ALL STAR 2011 - Ozone Magazine

WELCOME TO LOS ANGELESALLSTAR2011**special edition**FEATURINGLIL B+ PROBLEM // BOBBY BRACKINSthe pack // kafani // messy marvfreeway ricky ross // new boyz40 glocc // yg // TERRACE MARTINNIO THA GIFT // DOM KENNEDYya boy // cali swag district

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PUBLISHER:Julia BeverlyEDITOR-IN-CHIEF:Julia BeverlyEDITOR-AT-LARGE:D-RayCONTRIBUTORS:Ashlee ClarkBrian MooreEric PerrinGary ArcherJason PottsJee’Van BrownKisha SmithMaurice G. GarlandMonique WestNi SweetRandy RoperPROMOTIONS DIRECTOR:Malik AbdulSUBSCRIPTIONS:To subscribe, send check ormoney order for $20 to:OZONE Magazine644 Antone St. Suite 6Atlanta, GA 30318Phone: 404-350-3887Fax: 404-601-9523Web: www.ozonemag.comCOVER CREDITS:Lil B photo by Aris Jerome;Jay Rock photo by D-RayDISCLAIMER:OZONE does not take responsibilityfor unsolicitedmaterials, misinformation,typographical errors, or misprints.The views containedherein do not necessarilyreflect those of the publisheror its advertisers. Adsappearing in this magazineare not an endorsement orvalidation by OZONE Magazinefor products or servicesoffered. All photos and illustrationsare copyrighted bytheir respective artists. Allother content is copyright2011 OZONE Magazine, allrights reserved. No portionof this magazine may bereproduced in any waywithout the written consentof the publisher. Printed inthe USA.8 // OZONE MAG

table of contents24-26 40 GLOCC60-62 BOBBY BRACKINS16-17 CALI SWAG DISTRICT56-58 DOM KENNEDY64-67 FREEWAY RICKY ROSS48-51 JAY ROCK10 L.A. EVENT LISTING52-55 MESSY MARV34-36 NEW BOYZ42-43 NIO THA GIFT44-46 PROBLEM28-29 TERRACE MARTIN64-71 THE GANG38-41 THE PACK30-31 YA BOY14-15 YG18-22 LIL BWELCOME TO LOS ANGELESOZONE MAG // 9

LOS ANGELESEventListingThursday, Feb 17- Foxxhole All Star Jam With Jamie Foxx @ ClubNokia LA Live (800 W Olympic Blvd, SuiteA335)- Dwyane Wade “Men In Suits/Women InDresses” Party @ The Colony - Hollywood (1743North Cahuenga Blvd)- Trina & Ron Artest Celebrity Kick-Off @ GreenDoor/Cabana Club (1439 Ivar Ave)- NBA All Star Tip Off With Lebron James, Common,Chris Paul & Kenny Burns @ Boulevard3 (6523 Sunset Blvd)- Pre All Star Weekend Kick Off Hosted By RickRoss & Rosa Acosta @ MyHouse (7080Hollywood Blvd)- DJ Khaled NBA vs NFL Invasion @ Kress (6608Hollywood Blvd)Friday, Feb 18- Drake & Lil Wayne @ W Hollywood (6250 HollywoodBlvd)- “Angels & Demons” Playboy Mansion PartyHosted by Snoop Dogg (10236 Charing CrossRd)- Diddy & Meagan Good Invade Hollywood @Avalon (1735 Vine St)- Lebron James, Drake & Kenny Burns Host @Cabana Club (1439 Ivar Ave)- Lil Wayne Invades NBA All Star Weekend @Shrine Auditorium & Expo Center (700 West32nd St)- Kevin Hart Live @ Nokia Theater (777 ChickHearn Ct)- Shaq All Star Weekend After Party @ ClubNokia LA Live (800 W Olympic Blvd, SuiteA335)- Chris Brown NBA All Star Party @ Boulevard 3(6523 Sunset Blvd)- Wale & Kevin Durant’s “Welcome To Hollywood”Tip Off Party @ La Vida (1448 N. GowerSt.)- Rajon Rondo All Star Wknd Birthday Bash @Orchid (607 S. Oxford)- Gucci Mane, Derrick Rose & Shannon BrownHost @ Tru Hollywood (1600 Argyle Ave)- Dwight Howard Official All Star Kick-Off @ TheHighlands (6801 Hollywood Blvd)- Beats By Dre All Star Comedy Show @ TheComedy Store (8433 Sunset)- Plies All Star Weekend Celebration with Mann& Cashmere @ 740 (753 S. Spring St)- All Star Rookie & Sophomore Party With DJDrama & Roscoe Dash @ Ecco Ultra Lounge(1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd)- Nicki Minaj & Rick Ross All Star Kick OffParty @ Exchange LA (618 Spring St.)- The Official Nicki Minaj & Rick Ross PlayersBall After Hours Party @ Union Station (800 N.Alameda St)Saturday, Feb 19- The All Star Daytime Sip Party 12pm-6pm @The Palm (1100 S. Flower St)- Jeezy & Friends Host @ Cabana Club (1439Ivar Ave)- Jermaine Dupri, Common & GabrielleUnion @ Cabana Club (1439 Ivar Ave)- Diddy Takes Over The Highlands (6801 HollywoodBlvd)- Rick Ross & Melyssa Ford @ Marbella (6757Hollywood Blvd)- Ciara & Ray J Host @ The Music Box (6126Hollywood Blvd)- Trey Songz & Bizmarkie @ Magestic Hall(650 S. Spring St)- South Beach Meets Hollywood hosted ByDwyane Wade @ Supper Club (6675 HollywoodBlvd)- Matt Barnes of LA Lakers & Claudia Jordan@ LA Athletic Club (431 W 7th St)- Kurupt & Menace Live @ The BurgundyHouse (6202 Santa Monica Blvd)- Kevin Hart Live @ Nokia Theater (777 ChickHearn Ct)- Dwight Howard & Chris Johnson @ The Metropolitan(651 La Peer Dr)- Kobe Bryant & ?uestlove Host LA Confidential@ Boulevard 3 (6523 Sunset Blvd)- Celebrity After Party With Ciara, Trina & SKG@ Union Station (800 N. Alameda St.)- Ray J’s Young, Fly & Sexy All Star Party @ ElxrNight Club (5750 Hollywood Blvd)- Gucci Mane, Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka NBAAll Star Takeover @ Orchid (607 S. Oxford Ave)- All Star Saturday Night After Hours PartyHosted by Nicki Minaj @ The Bank (117 W.Seventh St)Sunday, Feb 20- Jeezy Takes Over The Highlands (6801 HollywoodBlvd)- Chris Brown & Biz Markie @ Magestic Hall(650 S. Spring St)- DJ Drama, DJ Skee, Fabolous & DwyaneWade All Star Finale @ Kress (6608 HollywoodBlvd)- Lebron James, Jermaine Dupri & CommonHost @ Cabana Club (1439 Ivar Ave)- Celebrity Birthday Blowout for Rick Ross,Kelly Rowland & Kid Capri @ Tru Hollywood(1600 Argyle Ave)- Lil Wayne & Drake @ Siren Studios (6063West Sunset Blvd Hollywood)10 // OZONE MAG

Disclaimer: If any of these artists don’t show up, blame the promoter not us.OZONE MAG // 11

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ADVERTISEMENTChristopher Fairley, better known as Kool Chris, started in music at the age of 12when he started making his own beats and rhymes. Back in 1999, in the recordingstudio, his uncle and the CEO of Kountry Boyz Records Levator Adams discoveredhis talent.In 2000 he was welcomed as a Kountry Boy and performed his first live concertwith Juvenile and the Ying Yang Twins. Throughout junior high school he participatedin rap battles and won many number one spots in high school talent shows.Also during this time, he traveled around Mississippi to showcase his talent. Thefans loved his new style of music and many radio DJs began to notice the demandfor his music.Now at the age of 21, Chris has experienced many ups and downs that accompanythe rap game. As he became a grown man, he felt as if his teen years werea test to prove himself in the present day. He has opened for some of today’shottest names such as B.G., David Banner, Lil Boosie, Webbie, Mystikal, Yo Gotti,Choppa, and many other stars.A new artist with fresh lyrics and swag is something the world is waiting on. KoolChris, who hails from Bassfield, MS, is sure to give the world what they want andput Jeff Davis County on the map!KOOLCHRISCOMINGSOONOZONE MAG // 13

YGWords & Photo byJulia Beverly14 // OZONE MAG

After landing a deal with Def Jamlargely due to the success of hisomnipresent Cali club record “Toot Itand Boot It,” COMPTON RAPPER YG nowaims to let the world know he’s notjust a one-hit wonder.Of course people know you from “Toot It andBoot It.” What are you working on now?I’ve got a new single that just dropped called“Patty Cake.” It’s been spinning on the radioin L.A. I’m about to drop a mixtape called JustRe-Upped in March, and my EP is coming outin May. I just shot a movie that was directed byMario Van Peebles. Snoop Dogg is playing mybig brother in the movie and all kinds of shit.I’m finna start touring too.I see you got a new YG piece.Yeah, this is my first piece. The jeweler IceyFresh did it for me. I decided to keep it simpleand just get my name, YG.Where does the name YG come from anyway?Where I’m from, we’re all YGs. Everybody in myneighborhood that’s around my age, we callourselves YGs. Young Gangstas. So I’m representingall the YGs, period. But I’m on some flyshit though.You got some big names on your “Toot it andBoot it” remix. How did 50 Cent get involved?I saw 50 at the label in L.A. I’m signed to DefJam and the Def Jam and Interscope buildingsin L.A. are connected. I was up there havinga meeting and when I was leaving, I saw himleaving too. My manager told me to pull up onhim. So I pulled up on him and blocked his carso he couldn’t move. Then I hopped out, like,“What’s happenin’? It’s YG.” He was like, “What’shappenin’?” I told him I had a show at the KeyClub in Hollywood, and he came through thenext day and kept his word. He brought LloydBanks too, so everybody was going crazy. Wechopped it up after that, and when I wantedto shoot a video for the remix, he fucked withit. So he did the video for me and the SnoopDogg feature was just because he fucks withme. I’m like Snoop’s little homie from the WestCoast. I was on tour with him when I asked himto hop on the song. He recorded his verse inthe hotel, I think, and then we did the video.The success of “Toot it and Boot it” took youa lot of places, right? What was the craziestplace you went?When I went to Seattle and Portland, I went tothese all ages clubs and they were treating melike I was Lil Wayne.Well, you have tattoos like Lil Wayne. Do youhave any room left for more tattoos?I only got my back and my legs left, but I’mtrying to get those done before my birthday,hopefully.Do you have any tattoos that are real meaningfulto you?All my tattoos mean stuff. I’ve got my cousin’sname, Rest in Peace, on the back of my neckwith angel wings. I’ve got “Music is Life” on myarm. My label is called Pushaz Ink, and I’ve gotthat tattooed on my arm. I’ve got Jesus’ faceon the side of my head and it says “God’s Son.”I’ve got a cross on the back of my head thatsays “in Jesus’ name we trust.” On my back itsays “Lost Angels” and I’ve got a big baby angelin the middle of the back with Chucks on andhe’s got a mic in his hand. I feel like I’m a lostangel. I’m an angel but I’m kind of lost, feelme? So yeah, I’ve got a whole bunch of tats.They all mean something though. My mamaand daddy’s names are on my arm too. I’ve gotall kinds of shit.Do you feel like you’re getting more respectnow with “Patty Cake” being out, so you’renot falling into that one-hit wonder category?Oh yeah, I’m definitely getting more respect.We’re getting shit poppin’ right now.So the album is dropping in May. How areyou adjusting to the major label situation?Do you feel like you have a lot of control overyour creative process?I’ve got control. I just turn my records intothe label and it’s all good. It ain’t none of thatother stuff.You mentioned a movie you filmed recently.When and where is that going to drop?The movie is being shopped around rightnow, so I don’t actually know when it’s goingto drop, but it’s coming soon. It’s called WhereThe Party At? That’s the name of the movie,so be on the lookout for that. There’s a lot ofartists in there, like the New Boyz, Snoop, andDiddy’s son.What do you have planned for All Star weekend,and what are some spots the out-oftownersshould be sure to visit?All the spots. I don’t even know, man. I knowI’ve got some shows though. I’ve got a showin Anaheim with Rick Ross and Waka Flocka.Everybody’s going to be performing. There’stoo many spots in Hollywood that are gonnabe poppin’ to even mention. I’m gonna be inthe streets for sure, so look out for me. //OZONE MAG // 15

WITH THE UNEXPECTED SUCCESS OF THEIRRUNAWAY SINGLE “TEACH ME HOW TODOUGIE,” CALI SWAG DISTRICT GOT LOOKSON ESPN AND THE BET HIP HOP AWARDS,PLUS THE CHANCE TO MEET KIM KARDASHI-AN. GROUP MEMBER JAYARE TELLS OZONEWHAT’S NEXT.So you’re out in Vegas today, huh? Do youguys spend a lot of time there?We’ve been out here since the beginning ofDecember getting ready for this tour. We’vebeen going to the gym and just getting inshape physically and mentally. We try to hit thegym for about two hours every other morning.Are you all the same age?Yeah, we’re all 20.Your album is set to drop in February, right?Yeah, it’s looking pretty good. We added somemore tracks, so I think it’s going to be a good(l-r) M-Bone, C-Smoove, Yung, & JayAreCali Swag District16 // OZONE MAGWords by Eric Perrin

one. It’s our first album and it’s going to be aclassic for us, so we’re pretty excited about it.The summer had to be ridiculous for youwith the success of “Teach Me How toDougie.”Oh yeah, last year was crazy. I think 2010 wasthe year of the Dougie.How did the song “Teach Me How to Dougie”come about?It all started from one of our friends that grewup where we grew up. He went off to collegein Texas where the dance originated, andwhen he came back out here on his break, hesuggested we do a song about the dougie.We just took the idea and it turned intosomething bigger than we thought. It tookoff from there. “Teach Me How to Dougie”was the first song we recorded as a group. Itfelt good once the song started blowing up.We heard that more people were doing thedougie around the world. It was breathtaking.We didn’t know what to think. It’s crazy.Justin Bieber was on Ellen teaching her howto do it. What are some of the best storiesyou’ve heard about the song?They had a little segment on ESPN; theybrought Doug E. Fresh in and were showingall the clips of the NFL and NBA players doingthe dougie. We got to teach Kim Kardashianhow to do the dougie, so that was cool. Wewent to one of her parties.That’s hot!Yeah, it was! She was hot too! (laughs)Did any of y’all try to get at Kim Kardashian?Nah, we were only there for business. Butwe got her Twitter, so if one of the homiesis tryin’ to talk to her they’re probably doingit low-key. (laughs) At the car and bike showin Atlanta we taught Ne-Yo’s mom, T-Pain’smom, and Lil Wayne’s momma how to do thedougie, so that was a good look too. Theyalready knew how to do it, so it’s crazy!What was your favorite moment last year?Shoot, performing at the [BET] Hip HopAwards! I remembered being at home watchingthe show, so for me to finally be on there,that’s crazy. I used to be like, “I wanna be onthere one day,” and it actually came true. Itwas crazy!Are there any negative aspects to having ahuge hit single like “Teach Me How to Dougie”before you have a nationwide fan base?Yeah, because people think that we canonly make songs like that. “Teach Me Howto Dougie” is a bubblegum song. It’s simpleand it’s catchy, but it blew up. So there couldbe a negative side to that because peoplethink we’re just one-hit wonders, but that’snot what it is. When the album drops they’regonna know.For people who haven’t heard the othersongs, what kind of music do you do in additionto radio hits?It’s kinda hard to pinpoint, because we don’thave a certain sound. Our sound doesn’tsound too West Coast or too East Coast. It’sjust our own Cali swag. It’s kinda hard toexplain. We’ve got our own flavor.The name Cali Swag District is pretty selfexplanatory,but what made you settle onthat for your name?Our visionary came up with the name; he’sthe one that put the group together. Hehad the name before the faces. When wefirst heard the name, we were like, “I don’tknow, it’s kinda corny,” but we just ran with itanyway. It’s different. Nobody has a name likeours, and it means something to us. So we allgot it tatted on us.Who is your visionary and how did he selecty’all to be a part of Cali Swag District? Didhe hold auditions or something?No, our visionary is Big Wy, he used to be apart of The Relatives, which was a rap groupin the 90s. He was signed to Death Row a longtime ago. I guess he wanted to start freshand do something new, so he decided to puta group together. He knew Yung throughYung’s manager, because Yung has beenrappin’ since he was 14 years old. Yung wasdoing his solo thing and he needed a DJ, sothat’s where C-Smoove came in. He was aDJ for the city of Inglewood; that’s where hegrew up. So once they brought him in and dida song together, Big Wy started thinking theycould be the two dudes to start the group.M-Bone was there already because he used tohang with Yung most of the time. C-Smoovebrought me in, and once Big Wy saw us alltogether, he was like, “I think I got somethinghere.” [In our group] there’s a tall dude, a shortdude that looks Asian, a dark skinned dude,and a dude that looks almost white. It’s kindacrazy, but it works.What else do you have coming up? Is thereanything else you’d like to plug?We’re trying to do more TV. Maybe a realityshow or some movies. I think 2011 is gonnabe a big year for us, besides just the tour andthe album dropping. //OZONE MAG // 17

