RAW, UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT

D-LO
DOWN AKA
KILO
AKA
LEE
TERRACE
MARTIN MAJORS
DOIN’
DOIN’IT
ITIN
INAAMAJOR
MAJORWAY
WAY
SHORT
STORIES
RESPECT
RESPECTTHE
THEPIMPIN’
PIMPIN’
 editor’s note
I’m Just Sayin’tho by D-Ray
L
et’s talk about the perception of the media. I’m usually the one Every time I’m in LA the city screams for me to stay. I just haven’t been
who has a “who gives a shit?” attitude towards what people think, able to bring myself to leave my home, the BAY AREA!
but the misconceptions always bother me, for some reason.
Maybe it’s because whenever people think of you as “media,” they pass The Bay is my first love, and it’s where I’m from. I will always go hard for
judgment, thinking that you’re only into gossip and drama. But that’s the home team! I just feel like it’s time for change. But remember, it’s
where I draw the line with my media coverage. straight up West Coast all day!

Yes, I read the gossip. I watch it and I hear it! I just don’t speak on it. It’s I know I keep saying this, but it’s the truth: a lot of artists need to quit
one of those things about being where I’m from. Besides, I don’t like relying on their music and step their promotion game up big time!
confrontation, so I’d rather just stay far away from it. I’m “media” because Hustlers never stop hustlin’. This business is all about your visual AND
I love the stories my pictures help tell. I have love for Hip Hop and I have your music. You need to create a fanbase, don’t sit around waiting for a
love for people making their dreams come true. I have respect for the fanbase!
artists that stay working every day on their dreams. That’s why I do it. It’s
my passion to capture all of those special moments. Take Tech N9ne, for instance. He’s one of my favorite artists and he put in
the time and the work to build his fanbase. I knew who Tech N9ne was
I know many careers have been ruined by negative media attention. before I even heard his music. His visual and hype were on point! He’s
How fair is that? So when I am thought of as “media” in a negative sense, everywhere! He stays on the road, I’d guess, at least 200 days out of the
I take it personally. I try to be a part of the solution (good media) not the year. Tech, if you’re reading this and I’m wrong with my guesstimation, let
problem (bad media). me know! You’re a perfect example of how to get it in!

This might be the reason my birthday party was so big to me. I had a Artists need to try to stay on the road as much as possible. It’ll help
crazy time. I want to thank everyone that came out to celebrate with me you create a fanbase with a crazy promotional campaign and music to
on my birthday! If you haven’t seen the pictures from the party you can match. You have to be willing to make certain sacrifices if you’re serious
go to OZONE Magazine’s website ozonemag.com and look under D-Ray’s and passionate about your goals. You need to live everyday going for
Birthday Party in Beverly Hills! Please go see what all the talk is about! your goals; that’s definitely not happening at your house or just in your
city. You have to get hot there first, but after you’ve done that, YOU MUST
I also have to thank Ballyhoo PR; she did her thing. Big Mike of UGMX, TAKE THE SHOW ON THE ROAD!
thanks for taking care of all my last-minute needs! You came through BIG
TIME! Sometimes I’m so disappointed by certain movements and certain artists
because they get so big in their region but fail to travel and bring that
We had a great turnout, with people from Alaska all the way to France! momentum to other areas so the movement can spread. I know nothing
We had pimps, hoes, hustlers, goons, gangstas, OGs, rappers, and did I is EASY and nothing is FREE in life. Start by investing in yourself if you
mention Suge Knight? Yeah, Suge Knight came through! We had gangs want others to invest in you!
and all areas in the house with NO DRAMA. It truly meant a lot.
- D-Ray, OZONE West Editor-At-Large
Look out for all the crazy Hustle 101 footage from that night. Another dray@ozonemag.com
special thanks goes out to London for singing Happy Birthday to me.

Everybody came through my birthday ...you already know J ...and of course some of LA’s ...and Jay Rock!
party at Gonapchi in Beverly Hills! Diggs was there... finest were in the building,
Here’s me and Shorty Mack... like Problem....

Glasses Malone f/ T-Pain & Birdman “Sun Come Up”

Crooked I f/ Snoop Dogg “I Look Good” LATIN PRINCE’S
Snoop Dogg f/ The Dream “Gangsta Luv”
Nipsey Hussle “Hussle Is My Last Name”
TOP SLAPS
Nipsey Hussle f/ Snoop Dogg & Poo-Bear “Gangsta’s Life” Nipsey Hussle “The Hussle Way”
Glasses Malone f/ Slim Tha Mobster “Mutha Fuckin Streets” Koolade f/ J-Ro “Get Addicted”
Bishop Lamont f/ Suga Free, Chevy Jones, Bokey, Snoop Dogg f/ Nate Dogg “OG”
& Butch Cassidy “Nothing Could Be Better” Mack 10 f/ J Holiday “Hood Famous”

4 // OZONE WEST
(above L-R): San Quinn & Keak Da Sneak on the set of Keak da Sneak’s video shoot in East Oakland, CA; J Diggs & Dirty Girl on the set of J Diggs’ ‘I’m In The Hood’ video shoot in
Vallejo, CA; Warren G signing autographs @ Arcata Community Center in Arcata, CA (Photos: D-Ray)

