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Publisher/Editor In Chief - Jessica Hagmaier aka Mz. fuSHion Triple Threat Editor - G. Johnson Alex Merriweather Sales/ Advertising Dept - Ant Wright G. Johnson Courtney Taylor Stephanie Paige Chris Hamilton Billy Mack Jesse James
s t n e t Con
B4 We Get Started 6 In Case U Missed It 8 5 On It 13 The Twit People Say 14 Comin Out Da Closet 16 The Soap Box 18 Triple Threat 20 Who U Been Sleepin On 28 Masters Of The Tables 36 Hawkman 56 Got Beats? 64
Layout Deisgn - Jessica Hagmaier Graphic Design - Mecca Nwogu Jae One Cover Design - Jae One (Urban Nerd Studios) Cover Photo Credit - William Ogluin Contents Photo Credit - Johnathon Mannion Interns -
Chanel Fisher Stephanie Paige Courtney Taylor Chris Hamilton
Contributors - Jesse James G. Johnson Alex Merriweather Nino Punchlines Billy Mack Courtney Taylor Photographers - Positive Images Marcus Gadison Rob J Official Jesse James Jessica Hagmaier Tre Dubb Street Teams - Colorado - Ro Bennett G. Johnson Los Angeles, CA - Ant Wright Atlanta, GA - Alex Merriweather The Bay, CA - Rob J Official Vonda Rogers Houston, TX - Chris Hamilton St. Louis, MO - Jesse James Central Texas - Billy Mack Dallas, TX - Ms. Rita Boss Diva
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4 The fuSHionMagazine “The Voice for Sports and Urban Culture”
tories
Willy Northpole - Hood Dreams 2 Hood Reality 44 Hip Hop 4 HIV Awareness - 50 Rick Ross Presents Triple C’s - 60
contents
B4 WE get started MY HUMBLE THOUGHTS ON THE MEDIA RESPONSE TO TRAE DAY In the days following Trae Day many “news sources” have thrown in their two or three cents on what the day meant. A link was posted on Twitter to an online newspaper article entitled At least six shot at TSU at event honoring Crapper, in which the writer latched onto the supposed gang element involved in the incident and also stated some of the most vile and disgusting racial remarks I have ever read in my life. Yet many in our society still view this site and others like it, as credible places to get their news. Even actual real news sources latched onto to only the shooting that happened at the end of the event, after the artists and a great number of spectators had already left, or were leaving the event.
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In my opinion the kindness, generosity, and overwhelming concern for complete strangers, and that fact Trae spent thousands of dollars of his own money on those strangers, is what needs to be taken away from Trae Day and not the senseless act of a few individuals who were in no way, shape, or form associated with Trae, his friends, the other artists, or the organizers of the event. The shooting that took place, while unfortunate, could have taken place on any day, in any city, at any event in any part of the world. The fact that it took place on that day, at that event, in that city is a mere, unfortunate coincidence. It has not been determined that this was a gang event. And even if it was let us remember that gangs are not limited to one race. Yes, there are gangs associated with the black race, just as they are associated with Asians, Latinos, and Whites, with The Arian Nation and the KKK being two of the most dominate and violent gangs in the United States and even beyond its borders. The fact that any “news source” which would take only the negative actions of the day and then attack a race on every level, with words which I cannot and will not ever repeat, is still in business with a captive audience, is absolutely disgusting and complete proof of the ignorance of the a great number of the predominate American race. Hitler is still to this day one of the most notorious gang leaders in history and was the God Father of Mass Genocide. Yet his atrocities have yet to be matched by any person, group, race, or gang and he is considered a hero to the afore mentioned groups? A person worthy of study and praise? That is proof of the ignorance of these kinds of people. There are many in this world who do not do the things that Trae does for his community, which lets remember, he does not limit the benefits to only his race. I would bet everything that I own that the persons responsible for putting together that article have not done even an eighth of the amount of community service in their lifetime that Trae has done in just the last few years. I am disgusted and devastated that as a member of the American Media that my fellow peers have latched onto this one part of the day, that happened after the event was over, to expose to the rest of the world. My heart goes out to the persons and families affected by the shooting, but the circumstances that led to the event were not caused simply because of Trae Day and therefore the media should not lead the rest of the American public to believe it was. Those who have done so without properly acknowledging what Trae has done, did for the day, and continues to do, have in fact served an injustice to our field of work and the American people by continuing to reinforce the negative, and few bad stereotypes associated to an entire culture of people that cross racial lines, simply because they happen to enjoy and love a certain kind of music. It’s goes beyond the definition of racial profiling and becomes CULTURAL profiling. When that happens who in our country is safe?
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The individuals involved in this incident had absolutely nothing to do with the event as I said before and therefore I will not lower the standards of The fuSHion Magazine to exploit this unfortunate situation in a simple effort to gain viewers or sell magazines. Next month we will have a full feature on the event, but as far as the negative associated with the day goes, this simple letter from me will be the extent of it. To do so would be a prime example of the mass market exploitation our media often resorts to that our country has become accustomed to and seem to unfortunately prefer to the truth. It is one thing to report that, yes there was in fact a shooting at the end of the Block Party event, where unfortunately six people were injured. It is another thing entirely for that to be almost the only thing mentioned about a day in which so much was given back to the community. I congratulate and applaud Trae and other RAPPERS like him for what he/they do for their communities. It is what needs to be spread, respected, and valued.
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1. Gorilla Zoe with his Cover, Hip Hop 4 HIV Awareness Concert Houston TX 2. 360 Hood ENT, Austin, TX 3. Big Will and Tre Dubb, Austin, TX 4. Bobby V, HH4HA 5. Ginuwine HH4HA 6. Day 26 Performing HH4HA 7. Big Will, Mentally Sedated Inc, Mic Wreckaz, Downsiid, and Tre Dubb at WalMart Relay For Life Fundraiser, Austin, TX 8. Bun B, HH4HA 9. Chamillionaire’s artist Famous and DJ Mack, Dallas TX 10. DJ Shadoe @ PUSH Distrobution Community Softball Game, Denver CO 11. Shawty Lo, Trae Day, Houston TX 12. Ms. Rita Da Diva and Dorrough Music, Dallas TX 13. DuKwon and Killer Mike on the set of “Polo Ho” Atlanta, GA 14. Innerstate Ike @ Push Distribution Community Softball Game, Denver, CO 15. Prince fuSHion and DJ Q45, Aurora CO 16. Slim Thug @ Trae Day 17. Lil Young, Austin TX 18. GS Boyz @ Trae Day 19. Yung Problems HH4HA 20. Day 26 HH4HA 21. Yung LA HH4HA 22. DJ Quote and Others @ Push Distribution Softball Game, Denver, CO 23. B Hamp @ Trae Day
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24. Lil O, Tre Dubb, and Others, Austin TX 26. DJ Mack and DJ Big Bink 27. Fat Pimp HH4HA 28. Jon Boi, Austin 29. Bun B @ Trae Day 30. MC Mic Wrecka, Austin 31. Polo Ho Video Shoot ATL 32. GO MC Qua HH4HA, Houston
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33. PUSH Distrobution Community Softball Game, Denver CO 34. J Que HH4HA 35. KG Dollaz and Crew Austin, TX 36. HH4HA 37. Day 26 Performing HH4HA 38. DJ Ktone, Denver, CO 39. Micheal 5000 Watts, HH4Ha 40. MAcks On Tha Rise and Chamillionaire, Dallas TX 41. Project Pat, SC 42. DMichael Crabtree and A Bo of RoleModelz, Dallas 43. Yung LA HH4HA, Houston TX 44. Gorilla Zoe HH4HA 45. Ludacris Preforming in Albuquerque 46. Go DJ Lucky, Dallas TX 47. DJ Ktone, O, Mr. Midas, and Jae One Aurora CO 49. Trae, Shawty Lo, and Horseman @ Trae Day 50. Lil Duval, Geter K, Rick Ross, and Bun B @ Trae Day 51. Ms. April, Denver CO GS Boyz @ Trae Day 52. Dwayne from BarOptics, Denver CO 53. Hawkman, Denver CO 54. Hypnatic, Denver, CO 55. City Of The Snow Denver, CO 56. Balance and Left, The Bay 57. Big Body Cisco The Bay 58. DJ UNK The Bay 60. Big Rich The Bay 60. Big Von The Bayn 61.DJ Romeo, The Bay 62. DJ Scotty Fox 63. Erk Da Jerk and Neo The Gift, The Bay
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O 5 . n It 5 4 3 2 1 What are you working on now? My new album, Rebirth is in stores now. I have a new single called Butterfly Tattoo with Rick Ross and Jim Jones. I’m own my own label, Blue Collar Dreams, and that’s what I’m working on. Do you prefer a major label or an independent label? Independent is better in some ways and major is better in some ways. It’s a ying and a yang, a double edge sword. But you definitely make more money independent.
How have you evolved as an artist since you first broke onto the scene with Slow Down? I’ve just learned the business more and I’ve learned that it’s more business than music. I’ve definitely learned a lot and I’ve just evolved into more of a business man. How did you link up with Willy Northpole on his new single, #1 Side Chick? I was on DTP and Willy wanted to do a record together even though I had left DTP by the time he was working on the song. But the record is a hit. Where do you hope to be in 5 years? I’ll be continuing to make hit records. I definitely want to be running my label full time and have a few successful artists.
V y b b o B h Wit
Words and Photo By: Mz. fuSHion
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Disclaimer: The views, opinions, or feelings of the following Tweets do not reflect those of Mz. fuSHion, The fuSHion Magazine or any of its affiliates. I, Mz. fuSHion, simply think that this is some of the funniest shit I’ve seen this month posted on the website we all know and have become addicted to. Please excuse any grammatical errors, this are lifted exactly as posted and these post are just RANDOMLY funny shit… and in some cases, entirely TO TRUE. lilduval im listening 2 durrough song “clean on the outside cream on the inside” uuum isnt that a yeast infection? djwildhairr #dontuhatewhen SOMEONE OWE U MONEY AND WHEN U ASK FOR UR MONEY, THEY GET MAD AT U! LIKE NI**A U ASK ME! SHIT kingboola #howdareyou be 8 months pregnant in the club RT @Fatboy2976: http://twitpic.com/b0514 RT @exclusivegame My ni**a Mike Vick is finally free! Fuck them haters! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Grafitti303: RT @JaysonBronson Remember guys, it’s ok to hit women...just make sure you make a 2 minute video afterwards and read a written apology! djdrizzle RT @DJAVERIMINOR: #howdareyou make #freegucci a trending topic when the ni**a ain’t even in jail<------ im wit ya on that DJSlikk Ashy lips.....#moodkill.. Both sets!!! I just have 4 words for you: Banned German sprite ad –YouTube IT ASAP! 2waimusic: RT: 90 people get Swine Flu and everybody wants to wear a mask. 1 million people have AIDS and no-one wants to wear a condom GChizil #howdareyou buy rims for your car but you riding on bogus plates lilmanofficial #howdareyou try to charge me 30 dollars a hr to record in your closet lmao chingobling: We roll deep!!! RT @lilduval: Mexicans are the reason the h.o.v. Lane even exist Samuel L Jackson Twittering through the ESPYS. That shit was jus funny! Check the recap on ESPN losthascholar My homie just told my other homie to Keep clapping when he go in the other room, that way he know he aint stealing. YOUNG_DOE RT WARNING TO ALL MEN... female sexual predators r usin a date rape drug called BLOW JOBS 2 lure men n2 scams called RELATIONSHIPS. therealfrostie #twitterbanger a ni**a that does a ‘type by’ instead of a ‘drive by’...
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TraiDHiTz Posted In My Hotel In Memphis TN. This Nigga @Memphitz Steps Threw My Door Blowin Kush Done Got My Room Taxed!!! WTF!
