Ozone Mag Memorial Day 2008 special edition

WELCOME TO MIAMI

2 PISTOLS 21 REESE BALLGREEZY BIZZLE BRISCO

DJ KHALED DUNK RYDERS GIT FRESH GRIND MODE SMITTY TORO

& MORE

WELCOME TO MIAMI

DJ KHALED 2 PISTOLS 21 REESE ACE HOOD BALL GREEZY BIZZLE BRISCO DUNK RYDERS GIT FRESH GRIND MODE SMITTY TORO & MORE

| OZONE

PUBLISHER: Julia Beverly GUEST EDITOR: Jen McKinnon a.k.a.

Ms. Rivercity GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Decap CONTRIBUTORS: J-Lash Quinton Hatfield Tanya James Tony Wilson Wuz Good PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR: Malik Abdul Distributors: Big Mouth Marketing & Promotions Lex Promotions On Point Entertainment Strictly Streets SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, send check or money order for $11 to: Ozone Magazine 644 Antone St. Suite 6 Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-350-3887 Fax: 404-350-2497 Web: www.ozonemag.com

Section A 10 11 12-13 16-17 18-19 20-21 22-23 30-31 32-33

Editorial Miami Map EVENT LISTING CLUB LISTING 2 PISTOLS BALLGREEZY SMITTY TORO GIT FRESH

26-28 ACE HOOD Section b 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-17 18-19 26-27 28-29 30-31 32-33

SAM SNEAK DJ DEF DUNK RYDERS BRISCO 21 REESE SUPA CINDY BIZZLE GRIND MODE UNDA SURVEILLANCE BEACH 2 DA BEANS

22-25 DJ KHALED

COVER CREDITS: Ace Hood photos by Wuz Good; DJ Khaled photos by J Lash.

DISCLAIMER:

OZONE does not take responsibility for unsolicited materials, misinformation, typographical errors, or misprints. The views contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or its advertisers.

Ads appearing in this magazine are not an endorsement or validation by OZONE Magazine for products or services offered.

All photos and illustrations are copyrighted by their respective artists. All other content is copyright 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.

OZONE |

Guesteditor

B

eing a Hip Hop journalist, especially a white Hip Hop journalist, people always ask me when and why did I start listening to Hip Hop. Even before I ever published any articles and I was just kicking it in the club or at parties people were asking me that, and it’s been a major annoyance. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it kind of insinuates that there was a specific day in my life when I stopped listening to rock and country music and picked up a 50 Cent CD. Over the last few years it’s become increasingly hard not to give a smartass response like, “Probably the same time and for the same reason that you started listening to Hip Hop, jackass.” But recently I’ve been thinking about the question and I’ve come up with another answer.

I never really liked Hip Hop, depending on what your definition of Hip Hop is. When it comes to what die-hard “real” Hip Hop fans define the genre as, like the original days of beatboxing in NY, four elements of Hip Hop, backpacking on the subway, I’ve never been into that stuff at all really. Maybe that offends some people and they’ll look at me like, “How can you be a Hip Hop journalist and not know the history?” Well, I do know the history, and I respect it fully. But I didn’t grow up around that stuff so I don’t identify with it.

I came up in the midst of the booty music/bass era, in the skating rink where DJ Magic Mike and Uncle Luke held the crown. I kicked it with dudes in the neighborhood that

10 | OZONE

had hooked up cars with super sub-woofers banging out Rob Base and L’Trimm. I attended middle school while the Geto Boys were knocking doors down for Southern Rap, and graduated from high school when Outkast was on top.

Because of this history, I can’t really say I like “real” Hip Hop, in the traditional sense of the word. When I tell people that they try to clown me and I usually end up in an argument defending the contributions of 2 Live Crew (and other Florida bass artists) and how they hold just as much weight as Slick Rick, Eric B. and Rakim – in my book, anyway.

Miami has had so much influence in the world of Hip Hop, rap music, or whatever you want to call it, and how much history it continues to create despite the lack of credit given. I pay homage to the DJ Khaleds and Trick Daddys that keep the movement alive today, and I also support the Bizzles and Grind Modes for ensuring that the movement will have a future.

- Ms. Rivercity

SOUTH BEACH MAP

OZONE | 11

Memorial Day W eekend Wednesday, May 21st

Events

HipHopSodaShop - Grand Opening

Derrick Baker - Celebration of Miami Hip Hop and Miami Live - 9 PM 2710 NW 167th, Miami Gardens, FL

All Star Wed. Mix CD Release Party

Hosted by DJ Khaled & Ace Hood @ Take One Lounge 333 N.E. 79 St., Miami, FL 33138 (305) 751-9313

Thursday, May 22nd HipHopSodaShop - Grand Opening

Ribbon Cutting, Marching Band, Xbox Celebrity Tournament, Red Carpet, Celebration of Miami Hip Hop and R&B 2710 NW 167th, Miami Gardens, FL 33054 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM

XXL Thurs.Haitian Jeff B-Day Bash @ Take One Lounge 333 N.E. 79 St., Miami, FL 33138 (305) 751-9313

Dunk Ryders Thursdays @ Diamond’s Cabaret 337 N.W. 170th ST., N. Miami Beach (305) 654-3500

Welcome to Miami Memorial Weekend Kick-Off

Hosted by Uncle Luke, DJ Khaled, Ace Hood @ Mansion 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 438-9488

Friday, May 23rd Entourage Ent. Presents Shawty Lo Live Hosted by Eye Candy Models @ Sobe Live 1203 Washington Avenue Miami, FL 33193 (305) 695-2820

Xbox Celebrity Gaming Tournament - 4:00 PM Grown & Sexy VIP Reception & Pink 12 | OZONE

Carpet Ceremony - 5:00 PM

@ HipHopSodaShop 2710 NW 167th, Miami Gardens, FL

Blaze B-Day Bash, Scotty Boy Performing Live

@ Take One Lounge 333 N.E. 79 St., Miami, FL 33138 (305) 751-9313

Lollipop Party Hosted by: Lil Wayne & Birdman, Khaled, Ace Hood, K. Foxx Music by: Cipha Sounds, Prostyle, Bulletproof, Street League, DJ Christion, DJ Zion Ladies free before 11 PM w/ a lollipop @ Opium Prive 136 Collins Ave., Miami Beach FL 33139 (305) 438-9488

Saturday, May 24th 8th Annual Celebrity Basketball Game

Doors open @ 6 PM, Game starts @ 7:30 PM Miami Northwestern Senior High 1100 NW 71st St. General Admission $10 Floor Seats: $20

Cash Flow 2008 Party

Hosted by Trick Daddy, Flo Rida, Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Birdman, Lil Wayne @ Mansion 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 438-9488

Memorial Pool Party

Hosted by: DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Ace Hood, Brisco, Flo Rida, Fabolous, Trina, Uncle Luke, Jabba Music by: Cipha Sounds, Prostyle, & Bulletproof @ The Raleigh Hotel 1775 Collins Ave. (18th St. & Collins) Gates open @ 4 PM, Ladies free before 5 PM w/ swimwear (305) 438-9488

King Magazine & Konvict Muzik All White Affair Model Search Party

Sean Kingston, Shawty Lo, Ne-Yo, and Alicia Keys

Music provided by DJ Greg Street, DJ Monumental, Dj Spynfo.

Party-goers are asked to dress all in white for this event. @ Chakra 1500 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach (347) 398-1787

Mavado, Tarrus Riley, Junior Reid, Shifta, Demarco, Bugle, Assassin, DJ Roy, Bobby Konders, Jabba, JamUSA, DJ Khaled @ Bicentennial Park 1075 Biscayne Blvd, Downtown Miami (305) 438-9488

Entourage Ent. presents Jim Jones

Gospel Hip Hop Celebration – 3:00 PM Pre-Memorial Day Hip Hop Party – 12:00

@ Sobe Live 1203 Washington Avenue (305) 695-2820

Pre-Memorial Hip Hop VIP Reception & Party – 12:00 PM Xbox Teenage Celebrity Gaming Tournament – 4:00 PM

AM @ HipHopSodaShop 2710 NW 167th, Miami Gardens, FL 33054

Danity Kane & Day 26

@ HipHopSodaShop 2710 NW 167th, Miami Gardens, FL

@ Pompano Beach Amphitheatre 1806 N.E. 6th St., Pompano Beach, FL (561) 832-6397

Memorial Day Fiesta Marathon

Big Ballers Bash

@ Take One Lounge 333 N.E. 79 St., Miami, FL 33138 (305) 751-9313

Sunday, May 25th Def Jam Recordings Party

Hosted by LL Cool J, Young Jeezy, Ace Hood @ Mansion 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Doors open @ 10 PM (305) 438-9488

Official Rich Yung and Muthaf***kin Famous XXL Magazine party

Hosted by Fabolous and friends. DJ Greg Street, DJ Monumental, DJ Spyder and DJ Spynfo on the turntables. @ Chakra 1500 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach (347) 398-1787

Alicia Keys - As I Am Tour

@ American Airlines Arena 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132 8 PM

Hip Hope

Featuring L-M-S, Seven Star & Omniscient. B-boy & MC battle for cash. @ Studio A - 7 PM 60 NE 11th St., Miami, FL 33132 (305) 358-7625

Best of the Best 2008

Featuring Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Barrington Levy,

Hosted by Bryant McKinnie & Cory Chavious @ Take One Lounge 333 N.E. 79 St., Miami, FL 33138 (305) 751-9313

Monday, May 26th Sam Sneak & Scrapye B-Day Bash

Featuring Dred Scott, Triple C’s, Brisco, Ace, Bizzle, Unda Surveillance, Dunk Ryders, & More @ Mansion 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139

Xbox Celebrity Gaming Tournament Live – 2:00 PM Grand Opening Celebration – 6:00 PM @ HipHopSodaShop 2710 NW 167th, Miami Gardens, FL 33054

Anything Goes Monday

Featuring the World Famous Pinkey & Beauty @ Take One Lounge 333 N.E. 79 St., Miami, FL 33138 (305) 751-9313

Tuesday, May 27th Memorial Weekend Finale

Sam Sneak B-Day Bash Part II @ Take One Lounge 333 N.E. 79 St., Miami, FL 33138 (305) 751-9313 OZONE | 13

