Contribution: This My One
ome Sweet Home: I was wigglin and Im still wigglin, but anytime $hort needed me on anything, Ive been right there. One of the biggest things ever in my whole life was to do a song with Too $hort back in the days. I wanted to do that since the late 80s, early 90s and when we actually got in there to do it (Rappers Ball), it was a winner. So timing is perfect and thats my OG. Anytime I ever needed $hort for anything, he was right there on deck with it. So Im the same way. Music versus the turf: Hyphy is a lifestyle. Its a culture. Its the streets. The music scene of hyphy doesnt really have anything to do with the way people are living. Niggas is in the hood really livin hyphy. So basically the music part of it, the coals aint really hot as they was. Theyre really lukewarm as far as the music part of it, but good music is good music. Whether its hyphy, whatever it is from whatever angle. Good music is good music. You got your backpack rappers, ya gangsta rappers, your rappers that do the Gangsta shit. You got your rappers that do the struggle rap. You got all kinda phases of the game. Tha New Yay: I feel like The Bay Area, were the ones who kill it, cause were the ones who talk bad about it. I think a lot of people would agree with me on that. Some of the people who talk about it dont like the whole thing, but at the same time, its a lot of rappers that never adjusted to hyphy. Ive always been one who could fit in with any kind of music, whether it was rock or whatever. I just know I can do that shit, cause Im a well rounded rapper. I can do it all. Some people are stubborn, so they didnt ever want to fuck with the movement. They was lovin the attention and everything that it was bringing, but never wanted to break that barrier and try to do hyphy music. So those are the ones who didnt like it and cant wait for it to die down. They wanna stand on stage with all black on with a 40 ounce in they hand lookin mean at everybody. They want them days back and right now, God aint tryna have that. No Limit Soulja: I aint hatin on none of these youngstas. I was once a youngsta.

8 // OZONE WEST

Im a nigga straight from the soil. I done seen it, lived it, did it, been around it, heard about it, got folks affiliated with it and I done seen a lot of street shit go down. Everybody wanna hate on Soulja Boy, but when we was young, we had the Pee Wee Herman. Whats the difference? When it comes to music, I dont think there are any limits. You gotta be able to mix your shit up. My whole album was not hyphy, but I did participate in the movement because I felt like that was my obligation. I never said, Im the King of hyphy or ever claimed that I made it up. I just said, Im here to endorse it, and I was in a position to let the world know that its some good shit thats goin on in the Bay Area. I played my part. I played my position. Verbal Vision: We shoulda had more people come out when I opened up the floodgates and broke the levee. We never had this much attention on us even when we was hot with I Got Five On It and In A Major Way, back in 99 when the whole Bay was eatin. This time we had cameras on us! We never had this much attention, not in one swoop. So basically, we just needed more people to follow up. Its good to want a little jumpstart, but you gotta keep the car runnin. Why I Love the Bay: I love the Bay because its where I was born, raised and groomed. I love the Bay because theres no other place like Tha Bay. We got the coldest swag. We can talk our way out of anything. Bay niggas and Bay broads, no matter where they at, they got that cold mouthpiece. I see em everywhere I go and I can always tell theyre from the Bay. And what I love right now is that when the attention came, everybody came from everywhere. Now niggas can walk with they chest out and say, Im from Tha Bay. Niggas been doin it, but now its like theyre more happy to do it. Theyre more proud to scream it and theyre not going to stop. And were the most creative muthafuckas on earth, straight hustlas, playas!! //

