Volume One Issue #2 bigindastreet.com
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BIG IN DA STREET and Tequila AVION Encourages You To Please Drink Responsibly 2 Grind Hard or Go Home
What up tho’ ?! We Back at it again , we hope you enjoyed the first edition of BIG IN DA STREET MAGAZINE. This time around we concentrated on what you guys ask for. We brought you more artist , More Tip Clarke , and even managed to include Mixtape Reviews. Indie artist get to learn from their mistakes , Tip Clarke gives you her opinions whether you want to hear it or not. We ride the wave with The Ocean Gang as they bring us into their world. If you want to rock out with The Swank and fall in love with Amanda your in the right spot. We take you to the BIG APPLE with Wu Tang Affiliate Iron Shiek and enter the chambers. Ak Tha Razorman tells us why he alone is the next heir to the throne. And yea fellas and studs we brought back the Street Queen (drool now). So yea , we turnt it up for this issue. Aye Yo BLAZE , BRING DAT SH#T BACK!!!
Thomas Crown
Thomas Crown @thomascrown
Dj Blaze Dj Blaze @bigindastreet
Contents 5 ON SOME REAL SH#T
What is Tip Clarke talkin bout?
6 GET WET
Cartier God introduces you to the Ocean Gang.
18 ARE WE WORTHY?
The road to the top is tough , come with us as AK Tha Razorman takes us there.
24 STREET QUEEN
The Jaw dropping Kim Reaves puts on for BIG IN DA STREET.
Staff
Founders Thomas Crown & Dj Blaze Editor Thomas Crown Jounalists E.C. Jordan Kei Laguins Shalonda Browning Art Director & Layout Design Thomas Crown Marketing & Sales Dj Blaze Amy Phillips
Published By GoodStock Publications President Thomas Crown Grind Hard or Go Home 3
Volume One Issue #2 bigindastreet.com
EDITORIAL
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New Gear
Pioneer DEH-P6300UB One of many Pioneer products this year… The 6300 has lots of features for its 179.00 retail price. You can customize the radio with over 210,000 colors. The unit has direct control for your iPhone or iPod, and the ability to control the Pandora app, straight from the unit itself. www.pioneereletronics.com - Stephen Conrad
HOT BOX Custom car enthusiast Brad Jones, of Cincinnati, Ohio, calls his sweet ’64 Impala “Inspiration,” and for good reason. “When I bought the convertible, my initial idea was to make it a clean restoration,” Jones recalls. “But shortly after I got into it, I had a change of heart and decided to go full custom.” Full custom is an understatement; there are virtually no totally stock parts left. That’s why it took Spade Kreations (Cincinnati, Ohio) 3,800 hours to create the “roadster,” but it was worth it. In just a few months Jones’ Impala has won the Squires Cup at the 2008 Cavalcade of Customs, 2008 BET Spring Bling Champion and the Hot Rod Industry Award at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
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Officially over LEDs BMW has developed laser lights for cars, these lights will feature beams that are a thousand times greater than LEDs, while the laser lights will consume less than half the power as its LED counterpart. More info on these to come!! www.engadaget.com 2013 Lexus GS350 Now we all know there is nothing wrong with the ol’ sckool’s, but the “Gig time bosses” the ones that want that retired look as they on the road making things happen. With this new offer from Lexus, it is a great way to show how you do things. The GS350 will indulge a massive 12.3inch “infotainment” screen and an 835 watt powered “Mark Levinson system” Which is Optional… LOL www.lexus.com
BigInDaStreet wants to see your ride
That’s right not only does BigInDaStreet want to bring you the low down on what’s hot in the “Street”, But we want to see to your pimpin!! We want to see it ALL, everything from the old schools to the new schools and everything in between. It does not matter if it’s your 10 speed or that new whip Sittin on some nice new chrome wheels!! Drop us some at BigInDaStreet@gmail.com Grind Hard or Go Home 5
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FIVE MISTAKES INDIE ARTIST MAKE This is a difficult list to put together because indie music artists make so many mistakes. I hope this short list helps some unknown indie artist avoid these mistakes in their quest to make it. The top five mistakes indie music artists make are.
1.
Waiting for a Record Label to discover you- Not gonna happen most labels do not even have A&R departments anymore. The days of A&Rs going out and listening to live shows and actually listening to demo’s are long gone.
2.Not Performing Live – Live shows are the
chandise and actually make some money selling sell your music online think again. You should take never ever pay a promoter to open for a Major artist. and it does nothing for the indie artist because the you.
3.Not Hiring a Manager- Not hiring a manager
is just too much to do to jump start a music can take the load off your back and let a manager will work for free until you compensated.
4.