MIAMI CLUB LISTING 90 Degree 90 NE 11th Street, Downtown Miami, FL 33132 (786) 425-3545 Amika 1532 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 534-1499 Angel Ultra Lounge 247 23rd Street, Miami Beach, FL Area 51 950 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132 (305) 358-5655 B.E.D. 929 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-9070 Big Fish 55 SW Miami Avenue Rd., Miami, FL 33130 Blue 222 Espanola Way, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 534-1109 Bricks 66 SW 6th St, Miami, FL 33130 (305) 371-6950 Café Iguanas 8358 Pines Blvd., Hollywood, FL 33024 (954) 433-8787 Cameo 1400 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 695-0517 Chakra 1500 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach (305) 672-2001 Club Ache

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3425 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140 (305) 604-8688 Club 112 1439 Washington Avenue Club 45 4545 NW 7th St, Miami, FL 33126 (305) 442-6369 Club 66 66 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33130 (305) 371-6950 Club Boca 7000 West Palmetto Park Rd., Boca Raton, FL (561) 392-3747 Club Deep 621 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-1509 Club Ebony 12953 NW 7th Ave, North Miami 33182 (305) 685-5305 Club Escape 7707 NW 103rd St., Miami, FL 30025 Club Warehouse 90 NE 11th St, Miami, FL 33132 (786) 425-3545 Coco’s Lounge Living On The Edge 1430 NW 119th St, Miami, FL 33167 (305) 688-5005 Crobar 1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 531-8225 Dream 1532 Washington Ave.,

Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 674-8018 Expose 766 E 25th St, Hialeah, FL (305) 691-8980 Fat Tuesday 3015 Grand Ave, Miami, FL 33133 (305) 441-2992 Fifth (The) 1045 5th St., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 538-9898 GEM Nightclub 671 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 674-0977 Glass 432 41st St., Miami Beach, FL 33140 (305) 604-9798 Harrison’s 411 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 672-4600 Ivy Room 1233 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-1525 Jazid 1342 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 673-9372 Krave 1203 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-5950 Lady Luck 1610 NW 119th St, Miami, FL 33167 (305) 688-1151 Level Nightclub 1233 Washington Ave,

Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-1525 Madonna Night Club 1527 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 534-2000 Mansion 1235 Washington Metropolis Downtown 950 NE 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33132 (305) 415-0088 Miami Velvet 3901 NW 77th Ave, Miami, FL 33166 (305) 406-1604 Mokai 235 23rd St., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 695-0288 Mynt 1921 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (786) 276-6132 Nikki Beach Club 1 Ocean Drive (305) 673-1575 Nocturnal 50 NE 11th St., Maimi, FL 33132 (305) 576-6996 Onda 1248 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 674-4464 Opium Garden a.k.a. Prive 136 Collins Ave., Miami Beach FL 33139 (305) 531-5535 Pearl Lounge 1 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Penthouse Inc 1434 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 538-4010 Platinum Plus 7565 W 20th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33014 Porterhouse

7050 W. Palmetto Park Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33433 Rain 323 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 674-7447 Rokbar 1805 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 535-7171 Rumi 330 Lincoln Road (305) 672-4353 Ruby Lounge 623 Washington Ave., Miami, FL 33139 Santo 430 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-2882 Sax on the Beach 1756 N Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33132 (786) 924-5535 Scores Miami 17450 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Beach, FL (305) 945-6030 Seven 685 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 538-0820 SET 320 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-2800 www.setmiami.com Shine 1800 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Skybar 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 695-3100 SIN 1532 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-4786 Sobe Live 1203 Washington Avenue ·

Miami, FL 33193 · (305) 695-2820 Sofi Lounge 423 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-4444 Space 34 NE 11th St., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 375-0001 Spirits 5729 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314 (954) 327-9094 State 320 Lincoln Rd. Studio A 60 NE 11th St., Miami, FL 33132 (305) 538-7625 Suite 1437 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 604-3664 Take One 333 NE 79th Street, Miami, FL Tropics Nightclub 7100 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 (954) 985-8382 Vice 1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 532-2667 Vision 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, FL 33133 (305) 461-1118 Voodoo Lounge 111 SW 2nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL (954) 522-0733 Wet Willie’s 2911 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove, FL 33133 White Diamonds 737 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 761-6736

OZONE | 17

S L O T S 2 PI L rings, F p S n o Tarp

18 | OZONE

The Florida Hip Hop scene is continuing to give shine on the music industry. I guess it’s called the Sunshine state for a reason and if you look at the recent accomplishments, it deserves the title. Rick Ross came in the game with his second major label release Trilla, which was one of the hottest albums to drop this year. Trina’s debuted at the top of Hip Hop charts with her new album Still Da Nastiest. Plies is still holding it down with that Goon Music and it’s much more.

How about 2 Pistols, on the other hand?

Smashing the charts with the hot single “She Got It” featuring T-Pain the Florida native is here to show that he’s got it also.

In a brief interview with OZONE, 2 Pistols speaks on how the hate kept him motivated, getting down with T-Pain, and why that comes with a gift and a curse.

would’ve did. It would’ve been too easy.

You have a hot song out with T-Pain. What it was like working with him for the first time?

I worked with T-Pain more in the video than I did in the studio. I was on house arrest when I got the record done with him. I just sent him the record and he did his thing.

I hooked up with him at a radio event in Tampa and I talked to him about coming here and performing; I used to do the promoter thing on the side too. I told him I do records too so I talked to his manager. He jumped on it and the rest is history.

Do you think getting down with T-Pain was one of your best career moves so far?

It’s a plus and a minus. It’s a gift and a curse.

You come from a place in Florida that you described in one interview as a crabs-inbarrel situation. How does it feel with all the success you had lately compared to the time when you first came in?

I’ve just been trying to go forward, forward, and forward. One day when I’m done with music and doing something else, putting other cats out, then I can sit back and look at what I’ve accomplished. I know in my heart it feels a whole lot better not to be doing the things I used to do. On the regular I would be out doing anything just to get my hands on some money. It feels good; I still got haters on me, but it do feel good. I’m not sitting down like I’ve accomplished so much yet.

How so?

With me working with him, it was like, “Aw, he’s got T-Pain on it, no wonder his situation is [successful].” I’m enjoying it for the moment. It was great for my career to put him on there, but at the same time it kinda leaves people saying that if it wasn’t for T-Pain I wouldn’t be nothing.

With all the hate you received throughout the years, what keeps you motivated to look past everything?

It kind of motivated me, because when cats would try to tell me, “You can’t do this,” that is my motivation. I think if I didn’t have those people saying those things to motivate me it wouldn’t drive me. They make me feel like I ain’t doing nothing so that made me really want to go hard and show them that I am doing something.

Without the haters I really don’t know what I

Appreciate the interview. How fans can check out the latest from you?

Myspace.com/2pistols or you can just hit me up on 2pistols.com. I’ve also got a site for the females called doshegoit.com so you can go on there upload your pictures and see if you got it or not.

Talk about the new album. How long have you been working on it?

I’ve been working on this album since I’ve pretty much started doing music. I had those records when I went and got my deal.

I’ve been grinding for a minute; I had the streets on lock with the mixtapes, and in my area I was working hard.

Website: Myspace.com/2Pistols Words by: Quinton Hatfield

OZONE | 19

BALL Y Z E E GR FL Miami,

20 | OZONE

If you ask anyone what the hottest single in the streets of Miami is right now, 9 times out of 10 they’ll say BallGreezy’s “Shone.”

While the term has recently received some controversy based on its slang use for “akshone” or action after the club, BallGreezy says the word has a different meaning to him.

What’s going on with you at the moment?

We’re pushing the “Shone” record and we’re following up with “I’m the Shit” featuring Brisco. I got the mixtape coming out. I’m trying to finish that before Memorial week.

We got Bigga Rankin hosting the mixtape.

It’s called Before the Deal ‘cause I don’t have a deal yet.

Are you looking for a deal? I’m surprised someone hasn’t scooped you up yet with all the play the song is getting.

Iconz did the music so they’re negotiating it.

They just trying to get a better position for me so I guess that’s why it’s taking so long.

We have that “I’m the Shit” picking up too.

That’s more money.

Last year Bloodline was a pretty big movie for the folks of Miami. Do you plan to pursue acting further?

If it comes down to it. It ain’t no thing.

Do you think acting plays a part in being a musician or do you believe it’s two different worlds?

It’s different. Acting is more emotions. All you’re doing on the mic is speaking. With acting you gotta use body language and all that.

How long were you putting out music before things really take off?

I’ve been taking it serious for five years now. I bullshitted for ten years and took five years seriously.

Was being a rapper always on your agenda? Or did you plan to head in another direction?

Nah, I had another direction. This just came around from the people I be around.

I used to be in the studio so much and I never rapped or anything. One day I got on a song with somebody and they told me I needed to take it serious.

Where did the name BallGreezy come from?

It was BallGrum at first. As I got older it changed. My niggas gave me that name.

I’m so swift with whatever I’m doing. I’m so greasy with it they called me BallGreezy. I just ran with that.

I know “shone” is a term that originated in Miami and so it’s probably accepted in the city by most people, but do any of your fans ever get offended by its meaning?

Yeah, but shone has different meanings to it. I’m there to correct that. A “shone” is a good girl that parties hard. In other words in the hood, a shone is a girl who be wilin’ but that’s not the meaning, really. It’s a good girl that parties hard. It’s just something they were saying down here and I stamped it.

What part of Miami are you from?

I’m from Lil Haiti.

Tell me about the mixtape.

We’re going to get it to you one at a time.

BallGreezy’s gonna rep for Miami. I already got five songs in the streets and they banging. Every bootlegger I run into got one of my songs. I guess that’s how we’re going to put the mixtape together.

What are your plans for Memorial Day? I’m trying to kick it all through the strip.

I’ll probably hit Mansion, Sobe, all the big spots. You’re gonna see Greezy and the street team. You’ll see Greezy everywhere Memorial Weekend.

Have you promoted outside of the city at all?

The song just started taking off everywhere else. We’re working on that now, trying to put a promo tour together. We’ll be hitting up little small towns in Florida.

So when the people meet you for the first time, maybe in Miami or one of those other cities, what type of dude are you?

