The New Power Magazine V6N1 - January 2007 by Colom Media Group, LLC

THE

411 FEATURES

PAGE 4 MAC BRE- Z PAGE 7 ANGIE STONE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE

10 11 12 14 16 17 23 24 26 29

TREY SONGZ JANIRO HAWKINS [SEA AWARDS] DAT BOY TRAGIC MUDDY SIPP BOYS LIL’ SHANE MISSISSIPPI MENACE T.I.C. / DICK JAMES / U.T.H. MAKNOLIA BOYZ JOHNSON BOY BIG SANT

EDITORIALS PAGE 6 HEALTH MATTERS Low Levels of Exercise Can Drive Down Blood Pressure

PAGE 9 PUBLISHER’S POINT Image IS Everything

SPECIAL PAGE 13 THE NEW POWER CHICK KAJUANA [ Memphis, TN]

PAGE 18 PAGE 19 PAGE 18 PAGE 20

NORTH MISSISSIPPI DJs CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI DJs LET’S FACE IT DID YOU KNOW ? Top 10 Southern Cities For Small Businesses

PAGE 22 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI DJs Kajuana - Page 13

TREY SONGZ Page 10

04 I The New Power I WWW.NEWPOWERMAGAZINE.COM

TEAM NEW POWER

Publisher / Editor-In-Chief Anthony Colom (Colom Media Group, LLC) Managing Editor Kevin Gordon Music Editor Alan Harrison Director of Marketing & Promotion Bobby Colvin, Jr. Graphics Editors Joe Dent Dub G. Artist Research Valerie Greer Advertising Anthony Colom Relationship Columnist Nia Colom-Blackmon Cover Graphics Gregory Spencer at misvisiongraphics.com Reviews Jimmy Biggs, Kevin “K.G.” Gordon, Alan Harrison, Ty Jones, & V-Style

Contributors Charlie Braxton, James Johnson, La’Juanda Knight, Singersroom.com, and Urbanconnectionz.Com The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views and opinion of Colom Media Group, LLC, The New Power Magazine, nor any of our advertisers. Colom Media Group, LLC does not claim any responsibility for stories, photographs, interviews, audio, video, nor any other advertising or promotional material sent to us that has been misrepresented. The New Power and the diamond fist are both trademarks of Colom Media Group, LLC. This publication may not be reproduced in whole norin part without the written permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2008, Colom Media Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. www.newpowermagazine.com myspace.com/newpowermagazine Physical Address : 118 S. McCrary Rd. Suite 126 Columbus, MS 39702

Reppin’ The Power Doc 6, Aaron Colom, Brandon Colom, Tracy Gunn, Dub G., Kevin Gordon, Alan Harrison, Keeno, John Adkins, DJ Maximum, Ambassador’s Way, Bernard Wren,Red Billa, CD Cellar, Antonio Rogers, Bigg V., BeBop Records, Soufside, DJ Xmas, Kerrold Ellis, Derrick Pettiway, DJ Finesse, Mr. Dilligence, DJ Break Em Off, Steve Smooth, Lil Half Ounce, & Alfredo Cardona

Tel: (662)251-0075 Fax: (888)474-6137 Email : editor@newpowermagazine.com info@newpowermagazine.com advertise@newpowermagazine.com subscribe@newpowermagazine.com models@newpowermagazine.com Trey Songz photos courtesy Atlantic Records

HEALTH WATCH HEALTH MATTERS Low Levels Of Exercise Can Drive Down

Blood Pressure

ven low levels of weekly exercise can drive down blood pressure and boost overall fitness according to new research from the University of Ulster. The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, reveals that even 30 minutes of moderate exercise, three times a week, can significantly lower blood pressure and increase fitness levels.

