Ozone Mag All Star Weekend 2012 special edition

WELCOMETO ORLANDO

G FEATURIN

FELLA & POLA

ALL STAR 2012

**special edition**

+

POKEY // ARMSTRONG TRICK DADDY // DJ CHINO lady // famous kid brick DJ PROSTYLE // DON TRIP & MORE

WELCOMETO ORLANDO

ALL STAR 2012

**special edition**

G FEATURIN

POKEY

+

FELLA // POLA // dJ CHINO ARMSTRONG // TRICK DADDY lady // famous kid brick DJ PROSTYLE // DON TRIP & MORE

OZONE MAG // 7

ALL STAR 2012: WELCOMETO ORLANDO SIDE A PUBLISHER: Julia Beverly CONTRIBUTORS & CREW: Jason Potts Stephanie “Eleven8” Ogbogu Terrence Tyson

11 17 12-14 15 16-17 19 20-21 26-27

ORLANDO MAP DJ CHINO EVENT LISTING CLUB LISTING DJ PROSTYLE PHOTO GALLERY DON TRIP FAMOUS KID BRICK

PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR: Malik Abdul

22-23 FELLA 24-25 POLA

STREET TEAMS: Big Mouth Marketing DJ Slym Lex Promotions Strictly Streets

SIDE b

COVER CREDITS: Fella & Pola photo by Terrence Tyson; Pokey photo by Julia Beverly.

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CONTACT US: Phone: 404-350-3887 Fax: 404-601-9523 Web: www.ozonemag.com

12-14 POKEY

PHOTO GALLERY LADY ARMSTRONG TRICK DADDY

DISCLAIMER: OZONE does not take responsibility for unsolicited materials, misinformation, typographical errors, or misprints. The views contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or its advertisers. Ads appearing in this magazine are not an endorsement or validation by OZONE Magazine for products or services offered.

All photos and illustrations are copyrighted by their respective artists. All other content is copyright 2012 OZONE Magazine, all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publisher. Printed in the USA.

OZONE MAG // 9

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MAP

ORLANDO, FL

OZONE MAG // 11

ORLANDO

Event

LISTING

compiled by @MercedesStreets

WEDNESDAY, FEbRUARY 22 Kevin Hart @ Hard Rock Live 7:30 PM & 10:30 PM KHartOnline.com or HardRock.com --Welcome 2 Orlando Party @ Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club (1310 S. Orange Blossom Trail) Music by Disco JR, DJ Koolaid, & DJ Phat Star

THURSDAY, FEbRUARY 23 Ball Like A Dawg Music Showcase & Beat Battle @ LAX (3 PM - 6 PM) 407-298-0140 --Off The Court Fashion Show 7 PM - 11 PM & afterparty 11 PM - 3 AM @ Terrace 390 (390 N. Orange Ave.) 2012AllStarFashionShow.com --Kevin Hart @ Hard Rock Live 7:30 PM & 10:30 PM KHartOnline.com or HardRock.com --WSHH party with Dwight Howard & the WorldStar Hip Hop Honeys @ Roxy Hosted by Disco JR, City, DJ Nasty 305, & DJ Q45 (Table Reservations: 407.579.3657 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com) www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --A Grey Goose Thursday with Kid Capri + Biz Markie @ Majestic (Table Reservations: Call (407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@ gmail.com) www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --5th Annual Dwyane Wade & Friends Red Carpet Soiree @ VAiN Night Club Music by DJ Irie, DJ Noodles, DJ Entice, DJ EFeezy, & DJ Mark Da Spot Reservations 407.318.4668 Email: Reservations@VAiNOrlando.com --Fabolous & Red Cafe @ Cheyenne Saloon (128 W. Church St.) www.BestAllStarEver.com or 347-829-4166

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Wale & Rocko @ LAX www.NBAallstar2012lax.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Red Cafe, Meek Mill, French Montana, DJ Nasty, & DJ Sean Macnificent @ The Beacham (46 N. Orange Ave) AllStarWeekend2012Events@gmail.com www.AllStarWeekendParties2012.com --Rozay All-Star Bash with Rick Ross performing live, hosted by Amber Rose @ Roxy Nightclub Music by Cool Runnings DJs, Disco JR, City, DJ Nasty, DJ Nasty 305, & DJ Scream Table Reservations: 407.579.3657 Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Dwight Howard presents Floyd Mayweather’s All-Star Birthday Bash @ Vain Nightclub, 9 PM - 4 AM Music by DJ Prostyle, DJ Infa-Red, DJ Q45, DJ Nice, & DJ Mark da Spot Reservations 407.318.4668 Email: Reservations@VAiNOrlando.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Grey Goose Terrace with Miguel LIVE + Biz Markie @ Terrace 390 Table Reservations: 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Black Hollywood w/The Game Cast Members Malik Wright & Derwin Davis + R. Kelly @ Majestic (801 North John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL 32804) Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Ace Hood & Kevin Cossom @ Senso Table Reservations: Call 407.770.8177 Email: Kheeppromo@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Keith Bogan’s All Star Homecoming @ H20 Church (100 W Livingston St) Music by Voice of da Streets & DJ Brizzy Hosted by Talk of Orlando INFO: AllStarParty2012@gmail.com 407-212-7640 www.VOSDJs.com --Kevin Hart & Eva Marcille @ the Ciroc Museum 9 PM - 3 AM @ the Orlando Science Center (777 Princeton St.) www.TheCirocMuseum.com

Ciroc vs. Moscato All U Can Drink Party @ Rodeway Ultra Lounge/Convention Center (7050 S. Kirkman Rd.) Info: 888-651-9711 --Ty Nitty @ FJ Wired Live @ Chakra (10028 University Blvd.) 9 PM - 3 AM --Birdman @ Cheyenne Saloon (128 W. Church St.) www.BestAllStarEver.com or 347-829-4166 --Rep Your Team party hosted by Rob w/ DJ Blaze @ 57 West (57 W. Pine St.) Info: 407-416-6433 --Xpensive Habits Party @ Sheltair Private Hangar (321 N. Crystal Lake Dr.) w/ Fabolous performing live, hosted by NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant & Daymond John of ABC’s Shark Tank Music by Lil Jon, DJ Irie, & DJ Affect VIP: (321)276-5608, www.WanTickets.com --TI @ LAX www.NBAallstar2012lax.com --South Beach Takeover Poe Boy Edition w/ GunPlay, Brianna, Brisco, & Billy Blue @ Club Melo (9677 S. Orange Blossom Trail) Info: 786316-5954 --Rookie/Sophomore Game Afterparty w/ Future & Wale performing live in concert @ BB King’s Blues Club @ 10 PM - TicketAnnex.com or Wildside Clothing 407-802-9631 --Uncle Luke & Cherokee D’Ass @ Club Dream (7017 S. Orange Blossom Trail) --Klere City concert @ Starlyte Party Hall (4563 Orange Blossom Trail) 407-844-9769 --Ciroc presents the 12th Annual NBA All Star afterhours Glamour & Magic Gallery @ Avalon Island (39 S. Magnolia Ave.) 12 AM - 6 AM Music by DJ Casper, DJ SNS, & Freestyle Steve www.MiamiTakeover2012.com

SATURDAY, FEbRUARY 25 Plies Car Show & Day Party @ Roxy (1 PM - 7 PM) 407-579-3657 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Day Party w/ Doug E. Fresh & Biz Markie @ Draft ( 2 PM - 9 PM) Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com