Not making a Name for yourself will investigate a indie artists homeare mentioned by there hometown conquer the nation if you cannot even home town then you are not workthese days and once a artist gets a huge
5.Networking Too Much – It might
town to DJs and conquer ing hard buzz then
best way to make new fans and to move meryour music. If you think you are going to every opportunity to perform live. And This is a way promoters make money fans came to see the Major artist not is a big mistake by indie artists. There career, a artist cannot do it all. A manager artist concentrate on their music. A good make some good money then they will get in your Hometown - Labels and distributors see if they have a local fan base. Indie artists that promoters will get a labels attention. You cannot your hometown. If you are not a big deal in your enough. Labels want artists to promo themselves the label will find them.
seem like the right thing to do, but it is a big mistake most indie artists make. If you are always available for anyone and everyone who wants to collaborate with you, then the general public will view you as nothing special. You must be hard to get a hold of. You must create a I am already a star persona. You do not want to have 3 other unknown artists on your songs with you. You do not want to collab with everybody. You want to collaborate with those artists that are at a higher level then you. You do not want to rub elbows with your fans.
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N
OW DIS SUM {JERRY SPRINGER} B!TCH GO AN FU@K DA N@ AH B!TCH LIKE DAT NEED HER HELL NO ONE COULD EVA SHE CAN SAY AN NO WAY IT...DA B!TCH JUS NAS-
SH!T...ITS REAL FU@KD UP WHEN A GGA HER MAMA USE 2 FU@K...NOW ASS WHOOP-D...AINT NO WAY N DO NO SH!T LIK DAT...AINT NAN SHE CAN MUTHAFU@KN PUT TY...
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OK
...ADAM FU@KD BIG DEAL WHEN BOUT WHO MAN/WOMAN FU@ BODY FU@K...AH NIGGA GONE GONE B AH HOE...AIN’T NO WAY MN....KMSL...MUTHAFU@KAS WNT SOMETIMES...HELL;/......
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MEMBER BACK N DA DAYZ BY DA COPS AN DEY ASK UP GIVIN EM UR MAMALICENSE NUM....SH!TTN ME PULL DA PIC UP ON WHO AINT U ON DA PIC....GUESS {{{{{JAIL}}}}}.......DEY REALLY DAMN I KNOW SUM MUTHI KNOW I DO ILL GVE EM HEARTBEAT.....KMSL
EVE RITE...SO WATS DA MUTHAFU@KAS WORRYN KN WHO...HELL ERRRRB AH NIGGA AH HOE AROUND IT....D@ TO TRY SUM NEW
WHEN USE 2 GT PULL-D OVA 4 UR {LICENSE}....AN U END AUNT-BRUTHA-UNCLE-FRIEND U CANT DO DAT SH!T NOW....DEY EVA NUMBER U GIVE AN IF DAT WHERE DA HELL U GOIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FU@KN PEOPLE UP DEZ DAYZ...... AFUCKAS HATE DAT SH!T....CAUSE MY MAMA OR AUNT NUMBER N A
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Volume One Issue #2 bigindastreet.com
ITS TIP CLARKE B@#CH!!!
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GET WET Ocean Gang 101
R
By E.C. Jordan
emember that weird kid you went to elementary and middle school with, the one who seemed to be either in or from another world? You know, the one with shirts and pants that were too little, whose shoes were perpetually raggedy, as if they were bought in that condition? Well he’s all grown up now, and none of that has changed. In fact he’s managed to turn everything that made him an outcast into his own brand of cool. His birth name is Mario Smith, but to the thousands of people he has somehow convinced to drink his wacky Kool-Aid, he’s known as Cartier God.
