Ozone Mag Florida Classic 2010 special edition

WELCOMETO ORLANDO

FLORIDA CLASSIC 2010

**special edition**

OnECASH &TAYBABY

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CRIMINAL RIDAZ // GREG G J RICH // LIL WOP // YOUNG CASH BIG KRIT // MASSPIKE MILES G MASH // PI BANG // SAW MONEY YELAWOLF // YOUNG NARD & MORE

WELCOMETO ORLANDO

FLORIDA CLASSIC 2010

edition** **special

G FEATURIN

JRICH

FROM THEBAY TOTHEF-L-A

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CRIMINAL RIDAZ // TAY BABY ONE CASH // LIL WOP // BIG KRIT YOUNG NARD // MASSPIKE MILES G MASH // PI BANG // SAW MONEY YELAWOLF // YOUNG CASH & MORE

PUBLISHER: Julia Beverly SPECIAL EDITIONS EDITOR: Jen McKinnon a.k.a.

Ms. Rivercity CONTRIBUTORS & CREW: Eric Perrin Jee’Van Brown Maurice G. Garland Mercedes Mert Deezine Randy Roper Terrence Tyson

SIDE A 7 8 10 11 12-13 14-15 16-17 22-23

Orlando Map DJ Greg G Event Listing Club Listing Big Krit Lil Wop PI Bang Masspike Miles

18-21 TAY BABY & ONE CASH

PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR: Malik Abdul STREET TEAMS: Big Mouth Marketing DJ Slym Lex Promotions On Point Entertainment Poe Boy Strictly Streets SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, send check or money order for $20 to: OZONE Magazine 644 Antone St. Suite 6 Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-350-3887 Fax: 404-601-9523 Web: www.ozonemag.com

SIDE b 4 6 19 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 20-21 22-23

Disco JR Phil 4 Real DJ Caesar Yelawolf Young Cash Criminal Ridaz G Mash Saw Money Young Nard

16-18 J RICH

COVER CREDITS: Tay Baby & One Cash photo

by NVD Photography; J Rich photos courtesy of J Rich.

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 2010 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 | 5

MAP

ORLANDO, FL

OZONE | 7

DJ Greg G Greg G keeps the parties live in Orlando. In addition to his full club schedule, he’s also making beats now and plans to start showcasing them on mixtapes next year. This Florida Classic Weekend if you’re not at a Greg G party, you’re probably in the wrong place.

What’s your current DJing schedule?

I do Antigua on Tuesdays with Power 95.3.

That’s the biggest Tuesday party in the city.

Wednesday we do Cleo’s, it’s like an industry party. Thursday I’m at Limelight downtown. It’s the biggest party on Thursday. Saturday I’m still at Icon.

Do you still make mixtapes?

I used to do the Street Heat series. I took a break from mixtapes for a minute to get into production. I’m pushing my beats right now.

I’ll probably start making tapes again early next year to show people what I’ve been doing with the beats.

What made the DJ game appealing to you?

How did you get started?

I always loved music since I was a kid. I been an entrepreneur at heart so I put it all together.

Back in the day I started interning at 102 Jamz.

That was back when Cedric Hollywood was there, and he took me under his wing and showed me how to get money. I started off as a promoter and got into DJing kinda by accident. Some of my DJs had quit on me when I was throwing parties. That’s how I got into it.

Being a tastemaker of music in Orlando, who do you think are some of the hottest artists being played?

As of late, there’s a lot of Orlando records heavy in the clubs. Not to say there didn’t used to be, TREAL and them had a bunch of records.

But I notice now there’s a lot of different artists. PI Bang always has a hot single out, right now “Maserati Dreams” is running the club. Lil Wop has “Pimp Shit.” Kevin Cossom has went national now and we running his song heavy in the club “Baby I Like It.” We got artists like Atiba and Slim Goodie. Lil Kee, Strizzo and Javon Black in Tampa have the hit “Buss It Wide Open.” As far as national artists, anything Jeezy, Gucci, is real heavy. Travis Porter’s “Make It

Words by Ms Rivercity Photo by MQ Images

Rain” is real big.

Where do you see the trends going in rap music?

I can’t even call it right now. As far as mainstream rap, it seems to be a lot of hip hop mixing with dance, house, techno music. As far as the streets go, I don’t think things are really gonna change much. There’s a big difference in what Will.I.Am is doing from what Waka Flocka is doing. I think we’re always gonna have our hardcore street rap. I think things are going back to how they were when it first started – when I first started, a majority of the clubs was playing techno and house, and a minority was playing hip hop. I think it’ll go back to that.

Do you have anything going on FL Classic weekend?

Friday I’m at the car show they’re doing by Magic Mall with Brisco and them I think. At night, every Friday and Saturday I’m always at Icon. Sunday I’m DJing at the Gucci Mane show at Club LAX, formerly Club Destiny.

How can people get in touch with you for booking or beats?

DJGregG.com and Twitter.com/GregGodzilla.

My email is djgregg@gmail.com. Logon to the site, I got beats up for sale. If you need production holla at me.

OZONE | 9

09 ASSIC 20 L C FLORIDA

EVENT LISTING

Friday, November 19th 13th Annual Classic Greek Step Show @ Bob Carr Performing Arts Center 401 West Livingston Street 7pm Battle of the Bands @ Amway Arena 600 W. Amelia St. Doors open at 7pm Classic Wknd Kick Off Party w/ Travis Porter & Brisco Live Step Show/Battle of the Bands After Party @ Club Firestone 578 N. Orange Avenue Versatile Ent. Presents: Rick Ross Live – Hosted by DJ Khaled @ LAX - 7430 Universal Blvd.

18+, Doors open 10pm 407-864-3271 Frontline Promotions Presents: The Classic Alumni Affair Hosted by FAMU’s Almighty Joe Bullard @ Rain - 4732 S. Kirkman Rd. Doors open at 5pm with free admission until 9:30pm.

Happy Hour 5pm-9:30pm with a complementary buffet, 21+ Antigua Fridays w/ 102 Jamz, La Loca & Jay Love 41 W. Church St. Phat Fridays @ The Roxy w/ 102 Jamz, Shelly Flash & DJ Nasty 740 Bennett Rd. Saturday, November 20th Florida Classic @ Florida Citrus Bowl Kick Off at 2:30pm Dawgman Ent .Tailgate Fest @ Solo Gas Sation Corner of Tampa Ave. & Church Street 12pm, Free to the public Dawgman Ent., Barbie University & Morris Management Present: Classic Jamboree Party @ Imperial Swan Ball Room 7050 S. Kirkman Rd. 9:30pm – 5am Coors Light Presents: Florida Classic Post-Game Concert w/ Kid & Play, Dres from Black Sheep Monie Love, Slick Rick, Arrested Development,

10 | OZONE

Chubb Rock & More @ The Orlando Marriott 888-695-7226 Frontline Promotions Presents: 12th Annual Classic Luau Hosted by DJ Khaled, T-Pain, Kevin Cossom, Ace Hood, DJ Nasty, Brisco, Trina & More Music by DJ Q45, Bigga Rankin, City, CT & PLO, Skool Boys @ Roxy - 740 Bennett Rd. 18+, 9:30pm – 3am Dawgman Ent. Presents: Young Money/Cash Money Party Feat. Brisco & Friends @ 11/12 Lounge – 843 Lee Rd. 9:30pm – 3am Classic Lockdown w/ Rich Kids, Lil Kee, PI Bang & More Music by DJ Nasty & DJ D Strong @ Firestone - 578 N. Orange Avenue Jermaine Dupri & Amber Rose @ LAX - 7430 Universal Blvd.

18+, Doors open 10pm 407-864-3271 Dawgman Ent. & Blue Magic Ent. Present: Grown & Sexy Party Hosted by Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald @ DeJaVu – 17 W. Pine St. 9:30pm – 3am Swirl Saturdays @ Tabu Nightclub w/ 102 Jamz & Shelly Flash 46 N. Orange Avenue Sunday, November 21st Dawgman Ent. Presents: 12th Annual Riding Big Car Show/Concert Feat. Frank Lini, Fella, Bizzle, Lil Kee, YG, NMB Stunnas, and More @ Central FL Fairgrounds Gates Open 2pm – 10pm Gucci Mane Live Hosted by G-Money & Shelly Flash w/ DJ Greg G, Disco JR & Baby Lac @ LAX - 7430 Universal Blvd.

18+, Doors Open 10pm Dawgman Ent., Hollywood East & Flyer Promo Now Present: Car Show After Party @ Antigua - 41 W. Church St. Sunday Night Classic Close Out w/ DJ Nasty, DJ D Strong, DJ Chino @ Firestone - 578 N. Orange Ave.

g Mall Listin all Florida M Blossom Trail ge an Or S 8001 00 77 6407-85 Magic Mall .

Dr 2155 W. Colonial 407-648-0779

Lake Buena Vista, FL 407-934-BLUE

all Millenia M .