LIL BTHE BASED GODWords by Julia Beverly18 // OZONE MAG

LIL B USED THE PACK AS A SPRINGBOARDTO LAUNCH HIS OWN SOLO CAREER ANDSOON LINKED UP WITH SOULJA BOY. NOW,THE BASED GOD HAS GOT THE INTERNETGOING NUTS, THANKS TO HIS QUIRKY--ANDOFTEN OFFENSIVE--SENSE OF HUMOR ANDA FLURRY OF STREAM-OF-CONSCIOUSNESSRHYMES. HERE HE TALKS ABOUT NEGO-TIATING A RECORD DEAL WITH 50 CENT,AND THREATENS TO SODOMIZE PRESIDENTOBAMA. (WHAT?!?)Let’s go back a little because even with thisnew fame that you’re getting, I think a lot ofpeople aren’t aware that you got your startas part of The Pack and that whole movement.What’s going on with the group?Yeah, definitely. Well, as far as The Pack, we’restill together and still grindin’. That was myfirst start in the game, grinding with them,coming into the game really early. We gotsigned when I was around fifteen or sixteen,so that gave me a jump start, and I just neverreally stopped working. Even before we gotsigned, I was always working indirectly. Iwasn’t really doing it to get famous, but justdoing it to be heard and get into the parties.Did you always plan on breaking off to doyour solo thing?I was always a solo artist at heart. It’s just ablessing that we all had an amazing dynamictogether and we all clicked and could makehits together. That’s an amazing gift we had.It’s very rare that four people can click andsound good together. But yeah, I’ve alwaysbeen a solo artist.You’re affiliated with Soulja Boy’s SODMGlabel now, right? How did you link up withSoulja Boy?The first time me and Soulja Boy really connectedwas on Myspace, years before hegot famous off “Crank Dat.” He added me onMyspace and when I listened to that songon his page, I was like, damn, “Crank Dat” isamazing. I hit him up and asked him to letme get on the remix. He never hit me backand then he blew up. A few years later I wasdropping videos on Worldstar Hip Hop andSoulja Boy quoted one of my lines on Twitter.I was at my pa’tna’s house in L.A. when I sawit, and I was like, “Man, Soulja, what’s up bruh,let’s rock. That’s love!” He followed me backand we’ve been gettin’ it in ever since.Are you signed to him as a solo artist?I’m not signed to anybody yet. I’m unsigned.Me and Soulja are working out some stuffpaperwork-wise and just trying to find thebest situation. But we’re both always gonnawork together.Are you in talks with other record labels?There are a few labels that have put stuff onthe table. I’ve got lawyers looking over thepaperwork and stuff like that. I’ma give youan exclusive, too – nobody knows about this.I’m out here [in New York] to meet up with 50Cent. We’re gonna meet up and see what’sup. The labels are going nuts right now andeverybody is trying to get down, so I’m tryingto pace myself and be smart and handlewhat I’ve gotta handle and pay attention tothe music. I’m just trying to keep happy andstay in tune with the music and keep buildingtowards a big buy-out.You and 50 Cent seem to have somethingin common because you both like to getpeople’s attention by being intentionallycontroversial. For example, when you comeout with a video saying “hoes on my dickcause I look like Jesus” or threaten to anallyrape Kanye West, how much of that is realityand how much of it is for shock value?That’s my sense of humor. I have a crazysense of humor and I know how to get underpeople’s skin. I like to make people go, “Ohmy God!,” you know what I mean? That’s kindof like the jokester that I am. I’m fearless. Idon’t censor myself; that’s a big thing for me.I just have fun, make jokes, get reactions,and put my personality into the game to letpeople see a new way of thinking.Let’s talk about this whole “Based God”thing. Is that an actual religion?Nah, nah. Based God is not a religion. Basedis not a religion nor a cult. I hear a lot of peopleassociating it with a cult and saying thatI have a “cult following” and stuff like that,but it’s not a religion. The Based God ideaoriginated from my freestyles. I freestyledabout one thousand songs out of my homestudio and released those songs. With thatstream of consciousness, I found this othercharacter within myself, which is the BasedGod. So that’s really where it came from.It’s not a religion or anything like that. It’sjust an untouchable character. I’m BrandonMcCartney and Lil B is this crazy person fromthe hood who says whatever he wants, he’sthe rebel. The Based God is more in touchwith the spiritual side.Okay, I know you defended this by sayingit’s your sense of humor, but let’s talk aboutthe song “hoes on my dick cause I look likeJesus.” Obviously a lot of people took of-OZONE MAG // 19

fense to that. Do you believe in Jesus? And ifso, how do you justify that?I definitely was raised to believe in God andrespect the church. When I made that songand when I did that video, I prayed and talkedto God. I said to God, “You know how I reallyfeel about you, and you know that I love you,and you know why I’m doing this.” He knowswhat’s in my heart. I’m a spiritual person. Inever read the Bible or anything like that soI might not be a fanatic like everybody else,but I believe in God and I love Jesus and I’mthankful for everything I have. So I definitelybelieve in God and I wasn’t trying to disrespectanybody. I prayed and told God thank you andasked him for forgiveness, and that helped me.“God has a lotmore fans than Ido... I don’t wantto disrespectanybody. thatwas me just beinga rebel becausethat’s how I feel.‘Hoes on my dickcause I look likeJesus.’ I mean, wholooks betterthan Jesus?"So you gave God a little disclaimer?(laughs) Exactly.So when you say that God knows why youdid that song – why did you do it? Basicallyjust to get your name out there? Or what doyou mean by that?Yeah. I guess I’m the only person in the worldthat’s done that, you know? God has a lot morefans than I do. God has a lot more fans than LilWayne. I don’t want to disrespect anybody. I’vegot a sense of humor, but I haven’t met Godyet. When I die or something, I’ll know [if hefinds it funny]. But I pray to the man, I pray tothe spirit, you know, I’m thankful for everything.And I don’t mean money. I don’t thankhim when I get money, I just mean in general.So that was me just being a rebel becausethat’s how I feel. “Hoes on my dick cause Ilook like Jesus.” I mean, who looks better thanJesus? Feel me?You felt like doing a song about Jesus wouldget you more attention than a Lil Waynefeature, basically?Yeah, I think God got more fans than Wayne.Wayne might be coming up second or third.(laughs)Okay, what about the Kanye comment? Yousaid on Twitter that if Kanye West didn’tagree to do a song with you, you wouldanally rape him. Did he agree to do a songwith you or are you going to have to fulfillyour threat?I got a show with Kanye coming up atCoachella. And it’s funny because Kanye didacknowledge me. I tend to forget it. I directedand edited this video called “Swag OD” withSoulja Boy. Kanye posted that on his blogbefore he was on Twitter. So he had alreadyacknowledged me and I kinda forgot thatand I was trippin’. But yeah, man, I was joking.I’m not really gonna rape Kanye or anythinglike that. I just want to work with him. He’sa legend and I’ve got some amazing beatsthat nobody on earth has ever heard. I wannahook him and Jay up with some very maturemusic; something that’s real revolutionary. Sothat’s the only reason why I would go to greatlengths like that. I wouldn’t say something likethat if I didn’t have something revolutionary inmy pocket.Do you produce all your own music?I do a lot of production but I also have inhouseproducers that I work with that takecare of me. I have about 8 serious producers.Well, your method seems to be workingbecause you’ve really generated a lot of buzzrecently. Would you credit it to your workethic, your music talent, or the shock value ofsome of the stuff you’ve put out there?All around. Just being able to turn a negativeinto a positive, working hard, not caring whatpeople think about you. It’s really an all-aroundthing. I put in a lot of work and I think with alot of the situations I’ve been through, I musthave a reason to be in the game because a lotof rappers wouldn’t be able to survive stufflike that. It’d be career suicide. I already killedmy career a couple times, you feel me? Whocan say they’re gonna fuck Kanye West in theass and still have a career? Who gets punchedon YouTube and still gets respect, feel me?Ain’t nothing changed, you know? All theshit that I’ve been through – for me to still behere shooting magazine covers and gettingmillions of views on YouTube – I’ve had to turnnegatives into positives, and by believing inmyself, I think that’s the main thing. Regardless20 // OZONE MAG

of anything I believe in myself and I know whatI’m here to do and that’s promote positivewords. I just want to promote this positivemessage that’s at my core. I feel like peopleshould live a certain way, with love, compassion,and empathy; not judging. I’m deeperthan just a rapper. So that’s the message, andhowever I gotta get that across, no matterhow long it takes me or whatever I gotta do tobecome heard and use that position of influencefor the right things, I’ma do it. If I gottasay I’m gonna fuck President Obama in the assfor me to spread this positive energy, I’ma doit. I want people to live together and be happy.And you know I won’t fuck President Obama inthe ass – cause you know the phone we’re onright now is probably tapped – so I’m not makingany threats to the President or anythinglike that. But basically, I strongly believe in thecore message and the core foundation that Irepresent. It’s deeper than rap with me. Waydeeper than rap.But how is saying that you’re going to fuckPresident Obama in the ass “spreading apositive message”? You’re using controversyto get people’s attention so that you can thengive a positive message?Exactly. Like, will I really fuck Obama in the ass?No. But am I going to be the one person that’llsay it? Maybe. You know what I mean? MaybeI’m the only person brave enough to say that.Maybe I’m taking it a little too far, but that’sthe extreme lengths I’m willing to go to spread“will i really fuckobama in the ass?no. but maybe i’mthe only personbrave enough tosay it; that’s theextreme lengthsi’m willing to goto spread thispositive message.if i gotta walkaround nakedin the snow tospread this message,that’s whati’m gonna do.”this positive message. If I gotta walk aroundnaked in the snow to spread this message,that’s what I’m gonna do. It’s for the people. It’sbigger than me. There’s people dying to thismusic, you know? There’s people dying becauseof the messages [in this music]. Peoplelove these artists but they aren’t showing bothsides of the picture. I’ve lived both sides oflife. I almost lost my life in the streets when Iwas living negatively. And now I’m one of thehappiest people on earth, just by spreadingpositive energy. I wanna show both sides ofthe field at all times, while I’m young and whilepeople respect what I’m saying. I’m still in thestreets and I’m still close to the people, so Iknow what’s going on.You put out a book a while back too, tospread your positive message?Yeah, when I was 19 I wrote a book called“Taking Over by Imposing the Positive.” It wasabout trying to further the message deeperthan music. I just wanted to show another sideto me, so people can’t say that I’m one-sided. Ifpeople want to dig for the message, it’s there.You can see the real me if you dig deep. Thelove is there for you. I’ma keep working hardand doing what I gotta do. But for the peoplethat did read it, I mean, it changed people’slives. People gave me feedback because myreal email address is in the book. I made surepeople could hit me up. It definitely changedpeople’s lives and helped other people, soit’s all love over here. I do it out of love forthe people. If I didn’t care about society and Ididn’t care about making people happy andhelping people, why would I have writtenthat book? I wouldn’t have pushed myselfto write that book at such a young age. Witheverything else that’s going on, I really wantedto use this time – while people care about meand respect what I say – for the right things. Iwanna balance it out regardless, because I’myoung and I feel different ways. I say some crazyshit. I might not be happy all day long butI’m still gonna remain positive no matter what.I just wanna make sure I balance out the crazyshit. We’re human and we make mistakes, butit’s really about who you are as a person at theend of the day. What do you represent? Do yourepresent love and peace or do you representseparation and individuality? All that is coolbut I’d rather people get together and feed offeach other’s energy and spread the love. We allneed help.When you talk about love and compassion,of course those are positive qualities, butalso kind of abstract. When you talk aboutyour “message,” is there a specific cause orOZONE MAG // 21

goal you want to see this generation rallytogether towards?Well, I really wanna help people stop judgingat first glance. I want people to feel like it’sokay to talk to other people and make that initialfirst step to break the ice. I want people totravel, meet others, and be able to listen. Whenyou listen to people, that can help out a greatdeal because you start to feel empathy forthem and start to relate to them. I really want“drugs or nodrugs, i’ma be me.but i do be hungry.like, if i’mextremely hungryand i haven’teaten, i will saysome crazy shit.that’s honestlywhere the kanyestatement camefrom. i was hellahungry and iwanted to workwith [kanye] inthe studio.”to be able to bring people into other people’sshoes. That’s my big thing. I want people tofeel like the world understands how you feel,instead of thinking, “She’s a woman, I can’trelate to her,” or, “We’re very different, I can’t relate.”I want everybody to be able to relate andfind ways that are similar. I’m not too far fromyou, and we’re not too far from each other. Wecould talk for days about all the things I reallywant to do. I meet people every day and I learnstuff every day; I see more situations I want todeal with. On the news I see people complainingabout saggy pants and all that, but there’smore serious things to deal with – there’s morelove we could be spreading to further thecommunity and just bring people together ingeneral. I want to see less separation. There’sa lot of unconscious things we do as peoplethat are really separating us from each other. Iwanna bring less separation and more unity.You’ve been putting out a ton of musiconline and a lot of viral videos. Are you planningto release a full-length album soon?Yeah, I’ve definitely got an album that I’mworking on right now, and it sounds amazing.I’ve got a movie coming out. I wanna writesome more books and I’m just gonna keepworking hard and waiting for the right timewhen the world wants me to see. I’m ready towork and be here for some years and makeit undeniable. I know it’s gonna take time foreverybody to see what I have to offer to theworld and secure my position in the game. Iknow I’ve got a lot of hard work to do and alot more left to accomplish. I’ve gotta makesure the people want me to win. Once thepeople want me to win, that’s when I’ll dropthe album.Are any of these shock-value statements wetalked about drug-induced?I think I’ll keep that a secret. Michael Jacksondidn’t tell anybody what he was doing. WhenMichael Jackson was still alive he wasn’t tellingpeople, “Alright, let’s pop some pills and hitthat moonwalk and then we’re done.” Feel me?But that’s just me. Drugs or no drugs, I’ma beme. But I do be hungry. Like, if I’m extremelyhungry and I haven’t eaten, I will say somecrazy shit. That’s honestly where the Kanyestatement came from. I hadn’t eaten all dayand I was hella hungry and I wanted to workwith [Kanye] in the studio.(laughs) Okay.You need to make sure you eat that food, youknow what I mean? (laughs) I wasn’t high oranything [when I made the Kanye statement].Maybe you should have a personal chef thattravels with you or something.Exactly. I need to step my money up, and that’swhat’s gonna happen real, real soon. If I keepgoing hard, it’s gonna happen.Do you have any other shows or events comingup? Anything else you’d like to say?I have Coachella coming up soon. Shouts outto you and OZONE for showing the support;y’all been holding it down since day one. I’makeep working hard til I get that OZONE frontcover, feel me? I’ma work hard as hell andbecome undeniable. That’s what I’m workingtowards. I’m just proving myself in the game.I’m a student of the game. Hit me up on twitter.com/lilbthebasedgodor youtube.com/lilbpackone or facebook.com/lilbthebasedgod.You know I got love for you JB, and we’lljust keep it rolling. I got a lot of stuff to proveand plenty of years to do it, so hopefully Godlets me stay alive so we can grow and do ittogether. //22 // OZONE MAG