Day Party with Big Tigger & Kid Capri @ Terrace 390 (2 PM - 8 PM) Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --All Star Youth Step Show w/ DJ Niecy D @ Jones High School (801 S. Rio Grande) Info: 407-810-2675 or GBR250@aol.com --Next 2 Blow Hip Hop & R&B Artist Showcase / Models & Bottles Afterparty @ Rodeway Ultra Lounge / Convention Center (7050 S. Kirkman Rd.) 888-651-9711 --Rick Ross All Star Weekend Extravaganza @ Sheltair Private Hangar (321 N. Crystal Lake Dr.) Music by DJ LS-One & DJ E-Feezy Table Reservations: 786-374-7475 Email: RSVP@400life.com VIP: 305-528-4954 www.EZVIP.com/400Life --Wayne’s World featuring Lil Wayne & Dwight Howard @ The Executive Airport Hanger (437 Rickenbacker Dr) 10 PM - 4 AM Music by DJ Q45, DJ M-Squared, & DJ Demp Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Dwyane Wade & Friends @ Majestic Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --All Star Weekend Undisputed 2012 hosted by Lebron James, Floyd Mayweather, Chris Paul, Kevin Hart, & Kenny Burns @ The Ballroom Music by DJ Prostyle, DJ D-Strong, DJ Young Guru undisputedallstar2012.com or 321-400-4789 --Rose Party hosted by Trina & Gucci Mane @ Dream Nightclub (9 PM - 6 AM) 7017 S. Orange Blossom Trail Music by Disco JR --Chris Brown @ Roxy Table Reservations: 407-579-3657 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --East vs. West Party w/ DJ ET, DJ Karl, & DJ Blaze @ 57 West (57 W. Pine St.) Info: 407-416-6433 --Young Jeezy @ LAX (NBAallstar2012lax.com)

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The Big Apple New York State of Mind with Carmelo Anthony & Fabolous @ Vain Nightclub Music by DJ Camilo, DJ Chino, DJ Infa-Red, & DJ Mark Da Spot 407-318-4668 Reservations@VAiNOrlando.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Rookies of the Year hosted by J Cole, John Wall, & Wankaego @ Firestone Live Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Pillow Talk (an R&B event) @ Senso Supper Club) w/ DJ Dev, DJ Byrd, Claude Studios, & Dynasty Models 407-770-8177 or Kheeppromo@gmail.com --Ciroc presents the 12th Annual NBA All Star afterhours Glamour & Magic Gallery @ Avalon Island (39 S. Magnolia Ave.) 12 AM - 6 AM Music by DJ Casper, DJ SNS, & Freestyle Steve www.MiamiTakeover2012.com

SUNDAY, FEbRUARY 26 Day Party / Game Viewing Party w/ Kevin Hart @ The Ballroom at Church St. (4 PM - 10 PM) Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Day Party / Game Viewing Party @ Draft w/ Power 95.3 & Star 94.5 (2 PM - 10 PM) Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Day Party / Game Viewing Party w/ Doug E. Fresh @ Terrace 390 (2 PM - 10 PM) Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --All Star Game Watch Party w/ the Homebass DJs Herm T @ Rodeway Ultra Lounge / Convention Center (7050 S. Kirkman Rd.) Info: 888-651-9711 --Official Grand Closing Party w/ Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Brittany Ireland, DJ Nasty, & DJ Sean Macnificent @ The Beacham (46 N. Orange Ave.) AllStarWeekend2012Events@gmail.com www.AllStarWeekendParties2012.com --Ciroc Party with DJ Prostyle @ Heaven Nightclub (10 PM - 3 AM) 8240 Exchange Dr.

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You Only Live Once w/ Drake & Dwight Howard @ Showalter Executive Airport (437 Rickenbacker Dr.) 407-490-6134 Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Mary J. Blige & R. Kelly @ Majestic Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Cash Money Close Out: Birdman & Friends @ Roxy Table Reservations: 407-579-3657 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Playboy Playmates All-Star Party @ Terrace 390 Table Reservations: Call 407-490-6134 Email: Nightlifereservations@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --Money 2 The Ceiling Party hosted by Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz, & Drumma Boy @ Dream Nightclub (9 PM - 6 AM) 7017 S. Orange Blossom Trail --Somaya Reece, Chingy, Ricky Padilla, & more @ Senso 407-770-8177 or kheeppromo@gmail.com www.WeAreAllStarWeekend.com --All Star Game Afterparty w/ Young Jeezy & DJ Drama Live in Concert @ BB King’s Blues Club Music by Tony Neal, DJ Demp, DJ C-Lo - 10 PM www.ticketannex.com or Wildside Clothing 407-802-9631 --Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka, Future, & Yo Gotti @ LAX (www.NBAallstar2012lax.com) --South Beach Takeover w/ Trina @ Club Melo (9677 S. Orange Blossom Trail) 786-316-5954 --Ciroc presents the 12th Annual NBA All Star afterhours Glamour & Magic Gallery @ Avalon Island (39 S. Magnolia Ave.) 12 AM - 6 AM Music by DJ Casper, DJ SNS, & Freestyle Steve www.MiamiTakeover2012.com

MONDAY, FEbRUARY 27 King of Diamonds Takeover @ LAX www.NBAallstar2012lax.com

ORLANDO

CLUB LISTING 11/12 NIGHTCLUB 843 Lee Road Orlando, FL 32810 (407)539-3410 @1112Lounge www.1112Lounge.com

CLEO’S GENTLEMEN’S CLUB 1310 S Orange Blossom Trl Orlando, FL 32805 (407)839-8559

CLUB 23 23 W Church St Orlando, FL 32801 (407)420-1111 @real23orlando www.23orlando.com

CLUB STATUS 912 West Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32804 (407)839-1242

57 WEST 57 West Pine St Orlando, FL 32801 (407)872-0084 @club57west www.club57west.com ANTIGUA 41 W Church St Orlando, FL 32801 (407)649-4270 @AntiguaOrlando www.AntiguaOrlando. com BAR 1 1 South Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 www.facebook.com/ barone.orlando B.B. KINGS 9101 International Dr Orlando, FL 32819 (407)370-4550 @BBKingsOrlando www.BBKingClubs.com THE BEACHAM 46 N. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 (407)246-1419 @BeachamOrlando www.TheBeacham.com BLISS ULTRA LOUNGE 123 West Church Street Orlando, FL 32801 (407)849-5060 @BlissOrlando www.BlissOrlando.com BOSS 39 W. Pine St Orlando, FL 32801 (407)497-2677 @BossOrlando www.BossOrlando.com

DRAFT 301/333 W Church St Orlando, FL 32801 (407)826-1872 @DraftOrlando www.DraftOrlando.com DRAGON ROOM 25 West Church St Orlando, FL 32801 (407) 843-8600 @DragonRoom www.DragonRoomOrlando.com FIRESTONE LIVE 578 North Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 (407)872-0066 @FirestoneLive www.FirestoneLive.net THE GROOVE CityWalk at Universal Orlando 6000 Universal Blvd.

(407)363-8000 HARD ROCK HardRock.com Universal CityWalk 407-351-5483 HOUSE OF BLUES 1490 E. Buena Vista Dr. Lake Buena Vista, FL (407)934-BLUE www.HOB.com KOHA NIGHTCLUB 426 E. Kennedy Eatonville, FL (407)740-0556 CLUB LAX 7430 Universal Blvd Orlando, FL 32819 (407)351-9800 @LAXVenue www.laxvenue.com

THE LEGACY CLUB 3925 Clarcona Ocoee Rd Orlando, FL 32810 LEGACY ULTRA LOUNGE 655 N Kirkman Rd Orlando, FL 32808 @KINGSofLIQUOR1 CLUB LIMELIGHT 367 North Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801-1638 (407)648-9800 @LimeLiteOrlando www.LimeLiteOrlando. com LUX ULTRA LOUNGE 5688 International Dr Orlando, FL 32819 (407)352-8838 www.LUXOrlando.com MOTOWN CAFE Universal CityWalk (407)363-8000 THE ROXY 740 Bennett Rd. Orlando, FL 32803 (407)898-4004 www.RoxyOrlando.com SANTA FE 630 Emeralda Rd Suite 105 Orlando, FL 32818 SENSO 13 S. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 (407)246-1755 @SensoOrlando www.SensoSupperClub.com THE SOCIAL 54 N Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 (407)246-1419 @SocialOrlando www.TheSocial.org SKY60 60 North Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 (407)246-1599 @SkySixty www.SkySixty.com TAVERN ON THE LAKE 6996 Piazza Grande Ave Orlando, FL 32835 (407)341-4417

Orlando, FL 32801 (407)425-2445 @Terrace390 www.Terrace390.com TESSA 2425 A South Hiawassee Road Orlando, FL 32835 (407)373-0005 TOUCH 55 West Church St Orlando, FL 32801 (888)455-2634 @TouchDowntown www.Touch-Orlando. com VAIN in 3D 22 S Magnolia Ave Orlando, FL 32801 (407) 835-3590 @VAiNOrlando www.vainorlando.com VINTAGE LOUNGE 114 S. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 (877)386-7346 @VintageOrlando www.TheVintageLounge.com

OTHER VENUES AMWAY CENTER 400 West Church Street Orlando (407) 849-2000 www.AmwayCenter. com CENTRAL FLORIDA FAIRGROUNDS 4903 W. Colonial Drive Orlando, FL EASTMONTE CIVIC CENTER 830 Magnolia Drive Altamonte Springs, FL EXPO CENTER 500 W. Livingston (across from TD Waterhouse) Orlando, FL

TERRACE 390 390 N. Orange Ave OZONE MAG // 15

DJ PROSTYLE

You’re full-time in New York now, but at one time, you were an OZONE staple and arguably the biggest DJ in Orlando. It’s only right that we check in with you during Orlando’s All Star weekend. How does DJing in the two markets compare?