BallGreezy’s a cool nigga. That’s a good nigga. I’ma be out there snapping pictures with the people, getting it in with my people.

Holla at me when ya see me.

Website: Myspace.com/Officialballgreezymyspace Words: Ms. Rivercity & Tanya James Photo: 954 Magazine

OZONE | 21

Y T T I SM i) Lil Hait ( L F , i Miam

22 | OZONE

During a hectic schedule of contract signing and song selection with his new label deal under Chameleon/Blackground/Universal, Smitty took a brief moment to talk about his present and past endeavors since releasing “Diamonds on My Neck” and “Died in Your Arms” under J Records.

I hear you’re in L.A. What are you working on out there?

I’m finishing up this new new record deal with Chameleon/Blackground/Universal.

I’m no longer with J Records. I got a new single coming out called “100” produced

by Odd-N-Endz. I also called a new record produced by Mr. Lee from Houston. I’m just getting myself in a position where the world can hear all of my music, not just particular records. Everything’s going smooth. The way the game is now, with people scratching their claws to put out music and be relevant artists, I’m blessed.

Do you have to start from scratch on your album since you left the label?

I was smart enough to slow down my recording at J Records. There are a few classic records I’m trying to buy back for my debut album, as any smart businessperson would. With J Records going through a transition, it definitely won’t be a problem buying those records back. I put out almost four independent albums while I was on J Records. That’s how I was staying relevant in the game. I’ve always been the type of artist to record on a daily basis so there’s no such thing as me holding on to records.

It’s funny ‘cause a lot of problems I had with J Records is that I was making too much music. When you got people that are not musically inclined [deciding] what a single is, sometimes artists can make too much music and it confuses people. They don’t know what to go with so you don’t get your full push. In this new situation, that won’t be a problem ‘cause the more music I make, the more I can put out.

Is the album name still going to be the same?

Of course not. I was always a fan of [the name] Life of a Troubled Child ‘cause it spoke volumes about me. A lot has changed for me as far as the industry and my view on life. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to call the new album yet.

Do you wish you had done anything different as far as signing with J Records? Or do you look at it as a learning experience?

In the beginning, I blamed other people. It was everybody’s fault but mine. I sacrificed so much of my time and efforts to make that situation and it didn’t go the way I wanted it to. No disrespect to J Records; they spent $2.5 million dollars on me. A kid like me coming out the ghetto with nothing, for somebody to believe in me to that point speaks volumes of they character as well as volumes of my talent. I appreciate it. I would never badmouth them and say they didn’t do shit for me. I just don’t think that they had my best interest in mind when it came to the business side of things. And that’s understandable because if I was a businessman I’d do the same thing. I’m not mad at all about anything because I learned so much. I just saw so much bullshit, so many promises; they’ll look you in the eye from the bottom of their heart and lie to your face. I needed that. I needed to grow up and go back to the lab. I needed to be dropping freestyles every day because most of the artists that are successful, like Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jeezy, T.I., they gotta be able to make a million records. I don’t even think that was me when I first got signed.

You had some clothing endorsements on the table last year. Has that changed?

I got all my checks off of those. You know how clothing deals go – when you’re hot, you’re hot and when you’re not, you’re not. Shout out to Crown Royal, Pro Keds, Seagrams. My manager Chase Michaels is hooking up a Courvoisier deal as we speak.

What else is in the works?

I really do this. I go hard. I’m not an individual that came with one record and no one knows what happened to him. I came with another record and it didn’t go down.

People don’t understand that. When I’m in the street, I don’t have a shirt explaining, “Oh, they fucked up my budget and that’s why the video wasn’t shot.” They think you’re not a hot artist because no one’s supporting you from a marketing standpoint, DJs as well. The DJ ain’t gonna hop on it until somebody’s calling them from a label, no matter how big the record is. These are the politics that we play. Shout to Chameleon/Blackground/Universal, Close Range, my fam, 305, Lil Haiti, Wildcard Entertainment, Trae the Truth, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Grit Boys, the whole H-Town, and Julia.

Website: Myspace.com/Smitty Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE | 23

24 | OZONE

OZONE | 25

ACE HOOD Words by Ms Rivercity Photos by Wuz Good

26 | OZONE

T

o be introduced to the world by a respected name like DJ Khaled is a guaranteed attention grabber. Ace Hood linked up with the We the Best mogul earlier this year and things have been advancing at full speed ever since. With support from We the Best/Def Jam and production by The Runners, Ace’s first single “Cash Flow” featuring T-Pain is becoming a new Florida favorite.

Tell me about your history as an artist.

What made you interested in music?

My whole inspiration comes from my family.

My step-father was into music as well so I guess he kinda rubbed off on me. My real father was part of a band. Watching that and knowing that I could grow up one day and change Hip Hop and be that next dude really inspired me.

How did you end up on We the Best Records?

Me and Khaled met up at the station 99 Jamz. I wanted to perform at his birthday bash but it ended up being something further than that. He saw a certain goal with me. It’s always something about somebody when you meet ‘em that gives you that impression. Basically, he said he would listen to the song and once he listened to it he called my manager back that night and told him he wanted to hear me on a bigger record. He sent “I’m So Hood” over to me and I ripped it down and sent it to him the next day. A couple weeks later he was talking about signing me to We the Best Music.

What’s it like working with Khaled?

It’s a blessing. Working with one of the top DJs – if not the best DJ – that’s doing it right now. DJ Khaled has a lot of clout. It’s a lot of energy. It’s something new everyday.

Khaled has great presence. I get hyped being around him; he’s a great guy. It’s great.

Tell me about your distribution deal with Def Jam. We flew to New York. We had offers from Atlantic and a couple other labels. Once we met with Def Jam, I did a presentation for L.A. Reid with different songs that are gonna be on my album. He ran “Cash Flow” back five times, literally. He never does that for new artists. Once we did that, I stepped out of the room and twenty minutes later it’s We the Best/Def Jam. He told me, “Con-

gratulations. We’re making history.”

Talk about some of the songs you have out now.

The single I’m pushing right now is “Cash Flow” featuring T-Pain and Rick Ross. I got my mixtape joints with me riding on different beats and other people’s singles. I’m gonna be on Khaled’s first single. My second single is “Gutta.” But we’re just pushing “Cash Flow” right now.

You shot the video for “Cash Flow.” How was that experience?

Everything was super good. I’m blessed to be in my situation to be backed by the biggest dudes in the game. It’s a life changing experience. It was something new for me.

The video is pretty big. It was Rick Ross, TPain, The Runners, DJ Christion, and Birdman came through. We shot it in Overtown.

What are some of your favorite subjects to rap about?

I’m versatile when it comes to music but I would say I’m addicted to hitting hard music. My slang and how I do things, I use the term gutter a lot because it represents me as a person and what I do, from my swag to anything. I would pretty much say street music, hood music, whether it’s whips, money, jewelry, or representing my hood. I can pretty much go any route.

What’s your favorite lines from a verse?

“Knock, knock, bang, bang, where the cash at? / If ya ain’t got it, leave ya dirty like a Tampax / ‘Cause I’m shooting at you ducks like Aflac / Then I foam in the suede black Maybach” Have you been getting used to the spotlight? Were you prepared for how fast things would move working with Khaled?

Yeah, I was prepared for the situation. It’s like second nature. You know Khaled’s always gonna prep you before it’s time to do your thing. Being on the road is good.

I’ve done a lot of things and learned a lot of things. You see how other people do it where they from, learn other languages, and all that other stuff.

What’s the typical day like since signing with We the Best?

I wake up early in the morning and check in with the DJs, basically let ‘em know I appreciate ‘em playing my record and stuff like that. Then from there, I may head to OZONE | 27

the studio, depending on what I have to do.

I may have to fly out that evening. Once I do radio interviews, I may have to do some street DVDs, and then back to the radio interviews, or back to the studio. Then later on that night I might do a lil club gig.

new music. How do you feel about being able to carry the Florida torch?

I’m honored to be the next up. I’m ready to show a new swag. They already know what it is. To be a part of Florida and to be the first artist out of my city, it’s a big look.

What are the plans for your album?

The second single “Gutta” is coming. The album is dropping August 26th. That’s the date we have set right now. The album is titled Gutta. I got a couple of promo tours coming up. I go on the road for the first promo tour then I come back and go back again for a second tour to promote for the album.

Where are you from originally?

I was in Port Lucie. That’s where my family is originally from. I moved to Broward County when I was about 5 years old. I grew up in Deerfield Beach. Broward County’s been my home for the longest.

Do you go on the road with Khaled or by yourself?

Before the single hit the radio, I was on the road promoting with Khaled. I was putting out “Cash Flow” so people could get

Why did you move to Broward County?

My moms and real pops were going through a little situation that led them to separate.

Once they separated my moms was looking for a new start. We figured if we moved to a small city in Broward County, with two sisters and two brothers. She moved here with the intentions of making a better start.

“I use the term ‘gutter’ a lot because it represents me as a person.” familiar with me for when they hear it on the radio. The promo tour I’m going on now is a personal tour. We’re tearing up the South Coast so they can see my face.

Which producers will be on the album?

I got JUSTICE League, Gold Rush, The Runners, Cool & Dre. The Runners are the biggest thing in the game right now.

Ace Won’t Fold is your mixtape, right?

Yeah. We dropped the mixtape a few weeks ago. It’s big in the streets. It’s a classic mixtape. It ain’t got big features on it; I just gave different looks to let them know who I really am and show ‘em what I do. That’s basically the concept for the mixtape.

At the end of the day, what do you want people to get out of your music?

I want people to get a new energy. I want to bring a new swag to the game, give it a different look. Growing up in a small city, it lets people know that you can be from a nowhere city and grow up to be something major. Nobody blows up from where I’m from. No one in my city has ever made it big. I want to produce great music and hit records.

What words best describe you as a person?

I’m a chill type of guy. I got a couple of homies but I’m not a person that has 50,000 friends. I’m low key. I’m full of swag.

Are you leaking any of the album songs on the mixtape?

Nah, I ain’t leaked no album cuts. I just leaked one track called “Collection Plate.”

Do you have any big events you’re preparing for?

I’ll just pretty much be at the clubs. I may do a guest appearance at Summer Jam.