Rd oy nr Co 00 42 407-363-3555 Mall West Oaks ive Dr al ni lo Co W. 01 94 401-294-2775 rk Mall Winter Pa Ave. ks an irb Fa W. 1 64 789 32 FL , rk Pa Winter 32 32 407-671-

club Listing 11/12 Nightclub 843 Lee Road 407-539-3410 CLUB 23 23 W. Church St. AKA Lounge 68 East Pine Street 407-839-3707 Antigua 41 W. Church St. 407-649-4270 B.B. Kings 9100 International Drive Bliss Ultra Lounge 123 W. Church St Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club 1310 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-839-8559 Club Status 912 W. Colonial Drive 407-841-1462

DeJaVu Nightclub 17 W. Pine Street 321-277-0412 Dragon Room 25 W. Church St. 407-843-8600 Firestone ClubatFirestone.com 578 N. Orange Avenue 407-872-0066 Fusion 1 S. Orange Avenue 407-650-0556 The Groove CityWalk at Universal Orlando 6000 Universal Blvd.

407-363-8000 Hard Rock HardRock.com Universal CityWalk 407-351-5483 House of Blues HOB.com 1490 E. Buena Vista Dr.

Icon Nightclub 20 E. Central Blvd.

407-649-6496 KOHA Nightclub 426 E. Kennedy Eatonville, FL 407-740-0556 Club LAX 7430 Universal Blvd.

407-351-9800 The Legacy Club 3925 Clarcona Ocoee Rd. Club Limelight 367 N. Orange Ave. Lux Ultra Lounge 5688 International Dr. 407-352-8838 Motown Cafe Universal CityWalk 407-363-8000 Rain ClubWhispers.net 4732 S. Kirkman Road 407-290-9896 The Roxy 740 Bennett Rd. 407-898-4004 The Social OrlandoSocial.com 54 N. Orange Ave 407-246-1599 Sky60 64 N. Orange Avenue 407-246-1599

Tabu Nightclub TabuNightclub.com 46 N. Orange Avenue 407-648-8363 Tavern on the Lake 6996 Piazza Grande Ave. Orlando, FL 32835 407-293-6233 Tessa 2425 A South Hiawassee Road Orlando, FL 32835 407-373-0005 Vain 22 S. Magnolia Avenue 407-835-3590

OTHER VENUES 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 AMWAY ARENA 600 W. Amelia St. Orlando, FL 407-849-2020

OZONE | 11

When OZONE featured Big K.R.I.T. in its Patiently Waiting section in 2006, only a few people had heard of the then 19-year old rapper/producer. He was from the small town of Meridian, Mississippi, so you almost had to either be from there or have worked with him to be aware of his music. Sensing that it would be an uphill battle to get noticed in his hometown, K.R.I.T. trekked to Atlanta, where he shopped beats and handed out mixtapes from his See Me On Top series, which featured assistance from DJ Folk, DJ Wally Sparks and DJ Infamous.

While his buzz started to catch fire in the Southeast, a few obstacles set him off track professionally, personally and creatively. Almost getting swallowed up in Atlanta’s heavy dance and club scene, K.R.I.T. soon found himself at a crossroads. One that he actually hinted at meeting in his 2006 interview.

“I try to be positive and have uplifting music, but sometimes you gotta bring it back down to reality,” he said.

K.R.I.T. sensed that he was due for a reality check and moved back to Mississippi in 2008.

After getting back in touch with his family and roots, he began recording Krit Wuz Here, a sample-laden, soul-searching opus that has surprisingly become one of the most heralded releases of 2010. Even though he gave the project away for free over the internet, he received a nice kickback in the form of a deal with Def Jam records.

OZONE caught up with K.R.I.T. to talk about his journey and the project he feels took him five years to make.

A lot of people are labeling you as a “new” artist, which isn’t quite accurate. You’ve been at this for about five years now.

Yeah. In 2005 the first DJ that ever put me on a mixtape was DJ Folk on From The Trap to the Stroll; the song was called “They Gon’ Hate.”

Then he put me on his Deep In the Game series.

He wound up hosting my mixtape See Me On Top part 2. I also did King of the Queen with DJ Wally Sparks and See Me On Top part 3 with DJ Infamous. So DJs have been showing me love from the start. Around that time I was still making a name for myself as both a rapper and producer. I did “Live and Let Die” for Big Floaty and worked with Max Minelli. It was all about working with indie artists.

What happened between See Me On Top

12 | OZONE

parts 2 and 3 and then after that? It seemed like you got away from the soulful music you were producing for a minute, then disappeared.

I was trying to figure out the best way to come out and be myself and building a brand. It got to a point where I was sacrificing my creative mindframe to try and get a buzz or be on the radio. So I went back to Mississippi to find my roots and what I wanted to put out to the world. I feel like Krit Wuz Here was five years in the making. It’s showing the world that I ain’t new to this, but letting the mainstream get introduced to me.

The song that seemed to reel everybody in was “Hometown Hero.”

When I did that track, I was riding with my potna Mike Hartnett of Rehab. He put me up on Adele’s “Hometown Glory.” Five months later I bought her music, sampled it, made a song, and just started blasting it. It started bubbling. In January, Creative Control did the video. I think the footage helped the song get out.

Is there a story behind that beat? Two or three different artists hopped on it too. Did the beat get leaked or passed around?

No, the song is just popular. Adele was Grammy nominated. The album is amazing.

When I sampled it I was unaware of how many other people were sampling it too.

The rest of this interview is featured in the current issue of OZONE.

Big K.R.I.T Words by Maurice G. Garland

OZONE | 13

Lil Wop

14 | OZONE OZONE

Words by Ms. Rivercity Photo by Ayo

Lil Wop might be in the beginning stages of his career, but his name is in heavy rotation already.

Over the last year, Mr. So Fresh gained a following with his song “Pimp Shit” and can now be heard throughout Orlando clubs.

With a mixtape in the works, Lil Wop talks about his growth and upcoming endeavors.

Introduce yourself and let us know what you represent.

It’s ya boy Lil Wop, King Midas, everything I touch turns to gold. I’m from Orlando, FL, born and raised. I’ve been going hard in this music thang for about a year and a half. I’m independent, I’m not signed with anybody right now.

Your name is coming up a lot right now. How have you been able to get yourself recognized?

Really, just going out and being in these people’s faces, just hittin’ the clubs, promoting, being in the streets, and keeping my face relevant so they know I’m here to stay.

What are you most known for? I know you have a pretty big club song right now, what all do you have going on?

The song I got with P.I. Bang right now is called “Pimp Ish.” That song is gettin’ heavy play in the clubs. I’m working on a radio song. I got one song that’s getting a heavy buzz in the streets with me and Stefon4U called “Sexual Chemistry.”

So is this your big breaking out moment in your career so far?

Yeah, this is really my breaking out moment. I been rappin’ for a long time but wasn’t really tryin’ to do nothin’ with music. You know how people just make music wit’ their homeboy’s and stuff but aren’t really pushin’ it. I only been goin’ hard for a year and half.

What was it that made you decide to focus on the music route?

Well I always been lovin’ music. One of my homeboys had a record label called Trap Star Entertainment. I linked up with him and we started doin’ music, but then we kinda fell out so I started doin’ my own thing after that.

But that’s how I got goin’, he knew people and that’s how I got connections and people knowing my name.

What’s the hometown love been like? Are a lot of people reaching out now?

Yeah, I got a couple shows coming up. I open up for Travis Porter and Brisco during the Classic on the 19th. Then we got the show at Icon on Thanksgiving. PI Bang is doing a mixtape release party on the 6th, I’m performing out there too with a couple other people.

Have you had an opportunity to take the movement outside of Orlando?

Just to Palm Beach a couple times, linking up with Cash Chris from Maybach Music Group.

That’s my homeboy and when he has a show, he’ll call and I’ll go out there to perform with him. But as in promoting and going out to these other cities, I haven’t really started on that yet. I’m just getting my mixtape together right now, then I’ma go in head first.

What’s the name of the mixtape?

Florida’s Finest. It’s almost done. During the Florida Classic I’ma do a sneak peak and put out 6 songs to let people see what the mixtape is gon’ be like.

Tell us about your music. What type of songs do you really like making?

That feel good, club music, music you throw in when you gettin’ ready at home about to go out, when you feelin’ nice, music that gets you crunk. I want you to think, “Let me throw in that Lil Wop CD.” What do you want people to know about Lil Wop as a person? Why should people support you?

I’m different. I’m not on that same trap music, drug this and drug that, I make regular street music. I’m not trying to be all extra hard, I just make feel good music.

Where do you want to ultimately end up?

What’s the goal?

To have my own record label and be my own boss. To supply my family with everything. At the end of the day, just to live out my dream and get paid for it.

Do you have a website or contact info?

Follow me on Twitter.com/LilWop or lilwoptsent@gmail.com //

OZONE | 15

PI Bang Words by Jee’Van Brown

16 | OZONE

Bang 4 Mayor is P.I. Bang’s new slogan and title of his mixtape hitting the streets on December 6th. P.I. Bang has made a tremendous name for himself since the release of his street single “Trap Keep Jumping,” and from the looks of things, he doesn’t plan to let up any time soon.

You’ve had a lot of things going good for you. What are you currently working on?