I think my time spent in Orlando is a major reason, if not the only reason, that I was able to become successful in New York. They say if you could make it in New York you could make it anywhere, so when I talk to people [from Orlando] sometimes, they can’t believe I blew up in New York. I think sometimes coming from smaller cities, you have to actually go out there and create your own opportunities. I think you end up building a more aggressive attitude towards getting things done. Obviously the competition level in a bigger city is gonna be bigger, but I think my time in Orlando just helped me to build a more aggressive, go-for-it, all-or-nothing, I’m-not-waiting-for-it-to-come-to-me, I’m-gonna-go-get-it-myself attitude. I think being in Orlando helped me tremendously with the success I’ve had in New York.

So if you can make it in Orlando, you can make it anywhere?

I think if you can make it in Orlando or any small city, it’s going to help you when you get to a bigger city. There are a lot of tools that bigger cities have to help you out, so when you’re in a smaller ciy, you have to work harder to try to figure out how to get it done. Same with you, starting the magazine.

I know you’ve been doing a lot of stuff with BET, Ciroc, Power 105 – what all are you working on?

I’m so busy right now. I’m Mr. No Days Off. I’m on the radio station Monday through Friday, 2-6 PM. I have my own show on Power 105 in New York. I’m still doing BET, but my scheduling is crazy. I’m on the radio til 6 and [BET 106th & Park] starts at 6, so it’s hard for me to be on, but we’re trying to work the scheduling out. I rep the Ciroc Boys heavy; I talk to Diddy all the time. I’m working on music on the side and I co-own a clothing line called LaVie Clothing.

We’re in 600 stores nationwide already.

You’ve been running a lot lately and focusing on fitness and health too. What prompted that?

When I saw you in Atlanta and you said you were in shape because you’d been running. (laughs) I’ve been running for a while now. It’s crazy, but it goes back to Orlando. In Orlando it’s always hot, so you wanna be in shape so you can wear tank tops and go to the pool. I’m in the club literally every single night, no days off, Monday through Sunday. Doing the radio all day and the clubs all night, aside from [maintaining] my look, I know physically I have to make sure I can maintain that schedule. You might see me in the club partying at night, but I’m back on the treadmill or bike the next day running off that liquor from the night before. I have to make sure my body stays healthy, because if you overwork yourself you can break down and collapse. I’m just trying to do a lot of cardio and make sure I stay in shape. If you’re just drinking every night and not keeping yourself active, that liquor can really destroy your insides. I don’t pop bottles every single 16 // OZONE MAG

night, but I probably party a lot harder than the average person. You’ve just gotta balance it out.

We first interviewed you in one of the first issues of OZONE, about ten years ago. Since then, what’s one of the craziest parties you’ve DJed? That’s so hard. It’s almost impossible. People ask me that question all the time and it’s like my favorite record, which changes all the time. I’ve said so many times, “That was the craziest party ever,” that I’ve lost track. For me it’s not even about the celebrities anymore.

I could care less about who is at the party.

At this point it’s more about the atmosphere and where the party is. I did a party on an island recently – I think it was St. Maarten – and the club was built on top of the ocean.

The DJ booth was built on the rocks and the waves were crashing beneath me. It was just a crazy atmosphere. That gets me going more than just a party with ten or fifteen celebs in the building.

Are you DJing any events during All Star weekend?

Absolutely. I might be flying in Thursday to

do something with Red Cafe and Fabolous.

Friday I’ll be at Vain with Dwight Howard and Floyd Mayweather. There’s a lot of artists like 50 Cent and Pitbull and Meek Mill who have been hitting me asking what parties I’m doing. Saturday I’m doing the Ballroom party with Lebron James and Sunday I’m doing LAX and something else. Hit me on Twitter because things change so fast. I’ve heard that the city is going to be shutting down the downtown area completely, so be prepared for a lot of traffic. But I think Orlando is definitely one of the best cities to do something like this, because there are so many other things to do during the daytime.

Is there anything else you want to add?

For everybody who loves Hip Hop, I’m launching my own channel on iHeart Radio.

We’re putting it together now. It’s gonna be 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Hip Hop in the mix with some of the hottest DJs in the country. Whenever you tune into the channel it’s gonna be like a nonstop party. // Twitter: @DJProstyle Words by Julia Beverly

DJ Chino's Top 10 Orlando Hot Spots

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PHOTO: DWAYNE MOORE

1

VAiN 3D Nightclub - Orlando's biggest nightclub with 3 rooms to party. Star studded events starting Thursday through Sunday that include Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard and Floyd Mayweather. www.vainorlando.com The Beacham - One of Orlando's legendary concert venues. All Star performances by Meek Mill and Rick Ross to name a few. www.thebeacham.com Roxy Nightclub - High energy dance club with 2 levels to party. Featuring Chris Brown, Amber Rose, Big Tiger and more. www.roxyorlando.com Firestone Live - Orlando's premium concert venue with a newly renovated VIP and light show. Concert performance by J Cole. Hosted by John Wall. www.firestonelive.net Dragon Room Boutique - Orlando's hottest lounge located on Church Street just minutes from Amway Center. Parties include Jameer Nelson & Friends Welcome to Orlando party. www.dragonroomorlando.com Tier Nightclub - Orlando's newest nightclub with 2 levels to party.

Parties hosted by Jeremy Lin and DJ Clue. www.tiernightclub.com Cheyenne Saloon - Orlando's historic bar reopens for All Star Weekend. Some of the parties include P Diddy, Fabolous and Red Cafe.

23 Orlando - Orlando's most exclusive venue with an intimate VIP lounge, known for drawing celebrity clientele. Parties include the All Star Warm Up with Central Florida's 3 biggest radio stations. www.23orlando.com Terrace 390 - Restaurant and bar with events including Biz Markie, Doug E Fresh, and Miguel. www.terrace390.com 180 Grey Goose Lounge - Lounge located inside of the Amway Center with the best view of Downtown Orlando's skyline. www.180downtown.com

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DUVAL DIAMOND AWARDS WEEK PHOTO GALLERY (JACKSONVILLE, FL) Photos courtesy of Terrence Tyson 01: Jimi Nu, Bigga Rankin, & Armstrong 02: Alley Boy, Lil Duval, & Ms Dynasty 03: J Dash & T-Roy 04: Whyl Chyl & Bigga Rankin 05: Lil Jug & Trap City Ent 06: J Dash, guest, & Grand Prix 07: T-Juan & Terrence Tyson 08: Tony Neal & Elora Mason 09: DJ Nasty 305 & Freezy 10: Lil Jug, Bigga Rankin, & TJ da DJ 11: Lil Jug & Tokyo Jetz 12: Nisha Rockstar & guest 13: Bigga Rankin & DJ Spinatik 14: Selector J & Tony Neal 15: Billy Blue, Whyl Chyl, & Lil Duval 16: Dred, DJ Spinatik, & Yun Quan 17: Bigga Rankin & Armstrong 18: Nephew & R&B Sanga 19: Pretty Ricky, Yung Trap, & Grand Prix 20: Guest, Bigga Rankin, Dorrough Music, DJ Merk, Treal Lee & Prince Rick 21: Lil Duval & Ms Dynasty

OZONE MAG // 19

Don Trip Words & Photo

by Julia Beverly

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MEMPHIS RAPPER DON TRIP LANDED A RECORD DEAL WITH INTERSCOPE AFTER VENTING HIS BABY MAMA DRAMA ON “LETTER TO MY SON.” When I first heard your name, I thought it was a play on words, like, “Don’t trip.” That’s not what it means though, right?