Florida is a good market for breaking

Website: Myspace.com/Acemusiczone

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O R O T

Locka) a p O ( FL Miami,

30 | OZONE

After making several major moves last year, including his Khaled certified mixtape and acting appearance in Bloodline, Toro is taking even more steps in the right direction.

Here he discusses his new single with Rick Ross and his return to the movie game.

You have some new features out right now.

Who all have you been working with?

I have a new single that’s on the radio right now getting a lot of spins. It’s featuring Rick Ross. It’s called “Ride” and it’s produced

by Gorilla Tek. It’s blazing real heavy in northern and central Florida. Miami is killin’ ‘em. We’re just working that. I got another single with Brisco, BallGreezy, and Ice Berg called “We Live.”

Do you think it helps an artist to have some major artists co-sign them?

It’s good, but basically I built my buzz myself. The artists that I do work with, we grew up together in the Miami industry scene, like Rick Ross and Brisco. Those are my friends besides the music. E-Class, Flo Rida, I’ve known all of them forever. It’s a good look because you can attract their fans to your songs. You can all get fans at the same time.

There’s a lot of hot artists coming out of Opa-Locka.

We support each other and do a lot of music together. You got One Life, Street Mob – that’s a group we just put together with me, Brisco, and BallGreezy. We got like eight songs now. As far as Opa-Locka, it’s a couple of artists we know of so far, but you never know what’s gonna come out of there. But we work with everybody in OpaLocka, Liberty City, Carol City, and Miami period. We’re not just messing with only our section; we messing with everybody.

Last year you had a CD out hosted by DJ Khaled. Have you worked with him since then?

Yes. I worked with him on the Ace remix for 99 Jamz. I do a lot of shows with them. As far as new music, I just reloaded my mixtape. I just added a couple of more songs to the one he hosted. I got the DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz that should be out Memorial Day Weekend.

How long have you been working on the Gangsta Grillz project?

It took me basically a year to put it together.

I had trouble with my management but we got it done. We’re ready to ship ‘em out

Memorial Day Weekend. It took a while with him going through all the mixtape drama [with the RIAA]. We had to take it slow.

What happened with your management situation?

I was with Lifeline Management with Zo and Jimmy Henchmen. My manager is incarcerated right now but we’re still doing the same thing. I got a new manager named Merc with Big Idea Management. We’re still a family. We’re doing shows and basically keeping the buzz up in the streets. I got one of the biggest buzzes in Florida right. I’m with the Iconz Music Group for production so I’ve got the hottest tracks in Florida.

Iconz did the Bloodline movie, right?

Yeah. We just did Bloodline 2. I’m in that, Bloodline, M.I.Yayo, East Coast Ridaz, the “I’m So Hood” video, Ace’s video, Plies’ video. I’m just working right now. I’m just doing everything I can. I got my “Ride” video on YouTube featuring Rick Ross.

We’re just working right now.

Was it difficult to get into acting?

The role they gave me was just being myself. I’m not an actor but I’m good at what I do. I can do anything I put my mind to. It’s really nothing, memorizing the script and everything. I just changed it up a lil bit to cater to my lifestyle. It’s easy though.

Which character did you play?

Smurf in the first Bloodline. I was working under Koke (Suthunboy) and Ump. Now that Ump is gone, it’s just me and Koke.

It’s gonna be really big. It will probably be released in the fall of ’09. We should be wrapping up the filming in another month or so. Thanks for everybody supporting the first Bloodline movie. We did real good numbers on that.

What else do you want to say?

I just want to let everybody know I’m the best nigga breathing so just get ready for me. Check my track record. I got the mixtape game on smash. I got the movie game on smash. We’re just vibing right now. Y’all check us out. You seen me everywhere. I’m at your flea markets, your malls, your clubs.

I’m getting independent money. Catch me riding on fo’s, selling my CDs out the back do’. That’s how I do it. Free Zo! Website: Myspace.com/Toroiconz Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE | 31

H S E R F GIT dale, FL r e d u a Ft. L Miami/

32 | OZONE

You may recognize the R&B quartet Git Fresh by their former alias Deep Side.

Deciding to reinvent the group after parting ways with Jive Records, Rude Boi, Pretty Sly, Penny, and Mike Ezay created a fresh start with their own production company and a new deal with So So Def/Island Def Jam, not to mention a new take on Florida’s “Booty Music.”

Describe what your new song “Booty Music” is all about.

Rude Boi: We were in Atlanta and I was working on the beat for “Booty Music.” It originally started out as slower beat that I decided to speed up. I sped it up and started writing the verse. I called the other guys in the group and they liked it. It was pretty easy. The concept is like, when you say making love to booty music, I’m basically telling a girl – down here in Florida we play booty music a lot in the club – and the way she’s dancing in the club when that music comes on makes me want to make love to her right there on the dance floor.

The new song is getting airplay right? Has it reached areas outside of Florida?

Pretty Sly: The song has rotation on Power 96. It’s a top five record on Power 96. If you go to their website you can check out the “Booty Music” record. Yesterday it was number one in the Top 6 at 9. And 99 Jamz also picked the record up. They got it in rotation right now. The record has not gone for adds yet in the entire country.

What’s the story behind the new deal?

Pretty Sly: We got a deal based on the record playing in Miami and Reno in the West Coast. We had four labels interested in the group – Atlantic, Interscope, Universal and the label we decided to go with was Island/ So So Def because we noticed the other labels were kind of chasing the record and Island/Def Jam didn’t know we had a record on the radio. L.A. Reid wanted to sign us based on pure talent and what he saw in that room that night. We signed with them 45 days after being released from Jive.

Explain why you guys changed your name.

Was it related to changing labels?

Rude Boi: We changed the name because we wanted to have a whole fresh new start.

We didn’t want to have any ties to the old shit that we was dealing with, no ties to Jive or anything. That’s where the name Git Fresh comes from. And we wanted to own our own trademarks.

Pretty Sly: We knew we needed to reinvent ourselves. Our old name was out there for a long time. Being on Jive and having our own production situation, we felt it was time to move on. It was time that we took our careers into our own hands. We changed the name, got released from the label, and we started fresh with a brand new beginning.

The music is still the same good music and we’re still the same cool guys.

Do you think the fans will have to adjust to the new name? Will they know it’s the same group as before?

Pretty Sly: Once the video drops they’re gonna get it. Once we get on TV and when they read this interview, we’ll explain to them exactly why we changed the name. I think it was a good thing because once we changed the name, we just felt brand new.

How did you come up with the image of the group? Y’all are all so different but you still have a coordinating look.

Rude Boi: We are all different and come from different backgrounds, but at the same time we grew up together. We’ve been a group for tens years and I’ve known Sly for fifteen years. We’ve been together so long we can’t help but pick up different things from each other. Even though we feel like we aren’t that coordinated, people see us and can tell that we’ve been together for a long ass time.

Did you release any projects on Jive?

Rude Boi: Nah, we’re starting fresh.

Pretty Sly: The album’s probably going to be self-titled. It’s going to being our first major release. It’s a great thing that we didn’t put an album out on Jive. We only put out a single. Now we have the new single and are about to shoot the video in the next month.

What are some other things people should know about your current situation?

Pretty Sly: If you want to know anything about the group you can go to Myspace. com/Gitfreshmusic. It has tour dates and our music. We write and produce all our own music. We got signed to Island So So Def through our own production company called Studio Monkeyz.

Rude Boi: And we’re starting to get into writing and producing for other artists now.

Website: Myspace.com/Gitfreshmusic Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Frank Antonio OZONE | 33

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K A E N S SAM ami, FL i M h t r No

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Whether it’s the signature call-outs on records he cosigns, the unique haircut designs, or his out-of-the norm wardrobe selection, Sam Sneak always stands out.

Making a name for himself on the underground radio scene, Sam is currently noted as one of Miami’s leading record breakers.

You’ve come up over the last year. What’s been going on?

I’ve been working with more artists since the last issue like Bizzle, Unda Surveillance, Grind Mode, Brisco, Triple Cs. I got a gang of people I’ve been working on and breaking in Miami at Take One. I’m Triple C and Rick Ross’ official DJ. I’m everywhere. I’m Poe Boy’s DJ. I’m Jam Squad.

If you want to find me I’ma be at Take One every day of the week. Sometimes I might venture off and do Oxygen, or Mansion, or Sobe Live.

You have a trademark slogan on all things you put out. How important do you think the “Sam Sneak” voiceover has been to your career?

It’s been major. Everywhere you go in Miami, and some parts of Florida, you’ll hear “Sam Sneak” or “Jam Squad” over a lot of records. A lot of times your record ain’t bumpin’ if it don’t got that on there. It makes it official. I won’t put that on everything anymore. Certain tracks I’ll put it on and some I won’t.

Who does those signature haircuts you get?

That’s my barber in Carol Mart. He hooks me up all the time. Every weekend I feel like doing it, I go to him and he hooks it up for me. I got a high-top fade going on.

I always get different things. I had Triple C on there. If you go on my Myspace page you’ll see everything. I had Sneak on the side of my head, 80’s Baby. I had the dude do so many different styles.

You do a lot of different things to make yourself stand out. Have you always been a different type of person or do you do these things to gain attention as a DJ? I’ve always stood out. You say it’s standing out, but everybody else calls me weird.

I’m the only DJ in Miami that wears small shirts. They say I’m the only dude that has small shirts on all the time and fitted jeans.

I’ve always been a weird kid, ever since middle school. They said I was special.

Obviously being weird is working out well for you.

Yeah, I love it. I’m blessed. I thank God every morning and every night. And every time somebody calls me, like how you called me [for the interview], I’m thanking God for being blessed and being weird.

What’s up with Jam Squad? Who’s DJ crew is that and how long have you been a part of that?

That’s actually something I started back in ’03 with me and three other dudes. It’s me, my dude DJ Papo, he’s at White Diamonds and Diamond’s Cabaret. Teflon is Bizzle’s DJ and sometimes he’s at Rolex. It’s also Fatt Boi; he’s at Coco’s. He also goes by Shrek. He looks like Shrek for real. I got the younger Jam Squad dudes that are trying to come up. We’re real tight though.

Everybody’s cool with each other.

What else has been going on career-wise for you?

My lil brother Dred Skeezy is coming soon.