Just getting ready for Classic Weekend and my new mixape Bang 4 Mayor.

How did you come up with that title?

I’m from Orlando where a lot of rappers ain’t really making no noise to me, everybody rapping, but I’m the only one that’s making the most noise. Everybody has their eyes on me, so I feel like I’m the Mayor of the city. I’m probably going be the one that’s going to put the city on. I came up with the whole campaign.

I’ve had t-shirts and posters posted everywhere. The election was November 2nd and I tried to base it around that, but I’m actually going to release it December 6th.

I saw that people actually thought you were running for Mayor because of how much campaigning you were doing.

Yeah they did. They really were going to the polls and looking for my name on the ballot.

Everybody back home knows I got a little bit of bread so they probably thought I was really going run for Mayor. It was just to hype up the mixtape and hype me up as an artist.

What is your current label situation? Are you signed or are you independent?

Nah I’m signed to myself. My record label is called Fresh Off Da Block Entertainment. A few labels hollered at me, but I guess with the current state of Hip Hop they not trying to give up a lot of money. They’re only trying to give out single deals and I’m not looking for that kind of deal, I’m more looking for a label deal. They didn’t try to give me enough money and I feel like I’m already worth enough money on my own, especially the money they trying to offer.

To me it’s chump change.

What do you think it’s going to take for Orlando to get that major Hip Hop look?

I think it’s going to be me. It’s a couple of other artist that’s really trying to do something right now and we all affiliated. We got my dude D-Boy, Lil Wop, these niggas is spending money and trying to make moves. I’m in the lead right now because I’m getting the most play in the clubs and on the radio, so I feel like once somebody sign me it will provide more opportunities for other rappers. People don’t expect Orlando to have street artists. The last rappers that came out was Smilez & Southstar and they kind of gave us a bad look.

You recently put out Banglando with Disco JR. How was it perceived in the streets?

Everybody said it was one of the hottest and craziest mixtapes to drop on the streets. We got a couple of critics as far as JR talking on the record, but all around everybody said it was a real classic mixtape. I’m actually re-releasing the mixtape on Classic Weekend with no DJ. I’m going to put all the features I did on it in the last year. It’s going to be called Banglando Reloaded.

How will Bang 4 Mayor be different from your other mixapes?

We still got Disco JR on it because he’s my personal DJ, he DJs all of my shows. And we’re doing it with DJ D Strong. I got a few different features on this one. I didn’t put a lot of Orlando artists on this one. This time I reached out of Orlando. I got Tom G, Young Cash, and a few other artists.

Your website recently got hacked. What exactly happened with that and did you ever find out who did it?

No I didn’t find out who did it, but I’m almost 100% guaranteed that it was another rapper from my city hating on me because I’m getting all the recognition. It got to be a rapperslash-internet geek that did it because it just came out of nowhere. I’ve been promoting my website real hard with posters everywhere and a lot of promo, so they tried to stop my shine, but you can’t stop a dude like me. I’ve been doing this for too long.

Where are you performing during Classic Weekend?

I’m going to be at Firestone on November 20th. //

OZONE | 17

Tay Baby One Cash Words by Julia Beverly Photo by NVD Photography/ NVDOnline.com

CASH & DA BABY 18 | OZONE

Orlando representatives Tay Baby, from Oakridge, and One Cash, from Lake Cane Hills, are two solo artists who have teamed up for a joint album. We sat down with the Central Florida natives to find out what makes them different from the rest.

What made you decide to work together on a joint album?

Tay Baby: Basically, we’re two solo artists, but we decided to come together. We’re homeboys and we’re real close. We’ve been rapping for a while so we just said fuck it. We made a bunch of songs together and they were hard so we decided to put together a little CD. It’s called Cash and Da Baby.

Of course Miami has had a lot of success putting artists on the national scene and TPain made it big out of Tallahassee and Plies made it big out of Ft. Myers, but Orlando hasn’t had many big rap artists. Why do you think that is?

One Cash: I think a lot of the artists coming out of Orlando are rapping about the same stuff. We all talk about the same subject matter because we all come from that same street life.

I think [artists] should try to bring some kinda originality to their music. Every song can’t be “I sell dope, I sell dope, I shot a nigga.” That’s what I think is lacking. We all experience the same shit, but we’re trying to give a fresh take on it to make something a little different.

What are some of the topics you rap about that are different from what we’re hearing from other artists?

Tay Baby: It’s pretty much the same topics, it’s just that we’re trying to be more original and different about the way we approach it.

One Cash: We put our own swag on it, so it’s different. It ain’t necessarily the most gangsta music you ever heard in your life to where it makes you wanna go shoot a bitch, but at the same time, it’s not commercial either. It’s a whole new twist to the same shit. Everybody makes soup but you can put your own flavor inside the soup and make that bitch taste different. We’re putting our own flavor in the soup.

One Cash: Nigga, I said that yesterday. You taking my quotes. (laughs) A lot of people that aren’t from Central Florida have the perception that it’s like Happytown, because of Disneyworld, but that really isn’t the case. How would you explain it?

One Cash: They need to check the most dangerous cities list, cause I’m pretty sure Orlando was like #7 on there. I think that misconception comes about because Disney has a lot of money and tourism is a billion dollar industry, so they’re going to do or say whatever they need to do or say to make it seem more tourist-friendly. But the reality is that anytime you stick a whole bunch of niggas together in one area, there’s gonna be problems. Orlando is very segregated; divided down the middle.

On the other half, I don’t know what goes on over there, but we’re over here on the wrong side of the tracks. There’s definitely a wrong side of town.

What have you put out to get your buzz up musically?

Tay Baby: I put out a mixtape with DJ D-Strong called Black American Dream. I did that and then I started getting on a few magazine covers and doing a couple shows. I was actually headlining the shows, it wasn’t just me opening up for the next nigga. It was my shit. I passed out my music and the single I’m pushing now is called “Well Damn Now.” One Cash: I’ve got an album that I went ahead and did myself. I didn’t get a DJ because I felt like they weren’t really trying to do anything, they were just asking for money. With some of these DJs, I feel like they really just be feeling themselves a lot. I understand there’s a lot of garbage out there and this shit has been polluted and a lot of people have wasted their time, so I understand where some of their attitude comes from. But they be trippin’, so I did that shit myself. It’s titled Grind Money and that’s pretty much like my second mixtape. It’s out in the streets now and it’s available over at Wildside on Universal Blvd.

Do you feel like it’s not effective to have a DJ hosting your mixtape, or is it more that they

OZONE | 19

don’t really believe in your project?

One Cash: I feel like it’s a bit of both. I felt like they were just giving me the runaround. I tried to speak with a couple different DJs and I just didn’t really like the way they were coming at me. It wasn’t good business. I’m pretty new to the music industry and normally when I do business with somebody I feel like there should be mutual respect. I feel like these DJs don’t have that respect for every artist they’re speaking to just because they’re not known yet.

Tay Baby: You know what? That is some real shit. Me personally, that’s why I don’t even be in the clubs like that. I don’t be out there like that because I’ve kinda got a temper. I’m well known to snap on a bitch so I just try to keep myself away from all the negativity and fuckery because I might have to slap me a bitch.

They be trying to disrespect a nigga’s pockets and shit. I don’t like that shit. If I pay you some money I want to get what I paid for.

Are there any particular DJs you had an issue with or are you just speaking in general?

One Cash: In general. There was one particular nigga but I don’t feel like putting his name out there. I ain’t tryin’ to start no problems, it’s just the simple fact that I don’t wanna give that nigga no free promotion because he don’t wanna do it for nobody else.

Tay Baby: You know they be with that bullshit.

They spinning the music and they basically feel like you’ve got to kiss their ass.

One Cash: I really feel like in this whole music industry – being in the streets, I’ve really been out here for a minute – and it’s not to knock the next man saying that they don’t hustle, everybody does what they do, but I feel like these folks are perpetrating things that they’re not. It’s a bunch of smoke and mirrors.

Everybody’s trying to be gangsta and put it out there like everybody’s got keys of this and pounds of that, but it’s really just ridiculous. I know a lot of these folks and they ain’t got no money and they ain’t out in these streets like that. I feel like in this whole music industry, most of these niggas locally, I’ve met them and we just ain’t the same. I’m different. I don’t come from that shit and I don’t understand why these DJs act like this is some play-play ass-kissing shit. It ain’t really about that. Nig-

20 | OZONE

gas are really from this shit.

Tay Baby: Basically, take the money and spin the music or take the money and have the mixtape done within a reasonable time and everybody will be happy. Do good business.

One Cash: I just feel like it’s a fraud, man. A lot of people really be trying to sell niggas dreams and make people think a lot of stuff is one way when it’s really not. They’re telling a bunch of kids to sell dope and do this and do that and come up and you’re going to have all this ice and diamonds and all that, but really, it’s a lot more to it than that. It’s a lot harder than that and most of these niggas ain’t gonna make it and are going to end up locked up. These niggas are acting like they’re the dope man’s dream and have been so successful in the game when really I ain’t never heard of ‘em and I ain’t never seen ‘em.