Of course not. Actually, I didn’t pick the name Don. Back when I was fifteen, I used to battle rap. In one of the battle raps I referred to myself as a “Don” and the [fans] started calling me Don. It was something that just fit. I felt like I couldn’t just be The Don, so I added Trip. It was like the scene in 8 Mile where they’re at the factory at the lunch truck, like a little cipher.

When you talk about battle rapping, that’s perceived as a New York thing. You don’t see too many Southern battle rappers.

I think anybody who considers themselves a lyricist at one point or another came from battle rapping. I don’t think battle rapping is a successful craft in music because you can’t make money from that. You can only do SMACK DVDs for so long. People want to hear records, and nine times out of ten, battle rappers can’t make records. I loved battle rapping more when I was sixteen.

Do you think lyricism is a lost art form in Southern rap?

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. I’d just say that individuality is a lost art in music, period.

So is that why you decided to come out with a more meaningful record and speak on some real topics?

Actually, I just got lucky with “Letter To My Son.” I was just pouring out my heart. That’s what I do. That’s not the only one I recorded with my heart in it, it just so happened to be the one that the world caught onto. And since they caught on, I wasn’t going to say, “Hey, let me play these twelve other records for you, we don’t want to do this one.” It made me quite a bit of money, so I have no problem with it. It caught [Interscope’s] attention once it gained twelve million views without a record deal.

It seems like they’re putting a push behind your project. It’s not easy to become a priority at a label like Interscope. What else do you think impressed them about you?

The fact that I have more music where I’m

pouring my heart out. I think the first thing they wanted to see was reassurance that that wasn’t my only record. I’ve got seventy songs set aside for the album right now and Interscope has only heard five. Even they don’t know what they’ve got right now.

What’s the process when you narrow down seventy songs to twelve? What are you looking for in those records?

I’m just trying to make a movie in my head. It’s difficult because there’s seventy records, and of course I’m in love with all seventy record. That’s why I have to trust people around me as well as trust my own judgment. I have to pick twelve to sixteen records that can work, and it’s a little difficult to pick sixteen songs out of seventy.

It’s like picking out your kids. It’s like picking sixteen of your kids if you’ve got seventy. Hopefully nobody has seventy kids. (laughs) Have things improved with the mother of your child since “Letter To My Son”?

Has she commented on the record?

Yeah, she comments a lot. It’s improved, but it’s still shaky. I have to take it one day at a time. It’s a lot better than it was at first but sometimes it gets a little difficult.

She must have had some redeeming qualities for you to procreate with her.

I mean, I don’t hate her. I’m not mad at her, I’m mad at how she’s taking the situation. I don’t think that’s the proper way to handle it. I mean, we could’ve done anything [else]. I don’t think holding my child against me is the proper way to punish me for whatever we’ve been through.

Have you been able to find any legal remedies to make the situation better?

No, none whatsoever. But Interscope gave me a nice Christmas gift so I think I might be able to take care of that now. I’ve got enough money to afford real attorneys.

We’re not Lamborghini rich right now but we can afford attorneys...

To continue reading, log on to ozonemag. com or youtube.com/ozonemag Twitter: @MrDonTrip

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Fella Words by Julia Beverly Photo by Terrence Tyson

ATHLETES TRACY MCGRADY, AMARE STOUDEMIRE, AND RAY LEWIS HAIL FROM FLORIDA’S POLK COUNTY, BUT ASIDE FROM THE REGIONAL SUCCESS OF LOCAL RAP GROUP OHB’S “PARALYZED,” THE AREA HAS YET TO SEE A RAPPER BREAK THROUGH. FELLA GAINED A REPUTATION AS AN UP-ANDCOMING RAPPER WHILE SERVING A TWO YEAR SENTENCE AT BREVARD CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. HE LANDED A DEAL WITH BIG GATES RECORDS SOON AFTER HIS RELEASE, BUT NOW THAT THE DEAL HAS GONE SOUR, HOPES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS ON HIS OWN.

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Most people know you through your affiliation with Plies and Big Gates Records.

What’s your status right now?

I’m still signed to Big Gates Records, but I’m really out here going independent and doing what I gotta do because everybody can see they ain’t doing nothing for me. My lawyers are in the process of getting my contract terminated, it just takes time. So I’m going to keep trying to make a name for myself and drop these mixtapes and stay relevant in the streets.

Your signing seemed like a good fit musically. What happened?

I don’t know. When I first signed, everything was good. We were a family. My goal was just to brand the name, and if you listen to all my mixtapes, I was going hard with Big Gates Records. Shit just went downhill. I used to get calls from people that were around them telling me certain things. Me just coming home from prison, I was trying to play my position, but I guess every nigga has their own definition of what a “real nigga” is.

I don’t wanna make this interview all about them, but the fans wanna know the truth.

My problem was never with Plies. It’s just Big Gates, the CEO. I guess he never had that much money before and then he came home [from prison] and got power struck.

Plies is 100, it’s just his brother, man. He fired everybody on the staff by email. He fired some people just because they’re still affiliated with me. I guess Plies feels like if it wasn’t for his brother he wouldn’t be where he’s at right now so he follows in his brother’s footsteps. If he would be his own man and stand up for what he always said he believes in, he’d be a better dude.

Big Gates always told me if we ever came to a disagreement, they’re real niggas and they’d just give me my papers and let me go. He said he’d never hinder my situation, but now he’s going to a lot of websites and blocking my mixtapes. There’s only a few DJs and websites that will fuck with my situation because of what my label is putting me through. [Big Gates] deleted my whole YouTube account. And I see them around, we don’t stay far from each other. I see Big Gates at the bank and he says, “We gon’ sit down and talk at the round table,” and then goes back to talking about me on Twitter and deletes my whole YouTube account so people can’t find my music. People don’t know what I’m going through out here.

Were you also ghostwriting records for other artists on the label?

Yeah, I wrote [Plies’] records “Chirpin’,” “Bricks On Me,” “On Yac,” Everything is going to come to light in due time. I wrote Lady’s biggest street hit “I Need.”

Promoters were calling trying to book me for shows and my label was playing with them. I had movie offers but Big Gates was fucking my shit up so bad niggas were running away from it.

Why were you in prison?

For selling dope. I got signed right after I came home and I wasn’t even scoping for a deal. A lot of dudes are mad or jealous at my position because they felt like it was handed to me, but what God got for you is for you. I thank God every day for the position he put me in. I utilized that prison time wisely and then came home and got a son, so that really motivated me.

My mom is doing ten years in prison and I don’t know who my father is, so I’ve got two little brothers to look out for and a son. That’s why I go so hard and that’s why I refuse to let these niggas take me down.

I got my mama in prison doing ten years and my nephew doing 25 and they’re rooting for me, so I’ve gotta go hard.

So assuming you’re able to get out of your label situation, what’s the next move?

Just to keep going hard in these streets until I catch the attention of a major label.

They were looking at me when I first came in the game so I’ve just gotta keep going at it 100 and dropping this hot music that people wanna hear, not this fake dictionary shit these niggas are on. Some of these rappers are assassinating the character of real niggas, for real. I’ve only been rapping for two years and I feel like I’ve made good progress.

What do you plan to release in 2012?

I’ve got The Prescription mixtape coming out on February 24th with Bigga Rankin.

That’s my fifth mixtape. The others are all on DatPiff and LiveMixtapes.com. // Twitter: @FellaOnYac Facebook: MrFellaOnYac

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Pola Words by Julia Beverly Photo by Terrence Tyson

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Lakeland, Florida native Pola says he was born into the drug game. A four-year prison stint turned his life around and led him to a new mission: music.

Along with his brother Big Tyme and So Dope Records, he aims to put Polk County on the map.

What do you think Polk County needs to make it onto the rap map?

I honestly believe they’re sleeping on us.

It’s me and Fella’s time to shine. Fella kinda did his thing and showed them what was over here, but there’s a lot of talent over here that the industry is really sleeping on.

I’ve got some music for the club scene too but mainly it’s all street. It’s dedicated to the struggle.

What are some of the records you have out know that people know you from?

“Drop To The Bottom” featuring my CEO, Big Tyme. I have a few other songs like “Dope Boy” and “Man In My City” that are known in the streets.

