UG Rap Community

Cormega

http://www.artofrhyme.com/interviews/mega_int.shtml

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You'd think the hardest part about making a biker flick like "Torque" would be the high-speed action sequences and death-defying stunts. But Ice Cube had stuntmen for that. No, as MTV News' Shaheem Reid recently found out, the most difficult thing for Cube was staying upright on his bike when traveling at low speeds. But that's a cakewalk compared to swimming with crocodiles and piranhas.

MTV: In "Torque" you play the leader of a biker gang. Are you already experienced with bikes, or did you have to learn how to ride?

Ice Cube: Well, little dirt bikes, little stuff like that, but nothing as big as those crotch rockets we were on. We went through the whole thing with the stunt riders, the racers, the instructors, the trainers and it gave me the training and tricks of the trade on how to handle that machine. You know, make sure I don't get no road rash. Nobody wants the road rash.




'Torque' photos

MTV: Did you pick it up quickly?

Cube: It was easy. Every day we just progressed more and more and did more things. We went faster and faster, more maneuvers. You know, it's really the slow riding that's the hardest. Part of riding a motorcycle is riding real slow and maneuvering through vehicles 'cuz the bike wants to lie down, and the motor, when you give it gas, it keeps it up. That was the thing we was working on. We knew there would be a lot of camera equipment, a lot of people and things we would have to maneuver around.

MTV: What attracted you to the script? It's a lot different than "Barbershop" and the other movies you've done recently.

Cube: I just knew it was gonna be crazy. I knew with Neal Moritz, who produced "The Fast and the Furious" and "XXX," my man Joseph Kahn, who's done a thousand videos — he even did a video for me in '96 or '97 — I just knew them two together [would be hot.] ... And I knew couldn't nobody play Tre like me, so I just had to convince them and they were like, "Yeah, you're right."

MTV: What was it like on the set?

Cube: Everybody was there to work. What was cool was we trained together, as far as on the motorcycles, so the camaraderie was there where it had to be and it all felt authentic. But what's so cool about this movie, you know, we don't take ourselves too seriously. It's damn near like a video game. Joseph wanted to make it like that.

MTV: One of the things people in Hollywood are loving about you is that you're not just an actor, you write scripts, produce, you are involved with the casting. How is it to be in a movie where you're not so heavily involved?




"When you can trust the people that are making the movie, it's fun..."

Cube: When you can trust the people that are making the movie, it's fun, it's different. I feel a little guilty saying it's easy, but you know, it is. When all you gotta do is show up, do your part and hang out, the stress level is like nothing. When you're producing and you're acting and you wrote the script, it's kinda like you're a three-headed monster. Just because you finished your shot, that don't mean you just go and disappear. You gotta stay there and make sure all the shots are coming out good. It's just a different thing and more work, you know? I like both 'cuz I'm a creative dude anyways, so I'm just saying when you go to act, it's just easier.

MTV: Are you into doing your own stunts? There's a scene in "Torque" where you jump off a train.

Cube: That wasn't me. If I would've jumped off that train, the people at Warner Bros. would've gone crazy — "What you got him jumpin' off trains for?"

MTV: Do you wish you could do more of your own stunts?

Cube: I want to do whatever it's gonna take to make the movie look good. I ain't trying to be Jackie Chan around here at all. I just want to do whatever it's gonna take to look good. If it's gonna look better with me doing it, I'll do it, you know what I'm saying? But if we can get away with somebody else getting those bumps, bruises, scrapes, scars, broken limbs, you know, pay the man.

MTV: What's the craziest thing a director has ever wanted you to do?

Cube: Get in the water in Brazil, doing "Anaconda." I mean actually get in the river, the real river. I'm like, "This alligator don't know we're making a movie. That damn piranha don't give a f--- about us making a movie, you know what I mean? Man, I'm not getting in there." So it was like a two-hour talk. I put on like five wetsuits, it was crazy, but I had to do it. That was the craziest thing somebody asked me to do. So if you see "Anaconda" and I'm in that water and I look scared, you're damn right!

RZA & U-God Radio Interview

Part 1
http://hot97.com/av/audio/interviews/ugod/rza1.asx

Part 2
http://hot97.com/av/audio/interviews/ugod/rza2.asx

WCA Exclusive interview with Baby Bash, Chingo Bling and Gemini

Sup to the West Side, its been a minute by Synbad “Da Urban Latino” had a chance to sit down with three of the hottest Latino Rappers blowing thing up on all coasts. The Tamale King, Chingo Bling, My Smok’n Nephew Baby Bash, and Gemini all repp’n dem Cali/Tex Latinos to da fullest!
SYNBAD: So what have you Locos been doing?
Chingo: Pues I been working on my new album, Tamale Kingpin. It’s my first full-length album. I been doing mixtapes, pero this is the first legit album and I have Angelina, Baby Bash, Fifth Ward Weebie and Mike Jones y sabes que it will be nation wide in all the record stores. Told you La Migra couldn’t stop me!
Gemini: Man, everything has been going good since I signed with Universal. If you haven’t picked up Product of Pain yet, ya better hurry cuz Universal is going to re-release the album with new cuts on it and they are gonna take some of the original cuts off so it will be kinda sorta different. I am also working on tracks for my second album and getting ready to film the video for Crazy for You. I did some tracks with Frankie J and I am getting some tracks from Play N Skillz. So be on the look out for that later this year.
Bash: Well, I am off for two weeks in Europe to play some clubs and stuff. Then when I get back I am performing at Louie’s in South Padre on the 22nd of March. Then I have some other gigs and commitments to take care of, ya know! But I am working on tracks for my next album did some track for Gemini and Chingo, of course me and Frankie laid some more tracks down and just keep on grind’n and smok’n.
SYNBAD: How are the Manosas and What’s Really DVD’s doing:
Chingo: Orale, they are flying of the shelves and we just finished Manosas 3. For Manosas 3 we went to New Orleans and we will be in Padre for Spring Break to get some footage for Manosas 4. You can check out manosas.net on your girls computer pero don’t be surprised if you see her with Chingo and Bash. The What’s Really DVD’s are in all the FYE, Hastings and Sam Goody’s. Its like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre meet Cheech and Chong eating tamales!
SYNBAD: So what else is going on?
Bash: Chingo tell them about the flavored tortillas and the tamales.
Chingo: No Mas, we are talking to the HEB and Kroger about my tortillas, we’re making cinnamon, honey, chile flavored tortillas. This is for real, compadre, you are hearing it first so you gonna believe cuando you go to Kroger and you see my face at the tortilla counter!
SYNBAD: You got anything to say to the Westside?
Bash: Cali, I’ma gonna be there around April or may for some shows so somebody betta have some sticky green for me.
Gemini: Cali is like my second home, that’s where I recorded most of my album at so much love for Cali.
You can check out www.manosas.net and www.chingobling.com for more music and DVD info

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Hab ein Zagg-Interview gefunden...ist mindestens ein Jahr alt...

Can you give me a short presentation of yourself ?
Zagg : I’m from Sacramento.. all over the east and in the south.. I’ve been in the game for about 9 yrs, maybe 10.. I debuted on Lynch’s "Season a da Siccness".. "Loc 2 da Brain" song.. Also I did stuff on his loaded album.. I was on "Who Put Sac on The Map 2", "Blocc Movement", "The Plague", his new one "Lynch by Inch".. and in "Now Eat", the movie.. i will be on the upcoming "Westcoast Bad Girls".. I have my own album, "Hell in Auguzt", it’s in stores now, and my new one "Through The Eyes of She", that should drop round the end of this year or the beginn’n of next.. (i’m push’n for this year.)

What are your musical (hiphop or others) influences ? And what artists do you like in hiphop ?
Zagg : my influence is mainly one person, Brotha Lynch Hung (now known as Lynch).. My inspiration on the other hand comes from tyte artists out there.. I like Eve.. I like Missy Eliott (crazy lyrics, but always tries new shit, I admire that much confidence, plus she wear pink as much as i do..haha..) I like Lynch and my Siccmade Clicc.. basically.. 50 Cent is tyte to me. I like his gangsta style flowin mainstream.. tyte.

You’re in Sacramento’s underground scene, currently what’s going on in this sector ? Are there other hiphop groups except the Siccmade fam ?
Zagg : Its alot of underground groups out here. i’m not sure of all the names. I know i can name a few like Killa Tay, Lunasicc, Marvaless, RJ, P-Folks, Polo, Dubbsak, shit I could go fa days, Alexis, Scrap, Jazzy.. to just name off a few.

What are advantages and disadvantages to be an underground artist ?
Zagg : The difference, to me, between underground, and mainstream is that one radio song, that gets you that mansion on the hill. You feel me, and maybe a few good friends in the right places, but i don’t mind, i got the rest of my life to work on my career..a disadvantage is maybe the cash comes later, but the advantage is that you don’t fade out quick either.

It seems that you’re so far away of Lil’ Kim or Foxy Brown’s styles, what is your opinion on the female rappers that sell albums with their bodys ? And what do you think about female rappers status in the usa ?
Zagg : I feel like if you can rap, do it, and be as you as you can, honestly, I was shock’d to see a female come out like she did. At first I didn’t feel it, but as a few years pass’d and i grew up a lil’ i started to appreciate her style and creativeness, instead of bein like what is she doin’.. Everybody say what she doin when som’n first come out, this one happened to come around for me.. I’m proud of her for how confident she is, and how creative she is.. she earned some props.. I like my style too tho, I just choose to do it rough.. cuz i lived like that.. i’m all for female rappers..

Let’s talk about your music, generally what’s your working way about your songs ? do you take much time to write your lyrics ?
Zagg : It just depends on what type a zone I get when I write.. if I hear a real tyte beat outta the blue i might get an idea, and it will take me maybe an hour to write a song.. those are usually my tytest ones.. if i’m not in the zone it could take two days..

What are your usual producers ? Are you apt to produce instrumentals ?
Zagg : My production team is usually Lynch and Fonk Beta.. every once in a while i get som’n else..but i’m happy wit the variety i have right now. I wont get into production myself tho.. i’m not into it..

What are your favorite subjects in your songs ?
Zagg : Real ones..

When I listen to yourself, and most of all the Siccmade team, a dark and violent atmosphere comes out in many songs, is that just a Siccmade style or do you recognize yourself in these ambiances ?
Zagg : I have lived a hard life, all of Siccmade has, we take alot of people off streets and trouble, and put em in the studio.. so I’ve live a dark life, it may come out in my stuff.

I read on the web, some newsgroups’s messages and some persons talk, about you as a cannibal or a crazy girl, can you throw me light on that ?
Zagg : I’ve never heard that.. but no I aint no more crazy than anybody else, haha.. but anyway.. I barely even like meat.. I can’t stand it wit blood on it, I like my shit well done.. people are crazy huh ?

The album "Hell in August" has already been released, this is a tight album by the way, with excellent tracks like "The Argument" or "Manipulate", what are your favorite songs on it ? And what was the public reaction about it ?
Zagg : My favorite tracks are "No Body, No Caze", "The Argument", and "Hell in Auguzt", I aint heard it in so many years, i don’t have a copy so i can’t really remember..

On "Now Eat" soundtrack, there is a song from you named "Jealous Bitches" where you speak about others who are jealous of yourself. Have you suffered that kind of jealousy ?
Zagg : Aaha.. I been there .. just put it like that.. I think we all might’ve. hmmm, I believe I hit that subject on my new one..

I heard some stuff about "Through The Eyes of She" (your second album), has it already been released ? What can you tell me about it ?
Zagg : No it hasn’t released yet hopefully towards the end a the year.. at the latest.. but my new album, touches different subjects, I have longer verses, maybe a better concept of the actual beats.. it’s alot a different styles on there.. I feel like I matured pretty good since my last one..

What do you plan for the future ? Do you have some other projects ?
Zagg : I’m thinkin about gett’n into scripts, or movies, just think’n tho, I have a few more album to put together first..maybe a comp..

What’s your vision of rap ?
Zagg : My vision of rap is ... I love rap, it’s real hard to get in there.. or out there .., but I also feel like some a da rappers that get paid big dollars, aint that tyte, .. but that’s all parta the game..

OK, thanks a lot Zagg. I wish you a great success for the future. See ya ! !
Zagg : Thanks alot to u.. for the interest.. good luck to u too. much love homie..

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hier ein Aktuelles von GM Grimm/Metal Fingers Grimm/Jet Jaguar

http://www.hiphopcore.net/interviews/gm ... glish.php3

WC2K: How long till "Gemeni: Good vs Evil" comes out in stores?

Krayzie Bone: Probably a couple more months. Ill have it out by the summertime, like August, maybe September.


WC2K: How close are you done to recording the album?