There aren’t a lot of outlets in Orlando for local artists to get their music heard. What are the routes you’re taking?

Tay Baby: Honestly, this is my plan. I’m just buying 1,000 CDs a week and passing them out in the middle of the hood, sliding around in the car and giving one to everybody that’s moving. If you’re 7 years old or 74 years old I’m throwing you a CD. If I’m on the cover of the magazine, everybody that’s moving, I’m throwing them a magazine. I’m my own street team. I do all that myself because the radio station is not gonna help you out until you’ve actually got some kind of name behind you, and then they’re still skeptical depending on your image and what you’re talking about and who you know and how you know them.

Really I don’t know too many muthafuckers, so fuck it. I gotta make my own contacts and get out there in the streets and pass out my music. We ain’t got no underground stations anymore so fuck it. You’ve just gotta spend a whole bunch of money that you ain’t gonna get back no time soon. Lots of it.

That’s an interesting answer because it seems like in 2010 a lot of artists just sit at their computers blasting off MP3s on Twitter all day and think that’s gonna work.

Tay Baby: Honestly, I hate that shit. Personally, every time I see something like that, I don’t even listen to it. I delete that shit. You don’t wanna force your shit onto a person like, “Bitch, you gonna listen to my shit.” That’s gonna make them not even wanna hear it if you’re harassing them. If they listen to your music on their own and your shit is fire, they’re gonna stick with it. So me personally, I feel like that shit is the worst strategy ever, and I probably will never do that shit. I’d rather be a hands-on, real-life type of person. I’m old school. I like to go out and meet and greet and talk with the people and get personal feedback. I feel like that works better, cause most of these rappers don’t do that. They act like they’re scared of regular people. They’re scared to be out there in the scene by themselves without having a big-ass entourage of 100 people cause they might get hurt or something. Somebody might get their feelings hurt.

With that said, even though you’re not relying on internet promo, how can people get in touch with you?

Tay Baby: Shit, you can hit me personally on facebook.com/taybaby407 or myspace.com/ taybaby407 or twitter.com/taybaby407. Hit me on the email, send me some pictures and let me see what that booty is looking like (laughs) at taybaby407@gmail.com. Fuck with me. I’m everywhere.

One Cash: I’m OneCashMusic on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. I’ve only got like 200 friends cause I don’t really be on there like that. I’m just kinda getting into the swang of this internet thang.

Tay Baby: I’ve got a new mixtape about to drop too. I was gonna have a DJ do it but I think I’m gonna just host it myself. I think I’m going to start my own line of mixtapes.

What were you incarcerated for? Did you get your situation handled?

Tay Baby: It’s already handled. It wasn’t that long. They had me in there for a little bit but now that I’m back, I ain’t worried about it. A lil violation of probation but Da Baby is back. I’ve been doing 100 push-ups every night trying to get back sexy for the ladies.

Is there anything else you wanna tell people about the 407?

One Cash: If you wanna hear something different, check me out. The music thing means a lot to me. I don’t just get high and freestyle and make some bullshit. To me, I want my music to be something you can put back in and play it over and over again. It’s got some replay value to it. If you wanna hear some music from a nigga who’s out here making good music and not just trying to hustle for the wrong reasons, check me out. It ain’t about the money or none of that other shit. It’s just about respect and the music. Shout out to the 305 and my brother Brandon Marshall. Shout out to my pa’tna in prison One Jit, Big Jit. Shout out to my brother Skully and my sister.

Tay Baby: Shout out to my mama. I love my mama. Shout out to Young Jones and Julia muthafuckin’ Beverly. Shout out to J-Beezy, you know. And let me give a shout out to all the ladies in the world that still be hittin’ my phone talkin about they miss Big Daddy.

Shout outs to Jude Dawg, Mirra Man, Felix the paint man at Machos and Prince with Seven Deep Promotions and my mama again and my nieces and nephews.

Are you doing any shows during Florida Classic weekend?

Tay Baby: We were going to have one but due to my recent incarceration we didn’t get to discuss that business.

One Cash: We’re gonna be out there with Gucci and Antonio from Hard Lyfe Records.

OZONE | 21

Masspike Miles

Words by Julia Beverly Photo by Derick G

22 | OZONE

After a childhood stint in a “boy band,” Bostonbred artist Masspike Miles reinvented himself as a business-savvy singer with a bit of Hip Hop swag. Now boasting some powerful allies, like Rick Ross and DJ Drama, Miles is prepared to take his art form to the next level.

Do you think coming out of Boston is a challenge for an artist?

Yeah, it’s always a challenge coming out of Boston. I’ve been doing music for damn near twenty years now. I was singing in a group called Perfect Gentlemen back in 1993. That was during the New Kids on the Block/New Edition era; I was caught up in that. Coming out of Boston is definitely different than coming out of Atlanta or New York. It’s hard; it’s difficult, I ain’t gonna lie.

But now that I’m moving around and adapting to my environment, no matter what it is, they understand that the person is Miles as opposed to Masspike. They get to know who Miles is.

Masspike is your alter ego?

Kind of. Miles is my government name, so people who know me call me Miles. If you don’t know me, you can call me Masspike. (laughs) So the boy-band situation back in ’93 didn’t work out?

I guess you could say we had mediocre success.

By today’s standards selling 150,000 would be great, but back then it wasn’t great to the Warner Bros. staff. They expected [more] because the New Kids on the Block were worth a billion dollars in merchandising alone. I was only eleven then. I ain’t even gonna front, I was dancing, singing, whatever it took for me to be a part of the group. I was the lead singer of Perfect Gentlemen so I had to do what I had to do.

to have a microphone hanging from the lights and the ceiling. He would have a microphone plugged in with the tape deck and the boom.

We would just freestyle, but the fact that I could do it so well just influenced them. I was rap/singing back then, kinda like what I’m doing now. I can do [rap] battles and pop music; I can do all that. Through them, I got into the beat-making and songwriting aspect of the music. That’s how I made the transition back into music when I was about fifteen.

After your transition back into the music game on the songwriting and production side, what have you been working on?

I got into beat-making and I worked with this artist named Smoke Bulga out of Boston. We ended up getting a deal with Sony/Epic. I produced his first single and was heavily involved with his project on the executive side of things.

It just influenced me creatively to want to move forward. I knew I was talented enough. I’m not the greatest singer or dancer. I’m not gonna sit around and serenade your girl; if you meet me you may never know that I can sing. I just wanted to do music regardless if it was working as sa producer or an artist or being in the background. I just wanted to be a part of the music because I loved it so much.

So in working with Smoke Bulga, you got more of a feel for the business side of the industry?

Of course. I’m heavily involved with...

The rest of this interview is featured in the current issue of OZONE.

Did that discourage you from continuing in the music business?

For a few years I was discouraged. I was still developing as a young man and trying to come up smoothly in the industry. Being a young dude in the streets from Roxbury, Massachusetts, I had to deal with a lot of different things. I was a chubby light skinned dude singing in a [boy band] when I was 11 and 12 years old, and it didn’t really pan out. My peers and people who I thought were friends [ultimately] made fun of the fact that [my group] didn’t do well. That kinda deterred me from singing for a few years. One day I was on TV singing and then the next day I’m on the block, 13 years old, trying to sell weed.

It was discouraging. I could still sing though.

What made me get back into it was my homies in the hood who were really friends. We were really clicking; they were rapping. My man used OZONE | 23

24 | OZONE

OZONE | 25

Disco JR is an important component of Orlando’s nightlife. He DJs in clubs 5 nights a week, at special events, and hosts mixtapes for up-and-coming rappers.

We got his input on all the hot parties for Classic Weekend, and what it takes to get noticed in his city.

For those who don’t know, give us a run down on what all you do and what clubs you’re at.

I’m in the urban clubs 5 nights of the week. I do just about any event the radio station does, but I’m not actually employed on the station. Tuesday I’m at Cleo’s. Wednesday I’m at Legacy. Sometimes on Wednesday I’m also at the Coliseum for special events. Thursday you can catch me at Tavern. Fridays I’m at Firestone. Saturdays you can catch me in Daytona at Club Aqua.

How did you come up in the music game?

Disco Sr. is like a father figure to me. He was a very close friend of my mother. I came up under his wing and just came up from there.

How long have you been in the clubs?

Since I was 15, I started doing Hero’s under Disco Sr.’s wing. I’d sneak into all the clubs back then.

What was it like being an underage teen running around in the clubs?

It made me mature. It got me way ahead of my time. I’m 25 now, I just did my 10-year anniversary in October. It made me a little better and put me ahead in the game, and ahead of people my age.

I’ve seen club scenes go from good to bad and from worse to good. It was a learning process.

4 | OZONE

DISCO JR

Words by Ms Rivercity Photo by Cas of Colourful Money What mixtapes do you have out?

I have a mixtape I’ve done with 1090 Block Boyz, PI Bang, Heavi Boi Ent, and I also just dropped a mixtape with Florida Fresh.

How do you decide which artists to work with?

