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EDITORIALS DBIC Magazine Staff Publisher DBIC Publishing Editor In Chief Kenrick Mejia Music Editor William Leftwich Asst. Editor Steven Boozer
Visual Director
GREATNESS GETS YOUNGER...
Kandace Simplis Contributing Writers
Its amazing to sit back and watch people whom have aspirations and dreams pursue their goals. We take the time out to see the steps they take, whether good or bad, and try the hardest to overcome the concept of not making it. Isn't that why we are here in the first place. And then, every once n a while or blue moon, a star emerges from the pack of hungry artists, producers, entertainers, actors, etc. The gift they have exceeds the test of time. Their drive is unmatched by none next to them. They inspire everyone around them and give hope that there is a chance to be something. Even haters get inspired and try to do better then the star, not knowing that at the same time that who we call or damned the title "special" just gives what we all should, our best. Now us here at DBIC could have done what every other magazine is doing and put out an issue full of what has previously happened during the year. Same old same old. Well we decided to keep giving you the rawness as we always do. We are proud of what we do. The age of true talent and success keeps getting younger and younger. We dont know who might break the ice. All we know is, someone "special" will. Enjoy this issue...
Justin Melo Column Writers DJ Carisma Shaina Corbett Bonita Payton Mysheka Ross Photographers
Web Design Kenrick Mejia Website Www.DBICMAG.com DBIC Mail & Contact P.O. Box 56 Inglewood, CA 90306 PH: (424)243-5002 dbicpromos@yahoo.com DBIC Mag Advertising Poly Rob (310)243-5002
Just Call It Tough
Love... A Piece of Mind from "Shainas Blog" Maybe it’s just me or did people all of a sudden become more nosy than ever at the turn of the millennium. It seems like ever since the year 2000 arrived, people have been so interested in a great deal many things that I feel they should not. I can’t really understand it yet every time I turn around I’m finding out people’s business, people are telling their business, and everybody is just too willing to invite strangers to debate over their life. It’s disgusting! I will be the first to admit that it used to be a small guilty pleasure of mine to hear the gossip on a persons life, but now with these celebrity types being so loose with personal information it doesn’t feel quite the same. Who can blame people for being out there like that now a days? If any of us regular folk were constantly being scrutinized and judged by people who shouldn’t be thinking twice about us, we would certainly learn to put up a façade way more dynamic then the ones we use to cope with our regular day to day lives. It seems like every time I turn on the news, log onto the internet, or listen to the radio I’m hearing drama about some people (most likely a celebrity type person) who aren’t paying my bills. It makes me wonder if I will ever receive any news with integrity that pertains to me as a citizen of the United States of America. The only media coverage a person can hear these days is about celebrity’s (pointless individuals), what celebrity’s have (shit no average person can afford), and who they are dating (who they are having sexual relations with). All that comes with a side of negative coverage about the hood and how many of us in the hood are dying or killing the next person in order to get like the celebrity. The sooner people learn how to open their minds and discern real from fake the better off we all will be as individuals, firstly, and then as a collective group. The truth is, thanks (in part--because I would be morally remiss to blame them in whole) to the media we have the worst case of trying to ‘keep up with the Jones’ or the Kardashians if that suits you better, that we have had probably since the dawn of time. It’s a pity people don’t realize by now the only way to get ahead is to start at the bottom and work their way up. If folks acted like they knew something, then maybe the Media would step their game up as well and start reporting on some real life shit. There wouldn’t be any coverage on rising unemployment rates, because people would be flipping burgers to make ends meet. Perhaps if folks could get back that work ethic that our forefathers had and start some legitimate business of their own instead of blowing every paycheck they get working for some already wealthy establishment, then Mainstream Media couldn’t flaunt these celebrity’s lifestyles just to get some high viewer ratings. All that’s doing, in case you didn’t know, is making the rich richer and the poor sadder. It’s become painfully obvious, that all this information being covered involving these “celebrity lifestyles” has people losing touch with reality. So let me bring you back right quick and clear it up for my people one time: Mind yo’ damn business! If you spent half as much time listening to, thinking about and spreading the news about what these people (who don’t know you) have, maybe you would be getting money too. It may sound harsh, but baby, just call it tough love. Don’t be mad, just think about it. In the meantime, you have a great day. Until next time, my people, Peace.
Best/Worst Recording Sessions
So DBIC caught up with a couple of artists in the industry. We have been wanting to ask about their personal best or worst recording session, and if there was a meeting behind it. It was interesting to listen to the answers we got.