Over 100 healthy but sedentary civil servants between the ages of 40 and 60 took part in the study, which involved adopting an exercise program for 12 weeks, with no changes in diet. The group was divided into three, with one group assigned 30 minutes of brisk walking for five days a week, another group 30 minutes of brisk walking for three days a week and the remainder were not asked to change their current lifestyle. Pedometers were used to help participants monitor their walking and every participant recorded how long they walked for. Dr Mark Tully, from the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Institute at UU said: "We recorded blood pressure, blood cholesterol, weight, hip and waist girth, and overall fitness at the start and finish of the 12-week study. "Our findings showed that systolic blood pressure and waist and hip girth fell significantly in both groups of walkers. Overall fitness also increased. "Falls of a few millimetres in blood pressure and shrinkage of a few centimetres in hip and waist circumference are enough to make a difference to an individual's risk of dying from a cardiovascular disease. "Furthermore, the findings show that moderate intensity physical exercise below the recommended levels (30 minutes of moderately strenuous exercise on at least five days of the week), still makes a difference to health."

ULSTER UNIVERSITY York Street Belfast BT15 1ED www.ulst.ac.uk

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IE ANG E N STO

The Art Of Love And War Words: James Johnson

o begin by talking to me about what’s been going on. Now I know that of course you did Celebrity Fit Club, and that took some time, but what else has been going on? Angie Stone: For the most part, I’ve just been being me. Working very hard, and trying to come up. I’ve been working on getting into TV and film, or I’ll say doing more TV and film. OK. I felt like I was able to really get to know you by watching you on Fit Club, and overall, you seemed like the type of person who is extremely family-oriented; so naturally, I figured you’d just been taking time away to spend time with the kids and family. Angie Stone: Exactly, that’s definitely me. I’m actually out now, driving, on my way to see my kids right now. So tell me about your signing with Stax? Angie Stone: Well yes, I recently got with Stax. I asked for a release from my contract with J. Records. I just felt like it was time. They have way too many people being signed to J. Records. I’ve been there for eight years. After time spent like that, you sort of become furniture. They begin to get new furniture, and then you become a couch for everyone else. I realized that there was a lack of attention, and it was necessary for me to move on. So tell me about this album Angie? Angie Stone: Let me tell you something sweetie, this album is so fresh. I feel so renewed. How much of the album have you heard? I’ve only heard

Photo: Marc Baptiste

the single “Baby” with Betty Wright, and that alone, sounds like you’re just so happy with what you’re doing now. You sound like an entirely new person. It’s like, your last albums were wonderful, but this is brilliant. Angie Stone: Absolutely. It’s incredible. With this album, I worked with James Ingram on a song called “My People”, Pauletta Washington is on the album as well. I also worked with a guy name Chino who is up and coming in the industry, and he just wanted a chance to shine. This album is just really in a much better space, and it’s so amazing. I was able to record this album in it’s entirety in Marvin’s Room, which was Marvin Gaye’s studio. I used HIS equipment. I have always admired Marvin Gaye. His daughter and wife gave me the blessing of recording in his studio. They said that he loved my music. So it was a wonderful experience. Let’s move onto production. The production on the album is banging! Who all did you work with? Angie Stone: I worked with Jonathan Richman, Edrith Elbert, and a guy by the name of CoKeith. The reviews for the album have been amazing thus far. Right now, it seems to me the number one most anticipated album coming out. God has definitely been in my favor. So talk about the release date? Angie Stone: The release date was originally scheduled for September 25th, but as you know, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Keyshia Cole, and a few others were all coming out on that day. You just really want to have yourself positioned properly to do

the best that you can. We changed the release date to October 16. The only thing with that though, is that now, we won’t be eligible for Grammy nominations with this because we released after September 25th. We tried really hard to get around that though, by securing the digital release of the album. A few weeks can affect a lot of things. I think this is really going to be the album that’s going to grab everyone’s attention. OK, now other things you’ve been into..... Celebrity Fit Club! I’m sure you made the best out of that experience, but honestly, you didn’t really receive that fair of a shot. Or it seemed like they were really being hard on you at times. Angie Stone: Yeah, but a lot of it was planned on their end, because they have to make the show interesting enough for people to watch. Looking at all of the people that have been on that show, it is easily associated with folks that are done and washed up. Their careers are basically over and hanging on by a thread, but I don’t believe anyone in the world could see you like that. So why on earth did you go on there? Angie Stone: You know, they begged me to come on that show. It really didn’t seem like that big of a deal to me, until I got screamed at by D’Angelo. These people are washed up! But it was a good thing in the end. I lost some weight on there. I just want everybody to see that this is a new beginning for me, and I have a whole new team.