I pick artists I feel like are serious, and if they’re putting money behind themselves and trying to make it themselves first. Before I step in to do a mixtape with ‘em I like to see how they work. I don’t like putting my time behind artists that aren’t really trying to put time behind themselves.

Which local rappers have a buzz right now?

1090 Block Boyz, of course PI Bang, and Fella is getting big in Florida. There’s also a hip hop dude, that’s very underground, making a lot of noise – he goes by the name Two. What are some outlets for artists trying to get known and promote their music in Orlando?

The radio is kinda messed up as far as playing independent artists, their hands are tied. So the biggest thing I can tell everybody is just hit the streets hard and you’ll force the DJs to get behind you and your music.

What events do you have for Classic?

Wednesday I’m doing a kick-off party which is also a charity event to feed the homeless. That’s at Tavern on the Lakes. Friday I got Rick Ross at Club LAX, formerly Club Destiny. Saturday we’ll be downtown at Firestone with The Rich Kids and Brisco. Sunday we got Gucci Mane at LAX. We also got the big Car Show on Sunday at the Fairgrounds. We got the only after-hours spot in Orlando on Friday, Saturday, Sunday at Sante Fe on Colonial and Kirkman. We party until 6 in the morning. //

Phil 4 Real

Words by Ms Rivercity

Orlando’s beat-master Phil 4 Real has produced for many recognizable names like Rick Ross, Triple C’s, Lil Boosie, and more, but he didn’t land these placements over night. We talked to Phil about his humble beginnings, and how he went from working for free to becoming a professional.

Who all have you worked with so far?

I’ve worked with Triple C’s, Rick Ross, Pastor Troy, Cash Chris, Marquis Daniels, Haitian Fresh, Lil Boosie, Wyclef, Kevin Kendricks, TREAL, a lot of locals in Orlando. I produced “Gon Jock.”

I produced “Duffle Bag” for Triple C’s. Rick Ross just did a video to “White Sand” that I produced. I got one with Cash Chris called “Cold As Ice.” Pastor Troy did the remix to it on his tape with DJ Scream.

How did you get to the point where people started coming to you for records?

I learned that a lot of people aren’t gonna pay for beats from people they don’t know. So back in ’06, I basically started doing records for free.

People seen the reaction my records get. And I network. People know me, they know I’m a nice guy, I’m cool, I’m a well-rounded person. A lot of people tried to screw me over ‘cause I’m nice, but I don’t have to worry about that now.

So how did you get into music in the first place?

I started making music out of my house when I was 15. At the time, I didn’t know anything about studio quality or the professionalism of the music industry. Scarface’s manager was the first person that told me my music was garbage. He was like, “Your music sucks, the quality sucks.” He just straight up told me. I didn’t take it as a diss, he knew what he was talkin’ about. I was sure he was hearing more than I was. I decided to do my homework.

A guy named Pimp J was running Mo Music 6 | OZONE

Entertainment and a studio. He thought I had talent and so he took me out of the hood and put me in school. Next thing you know, I’m doing business with millionaires.

You went to school for production?

Nah, I always had production skills. Pimp J always told me a good producer is a good audio engineer too. So I became a certified audio engineer. He also taught me you need to have an ear for music and quality. When you make music in the house you might think it sounds good, but when you take it to a real DJ, it don’t sound good, it’ll sound distorted. I had to learn mixing and mastering.

That’s a good story about starting from the bottom and working your way up.

A lot of people are afraid to say they started from the bottom. I don’t know why ‘cause that’s the whole point of hip hop.

It seems like you’re doing a lot of upbeat sounding records. Is that your usual style?

Well, the type of beats I make that are chosen by these rappers are what they like. My style is more of a slower tempo as far as production, but as far as the records you’ve heard, I make what the rapper asks for because I want to be heard. A lot of rappers like the speed to be more up-tempo, they like it really fast, especially in Florida.

Do you have anything else to let the readers know about?

I’m working on Cash Chris’ mixtape. I’m looking forward to doing more with Triple C’s on their album Color, Cut, Clarity. A lot of local artists don’t like to leave their city and network. But that’s what it takes to make something happen. If not, you’re gonna be stuck forever. I had to learn to network with the right people doing things.

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“You know how dudes say ‘I’m really not a rapper, ima street cat that happens to rap’?” asks Atlanta lyricist J-Mac, sitting on a leather couch in his studio blowing a smoke cloud in the air. “Me, I really AM a rapper… an artist in every sense of the word. Music is my life…and my future!!”

With his unique southern-fried edgy street vibe, laced with infectious melodies and hard-hitting punch lines, the GA. native has made that life a good one. In 2006 Mac hooked up with a fellow artist and friend, Lil One, to pursue music full time as solo artist with pooled resources. After tirelessly working Atlanta’s open mic scene since 2007, the hard work paid off in ’09 when J-Mac got the opportunity to open up for Atlanta legends DJ Taz and Raheem the Dream. Since then, he has been doing shows constantly, establishing a solid fan base along the way. Hooking up the with the time tested production duo of Shawn Blount and DJ Kermit, a.k.a. BK Productions, the team began to make quite a bit of noise locally. Mac’s two BK Produced singles, the lady- friendly single “Lemme See” and the raunchy straight-to-the-point ode “Right Now” are quickly gaining momentum.

“With me, you get the gangster of Tony Montana with the smoothness of Sinatra”, he says. “That’s why my appeal is so diverse.” That diverse appeal is apparent in the music, as well as the crowds that he draws in his frequent shows. “I can rock with the streets, the kids, the divas, the frat boys, and the pop party girls” says Mac. “Every crowd has different energy and it’s a different show each night.” Now, with excitement about his long-awaited mixtape project with Atlanta’s Hot 107.9 DJ “The Poster Child” J1, 4th quarter 2010 is looking ripe for the taking. The mixtape, entitled “Live From Ya Baby Mama’s iPod” features a rock-rap remix of the hit single “No Hands” by Waka Flocka. “That shit is insane”, Mac says of the remix. “So really, ya’ll mediocre rap niggas got like 3 months to get it together. Then I’m taking over.” If that seems incredibly arrogant to you, then you are not alone. “People tell me I’m cocky as hell all the time. I say, if I’m just flexing, outrap me then dude. Otherwise fall back and watch me do me.” Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

J-MAC

OZONE | 7

Yelawolf Words by Randy Roper

8 | OZONE

Not to boast and brag or anything, but OZONE was probably the first major Hip Hop publication to interview YELAWOLF back when he joined our Patiently Waiting ranks in October of 2007. Admittedly, over the years, plenty of artists with Patiently Waiting cosigns are still, in fact, patiently waiting. But in the case of this Gadsden, Alabama MC, when his Trunk Muzik mixtape spread through the internet like oil in the gulf, it led him to a deal with Interscope (and a collective “I told you so” came from the OZONE headquarters).

Since it has been well over two years since he graced this magazine’s pages, now is as good a time as any to catch up with Jimmy Iovine’s newest signee. Here, Yelawolf speaks on the direction of his music, his new situation with Interscope and ongoing comparisons to Eminem.

You’ve been on the rap scene for a few years, but it seems like people are just starting to catch onto your music. Why do you think people are starting to listen now?

After we put out Trunk Muzik, people were waiting to hear me rap over 808’s and raw shit. We put out Slick Rick E. Bobby, and we put out Stereo, which was a Hip Hop tribute to classic rock. OZONE nominated that for an award [and] we got 5 [blunts] for that mixtape [review]. It made a lot of noise on the underground. I went from there and did this experimental project called Arena Rap. We put a band together, and we were doing shows around Atlanta. Then, just me and my team sat down and we were like, lets just do some raw rap shit for this next project and let’s see how it goes. After we put that out online, obviously the feature [“I Run”] with Slim Thug…that’s when people started turning their heads, like, “This kid might have something.” After Slim ran that single for a while, Kane Beatz hit me up to do the “Mixin’ Up The Medicine” hook for Juelz Santana, and that was my first official video look. Then we dropped “Pop The Trunk,” and that started getting a lot of attention.

Then we put out “Good To Go,” featuring Bun B, and then Raekwon’s feature for “I Wish,” and by then we had a lot of attention on blogs. By the time we dropped Trunk Muzik, it was like people were just waiting for me to rap.

a show out there with a band. I had a fiddle player, a banjo player, guitar, drums, turntables; it was just a crazy fucking show. L.A. Reid came, DJ Khaled was there; there were a bunch of people there to see the show. There were 2,000 people in there, and they still were like, “I don’t know” and passed. L.A. Reid said, “No, I’m good.” Khaled was like, “I don’t get it.”

So, we kept doing shows, and nobody was showing signs of giving us any help. You can’t keep continuously doing this as an independent label. You run out of money. It gets to the point where you can’t even do shows anymore because it costs a lot of money to have a band and all that shit. So my team was like, “Do a rap project. If you don’t have a deal in six months, you can do whatever you wanna do.” And I’ll be damned; they had deal for me in six months, after I put out Trunk Muzik. Obviously, I’ve always loved and will always love Hip Hop, but there was a point when it started getting tainted…I just thought nobody’s ever gonna understand what I’m doing, so I might as well be underground forever. When we put out Trunk Muzik I got excited again and realized a new potential that I had.