"My best session was with Snoop Dogg in New York. We were working on “Neva’ Have 2 Worry” off his “Ego Trippin” album. It was just me, Snoop Dogg and the engineer. Terrace Martin was sleeping in the back room. Just to see a veteran I looked up to for a long time, seeing him ask me what I though about his music was monumental to me. Me and him got really personal that night. It was just me and him, one on one working on that record. It blew me away. I learned so most from it. Seeing his energy at 3AM in the morning, and he smoked me under the table. I was fairly new to the game at that time and to be in New York with Snoop Dogg at a session was crazy. That is my best session because I learned the most and I was sitting there being taught by one of the best ever.”
Problem “I would say as of right now, the best studio session I ever had was the third time I got to work with Salaam Remi on the album that never came out on E1 [formerly known as KOCH]. The reason why that was my best studio session, after I got finished recording the third song with Salaam, anybody who knows me knows that my favorite rapper of all time is Nas. After I finished, I didn’t know but Salaam emailed them off to Nas. I got to speak with Nas on the phone and he told me that he liked what I was doing and he told me to keep it up. That meant a lot to me in terms of keeping my head up and to stay focused on my career no matter how frustrating it got. That was a big deal to me.”
I-20
@mrsmithpp
Can't Keep My Eyes Off U!!! a Ross k e h s y M Name n-Los HometowCA Angeles, ening t s i l y o j Likes: En and Writing to Music icy Food p S : s e k i Disl InfoContact 235 760-881-730@yahoo.com Mysheka tter.com/ www.twi heka3 LuvnMys
When did you first start getting into modeling? I just started modelong in early 2010. 2. Although everyone does the modeling thing, what makes you stand out for agencies and people in the industry to select you for a gig? I stand out because I have a very versatile look can pull off all type of styles 3. What do you think is your best feature? My best feature are my eyes
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Name or Ali hometow as: Mariie Jazmin n: Los An geles, CA Likes; i lo ve and be aro to shop, be with a friends, m u y family. I see myse nd cool people. Im lov lf. Im a lik a nite pers e-able pe on, so the e top have fun rson. nite life is where i Dislikes: i don't like mean, stu have noth bb ing going for yourse orn, stuck up or ju well. s lf. I hate n egative a t people that don't nd rude p eople as Contact in fo: mariie ja website: www.twitte zmin@gmail.com r. com/Mari www.face ieJazmin book.com /MariieJa zmin
Can't Keep My Eyes Off U!!!!
When did you first start getting into modeling? I was interested in Modeling when i was a freshman in college, at California State University of Bakersfield but i didn't actually start Modeling until i became apart of the Cali Swag District promotion team. We would conduct meetings about the District and modeling came up. I was interested and from there the General Manager Poly Rob,made it happen. He scheduled photo shoots and it took off. Although everyone does the modeling thing, what makes you stand out for agencies and people in the industry to select you for a gig? I'm a people person. I love to meet new people and grew friendships. I am outgoing, and when i take pictures i add color and charisma. I don't just go for the sexy look, even though it does sale. I am a model off all looks. What do you think is your best feature? i think my best feature is my smile. i feel it lights up my pictures. And if not my smile then my face in general. I feel i have strong bone structure and my face stands out in the picture. What was your worst modeling experience? my worst modeling experience was when i was booked to do a fashion show and the director didn't inform me that the club the fashion was at was 21 or over. So i waited outside for an hour and i eventually left because it was too many problems. that event was so unprofessional. I was so mad. What type of guys do you like? type of guys i like are real supportive, outgoing, fun, and just real. I don't really seek a lot in guys because when u seek a lot you don't get out. I feel what you put in is what you put out. So if you want this is that then thats what put out. Just like respect, you have to give respect to get it. I feel its the same with relationships. What you would call a perfect fantasy for you? In detail... my perfect fantasy is me and my boyfriend. We are at a mansion with no one there just us. Every room is a different theme. We go to each room and play out that theme. Then when we get to the other rooms of the house like the kitchen, bathroom, etc then we just go at it. I want this to happen as if it was a weekend get away. All sex, we would stock up on food and what ever we need. No contact from anyone, our phones would be cut off, just pure sex weekend. What are you career goals for the future? my future career goals are for one to be a success model. I also want to own a few businesses. i want to also have non profit organizations that help people. I also want to do something with the music business since i have some experience in that field.
