OZONE MAGAZINE
YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER’S FAVORITE MAGAZINE
THE
ILLUSTRATION
RANGE ROVER ALL WHITE LIKE HER TOE TIPS
ISSUE: T.I. lil wayne scarface andre 3000 & more
TRINA
BACK ONTHE PROWL
DEM FRANCHIZE BOYZ RICK ROSS |GREG STREET MAC-BONEY | OOOPS XVII | TAYDIZM And MUCH MORE!
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ozone west
SPRING 2008
DEM HOODSTARZ STRONG ARM STEADY
Cino: Organized Grind YOUNG L of THE PACK
OZONE MAG //
YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER’S FAVORITE MAGAZINE
DEM
FRANCHIZE BOYZ
TRINA | CHERI DENNIS GREG STREET | RICK ROSS THE FIRST ANNUAL ILLUSTRATION ISSUE MAC-BONEY | OOOPS | TAYDIZM And MUCH MORE! 28 // OZONE WEST
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ozone west
DEM HOODSTARZ STRONG ARM STEADY
Cino: Organized Grind YOUNG L of THE PACK
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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF // Julia Beverly MUSIC EDITOR // Randy Roper FEATURES EDITOR // Eric N. Perrin ASSOCIATE EDITOR // Maurice G. Garland ART DIRECTOR // Tene Gooden ADVERTISING SALES // Che’ Johnson PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR // Malik Abdul SPECIAL EDITION EDITOR // Jen McKinnon MARKETING DIRECTOR // David Muhammad Sr. LEGAL CONSULTANT // Kyle P. King, P.A. SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER // Adero Dawson ADMINISTRATIVE // Kisha Smith INTERN // Kari Bradley CONTRIBUTORS // Bogan, Charlamagne the God, Chuck T, Cierra Middlebrooks, Destine Cajuste, E-Feezy, Edward Hall, Felita Knight, Jacinta Howard, Jaro Vacek, Jessica Koslow, J Lash, Jason Cordes, Jo Jo, Johnny Louis, Kamikaze, Keadron Smith, Keith Kennedy, K.G. Mosley, King Yella, Luis Santana, Luxury Mindz, Marcus DeWayne, Matt Sonzala, Maurice G. Garland, Mercedes (Strictly Streets), Natalia Gomez, Ray Tamarra, Rico Da Crook, Robert Gabriel, Rohit Loomba, Shannon McCollum, Spiff, Stan Johnson, Swift, Thaddeus McAdams, Wally Sparks, Wendy Day STREET REPS // Al-My-T, B-Lord, Big Teach (Big Mouth), Bigg C, Bigg V, Black, Brian Franklin, Buggah D. Govanah (On Point), Bull, C Rola, Cedric Walker, Chill, Chilly C, Chuck T, Controller, DJ Dap, Delight, Derrick the Franchise, Dolla Bill, Dwayne Barnum, Dr. Doom, Ed the World Famous, Episode, General, Gorilla Promo, Haziq Ali, H-Vidal, Hollywood, J Fresh, Jammin’ Jay, Janky, Joe Anthony, Judah, Kamikaze, KC, Kenneth Clark, Klarc Shepard, Kuzzo, Kydd Joe, Lex, Lil D, Lump, Marco Mall, Music & More, Nick@ Nite, Nikki Kancey, Pat Pat, PhattLipp, Pimp G, Quest, Rio G, Rippy, Rob-Lo, Stax, TJ’s DJ’s, TJ Bless, Tim Brown, Tre Dubb, Trina Edwards, Vicious, Victor Walker, Voodoo, Wild Billo, Young Harlem SUBSCRIPTIONS // To subscribe, send check or money order for $20 to: Ozone Magazine, Inc. Attn: Subscriptions Dept 644 Antone St. Suite 6 Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-350-3887 Fax: 404-350-2497 Website: www.ozonemag.com COVER CREDITS // Trina photo courtesy of Slip N Slide Records; Cheri Dennis photo courtesy of Bad Boy Records; Dem Franchize Boyz photo by Ray Tamarra; Greg Street photo by Drexina Photography. DISCLAIMER // OZONE Magazine is published 12 times per year by OZONE Magazine, Inc. 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 2008 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.
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illustrations 63 65 68 67 66 70 64 62 69 71
T.I. PIMP C 50 CENT JUVENILE SCARFACE LIL WAYNE RICK ROSS C-MURDER ANDRE 3000 BOB MARLEY
monthly sections 82 14 36 18-20 34 80 26 15 30 24 23-47 32 28 38-46 76 81 74-75 78
END ZONE FEEDBACK TATTED UP RAPQUEST TRUE RAPS CD REVIEWS CHIN CHECK JB’S 2 CENTS DOLLAR MENU MATHEMATICS PHOTO GALLERY CHAIN REACTION SIDEKICK HACKIN’ PATIENTLY WAITING DJ PROFILE: DJ AARIES CAFFEINE SUBSTITUTES TJ’S DJ’S TASTEMAKERS BOARD GAME: DON CANNON
interviews 53 52
GREG STREET CHERI DENNIS
TRINA pg 48-
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Send your comments to feedback@ozonemag.com or hit us up at www.myspace.com/ozonemagazine
I get every issue of OZONE because it’s a real magazine for the streets. I’m an upcoming producer from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and I’m just trying to build a presence. I grind hard, and if I could get a picture in the Rapquest portion of the mag or the Patiently Waiting, I would be highly appreciative. – Daniel Cochrane, danielcochrane@tmail.com (Tuscaloosa, AL) I read JB’s 2 Cents article this morning, and all I have to say is: Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep your head up. – DJ Walgee (Orlando, FL) The article you did on Lil Wayne for the December 2007 issue was awesome! A little explicit, but awesome! I was wondering where I can buy the t-shirts Wayne had on the cover and inside the magazine. I’ve been trying to find them everywhere! - Byron Johnson, bbj1986@aol.com (Tallahassee, FL) Definitely wanna give y’all props for showing some love to the DC Hip Hop scene in the latest edition of OZONE’s Rapquest, but y’all really ain’t get the full story behind DJ Rob being locked up. Members of Third World Klick, a DC area Hip Hop group, were also at DJ Rob’s studio the same day of the Feds raid. They ended up getting locked up along with DJ Rob while putting the finishing touches on their debut mixtape. The Feds seized laptops and hard drives full of music from the Klick, threatening to halt the release of their mixtape. Nevertheless, they kept it movin’ and still managed to release their first official street release HungerStrike Vol. 1: Break Bread, hosted by DJ Rob. – Army of Kingz, armyofkingzent@gmail.com (Washington, D.C.) So Weezy’s on the cover of XXL Mag, again! I love XXL and all, but they have been lax with their featuers lately. I just wanted to give you a shout for doing your thing with OZONE. I remember back in the day when cats could only find it in downtown Orlando, or at specific spots in Winter Park or around UCF. Then, about a year ago, I saw an issue in Borders in New York City. I pray for the day you guys get a better distribution deal so the whole world will know about y’all! Be blessed. – Ross (Kissimmee, FL) Hey Julia, I just wanted to give you a shoutout and say that the mag is great. This is actually the first issue I read of OZONE, and I have been cracking up on the train. Keep it up. I can’t believe that you wrote practically all of the stories in there. Do you sleep? That is true love and dedication. – Nekia Seymore (New York, NY) I’m an avid reader of your magazine but I was disappointed by the Florida Classic weekend edition. The Classic takes place in Orlando, FL and you completely forgot to include the biggest hustler from Orlando in your magazine. I found out about Jessie Maguire after I moved from Jersey and was flipping 14 // OZONE MAG
through the radio channels and came across a young voice shouting out, “Brand new music produced by Orlando’s own The Runners,” and I kept listening to the show. After the show I checked out her Myspace and did a little research. Jessie Maguire is the Hip Hop music director for WPRK 91.5 FM in Orlando. That evening she had the legendary KRS-One in the studio and did an interview with him for an hour and a half. While researching WPRK I found out that DJ Khaled and DJ Nasty used to spin at the station years ago. Recently, OZONE had a shoot in Orlando for the movers and shakers for Rapquest and I saw her hanging around with The Runners. I would love to read a story about her. Most up and coming artists don’t realize that commercial radio station DJs have little say-so, if any, on what they play, but college radio is a whole different story in itself. I recently heard through the grapevine that she is going to be honored by one of those teen magazines as one of the top young people making a difference in this world. If national magazines are highlighting her for her accomplishments, I figured OZONE, a magazine that started from her hometown, would show some love. I have never actually talked to Jessie for an extensive period of time but she has played my music on her show before. A rep from Koch Records contacting me because they heard my song on her radio show and now I’m about to sign a distribution deal, so she is the reason my dream came true. She’s the true mover and shaker in Orlando even though you neglected to mention her in your Classic weekend edition. – Carlos Dense (Orlando, FL) Anytime you talk about Chicago entertainment, like in OZONE’s recent issue of Rapquest, how can you not talk about Chicago’s #1 DJ Malik Shabazz of the CORE DJs who is at the top of entertainment when it comes to red carpet events, concerts, comedy shows, urban fashion, and street info in Chicago? – DJ Malik Shabazz, myspace.com/4djmalikshabazz (Chicago, IL) I just wanted to compliment you on OZONE Magazine. Great work and concepts. I love it. I’m in the process of trying to collab with a photographer that has shot models for your magazine. Besides that, The Pack is on the OZONE West cover for this month’s issue. Exciting! – Marissa Brown, th3on3nonlyprinc3ss@yahoo.com (Los Angeles, CA) We need a Hand Job page for the women in the next issue to find out who’s got the biggest pussy, like y’all did for the guys in the sex issue. – Greg Street, myspace.com/djgregstreet (Atlanta, GA) Appreciate the love me and Batman got in the Rapquest section for Virginia Beach. OZONE is definitely one of the hottest up and coming mags. We’re probably the two youngest in the game, but the most influential and the most consistent with party promo, events, and club nights in the 757. I’ve gotta pay respect to cats out here like Ike White, Chuck Stewart, and Droop. The 757 is a hot area for talent. Look out for the Spot Raiders, Sic Mic, Big Kev, Big Tay, Peso, DMP, Saint, and B.I., and a whole lot of other artists. – Gee Hicks, geehicks@upinthemix.net (Hampton, VA)
jb’s 2cents
10 Things I’m Hatin’ On
I
’ve never been one to speak out much when it comes to politics, because it usually comes down to choosing between the lesser of two evils and I don’t care enough to research ‘em. But, like everybody else, I’ve jumped on the Barack bandwagon, and it’s not just because I’d gladly be his Monica Lewinsky. It’s because he doesn’t come off like a complete idiot when he speaks. I’m all for women in power, but Hillary seems fake to me, and our current regime clearly needs to go because the president is on TV completely clueless that gas prices are approaching $4.00/gallon.
PART 1
by Alexyss Tylor a.k.a. the Vagina Power lady Alexyss had so much hate this month we had to split it into two parts!
3. Down Low Brothas Men around here sucking dicks, fucking multiple dicks, and they ain’t letting they women know that they really like to suck dick and swallow sperms, and it’s bothering me because it’s a lot of treacherous ass, dick suckin’ ass niggas out here that’s really cheating on the women, and misleading the women, pretending like they like pussy when they really thinking about the boy’s pussy that they got, that they like to fuck, and that they like to suck. They professional dick suckers, and these women don’t even know what time it is out here. They not telling the women; they just think it’s a funny game. And they’re not using condoms with their men lovers, and they come back sticking they dick in a woman’s mouth. It’s creating another cycle of HIV, AIDS, and STD’s for black women to have to deal with, and we’re already the frontrunners for STD’s and AIDS.
JOHN REGER D-RAY
Gangstas in New York
Big Bosses in Vegas
Tastemakers in St. Louis
Beverlys in New Orleans
Slutmonkeys in Miami
10. Penis Hygiene A lot of times we’re having to deal with men that are uncircumcised, but then we pulling they skin back and it’s a odor, and it’s a lot of grease, what they call down here nap butter, and it cakes underneath the dick skin. //
I’ve been expanding my little side hustles to compensate for all the broke advertisers who are fucking me recession-style, and one of those side hustles is booking shows. The music industry itself is dirty to begin with, but booking agents and club promoters are the worst of the worst. They’re like the used car salesmen of the music industry. On top of that, artists (or their management) make up for their lack of record sales by trying to charge $20-25k when they have one record. When promoters say they want an artist for $5k, I just laugh. Those don’t exist anymore. You come across a lot of inept managers through booking shows, like the ones who bounce you around to three different people and still won’t give you a straight response to the simple question you asked, or the ones who insist you “fax an offer” instead of just texting you back the price. It’s 2008, people. Are we really still stuck on fax machines? Some people won’t even respond to $50,000 offers. Must be nice. Then there’s other artists like Fabolous and Gucci Mane who (if you’re lucky enough to get a response) refuse to travel to host a party. If somebody wanted to give you, say, ten stacks to fly out to Vegas and hang out for the night, what would you say? Someday they might be wishing they had taken those flights. But, I digress. Do y’all, cuz umma do me - word to Rocko who was a little sore at us after last month’s issue (and Roccett, and Jeezy, and Big Boi). I do talk a lot of shit myself, but being the editor, I also take the fall for everybody else’s shit talking, which is dangerous now that we’ve got plenty of smart asses on the OZONE roster. I can’t lie, 2008’s been kinda rough so far. But like those big-ass Obama posters say, I’ve got hope. You wanna see how it’s done? Watch me do me.
KING YELLA
4. Hanging Nuts I’m hating on hangin’, stankin’ nuts. A lot of men wear these damn tight ass pants. Niggas is walking around with these damn tight ass pants wit’ no draws on and you can’t see they dick, but you can see they nuts. It’s like hangin’ nuts showing through the pants. It’s really nasty first of all for a man’s nuts to be longer than his dick, that’s a problem, and then second, all you can see is his long saggy nuts coming through the damn pants, or hangin’ on one side of his damn draw leg or pants leg. Get yo’ pants tailored, or taken up, or something, but we don’t have to see all that.
It was a loooooong winter, wasn’t it? The music industry is reeling, like every other industry I guess, and a lot has changed since I last sat down to pen my 2 Cents. The editor of XXL got fired and now he wants to be Facebook friends with me. Who am I going to talk shit about now? The Source? Too easy. Over here at OZONE, we also made some changes to get more positive vibes flowing around the office. At the end of the day, people don’t change. If they’re a disgruntled lame when you hire ‘em, they’re gonna be a disgruntled lame when you fire ‘em. Contrary to what anybody tells ya, OZONE is alive and kickin’ on the West Coast from the Bay to L.A. to Vegas to AZ, and you already know we still rep Florida and the whole South. The OZONE Awards are going to be in Houston this year. But honestly, who are we going to give awards to? I really hope everybody steps their music game up between now and August, because right now, the nomination selections look kinda weak.
KING YELLA
2. Down Low Sistas I’m hatin’ on women that are sneakin’ around eating pussy when they got a husband at home, and won’t tell him that they really like fish. That bothers me because women are deceiving. They’re misleading their husbands, and they’re tricking them. A lot of these women’s husbands are probably good men, hard working and honest, and they’re committed to their relationships and making it work, but the woman is tricking the man, putting him in a position where she can have him to herself, and so he can’t share the dick, but then she ‘round here eating up all the pussy she can damn slurp up.
It doesn’t take an economist to tell us that we’re in a fucking recession. Any d-boy can tell you that. You know it’s bad when street hustlers are more aware of the state of our economy than the leader of the free world. But, then again, I guess if I spent most of my time on a private jet and vacationing on a ranch, I wouldn’t have a clue either.
TERRENCE TYSON
1. Homewreckers It bothers me because women are competing with other women’s pussies. They thinkin’ “I just wanna show that bitch she ain’t shit. That’s why I wanna fuck her nigga.” So a lot of times it ain’t even about the nigga, it’s about the woman on the outside that’s fucking the nigga just to show the other bitch she ain’t shit, because she’s jealous what the woman has accomplished, or because she feels insecure that she ain’t got nothing, or because she ain’t got a man of her own. It’s a lot of women out here, fucking out of pussy competition. It ain’t even about the nigga.
- Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com Pimps in Vegas
Bun B f/ Sean Kingston “That’s Gangsta” B.O.B. f/ Amy Winehouse “Grip Your Body” Kidz N The Hall “Driving Down The Block” Stuey Rock f/ Rob Fetti “Nymphomaniac” Grind Mode f/ Rick Ross “I’m So High (remix)” 2 Pistols f/ T-Pain & Taydizm “She Got It” Rick Ross f/ Jay-Z “Maybach Music” Lyfe Jennings f/ Lil Wayne & T.I. “Brand New”
RE’Splaylist
randy.roper@ozonemag.com Webbie f/ Letoya Luckett “I Miss You” Joe Budden “All Of Me” Treal “The Crush” Shawty Lo “Foolish”
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T S E U Q P A R
G.COM
’ , HIT US UP at JB@OZONEMA N I P P O P DETROIT, MI: SEE WOHR ANOTT’SREPRESENTED AT ALL O T S T E E The Magic City Classic is getting bigger each year. Freewill Records R , D T E S T N E E S H E ST EPR dropped Live From The Classic 3 The Mixtape which featured OZONFEEEHL TIHTAT YOUR CITY IS MISR Maceo, Corey Barbar, Haitian Fresh, Dirty Dolla, Bleu Davinci, Redd IF YOU
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
It may get harder to throw a Hip Hop show in the 505. In November there were two shootings at two venues. Club Fantasia had a shooting outside the club during the Latin Invasion Tour with Pitbull. Club Seven had a shooting inside the club right before Hurricane Chris was to perform. No one was killed. Rap group Da Young Gammaz are coming up and getting airplay on stations throughout NM. Alex Thomas and Ricky Harris are coming to town at Laff’s Comedy Club. Juan Gambino is still selling units throughout the Southwest. - Beno (Beno@eadymusicgroup.com)
AUSTIN, TX:
Rapid Ric’s Whut It Dew Radio is available now. Tosin, James Dean, and TheScrewShop. com put on a throwback Swisha House Bash with former members Magno, Big Tike, Lil Mario, Lester Roy and more. Slim Gutta of On The Line Records headed to Desoto for a halftime performance at an ABA Texas Tycoons game. Chingo Bling and camp came through Austin for a show at Zocalo. Other performers included Latasha of Carnival Beats, J-Kapone, and DJ Crash to name a few. Will Hustle TV Vol. 4 is coming soon. DJ Grip’s Down In Texas 6 hosted by Chalie Boy will also be out soon. - O.G. of Luxury Mindz (LuxuryMindz@gmail.com)
Eyezz, Laponne, Jiggalo of Suavehouse, Modesty XO and Nino Brown, to name a few. Larry Langford was elected the new mayor, which should help bring changes around the city. R.W. Record Pool found a new home at Mike’s Crossroads and the Come Claim the Mic networking event is growing. 95.7 Jamz is doing their thing around the city and DJs like C.J. Sticman, Jukebox, Serious and more do their thing on mixshows and at clubs. - K. Bibbs (AllOrNothingPromo@hotmail.com)
BALTIMORE, MD:
HBO, Nonesuch Records, and Warner Music Group will be releasing the highly anticipated soundtrack to HBO’s groundbreaking series The Wire. The Wire is an Emmy-nominated series based in Baltimore and has been the top rated urban show for five years. The soundtrack will feature music of different genres and artists, but will be highlighted by some of Baltimore’s most talented rappers. The list includes Mullyman, Tyree Colion, Bossman, The Get ‘Em Mamis, Ogun, The Dirty Hartz, DJ Rod Lee, and more. The lead single and video is the anthem “Jail Flick” by Diablo. - Darkroom Productions (TheDarkRoomInc@yahoo.com)
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS:
It always goes down at Nell’s Sports Bar & Lounge. Shawt came through and had the ladies going crazy with his hits “I’m Drunk” and “I’m the Man” featuring Mannie Fresh. The Swamp Root Klik always holds Mississippi down with their hits “You Know the Sound” and “I’m a Bay Boy.” The Gulf Coast welcomes 92.5 the Beat FM, who just converted from Gospel to Adult R&B/Hip Hop. - DJ Deliyte (unodasound@yahoo.com)
WASHINGTON, DC:
Local radio host/Hip Hop journalist/Morgan St. Professor Dr. Jared Ball is running for president with his campaign-mate Head Roc, a prominent backpack rapper that made his name along the U Street corridor. The Hip Hop scholar garnered the required petition signatures allowing him to run and he’s now campaigning to be Green Party’s nominee for president. Dr. Ball says his campaign is a way to mobilize the Hip Hop community and expand the reach of his independent political party by addressing the needs of the poor and disfranchised. “Our campaign, just like the mixtape, is designed to reach the grassroots without corporate backing,” he says. - Pharoh Talib (Ptalib@gmail.com)
CHICAGO, IL:
CINCINNATI, OH:
The New Year brings us a cleaner city, with drug sweeps taking several million dollars worth of drugs off city streets. The first annual Cincinnati Urban Music Awards will take place on March 15, 2008 (contact 513-349-2622 or fortchangrecords@yahoo. com for more info). Polo Collar and Rob B Monte Carlo (above) are hitting the streets with “Money, Money, Money.” The new song from the duo is on all the Amplified DJs’ mixtapes and mixshows are spinning the song like crazy. - Judy Jones (Judy@JJonesent.com)
CLEVELAND, OH:
Lee from WGCI was appointed to Atlantic Records for the Midwest market. Ill Eagle is an upand-coming rapper in the underground scene. The Crossroads has the only 18 and under open mic event on Thursdays. Parkay has a new single that is getting some play on radio mixshows. DJ Shotime now spins 7 nights a week in various clubs. There’s a new DJ collective called the Hittsquad DJs. DJ Kool Ant of the Full Impact DJs is dropping new mixtapes. The Inf Click’s Dutch Dinero and Hymalaya are dropping two EPs at the beginning of 2008. Soundmaster T of the Drokked Out Movement is looking for new artists. - Jamal Hooks (JHooks@tmail.com)
Cleveland has now entered the list of top 10 deadliest cities in the U.S., with over 120 homicides to date. Councilman Zack Reed received his second DUI. He was found blocks from his home asleep inside a running car with his foot on the brake. A local article has local artists accusing Bone Thugs-n-Harmony of “not keeping it Cleveland.” On the heels of receiving this year’s AMA and past Grammy awards, this claim magnifies the hate and lack of support for our own. It’s been 14 years and no act from Cleveland has approached the success of BTNH in any genre. - “X” Allah (Supreme1@sprintpcs.com)
COLUMBUS, GA:
DUMAS, AR:
It’s been off the chain down in the Delta with Lil Boosie performing in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Greenville, Missisippi. DJ Drop, DJ Dynamite, DJ Sugarbear, DJ Big V, DJ Soulmaster, and the HOT Jocks down in G-ville, Mississippi are doing their thing. The Countryside DJ Coalition is official. Record labels need to check out artists from Arkansas because the underground is on fire. Artists are teaming up with each other to get to the top in the Southeast Arkansas area. The Delta is ready. The new club in Dumas just opened up – out-of-towners are welcome. - DJ Hiley (LamarHiley@yahoo.com)
COLUMBIA, SC:
100.1 the Beat held its Platinum Hood Awards at Club Level. Their new location is on 1800 Blanding Street. Level is twice as big and even better. Big Moe shut the city down when he had Plies down for his birthday party. Big Moe, Get Em Boyz, Torri Ent., and New Level Ent. are teaming up at The Coop for the biggest New Years Eve party. Rob Lo will be in the building to make it official. Be on the look out for up-and-coming DJs Chevy and Dolla. Daytona and B-Lord have been killing Club Level with last few parties they did. - Rob Lo (RobLoPromo@aol.com)
