R.I.P.

TUPAC SHAKUR 97-996

RIDE FOR THE COAST

WESTURN UNION KAM

BACK TO BASICS

DJ SKEE DJ REFLEX DOMINO

kafanikinG

Da icE
IN THA MONEY!!

RICK ROCK READY FOR THE WORLD GOLDiE GOES Off A PLUS
& MORE
OZONE WEST // 

 // OZONE WEST

PUBLISHER Julia Beverly EDITOR-IN-CHIEF N. Ali Early ART DIRECTOR Tene Gooden MUSIC EDITOR Randy Roper ADVERTISING SALES Che Johnson Isiah Campbell CONTRIBUTORS D-Ray DJ BackSide DJ E-Z Cutt Eric Johnson Joey Colombo Regi Mentle Shemp Ty Watkins Wendy Day Keita Jones Todd Davis Big Fase 00 Jessica Essien STREET REPS Anthony Deavers, Bigg P-Wee, Dee, Demolition Men, DJ Jam-X, DJ Juice, DJ KTone, DJ Quote, DJ Strong & DJ Warrior, John Costen, Juice, Kewan Lewis, Maroy, Rob J Official, Rob Reyes, Sherita Saulsberry, Sly Boogy, William Major COVER CREDITS Kafani photo by D-Ray; Mitchy Slick photo by Barry Underhill.

EDiTORS nOTE

United We Stand
The month of September marks one of the most tragic events to occur in the last fifteen years. It shook us all. Perhaps it was the possibility of what tomorrow would bring that made us tremble even more butterflies quivered through our collective stomachs, death around the corner, closer than we couldve ever imagined. I am talking of course about September , 996 the day Tupac Amaru Shakur died. It factor. I know it may sound clich, but when I heard him I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was going to make it. His talent coupled with his living circumstances plus his obvious hunger, convinced me that he would do everything in his power to succeed as a rapper. And he did. pac went on to become the best selling Hip Hop artist in the world. He sold over seventy five million albums and in the process, inspired a nation. Before his untimely death he was in the process of aligning those forces on a project entitled One Nation. Oddly enough, that was the duality that he carried with him as a Gemini. To think one moment that he could spark a war with the whole East Coast and then turn around convince them that they should get down with him, was his magnetic personality in all its glory. As the son of a Black Panther Party, it was his dream and vision to pool Hip Hops collective talent into one powerful cog. Thats a call for togetherness, something that is still missing to the day. Which brings me to this current issue. From the cover subject, Kafani, who recently signed a three year artist deal with Koch to Goldie (Release Therapy, pg 6), Westurn Union (pg ) and rap veteran Kam (Bangin 0, pg 0) theres an undying belief that West Coast artists dont support each other enough that we have no unity. If we are to learn from our mistakes and move forward as a Coast and become the nation that Pac desired, we have to come together. Hatin on niggas is a weakness. Stay strong, Not to slight September , 00 the day the world changed but our nation seems to have moved on as the true bully it is since that catastrophic experience. I remember the reaction I got the first time I told someone the death of Pacs anniversary was around the corner that September th was near. I got the gasface. In a real way too. I mean, how could I pass off 9/ for a foul mouthed, controversial, sex offending criminal who prompted his own death with excessive threats and attacks on unassuming emcees? My answer was short and simple. I didnt know that person. My memory of Pac is varied between the person I met and the Hip Hop icon he became. When I met Pac he was attending Tamaulipas High School in Marin County. He stayed in the Jungle with his mother and sister and I was formally introduced to him through my cousin Shawn, with whom hed become fast friends. We talked for a couple of hours about sports, politics and all. Then later we all agreed to kick it another weekend and go to the movies. So they made the hike to Richmond and we met at Hilltop Cinemas. After the movie was over we waited outside for Moms to pick us up and the two of them got to rappin. Now Shawn, AKA Mahem, was a lyrical tornado. He was the best Id ever heard in person, bar none. Id seen him rip niggas apart for at least four years straight. Off the dome, written rhymes, it didnt matter. He was a muthafuckin fool widit!! He was GOOD. But that nigga Pac just had some other shit in him. That was the first time Id seen someone with the

N. Ali Early West Coast Editor

All he wanted to be 97-996

OZOnE WEST
14-15 kafani Da icE kinG
16 17 18 DJ PROfiLE: DJ SkEE & DJ REfLEx nEW SLaP EnD ZOnE 04 05-9 06 10 11 12-13 THE WEST iS BackSiDE PHOTO GaLLERiES RELEaSE THERaPY: Rick ROck BanGin 101: kaM HuSTLin WESTuRn uniOn

a ge in th ds Loun @ Shea and Me , Gunna Dj KTone

580

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es, Hyphys greatest hits were made by him (Hyphy, by The Federation and White T Shirt Blue Jeans and Nikes by Keak da Sneak, for example). Rick Rock is one of the most successful producers on the West Coast, independent or major. Its the quality he insists on that helps him weather the storm. The Federation, Pitbull, E-0, Busta Rhymes and Chamillionaire are among the artists hes currently in the lab with. Since losing the battle for Hyphy Juice hes got a new energy drink called Rapstar on the way. So off top, lets talk about your group, The Federation. Is the long-awaited album ready? Yes, The Federation is comin out. Yes, its gotten pushed back twice, but its on its way. We just have clearances to get through, that is the only problem. Yeah, I was wonderin, because Stunna Glasses at Night was a huge record you produced for them here on the West Coast. Yeah, well Warner Bros. is all about clearin shit now over later, you know, with licensing and all that legal stuff. So not only that record, but the current record with Snoop is the hold up this time. But the album is different. Dont expect the hyphy shit. We got tired of it really, because everybody started doin it. I dont want to hear go or dumb at all in any more songs. I mean, not in the chorus for sure. Its a wrap for all that. The Federation album is just different. We brought in Travis Barker and some white ladies to play choir music too on this album, so its going to be different. Yes! Either way, music on the West Coast will be heard. Exactly. There is a pyramid of things that needs to happen here on the West Coast. The ground level of the pyramid is the music and the quality of the music. Everybody has to compete with good music. Then the next level up is peoples relationships outside of the West that need to be strong. You cant get nothin played on MTV if you dont know anyone there and just simple shit like that. Then the next level up is radio with these DJs. The DJs have to program West Coast music and that is not happening. Although, the DJs cant program wack shit either. Wack shit though? Oh, but it is getting programmed. Case in point: Laffy Taffy? Yeah, I get you. The radio did program that hard, but the way I see it is that the South has had years of being oppressed. They have always had their own shit whether it was Miami bass music or other, and its simple and catchy, and

they push it. They have singles all day. Right. The game is ringtones all day now. Singles. Yeah, remember it used to be like that back in the day though too. Remember, it was like you could go into a music store and get a single. The game is hard right now. Do I spend $00,000 on an album, or $0,000 on a single and do crazy ringtone numbers? You feel me? People have found a new way to get money. How does that affect your production? For me it doesnt mean anything. People will always need music, but for these artists trying to get a nice structured deal, its worse for them and really it hurts the game. At the end of the day, I personally like to make albums. And I like other producers that like to make albums too Dr. Dre, Timbaland, The Neptunes, and E-0s son Droop-E, I like him too. Hes comin up and has a good ear for music. Everything is going to come full circle, I think. It has to. I think people are going to get tired of this ringtone, watered-down shit, because its not selling albums at all. [Hip Hop] will switch up. Its the natural progression of it. I thought the energy drink Hyphy Juice was yours, but Clyde Carson and Modoe came out with it first. Yeah. I mean, I dont really like to say too much about it and the whole situation, but they just beat me to the punch with it. I mean, I was workin on my deal to put the drink out and I guess Kobe the President of Moedoe Recordswas workin on it too, and they just came faster with it. They worked out the deal faster. It is what it is. Ive pretty much moved on from it. So you all are cool? Kobe hasnt really manned up about it, but I dont have any real problem with him, per se. And Clyde Carson, I know he had something to do with the drink. Hes a good dude. I mean I dont have no problems with him. I know his album is comin out soon, so I wish him well with that. Hes a good artist. Good. No beefs per se is great. Lets keep all the West Coast heads above water. Yeah, man. Just look out for The Federation album comin out Its Whatever. There are some slaps on there; features with Snoop, Travis Barker, Kinsmoke, Dub, Daz and its just a good album. Go get that. //

rickrock
 // OZONE WEST  // OZONE WEST

THE WEST IS BACKSIDE:

The Bay Areas DJ BackSide links up with the Best of the West to see whats really goin on in their heads!