Crossing The Line
By Adorable P
When she called crying, I already knew why she was crying because I knew where my boy was last night. I went over to visit her and just listen to her and make sure my boy did not lose the best thing that ever happened to him. She opened the door and I could tell she had been crying all night. I don't understand my boy because his girl is sexy as hell, beautiful green eyes, intelligent, independent, loyal and loves the ground he walks on but he loves the 20%. You know the 80/20 rule. She invited me in and we begin to talk and she started to cry again so I held her in my arms. This felt so comfortable and right but it was so wrong. The chemistry between us , I can feel and my head told me to leave but my body told me to stay. I could not stop myself because a hug turned into a kiss and the next thing I knew it was three hours later and I was holding her in my arms in her bed totally naked watching her sleep. I crossed the line and I don't know where to go from here. Do we tell him? Do we act like it never happened? Will we ever be able to get pass this day? Can we go back to the friendship that we had before today? I just want to protect her from being hurt. I can't get her out of my head and I think about making love to her all the time and I hate that she loves him so much. I crossed the line but he doesn't deserve her and I wish that things were not so complicated now. I hate going home everyday to my husband because he is not exciting at all, but my co-worker is married but makes me laugh all day. My co-worker and I talk all day about everything, we go to a new restaurant everyday and we even workout at the gym every morning. I wish I could do these things with my husband. My co-worker and I have to travel out of town for work and after we arrive I called home just to talk to my husband and he started a big fight that pissed me off and I was so upset that I sat there and just cried. My co-worker came to my room and when I opened the door I just wanted to feel like a woman. He stepped in my room and I begin to kiss him and undress him and he did not stop me. Everything I dreamed about but never talked about was happening now. He took control and made my body betray me because I had never felt like this with my husband. We had sex all night and I woke up in his arms the next morning. I crossed the line and now what do I do? Will we be able to hide it from our other co-workers? Will my husband notice the changes in me? The cute lingerie, my attitude, my dressing has changed and is just a little sexier everyday? Can we go back to being just co-workers? Everyday men and women cross the line and have to make a decision to hide it or acknowledge it. Have you been in this spot before and you could not stop what was happening? Were you attracted to the person the whole time and suppress the urge to act on your desires? When chemistry is involved between two people does it make it impossible to control the situation? Crossing the line is easy for some but for others crossing the line changes everything in their life. Crossing the line sometimes becomes a life threatening situation and many people have died over one impulsive decision to enjoy an hour of hot, passionate sex that filled a void, or satisfied a sexual desire. A few people can cross the line and never think twice about it. Which one are you?
S E V O M r e w o P Pt. 1
N A M HITT elo M n i t s By Ju
DBIC: We’re right here with Hittman. Now it’s been a while since anyone has heard from you. What you have you been up to? Hittman: I’ve been on hiatus for the most part but I’m always writing. I have a few things coming out in the near future. I’ve been talking about it for a minute but I’m still working on “the Last Days of Brian Bailey” on my man Ron Hills’ L.A. imprint. It’s all a work in progress so I will keep you posted as we approach completion. The second I project I have brewing is called “K.H.I.T. 187.9” produced by Zaro Dynamic aka Eazy Z. Zaro produced my “Big Hitt Rising” EP and we’re looking to drop this project next summer. DBIC: The first one you mentioned “The Last Days of Brian Bailey”, a few things need to be worked out. Is it on the business side or the music side? Hittman: It`s on the music side. We’re still trying different things here & there as well as adding some bells & whistles. DBIC: Which producers have you been working with? Hittman: It’s being produced by me, Pomo, Ron Hill, Pretty Tone, Stuntman and more. Basically a bunch of talented guys that no one has heard of yet. DBIC: You’re producing now as well? Hittman: Yeah, I’m really new at it but it’s going down! I’ve always been involved in the production process but before it was from a vibing stand point. Now I’m more hands on. DBIC: You’ve been around some great producers. I imagine you picked up a thing or two (laughs) Hittman: Oh yeah, a thing or two from that matter! (laughs) DBIC: Exactly. Let’s reflect a bit on the “Big Hitt Rising” EP. What do you think of it today? Hittman: It’s still moving. That EP was very experimental for me because the music was totally different than the music that I normally do. Zaro Dynamic has a sound of his own. Even my approach to the EP, he would have a beat and if he called the beat “Hittin’ up the Club” then boom, that’s what I called the song. Normally when a producer gives me a beat, I take the music and title it what it says to me. But on this particular project, I played the role of an actor. He told me what vibe he heard on the beats he gave me and I ran with it his way. DBIC: Ok. For you personally, which do you think is more effective? When you run with what the producer has in mind, or when you let the music speak to you? Hittman: I think it just depends. That music was so different; I didn’t really have a direction of where I wanted to go with it. For him to have the titles already, it was cool. It was guidance for me. When I laid the lyrics, I was like ok, that’s what it is.