PUBLISHER’S POINT Image

IS Everything by Anthony Colom

ometimes the lessons we’re taught in life aren’t handed down to us by the wise old lady or man. Sometimes they come from those whom we are least likely to expect. The “They” that I’m referring to are children.

My six-year-old son recently made me think about something that I guess I never really paid much attention to. He, like myself, is a big wrestling fan (I guess it’s in the blood). Yeah, I know it’s fake, but it’s still funny. It’s like watching a comedy series with bad acting. But anyway, since he was about 4, his mother, uncles, aunts, and I have been buying him the wrestling action figures. He has about 50 or 60 of em. No joke ! For Christmas all he wanted was wrestling-themed toys. My son doesn’t refer to African-American people as black people; we’re all brown to him. If I say black, he’ll say “Naw daddy he’s brown.” That’s his observation. We never taught him that. In his eyes, people are either brown or white. Anyway, I noticed that out of the 50 to 60 wrestlers that he had, he only had 3 African-American wrestlers. We were in Wal - Mart so I tried to persuade him to pick up one of the “brown” wrestlers. He said he didn’t want it. When I asked why, he told me that he didn’t like the brown wrestlers cause he liked the white wrestlers better. I immediately got pissed off and asked him what he meant. He said, “I just don’t like the brown wrestlers.” Here is this six-year-old African-American boy with AfricanAmerican parents saying he doesn’t like brown wrestlers. I know it has nothing to do with the way we’re raising him. We don’t direspect any race of people; especially black folk. His kindergarten classroom at school is probably 75 - 80 % African-American. His school is probably 60% African-American. Can’t be that. The only thing I can see it could be is television. His favorite t.v. shows are That’s So Raven, Corey in the House, and Hannah Montana. As usual, most t.v. shows geared toward young children have predominately-white casts with the token black or brown face. 2 of his 3 favorite shows have African-American stars, with only Raven having a predominatelyblack cast. As with wrestling, most of the performers are white. Maybe that’s it; not enough black and brown faces. I told him that I wouldn’t be watching wrestling with him anymore. He asked me why. I said because they’re not promoting black and brown people like the should. Of course he didn’t understand; he’s only six. He knows nothing about promotion. Then he said, “I’m sorry, I’ll get a brown wrestler.” I told him that he wouldn’t be getting it because he really wanted it, but just to make me happy. I haven’t watched wrestling since, and I don’t encourage him to watch it either. In all these years nothing has really changed much in televison and the motion picture industry. Have u noticed that since Denzel and Halle won the Oscar that more blacks are starting to win. Yeah, we’ve been great all along. When a movie contains a predominately-black cast it’s called a black movie. Why aren’t predominately-white-casted movies called white movies. They’re just movies. We as black people tend to let the media and entertainment industry define who we are and how we see ourselves. As a parent, I’ve got to counter every negative with a positive to ensure that my children don’t get confused and caught up in believing that one race of people dictate the way the world should look and how they should view themselves. When it comes to children who haven’t lived long enough to know any better, Image IS Everything. (662) 251-0075

WWW.NEWPOWERMAGAZINE.COM

The New Power

s there a certain theme you’re going for on Trey Day as opposed to Gotta Make It?

Trey: Yeah, it’s Trey Day (laughs). Now you have made it, so what are the differences? Trey: In a lot of people’s eyes I might havemade it but I’m still doing my thing. But at the same time I feel like Trey Day is going to be a representation of grow th. It’s been a couple of years since my first album and I got a lot of loyal core fans. I feel like the first album was an introduction and now we’re off into it. “Ya’ll know who I am so let me get loose with it.”