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I don’t remember where this originally came from, but this is what inspired this section!!! Nothing more to be said! -<--------------------------------------------If you see anything that needs to be in this section hit me up at www.twitter.com/MzfuSHion
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Comin Out Da Closet
Comin Out Recession Proof Your Wardrobe DafuSHion Closet Style! The fuSHion Magazine’s
Part 2
faSHionista Diva Tells you how to
Recesseion Proof Your Wardrobe!!! Colorado: Whenever Denver you must Customs. What up ladies andfuSHion gents! Ifashionista know things lookin What up world! Your is are back! I’m bringing you all theinhottest gear at visit the Certified right price. If you’re looking for something unique and can be the only one a little roughHere rightare nowthis and your pockets might be you month’s hot spots to keep looking good. Check it out! rockin it, U gotta hit up Certified Customs. They offer ladies and hurtin but ya still gotta stay fly right? Well heres men’s kicks, grillz, and gear as well as one of kind designs to few places where you can stay fly and not of breakHouston: SanaFrancisco(Bay Area): Filthy Dripped is one is a and hot pierced spot where keep youApollo fly. Oh Fashions yea! Get tatted whileyou you can wait for the the dopest spots to keep you fresh 24/7.They offer get hooked up with all the latest fashions. Their clothes bank. Check out these places across the states your one of a kind design… One Stop Shop Pimpin! styles from retro 80’s to 90’s hip hop andand today’s including Houston, Dallas, Thegear Bay, Atlantahave been featured on the hit video show Street Flava AM Clothing one ofwhen the hottest stores in ST.Louis hottest fashions. It was one of the first boutiques to andSt.Louis: you’re Isure to turn isheads you’re wearing and of course Denver! to keep you staying fresh in 2009.They offer the latest brands like cater to everyone’s unique styles. Hit up the website their clothes. If you wanna be fly in the latest designs Rock n Republic and Ed Hardy for lower prices than department www.filthydripped.com forlocated more off information! Houston: Supreme Apparel Fondern Road in Houstonhit up Apollo Fashions. You won’t be sorry!
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stores and have a crazy shoe selection. If you’re looking for fly offers the latest urban and hip hop gear to suit your needs. They kicks and gear visit I AM Clothing. also makeStunnerZ customizedClothing jewelry, assesories, grills andDallas: If you’re looking for the latest designer fashWisconsin: features sneakers, brands such clothing. Fashions located Scott is more. one of theions check out Aware Affare Fashions.They offer as Coogi, EdKS Hardy, LRG, BabyoffPhat andStreet much L.A: Up Against the Wall is offering hot fashions at a crazy low number one shops for all of your urban wear gear. Check They offer a variety of apparel and accessories for em a outover 40 Offering of the hottest mens, womens children’s price! name brand clothes for menand and women at prices you won’t be disappointed. great deal. This is where the true ballers shop! fashions accessories. They’re open days atees, startingand at just 20 dollars. You can get yourseven basic screen week withjeans, hoursand to outerwear accommodate yourfor fashion needsthem dresses, exclusively you! Check The Bay: Filthy Dripped is one of the hottest shops in the Bay anytime online or whenever you’re in L.A. Atlanta: ATL Swagga has your favorite de- youandout wants. to offer everything fromApparel urban streertwear to retro and punk, signers at a discounted price! Whether you’re shopknow for all ya’ll hipsters. This store has a wide variety of unique Dallas:Attention Tweet –a-licious-fly fashions offers theor latest andvisit greatest pingclothing for just or the that entire canfly.find it Denver: all ladies! If you live ever andyou accessories can family keep youyou lookin hip hop gear for men and women. Ranging from House of Dereon here! You can’t beat their affordable prices. the Denver area please hit up Urban Jungle fashions. and Pastry to Roca a Wear and Sean John. The even offer a wide Atlanta: Urban Fusion is a hot clothing store in the 404 cateringTheir unique fashions are made of leather and suede variety of plus size and children’s fashions. Visit them online for to localUrban celebs and everyday people looking to show off theirfabrics, keeping you sexy at all times. If you dare to St.Louis: Express is the leader of men’s fashmore information. hip hop gear. They carry of brands that at willtheir keep yoube bold and take chances in your fashion game this ion latest in St.Louis.They offer thea ton hottest brands to their store for more! storecoming and back online. Check out their website www.uris the place you need toHip be.Check them online at La Crosse: Margaret’s Hop Fashion is out one of the premier banexpresstl.net to shop and get coupon deals. They www.urbanjunglefashions.com. urban clothing stores serving the flyest in the state of Wisconsin. Virginia: Unique Fashions, near the Coliseum Shopping Center They offer everything from jerseys, Negro offeris women’s and kids too! Words ByLeague CourtneyApparels, Taylor one store where you can’t go wrong. They offer the latest styles the latest brands and even plus sizes. Big is BEAUTIFUL TOO from PZI Jeans to Ed Hardy. They even got the church clothes if 16 The fuSHionMagazine BABY!! Shop here and you’re guaranteed to look your best. Also you’re regretting last night! If you’re in VA and wanna be fly this when shopping mention their website coupon and receive 5% off
The soap box
Man You Hatin! By: Nino Punchlines
Remember the great debates that you would have about music when you were in High School. There was nothing better than explaining why your favorite rapper was better than your friend’s favorite rapper. However, it isn’t the same anymore because in the year 2009 every argument ends with someone saying “you a hater.” If you tell a Rapper that tries to sell you a scratched up CD, marked with a Sharpie to improve his product, you are labeled a “Hater”. Hate has become a term that has been thrown around more in Hip Hop than a pair of Paris Hilton’s panties over the last few years. It is to the point that it is used by untalented people as a shield to protect them from the truth.
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The thing is the term hate has corroded our way of judgeing what is good and what is bad. Whenever an Artist asks me for my opinion on their music I try to be as honest as possible. It does not do me any good if I lie to you about your music. Some things are just bad. Listening to wack music is like going to the club and talking to someone with horrible breath. Common got it right when he said “just cause I don’t like it doesn’t mean that I’m hating.” In order to become great one must be honest about their strengths and weaknesses. Just as you may offer that person with dragon breath in the club a breath mint, we must honestly tell people that their music is bad. The number one reason why I think people think music isn’t good anymore lies in the fact that society doesn’t take well to criticism anymore. Society does not have the “BS” Filter anymore. Think about it. Why do you think so many overweight women squeeze into dresses that they know they can not fit to look thick? Why do
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you think up and coming rappers say they are making it rain yet live in their mother’s basement? It is because we are scared of “Hating.” I recently had a debate with a friend about how artists are not as creative as in the past. I said rappers made an effort to be different from each other by being themselves instead of following trends. His answer to me was the “Man quit Hating they Getting Money.” The sad thing is many people hold this belief to be true. They fail to realize that “hating” is actively worrying about something you don’t like or wishing that someone would fail. That is totally different then giving someone an educated opinion supported by “Facts.” Now this is not to say that hating does not exist because it does. There are people who base their entire life bad mouthing a celebrity on the internet from the luxury of their mother’s basement. Bloggers such as Perez Hilton make a living on bad mouthing other people. But there is a difference between a Celebrity getting “Hated on” and a person that no one even knows exists getting hated on. There is nothing worse than an unknown Rapper shouting out his haters on YouTube. Shockingly when you ask a person what in fact is it specifically that these “invisible haters” are hating on they are speechless. The next time you hear a person pull out the “Hater Card” call them on it. Truly make them have to prove to the room that you are trying to stop their shine. I guarantee that they will look stupid when you back up your thoughts with facts making them rush to change the subject. Dare to be honest in a world where it is taboo to call people overweight. The truth is not hate. The day that honesty is allowed to return to Music will be the day that Hip Hop wakes up out of its coma.
Words By: G. Johnson Photos By: Wyl Williams Photography Hair By: Dirk of Stun Hair Studio Hometown: Westminster, CO Ethnicity: Hispanic and Native American Measurements: 36,23,34 Type of men you like? Strong, dark, and handsome. Hahaha! Someone who is going to help me when I need them and stay by my side and has respect for me and supports everything and anything I do in life whatever it may be! Right now I have someone who is just that and I am very blessed to have met Rich! What are your turn offs? Fake people and men who are insecure. Big turn off in my book are wrinkled clothes, ugly teeth and dirty shoes! Big, beautiful smiles make me melt! What’s your fantasy first date? My fantasy first date would have to be dinner at Cool River and after I’d say a movie. I’m not hard to please, I’m pretty laid back and happy with just the thought the guy that took me out put into the date. If you could change one thing about your self, what would you change? One thing I would change would be I have huge tattoos covering my side and back. I love them but getting into modeling I wish I wouldn’t have got any of them, but since I have them I’m just going to add more and make them even more interesting and maybe make my way to a magazine where my pictures are focused on my tattoos. With all this talk of a recession, we all have to cut back on something! What should you be cutting back on that you haven’t been and why? To be honest I drive a lot and I use a lot of gas. I should invest in one of those little Hybrid SUV’s and cut back on the pollution I put in the air by the amount of gas I use daily! How can the stalkers get in contact with you? Ha Ha, stalkers, that’s funny! Well I’d say the best way would be through my MySpace page and if you can find it then you must be a stalker! But I have a personal bodyguard, Rich, he keeps me safe and the crazy people at a distance! lol
Mz. Heather
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Mz: fuSHion’s TRIPLE THREAT
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Name: Ebony LaVette
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Ethnicity: African American
Measurements: 34-24-44
What do you think about the whole belief that anyone that takes a photo model? I think its BS. Models work hard just like anyone else does in this game. It’s no different than punching a clock at a 9-5. You have a short time to prove yourself which means you’re working without training, just you, your ambition, and the mirror. It takes more than just hot pictures for you to last. What makes a standout in the modeling industry? Respect my mind first. Demand it and make everything you do about business and people will see that and want to ride with it. What do you think about men in pink? Only a real man can pull pink off! (Laughs) Have you ever been stalked? Oh no! I got close but I cut it off quick. Anytime you give someone your number they leave you 15 messages in an hour after meeting them… RED FLAG!!!! What would a man have to do to make you “Head over Heels” for him? Be God fearing # 1. Respects my hustle, respects his family, very ambitious, loyal, and a great kisser. If you could only choose one or the other, electricity or water, which would you choose and why? Water because it makes electricity so I guess it would make me both! What’s your greatest sexual fantasy? To discover my sexual fantasy!!!!!!! www.myspace.com/ucme84 or www.myspace.com/483404712 www.facebook.com/EbonyLaVette www.twitter.com/ebonylavette
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Words By: Alex Merriweather
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Ebony Lavette
Mz: fuSHion’s TRIPLE THREAT
Name: Christine Bax
Hometown: Richmond, TX
Ethnicity: African-American
Measurements: 34-29-44
What do you think about the whole belief that anyone that takes a photo model? I didn’t know there was such a belief. But anyone can take their shot at modeling. The only way one will know whether or not they will make it is according to how the public responds to them. But anyone can be a model nowadays, you just have to have an open mind. What makes a standout in the modeling industry? Being unique is actually becoming a trend. People try so hard to come up with the next “new big thing” and be different, and it’s becoming rather redundant. One stands out when they actually portray their true selves. What do you think about men in pink? I think it’s very gay. Have you ever been stalked? If so, what happened? Yes. A man followed me home from the gas station. I noticed him following me, so I didn’t stop at my house. I drove around for a good 5 miles, and he was tailing me the whole time. He kept trying to corner me at stop signs. Eventually I got away, but it was really scary. Another time, I signed up for a gym membership and someone stole my phone number from the database and called me and started sending me pictures of his body, trying to pretend I gave him my number at a club. I hadn’t been to a club in months. Then he messaged me on myspace, asking if I worked out at that gym and said he worked there. Hmmm.... What would a man have to do to make you “Head over Heels” for him? Be the man that I already have! If you could only choose between the two, which would you choose and why? Electricity or Water? I have been in that position. If I’m in a downstairs apartment, water. Upstairs, electricity. Heat rises to the top and it’s WAY too hot in Houston to go without A.C.! What’s your greatest sexual fantasy? Haha I keep private matters behind closed doors!
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www.christinebax.com
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www.myspace.com/christinebax
Christine Bax
Mz: fuSHion’s TRIPLE THREAT The fuSHionMagazine
www.modelmayhem.com/christinebax
Words By: Alex Merriweather
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W ho Sle u ep Bee in’ n On : Tell me a little bit about ProCity. How you guys came together and how the group evolved. Blocrunna and Streetkassh are cousins. I met Streetkash through mutual friends. And we all came together and formed a group about 6 years ago. I’m from Compton, California. Blocrunna and Streetkassh are from L.A. We have been grinding just trying to get our buzz up.
that lane. That’s cool, but for us we want to do it all, so we can be bigger than just local artists. People get stuck and segregate themselves to wherever they’re from, their section. I’m going to rock out in my section. But what’s different with us, is that we have songs that are getting played outside our section, like in New York.
What’s one word to describe your type of music? One word to describe the music is………. Unique. Different.
So do you wanna crossover? Not really crossover to different genres. We want to do everything so were not stuck in one lane. That’s like our whole movement.