I want the world to know us like this. Thats the only reason Im still in the game. I aint gonna stop until everybody knows about this and they relate to it. Keak Da Sneak
On a mission: Ima give it CPR if its dead. Ima give it mouth to mouth if thats the case. If Im the creator and the founder of it and I have the last word on it, then I havent introduced it yet. My album will be out November 6th and Im getting distributed the right way this time. And its not just fast music and hangin out the cars. Its actually just a way of life. Its where Im from. This is how we have fun. Its how we interact. Its similar to crunk. Its similar to the East Coasts wildin out. Its basically just a lot of energy and expressing yourself. Its definitely not dead. Its just that E-40 was the only one that dropped an album at that time to define it. Now me not getting a deal that fast right after that, it just seemed like, Whats next? Im definitely about to open that door back up and let em know this is an everyday ritual. Its more than a movement. Its a Bay way of life. Its been goin on. Yall just now gettin a whiff of it. Succeeding Hyphy: I feel like they tried to keep it going, but I dont really like everybody tryna take the credit, cause I didnt do that. Dont try to introduce it when youre not the one to do that. I first said the word hyphy on a compilation in 96. Then I did it again on a song called Sneakacydal in 98. All Im saying is dont try to exploit the definition of it when that aint the right definition. My thing is, just get it back to where it should have been. Balance and Options: I feel like Im a trendsetter. I grew up off E-40 and Too $hort, Mac Dre, N.W.A. Ice Cube, and Tupac. I feel like Im all them people in one and it makes me different. I dont sound like nobody. So my main thing is, everybody follows what I do as far as the Bay. Mac Dre left a lot on my shoulders. When he was here it was more of a balance, but now I gotta work that much harder. So right now Im just setting the trend and basically saying, You dont gotta rap on a 80 mile track. You dont gotta get extra hyphy. You dont gotta do that. Just take it back to doing good music. Why I Love the Bay: Ive been in Oakland all my life. Thats all I know. I was born in Alabama. I came to Oakland when I was six months [old]. I just now started leaving and going other places, cause I gotta see something new. But at the same time, this is all I know. I know the Bay like the back of my hand. And I want the world to know us like this. Thats the only reason Im still in the game. I aint gonna stop until everybody knows about this and they relate to it. //

We shoulda had more people come out when I opened up the floodgates and broke the levee. Its good to want a little jumpstart, but you gotta keep the car runnin. E-40

MISTAH KEAK DA FAB SNEAK

Love Handle: The Prince of the Bay Current Project/Product: Another One Like the Other One mixtape Hyphy Hit: White T-shirts, Blue Jeans & Nikes, Super Hyphy Label: ALLNDADOE Soil: The Whole Damn Yay! (East Oakland) Album Contribution: Going Dumb

Also Known As: Fabby Davis Jr. Love Handle: The Freestyle King, Prince of the O Current Project/Product: Da Baydestrian, Da Yellow Bus Rydah Hyphy Hit: Ghost Ride It Label: Faeva Afta/Thizz Nation/Atlantic Soil: North Oakland Album Contribution: That Thang, Lose It

istorically Keaking: I been knowin $hort since like 96, as well as E-40, all the Bay Icons and legends. It was a blessing for all of us to come together, cause it seems like we dont come together enough. So this project was definitely a good thing. It opened a lot of eyes and is gettin a lot of people to look at the Bay again to let them know that we still there. This project will definitely let the world know about our music and the history behind it. Too $hort, Toni Tone Tony, MC Hammer, Digital Underground, R.I.P. Pac, Keyshia Cole, Goapele, X Crazy, Keak Da Sneak, The Luniz, etc., its definitely still icons in the Bay. And its new up and coming artists in the Bay like FAB, Big Rich, I could go on and on.

akin em up: We got the Kobes. We got the Greg Odens. We got the Lebrons. Niggas just aint seein it. Were the [Golden State] Warriors of the industry. How long niggas been hatin on the Warriors? I been a Warriors fan for-EVER! When we got to the playoffs this year, we knocked off the number one seed. Thats the hyphy movement! Niggas just aint seen it. When we knocked off Dallas we had everybody comin to see us play. You got Snoop Dogg a dedicated Lakers fan at the Warriors game. Thats all Im saying. Put us on and I guarantee you niggas gon talk about us. The Groovement: The dance of the West Coast is the hyphy dance. From Alaska to New Mexico. When the shit comes on in the club, niggas is gettin hyphy. You got L.A. niggas, real gangbangers, doin the thizz dance and really thizz facin. Thats the dance of the West Coast.

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Why I Love the Bay: The Bay made me who I am. It gave me my existence, my hustle, my arrogance, my confidence, my intelligence, my drive and my ambition. Being a product of your environment, I know that if anybody can survive in the Bay, they can survive anywhere in the world. A female from the Bay can go out and get a nigga, next thing you know, she come back rich as shit! Cause niggas in the Bay aint givin her nuthin. But outside, shell meet somebody and run so much game on em, theyre going to fall in love. Its just how you survive and thats how we do. Niggas in the Bay is real sharp. Youd need a real expensive blade to cut into us, cause we real Ginsu out here. //