DBIC: Maybe it would have been too risky to try otherwise on that project. Hittman: Yeah. Well I’m not signed so I’m gonna’ take risks. When you’re signed to a major label, it’s the same cookie cutter shit. As long as I’m not signed to anybody, I’m gonna’ step out on a limb because it tests you as an artist in general. DBIC: That’s one thing you’ve always done. Do you still carry your infamous rhyme book from back in the day? Hittman: Yeah (laughs). It’s a bag of rhymes now, no longer just a book. People call it the tragic bag of hits. DBIC: I remember you doing photo shoots with it and everything. Hittman: Yeah no doubt (laughs). DBIC: How many of those lyrics do you think you’ve actually put to song? Hittman: Dating from 1991 to now? DBIC: Let get me this straight. All the raps you wrote in 1991, you still have them documented on paper? Hittman: Yeah, I keep them to marvel at my progression as an artist. I like to see where I was at with my rhymes in those times. Which brings me back to "The Last Days of Brian Bailey", the albums concept is based on me in the mid 90’s trying to artistically navigate through the drama of the coast wars, needy girlfriends, negative opinions, unemployment, fronting ass A&R’s, hood politics and so on. It`s the audio biography of a struggling artist trying to reach his ultimate goal of getting signed. Pretty much HITTMAN 2 to 3 years before my Aftermath endeavors. DBIC: Some rappers can’t find the lyrics they wrote last week and you still have everything form 1991. Hittman: Absolutely. I still have that all. You’re gonna’ hear a lot of history on “The Last Days of Brian Bailey.” I still have the message tape. When answering machines used to have mini cassettes, I still have a tape of when my boy called me and told me Biggie didn’t make it [Notorious B.I.G. had been gunned down]. My man Todd is married to Faith [Evans]. Bud who used to manage me, him and Todd are God brothers. I got this information right when it happened. You can hear people in the background talking on the phone. It’s eerie to hear. I’m mad because I can’t find my 2Pac messages when that even happened because I use to have both of them. It’s like mysteriously gone. DBIC: That’s crazy. So “The Last Days of Brian Bailey” may have more of an old school feel to it. Hittman: 73-83 is the True School, 83-89 is the Golden Era; 90-94 was the Next School, 95-2000 was the Platinum Era and so on. I’m trying to re-create the vibe & feel of the Platinum Era; specifically 95-97 because that was a time of transition in Hip Hop as well as my personal life. Plus some of my favorite Hip Hop came from those eras’s that I just mentioned. When I’m driving around, I listen to what`s out now for a minute, then I resort back to Hip Hop made from 86-97. DBIC: It sounds like you’re more of a raw, east coast hip-hop type of fan. Hittman: I just like raw shit in general. The west coast had raw shit too! CMW’s Straight Checkin’ ‘Em, King Tee “The Triflin` Album”, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, AMG, early Death Row shit like RBX’s “High Powered”, Lady of Rage’s “Afro Puffs” and so on. Tha Dogg Pound “Dogg Food” was in heavy rotation because I loved "New York, New York". First Biggie ripped it for a St. Ides commercial and then Tha Dogg Pound made it a hot song & video kicking down buildings & all that madness. (laughs). Shout out to my man Black Henderson who directed that video by the way. He had us tripping off the drama that went down in New York while they was filming that joint.