What’s so unique and different about you? Well the thing is we’re versatile. We can do everything. We can make the R&B songs for the ladies. We can make the street anthems. We’re very versatile.Theres no limit to what we can do. We don’t just stick in one lane. We do anything we put our minds to. Why did you name the group ProCity? Originally we had a group in high school called Professionals. We took Professionals and broke it down to pros. It comprises the group, which is just us three, and also our entertainment company which is also called ProCity and has different artists from different cities. That’s where the city comes in. We have other artists like JMC, Tommy Gunz, XLZ, and were also apart of Dynamic Certified. That’s the umbrella were under right now. As far as your message and your music. What do you want people to come away with? Like I said, we versatile. What we wanna do is beginning to end. Some days you might be coming to the club and we got the songs to get you in the club mood, we got the struggle songs which everybody is probably going through right now, we got the songs for the ladies. The point is somebody could be listening to an R&B song or listening to a club song, but the point is they’re listening to us.
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Let’s talk about the rap and hip hop game right now. How do you feel about? Where do you feel your place is in it now? We don’t wanna put ourselves in one lane.Thats whats wrong with the game now. Many people chose a lane and just stay in
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Talk about the new single Why You Looking at Me. Well, we composed it as a group and Mark Brand is the producer on that. Right now a lot of clubs want jerk music and these mainstream songs are getting drowned out by that. So what we did was take the formula and got an up-tempo beat like the jerkin and we just did us on it. With the jerkin movement, will probably die down within the next year. Anything that has the word jerk in it is going to die down. We stay away from that. What are you working on now? ProCity presents All or Nothing mixtape hosted by Dj Ill Will. It should be wrapped up within the next few weeks. Our album is going to be dropped in January. But we really just been grinding on this mixtape and when we get all the wrinkles ironed out with that we just gone hit the streets hard, hit the clubs hard, hit everything hard! Before we wrap up is there anything you want to tell your followers, your fans about Procity. Look out for that mixtape hosted by Ill Will; it’s going to be a real good look for the whole West Coast. We like to show instead of talk, we going to show everybody what we grinding like.Thats really it. Ok any shout outs? Shout out to Big Rich, Dynamic Certified, Shout out to Technique, Block Rebel Media. Shout out to the whole Pro City Entertainment, Dub, BBIC and shout out to fuSHion Magazine.
la: pro city Words By Courtney Taylor
n e e : B n u ’O o h pin W e e l S You’re pretty fresh on the scene in Colorado and you’ve already produced a nice little buzz and following. Where did all that come from? Hard work. That’s it. I mean a lot of people think I just jumped on the scene, but I’ve worked very hard. From performing in buildings with 20 people to doing big shows. Everybody gets a show no matter the crowd size. I couldn’t have done all of this without my team: my family, the Box Boyz, DJ Ktone and all of the other people who fuck with me. What exactly is the loaded campaign? My single right now is called Loaded so instead of the movement, we’ll call it the campaign. It’s all in good fun. Drink responsibly no matter what. You recently performed with New Kidz of “You’re A Jerk” fame. How did that go and how did you make that happen? Well I got the call for the show about two weeks in advance, and see most shows before this I would go up there kill the crowd with lyrics and energy and be done. This time we had a routine which I won’t even get into right now. I don’t wanna kill any anticipation for my next show. The crowd was decent they rocked with me the whole time. They loved it. Signed a couple autographs, took a couple pics and hit the after party.
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How did you catch the ears of KS 107.5? When I first started talking to big labels they told me if I couldn’t get a buzz in my own state how would I anywhere else. So once again hard work, networking, having a real DJ to help me just outta love, helped me get to the radio. It’s not all due to me, I give credit when credit is due, and my team deserves it.
den: Rockie
Words ByMz. fuSHion 30 The fuSHionMagazine
Hailing from Motor City aka THE “D” aka Detroit Michigan, LO FAT has been creating quite a buzz with his single “WALK IT TO THE BANK” featuring Rocko and Young LA. His Money Talks mixtape hosted by Hittmenn DJ’s, DJ Bishop has also helped create this incredible buzz. Now with his latest mixtape Bank Job, hosted by DJ Drizzle of the Hittmenn DJs his stock is guaranteed to rise even more. What’s your view on their support/lack of support of local artists? Despite what other people might think, I don’t knock KS 107.5; their views on local artists make me work harder. Now I’m starting to see a difference in how they treat me. So in a way they’ve kind of helped me. What can we expect from the mixtape with DJ KTone? The first mixtape was a tease to me. I mean it had 31 tracks but at the same time I was just grinding out trying to get a product. People tell me its FIRE, and I just laugh thinking to myself wait till you see what’s next. Now that I got their attention, it’s time to keep it. How competitive is the Hip Hop scene in Colorado? I feel like it’s very competitive, because everybody raps. Everywhere I go I meet another rapper. I don’t knock anybody though. If it’s hot it’s hot, and vice versa. I’m not a hater, but it’s mostly friendly competition, no beefs or nothing. I’m cool with a lot of heavyweights in Colorado. So I’m excited to see what everyone has next. Are you from CO? Yes, I’m from Park Hill, Colorado! Heavily affiliated with the ACO (Aurora), Montebello, and the Eastside, matter of fact, everywhere in Colorado. What are you working on now? My RNB Mixtape, I’m not singing though, it’s called Rich N***a Bullshit, is definitely a slap, and then I’ll drop the album Suma Cum Laude. What separates you from every other rapper trying to make it out of CO? I’m not a rapper, everybody’s a rapper, but I’m not a rapper. I can’t sell my talent short by just saying I’m a rapper. I’m an artist. I’m just a student in this game, learning from everything, from people’s big breaks to mistakes. So hopefully I graduate with flying colors. Valedictorian Shit! Anything you wanna add? Shout out the Box Boyz, G5, DJ Ktone, Elite, all the other DJ’s on this Loaded Campaign, just Colorado period. And Ill end it with this, somebody once told me “If you act like a star they can’t treat you like a fan.” Only problem is I don’t have to act! IMA STAR!
What’s Hood my dude?! Been hearing many great things about and your music. Your Money Talks really got the ball rolling for you and now you got Bank Job. Could you tell the people a little about the mixtapes? DJ Bishop that’s my dude right there. When we met we just clicked. And Drizzle, man, it’s all love with him. I met Drizzle at the Core DJ retreat and he was telling how much he loved my mixtape with Bishop. Drizzle also had my single “Walk it to the Bank” on a few mixtapes he did. So the next mixtape I did I was blessed to have him host it. The songs people need to be listening for are “Walk it to the Bank”, “I Do It”, and in “In these Streets”. Your “Walk it to the Bank” was produced by Zaytoven and features Young LA and Rocko. How did the collab come together?
Expect motivational music. The attitude of get up and get money. We are in a down time in our economy and I want people to stay motivated. Be ready for some hood classics, some real creative classic motivational hustler music. Production wise I got Zaytoven on the bulk of it. As far as features I got Mr.Porter from D12, Royce Da 5’9, Gucci Mane, and MC BREED (RIP). It was a blessing to work with MC BREED on the title cut of my album “Gorilla Money”. Any producers or artists you would like to work with in the future? Producers I would like to work with Cool & Dre, Dr.Dre, The Runners, Just Blaze, and Timbaland. As far as artists, Snoop Dogg, Rocko again, Fabolous, and any other artist out here making creative good music. I’m open to work with anybody and everybody right now. Who did you grow up listening too? Jay Z, Tupac, Enimen, but my favorite of all time has to be Nas. I would love to make some hip hop classics with Nas. My final question for you pimpin before I let u go, RIP goes out to Micheal Jackson. Would u like to add any words?
I originally had “Walk it to the Bank” but I had Zaytoven add little something extra to the beat. I got Young LA cause he got a different vibe then what everyone else is doing out here right now. And I had to get at my man Rocko. I love his album; it’s easily the most slept on album that has come out within the last couple years. I’m a big fan of Rocko’s music.
It’s very sad and in shock. He was truly an original. My mom and I were just talking about him the other day saying how gifted he is/was. But THRILLER and OFF THE WALL are my favorites. RIP MICHEAL JACKSON there will never be another like him.
You have your debut album Gorilla Money in the works. What should people expect from it?
myspace.com/lofatmusic youtube.com/lofatmusictv twitter.com/lofatmusic www.MIDWESTMIXTAPES.com www.Skrillagorilla.com
W ho Sle u ep Bee in’ n On :
detroit: lo fat Words By Jesse James
Hailing from upstate New York, Physha P is one of the dopest new groups in the hip hop game. Members Wa Peace and Bebe are bringing hip hop to the next level with their futuristic style, conscious messages, and “upgrades” to the game. You guys were in L.A for the BET Awards. I heard you performed at Lex Deux? Yeah we did Le Deux and we did the official Ne-Yo after party with Ne-yo hosting it. We did Club Zushi and Green Door. It was dope. It was real real dope. Shout out to BET. We came out here did our performance. Make sure we showed face. It was a real real good experience out here. So everybody showed y’all love? Mos def. We ran into Mistah Fab out here. So hopefully we can do a record with him soon. How did you come up with the name Physha P? Well Physha P is a really really long story. But long story short, it basically means do what you do. If you listen to us talk and listen to our conversation sometimes we talk in our own language. And that’s kinda where it came from our own little language. Its basically just be yourself. Just do what you do and don’t let anybody steer you away from that.
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I was reading some things about you and I read that you had a few groups before you became Physha P. Can you guys tell me about how you got from your first group to now. Wa Peace: Well me and Bebe came together in highschool.We formed a group called the Hot Spittaz and a good friend of ours that passed away, Chris Mendez, was a part of it. Bebe: Ya know when ya young you’re just having fun, havin a good time. Hotspittaz was like a small Wutang clan. A bunch of kids, 9th grade coming together over music and stuff like that. Then that summer Chris passed away, rest in Peace to him. But then the other member s of the group just broke apart. Wa Peace and I were the only two left. So we just took it to the top and we just kept at it.
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Getting back to the BET Awards, what about Michael Jackson? How has he influenced your music and you music career period? How has he influenced you and touched you? Michael Jackson touched a lot of people in a lot of ways. His performance piece is amazing. And I know one thing that Physha P is bringing to the hip hop game is an actual performance piece. Were not trying to really go up on stage and waste your time. We tryna give the fans something to really look at and be entertained. We really put on a crazy show. Another influence by MJ was that his messages to the world were so heavy and real. So that whenever we make Physha P music we wanna make sure that we have a theme or that were telling you something of relevance. {Our message} is to do what you do and be yourself. Rest in peace to Michael Jackson. Well I heard Do what you do. I really like that track. Does it make you wanna do what you do? Oh, I do what I do. Trust! I heard the song y’all mixed with Kelly Clarkson. How did y’all think to come up with that? Well that’s actually the kick off single of our mixtape; The Fam presents Physha Welcome to Next Level Hip Hop. On the mixtape we took songs that we love. Physha P is hip hop based but we are not 100 percent hip hop. We wanted to just show that we love all different genres. And Kelly Clarkson Here I am is one of those tracks we love. We just wanted to take that song and upgrade it. And keep upgrading it and take it to the next level. That’s exactly what Physha P is all about. As far as taking it to the next level of hip hop, what do you mean by that? How are you planning to do that? Wa Peace: Well, right now hip hop is a big outlet to the community and I don’t feel it’s shown in a positive light. When Physha P is talking about taking it to the next level we’re not just talking about upgrading but bringing an actual message that can uplift the community. While we were over here in California we did a couple Boys and Girls Clubs. We got to speak to the kids and let them know that it’s about more than the money. It’s about actually being yourself and doing what you love to do. So when we say we are bringing things to the next level, we are really trying to bring the community up and uplift the community in a positive light. So you think it’s really important to give back to the community. Yes, because it’s up to us to raise the next generation. We don’t want to raise them on Cristal and bling. We want them to have a peace of mind. They don’t have to just be a Trick Daddy they can be a Barack Obama. What aspects of your music do you feel separate you from other artists today. Whether it’s your messages or style, what separates you? Bebe: One is our image, our look. We’re a bright group of kids when it comes to that.