TREY TSONGZ rey Day Words : La’Juanda I wasKnight gonna

How are you getting loose with it on this album? Trey: I’m very proud of it. I tried to think outside the box in a lot of cases. On production we got Troy Taylor, we got Brian Cox, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, R. Kelly. We got a great cast of producers that brought the best out of me and it shows growth. Do you feel like you’ve evolved on this album? Trey: It’s been two years. I’m twenty-two now. Not to say that’s old but I was younger and I have been singing a lot more. My voice has gotten a lot stronger and I’ve been exercising it. We recorded a lot of songs for this project. In the process I think my singing has been taken to another level.

of high school. I moved to New York right after high school, well New Jersey. I moved in with Troy Taylor. I started pursuing this as soon as I moved in with him. I was sleeping in his basement and waking up doing music and studying music. That’s just what it was for me. Is it true that your you that you had make it and then you would have school?

mom told a year to after that to go to

Trey: Yeah…They said I had to go to school or get a job or something (laughs). Were you nervous on your journey to making it? Were you worried at all? Trey: I was cool (laughs).

What was your life like before your career took off? Where were you working?

You didn’t have any worries about it not h a p p e n i n g fast enough?

Trey: I was trying to get into the game. When I got my deal I was nineteen. I was fresh out

Trey: Once I decided this what I was gonna do, I never looked back. My momma giving me a

do, I never year was cool. She was still doing what she could do for me. I didn’t have no job so she was still sending me money when she could. A lot of my friends were in school. I’m out here pursuing this music thing. So sometimes it did weigh down on me like it wasn’t happening hella fast. But when I look back on it, It did happen hella fast.

You have worked with some Japanese artists as well. Why did you decide to cross over? Trey: I don’t know if it’s important for anybody else but I’m not going to limit myself to the United States. Does the audience give you a different feel? Trey: It’s most definitely different because half of these people don’t know English. I don’t conform for them. They love me for who I am so I go and do me. NEWPOWERMAGAZINE.COM 10

5th Annual

Southern Entertainment Awards Words: Alan Harrison / Photo: Janiro Hawkins

Hang Em High Productions The SEA Awards have been around for five years, what’s behind the events success ? Janiro: The support from everyone: nominees, previous winners. It shows that there is a reason of course behind what we are doing. It is the MUSIC that drives it. It also gives an opportunity for people in general and consumers to have a say in something. The work that We put in on this event 12 months a year, 24 hours a day helps. That has a lot to do with the success. What do you and your staff think will put the SEA Awards on the same level as the other major award shows? Janiro: Honestly, we Janiro feel that because of the support and bringing people together in the South, bringing different artists and talents together with the support of everyone, we are already there, if not ahead of them. Rarely a lot of events can say people can come out and network and build with one another. It is all for the love of music. Are there any other projects related to the awards show you all are putting together in the future?

MISSISSIPPI’S ONLY URBAN

MAGAZINE

zine now specific to the event. The magazine is an addition to what we are already doing. We highlight accomplishments of people in the South. We show the past nominees, past winners, and upcoming candidates. We only did two of them this past year. In 2008, we will be releasing four of them; releasing quarterly. With the Awards show, have you reach different cultures and races thru the event? Janiro: Our event is for anyone who love southern music and its culture in the South. Our categories are not broken down racially or anything like that. We all know that Black America is not the priHawkins mary consumer of urban music. We have producers who have been nominated of Hispanic decent. Noki Swazay vs Suave, Chingo Bling, Princess Cut who is originally from Japan, is nominated. She actually has won our Female DJ of the Year category. Our event is about the music. We don’t inquire about decent because it does not matter to us. If the public likes it, they can nominate it. We have had all types of origins and nationalities that have been nominated. If it is good music, It is good music.

Janiro: We are doing the maga-

LET’S FACE IT WHOSE FACE IS THIS ?

BE SEEN OR BE FORGOTTEN

TO ADVERTISE CALL 662.251.0075 WWW.NEWPOWERMAGAZINE.COM

Answer on Page 25

myspace.com/kajuana1

14 I The New Power Magazine I (662) 251-0075

16 I The New Power I (662) 251-0075

LIL’ SHANE Brandon, Mississippi Words: Anthony Colom

hane, I’ve been watching your progression and felt I needed to holla at u. Thanks !