We’re throwing him a birthday party at Mansion on May 26th. They got the group Hitman Enterprise with Fraigo Da Boss and Tef 2 Def. I drop in sometimes Friday nights on Poe Boy radio on Streetsfm. com. If I’m not there it’ll be DJ Chronic, or one of the Poe Boy DJs. Shout out to XO Management, North Miami, the whole Eastside and Westside of North Miami. For anybody’s that trying to get at me to play their music, they gotta get their music and business right. You can’t come to me with money; I gotta like the record. Don’t think I’m gonna make it happen and you gonna sit on your ass either. You gotta work the record yourself too.

Website: Myspace.com/Djsamsneak Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Dred from NLTG Photography

OZONE |

F E D DJ

10 | OZONE

After spinning his way through the 80s and 90s, DJ Def got his big break in 2000 when he won Power 96’s DJ competition. Since then he’s gone on to break artists like Pitbull, Pretty Ricky, Flo Rida, and several others. In addition to his full radio schedule, Def also mixes and scratches at Porter House on Tuesday nights in Downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

Being from an era of some old-school classics, how do you feel about the way Hip Hop has evolved over the years?

Every year you have a new sound; new producers. A producer could be hot one year and then you don’t hear from him for a few years. Music is constantly changing. I just evolve with the times and what’s going on.

Who are some artists in Miami that have potential to blow up? What do you see in them?

If you want to get into artists I’ve broken, I was one of the first to play Pitbull down here, T-Pain, Pretty Ricky, Grind Mode, BallGreezy, and right now there’s a hot group called Unda Surveillance. They have a big record in the hood called “On Deck.”

I show a lot of people love, a lot of local love. If you got something hot, bring it my way and I’ll definitely show you love.

What have been some of the most fulfilling aspects of DJing over the years?

I’m proud of making people happy. When I’m in the club I’m focused on moving the crowd. I get a good vibe with that. I see people in the street and they tell me they love what I do. I do the after party mix Monday - Friday at 9:30 PM. On Saturdays I do a hangover mix at noon with Lucy Lopez. I also do a world famous Love Hour every Sunday - Thursday from 10 PM til midnight, where we play all sexy slow jams and love dedications. I’m also a part of the new Arbitron rated night show with JP. Do you think the DJ gets enough credit when it comes to artists’ careers? Who’s good at returning the love?

If I ever need anything from Pitbull as far as a freestyle or anything, he’s always there. Grind Mode comes through. BallGreezy is another one. Unda Surveillance and Flo Rida. I was one of the first to play Flo Rida. But I’m the type of DJ that says, “Real DJs talk with their hands, not with their mouths.” I just like to show the real DJing skills on the turntables. There’s a lot of DJs now that have gotten lazy and they just talk on the mic and cut to another record. I’m still working the turntables. I’m not one of the DJs that’s trying to be in the videos. I’m in the crowd; I’m low key. I don’t need the fame. I’m a regular person just like everybody else.

What’s a common misconception about what you do?

They think it’s real easy to get any song played. It doesn’t work that way. Everything has a process. With politics and everything else, everything has to go through your bosses. But if it’s a good song and it has potential and some type of momentum in the streets and clubs, I definitely don’t have a problem showing love.

Do you have any advice for others trying to come up?

A lot of people like to sleep; I don’t sleep.

I work seven days. When other people are sleeping, I’m planning my next move.

There’s always somebody that wants to take your place. Never give up and always grind. Always shake hands and be cool with people. If you show love, they’ll show love.

Speaking on your next move, what do you have coming up for the next year?

I’m getting back into some production and beats. I’m doing some remixes. I’m taking my shows to another level. My love hour is Arbitron rated number one. I’m going to keep hustling and do what I do.

Website: Myspace.com/Djdef96 Words by: Ms. Rivercity

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K N U D S R E RYD FL Miami,

12 | OZONE

The Trick Daddy-assisted “Fuck Tha Otha Side” (a.k.a. “Flag Song”) is presently one of the hardest records in Florida. But the Dunk Ryders’ recent recognition comes with bitter sweetness for Iceburg and Fella.

Soup, the third member of the group, is currently facing ten years in prison. Here Iceburg discusses the situation and how they plan to keep things moving.

The record y’all have out is killing the clubs.

Did you know it was going to be a hit?

It’s still going. We’re good. We’re grinding.

So what happened with Soup?

Yeah, he got jammed up ‘cause a punk ass snitch told on him. Somebody who he thought was real turned out to be unreal and told on him. He caught ten years. He was considered a career criminal. We’re trying to work on some stuff now. We’re trying to bring him home. We’re praying for him.

How are you going to keep representing him for the group while he’s away?

We’re working with the same team. We’re not replacing my dawg. A lot of songs as far as our album, we kinda saved a lot of songs where he could at least be on a few of songs.

Speaking of the album, what are the plans for that?

We’ll put in out probably in August. We just shot the video for “Fuck Tha Other Side.”

I guess they’re trying to trip but we ain’t gonna let ‘em. A couple of lil critics are tryna backdoor us, tryna talk about gang violence and gang relations and all that, but you know we’re still gonna try to push for that video and be out by August.

Nowadays you can put a video on YouTube and it will be just as successful. Why don’t you go that route?

Yeah, if they do blow it then we gonna have to go that route and then do something else for mainstream. But right now I’m tryin’ to take that video mainstream.

Have you come up with a name for the album yet?

Right now we’re kinda iffy about the name.

We’re probably gonna roll with Trick Daddy Presents the Dunk Ryders: We Open. “We Open” is like back in the days when we had John Doe in the trap and people used to

ride up and down the street and say “We open!” That’s like a Miami thing.

How is Trick Daddy’s involvement going to help take the group to the next level?

Shit, he’s got his hands in it 100% like he’s in the group. He’s probably gonna be on three or four songs on the album. He’s helping us out. He’s on the “Flag” record.

He’s with us every step of the way, except when it comes to our shows. We been on the road with him for the last two years. We was on his album and everything.

Are you still doing Dunk Ryder Thursdays at Diamond’s Cabaret?

Yeah! If y’all are down here Memorial Weekend that’s where it goes down. We had the Rollexxx but they started hating so right now we ain’t really fucking with the Rollexx. It’s all about Diamonds.

It’s a straight gentlemen’s club in there.

Everything’s good in there. You got about five police outside every night. You ain’t got no all-the-way goons or thugs. It ain’t like that hood stuff. It’s a good vibe all the way.

If ladies come there they might get a meal ticket. That’s where niggas with the money are at. You can find a basketball or football player in there.

How was the Rollexx hating?

They started doing all this lil conspiracy type shit. You know Rollexx got kinda historical so niggas gon’ respect them but it’s a lot of conspiracy shit. We had to move our shit somewhere else.

Who’s your favorite girl at Diamond’s?

It’s a couple of ‘em. I got about five or six. I got about three or four projects I’m working on right now so I can’t say no names and blow my cover.

Is there anything else you want to mention before we go?

Free Moose and Soup. Rest in peace Parker, Pooh, Sean, Dion, everybody we done lost in our journey to the top. We do it for the hood; fuck the otha side. And fuck all you haters ‘cause that Chevy is on the way out the shop right now. ’72 Impala coming soon.

Website: Myspace.com/Dunkrydersrecords Words: Ms. Rivercity

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O C S I BR Locka) a p O ( FL Miami,

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After passing the rigorous hazing process Poe Boy enforces on all of its new prodigies, Brisco has come out of the studio a seasoned artist with plenty of fired up lyrics for his fans. After achieving notable success in South Florida with his record “In the Hood” featuring Lil Wayne, the Cash Money artist is now garnering a large regional buzz with his strictly-for-the-streets banger called “Bitch I’m Me.”

him his lyrics. You know what he came from. Biggie kinda did the classic thing but you more saw the Versace shirts and the glasses, the good part of it. With ‘Pac, you saw the hood. He was a regular cat.

What’s new with you lately? The “Bitch I’m Me” song is really getting out there.

It’s basically moving by itself with no radio push. It’s just a straight street and club push. It was just a record I did when I was mad at the world. I was going through a transition in my life. Me and my baby mama was breaking up and I didn’t get to see my son. So that was an influential record talking about the self-esteem part of people. It lets people know when I look in the mirror, I see me. Who better but me?

What are the plans for promoting and releasing the album?

Me and E-Class are really seeing how we’re gonna do it. E-Class, Baby, and Slim are sitting down about it. It’s going to be a solidified classic album. Right now I’m just grooving, still learning a lot of things about music.

That’s real. Have you gotten over that transition period or are you still dealing with it?

I’m still on that. I’m kinda over it but I’m still dealing with it too.

Are you doing a video?

We haven’t done a video ‘cause really we’re kinda scared of changing [the song]. You can’t really change that bitch. That bitch signifies the song. We did “Yes I’m Me” but it [didn’t have] the same impact as “Bitch I’m Me.” “Bitch” is something emotional, ya know?

You make a lot of street records. Have you made songs with more commercial appeal?

Do you feel that’s necessary at this point?

I’m a strong believer that the hood and the streets boost you up to the mainstream. I want everybody to know me, to know my growth, and to know how trill I am. I guess the formula with street records is good but I do have big huge records for radio. My album is called Street Medicine. It’s like, you know the [Tupac’s] Makaveli and [Notorious B.I.G.’s] Life After Death albums? It’s like a combination of that; real lyrical and edgy. I say the darkest things on my album. I just did Gangsta Grillz with DJ Drama. That’s what solidified my movement. It’s gonna be big. It’s coming out Memorial Day weekend.

Did you listen to Tupac and Biggie a lot growing up?

Biggie was my favorite, but I can’t lie, I liked Tupac a lil more ‘cause the hood gave

Is that how you want people to look at you?

Yeah. I want ‘em to look at me as a regular cat that knows shit to write about, a lot about music.

It seems like you fuck with a lot of the artists in your city. Would you say Miami is pretty unified?

Yeah, it is, but some people are doing better than others. It’s a lot of inside beef. You can see it in cats’ eyes when you’re doing a record with them. That’s just the competitiveness of Miami.

So is Opa-Locka hoping you’ll shine light and bring some positive growth to the area?

Yeah, I already did that. I continue to do it.