We’re in your face. We’re naturally different. We are real retroish and futuristic. We also put on performances. Like Wa peace said before today many hip hop artists just get on the stage, grab their crotch and as a fan you just spent 40 dollars to be bored. See we sweat for our fans. We really put on a show. We looked at groups like Bell Biv Devoe, Guy, and New Edition for inspiration. We’re gonna give you our all so you can have a better understanding of the music and us as people. I think that’s one of the important things. Many people don’t know how to put on a show. When you see a show and the artist is giving you their all people respect tem a whole lot more. Exactly, so as a fan you’re like wow they did all this to entertain me. Outside the music, what are you guys doing? Wa Peace: When I was in New York going to Community College, I started a club that helps kids and bring their resources together. RPM stands for Rhythm Poetry Music and the kids from the school and outside of the school get a chance to express themselves via music or whatever outlet they. I believe everybody can help each other if we bind together. RPM’s main purpose is to bring the people up and uplift the people. We also had a chance to expand out to other colleges as well. I was reading about you Bebe, it says you were an athlete and you did some running in the Olympic trials in 2008. Bebe: Yes maam went to school at Sacred Heart University. Shout out to Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. SHU Know! Yeah, I ran track for four years and participated in Olympic trials for 2008, in the 200 and 400. It was bananas! It was crazy. Shout out to all the runners. So with you being in RPM, being an athlete and school, how did yall make time for music? Bebe: Now don’t get it twisted music to us is a job to do but it’s what we love to do. We always made time for it. It’s not like a burden to us. And while we were at different colleges even though we weren’t making music there, we were making experiences to make music. Wa Peace: so while Bebe was doing Olympic trials and I was VP of RPM we were enhancing our experiences so that we can make next level hip hop music. Tell me about when you performed on 106 and Park Wild Out Wednesday a few months ago. It was amazing. Shout out to BET and 106 and Park. Letting us just showcase our talents to millions of viewers. It was an amazing experience! And out of 14,000 other acts we were picked. That right there was pleasing in itself. We got a chance to kick it with the other acts and when we got on stage the crowd really respected our performance. You can check it out on youtube.com/DaFamTV. That helped us get a lot of other performances in different states. As far as Hip Hop, R&B, or any other music genre, who influences you? Big influences would have to be of course the late great Michael Jackson, more so Heavy D, Eminem and Timbaland. Not for the simple obvious fact that Eminem is a lyricist, it’s the fact that whether you like Eminem or not when you listen to his music he brought you into his world and that is exactly what we love to do. Timbaland just loves to take things to the next level and pushes the envelope, which is something we love to do. Those are definitely huge, huge influences. These people brought something to the game. Physha P is trying to add something to the game, and uplift hip hop. That’s what Physha P is trying to do. So basically you’re saying to that once you stop the music game you want to leave legacy? Yes we want to add something to the game because we’re fans of hip hop before anything. Before we even started doing hip hop we were fans. So we look at like what we can add to hip hop? Let’s talk about the upcoming projects.Whats going on with Physha P? Right now were just pushing the new single, Do What You Do. We’re working on our Next Level mixtape. It’s coming out real soon. We’re doing a lot of little things here and there. A couple TV things, but we can’t really say too much. And hopefully we’ll do a record with Mistah Fab. That would be crazy. What is something you wanna tell your fans about you. What is something you feel is unique that your fans don’t know that they might want to know? That Bebe is a fantastic artist. He can draw pretty well. Wa Peace is a really good cook. He likes to cook for the ladies. (Laughs) He’s actually thinking about going to culinary school. Alright, we like that, multi-talented. (Laughs) We also like to play lots of pranks. If you’re around us you’re going to get got. Always have your guard up.
nyc: physha p
When are you guys going back to New York? Actually we just kicked off our radio promo for Do What You Do. We’re goning to the Bay next.
Words By Courtney Taylor
You guys not gonna come to Houston? Oh we definitely gonna come to Houston. Anybody that is reading this holla at us.We’re in there like swimwear.
n e e B : u n o n’ O h W epi Sle
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M as The ter ta s o ble f s: How’d you get your start as a DJ? How long you been doin it? When I was young my uncle was a DJ/promoter so I was raised into this game. I have been DJing since I was in middle school. {I started} doing house parties {which led to me} doing clubs in college. What’s the hip hop scene like out there in Cincinnati? We have a nice scene in Cincinnati but the grind is not here. Everyone is waiting for someone to come and sign them but that not gonna happen. “They gotta learn to get up get out and get something” {Via Outkast.} Radio, Club, or Mixtape, Which do you prefer? I prefer mixtapes because I can be me. The club and radio you have to stick to a format of what the people want to hear. The radio doesn’t break music. In clubs you can but in Cincinnati the promoters are always crying about what you’re playin and they don’t wanna pay the DJ’s right, so I stick to mixtapes and do me. What DJ Troops are you associated with? I’m with the Hittmenn DJs based out of Atlanta. What are you involved with outside of DJing? I break artist’s music, consult labels, produce, engineer, and I also promote. Explain: 90% Business 10% Talent. This music game is all about the business. You gotta have a budget, a manager, a lawyer, publicist, and other things to make your project work. Going to the studio and recording a song is easy. What {artists} do you do after that is where a lot of them fail. Who’s making major moves in Ohio? No one has really made it big since Bone Thugs. Ray Cash tried but disappeared. Who’s the next to blow? Right now it’s Kid Cudi who is blowing up but there are a lot of cats making noise like Hush Money from Cleveland. They have three hot artists: CJ, R.O.B , and Skent Dukes who is making noise. From Cincinnati we have Young Dunny, an R&B cat who’s getting crazy spins on radio, Khadijah, Beat Gang, and a group called the Gwap Boys who have songs with O.J. Da Juiceman and Gucci Mane. At the end of the day it’s gonna come back to who has their business right. You’re on the road a lot. Why? I’m on the road a lot because I’m building my brand nationwide. I used to be happy doing clubs and mixtapes in my city but outside of my city no one knew me so I stopped with the clubs and hit the road. Cinci is not a big city where we get a lot of people coming to party. I just felt I had to expand my brand.
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How competitive is the DJ Scene in Ohio? It’s not competitive because there’s only four big clubs here. The only way
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you gonna get in is if you’re on the radio, been DJing in the city for 15 years, or you undercut the other DJ’s price. Where does the Midwest stand in the rap game right now? We here we just don’t work together to break artist, everyone is all about themselves. Maybe we can get it together and start getting these artists mainstream, but as of right now we just play what everyone else plays. We’re following the south in other words. How does the DJ have to adjust now that the industry is going digital? I think it’s better now because you don’t have to carry vinyl or CDs in the club, but I think it made it too easy for other DJs to get in the game. That creates the problem with {being able to} undercut other DJs. They can’t really DJ, they just play music and will do it for $75 a night. Do you think the social networking craze is helping or hurting the industry? Why. Both. It’s easier to promote and get your music to the masses but then again it makes it easy for artists who don’t know shit about the game, or have no budget seem bigger than they are. Do you think the reality TV Craze is helping or hurting Hip Hop’s global image. Why? I don’t really watch too much TV. But hey if it makes you money it’s all good with me. Some of these cats just hurt their self because they look stupid. How has the role of the DJ evolved since you broke into the game? DJs have became smarter and have started getting and promoting their own artists and are getting deals instead of just playin music. What are you working on now? I’m working on getting Young Dunny and Skent Dukes a deal right now. Where will you be in 5 years? Hopefully I’ll be sitting in an office looking for new talent to sign. I like to see a project from the start to the end. Ok last question… What happened to the Bengals?? What’s good for the upcoming year? Is Chad Ocho Cinco still going to be a factor/distraction? The Bengals are the Bengals. It’s always up for grabs with those guys, we just have to wait and see. Chad is gonna be Chad. If you come here for a week you will see why Chad acts the way he does, the city is boring. There is nothing to do here and it gets frustrating. Anything you want to add? Yes check out my MySpace page, www.myspace.com/djdrizzle and download the mixtapes. Look for me in a city near you.
cincinnati: dj drizzle Words By: Mz. fuSHion
You were in the first issue of The fuSHion Magazine back in November 2007, How has your career evolved since the last time we talked to you? Yea the very first issue, that was history. But I’ve evolved a lot. I do more out of town shows, mixtapes circulate in more cities now, and I just got my first endorsement. So I would have to say I’m still grinding but I have definitely evolved. How competitive is the DJ scene in Denver? It’s pretty competitive, I guess in a good way though. There are more people trying to DJ now more than ever, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. If you have more to offer and stand out you will last. How competitive is the hip hop scene in Denver? The Hip Hop scene is experiencing a hip hop overload. We have some great music coming out of Denver though, but there is waaaaay too much now. Some artists are lost and don’t know which direction to go. Some are mediocre and have no hustle about them. Some have no talent at all but some money and good connects. But I think there’s just way too many people trying to do this music in my opinion. You’ve been a part of numerous radio shows. How did they happen and who are you working with radio wise now? Well people reach out after hearing or hearing about or vice versa. Right now I have a radio show on www.wethewest.com called DJ Ktone’s Power Hour every Monday at 12pm PST. I have my LIVE online show called Turf Time online every Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm-2pm MST on www.ustream.com/channel/ turf-time-with-tona . I also still do mixes for Core DJ radio on Sirius/XM Shade 45/XM 66. I was doing mixes on 96.1 The Beat in CO Springs and I’m in talks with a couple stations, but we all know how that can turn out.
M as The ter ta s o ble f s:
What else are you doing besides Radio and Mixtapes? Stay relevant in the clubs, in state and out of state. I do community events too and parties for the kids. I’m bout to start another video show that will be bigger and better than the KTone TV show. I also work close with Denver artists Innerstate Ike, Young Doe, Hawkman, and my newest youngest talent Rockie. I work with and help lots of artists here, but work close with those particular artists. How has the Hip Hop scene evolved in the city since the last time we chopped it up? More artists are listening and growing. They are doing more shows and getting more exposure out of town. Now we need these majors or label heads to cut some checks to really take it to next level. What is the talent pool like in CO? Very diverse. You have artists like Innerstate Ike that doreal talk rap, to artists like Whygee who do conscious rap. Then you flip it and have R&B and Jazz type music with Dai Dae and his band to major Rock/Rap/Pop groups like 3OH3 who is very successful now. There is talent here for sure, and there is some bullshit too. What has been your hottest tape? Hottest as far as the streets and I can’t keep in stock I would have to say any of the Players Glides (1-7) series. I always get great feedback and can’t ever keep them in stock. As far as my liking I would say either Jazz on the Turf Vol. 1 or Turf Love because those 2 were so different and a different genre of music and I mixed that shit well. (Laughs)
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You’re always bringing a different celebrity to CO. How did you establish such a good rapport with so many in the industry? Because I move around a lot, talk to people, network and keep shit real with them. You gotta be a people person or at least know how to talk to people. You also have to get out of your city and move around. Is CO any closer to producing a mainstream artist then it was two years ago? Yes. Very much closer. Go to www.myspace.com/uknowdadrill and check out ROCKIE. Wow. What are you working on now? This new endorsement deal, I can’t let out name right now, branding Rockie, expanding Still LIvin Ent, making Young Doe, Innerstate Ike, and Hawkman household names, and continuing to grow in the mixtape game, doing bigger and better shows, and being a better father and husband than I am already. Anything you want to add? Artists reach out to me or my PR: midnightpr@gmail.com, and always stay prayed up.
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den: dj ktone Words By: Mz. fuSHion Photo By: Chris Vega
Ok, which came first: GT the Rapper or GT the DJ? GT the rapper came first which brought life to GT the DJ because I started DJing to make for money for studio time and demos and I just happened to blow up as a DJ. That’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Which profession would choose if you absolutely had to? Which is your true love? My first love would have to be rapping. I like the whole creativity aspect. I love what it takes to just get the beat and inside the beat and coming up with a concept and a thought, and then it all rhyming and making sense. I like the whole process of taking subject matter and making sense of it. Now DJing on the other hand, that’s what pays the bills, but rap is most definitely my first love. So how did you physically make the transition between the two? Well it’s a balancing act. I was doing the DJ thing and on the radio and then one day I saw Chris Luva Luva transform into Ludacris. I was like you know go for it. If he can do it I can do it too. How long ago was that? I did my first record, I wanna say, in ’97, Our House and I’ve been pursuing it ever since. Then I started doing compilations just to get my name out there. I put out hits on those compilations, like Pac Man’s This Is For My with Slim Thug and ESG, I was responsible for that. I put out Key Players 1 and 2 just so people could get used to me as an artist. It took an I Think They Like Me freestyle for people to finally start taking me seriously. As far as DJing goes what all do you have your hands in? I do the radio, I do the club, I do it all. If it entails hip hop and there’s money to be made I’ll do it. Which of the three do you prefer? If I had a choice I would be an artist first so I can travel the world. Then I would choose to be a DJ, that has taken me to the Super Bowl, All Star Game, The Essence Festival, all over. Lastly I’d choose radio because I know it’ll always be there. I can leave and come back and there will always be a spot for me because it’s just something I’m naturally good at. So tell us about the single H.O.U.S.T.O.N. How did you put the whole concept together? No one believes this story, but Stevie Wonder came to the Toyota Center not too long ago. As a matter of fact, it was the day after Pimp C past because I remember him talking about Pimp on stage. The whole verse and melody actually came into my head while I was at the concert. I had to get to the studio first thing the next morning to get it out of my head. I just had this da-dum da-dum da-dum dumm in my head and I had the hook and the melody so the whole first verse just came. It was like, what’s the word that I’m looking for, an epiphany.