01 // Gary Archer, The Jacka, Sam, & Husalah @ 17Hertz (Hayward, CA) 02 // Shad Gee, Fillmore Rich & Dame Fame @ Toons for Bay Day (San Jose, CA) 03 // Bizarre of D12 @
Arcata Community Center (Arcata, CA) 04 // Jamal & Amon @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area, CA) 05 // Thizz Kids on the set of J Diggs’ “I’m In The Hood” video shoot
(Vallejo, CA) 06 // BOB, Kid Cudi, & Asher Roth @ Regency Ballroom for the Great Hangover Tour (San Francisco, CA) 07 // Soulja Boy & D-Ray @ America’s Most Wanted Tour
(Concord, CA) 08 // Remembering Mac Dre @ Crest Park (Vallejo, CA) 09 // Too Short, Black, & E-40 @ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA) 10 // Extreme & Warren G (Hay-
ward, CA) 11 // Demolition Men & Rob E @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area, CA) 12 // Chuckee Valentino & Cee-Lo @ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA)
13 // Network & D-Lo @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday party (Beverly Hills, CA) 14 // Bambino, D-Ray, Jay Rock, Jen, & Punch @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday party (Beverly Hills,
CA) 15 // Warren G & DJ 069 @ Club Underground (Reno, NV) 16 // Miami Mike & E-40 @ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA) 17 // Lil Chuckee & Tyga (Los Angeles, CA)
18 // E-40 & ProHoeZak on the set of “Don’t Give A Fuck About No Hoe” video shoot (San Jose, CA) 19 // Willie Joe & Sanchez @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area, CA)

Photo Credits: all photos by D-Ray

OZONE WEST // 5
 I used to daydream a lot when I was a teenager catching
the bus and walking around the streets of Oakland. I had
dreams of driving the best cars and fucking the finest
women, just like any other aspiring player. I practiced on the lil
girls in the hood and rapped about it on homemade cassette
tapes I used to make with my rap partner Freddy B. I used to
see the ballplayers, the big time drug dealers, the pimps, and
the successful businessmen, and there was no doubt in my
mind that I wanted to be a pimp. I wanted a new Caddy every
year and a bunch of long-haired bitches calling me Daddy.

Somehow in the midst of selling tapes all over the Bay Area
and daydreaming about being a major pimp from East Oak-
land, California, the rap game made me so famous, so fast, that
I never had a moment to stop and pimp some actual hoes. But
I didn’t let that shit stop me from being a pimp.

If you’re daydreaming yourself and feeling like a pimp but you

don’t have any hoes or dough, that’s not the end of the world.
My point is, the most important thing is that you have some
game; some real pimp game. You gotta respect the pimpin’,
cause it’s something you can apply to your lifestyle even if it
has nothing to do with a woman selling her body for money.

Pimpin’ is a frame of mind. It’s like yoga or martial arts. If you

possess the game, you’ll find yourself much more in control
of your emotions. You’ll also find that it’s much easier to
control almost every situation you find yourself in, and
many of the people you deal with.

If you ask me, “How do I get this game, Shortdog?” my

answer would be, talk to some pimps and hoes. Read
some old books like Iceberg Slim and listen to every
Too $hort album ever made. Just do some research
and you’re on your way.

It’s not about money and it’s not about sex. It’s about
respect. Muthafuckers respect the game, especially
if they have it and recognize that you have it too. “[pimpin’] isn’t about money and it’s not
That shit goes a lot way in this society. I know high
level executives that have street game and I be- about sex. it’s about respect... i know high
lieve that’s part of the reason they’re so powerful
in the business world. There’s even some people level executives that have street game
who have never lived in the hood or been AND that’s part of the reason they’re so
exposed to the culture of pimps and hoes, but
they’ve still managed to possess the game on powerful in the business world.”
their own terms.

The bottom line is, it’s all about controlling your

emotions and manipulating situations to favor
you. What do you want to do with your life? What
are your real dreams about?

I’m not trying to encourage you to literally be a pimp and

put your hoes to work on the strip. For one, it’s illegal, and
there’s a very ugly, negative side to real pimpin’. I’m just
saying that the pimp mentality can be applied to your life in
many different ways.

They say it ain’t trickin’ if you got it. I say, without tricks, pimps
wouldn’t exist. So which one are you: the pimp, the hoe, or
the trick? Ask yourself. Biiiiiitch!!!!!