So when did u become interested in the business ? My mom and dad took me to a studio for my birthday about 2 1/2 years ago. Then I started entering little talent shows. I ain’t gone lie. I was impressed the last few times I’ve seen u perform. U know, considering where u were when you started. U got a few hot tracks on your new street cd. I noticed that you’ve got DJ Finesse co-signing for u by hosting your cd. How did u get the president of the Core DJs to put his stamp on your project? When he first opened up his club, Tabu, I was there every Friday night performing even when there was nobody there; just me and my family. I guess he saw that I was hungry and had a lot of potential and he came at me one day. How’s everything going with that cd ? It’s called Who Dat Iz. My family and I are out there selling em in the street. I’ve sold 2,000 copies so far. We’ve been to Texas, Tennessee, and a few parts of Alabama with it. I’ve performed about 300 times so far. I’ve seen your mother and father with u. They get kinda hyped when u perform. Yeah, I couldn’t ask for any better parents. They been supporting me since day one. What do u feel u need to work on most as an artist? My lyrics. I cuss too much. I gotta stop doing that so much. myspace.com/lilshanedirtwhiteboy

SUBSCRIBE TO MISSISSIPPI Menace THE NEW POWER LELAND / GREENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI How did Mississippi Menace come together as a group ?

What kinda hip-hop support do you see in your area ?

Earl; We been holding it down for a long time, and we feel like we can do it as well as anybody out here. I think we just need to be more visible to people. We don’t expect everyone to like what we do. But for the people who do like it, we gone give em what we do. Deacon Steel

Marv: Our rap scene is growing. they’re still alot of artists in the Mississippi delta that no one’s heard about. It’s hard for us to get artists to come do shows in Greenville.

As independent artists, what do you think you need to improve upon the most to take you to the next level in your career ?

Earl Shine

Earl: Well, we all knew each other from around the way, and we all different groups. We wanted to do a compilation cd but it never worked out. The compilation was supposed to be called Mississippi Menace. We were tryin’ to holla at a lot of local artists. That was back in ‘96.

that we do.

And why do you think that is ?

Well how do yall feel about the DJ support over there? Earl: You got Bigg V outta Cleveland. He holds it down for what he do. The local clubs, they pump hip hop all day long. No disrespect to anybody, but, that’s club music and we don’t make club music. Honestly, we spit. We try to come with it with everything

What are some of the things you’re doing right now to try and get your music out there more ?

Earl: DJ Smallz out of Tampa recently picked one of our songs to be on his College Tour Mix tape. It was a song called Wanna Roll With Me, and it featured our homeboys Young Blacc and Titano. Marv Black

Marv: They think they’re not gonna benefit from coming to the delta. They feel like they’ll get paid to do shows if they go down to Jackson or up to Memphis.

Young Flete

Earl: Just keeping it real man; when people think of the Delta, they don’t think that there’s anything there.

Marv: We need to improve upon getting our product there more.

How did yall hook up with DJ Smallz ? Earl: Just myspacin’ it. We always try to keep our noses into what’s going on. We been slippin’ on putting an album out for a while cause we been doing this mix tape thing to create a buzz. That’s all we been doing.

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HEALTH WATCH DID YOU KNOW ? 20

Top 10 Southern Cities For Small Businesses

FIRST

Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Population: 1,500,000 Median Home Price: $174,500 Hot Industries: Finance, food manufacturing, textiles, machinery, computer/electronics, paper, printing, chemical, plastics and rubber Significant Startups: 5,686

Why Start Here? • Steady immigration of young, educated workers • Business-friendly banking community • High-quality labor force and low-cost labor environment • Unemployment insurance, tax rates and worker's compensation rates that rank among the lowest in the nation • Charlotte is the only U.S. city to participate in the Cities of Tomorrow network: It was chosen for its quality of life and has been used as a model for cities worldwide.