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Then just to clarify, are you talking about a girl, or the city of Houston symbolized by a girl? I’m actually talking about the evolution of music in the city of Houston; I just put it in the form of a relationship with a girl. Like I said earlier, I’m trying to put a little bit of thought in these things. (Laughs)
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Since you have both perspectives how important is the DJ to the artists’ career and vice versa? Me being a DJ, one of the hot ones in my city, representing the Go DJs, I’ve learned that a good relationship with a DJ can take you a long way. I would look back and sometimes there would be songs I played because I was cool with the artist. I may not think it’s a hit record but I give it a chance if the artist been grinding and he’s cool and a lot of times those records end up working. It’s kind of like when you have an average looking chick, but she has a good personality so it makes her good looking you know? It’s the same with artists. It might now be a hit off
M as The ter ta s o ble f s: top but just because they’re you play it and it winds up being a hit. On the flipside, as an artist, I’ve learned a lot from being a DJ on the radio at The BOX. I mean, you gotta be on time, and if you are going to be late then don’t come into your interview smelling like weed or alcohol, having a bunch of people with you. It just ruins your future relationships. This whole industry is based on contacts and who you know. When you start missing shows and showing up late people don’t wanna mess with you no more. You’re only as good as your last hit. So speaking of playing the homies’ records, do you think, since you were already established at the radio station that helped you get your record played on air? Definitely not. That record broke in the streets. I pressed up 5000 CDs, had my artwork on there with my face so people could have a visual of who GT was. I mean you hear me on the radio or see me at the club but how many people are at the club on any given night? 500? Compare that to the 5 million that live in the Houston. I mean they’re not getting a visual of me so I pressed up 5000 CDs and I just started giving them out everywhere and people started hitting me on MySpace. I gained the attention from MySpace and the streets and people started calling in and requesting the record. That’s how it got added to the rotation. Shout out to the Go DJs for breaking it too. How did you get all the Cameos for the video? You know you show love and you get love back. Slim’s been messing with me for a minute; Paul’s been messing with me for a minute. Everything goes hand in hand. If we all start working together we can be successful. What are you working on now? I’m working on a lot. But I really don’t know how to put it out there without actually putting it out there. I’m working with Grey Goose and their national “Rising Icons” campaign. I have the album dropping in August, going through a famous H Town label, but I’m going to keep that under wraps for now. I’m just doing big things like that. What can we expect from the album? Hip Hop at its best is coming back. I have a song with Chamillionaire and JR Reid that’s crazy. It’s an international song. My second single with Fat Pimp, Don’t I Look Good is in the streets right now. There’s a lot of good stuff on there, good samples, good tracks. I’m working with Big E straight out of Dallas, Mr. Lee of course. I got a lot of hot tracks, of hot verses that I’m spitting on and that’s what it is. Any last words? Just look out for you boy GT the artist. Support your boy and I’ll support you. H Town it’s all love.
Hou: Gt mayne Words By: Mz. fuSHion
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Now with his debut Album, The Connect in stores, he takes the listener on a journey through his life. No bright lights, scripts, and fairy tale endings, at least not yet. Just a pen, a pad, and a hood dream made reality.
Words By Mz. fuSHion Photos By: Jonathan Mannion (left) amd William Olguin (below)
But there are a few, a small few, number of artists who truly had to survive life and death situations, prison, and turmoil to even have a chance of getting their story told. Willy Northpole is one of those artists. He was part of The Broadway Gangstas and sold drugs. He lost family members to silver bullets and white powder. And through it all he had the frame of mind to have a dream and follow it through to fruition.
Hood Dreams 2 Hood Reality
For years the stories of tough childhoods and overcoming diversity to make it to the top have been a key concept to shaping many hip hop artists images and careers. A lot of times that’s simply all they are, just stories, ghetto fairy tales designed to appeal to the people who don’t know and relate to the people who do. They are fabrications, designed to sell records and tickets and gain plays and views.
Willy Northpole:
“If your goal Isn’t to be Michael Jackson, I don’t understand why you doing this in the first place.” -Willy Northpole
Congrats on your new album. How you feelin right now? I’m feelin good. I’m in a situation now where I can finally have something to tell people to go pick up, instead of always tellin people it’s comin. Now I can do my performances and whatever else I need to do to get people to know me and then go tell them to go pick up the album. I think the most important thing about having a deal now-a-days is having a record, putting it out, and letting the music speak for itself you know? So then getting into the album, Hood Dreamer was the first single. Can you explain the concept behind the video, and how much of it is taken from your real life? The whole video is true. I had a cousin pass away who was a big inspiration in my music career, really just in my life in general. He was murdered in the 90s. He was just 16 when he died, got shot like 20 times. He had a son on the way when he passed and it’s his son that reenacts his death in the video. Me getting arrested is real and my mother and grandmother in the video are my real mother and grandmother. We even shot the video at my grandma’s house. I was trying to make the video as real and as personal as possible. I feel the best way for people to relate to my music is to know me as a person.
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Given that you really didn’t grow up with a perfect father figure do you try to fill that role for your cousin’s son?
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I do man. I mean, he’s a little knucklehead sometimes, but at the same time he reminds me a lot of his father. There’s just something in his bloodline, he takes after his father so much. He’s even into the music like his dad. I’m not trying to take the role of his father but I’m definitely taking the role of Big Cousin and I’m going to show him the right path. The good thing about him is he always says “you know what cousin, I’m doing this music thing but I’m not looking handouts. I’m just looking for guidance. I don’t want you to have anything to do with this. I wanna do it on my own.” And that’s exactly what his father would say. I’m definitely lookin out for him. Aight, getting back to the music. Of all the Akons and T Pains in the game right now, why throw B.o.B on the hook? How’d you make that happen? I think B.o.B is one of the most underrated artists out right now and I’m completely underrated so I figured us coming together would be more of an impact. It would be like “who are these guys, and how they puttin out this quality music??” That was something I wanted to stress with Hood Dreamer. I mean I can’t picture anyone else singing that hook they way B.o.B did. He got a real unique voice and sound. Yea he killed it. Exactly. And the way it came together, you know, Grand hustle and Disturbing the Peace had their beef but they squashed it and I really just want to show that ALL artists can work together. Number #1 Side Chick is the second single correct? Yes #1 Side Chick featuring Bobby Valentino. I met Booby V when we were both signed to DTP and we developed a good friendship. I had a couple different people I could put on the song but I chose Bobby because I felt that no one would be able to deliver the way he did on the song. We got a hit on our shoulders and it’s time to work it. So to expand a little bit on that, a lot of rappers talk about the side chick but few people fail to elaborate on the dynamic of the relationship. Why did you take the time to do so? My thing is if you have a side chick, if you think about it that’s your main chick because if your main chick find out about your side chick she’s going to leave you. So if you’re willing to risk your main chick for your side chick she has to have your heart regardless of what you choose to think. In the video, the side chick was there first. Then as I got bigger the main chick came and I forgot my side chick, but she was the one helping me press up and sell my CDs, making me breakfast in the morning and she was there when I was recording my project. But I got bigger and went for the more model chick. That’s the concept of the video, but if you watch it you’ll see that the side chick had my heart the whole time. I was really feelin the side chick, but physically I wanted the main chick.
But you’re right, side chicks really do get shitted on a lot. Some people say my side chick, some people say my bottom, but I don’t consider my side chick at the bottom. Watch the video, you going to see what happens! When can we expect the video? We just shit the video in LA. TAJ directed the video, Dollicia Bryan, who was King Magazine’s Eye Candy of the Year played the Side Chick, and Vanessa Veasley, who was on the cover of Show Magazine, a wonderful model, played the main chick. So in real life it would have been a real fight, I don’t know who I would have chose! Laughs. But the video will be out by the time this drops. Do you think the way the industry is right now you have to make songs to appeal to women to be successful? Honestly, I do what I want to do because I’m not trying to appeal to the industry; I’m trying to do what makes me happy. Once people know that it’s going to make them respect me even more because they’ll see I’m doing what I love. I have a song with NeYo that everyone is telling me is a smash and that I need to put it out, but right now Hood Dreamer, Body Marked Up, and #1 Side Chick are me. The song with NeYo is called The Life but how can I show someone the life when I’m living my hood dream? That’s why I’m doing it this way. I want to get my base first before I get into those records. With #1 Side Chick I’m showing a more personal side then just talking about showing someone the life. I feel the average Joe can relate to that. We’re definitely going with The Life next but #1 Side Chick is just really important to me personally. The video for The Life will be a continuation of #1 Side Chick, so stay tuned! On a side note since you mentioned Body Marked Up, you have a clear fascination with tattoos. How did that start and why are you so into them? Tattoos have always been a symbolic form of what’s been going on in my life. Every tat I have reflects something I’ve been through or something I want to go through. I really felt that if I just got one then it wouldn’t be effective. I want my body to be a work of art. I’m an artistic person, that’s just who I am. And it also looks good and the chicks love it, so I get a two-for-one deal! Laughs. You’ve been grinding for years now, but you’re new to the mainstream, essentially poppin up out of nowhere. What do you attribute your most recent success to? I really wouldn’t say it’s just one thing. I’ve been on tour, I’ve been on magazine covers, and I’ve put an album out. I think it’s just my determination to be heard and seen. It’s a long turtle walk, but turtles will eventually get to the finish line if they keep going. Instead of me having a record with someone like T Pain and getting that recognition the next day, I really like the way it going. That way when I do come out it’ll be like I’m coming out of nowhere and it’s going to be because I’ve been so underrated for so long, but that allows me to build my base every day. I’m not doing anything different then I did 72 hours ago. I’m in the hood, I’m in these mom and pop stores, I’m doing these meet and greets. I’m networking, I’m hanging out with the DJ’s and I’m in the club every night. Every day, that’s what I do. I’m building relationships and getting more familiar with people and vice versa and all that is starting to come around and it’s going to start working for itself.
zona. How has your success impacted the Phoenix Community? Laughs. Ok, now we’re getting into the real questions! Arizona. I wish people could see what I am in Arizona. I am everything to my state. Rappers gotta share Atlanta, rappers gotta share New York, rappers gotta share St. Louis, and rappers gotta share Los Angeles. Arizona, that’s my state and I’m not saying that egotistically. I’m just telling you how it is. People love me out there and I love them back. My album is sold out there. I don’t know what it’s doing anywhere else but you can’t find a Willy Northpole CD in Arizona. Them showing me that much love just shows how much I’ve brought to the table and they respect me for that. I am to Arizona what Michael Jordan was to Chicago. How prominent is the hip hop seen out there? 100% of the community is 100% Hip Hop. Hip Hop is the most influential musical genre in the world. It’s big out there but at the same time it’s not made for everybody. I have a squad that I’m bringing in of people I feel deserve a shot. But at the same time I gotta get to the point where I’m secure and I can start helping other people out. I gotta focus on what I’m doing for my city, my state, my whole region. Speaking of your region, on the DJ Quote 4 Corners mixtape you had the title track. In one of your verses on 4 Corners you say you don’t just rep for Phoenix, but you rep for four corners and five states. Can you expand on that a little? The four corners is the southwest region of the United States and it’s the only part where four different states come together at one spot. It’s Arizona, if you look up you got Utah, look to the right and you got Denver, CO and below that is New Mexico. I’m the first artist out of that region to have a major deal so instead of just talking about Arizona and where I’m from I’m going to take that whole section with me. How important is it for artists from lesser known states in the Hip Hop game like Arizona and Colorado to come together and support one another? That’s my job. I wanna know who the top artist is from each state because I wanna work with the best. The only way I can be the best is to work with the best. That’s why I’m putting together The Four Corner Movement, the FCE. I’m looking for the best artists in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico. I want us to come together and we’ll start our own shit, our own unit, our own G-Unit, Diplomats, Roc A Fella. We’ll put em together like that and take charge of these states and breakthrough the industry. How has coming from a lesser known city in the rap game helped or hurt you in getting to where you are now? I think people automatically underestimate me because I’m from Arizona. They won’t say it but I know what it is and I understand it. It’s a slow walk but there is a finish line and at the end of the day I will get there. People are starting to see Arizona. They’re seeing the videos; they’re starting to see what we look like. We’re not the desert. All I can do is show you. That’s why my album is called The Connect because I’m connecting you to that. Aight then, last question: since you just made your debut, what are you working on now? Where is your focus at?