So you signed with Interscope. Why did you choose to sign with them?

We had just got off tour with Wiz Khalifa and we went straight to South By South West. And we did like nine shows in five days, and we killed SXSW. Everybody had...

The rest of this interview is featured in the current issue of OZONE.

Was raw rap and 808’s the direction that you wanted to go with your music? Or did you want to go in another direction?

After Stereo, I really wanted to evolve into a band, so I did the Arena Rap shit. It started doing really well around Atlanta, and we threw OZONE | 9

Young Cash

Words by Ms. Rivercity

10 | OZONE

Two days before turning himself in to prison FOR AN 18-MONTH STINT, Jacksonville’s flagship rapper/sanger Young Cash talked with OZONE about the case, snitches, and facing the music. Here he clears up several rumors, and offers some insight on what the future holds for those with one foot in the studio and one in the streets.

By now, most people know you have to go away for a little while. Can you explain the situation?

My brother was notorious in the streets so the Feds always been watching us, and the music shit put the spotlight on us. When my brother got shot they wasn’t really fuckin’ wit’ him ‘cause they thought he wasn’t doin’ nothin’ no more. That’s when I took over. The indictment papers say in 2003 me and 2 of my pa’tnas went to Brownsville, Texas, which is the border of Mexico. And from then on it says I was distributing kilos of cocaine and marijuana from Texas to Florida from 20032006. They didn’t arrest me until 2008.

What happened from after they got you?

They take all your shit, all your money, anything they think came from drug money, and basically leave you naked out here, unless you got some money hidden somewhere. I had a few dollars put away from the music shit. So basically, they had 5 C.I.’s on my paperwork – C.I. is a confidential informant – it was 2 Mexicans I knew, another Mexican I met later, another Mexican from down here, and they say Dirt Diggla, which is one of my pa’tnas. At first I was like, they ever never caught me wit’ shit, it’s just they word against mine. I never thought they would tell on me. I was under them, they was my connect, so I thought the Feds were trying to go up. So I was like, I’ll take it to trial. The Feds was like, “Go ahead and take it to trial, we got your homeboy from Texas, and we got 2 Mexicans with the same story.” I said fuck it, I ain’t even gonna play myself ‘cause the Feds got a 98% conviction rate.

Basically you had to plead guilty because they had witnesses.

I pled guilty and laid myself at the mercy of the courts. The judge showed leniency because it was so long ago. And then, the Feds only had evidence from 2003-2006, so for 2 years before they arrested me I was an upstanding citizen. Another factor of why he was lenient on my sentence is I have a 7-year-old autistic son. I had a sweet ass lawyer, the judge was real lenient and seen I was a changed nigga, I ain’t never got caught wit’ shit it was just a bunch of muthafuckas tellin’ on me to get their time reduced. I only got a year and a half. Coming from a street perspective, that’s real good, but coming from a music perspective, missing a year and a half is real bad.

Naw man, they ain’t even worried ‘bout no rappers. Rappers fuck theyself up. Some of these rap niggas wanna get in the game and then try to do all this wild shit for publicity or for their image. In reality, the real niggas don’t want no part of that shit. I don’t want no part in going to prison, being away from my family, my little boy, my music.

This shit is ridiculous. I was reading an article on 50 Cent and he was saying rap is missing authenticity. Nobody real is coming out. It ain’t been a nigga like 50 Cent, a nigga that done been to jail, been shot up, his story was so real that’s why people took to him.

So there’s no authenticity in rap these days?

I love Rick Ross, Ross is my nigga, but tell me what nigga can lie about being a Correctional Officer, come back and still be on top? Ain’t nothing against Rick Ross, we all in the same camp, he had his reasons for lying, but I never thought I’d see something like that in our generation where everybody claiming real shit.

How can people get in touch with you while you’re gone? Is there an address to write?

It’s gonna be posted on my Facebook and Twitter. com/YoungCash. I got a team that’s gonna keep my shit running. I’m leaving my computer with my people so I’m still selling hooks and beats.

Is there anything else you want to let people know about?

I’m going in a dog, I’m coming out a beast. God speaks to me all the time, he told me and my brother that eventually I was gonna have to face the music on all this drug shit. It’s a whole gang of rappers in the city runnin’ they mouth saying, “He ain’t a real street nigga, he ain’t this, he ain’t that.” Then the shit hit the fan and it really shut niggas the fuck up.

How do you deal with hate in your own city?

I never fed into that type of shit. I never retaliated or did a diss record on niggas I know was talkin’ shit. A lot of people talk down on me and my nigga Lil Henn, and our whole movement, but niggas really should be applauding a nigga like me. I’m the first nigga in Jacksonville with the state of mind like these Texas niggas that support they own shit. If it wasn’t for me, DJs still wouldn’t be playin’ y’all shit. Nobody was showing love. I showed niggas how to market theyself and get on in they own city. After Young Cash had 2 or 3 songs played in the Jacksonville club, which was unheard of, then you had T-Rone’s shit bammin’ in the club, Bread Boyz, Saw Money, Hustle House, they all have shit playin’ in the club. One nigga started that. You’re welcome.

For the entire interview visit OZONEMag.com

Do you think rappers are targeted by the police?

OZONE | 11

Criminal Ridaz

Words by Jee’Van Brown

12 | OZONE

Solo G, Trigga, Project Pimp, AK, and Hustla are all about loyalty.

Collectively known as Criminal Ridaz Entertainment, the label is attempting to follow the same footsteps as empires like No Limit and Cash Money, who all started out as a family and went on to make millions.

How did all you end up coming together and forming Criminal Ridaz?

Solo G: We all are family and old school friends.

Me and Project Pimp been best friends for a long time, and AK is his sister, so she came into play. Also me and Trigga is good friends, so his little brother Hustla came in. It’s like one big bloodline with us.

I know you’ve done a few showcases with Mercedes Streetz. How have the showcases been turning out?

Solo G: We showed up to the showcase and rocked that shit. We had plenty of people in there repping us and we got the trophy. Ever since then, me her have been talking often and she shows me a lot of love.

What is Criminal Ridaz current label situation?

Solo G: We are our own record label, Criminal Ridaz Entertainment. We got 5 artists on the label. My album Solo G is coming out, then you got Project Pimp’s solo album coming out.

We’re all just an independent label trying to put it together. We have our own studio, we record our own stuff, promote our own stuff, and do our own videos.

Are all of y’all from Orlando?

Solo G: Yeah all of us are from Orlando.

With 5 artists on the label, when all of you are in the studio, what is the process like and where does the inspiration come from?

Solo G: We’re not a rap group. We’re all individual artists, but we are all family so we come together when we get inspired. I might be working on a hook, then AK will come out of nowhere and say she want to be on that song, and that’s how we get down.

Trigga: Sometimes we might go listen to old stuff we did in the past just to remind us of where we started off and didn’t have shit. We

get inspired by the hard work we took to get the studio that we have. We also keep a bottle of vodka and some brown in here.

AK: We go ham on everything we touch, we ain’t fucking off!

Have y’all experienced any jealousy or hatred coming up?

Solo G: At first it was a lot of love, then we started taking it off and it was some hate going on. We experienced it, but not really, we did lose a couple of homies that was down with the camp, they kind of fell off, but fuck them.

Have any of the artists put out any mixtapes?

Solo G: Yeah, me and Project Pimp put out a mixtape called Criminal Ridaz. It was earlier this year in January, before I had to do a little bit of time. I had to do like 3 months, so when the judge gave me that deadline we went in Tupac mode. When we had the mixtape ready I had 3 days left before I went in. My team kept it alive by pushing it in the streets and stuff. We’re also going to be putting out a lot of different volumes of Criminal Ridaz.

When is the next mixtape coming out?

Solo G: The next mixtape is going to be the Project Pimp mixtape which is going to be called Hogmawlz, Collard Greens, and Cornbread. We’re trying to have it ready by January. We have a lot of heavy promotion for it.

What did you get locked up for?

Solo G: It was ugly at first because it started as a trafficking case, but when the lab results came back it was less than 28 grams, so they just dropped it to a possession. I paid 10 stacks for a lawyer and he got it all the way down to me paying a heavy fine and doing 3 months. I paid that fine just to get those 3 months. My lawyer held me down.

Are any of the artists performing for classic weekend?

Solo G: We’re free all weekend during the Classic, but we got shows all month. We are going to be at Icon on the 17th then we going hit it again on the 27th. //

OZONE | 13

G Mash

Words by Jee’Van Brown

14 | OZONE

For almost a decade G Mash has been grinding and making a name for themselves throughout Miami.

After producing for some of the biggest Miami rappers such as Trick Daddy and Trina, the rap/production duo is now going harder than ever before.

So what do you guys have going on right now?

Supa: Right now we got the mixape coming out called Ground Work with DJ Froggy with Coastto-Coast DJs that’s going be on the internet.

We’re doing a street mixtape and we’re going to definitely hit the streets hard with that.

When will it be released?

Chevy Boi: It should be out at the end of next month.

How long have you two been rapping?