Hit me up on my crackberry at ShortStories@ozonemag.com

6 // OZONE WEST
(above L-R): Droop-E & E-40 on the set of ‘Don’t Give A Fuck About No Hoe’ video shoot in San Jose, CA; Nio Tha Gift & Big Rich @ Toons for Bay Day in San Jose, CA; Traxamillion
@ Zen Lounge for We The West launch party in Mountain View, CA (Photos by D-Ray)

01 // Big Mike, E-40, & D-Lo on the set of “Don’t Give A Fuck About No Hoe” video shoot (San Jose, CA) 02 // Keak da Sneak & pa’tnas on the set of Keak da Sneak’s video shoot
(East Oakland, CA) 03 // E-40 & Zoe da Roasta on the set of “Don’t Give A Fuck About No Hoe” video shoot (San Jose, CA) 04 // EvenOdd @ Toons for Bay Day (San Jose, CA) 05 //
Kuzzo Fly & Haji Springer @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday party (Beverly Hills, CA) 06 // Warren G & Bad Lucc (Humbolt County, CA) 07 // J Diggs on the set of J Diggs’ “I’m In The
Hood” video shoot (Vallejo, CA) 08 // Jae Millz & Bueno @ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA) 09 // Lil Twist, E-40, & Lil Chuckee @ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord,
CA) 10 // Too Short & One Tyme (Oakland, CA) 11 // Rico, J Diggs, & Rock Jacobs on the set of J Diggs’ ‘I’m In The Hood’ video shoot (Vallejo, CA) 12 // Tito Bell, Skinhead Rob, &
Gary Archer @ The Fast Life Store (Los Angeles, CA) 13 // Dre & Furious @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area, CA) 14 // Mohawk Marlon & Cellski @ Zen Lounge for We The
West launch party (Mountain View, CA) 15 // Willie Joe & Kuzzo Fly @ Zen Lounge for We The West launch party (Mountain View, CA) 16 // The Jacka, D-Ray, & Husalah @ 17Hertz
(Hayward, CA) 17 // Nio Tha Gift & Traxamillion @ Zen Lounge for We The West launch party (Mountain View, CA) 18 // BOB & TJ Chapman @ Regency Ballroom for the Great
Hangover Tour (San Francisco 19 // Gary Archer, Yukmouth, D-Ray, & guest @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday party (Beverly Hills, CA)

Photo Credits: all photos by D-Ray

OZONE WEST // 7
 Patiently
Waiting

T
hroughout the years, countless rap art- lot of mainstream artists, but I grew up on Bay he declined to discuss.
ists have created mega hits. Unfortu- area music,” like his favorite artist, Mac Dre. One
nately, many fail to follow through with evening in the studio he was inspired to create “I had been giving [my CDs] to the DJs after
a solid album and maintain a successful career. “No Ho” over a track that had the signature everyone started picking up on it,” D-Lo remem-
20-year-old D-Lo is well aware of the usual pat- hyphy sound. The record was enough to gain the bers. “Then I ended up having to turn myself in.
tern and hopes to become one of the hitmakers approval of everyone in his trusted circle and the By the time I got out in a year, it was smacking.
that moves above and beyond the realm of the response motivated him to start marketing the Everyone knew the song.” The day he got out, he
one-hit wonders. track on his own. “I just ended up getting hella had a show. Two weeks after that, his daughter,
CDs and burning that one song off on them, (“my inspiration,” he says) was born.
To date, the biggest song of D-Lo’s career is the passing them out wherever I went—bus stations,
fiery “No Ho” from his mixtape The Tonight Show schools—wherever I was. I always had them on Since then he’s been on the move, consistently
with D-Lo. And from there, the East Oakland me.” getting show money. His next steps? Touring
native just kind of fell into his current position. from Alaska to Nevada, promoting his new-
“It just came from nowhere,” says the rapper D-Lo also followed the route of many self-pro- est single “She Played Me” and prepping his
born D-Angelo Porter. “I was never the type, like moters and created a Myspace page for himself, upcoming album with DJ Fresh, Undeniable
[to have] been rapping since I was young. [We generating even more buzz for “No Ho.” Talent, slated for an early 2010 release. “I wanna
were] just fucking around in the studio, playing be known, and seriously, as far as my rapping, I
around. I wasn’t thinking about being a rapper. It was a busy year for him, both on the music want the world to see and hear a real nigga,” he
The way the song took off, that’s what made me front and on a personal level, “I ended up having says with force, in his Bay Area twang. “It’s finally
take rap seriously.” to go to jail for like a year,” he says somberly. taking off like it’s supposed to.”
While he was trying rap on for size, he still
When Porter was seventeen, he started experi- meddled in street business and caught a charge Words by Nadine Graham
menting with rap as he knew it. “I listened to a for armed robbery, among other things, which Photo by D-Ray

8 // OZONE WEST
(above L-R): Keak da Sneak & his mama on the set of Keak da Sneak’s video shoot in East Oakland, CA; BOB & Kid Cudi @ Regency Ballroom for the Great Hangover Tour in San
Francisco, CA; Suge Knight & D-Ray @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday party in Beverly Hills, CA (Photos: D-Ray)