So how did you link up with Ludacris and get signed to DTP? I was working with G-Unit trying to get signed to them. I was doing some stuff with Hot Rod who is signed to G-Unit but that situation didn’t really work out. I had high hopes and dreams of getting down with G-Unit and it didn’t happen. My manager, who is also a childhood friend, Tiffany J, she has always tried to get me my own record deal, my own recognition, so when that situation didn’t work out she already had labels looking at me. She’s been cool with Core Digga who works side by side with Ludacris. He believed in me and got the DTP camp to hear my demo and it was just a wrap from there. It sounds short and sweet like a Cinderella story but at the same time I’ve been recording every day since I was twelve. It’s one of those things that you never know when it’s going to happen. But even now I don’t feel any change and I won’t until I get to a certain level. If you’re a true artist it’s never going to be enough, you’re always going to want more. Michael just died, and if your goal isn’t to be like Michael Jackson, I don’t understand why you’re doing it in the first place. That’s a very valid point. You are the first artist to have a major deal out of Ari-
My focus right now is to work the album and start my second. I wanna keep my mixtape game up and get more acquainted with new artists and keep doing features. But I’m really just focused on pushing The Connect, in stores now, and working on my second album because I gotta top this one, you know? And what is it going to take for you to do that? Stay focused and consistent. Going somewhere… Quiet! Laughs. Not enjoying the things I probably could right now and just get right to it. That’s the only way I’m going to be able to do it. I mean, The Connect is really personal, it’s definitely from the heart and obviously I can’t talk about the same things in the next album, so that’s what I’m focused on. Any last words? Yea, anyone who wanna hit me they can get at me on www.myspace.com/willynorthpole, on www.twitter.com/willynorthpole, and FaceBook is the same. Holla
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9 7 . 9
THE BOX
H I P H O P 4 H I V A W A R E N E S S
We’re all very aware of the super virus that has ravaged our
planet over the last decade and a half. It is a disease that is not bound by racial, gender, economic, geographical, or religious lines. It does not discriminate the old from the young, the poor from the rich; we are all susceptible to fall within its devastating grasp. In 2007, 33 million people between the ages of 15-49 were living with the HIV/AIDS Retro Virus. 2.7 million new cases of HIV were contracted, joining the 31 million already living with the disease, while another 2 million lost their lives in their battle against AIDS the same year.
And for those who like to view the world through rose col-
ored glasses, this is not just an epidemic that ravages third world countries like Swaziland and Botswana, where the virus has infected 26% and 23% of the country’s total population respectively. An estimated 468,578 people between the ages of 15-49 were living with the HIV/AIDS virus in the United States as of 2007, or more specifically .6% of our own population. The only things keeping the United States from the same devastating infection rates as Swaziland and Botswana is our ease of access to education concerning the virus and the people in our communities concerned enough about the epidemic to continually raise awareness among young people and those still uneducated on the prevention, and devastating effects of contracting the Super Virus.
We live in a day and age when people have a need to displace
blame to anyone other than themselves for the ills that plague our society. And for many of those ills, Middle and Upper class America is quick to delight in blaming the Urban, and more specifically the Hip Hop communities of our country. Events such as 97.9’s Hip Hop 4 HIV Awareness prevent them from doing so. Houston has the eighth highest infection rate in the United States, and rather than sit by and let nature take its course, over the last three years the City of Houston and 97.9 the Box have come together to test over 24,500 people for the HIV/AIDS virus, while also educating the community on how to prevent the disease and providing access to the necessary outlets for those who have unfortunately contracted it.
And how are the city and The Box able to pull off such a feat?
By offering a free concert ticket to every individual tested for the disease. Major Hip Hop artists and acts from across the nation such as Day 26, Plies, Bun B, Gorilla Zoe, Ginuwine, and Bobby V donated their super star status and time in order to draw numbers out to the testing centers. It is a continuing example of how the hip hop and urban communities are leading the charge in the fight against HIV/AIDS, improving our communities, and enriching the lives of all those involved. Words and Event Photos By: Mz. fuSHion
Terri Thomas 97.9 The Box Programming Director How long has the event been going and how did it all come together? This is our third year for Hip Hop 4 HIV Awareness. There was just a huge problem in the community, especially with young people; the statistics concerning the infection rate were just alarming. Some folks in the political community had come to us and asked us to come up with a way to get testing done and really raise awareness among young people. We came up with this event and I came up with the idea to do a concert and the only way to get the ticket was to go through the testing process. The first year we did about 7500 people, and last year we did 3000. We had to reduce our efforts because it’s a very expensive endeavor. This year we partnered with The City of Houston, with Marlene Ward and her entire team who have just been wonderful. She’s the Bureau Chief of HIV, STDs, and Bodily Infections, so the city has come in as a real, true partner and has been wonderful bringing in folks like the AIDS Foundation and Planned Parenthood and other organizations and assisted with the grant writing so we can get enough tests. The city of Houston is actually eighth in the country for HIV and second for Syphilis, so this year we also decided to test for Syphilis as well. That’s really how it all came together. So what is the radio stations exact role? Hands down it’s our event. We work with the city because there’s a lot of red tape when you’re working with young people and they work to get the testing then we promote, publicize, and get all the artists. People are motivated to take the test because they get a free ticket to a major concert. We coordinate the event we put on the event, we handle all of that. It’s a huge understanding and it takes about ten months to put together. How does the artist selection process work? Basically, by the Grace of God and having great relationships with people. A lot of the artists are community conscious and when you can explain the event to them and you can sit and tell them about the problem, the epidemic and how we’re trying to use the power of the radio station for good and for a positive change in the community, a lot of artists believe in that and they buy into the cause by donating their time. It has really just been a blessing to have artists who believe it. The radio station has a great reputation in the community for always doing things top notch. Our events are always well organized. When artists come to Houston the Box is always their first stop. They have a lot of love for the radio station and the community. We added Ginuwine to the show because he called us and asked to be added to the show when he saw what we were doing and wanted to make a positive impact on the community. This is a guy who commands a lot of money for concerts, but for us he’s not going down that road, he just wants to help. All of the artists are that way. Bun B is another example. He’s been with us for three years and he always says, “Just tell me what you need, say the word and I’m there.” And he always is. When you see the power that the event has, it‘s really just humbling. Will the event go on the road to any other cities? Some of our sister stations are doing similar events. Last year Dallas had their first event and it went real well so they will be doing it again. Also, our sister station in DC is looking at giving it a try. But there is a lot that goes into it. In theory it’s just testing people for HIV and in turn they get a ticket for a concert. In theory it’s simple, but there’s a lot of red tape, there’s a lot of things you have to cut through. The tests are all very expensive, and every city is only allocated a particular amount of tests a year. This event goes above and beyond a typical allotment. So we have to go out and raise funds through our partners and the non-profits, do grant writing campaigns, find pharmaceutical companies to donate tests, and get the CDC involved. We actually have to go and get 15,000 tests, they’re just lying around. So there really is a lot that goes into each event, so some of our other stations are trying it but it’s a process. Why have the event during the summer? We test 15-40 year olds. Schools out so we can have young people come in the middle of the week and get tested. We would really be limited if we could only do testing for that age group on a Saturday because it was a school year. At fifteen you don’t have a parent’s consent to get tested, so that’s why we begin testing at that age. Anything we missed? One of the joys we have at the Box is that we have the unique ability to make a difference in somebody’s everyday life and I have to applaud my staff because they really get out and work hard and they believe in the cause and see the power of the station to do positive things in the community. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without our partner at the city because they were able to navigate all of the red tape with the testing. It’s a major group effort. I’m just grateful to be a part of it. How many people can say “We just tested 15,000 people for HIV?” It’s just an enormous undertaking. It’s a blessing to be able to do something like that and expand on the positive energy of hip hop. Say what you wanna say about the music but there are many artists who are committed to the community and they get out here and get involved and they use their celebrity for good. I’m very humbled being able to pull all of these things together to do something that’s going to help and make a difference.
How did you become involved with Hip Hop 4 HIV Awareness? I’ve been involved with it every year since its inception. When Terri Thomas of The Box first called me about two years ago I told her I was there. I was there the first year, last year, and every year that I’m available I’m definitely going to be here. What other events are you involved with in the community right now? Anything that I can be called on to assist with. I do a lot of things in the inner city with my church. I do things of course with the station. I’m just involved with different organizations. We try not to pinpoint ourselves to one particular cause. Anytime we see the community needs help we try to be there for it.
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How important is it to you to be involved with these kinds of community events? Anything I can do for the community is important. It’s very important to get these kids educated, let them know what’s going on for real out here. Instead of just telling them, “don’t do this, don’t do that,” let them know why. This shit is for real out here. Any little thin I can do I try to do it because that’s the only way I can help. The last time we talked to you, you had just released the album, how’s that going? It’s going great. It debuted at number one on the rap album charts. Everything’s cool, it’s still selling. How’s the tour going? It’s cool. I’m a work horse; I’m not going to stop working. I stay working on something. I got a mixtape coming out, I start working on my next album, King Kong next month, and I’m working on getting this movie out. I’m about to start putting out product, that’s what I do.
What are you working on now? Right now I’m getting ready to start my new solo album, Trill OG, with Rap-A-Lot/Asylum Records, just kind of taking it slow because I really wanna try to make a definitive hip hop classic.
Bun B
97.9 Morning Show Mad Hatta, J Mac, and Jimbo What are your thoughts on the Hip Hop for HIV Awareness Event? J Mac- It’s great. We have over 14,000 people that got tested. That’s a great accomplishment in itself. Jimbo- Its action packed. We had so many artists come and perform. It was real action packed for the crowd and so many people got tested. Obviously the pay off is the concert but the important thing is that so many people got tested. How important is it to get the word out to the community, especially in a city like Houston where the infection rate is so high? J Mac- It’s extremely important, that’s why we do this concert each and every year. Jimbo- And this year we added STDs because Houston has such a high rate of STDs. J Mac- You were safe right? Jimbo-Yea I was safe! (All laugh.) Ridiculous! What role did you guys play in the event? Hatta- About three years ago one of the council people got in touch with me and showed me a map of the city and of the different parts of the city where a lot of people were contracting the HIV/AIDS virus and you could see in certain parts of the city where it was really bad. He asked if there was anything to be done. I told him that kind of thing was something the station would be really interested in. That’s really how this all jumped off, it was an idea between two different
organizations who really wanted to do something to help out the community because there was a need for it. It’s cool to have a concert but to get people tested and to get opportunity to say the message over and over again on the radio. To get people tested and have them know their results, that’s really what it’s all about. J Mac- We get them to the testing centers. We’re just pushing them and making them aware. That’s really all we can do is make people aware of the information. Jimbo- And we went out to the testing sites. A lot of people came out so we were just trying to make everybody comfortable because it’s not exactly a short process. But mainly we just get them there and get them tested. What other community events are you involved in? Hatta- Really anything that benefits the community I’m going to be there. I don’t have anything specifically I take part in, but I’m really focused on HIV/AIDS. I had a friend that passed away from the disease so I really take that to heart. But whenever we can help the community in any way we just go out there and do it. That’s what I’ve been doing the last fifteen years. So on a side note is there going to be a rematch against Chamillionaire anytime soon? J Mac- Lemme tell you, Cham is a cheater and I’m always going to say this. He says he didn’t know but Cham is a cheater. I will kick his butt if we ever play again! (Laughs)
Fat Pimp How did you become involved with this year’s event? I was involved last year. I went to a lot of the testing centers and by the Grace of God they invited me to come out as a special guest. It was a good look, kind of surprised the kids. So how did the crowd receive you? Oh man you already know! (Laughs) I’m one of those artists who walk through the crowd. I don’t go through the back ways, so when the fans see that they love it. So what other community events do you take part in? To be honest with you anything that has to do with the radio I’m out there, whether it’s the toy drives, school supplies. In Dallas we got conferences, I’m always in there, and Summer Jam. Pretty much anything that involves me going out into the community and gaining fans and a good network of people, I’m always there. What are you working on now? My new single is Mazaratti and it samples Mouse from Bizzy Body. I got a more commercial record called 80s Baby, which will be a national record, paying homage to LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, and Slick Rick. I did the beat myself, co-produced by Rogers. I got a song out with SupaStar, Mr. Halle Berry called Groupie. Look out for the Gangsta Grillz Mixtape, me and Mannie Fresh got a mixtape coming out and I have my own mixtape coming out, so it’s going to be a real good look.