R. Kelly kicked off the Double Up Tour in Columbus, GA. Not since Bobby Brown’s first arrest (which happened here) has Columbus had a show this big. Usually, major artists only come here before they’re famous. Some of your favorite acts got booed off a Columbus stage, blew up, and never returned. Back to Kells – the show was crazy! Foxie 105 literally rolled out the red carpet. Keyshia Cole lost a lot of fans by not performing, but since Ne-Yo is no longer on the tour, it all evens out. Ne-Yo and J. Holiday set it off; Kells shut it down. - Slick Seville (SlickSeville@gmail.com) 18 // OZONE MAG
COLUMBUS, OH:
Lil Wayne and Gucci Mane performed at the Vets Memorial. A few Columbus artists also performed. YG of the Yellow Tape Gang and Choppin Game Records are just a few that were in the building. This winter is really poppin’ in the city with celebrities like Gorilla Zoe who performed at the Club Ice and Freeway who performed at Major Woody’s. Go Bucks! - Jorden Martin (Mz_Emjay23@yahoo.com)
GAINESVILLE, FL:
DJ Young Millz rocks out Friday nights at Venue Nightclub. C. Wakeley hosted the G’ville Music Summit, which was well organized. Klarc Shepard of Magic 101.3 has J. Holiday hosting Pink Chocolate R&B Vol. 6. Mob B., Big Bud, and J. Rock all hit the streets with new releases. J. Dash held his listening party at Club Level with Miami’s own DJ Furie. After the UF vs. FSU game, a man was shot and killed in the downtown parking garage. The alleged suspects are in custody. Loki’s “Count Da Money” and Dred Gator’s “Animal” are gaining steam in the streets/clubs. Also on the radar are N. Fashions, Coconuts Barbershop, and Junior’s Restaurant. - INfamous 6ixx (infamous6ixx@gmail.com)
DALLAS/FT. WORTH, TX:
The Definition DJs (above) celebrated their 7-Day Theory Party for a week. Tum Tum launched his Yum’s shoe collection and DJ Wildhairr officially signed with Swisha House. Toya has all the gossip at Lsl Hair Studio. Fatty Daddy is hitting the streets with his “Beverly Hills” single while “My Dougie” is the new local radio hit. Club Axis is your spot in Funkytown Forth Worth. Coby Savage dropped his album Beautiful. Sunny South Dallas is back with Erykah Badu’s new single “Honey.” Promoter Mychal Jeter got locked down for 8 years…stay strong. - Edward “Pookie” Hall (www.urbansouth.us@gmail.com)
LOUISVILLE, KY:
DJ Q of the CORE and Shadyville DJs along with Cipha Soundz of MTV2 (above) are politicin’ the Fight Klub through the ‘Ville. The battle went down at Divine C.U.T.S. Barbershop. D. Bricks, Tyrant, Duece Leader, and others showed what it takes to go to that next level. Yes, International P. was in the building! Seth Firkins recorded the intro on Jay-Z’s American Gangster album. All Hood brought the Playaz Circle to Club Villa. SOLO performed at TSU’s Homecoming in Nashville. - Divine Da Instagata (OuttaDaShopEnt@hotmail.com)
HOUSTON, TX:
Trae’s Life Goes On and Chamillionaire’s Ultimate Victory are killing trunks on both sides of town. Uppa Dek along with DJ Chill are putting in work for The Nose Bleed Section CD (left) release. Ronnie Rich, a.k.a. God’s Gift 2 Da Mic, got the internet going nuts, while Boss of ABN got Gangsta Session heavy in the streets. G.M.N., Yung B, and Clarke Boyz do it big. And for all who forgot, Mista Mista Scarface is back to let you know why he is God of the South! R.I.P. Pimp C and Big Moe. - Jamar “J Gamble” Irby (My.Upclose@gmail.com)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN:
FORT MYERS/NAPLES, FL:
Watch out for up-and-coming artists from Southwest Florida. 2-Saint, Origin ILL, Steve Woods, EBGB, Complex, Pay Up Gang, S-Jayy, Wicks, Zigz, G-Spot and Tiny are making moves. On the last Monday of each month, it goes down at Club Cachet with all these artists performing and battling at the Lyricist Lounge South hosted by Twin and DJ Dito. Plies performed on Christmas night charging $45 a head. 105.5 the Beat brings Hurricane Chris to town for a special all ages concert at Club Envie. Speaking of Hurricanes, the 2007 season ends without any ‘canes hitting Florida. It’s a celebration bitches! - Jae Rae (JaeRae1055@aol.com)
MACON, GA
It’s been a hell of a month for us in the Mac. First of all, Oprah (yes, Oprah) came down to tape her show and give us a few of her favorite things. Your boy Doski Wo (Myspace.com/3rdkuhzdoski) made the cover of the 11th Hour’s Who’s Got Next issue. Yall Street (myspace.com/yallstreet) is getting into position and Grinch (Myspace.com/lexcoop22) is on the grind. The Paper Chasers (Myspace.com/paperchasers3) mixtape Paper… Paper Who? might be the next big question, and Macon in ‘08 might be where the answer is. - Ali Roc (radiodj242000@yahoo.com)
MIAMI, FL:
Local artists are finally getting some love and airplay. In my opinion, it’s all due to the undeniable hot joints they’re creating. Songs like “Shone” by Ball Greezy, “I’m So High” by Grind Mode, “Naked Hustle” by Chowtime, and “The Other Side” by the Dunk Ryders featuring Trick Daddy are straight sick. Do not sleep on these talents! DJ Khaled held his annual party The Temple once again and it was pure insanity. R.I.P. Washington Redskin/UM graduate Sean Taylor. Mad love to the family of slain UM football player Brian Pata. Let’s keep the peace. - Supa Cindy (www.Myspace.com/Supadupe)
With young gunners like Street Life Cartel making noise in and outside the city, 2008 looks promising. Not new to the game but making a rise in the music scene, DJs LP and Jesse James are making major noise on the club scenes. Model Ophilia has a spread in Black Men Mag. Model Ameya has also appeared in videos for T.I., Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, and others. 3M Management has become the new power house management company in the city, inking some of the top independent talent. - Lucky The Promo King (srfoleaf@aol.com)
JACKSON, MS:
Maybe it was Flavor of Love season in Jackson because from Bootz to Hoopz, they were all over the city hosting parties. I guess they still need to get paid too. Shawty Lo came to town but his overall performance lacked what people expected. Benz, representing 1Life1Love, has a new single circulating following the trend of synthesized vocals popularized by T-Pain. DJ Q45 and DJ Khaled gave Jackson DJs a lesson on how to step ya game up. McComb, Mississippi natives Brandy and Ray J rolled through the city spreading holiday cheer, although Ray J’s grand marshal parade privileges were revoked due to his sex tape. - Tambra Cherie (TambraCherie@aol.com) & Stax (blockwear@tmo.blackberry.net)
JACKSONVILLE, FL:
Bigga Rankin hosts a new night at Soho’s. You can catch him there for Celebrity Tuesdays. The Diamond Awards went down at Plush where Kansas City’s Mon.E.G. shot a video with Rick Ross. Shot Out has a new single called “U Don’t Wanna See Me” which has been featured on 92.7 Yhe Beat. T-Roy still hosts the open mic night at Endo Exo, and Club Christopher’s is the Friday night hot spot. Southern Syrup DVDs are circulating all around Florida. Hit them up at Myspace.com/BreakPlat. Young Cash, Midget Mac, DJ Q45 and Bigga Rankin were partying like rockstars at Sobe Live in Miami. - Ms. Rivercity (MsRivercity@yahoo.com)
MILWAUKEE, WI:
V100 threw the annual Lady’s Only concert which featured Milwaukee’s own Tank, Jahiem, Pretty Willie, Lyfe Jennings, and local artist Sincere. Lil Gucci threw the Lady’s Only teen after party. 311 held the Milwaukee Pimp of the Year Ball with Pimpin Ken, Sacramento Slim, Pimpin Cube and others. DBoyz Ent. performed in the Unleashed Talent Showcase at Club Fusions. Trey Center will release his new CD, 3rd Street Boi. Ebonix was featured in the issue of Vibe Magazine with Keshia Cole on the cover. Beef shot the second half of his video for “Baseball Bat” at Chocolate City. - Raymond L. Davis
MEMPHIS, TN:
Playa Fly hasn’t missed a beat since being released from jail. His new mixtape Prepare or Beware is getting some major love and attention in the streets. He was nominated for 3 SEA awards, one being Impact Artist of the Year, and plans to release a new group album by summer `08. Memphisrap.com held a Showcase and Industry Networking Event on January 23rd at the New Daisy on famous Beale Street. It’s rumored that an artist under DJ Freddy Hydro has been signed to Jive Records. - Deanna Brown (Deanna.Brown@MemphisRap.com)
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA:
Astrin and the Studio 76 Models kicked off their big launch party at Sevens in Norfolk. The event was hosted by the newly crowned Miss 757, Cassandra Clark. Tribeca in Newport News is on fire every Saturday night with Young Fame on the mic. DJ Joe Pro hosted his DVD release party at the newly remodeled Flame 2. Lil Wayne came to Old Dominion University with Crime Mob and a host of others. This month, WODU, Old Dominion’s college station, hosted Styles P and Freeway to name a few on DJ Smirnoff Ice and Vic Roger’s show. - Derrick Tha Franchise (ContactYoungFame@gmail.com)
OZONE MAG // 19
RAPQUEST MONTGOMERY, AL:
Ja Rule was in the muthafuckin’ building at the Rose but he was almost there by his damn self. I liked the way he mixed and mingled and seemed to be humble. Then, the next week Young Dro came through with his baby mama Fantasia. Why ain’t nobody tell me? She was repping her man – big belly, big lips and all. Longmoney Ent., Entrepreneur Ent., Street Raised Ent., L-Gin, Robert Hawkins, Creative Mindz., Fam Only Ent., Supreme, Hot Girl Productions, Nappy Roots, and Keep it Hot! all held it down at Maxximum Exposure. - Hot Girl Maximum (HotGirl.Maximum@gmail.com)
NASHVILLE, TN
SAVANNAH, GA:
MYRTLE BEACH, SC:
Myrtle Beach is the 4th fastest growing market in the country. Club Toxic just brought Playaz Circle and Plies through. Dolla Boi and Tity Boi are some cool dudes. Webbie, Boosie, and Young Ralph are on the way. In 2008, The Kappas and Q Dogs from Coastal Carolina University and myself are about to set it off on the party scene. Of course I must hold it down for my Hittmenn family as well as Carolina Elite. We got that work. I am also starting a rehab clinic for haters. - Mr. Smith (Myspace.com/SmithBigShow)
ocala fl
san antonio, tx
Top Ten Tuesdays’ DJ Appreciation Night was off the chain. Both STL DJ crews, Hittbreaka DJs and Derrty DJs, were in the house strong. A lot of good mixtapes surfaced that night including DJ Nice’s Now or Never, Youvee’s I’m Herre, Bishop V-Luv’s Got Sum’n 2 Say, DJ AJ’s Holla @ Cha Derrty, Ex-L Eazy’s Eazy Money, M.C.’s Welcome 2 Rich City, and Blakk Gang’s Blakk Noise. KiKi, the 1st Lady at 100.3fm, is doing her thing along with other STL females. - Jesse James (JesseJames314@aol.com)
HereWeGo Entertainment is hosting parties for All Star Weekend at Club 300 in the French Quarter. HWG’s new artist Cypher may even perform his new single “Mr. Average.” Bayou Classic was a fool with Lil Wayne and Birdman throwing separate Big Baller Parties. The Human Jukebox of Southern University won the Battle of the Bands and the Jaguar football team crushed the Tigers on the field. The Bayou Classic Weekend climaxed at Metro with Big Stan Productions and Raj Smoove on Sunday. DJ Hollaback and DJ Lil Man are killing the club scene right now. DJ Hektik and B.G. have a new mixtape out that feeds the streets before the release of B. Gizzle’s Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood. - Derrick Tha Franchise (www.Myspace.com/DerrickThaFranchise)
TALLAHASSEE, FL:
NEW YORK, NY:
shreveport, la
st. louis, mo
The oh-so-sweet HoneySiccle made some major noise when ya boy Weezy F. Baby came to the Cox Center. Ya man Plies was in the building for the ladies and goons with the sexy men of DeJaVu Entertainment. I got to get at Moe Millions and Black Heff – so sexy! When I get it, you will be the first on the info list. - PL (BeatBrokers77@yahoo.com)
SAN ANTONIO, TX:
20 // OZONE MAG
Gainesville Summit’s DJ of the Year award means more gigs for DJ Headbussa. He is working all over Tampa. Studio Inc was rumored to be the location for Plies’ “I Am the Club” video shoot. Lil Kee explained to TBT what he goes through to be a rap star. The Hip Hop church held their 8th Annual Flavor Fest which showcased over 30 artists in one weekend. Sixty pounds of weed was found on I-4 by a cleaning crew and Florida Highway Patrol reportedly waited for someone to claim it. They received hundreds of prank calls all day! - Mz T-Rock (MzTRock@yahoo.com)
TULSA, OK:
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK:
This month saw a couple of local talents, Tha Coalition and GMC, showcasing their skills alongside Hurricane Chris who blew up the stage for two back to back showcases at Club Rio. The first show
Everyone’s still talking about FAMU’s Homecoming. It was off the chain! Now the city is bracing for the return of Demp Week (re-loaded). The hottest song on the streets of Tallahassee is by a Leon County born and raised artist named Blood Shot. His hot new single “Club Life” features Total Kaos. The latest mixtape on the streets comes from a female artist named 1 Chyna. She’s back home in her Tallhassee birth place by way of Daytona. The new mixtape is called Tru Story. 1 Chyna was recently featured on Blazin 102.3’s new radio show for local artists called Home Team Friday. - DJ Dap (DJDapOnline@gmail.com)
TAMPA, FL:
OCALA, FL:
The month kicked off with a blowout comedy show hosted by The Strangers followed by the after party. DJ Leezy shut it down. The Swamp Boyz’ mixtape In the Streetz Vol. 2 hosted by DJ Leezy is killing the streets. Other noted upcoming mixtapes to look out for are M.A.D.E.’s I Will Not Lose and C-Nial’s In My City. The Strangers will be back on the block with an upcoming CD. K.S.B. and Wreckless Entertainment’s Tote tha City 2 is also in the streets. Beef among local DJs is gaining momentum. Stay tuned! - DJ Leezy (DJLeezy352@yahoo.com)
The movie industry is doing very well in the Port City. We constantly have film stars hanging out and about, just enjoying themselves while they conduct their usual professions. Currently Ice Cube and Ke Ke Palmer are gearing up to shoot a movie entitled Comeback. Martin Lawrence recently filmed here along with Samuel Jackson, Denzel Washington, Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan. Hurricane Chris is gaining much ground and many fans with his latest single “Player’s Rock.” Bulletproof a.k.a. Teflon is in the studio working on his follow up single entitled “One of a Kind,” which has that classic Rap-A-Lot attitude. - Cmac (cmac@cumulus.com)
ST. LOUIS, MO:
NEW ORLEANS, LA:
The new album Blue Magic by Hip Hop icon Jay-Z is being considered a hood classic. I think Byrd Gang rapper Max B is going to be the future for New York. Word on the street is there’s a little friction between Lil Kim and Remy Ma. There isn’t much unsigned talent in New York worth talking about. Where are the unsigned hypes at? - Young Harlem (www.Myspace.com/YoungHarlem00)
Friday Nights at Frozen have been all the way live! The Dream came through for Thanksgiving weekend to show love to all the 10s. Cassidy came and did his “Drink and a 2 Step” and before that Shawty Lo made sure “Dey Know!” 94.1 – Savannah’s #1 for Hip Hop and R&B – is still looking for the next Lady Nite Ryda for 710p.m. BlaK Monii ENT. presents Thursday’s College Night at Island Breeze, SSU, ARMSTRONG, GSU and all surrounding colleges. CMP is on the rise locally with their song “Jig.” Hit me up for more info at Myspace.com/she_she. - Lucky (LuckyCharmsEvents@gmail.com)
SHREVEPORT, LA:
NASHVILLE, TN:
The music scene in Nashville, a.k.a. Cashville Tenn-A-Key, is now under a microscope due to a string of senseless violence that police and various media outlets feel is music (or better yet Rap) related. The editors of Concrete will be releasing a new magazine dedicated to the hair and fashion culture in Nashville. Lil Bizzy has signed to Kinfolk Kia Shine’s label and Cowboy just dropped 3 CDs in one day! The rest of the city is gearing up for the 5th Annual Southern Entertainment Awards as the city of Nashville is represented in 43 of the 68 categories! - Janiro (Janiro@southernentawards.com)
brought in a crowd of school aged kids during the day to enjoy the music of one of the city’s favorite performers. The night show brought out the adults and was cosigned by Power 106.7 and their staff of DJs. Also throughout the city, underground mixtape stores and barber shops are talking about the newest single “Whip Game” by their very own super group Tha Coalition. “Whip Game” is spinning on 98.5 the Beat – San Antonio’s premier radio station. - Bishop Maxx (bishop_maxx@yahoo.com)
tallahassee, fl
Tulsa is bracing for the chill from ice cold lyrics produced by none other than Tulsa’s Native Son, PDA (Myspace.com/pdaonline). PDA recently graced the stage at the Otherside. Playya 1000 (Myspace. com/playya1000) and The Deeksta performed as the opening act for Hurricane Chris at the Cain’s Ballroom in downtown Tulsa. Hooch and Kwreck (Myspace.com/hoochkwreck) are in the laboratory along with other members of Medu-Netr. Dangerous Rob (Myspace.com/dangerousrob), who is often considered a General in the world of Hip Hop, is still moving his beats worldwide. As a major force in the DPGC Next Generation, he is truly a force to be reckoned with. - Marshlynn Bolden (Marshlynn.Bolden@uscellular.com)
22 // OZONE MAG
(above L-R): Yung Joc & Rick Ross @ the Dirty Awards in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly); DJ Khaled & Diddy on the set of Fat Joe’s video shoot in Miami, FL (Photo: Leon Lloyd); Lloyd & Benny D @ the Dirty Awards in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly)
01 // T-Pain & Sophia Fresh on the set of 2 Pistols “She Got It” video shoot (Tampa, FL) 02 // Scooby & Young B @ Shadow Bar for Scooby’s birthday party (Houston, TX) 03 // Christiana Houston & Lil Boosie @ The Palace for DJ Sweat & OZONE’s Lil Boosie concert (Hattiesburg, MS) 04 // DJ Khaled & Tezz @ Club Dream during All Star weekend (New Orleans, LA) 05 // Webbie, Brother Hashim, Mouse, & Mel @ Roc A Fella 2.5 (New Orleans, LA) 06 // Rick Ross & Haitian Fresh @ The Moon for Demp Week (Tallahassee, FL) 07 // Snoop, BG, V 90 & Fiend @ House of Blues (New Orleans, LA) 08 // Bun B, Kiotti, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Wall, Guru, & Bannit on the set of Lupe Fiasco’s “Hip Hop Saved My Life” video shoot (Houston, TX) 09 // Gorilla Zoe & DJ Chuck T @ the Southern Entertainment Awards (Tunica, MS) 10 // Ms. Teka & Brandii @ The Moon for TJ’s birthday party (Tallahassee, FL) 11 // Luis Santana & DJ Christion on the set of 2 Pistols “She Got It” video shoot (Tampa, FL) 12 // 2 Pistols & video models on the set of “She Got It” (Tampa, FL) 13 // Boomtown & Smilez on the set of 2 Pistols “She Got It” video shoot (Tampa, FL) 14 // Joe Anthony & Ace @ Club Dream during All Star weekend (New Orleans, LA) 15 // Big L & BloodRaw @ Errupt Studios (Jacksonville, FL) 16 // DJ B-Lord & DJ Frosty @ Club Level for Randy Roper’s birthday party (Columbia, SC) 17 // DJ Storm loves leopard print @ Gainesville Music Summit (Gainesville, FL) 18 // DJ 007, Yo Gotti, & Vic Damone @ House of Blues for Yo Gotti’s mixtape release party (Memphis, TN) 19 // Q93 Staff during All Star weekend (New Orleans, LA) Photo Credits: Intl K (02,08); Julia Beverly (01,04,09,11,13,14,16,18,19); King Yella (05,07); Luis Santana (12); Terrence Tyson (03,06,10,15,17)
OZONEMAG MAG////23 23 OZONE
mathematics Radio Spins: The Million Dollar Advice by Wendy Day of the Rap Coalition www.wendyday.com
It’s no secret that I am a fan of artists putting out their own CDs. It’s also no secret that it doesn’t matter if the artist is trying to start his or her own label or selling CDs to get picked up by a bigger record label. When putting out a CD, all aspects must come together to promote that release (and the timing must be on point. All aspects must hit at the same time to be truly effective). It’s important that you plan succinctly, way ahead, and have budgets for: Marketing, Street and club promotions, Touring, Publicity, Advertising, Events (attendance at conventions and consumer events), Video promotions (if you shoot a video), Tools (posters, flyers, flats, postcards, t-shirts, etc), Radio play, Pressing (of the singles, mixed CD, and/or actual full length CD), etc. Anytime you start a business, there are costs involved. The music industry is no different. If you plan to put out your own music, you must be able to properly afford it or you are just wasting what little money you have. It’s also important to have someone reputable on your team if you aren’t going to hire a consultant to guide you. While I set up a free website years ago to help people put out their own CDs (www.rapcointelpro.com), no website can tell you whom to hire, which service companies are best, or who is genuinely good at what they do. Experience, connections, and being inside the inner circle in this shark-infested business are the only ways to know who’s who. Truth is, even the folks who are at the top of their game today may slack off (or be too busy to help you properly), or be replaced by a newer, more hungry and aggressive person, and become the worst at what they do in a matter of months. In addition, there are a slew of folks in this business who make gobs of money from taking advantage of people who don’t know, aren’t experienced, and who can’t smell a con man a mile away. Most people lose money in this business. Independent radio promotions is one of those treacherous areas where an artist or label can lose tens of thousands of dollars with nothing to show for it. Hell, experienced people can lose a shitload of money here, too, not just new people. It’s important to have a goal when going to secure radio spins. That goal must be more significant that just wanting to hear your song on the radio. Radio spins are not for artists trying to secure a record deal, nor are they for people without a healthy promotional budget. If radio spins led to a good deal that secured an artist’s career successfully, everyone with $50,000 to spend would have a successful career in the music business. And they don’t. If you look at the top selling artists with careers (NOT the one-hit wonders), not one of them got a deal from having radio spins. There’s a good reason for that. Having radio spins does NOT guarantee CD sales. However, spins do often equal ringtone sales ($2.99 each) and single download sales for 99 cents each, which make the record labels salivate at the thought of quick one-off money, but it has yet to build the career of a serious recording artist. Would you rather be The Shop Boyz or Jay-Z? Would you rather have one hit song like “Laffy Taffy” or be putting out your 9th CD like Snoop with multimillion dollar touring opportunities, film and TV deals, endorsements, and other income producing opportunities? So there is really only one reason to go after radio play: to sell CDs. Any other reason, and you are just taking away a potential slot from an artist who has his or her shit together and came with a plan. There are two kinds of radio promotion people: 1) The kind who promise you 300 spins a week (no one can promise you an exact number because it depends on what other songs are out, how hot your song is, and how well it researches at radio), take your money ($15,000 to $40,000), and then deliver whatever spins they can get you (usually 45 a week to 230 a week) at any radio station where they have a key relationship. 2) The kind who understand what your plan and goals entail, and deliver the stations within your marketing territory with which they have relationships, in a time frame that meets with when your other promotional efforts are hitting. These promo people are few and far between. If you are releasing a CD independently, and the South is the market you are targeting, radio spins in the Bay Area, St. Louis, Milwaukee, or Detroit are not helpful to your goal. No radio promoter should deliver spins solely where they have relationships unless you are a major label targeting the entire US. And even then, the majors work region by region so as to impact their limited budgets. So should you, on a smaller scale!