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40 GLOCC, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS BIGBAD 40, TALKS ABOUT CHOOSING BE-TWEEN MONEY AND FAME, HIS UPCOMINGALBUM WITH SPIDER LOC, AND HOW PO-LICE ARE USING HIS MUSIC AGAINST HIM.Often when your name comes up, theretends to be some controversy involved. Areyou intentionally trying to stay in the mixor does it just come naturally to you?I mean, I don’t have problems with nobody. Ithink people pay too much attention to Twitter,for one. Twitter is just a source of entertainmentfor me. But anything else like that,you might call it “staying in the mix” but I callit documenting my life. My life has alwaysbeen like that. There’s always something goingon. I don’t know if I painted the picture ofalways being into something. I think shit justcomes to me. I attract bullshit sometimes.You’re working on a release with SpiderLoc, right?Yeah, we did a joint album called GraveyardShift. It’s real dope. We’ve got Drama on itwith us, MC Eiht, Kurupt, Obie Trice, youknow. It’s an in-store release and I’m droppingit through my label Zoo Life Entertainment.I’m sure you’ve had offers from majorlabels. Do you feel like it’s a better situationfor you financially to drop it yourself?Yeah, the way the terms are right now, if youdrop something on a major label you reallyaren’t seeing any dough. You’ll have to waiton your advance. For me, with the type ofmoney I run through during an average year,it doesn’t even make sense. The [major label]advance money wouldn’t even bail me outof jail. I’ve got houses, you know. I got hellabills. I don’t just have “a crib,” I have “cribs,”you know what I mean? (laughs) I pay billsjust like any regular muthafucker.There are a lot of West Coast artists who sellrecords independently in the region butaren’t really known worldwide. Do you feellike you have to make a choice betweenmaking money or being famous?Yeah, that’s definitely the choice you gottamake: make money or be famous. Peoplethink they want the fame, but after they getthe fame and see what type of situation itis, they don’t like it anymore. They’ll learnthat the fame shit isn’t cool. They’re runningaround like a slave, the label is sending themhere and there, landing in Tokyo, Japan orsomewhere in Wisconsin and they’ve onlygot twenty dollars to their name. But thefans don’t know that, so they’ve still gotto go out there and act like they’ve got itsuper-poppin’. They spent their advancemoney already and this goes on every year,because most of them sign a four-to-sevenyear deal, depending on their success. Soit’s kind fucked up if you’re not that onesuccessful artist. If you don’t get that onelucky record and if you don’t hit right off thebat, you know, it’s hard to make a career foryourself and keep it crackin’, even if you’reon a major label. They’re going to put you onthe shelf, and then all you’ve got is the littlefame they built for you off the relationshipsthey have with the media and tabloids. So it’shella fucked up if you ask me, but that’s whya lot of West Coast artists stay independent.Everybody can sell dope, but that doesn’tmean everybody’s gonna be successful sellingdope, you know what I mean? You’ve gotniggas that know how to sell keys and curbserver niggas – that’s what we call them, theniggas that just gotta be pushin’ stone tostone every day, you know?You were in jail recently, right? What wasthat about?I’ve been going through litigation for the lastthree years. They’re accusing me of doingcertain things because of my music. Theybasically convicted me through my music,but it was a civil suit [not criminal charges]. Iwas telling everybody that this is what [thegovernment] is doing to everybody now.They just started taking it out of [California]to other spots and now they’re doing it overseas.They’ll give out gang injunctions and allthat shit. They’ll go through the communityand label everybody as a gang member.So if you get caught with me, the policewill assume you’re a gang member. That’sbasically how they did me, but they did it tome through my music. They said that I say[gang-related] things in my music. I don’thave any felonies; I haven’t been convicted ofany crimes. So they filed a civil suit and theysued me. When they sue you, it’s punishablethrough the court system. So anything youdo after that can make you a criminal. If I’mjaywalking or I’ve got an open container inthe streets, it’s not a misdemeanor anymore.They add a “gang enhancement.” They makeit a felony. That’s basically why they raisedmy bail up to $100,000, because they found aweapon. There’s a weapons charge and theyadded a gang injunction, which automaticallyboosts everything to a felony.Are you looking at doing some time?I was set up on an attempted murder of a24 // OZONE MAG

40 GLOCCWords by Julia Beverlypolice officer. It was a shoot-out where they shot me. Mybail was a million dollars. Just because the bail is a high-assprice, I don’t look at it like [I’m going to have to do time]. Theyaccused me of having dynamite sticks and shit like that. Mybail has always been a million dollars. If you look at my trackrecord, all my bails have always been a million, half a million,$700,000, stuff like that. So this little $100,000 bail ain’t shit. Imean, yeah, they want me to do time, but I don’t thinkI’m looking at doing no time. I ain’t worried aboutthem muthafuckers, man. I’m continuing withmy day. I feel like I’m blessed. I’m still walkingwith my head up and my chest out, youknow what I mean? Chin up. I feelgood. I’m not worried about doingany time. I don’t go into fights tolose; I fight to win.You changed your name from40 Glocc to Big Bad 40. Was that alegal strategy?I changed it because everybody wasgetting it misconstrued. My name isreally an acronym. The “40” is for 40acres and a mule, and the G.L.O.C.C.stands for “Ghetto Legally Oppressedwith Crooked Cops.” But with allthe controversy and the bullshit,they kept saying that my namewas promoting gang violenceand promoting trouble. They’relike, “All he does is talk aboutgangbangin’.” Well, all I can dois talk about what I know. Thisis what I’ve lived through. I’mnot mad at nobody for beinga gang member. I’m not madat nobody for being a Bloodor a Crip or whatever theywant to be. But for me, I feltlike it was time to changeand make that transition. Iwas like, “Okay, I’m just BigBad 40,” you know what Imean? That’s already myname. I wasn’t scared ofthe courts or nothing likethat. People can still callme 40 Glocc, but asyou learn in business,with allthe violenceand shit that happensin America, like theshooting that just happenedin Arizona, the radiostations don’t want to play a“if you dropsomething on amajor label youreally aren’t seeingany dough...with the typeof money I runthrough duringan average year, itdoesn’t even makesense. The advancemoney wouldn’teven bail me out ofjail."OZONE MAG // 25

song by “40 Glocc.” It kinda puts them in abad situation. That’s why I transitioned overto Big Bad 40 just to have a new image, anda new look. Everybody thinks they know me,but they don’t really know me. They just listento the music, but it’s regular street music.So they actually read your lyrics in court?Yeah, they were reciting my lyrics in court.They played every one of my YouTube videosin court. They did all that. Even the judgewas like, “You told me you had a case. Youdidn’t tell me you were bringing in YouTubevideos.” (laughs) He said, “I thought you hadsome real surveillance footage but you’rein my court playing YouTube.” But he stilllet them play it, and he didn’t accept it asevidence, but that’s how they structuredtheir whole case against me. If you’re aroundgang members, and they’re trying to showthat you’re affiliated, that’s all they have toprove because it’s a civil lawsuit. With a civillawsuit, you can’t have a jury trial. They won’tlet me have a jury trial even though I askedfor it. The District Attorney didn’t want meto have a jury trial because he knows if I wasbeing judged by my peers, the people wouldsee how they’re adding these loopholes andtwisting the laws to lock up innocent muthafuckers.They don’t want to have a jury trialbecause even senior citizens would come inand see that they’re violating my constitutionalrights. They’re making everybodycriminals. But I don’t think they’re going torealize this until it spreads widely enoughand starts affecting citizens around theglobe. When it starts affect their daughtersand sons and cousins and uncles and mothersand children, that’s when they will seewhat they’re doing. It’s the same as dope. Itstarts in the minority communities but whenit starts reaching the suburbs, it’s a problem.The government put the dope there in thefirst place. That’s the same they’re doing withthe gang injunction shit – they’re labelinginnocent muthafuckers. They’re labelingthree hundred people in the neighborhoodas gang members. They’re putting everybody’sname on the gang injunction eventhough 80% of them aren’t even active gangmembers. They just happen to live in theneighborhood, you know? It’s gonna starttrickling down into the suburbs. For example,let’s say you live in the suburbs but you havea kid who’s friends with a gang member. Thepolice stop him and he tries to tell them he’snot in a gang, but the police assume they’rein it together. They put him in the gang fileand the next time he gets pulled over, for amisdemeanor or anything, they’re gonna hithim with gang enhancement. When peoplestart realizing what’s going on, that’s whenthe class action suits are going to come.What else are you working on music-wisebesides the Spider Loc project?I’ve got a mixtape album I’m droppingstrictly on iTunes called “COPS,” and thenmy album “New World Agenda.” I moved thedate so I could prepare more. The first singleI dropped was with Ray J and then I droppedthe remix with me, Twista, and Yo Gotti, soI’ve just got a slew of shit I’ve been workingon with everybody. I’ve got shit with me, PaulWall, Chamillionaire, and OJ da Juiceman.I’ve got a slew of shit. I just finished my nextsingle too. I’m dropping the video with me,Snoop, E-40, Xzibit, Too $hort, Ice Cube, andmy man Seven. Everybody’s in the video, it’scalled “Welcome to California,” just introducingeverybody to this new era. Me andCee-Lo did a record together that’s a banger.I’m just showing everybody the versatilityof my music. Everybody thinks I’m on somebullshit; they just judge me off the Lil Wayneand Baby shit. But a lot of the shit I say, I’mjust clowning. If somebody wants to take itpersonally and see me man-to-man, we cando that. But that’s not what it’s about. I’mnot trippin’ on Baby or Slim or Wayne or noBloods or Crips. I tripped that time becausehe was doing something disrespectful, butthat shit is from last year. It’s a brand newyear.So is Cash Money good when they comeout to L.A. for All Star weekend?I ain’t got no problem with them niggas.As long as nobody in their crew is speakin’about me, I ain’t lookin’ for them. It was justthat one issue, and we nipped it in the budand that’s what it was. There’s still people outthere instigating. People tell me, “Drake hasa song with Nicki Minaj and he’s dissing youon it,” but I’m not the only 40 out there, so Ididn’t pay attention to that shit. I don’t getdown with all that he-say, she-say shit. I don’tcare about that. If we see each other face-tofacewe’ll see what it is. I’m a pretty up-frontnigga. I don’t really have too much to say onrecords either.Where are some of the spots people needto hit when they come to LA for All Starweekend?My homegirl SKG is throwing a few partieswith Trina and G-Unit. Everybody’s gonna bein the building, man. Everybody’s gonna bedressed good. Let’s have a ball. It’s All Starweekend, so it’s all good. //26 // OZONE MAG

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TERRACEMARTINWords by Randy RoperPhoto by D-Ray28 // OZONE MAG

Los Angeles rapper/producer TerraceMartin shares the break-up storythat inspired his latest EP, Here, MyDear.My idea came from the Marvin Gaye recordHere, My Dear, which came out in December1978. He had gone through a crazy divorcewith his ex-wife, and the whole relationshipwas just crazy. He did the record [under] anagreement to give his ex-wife the proceedsand the publishing from the record.I was going through a crazy relationshipmyself, so basically I patterned the wholeproject off of that [idea]. It was a very publicrelationship and it was open to everybody inL.A. Everybody knew about me being withthis crazy girl and everybody had witnesseda lot of bullshit throughout the course of therelationship. One of my friends that witnessedsome of [the bullshit] is a girl named DeviDev [who is also a radio personality]. That’show Devi got involved, ‘cause she came tomy house one night like, “The girl you’re withis crazy. She’s causing scenes. You’re gonnaend up doing a record like Marvin Gaye ifyou continue on with this woman.” Anyway, Igot back with the girl, but when we broke upagain, I went through a crazy ass depression. Ihadn’t been doing any music and then I calledDevi, like, “I want to do my own Here, My Dearproject.” It was the first project where I reallypoured out my heart on the project. It’s verysincere. I did it not caring about radio, not caringabout politics, not caring about niggas orgirls or what anybody said about me, just notcaring and really doing music that hits me inmy spirit and my soul.player in the world. He’s the one that put meon, and he’s a huge guy in L.A., so he’s playingall over the project. A good friend of minenamed Mr. Kenneth Crouch, who is a part ofthe famous Crouch family, is on the record.He’s a famous producer; he played with EricClapton, B.B. King, Mariah Carey, everybodyyou could think of. I wanted to reach out toeverybody cause I was trying to mold thisproject after a lot of Quincy [Jones’] records. Itwasn’t just Quincy producing all those records,he had a team. And that’s what I wanted to do.The biggest ego in the room on this recordwas the music. I reached out to other producers,other keyboard players, other horn players.I just sat back and put the pieces of the puzzletogether, and we have Here, My Dear. It was abeautiful process, ‘cause I also learned how todo a whole body of work, and try to appeal toas many people as I possibly could.[My ex-girl] called me after she heard theproject. There are a few songs that are aimedat her, ‘cause that’s how I felt at the time. Andthose are the songs she said she was extremelyhurt by. And there were other songs thatmade her smile, ‘cause at the end of the day, arelationship whether it’s good or bad, to me,once you come out of it, we all learn something.I like the fact that I learned a lot aboutmyself through that relationship, through her. Idon’t like a lot of the other bullshit she put methrough...The rest of this interview is featured in OzoneMagazine Issue #85:The whole project isn’t about this one girl, butthat kicked off the whole thing. At the end ofday I believe God put that person in my life so Icould take a closer look at myself in the mirrorand learn some things about myself that I’vebeen running from, as far as insecurities, anda lot of other stuff. So I really did this wholeproject as in Here, My Dear, saying I’m givingthe girl this last conversation. I’m giving myold management this last conversation, andI’m giving the old Terrace Martin this lastconversation in this body of work called Here,My Dear.I put hundred and five million percent [into theproject], and this was the first project where Ireached out to a few other musicians. We haveMarion Williams that played guitar on almostevery record, we have Andrew Boucher, heplayed with everybody, he’s my favorite bassOZONE MAG // 29

YA BOYWords by D-Ray30 // OZONE MAG

KONVICT MUSIC ARTIST YA BOY TELLSOZONE HOW HE’S ABLE TO MAINTAIN RELA-TIONSHIPS WITH THE GAME AND AKON ANDSTILL GET HOLLYWOOD LOVE FROM PARISHILTON AND BRITNEY SPEARS.For those who might not be familiar withyou, can you start off by telling us who YB isand where you’re from?YB is short for Ya Boy. I come from the BayArea, San Francisco. I started when I was 17under San Quinn and Done Deal Entertainment.I’ve got two cousins that are pioneers inthe Bay Area rap scene – San Quinn and MessyMarv. I’m just that young wild nigga.Your first record “16’s With Me” was a hit. Howdid it feel to be sitting in the room with allthose DJs as a youngin’ tryin’ to get on andyou played your record and they went wild?It was a good feeling. I really didn’t expect itto blow up how it did. Everything that happensin my life, to me, is a surprise. The resultsalways end up ten times better than expected,and that’s a good thing, because I’m alwayssurprising myself. When I was trying to getmyself heard there were a million other peopletrying to get heard, but the people chose me.I remember when they first played the songon the radio and played it like eight times in arow. Big Von played it back to back and peoplekept calling me saying, “You’re on the radio!”It was the best feeling ever. That was my firsttaste of stardom back then.Today you have one of the hottest songs onPower 106 in Los Angeles, so that has to bea blessing. How does that feel to be gettinglove on Power 106 as a Bay Area artist?That’s huge. It’s so hard to get played and evenget one spin on L.A. radio, so for me to be inheavy rotation and have the number one songon L.A. radio, that’s crazy.song they were upset about, because it’s afeel-good song.Some people want to turn something like thatinto something negative, and it just showstheir ignorance.You’re still running with The Game too, right?Yeah, he’s a busy guy and I’m a busy guy, butit’s respect there. I fuck with him and he fuckswith me. I’ve got my own thing going. I felt likeit helped my career a lot when I started fuckingwith The Game. I was fresh out of the Bayand I had no idea what the industry was like oranything as far as independent. Fucking withhim helped me learn the ropes a little bit. I justsoaked it up and it helped me a lot.What about Kevin Federline? A lot of peoplethought that was crazy when you started beingseen together. How did that come about?I was living in Malibu, and Kevin Federline andBritney Spears were also living in Malibu sowe were like neighbors. Of course I was in thestudio out there tearing shit up, and there’snothing but rich and famous people out there.Everybody that went in the studio was justblown away by my music, and he was oneof them. That’s just my pa’tna, nothing else.Whenever I go fuck with him or we go out toeat or something and Britney was around, thepaparazzi would start snapping away and Iwould be the only little hood nigga in theseUSA Weekly and OK! Magazines...The rest of this interview is featured in OzoneMagazine Issue #85:There was a lot of controversy behind therecord “We Run L.A.” What is it about, fromyour perspective?The song was paying homage to the city ofLos Angeles. I moved out here when I wasyoung. I lived out here for a few years and I seewhere it’s going. It’s a beautiful city. I see a lotof people – models, movie stars, actresses, actors– coming out here trying to make it. It wasbasically just a theme song for them. I was payinghomage to the city sort of like Tupac didwith “To Live And Die In L.A.” A lot of peoplemisunderstood the concept at first.When I heard people talking about you in thestreets I didn’t understand why that was theOZONE MAG // 31