Krayzie Bone: Im just about done with the album. I'm done with like 10 tracks on each side. Im done on one whole side and I'm almost done with the second side, you know.


WC2K: Is it gonna be a double or a single disc album, with an album title like this?

Krayzie Bone: Its gonna be a single disc. Ima have like 10 songs on each side, good and evil, and Ima have like 4 skits.


WC2K: What type of sound can we expect, like if you had to compare it to an older album?

Krayzie Bone: Man this sound right here it has the same Bone Thugs N Harmony element but in a different direction. More time spent on the album, and its a more mature sound.




WC2K: A lot of your fans ask you to do "E. 1999" style tracks. Obviously you have to evolve but what do you respond to them?

Krayzie Bone: Oh yeah you have to evolve but you gotta give your fans what they're used to. I got a little bit of that on the album. But you always gotta give a little bit what they're used to. Always.


WC2K: "Thug On Tha Line" had a lot of guest appearances, can we expect the same thing for "Gemini"?

Krayzie Bone: Oh yeah, with this one Im looking at a few guest appearances. Its gonna be big, Ima have a few like Scarface, I got a track from Lil Jon, trying to get a whole lotta stuff in the place.





WC2K: Have you picked your first single yet?



Krayzie Bone: Nah not really, we got 4 songs were trying to decide from for a single





WC2K: What kind of sound are you looking for the single. Alot is goin on with the Lil Jon crunk thing, are you looking for that too?



Krayzie Bone: Oh Yea Yea but Im not trying to get into that direction. Just like you said, a lot of people are going in that direction. Me, its gotta be me. I gotta come with the different shit like I always do.




WC2K: A lot of talk is going around about where the group is gonna sign. We heard rumours about Aftermath.



Krayzie Bone: Well right now we're trying to keep it on the hush hush right now, cause we haven't decided. Theres a couple opportunitys but we havent decided as a group yet. But we'll be coming with another album though, definitely and real soon.




WC2K: How soon do you think is that gonna be?



Krayzie Bone: At the end of this year.




WC2K: I dont know if you heard the interview Bizzy Bone did for btnhboard.com. He said something about wanting to sign with a black owned label. Is that something that is important to you as well?



Krayzie Bone: Man it doesnt make a difference to me, as long as the deal is right and everything is on the up and up. If its black owned or whatever.




WC2K: That brings me back to you. You picked Ball'r Records, a relatively unknown record label. Someone with a status like you in the rap game could have signed to a bigger label. Why did you chose Ball'r?

Krayzie Bone: Becauase, man, I’ve been caught up in the major system for a minute, you know what im saying. Yunno, you get hip to the games and the schemes. (Speaks to friend) Man, you start learning the system and you start recognizing what’s what. I was just feeling that with this company right here I would get the attention I need....I would be able to run and handle everything myself...In other words saying, if the project flops it would be my fault cause I'm doing everything you know what I'm saying?





WC2K: A lot of people dont understand the industry part of it. They see the bone bickering and the length of time between albums. What do you have to say to those that put the blame on you?



Krayzie Bone: Man, they just got to realize that they don’t really understand it or feel it unless they go through it themselves. But man, that’s just the game. It’s not just music, that’s why its called music business. First it’s music, then it’s the business.


WC2K: Musically you're still where you were in my opinion, you're still hitting. But on the mainstream some people use the word "falling off" for you guys cause you're not pushing as many units as you did before.

Krayzie Bone: Oh yeah I mean we been here for a while, everybody know that once we're all together in the studio, there's not one group that can fuck with Bone Thugs N Harmony. Bottom Line. No matter what time speaking, from 94 to 2004. Bottom line, aint nobody able to touch us. Thats why we still around, cause alotta people trying but they aint been able to do it how we do it. Thats why we always come back. We knew that our relationship with Ruthless was coming to a bitter sour end you know what I’m saying. So we chalked the last album off as a loss just to get off that motherufucker, you know what im saying?





WC2K: Yea thats perfect for my next question. Where you happy with the way "Thug World Order" turned out? Because personally, to tell you the truth I thought it would be a little bit better. I thought it was a good albun, I just didnt think it was a Bone quality album. What do you think of "Thug World Order" when you look back?



Krayzie Bone: Like I said, that was something we was trying to do, so we can get our walking papers man really. Just trying to finish up what we started.




WC2K: But on the flipside, who decided the final package? I've heard a couple tracks that were cut off that were just unbelievable.

Krayzie Bone: Man, thats where we were going through. The album we turned in was completely different. Shit came out and everything was changed and commercialized, they wanted to chase after "Tha Crossroads". Thats why the only thing we ended put on the whole fuckin album was that thing with Phil Collins. Motherfuckers was on that whole thing, "thats the crossroads".



WC2K: Has that gone gold or platinum yet?

Krayzie Bone: Yea gold.




WC2K: What pisses you off the most in the rap game right now?



Krayzie Bone: What I’m hearing. Thats the problem, I ain’t hearing nothing. I really can’t get into the music out here today. That’s why i listen to all old school shit. I still listen to the shit that inspired me to get into the game like the old shit. I can’t really get into shit these days. Because everybody is doing the same thing again. It’s just like a whole big ass machine. Shit is like corporate now. Everybody’s looking the same, everybody doing the same thing, using the same music. Shit, we need artists out here that are different and it’s only a handful, if its even a handful.


WC2K: How did that come about, you and Dead Prez hooking up?



Krayzie Bone: They was messin with Loud Records the same time I was with Loud. They wanted to do a song with me. I heard of the group and listened to their music and I liked what they were talking about. They dont just follow the trend. They speak their own, thats why I got down with them.


WC2K: Can you tell the people about the relationship with Bizzy in the past and right now?

Krayzie Bone: I think it was all blew out of proportion that me and Bizzy Bone had a problem. Back then I was hardly talking to him. It wasnt really no problem, the only problem I had was strictly business. As far as promoting these albums and such and such. The only problems I had with him only came to business. As far as personal, we aint never had no problems, no beef, nothing like that. It's just all music. But I understand he was doing what he was doing because of the whole situation with Ruthless Records. So I mean that was the whole reason everyone was off doing their thing because we had to create ways to get paid becuase we were'nt really getting paid from the Bone Thugs shit.





WC2K: But the 3 or 4, if you count Flesh, still maintained and did that. How much of a problem was it that Bizzy wasnt with you guys?

Krayzie Bone: Man it was a big problem at first. If one person in Bone aint acting right it affects the whole group. Cause we the kinda group where people ask for Bone Thugs N Harmony, they want Bone Thugs N Harmony. So we got Bone Thugs N Harmony and Bizzy aint here so of course they gonna be [..] if Layzie aint here [...] They are going to be asking where's the other member because people want to see all of us together. Thats how we came into the game, making feel everybody that we together. they are going to be asking where's the other member because people want to see all of us together



WC2K: I heard that Ruthless is releasing a Live & Uncut DVD with some of your performances. How much more material do you expect will they release?



Krayzie Bone: Man I dont even know. I aint got nothing to do with that, I dont even wanna know about it. They gonna do what they gonna do. We're on a totally different page, we aint even tripping and its gonna be our material out there. I really aint got nothing to do with it.




WC2K: Are you gonna pick it up?



Krayzie Bone: I don't know man, I'll get a copy somehow.




WC2K: How much does it bother you when you look back and see how fucked up that label became. And you guys tried and tried. What were the steps where you guys just said 'I quit, I cant anymore'?

Krayzie Bone: Man we just started noticing everything when Eazy E died. We basically knew where the company was going from right there. And then she came in and fired everybody, dropped all the artists. We were the only artists she kept. That shit. Then, she didn't have no vision. She didn't have the vision Eazy E had the vision for the company.





WC2K: Did you talk to anybody in the business who have been there before, I know MC Ren was still around at one point when you guys were at Ruthless. Did he give you any advice or anything like that, to move forward?

Krayzie Bone: Man, Naw man. Well MC Ren was pretty much a quiet dude. We hollered at him a couple times and he did tell us a couple things about what was going on with the company so whatever. I mean, Man, everybody’s gotta live and learn you know what im saying.


WC2K: That whole part is behind you and now your moving forward, each one of you is moving forward, signing new deals, doing what you gotta do. What can people expect from Krayzie Bone right now, going into the studio. I mean hunger wise. A lot of people lose their hunger, your 10 years into the game, where are you in terms of hunger?



Krayzie Bone: Man...I’m a couple steps up. I’m like 5 to 10 more steps up from the last album I put out. That’s like, you can tell when you listen to the songs. I’m not really trying to make mistakes, the whole album, the whole concept and everything.




WC2K: When you look at your career now, at the point your at, What are you most proud of?



Krayzie Bone: Man, just changing this whole rap game. Cause, regardless of what anybody says, its been speeded up.




WC2K: One thing I never understood is why you guys never got that respect. People will do their top 10's, people will talk about the most sold, nobody even ever brings you up even if the numbers are there in terms of albums sold. Why has Bone not gotten the respect they deserve?



Krayzie Bone: Because man.. Its just like man, they didn’t wanna believe it. Everybody didn’t want to believe it, but you see everybody is doing our shit now. Everybody is doing the same shit. I’ve been hearing motherfuckers using our same rhythm and all kinds of shit. It’s just like man, I ain’t tripping. Motherfuckers you know when they sit back and think about it, they know where it came from. Bottom Line.




WC2K: I know your busy now, so I’m going to end this interview by doing a name association. I’ll say a name and in a short sentence you tell me what you think of that person. Something that characterizes them.





WC2K: When I say Eazy-E, what do you think of first?



Krayzie Bone: Visionary




WC2K: Flesh N Bone



Krayzie Bone: Psychotic (laughs)




WC2K: What’s up with Flesh, Is he going to be out any time soon?



Krayzie Bone: Yeah man, we’re working on it, talking to some people, trying to pull some strings. Trying to get him up out of there.




WC2K: The last name I had on this list, because he’s blowing up. Twista. What’s up with him and Bone Thugs N Harmony?



Krayzie Bone: Twista? Oh yeah, he’s raw. Man, everybody gets their turn man. Everybody gets their turn. (Everything) goes back around you know what I’m saying. You just gotta stay in the game and have the patience and when your time has come just snatch it and move out with it.

_________________

Krayzie Bone

WC2K: How long till "Gemeni: Good vs Evil" comes out in stores?

Krayzie Bone: Probably a couple more months. Ill have it out by the summertime, like August, maybe September.


WC2K: How close are you done to recording the album?

Krayzie Bone: Im just about done with the album. I'm done with like 10 tracks on each side. Im done on one whole side and I'm almost done with the second side, you know.


WC2K: Is it gonna be a double or a single disc album, with an album title like this?

Krayzie Bone: Its gonna be a single disc. Ima have like 10 songs on each side, good and evil, and Ima have like 4 skits.


WC2K: What type of sound can we expect, like if you had to compare it to an older album?

Krayzie Bone: Man this sound right here it has the same Bone Thugs N Harmony element but in a different direction. More time spent on the album, and its a more mature sound.




WC2K: A lot of your fans ask you to do "E. 1999" style tracks. Obviously you have to evolve but what do you respond to them?

Krayzie Bone: Oh yeah you have to evolve but you gotta give your fans what they're used to. I got a little bit of that on the album. But you always gotta give a little bit what they're used to. Always.


WC2K: "Thug On Tha Line" had a lot of guest appearances, can we expect the same thing for "Gemini"?

Krayzie Bone: Oh yeah, with this one Im looking at a few guest appearances. Its gonna be big, Ima have a few like Scarface, I got a track from Lil Jon, trying to get a whole lotta stuff in the place.





WC2K: Have you picked your first single yet?



Krayzie Bone: Nah not really, we got 4 songs were trying to decide from for a single





WC2K: What kind of sound are you looking for the single. Alot is goin on with the Lil Jon crunk thing, are you looking for that too?



Krayzie Bone: Oh Yea Yea but Im not trying to get into that direction. Just like you said, a lot of people are going in that direction. Me, its gotta be me. I gotta come with the different shit like I always do.




WC2K: A lot of talk is going around about where the group is gonna sign. We heard rumours about Aftermath.



Krayzie Bone: Well right now we're trying to keep it on the hush hush right now, cause we haven't decided. Theres a couple opportunitys but we havent decided as a group yet. But we'll be coming with another album though, definitely and real soon.




WC2K: How soon do you think is that gonna be?



Krayzie Bone: At the end of this year.




WC2K: I dont know if you heard the interview Bizzy Bone did for btnhboard.com. He said something about wanting to sign with a black owned label. Is that something that is important to you as well?



Krayzie Bone: Man it doesnt make a difference to me, as long as the deal is right and everything is on the up and up. If its black owned or whatever.




WC2K: That brings me back to you. You picked Ball'r Records, a relatively unknown record label. Someone with a status like you in the rap game could have signed to a bigger label. Why did you chose Ball'r?