01 // D-Lo, Zoe da Roasta, Mac Russ, Droop-E, & E-40 on the set of “Don’t Give A Fuck About No Hoe” video shoot (San Jose, CA) 02 // Miami Mike, EI, & Lil Chuckee @ America’s
Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA) 03 // Big Dant, Yukmouth, D-Ray, Chop Black, & Kuzzo Fly @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday party (Beverly Hills, CA) 04 // Bless & Lil Chuckee
@ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA) 05 // Ghazi & Cellski @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area, CA) 06 // Vanessa Monet on the set of J Diggs’ ‘I’m In The Hood’
video shoot (Vallejo, CA) 07 // Mack Maine, guest, & Too Short @ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA) 08 // 211, Ice B, Smurf, & D-Ray @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday
party (Beverly Hills, CA) 09 // E-40 & Lil Chuckee @ America’s Most Wanted Tour (Concord, CA) 10 // Ro, Michael Denton, & Nick Ngo @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area,
CA) 11 // Gary Archer, Big Will, DJ Devro, Lil Quinn, & Bennie B @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area, CA) 12 // K-Max & Erk Tha Jerk @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay
Area, CA) 13 // Lil Chuckee & Streetz (Los Angeles, CA) 14 // Klypso & his girl @ Bay Area Producers Conference (Bay Area, CA) 15 // Noni Spitz, Taje, Bangloose, G.Malone, D-Ray,
Problem, & Bad Lucc @ Gonapchi for D-Ray’s birthday party (Beverly Hills, CA) 16 // J Valentine, Dutch, Big Rich, & Chuck @ Toons for Bay Day (San Jose, CA) 17 // Gary Archer &
Cellski @ Zen Lounge for We The West launch party (Mountain View, CA) 18 // D-Lo, Sleepy D, E-40, & Beeda Weeda on the set of “Don’t Give A Fuck About No Hoe” video shoot
(San Jose, CA)

Photo Credits: all photos by D-Ray

OZONE WEST // 9
 Words by
Ms. Rivercity

10 // OZONE WEST
 WORDS By Maurice G. Garland
PHOTOS BY D-RAY

If you’re old enough to remember, them paid in other ways. and the guy who put that out, put me and
the name Lee Majors should ring a my brother Rahmean’s first tape out. It was an
Are you from Oakland originally? Tell us what it underground hit in the Bay.
bell. He was a widely popular actor
was like growing up there for you.
in the 70s and 80s mainly known for Yes, I’m from West Oakland. I came up in the late That time period is what many refer to as the
his characters Steve Austin the Six 80s, early 90s, during the D-Boy era. It was crazy; Golden Era of Bay Area Hip Hop. What was it
Million Dollar Man and Colt Seav- a lot of dope being sold. The old school, when like entering the game at that time?
ers the Fall Guy. they were riding in Mustangs on gold thangs, Yeah, I was getting my feet wet around that time.
that era, when cats was really kicking it. The Dru Down, who is actually my blood cousin, was
If you don’t remember, no worrieS. game has totally changed now. Too $hort Born big, 3XKrazy was doing their thing, 2Pac had just
Bay Area rapper Lee Majors is about to Mack was the only thing we had to listen to put out All Eyez on Me and had a lot of the Bay
to re-introduce the name to you when I was coming up. Area on there. It was cool just to have that expe-
rience and be getting in the music game around
in a major way. With his upcoming that time. We were still young though. I was 15,
What else did you grow up on? Lately there’s
album Music For The Mob hitting been a stigma that Bay Area cats don’t listen to my brother was 13, and we were just having fun.
stores this fall, Majors is poised to anything but their own music.
cash in on a career that he’s spent I grew up on East Coast music. Run-DMC, LL Cool Were you considered a “kid group”? What kind
nearly 15 years building. J, Biz Markie, Just Ice, Eric B. and Rakim. My mom of music where you making? Around that time
collected records. So I had the Sugar Hill Gang, you were either pop like Kris Kross or edgy like
Having worked with everyone from Tha Jacka to Earth, Wind and Fire, Bootsy Collins, Parliament Illegal.
E-40 to Daz Dillinger as both a rapper and pro- Funkadelic, stuff like that. Yeah, I remember both of those groups. Illegal
ducer, Lee Majors has a resume that many artists was pretty hard. We were rapping about some
drool over. But the Oakland hustler spirit in him When did you start making music on your gangster shit at the time. Weed, girls, cars. We
won’t allow him to rest on his laurels. He recently own? were hanging around the older dope boys, so
sat down with OZONE to talk about his begin- I really started going to the studio in 94-95, that’s what we rapped about. I was into sports
nings in the rap game, how he literally got on something like that. I made my first album in real heavy too, but when I dropped out I focused
making “dope fiend beats” and why he doesn’t ‘96, right before tapes disappeared. There was on rap. When we dropped that first album it was
pay artists to hop on his records, but rather gets a group called APG, Action Pack Gangsters, right when CD were talking over for real, the