BIG RIcH

SAN QuINN
T

Also Known As: Fill More Rich Love Handle: Tha Undadogg King Current Project/Product: Block Tested Hood Approved, Get Down or Lay Down, Unda Dogg Kingz Noted Slapper: Thats The Bizness Label:  Story Muzik/Koch Soil: Fillmore Album Contribution: Speakers On Blapp

Also Known As: The Almighty San Quinn Love Handle: San Franciscos Real Mayor Current Project/Product: Bay Area Mixtape 7, Boy to a Man (forthcoming) Hyphy Hit: Do Ya Thizzle Label: Done Deal Entertainment Soil: Uptown Fillmore District (San Francisco, CA) Album contribution: You Dont Wanna See Me Rich
he Bay is Active: Everybody is on their second go around. I got a new single with Clyde [Carson], Push Up On Me. Too $hort got the I Love the Bay compilation. Clyde got him a new single goin. Frontline got them a new single goin. Turf Talks record is out. The boy Kafani got the record deal with Koch and we seen him on BET, so I think that were scratching at the surface. We just gotta get that 06th & Park stature going. I think everybodys mind is probably still in the same place though. It should be. The Quick Fix: We live in that era where people get bored too fast. They saw it and now theyre waiting on something new to come up out of it and nothing else materialized, yet there was a phenomenon. Out in Atlanta you got Unk and he got Walk it Out. Now you got Soulja Boy and you got TI. Now you got Playaz Circle. Seem like they finna make waves and thats what we missed. We needed that back to back so we could have a Bay Area set outside of the Bay Area playing our music with about ten songs that the nation is familiar with. Go Hard or Go Home: Well look up and itll be hyphy in Seattle or hyphy in Portland. Somebody will know how to maximize it on the business side. Being that were independent its a lot of cutthroat business moves. Nobody is really going the extra mile to be a mogul. A mogul in the industry is respected amongst the people who are not independent. And were missing that too. Why I Love the Bay: I was born and raised here. Thats number one. Then all the things that came from here to make me proud. Jerry Rice, Barry Bonds, the Black Panthers. Theres a musical history all the way back to the Grateful Dead, the atmosphere and it being a melting pot. I got Philippino, Mexican, Japanese, white fans, as well as I got cutthroat negroes that love me all behind the walls of the penitentiary, representing this Bay Area. Thats why I love it, cause it loves me back. //

n the ILTB experience: Coming into that situation and $hort really reaching out to a nigga like, I like your shit, come and fuck with us and be a part of this, it was a great feeling to me. It was an honor to me. So I dont know how everybody else felt, but to me it was an honor. Far From Hyphy: Seeing it from the City it was cool, but were kind of on an island. In the 0, its like everybody is kinda together. It was different for us, cause we didnt really jump aboard onto the hyphy bandwagon as far as the culture as much. So that kind of translated into our music. I made some controversial comments during my campaign last year, saying that I support the movement, but I dont really make the music. A lot of people took that the wrong way, but my thing was, in no way was I going to make a profit off of the situation if I wasnt of the situation. But in all interviews I always said I supported [the hyphy movement]. I just said I didnt make the music. Why I Love The Bay: I love it for the diversity, but I mostly love the rap game out here because were the underdog. When the rap shit pops off for us, its gon be great. Seeing all of us on TV last year was wonderful. Just the fact that we are all underdogs keeps me hungry. I love the culture. You can drive through every city out here and its something different to look at. It aint the same monotonous shit. We all different and thats what makes it pop. //

yuKMOuTH

Also Known As: Yuk Love Handle: Mr. Smoke-A-Lot Current Project/Product: City of Dope Mixtape, United Ghettos: Eye Candy Edition, Million Dollar Mouthpiece (forthcoming/October 007) Label: Smoke-A-Lot/Godzilla/Rap-A-Lot Soil: 69th Village (East Oakland) Album Contribution: Shine Like Me

n the ILTB experience: I live in L.A., so I didnt get to work with anybody. I did mine at my studio. I did my shit within two hours. Its crazy how you make a song hella fast and it ends up being a hit. Then other songs you spend days with and that shits boo boo. So it was right. That Shine Like Me, Im using it for my album too. [Its] the hottest song I ever wrote. Breaking new ground: A lotta niggas be thinkin that me and $hort be still beefin and shit, cause after the Luniz shit it just continued. But we had to let niggas know that were above that. Were over that and were unifying in the Bay. Regardless of the past [problems] that we had, hes still a legend. I still look up to him and its a pleasure and an honor working with him. Why I love the Bay: Im from the Bay, born and raised! (laughs) Im from the Bay and I am the Bay. Id probably be a cartoonist or something, so the Bay made me. I love the Bay because it got game. It got more game than anywhere else Ive been. It laces you. Aint no gangbangin out there, none of that shit just hustlin and game. If I was anywhere else I wouldnt be as seasoned as I am now. In L.A. I notice that people are waiting around for Dre to sign them. We dont do that in the Bay. If niggas close the door in our face, FUCK YOU. We gon