ORHIA LOVR CALIFAST PNOTO GALLEEIES WEST CO

g V @ Hittmenn Ron, T-Roy, & Big rty (Oakland, an Fresh, King pa ates birthday g Records, Haiti n Francisco, , CA) 0 //  Do Club 7 for Bavg oot (Los Angeles Bavgate, S-Dog, & J-Diggs @ eda Weeda & Kyzer @ Crash (Sa mix video sh treat (Los A Bay Bay re Crest Park (Vallejo, CA) 0 // les, CA) 06 // Be s brother @ Hittmenn DJs Re Hurricane Chris @ video ga shoot (Los Ange m on the set of PSD Tha Drivah ris A Bay Bay remix video in, T-Roy, & Big Lil Al, & Thump @ Kuzzo Flys 0 // Baby & Sli // Bigga Rank es 0 // Bavgate & Ch Angeles, CA) 08 // Big Rich, Jon Nash, Kafani, t of Hurricane b 7 for Bavgat A s Angeles, CA) Pill on the se Dragons @ Clu DJs Retreat (Lo ards party (Los Hurricane Chris Tony Neal, & Mr ichmond, CA) 0 )  // Bavgate & the Savage es pre-BET Aw y, Le rly on the set of meet & greet (R oot CA) 05 // Bay Ba nk @ Boulevard  for Debra guest @ USDA oot (Oakland, CA ach & Julia Beve o Fly @ Kuzzo Flys video sh & Ta , Slick Pulla, & o Flys video sh re (Berkeley, CA)  // Big Te DJs CA) 07 // Akon Davinci & Kuzz oodRaw, DJ Juice zzo Fly, Rat, & Fatman @ Kuzz d @ Hittmenn // Bl stah FABs in sto (San Francisco, CA) 6 // Bleu Bigga Rankin & Klarc Shepar Angeles, CA) 09 )  // Boss Hog, Ku Rasputin for Mi sh // A Bay Bay CA J Diggs @ stah FAB @ Cra Hurricane Chris Angeles, CA) 8 shoot (Oakland,  // Balance & Aid, Cellski, & Mi Bay remix video shoot (Los y on the set of (Oakland, CA) CA) 5 // Band y // Baby & Bay Ba birthday party t (Los Angeles, ne Chris A Ba Vegas, NV) 0 video shoo set of Hurrica y Mansion (Las Bay Bay remix h & Dre on the is @ the Playbo 7 // Bryan Leac Garcelle Beauva (Oakland, CA) // Big Dante & geles, CA) 9 (0,08,8) Retreat (Los An (Los Angeles, CA) 0); Malik Abdul t rly (0,05,07,7, mix video shoo re 6,9); Julia Beve ,,5, 6,09,0,,, D-Ray (0,0,0 Photo Credits:

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apy releaSe ther

Goldie
still. He was a gangsta. Dont get me wrong. He was a gangsta, mack, and a rapper, but he made it cool for niggas to have fun. Ever since Mac Dre passed niggas is not havin fun out here no more. Thats real shit. I mean, we celebrate, but its like, Damn, we missin somethin. We missin a presence out here and it got everybody fucked up. Me and Mac Dre from the same part of Vallejo, North Vallejo, so it hit me hard. Its a lot of artists that shoulda been recognized. When we did our hyphy shit back then it was some shit called The New Bay. Everybody wanted to jump on that, which was cool! But, we prevailed with our own sound sonically handcrafted and resurrected the Bay. Thats what we did.
THE SIDESHOW

The year was 00 and The Federation had next. With arguably the best producer (Rick Rock) in the Bay behind them, a powerful label in Virgin Records and a song Hyphy that ultimately launched an impending movement of the same handle, it was only a matter of time. The album that followed was supposed to put them over the top and into the mainstream as the true innovators they were. Instead, they were shelved and never got the opportunity to truly represent. After leaving Virgin, a bidding war ensued and The Federation decided to go with to Warner Brothers, who plan on releasing their heavily anticipated album Its Whatever this fall. Goldie, the most hyphy of the three man cog relives the whole damn thing with some choice words for his Yay Area peers, the industry and Tom?

The reason why I feel the movement went wrong is that muthafuckas jumped on the bandwagon and didnt have enough talent and know how to represent us right. By Myspace being the biggest thing in the world right now, a mufucka could do a song, jack a Rick Rock beat, try and steal the mojo and the sound that the Federation created, without acknowledging us, create a myspace page and call it the hyphy movement. But you aint put no work in as far as being a real artist. To each his own, but we complainin why the Bay is fucked up and why this so called hyphy movement is dead? I wouldnt say its dead. I support it 00%, but at the same time its hurtin us. Theres no unity out here. They see this man over here. He got a chance to shine in the spotlight. Encourage him. Dont bring him down and wanna do diss records on a nigga. Push that man. You see all the Southern states are lining up. They sharin cars, sharin money, sharin chains and sharin homes. Real shit. Come get in my video and get in my song. I may not even like you, but its money involved. Look at Houston. Look at Miami. Look at Atlanta. They dominate the top ten countdown. If we learn from our South cousins, we might get somewhere. Unify. You aint gotta kick it wit me and be my friend. But we need to push each other. It can be saved, but the proper people got to acknowledge the proper mufuckas thats in power. Im not about to mention anyone in particular, cause were all wrong. Ill put the blame on me. We created this fuckin monster. We didnt create the word hyphy, but the sound sonically, we created this monster. We created this so-called movement. So were all to blame. Its no one person to blame in particular and thats being unselfish and being a real nigga. Ima blame myself before I blame the next mufucka, cause Im not a hater. I just tell the truth. The truth aint hatin. San Quinn shoulda been put in the spotlight. Laroo shoulda been put in the spotlight. Dirty Mackin definitely shoulda been put in the spotlight. We can take it back to 00, what was KMEL playin? If it was Bay music, which they were rarely playin, San Quinn was holdin it down. He was doin drops, everything. But our music sonically was mobbed out Bay shit, get a bitch to sing the hook, talkin bout some pimpin and hoein but mob shit and gangsta shit too tho. So we was like fuck it, lets go to the drawing board. E-0 came to us and was like, Lets create a sound for us. It was mufuckas that was holdin us down. Keak Da Sneak was holdin us down. He stayed doin his thing. Its just a lot of people. C-Bo shoulda been acknowledged. He from Sac, but its still Northern California. The Team shoulda been acknowledged and Mac Dre goes without a spoken word. He was the one who made the Bay wanna party. When we were doin bad, when Pac died and we were in a slump, Dre, sonically and the role he played in the hyphy movement, he made us have fun