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NEWBOYZWords by Julia BeverlyPhoto by D-Ray(l to r): Legacy, Ben JBEST KNOWN FOR POPULARIZING “JERKMUSIC” AND WEARING REALLY, REALLYTIGHT JEANS, THE NEW BOYZ ARE BACKWITH A NEW ALBUM AND AIM TO SHOWTHE SKEPTICS THEIR DIVERSITY.You guys are getting ready to drop a newalbum, right?Legacy: Yeah, it’s called Too Cool to Care, andit’s supposed to come out this spring. Wejust dropped the first official single off thealbum, “Backseat.”Are you going in a different directionmusically with this project?Legacy: Originally, our first album was basedoff the whole “jerkin’” thing, but we don’twant to be put in a box. That’s why our secondsingle “Tie Me Down” was so different.On this new album, we’re just showing ourartistic side and showing what we’re reallycapable of outside of the jerkin’ movement.Do you feel like people know you more forthe way you dress and your whole style?Did it kinda overshadow the music?Legacy: Oh yeah, of course, at first. It was sodifferent, and the fact that we had a dance,that’s why in the beginning we were knownas “those jerk kids,” you know? That’s why wehad to really go extra hard on this album. Ifeel like if you come out [first] with a dancerecord, you’ve gotta work twice as hard[afterwards] or that’s all you’re going to beknown for. But we’re definitely confidentwith this album. Once this shit gets outthere, it’s gonna be all good.It seems like the West Coast traditionallyhas been known more for gangsta music,especially during the Death Row days. Doyou feel like this is a new era for the WestCoast that you guys are able to be a partof?Legacy: Definitely. I think the West Coast isin a good state right now, and there’s a lotof artists that aren’t doing gangsta rap. Youknow, Dom Kennedy, Kendrick Lamar, Tyga,I think right now it’s about fashion and funand just real good music. So I think the West34 // OZONE MAG

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is in a good state, and it feels good to be a partof that right now during this come up.When we interviewed The Pack at one point,they felt like they had inspired your style anddidn’t really get credit for it. Would you saythat’s accurate or was it a misunderstanding?Legacy: We did us, we definitely didn’t [stealtheir style]. It wasn’t inspired by them, but youknow, that’s old stuff. We got over it. That shitgot squashed probably like a year ago, so, it’sall good.You guys started pretty early, right? Were youstill in school when you got signed?Ben J: Yeah, we had to switch schools to beable to study at home. We were going toschool hard the whole year right until wegraduated. That was in 2009, our graduatingyear.Legacy: That was my deadline year. My wholelife I was like, “I gotta get signed before Igraduate.”Were you guys the popular kids on campus?Ben J: Somewhat.Legacy: Yeah, you could say that. It wasn’t hardto be popular at our school though. Everybodywas popular, even the nerds. (laughs)One of you produces most of your tracks aswell, right?Legacy: Yeah, I produce. Well, I used to go reallyhard with it when I had Frooty Loops. I’ve gotLogic now and I’m learning the program. I’mtrying to get back on my production.Do you feel like you, or your generation ofrappers, gets respect from the older heads?Or do you hear a lot of the “that’s not real HipHop” comments?Legacy: We get hate from people who haveonly heard the jerk record and are only lookingat the dance scene. But we started gettingmore respect from people who noticed thatwe could actually rap. You know, when peopleheard “Cricketz” and stuff like that. Somepeople were saying that they don’t reallydress how we dress, but they still respect thefact that we’re doing our thing and pushingour [style] even though people are knockingit. So it’s like mixed reactions. But that’s whywe’re still working hard, so we can get moreand more respect. We’re gonna keep puttingout material and make sure it gets better andbetter.I have to be honest, the skinny jeans don’tlook too comfortable. What made you decideto start dressing that way?Legacy: Well, our jeans, first off, they aren’t astight as they used to be. They’re definitely notas tight as they were in [the video for] “YouA Jerk.” But we sagged ‘em. They wouldn’t becomfortable if you ain’t sag ‘em, but we used tosag ‘em like crazy.Ben J: It was just our swag.Legacy: Skater swag. If it wasn’t comfortablewe wouldn’t rock them.Ben J: But then again, we’re skinny dudes, sowe can fit in ‘em.You guys were actually called the SwaggerBoyz at first, right?Legacy: For like five minutes, yeah. (laughs)Ben J: A class period.Legacy: Yeah, then we changed the namereally quick.You decided that “Swagger” was too playedout or why’d you change it?Legacy: Well, back then the word “swag” wasn’tplayed out yet, but I’m glad we didn’t callourselves that. (laughs) We were just goingthrough a bunch of names and when we cameup with the New Boyz, we stuck with it.Do you guys have anything planned for AllStar weekend?Ben J: Yeah, our manager is working on someshows right now. We’re gonna be out there allweekend for the All Star game.Legacy: Yeah, I just moved right by [the StaplesCenter] so we’re gonna be goin’ hard thatweekend. We love when events be poppin’ inour city.Aside from your new single “Backseat” andthe upcoming album, is there anything elseyou want people to look out for?Ben J: Yeah, we both dropped our mixtapes.Mine is called Chill Talk and Legacy’s is calledYour New Favorite Rapper. You can get themboth on www.HotNewHipHop.com. Outsideof music, we’re in this movie called Where TheParty At? so be on the lookout for that. Legacyshoots videos too, so if you need some videosdone hit up Rule Blind Films. We’ve got ourown record label poppin’ off too, 100 Records.Is there anything else that you want to plugor mention?Ben J: Follow us on twitter.com/ImBenJ. That’smy personal page.Legacy: Mine is twitter.com/ThaLegacy. To allthe fans, thanks for all the love. We’re gonnabe uploading a lot of videos at www.Youtube.com/NewBoyzTV, and make sure you go pickup our new album Too Cool to Care. Don’t sleepon it. //36 // OZONE MAG

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THE PACKThe Bay Area foursome follows up the success of “Vans”and “My Car” with a new sound on Wolfpack PartyWords by Julia Beverly(l-r): Lil Uno, Young L, Lil B, & Stunnaman38 // OZONE MAG

Would you say you switched up your sounda little bit with this new project, WolfparkParty? What’s your vision moving forward?Young L: I haven’t been making an effort toswitch up the sound, that’s just what happened.I think I’ve just been changing [as aproducer] but I wasn’t necessarily trying tochange the sound of the group intentionally.You have some tracks on this album, especiallythe singles, that sound more dance/techno than your previous projects.Young L: Yeah, I think that’s because we gotsome outside assistance from the leader ofthe Cataracs. He produced “Wolfpack Party”and “Sex on the Beach,” which have more ofa dance flavor. The album is called WolfpackParty, so it’s designed in a way that peoplecan just put the CD in and keep the partygoing.Lil Uno: Personally, I’d say I’m pretty consistent.I feel like the album has more of aOZONE MAG // 39

dance flavor. The album is called WolfpackParty, so it’s designed in a way that people canjust put the CD in and keep the party going.Lil Uno: Personally, I’d say I’m pretty consistent.I feel like the album has more of a maturesound. It all depends on the beat, you know,and that’s how I vibe to it.Do you think that expanding your sound isbroadening your audience?Young L: I think it could broaden the audiencemore towards people who like dance music,because it’ll attract those kinds of people toour music. Also, I think it’s just kinda the righttime for us. So yeah.Have you been getting more attention frommainstream outlets aside from just the “urban”side of things?Young L: A little bit. It is geared towards someof the electronic dance music kind of thing, soI’m sure there are some new people that fuckwith us now.What have you been working on independentlyof the group?Lil Uno: I’ve been working on this LUT project.It’s not really a group, they’re just like familyand we make music together. The LUT standsfor Loyalty, Unity, and Teacher.Young L: I am putting out some solo shit. Idon’t really want to go into too much detailabout it, but I am doing some deep shit. I’vegot a lot of beats on the project The Jacka isdoing with Freeway. I’ve also got a lot of songswith Husalah. I’m doing a lot of stuff also in myown camp. We’ve been doing some mixtapesjust to keep the online shit poppin’. I couldmake beats all day but I can’t write raps all day.I do more production than anything. I alwayswanted to be a rapper but the way my personalityis, I had to kind of put that on hold for awhile. That’s why I was the last person in thegroup to start rapping. The way my personalityis, I don’t enjoy rapping at all. I’m not really anoutgoing person. I felt like I had an opportunityto do it so I should do it, but my first lovehas always been producing. I like to get in thatzone. I can make the most beats from 12 atnight til like 3:30 in the morning. That’s when Imake the most beats.When you go into the studio for a sessionwhat are a few things you need to help getyou in that zone?Young L: To keep it real, I don’t need anything.I only need my energy. I’m the kind ofperson who sleeps a lot and I don’t have a lotof energy in general, but when I get to thatpoint later in the day I get more energy. If I’mdriving home listening to music and I makesome [beats] in the house, you know, all I needis some energy. I’m not a person who needsalcohol or pills or anything like that to makebeats. It comes naturally to me.A lot of people expect that Hip Hop groupswon’t last too long since they always seem tobreak up. Even though you all have branchedoff and done other projects, what do youthink has kept The Pack together?Young L: I think one thing that has kept us togetherwas knowing that we couldn’t really besuccessful without each other at that time. Wewere aware of the fact that we needed to doa Pack album before any of us could have anysuccess solo. That kept us together, and I thinkdedication as well. You don’t want the group tothink of you as a traitor. And we all know eachother very well. Nobody knows us as well aswe do. There’s a lot of history that we would beshitting on if we were to break up. The reasonwe stay together is more on a personal tipthan the music thing.Lil Uno: From my point of view, I’d say we’re allin this because we know what we want to dowith our music and how we want to go aboutit. We all have a unique sound, so when we putit all together it sounds good. It’s fun and everybodyelse likes our music too. But we werefriends first before anything. We have a lot ofmemories. Between the music, the past, andthe relationships we’ve formed, we understandeach other. I know what makes everybody inthe group mad. I know which buttons to pushand which buttons not to push. And we allknow that about each other because we’vebeen together for so long. I grew up with Stunnaman.I met him in seventh grade when I wasskateboarding. I met D - Uno - in high school.I spent more time with D in high school thanwith any other guy that I knew at the time.That’s really how we got to know each other.So I see you’re the one who called in on timefor the interview. Are you the responsibleone of the group? (laughs)Young L: I just make sure I handle the shit thatneeds to be handled. If we go to a club, we goto the club promoting our records. So if we goto the club I’ll be the one to pick up Uno onthe way. If I have to pick up whoever, I’ll pickthem up. I’m just trying to make shit happen.I don’t want to say that [the other members]aren’t responsible but I would say I’m prettyresponsible when it comes to handling stufffor my group or for music in general.You guys were at the forefront of the wholeskater style/movement.Young L: We definitely were at the forefront of40 // OZONE MAG

that when it was poppin’. And it wasn’t that werode that momentum. We really did that shit,like skateboarding. I still skateboard. We werereally serious about our shit. At one point I wasin a skateboard group with a few other peopleand we made a skateboard time and sold it.We were really serious about it. The reason westopped pushing that movement was becauseso many people were trying to claim it and wedidn’t want to seem like one of those poserstrying to claim the movement because it waspopular at the time.Lil Uno: I think our style influenced a lot ofyoung artists that are up and coming. We’renot scared to express ourselves, so when otherpeople see that, they feel like because we’reyoung and not scared and talking nasty, theycan do that too.What would happen if the New Boyz andThe Pack ran into each other backstage at ashow? Do you guys still have problems?Young L: I don’t know. I didn’t really have aproblem with them. The only problem wasthat they said our name in a song; that’s whatmade it an issue. If I saw them, it would bewhatever they wanted it to be. If they wanteda problem there would be a problem. I mean, Idon’t really care about the New Boyz like that.I’m don’t really want to beat them up or anything.They’re a lot younger than me. I’m 23.Did you feel like they were kinda taking yourstyle?Young L: There are a lot of groups that are inthe same lane as us. Like, The Cool Kids. Theywere in the same lane as us. We weren’t necessarilymaking the same music but we wereboth young and coming out with music thatwas trendy. I saw an interview with them andthey shouted us out. We met other groups likeAudio Push who were hella cool and showedlove. We met Cold Flamez and they were cool.There weren’t any other groups aside from theNew Boyz, now that I think about it, that reallytook our style to that level like they did. I justfelt like there were plenty of opportunities toshout us out or thank us for helping to openthe door for them or saying, “We like to listento The Pack and they’re one of our inspirations.”I know that’s the truth because peoplehad our songs before they had music to jerkto. I know that they at least knew who we wereand didn’t say anything to pay respect. So itwas an insult to say something about us on arecord, on top of kinda, you know, making aneffort to steal our swag. That’s how I felt aboutit and that’s how a lot of people who don’teven know me felt about it. People who werefans of the group were insulted.Now that you’ve stopped pushing the wholeskateboard style and movement, what doyou see being the next trend?Young L: I really don’t know. That’s a goodquestion, but I don’t think I can predict that. It’sjust one of those things that’s gonna happen.People never know who the next hot artist isor how he’s going to sound. The only thing Iknow for sure about the future of music is thatthe internet is going to be at the forefront ofeverything.Lil Uno: I just want people to hear our musicand see that we’re the same dudes, just alittle more mature. I want people to listen toour music and have fun, because that’s thereason we do it. Usually we just talk about assshaking and smoking weed [in our music]. Idon’t smoke weed and I’ve never actually beendrunk, but as far as smoking as partying, youknow, that’s what we rapped about. Beingfresh, that’s all we ever used to rap about. Onthis album we have songs like “Unique,” that’skinda like mood music, and “Worry AboutMine,” which is like some classical music. Thenwe’ve got the track “Superman.” We usually justrap about booties and stuff like that, so thistime I felt like we expanded our rapping.Do you think anyone has taken the skinnyjeans trend too far?Young L: I’ve got friends that rock the skinnyjeans but I don’t even wear skinny jeans...The rest of this interview is featured in OzoneMagazine Issue #85:OZONE MAG // 41

NIOTHA GIFTWords by Ni SweetPhoto by D-Ray42 // OZONE MAG

“Succeed Never Fail,” is the motto thisBay Area artist eats, breaths andlives by. Since beginning his musiccareer at the young age of 14, NioTha Gift has proven that he’s hereto stay. The lyricist’s (calling him arapper would be an understatement)career has grown rapidly withinthe last few years. His highly anticipatedalbum H.I.P. H.O.P. (Here I presenta Hero of Poverty) released in 2009,has attracted over 40,000 viewersand downloads. With his hit singles“Grateful” and “Angels & Demons,” thislyricist has a profound way of speakingthat would make anyone have anemotional connection to his music.The first single, “Never Gon’ Change,”off his upcoming project, Super Hero,lets you know, “don’t play that Hollywoodcard with me, I am not thatdude, I don’t play that shit!”For the people who haven’t heard of you yet,what would you want them to know aboutyou as an artist?That every one of my lines are real and that I’mliving every single bar.Not too long ago you showed your fans adifferent side to your musical talent – Nio thaGift the Sang-er. How have most of your fansreacted to this? Have other artists asked youto sing on their tracks?It’s kinda just a mixture of both, a lot of peopletry to get me to do a verse and a hook on theirsongs. My fans haven’t all the way caught onto the fact that I’m singing the records ’causeit’s not like auto tune or anything like that.When they see me they don’t see the typicalR&B guy, they don’t expect this soulful typeof voice to come out of me. I think they justdon’t know, a lot of people just don’t know buteverybody has their time to find out.I’ve read a lot of reviews from people wholistened to your music, and even in my ownpersonal opinion, you’re style isn’t comparableto other Bay area artists. What wouldyou say sets you aside from other artists onthe West Coast?Well, I just feel like God makes everybodyspecial in their own way. Everything I do is Goddriven. I like to pride myself on just being me,being different. I don’t really like to get into thewhole West coast artist or Bay artist. I just tryto make sure I’m able to compete with the restof the talent in the world. I feel like whereverthe bar is, that’s were I’m trying to exceed. Alot of people fall into that shell of just trying tobe superior in the Bay and I think you shouldstrive bigger than that. Rather if you’re fromthe South, from the Bay, from NY, I feel like youshould try to be the biggest in each market,not just your market. I feel like if people juststick to their guns rather than just trying to dowhat works, if people just continue to stick towhat makes them, then people will succeeda lot faster. I think that’s what I do, I just tookthe job of giving the people me. I don’t hideanything, I don’t sugar coat anything. This isme in its rawest uncut form, I just dress it up soit’s presentable.Over 40,000 viewers got a chance to see aglimpse into your life when your video for“Grateful” was released. What kind of impacthas that video and single had on your careerso far?The funny thing about that record is, I actuallywrote that in January 2009, this was right afterthe Oscar Grant situation and I was in LA. Iwas sitting in the hotel with my cousin andstumbled across this beat I had in my emailfrom one of my producers JL. I had the emailfor three years and I never opened the email orheard the beat before in my life, until that day.When I first heard the beat, the hook instantlypopped into my head, as soon as I found themelody the words just popped into my head.I actually wrote “Grateful” in about fifteenminutes. I was out in LA with my boy Taj [whodirected the video], and I met up with himlater on that day and we were at a video shootin and he had walked over to one of his buddiesand he came back to me and said, “youwanna shoot a video?” and I said, “Hell yeah Iwanna shoot a video!” So he asked me, “wellwhat you got,” [and] I told him about “Grateful”and said, “its not recorded yet, I just wrote itlike three hours ago,” so I spit a little of it forhim. When I got back to the Bay I recorded thesong and I was back in LA a week later with afinished product. He was asking me did I wantto switch the song and I was like naw, I can’tswitch the song cause God wants me to putout this song. Ever since the day that I wrotethat record I knew that it was gonna be one ofthose ones ’cause that day my pen was movingfaster than usual, and it was kind of like I knewit needed to be said from me.After releasing a career changing album likeH.I.P. H.O.P (Here I Present a Hero of Poverty),do you feel that pressure is on you for yournext album to be just as great or greater?Naw, I don’t really believe in pressure...To read the rest of this interview, log on towww.ozonemag.comOZONE MAG // 43