God. While Cartier may sound like the moniker of your average gangsta rapper, one conversation with him will be enough to convince you that he is anything but average. As a matter of fact, he’s anything but gangsta. Ocean Gang music is marked by random syncopation and stream-of-consciousness lyrics. He prefers to describe his style as abstract. Says the lanky 26 year old, “I call my raps “emotions” ‘cuz they’re based on whatever I’m feeling at the time; I throw stuff together and whatever I get out of that is what it is, and I just run with it”. This style of rapping is known as based freestyling; whatever comes out, well…comes out. It is heavily influenced by the creator of based music, California rapper Lil B. Based music is a blend of rap, house music, poetry and ambient sounds (i.e. bells, wind chimes, etc.) and has a huge cult following on the West coast. “It’s much more than just music, based is a lifestyle and it stands for positivity, individuality, being yourself and Cartier, a devoted Rastafarian since ’08, is the capnot caring what tain of the Ocean Gang, an 11 member rap family based anybody thinks.” in Athens, Georgia. As He says Lil B’s their name suggests, music made him the Ocean Gang are of want to be more a bunch of aquaphiles positive, so every who use vivid ocean lyric he spits imagery in their music is completely and slang. For instance, non-violent. In a particularly spiffy outfit addition to Lil might be referred to B, he counts as ‘wet’; they call their feAndre 3000, male cohorts ‘mermaids’. They recently released a mixtape entitled, what else, ‘Life’s Imogen Heap, Coldplay, Sade and Bob Marley among the artists who had great influence on his musical style. A Beach’. So why the fascination with mother ocean? “The ocean is unknown territory just like space, 75% of Although it may seem like such varied influences earth is water; nothing can survive without water.” Such could never produce a cohesive sound, Ocean Gang’s decidedly lighthearted matter seems odd coming from devoted fans are a testament that they are indeed doing a group helmed by someone who calls himself Cartier something right. One look at his ‘I <3 Cartier’ album on 8 Grind Hard or Go Home
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Facebook leaves no doubt that people are listening… even if it gives the false impression that all those people are female. The album is filled with young women, all scantily clad, one topless, who hold up signs or have graphics on their photos declaring there love for Ocean Gang in general and Mario in particular. Not bad for someone who was once teased for smedium clothing and raggedy shoes; these things have now become his trademark, along with earrings and necklaces that could be found at any neighborhood yard sale, Goodwill or your grandma’s jewelry box. I was the first person rockin’ Hollister. I used to get teased ‘cuz my clothes were too small, now everybody doin’ it’. Somehow he managed to make them cool, er, excuse me, ‘wet’. The popularity, however, extends far beyond Facebook and Athens; the offbeat gang was mentioned in a recent Rolling Stone article and even got shout-outs from Wiz Khalifa and red-hot teen heartthrob Justin Bieber on Twitter. As if these things weren’t enough proof that the Gang is on their way, rapper Soulja Boy asked them to join his crew, SODMG (Stacks On Deck Money Gang). Says the heavily tatted rapper, “Soulja Boy was always on the net and ran across my crewmate Young God’s song ‘Perfect’ on YouTube. He got at Young God, and Young God referred him to me. Soulja Boy was digging our style and wanted to be apart of it and asked to be in Ocean Gang. He dm’d me on Twitter and said ‘Bless me captain!’ And thus their relationship was formed. Soulja Boy and Mario are now cocaptains, if you will, of the cruise ship Ocean Gang. Although the adulation and recognition are indeed welcome, it’s more important to the gang that they garner respect for their individuality and uniqueness. According to the self-described former outcast “People are not open-minded enough to see that there are other styles out there, people just listen to what’s hot in the club and what everybody else is listening to. We want to expand people’s minds, make them look at rap in a different way.” Hopefully their soon-to-be released album ‘Futuristic Oceanic’ will do just that. Tremendous buzz coming in to the game, props from some of the biggest names in the game and a unique vision? Now that’s how you splash!
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BIG BAZ
Big Baz, the writer, rapper, entertainer, producer and engineer has been doing music for almost 11 years. He got serious in the year 2000 when he purchased his first beat machine. He immediately started Dynamik Entertainment/ Productions. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida. After just a few weeks he began to gain a fan base from his Classic City Sample released July 4, 2001, in which he sold out of all 800 copies in just 2 weeks. He began to work with rappers and singers from as far north as Chicago, to as far south as Homestead, Florida and out to Houston, Texas. After a brief two year stay at EWC he came back home to pursue his musical dream. In that time he has done numerous shows and performances. He has been on the same ticket as many local and industry artists such as, Crime Mob as well as the legendary Memphis group 8Ball & MJG. He has also performed with the likes of local artists such as Presidential, Amun Ra, Cocky, King Hill, C. Fre$h, Big Body, and the late great Figaro (R.I.P.) and many other local artists. He has worked with multi platinum songwriter, producer Fat Shan and his engineer which have worked with the likes of TLC, Bubba Sparxxx, Usher, Attitude, local figure Dirt Reynolds formally known as Duddy Ken and many more. He recently released his new mixtape titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Blind Sideâ&#x20AC;?. You are sure to hear more from Big Baz in the future! Grind Hard or Go Home 11
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Swank Nation
By Shalonda Browning
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“Swank is a word meaning swagger.” Curtison Jones said when explaining the meaning of their band’s name. Jones has been pursing music for years. “When I saw N.E.R.D for the first time I knew that was the time of music I wanted to do.” Jones said. Jones was in a band previously but they decided to go their separate ways. At the time Jones was working on a solo album called “American Hero”, which was about the everyday life of an Iraq soldier. Jones ran into his first band member El by fate. “I was on my way to the studio one day when my car died. I stopped at a Best Buy and got a jump from El, who worked there at the time. He told me he played guitar and that he had attended the Atlanta Institute of Music and we exchanged numbers.” Jones explained. El and Jones later decided they wanted to form a band. “Tommy was a friend of a friend; I approached Sway at his job. Finding the last member was a bit more challenging. The band needed a drummer. “We decided to place an ad on Craigslist and that’s how we found Nicole.” Jones said. The guys were so impressed by Nicole she joined the band immediately. This is how The Swank was born!