Krayzie Bone: Becauase, man, I’ve been caught up in the major system for a minute, you know what im saying. Yunno, you get hip to the games and the schemes. (Speaks to friend) Man, you start learning the system and you start recognizing what’s what. I was just feeling that with this company right here I would get the attention I need....I would be able to run and handle everything myself...In other words saying, if the project flops it would be my fault cause I'm doing everything you know what I'm saying?





WC2K: A lot of people dont understand the industry part of it. They see the bone bickering and the length of time between albums. What do you have to say to those that put the blame on you?



Krayzie Bone: Man, they just got to realize that they don’t really understand it or feel it unless they go through it themselves. But man, that’s just the game. It’s not just music, that’s why its called music business. First it’s music, then it’s the business.


WC2K: Musically you're still where you were in my opinion, you're still hitting. But on the mainstream some people use the word "falling off" for you guys cause you're not pushing as many units as you did before.

Krayzie Bone: Oh yeah I mean we been here for a while, everybody know that once we're all together in the studio, there's not one group that can fuck with Bone Thugs N Harmony. Bottom Line. No matter what time speaking, from 94 to 2004. Bottom line, aint nobody able to touch us. Thats why we still around, cause alotta people trying but they aint been able to do it how we do it. Thats why we always come back. We knew that our relationship with Ruthless was coming to a bitter sour end you know what I’m saying. So we chalked the last album off as a loss just to get off that motherufucker, you know what im saying?





WC2K: Yea thats perfect for my next question. Where you happy with the way "Thug World Order" turned out? Because personally, to tell you the truth I thought it would be a little bit better. I thought it was a good albun, I just didnt think it was a Bone quality album. What do you think of "Thug World Order" when you look back?



Krayzie Bone: Like I said, that was something we was trying to do, so we can get our walking papers man really. Just trying to finish up what we started.




WC2K: But on the flipside, who decided the final package? I've heard a couple tracks that were cut off that were just unbelievable.

Krayzie Bone: Man, thats where we were going through. The album we turned in was completely different. Shit came out and everything was changed and commercialized, they wanted to chase after "Tha Crossroads". Thats why the only thing we ended put on the whole fuckin album was that thing with Phil Collins. Motherfuckers was on that whole thing, "thats the crossroads".



WC2K: Has that gone gold or platinum yet?

Krayzie Bone: Yea gold.




WC2K: What pisses you off the most in the rap game right now?



Krayzie Bone: What I’m hearing. Thats the problem, I ain’t hearing nothing. I really can’t get into the music out here today. That’s why i listen to all old school shit. I still listen to the shit that inspired me to get into the game like the old shit. I can’t really get into shit these days. Because everybody is doing the same thing again. It’s just like a whole big ass machine. Shit is like corporate now. Everybody’s looking the same, everybody doing the same thing, using the same music. Shit, we need artists out here that are different and it’s only a handful, if its even a handful.


WC2K: How did that come about, you and Dead Prez hooking up?



Krayzie Bone: They was messin with Loud Records the same time I was with Loud. They wanted to do a song with me. I heard of the group and listened to their music and I liked what they were talking about. They dont just follow the trend. They speak their own, thats why I got down with them.


WC2K: Can you tell the people about the relationship with Bizzy in the past and right now?

Krayzie Bone: I think it was all blew out of proportion that me and Bizzy Bone had a problem. Back then I was hardly talking to him. It wasnt really no problem, the only problem I had was strictly business. As far as promoting these albums and such and such. The only problems I had with him only came to business. As far as personal, we aint never had no problems, no beef, nothing like that. It's just all music. But I understand he was doing what he was doing because of the whole situation with Ruthless Records. So I mean that was the whole reason everyone was off doing their thing because we had to create ways to get paid becuase we were'nt really getting paid from the Bone Thugs shit.





WC2K: But the 3 or 4, if you count Flesh, still maintained and did that. How much of a problem was it that Bizzy wasnt with you guys?

Krayzie Bone: Man it was a big problem at first. If one person in Bone aint acting right it affects the whole group. Cause we the kinda group where people ask for Bone Thugs N Harmony, they want Bone Thugs N Harmony. So we got Bone Thugs N Harmony and Bizzy aint here so of course they gonna be [..] if Layzie aint here [...] They are going to be asking where's the other member because people want to see all of us together. Thats how we came into the game, making feel everybody that we together. they are going to be asking where's the other member because people want to see all of us together



WC2K: I heard that Ruthless is releasing a Live & Uncut DVD with some of your performances. How much more material do you expect will they release?



Krayzie Bone: Man I dont even know. I aint got nothing to do with that, I dont even wanna know about it. They gonna do what they gonna do. We're on a totally different page, we aint even tripping and its gonna be our material out there. I really aint got nothing to do with it.




WC2K: Are you gonna pick it up?



Krayzie Bone: I don't know man, I'll get a copy somehow.




WC2K: How much does it bother you when you look back and see how fucked up that label became. And you guys tried and tried. What were the steps where you guys just said 'I quit, I cant anymore'?

Krayzie Bone: Man we just started noticing everything when Eazy E died. We basically knew where the company was going from right there. And then she came in and fired everybody, dropped all the artists. We were the only artists she kept. That shit. Then, she didn't have no vision. She didn't have the vision Eazy E had the vision for the company.





WC2K: Did you talk to anybody in the business who have been there before, I know MC Ren was still around at one point when you guys were at Ruthless. Did he give you any advice or anything like that, to move forward?

Krayzie Bone: Man, Naw man. Well MC Ren was pretty much a quiet dude. We hollered at him a couple times and he did tell us a couple things about what was going on with the company so whatever. I mean, Man, everybody’s gotta live and learn you know what im saying.


WC2K: That whole part is behind you and now your moving forward, each one of you is moving forward, signing new deals, doing what you gotta do. What can people expect from Krayzie Bone right now, going into the studio. I mean hunger wise. A lot of people lose their hunger, your 10 years into the game, where are you in terms of hunger?



Krayzie Bone: Man...I’m a couple steps up. I’m like 5 to 10 more steps up from the last album I put out. That’s like, you can tell when you listen to the songs. I’m not really trying to make mistakes, the whole album, the whole concept and everything.




WC2K: When you look at your career now, at the point your at, What are you most proud of?



Krayzie Bone: Man, just changing this whole rap game. Cause, regardless of what anybody says, its been speeded up.




WC2K: One thing I never understood is why you guys never got that respect. People will do their top 10's, people will talk about the most sold, nobody even ever brings you up even if the numbers are there in terms of albums sold. Why has Bone not gotten the respect they deserve?



Krayzie Bone: Because man.. Its just like man, they didn’t wanna believe it. Everybody didn’t want to believe it, but you see everybody is doing our shit now. Everybody is doing the same shit. I’ve been hearing motherfuckers using our same rhythm and all kinds of shit. It’s just like man, I ain’t tripping. Motherfuckers you know when they sit back and think about it, they know where it came from. Bottom Line.




WC2K: I know your busy now, so I’m going to end this interview by doing a name association. I’ll say a name and in a short sentence you tell me what you think of that person. Something that characterizes them.





WC2K: When I say Eazy-E, what do you think of first?



Krayzie Bone: Visionary




WC2K: Flesh N Bone



Krayzie Bone: Psychotic (laughs)




WC2K: What’s up with Flesh, Is he going to be out any time soon?



Krayzie Bone: Yeah man, we’re working on it, talking to some people, trying to pull some strings. Trying to get him up out of there.




WC2K: The last name I had on this list, because he’s blowing up. Twista. What’s up with him and Bone Thugs N Harmony?



Krayzie Bone: Twista? Oh yeah, he’s raw. Man, everybody gets their turn man. Everybody gets their turn. (Everything) goes back around you know what I’m saying. You just gotta stay in the game and have the patience and when your time has come just snatch it and move out with it.

As the youngest affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan, Shyheim “The Rugged Child” hit the scene at the age of 14. He was lyrically impressive and dropped 1996’s The Lost Generation way before Lil’ Bow Wow and Romeo would hit the scene. He came up as a native of Staten Island and even lived with Ghostface Killah for a period of time. The young future of saw his popularity swell as he appeared in movies, videos like TLC’s “Waterfalls,” and eventually released a follow-up – 1999’s Man Child.

But there was another Shyheim emerging as time passed, one that was pulled into the allure of the streets. The young man was facing serious gun charges for an armed robbery gone horribly wrong from the start. He skipped bail and ran from authorities for a year and a half before turning himself in. He did a two-year bid, but has emerged a wiser man of 26-years-old.

AllHipHop.com: So what’s been up, man? You told me that you had did a little jail bid or whatever. We talked about you rhyming with DJ Quik [on Under The Influence - “The Poem”] so what up?

Shyheim: I’m 40 days in the street, you know what I’m saying? I’m about to turn it up. Quick’s a real dude. And I’mma explain to you how I met Quik. See that’s why I believe that if you can think it, you can live it. I was actually on the run, you know what I’m saying? I’m in New York running around, I’m wanted for two fugitive felonies. So I’m like, ‘Damn, where the f*ck am I gonna go? I done ran, so I loss my house. They took that paper. So, I’m like, ‘Damn, what the f*ck am I gonna do?

Yo, you wanna go to Cali?’ I said nigga let’s go. Before I want out there, I said ‘Yo, you know who I like? Who I dig? I dig DJ Quik. I wanna do a song with Quik.’ I’m driving in the whip, I ain’t got a license, but f*ck it. I’m driving in the whip, nigga in front of me on a motorcycle, man. Nigga dropped his phone. So I stops, take his phone to him. ‘Oh sh*t, that’s Quik. He’s like, ‘Come to the studio tonight.’ Nothing. I came to the studio, laid some shit. Now, the area I was living it, wasn’t too far from him.

I have a mother and I respect my elders. So every time I would go to the supermarket, I would bump into this lady. She’s an older lady, mad bags. ‘Excuse me miss, let me help you.’ Bags, bags, bags. I didn’t know who she was, it’s just a thing I do. You black, I’m black, I support my peoples. So what winds up happening is, Quik calls me, ‘Yo, Shy come over my house.’ All along, she telling him, ‘Oh, I met this boy, he comes to the store and helps me with my bags.’ So then I come in his house, I’m sitting on his couch. We chillin'. We blowing, drinking. She comes in. She like, ‘You know him? That’s the boy that helps me.’ And it was like that pulled are bond so close [and] tight. Because I didn’t know that was his mother. She didn’t know I knew him. It wasn’t that type of thing. It was just out of love, loyalty, respect, trust, and honor. I recorded some songs he put on his albums why I was away. That was a good look. And how we roll, I didn’t get a dime. Homie, that’s you, nigga. Do that. That’s just the type of character that I have instilled [in me].

AllHipHop.com: So what were you in for?

Shyheim: I was in for violation of probation. I got caught with a cop’s gun. Then on top of that, I had an armed robbery in the first degree. It started off on some beefing shit. But once you I take it to that level and it’s popping, everything goes, homie. It’s like, you fronting on me and you got some shines, nigga. I’mma give it to you, I’mma shoot the sh*t out of you, and I’mma take your shine. That’s just the way the ‘hood goes. I’m not just gonna do it to you and leave and you laying on the floor iced out. Nah, gimmie that. So, that’s what turned it into an armed robbery with a deadly weapon. I served two-and-a-half years; I owe ‘em three years on parole. But it’s nothing, I learned a lesson from that. That was Allah’s way of telling me, ‘Look, slow down.’ Because I never had the chance to separate business from real life. I grew up in this sh*t young. So every stumble, every fall I make, is in the public eye. I didn’t have the luxury of growing up, then getting on. It’s a difference, because your mind state is different. It’s Allah’s way of saying, ‘Sit down and evaluate your life. Evaluate what you wanna do. Evaluate the people that’s in your circle. Learn how to separate. And now you know what? Here you go, go back to the world. Succeed. Because now you know and understand your purpose.’ That’s the reality.

AllHipHop.com: How old are you right now?

Shyheim: I’m 26. I got about eight years in the game. I’m the youngest veteran. I’m a product of the streets, know what I’m saying? I’m everybody’s little cousin, everybody’s little brother, in they ‘hood. That’s what it is. I’m getting a lot of love. Peoples is understanding my story. I got something to tell the world. Not only on the cool parts, cause I don’t have nothing to prove. I’ll grab my rap sheet. I got it to show that I could do it. But now, it’s an opposite side to that story. Dig this, you 14 hours from home, it’s snowing, your moms can’t get on that bus and come see you. She’s in the mountains, niggas drive and get killed in the mountains. The police kill people in the mountains. Basically you learn life value, man. And a lot of people don’t value their life. Life is not a gimmick, life is a privilege. So if you don’t take it as a privilege, Allah will take it from you. But even if he take it from you, from the outside in, if one of my homies can killed, all my homies, Big L, that’s my homie—I learned a lesson within his death. So then, maybe he died to teach me something. The words of advice that he gave me, was for me to take and go on and prosper in life. That’s what I truly believe and have faith in.