24 // OZONE MAG
m
Most radio promoters will take your money if you don’t know what you are doing. They have families to feed. If you are stupid enough to try this route without the proper knowledge or a plan, they have every right to deliver to you what you are seeking: radio spins! When it doesn’t work, you will complain that the radio guy took your money. You will neglect to mention that you were also at fault for not doing the proper research! Radio is expensive. There is no way around that. I work the region on the streets and club level getting the record hot long before going for radio. I build it from the ground up so that it has legs. Then, I take it to radio in smaller markets first. For example, I would hit the smaller markets surrounding Atlanta like Macon, Albany, Greenville, Columbia, SC before I ever went into Atlanta. Atlanta is an expensive market to work on the streets and at radio, so I prefer to get my record bubbling in smaller, more affordable places. If the market favors club hits that people can dance to, that’s what I work. If the market favors more calm ride-to-it type songs, then that is what I work. I match my singles to the markets and bring what the market wants. I never try to force records on people because I’ll lose unless I have Def Jam or P Diddy sized budgets. Kanye’s “Jesus Walks” was a huge hit for Def Jam. It most likely would have been an expensive failure for an indie label. It’s much easier to get the attention of a major program director once I have spins in smaller markets, than to show up to a music day and say “Play my shit, it’s hot!” Very few records are really hot and there is no rhyme or reason to what catches on. So it’s important to test your record before you go full out on the budget. Better to lose $10,000 or $20,000 to find out you didn’t have anything than to spend $80,000 out the box to find the same thing out. Once your song begins to spin, it’s important to keep supporting it in the marketplace. I offer the artist for free to the station for a show, or back up the spins through promotional tours or by doing give-aways with the station (tenth caller receives a free t-shirt, gift card from a store, a free CD, etc). There are also times when you have to believe in your record even if it isn’t catching on quickly. Songs that took a long time to catch on were Webbie’s “Gimme Dat” and “Bad Bitch,” Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat,” Nelly’s “Country Grammar,” etc. The key is being experienced enough to know when it’s a good record or when to stop throwing good money after bad. There’s a term in radio called “researching.” Research is when a radio station does a telephone poll amongst listeners. They play a portion of numerous songs and ask people if they can identify the song or the artist. If listeners don’t respond to your song, the station takes it out of rotation. If the research comes back positive, the program director will often bump up the spins because it means listeners like the song. It’s important for radio stations to play what the mass of listeners want to hear. Radio is based on ad sales (commercials) and those prices are set quarterly by how many people in the market are listening. That’s called “share.” Share is all that matters to the radio station because that sets their pricing or income. If Gangsta Grillz Radio in Atlanta has a 10 share, and their biggest competitor in urban music has a 40 share at the station across town, the radio station that airs Gangsta Grillz will make moves to replace the show, no matter how much you or I enjoy listening to it. Everything in radio comes down to numbers and money. Everything! Lastly, I want to remind you that as you go for radio spins, you must have a competitive song. The sound quality must be as good, or better, than everything else at radio. This means it must be made in a professional quality studio, not your basement. It needs to be professionally mixed and mastered. I use Tony Rey at Dirty South in Atlanta for mixing (I manage him) and Big Bass Brian and Bernie Grundman in L.A. (I wish I managed him) for mastering. They are the best at what they do, in my opinion. If everything currently at radio is at 92 BPMs, don’t bring in a song at 80 BPMs. It won’t mix with the other songs properly. On the flip side, if everything currently at radio is slow, don’t come in with a super crunk dance record trying to get it spun. Learn how radio works and you are that much more likely not to lose your entire life savings going after the all-important radio spins. And for heaven sakes, don’t ever offer anyone at radio money to play your damn record! That’s illegal! //
m
(above L-R): K-Foxx & Trina @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party in Miami, FL; Rocko & Dolla Boi of Playaz Circle @ the Dirty Awards in Atlanta, GA (Photos: Julia Beverly); Midget Mac & Lil Boosie @ Plush in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson)
01 // Kiotti, Yo Gotti, & DJ Ammo @ Terrian Studios (Houston, TX) 02 // Midget Mac & Teddy T @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday party (Jacksonville, FL) 03 // Roxy Reynolds & Fray (Atlanta, GA) 04 // Guest & J-Shin @ Chef Creole for World AIDS Day concert (Miami, FL) 05 // MonEG & Bigga Rankin @ MonEG’s video shoot (Jacksonville, FL) 06 // Rollo, Dawgman, Mighty Mike, Malik Abdul, & Wes Fif @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 07 // Dr Teeth & Bootz @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 08 // Neico, Brian Angel, & Berthell @ Party 104.9’s grand opening (Houston, TX) 09 // Haitian Fresh & Ivy @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 10 // Maddog, Stacks, Midget Mac, Young Cash, & Malik Abdul @ Sobe Live (Miami, FL) 11 // Reggie Reg, DJ Hi-C, & Crisco Kidd @ Party 93.3’s Toy Drive (Houston, TX) 12 // Rovella Williams, Scorpio, 4-Ize, & Randy Roper @ Hoodhard Day (Atlanta, GA) 13 // Mike Mac, Tre Prince, Scarface, & Alvin @ Scarface’s listening party (Houston, TX) 14 // DJ Headbussa & Earl B @ The Drink for DJ Secret’s birthday bash (Lakeland, FL) 15 // Guccio, Jus Bleezy, Craig Blac & Vic Damone @ Brainstorm (St. Louis, MO) 16 // Guest & Bedo @ Firestone for Florida Classic block party (Orlando, FL) 17 // DJ Sense, DJ Drama, Lloyd, & Don Cannon @ Velvet Room for DJ Drama’s album release party (Atlanta, GA) Photo Credits: Carl Lewis (02,04); Eric Perrin (03,12,17); Intl K (01,08,11,13); Julia Beverly (07); King Yella (15); Malik Abdul (16); Ms Rivercity (05,09); Street Grindaz (14); Terrence Tyson (06,10)
OZONEMAG MAG////25 25 OZONE
c
CHINCHECK
by Charlamagne Tha God cthagod@gmail.com
“
If you are talking about rap and beef, I’m the wrong person to talk to. I am from New Orleans. Cut your televisions on. You know where I’m from. I’m from the murder capital, ma. Beef is a different thing there. I have four teardrops on my face and I have to look my mom in her eye every day. I can’t lie to her. Fuck what they think and fuck what the world thinks, we real. My mom is real. The first day I got a teardrop I lied. I called her and asked her can I get a teardrop tattoo, but I had already got it. She said, ‘When you get it, come by me so I can see how you look with it, cause I was thinking about getting one my fuckin’ self.’ We don’t play. No, I’m not gonna rap about you man, I will murder you, your family, your child, a newborn, I don’t give a fuck. I could never go to hell cause I’ma take over, bitch.” - Lil Wayne, OZONE December 2007
The section of the brain most involved in emotion and social interaction becomes very active during puberty, while the section most critical for regulating behavior is still maturing into early adulthood.”
This is one of the most socially irresponsible things I have ever heard spoken by a public figure in my life. To keep it one hundred, this fake blood, wannabe gangster, pill-popping piece of pig shit has lost his muthafuckin’ mind. Please tell him to back away from that triple stack of Styrofoam cups he walks around with. This young man that is contributing to the degradation of our culture has had too much Hawaiian Punch and promethezyne.
Damn right it’s not true, because if I’m a teenager whose brain is not fully developed and I’m listening and following a jackass like Lil Wayne, that means I’m going to want to join a gang (and kids, you will get jumped in, you’re not going to pay your way in like Lil Wayne). Wayne, if you wanted to be an honorary member of an organization and pay dues you should of pledged A.K.A. I’m sure those fine women would have accepted you as one of their own. It would have made more sense because pussy knows pussy.
Saying “I have four teardrops on my face” and “I come from the murder capital” is implying that you have indeed killed someone in your life. A teardrop tattoo is a symbol of having committed at least one murder; well, in North America it is. In Australia a teardrop tattoo has an entirely different meaning. It is forcibly marked on convicts who are accused child molesters! Now if I listen to Gillie the Kid, I guess that is why Baby, CEO of Cash Money, has his teardrop tattoos. It was said by Gillie that Baby used to touch on Wayne when he was a child. Like father, like son? They say the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, but let’s just stick to what Wayne was implying. He was implying that he has killed someone and so has his mother. Imagine that I work for the Feds and I’m reading this. At first, I’d think this is an admission of guilt. Then I keep reading and see this idiot has relinquished all doubt because he says, “I will murder you”! Not just you, but “your family, your child, a newborn.” Could somebody get this kid a publicist, or has he already said too much? I think the City of New Orleans should charge Wayne with some of the city’s unsolved murder cases. He is glorifying murder and admitting, even though I don’t believe him, that he has killed someone. “I will murder you” should be taken seriously in a court of law! Have you ever seen Minority Report starring Tom Cruise, where a special police department called “pre-crime” apprehended criminals based on foreknowledge? Well, here we have the confession before the crime! Lil Wayne said he will “murder your family, your child, and a newborn”! Someone save this guy from his self! Usually when someone snitches on you to the Feds and says that you did something or were involved in some way, the Feds come and arrest you on what they call a conspiracy charge. Lil Wayne snitched on himself, and his mother! I think they need to be picked up and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. I just want him to be charged so I can hear him tell the truth and say, “I never killed anyone, I’m just a rapper! I need to sound tough to sell records! I got these teardrop tattoos because it looked cute on Baby!” This dude, ladies and gentlemen, is a fraud, a phony, a fake, and these comments he made to OZONE Magazine are detrimental to society. Do you know how many kids this guy psychologically influences? Watch how many people you start to see walking around with Styrofoam cups; watch how many kids start drinking his Hawaiian Punch and promethezyne concoction; watch how many kids will get that thought branded into their brains that they “will murder you, your family, a child, and a newborn”! Has anybody read the new study that shows most teenagers will indulge in risk-taking behaviors because of poor brain development? Even if they know right from wrong, good from bad, positive from negative, God from the Devil; they will still ignore it because that is what they have been programmed to learn. The study by Temple University Professor of Psychology, Laurence Steinberg, PhD, concludes from newly emerging research on adolescent brain development, that “teenagers seek out risk-taking behaviors because the brain systems involved in decision making mature at different times.
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“This explains,” Steinberg says, “Why teens are so susceptible to peer pressure and why education and prevention efforts designed to keep teens from engaging in risk-taking behaviors don’t work that well. We have tried to prevent these behaviors by educating kids about the dangers of things like smoking, drinking, taking drugs, and unprotected sex,” he tells WebMD. “The thinking has been, if they know about the dangers they won’t do these things, but that is clearly not true.”
I call him pussy because only a pussy, during an interview with a national publication, would say he would kill a child or a newborn baby! If I’m a teenager and I’m following a jackass like Lil Wayne, I’m going to drink my syrup all day and I’m going to look for someone to kill for no reason, possibly a newborn baby, because Wayne said he would, and he’s the best rapper alive (allegedly)! But the judge does not want to hear that a 17-year-old’s brain is not fully developed. By the time this not fully developed brain under the influence of drugs goes out and really kills someone and is arrested, then sentenced to life in prison, it’s too late. Case in point: the four young men who broke into Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor’s home looking to steal. When Sean popped out, they shot him and now he is dead. Now those kids are going to jail forever! What influenced those kids to do that? I’m not going to blame that on Lil Wayne, but comments like those made by Wayne don’t help. If my brain is not fully developed and this drugged out, fake gangbanger, possible baby killer is the closest thing I have to an influence, then what the fuck? Lil Wayne said, “Fuck what the world thinks, we real.” I hate that word because the definition of what “real” is in Hip Hop is not “real” at all. “Real” is not pulling into the parking lot of Walgreen’s in ATL, in the middle of a Saturday afternoon and allegedly trying to purchase machine guns. “Real” is not being 38 years old and now pledging your allegiance to the Bloods and flagging at award shows. “Real” is not being on DVDs pointing guns at the camera and licking shots in the air. Why incriminate yourself like that? Lastly, “real” is most certainly not telling a national publication that you will kill children and newborn babies. Going into 2008, I don’t want any rappers to say that they are keeping it real. The dictionary defines “real” as having verified existence; not an illusion. You rappers like Lil Wayne are about as real as the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. Poverty and unemployment are real. 40 million people with little to no healthcare in America is real. The war in Iraq is real. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is real. Pedophilia is real. Incarceration is real. Our people, continuously dying at the hands of one another, is real. Charlamagne Tha God says fuck Lil Wayne. I say fuck him because I say fuck the devil every day. When you proclaim that you “can’t go to hell because you will take over,” what you are really saying is you are worse than Satan. You are saying you are worse than God’s mortal enemy. Fuck Wayne and any rapper or person that thinks like him. When I hear statements like those made by Lil Wayne, I realize people’s value of life is at an all-time low. I would hope the tragic and untimely passing of the legendary Pimp C (who I am sure was an influence to Wayne), touched him in a way that makes him value and appreciate his life. Not just his, but his daughters lives and newborn babies everywhere. R.I.P. Pimp C. //
(above L-R): Keith Sweat & Pleasure P @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party in Miami, FL (Photo: Julia Beverly); Gil Green, Fat Joe, & J Holiday @ Karu & Y in Miami, FL (Photo: Malik Abdul); Cee-Lo & Diamond @ the Dirty Awards in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly)
01 // Bigga Rankin, Yo Gotti, & Pleasure P @ FAMU Homecoming concert (Tallahassee, FL) 02 // Guest, Redd Eyezz, Young Buck, & guest @ Sobe Live for Young Buck filming of Starz Network’s Hip Hop Raw & Uncut Series (Miami, FL) 03 // Z-Ro & Intl Red @ Mike Jones’ American Dream movie premiere (Houston, TX) 04 // Rob G & Slim Thug @ Party 104.9’s grand opening (Houston, TX) 05 // Anne Williams & Famous @ BET College Tour (Houston, TX) 06 // Jazze Pha, Jermaine Dupri, & Rage on the set of DJ Drama’s “5000 Ones” (Atlanta, GA) 07 // Carlos Cartel (Charleston, SC) 08 // DJ Khaled & J Holiday @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 09 // T-Pain & Brisco @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 10 // TJ Chapman, B-Rich, Playboy Tre, & BOB @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 11 // Wild Billo, Nick@Nite, Gorilla Zoe, & The Gov @ WBLX (Mobile, AL) 12 // Pryme Status & Tyra B @ Party 93.3’s Toy Drive (Houston, TX) 13 // Santana & ladies @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 14 // Int’l Red, Big Tyme, & Tre Prince @ Bun B’s step daughter Breneshia’s birthday party (Houston, TX) 15 // Lloyd Prince & Dreadlocks @ Hush for OZONE’s Webbie concert (Houston, TX) 16 // Trillville’s Don P & LA with DJ Trauma @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 17 // Supa Chino & crew @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 18 // Southern Syrup DVD, Haitian Fresh, & Pimp G @ Hood Magazine music conference (Jacksonville, FL) 19 // Rapid Ric & DJ Mr Rogers @ BET College Tour (Houston, TX) Photo Credits: Bogan (02); Carlos Cartel (07); Intl K (03,04,05,12,13,14,19); Julia Beverly (06,08,09,10); Malik Abdul (13,17); Terrence Tyson (01,18); Thaddaeus McAdams (16); Wild Billo (11)
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RICH BOY and POLOW Rich Boy : What up Polow? I ain’t heard from you in a minute. You ain’t forgot about me, have you? Polow da Don: I been busy. Rich Boy: What you been doin’? Polow da Don: Ah, you know, fuckin these white hoes, workin on Keri Hilson’s album and shit. I been doing some new shit for Fergie, Brittney Spears, and Mandy Moore, and Hannah Montana. Rich Boy: I was thinking about my next single, I think it should be “Ghetto Rich” featuring John Legend. Dat my favorite. Polow: Naw, nigga. You don’t get no more singles. Rich Boy: Why not? “Throw Some D’s” was a big hit last year, I’m ready for my follow up. Polow: Boy, you done had 4 singles and you barely sold 300,000 records. Fuck it, and I made “Throw Some D’s” a hit. I made the beat, I came up with the hook. I had the best verse on the song, and I got all the white girls to be in the video for free.
OZONE EXCLUSIVE Textin’ is no longer safe now that OZONE’s dangerous minds have hacked the system.
Polow: You should have a picture of my dick on yo wall, nigga. I made you. rich boy: Boy looka here, I’m bout to get my shit together and do a new album, let’s get this paper. Polow: Naw, you looka here mafucka. I’m droppin’ yo bama ass from my label. Rich Boy: But I just bought a Cadillac. How am I gon’ pay the note? Polow: Hope you ain’t throw no D’s on that bitch. The only person puttin’ out an album on ZONE 4 is me, mafucka. It’s gon be called, “Me, Myself, and White Hoes.” I’m working with Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, and Paris Hilton. I’ma outsell yo ass in a day! Rich Boy: Damn, Can I get a verse on it? Polow: Wait a minute muthafucka! Didn’t you hear the album title? I told you it’s called, “Me, Myself, and White Hoes.” Not Rich Boy. Good things don’t last forever. I’m dropping you, but don’t worry, you will always be my friend. - From the minds of Eric Perrin and Randy Roper
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*This is just a joke. No, we didn’t really hack into anyone’s sidekick.
Rich: But…
(above L-R): Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, & Bun B @ BET College Tour in Houston, TX (Photo: Intl K); Rick Ross, Trina, & DJ Khaled @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party in Miami, FL; Deelishis & Slim Thug @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party in Miami, FL (Photos: Julia Beverly)
01 // TMI Boyz & Bigga Rankin @ Body Tap (Atlanta, GA) 02 // Tarvoria & Papa Duck @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 03 // Cool & Dre & DJ Nasty @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 04 // Young City, DJ Khaled, & Mack Maine on the set of Baby’s “Hundred Million Dollars” video shoot (Miami, FL) 05 // Gorilla Zoe & Emmanuel @ Emmanuel’s “Swagga” video shoot (Miami, FL) 06 // Venus & Trey Songz on the set of “Like Me” (St. Louis, MO) 07 // Shawty Lo, Rasheeda, Mike Jones, & Kandi Burrus @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 08 // Oops & Malik Abdul @ Onyx for OZONE talent search (St. Louis, MO) 09 // Fiya, 3 Phat Girls Promotions, & Famous @ KBXX’s car show (Houston, TX) 10 // Randy Roper & DJ Aaries @ the OZONE Atlanta office (Atlanta, GA) 11 // Green Eyes & Black @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 12 // Steve Bellamy & Suga D @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 13 // Tre Prince & Bone @ Bun B’s step daughter Breneshia’s birthday party (Houston, TX) 14 // Rickey Smiley & Wyclef @ 97.9 The Beat (Dallas, TX) 15 // Cheddar & Breneshia @ Bun B’s step daughter Breneshia’s birthday party (Houston, TX) 16 // DJ Smallz & DJ Quest on the set of Acafool’s video shoot (Tampa, FL) 17 // Ms Rivercity & Roccett @ Sobe Live (Miami, FL) 18 // 8Ball, Devius, guest, & Young Bleed (Dallas, TX) 19 // Hip Hop Friends & Stephanie @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) Photo Credits: BRE (14); Carl Lewis (04); Edward Hall (18); Eric Perrin (10); Intl K (09,13,15); Julia Beverly (07,11); King Yella (06,08); Malik Abdul (05); Ms Rivercity (02); Street Grindaz (16); Terrence Tyson (01,03,12,17,19)
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Lil’ Bit Jus’ A Lil’ Bit Words by Eric N. Perrin
T
his is the story of Lil Bit, a 19-year-old Atlanta native who left her job working as a cashier at Chick-Fil-A to become a chick on display at another ATL spot known for its buttered buns. “I worked at Chick-Fil-A for two years,” she laments “I hated it. They work you way too much for basically nothing. Strokers pays a lot better.” While many young girls begin stripping to pay for college tuition or to take care of their own children, Lil Bit had a slightly different reason for needing the fast money that her fast food job couldn’t provide. “When I graduated from high school my mom had gotten really sick, and I had to start dancing to take care of her,” says Lil Bit. If it’s one thing Lil Bit has learned in her year and a half of dancing, it’s that many people adapt negative views towards strippers without fully understand their circumstances. “I think a lot of guys consider all strippers as being fast or promiscuous,” she says. “But we’re not all like that. I know I’m not like that.” When the brown-skinned cutie isn’t at work or taking care of her mother, she’s busy playing mommy to her three younger siblings. “I have a little brother who’s twelve and a twin brother and sister who are 6. I love being able to take care of them, and I just want to make sure that they have the opportunities and experiences I never had.” Though she didn’t inherit the type of opportunities she’s creating for her brothers and sister, Lil’ Bit is making her own way, and eventually plans on leaving her pole position to pursue her dreams of interior design.”I’d love to design houses or hotels. But my ultimate goal is to one day design my own strip club,” admits the angel Aquarius with a bright smile. “A year from now I would love to be in school somewhere and no longer dancing,” she says. “I’ve wanted to be an interior designer since I was 7, and that’s what I’m going to do.” //
Website: www.strokersclub.com 770-270-0350 Photographer: Sean Cokes 404-622-7733 Make-Up Artist: Mike Mike 678-732-5285 Hairstylist: Baby Boy 404-396-2739
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(above L-R): Trae, Lil Jared, & 8Ball @ Party 104.9’s grand opening in Houston, TX (Photo: Intl K); Bootz, Buckeey, & Deelishis @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party in Miami, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Lil Boosie & Cupid @ Battle of the Bands in New Orleans, LA (Photo: Marcus DeWayne)
01 // Kraze, DJ Smallz, & Gorilla Zoe @ Roxy for Frontline’s Florida Classic weekend (Orlando, FL) 02 // Young B, Kiotti, & MC Kane @ Bun B’s step daughter Breneshia’s birthday party (Houston, TX) 03 // E-Class & DJ Mr Rogers @ Hush for OZONE’s Webbie concert (Houston, TX) 04 // Trapstarz & DJ Big Bink @ 97.9 The Beat (Dallas, TX) 05 // E-Class & Slim Thug on the set of Fat Joe’s video shoot (Miami, FL) 06 // Boosie & Traffic @ Firestone for Florida Classic block party (Orlando, FL) 07 // Papa Duck & Yo Gotti @ Roxy for Frontline’s Florida Classic weekend (Orlando, FL) 08 // Mack Maine, Swizz Beatz, guest, Fat Joe, & KRS-One on the set of DJ Khaled’s “I’m So Hood” remix (Atlanta, GA) 09 // Rick Ross & Mob Boss @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 10 // DJ Drama & Block on the set of DJ Drama’s “5000 Ones” (Atlanta, GA) 11 // Grey & Horseman (Houston, TX) 12 // Aztek, DJ Playboy, Rob G, & guest @ Venue for Big Moe tribute (Houston, TX) 13 // Vince Phillips & Sabrina Montgomery @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 14 // Bun B family members @ KBXX’s car show (Houston, TX) 15 // Guest, Green Eyes, & Baby Bre @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 16 // Swordz & Ms Rivercity @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 17 // C-Ride & Cubo @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 18 // DJ 151 & DJ Smallz @ Roxy for Frontline’s Florida Classic weekend (Orlando, FL) 19 // Brothers Derrick Crooms & Mr Collipark @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 20 // DJ Dr Doom, Plies, & Suga D @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) Photo Credits: BRE (04); Eric Perrin (08); Intl K (02,03,11,12,14); Julia Beverly (10,13,15,17,19); Malik Abdul (06); Terrence Tyson (01,05,07,09,16,18,20)
OZONEMAG MAG////31 31 OZONE
“
W
THE BIGGEST BOSS
hy’d I decide to make a chain of my face? Just the kush, y’know? I Just wanted to do something different in the game. I put my logo on everything anyway, so why not? I’m a boss.