Volume One Issue #2 bigindastreet.com
I
f Nirvana and Lil Wayne had a baby then The Swank would be born. The Swank is an urban rock band that originated from Athens, Ga. Their music is far from generic and is a breath of fresh air to the music industry. The members include bassist Tommy Economos, guitarist Salvador Randozzo aka El, hype man Perry Thomas aka Sway, Nicole Spencer (who is the only female in the band) aka Possum and front man Curtison Jones aka Son1. The band has a unique style to them and is very talented with hopes to one day take over the industry!
Though the band has only been together for two years, they have been able to accomplish some major achievements. They have been nominated for a Flagpole Award, which is a music magazine in Athens, GA and also the band has won a VHS Award for their video “Amanda”. “Amanda” is the band’s first video which is an upbeat song that talks about a heartbreaking female. The band has also met some celebrities while performing including Killer Mike, Yelawolf, and Lil Scrappy. Some of the band’s musical influences include N.E.R.D, Atmosphere (rapper), Tupac Shakur, and DJ Underground (indie hip hop). The Swank is currently working on two albums that will be out in 2012, and is getting together more videos. With their one of a kind approach to music, The Swank is definitely someone to watch out for!!!! I love how they are not afraid to be different in this boring music industry. They are more talented than half of these artists signed today and have ten times more ambition. The Swank is on the road to success!!!!!!!!
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GOT BARZ?
J.Cole In The Morning 2011 Album of the Year Winner
Baby you summertime fine, I let you get on top, I be the underline Im trying to get beside you like the number 9, dime You fine as hell, I guess I met you for a reason, only time can tell But well, Im wondering what type of shit you wantin’ Do you like the finer things or you a simple woman Would you drink with a n-gga, do you smoke weed Don’t be ashamed, it aint no thing, I used to blow trees Gettin lifted, I quit but sh-t, I might get high with you Its only fitting cause Im looking super fly with you A flower, you are powerful, you do something to me cause girl I caught the vibe like you threw something to me So i threw em back, now all my n-ggas hollerin, who was that Oh boy, she bad n-gga, what you bout do with that I’m finna take you home, just sip a little patron Now we zonin’, baby you so fine
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SEE ARE THES HIP POP E ART HOP ARTI IST IN THE ARTI ST NO T ST WR ONG THE LAN Y E Interview KEI LAGUINS
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PEACE I COME IN THE NAME OF THE MOST HONORABLE IRON SHEIK FROM KILLAH QUEENS NYC AND I JUST WANT TO SAY PEACE KEI I WANT TO THANK YOU AND BIG IN DA STREET MAGAZINE FOR THE REACH OUT WE NEED MORE OUTLETS LIKE THIS POPPING OFF FOR REAL. Can you Tell me how you see the present state of hip hop? WELL THE WAY I SEE IT , THE PRESENT STATE OF HIP HOP IS IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY LIKE THERE HAS BEEN SOME THAT SAY HIP HOP IS DEAD I DON’T AGREE WITH THAT I JUST SAY IT HAS CANCER AND IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT BY THAT I MEAN WITH ALL THIS SKINNY JEAN COTTON CANDY CRAP RAP GOING ON, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING THE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW ARE GUILTY OF PROMOTING THIS GARBAGE LIKE JERK MUSIC AND ALL THIS PLASTIC COMMERCIAL MESS SEE I SAW IT COMING YEARS AGO WHEN THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS WOULD NOMINATE ARTIST LIKE LL COOL J IN THE R&B
AT ALL AND THAT GOES OUT TO ALL THOSE WHO CONSIDERED HIM A HIP HOP ARTIST. ITS LIKE WE CANT PICK AND CHOOSE WHO GOT SKILLS NO MORE NOW THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE REALLY DOING IT BEFORE WE HAD ANYWHERE FROM 8 TO 15 ARTIST TO CHOOSE FROM AT ONE TIME LIKE FOR INSTANCE IN ONE HOUR ON THE RADIO
POP CHARTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR AND STUFF NOW WHATS GOING ON IS THEY DEVELOPED THESE POP ACTS LIKE DRAKE NO DISRESPECT TO DRAKE I USE TO
