ALL STAR 2011 - Ozone Magazine

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