PROBLEMWordsby Julia BeverlyPhoto by Just Rock44 // OZONE MAG

COMPTON RAPPER Problem plans tocapitalize off the momentum createdby his record “my ex” and ride thewave of bay-to-l.a. california unityALL THE WAY to the top.Do you have any parties or events plannedfor All Star weekend?They’re gonna see me in the streets. I’m everywhere.A couple places are trying to book mebut nothing is set yet. I plan on being everywhere.You’re gonna see Problem everywhere,all weekend. Watch!What are some of the hot spots in L.A. thatout-of-towners need to hit?The city is gonna be so booming, man. If youwant to shop, everyone goes to the BeverlyCenter. It’s crazy because I was out here performinglive when I was younger and I can justsee the difference. This shit is gonna be crazyout here, man.Let’s talk about what you have coming upmusic-wise. Is “My Ex” your official single,or just something you leaked out to keeppeople talking? What’s the status on that?I was just recording and my boy Felli [Fel]heard it and asked for a copy of it clean [forradio], so I shot it to him, and it just took offfrom there. All of these were songs I was doingfor my project What’s the Problem? that I’mabe dropping real soon. Just like the “Lobster”record, that’s been doing real good too. I don’treally have an official single right now, but if“My Ex” is working and people are fuckin’ withit, that’s what I’m fuckin’ with too, you know?Is What’s the Problem? going to be an actualalbum release or more like a mixtape?It’s bigger than a mixtape, man. It’s gonna bean event. When you’ve got a title like What’sthe Problem? you’re gonna have to understandwho I am by the end of it and who you’redealing with. There will be no mysteries aboutme at all. I’m going to give you every side ofme. There’s a visual shot for every song. I juststarted making a couple of the visuals recently.It’s gonna be a movie for real. I know peoplesay that a lot, but this is gonna be a movie forreal. It’s a lot of original records.Are you still independent or do you have alabel releasing this project?I’m under Diamond Lane Music Group, that’swhat I’m pushing right now. I’m not signedanywhere else. I’m still indie and I plan onkeeping it that way. I’ve had [major labels]calling, but that’s just not what I’m interestedin right now. I feel like it’s not time for that yet.I want to brand Problem. I want the world toknow who Problem is, what Diamond Lane is,and really embrace me for me. I’m not tryingto be anybody else. I want to develop a fanbase of people that fuck with me and fuck withmy music. I just can’t wait to see the response.So far so good. I’ve only been leaking shit forabout a month and I’ve already received callsfrom five different labels and a whole lot ofgreat situations have been offered. I’m justhaving fun right now.You seem like you go hard for a little while,then chill a bit, and then go hard again. Whatdo you think it’ll take to motivate you to goone hundred percent without falling back?Well, I have to go through all these stages ofgoing hard and pulling back because I wasjust runnin’ around out here like a chickenwith my head cut off. I really didn’t have astructure, I was just excited that people wereliking me. Then you have to deal with it whenyou don’t have the hot song out no more andpeople start acting different. It’s just life. Andnow I feel like there’s no possible way I couldlose, because I sat back and really formulateda plan. When you see a plan being executedand goals being achieved, you can’t lose. Theynever got to see me, they just heard me. This isthe first time the world gets to see me.So these videos you’re shooting now are yourfirst visuals?My first real visuals. I mean, DJ Skee shot myfirst video for the “America” record and thatgot over 200,000 plays. I did a few other videosmyself. I never really had label support, it wasjust me and my squad tryin’ to do it. You haveto really formulate a plan when you have agreat idea. It’s in the pot for real, I swear. Listen,I guarantee you this, no bullshit man, this timenext year we will be having this same conversationand you’re gonna be like, “Damn, nigga,that’s what you said.” I promise you.Who else do you see coming from Californiathat’s in the same lane as you?Everybody’s poppin’ right now. You’ve gotKendrick Lamar, YG, Skeme, Joe Moses, DomKennedy, Terrace Martin, man, it’s so manypeople right now. Everybody is all fuckin’ witheach other too. It’s crackin’ right now.Do you think the relationship between L.A.artists and Bay Area artists has gotten better?Seems like there’s more California unity.I actually just came from up there and I knowof at least three different Bay to L.A. projectsthat are being worked on right now. I’mincluded in some of them and a lot of thoseOZONE MAG // 45

names I just mentioned are included too, sotrust me, before we can get out to the rest ofthe world we’ve got to get our house right.The big homie Snoop’s album is finna drop, I’vegot two joints on there. The Game is droppingsome mixtapes, 40 finna drop. So I know for afact the relationship is getting better.What kind of responses did you get fromyour OZONE sex issue interview?(laughs) I still get people hittin’ me about thatissue. A lot of girls are like, “Damn, boy, are youfor real or are you just playin’?” or, “You’re alltalk.” And then the females that really knowme, they were like, “Damn, you just gonna telleverything?”“[rapping] is no differentfrom beinga truck driverthat has to be gonefor weeks at atime. people thinkjust because you’rein entertainment anigga doesn’t havea heart. it’s notlike that at all.”Were your baby mamas mad at you for discussingthe threesome you had with them?Naw, because it’s actually three baby mamasand [that story] only involved two of them. Sothey were all able to keep their little lies up,you know what I’m sayin’? They all pretendedit wasn’t them. So I really got out of that one.Do you have a lot of child support to pay?Three baby mamas?Naw. You only have to pay child support whenyou don’t support your child. You know, I’vebeen making money in this business for awhile. Just because y’all don’t see me doesn’tmean I ain’t being heard.How do you have time to spend with threekids in addition to launching your career?I mean, I’m not going to say it’s not hard. It’shard, but I can’t be selfish because I’m themain supplier of how [my children] eat. Ifthat’s the job I have to do, then that’s the job Ihave to do. It’s no different from being a truckdriver that has to be gone for weeks at a time.Sometimes people think that just becauseyou’re in entertainment that a nigga doesn’thave a heart and all that shit. It’s not like thatat all. It’s just like any other job – people getto see the one side, but y’all don’t get to seethe other side. You can’t judge it until you’rein it. You’ve got to have a lot of good familyand some real understanding parents, and Icommend the mothers of my children, for real.They’re real cool.What else are you working besides music?I was trying to get into this little acting thing.I had a couple opportunities so I’m trying tosee what’s up with that. I can’t really say thatI want to do anything else besides music. Ireally love to do music. If not mine, somebodyelse’s. When opportunities present themselves,I definitely try to take them all. All my skillsrevolve around music. I produce as well. I wantto try to get into TV and film production, as faras scores and stuff like that. I have a lot of differentinterests but it all involves music.Do you have any big features we should belooking out for?I got a song coming out with Terrace Martin,featuring somebody major that’s definitelygonna make a lot of noise. I ain’t gonna saywho it is but it’s one of my homeboys that hada great year in 2010. He had a fantastic yearand I’ve got a record dropping with him. I prayI’m still on the 9th Wonder album.Was “My Ex” sparked by a certain situation?Yeah, I was high. I was way loaded one night.I was lookin’ for my ex-girl and she wouldn’tanswer the fuckin’ phone. Man, I was hot. ButI was so high I was just singin’ “damn, I feel likefuckin’ my ex,” and I’m so loaded that I don’tstop singin’ it once I hang up the phone. So Ifigured out how to play the keys or whateverand made the beat and made the hook andjust talked about how I was feelin’ at that verymoment.What’s your drug of choice?(laughs) Weed. I smoke marijuana, that’s mymain source of ignorance. I love to get high.I used to do the pills a lot but I don’t fuckaround too much no more. I had some wild,wild experiences off the pills. I got to a pointwhere I got to chill out on certain shit. I’m alittle older now, you know what I’m sayin’?How can people get in touch with you?Hit me on that Twitter.com/ItsAProblem. MyTumblr is Problem354 and I’ve got a websitebeing built right now, ItsAProblem.com. DiamondLane Music Group. //46 // OZONE MAG

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JAYROCKWords by Julia BeverlyPhoto by D-Ray48 // OZONE MAG

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AFTER GETTING RELEASED FROM WARNERBROS., WATTS REPRESENTATIVE JAY ROCKLINKED UP WITH TECH N9NE’S STRANGEMUSIC AND HIT THE ROAD TO MEET HISFANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HERE, HEREFLECTS ON LEAVING THE STREET LIFEBEHIND AND HITTING THE STUDIO WITHDR. DRE.I hear you linked up with Tech N9ne andStrange Music. That sounds like an interestingcollaboration.It’s real good. Shout out to my boy TechN9ne. I’ve been on the road with him. I justgot off the Independent Grind Tour with him,E-40, and Glasses Malone. It was a real goodlook.They have a completely different style andstage performance from a lot of the rappersthat are out today. With your music beingmore on a gangsta vibe, why did you thinkStrange Music was a good home for you?Basically, I like the way Tech N9ne vibes withhis fans, man. That’s one thing about me,man, at the end of the day it’s about the fans.Being on the road and being in our fans’faces at every show, that’s a big thing to me.Just being on the road and connecting withthe fans was the best thing that could everhappen to me.They’re doing it real big on an independentlevel.Exactly. They’re one of the biggest independentcompanies that’s out right now, andthat dude’s grind is crazy. We’ve been on thatsame grind too, so just to hook up with whatthey already have rolling is a beautiful thing.You were in the Warner Bros system before,right?Yeah, everybody knew my situation overthere with Warner Bros. I had a cold recordwith me, Lil Wayne, and Will.I.Am called “AllMy Life,” that was one of the hottest records Iever did. Everybody loved it. The label didn’tquite have my back on it like they shouldhave, but I don’t want to knock Warner. I’dlike to thank them for giving me the time andthe opportunity and the chance to do what Ido. But me and my team were just unhappywith the way things were going. Everybodythought I got dropped, but that wasn’t thesituation. We went in there and got my walkingpapers.Now that you’ve seen how the major labelsystem works, being with an independentlike Strange Music, how does it compare?I mean, first off, touring. I had like seven deals[offered to me] and no other label couldoffer me the opportunity to tour as muchas Strange Music does. The major labelscouldn’t offer me touring and merchandiseand things of that nature. When I hooked upwith Strange, within a week or two of closingthe deal, I was on the road. They’ve gotmerchandise people, everything. Every daywe’d get up and do meet and greets with thefans, and that was crazy to me. They’ve reallygot it going on, and that’s what I love to do,just being on that road and touring and connectingwith the fans.In some of the new cities you visited, wereyou surprised that the fans already knewyour music?Yeah, it was amazing. The type of fans Techhas – for these dudes to know who I was – Iwas like, wow. At the first show I did “All MyLife” and people already knew the lyrics tothe song. That was crazy, because I didn’texpect that. People knew who I was and theyeven more excited than I was. They were like,“I’m so happy for you, man, I always wantedyou to sign with Tech N9ne.” That was amazingfor them to show me that much love,man. I ain’t even expect it to be like that.They knew who I was; they were familiar withmy face and a lot of my records. That was areally big thing for me.So you’re really focused on being on theroad and building your buzz up again,or do you have an actual release date oralbum plans?I’m gonna continue to be on the road doingshows, but I do have a release date of May17th, 2011. The album is called Follow MeHome and it’s a classic album, straight up.So this was the same album that Warnernever released, right? Have you revamped it?Oh yeah, I’ve got a lot of new records. Theproduction is crazy. I’ve got some of myin-house producers plus J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League,Tha Bizness, Cool & Dre, DJ Quik and a lotmore. Hopefully, Lord willing, I’ll have a Dr.Dre track on there.That would be major. How did you get ahold of Dr. Dre? That sounds pretty exclusive.The other day I had the chance to really bein the studio and work with that dude, man,and it was like a dream come true. It wascrazy to see the way he works. It was a blessing.I never thought in a million years I’d bein the studio with Dr. Dre. This is a dude thatI’ve been growing up with since I was real50 // OZONE MAG

young, you know? I never thought I’d be inthe lab with him. The vibe was real, real epic.That dude right there is focused. That dude isa perfectionist, straight up. (laughs)Did you record something with him or wereyou just throwing some ideas around?We were just vibing in the studio, man. That’swhere the magic happens. When people vibetogether that’s where the magic happens. Itwas real crazy. I’m trying to get back in thestudio with Dr. Dre real, real soon.He doesn’t work with a lot of new artists. Didhe tell you why he was impressed with you?He said he’d heard a song that me and Kendrick[Lamar] did together. He said, “Man, youhard.” (laughs) For him to say that, that wasamazing to me.That’s a big compliment coming from him.So Kendrick Lamar is with Top Dawg, youroriginal record label?Yeah, me and K Dot started out together withTop Dawg. Me and Kendrick have been workingtogether for years, grindin’. That’s my littlebro right there. We been doing our thing, webeen on our grind forever.So you’re still Top Dawg affiliated eventhough you signed with Strange Music?Yeah, of course, it’s still Top Dawg. Don’t getit twisted. Top Dawg Entertainment andStrange Music joined forces together, feelme? We’re together on the same grind.Have you had any opportunities to returnthe favor? Have you seen anybodyelse that was going in the wrong directionand been able to give them a morepositive focus?Yeah, of course. People come up to me all thetime, especially when I was on the road. A lotof people were like, “Man, your music helpedme get through,” and I’d tell them, “Don’tever give up on your dream.” Whatever youwant to do in life, just pursue it, man. Don’tlet nobody tell you nothing. Just stay awayfrom the negative, and if you want it you canget it. Go hard in whatever you’re trying todo, whether it’s music, or school, or whateveryour goal is. If you’ve got a goal, pursue yourgoal. Just do it and don’t give up.Do you feel like there’s more unity now onthe West Coast?Of course, we’re all getting together. Everybodyis out here doing their thing and everybody’smaking good music, so why not gettogether? Ain’t nobody hating on nobodyelse. We can all be one, man. We’re all tryingto get to the top together.Are you doing any events for All Star weekendthat people should know about?Yeah, man, it’s a lot of stuff going on rightnow. I’m gonna be in all the spots and youcan catch me out there in the streets. Whereverit’s poppin’ at, that’s where I’m gonnabe. //In one of our earlier interviews youtalked about how Top Dawg sort ofkidnapped you in the studio and forcedyou to focus on your music. Haveyou been able to leave the street lifebehind?(laughs) Ah, yeah. You know, I’m still outhere, but my focus is music. It’s crazy thatyou said that; shout out to dude Dawg.That’s Top Dawg, man, he was like a realbig homie. He saw me in the streets justacting up and being hard-headed, andhe knew I had the talent to rap. A lotof people knew I had the talent to rap.Everybody was on me like, “You got it,man, we want you to do that music, don’tbe out here [bangin’].” All my friendsand family were telling me that, so Ifigured if that’s my calling, I gotta do it. Ifeverybody’s telling me to keep doing themusic, you know, that’s love. That’s wheremy focus is now.OZONE MAG // 51