The whole thing about my hood is, it’s in the middle of Carol City and Liberty City, so we got all different types of problems. I just shine light on it. I let the kids know and they say, “He’s signed to Lil Wayne; he brought Lil Wayne to the hood.” I eat breakfast in the hood every morning at a spot called Curly’s. They always see me in the hood, come touch me and give me dap, hug me or whatever. I’m hood, not Hollywood. I’m still accepting the success and I’m overwhelmed by it.

What’s new with Poe Boy? Do y’all have any new up-and-comers on the team?

We’ve got an R&B cat named David Lyn. He’s basically going through the hazing process here. Poe Boy and Cash Money are real self-contained. The biggest upand-coming artist we have is Lil Brianna.

She was signed to Missy at one point. She happens to be my blood cousin and she’s exceptional. You’ll want to be one of the writers to tap into her ‘cause she’s special.

Website: Myspace.com/Brisco305 Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE | 15

E S E E 21 R L each, F B a r e i v Ri

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Reppin’ the under-publicized town of Riviera Beach, 21 Reese has been on the grind for some time now. Here the Florida MC tells us how he’s been getting his music out there, what he’s working on now, and what to look for in the future.

For those that don’t know, go ahead and tell the people who you are and what you’re reppin’.

Yeah this is 21 Reese, Palm Beach County’s own representin’ the 568 and Block Burnaz Entertainment. We in the city of Riviera Beach doin’ it real big out here, tryin’ to let the industry know that it’s more than just Miami poppin’ off in Florida.

So what’s behind the name 21 Reese?

It’s really very simple. 21 just means I’m a grown man ‘bout mine. Even when I wasn’t 21 I always handled my business like a grown man. And Reese just so happens to be my real name.

How long have you been making music?

Shit about 13 years, but only 8 years where I been doing it seriously, trying to make a career out of it.

Describe your style for the people.

It’s crazy. I’m everything a nigga wanna hear all in one. I’m one of the best lyricists in the world, ya feel me? On top of that, I put a lil melody on it; I sing. I don’t just rap about one topic, so all genres of life can relate to me. I put something in there for everybody.

What do you think about when you pick up the pen?

First and foremost is getting my jitterbugs up out this bullshit hood we live in, ya feel me? When I pick up the pen I think about being the best that ever did this shit. I think about leaving a legacy, bigger than Jay-Z, bigger than Pac, bigger than Biggie. I wanna be remembered as that nigga in the game. I wanna be remembered as the best in my craft.

Basically you use your music as an outlet to express yourself?

Most definitely. I’m from the woods of Florida and ain’t nothing out there but sports.

But I wasn’t athletic when I was a jitterbug so I had to find a different way to express myself. So I moved to Riviera when I was ‘bout 13 and that’s when I really got into it.

When I started writing shit down I felt like this is me; I can be me on here, ya feel me?

What’s been your biggest challenge so far?

Trying to get seen from this fucked up ass location I’m at. Nobody sees Palm Beach as a place that generates music. We don’t get no respect and people don’t look at us ‘cause we ain’t never had no major artists to blow. So just really getting people to understand we’re a force to be reckoned with.

How do you go about creating your music?

It ain’t no thing to that shit. I do it sometimes with beats, sometimes without beats. It just depends on how I feel. I might be on the toilet and pull out the pad. This shit comes out me anywhere. I done been in the club and had to jot something down. It can happen anywhere.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing your generation in your community?

Right now it’s gotta be the gun violence.

The economy is fucked up and the violence in my hood is a direct reflection of that.

You ain’t got no money circulatin’. You got people hungry out here and they gonna do what they gotta do to feed theirs. Right now we got one of the top murder rates in the state. It’s a lot of young black brothers dying in my hood for no reason at all.

Describe your stage show for us.

I’m an entertainer. I come out there and I give the people a show. I try to electrify ‘em and I try to electrify myself. I try to get the crowd involved, all the emotion that I give ‘em in the studio I give it to ‘em on the stage too.

What are you working on now? What should the people be looking for from you?

We just got done with the mix album, 2108 Da Mix Album, and that’s hosted by DJ Smallz. And we in the lab right now; I ain’t finna say no names or nothing like that but it’s fire so we got some shit coming soon.

Is there anything else you wanna shout out or tell the people to watch out for?

Definitely hit us up on Myspace. We got a lot of unreleased, unheard shit. Make sure y’all check that out and leave some comments. I got that 21 Weight mixtape that’s gonna be released on the streets. I got Pleasure P on there. Shout out to all my producers, Looney Tunez, everybody who did tracks on my album.

Website: Myspace.com/Thereal21reese Words: Tony Wilson OZONE | 17

Y D N I C SUPA FL Miami,

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If you want the 100% realness on what’s hot in Miami, holla at Supa Cindy. 99 Jamz’ Supa Woman will give you the scoop on local and major artists, community events, and even the low down that no one else wants to air. She also uses her media power and friendly personality to help the young females in her city. Kudos.

What’s new Ms. Cindy?

I’ve always had my girls non-profit which is called Supa Friends. Every year I do a summit in April. This year I’m helping girls pay for their prom. I’m also going to have a graduation dinner for the top-achieving seniors in my non-profit. On July 26th, instead of my annual I Know I Can Summit, I’m going to have a health fair specifically for girls and their moms so they can learn about hygiene. It will be in Miami Gardens and you can get info on the station’s website www.wedr.com. 99 Jamz is hooking up with me to do it.

Where does most of the funding for your non-profit come from?

Honestly, I go to every single baller, hood nigga, drug dealer, any record label, anybody I know that has money to spare, and I ask them. I’ve been in radio for 8 years so I have good relationships. I don’t really have one enemy in this whole industry, to my knowledge. That’s kinda weird since I’m an entertainment reporter. People think that because they go big in radio that they can go beg anybody for anything. I’m not like that. I only beg once a year if I’m having an event, and it’s not even directly for me; it’s for my girls. When I step to them they always say yes.

It seems like you’d be good on television. Is that something you’re working towards?

I have a television show in South Florida on My Network. It’s called In the Mix Miami and it airs every Friday at 2:30 in the morning.

We’ve been getting a big response for it, so the programming department repeats it all

during the week. I’m trying to move it to an earlier time slot. It’s only been on for three months and the ratings are excellent. It’s about everything entertainment, everything Miami. I interview local and known artists. I go to community events. I film everywhere I go. You can YouTube it under my name and In the Mix. My next step is getting into television. My only problem is I’m too greedy; I can’t lose weight. You’ve gotta be a size zero to be on TV and I’m like, whatever. I haven’t told anyone, but I’m also going to start a series of books for women. It’s not going to be a 300 page memoir; I tend to write short books, 20 pages tops, pinpointing a subject – like a mini guide for girls and what they’re going through in life.

Who are some artists you see as the future of Miami Hip Hop? I’m afraid to even say it ‘cause I might get in trouble, but a lot of Miami artists have to go elsewhere to get love and then they end up coming back. It’s like there’s really no outlets for them to get played out here besides underground radio. Only a handful of people are getting played on mainstream radio. But as far as local artists, right now Khaled’s artist Ace is getting love. Grind Mode, who I unfortunately heard they got dropped from their label. They got a music video but I don’t think it’s gonna air. Git Fresh, who had a different name before, they were in the loop for years. They were on Jive Records, did songs with R. Kelly, all kinds of stuff. They basically had to fire their manager and change their name. They have a song on radio called “Booty Music.”

BallGreezy hasn’t even been signed yet.

It’s so unfortunate ‘cause there’s so much talent but the artists are not getting the recognition they deserve. I don’t know if it’s the recession causing the labels not to sign people, but the game has just switched up.

Website: Myspace.com/Supadupe Words: Ms. Rivercity & Tanya James

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DJ ALED KH

EST B E H T LL I T S E W

The current momentum and energy of Miami Hip Hop can largely be credited to its number one music cosigner, DJ Khaled. His Take Over show on 99 Jamz with K Foxx, along with the launching of numerous world-wide hits, has placed Khaled in a position to climb the ladder even further. Khaled recently took his “We the Best” slogan to another level by stamping it on his own record label and signing a label deal with Def Jam.

Have you guys done any remixes to his record “Cash Flow?”

We haven’t done a remix yet.

What’s your biggest priority right now?

My main focus right now would be Ace Hood. I got my new label deal called We The Best/Def Jam. Ace Hood’s album is called Gutta. It’s dropping August 26th. He’s got a hit record called “Cash Flow.” My main focus is also my album called We Global Now. I’m about to drop my first single in May.

How were you able to finally pull it together after planning it for five years?

Well, I broke a lot of barriers with my album. It shows that I work good with artists and put a lot of hit records together. At the same time, I broke a lot of artists on my album. I break artists on the daily. I’m a Hip Hop mogul right now. When I put my hands on something it’s gonna come together. I got that ear and marketing skills. I got that knowledge of hot artists. It’s something I do naturally.

Who’s going to be on the single?

I’m real tight-lipped about it. When I leak it that’s when we can talk about it.

I want to surprise people.

With everyone coming at you, what made you choose Ace Hood to be on the label?

You can tell when he steps in a room he’s got that star glow. When you see him he’s got that glow of a star. He’s a superstar but also his swagger is crazy. His delivery is amazing.

As far as We the Best goes, did you always plan to get your own label going or was it something you did because it was the natural next step?

That was always planned. That was always going to be a part of my career.

That was a goal that I wanted to accomplish five years ago.

Having all that power to break records, I’m sure tons of people come to you to help push their records. Does it ever get overwhelming?

It’s called life. It’s something we decided to do. I’m in the music business for life. It’s always gonna be a lot of people but I ain’t mad. People try to win; people try to get on; people try to take it to another level so I’m not mad OZONE | 23

at somebody’s that grinding. I respect the grind ‘cause I’m out here grinding.

You feel me?

Now that you have such a large movement going on, you probably have a lot of people helping with the workload.

Tell me about the team that helps you stay on point.

Me and my team are a bunch of soldiers. My team is people that are trying to win and see the vision. We all have the same vision to win in the music game. You have Roc-A-Fella Records, Bad Boy Records, Murder Inc., all these are successful record companies and now it’s time for We the Best Music Group to be one of those big Hip Hop labels. We’re the new energy.

My crew is a group of hard-working people and we get together and go hard, from the streets, to the marketing, to the radio, to the artists. We out here grinding.