What do you have planned as far as 2012 releases? Do you have a mixtape dropping?

Yeah, I’ve got a mixtape dropping for All Star weekend, If The Truth Be Told. I’m just coming clean about my whole life; it’s pretty much the heart of me. I’m speaking on everything I’ve been through. I got real personal on this project.

What was your background like, and how did you get started rapping?

As far back as I can remember – ever since I was tall enough to see over the nightstand – I was seeing dope, money, and guns. I was honestly born and raised in it. I started writing about six years ago, when I was doing a four year bid in prison for trafficking.

With the free time I had, I just started writing [rhymes]. I let a few people hear it and they liked it, so I continued to do it. When I came home, my brother Big Tyme had a record label, so I linked up with him and So Dope Records.

Why do you call yourself Pola?

You’re gonna laugh, but I actually got that name sittin’ in the trap. One of my junkies got high one day and said, “You know what I’m gonna call you?” I said, “What?” He said, “Polar Bear.” I stuck with it, but I spell it Pola Bair.

When you were selling drugs, obviously you were doing it to make a living, but did coming face-to-face with people whose lives it has destroyed bother you?

Yeah, it bothers you a lot, because when you see people on a daily basis you get caught up in your feelings. You become worried about them. But at the end of the day, like you said, it’s something I ain’t proud of but it’s something I’ve been doing all my life. I mean, I don’t do it no more, but it was something that I just had to deal with. I did it for a living. I never worked, I never had a job, nobody ever gave me nothing. I was honestly born into it. My parents were ex-drug dealers and ex-drug addicts. I was literally born in it so it was something I did for a living. I was never proud of it, but it was something I became good at. You do grow attached to people and worry about them, but you’ve still gotta do what you’ve gotta do.

It’s become cliché for rappers to talk about making money selling drugs.

Since you’ve had those experiences, do you talk about the flip side too?

Yeah, I’ve got a few records like that, like “Struggle,” where I go into detail about it.

[Selling drugs] is something that I honestly don’t glorify, but at the end of the day, I come from where I come from and I can’t change it. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I was born into it so I just made the best out of that situation.

A lot of rappers who talk about the drug game were not born into it; some of them have more of a middle class upbringing and have been criticized for going that direction with their music.

To be honest, I feel like – to each his own.

However they choose to kick it. Rap was just something I picked up during a fouryear bid in prison for trafficking and the only thing I know to rap about are my past experiences. I rap about my life; what I’ve been through and what I’ve seen.

Is there anything else you want to add?

Shout out to my engineer Surplus, Aviator Studios and my engineer L&L Productions.

Look out for If The Truth Be Told. // Twitter: @PolaBair

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Famous Kid Brick Words by Julia Beverly

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FAMOUS KID BRICK AIMS TO BE THE FIRST ARTIST TO BREAK THROUGH FROM ST. PETERSBURG. WITH HEAVY SUPPORT FROM TASTEMAKERS IN THE TAMPA AREA LIKE DJ CHRISTION AND SUPPORT FROM LOCAL RADIO, HE’S GENERATED A BUZZ ALREADY AND IS BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR A BUSY 2012.

What have you been working on since the last time we had you in OZONE? I hear you have a few big radio shows coming up.

Yeah, I’m gonna be doing [WLLD’s] Wildsplash, and two weeks before that I have another big radio show in Ft. Myers. There’s a couple big names on the ticket, Waka Flocka, Machine Gun Kelly, and the legend, DMX. What have you released recently?

Well, last year we were more focused on getting my name out there buzzing, but this year we’re focusing more on building me as an artist. I didn’t wanna just focus on one song. I had a couple big names that believed in me; shout out to DJ Christion.

He put me on a record with Ace Hood and Fat Joe called “In This Bitch.” It’s on YouTube and everything, and it’s getting spins in the UK, Germany, and LA. It’s a big opportunity so I took advantage of it. I’m just doing big features and trying to build my name up.

Who are some of the other upcoming artists from the Tampa area?

Lil Kee; shout out to Lil Kee, 813 Tampa, the whole Keezone family, Strizzo, Javon Black.

Shout out to Tae Bae Bae, he’s coming up too out of Tampa. He’s on the ticket for Wildsplash. Tom G is another Tampa artist that’s doing his thing.

And you’re one of the first artists to really come out of St. Petersburg, right?

They used to say there’s no unity. I’m from St. Petersburg and they don’t feel like St. Pete connects with Tampa artists. I feel like I’m the first artist that really accepted them just on the business side and showed them everything we’re doing on this side so we could work together.

Why did you name it Dotted Lines & Dollar Signs?

I used that title because I feel like this year is the year I’ll probably sign with a major label. I have another mixtape coming too because I wanna introduce my artist. I have my own record label too called F.A.F. and my artist’s name is Crown Marquiss.

We’re gonna call that mixtape Local Fame.

So I have two big mixtapes that I plan on releasing soon, within the next couple months.

You mentioned the record you have out with Ace Hood and Fat Joe. What about other features and producers you’ve been working with – anybody in particular?

Not really. I’m stepping out of the box and working with a couple artists out of Polk County – Versatile Beats and Fingalee out of St. Petersburg. I’ve got a couple producers out of Atlanta who produced my hit single “I’m On It,” they go by the name of Supa Crank It. I just did another song off one of his beats. My record “Lucy Nikki” is like a Top 40/Billboard pop record that’s on the radio down here now. But I don’t wanna be known as just a pop artist, so I have to put another hit in the club and the streets too. I’m pushing that in the club while “Lucy Nikki” is on the radio.

Have you been getting calls from the major labels?

A couple majors hit me up last year when I had just started, but I felt like, “Why sign now?” I decided to just build my name and movement so I’ll be able to negotiate better once I have more under my belt.

We pretty much have Central Florida on lock. // Website: FamousKidBrick.com Twitter: @FamousKidBrick Facebook: FamousKidBrick Youtube: FamousKidBrick

What do you plan to release in 2012?

I’m about to release two mixtapes, one hosted by DJ Smallz and DJ Purfiya, their coalition is called Southern Smoke. It’s gonna be called Dotted Lines & Dollar Signs.

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DUVAL DIAMOND AWARDS WEEK PHOTO GALLERY (JACKSONVILLE, FL) Photos courtesy of Terrence Tyson 01: Alley Boy & Billy Blue 02: Bigga Rankin, Freezy, Whyl Chyl, & Tony Neal 03: Lil Duval, Bigga Rankin, & Ms Dynasty 04: Ivory Orr, Laveranues Coles, & Chos 05: DJ Bigg V & Bigga Rankin 06: Yun Quan & Malik Abdul 07: DJ Q45, T-Roy, & Bigga Rankin 08: Tony Neal & Ms Dynasty 09: DJ Demp, Pretty Eyes, & Dukwon 10: Elora Mason & Terrence Tyson 11: Ms Dynasty & Pretty Eyes 12: Jasmine Rhey & DJ C-Lo 13: Billy Blue & guest 14: Plies & Bigga Rankin 15: Shawn Jay of Field Mob & Yun Quan 16: Bigga Rankin & Alley Boy 17: Malik Abdul, J Dash, & StereoFame crew 18: Young Cash & Henry Manns Jr 19: Armstrong 20: Lil Jug, Whyl Chyl, & guests

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Pokey Words by Julia Beverly Photo by NekaRazzi

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Gary, Indiana based record label PMG (PremierE Music Group) has temporarily set up shop in Atlanta, hoping to bring their brand of Midwest/Southern infused street rap and smooth R&B to the forefront.

OZONE sat down with Pokey, fellow artists Wayne Blazed, Yosontala, Philmo the Clever Kid, and his business partner Mike D TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE. You’ve been rapping for a while, but what was it that made you get serious about it?

Pokey: I did it years ago and then I stopped because I wasn’t eating off of it. My brother got me started back at it, for real. My brother Richard, we called him “Capone,” he got killed. Somebody shot him in the back of the head while he was sleeping. I was in Huntsville, Alabama at the time. It was crazy, because it was his birthday and we argued about him going with me [to Alabama]. I bought him a pinky ring for his birthday and when I got back to Gary and one of my partners picked me up, they told me Capone was dead. I threw the pinky ring in the grave for him. That’s really what inspired me to wanna rap. He was the best rapper I ever heard in my life. He was really gone before his time.