MESSYMARVWords by Julia Beverly52 // OZONE MAG

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MESSY MARVEverybody knows you’re a West Coast dude,but you’ve been moving around a lot lately.Did you just need a change of scenery?As a whole, [artists] in the Bay Area are justcontent with where we are. That’s just myopinion. I fuck with a lot of different peoplearound the world, and I’m out networking andtrying to build my brand.Do you think living in different places affectsyour style of music?I don’t feel like I have a particular sound. You’regonna hear a little South, a little Midwest, alittle East, and you’re definitely going to hearthe West cause that’s where I’m from. That’sthe problem, man, everybody’s caught up inhow you’re “supposed” to sound. I ain’t caughtup in none of that shit, man. I’m me. I ain’t gotnothing to prove. Every time I drop, I sell asubstantial amount of units, so I’m good.How do you think you’re able to maintainthat kind of fanbase without a major labelbehind you and without having that mainstreamlook?Because I’m out here networking. I built myworth.Are you going to get out and start doingmore shows now? You don’t give the peopletoo many opportunities to see you. Andyou’re in high demand because of that fact.I’m planning my 30-city tour right now. Butbefore I do that, I’m building my online presence.I’m doing a radio show. I’m on Twitter,Facebook, and Myspace. I’m going to get outhere and give the people what they’ve beenwaiting for.What’s going on with you and San Quinn?The beef was pretty ugly at one point butyou recently mentioned on Twitter that youguys had squashed it. How were you able toget to that point?People have different opinions on everything.Quinn had an opinion on how he felt Ishould’ve handled some things, and I had myopinion on how I felt he should’ve handledsome things. It escalated when the media andthe people grabbed ahold of it. You know howthat shit goes. But mutual friends of ours havebeen trying to squash it since day one. Me andQuinn ain’t even talked yet. Things take time.Whenever he comes around, or whenever Icome around, we can sit down and talk. Butfor now we’re just going through our mutualfriend from the turf and just putting it allbehind us. But really, it wasn’t no beef - it wasjust two opinions being stated and just howtwo men felt at the particular time.Is there anything else that needs to behashed out or are you just ready to moveforward and forget the whole situation?I would like to do that, to just move forwardand forget about the situation, but things taketime. Wounds take time to heal, especiallyones like these. So whenever we decide tocome around and sit down, we will.Why did you feel like it was important tosquash it?The beef didn’t affect me when it came to recordsales or nothing like that. I do remarkablenumbers independently anyway. It was justgetting out of hand, and Quinn felt the sameway. When shit like this happens, innocentpeople can get fucked up. So we’re comingtogether to let these kids know, and let thepeople know, we’re bigger than rap music.We’re gonna put our differences to the sideand move forward like men. That doesn’t meanme and San Quinn are gonna hang out everyday. You might not catch me at McDonald’ssitting down with the nigga eating no cheeseburgeror nothing. But we’re definitely gonnaput our differences to the side and squash thisshit like men do and move forward with whatyou’re doing.Is it your ultimate goal to be on a major labelwith your video all over TV and your songs allover the radio? Or are you more comfortablebeing in theunderground position you’re in,still selling independent units?I’m a street nigga, so the hustle is in me.Independently, I feel like this is what I’ve gotto do because this is what I know. Of course Iwanna take it to another level as far as media,publications, and sales. But I’m not gonna justmake commercial music and chase milliondollardreams. I’ve had paperwork in my facefor two million, three million. I turned thosedeals down just based on what they want totake from me and what I’ve built.What did they want to take from you? Publishing?Publishing. How many albums they want, whatI’m limited to do, just [giving up] the freedom Ihave as an independent. They wanted to takethat all away from me for that little amountof money. That few million is a little amountof money. I can make that in a year. Last yearI released 100 songs. I don’t remember howmany albums - five, I think. [I sold] over 50,000at $6/unit, so that deal didn’t look like shit tome. I definitely would like to further my careerbut I’m not gonna make commercial musictryin’ to chase this muthafuckin’ dream thatmight not even turn into reality. I’m gon’ keep54 // OZONE MAG

this shit solid. I keep the people feeling likeI’m one of them, because I am. That’s why I’vebeen so successful. I’m one of the people theyrecognize and they’re like, “I’m just like thatnigga.” That’s why my core fanbase won’t letme die. I ain’t did a show in three years, butI’m able to maintain my sales and my presencethrough the internet, the publications, and themedia. That’s just a blessing. The fans won’t letme die.What project are you working on now?I just dropped Highly Aggressive Volume2 yesterday. I’ve got a documentary and asoundtrack coming out called Gigantic, whichis the untold Messy Marv story behind the rapper,the entertainer, the father, the gangster.There’s a lot of educational Bay Area history inthere too. I shot and directed my reality showMr. Ghetto Celebrity. I’ve got my clothing linecoming soon. Right now I’m working on a newLP called The Cooking Channel. I’m workingevery day.You also seem to change your phone numberevery other day. It doesn’t seem like that’d begood for business.I got a 1-800 number that I keep steady forbusiness. That’s on 24 hours so I don’t evermiss the networking and business call. Butwhen you’re dealing with a personal line,you’ve got to keep the line clean and avoidthe bullshit. Somebody’s negative energy cansuck up all the positive energy out of you. I’vegot muthafuckers calling asking for Sprint billmoney and telling me their bitch done ran off.I don’t wanna hear none of that shit, man. Mybusiness associates and my homies keep myline. But everybody else, once they wanna suckthe positive energy out of a nigga with thatbullshit, I change my number.sound the same.Do you think it’s lack of ambition or just beingtoo comfortable?I guess everybody’s comfortable with it, andI ain’t knockin’ it. But I’ma tell the world a differentstory as far as the Bay Area. But I ain’tmad. Everybody’s playing a part. Everybody’srepresenting, and that’s what it is.Have you officially changed your name toThe Boy Boy Mess or is that basically just analias of Messy Marv?I officially changed my name to The Boy BoyYoung Mess ‘cause I officially changed as a person,as a whole. I’m always gon’ be Messy Marv,but it’s the new Mess. It’s the Mess that got upout of that jail. It’s the Mess that moved out ofthose conditions. It’s the Mess that outgrew alot of people in a lot of situations. It’s the Messthat couldn’t get rich in the Bay Area and hadto move up out of that muthafucker to get hispennies. The new Mess.You’ve been pretty open in the past aboutyour struggles with drug abuse. Have youmoved past that?Yeah, I’ve been clean for two years now, nodrugs. I didn’t go to rehab. Rehab is for weakpeople. I did mine based on discipline. Ismoked the fuck out of some weed, though,and had a drink or two, but as far as the partydrugs, I don’t fuck around...The rest of this interview is featured in OzoneMagazine #84:When you go out on tour, who else from theBay do you plan on performing with? What’syour take on the current Bay Area movement?I feel like everybody’s representing. Everybody’sgot a part they play, whether it’s theold Bay or the new Bay. I just feel like we’re ata standstill because everybody feels like theycan’t leave the Bay Area. So everybody endsup with the same production and the samegraphic designer doing their cover. That meanseverybody looks and sounds the same. Thenyou get everybody putting each other onthe album, so you’ve got the same features.Everybody’s fuckin’ with the same jeweler. Niggasare buying the same outfits from the sameclothing store. Nobody knows who is who. It’s400 muthafuckin’ rappers and they all look andOZONE MAG // 55

DOMKENNEDYWords by Randy RoperPhoto by Danny Williams56 // OZONE MAG

26-year-old Dominic Hunnrepresents his LA neighborhood—LeimertPark—wheneverhe has the opportunity. Leimertrepresents the burgeoning subcultureof Cali rap. Just as theSouth Central neighborhoodboasts culture, middle class livingand aesthetic beauty, there’sa rougher side if visitors take acloser look. The rebirth of losangeles rap features artistsfrom both sides of the tracks;all obviously influenced by theirpredecessors, but bold enoughto grab the baton and take themusic farther in either direction.Enter Dom Kennedy: an intriguinglycocky, yet intuitive rhymespitterwith that easy flowindigenous to California hip hop.Dom has created quite a stir as anew artist, most recently droppingthe critically acclaimedmixtape, From the Westside withLove. ozone had a conversationwith Mr. Leimert Park about thechanging face of LA rap, his placein it, and the exact definition of“choosing up.”What’s your background? I heard yourdad raised you.I was raised by my mom and my dad.They lived in separate homes but I wasback and forth with both of them equally.My mom is from Los Angeles and mydad’s family is originally from St. Louis.You rep hard for Leimert Park. What’sit like?Leimert Park is where I grew up. Whenmy parents got divorced, my mommoved to Leimert and settled there. It’sbeen my home off and on since 1992.You know, living there, eating there,going to the barbershop, everything. Soit’s home. You can live a lot of places butyour heart is always at home. That’s whyI always talk about it. When you read agood book about somebody, it alwayshas a setting - somewhere where thestory takes place. That’s just where mystory takes place. That’s where I startedout getting my confidence, on the livingroom floor in my apartment in LeimertPark. So I’m just paying homage, I guess.I heard it’s not a bad neighborhood, butnot exactly a “good” one either.Exactly. It’s not the best place but it’sdefinitely not the worst place. It’s mostlylower middle to middle-class families,single parent homes. There’s definitelya lot of art there. A lot of movies werefilmed there. It just has a good vibe. Itsupports culture. When I was a kid I saweverything that was taking place and justbecame a part of it.Tell us about your journey from then upuntil now?I was just a regular kid. I went to school,but I wasn’t the best student. I playedbaseball; that was my first love. I rapped,you know, but all my homies used to rapat some point, just like most inner citykids. Kids listen to songs and have fun,but nobody says “I’m a rapper.” I was justfreestyling or whatever like everybodyelse. After I got out of high school I didthe junior college thing for a minute, butI always knew it wasn’t for me.Around that time I had a cousin, JasonMadison, who ended up producing alot of the stuff on my first mixtape, 25thHour. He was a DJ, so he had all this DJequipment his dad had bought him.We used to go to his house and playinstrumentals to whatever records wereout at the time. We didn’t have laptopsback then so he would get records or CDsor buy singles of songs that were on theradio. Whatever song was tight, he hadit. Vinyl records used to always have theinstrumental. I would rap over the instrumentaland record it from there. If youmessed up, you [ruined] your whole CD,you know? That’s how it started. But weweren’t tryin’ to come out with nothin’.We were just having fun. It was importantto what I do now, but we didn’t know itback then. After years went by, I was like,“I’m not really a rapper.” I wasn’t gettingpaid from it. I was a student.Around 2005, the way I looked at theworld really started to change. Somethinginside of me kept urging me totell my story through Hip Hop. It wasthe thing I loved the most, so that wasmy outlet. That’s when I started gettingthe idea in my head and thinking, “Well,maybe I can do it.” So I started writing atnight, and I’d come up with rhymes andthey were getting better and better.In 2007, I started working on my firstproject, which would eventually becomeOZONE MAG // 57

25th Hour. I started up with my cousin. He’dmake the beats and we’d pay $25 an hour tothis guy in South Central, close to my house.He had a little studio set up in his back houseand I would pay him $25 an hour to record and$25 an hour to mix. It was a professional littlestudio. That year taught me a lot about how tomanipulate your sound; understanding thatyour vocals are like a [musical] instrument.When you first start, you think you sound a lotdifferent than you actually do. There are waysyou can say more, just with your voice. Youcan make yourself sound more convincing orbelievable or blend in more with the song.I was just having fun recording 25th Hour. Myfriends weren’t thinking it would be anything[that reached] outside our immediate circle. Ididn’t know about blogs. [My music] was onblogs before I even understood what theywere. I just made it strictly to have fun, play itfor my friends, and perform at little parties wehad. But it turned into something bigger.My cousin that produced “Watermelon Sundae”was a film student at Loyola Marymount.So the fact that we had access to good qualityvideos early on was really important to meand my movement. That remains a part ofeverything I do. We were able to shoot the“Watermelon Sundae” video and have it lookreally nice. When everybody saw it, it took off.You’re still an independent artist, but are youlooking for a major label deal?I’ve been working, first and foremost, that’sthe thing that doesn’t stop. I’ve turned [majorlabel] deals down. There have been offers butI’m happy where I’m at.Are you planning on dropping somethingwith your doppelgänger Don Cannon?Oh yeah, I always talk to Cannon and peoplealways ask me that. We haven’t really doneanything yet outside of being in the studiotogether. We went through a lot of beats. Wetalk a lot about music and what direction wewant to go. For my next project, I know he’ll beon there in some capacity.You’ve said you’re trying to work with evenbetter producers next go round. Besides Cannon,have you succeeded in finding that?Yeah, definitely. I think after From The West SideWith Love and the videos I did, there’s a mutualrespect, and that’s really all I’ve wanted. I’vehad opportunities to work with different producers,but a lot of times, I think people workwith producers ahead of schedule, you know?You might not be on Dr. Dre’s level yet. It mightnot be the right time. I always wanted to growand use my resources with the producers I’vehad access to. I want to take the time to findmyself and craft songs and find younger guyslike myself that have a lot of passion. Just likeI have passion in my work right now, there’sa lot of young producers that probably havemore passion than [somebody like] Polow DaDon, who’s a millionaire a couple times over.So it’s really not about the name, it’s moreabout: Are you really in this? Is your heart init? What are you trying to say? Can we do this?Can we reach our goals together?What’s the concept of “Choose Up”?(laughs) “Choose Up” just means “pick.” Decidewhat you’re trying to do. If you’re out at theclub and you see a girl that keeps lookingat you, y’all ain’t gon’ be there all night, youknow? Choose up. Hurry up. Do something.There’s a new movement coming: you, TiRon,Skeme, U-N-I, Fashawn - it seems like Californiarap has evolved into a newer, youngerenergy. What motivated this evolution?Man, a lot of people have been trying to figurethat out. I think we’re getting a chance againand people are open to it. It hasn’t reached apeak yet but I think there are a lot of peopleworking really hard that have something valuableto add, you know? We have somethingto say and we’re doing it a different way thanhow it was done before. You can look at rapmusic from all the different regions and seethe beginning. Now, it’s a new time. Rap musicmoves through different regions becausethere’s a new story to tell. People get enamorednot only with the music but how theylive, what they say, the whole culture. I feel likethe spotlight on L.A. right now is different fromwhat it was on before.How much of a hand do you have in the creativeprocess when building a project?A hundred thousand percent. Everything.When I come up with a project, like From TheWestside, I conceptualize everything. I knewhow I wanted the artwork to be, how I want itto sound, how many songs are gonna be there.I think the fact that I have so much control andfreedom is what separates the new generationof artists from the record labels. They’reso impersonal. If you have all this control andfreedom, you can say what you wanna say,to exactly who you wanna say it to. You don’thave to fight with somebody and explainsomething to them--people who don’t getit anyway--that have millions of other thingsthey really care about. Nobody’s gonna tell mehow my project is gonna be besides myself. //58 // OZONE MAG

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BOBBYBRACKINSWords by Julia BeverlyPhoto by D-Ray60 // OZONE MAG