They need to turn it into a sport, cause you cant control it. Go to Oakland Coliseum, rope off a big ass section of the parkin lot so its safe, fun and confined. It was like some player shit back in the day. You had Money Makin Mitch and them and they had the stage back then. The sideshow was some shit to where you throw on some fine linens, go up there and a bitch got at you. The dopegame was good, so the money was better. Now sideshows done turned into a mufucka hit they car they stomp it out, they shoot a nigga. Niggas hittin bitches with they cars, killin em and shit.
THE INDUSTRY

Its really not their fault, but they blew it up. Its like one day you the champion and the next day you washed up. The powers that be tried to sneak and have artists come in and do hyphy shit. They get at artists that aint from the Bay, aint got no ties to the Bay and aint paid no homage to the Bay and tell them to do a hyphy track. I know, cause I been in the studio workin wit em. Theyre trying to push us back away like the industrys been doing from the beginning. Thats what the industry does. The industry is a cold muthafucka. Oh Boy!, Fa Sheezy, My Nizzle, H to the Izzo All that came from the Bay! If the Bay comes up with something, the industry is like, Ok, thats hot but, lets have this region say it. Lets pay for the spins and put them in the bright lights and all this shit. The industry is a cold muthafucka. They be at them desk jobs ridin off they power and whatnot and really dont do shit. How you gon break ground if you scared to work? How you gon make a platinum artist and get that plaque if you scared to work? It dont work like that. Cause us, The Federation, we bust our ass like we got those desk jobs on top of havin to rap, on top of doin all the technical shit that goes along with it. I be feelin like, fuck it, give us the corporate card. We from the Bay, our corporate cards is bitches and our muthafuckin mouthpiece.
THE REVIVAL

It aint even really went nowhere. Its just not makin noise to their standards, but come out here to Northern California. Go to LA. Go to Vegas. Come to the West Coast and really do your own footwork. Dont go by what an A&R is telling you that brought an artist to you through our market on a promo run. Go see whats goin on for yo mufuckin self. We havent even got started, and Im speaking sonically for The Federation, because we are the forefront not even of the movement, but of this Northern California takeover. Matter of fact, the whole muthafuckin West Coast takeover. Were here. //

6 // OZONE WEST

ORHIA LOVR CALIFAST PNOTO GALLEEIES WEST CO

@ Hittmenn & Haitian Fresh rson, Willie Joe, rty Girls & V ) 0 // Clyde Ca oot (Los Angeles, CA) 0 // Di CA // DJ Backsh t (Los Angeles, y remix video Angeles, CA) 06 mix video shoo eo shoot (Los & DJ Juice Chris A Bay Ba A Bay Bay re Hurricane Chris & Lulu on the set of Hurricane ne Chris A Bay Bay remix vid (Denver, CO) 09 // DJ Deftone y Juice on the set of lly & DJ K-Tone Amen & Box Kev reppin Hyph e set of Hurrica ach & Tony Neal // Cool & Dre with Omar Cruz & Lil Jon on th 0 // Bryan Le CA) 08 // DJ Je T-Mo, 0 CA) 05 // Cool (San Francisco, greet (Richmond, CA)  // DJ  // Chris, B Janky, T-Royal, s Angeles, CA) the shoot (Oakland, ckside & Mistah FAB @ Crash & DJs Retreat (Lo CO) zzo Flys video Cece Sabathia & Ba s @ USDA meet store (Denver, Ku // oke & Lee Major K-Tones mixtape release inco, CA) 07 // DJ s Angeles) 5 the porn star @ @ Youth Uprising sh (San Francis s Angeles, CA) 0 // DJ Slowp video shoot (Lo ck Cra y Bay remix Casual & G-Sta K-Tone, & Gar @ side & D-Ray @ arty (Lo Music (Oakland, cane Chris A Ba in store (Berkeley, CA) 7 // Boyz Snipe, DJ mansion afterp h FAB @ Moses the set of Hurri // Chopper City @ BET Awards for Mistah FABs les, CA) 9 // DJ Quik & Mista geles, CA) aluma, CA)  Dre & C-Ride on 7 (Pet  // Cool & az @ Rasputin ge eo shoot (Los An @ Super Hyphy (Oakland, CA) 6 // Crest Creep y remix video shoot (Los An y Bay remix vid @ Youth Uprising y Mansion (Las Vegas, NV) ne Chris A Ba Ba & Porshia ris A Bay t of Hurrica @ the Playbo of Hurricane Ch  // E-0 & D-Ray on the se Playboy Bunnies Cam & Big Teach on the set CA) lik Abdul (0) rising (Oakland, ) 8 // (Oakland, CA a @ Youth Up (0,0,05,); Ma , J Stalin, & Book ; Julia Beverly CA) 0 // Dolla K-Tone (08,) DJ 7,8,9,0,); 9,0,,,6, Ray (0,06,07,0 oto Credits: DPh

OZONE WEST // 7

hats my favorite word? Why you gotta say it like $hort? Blow the whistle! When Lil Jon gave me that beat, it already had the whistles blowing in the hook and Juelz Santana already had a huge hit with The Whistle Song but all I could think about was all the fake players in the game. We need referees out here to throw flags and call fouls on em when they break the rules. I had to tell my story before it becomes his story (history). I thought that pop culture was trying to Elvis Presley my favorite word, so I took it back. Im not gonna lie and say that everything I rapped about in every song I recorded really happened, but I have always stayed true to my character of Too $hort. Right now, Im concerned about the next generation of emcees. Of all the different characters weve had throughout the history of Hip Hop, the super playboy/thug/drug dealer seems to be the most popular these days. I happen to be one of the few OGs who loves the mainstream Hip Hop thats all over the airwaves and in the clubs. Im not stuck in the late 80s/early 90s thinking that era is the only real Hip Hop. I support the new shit. I love it for the production, the swagger, the dances, the hooks, the fashion and everything else. The only thing Im missing in Hip Hop is the variety of subjects. You cant blame us older Hip Hop heads for missing the originality that the culture used to demand. Lately, Ive been hearing people of all races, who come from many different places, saying the same thing: Its hard to find rap music that I like these days. I will acknowledge the fact that the backpackers, the skateboarders, and the underground rappers are staying true to the # Hip Hop rule: originality. If youre an emcee making money in the rap game right now and your fans love you and you love what you do, I will be the first one to tell you to keep up the good work and dont stop hustlin. But if youre an up and coming emcee whos not popular, doesnt have a deal with a label and cant seem to catch a break, maybe all you need is to be original. Learn more about the history of the culture. Why write rhymes about killing people and selling drugs when you know thats so far from the reality of your life? Write about things you really know about. Tupac said he was a thug, but if you really knew him, he was so much more than that. He was a revolutionary, an actor, a hell of a songwriter and a very wise man who poured out his feelings on paper and in the vocal booth. Chuck D and Public Enemy spoke up for black people and said things loud and clear to millions of people that we couldnt say for ourselves. Ice Cube and N.W.A. might have had gangster images and might have rapped about gangster shit, but if you go back and analyze their music, their songs spoke about social issues in the inner cities of America. Digital Underground was all about having a good time. They just wanted to get the party started so everybody could have fun. Study the culture! I could go on and on giving examples. It shouldnt be cool for rappers to steal other rappers voices or images. In my opinion, the best rappers are the ones who always come original and never bite off other rappers. Theyre the ones who go gold and platinum over and over and over again. Can you do that? Biiiiiiiitch!!!!!! //