AllHipHop.com: How have you grown as an emcee from back in the days when everybody loved what you were doing, down with Wu and all that?

Shyheim: I’ve grown intelligent. I’ve learned to know, not to think. When I was growing up, I looked at other peoples life, ‘Oh my man he busts his gun.’ So it’s evolving, I bust my gun. I do this. This is my life now. But listen, this is what I’ve learned in my travels. So I think creatively, I’ll be more effective. Because I know more, I studied everything from psychology. So the reason I studied psychology, ‘cause I wanna know how these people is thinking. So if I can capture how you think, I can capture how you move, and what you would move to.

I been in the game since I was 18, I done did movies, TV, everything. So it ain’t about paper. Nigga in your ‘hood is f*cked up. You not teaching these niggas how to get a business. You not saying, ‘Here son, here’s some money.’ F*ck it, if I got to live regular to help a hundred people, that’s what it is. I’ve learned how to make money work for me. Not on the block. My first advance, I got money, I said, ‘I’m gon' get some crack. I’m trying to live it up.’ But I’m killing my peoples at the same time. So it’s now just taking it to the next level. ‘Cause this a blueprint that they created. The Willie Lynch letter, if anybody knows about the Willie Lynch letter, muthaf*ckas this shit is created and we in trouble. So it’s all about love, man. That’s why I appreciate even this interview. Because this interview is gonna help me and it’s gonna help people.

AllHipHop.com: Are you still down with Wu in any way or form?

Shyheim: Um, it’s like this. I have personal relationships. RZA, that’s my heart forever. Meth, that’s my heart. But it’s business. If you can’t accepts me growing into a man, and want to create my own? I’m not a worker, I put in enough work where I don’t a check, I want to sign a check. So if you can’t support me on that, love is love. But it will happen and I will do it. I’m Wu-Tang forever. I’mma always shout Wu-Tang. Even if I feel personally that you don’t support me, and I feel you should support me. But at the time, I was moving different. So I understand. It’s like nobody wants to work with a hardhead muthaf*cka.

AllHipHop.com: Can you talk about your new album and what people can expect?

Shyheim: Right now, I got the new album, The Greatest Story Never Told. King Just is signed to my label, as well as myself. It’s called Bottom Up Records. I got my own management company, Rock Rubber Management. We dealing with films, management, labels, all aspects. I’mma turn it up. I’m trying to outdo Jigga. Jigga retired at what? 36? I’m trying to retire at 30. I got four years. I’mma about to turn it up, man, as long as I get the support of the real hip-hop, man. Make it happen. And then I can help other youth. It’s time to raise the children, man. It’s time to really make a difference. It’s time get some land. It’s time to build some bunkers our muthaf*cking self. So when they start acting crazy, we like, ‘Drop all the bombs you wanna drop, we aight.’ And we got water, and we got foods, and we done grew all our shit, and we deep. And I don’t care who you are, you ain’t coming on my property, ‘cause we got guns, too.’ And we understand. It’s for a cause, not because.

AllHipHop.com: Public wise, how do you think people will view you as growing up from a child rapper?

Shyheim: I had space. So I had room to grow. So now that throws in somebody’s mind, ‘What have you learned?’ And I think if that wasn’t in people’s mind they wouldn’t be so attracted to me. Because I ain’t drop an album. It’s love like that. It’s reality, and no one can escape reality, no matter how much you get caught in an illusion.

_________________
Lerne - und es werden dir Zweifel kommen.
Zweifle - und es werden dir Probleme kommen.
Stelle dich den Problemen - und es werden dir darüber Gedanken kommen.
Mache dir Gedanken - und du wirst Erkenntnis erlangen.

-Kaibara Ekiken-

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Teil 2 Skrilla

How'd you hook up with Yukmouth and Smoke-A-Lot Records?

I met Yukmouth by accident... We was smokin and I aint know who he was... I later found out that dude was Yukmouth. We met again when I was visiting Detroit with Soulja Slim. Slim talked to Yuk about signing me and Yuk saw me perform and said I had hit potetial and then I joined him on the Godzilla promo tour and we made official then.

When was this?

January of last year was when we was smokin' and then we met again in April of '03. I joined Smoke-A-Lot in November...

Cool... Smoke-A-Lot is kind of a west coast and dirty south label with Yukmouth from the west being on Rap-A-Lot and a variety of artists... Do you see yourself as a pure south rapper?

No... I got alotta mid-west dudes from Flint around me, so I pick up alot of my stuff nowadays from them. But i make alotta New Orleans bounce with a mid-west twist to it.

Cool.. Let's get back to that a lil later... Let's talk about your and your labels upcoming releases...

What albums are Smoke-A-Lot Records about to release?

We got the United Ghetto's of America 2 coming out May 5th, after that is The Regime and then Yuk and then Me. I might be thrown in somewhere in the midst of that. But thats what we workin with now!

Ok. Will you be on all of those albums?

Im in the movie UGA 2 and also on the soundtrack..ofcourse i gotta rock the Regime album and Yukmouths..Im tryin to bring a new edge to the label. So I gotta do this to get the name out there more before my album.

Ok cool... Who's are currently in The Regime?

Myself, Yukmouth, Gonzoe, Grant Rice, Monstah Ganjah, Tec n9ne, Dorasel, Nyce... Its alotta people but I think thats the main group... We aint like the HotBoys... We all from different places and all solo acts so we aint on a day to day basis. But we all come togehter to from the Super Group..Something like "Da Band", haha... But better.

Hehe ok. Did ya'll start recording on that album?

Nope..We gon' all go head first and knock it out..Its time for all of our solo albums.

Ok. So about your solo album... Have you been recording alot for it?

Hell, yeah bruh!! Im like about 45 deep with songs... They all keepers too. I been on fire lately... So I just keep on recording and then the hardest part is picking them..I work like Pac.

Cool. Who's doing production on it?

I got Simeole from Cameo and Mariah Carey's albums... He moved to hip-hop and now he's hot, I got the Medicine Men (formerly Beats by the Pound), Steve Pitts (Dayton Family), and T-N-T from New Orleans and Juvenile and BG produced 2 also. I got more on the way.

Cool... Do you have any guests on there as of now?

B.G. and Juvenile, Skip, Wacko, Soulja Slim, Dayton Family, Street Life G'z, Freeway, Yukmouth, Lil' Flip, and some more surprises.

Sounds good. Are there any other rappers you wanna put on there but didn't have time to work with yet?

Believe it or not... Choppa and Fred from Puffy's "Da Band".

Hehe ok. Are you going to or planning to be on any other artists upcoming releases?

I got somethings on the table now... Nothing set as of yet... Im trying to make that Paul Waul & Chamillionaire album.

Oh cool I'm a fan of theirs. You've got a crew of your own too, right?

Yup, From Flint, Mi. and New Orleans..

Who's in it?

I got the 'Nolia Boyz and Lil' Fiyah from New Orleans..also Sam and D.I.G. from No Limit. From Flint I got the Street Life G'z

Do you have future plans to maybe put together a label and release those artists solo albums there?

Yup... Im shoppin around now for that... I own the labels name now so I aint trippin'... Its called Duck Tapin' Entertainment...

Sounds good... How do you feel about Juvenile signing a label deal with Rap-A-Lot?

That's gangsta... Im sooo happy. Now I get to work with my dawgs... Them my peoples from way bak in the G. I got history with them and now we on the same label... My Uncle Aubrey is Vice-President over U.T.P. Records.

Yeah you were with them for a while, right?

Well, yeah! I was. It was the best experience too. Juvenile is the realest dude i done been 'round. ya heard me! He like a daddy in the rap game. So he can school ya to the game... I left on good terms though... It was short lived. But they always my family for life.

Cool. There were some rumours about Juvenile signing to Death Row while you were with him...

Haha..well, thats exactly what it was...A RUMOR! Juve a free man now and he dealin' with Ca$h Money still on this last album... So the truth is evident. That's his issue.

Yeah ok... But what about the Young Buck thing? He said Juvenile left him in LA in a hotel room payed for by Suge Knight?

Buk... Hahaha... Like a soap opera huh?? Buk wasn't where he was supposed to be and thats why he got left. Juve don't leave no nigga out 'chea unless its impossible to find that dude... Ya get what im sayin'?? He responsible, not Juve... Dont wine 'bout what you did, Be a man!!

Ok. What do you think about yukmouth dissing 50 Cent?

Well, Thats his thang... He feel 50 disrespected him so Yukmeezy rode on 'em. Yuk said he like 50 music and stuff but 50 just aint real. I aint got no problems with them dudes... But I ride with Yuk so I keep my mouth and stay ducked off, ya heard!

Yeah... What do you think about that whole Aftermath Murder INC thing tho?

I aint familiar... You mean the beef??

Yeah.

Thats dead I thought.

Haha ok...

At the end of our interviews, we always do a Word Association thing where I'll say a name or a word and you just say whatever pops up to your head. Is that ok?

Fo sho. Roll 'em

First name is Master P

Rich as hell

Knoc-Turn'al

Creative

Ok... Freeway

That's my homie..I was on tour with him..He real as hell

Cool. Kre8tor

Dude cranking out hit after hit

Hehe ok. How about... Kurupt

Lyrical Heavyweight Champion

Yukmouth

Hot Lava

Dru Down

Pimpin' and Sippin'

Above The Law

My first rap album ever bought

Cool. B.G

ummmm... My twin. Haha... My dawg.

Haha ok. How about... Young Gunz

We got the same manager... My homies.

Ok. Soulja Slim

My God-Brother and reason for going to college and my inspiration for life.

Cool... The Internet

It helps but it hurts sales.

Yeah which brings me to... Bootleggers...

If you give them something to release for themselves they wouldn't have to bootleg ya albums... Haha... REAL TALK!

Haha ok. Two more things... Eminem's racist tapes

That's old... He made a mistake... I aint trippin'... He aint prejudice... But the "N" word aint cool.

Ok... Last word is yourself, $krilla

Ahead of his time and ready to explode...Cocky and conceited and very handsome... I love that dude... Haha.

Haha ok cool... Is there anything else you'd like to say?

Nextels and Car Notes dont get paid off of showin' love... I'll work with anyone for a price but I gotta eat too. If I give you a price, realize that I gotta eat too... Also be on the lookout for me anywhere. I got contacts throught the site so e-mail me or the web masters and i'll get at ya! R.I.P. Soulja Slim... Put ya middle fingers in the air for my dawg and if you aint got that finger in the air.. Thats how i feel about you.

Fuck Ya! 1.

Haha ok thanks for the interview

No problem. I got alot to say.

_________________
UGRAP YOUTUBE ++UGRAP DISCOGS

Crooked I: Stranded On Death Row






The year was 1999 when Death Row Records had acquired a new rap phenom from Long Beach, California. The young man who would be given the responsibility to take over where the late 2pac had left off, with hopes of re-establishing Death Row as the dynasty it once was, answered to the name of Crooked I. Had that initial scenario Suge Knight hoped played out correctly, Tha Row would be reigning atop the charts and Crooked I would be collecting accolades for resurrecting both Suge's career and quite possibly, the whole West Coast.

Obviously, that scenario can now be seen as non-fictional as nearly 5 years has passed since Crooked I signed with Tha Row; Suge is back behind bars and the label seems to be at an overwhelming pit stop. For a second, though, it might've seemed as though Crooked I and the labels' fate was about to change as the promotion of Say Hi To Tha Bad Guy, Crook's debut, gave some hope to some. The album was promoted, the single was given to DJ's-- but only a spark was started and the fuse quickly died down and the album, to date, has not seen the day of light.

BallerStatus was granted the opportunity to exchange words with Crooked I in this exclusive interview, see what he had to offer regarding his current and past trials and tribulations.

BallerStatus: Ok, first of all, what's Crooked I's current status as far as music goes?

Crooked I: As far as music, out here still grinding you know, never stopping. Working on a few things, trying to continue the mission to putting out that West Coast classic, that's it.

BallerStatus: Are you still with Tha Row?

Crooked I: Um, nah, I'm not with Tha Row right now. We're trying to figure something out right now on how to get everything resolved with no hard feelings.

BallerStatus: What happened with that situation?

Crooked I: Well, basically, I did all I could do, really. I signed in '99- that's 4 years ago. I turned in a lot of material and for whatever reason it didn't come out... I'm not bitter about it, but it was just time for me to go. I'm trying to do damage in the game so I can't sit still too long.