Chevy Boi: Supa and me have been doing this forever, since we was shawty’s. Since 11 or 12 years old we have been running around the projects trying to rap.

How did you two meet?

Chevy Boi: We stayed in the same area called Brown Sub and they use to call it Pink and Green, now it’s called The Carter. We use to be running around the projects.

Are both of you originally from Miami?

Supa: Yes, straight from Miami.

What other artists have y’all worked with?

Supa: Under Surveillance, Trick Daddy, and we’ve worked with Trina. We’re also producers, we were with Slip-N-Slide Records/One Stop Records back in our younger days. We were already in the game when we were young. We produced songs with Trick, two on his album, we were on the Drumline soundtrack. We did the song Trina and Missy had together, we worked with a lot of Miami artists. We worked with 21 GSC. We’re working with Young Breed from Triple C’s. The list can go on, especially with the buzz we got going on right here in our hometown. Everybody is fucking with us right now.

When y’all were producers coming up, were y’all under the same name G Mash?

Chevy Boi: We were under Young Hustlers Production and Supa Production.

Do you like rapping or producing more?

Chevy Boi: I love producing, but I like rapping more. Supa produces more than me.

Being in the game so long, what struggles have y’all overcome in the music business?

Supa: That’s a good ass question, we blamed our position in the game on other motherfuckas without really knowing the things that we can do ourselves, as far as promoting ourselves.

Now you have all types of internet sites, and we’re from the streets so wherever we go we make sure we have our CDs with us. If we’re in Carroll City, we drop it off somewhere on a corner store. That’s what we learned from the game and now it’s paying off.

What are your signature styles?

Supa: I can’t really pin point a style because we don’t stick to a certain style of music. We make all kinds of music, but we definitely have the southern swag, everything about us is all southern. We could be rapping fast or slow, with metaphors, we can rap some deep shit like Pac. What do you think G Mash can bring to the table that other rappers aren’t bringing?

Supa: First and foremost, G Mash means “get money and stop hating” and that’s the movement. It’s not a movement that’s just meant for rap, it’s a movement that we bought to rap. Everybody fucks with us in our city, our music actually brought us respect and let people know that we ain’t hating on nobody. We’re going to do what the fuck we want to do regardless. We live by that code: “get money and stop hating.”

Are you guys signed to anybody? What’s your label situation?

Supa: We’re independent right now, G Mash Entertainment. We just trying to take it to the next level. We hitting the streets, doing mini tours, doing club tours, that’s what we’re doing, trying to make this movement stronger. //

OZONE | 15

J Rich Words by Julia Beverly & Randy Roper

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At times, an artist’s hometown isn’t the ideal breeding ground to cultivate their vision. In this situation, an artist is forced to relocate to greener pastures in search of a Hip Hop safe haven.

Take San Francisco-bred rapper J. Rich, for example. like LeBron James, he decided to take his talents to South Beach. And with a city known for year-round beautiful weather (and beautiful women), how could anyone blame him? In this interview, J Rich speaks with OZONE about his move to the 305, his upcoming Independently Major 2 project, and building with Young Money.

Do you want to start by introducing yourself?

J. Rich, out of that Bay Area, San Francisco.

One of the pioneers out there for a lot of shit.

Been around the game for about six years now, put out about five projects, straight out of my pocket, all the way independent, never went deal shopping as of today.

So you’re in Miami now?

Yeah, I’m living in Miami, contemplating moving back out to New York early next year.

Basically I took my whole game all over the world. I’m in Texas as we speak, on tour with my boy Slim. I’ve been on the road the past year and a half.

How has all that traveling affected your musical style?

Definitely get to see a whole different side of the music industry. Get to see how everybody views music differently. Different slangs, you know. Different beats, different producers, so me traveling is why I think this project is what they’re looking forward to hearing, cause I got a different diverse sound. I’m not sounding West Coast, I don’t sound Down South. You can’t put my sound in no region.

What’s the name of the project you’re working on now?

It’s Independently Major 2, this is the follow up to my last project, which actually did pretty good on the downloads off my website. I did like 30,000 downloads, and this is the followup.

together, have a good time, and sell out the club. When I’m in the Bay Area and it’s a big venue, it’s always a fight, it’s always a problem, so big artists don’t really come to the Bay Area. Little artists don’t really fill up the venue cause it’s too much drama. Down South it could be 2,000-3,000 people in the club without no problem. Plus the club goes until 4, 5 in the morning. An artist can get paid to perform ‘cause the club is actually making money. When the club is not making money, they can’t pay an artist to perform. Local artists in the Down South region make money off performing songs that aren’t even nationwide but they generate enough money off of a regional song that they can eventually get nationwide. In the Bay Area, you can have a hot song and be on the radio buzzing, but you can’t even generate money off your single.

You mentioned you’re on tour, what else do you have coming up?

I’m dropping Independently Major 2 in late December, hosted by DJ Drama. I’m doing at least seven videos. A Young Money tour is definitely coming. Not sure what slot I’ll have yet, but I’ll definitely be on the tour. And we’re opening a studio on South Beach.

What’s your affiliation with Young Money?

I’ve been rocking with them for like two years now. Since I moved back down to Miami, we’ve just been rocking, as more friends than on a business level. Now that they see that my business is where it needs to be, they’re like, if you put this project out the right way, we gon’ talk about taking it to the next level. So as far as affiliation we’re more on a friendship level.

As far as actually doing business together, we haven’t crossed that line yet.

Is there anything else you’d like to say before we finish?

What I’m bringing to the game, off top, I’m bringing reality rap. What I’m tired of hearing and tired of seeing is a bunch of niggas screaming a bunch of shit, and I don’t see none of that. I’ma start calling people’s bluff, so I’m bringing reality rap. If you see me screaming it or talking about it, I’m living it or I’m actually doing it, and that’s my life. //

How does the music scene in Miami compare to where you’re from?

Down South, people know how to get OZONE | 17

Like many DJs, DJ Slym wears many hats. In addition to club and tour DJing, Slym also host mixtapes, promotes parties and does some artist consulting.

Where all do you DJ? As of now I’m DJing at Fat Tuesday at Antigua & Thursday nights at Limelight. I’m working on adding some more nights soon. I’m also DJing a lot of shows in the city. We’re bringing Travis Porter on the 19th to Firestone, and putting together more shows and events so be on the lookout.

What other ventures are you involved in?

Marketing my Street Buzz brand and the DJ Slym name. I have a few big mixtape projects I’m about to release. One is the 4th installment of the Florida Classic Weekend Street Buzz 2k10.

The mixtape release party is Thursday Nov 18th at Limelite. I’m also working on releasing a few records off my upcoming DJ album.

What are your some memorable moments?

My most memorable was working on the Recession Tour featuring Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Tay Dizm, Ace Hood. It was my first tour. Being in front of thousands of people in these big arenas is almost better than sex. It was my first time ever on a plane or seeing snow. Everyone was cool as hell and down to earth. Boosie stayed smoking good. Free Boosie.

Where are you from originally?

I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, raised and earned my stripes in Palm Beach County, Delray to be exact. I’m currently in Orlando.

You’re known for your promotions game. Give us some insight into what makes a promotional campaign successful.

A successful promotions campaign takes time and planning. Know what your target market is, know how to reach them, what they like, have a clear message about what you’re trying to tell them. And have a budget.

What are some qualities in an artist that make you want to work with them?

This is a business first, you have to handle that before you can talk about anything else. I also like seeing artists who go hard themselves, not just their staff and homeboys. People like that are more focused on winning than being Hollywood. I want to feel like if I get behind the proj-

18 | OZONE

DJ SLYM

Words by Ms Rivercity Photo by D Suave

ect you’re not just relying on me to make you a super star while you sit home eating potato chips. Get your ass out and grind too.

Who are some artists you predict will blow up in 2011?

Travis Porter has been going hard for a while now. What they’re doing by themselves independently is undeniable. It’s also going to be the year of KC, Kevin Cossom. This dude is a hit maker. He just released a single “Baby I Like It” featuring Diddy and Fabulous which is going to smash clubs. DJs need to support it now and not jump on when he’s unreachable. Also Tity Boi, Scrappy, and Iceberg because they have big hits which will be all over soon. Wrekords Ent. out of my home town Delray are making a lot of noise too.

How can people get in touch with you for your services?

My services include mixtape hosting, club DJing, tour DJ, artist consulting and way more.

You can reach me via email at Mystreetbuzz@ gmail.com or phone 561-542-8444. Hit me on twitter @DJSLYM. On Facebook search DjSlym Mr Street Buzz.

Orlando’s “King of the Old School” DJ Caesar has a long history breaking records. Starting off as a break dancer in the late 80s, he later joined DJ Khaled and DJ Nasty to form Hitmen Productions. Now he spins on 102 Jamz and all the Orlando nightlife hotspots.

Where can people catch you spinning? Give us your line up.