Born and raised in East Oakland,21-year-old Bobby Brackins embarkedon his music career at ayoung age as part of the groupGo Dav. The years of work he put infinally started to pay off when hewent solo. today, with his hit single“143” featuring Ray J climbing thecharts and helping to land a him adeal with Young Tycoon/UniversalRepublic, he’s .How many years have you been doing themusic thing?I’ve been making music for the past six years.When I got out of high school I was with agroup called Go Dav. We had a really big recordcalled “Ride Or Die Chick” that was playingon the radio; it was just a really big streetrecord that buzzed all over the country. I wasin a group for a while and then I got out of thegroup and started working on a solo projectand linked up with T-Pain’s management. I’vereally been working on my solo stuff for aboutfour and a half years now.How did you link up with T-Pain’s management?I put out a record called “Skinny Jeans,” whichwas a big street record. It was really big onYouTube and Myspace and getting millions ofhits. A bunch of people were hollering at us,but we felt like T-Pain’s management wouldbe the best situation because he had “Buy YouA Drink” out at the time and it was a really bigrecord. So we thought it would be a good fitto try to get something happening. [The businessdidn’t really work out] but I just talkedto him the other day. We’re still cool, no hardfeelings. He was busy with [T-Pain’s] projectand couldn’t really focus on me. It was a learningexperience, you know? You’re not goingto win with every situation. It’s all good. I wasyoung just trying to figure out the game. Basically,I learned that you’ve gotta be a prioritywherever you sign, you know?What made you decide to move to LosAngeles?I moved to L.A. like two and a half years agobecause my producer was out here going toschool. I was working with different producersin the Bay, but I felt like my producer, Nic Nac,just had the best music for me. I moved outhere to L.A. and ended up signing to [Young]Rell’s label. That was about a year ago andwe’ve been working on my solo project eversince. I’ve been flying back and forth betweenL.A. and the Bay just networking and makingmusic.The L.A. scene hasn’t always been real receptiveto Bay Area artists. Has that been anissue for you?No, not at all, honestly. I guess some people’spersonalities just don’t mesh well together. Ihave the type of personality where I can basicallyget along with anybody. I just got off thephone with [L.A. rapper] Nipsey Hussle a fewminutes ago. He’s putting a verse on the “143”song so we can do an L.A. remix. And I justtalked to [ ], he sings the hook to YG’s “TootIt and Boot It.” Me and him just made a reallycrazy record for my album. So, some people’spersonalities might not mesh but I’m notreally with all that drama, you know. If you’recool people, you’re cool people and it doesn’treally matter where you’re from.How did the collaboration with Ray J comeabout for your current hit record, “143”?We were basically just working on my album.I had a different record in mind for Ray J butwhen I wrote “143” I thought he might fitbetter on that one. I really felt like it could bea big universal smash record. I played it for mymanagers and the label and everybody likedit, so I eventually convinced everybody that itwas going to be the single we wanted to runwith. We had Ray come to the studio and heblessed it, he did his thing on it. He went hardon the record so it sounds super crazy.A lot of people who hear the record thinkit’s Ray J’s new single. How do you plan toestablish yourself as an artist and make surethey know who you are?Well, Ray J’s cool people and he sings on therecord, of course. But whenever I performthe record I know when I can just pause andlet the DJ drop the beat and the girls knowall the lyrics to my verses. So I’m just gonnakeep doing shows and interviews and leteverybody know that I’m the voice behind theverses on the record.Do you have a second single picked out?Yeah, it’s called “She’s Ready.” It’s crazy; it’sgonna be another really, really big radiorecord. We’re gonna do a video for it and keeppushing my whole solo career. I wrote thewhole “143” record and this record as well. I’mreally trying to get in touch with the ladiesbecause ladies are my primary fans. WheneverI go to the shows, it’s always the ladies whoare screaming my lyrics. So I’m just gonnakeep making great songs that both the ladiesand the fellas can enjoy. “143” is still climbingup the charts. It’s climbing up the rhythmicradio charts and it’s on the Billboard Hot 100,so we’re gonna just keep letting “143” grow.OZONE MAG // 61

It probably won’t peak for another couplemonths but we’re gonna just throw my nextsingle out there.Is your album finished?I’m still working on it, but it’s gonna be crazy.It’s gonna be an album full of hits. There’s just acouple more songs I need to get features on. Itfeatures a whole bunch of new and upcomingtalent; the people who are gonna really be ontop for the next few years. My point of view isthat I wanna work with artists who really wantto leave a legacy and leave their mark. I’mnot gonna have anybody on the album whodoesn’t deserve to be on there.As far as production, are you producing aswell or mostly working with Nic Nac?I’m writing everything as far as the hooks andverses, and my producer Nic Nac, who usedto be in the group with me and produced“143,” produced most of the album. I was inthe studio with Polow da Don a couple weeksago and he said he wanted to do a record onthe album, so if that happens, that’d be a realblessing. The album is gonna be a problem.There might be a couple outside beats onthere but primarily it’s gonna be me and NicNac doing the majority of the work.Being from Oakland, how do you feel aboutthe verdict that came down yesterday in theOscar Grant trial?I feel like it’s crazy. It’s a real injustice. I don’tunderstand how you can be on video camerawith your back to somebody in handcuffsand get killed and [the killer] gets away withinvoluntary manslaughter. It makes no senseto me and it just shows how corrupt the justicesystem can be. Oakland has been through alot of hardships. I’m only 21 years old and alot of my friends out there have [been killed].You know the system is corrupt but you’vejust gotta try to be as positive and hopeful aspossible. Hopefully, if more people around theworld hear about the situation, the governmentand police officers will open their eyesand realize that they can’t get away with doingcrimes like that.in their twenties and in their teens who arereally just ready to take their talent to the nextlevel. There’s a lot of kids in L.A. who are workinghard to take their talent to the next leveland I think within the next five years there willhopefully be more unity on the West Coast.Do you have a label deal yet or are youplanning on putting this out independentlythrough Rell’s label, Tycoon Status Ent.?We signed [a major deal] with Universal Republica few months ago. They started playingmy record in the bay on 94.9 and basically it’sbeen moving ever since. They were the firstpeople to play it on the air and since then it’sbeen going crazy. There were offers from awhole bunch of different labels but UniversalRepublic offered me the best situation. It’s agood home, a good situation, and I feel veryoptimistic about the future.Is there anything else you want to say?Just look out for the next single “She Ready,”and you know, “143” is still climbing up thecharts. Call your local radio station and requestit as much as possible, go support it on iTunes,and when I’m in your city come out to a showand show me some love. When the albumdrops, get the album. I just want everybody tosupport as much as possible because the fansare keeping us alive right now. //This interview is also featured in OZONE WestIssue #85, and Bobby Brackins appears on thecover:We hear a lot of people talking about thisNew West movement. Do you feel like you’rea part of that?Definitely. Last week, me, Nipsey Hussle, Ray J,and Warren G did a show together. Warren Gis a real OG. When Nipsey went on stage andwhen me and Ray did the “143” song I felt likepeople started to recognize the new talent.We’re ready to step our foot in the door. TheWest Coast has a whole bunch of talented kids62 // OZONE MAG

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64 // OZONE MAGFORMER GANGBANGERS (L-R)CHINO, LEFTY, AND TE MONEY HOPETHEIR UNIFIED FRONT WILL HELPTHEM SPREAD A POSITIVE MESSAGETHROUGH THEIR MUSIC

THEGANGWords by Julia BeverlyOZONE MAG // 65

Tell us about The Gang.Te Money: Chino is the Southsider of the group,Lefty is the Blood, and I’m the Crip. My cousinTurtle handles most of the business, alongwith myself.So you’re a rapper/businessman?Te Money: I just became a rapper. I decided tobecome a rapper after Dolla died. Dolla wasmy artist and my business partner. Everybodysaid I should keep the whole thing going andkeep our dream alive, so that’s what I did. I’mdefinitely carrying on his memory. Me and mycousin sat down and put it together. Akon isstill involved, but as far as the legwork, me andmy cousin Turtle are doing that.“i got homiesthat died gangbangin’.rapperswanna live thatlife, but they’renot where i’m at.you’re on tv gettin’money offthis lifestyleand you ain’tnever lived thatlife. i’m againstthat.” - leftyHow would you define The Gang? Is it arecord label, a group, a clique, or all of theabove?Te Money: It’s a company and a group. It’s amovement. It’s not a negative movementthough. A gang is only negative when you donegative things. Supposedly, Crips and Bloodsdon’t get along in L.A. Supposedly, blacks andbrowns don’t get along in L.A. We tend to stayat war with the Mexicans, and the Bloods andthe Crips get into it. With us being together ina group, we’re trying to show everybody that itcan be a positive thing.So you’re hoping to dispel some of the L.A.stereotypes?Te Money: Yeah, and we ain’t in khakis and stufflike that – we get real fly. We’re not doing it likeThe Game and Snoop with red and blue rags,khakis, and Chucks. We’re on some fly shit.There’s some fly niggas in L.A.Lefty: And they’re not real gangbangers, either.Te Money: Yeah, that’s what people don’tunderstand. A person that’s really lived thatlifestyle, and been through the shootouts andstuff, is tryin’ to get away from it.Since they’re not real gangbangers, are youoffended by rappers like Snoop representingthe lifestyle?Lefty: It’s not even about Snoop, it’s about theother rappers that are doin’ it. I got homiesthat died [while gangbangin’] and I take thatpersonally. There are things we went throughin the streets. Te Money is a Crip, and I’m fromPiru. Chino’s a Mexican. I can talk to them.With my enemies, I can’t talk to them, becauseI lost my homies to that. [Rappers] are gettin’money and wanna live that life, but they’re notwhere I’m at. I really live in my hood. I reallygot homies that are going to jail every day.And then you’re on TV gettin’ money off this[lifestyle] and you ain’t never lived that life. I’magainst that. And you take it to the extreme– my homies are gettin’ 10 years added ontotheir charges for gang enhancement, whileyou’re on TV representing these things andnothing happens to you. That ain’t cool.Are there any artists you feel are accuratelyrepresenting the gang lifestyle?Te Money: I really can’t say what other peopleare doin’. I just know that all of us here havebeen in the trenches before, and this is a wayout for us. Akon helped me get out of my situation,so I just reached back out to try to helpsomebody else out of their situation. Hopefullywhen they become successful they’ll helpsomebody get out of their situation. Like hewas saying, a lot of cats talkin’ about it haven’treally lived it. None of them have been to jail,but when they got money, they get securityto protect ‘em so they can start living the life.This is real. This isn’t a put-together group, likea fake image.Since it’s not “normal” for Bloods and Cripsand blacks and Mexicans to coexist peacefully,how did you three come together?Lefty: My mom’s older brothers are Crips. Igrew up in their neighborhood. My dad is fromPiru [Bloods] so that’s how I came from that66 // OZONE MAG

side. I always had homies that were Crips, butin Compton I never had Crip homies. That’swhere the action is, that’s where my neighborhood.I’m not finna drive from Comptonto L.A. just to beef with another Crip. So Inever had action with them niggas. Plus, Igot more sense and I’m over that.Te Money: Me and Dolla and Akon were doinga reality TV show that was going to consist ofa Blood, a Crip, and a Mexican. It was calledThe Gang too. This was before I involvedmyself in the rap group. So I actually went todifferent hoods to find talent, which is whereI met Chino. I went to the neighborhoodand held auditions at this school. Like 20Southsiders came, that’s the Mexicans. 30 or40 Bloods came, 30 or 40 Crips came – at differenttimes. (laughs) Out of all the Mexicans,there were a lot of them that could rap, butChino just stood out. I actually had pickedanother Blood [for the group] but he backedout, so I went around asking people who wasthe hottest Blood in the streets. They pointedme towards Lefty.Chino: I had like seven homies that told me,“There’s an audition, we got talent, so let’sput it to use. Let’s go check it out, we don’thave anything to lose.” I was blessed enoughto make it to this point.So the message of the group is that Bloods,Crips, Blacks, Mexicans, everybody shouldcome together?Te Money: We can’t speak for everybodyelse, but we’re trying to show people thatit can be done. L.A. has a lot of influence onother places – St. Louis, Little Rock, Arkansas,Minnesota – there are niggas gangbangin’in other hoods that ain’t never been to L.A.People think it’s just Crips and Bloods andMexicans, but there are 275 different Cripgangs. There’s a lot of Crip-on-Crip beef also.If people from other states come here andsee that we can get along, maybe they canget along too.How would you respond to critics sayingthat by creating a rap group out of this,you’re glorifying the gang lifestyle?Te Money: We’re not glorifying it, and we’renot doing anything negative. The policeare a gang; they beat the shit outta RodneyKing. [The police] do good things and badthings. You’ve got gang members that dogood things and gang members that do badthings. There’s a thing out here [in L.A.] thatOZONE MAG // 67

Jim Brown started called “I Can,” where 50 differentgang members from different hoodsgo around and talk to the kids at juvenile hall.What are some of the positive things TheGang is doing?Te Money: First off, just the fact that we’re togetherand getting along is a positive thing.It starts here. We’ve got a lot of plans. Beforewe started the group, I had a non-profitorganization where we went to the juvenilehall and spoke to the kids and performed forthem. This is something I had been sittingon for years, but I was so focused on Dolla.After he died [after being shot at the BeverlyCenter], I was in a slump. Turtle and Akon andeverybody pulled me to the side like, “Yo, youjust gotta keep moving forward and we’llhelp you.” They stepped in 100%.What was the focus of your non-profitorganization?Te Money: Just telling them to stay positive. Ihonestly feel like your hood makes you whoyou are. Not everybody is fortunate enoughto be from Beverly Hills. I know professionalbasketball players that grew up aroundgangbangin’, and that’s just their friends sothey still hang around ‘em. That ain’t wrong.Your friends are your friends.Have you gotten any flak from your respectivegangs, like, “Why are you affiliated withthese guys”? Or have they been mostlysupportive?Chino: I think every individual is just everyindividual. You just gotta do you. I like toobserve people. I’m tryin’ to do somethingdifferent than what I’ve been doing. I’m notsaying I’m tryin’ to change everything, I amwho I am, but I want to see a different side[of life]. I’ve been fortunate and blessed. TeMoney and Turtle bailed me out of jail. I thinkthis is a serious opportunity, as far as whatwe’re tryin’ to do with the music. If we weren’tdoing this, I might get caught slippin’ by thecops and get locked up. I think we can makethis a bigger movement and do somethingpositive for our people. All my relatives andhomies are in [prison], but they’ve been supportive.You just can’t forget where you camefrom. I’m still in the same position. I’m notout of the hood, but I’m tryin’ to show themanother way we can all get fed.Lefty: As far as my movement, I’ve got brothersand sisters and a son. I don’t want my son68 // OZONE MAG

to go through nothin’ I did. If I can make a bettersituation for him, that’s what I’ma do – evenif it means reaching out to someone else’skids by tellin’ them the right way to go. Shitreally isn’t going to change unless you step inand touch someone else. It’s a domino effect.Practice makes perfect, so how are you gonnaget something done if you don’t work at it, orif you never even tried it to see if it works? Thisshit was never supposed to happen. WhereI’m from, they can’t even speak to us. I neverhad someone tell me to hate the Mexicans orhate the Crips, it was just the gang lifestyle.A lot of the muthafuckers I got into it with, Inever even know who they were. I just knowyou’re from that hood, and my hood is beefin’with you. That’s like brainwashing. I neverknew Te Money or Chino, but now we’re close.I coulda seen him before with my homiesand been like, “Aw, fuck them niggas,” justbecause they’re Crips. Now we’re beefin’ whenI never even met you. But now we live in thesame fuckin’ house. It starts with us. If we canget along, other people can too. People areteachin’ their kids to [gangbang] because theysee it on TV and think it’s cool. But when yousee your homies lose their life behind somebullshit, that’ll change you. I kept tellin’ mybrothers to sit back and everything is gonnabe alright – now they’re in jail lookin’ at tenyears. I want to put myself in a better situation.Chino: That’s what it is. Everybody’s gettin’washed up. When you’re in jail you hear“A LOT OF THEMUTHAFUCKERS IGOT INTO IT WITH, INEVER EVEN KNEWWHO THEY WERE. IJUST KNOW YOU’REFROM THAT HOOD,AND MY HOODIS BEEFIN’ WITHYOU. THAT’S LIKEBRAINWASHING... ITSTARTS WITH US. IFWE CAN GET ALONG,OTHER [GANG MEM-BERS] CAN TOO.” -LEFTYeverybody’s stories and charges, and there’shomies that ain’t never gonna get out. I appreciatethat they’re lookin’ out and tryin’ totell us something different. Nobody’s everreally taken the time to show me somethingelse. I appreciate everything more now – everybreath of air, every meal I eat – it means something,because there’s homies that are nevergetting out.Lefty: They’re givin’ ten years [extra] for gangbangin’.If you’ve got an opportunity [to getout] and don’t, that’s like giving yourself away.Te Money: If you catch a case and you’re agangbanger, they enhance it and add moreten more years [to your sentence].Lefty: I’m not glorifying that. I’m still in theneighborhood and I’ve still got homies losingtheir lives. I don’t appreciate seeing muthafuckerson TV glorifying the lifestyle when meand muthafuckers I love are still out here livingthis life. You’re just on TV doin’ it, sayin’ you’refrom some Piru or Crip gang. If you say you’re aPiru or a Crip, come to the hood. I got a greenpass for any hood you wanna go in out here.Come really see this shit, cause it’s fucked up. Ifyou’re on TV glorifying this shit, I don’t appreciateit and I don’t respect it, period.Let’s talk about the music. Are you releasingan album or a mixtape?Te Money: We’re workin’ on both. We’re halfwayfinished with the album, but like every otherartist, we just keep recording. We’ve got alot of content, though. We’re not just talkingabout red and blue rags or Crips and Bloods.We’re pretty much on some Tupac shit with thecontent. We talk about the struggle and all thethings we’ve been through. It’s N.W.A all overagain, when they came out with reality rap.Some songs represent where we’re from, butwe’re not promoting gangbangin’ at all.Do you have some lighter records for theradio or the clubs?Te Money: Yeah, it’s definitely mainstream, juststreet.Lefty: This is who we are. We’re all from differentneighborhoods so we all have a differentstory, and we put it all together. It’s mainstreamin a way, but we wanna send a messageat the same time. We don’t want peopleto get the wrong message just because we’refrom gangs. We’re not promoting that at all.Chino: It’s more like a soundtrack to our individuallives. It’s reality and this is how we live.OZONE MAG // 69

