Boss hippy

Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

Boss Hippy. I’m a man of who believes you can achieve anything you see with the right amount of hard work and dedication. And a man who understands that right amount is different for everyone. I produce, write and record music and films. I am also the CEO of Hustlemann Music Regime. Started 20 years ago who I was stationed overseas in the Army.

Who or what motivated you to be the man you are today?

I was born in Los Angeles and moved to Georgia when I was 11. In Cali I looked up to Robert Townsend, the Wayans family, Deion Sanders, Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Easy, The Who family tree of NWA as a whole. I like a lot of comedians for their commentary. I had seen how they were able to move crowds with just words, no music. Which always intrigued me. Eddie, Martin, Redd, Bernie. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were the first musical act that really hypnotized me with the blend of words and music. I thought they were rappers at first. As a 2nd grader they just blew my mind musically. I’m used to hearing hip hop and old school soul growing up. Especially Pac. My father was a musician as well who spent time with The Whispers in their early stages. When I moved to Georgia, South Cobb, the Dungeon Family and Memphis music guided me thru middle and high school. And being in the Atlanta metro area, the city itself just took over me. Being creative was just a way of life. I was rapping in church with my homies from around the way and it was just a feeling being on stage. I was only 12, 13. Me and my partners Bryan and Desmond said this is what we were going to do. Dez had some success while I was away, and Bryan ended up going and graduating from Clark Atlanta. I went to the Army and the rest was history.

How was your experience being in the military and being overseas?

I thought it was a wrap for music. I went to basic at Ft Benning and AIT at Ft Gordon then Ft Bragg. I was sent to Bagram, Afghanistan almost a month later. It was surreal. Getting mortar attacks every night and seeing the people over there, both good and bad. Then I got sent to Germany when I got back and met my brothers who I started Hustlemann with. We were sent to Iraq a month later and we all thought it was over. The threat level was higher and we lost a few people in the first couple of months. My battle buddy Unkle Kobe got sent to a base where Gump was, and they found a way to record. They sent me the product and the program and we spent the next 6 months making about 50 mixtapes between the whole crew. We were able to put on performances over there in the MWR facility on base and made a couple newspapers. We made it back to Germany and continued recording and releasing until everyone’s time was up. It was hella fun then. We got in trouble, but we were able to make music and memories overseas. That’s a once in a lifetime thing for people like us. Coming where we all come from. We had a bunch of soldiers an foreigners screaming HUSTLE UP!!! chapter and brand everything together as AAUP. And I have artist from both Hustle UP in Unkle Kobe and AALIFE in Swish Casso and Big$$Time. And I’ve been developing my little cousin Poussey who is crazy lit. I’ve also been grooming my little brother and my son and daughter to be great artists if they choose to go that route.

How do you define your purpose?

Tell us about “AALIFE” and how it got started.

I eventually settled in Orlando after the military and I had a rhyme partner, A-Mega. We had a mutual friend MG who had a studio and a t shirt printing shop. One day we had a BBQ and everyone in attendance had some type of talent. We decided to bring everyone together and push as a full unit. The name AALIFE came from originally being called American Amsterdam. Lingo stamped it AALIFE. At our height we had about 10 artists. We were essentially working as a label, but we were so young in it we didn’t really get it down packed business wise. In our time together as a whole we performed all over Florida, DC and ATL. I never let the name die and carried it into the

It’s not as easy as saying “I’m here to make music!”. It’s more like I’m just being myself. My default mode is to create. Now more people are noticing this is more than music. I have the means ability to create almost anything from films, to poems, to books. The only limit is my interest level. We all want to be heard and be a part of something great. I’m a conduit for both. Around me you will be heard and seen. I’m an auteur. It makes it hard to be around me because I’m constantly creating something. I’m inspired by literally everything. A rock on the ground can consume my mind into creating a whole backstory for it that will take my mind into interesting places. That I then express however I feel most comfortable whether it be song or something else.

Let’s talk about the film “City Beautiful” and the motivation behind the film.

I’ve been writing scripts since I was 5. I wrote and directed a play in the 2nd grade. I wrote City Beautiful right before we started AALIFE in 2012. I had a young artist named Bern and I was thinking marketing wise to put a small film and album around him. I based the story around our own experiences living in Orlando. We filmed a couple scene and realized we needed to learn some more. We tried a couple more times over the years but nothing solid. Then in 2019 my business partner Rashad came to me after he completed producing a tv series called “For A Fee” and asked if I was still interested in filming the script. I went to my homie T-Rexz who had been in Orlando longer than me to point me in the right direction in the city and we were blessed with our 2 main characters via Rexz. He pointed me towards Nate Bowers who played Joint because he was actually born and raised in the city, and it would be more authentic than having someone not originally from there to play that character. His name is Orlando. And the character of Ricky is actually played by Rexz nephew Markel Mitchell. He’s always been around soaking up game and from then he just seemed like the perfect Ricky. He also had just come home from the military not too long before we were talking about filming. I was absolutely blessed with being able to get the cast I was able to get and really give this story that real Orlando feel. It’s more of a coming of age story than a “hood movie”. Ricky is trying to get out the lifestyle and Joint is trying to keep him “trapped”.

What are some goals you want to accomplish for 2023?

Confidently in 2023 I want to create something that’s going to last long past 2023. Humbly I want to establish me and my team as a force to be reckoned with creatively. I have rappers, painters, actors, graphic designers, dancers, singers, marketers, and filmmakers. AAUP is beyond just a music crew now. It’s a constant stream of Above Average Creations. I feel my new album is really good and I’m super excited to let the world hear it.

Tell us about your new album. My new album is called Honorable Discharge. It has a multitude of meanings. It’s me speaking from the standpoint of being a rapper in today’s climate and understanding that I have kids who are growing up in this climate.

It’s me catching myself and letting myself go at the same time realizing I can be a walking contradiction at times. Rap has been historically a young man’s sport, the sound of the youth. During my time in the military was something different for us when we first started opposed to those who are 20 years in. It’s something different for them. Not that they don’t still enjoy it but it’s just a different level or stage. That’s where I’m at musically. As a producer I just wanted to take my production to a level where it feels good. Not technically perfect, just more of a feel. A vibe. The subject matter on top of the banging beats is what makes it crazy to me. It’s an audacious album if I had to describe it in one word.

Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events? Musically we are gearing up for another album from Poussey this year. Along with Book III of Unkle Kobe’s Pushing My Glasses UP series. We will be releasing a group album from HMR. Filmwise we will be releasing Thirst Trap starring Melody Casanova and Claud Livingston. And we will be releasing a Christmas movie on thanksgiving entitled All I Want for Christmas. Also starring Claude Livingston. We have several other films indifferent stages of production currently including a horror series that Thirst Trap is a part of. We have a clothing line called American Amsterdam that can be found online at americanamsterdam.com

Where can the readers follow you?

I can be followed online on Facebook @Jase.cook1 or Instagram @thabosshippy. We also have a website citybeautifulmovie.com to keep up with all things City Beautiful.