OZONE WEST // 11
 tapes were disappearing. We were still in high Yukmouth and them, I had to switch it up. I’ve an artist like Keak Da Sneak. Back then he was
school, but we were basically known in high always made real mob music, but when I heard always coming out under someone else. It wasn’t
schools. We didn’t get on as a group until ‘99 people telling their life story, I figured it’s time for until recently that he started putting his own
when we put out our first album. I was in a group me to start doing that too. I wanted to talk about stuff out. Cats didn’t know the formula [before].
called Side Industry. We came up under the guys my struggle, my dope game stories; living in the
that used to put out Andre Nickatina. projects with no lights on. Let’s talk about your upcoming album Music
From The Mob. What should people expect?
Your resume boasts that you produce as well. That seems to be a familiar theme in Oakland. You’re going to see how much I’ve grown, from
I was always producing, even since I was rapping. It is, but Oakland has strong roots out here. There beginning to end. I’ve got Yukmouth and The Re-
We would come up on studio equipment in the are a lot of other things going on out here. When gime on there, Messy Marv, Tha Jacka, Husalah,
street. Dope fiends would sells us keyboards and you think of Oakland you have to talk about the AP9, and San Quinn. When I do songs, I want
beat machines, so we had a whole studio built Panthers, Too $hort and MC Hammer. For me features that people will remember.
in the back of my mom’s house. This was before Oakland is a place that sets trends. Once we do
ProTools. It was all 4-tracks doing everything the it, someone else comes along and takes it. We You have a lot of videos out with these artists
whole way through, no punching in. But I really were saying “fo’ sheezy” in high school, We don’t as well. Do you direct them yourself?
got established by doing beats for Tha Jacka, even do that anymore. Everybody I do videos with, they’re my guy. I
Yukmouth and Husalah’s albums. I’ve veered really fuck with them on a daily basis. I’m not
away lately, though. Was it a difficult transition? doing songs with people I don’t really fuck with.
Once I started doing it, it came easy to me. It Every time someone like Daz is here in the Bay,
Where were dope fiends finding beat ma- was kinda hard to switch from what I was doing he hits me up. Everyone else is the same way.
chines? to telling stories. I had the producers to make it I’m with these guys every day. I direct all of my
(laughs) I don’t know. They were probably steal- work, but at the time I was into uptempo music. videos too. I scout the locations and everything.
ing from somebody else. We ain’t even know But I figured I’m getting older, so I need to start I got a half of a movie script written right now. I
how to work the stuff, we just would get it and making real music. I should have been doing really want to do movie scores, but right now I’m
just build a little studio and make beats. that from the beginning. focusing on the visual side.

When did your career as a solo artist really start It’s interesting how you spoke about being I saw an interview where you said that you
to take off? around other artists and working with them, don’t pay artists for features, but instead, you
In 2005, I made a project called Scraper Music, that it rubbed off on you. From the outside help get them paid. What does that mean?
right before the Hyphy stuff blew up, I had my looking in, you’d be led to think that Bay Area I remember going into this one studio where the
own Scraper movement going. I dropped four artists don’t have much unity, hence the Area guy didn’t have anything in there. He just had
albums, including Scrape Thirsty and Scrape King. not getting back to the national stage. a computer, a keyboard and a microphone and
I had my own Scraper thing going on. This was Everybody messes with each other out here, was calling it a studio. That’s what I mean when
when I was running with Husalah and he gave they just don’t stick together. They only come I was talking about how people have access to
me the idea. together to make a song, but don’t work as a technology and anyone can record. That wasn’t
unit. It’s not like in the South where they move as shit. So when I saw that, I decided to open my
You say you did this before hyphy, which is a unit. That’s why people have a hard time doing own studio. After that, everyone started coming
interesting. People always assume that “hyphy” their thing, because they don’t stick together. to me to record. At one point everyone was in
started in 2005. But Digital Underground was my building, everyone from JT the Bigga Figga
getting “hyphy,” so to speak, almost twenty Not to say that the Bay Area didn’t have plenty to Bushwick Bill. From there, I started engineer-
years ago. of rappers back in the 90s, but do you think the ing, so I’d be like, “Let’s do a favor for a favor.” But
I’m glad you noticed that. Hyphy was never a influx of rappers now has anything to do with I did pay one person, and that was E-40. I broke
movement, people just caught onto it slow. the lack of support? bread with him because I grew up on 40 and he
Then once they caught on to it they called it a The thing is that all these cats back then in the respected me. He knew who I was. He didn’t try
“movement,” but this had been going on. Once Golden Era, those are actually fans. They all to break my pockets either.
they called it a “movement,” it killed it because it bought records. But now, everybody’s rapping
didn’t get to a certain level that people thought or they’re the son, nephew or cousin of a rapper, Is there anything else you want to say?
it would. It pretty much moved down to L.A. Jerk so it’s hard for them to embrace something new. Yeah, free Dru Down. They caught him with a
music is the new hyphy. They want people to embrace their folks. There burner and they beat him up too. Right now
were a lot of rappers back then, but there’s way we’re suing the Oakland Police. They already got
Well, you obviously got out of the “scraper” more now. You can see who’s out here doing hella lawsuits against them, but we’re still going
phase. What made you leave it alone? their thing for real, but they made it so easy for at them. He was just about to sign to this new
I started messing with cats who made real you to make music now. People didn’t know situation with the people who used to run Koch.
music, and it rubs off on you. Back then I was about mixing and mastering, photo shoots, He’s coming with a new album too Chronicles of
doing my own thing and sticking with that, but printing and all that stuff. Back then it wasn’t A Pimp which is real hot. When you listen you’re
when I started hanging around Tha Jacka and in our face how to do it. Even when you look at going to say, “Dru Down is back!” //

”We CAME up on studio equipment in the street.