You mentioned your situation with Akon. Areyou signed to Konvict Music?Te Money: We’re doing the same thing we didwith Dolla; it’s a joint venture with KonvictMusic. We’re also still working on the realityTV show. It’s bigger than just music. The musicreally comes last; it comes easily to us. It’s moreabout us getting along and reaching out tohelp somebody else.What’s the focus of the reality show?Te Money: Just tryin’ to get out of the hood.A few weeks ago I told Lefty to come to the“my grandpa’sbeen to the jointand probably hisgrandpa too. everykid looks forthat fatherlyattention orrole models.you’re just a kidand don’t knowwhat directionto go, so youwant someone tolook up to. theyteach you thatshit and you pickit up. it passesdown to everygeneration.” -chinoBeverly Center. He lives like twenty minutesaway from there and had never been therebefore, even though he’s lived [in Los Angeles]his whole life. L.A. is separated by gangs, andwhen you grow up here, you feel like, “This ismy hood, so what do I need to go over therefor? Matter of fact, we beefin’ with them overthere so I’ma stay right here and protect myhood.”Lefty: Yeah, I just stay in my comfort zone.So you’re broadening your horizons. Do yousee the gang situation in L.A. getting betteror worse?Te Money: For me, since I grew up, I’d say it’sdefinitely calmed down. Especially since theRodney King [riots], L.A. has calmed down andis getting along more. It’s more Crip on Cripbeef than anything, and the blacks and brownsdon’t get along period. It’s kinda out of ourcontrol. I didn’t start the gang, I just grew uphere and got involved in it. Somebody’s gottago talk to the muthafucker that started all thisbullshit.Lefty mentioned that he didn’t want his sonto join a gang. If you had it your way, twentyyears from now, would you have gangs eliminatedperiod?Te Money: Nah, not really, because sometimesgangs are family. Some people get involvedwith gangs because they don’t have a family;sometimes that’s all you have.Lefty: They got love for you and you feel comfortablearound all your homies.Chino: Not every gang is [violent] either. Alot of gangs started out as clubs and just gotlabeled as “gangs.” There are a lot of clubs justfighting for rights and fighting for our people,and that’s what we’re here today to do.How do you think you can keep the familyand community aspect of the gangs but takethe violence out of it?Te Money: Everybody’s an individual. You can’tstop somebody from what they wanna do,you can only tell ‘em. I got homies that wentto school and were on the honor roll and wenton to play [professional] basketball and stillcome back to this neighborhood. Then I’vegot homies that shoulda played [professional]basketball but instead they were like, “I needthis gun, this dope, this money right now.”If you had grown up in the suburbs, where doyou think you would have ended up?Te Money: Lefty would probably still be gangbangin’.Some people are just fascinated by it.It depends on the individual. Sometimes youcan be born into it if your mom and dad areinto it. But I know some people that grew up inthe suburbs and just started comin’ over to ourneighborhood.Lefty: Some people are fascinated by the70 // OZONE MAG

lifestyle and think it’s cool. A lot of people startoff in it when they’re young, and after they’vebeen through so much, they’re like, “Fuck thisshit, I wanna get out of here.” I’m 21 and I’vebeen doing this since I was 12. After so long,you really just wanna get out of this shit. Yousee there’s no way out. You gotta shake thatshit off and realize [life] is bigger than gangbangin’in the neighborhood. You gotta look atthe bigger picture.Chino: A lot of times, it’s family-inherited. Mygrandpa’s been to the joint and probably hisgrandpa too. Every kid looks for that fatherlyattention or role models. You’re just a kid anddon’t know what direction to go, so you wantsomeone to look up to. We’re livin’ in the hoodso a lot of times your parents are busy workin’,tryin’ to get us out of the hood. You end upplayin’ ball with the dudes on the block andthey stay hustling. They teach you that shitand you pick it up. It passes down to everygeneration.Is there anything else you want to add?Lefty: My message is that you can do the rightthing in any situation if you try. I was at mylowest point in my life, and I coulda ended upin prison. I tried to put my effort into somethingpositive and I got into a better situationovernight. If you try, shit could be different.Don’t never give up and always keep yourhead up.Chino: I want to stress the point that you’vegotta be thankful for what you’ve got. Whenyou ain’t got it, it makes a big difference. A lotof times we take stuff for granted and end upin a predicament and forget what we’re reallytryin’ to do. I just want to help my people andtake care of my family and do something positiveso I can show the next man a way out. I’mjust gonna try to remain humble and do this tothe fullest.Te Money: We’re just tryin’ to promote positivity,not just in L.A., but state to state. To all thegangbangers across the world: we’re gettingalong, and you guys should do the same. Putall your positive energy into yourself and yourfamily.Where can people find out more informationabout your music and your movement?Te Money: Our website is www.TheGangEnt.com. There’s links up there to Twitter andMyspace, and we’ve got our music, photos,and interviews up there. //OZONE MAG // 71

AFTER AN APPEALS COURT OVERTURNEDHIS LIFE SENTENCE, INFAMOUS DRUGKINGPIN 'FREEWAY' RICKY ROSS HOPES TOREDEEM HIMSELF BY TEACHING THE YOUTHTHE HARD LESSONS HE'S LEARNED ANDSHOWING THEM A BETTER PATH.For anyone who isn’t familiar with “Freeway”Ricky Ross, what’s your claim to fame?I’m from L.A. I’m known as a drug dealer. I becameone of the biggest drug dealers in SouthCentral. I was the guy that most of the guyswho got big got their first drugs from. I wasthe one they modeled themselves after; guyslike Harry O, Bo Bennett, Young Tommy, Pat,the list goes on and on. A lot of [well-knowndrug dealers] basically modeled their drugdealing pattern after me or copied my format.Some of them got bigger than I was. (laughs)When you see what the drug game hasevolved into today, do you approve or disapprove?I mean, I can’t knock anyone for what theydo, because I did so much wrong myself. It’dbe like Satan throwing rocks at somebody fordoing something wrong; he can’t do that. So Ican’t knock the game. It has evolved into whatit was supposed to come to. But I do feel thatmy job now is to try to figure out other thingsfor these young guys to do now. I’m trying toshow them that there’s a different route and adifferent path, and I believe I can do that.A lot of people say the street game isn’twhat it used to be. They say there’s no honoramongst thieves anymore.There really never was. It was just that fakemake-believe stuff. This was the way it wassupposed to go. Really, when you look backat the game, the guys who were at the topalways played like that.So that’s a myth? Because I hear that often.Yeah, that’s a myth. I totally agree that that’s amyth. Everybody that got busted, somebodytold on them. From the beginning, somebodyhad to be a snitch. The Feds have been usingsnitches since the beginning of time. It’salways been there and it’ll always be there. Ifyou’re in the game and you don’t think yourbest friend is gonna tell on you, you’re crazy.When I look back, the same guys that helpedme get into this game are the same guys thattold on me. The same guys that’ll tell you,“Don’t snitch!” will turn around and snitch onyou. It’s a dirty business. The drug businessis dirty. And a lot of [new drug dealers] don’tknow that. When they go into the drug business,they don’t know the ins and outs. Theygo into it with a one-track mind. They onlyknow one aspect of the game. Me, myself, Iwent into the game like that. I went in blindsided.I only saw the fame and the fortune; Ididn’t see the whole thing. Nobody explainedit to me.Did you feel like dealing drugs was your onlycareer option?When I was young I was dumb. I was illiterate.I couldn’t read. I had never read a book andnever written anything, so the only thing Iknew was what I saw in my general area. WhenI go and talk to the kids - especially in juvenilehall - I explain that when I was coming up, myoptions were robbery, pimpin’, selling dope,stealing cars, and burglary. Those were thethings I thought I had to pick from. I neverthought about opening a magazine. I neverthought about owning a record company. Myoptions were so limited, and that was becauseof my [limited] knowledge.Previously, we published a letter to our readersthat you wrote while you were incarcerated.It sounded like you were renouncingwhat you’d done before and were trying tocorrect the wrongs.Absolutely. What I did was wrong, and not onlywas it wrong, but I feel like it was a total wasteof my talents. I’m very talented. My personalopinion is that there’s no man living on thisplanet that is as smart as I am.Did that realization come to you over theyears, or was it one moment that made youregret the path you’d taken?It started to come in time, after I started toread books. It first started in the courtroom,when I found myself debating the law withthese Harvard and Yale graduates.You defended yourself? Why?My lawyer told me, “Anytime somebody elsewants you home more than you want yourselfhome, you’re in trouble.” I took that to heart. Itook that to mean, “You should learn the lawfor yourself.”So you made the decision to defend yourself,and it wasn’t just from a financial standpoint?From a legal standpoint. So now you take aguy who believed he was dumb and illiterateand could never read or write, and you puthim in a courtroom and the judge and thelawyers are taking what he says seriously. Theydisagreed with what I was saying, but whenwe went to the appeals court, I proved themall wrong. That’s a confidence booster.72 // OZONE MAG

"FREEWAY"RICKYROSSWords by Julia BeverlyPhoto by D-RayOZONE MAG // 73

How did you learn how to read?One A-B-C at a time. My cellmate convincedme that I could read. When I got my indictment,I wanted to know what was on my indictment.I never told my lawyer that I couldn’tread until after I learned to read. He gave methree pieces of paper and said, “Here’s yourindictment. Read it and it explains everythingyou need to know about your case.” That wasthe first piece of paper I ever read – my indictment.Why were you illiterate? Would you say theschool system failed you?That was part of it. The school system was partof it and my mom was part of it. You knowwhat they say, it takes a community to raise achild. And I failed myself. It was my responsibilityto get what I needed and make surethat I could read and function. I didn’t find itimportant in the trades that I was looking at:robbery, burglary, stealing cars, pimpin’ – whydo you need to know how to read?Getting a “regular” job was never an option?I didn’t see myself doing that. I didn’t knowanybody that had a regular job. I grew up onFigueroa, which was the hoe stroll. My friendsdidn’t “work.”And you didn’t think that those career paths– robbery, burglary, stealing cars, or pimpin’– would have a negative outcome?Nah, that was a part of my neighborhood.A kid can become his environment. If you’rearound crime, at first you might shy away fromit, but if you stay around it long enough, prettysoon you’re accustomed to it. That’s why drugsare so accepted in our neighborhoods. Thereason it’s so hard for a drug dealer to quit isbecause his neighborhood doesn’t despisehim. It’s attractive. People look up to you whenyou’re a drug dealer.You’re rewarded for it.Right. You get to go to VIP. You get all the girls.Everything a person wants can come from sellingdrugs, so why wouldn’t people sell drugs?What’s the deterrent?I would think a potential life sentence wouldbe a deterrent.Well, they don’t know about the jail time. Mostof them don’t know about the Feds until it’stoo late. These kids don’t know anything aboutthe Feds and the mandatory minimums.Do you think the mandatory minimums arean effective deterrent?Absolutely not. Totally a waste of time. I’mworking on reforming the laws. I’ve teamedup with the NAACP and we’re gonna start aprogram to reform the mandatory minimumsentences, not only in the Feds but in the state[judicial] systems as well.You don’t think that lowering the mandatoryminimum sentences would encourage morepeople to get into the drug business?Well, [the mandatory minimums] haven’tstopped drug dealing, we know that. Weknow drugs are more plentiful on our streets.We have more people in prison. So it hasn’tworked for the past 40 years.How would lowering the sentences help?We’re not saying right off the bat that it willhelp, but we’re saying it won’t hurt. Becauseit isn’t working. Throwing people in prisonand throwing away the key absolutely doesn’twork. I believe we have to come up withprograms that really work. We have to startaddressing the issues that are at the root, andthat’s lack of knowledge and lack of opportunities.These laws have nothing to do with that. Ibelieve we should go with an ounce of preventioninstead of a pound of cure. That’s what ourgovernment is doing now – throwing poundsand pounds of cures on a problem that for 45or 50 years has been a waste of money. Thedrug problem is worse than it’s ever been.Murder rates are up. Snitchin’ is up.Do you think the government has been goingto war against the wrong people? Shouldthey be targeting the user and focusing moreon prevention instead of locking up thedealers?[The government] should focus on the userand try to prevent people from using. Locking[dealers] up is just not the key. This isnot a criminal offense. It’s a victimless crime,because nobody is gonna come in and testifyand say, “He stuck a gun in my face and robbedme.” There’s never gonna be a victim in these[drug] cases, so they’re gonna have somebodywho’s in trouble already and decided to snitchcome in and testify and say he saw you dosomething to somebody that’s never gonnacome to court. Then he’s gonna get off so hecan go out and sell drugs again, so it’s just aperpetuation of the problem. Incarcerationis definitely not the answer. We’re spendingbillions and billions of dollars every year onincarcerating [convicted drug dealers]. Justto take me to court cost [the taxpayers] $3million dollars. Just to take me to court! Thenthey kept me in prison at $40,000 a year for 20years. And when you take a drug dealer off thestreets, how many other drug dealers come in74 // OZONE MAG

and take his place? We should be putting allthat money into education and prevention.Sounds like the prison system is quiteprofitable for the private companies that runthem.Absolutely. That’s why they only allow theprosecutors, judges, and police officers toinvest in them. Everyday citizens can’t investin the prison industry. All of the prisons in theUnited States are private. If you’re a governmentworker, you can invest. It’s definitely aprofitable business.In a perfect world, if you were in charge ofthe government’s War on Drugs, what wouldyou do?I’d start educational programs in the schools.There are basic principles I’ve learned. Anybodyin any position can make money if theyknow these principles. And that’s what I’mdoing now – I go all over the country and talkto kids and teach them these principles. Forexample, 10% of everything you earn is yoursto keep. You must save 10% of your money,and that’s the money you’re going to get richoff of. Invest it wisely.You’re working on an autobiographicalmovie, right?Yeah, I just signed my movie deal. I’m producingit, writing it, directing it, everything. We’rethinking it may take two or three differentmovies to tell the whole story. There’s a lotthat went on in my life. There’s the reporter,Gary Webb, who broke my story in 1995 andthen [supposedly] killed himself. There’s theNicaraguan connection, which involved OliverNorth and President Bush and Ronald Reagan.They were all tied into my case. I got mydrugs from the Nicaraguans. Then there wasthe Freeway Task Force, a bunch of cops puttogether to bring me down. After they startedseeing all the money I was making in the druggame, they couldn’t resist. They went frombeing cops to being robbers and dope dealersthemselves.head with a shotgun.Two shots to the head and they ruled it asuicide?I was in jail [when he died] so the only thingI know is that I didn’t do it. I can guaranteeyou that, because I was in Texarkana. They justdid an article about me and Gary Webb andeverything in the Pasadena Weekly.How would you explain the alleged CIA/crackcocaine connection to the younger generation?We’ve always heard that the governmentput crack and guns in the hood. Howaccurate are those statements?We found out for an absolute fact that my guy,who I got my drugs from, was a Contra. TheContras were backed by the CIA. The CIA knewthat they were selling drugs and turned a blindeye. Not only that, but the CIA went to theAttorney General and asked her to change thelaw. There was a law that said that they mustreport drug dealing if they knew about it, andthey had that law changed so that they didn’thave to report it. Those are facts that the CIAhas admitted.What other projects are you working on?I’m doing my record label now. I’m looking forartists right now and I’ve got a group I’m puttingtogether. I’m finna lock down Hollywood.I felt like the movie was the most importantpart. I wrote a book...The rest of this interview is featured in OzoneMagazine Issue #85:Who’s going to play the role of “Freeway”Ricky Ross?I’ve been talking to Columbus Short prettyseriously. He’s come on harder than anybodyelse. I spoke to a lot of people about it, though.Nelly, Tyrese, Scarface, Don Cheadle, LarenzTate, Denzel Washington. Snoop Dogg askedfor the role. Mark Wahlberg, Brad Pitt, andLeonardo DiCapro are interested in playingGary Webb, the reporter. Gary has a prettysubstantial story too. He was a prize-winningwriter who came up dead. Two shots to theOZONE MAG // 75

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