8 // OZONE WEST

ORHIA LOVR CALIFAST PNOTO GALLEEIES WEST CO

eo shoot (Oak@ Kuzzo Flys vid t l, Dot & G-Stack @ Illegal Tender press junke ) 0 // Esinchil (Los Angeles, CA nda DeJesus, & John Singleton (Hayward, CA) 07 // Rosci & video shoot Bay Bay remix co, CA) 0 // Franc Reyes, Wa zzo Flys Paulos Lounge ger, & Gor @ Ku rricane Chris A cis fani, & guest @ Bavgate, er, Rick Lee, Ka Diggs, Haji Sprin on the set of Hu PKs birthday party (San Fran yn & Big Teach CA) 06 // G Arch vgate, Bleu Davinci, Meezy, J- , CA) 0 // Geezy, Pooh Sauce, @ , 0 // Donny Gr etayss (Sunnyvale Ba a, & Gorilla Pits oot (Los Angeles Bavgate @ Rock Star Show (P 08 // G Archer, Fedx, The Jack o Fly @ Club Ab Angeles, CA) remix video sh ggs & land, CA) 0 // // Fatt Matt, Kia Shine, & Kuzz ards party (Los ggs, Mac Mall, // Dubee & J-Di ris A Bay Bay 05 // )  // Dre, J-Di Lees pre-BET Aw ris on the set of Hurricane Ch etaluma, CA) 5 (San Jose, CA) rd  for Debra Ch (Los Angeles, CA lagenz @ Super Hyphy 7 (P a @ Crest Park (Vallejo, CA) 8 va ne Terrance @ Boule d, CA) 09 // Gocha & Hurrica by Bash on the set of Cyclone Fillmore Mike & Di CA) 0 // Polow & Meezy Montan aklan & Ba )  // cher, Gore, ing (Oakland, video shoot (O )  // T-Pain 7 (Oakland, CA eo shoot (Los d, CA) 7 // G Ar , Donny, & Tuff @ Youth Upris Park (Vallejo, CA Marlon @ Club y Bay remix vid eo shoot (Oaklan Stack & Kleen @ Crest mous Ken, D-Ray, & Mohawk cane Chris A Ba @ Kuzzo Flys vid t (Los Angeles, CA) 9 // GFa , & MOE the set of Hurri luma, CA)  // d, CA) 6 // G-Gutta, Kev Kelly y Bay remix video shoo rricane Chris on lan The Game & Hu ris A Ba @ Club 7 (Oak geles, CA)  // of Hurricane Ch h on the set party (Los An Cam & Big Teac pre-BET Awards (Denver, CO) @ Privilege for rly (0,07,09,0) cuit, & DJ K-Tone da Don & J-Bo (); Julia Beve // N. Ali Early, Bis geles, CA)  9,0); DJ K-Tone An 8, ,,5,6,7, 6,08,0,,, y (0,0,0,05,0 o Credits: D-Ra Phot

OZONE WEST // 9

ell me about how you came to work with Snoop Dogg. Me and Snoop have known each other since the start of our careers, but we never really did any work together because of the [Death Row] camp that he was with. We both respected and admired each others styles and flows. But the line that he was pushin at that time had him and that camp in beefs with people that I was cool with, so I made it a point to distance myself from him. But we would kick it every now and then in the studio with DJ Pooh. Pooh would always campaign for me to Snoop. But it wasnt until recently, after the Western Conference, that we finally decided that it was time for us to do some real business together. Is that how the project that you and him are doing together came together? Snoop was initially trying to secure a situation with one of the major record labels to put out West Coast artists, but found out that it was easier said than done. He thought he would be able to secure each individual artist with their own separate deal. He found out the hard way that the sad truth is: the industry is systematically hatin on West Coast rap and no major label would agree to give his artists separate deals. So his plan B was to re-package six of his individual artists

into two groups, one of which is now called The Warzone me, MC Eiht and Goldie Loc. Thats how that came about. Each one of us has a different image, but we are just trying to make a statement of West Coast unity in Hip Hop with this group. This project is the main thing Im working on right now. After that will be my solo album called Self. You represent Watts to the fullest. How it was growin up in Watts? I grew up in the district called Willowbrook, which is like the middle-ground between Watts and Compton. I grew up just about like everybody else in a ghetto; with a single mother, with three generations in one house eight or nine people in one house with crime, death, police brutality, hate, love, friends and enemies. My situation wasnt nothin special. Yeah, it seemed like a curse at the time, but now I know it was a blessing, because it prepares you for anything! Explain to me how you escaped the clutches of gang life and why there are so few who make it out. I didnt escape the clutches of gang life. Everybody is affected by injustice in one way or another. The United States Government is the biggest example of gang life on earth. I was only saved from the clutches of ignorance. I didnt know, and most youth dont know or understand, who is really responsible for the conditions black and poor people are forced to live in. The reason so few of us make it out is because so few of us know who the real enemy is and what they really did to us. We black, brown, red, yellow and poor-whites are all victims of the same criminals. Our real enemies are not one another! The real enemies are the ones who put us in this mental and physical condition, meaning the slavemasters. I understand your younger brother YB is makin moves in Hip Hop representing the New West. Were you able to keep him out of the gang life as well? A gang is just a group of two or more people that work, play or associate with each other. Theres nothin wrong with being a part of a gang. Theres just something wrong with when that gang violates the civil and human rights of other people! The military is a gang. The city fire department is a gang. Sports teams are gangs. College fraternities are gangs. Politicians are gangs. But the knowledge and information taught in the Nation Of Islam is what was and is able to pull and keep us out of the crime life not the gang life. Many feel that the streets influence in Hip Hop on the West Coast was a major factor in what seemingly ended up being the demise of the popularity of gangsta rap. What is your take on this? Yeah I agree that the [negative side] of the whole gangbangin image is what put a black-eye on the West Coast rap game. But I also believe that this negative gangsta image was/is intentionally promoted by the big corporate owners of the music industry for the purpose of spreading a mindless, animalistic mentality to our youth to make the world see us as savage and criminal. The government wants to look justified in locking all of us up and making modernday slaves out of us, or just exterminating us outright. This is what I believe their motives really are. In your opinion, is the resurrected Hip Hop scene on the West Coast moving in the right direction as far a unity? As far as unity, West Coast artists are working together like never before. I do believe that we are moving in the right direction. But as far as the content and subject matter of the songs that we are working together on, I still believe we have a long way to go. People still think that being a criminal is hardcore and cool, and that being a righteous soldier is soft or weak. But its the other way around! Its way harder to be righteous in this world than to be a criminal, because the world is run by criminals! So youve really gotta be a G to go against the grain of the whole white-mans world. In closing, what message would Brotha Kam like to leave with the OZONE readers? Dont sell your soul for a few days of enjoyment in this world. We are all going be dead soon (within at least 80 years) and were gonna be dead for a lot longer than we were alive. The soul lasts way longer than these earthly bodies do, so its more wise to invest in that part of us that is going to last the longest! Think spiritual over physical. //