“
She Liked my NECKLACE and started relaxin’, that’s what the fuck I call a…
Rick ross I can’t tell you what’s next [for my jewelry game] but I always keep new shit in the works. E-Class just fucked the whole watch game up with his canaryyellow diamonds and an all-red interior with red stones. It’s crazy. We just compete amongst each other; switching it up.
My jeweler out of Texas, Nick, did the chain. His company’s name is King Johnny. He’s the original. Nick is my guy. [King Johnny] is the name of the company, but he’s the actual owner, you know?
The critics love to take pictures of the boss shining. That’s what they love to see. There ain’t no critics because we don’t see the critics. We don’t acknowledge them. We do this for us, you know?
I ain’t gonna disclose how much it cost because I like to motivate the hood. But it’s over $100,000. I’ve still got all my jewelry. It’s a crazy number, I’d estimate, of what I’ve spent on jewelry. But it’s a good thing; it’s a wonderful thing. It’s that hood in me. That’s how we celebrate success, so it’s all good. There’s over 300 carats of diamonds in the piece. I just thought it’d be cool to do my face. I do the shit for the streets and the streets embrace it, so it’s cool with me. I love to shine.
I’m over the fascination with the diamonds. I done seen quarter million dollar watches, so I’m over the fascination. I look at it as a hood investment. It’s my hood laminate.
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I’m the biggest boss that you’ve seen thus far. Much love. // Words & Photo by Julia Beverly
(above L-R): Devyne Stephens & Dallas Austin @ Stankonia Studios for Outkast’s Christmas party in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Eric Perrin); Bryan Cox & Keith Sweat @ the Bentley in Miami, FL (Photo: Julia Beverly); Big Gipp & BloodRaw @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday party in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Carl Lewis)
01 // Shawty & Big Gipp @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 02 // Mike Jones & Raw LT @ Mike Jones’ American Dream movie premiere (Houston, TX) 03 // Playaz Circle @ Central Florida Fairgrounds for DME’s annual Florida Classic car show (Orlando, FL) 04 // DJ Q45, DJ Dr Doom, Unk, & Baby D @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday party (Jacksonville, FL) 05 // Gotti, Carl Lewis, & R Kelly on the set of Rick Ross’ “Speedin’” video shoot (Miami, FL) 06 // Chamillionaire, Sky, & Pimp C (R.I.P.) @ The Box car show (Houston, TX) 07 // Gorilla Zoe, Yung Joc, DJ Q45, & Block on the set of DJ Drama’s “5000 Ones” (Atlanta, GA) 08 // Stone, Lil Wayne, & Baby @ House of Blues for Cash Money Millionaires’ 10 Year Anniversary (New Orleans, LA) 09 // Gil Green & Rick Ross on the set of Rick Ross’ “Speedin’” video shoot (Miami, FL) 10 // Guest, Big Gipp, Piccalo, & Kia Shine @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 11 // Terrence Tyson, Bigga Rankin, & BG @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 12 // RawLT & Webbie @ Hush for OZONE’s Webbie concert (Houston, TX) 13 // Trae & Horseman @ 97.9 The Box (Houston, TX) 14 // Dizzy & Stone @ House of Blues for Cash Money Millionaires’ 10 Year Anniversary (New Orleans, LA) 15 // Lil Duval & Pupp @ Central Florida Fairgrounds for DME’s annual Florida Classic car show (Orlando, FL) 16 // 8Ball & Cindy Hill @ Party 104.9’s grand opening (Houston, TX) 17 // Xtaci & Young Dro @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 18 // Bigga Rankin & Elora Mason @ Sobe Live (Miami, FL) 19 // TREAL @ Roxy for Frontline’s Florida Classic weekend (Orlando, FL) Photo Credits: Carl Lewis (04,05,09); Edgar Walker (06); Intl K (02,12,13,16); Julia Beverly (01,03,07,15,17); Malik Abdul (10); Marcus DeWayne (08,14); Terrence Tyson (11,18,19)
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“Independent” Webbie, Lil’ Phat, & Lil’ Boosie
Lil’ Boosie is having a heated argument with his baby momma, LaTrice. She found a homemade flick of him cheating and has decided to confront him. He is complaining that it’s her fault that he’s leaving because she’s lazy and taking their relationship for granted. Boosie: I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T! Do you know what that mean, mane? LaTrice: I can spell. I know I ain’t finish high school but that don’t mean I’m stupid! What you gotta say about this bitch? What make her so better than me? Boosie: She got her own house! LaTrice: So!? Boosie: She got her own car! LaTrice: And? Boosie: Two jobs, work hard. She a bad broad! LaTrice: I got two jobs too! One is raising your nappy-headed son and the other is dealing with your sorry ass! That’s 70 hours a week right there! Boosie: (pointing at the black leather couch) If you ain’t on sit down! LaTrice: (crossing her arms in refusal) I ain’t gotta do shit! I’ma stand right here! Boosie: (getting more frustrated) If you ain’t on sit down! LaTrice: Nope.
the Music. ehind B goes OZONE Magazine On a True Rap Based .P.Y THER.I l D. of ly By Pau Julia Bever y b o t o Ph
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Boosie: (getting more frustrated) If you ain’t on sit down! LaTrice: I can’t believe you blaming all this on me! You coming in all times of night smelling like that bitch and now you making it seem like I’m in the wrong? Hell naw! Boosie: She got her own house. Drive her own whip! LaTrice: You sound like a broken record. Make a new point or something. Damn! Boosie: Range Rover all white like her toe tips! LaTrice: Who cares? My Geo Prism is all pink like this pussy you eat! Boosie: She got a pretty smile. Smell real good! LaTrice: I been asking you for like five months to help me with this rotten tooth. My Medicaid say they can’t do nothing. And don’t try me with smell. I keep me some Bath & Body Works body spray! Boosie: The only time she need a mane for that good juug! LaTrice: Good juug? You? Please… They didn’t put a Lil in front of your name for nothing, Boosie. Boosie: They buy the bar too! They superstars too! They be like, “You ain’t got no money? Take your broke tail home!” LaTrice: So you like her because she’s a female pimp? How quickly you forget everything I done for you. Remember before your deal? Matter of fact, before “Wipe Me Down” blew up? I bought everything from your draws to your golds! Boosie: Baby Phat they own. They clothes match they phone. They be like “Yeahhh!” when they song come on! Leave the club kinda early cause they gotta go to work. I mess wit supervisors who got credit like Big Turk. LaTrice: I leave the club early ‘cause I gotta take care of our lil one. Oh you mess with supervisors, huh? Well, I messed with Webbie last week when you was out town! Boosie: Dusty feet, please don’t bother me! I got independent dimes on my mind who spoil me! LaTrice: Well, fine then. I’m keeping the couch, the pitbull, and all the outfits I bought you. Where’d you get that new outfit from anyway, with your trifling ass? Boosie: Coogi hat, Coogi fit so sick! That’s a gift from my independent chick. Yes sir!
t”
(above L-R): Paul Wall & TV Johnny in Houston, TX (Photo: Intl K); Lil Boosie & friends @ Plush in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Gorilla Zoe & Alfamega @ the Dirty Awards in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly)
01 // Damon Eden & Jullian Boothe @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 02 // Stay Fresh, Lil Scrappy, & Big Teach @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 03 // DJ Bomb Shell Boogie & Mannie Fresh @ Lil Wayne’s Bayou Classic jam (New Orleans, LA) 04 // Bali & Dru of The Runners @ Roxy for Frontline’s Florida Classic weekend (Orlando, FL) 05 // Emmanuel, Tony Neal, & Boomtown @ Emmanuel’s “Swagga” video shoot (Miami, FL) 06 // DJ Q45 & Michael Watts @ Hush for OZONE’s Webbie concert (Houston, TX) 07 // Young Dro & Lil Duval @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 08 // DJ Q45 & Unk @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 09 // Emmanuel & Yung Joc @ Emmanuel’s “Swagga” video shoot (Miami, FL) 10 // Lil Wayne & DJ Money Fresh @ House of Blues for Cash Money Millionaires’ 10 Year Anniversary (New Orleans, LA) 11 // Michael Madd & Fat Joe on the set of Fat Joe & J Holiday’s video shoot (Miami, FL) 12 // Omar Wilson & Xavier @ Scarface’s listening party (Houston, TX) 13 // Jit, Stacks, & Izzy @ Emmanuel’s “Swagga” video shoot (Miami, FL) 14 // Teddy T, guest, & Antman @ Industry Secrets seminar (Miami, FL) 15 // Trae, Teresa, & Z-Ro @ their photo shoot (Houston, TX) 16 // Vic Damone & Jus Bleezy @ Society (St. Louis, MO) 17 // Cindy Hill & Flo Rida @ Venecian (Houston, TX) 18 // Playaz Circle & DJ Demp @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 19 // Hot Boy Ronald & Cupid @ Battle of the Bands (New Orleans, LA) 20 // Slim Thug, DJ Chill, Crisco Kid, The Mexicanz, & DJ Coolaide @ Party 104.9’s grand opening (Houston, TX) Photo Credits: Bogan (11); Carl Lewis (14); Intl K (06,12,15,17,20); Julia Beverly (01,02,07); King Yella (16); Malik Abdul (05,08,09,13); Marcus DeWayne (03,10,19); Terrence Tyson (04,18)
OZONEMAG MAG////35 35 OZONE
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terrence tyson
D-RAY
terrence tyson
tattedup
terrence tyson
terrence tyson
D-RAY
D-RAY
(above L-R): Brandi Garcia & LeToya Luckett @ the Houston premiere of This Christmas in Houston, TX (Photo: Intl K); Bigga Rankin & Plies @ Plush in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Famous & Chamillionaire @ the Dirty Awards in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly)
01 // Guests, Red Dogg, & Pimp J @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 02 // Toro & Durtered @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 03 // RukaPuff & Bigga Rankin @ Onyx for OZONE talent search (St. Louis, MO) 04 // Dyron D, Freda, & DJ Slab 1 @ Battle of the Bands (New Orleans, LA) 05 // Courtney & Phat @ Belle Noche (Baton Rouge, LA) 06 // Baby & DJ Ro @ Lil Wayne’s Bayou Classic jam (New Orleans, LA) 07 // Lil Wayne & Yella @ House of Blues for Cash Money Millionaires’ 10 Year Anniversary (New Orleans, LA) 08 // Shawty Lo & Buckeey @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 09 // Vic Damone & Guccio @ Society (St Louis, MO) 10 // Yung Joc & Bun B @ the Dirty Awards (Atlanta, GA) 11 // I-15 & Maricia Magana @ Yates High School (Houston, TX) 12 // Chalie Boy & Ms Rita @ Block Ent. Show (Dallas, TX) 13 // Camron & Dukwon @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 14 // Point Blank & OZONE party @ Da Real Ting Cafe (Jacksonville, FL) 15 // Roccett, Elora Mason, & Rick Edwards @ Sobe Live (Miami, FL) 16 // BOB & TJ Chapman get CRUNK!!! @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 17 // Joe Hound & Street Dogg @ Chef Creole for World AIDS Day concert (Miami, FL) 18 // Red Rat & DJ Element @ Sobe Live for Bigga Rankin’s party (Miami, FL) 19 // Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer @ Star Towers (Orlando, FL) 20 // Chris Ward, Slim Thug, & Killa Kyleon @ Roxy (Houston, TX) Photo Credits: Carl Lewis (17); Intl K (11,20); Julia Beverly (02,08,10); King Yella (03,05,09); Malik Abdul (14,19); Marcus DeWayne (04,06,07); Ms Rivercity (18); Terrence Tyson (01,15,16); Tre Dubb (12)
OZONEMAG MAG////37 37 OZONE
AITING W Y L T N E I PAT
m z i d y a T
TALLAHASSEE, FL
T-Pain opping rappa ternt sanga eing a hypeman for chart-t up, travel, get paid and enjoy ke “Wa . seems like an easy job up the offer” pretty much sums the best that life has to g artist rdin reco ent inm Nappy Boy Enterta job requirements. But for s eager to show that he he’ e sinc k, tas a of at Taydizm, its been somewh artist. too is a competent solo
B
my team,” iously, even the people on “No one took my music ser to do a show in the way his on ne pho via ive laughs the Tallahasee nat ld do it. That’s why I to show people that I cou Bahamas. “I just wanted by myself.” recorded my whole project ughout the South test Hotboy has burned thro d of relying on His first mixtape Tha Hot tea Ins e. Jun last it d since he droppe l, Tay completely conceptua T-Pain’s industry rolodex s he’ s, ces pro the In . self him ized and engineered by artist set to step out of his introduced himself as an . dow sha s nd’ high-profile frie even lot of good feedback. It “When I did that, I got a d ture fea tly ren cur , who is surprised me,” admits Tay smash, “She g blin bub ol’s Pist 2 an on fellow Floridi asked T-Pain for was a stu Got It.” “The only thing I n eve er nev I elf. mys ing ryth dio. From there I did eve ], but I taught myself.” touched ProTools [before e album and building a nam Even though recording an d face has dizm Tay ge, llen for himself is a huge cha t of a foster home, Tay bigger obstacles. A produc to be an underdog. Born like it’s t wha already knows h succumbed to the bot who er to a mother and fath ly raised himself ual virt ills of drug abuse, Tay has . old rs yea five was since he talking about drugs in “You ain’t gonna hear me ning that he will address music,” he insists, mentio challenges on his debut al son per his of a portion ugs fucked up my whole “Dr . ld Wor r album, Anothe e boys because that’s how dop family. I can’t hate on a dope boy, what [am] I’m they eat. But when I see m doing your thing?’ It’s the p ‘Kee m? the to gonna say 18.” was I ‘til e hom ter fos a that put me in past, Tay is focused on Never one to dwell on the it’s still okay to dance in t tha w kno rs ene list letting him on stage with Tn see r eve ’ve the club. If you t. But in just in case you tha w kno Pain, you’d already inding you. rem haven’t, he doesn’t mind ss too hood to dance. I gue “I hear niggas say they k hard,” he loo and ts pan ir the sag people just wanna , we used to have fun and laughs. “Where I come from I’m give a damn if people say that’s what I do. I don’t y don’t threaten the as g lon As ce. dan I soft because me, I’m good.” // d Words by Maurice G. Garlan Photo by Julia Beverly
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(above L-R): Baby & Yo Gotti @ FAMU Homecoming concert in Tallahassee, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Mike Jones & Z-Ro @ Mike Jones’ American Dream movie premiere in Houston, TX Trey Songz & Scarface on the set of Scarface’s video shoot in Houston, TX (Photos: Intl K)
01 // Big Will, Maddog, Bigga Rankin, & Big Teach @ Sobe Live (Miami, FL) 02 // Young B & Grit Boyz @ Bun B’s step daughter Breneshia’s birthday party (Houston, TX) 03 // Dior George & BloodRaw @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 04 // DJ Demp, Ms Dynasty, & Supastar J-Kwik @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 05 // Sean & J-Kwon @ Intercontinental airport (Houston, TX) 06 // Rico Love, Statik, & Pleasure P @ Stankonia Studios (Atlanta, GA) 07 // Duval County Rockstars @ Da Real Ting Cafe for Point Blank & OZONE party (Jacksonville, FL) 08 // K-Foxx, Young Twinn, & Jas Prince @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 09 // The Runners & KC @ Roxy for Frontline’s Florida Classic weekend (Orlando, FL) 10 // DJ K-Tone & DJ Scorpio on the set of DJ Khaled’s “I’m So Hood” remix (Atlanta, GA) 11 // Zane & M-Geezy @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) 12 // Tweezy & Young B @ Hush for OZONE’s Webbie concert (Houston, TX) 13 // Guest, Willie the Kid, Young Tut, Yung Berg, & Lloyd @ Velvet Room for DJ Drama’s album release party (Atlanta, GA) 14 // Video model Baje on the set of Baby’s “Hundred Million Dollars” video shoot (Miami, FL) 15 // Guest & Qwote @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 16 // Freddy P & ladies @ Chef Creole for World AIDS Day concert (Miami, FL) 17 // Sistah Sondrah & Raheem DeVaughn @ 97.9 The Beat (Dallas, TX) 18 // KJ, Famous, & Rapid Ric @ BET College Tour (Houston, TX) 19 // Micha Porat & Mad Linx @ Sobe Live for Young Buck filming of Starz Network’s Hip Hop Raw & Uncut Series (Miami, FL) Photo Credits: Bogan (19); BRE (17); Carl Lewis (14,16); Eric Perrin (10,13); Intl K (02,05,12,18); Julia Beverly (06,08,15); Malik Abdul (03,07); Ms Rivercity (11); Terrence Tyson (01,04,09)
OZONEMAG MAG////39 39 OZONE
AITING W Y L T N E I PAT
I I V X
een) t n e v (Se
up sissippi rapper XVII picks henever Pass Christian, Mis his is One . ces voi to hear two the phone, you’re liable comd tone. The other is the gruff, Gulf Coast-inflicte ler. But C” p “Pim d mentor Cha manding twang of his late as Pimp’s verse to him,” he says, driving “He’s gone and I can’t talk sts through as if he was sitting in the bla from “Swishas and Dosha” still ride with me son. “But I figure he can backseat rapping it in per and talk to me this way.”