YOU COULD HEAR EPMD – LL – RED MAN – NWA – DE LA SOUL – BIZ MARKIE - PUBLIC ENEMY – MC LYTE – JERU THE DAMAJA – KOOL G RAP – RAKIM – LORDS OF THE UNDERGROUND BEFORE YOU HEAR A COMMERCIAL NOT TO MENTION THE MAKE IT OR BREAK IT SONGS OF NEW CATS TRYING TO GET HEARD NOW COMPARE THAT TO WHATS GOING ON NOW? CHRIS BROWN NIKKI MINAJ – DRAKE – LIL WAYNE – RIHANNA – WIZ KHALIFA AND KANYE THEN BACK TO
ENJOY WATCHING HIM ON DEGRASSI ROLLING AROUND IN HIS WHEELCHAIR GETTING HIS HEART BROKE BY THEM CANADA CHICKS HAHAHAHAAA NOW HE A BIG STAR GOOD FOR HIM WORD HOWEVER HE NOT HIP HOP
CHRIS BROWN AGING A HALF HOUR LATER NOT TO MENTION THEY ALL SOUND ALIKE. WHAT HAPPENED TO ORIGINALITY? SEE THESE ARTIST ARE POP ARTIST NOT HIP HOP ARTIST THEY IN THE WRONG LANE, AND
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WHEN YOU COME AT THEM WITH MOBB DEEP OR WU TANG OR IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE OR CORMEGA THESE ARTIST ARE CONSIDERED “UNDERGROUND ARTIST”THAT’S BECAUSE THEY TRYING TO KILL AND BURY THAT REAL HIP HOP MUSIC. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRASH ON THE RADIO AND MTV VH1 AND ALL THE OTHER “PROGRAMS” IS THAT THE REAL HIP HOP IS EDGEY AND ORIGINAL CUTTING EDGE AND RAW ALMOST THREATENING NOW ON THE OTHER HAND YOU HAVE THE SKINNY JEAN CRAP RAPPERS THEY ARE HANDKERCHIEF HEADS FOOT SHUFFLING NEGROES SMILING AND GRINNING OFFERING NOTHING TO THE TRUE HIP HOP HEAD TO SINK THEIR TEETH INTO. MUCH LOVE TO OUTKAST GOODIE MOBB AND THE WHOLE DUNGEON FAM OUT THERE IN ATL. WORD BOND. What is your relationship with the Clan and the Infamous Mobb Deep family? BASICALLY ITS JUST THAT KEI, THAT’S FAMILY RIGHT THERE I AM WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A WU TANG AFFILIATE BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND AND HISTORY WITH THE CLAN ITSELF AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE WU WE ARE A SUPER BIG FAMILY TREE WITH A LOT OF BRANCHES FOR INSTANCE YOU HAVE THE ORIGINAL 9 MEMBERS AND YOU HAVE THE FRUIT WHICH IS SUNZ OF MAN, KILLARMY, GRAVEDIGGAZ, WU SYNDICATE, LA THE DARKMAN BROOKLYN ZU AND POPA WU’S 10TH CHAMBER MYSELF (IRON SHIEK) AND ALSO YOU HAVE THE WEST COAST KILLAH BEEZ TOO LIKE BLACK KNIGHTS AND SO ON WE ARE ALL ONE BIG FAMILY . PEACE TO THE CLAN . NOW WHEN IT COMES TO THE MOBB YO THAT’S MY FAM THERE TOO FIRST AND FOREMOST PEACE TO THE FOUNDATION HOLLYWOOD HAV AND CAPITAL P BUT I MUST SHOW MUCH LOVE TO TWIN GAMBINO, GODFATHER PT. III, THE GOD TY NITTY AND
RAPPER NOYD THAT’S MY OTHER FAMILY AND IM FROM QUEENS SO THAT MAKES IT MORE TIGHTER THE BOND UNBROKEN, MY CREDIT IS GOOD WITH THE MOBB I GOT THE DRAGON TATT ON MY RIGHT HAND FOR LIFE SO IM GONNA FOREVER BE INFAMOUS THURRRRRR!! What is Wu Tang Clan doing now? TOURING RELEASING ALBUMS THEY STILL ON THE GRIND REPRESENTING HIP HOP TO THE FULLEST THE NEW ALBUM LEGENDARY WEAPONS RAEKWON GOT ONLY BUILT 4 CUBAN LINX 2 AND GHOSTFACE APOLLO KIDS CHECK THEM OUT FOR YOURSELF AND SUPPORT THE WUVEMENT. Are they trying to get back together? THEY WERE NEVER APART WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW IS MOST OF THEM ARE BLOOD RELATED SO WHEN THEY SAY THEY ARE FAMILY THAT’S REAL TALK WU TANG FOREVER. How do they feel about the type of music that’s out now? WELL I KNOW THEY NOT HAPPY CAUSE THERE IS NO COMPITTION IN THE BIZ AMONG ARTIST THAT IS HEALTHY CAUSE WE ALL TRY TO OUT DO ONE ANOTHER THAT’S WHAT KEEP THE FRESHNESS AND ORIGINALITY IN THE MUSIC / CULTURE. How did you get with Wu Tang Clan? THE FUNNY THING AT THE TIME I WAS LIVING IN ATL IN 1998 AND ME AND MY ARTIST BAMBI GOT SIGNED TO PROTECT YA NECK RECORDS AND WU TANG MANAGEMENT I WAS SIGNED AS A ARTIST AND PRODUCER AND BAMBI WAS ALSO SIGNED AS AN ARTIST. WHILE WE WAS IN ATL I WAS RAISING THE WU FLAG IN ATL WE BOUGHT THE WU OUT THERE AT THAT TIME THE MAIN SPOT WAS THE ATRIUM AND CLUB FLAVORS ON OLD NATIONAL (STONE MOUNTAIN) SHOUT OUT TO TERRY HAHAHAA I WALKED A LOT OF DOGS OUT THERE IN THE DIRTY IT WAS TOUGH ME BEING FROM QUEENS Grind Hard or Go Home 17