Bobby V How did you become involved with the event? The radio station contacted me and told me what it was about and told me the cause and I definitely had to come out and sow my love and support. What other events do you take part in your own community? I have the Bobby V Foundation where I give back during Christmas and the Holidays and I also give away scholarships. You can go to www.bobbyvfoundation.com to learn more about it.
America loves its gangsters. From Al Capone to “Tookie” Williams to George Bush, JR, we’ve never had an obsession so painfully obvious. Sure, we adore the Ghandis’ and every year in January we memorialize the Dr. Kings’, but we can also quote the movie Scarface line for line and NWA’s 100 Miles and Running, song for song. So its no surprise that I bring to you the next supplier of Murder and Mayhem, Hawkman, who was recently signed to C Bo’s West Coast Mafia Records and is fresh off his first Koch Records release. fuSHion Magazine sat down to talk with Hawkman over the past, present, and most importantly the future of Colorado music. Where are you from? Denver, born and raised. From the “E” to the “Bellos”. How’d you get the name Hawkman? One of my big homies was bagging on a n***a, calling a n***a Hawkman and it just stuck. That’s how n***s from my era got they name. Now n***s name they self. How’d did you hook up with Elite Entertainment? Me, Young Doe, and Cac…..well, you might as well say M.N.L.D. (Mob N****z Living Decent) was already together. We hooked up with Elite through Young Doe’s relationship with Boozilla. Go back to where you started, to M.N.L.D. I started rapping on my own. We was at a house party at my homeboy Twins’ house. N****s was drunk, fucking around rapping. A n***a was rapping! I wasn’t missing a beat. A n***a was going off on them beats. The next day, I was at my n***a Woods’ house with my homeboy K.P. We started doing shit off tape and recording over beats. From there I got an ASR 10 four track recorder and a Triton. I think I still had an ASR when I started fucking with Cac on the rapping shit. Cac just so happen to be doing shit with Doe on the other side of the Bellos. I lived in the projects in the front of the Bellos. Cac and Doe stayed in the back. Cac started coming by more when Young Doe went to jail the first time. Me and Cac did a few songs and then he brought Ike (Innerstate Ike) over then Scrilla D. We made a song called “Bouncing like a Ball” and it was on from there. We was fucking around doing songs but shit didn’t get serious until Young Doe got out of juvenile. We did the first tape, M.N.L.D. “Held Back in The Game”, when Doe was still in jail. He was sending the beats from jail. Shit, he was doing the graphics and recording the tapes. That was 1997. With you being the most vocal about your gang affiliation, how does that affect your stance with Elite and your stance with your gang? At first, that’s what was holding me back. That’s what the whole (alias) Mr. Mannish thing was about. I was really out there doing shit to n****s. N****s was really active at that time. Cac and them wasn’t into all that. That’s why in my first songs I just talked about bitches and off topic shit. Them n****s wasn’t from my hood. They didn’t want to be caught up in none of my hood shit. That got hectic though right? That’s when we was still M.N.L.D. We wasn’t really promoting the gang shit. Now that I look back at it, we was still a gang. We was deep as fuck. N****s probably get that perception saying all of us is from Gear Gang, how shit looks now, but it wasn’t like that. Doe was gonna be from my hood. He’ll tell you. He was running with us a little bit on the side. I never fucked with Boozilla on that rap shit. I knew Boozilla fucking with my big homie. Whatever they was doing they was doing. If Boozilla would’ve banged, he would’ve been from Gear Gang as well. What took you so long to put your solo album out? The first tapes I was doing a song here, a verse there. I sat in the spot hanging out and running with the Crips. Even when a n***a had equipment I wasn’t using it. I’m lying. (Laughs). I was doing that shit. I would sit down for a minute with this shit. I was doing most of the production at first then I gave my shit to Doe when he got out for the betterment of the situation. I was running the streets, getting locked up, fucking around. When Cac got killed I was like fuck it, Imma do it. Cuzz knew how tight a n***a was.
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Is that where your motivation comes from? Yes and no. It was in me. I can’t sit up here and say I didn’t wanna do the rapping thing cause it was in me. It was in me cause I was doing it before working with Cac and that’s my blood cousin. When he died it just juiced me up on what can happen. Ain’t nobody gonna look out for the n***a mama like a n***a can.
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How did Cac passing effect the Elite movement? Depends on how you look at it. It really wasn’t no negative effect on the movement except Cac being gone. It really boosts n****s up. It made n****s grind harder. It really made us refocus. It just brought us closer together and made the fake n****s fall off. Like everything has two sides to it. It’s like you got the worst shit in the world and the best shit in the world. Look at Ike. How many albums he got? He was working like he is now but wasn’t dropping product like he’s been doing. What it do for Ike? It boost him up. What it do for Hawk? Hawk got three projects out fast. That shit wouldn’t have happened probably. It was in the making but it wouldn’t have happened like it happened. Doe always working but, who’s to say? It hurt the movement cause Cac was the heart of the movement. It took away from the people more than the movement. They took away a lot of music. Cuzz been gone three, four years. That’s three, four albums. It didn’t do shit to the movement but take numbers out the catalog.
H A W K M A N B i r d s E y e V i e w
On a personal level, they fucked up a lot of shit but the movement is still intact. He’s our Biggie, our Pac. How you hook up with C Bo and West Coast Mafia/Koch Records? Boozilla. Period. Point blank. That bond was made 10 ,11,12 years ago. I just think it was a matter of time. I don’t think n****s was ready on both sides back then. I think Bo is getting to a position where he’s looking for a n***a to push to the next level. He got in a position to help n****s and reached out. Boozilla still making these kind’ve moves from the feds? (Laughs). Aww shit, the n***a was in it man. He was in it. He was doing that shit. He hit the road to go fuck with them dudes. He built relationships with Bo and them. The most important part of all this shit, whatever they was doing they was doing. They was getting money some kind of way. They know Boozilla is trill. Plus, Young Doe was gonna be on A.W.O.L. Records way back. Way back. It;s Doe too though. Doe been fucking with Bo a long time too, on a personal level. Writing n****s in jail and so on. So, that’s how it cracked off with the West Coast Mafia situation. My shit kinda cracked off first and about five months later. Bo made it official when he got his deal with Koch. You got signed before Young Doe? We got the contracts at the same time. I got the ok on my project before Doe. Doe had the Product of the Eighties done. I was trying to fuck with Killa Tay but it didn’t work out. I let Bo see the graphics. He was like, “aww cuzz, change that up and run it”. Shit was in limbo for four or five months. It was to a point I was starting to get mad. Young Doe called Bo. I don’t know what the conversation was but he called me and said the shit was on. Next thing I know the contracts was coming. How does that being signed change your everyday life? Ain’t no muthafucking difference. It’s a difference in my state of mind. I can’t put it into words bro. It ain’t shit. (laughs). Until that check comes…. (pauses) but it ain’t no guarantee on that. It’s a catch 22. If your records ain’t selling, you ain’t doing shit. Anybody can have a album sitting on the shelf. I guess that’s something to tell your grandkids about. That’s where that Obama shit, that campaigning shit comes in. Even he got a RV, driving state to state networking with the people. You got to. That’s the most critical part. You gotta have campaign money though. Them motherfuckas don’t use their own money to gas that bitch up and hit the road. So where do you see yourself in 5 years? I’ll be sitting on at least 5 million. (laughs). Moving, man. That will probably be the peak of my career, hopefully. That’s my plan if everything goes right. A n***a got a lot of shit going on so hopefully the town start standing behind n****s. We want that big check. You get the same love when you go other places? Keeping it real, hell nahh. But they ain’t gotta show me no love. They don’t know who I am yet. I don’t expect that nowhere else. Don’t nobody know who the fuck I am. I be in Miami or Oakland or something and I be right up in there with them n****s. That goes back to networking and how you suppose to network. That’s my recipe. We just pop up on n****s everywhere, at all the awards, conferences, DJ conferences, whatever. If we ain’t gotta pass, K Tone gonna steal us a pass. You got that pass you’re gonna be by somebody. You ain’t gotta run up on n****s. Just smoke your weed and drink your drink and do your thing. When they see you in 5 cities in a row, they gonna be like, “Who is you? Either you the police or you doing what I’m doing so what’s up”. That’s how you network. You ain’t gotta be pushing up on n****s and kissing they ass cause they hear that shit all day, everyday. You just gotta be where they’re at and hang out and do what they do. Go to Miami and find out where they’re renting them Lamborghini’s at and spend you $700 for a couple days. You gotta make n****s talk about you cuzz. That’s how you network. Can Denver ever get to the point of an Atlanta, Houston, Miami? If the right n****s get on and n****s understand the industry. The industry is about movements and if you can’t create a movement they won’t buy into your shit. They feel like you won’t be able to sell shit. What do you have to offer to the rap game? Its like if you don’t support Hawkman and Young Doe, whose shit is out nationwide and you can get it at any store like Target and Walmart, which is the same as anybody else. If you can’t support them and they can’t sell in your city then how is somebody else gonna sell in your city. That’s common sense. N****s don’t understand marketing. They might need to go back to school to understand business. We gotta soundscan. What’s next for Hawkman? I’m pushing this Murder & Mayhem. Me, Doe, and C Bo getting ready to do a whole album. It should come up the first quarter. My next solo, Criminology is coming as well. I be wasting my lyrics on mixtape beats. I’m just trying to move some units. Any last words for the haters? They gonna do what they do man. N****s know what’s up with me. Haters keep me juicy. Haters keep me getting money. Keep doing what you do my n***a. Any last words for the supporters? Stay down. My old school homeboys taught me that. Something good might happen to you. Eventually we’ll bust through this motherfucker. Holla at your local DJ’s and tell them fools to get the molasses out they ass. (laughs) Words By: G. Johnson Photo By: Chris Vega
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Gunplay
C C C
arol Rick Ross Presents
Young Bread
ity
artel
Torch
How did the three of you come together to form the Group? Gunplay- I met (Rick) Ross through a mutual friend in Carol City, and to make a long story short we met Torch a year later and formed the Triple Cs. Recently we hooked up with one of the youngest, realest dudes out our hood, Young Bread, he’s real talented and we just made him part of Triple C’s recently. So we got Rick Ross, Gunplay, Torch, and Young Bread in Triple Cs, Carol City Cartel. The debut album, Custom Cars and Cycles, coming soon.