Dope fiends would sells us keyboards and beat
machines, so we had a whole studio built in the
back of my mom’s house... before ProTools.“
12 // OZONE WEST
 Patiently
Waiting

I
f you thought African American rap- Down building a rapidly growing buzz, he is because we’ve shown that we can sell records.”
pers have a hard time breaking through both building acceptance and welcoming others
stereotypes in Hip Hop, imagine what it’s into his world. Now that Down has conquered music as a plat-
like to be a Mexican American rapper. Without form, he now has plans to use movies to push
wearing blue bandana or red flannel, people see Far from a newcomer to rap, his latest project his agenda. His first film borrows its name his
the color of their skin and just assume you’re just Definition of an Ese is actually his tenth album to 2007 hit, “Lean Like A Cholo,” and will be a Latino
gangbanger looking for trouble. Chicano rap vet date. Toiling in the underground for years, Down comedy. It is set to star former world champion
Down aka Kilo hopes to dispel this idea. made a name for himself selling his music out of boxer Fernando Vargas, John Amos (Good Times,
the trunk at the local swap meets. Though the Coming To America) and Tiny Lister, Jr. (Friday).
“A ‘Cholo’ is Mexican American growing up in the music made an immediate connection with his The movie stays in line with the vibe and mes-
‘hood,” explains the man behind the radio smash peers, the world at large wasn’t quite ready for it. sages he tries to put forth in his music.
“Put Your Locs On.” “It’s not gang member, it’s a Down also admits that he might not have been
tradition of how we dress and look. People think ready for the world either. “It’s just about chilling on a Sunday and getting
it means [gang member], but it’s not like that into trouble, but we ain’t robbing or stealing,” he
anymore.” “We were selling records and making money, urges. “I just want to make people have fun and
but labels weren’t trying to hear us,” he says. “But break stereotypes along the way.”
Coming from a culture where family comes first, our talent was still growing too. We were still in
outsiders often assume that music from Latin garages rapping making beats out of nothing. It Words by Maurice G. Garland
America only for them and by them. But with wasn’t the time for us then, but now is the time,