W
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS a Pimp C enLil Boosie & Webbie to get As the first rapper since wn would be too cro UGK a t tha k thin ng to dorsement, you’d be wro had already he p, Pim g etin me e. Before heavy for XVII’s wiry fram on his own. produced three projects Gulf), his 2001 er of Da KG’z (Kingz of the A group effort as a memb erground Und ed call e tap a 2003 mix he could solo debut Die By This and ore bef But in the Gulf Coast. Heat Vol. 1, built his buzz tion, the eye of follow with a second edi ing out his buzz Hurricane Katrina hit, wip e. and his hom I moved to AtWith limited choices, XVI with Pastor Troy, es anc alli g ldin bui ta, lan ever, when he How ti. Got Yo and Bohagon eo, he got a cam a for C p sought out Pim to stay. ce pla big brother and a new Port Arthur,” “Pass Christian is small like e smallsam the got p insists XVII. “Pim made me move town feeling from me and of the streets.” out me p kee to him h wit in I released his With Pimp’s backing, XVI 7. With little to album Certified in late 200 grew legs and um alb the tion mo pro no h the single garnered regional buzz wit troversy via con al ion nat “She Love It” and Story.” Pimp C’s feature on “True over that song,” “People caught feelings k that was trac the ut sneers XVII abo atrina survival intended to be a post-K called dope boy tale and warning to so, ‘Everybody say I se ver my “In rappers. Pimp just and Me ” zy.’ Jee think they’re g. I didn’t know met when we did that son ween Jeezy and of anything going on bet n a diss. People eve n’t was g son Pimp. The give a fuck as n’t did we but took offense, t we said.” wha ut abo long as we didn’t lie I left Texas and After Pimp’s passing, XVI vering homereco ly slow returned to his the area, but ts nke town. Debris still bla ss of another sort. me a from ape esc rs offe ed down “Distributors that Pimp turn me the day ing before he died started call sighs. “They send his body was found,” he ing I’d cash them hop cks che ass ky me fun deal. But like I a in me lock so they can He won’t want p. Pim said, I still listen to me to do that.” // d Words by Maurice G. Garlan
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(above L-R): Tony Neal & Deelishis @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party in Miami, FL (Photo: J Lash); Pitbull & Cool on the set of Fat Joe & J Holiday’s video shoot in Miami, FL (Photo: Bogan); Unk & K Foxx on the set of DJ Khaled’s “I’m So Hood” remix in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Eric Perrin)
01 // Southstar, T-Roy, ladies, & Smilez @ Club Christopher’s for Midget Mac’s VH1 party (Jacksonville, FL) 02 // DJ Irie, DJ Drama, Willie the Kid, & Pleasure P @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 03 // Tim Drow & Lil Kee @ The Drink for DJ Secret’s birthday bash (Lakeland, FL) 04 // DJ Drama & Buckeey @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 05 // Breneshia, guest, & Young B @ Bun B’s step daughter Breneshia’s birthday party (Houston, TX) 06 // Gavin Luckett, Bryan Michael Cox, & Slim Thug @ LeToya Luckett’s party (Houston, TX) 07 // Trey Songz & Jus Bleezy on the set of “Like Me” (St. Louis, MO) 08 // Carol City Cartel @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 09 // Trick Daddy & the Dunk Ryders & DJ Demp @ Firestone for Florida Classic block party (Orlando, FL) 10 // Lil Scrappy & George Dukes @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 11 // J-Baby, Fee, DJ Dr Doom, & Bigga Rankin @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 12 // Roger & Mami Chula @ Primetime (Atlanta, GA) 13 // DJ Rob Fresh & Uptown Angela @ the Kool Experience (New Orleans, LA) 14 // Sun, Spark Dawg, & BP @ Mike Jones’ American Dream movie premiere (Houston, TX) 15 // BF, DJ Jelly, Montay, Unk, & Baby D @ DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 16 // R Kelly & Ted Lucas on the set of Rick Ross’ “Speedin’” video shoot (Miami, FL) 17 // Teddy T, Pleasure P, & TJ Chapman @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday party (Jacksonville, FL) 18 // Guest & DJ Epps @ White Diamonds for Trina & Pleasure P’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 19 // Gazelle, DJ Demp, & Styles P @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) Photo Credits: Carl Lewis (16,17); Eric Perrin (12); Intl K (05,06,14); J Lash (10); Julia Beverly (02,04,18); King Yella (07); Malik Abdul (09,15); Marcus DeWayne (13); Street Grindaz (03); Terrence Tyson (01,08,11,19)
OZONEMAG MAG////41 41 OZONE
WAITING Y L T N E I T PA
a D k o Sno k Starr k o R
) Columbia, SC (via Newark, NJ
Starr tell it, a emcee Snook Da Rokk et Columbia, South Carolin Boyz started p Sho the ore bef g lon lity he had a rockstar menta ,” Snook proone on that rockstar shit partying. “I was the first three, four ut abo ly bab r song on Myspace, pro claims. “I put my rocksta even knew what a I ore bef , out e cam n z eve weeks before the Shop Boy day to Sunday, I’m club like every night. Sun ttles].” Shop Boy was. I was in the [bo ’ pin pop ney, getting drunk, in the club, throwing mo
L
ok has established Barker-esque lifestyle, Sno Aside from living a Travis sed in Newark, Rai te. Sta tto me Pal the st in Benedict Colhimself as a standout arti nd atte to 1999 in Columbia, SC throughout pes New Jersey, he moved to stri him ned for battle raps ear college left ok lege, where his penchant Sno of battling competitors, thern Dynasty the city. After a few years Sou rted sta He . eer car a rap to make a serious push at Etheridge and Marcus associates Chris “Phatz P” Records with his college 2004, the label in and n, “True” Winsto ndent debut album released Snook’s indepe , which featured um alb The . ker Ban 6. 4.5. n Paul of the Sea by es anc ear guest app duction by pro and Mo, Lil Youngbloodz, ed him as difi soli , Don Khao and Polow Da his single “When e Onc st. arti ble uta rep a l hit airwaves You See Me” with Sean Pau e a regional hit am bec g son and clubs, the for Snook to ce pla in and things seemed nd success. fou new his on ize ital cap to stardom seemed But soon after the path sed away. pas er to clear, Snook’s fath rding sessions Promos, shows and reco buzzing rapper were all cancelled and the te. As quickly sta ber som a was sent into faded into had he n, as Snook had rise obscurity. start, he moved In 2005, looking for a new business his n whe to Atlanta, GA. But arrested on partner Chris Etheridge was ute to Etheridge, federal charges, as a trib SC and finish to rn retu to d Snook decide . rted sta y ast what Southern Dyn olinas, he’s Since returning to the Car left off. In 2007 he re whe t picked up righ h three mixtapes, wit ets he flooded the stre e, From a Minor Drought Over with DJ Clev ord and DJ B-L DJ by ted hos or Maj to a io with Rad ga Nig l Rea a Frosty, and rations with Bigga Rankin. His collabo odels”), Yo Gotti artists like Lil Boosie (“M ntouchable”) has (“U ain T-P and y”) (“Mone ation from his icip ant d ene ght further hei um American alb nt nde forthcoming indepe Rockstar. ent seemingly While the rockstar movem Weezy engagen tha er fast came and went things won’t sts ment rumors, Snook insi I’m living,” life the is “Th . him for change g like a tyin par lly rea ’t ain “I . he asserts r. That’s ksta roc a like ng rockstar, I’m livi ’t fabricate nothmy lifestyle, I really don ing.” // Words by Randy Roper
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(above L-R): Chad Johnson & Baby @ Club Dream during All Star weekend in New Orleans, LA; J Prince & Roy Jones Jr before his fight @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY (Photos by Julia Beverly); Allen Iverson & Dwayne Wade @ Sugar Mill in New Orleans, LA (Photo: Terrence Tyson)
01 // Treal @ Hip Hop Soda Shop for the filming of 2 Pistols “She Got It” (Tampa, FL) 02 // All Star, TJ Chapman, & Alli Nicole @ House of Blues for Yo Gotti’s mixtape release party (Memphis, TN) 03 // DJ Q45 & Suga D @ Plies “Bust It Baby” reality show casting call (Tampa, FL) 04 // DJ Demp & DJ Blak @ The Moon for Demp Week (Tallahassee, FL) 05 // Randy Roper, Terrence Tyson, Malik Abdul, & ladies @ Webbie’s listening party (New Orleans, LA) 06 // Rufus, Baby, & Glasses Malone @ Club Dream during All Star weekend (New Orleans, LA) 07 // Lil Boosie, Turk, Webbie, & Mouse @ Roc A Fella 2.5 (New Orleans, LA) 08 // K-Foxx, Rick Ross, DJ Krunch One, & Flo Rida @ White Diamonds for Rick Ross’ birthday party (Miami, FL) 09 // Lil Boosie & DJ Sweat @ The Palace (Hattiesburg, MS) 10 // Steve Francis & J Prince (Houston, TX) 11 // Sean-D & Grand Prix @ The Moon for TJ’s birthday party (Tallahassee, FL) 12 // J Baby, Shane, & Stephanie @ Plush for Cool Runnings Christmas party (Jacksonville, FL) 13 // Black, Turk, Slim, & BJ on the set of Webbie’s “I Miss You” video shoot (New Orleans, LA) 14 // Will & Ms Rivercity @ Dream (New Orleans, LA) 15 // Pops & Cox of Piccalo @ White Diamonds for Rick Ross’ birthday party (Miami, FL) 16 // Eric Perrin & Chris Turner @ Sugar Mill (New Orleans, LA) 17 // Cutty Mac & Michael Watts @ S&S Entertainment’s New Years Eve party (Des Moines, IA) 18 // Derrick & Webbie @ Webbie’s listening party (New Orleans, LA) 19 // Mannie Fresh & Show @ Club Dream during All Star weekend (New Orleans, LA) Photo Credits: Julia Beverly (01,02,06,08,10,15,18); King Yella (05,07,13); Malik Abdul (03,17); Ms Rivercity (19); Terrence Tyson (04,09,11,12,14,16)
OZONEMAG MAG////43 43 OZONE
WAITING Y L T N E I T PA
y e n cbo
Ma
g army guns, South was caught holdin ver since the King of the s uncertain T.I.’ nt. me dica quite a pre Grand Hustle has been in record sed -ba nta stion if the Atla future has led many to que Grand Hustle the le whi But er. inn adw t its bre label can maintain withou ring, his ability to n awaits a suppression hea house arrested head ma hed. guide his team has diminis
E
ATLANTA, GA
ition where he can’t leader and he’s in a pos “Anytime you got a great Pimp Squad Click ,” way t tha way [or] goes lead, everybody goes this rybody together as eve p “[T.I. is] needed to kee member Macboney says. I gotta work stronger , it just showed me that a whole. But as far as me and I ain’t gonna do n dow you g brin wanna and harder. A lot of people se that’s what he would want me to do.” , cau nothing but push forward dominantly black Raised in Adamsville, a pre side of Atlanta, t wes the on ood orh neighb take shape to rted sta eer car Boney’s rap Bankhead own nkn n-u when he meet a the . Boney, along rapper by the name of T.I.P try, A.K. and Kun with his cousin C-Rod, Big Pimp Squad Click. T.I. formed the rap group ing off, P$C was And with T.I.’s career tak um I’m Serious featured on T.I.’s debut alb Grand Hustle/Atlanto ed sign up gro the and ing on T.I.’s follow tic Records. After appear ik and 2004’s Muz Trap up albums, 2003’s g the street’s Urban Legend, and catchin mixtapes, includattention with a slew of gsta Grillz mixes Gan ma Dra DJ ing earlier n With The King, Dow and like In Da Streets was released Life To P$C’s debut album 25 n the album whe But 5. 200 of ber tem in Sep er 200,000 und out g llin sta , sell to struggled been gly min see has up copies, P$C the gro an afterthought. ls have cenSince then, the label’s goa ver artist and sso cro a T.I. tered on making Young Dro and breaking solo artists like ng disgruntled, Big Kuntry. Instead of bei in a group with red pai was who Macboney— released solo He ets. stre A.K.— took to the and The Rico Act mixtapes Processing Fee ch upped his stock hosted by DJ Teknik, whi t of] Grand Hustle, den resi “[P st. arti as a solo for my solo on me k too Jason Geter, he he was wit’ it project,” he says. “He said t. I said I wanted and I stepped to the ligh to do it.” his solo debut He is currently working on d. Even if T.I. min in l goa one h wit um alb t legal issues sen pre his ugh thro makes it s to be able to bos his ts wan unscathed, he ultimate goal “My e. step back from the gam k and gon’ head bac sit tain cap my let to is says. “I wanna take let me lead the ship,” he t’s everybody’s tha And l. it to the next leve ck the world sho na goal in rap but I wan // ” sic. mu this h wit Words by Randy Roper Photo by Eric Perrin
44 44////OZONE OZONEMAG MAG
(above L-R): Young B reading his OZONE article in Houston, TX (Photo: Intl K); David Banner, Alfamega, Jazze Pha, Yung Joc, Big Kuntry, & DJ Holiday on the set of DJ Drama’s “5000 Ones” in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly); TREAL @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Ms Rivercity)
01 // T-Streets, Mack Maine, & Raj Smoove @ House of Blues for Cash Money Millionaires’ 10 Year Anniversary (New Orleans, LA) 02 // Lil Boosie & Hot Boy Ronald @ Battle of the Bands (New Orleans, LA) 03 // King Arthur, Mami Chula, & guest @ Primetime (Atlanta, GA) 04 // B, Randy Roper, & Mac Boney @ Ecko Studios (Atlanta, GA) 05 // Malik Abdul & Slim Goodye @ Mansion for DJ Khaled’s birthday party (Miami, FL) 06 // Blvd & Tamiko Hope @ Stankonia Studios for Outkast’s Christmas party (Atlanta, GA) 07 // Tyga, Wayne, & Gata of Young Money @ Hot Beats Studio (Atlanta, GA) 08 // Entice @ Club Status (Orlando, FL) 09 // Potzee, Az One & Youvee (St Louis, MO) 10 // Phantom & J Leon @ Dragon Room (Orlando, FL) 11 // Ladies First @ Dragon Room (Orlando, FL) 12 // DJ Mello, MegaChick, & Preacher @ Club Status (Orlando, FL) 13 // Lil Hen & Face Murder @ The Globe for DJ Q45’s birthday bash (Jacksonville, FL) 14 // J-Money reading OZONE (Jackson, MS) 15 // D’Lyte & C Dog @ Club Cirque (Dallas, TX) 16 // Pimp J @ Club Status (Orlando, FL) 17 // Tre Dubb, Rapid Ric, & Ms Rita @ Beauty Bar (Austin, TX) 18 // Untamed, Big Dime, & Red Dogg @ Club Status (Orlando, FL) 19 // Wild Wayne & Cupid @ Bayou Classic (New Orleans, LA) 20 // Kango of Partners N Crime & DJ Raj Smoove (New Orleans, LA) 21 // Brandi Garcia, Chile, & Joe College @ Butter for Big Moe Tribute (Houston, TX) 22 // Erotic D (Dallas, TX) 23 // Miss 757 Cassandra Clark & Astrin White @ Studio 76 Models’ party (Norfolk, VA) 24 // Mutt Dogg & Derrty Boi Montana @ Club Viva (St Louis, MO) 25 // Veda Loca @ Club Cirque (Dallas, TX) 26 // Spark Dawg & the Grit Boyz @ Trae’s show (Killeen, TX) 27 // Pryme Status, Teresa, & Chris Parker @ SF2 (Houston, TX) 28 // Disco Jr @ Firestone for Florida Classic block party (Orlando, FL) 29 // Fed Tyme Records @ Block Ent. Show (Dallas, TX) 30 // Garfield & DJ Benny Boom @ Club Whispers for record pool meeting (Orlando, FL) 31 // G-Money @ Club Status (Orlando, FL) 32 // Gotti Boy Chris & Chris of the Block Burners @ Bayou Classic (New Orleans, LA) 33 // Face Murder, Lil Hen, & Shawn Jay @ Da Real Ting Cafe for Point Blank & OZONE party (Jacksonville, FL) 34 // DJ Kut & Craig Blac @ Jus Bleezy’s “Like Me” video shoot (St Louis, MO) 35 // DJ D-Money @ Plush for Ghetto Diamond Awards (Jacksonville, FL) Photo Credits: 3535 Entertainment (14); Derrick Francis (23); Edward Hall (15,22,25); Eric Perrin (03,04,06,07); Intl K (21,27); King Yella (09,34); Malik Abdul (08,10,11,12,13,16,18,28,30,3 1,33); Marcus DeWayne (01,02,19,20,32); Ms Rivercity (35); Tammie White (24); Terrence Tyson (05); Tre Dubb (17,26,29)
OZONEMAG MAG////45 45 OZONE
TING I A W Y L T N PATIE
s p o Oo that learn valuable skills ing to college is to native Ooops uis Lo St. y, f the purpose of go ne mo one a career and make ing undergrad. But will help you find y other textbook tot is that while most an n tha t en fer dif is no of the pack him from the rest siness Manthing that separates ld of study such as Psychology or Bu Battle rap. fie m: a ulu in ric jor cur ma t en nts fer de dif stu ered a completely cov dis s op Oo t, en agem a knack for college and found was at a community “Four years ago, I
I
ST. LOUIS, MO became so r-old rapper soon s Ooops. The 23-yea ing local, battle rapping,” say he began earning his tuition by battl t and then tha it, ft th cra wi e the at lov in od l go fel cees for money. “I ould start more established em ago a family friend suggested I sh lf ha a d an ar about a ye e passion.” that became my tru writing songs, and own for his ops has become kn year and a half, Oo o for his a res of e mo urs en co ev ps the Over delivery, but perha nt le as ige sty ell int his d es an fin y. He de witty lyrics unparalleled energ d energetic, but an l ica lyr n ee tw a mixture be e of the same time. “I’m on still laid back at the t people in “bu es, ess str he t,” humblest dudes ou gon’ put en Ooops comes, I’m St. Louis know, wh on a show. “ turbing t on a show for Dis And he definitely pu February, when he won last The Peace Records Show“Who’s Next? Artist the Atlanta label’s Ooops proudly s. ful pe ho er oth case” among 80 s the ing the contest wa proclaims that winn ssibly an po t bu r, ee car of his proudest moment dding bu the for plishment even greater accom current single, his of s ces suc the rapper has been p).” “Louie Dip (Triple Ste are getda like when girls “The dance looks kin tch and they just jump du leub ting ready to do plains e they jump in, “ ex back and forth befor b one night and they clu Ooops. “I was at the beat. And since St. Louis to a started doing that th, I nces we come up wi is known for the da it.” for ng so decided to make a a history of his hometown has Though he admits amantly ad he dance records, making “lollipop” eonhole him pig ’t ldn ou sh le op feels as though pe ople critirapper. “A lot of pe artist’s as a run of the mill an is: al utt reb and my cize dance records, ople. If you know pe the for s ng so job is to make d you ving right now, an dance songs are mo nce song and it’s well put e da come up with a nic that.” dy can argue with together, then nobo ops is arguable is that Oo One fact even less as a uis Lo St. h lis ab est precondoing his part to rethe g llin pe dis b and premiere Hip Hop hu s have of his city. fan ceived views many St. Louis, cats coming out of d a little “We got some real nte tai en be s image ha ges. ed and I feel like our wl no ack s sors,” Ooop bit by our predeces songs is my all in do to try “But one thing I because iles, and metaphors, though stay true to my sim en Ev . me m fro expect I t that’s what people tha ny de ’t ng, you can I made a dance so e.” // tur na sig my are ripped it. My lyrics n
Words by Eric Perri
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(above L-R): 3 Deep with their OZONE All Star special edition cover @ Webbie’s listening party in New Orleans, LA (Photo: Ms Rivercity); Julia Beverly, Roccett, & Rick Edwards @ Demp Week celebrity basketball game in Tallahassee, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); C-Murder with his All Star issue article @ Webbie’s listening party in New Orleans, LA (Photo: King Yella)
01 // Carol City Cartel @ The Moon for Demp Week (Tallahassee, FL) 02 // Steph Jones @ Party 93.3 (Houston, TX) 03 // Seventeen @ SEA Pre-Party (Tunica, MS) 04 // SL Jones & Killer Mike @ SEA Pre-Party (Tunica, MS) 05 // Rick Ross, Steve Bellamy, & Rick Edwards @ Demp Week celebrity basketball game (Tallahassee, FL) 06 // Making The Band 4 in Times Square (New York, NY) 07 // Big Teach, Uncle Luke, & Lex @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // Streetz @ Webbie’s listening party (New Orleans, LA) 09 // Pimpin Ken & guest @ Hard Rock for Yo Gotti’s mixtape release party (Memphis, TN) 10 // Bobo Luchiano, DJ Fish, & Steve Below @ The Fare for Big Push’s birthday party (Dallas, TX) 11 // Willy Northpole @ Party 93.3 (Houston, TX) 12 // Benji Brown @ Demp Week (Tallahassee, FL) 13 // Kamikaze, the ladies of Vivacious Wear, & Gerald Girbaud @ the Southern Entertainment Awards (Tunica, MS) 14 // Ja Rule @ The Moon for Demp Week fashion show (Tallahassee, FL) 15 // Garcia @ the James L Knight Center for Hoodstock (Miami, FL) 16 // All Star @ the Southern Entertainment Awards (Tunica, MS) 17 // TR Flow @ Club Level for Randy Roper’s birthday party (Columbia, SC) 18 // Veda Loca @ Club Cirque (Dallas, TX) 19 // DJ Battle Cat @ House of Blues (New Orleans, LA) 20 // Lil V @ Plies ‘Bust It Baby’ reality show casting call (Tampa, FL) 21 // Chubby Baby @ Club Esso for Atlanta Record Pool (Atlanta, GA) 22 // DJ Holiday & B Rich @ Club Esso for Atlanta Record Pool (Atlanta, GA) 23 // Teddy T @ the Southern Entertainment Awards (Tunica, MS) 24 // P Brown & Dutty Laundry @ Club Esso for Atlanta Record Pool (Atlanta, GA) 25 // Sun & Lupe Fiasco on the set of Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Hip Hop Saved My Life’ video shoot (Houston, TX) 26 // Ms Re & Phat Girls Promotions @ the Southern Entertainment Awards (Tunica, MS) 27 // DJ Montay @ Club Esso for Atlanta Record Pool (Atlanta, GA) 28 // La Chat @ Southern Whispers for Bigg V’s birthday bash (Greenville, MS) 29 // DJ Judge Mntl @ the Southern Entertainment Awards panels (Tunica, MS) 30 // Dougski & Kottonmouth @ The Fare for Big Push’s birthday party (Dallas, TX) 31 // DJ Xclusive & P Brown @ Club Esso for Atlanta Record Pool (Atlanta, GA) 32 // DJ Wildhairr & Michael Watts @ S&S Entertainment’s New Years Eve party (Des Moines, IA) 33 // DJ Q45, DJ Epps, LA Smoove, & Jennifer @ the James L Knight Center for Hoodstock (Miami, FL) 34 // Cutty Mac @ S&S Entertainment’s New Years Eve party (Des Moines, IA) 35 // DJ Chuck T @ the Southern Entertainment Awards panels (Tunica, MS) Photo Credits: Edward Hall (10,18,28,30); Intl K (02,11,25); Julia Beverly (03,04,06,07,12,13,17,23); King Yella (19); Malik Abdul (14,15,20,32,33,34); Ms Rivercity (08,09,16,21,22,24,26,27,2 9,31,35); Terrence Tyson (01,05)
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Trina Words by Julia Beverly // Photo by Bogan
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aving departed both her major label home (Atlantic Records) and a highly-publicized relationship (Lil Wayne), the Queen of Miami is back on the prowl... and loving it
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Your new album is coming out independently, right? Slip-N-Slide is through EMI, independent now. It’s just about understanding what the independent deal was like and trying to understand what direction e were going to go with the project. Being independent is totally different from being with a major label, so there was a lot of stuff we had to compromise on. But it worked out for everybody’s best interests, especially mine. I’ve been with Atlantic my whole career, so it wasn’t a one-sided decision. I want to move forward on my own and do something different; try something new. We’d ust outgrown each other. I’m excited, and EMI has been really helpful in making sure the project comes out great. So basically it was a mutual decision to part ways with Atlantic. Yeah, my deal with Atlantic was up, and it was my decision to stay or leave. I felt like I’d been with them for so long I had outgrown their vision. I wanted more control. Labels aren’t how they used to be; you’ve gotta put in a lot more work. Everything is so difficult, I guess with the bootlegging and so much stuff being leaked on the internet, it’s just a harder fight. So I’m going to go through EMI and it was a better deal for me. A better deal financially? It’s definitely better financially, and as far as business in general, you get to see more money. That’s what it’s about; it’s about making money. Thankfully I’m signed to Slip-N-Slide so they’re like the backbone to everything. I think that’s the most important thing, because without the co-parent of Slip-NSlide, if everything was straight independent, I don’t know how that would’ve worked out. At DJ Khaled’s birthday party Trick said “fuck Slip-N-Slide.” Does the tension between your labelmate and your label ever put you in an awkward position? Not really. Me and Trick are cool and we’re always going to be cool. We have different relationships as far as we’re concerned and as far as the label is concerned. It’s two different things, and everybody understands that Trick is his own individual. My relationship with Trick is totally different from Trick’s relationship with Slip-N-Slide or anybody else. Everybody knows their boundaries and it doesn’t make me and Trick have any tension because whatever his issue is with the label is totally separate from me. Your first single “I’m Single Again” is a little different style of music than what you’ve been known to put out in the past. Is that kinda the direction you’re going with this album? That track was produced by Big Chuck and J-Rock at Poe Boy, and that was my first time working with them. When I first heard the beat, it was crazy. With this album I didn’t really go in the studio with a vision, like, “I want to put out these kind of records.” Sometimes if you go in the studio thinking about what the fans want to hear, it’s not gonna work. I didn’t wanna get caught up in that zone. I just wanted to go in with a free head and make records of whatever I like, whatever I love, whatever is hot. I just wanted to have a clean visual and just go in there and make music. When I did that record [“Single Again”] I really didn’t know what to expect, because I did the record before the hook was actually done. I was going back and forth trying to decide what was relevant to me right now in my life. I was trying to make it meaningful and strong and make it be about myself, not really fabricated. It’s really about me, the real deal. It kinda just came together. I was just in there humming and figured maybe that should be the hook. It’s something for the ladies. There’s a lot of single ladies, so I went in there and did it and liked it. I was like, “Maybe I should put somebody else on here and let them sing it,” and they said, “No, it sounds crazy, you should just go in there and redo the vocals and make it stronger.” I was like, “I ain’t gonna be singing, I ain’t no singer. It was kinda funny at first and then when I went in there I wanted it to come out perfect, so I put the hook together and did it. So after that record, I just went in the studio making crazy records, like all kinds of techno, sounds that were totally different from what I normally do. But when you’re in the club and you hear different kinds of music, that’s not just all Hip Hop. So for me to go in there and do a record that sounds like [techno], for Trina, it was totally different but I tried it anyway. I did a record with reggae flavor, I did my crazy ghetto fabulous trash talking record, you know, I just wanted to be able to relate to everything that’s a part of me in my career. Sometimes when I perform I’ve heard people say things like, “Trina’s soft now,” but it’s not like that. You just want to grow as an artist. I don’t want to keep coming back out again and sounding the same from the first album to the second album to the third album, so I kinda toned down a little bit. This time I went in the studio with just a crazy attitude. It’s just me doing me. It’s emotional, it’s soft, it’s raw, it’s a record. When I did [“Single Again”] I was like, “I cannot believe I just did this record.” It’s crazy but it’s real, and that’s what I wanted to bring with this album. The track is different. I wanted to challenge myself and do stuff that I’ve never done before; stretch myself. And with me making the whole transition from the [major] label to an independent, everything is like a new vibe. I have creative control and this is what I want to do, so it all worked out so great. I really never had that before. I would just go do records 50 // OZONE MAG
and there would be a producer. I’d get myself into that zone and rock with whatever they had picked out. But this time I went in there picking my choice of what I love, and it was great. I really enjoyed this particular session of studio recording for my album. At the OZONE Awards, you, Jacki-O, and K-Foxx dressed as superheroes. What was the intent behind that? Are the three of you planning to put out a group album or something? No, it wasn’t that. K-Foxx is a radio personality and she’s a beautiful woman who is doing so much stuff to try to inspire and help women. She’s doing a mixtape featuring female artists. I’m not sure who all is on the mixtape, but I know I gave her some records, Jacki-O is on there, and I believe Remy [Ma] is on there. She wanted to do this whole female vibe of, you know, trying to put all the females through and empowering us by creating a movement and being strong. There’s only a few of us and we really don’t get as much recognition as I feel we should get. I can’t speak for nobody else but I know for myself, I work extremely hard. I’m always working. Even without having an album out in two and a half years, I’m still working. I’m on the road. I’m doing shows. I’m overseas, I’m across country, so it’s still constant work for me. I feel like there’s not enough females [in the music business] and we don’t stick together. The unity is not there. So when [K-Foxx] came to me about doing the CD, I was like, “That sounds hot. I’m all in.” She wanted to do flyers and for the mixtape cover the theme was to be superheroes. I wanted to be Wonder Woman because I love Wonder Woman, and once I agreed to the idea, K-Foxx was like, “I’ll be Storm [from X-Men]” and Jacki-O wanted to be Superwoman. So we all went searching for costumes and trying to put it together to take the photo for the mixtape cover. I really had fun doing it; it was good to dress up and have a great time. So when it came time for the OZONE Awards we knew everybody was going to be there, so we were like, “Let’s just go as the superheroes.” It was about empowerment of women. I know a lot of people were like, “What are they doing?” and they didn’t really get a chance to understand the whole movement. K-Foxx’s mixtape was actually supposed to come out for the OZONE Awards weekend but it wasn’t ready and we couldn’t fall back on the idea [to dress up] because we were already ready to do it, even though the mixtape wasn’t out, the flyers and everything were done. I thought it was fun. Females in the industry are always screaming that we need to work together, but it’s never really done. As women, we have egos. We need to go on tour together like the guys and it would make us bigger. It’s so shallow and shady. There are a lot of strong women in the industry and I think there’s just not enough exposure for us. Everybody’s not getting the shine that they deserve. At one point there were rumors that you and Jacki-O had problems with each other. Was there a point where you sat down and squashed the “beef” or was it never really that serious in the first place? Whenever you’re doing something where you’re in the same situation - another female artist – people are going to make that a big issue. Personally, I never had a problem with her, and I don’t think she had a problem with me. It was people on the outskirts; people want to see us going against each other rather than staying with each other. I think sometimes you can get caught up in the hype of that. She’d never done anything to me, so I have no reason to dislike her. We never fell out, argued, or got into any type of problems. So we were like, “Why do people feel like we [have beef]? This just needs to stop, so let’s nip this in the bud.” So wherever that [rumor] started, I have no idea. It’s just a waste of energy. We ran into each other at a studio and we just talked for a long time. It wasn’t about us, it was about women trying to make it and have a career doing what you love, and how people can try to corrupt it and make you feel like there’s [beef]. It’s silly. It makes no sense whatsoever. One of the criticisms other people, like Khia, have directed at you is that you don’t write your own lyrics. Is that true? And if so, I mean, a lot of artists don’t write their own lyrics, especially R&B singers and whatnot. Do you think that makes the value of their art any less than if they were the actual writer? I don’t think so. First of all, I write my album. I’ve had writers that have written songs for me before, songs that I loved. On my first album I worked with Trick [Daddy], Rick Ross, Deuce Poppi, and some of the guys from the label [Slip N Slide]. I would come up with ideas and the’d say, “Okay, we’ll do this kind of song, go in this kind of direction,” and we’d make it pop. That does not mean absolutely anything. I’ve written the majority of all of my albums. On my fourth album I wrote every song except one. When I came into this business, it was brand-new for me. I didn’t even know how to rhyme in bars. The guys on the label would help make it happen. I’ve never said that I wrote every single song that I’ve done. I mean, who does that? Not everybody. Some people that say that they wrote all of their rhymes, well, maybe they shouldn’t have written all their rhymes and maybe they would’ve sold some records. Obviously nobody cares to hear what they’re saying. That’s funny. My thing is, I’m real about it. I came up in a camp where there are guys who
have ideas, visions, and views. They’d be like, “Look, yo, you need to do this kind of record. This is fly, this is hot. Let’s rock with this.” Fine. You help me, I’ll help you. I’ve done the majority of my own records. We helped each other and here we are today, and that’s why I am the baddest bitch. It’s about being real. It’s not that big of an issue. Do you think the majority of your fans are men or women? It kind of varies. I think guys are fans, but it’s more of a fascination with the whole celebrity thing. When I do shows there are major guy fans and I’m sure there are guys that buy my albums. But I know that with women – all women, no matter who’s album it is – are going to get involved with the album. They’re gonna listen to the album and they’re going to be at the show singing word for word. So I have guy fans but I also have female fans that listen to songs that have helped them get out of situations and helped them feel like they could be stronger. It’s kind of an equal split. What kinds of things have you been doing with your charity foundation, the Diamond Dolls? The Diamond Dolls is a foundation to help motivate girls and give them selfconfidence. I run across so many different women – girls, young girls, mature girls – and everybody has issues, no matter what it is. It could be feeling lonely in their family or feeling abandoned. Some are not as fortunate as others. Some have been molested or raped; some are runaways or got pregnant at an early age. And even with more mature women, so many of them don’t have confidence or ambition. They feel like they can’t be what they want to be, or they’re not strong enough, and that’s basically what the foundation is about. We’re not trying to dictate or change anybody’s lives or make anybody superstars, it’s just to reach out and talk to them. We try to let them know that even though they feel like we’re so different because we’re celebrities or women in the music business, I think we’re just the same. I’m the same as any other woman. I’ve been through some of the same situations. Being in and out of love, having friends that have been hurt, so many different things. You have your highs and your lows; times when you’re still depressed and times when you’re feeling at your best. I think everybody goes through that; not just regular people, or celebrities. Everybody goes through some emotional things and this is just a chance to give back and let them feel free to talk about their situations and how they can better themselves. We had a panel that involved a lot of different people, like Alonzo Mourning’s wife and a bunch of different business people and politicians to give you different views about education and how to manage money and how to take care of your business. It was amazing to see some of the questions the girls asked. In February we’re going to do the second year of the foundation which should be amazing. I’m really excited about it. Like you mentioned, a lot of girls probably think you don’t have any problems because you’re a celebrity. What’s one of your insecurities that people might be surprised to know about? I’ve always had the misconception of people being intimidated by me. People think I’m a diva or I’m bourgeois, but I’m really totally the opposite from that. I’m very regular and down-to-earth, and my insecurity is being vulnerable. I don’t like to feel hurt. I don’t care if it’s a relationship or family or friends or whoever, I take that to heart. I’m the kind of person who is very emotional and saddened by it. I think every woman goes through that. I think people see me on stage or hear me on a record and think I’m feisty and energetic, but I’m the opposite. There’s times when I’m curled up in the bed crying for like a week because I’m real sad about something that’s bothering me. I talk to my friends about issues I’m going through; I want to talk about it and express it because I don’t want to be sad and balled all up going through something by myself. I’m always the one to involve other people. Talking to the girls, they’ll ask me questions, and I’m like, “I’m no different. I’m that way too.” I get mad. I have my bad days. I have great days, but I have horrible days too. I’m like anybody else, and sometimes people just don’t see that. A lot of girls go through the pressures of being a teenager or problems with their mom when they’re at home. It’s like, “Hello, I lived with my mom before.” And I understand, because I was a teenager who wasn’t allowed to go to parties down the street. My mom would be like, “No, you cannot stay at your friend’s house over the weekend. You could stay in your own house, and that way I can watch and see what’s going on.” My friends used to be able to spend the night out and I would be so mad. But when you grow up and see the reasons why, you kind of understand. So, for me to look at these girls and see them going through the same situation, it’s amazing. I used to want to go somewhere and I’d be trying to sneak out the window and my mom would tell me she’d beat my butt. It’s funny when you see the next generation coming up doing the exact same thing. So we just have an open conversation about life and the industry and being in a relationship; being in love, being out of love, you know, just anything you go through as a woman growing up and finding out more about yourself, things that you love and things that make you happy. It’s a beautiful thing and I really enjoy it, and I can’t wait until the second annual foundation [meeting] because I know it’s going to be more intense. I know the girls are going to be there with juicy questions and everybody’s gonna talk, and it’s gonna be really nice.