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SOME CATS WERE NERVOUS BUT I WAS PATIENT THOUGH ANY WAY I CAME BACK TO NY TO RECORD AN ALBUM WITH PROTECT YA NECK ARTIST CALLED “PROTECT YA NECK COLLECTION VOL. 1” ON IT WAS THE CLAN AND PROTECT YA NECK ARTIST I HAD TWO SONGS ON THERE AND I PRODUCED TWO SONGS AS WELL ON THAT ALBUM, SINCE THEN I HAVE WORKED WITH A COUPLE OF THE CLAN MEMBERS LIKE CAPPADONNA I WAS HIS MANAGER FOR 5 YEARS PRODUCED ON WU FAMILY MEMBERS ALBUMS GOING ON TOUR WITH THE CLAN VIDEOS AND BOOKING SHOWS FOR WU MEMBERS AND ECT. THIS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1998 TO NOW How can people hear your music? WELL YOU CAN CHECK ME ON REVERBNATION AT www.reverbnation.com/ironshiek AND ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ironshiekwu Are you starting a label or are you signed to a label? NO I’M NOT STARTING A LABEL I JUST HAVE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY CALLED HONOR MANAGEMENT GROUP AND A PRODUCTION COMPANY IRON CHAMBER I WAS SIGNED TO PROTECT YA NECK RECORDS NOW I’M A OG I DON’T NEED TO GET SIGNED TO A LABEL I GET MY ARTIST SIGNED TO LABELS NOW Tell me about your team Iron Chamber? IRON CHAMBER IS A PRODUCTION COMPANY I FOUNDED IT CONSIST OF TALENTED ARTIST PRODUCERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS PUBLICIST WE ARE A ONE STOP SHOP SOME OF THE ARTIST I HAVE ARE 7TH 7IGN – VERBAL HARASSMENT – ILL RESISTANCE – QUEEN SAFIRA Do you have any releases coming up? YES DEFINITELY IRON CHAMBER HAS A FEW RELEASES ABOUT TO HIT THE STREETS FIRST IS A CD CALLED GUTTA MUZIK FEAT. ILL RESISTANCE IT’S A REMAKE OF MOBB DEEP’S CLASSIC ALBUM MURDA MUZIK IRON CHAMBER IS BRINGING THE HIP HOP FANS A NEW CLASSIC
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MIXTAPE THAT THE STREETS WILL LOVE ITS ILL RESISTANCE’S WAY OF PAYING HOMAGE TO A LEGENDARY GROUP, ERA AND FAMILY “THE INFAMOUS MOBB DEEP WHICH INCLUDES GREAT GUEST APPEARANCES ON THE CD FROM GODFATHER PT. 3 , TY NITTY AND KOOL G RAP, CURT DIGGA, MC LOTTO , H.B.O. OF VERBAL HARASSMENT. YOU VAN PEEP OUT THE SAMPLER ON YOU TUBE http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=jJ7TkHe5ihA&feature=channel_video_title ANOTHER RELEASE IS QUEENS CLIENTELE The Mixtape featuring Curt Digga of Verbal Harassment. Queens Clientele reveals how Curt Digga being a south Jamaica Queens native feels streets are missing the realness that the rappers of now a days fail to reach, so he decided to make a cd that will show a side of queens hardly seen not since THE LOST BOYZ will you find another artist that really represents south side queens the way CURT DIGGA aka DIRTY DIAMONDS does, so Curt decided to kill two birds with one stone one by showing the realest side of queens to those who don’t know it really goes down and two paying homage to one of the realest legends in the game GHOSTFACE KILLAH of Wu-Tang Clan by remaking his classic sophomore album SUPREME CLIENTELE . with such songs like FLOW OF DEATH where he assassinates the mic from the roof like a sniper and CURT DINI he goes in deep on that track like he coming back for revenge for the hood Curt also touches on sensitive subjects like the song “MISS YOU POP” here Curt Digga dedicates to his father who passed away in 2008 he also takes us on journey through black history with ‘MINISTER MALCOLM. The album features guest appearances from Verbal Harassment, Black Poet Iron Shiek Popa Wu and Frankboy. (SUPER STAR JAY’S ARTIST) A must have collection for those who believe in true hip hop. AND MY ARTIST 7TH 7IGN PRESENTS THE
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FIELDS OF TERROR COMPILATION ALBUM HE TOOK 30 OF THE BEST ARTIST HE COULD FIND AND POUT ALL THAT TALENT ON ONE CD ALL THREE OF THESE WILL BE OUT THIS SUMMER IN CLOSING I WANT TO THANK SISTER KEI FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO PROMOTE WHAT IRON CHAMBER GOT POPPING OFF FOR THE SUMMER AND BIG IN DA STREET FOR SHOWING ME LOVE AND IF THERE ANY ARTIST THAT NEEDS THE HOTTEST BEATS GET AT ME IRONSHIEKWU@GMAIL.COM PEACE
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AK Tha Razorman’s ascent to the throne “I consider myself royalty. That’s what I see myself as and what I get treated like. My music is royal too and that’s what I want you to feel like when you listen to it. I wouldn’t say a king; Christ was a king. But I do have royal rank.
Interview E.C. Jordan
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P