OZONE WEST // 13
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He’s touted as one of most I got the horn down, I fell right back into the movement. At one point I wouldn’t have accept-
drum machine. Where I grew up, there weren’t ed it because I was so close-minded and stuck
talented up-and-coming a lot of good role models. There was a lot of in that West Coast shell. I did so much work for
producers/rappers on the gangbangin’, a lot of things going on that wasn’t Snoop Dogg to the point that people thought
positive, and it wasn’t what I wanted to do. But all I would wanna do is Snoop Dogg records, and
West Coast. After produc- there was another cat that grew up in my neigh- that’s not the case. I’ma always ride with Snoop
ing tracks for Snoop Dogg borhood named Kevin Gilliam a.k.a. Battlecat. I Dogg, but I’m not gonna always do Snoop Dogg
locked in with Battlecat and he taught me how [style] music. I wanna expand; I wanna work with
and playing saxophone in the to really get down with the drum machine and everybody. I’m not that interested in working
Dogg Father’s Snoopadelics MPC. And I met Kurupt and a ton of other people with anyone on the West Coast, no disrespect,
band, Terrace Martin is ready through him. but I just need my music to go farther.
Is that the main reason you did a mixtape with
to PrOPEL his sound FAR be- You’ve done a lot of work with Snoop Dogg. DJ Drama?
yond the city of angels. How’d you meet him? It’s funny you say that, cause that is the main
I met Snoop and Kurupt together when I was 16. reason I did the mixtape with DJ Drama. Drama’s
You’re known as a producer and rapper, but Out in L.A. we grew up on Snoop Dogg records. been supporting me since I started. Drama’s
a lot of people don’t know that you also play Not only that, but Kurupt showed us we could do another one of my dudes. I was gonna do it with
instruments like the saxophone and piano. it, coming from this area. And this was my first Green Lantern, but Drama’s so accessible to me
I was introduced to music through my parents. time seeing stars. And it’s not starstuck, it’s like, and he’s such a real good dude and he cares
My mother is a pianist, a singer, and a songwriter. “Oh my God, he’s tall.” (Laughs) And the thing about the music. You know, for minute I was
And my father is a drummer. I got introduced that makes me remember them is that there was gonna live in Atlanta.
to music at a very young age cause around my like 30 people in the hallway, and before Snoop
house there was a lot of different music being left, he walked from the bottom of the hallway Come on to the A, shawty.
played throughout the day. My father played a to the top and shook everyone’s hand. He looked Yeah, but y’all don’t got no Slauson Swapmeet.
lot of John Coltrane and Woody Shaw, and my them all in the eyes and said, “Aight, cuz. Aight, Y’all ain’t got no Roscoe’s. Y’all got Gladys
mother would play a lot of Luther [Vandross], a cuz. Aight, cuz.” I was like, this man is Snoop Knight’s chicken out there, and her chicken is
lot of Anita Baker. I grew up with studios in my Dogg, he can just leave. And I said, “Lord, I wanna okay. And kudos to Gucci Mane. What would
house, so when I hit fifth grade I told my mom I work with Snoop Dogg. That would be a dream Gucci Mane sound like on a Dr. Dre beat?
wanted a drum machine. At that time Hip Hop come true.” So, when I was like 19 or 20, through
was so big, my mom bought me a Casio. So I Battlecat and a good friend of mine named I don’t know. I’m used to hearing him over
started making beats on that little keyboard. My Marlon Williams, I got the opportunity to play sax Zaytoven beats.
mom saw that I was real serious with making in Snoop’s band. Before Snoop had even heard That’s why I need to get with Gucci Mane. So,
beats, so she bought me this keyboard called En- my beats, Soopafly heard my beats, and he gave send a kite to Gucci Mane, make sure he reads
sonic EPS that a lot of cats used back in the day. me my first check. I waited for the opportunity this article. Get at me, nigga.
You gotta think, I’m in 6th grade and my mom is to let Snoop know I had music. I pressed play, he
buying me a $4,000 keyboard. was excited about my music, and he’s been there Who else are you working with right now?
ever since for me. I just completed an album called Melrose with
When did you learn to play the saxophone? a good friend of mine, Murs. Murs is one of the
9th grade is when I started playing the saxo- What was your first placement on a Snoop biggest independent artists in the game right
phone. I went to visit my father in New York, Dogg album? now. He does things like Rock The Bells and he
where he was playing at a nightclub. I wasn’t I played [saxophone] on some songs on Pay tha has his own festival called Paid Dues. He does
into jazz, I was just doing beats. One night my Cost to Be da Boss, but my first placement was [shows] where nobody’s fighting in the crowd,
uncle Richie Love was playing the saxophone, “Joysticc” on the 213 album. A month after that and everybody’s there to just love music. And
and I was like, “That’s a fly instrument.” This older R&G: The Masterpiece came out, and [I produced] there are different colors in the crowd. I don’t just
woman with these huge breasts came up to “Fresh Pair of Panties On.” wanna do music for blacks or Hispanics. I wanna
me and said, “Do you play drummers like your make music for blacks, Hispanics, Latinos, Asians,
daddy?” I said, “Nah.” She said, “What do you Since you have a saxophone and jazz back- greens, yellows, anybody. If you love music, I
play?” I said, “I don’t play nothing, ma’am.” She ground, how would you define your produc- wanna rock out with you. And I don’t wanna
said, “Well, I’ma tell you like this, if you play the tion sound as a rapper and producer? promote violence, I wanna promote peace. Make
saxophone, you can make love to your woman My production sound has grown now. I used love, not war. That’s what Murs is about, and
without even touching her.” So in 9th grade, to be concentrated on the whole West Coast that’s what I’m about right now. And the music
(laughs), “Mom, I need to learn how to play the [sound]. Now I’m more concentrated on observ- is like nothing I’ve ever done; it’s like “ghetto-
saxophone.” I took a break from Hip Hop cause I ing music, but still keeping it innovative and electro.” Watch when you print this article, some-
really wanted to get that saxophone down. Once interesting. I’m adapting to is this whole new body’s gonna bite that. “Ghetto-electro.” //