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put it out ourselves. Thats that drive. Thats that hustle that we got up in us, that we was taught since youngstas, since niggas was pumpin gas for money since a little kid or workin at the Coliseum. Its a hustle. You gotta go get it if you want it. So I love the Bay because it taught me the game. //

fullest. I just love the Bay and everywhere in the Bay. I got nuthin but love for the Bay. Thats my home. //

cLyDE cARSON

TuRF TALK
Also Known As: Turfy, Young Turf Love Handle: The Hardest Nigga In Tha Bay Current Project/Product: West Coast Vaccine: The Cure Hyphy Hit: Super Sick Wit It Label: SickWidit/0/0 Soil: The Valley Jo (Vallejo, CA) Album Contribution: In The Streets

Love Handle: Mr. Hyphy Juice, Mr. President Current Project/Product: Theater Music (forthcoming) Noted Slapper: Doin Dat, Hood Stomped Out,  Step Label: Moe Doe/Capitol Soil: The Whole Town Album Contribution: You See It (by The Team includes members Kaz Kyzah, Mayne Mannish and Carson)

n the ILTB experience: It was a like a big party. The Team came through. We all met up there and picked out one of them Young L beats. It was a slapper and we just did the shit. Everybody wrote their shit right there. I think that was the last Team song we did, cause everybody was workin on their album. On contributing to the album: I grew up listening to Too $hort. He was my favorite rapper my whole time growing up, so for him to call me and ask me to get on his project, was big. It was an accomplishment. It made me feel like Im in the right direction. Everybody else that contributed had some heat. So I was more or less about just coming through and puttin a hot record on the album. Moving with a purpose: As long as its a movement coming out the Bay that represents good music, Im with it. I think were hyphy no matter what. Thats our spirit and our attitude. When we made that Hyphy Juice remix, we watched mufuckas get hyphy off that slow ass [cadence], so it really dont matter. Its all about music. Just make some hot shit and I guarantee you theyll go dumb. I dont know where we are with fashion and stunna shades and the whole hyphy fashion. Everything gets played. Its finna be 08. If muthafuckas is still dressin like they was in 04, its a problem and I damn sho aint with that. I aint supportin nothin thats ancient. Im supportin keepin it pushin and keepin it movin. Why I Love the Bay: Thats where Im from. Ive lived all over. Ive lived in Richmond. Ive lived in Berkeley, Vallejo. So I feel like I represent the Bay to the

he Takeover: I think the movement is gettin stronger again, maybe even stronger than it was before. But to me, besides 40, the movement is not being represented right. The world thinks we on some clown shit right now. They think we on some funny dancin, jumpin around, goofy shit and its kinda startin to piss Turfy off, man. I support the movement to the fullest, but now, Im tryna be the leader of the movement. Im not holdin back no more, cause the cats that came after 40, I feel like they didnt represent the Bay right. I want people to see the hardcore image of the Bay, not the funny, laughin image of the Bay. Were not going to win that way. Mind Control: My little daughter can rap how these niggas is rappin and the radio is supporting this funny ass commercial ass rap, so when these out of towners come out here they be like, Damn, this is what the Bay is on? This is what they like out here? Its not a certain individual, cause its a lot of individuals. Its this bubble gum ass rap that Im tired of. Im sick of this shit. My mind is about taking over now. Im claimin the hardest nigga in the Bay right now. 40 is my OG, but one day the young hyena gotta step it up. Im steppin up and Im the dopest nigga out here. Every Day We Hustlin: You gotta love the Bay. The thing about the Bay that is so dope is we got our own shit. Were really not trippin. We created the hyphy movement. A lot of places in the world dont have anything that they created from the root. The Bay, what makes it so cold is its hustle. Out here people is really tryna get it. You go other places and people look like they in a trance. Why I Love The Bay: I love the Bay because its original. Its so much shit that has started here fuck the rappin from the Black Panthers to the Muslims, even Tupac was here. E-40, Too $hort, man, the list goes on and on. This place is a very beautiful place. Its not too big. Its not too little. Everybody here is money motivated. Its no bloodin and crippin, but everybody out here is real hustlers and real gangsters. I was born here and I aint never leavin this muthafucka. //