BallerStatus: There was a rumor that you might be doing stuff with Sway & King Tech's label, Bolo Entertainment---is there any truth to that?

Crooked I: Nah, that's just a rumor 'cause they know Sway & Tech is my people. But they definitely always been in my corner, no matter what.

BallerStatus: What's your relationship with Suge Knight, are you still on talking terms?

Crooked I: Last time I spoke to him it was good, I'm supposed to reach out to him next week to see what it is. I really just took a minute to take a deep breath and chill for a second and see what I wanted to do. I've been doing a few things in and out of state, but I'm just trying to take it all in and make something happen though.

BallerStatus: Shifting gears, what'd you grow up listening to-- 'cause your lyrics are evidence that you listened to some top notch lyricism, or so one would imagine...

Crooked I: Back in the day when I was young, everybody I knew- it didn't matter if they was gang-bangin', if they were college students or high school students, everybody I knew in the 80's out here listened to hip-hop from everywhere. When it was blowin' up, we all listened to Run DMC, KRS-One, Rakim, Public Enemy as well as N.W.A. and Ice Cube and all of them. I listen to it all, everybody, I don't discriminate. I only put music in two categories: dope; and wack.

BallerStatus: Most people haven't really heard you touch on your superlyical ish, is there any reason for that?

Crooked I: A lot of times people associated me with like "superlyrical rap", and that was mainly because I used to get featured on a lot of things, so every time you only get 16 bars- you're going to go for yours. When you get featured you're going to try to go for yours, you're going to try to do damage- so the people will say "ok this kid is doing his thing" and invite you back. But there's much more than just being superlyrical, to me. I believe if you tell a story the right way- that's lyrical. I think a single can be lyrical and still be commercial. I mean if you listen closely to some of the things some of these MC's are saying, there's a lot of thought that goes into some of this stuff... but we pass it off as bling, bling, this that. We still keeping it thoughtful. Even if you listen to "Still Tha Row" that's probably the first time in a long time that someone makes mention of Marcus Garvey in a rap, on a single. I could've done the "jiggy/club" thing all day, I could've bought the track from whoever I needed to have bought a track from, etc. But that song was purposely put out like that. You see what happens-- no spins; no radio(laughing). That's the unfortunate side of the game, sometimes you do what you do and people don't support it.

BallerStatus: Do you think part of the reason it got no spins, no love was because people are trying to black-ball Tha Row?

Crooked I: Yeah. I believe they was trying to black-ball Tha Row and I think they still are! On some real sh*t, the industry blames the whole West Coast for a lot of tragedies and then there was of course 'Pac & Biggie. People don't wanna talk about it, but they blame us for that type of sh*t, you come over here and you get robbed at the awards and sh*t, so you know- they trying to push us out (of the game). But we going to have to change the fate/face of West Coast hip-hop, a renaissance is going to have to take place for that to take place. And all of those that been in the game and are older are going to have to kind of fall back, otherwise how are we gonna do it without a new generation?

BallerStatus: Shifting gears again, what was it like when you first signed to Tha Row- here you are going from 16 bars on features to given the chance to start off where 'Pac left off and to eventually things not working out?

Crooked I: It was a definite roller coaster ride (smirk on his face). You saw the news, read the newspapers you know, if it wasn't a shoot-out, it was a police raid, (laughs). It was an experience, but I took that responsibility seriously. Tupac was one of the greatest ever, and a lot of people on hip-hop, even backpacker tip can see that. But they can't make somebody influence the world the way he did. He definitely did his thing and left big shoes to fill, but I was ready though! I recorded material after material to take Tha Row to another level. I felt like my lyrical skills was like a different shade of Tha Row so I felt like I could do everything that everybody else did and add something else to it, so I was ready. And it's just unfortunate that it didn't work out.

BallerStatus: The music industry, obviously, can be pretty sh*tty, how'd you deal with it then and now?

Crooked I: Patience, man. That's the real virtue in this game, patience. You can talk the talk, but patience is what it takes, and perseverance. One thing Russell Simmons said one time was that he said that he kept going 5 minutes after the other dude stopped and that's real. You got to stay sharp, have determination and stay focused and have patience, but the industry IS sh*tty. I was on Virgin Records as a teenager. I had eviction notices and sh*t and they didn't give a f*ck, so yeah- the industry as a whole is real sh*tty.

BallerStatus: Given those facts, why are you still in it?

Crooked I: Just love for the music. I got a point to prove to myself. I'm not going to stop until I'm at least in the top 5 of the West Coast whenever they say my name, so that right there keeps me motivated to never stop.

BallerStatus: What do you think either makes or breaks you as an artist in this game?

Crooked I: Patience, I think so, man. There's a lot of guys who had a lot of talent that did what they could and gave up, but if they'd of stayed a little longer they'd of been alright. You gotta be patient 'cause you're going to deal with some weirdos (laughs).

BallerStatus: A lot of people don't know that you can flip just as good, if not better, than Twista and that whole style- is that something you look forward to doing soon?

Crooked I: Yeah man as a matter of fact I just did a song that's very similar to that. And a lot of people say I never really commercially did nothing like that. I like that, that's a fun way to rap, to me.

BallerStatus: As far as media outside of the West Coast, do you think they kind of give us and West Coast MC's and music the cold shoulder?

Crooked I: Oh yeah, fa' sho they do! Part of the media and part of the media is not having to hold my tongue, so hell yeah they DO! A lot of media is located outside the West you know, 106 & Park/Rap City; XXL; The Source Magazine- it's a lot of influence in New York City. And even when I'm at The Source in NY, we talk about it, but at the same time a lot of MC's that have power out here-- they're not trying to emphasize the situation. Everybody's basically after their own; and if they got their own-- they're straight, when they can do things, too. They can do things to help hip-hop out here, too, but they don't.

BallerStatus: You've shown your versatility from battle rhymes to gangsta sh*t, what do you want your sound to be when you come out?

Crooked I: Life music. Basically, sometimes you have beef, sometimes there's drama, sometimes you're battling, so I just want it to reflect life. I don't want to be put in no category, it's not like "oh he's trying to do this..", nah, I'm just trying to make life music from Long Beach (laughs).

BallerStatus: Ok, now working with a budget as an indy artist is quite different than that of a budget from a big label, what artists or producers do you still want to work with?

Crooked I: I meet artists all the time, I do a lot of networking, do different things and go to a lot of places, but usually, when a dude comes up to me and got respect for what I'm doing- I'm going to want to get down with him, just off that. Most people who have respect for what I'm doing are like already on the same page as me. So anybody, really and it's also good when people respect your skill-level, then they'll work with you on the price (laughs).

BallerStatus: Who are the MCs that you put up there next to you as far as skill on a skill-level, I put you up there as the top 3, who are some of the ones who you'd put next to you?

Crooked I: Wow, that's good lookin! I stayed up until 4 in the morning in the bathroom so that sh*t could happen! (laughs). Out here, man it's different little categories: you got Jay-Z who's incredible; who has skills and has got a good business mind, then you got Nas; Ras Kass; but to me Kool G. Rap is still sick as ever. I saw him in the Bassement and he's still sick as ever! It's just a lot, I know I heard Big Daddy Kane with Jurassic 5 and he's still sick!

BallerStatus: How about anyone current someone like Sly Boogy?

Crooked I: Yeah, Sly Boogy! I seen him last night at the Suga Free Album Release Party. That's another thing, West Coast artists need to stick together and support each other and quit bullsh*ttin. Um, Spit-fiya from Compton, that's the little homey right there. He did his thing on Showtime (Interscope Presents The Next Episode winner), I'm proud of that. There's a few other cats out there though. But I've been so deep in the lab and in the cave that I don't always hear the new cats coming up. But every time I put my ear through a hole in the wall- I hear somebody spit something different; it's just so many out here. We just need to kick the door open and well be alright, EVERYBODY will be alright. Game, I like Game.

BallerStatus: Do you have a website people can check you out on?

Crooked I: Yeah I just got www.WestCoastDynasty.com. That's going to be my new site, and I think I'm gonna have another one, www.CrookedIOnline.com too.

BallerStatus: Right now you're just recording material, do you have any set plans for it's release yet?

Crooked I: Really, I'm just laying ideas, cause legally, I probably can't record anything right now, so I'm just doing ideas right now in my own pre-production spot. I can't sleep unless I come up with a song or a verse, so I'm naturally out there working. But pretty soon when all the legalities are out the way it's going to be something big.

BallerStatus: From the beginning of your signing to Tha Row, what was it like as you inherited Suge's beefs almost automatically, simply because you're affiliation to him and his label?

Crooked I: I mean the thing about it is, Suge, he respected me to the point where it wasn't like "hey, I want you to go talk about him and go talk about them!" He never came at me like that. I told him you know, I'm not going to talk about dudes, I'm not going to talk about all these different cats that I don't have problems with because it ain't my beef. Now there was songs where people made mention to me later, so I might've dropped a few things on them, cause I'm never just going to sit back. But for the most part, I kept it real clean. I didn't really jump into all that. I let the media know from the gate that I was trying to be the future, not the past of Death Row. So I learned a lot over there, that's what enables me right now to start my own label and feel like I got a real shot at making some bread, cause I was over there soaking game, you know, and the man (Suge Knight), no matter how the media portrays him, he's not dumb! That muthaf*ckas smart!

BallerStatus: You put out WestCoastaNostra with Darren Vegas, kind of on the mixtape scene, is that something you look to cater to (the mixtape market)? **Side-Note: Crooked informed me he recorded the aforementioned mixtape in 2 days, in Darren Vegas closet just because they werent able to put anything out at the time**

Crooked I: I'm going to do the mixtape right when we get ready to drop the album, because the industry is hurting right now because of the downloading and all this other sh*t, so Im going to give them (fans) some free sh*t, then I'm going to give them some MORE free sh*t. If thats what people want right now- then I'm going to give it to them. I'm just trying to keep my life going, so if they download it a million times, I'm STILL going to go platinum!

BallerStatus: When it's all said & done, what do you want to walk away with in this game?

Crooked I: I just want to walk away with respect, and walk away with enough bread to journey into something else. Whatever I want to go into. I might try to do something that influences politics, cause that's another one of my passions, me being active in the community and trying to make a difference. A dude like me grew up pretty hard, so I want to do something to change that (for the youth), so after the rap game for me- I'll probably jump into something like that.

BallerStatus: Do you feel any responsibility then, with your music, for instance, if there's an 8 year-old kid listening to Crooked I, do you care what he's hearing?

Crooked I: Yeah I do, but at the same time, if you listen closely to me, I always put some consequences in it. I'm not going to ever just talk about blowing someone's brains out without talking about what else could happen if you do it. A lot of these dudes they don't care. I hear cats talk about I don't love the kids; I hear cats say this dude wants to save the world, but I don't; to me that's just straight ignorance! I can't see how you can say you're from the ghetto or from the hood and think that that's all good to say to the kids. That's a front, but see you got dudes like me who would love to smash on them kind of dudes that want to act like "oh who cares, go kill each other." Then you got dudes that will say that's not right, and you got dudes like me that would love to smash on them! I mean, that's just pure ignorance to me, man! That's another thing I loved about Pac, he always showed some concern. Recently, the Chief of Police of L.A. showed a picture of a black dude with braids or whatever and said this is a poster boy for what's wrong with L.A. You aint going to hear nobody rap about that. That's why I go back to Pac, even on his "How Do U Want It," his commercial song, he's talking about Mr. Bob Dole, "you're too old to understand the way the game go," you know? So he was always going to hit em, he ain't going to ever let them slide. And that's big to me, man. Then I see these articles with dudes talking and it just makes me think that they're really not what they're trying to be or who they say they are.

BallerStatus: Do you think that's part of the industrys' fault, where in some cases they try to mold these dudes to say certain things and portray this/that because for the most part, most of these labels don't give a sh*t about the hood, and only care about the money and are willing to get it at all costs?

Crooked I: Yeah, that's true, too. I mean the machine is not going to push that hard if you're a dead prez. They're not going to give you an Eminem (type) of push (laughs). You're not going to get a $1,000,000.00 video to pop that sh*t you're talking (if you're going against the machine). That's not what's selling at the time. But at the same time, you can still drop jewels here & there and show some concerns no matter what. I'm not saying it's our jobs to raise these kids, it's the parents' job obviously, but you have to have some type of hear for the hood if you claim that you're hood! If you got no heart for the hood, then you shouldn't be able to come back. That's for anybody out there rapping, I don't care if you're 22 times platinum! If they don't care about what's going on in the hood; and they don't care about people out here killing each other; and people having babies they can't raise and all that, then they shouldn't have a pass to walk through the hood. That's real.

BallerStatus: Indeed. Back to the label situation, are you looking to go indy or major once you're free from the contract bindings?