SECOND

Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Population: 1,190,000 Median Home Price: $199,600 Hot Industries: Life sciences, information technology and software development Significant Startups: 4,899 Why Start Here? • No local income taxes • The William S. Lee Quality Jobs and Expansion Act gives qualifying companies tax credits for job creation, investment in machinery and equipment, worker training, research and development, and investment in business property. • More than 40% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or higher. • A unique technology community, Centennial Campus, blends public, academic and private-sector research and is the only public-private partnership of its kind in the US

Austin-San Marcos, TX

THIRD

Population: 1,250,000 Median Home Price: $167,200 Hot Industries: Technology and business services Significant Startups: 5,469 Why Start Here? • Diverse, highly trained and readily available employees • No personal or corporate state income tax • Minimal union activity • Eight area colleges and universities with renowned academic programs and enrollment of more than 114,000 students 4.) Memphis, TN 5.) Nashville, TN 6.) Norfolk - Virginia Beach, VA 7.) San Antonio, TX 8.) Houston, TX 9.) Dallas - Fort Worth, TX 10.) Atlanta, GA Source: Entrepreneur.com

T.I.C. Hometown: Bartlett, Texas New Album : Confidential The Untold Story Websites: myspace.com/254yapboyz and www.rtrrecords.com Label : Realer Than Real Records

Being that you’re from Texas, do you have anything that’s chopped and screwed on this album ? No, it’s a little different flow than what comes from Texas. How does what you do differ from what we normally hear from Texas ? Basically, it ain’t all that sippin’ on something. I’m telling more of a story about what’s really going on. Texas is so large that artists and labels have been able to maintain pretty good careers without ever leaving. Is your focus mainly on Texas right now ? We trying to take it outside the state. Like where? Atlanta, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arizona. What type promotion do yall do? We got our myspace page. We got our own website, and we got a little store called Mixtape Heaven. Plus, we doing shows as well. We performed at The Mississippi Hip-Hop Conference, and we coming back to Mississippi for The Southern Entertainment Awards. Our album will be available the first part of 2008.

DICK JAMES Hometown: Columbus, Mississippi / Columbia, SC Company: I’m On It Man Promotions Inc. Services: Street Team Promotions Website: myspace.com/quotdownsouthoriginalsquotinc

What exactly is I’m On It Man Promotions ? A marketing, advertising, and promotional street team. We take budgets from artists, companies, and advertising firms. Whoever wants promotion in the streets. Who are yall workin with ? Our first project was Big Bub. You know, the former lead singer of the group Today. They had hits like Why You Gettin’ Funky on Me, Him or Me, Zoom Zoom, and Tellin’ Me Stories. We got smoke from Field Mob. We got his new project. We got Lil’ Mo, and just landed Jre’ Riley from Making The Band 4. You’re also an artist right ? Yes Sir ! Be looking for that new one from Dick James around the summer. Who’s distributing it? Koch right now. Did you start this company? Yeah, me and my partner Michael “Diamond” Ross back in 2005. His father was the original lead singer of The Drifters. Be looking for Big Bub’s long awaited album, Tug of War around the first part of the second quarter.

U.T.H. Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana New Album : H.O.M.E. Websites : myspace.com/iikolerecords and myspace.com/homeuth Members: Willie Wayne and Mic T Label : II Kole Records

What are yall trying to accomplish with this new release? Wayne: U know, u got a lot of cats coming outta Baton Rouge now, and we just trying to leave our mark in the game. We ain’t just focusing on trying to make hits; we trying to make classics. What’s it like for your average independent artist in Baton Rouge ? Is anyone besides Boosie and Webbie getting any spins ? Wayne: You got a couple other cats here gettin’ some spins. There’s a movement going on here ya dig ? But unless you know somebody you ain’t really gonna get no spins. Has Katrina slowed you or the label down from working the New Orleans area in any way? Mic: It actually brought us together. People from Baton Rouge and New Orleans started to clickclack together. We’ve seen yall out hustling in Mobile, Alabama, and here in Columbus, Mississippi. What’s your promotional goals? Mic: Just to make sure we’ve got all our t’s crossed and i’s dotted. We want good product. We wanna hit all these conferences. We been getting a lot of love at the ones we’ve been to. It’s all a learning experience for us. We definitely tryin’ to network.

MAKNOLIA BOYZ P Dawg/Baby Lotto

P-Dub

T.O.

TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI Words and Photo : Anthony Colom

a k n o l i a Boyz what’s happening ? You got it man.