OZONE WEST // 15
Nipsey Hussle, DJ Whoo Kid, Johnny Shipes & The Empire Don Changolini 4000/President of The Game
Bullets Ain’t Got No Names Vol. 3 You shouldn’t judge a book, or a CD for that matter, by its
cover. But in this case, the bad artwork on Don Changolini’s
Out West, Nipsey Hussle’s Bullets Ain’t Go No Names has his name President of the Game should be a red flag. The beat for “We
on the tip of everyone’s tongue, and the much-anticipated Vol. 3 be Smoking” isn’t bad (even though the hook is offbeat), and
in this popular series further makes Nipsey a name to know out guest appearances like Jimmy Roses, Bueno, and San Quinn
of the Golden State. “Strapped” is the aggressive Nipsey that fans help easy the pain of listening to Don Changolini. Other
know, whereas the introspective “Tha Hustle Way” and “Shed a than that, there isn’t anything good to say about this album
Tear” feature Nipsey rhyming on less combative beats but still (believe me, I tried). There’s only one excuse for an album to
with assailing lyrical content. And on “Speak My Language” sound this bad: Changolini must be tone deaf. - Randy Roper
Nipsey lyrically stands tough alongside Lloyd Banks and Cory
Gunz. Bullets ain’t got no name, but Nipsey has a name that’s
rightfully gaining rap fame. - Randy Roper New Boyz/SKINNY JEANZ AND A MIC
If you combined the sparse production of D4L, the dance
vibes of the Hyphy movement, and the content and rhyme
Snoop Dogg/Bacc To The Chuuch Vol. 1 schemes of The Cool Kids, the result would be the New Boyz’
Doggstyle debut Skinny Jeanz And A Mic. With roughly 60% of the album
produced by group member Legacy and producer Talent, the
Snoop Dogg is without question a household name, so it’s only CD doesn’t has much range. But playfully realistic rhymes on
right for Uncle Snoopy to put his nephews on whenever he gets songs like “Way 2 Many Chicks” almost make you forget that
an opportunity. And that’s what Bacc To The Chuuch is all about. production-wise, the CD sounds like one long song. While the
As it goes from mixtape to album form, this 16-song compilation New Boyz are far from lyrical geniuses, they do put some ef-
sets a platform for artists like Tha Twinz, the Raw Doggz, Hustle fort into their rhymes and exhibit decent storytelling skills. In
Boyz, Chris Starr and Uncle Chucc to take center stage. Snoop a time when “for the kids” is often code for “whack and mind-
appears on a good number of tracks, and Dogg Pound vets numbing,” the New Boyz actually do the term some justice by
Kurupt and Daz make appearances. Although this album would supplying a soundtrack for teenagers simply wanting to have
have been better if Snoop jumped on every song, that’s just a good time and stay out of trouble. - Maurice G. Garland
wishful thinking. Bacc To The Chuuch still has a good mix of mu-
sic, artists and Snoop verses to be worth a listen. - Randy Roper
Fashawn & The Alchemist/The Antidote
On The Antidote, Fresno newcomer Fashawn connects with
Berner/Weekend At Bernie’s Cali producer The Alchemist for an 11-track mixtape, solely
Bern One Entertainment produced by Alchemist. The sound of this release is much
more grittier than some of Fashawn’s previous mixtapes.
Weekend At Bernie’s was a great movie, but the same can’t be Alchemist’s influence is evident, and most of the beats sound
said for Berner’s album. Problem is Berner isn’t much of a rapper, like tracks that didn’t make Prodigy or Evidence’s last albums.
and every time he raps, it’s as if someone is forcing him to rhyme Not that that’s a bad thing, as Fashawn is lyrically sharp over
against his will. Luckily for him, good production and a long list the production. “What’s Your World” and “Fash Plays It Cool”
of guest appearances—Bun B, B.G., The Jacka, Slim Thugg, Kneak are a lot more enjoyable listens than the rest of the mixtape.
Da Sneak and many more—mask the stink Berner leaves from Still, this tape shows what Fash can do when paired with one
his lack of enthusiasm on the mic. Actually, if you fast forward of Hip Hop’s best producers. And his Exile-produced debut
past Berner’s parts, this album isn’t half bad. - Randy Roper album Boy Meets World shouldn’t have as many drab moments
as Antidote. - Randy Roper
 Patiently
Waiting

G
rowing up in the same neighborhood weren’t going to let it weigh them down. As singers, athletes, and other celebrities to rep
in Long Beach, CA, Terry Kennedy and upcoming Cali artists, it was normal for people their shoe line, The Supras, which became widely
Fuzzy Felix’s history goes way back. So to expect gangbangin’ records from them. popular. “We haven’t even made a big run on
it only made sense that when business came “Coming from the West Coast people are like, the music side of things yet,” T.K. says. “We were
their way, they’d become partners. The crew’s ‘Okay, we know what y’all are about to come out already killing it with our fashion. Look at a lot of
third member, H.I.T., is T.K.’s cousin. “Fuzzy and I with,’” says T.K., who in 2005 was shot twice while these videos; a lot of artists have our shoes on.”
have been doing music together for a long time,” leaving a party in Long Beach. “But Fly Society
adds H.I.T. “The initial grind started with a record is musically taking things to another level that Not only did Fly Society expand nationally,
called ‘Drama’ that drove T.K. to take things to a nobody over here is even doing.” enlisting the representation of former Young
new level.” Money affiliate Curren$y, but they are also locally
On the positive side, T.K. knows that Fly Society is revered. When listing some of the group’s famed
After recording “Drama,” T.K., who is also a one of a kind, and with their movement they see Long Beach supporters, Felix proudly names
well-known professional skateboarder, was the hearts of people are being felt. T.K. continues, Crooked I and Snoop Dogg as people who have
immediately excited about the song’s potential. “We overcame so much and are still overcoming recognized their work.
The group tested the record on Myspace, and so much. A lot of people tell us they’ve been
according to H.I.T., it drew in over a hundred touched when they see our movement.” As for the countless everyday listeners check-
thousand plays in less than a month. It was clear ing for the group, Felix says, “Musically a lot of
the group stood out from the average sound in Fly Society understands what it means to hustle, people can relate to it because it’s real.” He adds,
their region. and collectively they’ve learned the importance “When the label sees us, they see so much hope,
of branding. Alongside their music ventures, the and we’re gonna make sure we live up to it.”
Coming from an environment where it’s typical trio got their feet wet in the marketing side with
to rock a red or blue flag by a certain age, Fly their self-titled clothing line Fly Society. Applying Words by Quinton Hatfield
Society had a heavy burden to carry, but they the concept of endorsements, they got rappers, Photo by Kenny Ong

OZONE WEST // 17
 endzone

Kid Cudi
Event: Great Hangover Tour
Venue: Regency Ballroom
City: San Francisco, CA
Date: July 24th, 2009
Photo: D-Ray

18 // OZONE WEST