Crooked I: I'm looking to go independent, but not on no small scale. I'm looking at trying to be my own boss, I've had my feet and my destiny in other peoples' hands a lot of my career, and I'm ready to take it into my own hands. I think I got the resources to do it, so definitely independent.

BallerStatus: Any last words?

Crooked I: Man, support West Coast hip-hop, I don't give a f*ck! I go out of town and I don't really hear West Coast sh*t. All the DJs and the program directors, yall muthaf*ckas start doing yall jobs, f*ck that! They say (in corny guy voice) "well you guys don't bring us nothing to play- it's not club, it's not hot, it's not this," BULLSH*T! I go out of town and I hear stuff that's not club, but they're supporting their own. If I can't get those spins I need, I can't pack the House Of Blues to pay my rent in my own backyard! Meanwhile, in Houston when I'm with my people, I'm out there and somebody might take a demo to them and they heavy rotate it cause it's from home-grown talent. We've got to get on that program, these dudes are slacking, theres people with power in the West Coast that have heavy rotation that need to look out for the next man and to tell the program directors look man, we need to start setting things up a little different, cause it's a lot of cats out there that aren't getting a good look and that's not cool!

BallerStatus: Do you think part of this slump in West Coast music getting media coverage is because people OUTSIDE the West might not play it, if it isn't stamped with "Produced By: Dr. Dre" and/or affiliated with Aftermath even though it's not Dre's fault?

Crooked I: Yeah, but that's not his fault, that just shows that the man's put in work and built from the ground up. And there's certain channels that you have to go through out here in order to be accepted everywhere, I'm not mad, but that just shows them dudes' put it down. But us, new artists coming up, it's up to us to change the game, period. I'm keeping doors open, cause I know the program. I'm not scared to let the next man shine more than me, cause there will always be someone out there that will shine over me, but you just can't stick with your network. A lot of these cats is scared like "oh if I help him, he might blow up more than me," but I'm not trippin off none of that, because if you blow up before me, and I opened the door for you- then I know you're going to pull me in with you, too. That's why we losin. But that comes with the mentality on the West Coast from gangsters. Out on the street, you have cats like "oh I'm a Blood" and the next guy "oh, well I'm a Crip," "I'm from this hood/I'm from that hood" to divide yourself from the next person and that mentality is really strong out here and it pours over into the business. That's the whole thing, we got to get rid of that and erase all of that. We got to build together if we don't stand together, man, it's nothing! I went to the Suga Free thing, man, Spit-Fiya was there, Sly Boogy was there, I was there, I didn't see too many more West Coast people supporting the man. I don't even know Suga Free, but all I know he's from the West, so I'm there! That's what type of mentality everybody needs to have as far as helping each other, otherwise were going to stay starving, and what happens when you're starving? You catch somebody at the steakhouse and you make them take off their ear-rings and their chain off cause everybodys starving! So why don't we support each other, so everyone can make some bread and support their families?!


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A big shout out and thank you to Crooked I for this lengthy, but very informative interview. Good luck to Crook as he is in a bit of a situation with his label regarding contractual matters. For the record, Crook was as humble about this situation as one could be and confirmed that he had no beef with anyone and he just wants to put out his music and move on. Please support this man whenever you see his material out there, whether it's an album or a mixtape, he deserves it. Lastly, I'd just like to say that we at BallerStatus.net support you and wish you nothing but success with your future endeavors and hope that all of the legal matters are worked out for the better.

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Interview conducted by Preest with Q-Strange of JVH Entertainment.
Preest: Sup this is Preest and I got Q Strange with me right now...Sup Q how are things going?

Q Strange: What’s up man, things are good.

Preest: How is the new CD coming?

Q Strange: I'm working on some new material I’m hoping to have out by fall. The new shit is incredible. Musically it's a little more diverse than the last one. On this new shit I am coming with stuff people may not expect from me. I still got some ill wicked horror type shit on there, but I've been messing with other stuff too. I go back to my hip hop roots on some tracks, I touch on deep real shit, I got the story telling tracks, a bit of everything. Production wise I have been playing with new styles, working with new equipment, I think the new stuff far surpasses the last album in so many ways. Musically, lyrically all across the board

Preest: Now you mention your Hip Hop roots...what's your feelings on Hip Hop today and the differences between Horror Rap and Hip Hop...

Q Strange: See I'm 26 now so I been into Hip Hop since the golden era, like when I was younger hip hop wasn’t the huge commercial industry it is today. I don’t really like much hip hop out now. I mean once in a while your in the club some dope beat comes on you throw your bows and stuff, but it’s not the same I don’t get the same feeling I did back in the day. I was always into underground hip hop, I still am. Horror or otherwise, I like the underground shit, but again I don’t get the same feeling I used to get. Maybe I grew out of it. I think the commercial mainstream shit is just bullshit. You have record labels paying the big commercial stations in one way or another for heavy rotation, same with videos too. The underground has become saturated with nerdy suburbanites and college art fags, but I got so much love for hip hop still. Remember when all hip hop was 40's blunts and gats? Then you had all the true heads bitching about "Yo it should go back to being about fun and partying and not be violence and negative shit" then along came Puff and the glam rap era all about dancing and partying and what happened? People still bitched! "Yo hip hop is so soft now" I think its just hip hop in general moved people a certain way back in the days, and now its just different , its too processed. I still listen to my old shit from like 91-94 maybe just because that was my high school years and I have some memories when I hear it. I don’t know, I ain’t feeling a lot of new shit, when I do get new shit, I always go back to my old stuff.

Preest: I feel the biggest difference is that Hip Hop nowadays a lot of times ignores the feelings and the heart and concentrates instead on the technical skills of rap which really takes the fun and memory out of the music…I remember where I was back in the day when the Luniz, “5 on It” track dropped but couldn’t tell ya when Necros “I need Drugs” did…Hip Hop has become a task...name some shit you still listen to from back in the day...

Q Strange: Shit, Showbiz and AG "Runaway Slave" Souls of Mischief "93 till Infinity" De La Soul "De La Soul is Dead" Tribe Called Quest "Low End Theory" 3rd Bass "Derelicts of Dialect" Lords of the Underground "Here Come the Lords" countless other shit. Even though the shit I do doesn’t necessarily sound anything like those artists, those are some of the older joints I always go back to when I want to bump some music…cant forget Big Daddy Kane, Eric B and Rakim, Special Ed, man I could go on for days

Preest: I still bump 3rd Bass and my Serch and Prime Minister Pete Nice solos!

Q Strange: Yeah me too, they were supposed to reunite a few years ago I guess it never materialized though

Preest: They actually reunited for Tom Hilfiger’s brother or sons birthday or something but...whatever...ha...can ya give the fans some hints and drop some names about this new CD?

Q Strange: Well a few of the tracks I put up for some people to check out as a stream only thing, and then took it down later the same day. Well I didn’t know you could still jack stream shit so they are floating around the net now. But those tracks "Sinphony of Sick" "Emcee Assault" "Strangeland" is a small taste of what the new shit is gonna be, I got some guests on this shit. Rottin is on a dope track "Murder on the Mic" I got Majik Duce on a track, I am working on some collabs still I don’t want to speak on until they are done, but I got some raw horrorcore shit "Still Driftin" deep emotional stuff like "Nothing" personal joints like "Why I’m F'd Up" and "Father Figure" I'm real excited about it. I want to try and find a label to release it because of my financial situation as of late, but I may just scrap up and release it independently again, either way, the shit is gonna be dope. Not being cocky I just think I stepped up a bit since "Creation to ExeQtion"

Preest: Are you ready to announce the name right now or is that still a secret?

Q Strange: "Q Strange and the Q'oozahs present: That’s What I Call Q-Zick Vol 7" haha nah man, I haven't decided yet. I have a few titles I'm messing with in my head, but when it’s all done I’ll sit and listen to the shit beginning to end and brainstorm on something that accurately describes it…or whatever sounds cool at the time

Preest: Who are you feeling in the Horror Rap underground?

Q Strange: Well I'm gonna go out on a limb and call people "horror rap" that may not consider themselves that but whatever. I think Necro is dope, I’m feeling Rottin too. I always been down with L U Cipha I think they got lyrics for days. KGPs new shit is sounding dope although I haven’t copped it yet. There is a bunch of shit out there I am not too familiar with though. I think especially on the net and with the popularity of the ICP and stuff a lot of people try to emulate them and these are the people most people consider: horror rap" and this is way a lot of rap and hip hop heads don’t see the real talent. There are dope artists doing it right, they are just harder to find I think because you need to filter out the garbage.

Preest: Where do you see the Horror Rap underground heading and is it good or bad?

Q Strange: well, I don't see any major labels putting any money or interest in horror shit anytime soon. I hope someone proves me wrong though. I think it will be a mostly underground thing; I'd like to see more originality and conceptual shit. I think you have to take it for what it is. Its a form of hip hop that most people wouldn’t be feeling. There is a market for it, but its real small compared to other kinds of rap music. I'd like to see it grow. I think it will continue to grow though. These young kids with computer mics are going to get older and sharpen their skills and get hair on their balls and get deeper voices and continue to rap and who knows? They might make some really dope shit in the years to come. so I don’t know where its heading, I just know as long as people respond to what I’m doing I’m gonna keep putting shit out.

Preest: Cutting Room Floor...what's the deal...the real deal? It's being postponed and delayed like whut...why?

Q Strange: Ok, before Creation to ExeQtion came out I did some shit that only a few people got their hands on, and also some songs I did on the side that nobody heard. So I figured it'd be cool to throw it on a CD and put it out for people who are feeling my shit to check out. WDP offered to put it out in April then he said he had to postpone it. I don't really know what the deal with it on his end is. I know he told me he did in fact have the CDs back from the manufacturer and was sending them to me and shipping preorders, but that was a month ago and I haven’t seen anything. I talk shit behind the mic, in reality I’m not one to talk shit about people especially since I don’t really know the deal. I have no ill will toward Suge. I understand that putting out records cost a lot of money and sometimes you don't recoup. I'm not saying that’s the deal with him. The project was completed on my end from day one. Other than the music I have nothing to do with the release of this album. I know people already sent money for it and I hope they do get their shit. If I could give advice to any music fan ordering CDs it would be NEVER PRE ORDER ANYTHING!!! How are you going to pay for something that doesn’t even exist yet? I know sometimes you get free shit or a package deal, but in my opinion never pay for anything until it's an actual product that can be shipped out immediately. I try to be really good at shipping stuff out to people and hooking people up with free shit, and just being down with people who like my music. I hope these CRF thing dosents spoil that for anybody, but like i said it's out of my hands. I can't answer the question accurately because I really don't know. If for whatever reason the cd doesn’t come out I will hook up anyone who’s interested in hearing it.

Preest: I hear the CDs you'll be getting from his shipment will be priced at $5 dollars whereas his will be $10...is that true?

Q Strange: Yeah but like I said it cost a lot of money to make a cd. Since I have no cost on my end, I don't need to recoup I didn’t invest anything into it. I will be selling it on my web page and locally through the same outlets that i work with now. He has all the other internet stores and record stores to sell it in. I ain’t looking to get rich off of this thing I just thought it'd be cool for anyone who’s a fan of my shit to check out shit i did from before that they never heard. It ain’t like I’m trying to cut anyone’s throat or anything, but since I didn’t invest anything in the project it would be greedy of me to try and charge the same as the guy who did ya know?

Preest: Well I suggest people hit Q up and grab this for $5 no doubt...ya can't beat this price...Any concerts on the way for Q Strange?

Q Strange: Right now I just have a show on August 12 in NJ. All the info is on the page http://horrorcoreateshore.cjb.net Other than that anyone in the Providence RI area can see me occasionally at the monthly U.N.I.T.Y shows at the MET.

Preest: Has Q ever thought of a music video?

Q Strange: Yeah I actually had a film student offer to make an Eternal Bliss video for free I just never went out and shot the footage for it. If I did it would be really cheesy though. When I recorded Murderkill in 97 I was working as a security guard in a hospital 3rd shift, and I filmed some ill shit in the morgue. Now I think about it that shit was really fucked up, I had the jars with the organs and shit in them, I was lying on the autopsy table, I was rapping next to a real dead body. I mean it was like 3 in the morning and I had a key to the morgue so it seemed like a good idea at the time. It never got edited and actually was destroyed with a bunch of other shit in a fire I had in my apartment, I’m glad though man, that shit was real bad. I’m going to hell for that shit. If I did a video it ain’t like I’d have an outlet to showcase it other than the internet so it'd be real cheese if I do one

Preest: Have you considered grouping up with any other horror rappers?