I wish the world had gotten the chance to hear him though. That’s when I started taking it seriously.

What have you released recently?

Pokey: Wayne Blazed sings; he’s an R&B singer and songwriter and he can beat box.

Me and Wayne Blazed came up with a record called “Super Plug.” We put that out and it’s getting spins everywhere.

Wayne Blazed: I’m an R&B singer, and me and my cousin Pokey were really just playing around doing the record. It sounded real and authentic, and I told him that’s what makes things better, when it’s organic. A lot of times people can feel when it is real. Then we brought my man Mike D in on the business side and my brother Philmo the Clever Kid, he’s like the lyricist. Then my man Yosontala came through and did his thing.

Tell us a little bit about PMG and how you all came together.

Pokey: We just started putting together all the pieces of the puzzle to form the label a few months ago.

been rapping about ten years and I knew all these guys in PMG before the music.

I started a movement about ten years ago called Talanation – seven different entities included in there. We’re putting in a lot of work independently in different states. My brother Wayne Blazed told me about a situation over here with PMG and when Pokey asked me to come aboard, the things he was telling me made sense.

Now I’m a part of the PMG family and we’ve been rolling ever since.

Philmo: I just bring heat. Great music. I like to paint pictures with my music, and I’ve just got love for the movement. I’m dedicated and ready to go. I’ve got a lot of punchlines so I play with the words a little bit.

Wayne Blazed: The good thing about our whole situation is that we really treat this like an organization. We look at this like a team. On any team you’ve got the owners, the coach, the players, and everybody knows their role. That’s the most important thing about having an organization, that everybody knows what’s going on and what position they play. Everybody is equal and we’re going to get money together. It’s more than music; we’re friends. Each one of us has a friendship with each other.

What is Gary, Indiana like?

Pokey: It’s fucked up. The whole city is like an abandoned city. There are murders every day, and it’s so much worse in a small town. We’re not used to seeing big buildings and skyscrapers and stuff like that. We ain’t got no downtown in Gary.

We ain’t got no hotels in Gary. Our main street is full of abandoned buildings and we’ve got a population of about 80,000, mostly black people. It’s like a big ass jungle. But we can overcome all that. I used to be broke, I was a bum. I’m telling the honest to God truth, I’m not sugar coating or exaggerating nothing. If I said I did it, I did it. You can check my resume.

I’m not a rapper.

What were some of the struggles you had to go through?

Pokey: A whole lot of hustling. A whole lot

Yosontala: My background was in music. I’ve OZONE MAG // 13

POKEY & PMG CONTINUED of sacrifice. I was homeless and I’ve been on my own since I was 12 years old, just like any other unfortunate kid. My mom took a wrong turn, my grandmother got sick and moved to Texas with my brother, so since 12 years old I was on my own.

Nowhere to go, no guidance, no nothing, and it made me the man I am today. I used to sleep in my partner’s garage and use my shoes for my pillow and tuck my arms into my coat. Big ups to my man Derek for sneaking me into his basement. A lot of people let me wear their clothes and gave me something to eat when I was hungry.

But I wouldn’t change the way I came up for nothing in the world, because it made me the man I am today. My mission as an artist is to prove to any struggling kid in every neighbourhood in the world that if you focus, you can do whatever you wanna do, no matter the circumstances.

I want to give back to my city, because my city needs help. I’m not the average rapper. I own stuff in Gary already; I’m into real estate. I’ve got a 24-hour daycare

and I’m part owner of a home-healthcare business. I could really pat myself on the back right now if I wanted to, but I’m still on a mission. I still have goals to accomplish in this music shit and I’ve gotta make sure all my people eat.

Who else have you worked with?

Pokey: Justice League gave us a track, shout out to them, and the Honorable C-Note.

We’ve got our in-house producer Clerty who stays down 100% and we get love from a lot of different producers like the homie Slay. Shout out to the nigga Freddie Gibbs, that’s family too. I’m on DJ Scream’s mixtape, Swamp Izzo’s mixtape, DJ Spinz’ mixtape, MLK from Grand Hustle, we’re all over the mixtapes.

Anything else you want to add?

Pokey: Free Bobby Suggs, that’s my nigga for real. He’s doing life in prison right now under the conspiracy act. Shout out to him and shout out to Kenny Kold. // Twitter: @PokeyPMG @Philmoloe @yosontala @wayneblazed

(l to r): the PMG family Yosontala, Mike D, Pokey, Philmo, & Wayne Blazed

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Nick Carter Green Chicago IL How did you get your start as an artist?

I first got my start at the age of 8. It was grandfather who helped me record my first demo which was actually an R&B demo where I rapped on a few songs. A few years later, at the advice of a childhood friend, I really leaned more towards hip hop. We use to play around and do rap battles with each other and he would say that I had a really nice flow. He sort of urged me to take it a step further and start recording.

I’ve been doing it ever since.

Congrats on Getting your Video “Ghost” in rotation on MTVU, how does it feel to get recognized for your talent?

Amazing. It’s one thing to record your own songs and have them played for your family and friends. It’s a completely different experience when you have hundreds or thousands of people hear your music. Getting on MTVU gave me further validation that I’m on the right track.

Who are your musical influences?

My musical influences span across genre lines as I was exposed to everything coming up from Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, to even Alternative and Country music. Being from Chicago, Kanye West, Common, Twista, and Lupe Fiasco are some of my biggest influences. Having watched the evolution of Lil’ Wayne from a young teen with Cash Money to where he is now, he definitely tops the list as well of musical influences.

What project are you currently promoting?

Currently I am promoting my mixtape XIX, which is available for download on my website at www.NickCarterGreen.com. I’m also preparing the release for my second single, “Don’t Wanna Lose,” which the video will be premiering this spring.

Where can we find you online?

My main website is www.NickCarterGreen.com, but you can also check me at www.

XCIentertainment.tumblr for the updates as well. If you want to catch me on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube, I’m always @NickCarterGreen.

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Lady Words by Julia Beverly

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IN THE TRADITION OF FELLOW FLORIDA FEMCEES TRINA AND KHIA, NEWCOMER LADY IS PUSHING HER OWN BRAND OF RAUNCHY “FEMALE EMPOWERMENT” RHYMES. How did you link up with Plies and Big Gates Records?

I’ve been rapping a long time but I had stopped doing it for a while. I was just getting back into rapping and posted some videos on YouTube. I did a remix to [Yo Gotti’s] “Five Star Chick” and Gates ran across the link to the video on Twitter. He hit me up and we went from there.

A couple years ago, people were lamenting the lack of female rappers in the game.

Then, of course, Nicki Minaj came along and blew up.

Right. I think she opened a lot of doors for females in Hip Hop. People weren’t used to females in the game because you didn’t really have too many, so now it’s cool for a chick to rap. At the time it was hard, but Nicki opened a lot of doors and they’re accepting females now.

Females in the rap game are usually even more competitive than the men, going as far back as Lil Kim vs. Foxy Brown. Then you’ve had rappers like Khia come along and seem to not get along with anybody.

Are you on good terms with other female rappers or are you approaching it from a competitive standpoint?

I’m positive, I’m not competitive. I think we need unity. With the male rappers, you know, there’s enough money for everybody. I don’t have any problems but I haven’t really spoken to many other female rappers. I do think friendly competition is good, but no beef. I’m not with the beef; I don’t do that.

Do you write your own lyrics?

Yeah, I write all my lyrics.

Your topics are still very sexual. Of course some rap is known for having misogynistic lyrics from a man’s perspective. With “Yankin’” and some of your similar records, are you trying to flip the script from a woman’s perspective?

Right. I am. If a dude can do it then a female can do it too, but a lot of people don’t like that. When a guy does it, it’s cool, but when a female does it, it’s wrong. With “Yankin’” I had all kinds of negative remarks when it first

came out, but after it went viral on the internet, more people began to accept it.

That’s really my brand now.

Along the same lines, when it comes to the visuals, are you trying to flip things around?

Female empowerment, of course. It’s all about the females and degrading the guys. No love for them.

No love for the guys? Damn. So what do you have coming up in 2012 as far as new music?

I just released a mixtape called Bout That Life at the end of 2011, so I’m about to do a crazy amount of videos. I’m trying to shoot a video for every song. I’m writing and working on the next mixtape, but I’m not sure when it’ll be dropping.