Did the breakup with Lil Wayne inspire you to write “Single Again”? The song was inspired by my life, period. I am single. I’m not in a relationship and that’s just the whole swag of what’s going on with me. I’m doing me. I’m very happy and in a peaceful place, and it’s fair to say that I was not always that way. I was going through different things emotionally. When you’re in a relationship or when you get out of it, you go through that phase of being hurt. I had to come around and find myself, and being single has taught me a lot about myself, understanding my self-worth. When you’re in a relationship, you kinda devote everything to the person you’re with and you kind of slack on you. So now I am happy and single, and I wanted the song to be relative to my life. It’s just me and it’s okay. I’m single and not unhappy. I am very happily single and [the song] is about being in a good space in my life. I’m not really looking for nobody. I’m working. I don’t have time. I’m in the studio, on the road, doing shows, performing, hosting parties, doing photo shoots, [and] getting ready for the album. It’s kinda chaotic for me and I really don’t have the time to be in a situation right now. I’ve been single for a while and I’m enjoying it. Around the same time there were pictures of you kissing Lil Wayne at Miami Live when he performed “Prostitute Flange,” Superhead was out promoting her book and talking publicly about her relationship with him. Were you and him already broken up by the time she came into the picture, or was that an issue for you? It’s been a while since my relationship ended. It’s been over a year, so anything after [we broke up] has nothing to do with me and I really don’t even care about it. I don’t know her. Whatever they do, they’re grown and that’s their business and I really don’t care. The Miami Live situation was just seeing somebody and being like, you know, “Hey, I ain’t seen you in a while,” and it was a moment where everything happened so fast. It was a crazy night and it was all over. Everybody exaggerated it. It was just a moment and it was over, and that was cool. It wasn’t a big issue. It wasn’t rekindling flames and all that; it was just a happy moment and that was that. Wayne made a comment in Complex where he basically said that any woman who used to be in his world, if she says she’s happy without him, she’s lying. I don’t know nothing about that. I am very happy. I’m happy with myself, and I think that’s the important thing. It’s not even because of a relationship. I found happiness within myself, and it’s easy to make somebody else happy when you’re in somebody else’s world. But when you’re not in that situation, the challenging part is to make yourself happy again. For me, it took awhile. It took a lot of energy; a lot of hurt and pain. I’m no different from nobody else as a person. I had to deal with my own issues, insecurities, and emotions, and to overcome it, I think that’s when you become happy with yourself. I know for a fact I am extremely happy, not because of the situation I’m in or out of, just because I am at peace with myself and when I wake up every day I feel blessed. I have a career, and when I’m not performing or doing an event I’m with my family, and it’s just a moment of happiness and peace. There are so many people in the world that have major problems, and I’m fortunate to be okay and be happy. I’m so thankful for that. I don’t have a reason to be unhappy because I can wake up every single morning and breathe life. I am very happy, happily single again. You look like you’ve lost a lot of weight recently. Do you have a workout routine? I hate to work out, honestly. I don’t like working out. I just want to be toned, but I can’t go for more than a few days [working out]. I hate trying to get over the soreness. I have a trainer, so I will work out like three times a week. I don’t want to be real buff or cut up, I just want to stay proportioned and toned. I did a liquid cleansing diet for two weeks, and that helped a lot. It was something I challenged myself to do because I’d heard so much about it and I wanted to see if it really worked. I’m the type of person who hates to drink water. This liquid cleanser thing is almost like unsweetened lemonade, so that’s the closest thing to getting me to drink water. But that no-eating thing, I don’t know about that. It drove me crazy for awhile. It’s kinda mind over matter. Once I got into the whole work-out thing, I was okay with it. I’m not dieting right now. It’s about eating the right stuff. I try not to eat late at night and just eat healthier than before. I try not to eat too many Krispy Kreme doughnuts and eat stuff that’s healthy. It’s hard when you’re on the road travelling and eating a lot of stuff from fast food restaurants and hotel room service, and I’m not the one to go downstairs to the gym to do cardio. I just try to eat decent and work out every now and then. What’s the name of your album? The album is called Still The Baddest and it comes out April 1st. Of course the first single is “Single Again.” The album is crazy. I’ve got features like Rick Ross, Missy Elliott, Mya, Keyshia Cole, just to name some, and I’ve got producers like Jim Jonsin, Scott Storch, J Rock, Big Chuck, and Young Yonnie. It’s a great album and I know the fans are going to love it. I want my fans to see the growth. It’s been almost three years since I had an album out. I’ve got the hood records, the raw records, the raunchy records, sexy records, mature records, you know, you can see where my mind has elevated. I had a great time working in the studio and I’m just so excited for the album to come out. I just can’t wait. I’m going on tour too, so I’m really excited about that; I’m going to be all over the world. It’s going to be a beautiful 2008 for me. I am really happy. // OZONE MAG // 51
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It’s been over two years since Cleveland native Cheri Dennis emphatically sang “I Love You” to the world. Though an album never followed, Cheri left an indelible mark on music, amassing a large fan-base along the way. And while her relationship with her label hasn’t always been a Portrait of Love, Bad Boy’s long tenured songbird is finally prepping for her debut release. On In and Out of Love Cheri is displaying her true emotions and life lessons in an offering complete with diverse music and a positive outlook. What’s going on with you album? My album is called In and Out of Love and it is an album about emotions and relationships, but it is not an album that makes you want to jump off a bridge; it still feels good. I think we got a lot of diverse music on it. I think we got something for everybody on there. It was never my objective to make pop records, but I do have a couple pop records on the album. I do have soul records, I do have street R&B records, but they all are cohesive; I don’t think that I’m all over the place with it and I’m just really excited that I finally get to have a body of work that people can listen to. So, I hope you don’t have too many male-bashing songs on the album. (laughs) You mean the man-bashing, “you hurt me all the time” records? Naw, I think if you’re a true artist a lot of the music you make its about where you are in your life at that moment, and I’m not gonna say you’ll never get those type of male-bashing records at some point, because that might be something that I’m going through at some point in life, but I love men. I don’t think all men are dogs. I don’t think all men are the same. I think you need to base everyone on individual merit, so on my records when I talk about being out of love, it’s just certain things that you go through in relationships. It’s not from an hateful place, and it’s not like I’m jaded because I’ve been in a few bad relationships. I just speak on the things that go down in relationships. A true artist makes music that’s reflective of where you are in your life. You created a pretty unique style that’s characteristic of Cheri Dennis. How have you gone about doing that? I don’t try to set myself apart, I just make music. I go in and create from my soul and I guess it’s partly because of my personality, and partially just cause I don’t go in trying to make music like anybody else. I hate going in and saying, “This is my radio record,” or, “This is my club record.” I don’t go in making those kinds of records, I just go in and surprisingly the [records] come out with a mind of their own. A lot of people may not know too much about your past. I know you’re originally from Cleveland, but how exactly did you get involved in music? I sang in the church choir very early on, and then I progressed to the school choir, and then I was in a singing group when I was a teenager. It was five girls, five different personalities; groups don’t always last long, especially not with chicks. But that experience definitely taught me a lot; it definitely prepared me for my professional career, and I don’t regret it at all, but I had exhausted the whole music scene in Cleveland and I needed to go somewhere where there was a major music market. So I decided to move to New York and
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pursued getting a deal. How exactly did you get your deal at Bad Boy? I’m signed to a production deal to a company called Cozi Music, spearheaded by Jimmy Cozier. He had a friend who worked at Bad Boy who invited Puffy and Kim Porter to a party, and I sang—I kind of freestyled, like ad-libbed over the music that was playing and that’s how the interest got sparked in me getting my deal. Getting my deal was fairly easy, you know—right place, right time-but getting it to the point where you see it at now, packaged, pressed, and in stores, that has been journey for me. But it’s a journey that I don’t regret at all because I’ve learned so much and it’s made me a stronger, better person, and a stronger, better artist. You had the “I Love You” single that did pretty good a few years back, and I know you had to be disappointed that it’s taken so long for you to get your project out. I was frustrated at the time because I was ready to come out, but looking back in hindsight, my journey has been so long that I think that the album needed revamping and refreshing. A lot of the records were old; they weren’t bad, but they were just dated. Also I had to restructure my situation; I have new management now, so this last year has been about me getting my business in order. So looking back, I’m glad that I waited, and I’m happier with the album this time around. How is it working with Bad Boy? I know you probably can’t say anything bad about your label, but— Hold on, you don’t know what I can say. Boy, let me tell you. (laughs) No, it’s up and down; it’s a job. I’m not going to sit here and say that ‘cause I’m signed to Bad Boy everything is peaches and cream, and shit is always sweet, because it’s not. It’s a job for me, and there are days when I wake up and I don’t want to be bothered. There are days when I wake up completely frustrated with a decision that’s been made about my career: maybe this song I don’t like, or maybe this look I don’t like, maybe this show they feel is important I need to do, and I may feel like, “Why do I need to do that show?” It’s up and down, its not always peaceful, and it’s not always a smooth ride, but on the flipside of that I have to thank Bad Boy because they’re giving me an outlet to get my music out to people. I have to be grateful for that, so even with all the stress and tension that comes with it sometimes, there’s still love there because I’m being given an opportunity of a lifetime. // - Eric Perrin
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reg Street is a cornerstone in the southern Rap industry. His DJ credentials at Atlanta’s V-103 and the annual Greg Street Car Show are well acclaimed, but Street has years of history beneath the surface of many well known labels. His forthcoming album on Interscope Records features a select combination of renowned artists and fresh faces. For people who might not be familiar with Greg Street, can you explain what it is you do aside from just being a DJ? From 6-10 PM I do a radio show in Atlanta at V103, one of the #1 radio stations in the country, one of the biggest radio stations in the country, check Arbitron. Outside of that, I do a music car show tour. I do a lot of sneaker events with some of the different brands like Nike and Adidas. I’ve worked with a lot of artists and labels over the years. Tell me about the album you have coming out through Interscope. Is it a compilation or a mixtape? How would you explain it? It’s a mixtape. The album is gonna be crazy. There’s like 13 or 14 songs on the album. Most mixtapes have 25 or 35 songs on it and a lot of the songs are throwaway tracks. This album is crazy solid from song to song. Almost every song on the album is a single. I played the album for the staff and they went crazy over the song selection. So it’s not throwaway tracks, it’s more like specific songs you put together? Some of them the groups put together themselves. That’s what makes it more like a mixtape. I’m trying to keep it in the DJ element, not where it’s like I’m trying to make these records and be a producer, even though I do some production and have song ideas. I’m taking songs from these artists and making it like Dr. Dre’s Chronic version for the South. That’s how it’s gonna lay out with the skits but instead of me being a producer like Dre, I’ma be a DJ and put it together where it makes sense. What records on there should we look out for? B.O.B. “Haters Everywhere.” I got a Nappy Roots record called “Good Day” that’s crazy. It’s guaranteed to bring Nappy Roots back hard. Jody Breeze, Jazze Pha, and Twista. Big Boi and Koncrete “What’s That Smell On Your Shirt.” The controversial record from Riskay called “Smell Yo Dick.” Young Buck and the Outlawz. Andre 3000 has a song by himself. Rich Boy. The girl [group] Mahogany has got a song called “DJ” featuring Game. Blood Raw featuring Young Buck. Slick Pulla featuring Young Jeezy. Ludacris featuring Small World. Plies, Rick Ross, Akon. 50 Cent is doing the intro to the album. It’s just stupid. Kardinal Official with Rock City made an international-world remix of Rick Ross’ “Cross That Line.” When does the album come out? We pushed the date back to like March or April to really get it all set up. We’re probably going to have like a 5 pack of songs drop in February then the official single “Good Day” with Nappy Roots is gonna drop with a video. My plan
is to have a video with every song on the album so inside the album is gonna be a mix DVD with one of the retailers like Best Buy. I’ll be DJing the videos. So you can find the videos on YouTube as well? Yeah, some of ‘em will be on YouTube, some of ‘em won’t. You’ll have to get ‘em when the album comes out. The whole DVD concept is designed for the guys when they pull their cars out in the spring and summer, cars with the systems and TVs. They can listen to the album and have the video visual playing on the screen at the same time. You mentioned that you have some things you want to get off your chest. What are some other things you want to talk about in this interview? Just about the whole South. We got a lot of DJs and a lot of DJ Crews. A lot of people get it misunderstood when it comes to the difference in breaking records and supporting records. A lot of people support records but when you look at a lot of DJs’ careers and what they’ve done and where they’ve been since they’ve been in the game, ask them how many artists they’ve broken. It’s not nothing personal against anybody. It’s not like calling names ‘cause a lot of DJs are friends of mine. I’m friends with most DJs and don’t have no problem with nobody, but a lot of people support records but don’t jump out and be that one person that really leads it. When you start calling out DJ’s names, what records can you really identify them with being behind? Who broke that record? I was talking to an artist the other night and they were like, “You were the first person behind my music, and a lot of cities I go to a lot of people claim to have broke my record.” I think it’s crazy when a DJ hears about a record that’s already big in another city and they support the record in their market, but that’s not really breaking a record. If an artist in your market comes to you and you think the record is hot and you support it, then you’re breaking the record. A lot of people feel like if they hear a record from a DJ or radio station that’s playing it in another city and it starts to blow up, then they’re breaking the record. There’s nothing wrong with that ‘cause everybody has to start somewhere. I’ve never been into the hype of getting in magazines or telling people what I’ve done but with the way the industry’s going right now if you don’t let the people know what you do and what you’re a part of, you don’t get credit for it. They look at it like you don’t have a movement. Yeah you a DJ on the radio, but what else do you do? Is there anything else you’d like to add? I’m doing something creative with Interscope that’s gonna change the mixtape game. The mixtape before the mixtape, part two, is called 6 O’Clock Worldwide, and we’re putting out a limited edition of 10,000 copies. It drops March 11th to the streets and select stores. It’s gonna be Christmas in March on the bootleg circuit. Then the Interscope/Mixtaperecordings project will drop in May: Greg Street’s Street Certified. People that got new music, send it to Myspace.com/DJGregStreet or my assistant at acemp3@gmail.com. // Words by Julia Beverly // Photos by Drexina Photography OZONE MAG // 53
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After label politics led their collaborator Jermaine Dupri to depart for Def Jam, the Atlanta foursome is determined to prove they can make hits on their own. Words by Julia Beverly // Photos by Ray Tamarra
E A L R A P There were so many groups that came out of Atlanta around the same time, like Franchize, D4L, and Crime Mob, do you think the country has grasped who you are? What do you want people to know about Dem Franchize Boyz? I really think that out of all the groups that came out of Atlanta, people who are really into Hip Hop know us. A lot of the people who don’t know us are people who don’t really listen to Southern rap music. If you’re a fan of Southern music then you know the Franchize Boyz, cause we started a whole genre of music just being ourselves. Are you sticking with the snap-music formula like your first album, or going in a different direction? On our first album with JD, really, the only snap track we had on there was “Lean Wit’ It, Rock Wit’ It.” But because that song was such a big record, a lot of people kinda put us in that category because we’re the pioneers of that music. We’re the pioneers of snap music, so of course whenever somebody says “snap music” they’re gonna think of us because we’re the ones that introduced it to everybody. But we really ain’t did too many snap records. We got mislabeled as a “snap” group. Snap music was created on the West side of Atlanta; Bankhead. We’re from there. We did that in the club to have fun, but that’s not really us as artists. We do different kinds of music. We interviewed Shawty Lo not too long ago and he was saying that a lot of artists who rep Bankhead aren’t necessarily from Bankhead. Do you think that’s true? I think all the mainstream artists that rep Bankhead are from Bankhead, or they stayed on Bankhead, or have some kinda previous history on Bankhead. But it’s a lot of artists that stay in Decatur or places like that, and they say they’re from Atlanta but really Atlanta is Fulton County. How does Bankhead compare to the rest of Atlanta? We’re like our own city inside of Atlanta. Bankhead sets our own trends. I see you’ve got a couple new pieces. Well, the “DFB” piece, that’s Dem Franchize Boyz and that’s our logo. Then the “10 Entertainment,” that’s our record label that me and Buddie have, and the White Tee Gang is my production company. I’m writing movies now too. I just wrote a movie called White Tee Gang and we’re supposed to be locking a deal down with Focus Films for like $12 million. Of course I wanted to do the “White Tee” piece to take it all the way back to when we got started; we always reminisce on where we come from. What do you think is gonna be the next big record on this album? The new single is called “Talkin’ Out The Side Of Your Neck.” There’s a real popular song in the Sotuth that all the black college bands play, so we kinda took that band style and took the concept and flipped it on some everydayliving type shit based on the Franchize Boyz. Everybody’s always saying, “The Franchize Boyz ain’t comin’ back out, they ain’t gon’ sell no records. They ain’t gon’ put out no record without Jermaine. They can’t rap.” So we took that and put it on a record. When we first put it out a lot of people were sleeping on it, because they stereotyped us as “snap music,” but really, that’s not what we do. I think the more people see and hear [“Talkin’ Out The Side Of Your Neck”], they’ll catch onto it. I think it’ll be another real big record for us. Weren’t you on trial for murder at one point? What’s the story behind that situation? When I had got locked up for the murder charge, it really wasn’t nothin’ like that. The marijuana charge, it wasn’t nothin’. We were just in the studio puttin’ in work and [the police] came and found a little weed and a little cash and they just blew it out of proportion. Nobody else from the Franchize Boyz was int eh studio or had nothing to do with it, but you know how the media is, so they took it and blew it out of proportion. But that’s being taken care of right now, so everything’s good. I’m back on the road, traveling, and doing me. And what about the murder case? I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and being who I am- I mean, I’m the only person [there] that everybody knew. Everybody kept saying, “Parlae, Parlae, Parlae.” But in the murder case, they ain’t even indict me. They ain’t got no witnesses or no evidence or nothing like that. It was just that everybody knew me, and when shit started going crazy they just named me. You look like you’ve been eating good. Yeah, I’ve been eating good. I had a little boy, but then I got in the gym and
started runnin’ again. My manager Chico got me in the gym and I started running a lot and pumpin’ some iron. I’m trying to slim down. I ain’t trying to put on too much muscle, so I’ve just been doing a lot of cardiovascular exercises. What do you think is your role in Dem Franchize Boyz? I’m the point guard. The quarterback. I feel like I’m the point man. I make sure that everybody on the team is good. I make sure all the linemen are down on the line. I make sure all the receivers know their routes. I make sure the running back is on cue. I also produce; I produced the “Lean Wit’ It, Rock Wit’ It” record. Pimpin’ produces also. I do a little bit of everything. I did like three beats on this album. Do you produce for other artists also? Yeah, everybody I fuck with, I’m gon’ mess with them. I’m gonna go the Mannie Fresh route. All the artists I’ve got on 10 Entertainment, all the hot, hot tracks I make, I’m tryin’ to give it to them and get a hit and hopefully get another label deal in the future. I’m going to try to create another Franchize. Who are the artists on your label? if you’re familiar with the original version of “I Think They Like Me,” we had an artist on their named Young Nut. He was also on the first verse of “Lean Wit’ It, Rock Wit’ It.” He’s on the label, and my little brother Junior Junior is on the label. Also, we’ve got Jay Spitter, Joe Blow, Dosha, and an artist from Queensbridge named City Black. I’ve also got an artist from Memphis named Calico Jones. I’m just tryin’ to get it poppin’. Is there anything else you want to talk about? The album is in stores April 1st, Point of No Return. The new single out right now is “Talkin’ Out The Side Of Your Neck.” So act like you know, don’t act like you’re slow. OZONE MAG // 55
PIMPIN’ know if they’re gonna keep ‘em yet, but it’s been a lot of them. Did the situation with Jermaine Dupri leaving Virgin Records leave y’all in a bad position? Not really. For those that don’t know, I made the track for “White Tee.” Parlae did the track for “Lean Wit’ It, Rock Wit’ It,” and I did “Oh, I Think Dey Like Me” too. We made all of our hits. Jermaine left Virgin and went over to Def Jam, and that whole year we were trying to negotiate and he was trying to take us over to Def Jam, but it didn’t work out. We ended up staying at Virgin. We’re still cool but his contract at Def Jam [says that] he can only work with Def Jam artists. What does the album title mean to you? Point Of No Return means that right now we’re at the peak of our career and it’s no turning back. It’d be a little crazy if you just roll up to a McDonalds or Burger King and see us cooking burgers. We’re at the point of no return so we’re gon’ have to make it do what it do. Worst case scenario, what would you do if the music thing didn’t work out for you? Shit, I’m gon’ be back in the streets. But that’s why I’m setting up business ventures. I’ve got a shoe store right now on Jonesboro Road [in Atlanta] and my production company is doing pretty good, so I’m gonna try to keep it moving when this rap game is over with. What kind of shoes do you sell at your store? Custom shoes, something like I’ve got on right now. (points to his feet) Basically, it’s the “you ain’t got these” that we sell. Everything you see us wearing in the videos, you can go right to the store and get it. The store is called Sportz Center and it’s on Jonesboro Road right in front of South Lake Mall. Isn’t it hard to maintain a retail store when you’re on the road all the time? Naw, cause I have a silent partner. She handles everything while I’m gone. They send me all the inventory on my iPhone so I can check it, call ‘em back, tell ‘em what I want, and they ship it in and ship it out. We’ve got the internet camera [in the store], so I can always go on the internet and see what’s going on and then pick up the phone to call them like, “Tuck your shirt in.” (laughs)
What have Dem Franchize Boyz been working on during this trip to New York? We’ve just been getting ready to come back out. We’ve been taking a lot of pictures for a lot of different magazines and doing radio spots, and we’ve got a show today for a school. Yesterday we got a couple awards from the school for our community service. Basically, we’ve been promoting. What kind of community service have you been doing? Just going to different schools and hollering at the kids. We tell them a positive message: stay in school, do your homework, stuff like that. We’ve been doing this in the A, too. Elementary schools, high schools, middle schools, wherever. It doesn’t make headlines when rappers do community service, though. Naw, they don’t care about nothing like that. They just like it when you get locked up; that’s when they really promote you. They don’t care about the good [stuff]. Some people do, but some people don’t. I love the kids, you know? I’ll continue doing it. Why did you name yourself Pimpin’? I’m not pimpin’ women, but I’m pimpin’ this game. I’m pimpin’ these beats that I sell; these verses. I put them on the track and that brings me money back. Plus, my older brother’s name is Pimpin’, so everybody in the hood used to call me Lil’ Pimpin’. I ain’t little no more, so it’s just Pimpin’. Do you and Parlae do most of the beats for the group? Yeah, but on this album I’ve been so busy working with other artists I didn’t get any beats on the album. Parlae’s got like two, but I’ve got some songs coming up. I’ve been working with [Yung] Joc. I’ve got some tracks with some of our other artists, like Joe Blow and Young Nut, and I submitted a couple of tracks to some other artists. I don’t want to say any names because I don’t
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What’s the best song on the album, in your opinion? Well, I’d say “Roll Your Arms,” which is another dance song. We had a disagreement of how we should present ourselves to the public. I think we should still come out on that snap shit, and right now “Roll Your Arms” is catching a big movement. You can go on YouTube, type in “Roll Your Arms,” and you’ll see the video that we shot for it. What position do you play in the group? I’m the most business-minded. If I see a glitch in the matrix, I’m the one that’s gon’ try to straighten it out. I understand it a little bit more so I’m more business-like about it. I’m the one on the paperwork. They might not look at the paperwork, but I do, and I’m like, “Hold up!” Then I’ll bring it to their attention, like, “This shit here ain’t right.” I’m into the business side and the production aspect. Where do you think you got your business mind from? Did you go to college or is something you’ve always been into? Me, Parlae, and Buddie went to college. I stayed a semester and then dipped. I’m not the school type, but this mentality comes from hanging around older people. All my friends are older than me, like 30 or 40. It just comes from hearing their experiences. I like to keep my ears open and just listen, and I’ve learned a lot. So the album comes out on April 1st? Yep, April Fool’s Day, y’all haters. Real talk. Is there anything else you want to say to the haters? Man, y’all can keep hating me, but you need to hate with a pair of my shoes on your feet. So go holla at your boy at the Sportz Center right there on Jonesboro Road. You can go to myspace.com/sportzcenter1 or call 770-9612136.