Q Strange : If the opportunity came along and it was with some peeps I respected and was feeling the shit they was doing and I felt we could do some real good music, I would consider forming a group with some people. I’m open to anything really. If someone said you got some ill lyrics want to work with my band, I’d be down to do that too. I love experimenting and just being around musicians and shit feeding off each others creativity and stuff

Preest: What suggestion can you make to kids out there looking to be another Q and do what Q does?

Q Strange: I mean if you mean Q as in the character that kills people and is fucked in the head and mutilates corpses and eats them and shit then I'd suggest getting a psychiatric exam right away. If you mean just me as an artist, I’m still in the developmental stages myself. This shit is like an obsessive hobby to me. I say if you’re feeling the music and want to make things happen and get a name for yourself in the underground, just keep doing what you’re doing and expose as many people as you can to your music until you find a responsive audience. If you suck, just keep practicing until you get your skills tight. But PLEASE remember there is nothing wrong with just being a fan. Not everyone has to be a rapper, just sit back and enjoy the music from people who know what they are doing.

Preest: Good point...not all fans can be rappers...I think that's what's screwing up Horror rap today is the over saturation of fans trying to be something that their skill level won't allow...

Q Strange: yeah man I think everyone wants to be a rock star, but some people just aren’t gifted in that way but then again who the fuck am I to tell someone they suck?

Preest: Ha...A lot of Hip Hop fans feel keeping it real is the way to go but in Horror Rap it should be the opposite...do you think kids nowadays take Horror rap too seriously?

Q Strange: Nah I don't think so, I think for the most part kids take it at face value which is just entertainment. Keeping it real is good too, but that’s just a catch phrase anyway. I can't see any kind of music being so influential it would drive someone to do something they wouldn’t do otherwise.

Preest: Back to CRF really quickly...have you decided to stay on with WDP after this fiasco or are you definitely moving on?

Q Strange: Well neither Suge nor I ever had the intentions of me releasing anything else on WDP. It was basically I wanted to put out a cd of old shit and didn’t want to put the money into it. He saw the opportunity to capitalize on it a little and we made a deal. We never discussed putting out anything else on WDP other than some tracks for compilations. I'm thinking of sending a demo to this label growing real fast. Man they got some ill shit coming out and I just wanna be down with these cats. Fallen Ent. you ever heard of them?

Q Strange: haha

Preest: Ha ha...I may have heard something about them…sounds familiar, making mad mad moves I hear

Q Strange: Power moves kid!

Preest: Whoop Whoop!!

Preest: Has there been any benefits to performing Horror Rap as opposed to mainstream Hip Hop?

Q Strange: Well I never did mainstream rap, I did like underground shit with the group 3rd Floor Productions, and there wasn’t really any advantage or disadvantage, I was just doing the same type of shit for a while, and I wanted to get ill with it, do some more creative shit. I think with horror rap you need to depend on other forms of promotion like the internet if your not in a region that supports that kind of thing. In other types of rap, you basically start locally and try to build from that. If I did that I’d have 24 people bumping my shit and 13 of them would be my relatives

Preest: So kids that rely solely on the internet are also going about it the wrong way and vice versa with people that only work the streets?

Q Strange: It depends; I mean whatever works for you. I can’t do the street thing in my area. I could but for me, I have a large following through the internet, I don’t see that as a negative thing, I don't discount the value of being able to promote your music all over the world. I think it’s a good tool, but shouldn’t be the only tool. Street promotion is the best way to do it if you want to build a regional fan base. Hit up the mix tapes, do shows, get flyers and posters out there. It depends on the artist and what market they want to target I guess. I sell most of my shit in the mid west states, now I live on the east coast. I could go do shows with cats like Sage Francis but them kids would just look at me funny unless I was doing Emcee Assault or some shit. So for me the net helped a lot

Preest: Is there a preference as to whether an upcoming artist should begin with CDR albums or pro-pressed?

Q Strange: Again, it depends what you want to do, if you plan on giving that cd to labels, distributors, magazines, radio stations, then the CD-R won’t be taken seriously and presentation is important in a situation like that. But if you just wanna pimp your shit on the streets and try to build a fan base I say CD-R is just as good, it all depends on what’s on it really. I know a dude out of Brooklyn called Raadar Vaan he is down with some cats in Wu Tang or some shit, but anyway, this cat goes to Times Square outside the big Virgin Records store and sells a cheap ass CD-R of all non mastered shit to anyone who'll listen for 10 bucks. Man the dude sold over 500 just on the street hollering at every kid that walk by. So he made 5000 bucks on cheap non mixed non mastered CD-Rs so he’s gonna record some decent shit and pro press a nice CD. So I think to get your music out and see if you got an audience CD-R is good enough for me.

Preest: What's Q's favorite movie?

Q Strange: haha, probably like the Goonies or some shit.

Preest: That old school mask you used to wear...was that a Troma mask? It reminded me of a Toxic Avenger mask I saw once...

Q Strange: Oh man that mask was some shit I found on clearance after Halloween for like 2.99 it was a melted face. Like half melted. The mask thing got kind of played so I dropped it. But I still got that bitch. I liked it because the jaw was exposed so I could like rap and shit and wear it onstage and it wasn’t covering my mouth. I don’t car what no one says, that shit was ill!

Preest: Ever consider holding a cool little contest someday to have a fan win it or is it something you'll keep till you wear diapers?

Q Strange: haha, yeah that’s a good idea, nobody really knew my shit back then though, but I found a wholesale store that sells them and thought of buying a shitload to sell on the internet, but then I gave the whole mask thing up. Maybe I will give away the original though

Preest: What's that smell?

Q Strange: the crusty mask in my pocket

Preest: If you were a Clown what would your name be?

Q Strange: Steve

Preest: What's your favorite cartoon?

Q Strange: El Kabong, when Quickdraw McGraw puts on the mask and becomes El Kabong and hits people with his guitar

Preest: hahahaha…Shout out time...let's hear those names...

Q Strange: yo yo yo big ups to my peeps in the hood holding it down, to my peeps on lockdown. To Big Pooky, Lil Pooky, Regular Pooky, to my main bitch Shaniqua up in building 12.

Preest: hahaha…sup with the O.G.s and The Vatos out on The Bully slangin those QB's?

Q Strange: No seriously, shouts to everyone helping me spread the word with this music shit, and all the other artists trying to help build this underground shit. Everyone whose reading this thing, buy my friggin album bitch!

Preest: Any last words before I pull the switch?

Q Strange: no

Preest: Click…Peace

Q Strange: Peace

ThaFormula.com - When you dropped the Creator EP what was the reaction to most of the people out there, and did it do really well?

Pete Rock - Yeah it actually did well but I mean we never reached Platinum status or anything but we did it just so we could get a feel of the people and what they thought about us and our music, so we put it out there as a test to test the waters. Then we came back with a great reaction and people you know loved the beats you know, they loved the new style and I was very excited. I remember the day I got the news of how people took us and you know…we basically did that just so we can see the response and the reaction and then we went on to make the first full length album which was "Mecca and the Soul Brother."

ThaFormula.com - You know its funny, growing up as a kid in the 'hood I always assumed you guys were platinum since in the 'hood everyone was bumpin' that shit. It wasn't 'till some time later that I realized that it wasn't like that everywhere. So I'm wondering did you guys make any money off of that EP and even the LP's that followed?

Pete Rock - Yeah, I mean we didn't make a whole lot of money but we sold some units and we made some money off of it and it stills sells even to this day. So the money we didn't make we probably made it back by now hopefully.

ThaFormula.com - And did you guys sign a wack contract like most of the groups from the era?

Pete Rock - Yeah of course, everybody does. I mean we didn't sign it in our best interest. We've made some money but there is a lot of things that they don't tell you or that they will never tell you. It's up to you having a great attorney that's gonna tell you how to renegotiate or negotiate your contract 'cause when you're at a young age you're just happy to get on and get paid and not think about all the paper work and all the shit that you getting taken for and teaching you about publishing and radio spins and Billboard and things like that. Now it's been a great learning experience, I learned a lot and there is still more that I have to learn.

ThaFormula.com - So after the EP you guys dropped "Mecca and The Soul Brother," I actually thought that that album went Platinum with the amount of radio play you guys got and MTV playing that shit daily…

Pete Rock - If it did go Platinum I didn't know about it. If it did I need to go and get my copy.

ThaFormula.com - Would you consider "Mecca and the Soul Brother" the most fun you ever had recording?

Pete Rock - Probably I would have to say that that was the most fun I had making an album with C.L. Smooth 'cause it was our first full-length album and we were hyped on the beats and we were confident of everything. Actually when the album was done we weren't too confident but we were confident enough in ourselves to know that we made something great and when we put it out to the people its like they gave it back to us just like that.

ThaFormula.com - Now rumors have gone around that "T.R.O.Y." was a Large Professor beat that he gave you?

Pete Rock - No. How is it a large professor beat?

ThaFormula.com - Well I have heard from different sources that have said that Large Pr...

Pete Rock - Nah, Large is my man and Large will tell you himself that he didn't make that beat. That's it! Cats know. I don't have to front, if you want I can make the beat over right in front of you. I'm tired of cats asking me stupid questions.

ThaFormula.com - No doubt Pete, but you know I got to ask you that 'cause people wanna know?

Pete Rock - But see what's important is how you put it down in the mag 'cause some of them interviewers they twist and turn shit around and turn your words around.

ThaFormula.com - Nah, we always represent correct and give to the people word for word no matter what...

Pete Rock - Okay, but nah Pete Rock made "Reminisce." So let's just make that clear for the record and just do that line in big letters, PETE ROCK MADE REMINISCE ALL BY HIMSELF!!!

ThaFormula.com - Well I figured you did 'cause I didn't see how you couldn't have done "T.R.O.Y.," and then done "Straighten it Out"...

Pete Rock - Yeah you know how people are man. They just make up stuff and just throw it out there.

ThaFormula.com - When you look back at "T.R.O.Y." now, did you ever see it becoming the timeless classic that it is now?

Pete Rock - Actually I didn't but now I look back at it and I'm like "wow," it did a lot for people. They played it everywhere, weddings, funerals and all kind of places, so you know I can't complain at all, period. I'm just glad that it worked out and I'm glad that people you know kind of adapted to the song cause I basically wanted everybody to feel my pain when I made that.

ThaFormula.com - Speaking of that Pete, why do you think we can't get any songs with that kind of feel to them anymore man?

Pete Rock - I don't know man, you know Hip-Hop has changed drastically and the original way that I believe Hip-Hop is done is not being done that way. It's being done a little different today. I feel that you know its all about longevity and making classical music and today to me it just seems like the music that I'm hearing today is not gonna last 10 years from now or 20 years from now. People are not gonna be saying, "yo that record made me feel like this." My records give you feeling inside. It makes you feel and that's why its real Hip-Hop 'cause you know it touches the soul and that's what's important. Like these records today they're not touching anything on the inside. Really I did this album to put back out there the original way Hip-Hop was done and to teach the young youth about how Hip-Hop was done and how it always should be done.

ThaFormula.com - Do you sometimes feel though Pete that it's a lost cause?

Pete Rock - Yeah, I felt like that plenty of nights, plenty of times. It kind of depressed me to even think about it because you know its a money thing with everybody. It's not about dignity and pride anymore and its not about just putting your good music out there for good use. It's healing music. Like this stuff that I hear today it doesn't heal you at all. To me it just bangs you in the head too much and makes you a different person and not on a good level. I hear a lot of people complain. That's all I do is hear people complain. It's a lot of people that feel the same way you feel, the way I feel.

ThaFormula.com - But why did we let this happen man and why are some of the legendary artists that are coming back following the same trend that...

Pete Rock - Well there is a ugly snake running about the industry and its spreading it's poison everywhere and you know until we can figure out a way to deal with what's going on in Hip-Hop man, I think its just gonna be the way it is until somebody like myself or somebody like Premier or Kanye or anybody can bridge the gap in Hip-Hop. 'Cause today some of this music is not inspiring at all. I listen to some of the new stuff but I cant listen to it too much so I break it up but I do give it a listen.

ThaFormula.com - So after the "Mecca" LP you guys were large and up next came the sophomore LP "Main Ingredient." How did you feel about that album?

Pete Rock - I think it was a good look. You know people really loved that album but it was kind of weird to me because it was different for me. It didn't sound as young as "Mecca and the Soul Brother," so it was more of a mature sound. There's a song that I did called "In the Flesh" on "The Main Ingredient" which I had made in front of Biggie, he was watching me make the beat so that album to me is kind of special cause even though he wasn't a part of the album, he was a part of my thoughts which was still important to me at the time and still is.

ThaFormula.com - The more time that goes by man it seems wack that you and Biggie never recorded together. I mean I know you did the "Juicy" remix but I don't know if you were actually together for that?