ick a street in Atlanta, any street. If you throw a stone you are very likely to hit someone, male or female, who believes they are bound to be the next big thing in rap; the Atlanta rap scene is teeming with has-beens as well as those who never really were. Along with has-beens and also-rans, you will find mc’s who are fully equipped for greatness, poised to take their spot in the rap Pantheon if given the right opportunity. AK Tha Razorman falls into the latter category. A former member of Grand Hustle Records, AK has been a feature on the Hustle and Flow soundtrack as well as works by Lil Jon and countless songs with T.I. Despite these facts, however, he has achieved only marginal success in the rap industry. But AK has a plan to change that, to launch himself into the category where he has always felt he belongs: rap royalty. AK started rapping in the 5th grade with good friend Mac Boney, inspired by Ice Cube’s “A Nigga You Love to Hate”. When the pair met T.I. through a chance encounter at a friend’s house in 1995 they were already seasoned pros, doing talent shows and hungry for a chance. “We clicked instantly, all three of us” says the sleepyeyed rapper. And thus Pimp Squad Click, aka PSC was born. “We wanted to be the next NWA.” PSC introduced the south to what has since become one of the most popular formats for new artists to put themselves on the map: the mixtape. The 2001 release of part 1 of their 3 part mixtape series ‘T.I. and PSC: In The Streets’ helped launch DJ Drama’s career and impressed bigwigs at Atlantic Records so much that they inked a deal to promote and package 20,000 copies of the third mixtape in the series. In 2004 AK released ‘Glocks & Plans in collaboration wit Mac Boney. The execs at Atlantic once again put their stamp of approval on their efforts. They loved Glocks & Plans, as well as their ideas for an album they envisioned titled ’25 to 22 Grind Hard or Go Home
Life’. They liked it so much that they offered PSC a record deal. They officially became Atlantic artists in 2005. ’25 to Life‘would later become their first release under Atlantic. Although AK hasn’t done a record with PSC since 2006 (they appeared on T.I.’s album ‘The King’) AK remains loyal to PSC. “No matter what, I’m down wit PSC for life!” But not everyone in the industry can call AK an ally. Or, more specifically, there is one rapper in particular who AK vehemently disavows, former Grand Hustle artist Yung LA. In a video posted on YouTube, AK basically shits on Yung LA, stating that he does not associate with him at all and does not support anything the troubled artist says or does. “To sum it all up the things that were said by him on worldstar is what I was talking about. He and I never collaborated on anything and we were never friends. Yung LA made violent statements directed towards a certain artist. I am not for that or for the violence or slandering anyone’s character. He was talking bout my friend in the industry, he’s not my friend and he was talking about my friend. This all stemmed from a video posted on hiphop tabloid site worldstarhiphop in which Yung LA threatened to rob and beat Interscope Records’ Roscoe Dash. But when asked about the video he posted on YouTube, AK appears to be over the whole incident. “I plan on takin it down ‘cuz Yung LA is done anyway, he has no future in hip hop. I just don’t want to be associated with negativity or confusion.” Razorman maintains that he has no beef with anyone. Minor drama aside, AK is focused on his many projects. His last effort, a mixtape titled Power Players is doing well on datpiff.com and thatcrack.com. He also stays busy at the helm of his very own production company, Razorman Productions. The future looks promising: the