Let’s start off with some names. You got T.O., P Dawg slash Baby Lotto, and P Dub. Tell us something about yourselves. T.O. : We started out grindin’ about 2 years ago in Tupelo, Mississippi. I hooked up with my boy P. Dub. We been doing a lot of local shows around Tupelo with Yo Gotti, Kia Shine, La Chat, and David Banner. We just tryin’ to keep God first and get up outta here. Tell us what u have to offer us as far as some material to listen to. P-Dub: We got an

album that we’ve completed c a l l e d We l c o m e To Mississippi. It’s off the hook. Yall need to check that out. We already started on another project.

are u trying to target with this cd ? P Dub: We really tryin to hit all ages..... from 10 to 80. T.O: We got songs for kids, ladies...... we ain’t disrepecting nobody either.

Are yall doing anything speP Dawg: They playing us right now on 92.5 (WESE) in Tupelo. And it’s a Clear Channel station.

cial to promote your current cd? P Dawg: We just out here in these streets trying to grind it out. We out here doing it like u suppose to do it.

Are yall marketing yourselves outside of Tupelo and Lee County ? P Dawg : Yeah, we through with Tupelo. It’s time to hit Columbus, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, New Orleans, Baton Rouge..... wherever.

U guys seem to be some young cats. What age group

myspace.com/maknoliaboyzent

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Follow The Leader !

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LET’S FACE IT Answer from page 11

LL Cool J

JOHNSON BOY SHAW, MISSISSIPPI ohnson Boy, who are u and where are u from ? I’m Johnson Boy and I’m from S h a w , Mississippi. That’s in the Mississippi delta area. They call me ”The Star of The Delta.”

Oh yeah ! Why do they call u that ? They’ve been calling me that ever since I went out to Hollywood and performed at The Hittmenn DJs Retreat. How did that come about ? Well, u know, my man Bigg V is part of the Hittmenn DJ crew. How long have u been in the business? I’ve been at since 2004. 26 I The New Power I

How many CDs have u done so far? Zero. The CD approach is not my approach. I don’t do CDs. I do singles. How many singles have u released ? I’ve done 4 so far. What’s your strategy behind that? It’s cheaper and quicker for me to do singles to create a buzz and keep it moving. I’ve heard u say that u don’t work a regular job, and that u do this full time. So are u doing well enough to support yourself, or do u have someone backing u? Naw, I ain’t got nobody backing me. I’m always getting calls for shows. I stay busy with this. Just a while back I performed in Leland, Mississippi, left there and did The Mississippi Hip-Hop

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Conference in Columbus the next day; then performed in Jackson at the Down South DJ’s Music Day the next day (Sunday). Then on Monday I was in Atlanta at The BET HipHop Awards. So I get out here and work these streets man. I flood the streets with my music. I’ve hit the delta, Jackson, Memphis, Lousiville, Kentucky, they were big on my single I’m Fresh. I sent a case up there and my workers flooded the streets with em. I went up there 2 weeks later and saw the results I was looking for. The gulf coast is the only placed in the state I haven’t touched yet. Anybody helping u with the production? Yeah Mr. Mott from Shaw, and D Neeze from Clarksdale. Man, I wanna say that I support all of my DJs, like the Hot Jocks DJ crew. They’re a local DJ crew. The DJs around here put in a lot of work and go out of their way to try to break music, but they don’t get a lot of recognition for it. They’re about to start a movement in the Mississippi delta. They’re link from Greenwood to Greenville, to back over to some parts of Arkansas. Bigg V. and DJ Kool - Laid are helping me with my decision making. Are u pleased with the direction? Awh yeah ! These guys are actually trying to help other artists in this area. They’re Hot Jocks by the way. What are u working on right now? I’m doing a mix tape with DJ Kool - Laid for The Southern Entertainment Awards. I think it’s gone be called Menace To The Industry. My new single coming in January called I’m A Beast. Words: Anthony Colom

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(662) 251-0075 Be Seen Or Be Forgotten !

THE HIP-HOP CONGRESS and M.A.P. COALITION PRESENT

$25 Advance Tickets / $30 at the door Contact: 601.817.6005 / E-mail: mapcoalition@gmail.com

HAL and MAL’S / NOON - UNTIL 200 Commerce St. [ Downtown ]

JACKSON, MS