0 // OZONE WEST

KAM

Words by Big Fase 00

FROM 9 TIL INFINITY

When Souls Of Mischief came out with the hit song From 9 Til Infinity fifteen years ago, they did not know how true that song title would be for them. As part of the Hieroglyphics crew, their movement has had staying power in Hip Hop that many have envied and very few have rivaled. The Hieroglyphics crew consists of Souls Of Mischief (which is Tajai, Opio, Phesto, and A Plus), Casual, Pep Love, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Domino, and DJ Toure. The producers of the crew are Domino and A Plus. They are based in Oakland, CA and are proud of their strong roots and staying power in Hip Hop. Its hard to sell records these days, Domino reminds me. I think its because of a lot of different factors: the growth of the internet - but thats not as big a factor as everyone thinks. Really, the labels have killed it. Radio isnt selling records either. People are unhappy with what they are being presented with. They want variety in music, instead of the same thing. Yet no one is smart enough to do that. Look at the success of Gnarles Barkley and Amy Winehouse, both tremendously successful releases, and tremendously important classic records. They spread organically and quietly went platinum. When I pressed Domino to elaborate further, he informs me, The industry is so singles driven now that there is no more artist development. And this is catching up to the industry in lackluster sales. Fans dont know who the artists are anymore. There is no connection to the hits. Just the same 8 records played over and over. And digital sales are the only area of the business that are growing. Ringtones are huge (and legitimate) - thats where revenue is coming from. Theres no attachment to the artists that the people hear. No one cares, whats the next hit? The true fans are being alienated by the artists not being developed, and the artists are focused on making hit songs instead of great albums. Hip Hop fans are now turning off the radio and are moving on to other things. It shows in the sales every week. The industry is not giving the people what they want, so the fans are leaving in droves. This affects Hip Hop as a whole, and the entire entertainment industry. We have a lot of short sightedness in the music industry, quips Domino. One of the tenets of good business and a basic law of not hustling backwards is to give the people what they want. Or said in a different way, you dont sell crack in a heroin neighborhood. Yet this is what the music industry continues to do. Not only do we not give the consumer what they want to buy musically, but we rarely give it to them in a format in which they want it. While iTunes has attempted to do that, a consumer still is not able to buy every song in existence at their store, and is then unable to download it onto any other MP player other than that companys limited, yet incredibly successful, iPod. I wondered how Hiero broke out of this usual mold that industry folks usually get stuck in. Domino attributes their mentality to their life experiences. We were fortunate to be with a major label so we could leave and then maximize our opportunities. When our Souls Of Mischief album dropped on Jive in 99, we had the opportunity to have a major label build awareness for us. We had a website in 995, so we were ahead of the game. We were touring heavily, but back then there was no Hip Hop circuit for touring. We established the Hip Hop tour circuit. To get the word out there, we linked to the fans directly and marketed directly. When we left Jive to do our own thing, we called college stations to find out who promoted the shows in their areas. We learned to promote at radio stations and walk around malls, plus we maximized the internet. Overseas was a big part of our success because they are more open to progressive music in general, and progressive Hip Hop as well. Although hustler and dope boy music is growing there now, theres a very, very big market for soul and funk based older sounding Hip Hop, Domino tells me. Hiero hits everybody, using the internet as an incredible outreach. Merchandising plays a very big part of their success. They have a known and noticeable logo. They pushed the logo of the crew ever since everyone was signed. Its a strong brand in Hip Hop, Domino reminds me. We often make as much off the merchandise as we do off the show guarantee. They press up and sell the B-sides and unreleased music that is only available at their shows (like Hiero Oldies) and on-line (specialty stuff). In addition, they sell their releases through normal distribution channels. They dont sell these current CDs at shows, however, to force sales through retail stores. They still want to hit the charts and support retail stores. They also push heavily through iTunes. The difference between being their own label as opposed to signed to a la-

WORDS BY WENDY DAY FROM RAP COALITION

HUSTLIN:

bel? Money comes to them directly. All of the money. While they have to spend their own money to promote themselves, they also get to say where its spent and how much is spent. Then, after the distributor takes their 0% share of the $0 or $ wholesale price, a check is cut to Hiero for the remaining 80%. Plus they own all of their own masters and their own publishing. Hieroglyphics has grown into an empire instead of a crew of musical groups. The video and TV game placements have been crucial. We started getting placements on skateboard videos, and since San Francisco is a skater and snow board community, we promoted the music and built the fan base in the skateboard community. So many people were talking about Souls Of Mischief before Jive ever signed them, because of a song Domino gave to a skateboarder video for free since it didnt make the album. Now they hire a company to do the placements for them. Theyve been in videos and were placed on Entourage and The Wire. They were on Tony Hawks video plus the Del song was on the commercial. In the beginning it was just Hiero and now again, its just Hiero. Placements have been a great way to promote and to make money. Since we own all the masters, we can clear stuff quickly and thats important to these companies. We stay always ahead of the curve. You have to have multiple streams of income. Touring, merchandising, placementsplacements arent every week, but one for $5K or 0K every now and again is good, Domino states emphatically. We see more money in a year than most of the signed artists. You gotta ask yourself, What are you in it for? There is a difference between being famous and making money. Many getting into this game want to be on BET and wear a fat chain. But the chain is rented. A lot of artists play the major label game to get 5 minutes of exposure. Hiero speaks from experience. Domino asks me, What did it mean to us to be on a major at the end of the day? After two years on the label, we were expendabledidnt own our masters; didnt own shit. Once we went indie, and wanted to put out a Best of Hiero CD, we decided to license all of our own music. Elektra said NO! to Del to license his own music. So as an artist, you put out these records; you put in your own blood, sweat, and tears and at the end of the day, Elektra wouldnt let Del license his own music for a Best of Hiero CD. The hardest part of being indie is the attitude of the folks who dont get it. Once we got past the I used to love you guys. What are you doing now? comments, we were fine. Our indie releases have scanned over 00,000 copies sold, Domino reminisces. And they get to call their own shots, control their own releases, and make their own choices. Theres no waiting for any other release to dropthey are the release that gets the focus. They are the priority, unlike if they were at any other label. I dont wanna be all over the radio and then dropped when Im told I am not hot anymore, Domino tells me. We bought an 8,000 square foot building in Oakland that houses our company and our recording studio. We bought it from our nd indie Hiero release. That sure is better than a chain or being on BET. We have ownership and something to pass down. It really just depends on what you want. Some folks just want to be noticed when they go to the liquor store. Another problem that seems to plague Hip Hop today is the band-wagon jumping syndrome. Hiero has never jumped on the flavor of the minute. I point out that they are based in the Bay, which over the past few years has been Hyphy Central. There were no Thizz-Hiero Tours, no radio songs featuring Keak Tha Sneak or Mistah FAB-- What gives? Domino laughs at me and says, We have an old school Hip Hop esthetic. The oldest one is me at 6. Were not ever going to jump on the latest fad. We come from an era in Hip Hop where the rules were clearly defined: Originality; No biting. We stay original and different, not trendy. I cant use a sample that someone else has used. Thats the era Im from. Were all pretty progressive ourselves, weve never been followers. So, what does the Hieroglyphic Crew have coming up? This is their 0th year anniversary as a label in 008. They just put out a remixes and b-sides release, Hieroglyphics Over Time. Its a compilation. A Plus has a solo album coming called My Last Good Deed. We plan to distribute a metal group called A Band Called Pain. One of the guys from Christion (an R&B group), who used to be signed to Rocafella is part of that group. Its a metal band. We plan to put out an album by Mousab, the first non-Hiero release on our label. Then we have a new Hiero album coming, a new Souls Of Mischief album, and a Del album called th Hour. Oh, and of course, a tour! // OZONE WEST // 

WORDS // N. ALI EARLY

 // OZONE WEST

ince appearing on Snoop Doggs chart topping album Blue Carpet Treatment this past November with the hynotic Like This, Westurn Union has set the city of Angels on fire. It used to be every other bitch that knew us, now all the bitches know us, says member Damani. I check my myspace and half of LA wanna secretly try to gimme the pussy. Its a cold game. So much in demand are they that Damani, Bad Lucc and veteran Soopafly all have solo albums on deck. In addition, they are putting the final touches on their heavily anticipated collective project (untitled as yet), due sometime this fall. Armed with players that represent Watts (Bad Lucc), Inglewood (Damani) and Long Beach (Fly), WU promises this is only the beginning of a unified front for the whole Coast.