N’ BUDDIE First off, you know, you got a not-too-positive review in our last sex issue’s Groupie Confessions. Do you want to respond to that? There was a little statement made about me and I can’t remember the situation so I really can’t make a response, but if it would’ve happened like that, obviously it wasn’t what you thought it was. I was ready to get mine (laughs) so you shoulda got yours, baby. All that other shit, I don’t know about. But the ladies still love me, so it’s no issue. It don’t bother me, baby. I’m still getting mine on a day-to-day basis, so it’s nothin’. Parlae mentioned that he does some of the production, along with Pimpin’. What do you bring to the group musically? I do a lot of the concepts. I came up with the concept to “White Tee” and “Talkin’ Out The Side Of Your Neck”; a lot of the hooks. I ghostwrite for a lot of the artists on our label [10 Entertainment] that I have with Parlae. That’s basically what I do. I stepped into the music game [because of] Parlae. Parlae was like, “You know how to write poetry and all that shit, so look here, you finna rap. We gon’ get this right.” And that’s how I got here. So you started out by writing poetry? Yeah, I was writing poetry in high school just for the ladies. I’d be like, “Look, baby. Read this. Tell me what you think about that.” (laughs) Are you the ladies’ man of the group? Well, you could say that. I’m known as Casanova, shawty, know what I’m sayin’? All my boys like ladies. We all like the females, I just take advantage. What do you think you’d be doing if you hadn’t gotten into the rap game? Whether you know it or not, I [used to] throw the pill like Broadway Joe. If you listen to Fabo on “Geeked Up,” he says, “Got friends like Buddie.” That’s literally me, Buddie. He’s talkin’ about me. That’s my pa’tna. Shouts out to Fabo; we’re from the same hood. I ain’t the one to brag about negativity, but I was there [selling pills]. I’m for the community. I looked out for the kids throughout my hood and now I just continue to do what I’m doing. Fabo’s a wild dude. Did you ever get high off your own supply? Naw, I stay away from that. That’s not my style. I don’t do nothing but smoke kush; that’s it. I just stay high. What are your thoughts on the new album, and how would you categorize it? Parlae said he felt that the group has been mislabeled as a snap act.
Yeah, folks kinda put us in the category of just being “snap artists,” and it felt like we couldn’t step out of that. The dance to “Lean Wit’ It, Rock Wit’ It” was being done in the first “White Tee” video, whether you know it or not. If you listen to the lyrics of that song, if you really pay attention, when a nigga’s in the kitchen doing what he’s doing you’ve got to lean that thing to rock it up. Understand? But JD is a marketing mastermind so he took it in a different direction and that’s what he came up with as far as the snap movement. So on this new album, we’re showing the sound of growth. We stepped outside of the box. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve still got the dance tracks kids can dance to. We’re still gonna please the majority of our fans-the kids- but we’re also showing our growth and versatility. We can rap about almost anything and we can rap on just about any track, whether it’s up North, down South, hyphy, Midwest, however you give it to us. How did you come up with the concept for “Talkin’ Out The Side Of Your Neck”? I came up with the concept for “Talkin’ Out The Side Of Your Neck” at a football game. I was just kickin’ it. Like that [Groupie Confessions] article we were just talkin’ about, she was talkin’ out the side of her neck. She wasn’t talkin’ about no money, so I ain’t tryin’ to hear that conversation. So we were at the game just kickin’ it and the band just started playing the beat. I was supposed to be enjoying the football game but I was still working, so I took heed. I was listening to the beat the band was playing and I liked it, so I just came up with the hook while I was at the game. As soon as I left the game I shot right to the studio and dropped the hook. It took me a minute to put my verse on there, so that’s why I’m last. There have been a lot of big ringtone songs and dance songs lately. Since you’re the hook man, have you ever heard a song and been like, “Damn, I wish I had thought of that first?” I wouldn’t say that, because I’ma keep it one hundred. I’d congratulate a brotha. I ain’t gon’ take something from him, I ain’t gon’ wish that was me. I’m just gon’ do me and try to make my situation better. But the best dance song I’ve heard lately was Soulja Boy with the “Youuuuuuuuuuu!!” (laughs) Nobody was expecting that to do what it did, but right now, he’s doing what he’s doing. What are some of the other song concepts you came up with for this album? “Mr. Make You Feel Good.” I make a lot of ladies feel good, even though the groupie said what she said, hey, ain’t no telling. I wonder where she’s from, though. Cause I’ve been around the world and from state to state, so it’s hard to keep up wit’ [the groupies]. If you ain’t important, baby, I don’t even know you. Was there a particular situation that inspired “Mr. Make You Feel Good”? We were in the studio with Mannie and having a conversation with a couple of females that were there with us. The conversation was just flowing and folks were just throwing words out. Mannie was like, “Okay, you make ‘em feel good. Aiight, whatever.” So we took it to another level and Mannie went and did the hook. To me, it brought that old 1996 Cash Money Hot Boyz feel to the album. What do you think is unique about Dem Franchize Boyz as compared to other rap groups? Regardless of what people say about us or think about us, we still gon’ be us. We don’t let nobody change our mind. A lot of niggas say they’re hood and say they’re from the projects, but we’re really there. We came from the hood so we’re not gonna get rich and switch; oh, no. That’s not in our lifestyle. We’re still in the hood from day-to-day, dolo, solo. I’m there by myself on Bankhead. We just stay loyal to each other and put this DFB thing first, and that’s what makes us successful. Who’s idea was it to title the album Point Of No Return? Jizzal Man and Parlae were trying to figure out [the album title]. I left it up to them. I stepped away from it because we always gon’ have disagreements. I told them, “Whatever y’all choose, we gon’ roll with it.” They came up with Point of No Return and I started thinking about what it could mean, due to the situation with our transition and JD leaving Virgin [Records] and folks saying we weren’t gonna come out no more because we were nothing without JD. So the Point Of No Return means that we see what they want, so why would we stop? We understand what we’ve gotta do. We know it’s a business, so we’re gon’ keep pushing. OZONE MAG // 57
JIZZAL MAN venture off into that. I’ve been doing my little thing with cars. I like cars; I’ve been playing with race cars and stuff. I’ve been breeding pitbulls, too. Not like Michael Vick, I hope? Naw, like Big Boi from Outkast. (laughs) Naw, not no Mike Vick type of situation. So I’m just working, trying to keep it going. What’s your role in the group as far as the music aspect? I’ve been rapping the longest out of the group, so I’m more experienced. I’m like the veteran of the group. I bring a lot of experience, knowledge, and skill. The name of the album, Point of No Return, was partially your idea? Exactly. Actually, it was my idea. We’ve been through some little changes as far as Jermaine leaving and firing our old manager, stuff like that, and I was like, “Damn, we done seen everything in the industry. We’ve seen it all, experienced it all, seen a lot. Can’t nothing else happen. We can go forward, or we can go backward.” Right now we’re at our peak, and we feel like there ain’t no turning back. We’re at the point of no return. In the current climate of the industry, there’s not too many people selling records. Do you feel like it’s a challenge for you to get people to go out and buy the whole album instead of just downloading the hot single? I don’t think that’s a challenge for us as far as our records selling, because we get out and touch people while the other artists selling records don’t. They’ve gotten lazy. They won’t get out there and do that handwork; that ground work. I think it’s a challenge for us in another way, because people don’t think we’re gonna move units like we did because Jermaine [Dupri] is no longer involved in our situation. I do feel like that’s a challenge, because we’ve got something to prove. How do you feel the situation with Jermaine is going to affect the group, or does it not affect you at all? We’re still cool. We ain’t tryin’ to cut each other’s heads off or nothing like that. The relationship is still there. He’s just over there [at Def Jam] working, and we’re over here still working too. It don’t really affect us. Is he featured on the album, or who did y’all work with? No, Jermaine is not featured on the album. We got a gang of people on the album – T-Pain, Mannie Fresh, Lil Wayne, Young Nut – they know him from “Lean Wit’ It, Rock Wit’ It.” It’s a gang of people on there – big producers, young producers, unheard-of producers. Nitti, Jazze Pha, Maestro. The album touches everywhere. We’re very confident in this album, that’s why I’m tellin’ everybody to go get this on April 1st. Do you have a personal favorite record? Yessir. My favorite song is called the “Killers and the Dealers” because that’s who I do it for. I do it for the killers and the dealers – that’s who I do it for. What’s up with D4L and Dem Franchize Boyz? Didn’t y’all have some friction at one point? Ain’t nothin’ up with us, man. We doin’ us, they doin’ them. It is what it is. That was a publicity stunt for them, because it wasn’t never really no beef there. It was mostly DJs and people around them and people around us just hyping it up. That’s all it was. What have you been working on since the last album? I’ve been working on my independent record company Gutter Entertainment. That’s the charm I’m sporting today. I’ve been working on my other artists and practicing on my acting skills. Parlae writes movies now, so we’re gonna
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What’s your favorite part of being an artist, and what’s your least favorite part of being an artist? My favorite part of being an artist is the money. The money, that’s what I’m in it for. And what I don’t like about it is a lot of the stuff that comes with it. You have to over-protect your family. A lot of times I don’t like the attention. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Shout out to TV Johnny for these jewels that I’m rocking, and Paul Wall down in Houston, Texas. Holla at ya boys, and everybody out there who’s been fucking with us. April 1st is when it happens again. //
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The love of Hip Hop comes in many forms, not just music. Here, in our first annual Illustration Issue, meet some artists who display their love for the art form through paintings and drawings and the inspiration behind their work. Compiled by Tene Gooden & Julia Beverly No other reproduction or use of this artwork is permitted without written permission. All artwork is copywritten by the respective artists. Artists, if you would like your painting, drawing, or illustration to be considered for the next Illustration feature, send samples of your work to jb@ozonemag.com
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Illustration by: J. Allen Contact: myspace.com/jamsharp or 570-704-6147 Size of Original Piece: 8” x 10” Medium: Acrylic Paint Influence: “I am [incarcerated] in a similar situation as C-Murder was, and I am trying to come up like he did.” Favorite C-Murder Song: “Down 4 My Niggaz”
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Illustration by: Miami-Kaos, CEO of Hardcore Design Contact: myspace.com/miamikaos Size of Original Piece: 14” x 14” Medium: Pencils, Copy Markers, Illustrator, Photoshop, & Z-Brush Influence: “I was moved by T.I.’s [legal] situation as well as his influence on the Hip Hop culture. I look for subjects that make a huge impact on not just Hip Hop but pop culture as well.” Favorite T.I. Lyric: “I did it non-stop, now see how these niggas try to copy me? / I made it from the bottom to the top, where I oughta be / Who do it this good, and do it this fresh? / No matter what I do, you know I do it to death.” - from “Big Things Poppin’ (Do It)” OZONE MAG // 63
Illustration by: Goldi Gold Contact: myspace.com/goldigold or 34leadjoint@gmail.com Size of Original Piece: 11” x 14” Medium: Pencil & Paper, Adobe Illustrator
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Inspiration: “[Rick Ross] is a marketing beast. In any field of work, you’ve got to respect a brother or sister’s grind and work ethic.” Favorite Rick Ross lyric: “Everyday I’m hustlin’.” - from “Hustlin’”
Title “The Pimp” Artist: Ron Mc Contact: www.backyardonline.com Size of Original Piece: 8.5” x 11” Medium: Pencil on Paper Inspiration: “Pimp C represented Hip Hop’s Southern legacy. His style, lyrics that bounced and weaved with precision and ease, gave birth to how emcees in the dirty ride the track. He helped introduce the term “trill” and defined the term through his actions.” Favorite Pimp C lyric: “When it’s real you can’t control what it do to ya” from Xxzotic’s “Caught Up” featuring Pimp C
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Illustration by: Craig “The Flux” Singleton Contact: myspace.com/craigthefluxsingleton or binkis1@comcast.net Size of Original Piece: 8.5” x 11” Medium: Pencil, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
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Inspiration: “Scarface is an O.G. in this game and has been reppin’ since the early years. In my opinion, he is iller lyrically now than before. I just wanted to give him some respect as a true Hip Hop artist.” Favorite Scarface Songs: “Who Do You Believe In” and “Suicide Note”
Illustration by: Edwin Ray McSwine Contact: ERM324@aol.com Size of Original Piece: 12” x 16” Medium: Mixed Media on Paper
Inspiration: “Juvenile always had that rough and raw voice with a Southern twang. I got ahold of his first joint, “Bounce For The Juvenile,” but I became more of a fan after “Ha.” I did this image a few years ago as a college class assignment. I met Juvenile in the Nashville area and showed him the original painting and he dug it. Juvy complimented me on my use of color, and said that he drew a lot as a child.” Favorite Juvenile album: 400 Degreez OZONE MAG // 67
(above) Title: “Entrepreneur” Illustration by: Justyn Farano Contact: www.sportsartillustrated.com or 813-810-2505 or justyn@sportsartillustrated.com Size of Original Piece: 40” x 56” Medium: Oil on Canvas Inspiration: “The hustle and struggle of making on your own can be interpreted differently by each of us.” Favorite 50 Cent song: “This Is How We Do”
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(below) Title: “Andre 3000” Illustration by: Justyn Farano Contact: www.sportsartillustrated.com or 813-810-2505 or justyn@sportsartillustrated.com Size of Original Piece: 24” x 40” Medium: Oil on Canvas Inspiration: “Careful attention to detail and making the background flow with Andre in the foreground were important factors in creating this piece.” Favorite Outkast song: “Sorry Mrs. Jackson”
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(above) Title: “Da Carter” Illustration by: Reginald Cornett a.k.a. Redd da Vulture Contact: Keith at 832-885-3093 or lilkey8677@yahoo.com Size of Original Piece: 24” x 18” Medium: Oil Painting
Other work by this artist includes the UGK piece shown above (Photo: InDMix.com) and the Baby & Lil Wayne piece shown at right (artist is pictured at right in the red shirt along with his management)
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Title: “Marley” Illustration by: Reginald Cornett a.k.a. Redd da Vulture Contact: Keith at 832-885-3093 or lilkey8677@yahoo.com Medium: Oil Painting Inspiration: “Just a tribute to one of our greatest revolutionaries. The blunt represents his thoughts of unity and the color scheme represents his passing.”
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“Would You Mind.” His desire to practice safe sex on the record will make all the parents proud who ignored the advice during their day. 4. Yo Gotti ft Pleasure P / Let’s Vibe - Inevitable Entertainment/TVT Contact: Grip - 901.361.6993 Yo Gotti and Pleasure P link up to update LL Cool J’s “I Need Love.” This song does all the hard work for the playas so if you still need to find love by the end of this tune, you have no game at all – “and that’s real.” 5. 2 Pistols ft T-Pain / She Got It – Universal Republic Contact: Andre Grell - 212.841.5100 With J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League on the beat and T-Pain on the hook, it would be very difficult for 2 Pistols not to have a great record. Thankfully, he pulls his own weight to create a record worth repeating. 6. Rock City / Somebody Lying - Kon Live Contact: Parrish - 678.343.8897 Rock City is one of those groups on the cusp of superstardom. With “Somebody Lying” they expose the fraudulent studio gangsters while making a fun record to head bob to. 7. Yung Ralph / Look Like Money – Universal Republic Contact: Andre Grell - 212.841.5100 “Look Like Money” is a club record that will immediately make you bop on the dance floor. Whether you look like money or not, playing this tune will make you have a good time free of charge. 8. Wes Fif / Like Me – DME Contact: DME Offices – 407.575.6085 O-town’s finest, Wes Fif describes why he is the flyest of them all on this song. The production on “Like Me” will greatly expose any car speakers whose bass bins can’t handle the vibe.
TJ’s DJ’s 4th Q 2007 Tastemakers Xclusive CD Reviews By Keith “1st Prophet” Kennedy – keith@tjsdjs.com
9. Lil Meta ft Lil Boosie & Young Capone / I’m That Dude – DBT Entertainment Contact: Lil Meta - 561.685.2808 With a bangin’ Boosie verse and Young Capone riding shotgun, Lil Meta proves to be that dude who can crank out good club tunes. 10. Kaliko / Superman – A1 Contact: Anthony Murray - 504.915.6135 If you wanna hang with Kaliko make sure you visit your friendly neighborhood agriculturist. After all, this song becomes that much better when you’re flying high like Superman.
DISC 1
DISC 1 1. B.o.B ft Rick Ross & Juvenile / Haterz Everywhere (Remix) – Rebel Rock/Atlantic Contact: TJ Chapman – tj@tjsdjs.com With the budding success B.o.B has built, he recruited two stars that have seen hating at its highest levels to help him cope. Rick Ross & Juvenile add spice to a record already filled with flavor to create a cornucopia happily devoured by the ear.
11. F.A.M.E. / Keep It 100 – J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Contact: Ivan Rivera – 813.300.7641 F.A.M.E.’s flow fits well with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League’s straight gutta beat. No wonder F.A.M.E. has no problems “keeping it 100.” 12. The Xtremists ft Bootlegg & DJ Porter J / Sticky Situations – Harsh Reality Contact: Anthony Lewis - 561.281.7389 After much persistence, The Xtremists have fused their positive messages with a fun uptempo track that makes you dance and learn at the same time.