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DJ

DJ

DOW JONES
IF
youve been on the West Coast over the past couple years, youve probably heard Dow Jones production on your favorite rappers album or mixtape. A DJ by trade, Jones Tha Bizness Productions, a company he shares with his cousin J Hen, has produced tracks for practically every up and coming artist on the Coast like Problem, G Malone, Mistah FAB and Turf Talk. Jones says, We just want to do our part of the job to help bring our coast back to where its supposed to be, so if we gotta go outta town to do that and to get muthafuckas to recognize west coast game, then thats what we need to do. How did you get in the game? Been in the game for 8 years, started hangin out with DV who was with the Rock Steady Crew. I carried his crates for a minute for all the tours he was on. He DJed for Dialated Peoples, so I seen things from the ground up, and I always wanted to do the DJ shit. I mean I was messin with the beats first, but DV taught me the DJ shit. That led to mixtapes, and that lead to makin beats that people were spittin on and that pretty much led me where I am today as a [mixtape DJ and a producer]. I know youve been in the Bay and Seattle, Los Angeles and now in Atlanta. Whats up with all the moving around? Im not scared of change. Some DJs like to be the hottest nigga on their block and thats it. I just looked at the game as a hustle, so I did whatever I needed to do to make it happen. In Seattle I came up from the true school of things and then did all the hottest mixtapes there. Los Angeles is one of the biggest cities on the West Coast, so I decided to go get my feet wet out there. While in L.A., my partner and I met up wit DJ Toomp and some of the cats from the Grand Hustle family and thats what brought us to Atlanta where we are right now. As far as the Bay Area, I used to see Mistah FAB everywhere I went and we just came together on some nigga shit and related to each other on a personal level. You keep sayin we. Can you clarify who we is? Dow Jones: Well its a family thing so thats just me and my cousin J Hen. Hes been on the beats and the keys for minute now and we hooked up back in L.A. and have been doin everything together ever since. Thats why we call the company Tha Bizness Productions, because if you come to us, we will get you crackin. Mixtapes, beats, street team, music videos, everything. Are you part of a DJ Crew too? Dow Jones: I used to do that, but right now, I still mess with my Houston DJs, the Hustle Squad DJs, J Classic and Clues cousin DJ Storm. Are you still doing mixtapes? Dow Jones: Yeah, but right now its more like street albums. Something we pride ourselves on is really having a relationship with the artists. We can go in the studio with the artist and get them to do new songs over our production, or others production, and basically put together a whole new album of music. Who are the top three West Coast cats that got next, in your opinion? One, Glasses Malone - He spits real shit and his presence on records is real big. Hes the real street prophet and his album has a real story to it. Two, Mistah FAB and Clyde Carson because theyre the best of two different things. FAB has the energy and charisma and the ability to spit. Clydes a great songwriter and [has the ability] to make big club records. Third, Mitchy Slick. That dude has been grindin for so long and he has such a strong fan base, but hasnt been able to get the right push behind him. Its hard bein a real street artist because some labels dont wanna mess with that. But still, hes got a huge movement behind him. As a DJ, is it just a natural progression for you to start doing production as well? As a DJ in the club, you have to know whats hot, but if you dont know how to play the hot songs together youll clear the dance floor. You have to make it all come together to make the party hot. Its the same way with producing; theres a difference from being a producer and a beatmaker. As a producer, you gotta make it all come together. You cant just put it in cruise control. You gotta know how to get in the studio with the artist and make the artist bring out the best in the song and the vision. You have to be a one band man today. You cant make a beat and email it to the A&R. That shit dont work anymore. // For more info on Dow Jones and The Bizness Productions go to myspace.com/thabiznessbeats Words by DJ Backside Photo by Vivian Hsu