here? Id been knew Soopafly, but he was always on the road. He was already crackin to me. Soopafly was already in the game, so I didnt really think about him at first. So I heard Lucc one time spittin at his studio and I was like, Damn, thats Westurn Union. Its crazy cause a nigga be right up under yo nose. And then you got Fly, whose not only a dope rapper, but this nigga got some of the best beats on the West Coast! It wasnt hard to decide to put Fly in the group. We just thought Fly was gon be super busy, like he wasnt gon be around. But it all worked out and its still workin out. Fly, with your experience and what youve been able to accomplish, is there an element of coaching or a pecking order so to speak? Fly: Just a little bit. If any nigga been through something that another nigga aint been through and yall cool, of course that nigga gon give you some advice. I dont tell niggas what to do. I just tell niggas how it worked for me and how it might not have worked and a nigga gotta make his own choice. As far as the group, we divided by three. I put my input in. If they take it they do. If not, we can experience it together and take it from there. But these niggas aint new. They been on the block. They been in the streets and they know how the game go. So it aint that hard. Bad Lucc: I look at it like big homie, little homie. I look at everything like that. Somebody gotta listen and somebody gotta take information. And somebody gotta give it. Thats what Fly is. Fly gotta be big homie. Even if he dont wanna be big homie, he gotta be big homie. He been in the game for years doin classic music. How you not gon listen to a nigga like that? I respect it and I always play my position. Damani, you wanna add to that or you cool? Damani: Welll Come on, man, I thought pimps talk fast. (laughter) Damani: Yeah, but Im a player right now. That pimpin was too harsh for me Nah, but he pretty much nailed it. At what point did Snoop come on officially and back the project? Fly: I had kept in his ear all while we was on tour and I started bringin Damani around and he started likin Damani on a personal level. Same thing with Lucc. So I just persisted and was askin Dogg when we was on tour and when we got back we came together and did the song. So tell me about the album. Damani: Classic, next question (laughter) Nah, somebody answer, cause Im just gon ramble like a muthafucka. Lucc: I think its dope man, straight up. Its nostalgic. Its like a new classic. I aint tryna come up with some new term or no shit, but what dudes was lovin the West for, wherever they was at, its in there. Then theres that new twist, which is us. Were the new voices on top of what you fell in love with the West for. And I dont mean that disrespectfully. But Fly is a musical dude. Like This is musical. Its not a typical West Coast track. That shits so melodic. Everybody from my moms to my little nephew like that song. So were just bringin music with that hard shit behind it. Some groups fall out of favor with each other because they dont spend enough time with each other. Do you all kick it frequently? Damani: Well, Fly live in Vegas. (laughter) Fly: Yeah, Im way out here. Them two kick it way more than I do, so Id have to get out the house and make a whole trip. A nigga workin on that aspect too, but when we all get together its all three of us. It aint got to be music. We can come together and talk about music or we can talk about bitches. It really dont matter. We all compatible. Is there a definitive statement that yall wanna make with this album? Fly: The definitive statement is Westurn Union period. Westurn Union need to be a household name, first on the West Coast and then on from there. Of course we wanna be worldwide, but my whole thing as far as what I wanna make is Westurn Union and thats more than a group. Its a union. Damani didnt pick that name for nuthin. Back in the days your uncle or whoever joined the union because he felt safe there. They take care of you. They give you sick leave or whatever. Its the same thing with this. This is the Westurn Union. Its safety within this union. // OZONE WEST // 

So whats the history behind the group and how yall became the Westurn Union? Bad Lucc: Me and Damani been together since 00. Our first mixtape came out in 0. Thats when we put out the first Westurn Union mixtape and Fly been down since the spring of 06. Damani: Me and Fly been homies for a long time. Fly put me on my first project, which was Kurupts album Space Boogie. We was all pimpin, cross breedin hoes and then (laughter) Soopafly: Yeah, I just heard how they was puttin it down and how they was on the rise. I felt like I needed to get with some young [dudes] that was doin they thang and I just felt like it was perfect. Obviously the chemistry is good. Yall did a track on Snoops album (Blue Carpet Treatment), which was one of my favorites off top! But with everyone working on solo projects, what keeps yall together? Fly: Preciate that. We know the mission. All three of us know where were trying to get and we know on the West Coast its a little harder for a solo act to break through and make it. Well never quit, but we also got a backup plan and not so much back up, but a cornerstone plan, which is the Westurn Union. And theres just always strength in numbers. You aint never heard of a gang with one nigga in it. The more niggas the better. Thats the whole approach we take to it. We got three aspects of incredible music, from lyrics to ideas. From Damani, to Luccs, to mine, so we just tryna put it all together and make a whole complete package out of the situation. Part of the reason for Snoop putting the Big Squeeze together was to promote a West Coast resurgence that everybody says couldnt happen. With you all representing the West the way you are, how do you feel about that united front? Fly: Im not completely satisfied with it of course. Its a struggle. Bad Lucc: Im satisfied in a way, because I see where its going and where its going to end up. I do want to be at the forefront of music and I look at it like we gotta all stick together. We gotta all be down. Thats all the up and coming cats, the new cats, the cats thats been in the game; we all got to support each other and go hard. That way, the people in the streets will respect it more and start ridin like they used to ride. Like anything, when the south started poppin, everybody started steppin up. They started throwin they As up and flyin they flag. So I feel like were in a good place right now. We just gotta go hard and bang on niggas and let them know we here and we fuck wit all yall. We stayin down and we go hard by what we do. Unity is the key though. We gotta put all the petty shit to the side. The street shit is what sometimes splits us up. Its still serious and its still very relevant today. Damani you had the idea of kind of unifying three very influential hoods (Watts Bad Lucc; Damani- Inglewood; Fly Long Beach) with this group. What was the original concept behind Westurn Union? Damani: It wasnt nobody crackin out here and of course the whole gang shit, thats fucks up a lotta shit, especially when you comin up and you new comin up? Its so many reasons why a nigga dont fuck wit a nigga. Anyways, I was just thinkin, like, Shit, what if we had a nigga from here, here and

When cats talk about the hyphy movement, my name doesnt even get mentioned. im like, damn, im doin all this and my name aint even gettin mentioned!! But i aint trippin. ima stay doin my thing.

GRinD DOnT STOP

Words by N. Ali Early // Photos by D Ray

kafani

 // OZONE WEST

ith all of the Bay Area consumed by his smash hit Fast, it was only a matter of time before Kafani Da Ice Kings movement flooded the Coast. Once an improbable force disregarded and disrespected by associated members of the hyphy movement, Kafani proved just how quickly cream rises to the top. With a new album Money Is My Motivation on the way (September th), a three year artist deal with Koch and a ringtone deal with Modtones recently secured, so you too can be Fast like a Nascar, this Babyface Assassin is dead set on killin the game. First of all, congratulations on the deal with Koch. How did it come about? Did they get at you? They basically got at us. They were checking the charts and were watching the movement. I had a lot of labels at me, tryna sign me, watching me. They were looking at the numbers tryna see how everything was going. It was Warner, Capitol, Asylum, Ruthless and a couple of other labels. But the whole thing was Dee Sonaram from Koch, he always be in the Bay and he always be lookin for Bay acts. I think he was in LA and he was in a club and the record really popped off and that was like the biggest record of the night. I think thats what really convinced him. They was feelin my movement that I was puttin out there in the Bay. We had the video goin and we had our business straight. Then, what made me want to go with them was the turnover rate as far as gettin the album done and being able to put it out. Im still independent so Im still able to do my independent grind. So its like I still can do what I gotta do and I still can move and still have the freedom to do what I wanna do by myself, instead of having to go through forty different people to have to approve something. And I had the majority of the album done, so it was a good look already.