culated, I think shit out. I’ll leave Gunplay to shoot in broad day, a n***a like me, I’ma plot it out and shoot you when the curtains close, leaving everyone wondering who did it. Randomly, three words off the top of your dome to describe yourself. Torch- When I get on that mic, Cancel Christmas Cocksuckers. Young Bread- I’m just all about stuntin’ so all I can say is Custom Cars and Cycles. Gunplay- YDB Young Dirty Bastard. (All Laugh)
Why form a group instead of pursuing solo careers? Torch- It’s only right. We’ve been doing this forever. We’re like four, individual solo artists, but at the same time when we come together the music meshes so well. Sometimes we don’t even write together but when we come together at the studio it jus works seems like we were all doing it at the same time. You got Gunplay, Solo artist Mr. Kill Switch, of course The Boss, me, I’m Mr. Ski Mask Music, you gotta look out for my shit, and then you got, Youngin, Young Boss. We are all solo entities in one group and when we come together the shit is like Voltron, you know what I’m talkin bout? Best of the Best, Triple C, Constantly Cookin Classics. What sets ya’ll apart from every other group trying to make it out there? Torch- Basically we’re making bigger music. Gunplay- You mean besides the fact that we’re the best? Young Bread- (Laughs) We are the best, it’s Maybach Music. We got a whole different aura about us. We’re making bigger moves; we’re taking it on a national level. A lot of groups right now might stay in their own little zone, but we’re going from state to state, city to city, country to country, we’re going worldwide with it and tellin em Custom Cars and Cycles on the way. We’re just going to give a bigger approach. Gunplay- We ain’t got no watered down music like the rest of them cookie cutter, straight off the conveyor belt rappers, you know what I’m sayin? We got authenticity; we got credibility behind our music, and nine times outta ten these other rappers ain’t got one of them. WE just bring a real aura to the table, we bring real life issues to the table, the shit that people can grasp and feel on. We’re not on that lyrical, trying to be fancy, coming up with a dance bullshit; we come with that raw real. What do you each individually bring to the group? Young Bread- I’m the newest member, so I guess I capture that whole young, wild, we just act Ocky crowd. I just give it to ya’ll how we do it, how we live it. We stuntin, livin fast, that’s what I bring t the table. Gunplay- I bring that, I don’t give a fuck how you think, what you got to say. I don’t give a fuck, I don’t care. I’m unorthodox. I don’t have a style, it varies, it switch like drawls. I bring the “I don’t give a fuck,” to the clique, which balances everything out. Torch- I’m got the laid back mastermind thing with me. I’m very cal-
Words and Photos By Mz fuSHion
What are some of the things you’ve overcome in your lives to get where you’re at now? Torch- A lot of people think this music shit is easy, that it’s just making music. But there’s a lot more that goes behind it. I think 90% of it is mental. Just sticking to the grind and doing what I love to do and not letting the bullshit affect me. We’ve been on this grind and journey already for about ten ears strong, and it’s just now finally coming to fruition. We’re dedicated, working hard, and keeping our faith in God. Young Bread- I’ve personally overcome a lot. We like every other hood n***a. We was in the streets, there was no other alternative but to throw brick at that chain gang. Just by us being blessed to even be a part of a movement like this, and being able to clean up that bread is a blessing. But every day is an obstacle but it’s just about how you struggle, and how you grind, and how you get it. Gunplay- Man, drugs. I’m addicted to drugs, I was addicted to heavy drugs, and I overcame that shit and got money… Torch- Sometimes (laughs) Gunplay- (laughs) sometimes, and I relapse sometimes, but all and all, I left it. I put the drugs down and that was the biggest obstacle of my whole life. We weeded out all the fake friends, which was another obstacle. Now we just work all day and make money, and our only other obstacle is how we can get more money than we got now. Really, my biggest thing was that old Toot Toot, that old Medi Ying Columbian shit.
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What would you guys be doing if you weren’t rapping? Gunplay- I wouldn’t be here. Period. I’d be dead or jail, just like any other n***a trying to get out the hood. This shit got me out the hood, it took me out the ghetto. I was already on the path to self-destruction with the hustlin, and the robbin, and the drugs. I wouldn’t be doin nothing good with myself. I did this shit and it got me out. Thank God we got the debut album Custom Cars and Cycles coming out. Be looking for that in the third quarter. Torch- As far as I go, I just can’t get that muthafuckin police officer off my Gad damn back. I just beat a case a couple years back and it’s still just like a whole bunch of petty shit is just following. Thank God for the opportunity The Boss gave us because without him none of this would be possible. I do this shit for my son; I do this shit for my family. I’m trying to make people proud of me all over the world that ever came across m presence. But it’s a struggle out here. Even when you’re doing good they’ll find a way to fuck you up. Just hold your head up. All you n***as in the game, and think it’s all good, just know a lot got in the game and got in more trouble than when they was in the streets. You’re under that public scrutiny and that public eye. They don’t like to see a n***a with jewelry. Young-Bread- I just feel like I would still be that same young, flashy n***a hustling to get these J’s. I’d just want to be on the block wildin, but we saw a different way, we bout to drop the biggest album in the game, and it’s looking good. Shout out to The Boss, it wouldn’t happen without him. What do you hope to gain from the game? Torch- They told me if I don’t have five, ten different ways to get money out this industry then I ain’t really using it the right way. With that being said we have all types of subsidiaries and labels coming. I have Specialist ENT, Gun got Sniffer Hill, Bread got Extortion Gang. Of course I have my website Torch’s NY. I started my model casting company Amazing Models. Gun got Apples and Onions Magazine droppin. We just trying to get too much money. We trying to milk this shit dry. Every avenue, every facet of the fame, every way there is to invest and make money just know we on it. Shit I got a car lot coming. Ya’ll look out for me, Torch’s Cars N***a. (All Laugh) To be real though, a deal isn’t what it used to be. Was getting your deal essential in everything you’re trying to do?
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Gunplay- Man I’m tired of handing out mixtapes and trying to sell mixtapes. I’m ready to sell some albums. We were the nicest in the hood, the nicest in Florida, we’ve become one of the nicest in The United States, and now we wanna be some of the nicest in the world. A deal just gave us the platform we needed for the world t see our talent and to see what type of people we are. So what can we expect from the album? Torch- Banger after banger. If you listen to the mixtapes, I you been following Triple Cs from the beginning then you know we just bring that uncut raw to the table and you can expect more of that. There’s a lot that people have been hearing on the internet, and they’re going to be surprised that that didn’t even make the album. It just shows you how high the bar is set and the caliber of music you’re going to get on the album. Who do you guys make your music for? Gunplay- The hood. And then everything else comes behind that. The suburbs do what the hoods do, so naturally we wanted the hood to be first and everything else will spread like it already did across the world. Would ya’ll be happy being known just in the hood? Young Bread- No we need it all. We ain’t stopping at nothing. And the world going to know us. When Custom Cars and Cycles drops it’s a wrap. People already got a feel for who we are on behalf of the boos but we a mini conglomerate, we got it all, we business, we’re entrepreneurs. We want it all and people going to know who we are, one way or another. How has the digital revolution we’re experiencing affected how ya’ll make music and money? Young Bread- You know we’re hustlers. We’re automatically goin to adapt, it comes with the territory. It’s a whole new game now with the MySpace’s and the Twitters but you just adapt to it and you get your hustle on. If that’s what they want right now then that’s what we’re going to give them. We’re going to adapt and we’re going to adjust every time. You gotta stay on top of your game and that’s what’s going to separate us from these other groups. That’s why we’re Triple Cs. Gunplay- Artists are hiding behind Cameras, behind laptops, and all that fuck ass shit. With me, I’m digital, but I’m also hands on and I’m also really in the street. I just ain’t with the digital gang-banging. Everything I say I’ma do to you digitally I’ma do to you when I see you too. In a time when no one is buying albums are you guys concerned with album sales? Gunplay- I’m down with making a way to eat off this digital shit. Torch- Album sales ain’t going to make or break no n***a. If it did then I’d be worried, but the grind’s just been too long. N***as is waitin for this. This ain’t that ringtone rap. Gunplay- Even if we don’t sell we still going to make money, put it like that. Torch- We got deals on top of deals on top of deals. Not to mention you lookin at a bunch of people who are responsible for a bunch of music. We like ventriloquists, straight up. We got a foothold in these n***as chest, we in this game and we here to stay too. Torch, Young, Gun, we the future of this man. Just know that. Any last words for the people? Gunplay- That debut album, Custom Cars and Cycles is dropping look out for that. Look out for the new single Go ft. Rick Ross with Birdman on the intro. And if anyone got something to say please holla at me. Torch- Just check out the website www.torchsny.com. I keep that thing updated. We here now, long overdue, but we here. Young Bread- Hit the MySpace up, the Twitter up, the Facebook up. We on there., we live. Get at us.
We like every other hood n***a. We was in the streets, there was no other alternative but to throw bricks at that chain gang. Just by us being blessed to even be a part of a movement like this, and being able to clean up that bread is a blessing. But every day is an obstacle. It’s just about how you struggle, and how you grind, and how you get it. -Young Bread
So go ahead and tell us how Beanz N Kornbread came together. Beanz-It’s a funny story actually. We had the names before we ever hooked up as official producers. I was Pork N Beanz and he had been called Kornbread since high school. When we got together I just dropped the Pork. Where did you get your separate names from then? Beanz- I’m a musician as well, and I did a lot of gospel recordings for this guy. Long story short the running joke for the job was that we were going to get paid in Pork n Beans because we had a feeling the guy was shady, and he ended up stiffing us on the money. After that everybody just started calling me Pork n Beanz. It just stuck. Kornbread- Mine’s not interesting. In high school I was always talking about cornbread, always eating cornbread, I was sneaking cornbread into school and eating it in class and all the homies wanted some. So everybody started callin me Kornbread, plus I’m light-skinned to so I don’t know if that had anything to do with it? (Laughs) I spell it with a K because my first name is Kenny. How did you link up business wise? Kornbread- We actually met through a mutual friend as musicians. I play keys and organ, he plays everything; he plays bass, organ, whatever. We knew each other for about two years and make tracks separately before we started working together. We figured we’d be better as a team then by ourselves. We decided in May 2206 to just do it and we’ve been doing it ever since. What do you each add separately to a project? Kornbread- I would say this dude right here is probably a modern day Prince. Not as far as artistry, but as far as being able to play any tone, any instrument. This dude can sit down and listen to any song, any type of music, and sit down and regurgitate the music. Beanz- Kornbread is a walking musical encyclopedia. Any producer that’s done anything worth doing, this guy knows the credit on it. He knows that stuff off the top of his head. It helps a lot. Instead of constantly having to pull different stuff up for people to listen to, if someone comes in wanting a specific producer or sound, he knows exactly what they’re looking for. He’s really good at capturing the essence of the sound, and seeing the bigger picture.
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So how would you describe your collaborative style? Kornbread- We don’t have one. I know a lot of people say that. If you had to put a word on it I would have to say we’re home-cooked. We put a lot of time and effort into our work. Even the three tracks we did on Paul Wall’s album don’t sound the same. If we removed the Beanz and Kornbread tag you probably wouldn’t know it’s the same people. We’re not doing anything new or something that hasn’t been done before, we’re just able to take what we do and put a different twist on it.
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What major artists have you worked with? Any major tracks under your belt? Kornbread- The biggest project we have is the Paul Wall project. The Fast Life album was released on May 12th, and we had 3 tracks that we produced on that album, Gotta Get it, Daddy Wasn’t Home, and I’m Clean ft. Z-Ro. We also produced a track on Lil KeKe’s album that came out last November. What other artists have you produced for? Kornbread- We did a mixtape track with Chamillionaire on Mixtape Messiah 6, called Shine So Clean. We have a song with Pinc Gator called I’m a Que, it’s kind of an unofficial anthem for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and we actually have a remix for the same song with Shaquille O’Neal. That was a real good look; Shaq came out and showed us a lot of love. What are you guys working on now? Kornbread- Right now we’re working with T. Farris, our manager, he’s also Paul Wall’s manager, so whatever he has lined up for us. We’re working on Paul’s next album already, Lil KeKe’s new album. We’re just working on those albums and trying to get out there really. Beanz- We do a lot of different music. We encompass Hip Hop, RnB, Rock. We work with a local band called Vursecity; we produced a song for them called Chance To Dream. That’s on our MySpace if people wanna go check it out. We’re just working on a lot of different things. From Gospel to hip hop, we do it all. Kornbread- We also have Lil Keke’s new single coming out real soon, featuring Slim Thug and Dorrough. It should be out sometime this month. How are you guys able to gain clients outside of Houston? Kornbread- Really because of our sound, our sound in universal. I’m from LA. I love down south music but I’m a huge West Coast rap fan. So we’re able to switch up our sound from south to west or even to the East Coast; we’ve done a lot of East Coast stuff too. We’re able to work with anybody. We’re going to LA to try and set up some relationships out there. Beanz- We can pretty much do anything that’s asked of us. Our roots are here in Houston, but our sound is universal. So how has the beat itself evolved since the earlier days of hip hop?7 Kornbread- No because we’re musicians, there’s room for Auto-Tune for the simple act that it’s a pitch correction software. It’s not going anywhere. Beanz- I don’t understand why people are criticizing the actual software because it’s been around for years and years and years. Go back to 1998 when share put out the song Do You Believe, that was Auto Tune and nobody said anything about it. T Pain brought it to Hip Hop ad put it in the foreground, which was a really bold move on his part. But the idea of using Auto Tune as more than a pitch correction has been out there. And what can we expect form Paul Wall’s Gotta Get It video? Kornbread- (laughs) Ummm we’re definitely the comic relief of the video. We’re in there makin fun of ourselves. All I can say is Beanz and Kornbread, and shopping carts. Anything I missed? Beanz- Just check us out on twitter. www.twitter.com/beanznkornbread.
GOT BEATS?
Exploring The Technical Side Of The Industry: Beanz
N Kornbread
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