Do you have anything coming up for All Star weekend?

I’ll be hanging out with Plies. I’m not doing any shows but I might do a meet and greet at Plies’ car show.

What made you decide to go with Lady for your rap name?

At the time when [Gates] hit me up I was Lady Pit, like a pitbull. It’s actually tatted on my arm. We decided to drop the Pit and just keep the Lady.

Are you under a major label situation right now or just going through Big Gates Records?

Well I’m just under Gates and I’m not really looking for a major label. I’m hoping to build my buzz up first. I wanna do it independent for a while before I go with a major.

What male rapper would be your dream collabo?

Maybe Jeezy. I would work with Jeezy, or Boosie. But unfortunately the Boosie collabo might be tough to pull off at the moment. // Website: ThisIsLady.com Twitter: @ThisIsLady Youtube: ThisIsLady Facebook: ThisIsLady

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Armstrong Words by Julia Beverly Photo by Hoodlym

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SERVING A THREE YEAR SENTENCE MAY HAVE SLOWED DOWN ORLANDO RAPPER ARMSTRONG’S MOVEMENT, BUT HE RETURNED TO THE STREETS IN NOVEMBER 2011 AND HASN’T SLOWED DOWN SINCE. Prior to your incarceration in 2008, what were you doing music-wise?

I dropped Drug Money, Money Bags, and Stimulus Package. I put out like five or six mixtapes. Me and Killa Kreeper were like the tightest [group]. He went away and I did my solo shit. I ended up pleading to a three year sentence on a burglary charge.

There were rumors you snitched to get a lighter sentence. Do you want to comment?

My co-defendants Demetrius Hardy and Michael Jones, all three of us got the same sentence, which was three years. So no one snitched. That’s pure bullshit, that’s just some Orlando rumors. I came home and I’m still fuckin’ with the same niggas.

In the rap game, being away for three years is an eternity. Was it hard for you to come back and pick up where you left off or were you writing rhymes while you were gone?

Fuck no, I wasn’t writing shit. I wasn’t doing nothing. I was just relaxing and getting my mind right and coming up with a plan. Anybody can rap, anybody can write lyrics, but when niggas ain’t got that life to go with it, all the shit they’re talking about is a problem.

What have you done these past few months to build up your buzz?

Keep delivering good music, mixtapes, and the visuals on YouTube. On Strong Arm Mondays I drop some footage, whether it’s a video or show footage, just to keep a visual.

There haven’t been many major artists to come out of Orlando. Have you found that record labels and industry execs have taken you seriously, coming from Orlando?

Oh, most definitely. I’ve been taken dead serious, because a businessman will recognize another businessman no matter if he’s straight out of the damn jungle. We’re here to make money. I’m a very profitable nigga [for a label]. I’ve got the whole package to go with what I’m rapping about. So after you cross that line, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. I’m doing my independent thing for now as heavy as I can do it, and I’ve had

a couple labels looking – shout out to DJ Bigga Rankin. We’re just building this buzz so when [the labels] start talking numbers, the numbers will be right.

For out-of-towners who are coming to Orlando for All Star weekend, what advice would you give them?

If you’re riding in your pretty cars with your pretty jewelry on, showing these hungry niggas the glitter and the glam, you gotta show these niggas the pistol too. It ain’t about Mickey Mouse and it ain’t no Disneyland here, first off. Second, there’s a lot of events going on. Roxy is a good party spot and the Ballroom downtown is a good party spot.

Where will you be during All Star?

I’ve got two parties and a meet and greet with my label and Maybach Music Group on Friday the 24th with DJ Scream. On Saturday I’ll be at the Ballroom with Floyd Mayweather and Lebron James and on Sunday I’ll be at Dream with Dawgman Entertainment.

What are some of the mixtapes you’ve dropped recently that people can check out online?

Vampire Life, Vampire Nation, Silence of the Lambs, and I’m working on Cold World Cold Blood. That’s a mixtape and a DVD that are coming out together on March 21st. Everything’s raw and real on the documentary. I might get in some trouble behind this DVD, but it’s all real. I’ve also got another joint venture coming out, F.D.M.L.E. 5020 The Album. I’m gonna be dropping a mixtape every sixty days and a new single to the DJs every two weeks. I’m working, so keep your eyes on me. Ain’t no telling what I might do. I might drop a fie ass single tomorrow because I’m in the studio as we speak. I just stay working.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Shout out to 300/400, MLE, 9/11 Dumbout Boys, Bigga Rankin, DJ Scream, DJ DStrong, all my local DJs, and my management Hood. // Twitter: @Armstrong5020s Facebook: Armstrong5020s Youtube: Armstrong5020s

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Words by Julia Beverly Photo by J Lash

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IT’S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE WE’VE HEARD FROM MR. TRICK DADDY DOLLARS, BUT AS USUAL, THE MAYOR OF DADE HAS A LOT ON HIS MIND. HE HELD NOTHING BACK IN THIS INTERVIEW SPEAKING ON HIS FORMER LABEL AND LABELMATES. I know you put out a book, Magic City, not too long ago. Aside from that, what other projects have you been working on?

We shot half of the mini-series The Lick. That’s a Miami-based story about the urban side of life here. A lot of people are like, “I just went to Miami, we stayed at the Loews [Hotel].” I’m like, “That ain’t Miami.” So it’s a mini-series based on the real Miami. Miami is a great vacation town nowadays but we still have a history here. A lot of the historical sites and monumental areas have been knocked down and rebuilt.

Are you playing yourself or playing a character?

I’m playing my brother Hollywood. You have to remember, Miami was built on drug money.

Miami is Colombians, Haitians, Panamanians, Jamaicans – there’s no other city like this in the world. A lot of citizens of Miami originated from communist and third-world countries.

Common sense will tell you that if you grew up in those conditions, you’ll be willing to die for – and kill for – anything you believe in, including survival.

Where is this series going to air?

We’re talking to the [television] networks.

Hopefully [it will air] like The Wire. When I was younger, in the late 70s, early 80s, people snorted cocaine. You couldn’t afford it in the hood but working people did it. Then crack came along and once it made it to suburbia, Ronald Reagan made a big thing about it. A lot of the dudes that were sentenced under those rules are just now getting out of prison and they’ve been gone since the mid 80s. They didn’t kill nobody or rape nobody, they just sold drugs to feed their families and spent the rest of their lives in prison. I think that’s very unconstitutional. [The Lick] talks about that, so I don’t want to go straight-to-DVD or go to pay-per-view where it’s only going to be seen in one area.

The world is so one-track minded right now.

I was watching the Grammys last night, man, did you see those categories? I believe Jay-Z and Kanye won [the Grammy for Best Rap Performance] and I respect what they did, but I had to think about it. Did they deserve to win?

Ask yourself what we’ve heard in the past year on the radio that we’re going to be looking

forward to listening to five years from now.

Can you name one? Even with R&B music, my favorite R&B artists are people like Anita Baker, Shirley Murdock, Karen White, the late Whitney Houston, Patti Labelle, the real stars, Fantasia. Last year when [Kelly Rowland’s] “Motivation” record came out and Mary J Blige made a big comeback, I loved that because I was tired of hearing all these “independent female” records. That shit sounds so lonely for a pretty woman. I miss that celebration music. [The artists] are making music not for the year or the week but for the hour. All of that is hurting the music game so bad. And if you give out a [free] mixtape every 90 days, no one is going to buy your record. So now you understand why there are very few artists going platinum these days. I think there should be some [educational] requirements to become a rapper. You should at least be able to pass the FCAT. And producers? Producers don’t produce no more, producers just make beats like the ones they’ve heard you on already.

Everybody’s doing music. They read my interview in OZONE or hear my interview on the radio and then they go from being a Trick Daddy fan to thinking they can be better than Trick. Think about someone who has a clean [criminal] record who graduated at the top of their class. They have a clean driving record and always say “yes ma’am” and “yes sir.” If he gets on a record and tells all these lies about robbing and killing and dope dealing and you fall for it, and later you find out [it was a lie], he should be punished for that. I never did music like that; that’s why my music is timeless. People don’t do that anymore in rap music, it’s all LaLaLand, so when the rainbow washes away it ain’t nothing but a sad story. Everybody’s looking crazy and dumb and all the fourteen, fifteen, sixteen year old killers are on First 48. I refuse to be the victim. I refuse to be the one on the other end of the stick and they’re saying, “Yeah, he’s locked up for killing Trick.”