Pete Rock - Yeah, we never really worked together. He came over to my house and I gave him a few beats to write to and stuff, but we never got to do anything. There was an interlude beat that he wanted that was on "The Main Ingredient," that he was really, really lovin' but we didn't really get a chance to do that as well.

ThaFormula.com - How big was Biggie on the streets before Bad Boy?

Pete Rock - He definitely was a voice that was known before he got signed. In the hood, on the streets and on mix tapes, kids were checkin' for him like "yo who is that cat?"

ThaFormula.com - So when "The Main Ingredient" dropped, did you guys feel you got the props you deserved on the album?

Pete Rock - Yeah, I think so. As far as the label working it, I didn't think they worked it hard enough but I was definitely proud of that album. I just was sad that it didn't do as well 'cause the label didn't get behind it and push it properly. They didn't know how to promote a Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.

ThaFormula.com - But they did push the first one pretty good right?

Pete Rock - Yeah, even with the first one back then we didn't even reach gold status at all. So from what I'm hearing now is that we're gold so I don't know.

ThaFormula.com - So at what point in time did you guys decide that was it?

Pete Rock - I think it was after "The Main Ingredient." The label was giving us a lot of problems with that album and you know behind the scenes stuff, paperwork, all kinds of stuff…money, everything was just too much at the time for a young man like myself so I just called it quits and went on to produce and do underground stuff.

ThaFormula.com - During the time of "Mecca" and "Main Ingredient" were the labels the same back then as they are now as far as pushing you to make more radio type tracks and jingles?

Pete Rock - Not really, we would just be going in the studio and doing whatever. We didn't listen to the radio to much. I never made beats in mind that I have to make a radio record. I did what I wanted to do and whatever my body felt like doing.

ThaFormula.com - 'Cause I look back at how you guys were on a major like Elektra and real Hip-Hop ain't on major labels no more. So I was wondering if maybe that's what led to you calling it quits?

Pete Rock - Hmm, you could say that. When Sylvia Rhone came and took over the label it was basically a wrap for me cause we didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things. She came in with the new shit, that bullshit. So of course we're not gonna see eye to eye when she is saying to me that I should be making beats like Puff and I'm my own person. Puff, he's learned a lot from me and that's all. I got no problems with Puff, I think he's a great person, I think he's smart and I think he's a good business man.

ThaFormula.com - Now you did get to drop a single for "Fakin' Jax" on Elektra before you left...

Pete Rock - Yeah but that's what I'm saying. That's when our working relationship severed with Sylvia 'cause she didn't put that album out and then all of a sudden people get copies of it and its bootlegged and all kinds of shit is going on.

ThaFormula.com - How did it feel not seeing that INI album drop? 'Cause that was an incredible album…

Pete Rock - I mean it's out now but I just felt like it was a great and should have came out back then, but she didn't understand, she didn't see. She was coming in with a totally different mind frame. She cleaned out the real Hip-Hop and hired you know the trip-flop.

ThaFormula.com - Now it wasn't just you though Pete. It seemed like around this time of '96 and '97 every label started cleaning house and dropping everybody?

Pete Rock - Yeah, it was a bad period in the music business at that time. People were getting dropped, people were losing their jobs and then they brought in a whole new horizon of artists and producers that we couldn't understand because they didn't have the passion or the love for the music. They were just doing it for the money and you could hear it in the music.

ThaFormula.com - So I'll ask you Pete…why do you think the labels all decided to wipe out the real artists and bring in this new bullshit?

Pete Rock - I have no idea, but like I said its someone at a round table that doesn't know anything about Hip-Hop music that doesn't have any love for the music and its that person who I call the devil basically who makes the plan on how to destroy Hip-Hop and you know that's basically how it goes down because if you look at it like with some of these rappers you know doing shit like not unifying with each other this type of thing happens. When we don't unite as Black people and come together and especially from a music that we created, it kind of looks bad when we don't unify and when we focus on things that we shouldn't be focusing on. So when were not focusing and looking that other way, that other little devil is coming in right behind you and slippin' right past you to fuck shit up and that's how I feel. The person that's doing it has no soul and no kind of means what so ever. They are focused on one thing. HOW TO DESTROY HIP-HOP AND MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

ThaFormula.com - So when shit got tough in '96 it seems like that was the time when a lot of the unity between many artists just started to fall apart...

Pete Rock - Yeah everybody was breaking up and shit. I think with groups they don't seem to realize what I learned now…that this industry can pit you against your partner. Record companies are good for infiltrating, coming between a group or not working out proper negotiations with their contracts and stuff like that but all of that stems from just not being on top of your shit.

ThaFormula.com - So what was the plan after the Elektra situation?

Pete Rock - I mean the West Coast kind of was running it for a little while and then that died down and you know now I believe New York has to come back strong and you know I think I'm one of their strong entities that is doing something in May with releasing this "Soul Survivor II" album. A lot of albums have come out over the years and a lot of the times I would just sit there not impressed just going through records. I like a whole album that you can just sit and listen to the whole thing from start to finish like a Gangstarr album or a Tribe or Pete Rock album.

ThaFormula.com - So how did the first solo joint come about?

Pete Rock - I think that came about with just me being out there you know at certain functions and I met someone who introduced me to Steve Rifkind and Steve was interested in me and meeting with me. So we met and talked about doing an album through Loud and I said I wanted to do it like this. Sort of like a compilation, like done by me but it's never been done before 'cause I never produced an album with different rappers on every track and I think it's a cool series that I'ma keep going.

ThaFormula.com - I think that only two people have ever done that to perfection and that is you and Dre with "The Chronic." How was recording that project and was it a hard project to put together?

Pete Rock - Nah, not really at all. It was actually fun and easy. I got to meet a lot of people. I got to make working relationships with a lot of artists and it was great for me. It was a good thing and good exposure so I was happy..

ThaFormula.com - Now did that LP turn out like you would have liked as far as Loud supporting you?

Pete Rock - Nah, they didn't really you know do a…I guess what was required to blow the album up. Also the industry had changed and things were different 'cause they were looking more to push like the 3/6 Mafia and the other shit coming out. But people and things change so I could never understand but I can always try to keep up and show people that I'm a versatile producer and that I can do any type of music.

ThaFormula.com - When the keyboard era came in a little after that, how did you feel about it?

Pete Rock - To be honest and truthful, I didn't like the sound. I felt like there was no soul in the music and then you know, just like…you know there was no real time spent on making a hit record. I mean you don't have to spend hours and hours on a beat, but my thing is you know the music with the keyboards just sounds empty and there is no soul and no care and nobody is doing the music like to the best of their ability. They are just doing it and getting it out there and getting paid and doing what they gotta do instead of caring for what they do and saying nah you know I don't like this beat, I wanna go back and change it and put this in it and make it sound better. I don't think that's being done at all today except for the real cats who really want there shit to sound dope.

ThaFormula.com - Was there a lot of beats that you didn't get credit for?

Pete Rock - Yeah I have mentioned a few before but other then that I'm not gonna let that cat out the bag. But of course I did a lot of ghost producing and arranging.

ThaFormula.com - Did that happen a lot to you?

Pete Rock - Well it hasn't happened recently. For that you have to pay me for stuff like that now. I can't just do it on spec anymore. I was so happy being in the game of music and making money, I was just like okay I'll help you with this, and not thinking about getting," paid but nowadays if you want me to help you arrange a beat you're gonna have to pay for that.

ThaFormula.com - How do you feel about MTV and how most people feel that it controls what's Hip-Hop now?

Pete Rock - To me MTV only controls what's in their world, they don't control Hip-Hop 'cause I believe I'm Hip-Hop and they don't control me. Like any other producer would say the same thing who has a passion and who is dear to the heart with this will tell you its all about the music man. MTV to me is disgracing Hip-Hop right now how I see it. They can slap the cuffs on me for saying that but who gives a fuck. I remember charting and having records that I produced on MTV everyday and not even Yo! MTV raps. Because it was a good rap record it would be on MTV, but these days they are doing bullshit to me. I don't even watch MTV. MTV2 I gets with because they show a lot of the good videos and a lot of the golden age stuff. MTV2 is like the way MTV should be period.

ThaFormula.com - So after the "Soul Survivor" what did you do from there?

Pete Rock - I basically was going on tour and on the road a lot. I was just out doing DJ gigs and shows and shit and then creating this new album that's coming out on the 11th of May.

ThaFormula.com - How long did you work on this new "Soul Survivor II" LP?

Pete Rock - For about a year.

ThaFormula.com - So you weren't working on it for the last few years like many people thought?

Pete Rock - Nah, I mean I have had beats for that long but I finally just started putting it together the end of 2002 and beginning of 2003.

ThaFormula.com - It's amazing to me that they have completely shut out the real Hip-Hop from the major labels man. Dead Prez seems to be the only real group on a major.

Pete Rock - Not even Gangstarr is on a major anymore and that's sad. That's when you know it's a fucking sad day in Hip-Hop. These fucking major labels is on some bullshit with that wack shit. They're getting rid of the real shit, to sign that wack shit and that shit pisses me off, but you know whatever. Obviously these people have no experience with music.

ThaFormula.com - Now one of the biggest questions people always ask is why weren't you on the "Stillmatic" or the "God Son" LP from Nas?

Pete Rock - You know, I have no idea but you have to ask Nas about that one and that's the end of the story. I would love to work with Nas again but you will have to ask him why I haven't worked on his albums. He will be able to tell you that with no problem.

ThaFormula.com - No doubt. I mean people just wanna see you guys back together on some classic shit like "Illmatic." Speaking of that, did you guys ever record anything over again after the "Illmatic stuff?"

Pete Rock - Nah that was it.

ThaFormula.com - I hope Nas sees this and you guys can get together and make some classic shit for the heads.

Pete Rock - Yeah, I got a massive collection of beats for him. I used to make beats and put them on the side for him. Hopefully we can be grown men, work out our differences whatever that is and make music together. I'm a fan of Nas and hopefully we can squash whatever is going on.

ThaFormula.com - Exactly. How did you feel about the Non-Phixion project you worked on?

Pete Rock - Ill Bill man Ill Bill!!! That's my man. Non-Phixion was one of the dopest white MC's that I've met in a long time besides Eminem. Them cats are fucking ridiculous.

ThaFormula.com - What's the deal with the Ed O G and Pete Rock Project?

Pete Rock - We are almost done with that. He's just gotta finish writing some things. I'm jumping on a song with him and then that's gonna be it. It's like 7 joints I did for him.

ThaFormula.com - What's the deal with you and Foxxx man? People wanna hear some shit from the two of you?

Pete Rock - Well me and Foxxx we been trying to work with each other, but you know there is just a few things we gotta get straight first before we go in and do the music. So that's it 'cause I'm dying to finish that up with Freddie. I laid down a lot of shit with him and you know we're just trying to wait to see when we're gonna do shit. I have no idea what his plans are and how he plans on doing it.

ThaFormula.com - So what's up with the new album Pete?

Pete Rock - Well its "Soul survivor II" and it features a lot of good people on there. Pharoahe Monch, Little Brother, Rza & Gza, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, C.L. Smooth, Krumbsnatcha, Skillz, Slum Village, J-Dilla, Postaboy, Leela James and that's it. That's what's up right there. Also, make sure with the Nas thing that we spoke on, don't make it seem like I'm trying to get at him. Just let it be known how I feel as far as all that to me is nonsense…'cause this is just music. Do whatever just don't twist it around and make it look fucked up like other journalists do.

ThaFormula.com - No doubt and thanks for taking tha time to do this Pete. So people, be sure to go out and support Pete's new project. Also, all you bitch made magazines and journalists, don't try and twist this interview around like some of our others cause in tha end it's just music!!!

PETE ROCK
SOUL SURVIVOR II
BBE / RAPSTER
release date: MAY 11th 2004

ALBUM TRACKLISTING

01. Truth Is Featuring Black Ice
02. We Good Featuring Kardinal Offishall
03. Just Do It Featuring Pharoahe Monch
04. Give It To Ya Featuring Little Brother
05. It’s Da Postaboy Featuring Postaboy
06. It's A Love Thing Featuring C.L. Smooth and Denosh
07. One MC One DJ Featuring Skillz
08. Beef Featuring Krumbsnatcha
09. No Tears Featuring Leela James
10. Head Rush Featuring RZA and GZA
11. Fly Till I Die Featuring Talib Kweli and C.L. Smooth
12. Warzone Featuring Dead Prez
13. Da Villa Featuring Slum Village
14. Niggaz Know Featuring J-Dilla
15. Appreciate Featuring C.L. Smooth

Produced by Pete Rock for Soul Brother Records, Inc.
Executive Producer: Pete Rock for Soul Brother Records, Inc.
Co-Executive Producers: Eddie Bezalel and Peter Adarkwah.
A&R: Eddie Bezalel