Why did you decide to partner up with Def Jam? What were they offering you?

Def Jam is my partners and I went with them ‘cause Def Jam is one of the biggest labels in the business and at the same time, they see my vision. The support my vision and I see their vision. Def Jam has Young Jeezy, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Jay-Z, Ace Hood, Rick Ross. If you notice, everybody that Def Jam touches become superstars. We the Best is already established in the streets and now everybody is headed to a global level with some big projects. So Def Jam was the way to go. It’s always been a dream for me to have Def Jam [behind] my label.

Speaking of dreams and visions, was your family supportive of your goals in music?

Myself, I’m an inspiration for a lot of people. I inspire myself everyday so I can imagine how many people I inspire in the world, in my family, and with the fans. I always tell people to turn their dreams into goals. If somebody tells 24 | OZONE

you that you can’t do something, you can listen to what they say but don’t agree with what they say because I’m living proof. I remember people used to tell me that I couldn’t make a mixtape or an album. I put out a number one independent album in the country. By the way, I’m the guy that gave you “I’m So Hood.” By the way, I’m the guy that gave you “We Takin’ Over,” “Holla at Me Baby,” “Born and Raised.” By the way, I’m the guy that broke Rick Ross.

So all those people that maybe doubted the movement in the beginning, are they believers now?

Everybody comes around. In this business, when you win everybody falls in line. It’s a game and once you know that, you can go through this game a lil better ‘cause this game is very stressful. You gotta do what you gotta do. When you win everybody falls in line, haters fall in line, enemies fall in line. So what you do as an artist or a CEO or a magazine or a street team, anything you’re trying to do in this business, just win and go hard. I’m out here grinding.

What made you decide to get from behind the turntables and take on more of the spotlight?

In the world of music you should always spread your wings. If you look at people like L.A. Reid, JayZ, and Fat Joe, they’re big CEOs now. Everybody’s got a story. I came up DJing and producing; now I’m a manager of the biggest producers in the game called The Runners. I got my own record company called We the Best/Def Jam. I have a whole album coming out with Koch. You gotta spread your wings fully. I’m destined to win. You can stop what’s destined. You can’t stop what’s written. It’s DJ Khaled – We Global Now; we global.

What are The Runners up to lately?

The Runners have been working on a lot. They produced my first single and my second and third single on my album. They also produced Ace’s “Cash

Flow.” They’ve been working with artists like Monica, Jeezy, The Clipse, E40, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, the list goes on. The Runners are the biggest producers in the game. This is what we do. We the best.

You mentioned getting your start as a DJ. You started in college radio right?

I started off in college radio in Orlando.

I moved out of Orlando and did college radio in Miami. Then I got onto big radio. I also did college radio in New Orleans. I’ve been through every angle. I live in the streets. I came up in the streets. The streets took me to where I’m at. We out here grinding.

So would you recommend college radio as a good start for someone trying to get in the game?

I think anything is a good start. You gotta start somewhere. I got blessed through college radio. It was fun ‘cause the streets, people at the college and in the community, actually listened to it. We were playing that Hip Hop so it was great. Then I was making mixtapes and doing parties. After that I spread my wings more and got into major radio. So anything you can start with in the beginning is great.

How many mixtapes would you say you do a month? I know you host a lot of local artists’ tapes as well as major artists.

I just won Best Personality on a Mixtape at the Justo Awards. I do a lot of hosting. I did Rick Ross’ mixtape for Trilla. I just did Ace Hood’s mixtape Ace Won’t Fold. I did The Suffix for Lil Wayne. That’s a classic. I have a lot of mixtapes. I just do them when they come. I’m about supporting other people. If someone reaches out to me and says they want to use Khaled, that’s an honor that they thought of me. I’m out here grinding.

Talk to me about some of the personal goals you have in mind. Are there some things you’d like to do that you haven’t conquered yet?

I’m taking my record company to another level. You never know, one day I might run Def Jam. I might be the next L.A. Reid. I want to do other stuff besides business. I might want to own some restaurants or some malls. I want to own over 100 acres and develop big business offices and shopping centers. I want to do a lot of things. You gotta spread your wings.

I believe that every business leads to other businesses. It’s called building relationships. It happens.

Have you always been a big thinker?

That’s all I do is think big. I sleep thinking big; I wake up thinking big.

The great thing is I accomplish all the big things I put my energy into. It’s a lot of hard work. God is good. We’re definitely written. It’s DJ Khaled – we global now. I’m out here grinding.

I heard you don’t fly. Is that true?

Yeah, I stopped flying recently. I flew all my life but right now I’ve been jumping on that tour bus. I just like leaving anytime I want and doing what I want.

If anyone wants to book me, I’m just a drive away. I don’t like flying, man. I flew all my life. It’s just that right now I feel like driving and watching them trees and fields go by. With flying, them clouds are too much for me.

What are some events you have planned for Memorial Day Weekend?

Memorial Day Weekend we’re doing Mansion and Opium. We’re going to take over and do a big Def Jam party.

We’re doing a DJ Khaled and friends party. We’re doing a Cash Money party. We take over Memorial Day Weekend. I got the key to the city. It’s DJ Khaled, 305, Miami. I do it for the city. I rep my city like a G. Is there anything else you want to say?

I want to shout out the number one magazine. Look out for Ace Hood.

Website: Myspace.com/djkhaled Words by: Ms. Rivercity OZONE | 25

E L Z Z I B FL Miami,

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Released only a few short weeks ago, the YouTube video for Bizzle’s “Naked Hustle” has attracted thousands of repeat viewers.

Fueled by a mass of support from naked hustlers all over the country, and a marketing push from Lex Promotions, the song has even caught on with the youth who appreciate its ability to provoke new dance moves.

So “Naked Hustle” is the talk of the town.

What’s the history behind the song?

It hit the street about seven months ago.

The song and video created a movement, not just in Miami but wherever there is a strip club. Even with the saying, support the naked hustle, that’s what they’ve been crying for ‘cause I see a lot of broke dudes in the club that don’t be tipping.

Is that why you made the song? Because you understand the struggle or because you were trying to get played in the strip club?

Actually, that song just came out of nowhere. It was never planned; it was just sitting in the computer. I had a girl in the studio one night that happened to be a dancer and she heard the song. She took it to the club and a month later she called me to the club for a party. When I seen the people’s reaction to it I was like wow. It took off from there. There’s like 30 remixes to the record. Rick Ross did 16 bars, Grind Mode, BallGreezy. Dunk Ryders has a version that’s definitely out there. We haven’t even come out with an official remix yet.

Where was the video footage shot at?

That’s not the actual video. It’s just some clips of performances I did. It’s a YouTube video, just to give people an idea of how we do what it do in any club. Whenever I’m partying you can catch me at Take One, Silky’s, Iguana, Black Gold, Rollexx, all the popular strip clubs. It’s not only a strip club thing; if you watch the video we got the kids doing a dance to it called the Wu-Tang. That really took off. The kids are involved heavy.

The song and video don’t seem to be geared towards kids. Have you gotten any negative feedback from anyone in regards to its content?

I was expecting that but I haven’t got any, not even from the mothers. If you listen to song real carefully, I’m not promoting being a stripper or saying it’s a good thing to be a stripper. It’s a struggle. They might be a single mom and she’s crying out to come dance with me and do something for me,

it’s a struggle for my life. The kids took it and did their thing. I guess they not even listening to the words.

Lex Promotions has been pushing the song hard. How long have you been working with them?

I’ve been working with Lex since around December. He’s a genius. He has Florida on lock. We were in Tallahassee and I didn’t even know the song was that big until I got there. It was like a movie. When Lex went to the clubs to get the record played, his work was almost already done ‘cause all the strippers already knew the record and all the DJs already had the record. One DJ told another DJ. Khaled told Entice; Entice told Irie and he started playing it. Sam Sneak was one of the ones that started with the record.

Why do you have two aliases?

Chowtime was the name I was going by at first. Chowtime Entertainment is the record label’s name. I was locked up one time and in jail, chowtime is a call-out that let’s people know it’s time to eat. Even if you don’t speak English, you’ll know what chowtime means. If you don’t get up, you don’t eat. It’s a powerful saying.

What are some things you’d like your supporters to know about you?

I’m about a lot of different things but music comes first ‘cause that’s what’s paying me right now. I’m a father of a lot of kids. I’m an entrepreneur. I’m about business, having fun, some of everything, all the good things.

So what do your kids think about their father’s new fame?

Most of them are too young to know. I have one daughter that was like, “They don’t believe you’re my dad.” That’s a good thing ‘cause I don’t have to worry about her being dissed or kidnapped or anything. I’ll be able to give her what she wants and that’s all that matters.

What are your plans now?

I’m working on developing myself as an artist. I plan to get used to being on the road. I never left Florida. I’m a real 305 hood dude.

Lex is helping me a whole lot so I can be prepared to be a dude that people look up to. I’m very friendly and open.

Website: Myspace.com/Dabizzlelive Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE | 27

E D O M INa,DFL. GR ck Opa-Lo

Grind Mode has experienced ups and downs both individually and as a collective. With a rebirth of inspiration and a new found passion for what initially drew them into the game, Chaos, Hunger, and McKlezie (formerly known as Stage McCloud) have embarked on a new vision that has the entire city of Miami singing “I’m So High.”

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What are you guys doing to ensure that Grind Mode gets the recognition it deserves this time around?

McKlezie: Grind Mode has pretty much been doing the same thing since the beginning – getting out there and working. We’ve never sat still and waited for people to do things for us. We force the situation to happen. Right now we’re on a promo tour that we set up, doing a couple of cities in the

southeast market. We’re currently heading over to Kentucky for a week; we’ve been to Atlanta; we did a Florida and Georgia run; we went to South Carolina.

We’re in Kentucky recording and promoting and will probably head down to Louisville and stop in Louisiana. The song has been spread throughout the world without any help really, all the way up to New York, California, Hawaii, Seatlle, a lot of markets we didn’t really push for have jumped on the record. Miami is such nucleus for entertainment that when people come down and hear the record and love it, they take it with them.

Why did you change your name, McKlezie?