Are you referring to a fellow Miami rapper who’s occupational background may or may not affect the credibility of his music?

I said it before and I’ll say it again. I’ve always been a fan of the man’s talents. I never really had a problem with it. I think what blew [the whole situation] out of proportion was that

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he had a problem admitting it. I don’t have a problem with him. We never had no beef or nothing like that. I just felt like the people who were around him at that time when [that news] came out could’ve avoided all that. You can’t have too many yes-men and mini-me’s and me-too’s around you. I think if the right people had been around him, [that situation] wouldn’t have went that far.

Producers come to me and say, “I’ve got a perfect Trick Daddy track.” I’ve done eight albums.

What is a “Trick Daddy track”? Have you ever really listened to the instrumental for “I’m A Thug” – can you picture somebody else doing that beat? Having heard Trick Daddy on “Na’an Nigga” and “Scarred” and “Take Em To The House,” could you have pictured me on that “I’m A Thug” beat? For me, rapping was never my dream. I wanted to be a robber. I wanted to be a pimp or a drug dealer or a killer. So for the dudes that wanted to be rappers, why don’t they act like it?

So basically, you feel like producers pigeonhole you into making one type of music.

They would if I let them. For instance, “Thug Holiday,” produced by David Banner. David Banner wanted to give me a different track and I was like, “This is the one. I’m telling you.”

There is no such thing as a “Trick Daddy track.”

I never had to get big features to sell records and I probably sold more records than any other rapper in the state, maybe even the South.

The record labels now understand that these dudes are made up so they give ‘em bullshit deals. It’s all about whoever can come up with the next big record. They’re trying different stuff now. They tried dressing like skateboarders and that didn’t work. They tried dressing old school and bringing back the rope chains and the old glasses and the Mohawks and that didn’t work. Nicki Minaj came out with the pink and purple and orange hair. If she did this ten years ago everybody would’ve said it’s ghetto and tacky, correct? But now it’s the new trend.

Since you’re discouraged by the direction of the music industry, has that turned you off from recording music yourself?

Not necessarily, because I’m not a part of that society. But I’m not biting my tongue, I’m not changing my name, and I’m not wearing women’s pants. These niggas might as well get their eyebrows done. They might as well

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get lashes and wear lacefronts if they insist on wearing women’s pants. I’ve still been recording though. I’m going to drop this record called “That’s Why We Pray” featuring Kelly Rowland, and I’ve got another song, “Bass.” It’s something Florida got away from. I honestly believe that after I did my verse on “Scarred,” we veered away from bass music. I think we got scared and forgot that we came up off bass music. I think we forgot how much money bass music makes and how necessary it is. I read a book called Third Coast, which talks about where the 808 bass originated.

Are you still under the Slip N Slide/Atlantic umbrella or are you independent right now?

Fuck Ted Lucas, and fuck Slip N Slide Records. I blame Ted for a lot of things.

When me and Trina worked together on music, there was never any problems with me and her not getting along. It was never about Trina being scared of me, or we were fuckin’ and we broke up, or all these other rumors. It was never about that. It was about Ted. Ted thinks he’s got to turn people against each other in order to be friends with them. It was always Ted in their ear. He’s the dude that doesn’t have friends. He’s the one that doesn’t come out. He’s the one that goes to church during early morning worship.

I blame Ted for Funk Boogie not making me any more tracks. I blame Ted for not paying the rest of the dudes that helped start Slip N Slide. I blame Ted Lucas for me not having Michael Hopkins as my management; they were having secret meetings promising him certain things. I blame Ted for stealing publishing and forging checks. I blame Ted for Money Mark & C.O. never coming out with a record. I blame Ted for the fact that two of the Lost Tribe are in the Federal penitentiary.

You’ve got to understand: Slip N Slide Records was not built by Trick Daddy.

Trick Daddy was the foundation. We had bricklayers, concrete people, masons, landscapers. Somebody watered the grass.

We had a chef. In other words, we were a team. We did it all together. Everybody played their role, and he took money from everybody to the point where years later we don’t even speak.

I’ll tell [Funk Boogie], “Don’t let Ted stop us from making money. You make the beats and I’ll make sure Atlantic gives you your payment upfront.” Then Ted tells Atlantic, “Don’t talk to Trick. You’re not supposed to be talking to Trick.” If I charge an artist $40,000 to do a feature, then Ted will charge them another $40,000 to clear it. So he had everybody in the rap game looking at me like, “Damn, Trick!” It got so bad to the point where I’d be telling him, “Ted, you can’t do this.” Ted was always telling Atlantic, “Trick don’t wanna work. Trick don’t wanna go out of town.” No, Ted. You don’t tell me I’ve gotta go out of town until the day I’ve gotta go. They say, “Why hasn’t Trick been on any tours?” Because after seven years I realized my management was working for Ted and giving him some of the money.

If a man doesn’t have one friend left from elementary school, middle school, or high school, that’s the sign of a bad person. When we started with Slip N Slide Records, all of us – except Michael Hopkins – were young niggas and young women coming up in the game.

We were all between 17 and 21 [years old].

There were over 25 Slip N Slide kids and the sad part is, none of ‘em speak to each other anymore because of all the separation that was caused at the Slip N Slide office.

Wasn’t Ted awarded his own day from the City of Miami for the Ted Lucas Foundation?

Ted don’t give a fuck about the community.

Ted doesn’t do anything for the community.

Any of the toy drives and all that were expensed back to me and my management. Ted don’t give a fuck about nobody. He goes to church and he plays with God. “Oh, my pastor, my Lord, let’s bow our heads and pray.” Then he fires Debbie [Bennett] because Debbie won’t let him take people’s money. One thing that’s undeniable: everything you do in your life, whether it’s a good deed or a bad deed, it all becomes a part of your history. You can’t deny Trick Daddy, the thug, the legend, the man. I’ma be there forever. And that’s what Ted will grow to realize. It’s sad when you consider yourself the Suge Knight of your city but can’t get in the nightclub.

I know you and Plies had issues at one point.

Was that ever squashed?

Plies is a bitch. Me and Plies’ problem started because I walked up on Plies [in Orlando at the Roxy] talking about he didn’t want me at his show, and I was only coming to support.

Ever since then he has refused to even get on the phone like a man and talk to me about it.

Anytime I walk by accidentally they start run-

ning. When I shot the [DJ Khaled] “Out Here Grindin’” video shoot in New York, Plies wouldn’t come because he didn’t know I was on the record.

What would you want to tell Plies?

I just hope he understands he’s still a Trick Daddy fan. That “bruh bruh” shit, that’s some Miami shit. He just took it and ran with it. I know he’s still a Trick Daddy fan.

Don’t let the animosity and envy that you have for the man interfere with the legacy.

But why would Plies would have animosity towards you in the first place?

Some niggas just ain’t built for this. I don’t like Kobe Bryant. I love his basketball game, but I don’t like him as a man. I don’t like the shit that happened with him and Shaq and what happened between him and Paul Gasol. I didn’t like [the alleged rape] situation. He went straight from high school to the league with a hundred something million dollar contract. You never see him at parties. You never see Kobe on TMZ. He doesn’t have any friends. He’s not sociable. He’s very arrogant. He thinks he’s better than a bitch.

You could be the greatest player in the world but [that attitude] takes a lot away from you. But I saw him say something last week that made me understand him. They asked [Kobe] on [TV], “How do you compare yourself to Robert Parrish and Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and all the big-name basketball players?” Kobe said, “I would never put myself above them because I got everything I learned from them.” If Plies would realize that I’m the nigga who made him wanna get in his ugly ass ‘vert and ride to Slip N Slide Records and sign [a record deal], he shouldn’t have no hatred in his heart about me.

I just think Plies should just realize that it’s easier to be amongst us than on top of us.

When I listen to [Plies’] music, he tries to be so ghetto and hard. Then I research and find out the nigga graduated at the top of his class. The nigga went to college. I would trade for that. You could be Trick Daddy, shit. If I could go to college and have a clean record and graduate as valedictorian, I’d trade Trick Daddy for that. // Twitter: @305Mayor

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