Your song Fast is what got you noticed by Koch and all the other labels. You recently did a remix with DJ Unk? How you gon make Fast slow? (laughter) Its like this. We went to Atlanta and we were working the record, right? It aint no other record right now thats on the level as Fast (Like A Nascar). Maybe it would have been easier to work it down South when Tell Me When To Go and the Too $hort record was out. They woulda had more records to play. But right now, its like theres no record out thats like that as far as the tempo, that DJs can mix it in with. So its harder to break it on a national level with that avenue. So the reason why I did it like that, is because when I went to Atlanta, all the stuff that I was hearing in the club was like that. West Coast, whatever. So I was like, Man, we gotta get on this hype. So that was the reason for getting on that hype. We tryna break that down South urban market. Thats where the real record sales come in at. So it was strictly about getting spins in the South. Yeah, we tryna get some Southern exposure. Far as on a national scale, you need to break in the South. Thats a big area to break. Well, it comes off well. But I have to ask, was there intent on your part to acclimate your sound for the Southern audience? Nah, I went in there just doin me. I got some input, but I went in doin me, but at the same time I was tryna make it happen. I didnt do anything on purpose. Anytime I do a song whatever come to mind is what I do and whateve Im on is what Im on. Last time we spoke we talked about the Fast movement. Has that taken off? Where is it now in terms of progression? Yeah, I mean, down here in the Bay, in this region everything is fast. Everybody thinks fast. At the end of every sentence all the kids sayin fast. So its still rockin. Its just its own movement and a slang of choice out here right now. Everybody goin fast right now. In terms of the vernacular and whats good in the streets is there a transition from hyphy to that? I believe so. I mean, everybody goin fast right now. Thats what they on right now. I feel it, but in some ways they say hyphy is dead, but I dont know. I dont believe it. To me its just not being accepted right now. I think its before its time. Its just some uptempo, cats giggin and cats is on that slow hype. If you listen to down South music, its slow, but its still fast at the same time. Its still the same to me. So is the music still relevant in the Bay? Is it still goin? Its still goin, but you dont really hear it on the radio as much. As far as local cats you dont really hear it right now. How has that affected what you do? Me personally I dont really try to make hyphy tracks. I never have. When the movement was crackin I did different little hyphy tracks cause thats what the movement was. I was goin along with what the fad was at the time, but I do different music. I dont want to be stuck in just one genre. I do everything. When cats check out my album theyll see I have a whole different direction on there. I got different aspects of music on there. Musically I have different stuff on my album. Its not just the same shit. Realistically I may have only one real, real hyphy track on there. To me personally, Fast wasnt even a hyphy track. It just got branded as that cause of where Im from. They were tryna brand any artist up out the Bay as hyphy, like thats all we were doin. But that aint the case. That aint true. Down South, T.I. aint doin crunk. Come on now. He doin him. How do you feel about being on a label after doing it on an independent level for so long? Its been cool. To me the grind just got harder actually. Im just doin more. I mean, Im still doin the same things I was doin before I was signed, but now Im playing with somebody elses money, which is better than using my own money. But at the same time, Im grinding harder, cause I gotta get myself out of a hole. Its a cool little stance though. What differences do you see where the major versus independent is concerned? Being signed to a major you have less freedom cause you always got somebody tellin you what to do. Youll get more exposure as far as the publicity end of it cause that machine is way bigger than an independent. At the end of the day with a major, major, youll really be out there, but they spend so much on you, you dont really see anything cause they done spent so much on you. Koch is cool though. They bustin a lot of moves and I still got a lot of freedom. I coulda went the major route, cause we had labels at us, but I felt like that song, the way it was movin I wanted to do something now based on the buzz I had. And I looked at how they were doing with other artists like

Unk and stuff like that and how big they blew, so I figured they could do the same for me. I was feelin their movement [at Koch] and that was one of the main reasons in going there. Whats up with the Babyface Assassins? Soon as I finish workin on this, were going to start working on something. We finna put some stuff together. We been workin on some mixtape stuff for now though. Fa sho be lookin forward to the Babyface Assassins. Thats finna drop fa sho. We finna start workin in like September, so itll be out prolly the second quarter of 08. I just got a little more mixing to do for my album and then well get started look for someone to put us out or well just do it ourselves. So tell me about the album. Man, the albums hot. Im really proud of myself. You gotta understand, I was in a group and the solo thing kinda just happened for me. I was just used to doin tracks with different people, so for me to be working primarily by myself at the beginning it was different but then I started knockin it out. I got some heat on there, a lot of different aspects. I got some down South, some for the ladies, some club music. Right now, listening to cats in my region, Im finna kill it right now. Im finna surprise a lot of people with this album. Real talk. How much did you think about rappin when you were down? I mean I had been rappin before I got locked up. I was on the run, so when I was locked up thats all I thought about. I used to look at magazines and saw hella cats, new cats comin up. Before I got locked down wasnt really no Bay Area movement. So I was like, Im finna get out there and do it. Im a hustler already, so it aint nuthin. All this is, is a hustle, networking. So I just had to make the right moves. I started gettin out meeting people and met all the right people in my region who had it on lock and I made my way to dealin with them. And thats how it happened for me. Do you ever feel like you missed a part of the movement being locked down? Real talk, I feel like my hustle and how I get down, I feel like if I wouldnt have been locked up and I caught the first, first wave, I feel like I would be a little bit further than I am now. To be honest, I feel like Im overlooked a lot. I be hearin about little stuff and I be overlooked a little bit. But I dont trip off of it cause the underdog will always prevail. I just look at it as being the underdog. I had a few minor setbacks, but its nuthin. At the end of the day Im a hustler. A lot of these cats depend on other people to wait to do what they gotta do. I depend on myself. But I dont really trip on being the underdog. I feel like when we were doing the Babyface Assasins thing we were overlooked a lot. A lot of cats had already secured their positions in the movement when we were coming along and we were just trying to fit in. We was like Freshmen and cats was already juniors. So you know how it is when you a freshman. You get shitted on a lot of times. But its good. Are there any specific setbacks you want to mention? It aint really been no setbacks cause you gotta understand, I didnt just come outta nowhere. I was already in a group and I was already on the grind. I had connections just from being in the game already and from being on the grind. I just feel like whenever theres an articles on the hyphy movement and cats are talkin about it, my name dont even get mentioned. Im like, damn, Im doin all this and my name aint even gettin mentioned? But I aint trippin. Ima stay doin my thing. But I really did come with a song and get hot and it was good. But at the same time I feel like my name doesnt get mentioned in the movement and right now Im getting national exposure and Im a good representation of what were doing. Is it a blessing and a curse to have a hit song like Fast? Thats the thing though. The critics are going to say what theyre going to say, cause thats all they heard was that one record. We didnt really leak too much stuff and theres a reason for us not leaking our stuff. The albums hot. Ima kill em. All the critics talkin bout all I could do was Fast, thats nothin. I got way more than that. Fast happened and it got me in a position to do what I gotta do, but I got way more than that. //