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TOO $HORT & FRIENDS/I LOVE THE BAY/UP ALL NITE Since the Bays so-called revival, Too $horts presence in the Town (Oakland) has been about as consistent as a Pac Bell late notice and this album is a testament to his unwavering commitment. A true compilation, I Love The Bay is more than $horts affinity for his stomping grounds, but a coming together of legends ($hort, 40, San Quinn, Yukmouth, etc.) and a new generation (Mistah FAB, Turf Talk, Big Rich, Dem Hoodstarz, etc.) in musical harmony. $hort and Keak keep the hyphy candle lit on Going Dumb and Mistah FAB picks up where they left off with turbo precision on the frenetic That Thang. ILTB ironically gains greater momentum on the more tempered Shine Like Me (Yukmouth), You Dont Wanna See Me Rich (San Quinn) and the Droop-E produced This My One (40 and $hort featuring Mike Marshall). Tha Bay aint went nowhere. N. Ali Early

MARVALESS/READY MADE/BLACK ARMOR

Arguably considered the hardest female lyricist on the West Coast in the mid 90s, C-Bo understudy Marvaless never had issues holding her own alongside her testosterone-laden counterparts. With the release of her sixth solo complete album, C-Bo presents Marvaless: Ready Made, it appears the six year layoff has done nothing to diminish her trademark delivery and persuasive swag. The Killa Tayassisted title track and Do The Math announce the rejuvenated rapper in true mob music fashion. Meanwhile, Thug Life, featuring Jacka and Rydah J. Klyde, speaks to Marvaless less celebrated socio-political side. Fuckin Wit Us and U So Fly both find the undisputed Sacramento rap empress going dolo before she shifts gears once more on the uplifting Black Queen, featuring Juana Blaze. Dont call it a comeback. N. Ali Early

ANDRE NICKATINA/BOOTY STAR: GLOCK TAWK FILLMOE COLEMAN RECORDS With his th studio release, Booty Star: Glock Tawk, Andre Nickatina is like a sniper casing wack MCs. Booty Star elevates the game, with Nicky in classic fashion spitting from planet Fillmoe. Booty Star heats it up for pole dancers, alley prancers and the hustlers. However, Nickatinas OG flow and penchant for using elaborate descriptives set Booty Star apart. San Francisco Bay, Contract Out On Cupid and Cocaine find Nicky chopping game from the mind of a capo and a fitting tribute to another legend, My Friend Mac Dre, builds worthwhile nostalgia. Booty Stars diverse production, original lyricism and Nickys persona a cross between Alfred Hitchcock, Albert Anastasia and Iceberg Slim is instantly engaging. With classic Bay style, Booty Star celebrates the glitz, glamour and grime of the night life in a rare display of game certainly  AM music. Luvva J BALANCE AND BIG RICH UNDA DOGG KINGZ/CATIER ENT The irony in this DJ Rick Lee-administered project is just as brilliant as much as it is overdue. Big Rich, by and large considered one of the Citys (San Francisco) more talented emcees and Balance (of New Bay fame), born and bred in the Town (Oakland), are the Bay Areas overlooked, underappreciated lyricists vying for rap royalty. Unda Dogg Kingz is their testimony over album-ready production. The Ya Boy assisted Bang Em Anthem kicks off Unda Dogg Kingz in grand fashion while the hypnotic Crack Music, featuring Glasses Malone and Scipio, cinches their claims. Complete with a surprising but believable Akon/Coolio collab (Nothing Changed), Rich and Balance take their respective turns at separating themselves from the barrage of guest spots (Get Money and Balance Is The Name respectively) via their flawless flows, leaving the listener yearning for a full length album. N. Ali Early

TAJE/HOT BOX: SECOND HIT CALI UNTOUCHABLE RADIO/BABY REE RECORDS If you happened to miss the first installment of Hot Box, The Second Hit (presented by Untouchable Radios DJ Warrior), will do

everything to catch you up to speed. By definition this is what you would call music to drive by. Jump started by the bouncy Still Dumpin, the Southern Cali-based emcee comes out blastin. Much like his homies Glasses Malone and Bishop Lamont, Taje fuses clever wordplay with street and sociopolitical elements, arriving at a very likable place for todays finicky listener. Misunderstood and Butterfly Effect cruise at a steady pace and the Dae One produced street hit Houseshoes takes Hot Box  off into overdrive. Eihts got to be smiling somewhere. N. Ali Early

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endzone

Kanye West Event: Rolling Stone MTV VMAs preparty Venue: Hard Rock Live City: Las Vegas, NV Date: September 8th, 007 Photo: Julia Beverly

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