2. Ballgreezy / Shone – Iconz Music Contact: Alex LaCount- 786.229.8140
13. Emmanuel / Swagga – Filthy Rich Records Contact: Tony Neal - tneal@tmo.blackberry.net
Drum Majors delivered a great track for Ballgreezy to properly showcase his “Shone.” This smooth tune will have all those “mamas lookin’ thick” replay this many times over.
Emmanuel’s voice is so strong that having a “swagga” about him is only natural. Shouts to the Core DJs and Tony Neal who have discovered real music once again.
3. Hurricane Chris / Playaz Rock – Polo Grounds Contact: Teach - bigteach@pologroundsmusic.com Hurricane Chris displays his lyrical versatility by taking over Earth Wind & Fire’s
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14. Notty Black ft T-Pain / Freaky Song – Nappy Boy Entertainment Contact: Peners “P.L.” Griffin - 850.322.0487 Notty Black and T-Pain go back to the days when they used to plan “Robberies” together. Now, Notty Black has called his homeboy to co-sign on the “Freaky Song” that most ladies will eventually dig.
15. Tom G / I’m There – Team Fetti, Inc. Contact: JP - 813.401.1912
8. Jolli Boi / This Must Be The Life – 2-4-1 Records Contact: Ski - 813.294.1160
This song is an ode to Tom G’s favorite lady who has everything necessary to keep him around. For those women who want to keep a man, take notes.
We’ve all sat back and wondered what it must feel like to be free and living the good life. Jolli Boi successfully captures the feeling and delivers it on this track.
16. Jolli Boi ft J-Creek / Walk Like – 2-4-1 Records Contact: Ski - 813.294.1160
9. TMI Boyz / Butt Cheeks – TMI Music Contact: Steve Reese - 409.256.7313
Jolli Boi carefully constructs his ideal woman on the song. Meanwhile, J-Creek checks in to provide some harmony.
With the TMI Boyz, too much information is never enough. On “Butt Cheeks” they share their affinity for their favorite anatomy and make it fun at the same time.
17. Yung Tre / Trap Walk – D.S.A. Contact: D. Scott - 423.493.0965
10. Killa Kim / Sick of Dis – City Slang Contact: Killa Kim - 561.667.8470
“Trap Walk” is a homage to those who work hard and take penitentiary chances. Yung Tre gives them all something to celebrate with on this track.
Killa Kim delivers an independent woman track. Finally, the ladies who have had enough and are plain “Sick of Dis” have an anthem to toss their sorry man out to.
18. Blacc Wolf Cartel / Ridin’ – Cartel Muzik Group Contact: Joe Hecht - 917.821.5420
11. Ratchet City / Pass Me Sum Wata – Polo Grounds Contact: Teach - bigteach@pologroundsmusic.com
For the longest time The Blacc Wolf Cartel have been ridin’ and hunting for a good record. They have finally found their mark with this tune.
For those that are rollin’, Ratchet City has provided the wata with this juicy track to keep your party goin’.
19. A-Team / Get Money – White Label Contact: DJ Secret - 863.559.3562
12. 56Ace Federation ft Freeway / Bomb Blowed – 56Ace Federation Contact: Scotty Scott - 561.856.0800
The A-Team bring their A game to present “Get Money” – a song tailor made for the strip clubs.
Hailing from Palm Beach, b!tch, the 56Ace Federation went up the Freeway on I-95 to deliver this song that is da bomb!
20. Beadz / What It’s Hittin 4 – Manatee Contact: Calvin “Doc” Flowers - 312.226.9034
13. Chantelay / Big Girl – Eye Catch Contact: Catch - 786.294.4966
C-H-I-C-A-G-O, Beadz shows the world why he’s the funk and “what it’s hittin 4.”
Big girls need love too! That’s why Chantelay and her silky vocals dropped this tune to show you that just cuz you’re big, it doesn’t mean you can’t do big things.
DISC 2 1. Rocko / Umma Do Me – Rocky Road Contact: Coach K - 404.505.1495 Rocko is an artist that is doing it his way, or in other words, “umma do me.” Much like Frank Sinatra, Rocko will be mobbing the top of the charts for some time to come. 2. Papa Duck ft Mannie Fresh / Money All Around – Butter Boy Contact: Santana Melvin - 305.377.6757 Papa Duck bolstered his production acumen by linking with Mannie Fresh on this track while taking control of the mic. With tracks like these, having “money all around” will be a permanent fixture for Papa Duck. 3. C-Ride / Sitting On My Porch – Polo Grounds Contact: Teach - bigteach@pologroundsmusic.com According to the song “Sitting On My Porch,” C-Ride is fond of Makaveli tunes. Matched with these hard gangsta tracks, C-Ride won’t have to hail mary to achieve his ambitions as a ridah. 4. Chief / This Way – Presidential Traphouse Contact: Smiley - 405.200.4357
14. Str8Hood / Git Mine – Str8Hood Contact: GA - 229.308.2855 Str8Hood inspired by 50 Cent’s mantra of get rich or die trying have created a tune to take it too another level. If “Git Mine” doesn’t make you wanna get up get out and get something, then kill yo self! 15. Lil Josh & Lil Earnest / Jigga Juice – Polo Grounds Contact: Teach - bigteach@pologroundsmusic.com Lil Josh may be a jit, but he most certainly has the Juice to get all the Jiggas jammin’! 16. The Xtremists / Descriptive Passages – Harsh Reality Contact: Anthony Lewis - 561.281.7389 The Xtremists, who can best be described as a Southern Public Enemy scripted these passages to help you understand yourself in the hopes of transforming you into a diamond from the rough. 17. Coup De Grace / Cake Daddy – Greedy World Contact: Phillip Anderson - 850.345.7117 Ladies, tired of having your bills pile up with no end in sight? No worries, Coup De Grace is here to provide you with the “Cake Daddy” that is the answer to your prayers.
The driving force behind this record is the boom on the boards that Chief employs to explore a powerful sexual encounter. This track definitely has a strong back that will force you to ride it over and over.
18. Charles Sweeting / Murk Something – 4th Quarter Contact: Charles Sweeting - 305.747.2820
5. Dat Boy Tragic / What Goin’ On – U.P.A. Worldwide Contact: Berry “Mastermind” Tshibanda – 404.355.0772
Charles Sweeting does his hometown of Miami proud by murking this track leaving nothing but waving crowds in its path.
“What Goin’ On” is Dat Boy Tragic has delivered a club record designed to quickly fill dance floors. If you don’t give this record a chance it will be a tragedy.
19. Manopoly ft Zulu / Clap It Up – Manatee Contact: Calvin “Doc” Flowers - 312.226.9034
6. Elee / OoWee - Euphratez Flow Contact: Sandra Grooms - 205.213.0564
This party track will have fans clapping it up when the DJ spreads love and plays this upbeat tune.
Elee’s “OoWee” is a tune that should give the ladies the power to be proud of their poon. Fellas play it only if you can handle it!
20. Crystal Metz / Boom - Manatee Contact: Calvin “Doc” Flowers - 312.226.9034
7. Cyco / Supa Freak – TrakMobb Contact: Big Rick - 678.353.5045
Crystal comes out as hard as her namesake leaving listeners with a powerful sonic “Boom.” //
Cyco’s “Supa Freak” contains a hint of a T.I. flavor while still maintaining its independence. You will be crazy if you don’t mess with this “Supa Freak.”
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thedjbooth
dj aAries H
Words by Randy Roper Photo by Eric Perrin
e took his DJ equipment, left his small hometown of St. Matthews, South Carolina and headed to Atlanta, where he quickly made a name for himself. Now, DJ Aaries heads a DJ crew with over 150 members, a record pool, TV show, established himself as a go-to DJ when it comes to breaking independent artists and is the new face in Rocawear advertisements. After those types of boss moves, where he’s from, Aaries is the definition of “hood hard.”
Really nothing happened, it was just a…creative differences led me to start Hood Hard Hitmakers. I will leave it at that. It’s not nothing bad, I’m still cool with everybody. I just called Bigga Rankin last week and told him how tight his mixtape is, [but] I’m not a Slip-N-Slide DJ. Me and Tony Neal are cool, [but] I’m not a CORE DJ. What I’m doing is called Hood Hard Movement, we have DJs, but it’s not just the DJs, it’s the DJs and artists. We’re all working together; it’s a little different from a record pool.
You moved from South Carolina to Atlanta to pursue a career as a DJ. Why did you make that move? I watched DJs like DJ Prince Ice; he’s real big on the radio in South Carolina and [DJ] Shakim, the DJ for Bow Wow, So So Def. I remember all these people and I watched other DJs, for the most part I watch DJs that have left and went somewhere else; they had more opportunities. And I knew I didn’t want to be the local DJ, being 50-years-old in the club and then you get played out and fall off. So I decided to move to Atlanta. It was between Atlanta or Charlotte, but Atlanta was the poppin’ place. So I came down to Atlanta and started building a knack for dealing with independent artist. I [would] find the real hot ones and then I noticed [that] when I say I’m dealing with an artist, other people deal with that artist.
What was your reasoning behind starting the Hood Hard Hitmakers? Well the whole reason behind is just like… Brown Sugar. The guy he kinda had a way that he wanted some things to go and instead of talking trash about it he just did it his way and how he felt it should go. That’s what Hood Hard is. I kinda got a a way that I think that things should go and it’s way to the left, evidently. It’s only been eight months, but you’ve seen me all over Rap City, I got my own TV show that goes out in seven states, all these DJs that roll with me, Hood Hard Day, nominated for #1 DJ in the South [at the South Entertainment Awards]. People will say my name next to a whole lot of DJs that I used to listen to, like Drama, Scream, and Bigga Rankin.
What’s been the biggest adjustment for you in coming to Atlanta from South Carolina? The biggest adjustment was the first party I did and I didn’t know none of the [Atlanta] music. So, I’m playing [Lil Jon’s] “Who U Wit’” and [Khia’s] “K-Wang” and everybody’s looking at me alike, “You got BHI?” And I’m like, “B-H-what?!” I didn’t know nobody. Now me and K-Rab [from B-H-I] and everybody are cool, but I didn’t know them then. That was the only adjustment and that only took about three months to get over. What are some of the clubs you spin at in Atlanta? A little bit of everywhere, like Upscales, Djangos, The Atrium, and Frequency. But I didn’t necessarily want to be the “club DJ” spinning at the club every week. That’s why I started this whole Hood Hard movement, [because] I have all these other DJs. I have like 150 DJs who roll with me. My main thing now, kinda ended up being a face. So I’m the guy that has to show up at their events. I’m the guy that helps them put their things together. But I mainly put together Hood Hard Day. [We just had] the second one and it was ridiculous. Kid Capri was there, Remy Ma came through, Tony Neal, and Bigga Rankin. And right now I’m putting together a college tour, I’m kinda getting into those type of things. And my main focus is finding those independent artists that are on deck to be next. That’s my niche. Before you started the Hood Hard Hitmakers, you were a member of the Legion of Doom DJs. What happened with LOD? 76 // OZONE MAG
Where did you get the term “hood hard” from? In South Carolina there’s a song called “Hood Hard.” When I left Carolina, I came here [to Atlanta] and I noticed Drama’s got the Gangsta Grillz going crazy. Gangsta Grillz this, Gangsta Grillz that. So I [knew] I needed to brand something. I wanted to bring something to the table but I also wanted point back to my state. And the hottest thing in my state was that song. That’s where the term came from, so I added the “hitmakers” to it. I don’t think nobody expected me to do what I’m doing, especially this fast. And from the Hood Hard Hitmakers, I made it the Hood Hard Movement, so that it encompassed all the artists and the DJs. [“Hood Hard”] means that you’re doing what you gotta do hard in your hood. See, people consider different things hard. Giving back to your community, I consider that hard. Donating to the homeless, I consider that hard. And this whole movement is a movement that’s going to hit every hood real hard. You won a Rocawear competition and now you’re the new face for Rocawear. How did that happen? I did a DVD that gives you information and it tells you what my whole intent is, what’s my purpose, why am I here. So, about a month after I got it pressed, I was on the internet one day and a pop-up came up. It said, “Submit a story that tells how you overcame adversity.” I said, “Man, that’s the same thing as [my DVD]. So I uploaded it and mine won by 30,000 [votes]. [Rocawear] flew me to New York, gave me a whole bunch of clothes, Allhiphop.com gave me an interview, and we’re about to do a whole lot of things together. The last faces [of Rocawear] were Chris Brown, Ciara, Rich Boy, and Three Six Mafia, so now my name is up there with theirs. //
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Boardgame
don cannon THE ART OF STORYTELLING Words by Eric Perrin // Photo by Zach Wolfe
My sound as a producer is real theatrical, big, and electrifying. Those three words are something I live by. I like everything to be a big movie. On the Outkast record, my thing was to bring them horns out, to make it seem like it was their triumphant comeback, but it was still soulful at the same time. The concept of the song [“The Art of Storytelling”] came right after we had that raid at our studio. Dram had the idea of doing a record talking about how they can’t stop us. We were back on the street and doing our thing. I thought the track was a great idea. I was just in a beat session and I came up with the beat in the studio. Dram sent it to Marsha Ambrosha at Floetry, who’s an incredible writer. We told her what we had in mind and she sent it back in like a day. We sent it to Andre 3000 for him to do a verse, and after he was done with his verse he sent it back, and we were like, “Yo, this is unbelievable!” He did the greatest verse of all time, and he don’t really rap that much anymore. So then, we took the record over to Big Boi trying to get the Outkast thing going. We played the record for Big Boi, and he stood up like, “Yo, this is incredible! I’ll have my verse done today.” He started writing his rap right away. It took him no time. He did his verse, laid it, and then he called me in to listen to the record, and that was the record. I’m not one of those producers that sits down and makes 5 beats in an hour. I’m one of them people that takes time to craft a hit. Out of the 15 or 16 records that I produced that are out in the streets, all of those are handcrafted to be professional records. I’m not just putting something out there to have my name out there. I’m one of those producers that wants to make classic hits. “The Art of Storytelling” is a classic hit. I’m actually surprised they didn’t try to keep it for themselves, because it was such a great record, but it might have actually sparked up a little reunion going on. I seen them together twice last week lookin’ real regular at the club, lookin’ like that old Outkast. Last night I was at Stankonia [Studios] and [the engineers] were saying that Dre and Big Boi had been recording some records that were crazy. I heard they just did a track with Dre, Raekwon, and Big Boi; that’s gonna be a phenomenal record for Hip Hop. Working with Outkast was definitely a big moment for me. I grew up listening to [artists] like Outkast, and to be able to work with them is just beyond me. I give thanks to God all the time for that. I think it’s incredible. I’d be riding the bus listening to the ATLiens album back in ’96 when I was in high school, and I did a record with them in 2007. (laughs) It’s crazy.
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Scarface/MADE/Rap-A-Lot MADE lacks the wide range of quality production that The Fix offered, but it does have that throwback pre-millineum Rap-A-Lot slow roll that day one fans may have missed. With “Girl You Know,” “Go” and “Boy Meets Girl,” ‘Face touches on male-female relationships more than he has in the past. But he gets back into Uncle Brad mode on the album’s pinnacles, the self-checking “Who Do You Believe In” and ultra-descriptive “Suicide Note.” Outside of “Get Out of My Face” and “Dollar” Mr. Jordan doesn’t do much to switch his flows, instead he relies on his proven pen game on “Burn” featuring Z-Ro and the instant classic “Never.” Just when you start believing that “rap is a young man’s game,” grown ass men like ‘Face come through and show that you still have to respect your elders. — Maurice G. Garland
The-Dream/Love Hate/Def Jam
Songwriter The-Dream delivers a solid effort with his debut album Love Hate. The radio jam “Shawty is a 10” is actually one of the weaker tracks on the single-laden album, which is masterfully mixed, with Dream paying obvious attention to the flawless transitions between tracks. Dream delivers Prince-inspired tracks that are well written but have a few too many “eh”s, “oh”s, and “ella”s. Despite the excessive ad libs, tracks like “Falsetto,” “She Needs My Love,” and “Ditch That” make Love Hate an album hard to hate. — Rohit Loomba
Beanie Sigel/The Solution Island Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella
DJ Drama/Gangsta Grillz: The Album/Atlantic After a few good listens to Gangsta Grillz: The Album you can’t help but ask yourself questions like: What songs did the RIAA take when they raided the Apphiliates office? Was Drama unable to get his favorite lost songs redone? Why didn’t it come out in the midst of Drama’s drama? The album has some high points, like Outkast’s “The Art of Storytelling Pt. 4” and “Gettin’ Money” by Paul Wall, Killa Kyleon, Lil’ Keke and Slim Thug that remind you how mid-90’s rap compilations used to sound like. But some already dated material like “Keep It Gangsta” by Yo Gotti, Webbie and Lil’ Boosie and “Talk About Me” by G-Unit holds the album back. GG: The Album is certainly above average, but not the powder keg it should have been. — Maurice G. Garland
Birdman/ Star Stunna/ Cash Money Capitalizing on Lil’ Wayne’s popularity, Birdman has put out 5 Star Stunna, a solo album that sounds more like a collaborative effort than anything else. Lil’ Wayne appears on seven out of the sixteen tracks, easily overshadowing his “Daddy” on songs like “100 Million” and “I Run This.” Yet the Birdman manages to carry his own weight on “Believe That.” 5 Star Stunna offers nothing new to the Cash Money’s audience. Same story, same flow, and guest appearances are this album’s only saving grace. — Jared Anderson
Probably the most underrated rap album from Def Jam this year. Beanie Sigel offers The Solution but seems more hampered by the problem of shrinking budgets and promotion. Guests of all sorts, from Ozzy Osbourne to Scarface, come through for Beans, providing interesting collabos such as “Dear Self” featuring James Blunt. Though his hiatus from recording was a bit extended, Beanie has proven with this album that he has not lost a step in his game. The Solution is a well put together project deserving of more recognition than it has received. — Jared Anderson
Lupe Fiasco/The Cool/1st & 15th Atlantic
No matter how deep his hypocrisy may run there is no denying that Lupe Fiasco is a fresh breeze in today’s rancid, humid world of Hip Hop. For fans feeling the lack of content and desperately gasping for lyricism, Lu’s sophomore album The Cool is the cure: play the album and let your ears take a deep breath of the clever metaphors the Chicago native manages to cleverly arrange over well-tailored production. Standout tracks include “Go Go Gadget Flow,” “Paris, Tokyo,” and “Intruder Alert.” — Rohit Loomba
Gucci Mane/Back To The Trap House SO ICEY/ASYLUM
Since his notorious beef with Young Jeezy and getting locked up, Gucci Mane has been on the brink of being a breakout artist. His street buzz has been blazing the south for sometime and Back To The Trap House could make him a household name. “I Know Why” will be sure to dominate, with guest appearances by Rich Boy and the late Pimp C. Another standout from the 14track album is “What I’m Talking Bout.” Like the album, it has the energy to carry in the club but the attitude to ride to in the street. —Jared Anderson
Chingy/Hate It or Love It Slot-A-Lot/DTP/Island Def Jam
Wu Tang/8 Diagrams/SRC/Universal Motown/Loud Staten Island emcee collective Wu Tang returns with 8 Diagrams, setting any differences aside for the sake of Hip Hop. Rza, who almost single-handedly produced the album, reintroduces the gritty Wu sound with the intro and keeps with the sound throughout. The eight living members of Wu all deliver potent, violenceinfused verses with the finesse that first established them. Method Man is flawless while Raekwon, surprisingly, falls short at times. Standout tracks include “Heart Gently Weeps” and “Starter.” 8 Diagrams is a tribute to the Hip Hop that once was and throws fans back into the lyrical kung fu only Wu can master. — Rohit Loomba
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Chingy returns to DTP with Hate It or Love It which showcases a slightly darker, edgier Chingy than before, who issues a warning to all who thinks he’s gone soft on the title track. The more aggressive Chingy does back down for tracks like “Fly Like Me” featuring Amerie, which stands to be one of the album’s better tracks. Ludacris helps out a little with “Gimme Dat” but all in all Chingy seems far from the jackpot he once found himself with thanks to mediocre production and a lack of energy. — Rohit Loomba
Cunninlyguist/Dirty Acres
When Kentucky rap outfit Cunninlynguist boasts that their state “ain’t just tobacco, some bourbon and where horse racing lives” on the rapiddrummed “K.K.K.Y.” its sounds like they mean it. With their 4th studio album since 2001, Natti and Deacon the Villian, powered by group member Kno’s airy production, move closer towards stamping their own sound beyond the Dungeon Family comparisons they’ve worn since they entered the rap race (even though the album opens with a Big Rube monologue). While the spiritual vibe from their previous offering A Piece of Strange is still heard here and there, it’s the worldly elements in songs like “Beautiful” featuring Devin the Dude and “Yellow Lines” featuring Witchdoctor and Phonte of Little Brother that show their ability to stretch out any box they may get placed in. — Maurice G. Garland //
DJ Spinz & DJ Scream “Southern Swagger 8” 1. Black Bill Gates “King Shit: You Can’t Buy Respect” www.myspace.com/theblackbillgate s 2. DJ Rondevu “The Best of The Gang” www.myspace.com/djrondevu 3. DJ Chuck T “Down South Slangin’ Vol. 46.5” www.djchuckt.com
4. DJ P-Cutta & DJ Scream “Street Wars 19” www.myspace.com/p_cutta www.myspace.com/4045405000 5. Team Invasion “This Shit Right Here” www.myspace.com/teaminvasion06 6. DJ Michael “5000” Watts “No Time To Waste” www.swishahouse.biz 7. DJ Dub & Little Brother “Good Clothes” www.djdub.com 8. DJ E-V “The Weezy Effect: Bottom of the Map Volume 2” www.myspace.com/djev 9. DJ 2Mello “Undercover RnB: Musical Massacre” www.myspace.com/supa_dj2mello 10. DJ Bobby Black “The Carter Show” www.myspace.com/theofficialdjbobbyblack 678-851-0479 11. E-Top Ent. “Whats Your Station Part Three” Hosted by Keya www.myspace.com/etop ent 202-292-8236 12. DJ Cleve “Club Hits Vol. 1” www.myspace.com/scdjcleve 13. DJ Showtime & Jeff Johnson “Gone Off That ****!!!” www.myspace.com/ihustlehardernet www.myspace.com/thesouthpawoutlaw 14. Pop-off Productions & Little Brother “No Justus No Peace” www.myspace.com/hevehittta www.popoffproductions.net 15. Poff-off Productions & D-Block “Rise of the Phantom” Hosted by Styles P www.popoffproductions.net 16. KD “Worldwide 31” Hosted by Ma Barker www.kd-handyman.com 877-874-5653
www.myspace.com/dj_spinz www.myspace.com/4045405000 Once again DJ Scream hooks up with another ATL DJ to serve the streets with more exclusives than the competition. This time Scream and A-Town mixtape up-and-comer DJ Spinz team together and deliver new tracks from Shawty Lo (“Dunn Dunn” and “Dey Know Remix”), Rocko (“Stripes” featuring Shawty Lo and “Umma Do Me Remix”) and Fabo (“She Loose”). Add music from newcomers 9th Ward, Tha Joker and Grand Hustle’s newest artist Yung LA, and this mixtape supplies enough southern swagger to bring in the new year properly. DJs, send your mix CDs (with a cover) for consideration to: Ozone Magazine 644 Antone St. Suite 6 Atlanta, GA 30318
17. DJ Cool Breeze “The Night Before Christmas” www.myspace.com/djcoolbreezelive 18. DJ K-Rock “Paypa Chasa” Hosted by Sporty O www.myspace.com/realdjkrock 19. The Empire “Southern Slang 9” 20. 31 Deegreez & DJ Phenom “Crank Dat www.myspace.com/gophenom
OZONE MAG // 81
endzone
T-Pain & Flo Rida Event: DJ Khaled’s birthday party a.k.a. The Temple Venue: Mansion City: Miami, FL Date: November 19th, 2007 Photo: Julia Beverly
82 // OZONE MAG