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DJ

DJ

Its hard to look past the exterior with DJs Skee and Reflex. You see the obvious: two white boys, both tall and rather slim, spotted from a mile away in any club. But it doesnt matter or really make any difference, because they are probably two of the most respected DJs on the West Coast. Chances are, youve heard a mixtape or two
With the radio background of DJ Reflex who started at the age of 8 at LAs Power 06 with the corporate background of DJ Skee whos earned stints with Loud Records and top tier marketing for MTV, Nike their potential is limitless. However, its their genuine and undying love for West Coast artists that truly brings them to the forefront as DJs. Recently, the two transcending DJs made their union official on LAs Power 06. Their left coast geared show is broadcast every Wednesday night and unsurprisingly has already gained a significant buzz in the streets and among artists who deserve to be heard. Your show on LAs Power 06 is how new? Reflex: Its only four months so far. Right now we dont really have a name for it, but its pretty much The Takeover. Its about breaking new artists out here on the West Coast like Glasses Malone and some of the other new guys that are coming out. Skee: Yeah, we have the freedom on this show and thats what its all about. Its a great opportunity for new artists that are trying to get on radio because we play all the new West Coast stuff. And to have your own show, how did that come about? Skee: It was the streets, the [mixtape] grind really. It just turned out that our work in the streets got artists to radio, so when the idea of having a show on radio came about, it made sense. New York has Kay Slay and all them, and its the same thing out here with us. Its the work in the streets out here on the West Coast. Reflex: And its West Coast, but its not being biased. Obviously we are goin to show love to the West Coast artists because we are here. I flipped through TIs album. It was cool. New artists coming out of the West Coast that you all play on your show are? Skee: Glasses Malone, Damani, Topic, Omar Cruz, Bad Luck, Western Union, Bishop Lamont, there are so many of the new West Coast artists. We got a lot

djskee & djreflex

of momentum out here on the West. Reflex: Theres a lot of people with different situations, like Jay Rock over at Warner and Westurn Union messin with Snoop. Los Angeles has come to the conclusion that they have to do something fresh. Now the artists are ready to work with the producers so you can hear him across the country. Skee: Like Glasses Malone with Akon. Its just crazy records with heavy weights. The streets never left the game and people want more quality in the music. I think its gonna balance out this year and so on because all the artists out here have stories. Guys have been goin through shit and havin these opportunities recently has us feelin good about [the outlook]. Are there any other updates and developments with you and the West Coast that we should know about? Skee: Games third album is coming soon, and there are a few new things happening over at my [affiliated] label [Black Wall Street]. Reflex: And the radio show is going be syndicated in every station in this region. We are looking into label situations for us, compilations for us, and tryin to put out artists at our own speed. Takin it bigger and spreading the movement. Break new stuff. And in true DJ fashion besides this show both of you have a million other things going on like Skee TV right? Skee: Yeah, look at the online video. A lot of the content out there is lacking in interest and wack. Youve got to make it available online and new videos all the time. I have a new show every day for people that are interested in what we are into. If we have something interesting one day, its on our show the next day. It officially launched three months ago and a lot of people are tryin to come and see whats up with it. //

Check out www.skee.tv and http://www.myspace.com/thetakeover for exclusive footage from Skee TV

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MESSY MaRv & MiTcHY SLick/MESSY SLick/SiccnESS/kOcH REcORDS With their respective movements in full swing, independent kings Messy Marv and Mitchy Slick join forces on the appropriately dubbed Messy Slick one of the undergrounds more anticipated albums. The content follows block inspired tales up and down the Coast as Mess, a product of Filmore and Slick, and Mitchy, a known Blood, are both block tested soldiers. Rollie On My Arm, (Styles P and Turf Talk) On the One (Yukmouth) and Cherish A Thug, featuring Keak Da Sneak, are among a healthy group of features, which do little to diminish the relevancy of the collaboration. However, the Nor/So Cal combination proves a deadly one on its own. The Batkave produced Click Clack, the braggadocios Ok and the albums inspiration, Diego to the Bay are living proof. N. Ali Early

innERSTaTE ikE aPPLESaucE 2 a BOSS, BananaS 2 a GORiLLa ELiTE EnT. Naming one rapper out of Colorado is harder than naming all original members of the Wu Tang Clan. But Innerstate Ikes independent release Applesauce  A Boss, Bananas  A Gorilla gives reason to remember his name and Colorados contributions to Hip Hop. On this album Ike is the beneficiary of near perfect production from Mass Prod, Man-Man and Macho, who handle most of the albums production. Ike is nowhere near the nicest emcee but this album deserves plenty of burn. - Randy Roper G. MaLOnE & DJ nik BEan STREETS Of L.a. 3 Newsflash: LA rapper and Cash Money/Hoo-Bangin signee G. Malone can rhyme. If there are any questions about that statement, Streets of L.A.  will erase all doubts. Malone proves his worth by trading verses with West Coast heavyweights like The Game (They Sayin) and Daz (Blaze It Up) along with Left Coast newcomers like Balance and Big Rich (Crack Music). Malone also debuts new music from his forthcoming album Beach Cruiser with Certified featuring Akon and the Mannie Fresh produced Fuc Wit Me. Whether its brand new music or exclusive freestyles, Malone makes a statement on Streets of L.A. . Randy Roper SPiDER LOc WEST kEPT SEcRET: THE PREquEL Even though Spider Loc is signed to Curtis Unit, the Compton emcee is still patiently waiting to put the West on his back and leave his mark on the game. On his latest mixtape, from Blutiful World to I Like The Prequel is rider music listeners can drop the top on the 6 to or kick back, spark one and zone out to. Only Big Blacc Boots with Ice Cube can be categorized as true hardcore gangsta music. The rest of the mixtape consists of soul samples and jazz-influenced production that give Loc the chance to shine lyrically. If The Prequel is any indication of whats to coming on Spiders West Kept Secret debut, the West has a problem on its hands. - Randy Roper

WiLLiE JOE/ BaYD OuT/ SHOnuff REcORDS/ WaTaBOY EnT. 3.5 SLaPS Since joining forces with Shonuff Records this past

summer, underground rap legend Willie Joe dropped two more mixtapes simultaneously. The Northern California tailored Bayd Out highlights a slept-on rapper poised to assume his rightful place in the game per the title track. Hey Playa, featuring Lloyd, Jody Breeze and Jazze Pha, is an official introduction via Shonuffs renowned super producer and Game Check, is riddled with intermittent game induced lectures courtesy of Earl (from N. Oakland). In between, the self-proclaimed Wyatt Earp boy spits: Im not bein biased, but its the shit if I write it /I get on CDs and nigga get the streets excited / N.W.A. shit, it dont matter nigga, just dont bite it. N. Ali Early Whether he refers to his newness as a result of a recent alliance with G-Unit, or because hes one of So Cals rising emcees, 0 Glocc announces his arrival in grand fashion on That New Nigga. Hosted by Felli Fel and DJ Nik Bean, TNN is chock full of tracks () as well as features 50 Cent, Prodigy, Bishop Lamont, Ras Kas and Jayo Felony among them. With genuine ties to the Colton City Crips and now the Unit, Glocc wastes no time getting personal with Curtis known nemesis The Game on  Blood and N.W.A. (Game and Dipset diss). Go figure. N. Ali Early

40 GLOcc/ THaT nEW niGGa/ DuB cnn

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endzone edition throwback

R.I.P. Mac Dre Event: Mac Dres last birthday party Venue: Golden Gate Billiards City: San Francisco, CA Date: July nd, 00 Photo: D-Ray

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