McKlezie: It was Stage McCloud and as I tell everybody, Stage McCloud is dead. It’s now McKlezie. It’s a rebirth of McCloud. I rose from the ashes of what was to a more positive situation. Sometimes you shed your skin in order to move forward and you have to get rid of everything else that was negative.

How is the present more positive than the past?

McKlezie: It’s just a different situation – the mindset, the maturity, the knowledge of the business and the music, the love of music is back. Being with Chaos and Hunger and vibing together in the studio and creating music is a more affectionate way of doing it. It takes the work out of it. It’s no different than being in a relationship for years; you make take the situation for granted and it takes a mistress to spark the love of it again. Sometimes you gotta go through that in order to enjoy it. When Grind Mode linked back up, it was the enjoyment of bringing fun back to the music. It was becoming too much of a regular day situation in Miami.

People walk around with mad faces and are always angry but that’s not Miami and that’s not Grind Mode. We’re just trying to say it’s okay to enjoy yourself. We do everything with a positive attitude.

Weren’t there some other members of the group before?

Chaos: We had extra heads involved but it’s like Making of the Band; it’s a chopping block over here. We stay in grind mode; that’s what the name means. If you slackin’ on your pimpin’ you get traded or cut. We didn’t feel like the extra heads fit in the puzzle. It’s no disrespect to them, but we had a different goal and vision. They chose

other paths and we support them on that.

What do you each bring to the table?

Chaos: Stage is more like the melodic guy.

He’s the super-fly dude in the click, a ladies man. There’s no real leader in the group. All of us respect each other; we’re all equally important. We laugh together, grind together, deal with each other’s situations. It’s a brotherhood, no different than a fraternity.

Talk about the concept of “I’m So High.”

Hunger: It’s definitely about glorifying women and building a relationship, that type of vibe. It’s about more than a one night stand. A lot of people might think it’s about drugs. Music serves different purposes for different individuals, so we’re not mad when people take it for that. For the people that do listen to the lyrics, it’s about vibing with a young lady and that bond has you feeling like you intoxicated. I had somebody hit me up and say they just put some rims on they car and because they rims are so big and they feel so high, they got “I’m So High” written in they paint job. People look a lot of things differently. We make good music and hope people take to it and apply it to they lives however they see fit.

Who’s singing on the hook?

Hunger: That’s McKlezie. He’s one of those dudes that has been in the game so long that he’s done it all. He’s always been a different type of emcee, even before T-Pain.

Even his raps have a different cadence when he flows. He’s an emcee but he does harmonies too and that’s how he chose to express himself on that record.

What can people be expecting from you in the near future?

Hunger: The album is done and it’s crazy.

We’re on the road promoting the single.

Even if it’s Butt-fuck, Egypt you can expect us to be there. The album hits streets this summer. You can expect change because the vibe we’re bringing is different. It’s a whole movement happening in Miami with the vibing and jooking and we’re at the forefront of that movement.

Chaos: We have the I Will Grind mixtape and album coming out. And it’s so vital for up-and-comers to get involved with open mics. We been doing this. Ask Trick to Rick to Pit to Trina to Missy Misdemeanor.

Website: Myspace.com/Grindmode Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE | 29

A D N U SURVEILLANC E Miami, FL

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You gotta grind to shine. If that saying is true you should expect Unda Surveillance to be blinding sometime soon. The Miami duo has been in the streets pumping their mixtapes and performing at shows all over the state. Members Yak and Busta Free sat down with us and told us what’s been up with them.

Ya’ll have a very interesting name. How did you come up with that?

Yak: Pretty much the meaning, like the name of the mixtape, says they watching.

So Unda Surveillance is just letting the whole world know we are being watched.

How did ya’ll come together to form the group?

Busta Free: We both used to be open mic rappers. We both went to the same middle school but we wasn’t never really tight like that until we started seeing each other at this open mic shit. We started going to clubs together, fucking hoes together. Every time we were in the studio we would do a song together so it jumped off like that.

What’s your inspiration for making music?

Yak: Me personally, I just make shit for my hood. My job is to keep creating and hope somebody else can relate to it and feel the way I feel.

Busta Free: This is what I wanted to my whole life. I wasn’t never no athlete, so I felt like this was my only way out and I been successful up to this point.

Describe the style of your music.

Busta Free: Shit we straight southern to the roach feel me. It’s universal but we gon’ keep it southern; we gon’ keep it gutter. Do it for the people in the struggle. We keep it hood.

Yak: Our style is straight swagger. Any way we come it’s gonna be straight swag.

With the game so fucked up now as far as sales, what do ya’ll feel you could do to change that?

Yak: In my opinion, niggas ain’t making real music no more. When real music is put out there you can still sell ‘cause niggas want that real music. If you look back, everybody who’s dropping real shit, they selling. That’s why we put our heart into every song.

When ya’ll are making music what’s the process like?

Yak: Whatever the beat tells us to do, that’s what we doing.

Busta Free: A lot of times we just be at the crib and I’ll call him and be like, “Yak check this shit out” and I get on the phone snapping and that inspires him.

I know ya’ll are getting a lot of shows. Tell the people what your shows are like.

Yak: The shows is the most incredible thing right now. If you on stage and you rapping your shit and you stop and they fill in the blank for you, that shit means so much more than the money man for real.

This mixtape ya’ll got out, how many of those have ya’ll pumped out?

Yak: This one about 15,000. But with all our solos and all that shit we probably got about 50,000 units in the street.

What’s the single you’re pushing now?

Yak: The hottest single in the world right now, look out for it. It’s called “On Deck” but from my hood to your hood, it’s really called “Shone On Deck.” Also look out for the new single “Swagger.”

I’ve been hearing that word shone a lot lately. Tell those that don’t know what a shone is.

Bustafree: Shit, a “shone” is a quick fuck.

Somebody that’s down for whatever, there to get your rocks off.

Yak: It’s just a cool way to say you like to fuck something really.

Do the shones show love at the shows?

Bustafree: Shit it’s all over now, with our face on the fliers and everything. We’re like walking billboards so we’re shone managers now.

What’s been your biggest challenge with the music shit?

Yak: The biggest challenge for me was staying focused and not getting discouraged. At any time I coulda slipped and went another route.

Bustafree: My biggest challenge right now is staying alive. Everybody dropping like flies right now. So to keep moving and doing what you’re doing. To be honest with you, I ain’t finish school. So I would either be in these streets slangin or I would be in these streets bangin. That’s why I feel God put this in my life.

Website: Myspace.com/Undasurveillance305 Words: Tony Wilson OZONE | 31

2 H C DA BEANS BEA FL Miami,

32 | OZONE

Cosigned by DJ Entice, Nak, Double Threat, and A.T.G. (Ali the Great) are quickly advancing via the Miami airwaves.

The trio known as Beach 2 Da Beans was recently completed with the addition of A.T.G. last year, who added vocals and production skills to their current single “Ipod.”

What’s the story behind your group? How did you come together?

Double Threat: The chemistry was always there. My homeboy Nak always rapped and I sung. We used to sit around in his room and was never serious about it. People started telling us to take it more serious so that’s what we did. We actually featured A.T.G. on a song and all three of us ended up being in a group together. It started as something we did for fun.

Nak: Yeah, it started with me and Double Threat. We went to the same high school.

A.T.G. was a solo artist. When we did the “Ipod” song we saw that we was better off together as a trio. A.T.G. was a good addition to the group.

A.T.G.: I joined the group last year in August. They had their group and I had been in a group prior to being solo. Me and Nak used to work together in high school.

We had done some tracks together and we linked back up for the “Ipod” song. We figured it would be easier to work it if we were all in the group.

Are you all from the same part of Miami?

Nak: This is how the Beach 2 Da Beans name started – Double Threat is from Poke N’ Beans Projects and I’m from North Miami Beach. That’s how we got the name Beach 2 Da Beans when it was just the two of us.

Talk to me about the “Ipod” song.

Double Threat: We were on the phone brainstorming on some new ideas and Nak wanted to talk about iPods. I started singing “She got me on the iPod...” We came up with the hook and did the beat.

A.T.G.: Nak and Threat came up with the idea and I produced it. I actually declined it because I didn’t think it was gonna work but Threat sang me the first line of the chorus and it clicked. I called them back fifteen minutes later with the beat and the chorus.

You didn’t initially want to do the song?

Once it was done did you realize it had potential?

A.T.G.: Yeah! After it was done I was like, man we got something major on our hands.

This can take us a lot of places. It was real

radio friendly. Everybody that heard it was loving it, even the hardcore rappers that do gangsta stuff was like, this is hot.

Your music sounds like it’s influenced by TPain with the whole Rap/R&B theme. Is that an accurate statement?

Double Threat: No, we change it up a little bit. We just try to do original Hip Hop. Everybody’s selling drugs and pimpin’ so we just try to clean it up a lil bit and go back to the roots.

A.T.G.: Change is gonna come regardless.

Music has a way of coming out with new stuff and I feel like we’re gonna go with the change. It all depends on what’s going on in the music industry at the time.

The song seems to be targeting a female audience. Do you have a lot of female fans?

Double Threat: More than anything we got the girls. Once dudes find out other people are feeling it or the see the song hittin’ then they start feeling it, but girls like it off rip.

The guys take a while [to come around] after they listen to it.

You’re with B2 Entertainment, which has a lot of artists. What are the label plans?

Nak: We got Hood I.E., Ace 365, and us.

We’re trying to get in the game and build B.2. Entertainment up. Right now we’re looking for a major backing to help us with funding. We’re probably going to try to put ourselves under a major label.

Have you done any full projects yet?

Nak: Right now we got the “Ipod” song playing on the radio stations in Miami. DJ Entice is spinning it on 99 Jamz during the weekends. We’re trying to get it on during rush hour. A friend of a friend introduced him to us at a club. We played the song for him and he was loving it so he decided to play it on the radio.

What else should people know about you?

Double Threat: Get ready. We’re on our way.

A.T.G.: I want to let people know not to take us for granted. People are gonna hear the “Ipod” song and think we’re not real rappers. Do not take us for granted because we do our job on a track. We know how to give people want they want when it comes to music.

Website: Myspace.com/B2bb2 Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE | 33

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Debut Single

Aww Yeah!!!

Request at Your Local Radio Stations For More Info Log onto

www.myspace.com/dukwonsmusic Ringtone Available @ Funformobile.com 34 | OZONE

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