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first video produced under Razorman Productions, ‘Like Uuh’ has received over 100,000 views on yorapsmagazine.com. Clearly the hustler in him won’t allow him to sit idle, as he also plans on promoting artists and shooting videos in addition to working on an album to be titled ‘Evolution’. Although he has yet to truly make a splash in the music biz commercially, the title of his mixtape hosted by Thomas Crown and DJ Blaze pretty much sums up how AK feels about himself and his image in the streets: ‘Royal Heir’. “I consider myself royalty. That’s what I see myself as and what I get treated like. My music is royal too and that’s what I want you to feel like when you listen to it. I wouldn’t say a king; Christ was a king. But I do have royal rank, and I’m highly respected by the streets of Atlanta’s rap scene”. So how does the heir plan on getting his royal raps out to the masses? “I plan on selling my music on mp3 and reaching fans that way. I’ma make a name for myself through all the social networks and worldstarhiphop. com’. He can be found on twitter @tharazorman. Of course, in addition to social media and other internet venues, he will be grinding it out the old-fashioned way: performing in clubs and handing out fliers. Says AK with a wry laugh “I’m not gon do anything new under the sun!” Razorman is brimming with confidence that his marketing blitz will pay off. And why wouldn’t it? He’s royalty.
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Mixtape Reviews Artist : Corey Benson Mixtape : Cabin Music Corey Benson’s mixtape “Cabin Music” is interesting to say the least. You definitely know you are listening to Cabin Music thanks to the hype man announcing it on ever track. Not the worse mixtape out right now but definitely still needs a lot of work. A lot of the beats from the mixtape were sampled tracks and the quality was a little poor. Good effort for a new artist though. - George Jeff Artist : Soulja Boy Mixtape : The Last Crown “The Last Crown” is the latest mixtape by Soulja Boy. The mixtape has 19 tracks and is classic Soulja Boy, crazy rhymes and off the wall beats. I respect Soulja Boy for being himself in this industry but this is definitely not his best work. Soulja Boy still has a lot of growing up to do so hopefully with time his music will mature as well. - Hason Jumanji Artist : AK Tha Razorman Mixtape : Royal Heir A.K Tha Razorman “Royal Heir” mixtape was recently linked to the web and is really nothing new from what is out today. Decent beats and mediocre rhymes. Nothing really sounds original nowadays, so it doesn’t really surprise me. People really don’t listen to the lyrics anymore anyway so artists have to do what they got to do to make money. - Erwin Money Artist : Future Mixtape : Streetz Calling When “Racks” became one of the summer’s most unavoidable anthems, it’s likely few guessed that of the two artists on the song, it would be the featured guest, Future, not YC, to flash staying power beyond one hit. But thanks to a consistent and well-received recent output—late July’s collaborative mixtape with Gucci Mane, Free Bricks, regional hit “Watch This,” and the Billboard charting “Magic” and “Tony Montana,” the latter of which Drake remixed—Future has inserted himself into all conversations of who’s next. Riding that wave, he drops off his latest mixtape Streetz Calling. - Yasmin Johnson
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Artist : S.I.P. and Hittman Mixtape : 23 33 Tha Mixtape S.I.P and Hittman are young upcoming rappers. Their mixtape “23 33” recently came out and its definitely for a younger audience. The rhymes are mediocre but the beats are okay. However, most young people could careless about the rhymes but listen to the song for the beat. If you are looking for mature music, I would advise to by pass this mixtape. - Donny Fresh
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Mixtape Reviews
Artist : Big K.R.I.T Mixtape : Last King 2 (God’s Machine) Though he is only 25 years old, Big K.R.I.T has a lot of wisdom to his lyrics. His mixtape Last King 2 (God’s Machine) pays respect to old school hip hop and features many old school beats. Big K.R.I.T’s latest mixtape also features other artist such as Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Slim Thug, just to name a few. This mixtape also features another up and coming rapper Yelawolf. Big K.R.I.T is definitely someone to watch out for in the future! - Kevin Pure
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Kim
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Street Queen
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Street Queen
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