Every Monday thru Friday I do the Back in the Day Buffet on 102 Jamz from 12pm-1pm. I do the Friday Night Jump Off from 10pm-12am. For the club scene, on Tuesday nights I’m at Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club for VIP Tuesdays. Thursday I’m with DJ Q45 at Club Rain, which used to be Club Whispers. After I do the radio on Friday, I go to Jamaican Me Crazy at Club Luxe. Saturday I DJ and I’m the promoter at Tavern on the Lake, called The Life, brought to you by The Firm.

How long have you been DJing and how did you get your foot in the door?

I started in 1989, so I’m looking at 21 years. I’ve always kinda been involved in the music scene, but I started off as a break dancer. We had crew and it just fell into place. I picked up DJing from there. I started off with DJ Khaled and we joined DJ Nasty for the crew Hitmen Productions.

DJ CAESAR

Words by Ms Rivercity

Who are some artists in Orlando really grinding?

I’ll go back to the TREAL days when they started bubbling out here. More recently, I’ve been hearing a lot about PI Bang. I haven’t really done a project with him but he can holla at me anytime. I show love and respect when it’s due. Some other cats doing their thing are Wes Fif, KC, Atiba, Haitian Fresh, ProteJ, Dynasty, Truth, 1090 Blockboyz, and DirtyGee. With years of experience, how have you seen the music in Orlando change over the years?

The style of music has changed a lot. When I came up as a DJ with Khaled and Nasty, hip hop as we knew it was Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, that’s what was on the radio back then. The southern movement would have been 95 South, 69 Boys, or Luke, but that’s what it was limited to. Of course now you have a lot of artists coming out of the ATL. Rick Ross is doing his thing in Miami, back then his vibe was different. Now the east coast movement isn’t there like it used to be. It’s coming back though, and it’s more unified now, with east coast artists working with southern artists, which is cool. It’s definitely changed.

Do you have anything else going on Florida Classic Weekend?

On Saturday I’m doing a real big old-school show with Coors Light at The Orlando Marriott with Slick Rick, Monie Love, Dres from Black Sheep, Arrested Development. On the newschool tip we’re throwing a real big party at Tavern on the Lake for Bethune Cookman as well as FAMU. What other projects or side ventures do you have going on?

I’m working on a mixtape series called Get Used to It. I’m up to Volume 5. Being at the radio, I get music in advance and a lot of stuff doesn’t always get played. And there’s a lot of local artists trying to get exposure, so as a DJ I try to provide an avenue to get the music heard. I can’t always play it in the club or on radio so I have the mixtapes.

Do you have a website or contact info?

Twitter.com/DJCaesar and you can send music to djcaesar1919@ gmail.com.

OZONE | 19

Saw Money Words by Ms. Rivercity Photo by Roosevelt

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Saw Money’s music took off earlier this year with the release of “Tight Jeans,” a song now in regular club rotation in Jacksonville. Since the success of his first single, Saw’s music has taken over surrounding cities with other songs like “They Want Money,” “Weatherman,” and several others, which can all be heard on his new mixtape hosted by Bigga Rankin.

Tell us about the new mixtape you have out called You Already Know.

Yeah, it’s my Real Nigga Radio hosted by Bigga Rankin. I just been goin’ hard with my songs. I started off with my first single “Tight Jeans,” which the streets have been feeling.

I got “They Want Money.” I got a bonus track that’s featuring Lil Phat from Trill Entertainment. I also got that new single that they feeling called “Grab Me.” It’s one of my favorite mixtapes I ever did. I only really dropped two tapes in the streets, but this is my best one.

What was the name of your first mixtape?

The first mixtape I dropped was called Diamond in the Rough. It was hosted by DJ Byrd of Point Blank Entertainment.

How long have you been rapping?

I been really rapping for like a year and a half.

I started promoting myself back in January of 2010. That’s when I officially dropped my first single. So I been goin’ hard for the last 10 months.

It’s nearly unheard of for a new rapper to just come out and already have a hit or two on the radio and in clubs, especially in Jacksonville. How were you able to accomplish that?

You can’t deny real. I been doing music for a while, I just been behind the scenes. I did some stuff with Pit, but I decided this year that nobody could run my label like me so I stepped out of the background.

How did you come up with your rap name?

When I was growing, going from project to project, fighting in the hood, everybody used to call me Hacksaw. I was nicknamed off a couple wrestlers from t.v. – Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Hacksaw Butch Reed. I got kicked out of school when I was real young because they said I was using wrestling moves on kids. Later I just put Saw with Money and ran with it.

I heard you’re on a promo tour. What’s going on with your upcoming shows?

Right now I’m going anywhere they pay me.

I’m trying to get show money in these little outside country towns. But I’m also going on promotional tour with Bigga Rankin. I open up for all the events he has. Right now he’s doing a tour with Trill Entertainment. I was on the Waka Flocka tour and Yo Gotti’s tour.

My next show is in Trenton, FL and I just left Pensacola.

So “Tight Jeans” is pretty much like a club banger/hood anthem. What about this other song you have buzzing, “They Want Money”?

That’s something I did for the females. The beat was produced by Frost. I had the beat in my computer for a while, and one day I listened to it and just heard a whole bunch of females on it saying “They Want Money.” It’s about money, but it’s also like they want me too. I used it as my intro song on the mixtape since my name is Saw Money. They love it.

What other songs do people hit you up about?

They like that “D.O.P.E.M.A.N.” and “Smoke Wit Me,” “Grab Me,” “I Got Fire.” They feeling that Lil Phat song “Weatherman” And they love “Diamond in the Rough,” that’s a popular song. I got my homeboy Trump Tight on the chorus.

It’s real positive, it’s personal, it’s for the hood, it’s for people goin’ through things to let ‘em know don’t give up. Everybody’s a diamond in the rough in they own way.

So you’ve definitely been getting a lot of love?

A lot of DJs in the city are showin’ me love right now. Everybody be talkin’ bad about the city, and people hatin’, but if you a good person and you put your all into it, you gon’ have more people that love you than hate.

What’s it like when you go out now, are people recognizing you more?

I always had a name before I started rappin’.

This rappin’ don’t make me. I’m a real street nigga. People been knowing me, I been doin’ positive things. But I dig my fans though. //

OZONE | 21

Young

Nard Words by Ms. Rivercity Photo by KJ of Respek Phresh Photos

22 | OZONE

While going through his share of tribulations, Broward County’s Young Nard decided to focus his energy into music to heal his losses. With the release of his new tape Club Life, Nard talks about his inspirations, influences, and future plans.

Introduce yourself and tell us where you’re from.

I’m Young Nard, straight out of Broward County, Florida. I’m reppin’ Big Boyz Music Group and I run with P.M.P. Young Stunnas.

How did you start rapping?

I started rapping after a major incident when my best friend got shot. It was just a way for me to get away from pain that was going on personally in my life. That was around 2004.

Were you even interested in music before that happened?

I was already in the music scene with my friends. We started P.M.P. We been running since 1999. We used to throw parties and do a few shows, but I got real serious around the time my best friend died. I just had to go hard.

You have a tape out called Club Life. Tell us a little about the project.

Club Life is my first solo project. It’s hosted by Beni Boom, who’s part of the Cool Runnings DJs. The tape is basically me taking people to the club in less than an hour. I start with a mellow beginning, and it speeds up, it has some songs for the thugs, songs for the ladies, then it goes back to slowing down. It’s different. It’s just like you’re in the club, from the beginning to the end. It basically tells the story of how I’ve been for the last 2 years.

Club Life is the name of the mixtape, and it also describes the lifestyle of where you’re from in South Florida. Does the party and club scene down there have a major influence on your music?

Yeah, it has a big influence. My tape basically tells how the club life is in South Florida, like around in Miami, Broward, and West Palm Beach area. It also explains a lot about me and how I am in the club. I got a song on there

called “DJ Booth” which is like I’m in the DJ booth the whole night. One of my singles, “Rollin Smokin,” talks about how I get to the club and be drankin’ and smokin’. I have a record called “First Friday,” which is one of the biggest things down in South Florida. First Friday is like the most packed night at the club.

How have you been able to get your music heard by the people?

I talk to a lot of DJs in Florida. Every city I talk to at least 5 DJs. I talk to a lot of people online, through Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, even through BBM. I interact with everybody any way I can. I tell ‘em to check out my mixtape and they love it. I build a relationship from there. I respect all the DJs I talk to. I go in the studio and do their drops and always keep in touch with ‘em.

What are you trying to get out of the rap game? Is it the money, cars, and all that?

Or is there something else you’re trying to achieve? Or both?

It’s not even about the money or cars. To me it’s about being successful and building something more than what it is. I came from damn near nothin’ and I’m tryin’ to build an empire.

I wanna be at Diddy status. I want people to know who we are and what we’re doin’. It’s also about helping people and putting people in better situations, like my family and friends.

What’s next for you? Any big shows or new projects?

I’m planning a tour right now with the Young Stunnas. Starting in January, we’re trying to hit all the major cities in Florida. Then we’ll expand more to Atlanta, Alabama, New Orleans, Texas, places like that.

Is there anything you want to add?

Just let people know I’m out here grinding.

I’ma always be a humble person. I’ma always talk to whoever talks to me. I’ma always make good music for the people, and the game don’t stop. //

OZONE | 23