DBIC: That was a crazy time in west coast hip-hop Hittman: Oh my God. DBIC: Hip-hop in general Hittman: I used to get angry when I would hear about Suge’s tactics back in those days. I felt like it wasn’t a good look for Hip Hop culture. But then I got in the game myself & all of a sudden Suge’s ways made all the sense in the world. I often get the urge to go on a sucker D.J. strong arm campaign! (laughs) DBIC: (Laughs) Suge had the right idea back then. Hittman: He knew what he was doing and he has the success to show it. DBIC: People can talk all the negativity they want about Suge Knight but Death Row had the success and he built that from the ground up. Hittman: Damn sure did. He took all of the risk. And his tactics are necessary to this very day. It’s a shame you have to use intimidation to move good product, but you do. I’ve tried to be professional and keep a cool head & it got me nowhere. Now I have to lean on cat’s to remind them of the promises they have yet to make good on. (laughs) DBIC: Suge understood there were no hand outs and that’s what he operated his business around. Hittman: There are no hand outs at all! Even when you know people who are in a position to help out, they seem hesitant to make a move on your behalf. Or they just totally flip the script once they obtain a bit of power. I was just watching K-Ci & JoJo’s reality show the other day. In this one scene they go to meet up with a guy at Interscope who used to roll with them. All of a sudden, this cat starts talking down to them as if he was never involved with the antics that took place back when K-Ci & JoJo was doing their thing real big. The craziest thing about that is I’m sure he name checked them to show Interscope that he had experience in this game. Like Slick Rick said "this type of shit happens every day". DBIC: Power trips Hittman: Total power trips DBIC: Did you ever experience something like that when you were with a major label? Hittman: I constantly had to deal with people and their power trips. It was discouraging, because I only got in this shit to do music. All of that ass kissing shit that comes along with it could miss me. It made me not want to fuck with it at all. It made me stop loving doing music. DBIC: And I imagine this happened to you by people behind the desks instead of the musicians you were working with. Hittman: Definitely. There was great comradery between me & the other artist. Everyone from Knoc-turn’al to Snoop, Kurupt to Devin the Dude, Ms. Roq, Six-2,Nate Dogg etc. We had a ball! But those industry cat’s behind the desks, oh my God. that`s a whole different story. DBIC: I don’t want to talk too much about those days because I’m sure you’re used to being bombarded with questions about that. Hittman: (Laughs) my story is a mystery and his story is history. What happened with…? DBIC: (whispers) you and Dre?? What happened with you and Dre? (laughs). You can correct me if I’m wrong, but I remember you being quoted in an interview where you said it came down to the music. There weren’t any real issues with Dre, but you said the sound of your Aftermath album was going in a different direction than you wanted. You and Dre had different ideas of what your album should sound like, correct?
Hittman: That’s totally correct. It clashed. DBIC: And that’s where it fell apart? Hittman: Yep. See, I’m what one would call a catalyst. A catalyst speeds up the process of things while staying true to form. I sped up the recording process of “2001” while remaining true to self. Dre was already working on “2001” prior to me arriving at Aftermath. I was signed July 8th 1998 & by July of the next year, the album was pretty much in the bag. Now once it got around to my album I was ready to do me so I needed background music that matched me & my subject matter, not what suited Dre & “2001’s” subject matter. I wanted to step into the unknown. I was pushing for innovation out here in the Wild Wild West. I would get upset sometimes. I would hear other artist getting that next shit and meanwhile, the beats that were given to me were basic. And for the work I put in on the “2001” project, I felt like basic beats from Dr. Dre was an insult. I also felt like in order for the west coast to stay competitive we needed to be progressive. This whole new west movement that’s going on right now is beautiful and is based off of lyricism showcased on “2001”. So being stagnate or going backwards was something I was not willing to do. As far as west coast Hip Hop goes I feel like the pimps, gangster’s, killers, hustlers & weed heads all have representation. But everybody in the in between never had anyone to speak for them from a platform that someone of Dr. Dre’s status could provide. I wanted to be that dude. Similar to 2Pac’s Lost Tribe political party, I wanted to rep for all those who didn’t feel represented by what was already labeled west coast, hence the term new west. So the more progressive I tried to be, the more me & the good Dr. clashed. Years later after analyzing the Game’s debut album “The Documentary”, I realized that was the direction Dre wanted me to go in, which was great for Game because “The Documentary” is a good album. But it just wasn’t Hittman. DBIC: It wasn’t Hittman Hittman: Exactly. I just wanted to do me. DBIC: I think that’s where the confusion lies. A lot of people don’t know what happened between you and Dre. They would think “well what could Hittman possibly want that Dre wasn’t giving him? He didn’t want those ill beats from 2001?” Well, no he didn’t. Hittman: I understand why the masses would ask those kinds of questions. But I also know that they have not heard what I heard during my years at the Math. I just wanted to be the artist that Dre showcased his newest sounds with. Similar to what Aaliyah was for Timberland. On the “One In A Million” album, he laced her with the doubled up beat patterns. Then on her single “Are U That Somebody”? He used beat boxing, crickets & babies cooing for percussion & sound effects. Then on the “Try Again” single, he used sounds that you would normally hear in Techno music & he put it to R&B. It got to the point where people would always be excited to hear a new tune by Aaliyah because they knew they would hear what Timberland was on at that moment. And I thought that would have been a clever way to market the HITTMAN product.
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DBIC: We’re here with super producer TY Dolla $ign. How did you get into producing? TY Dolla $ign: I got into producing when my dad bought me an MPC when I was 12 years old. Ever since then I’ve been producing. DBIC: So is the MPC your favorite to work with? TY Dolla $ign: Yes sir. I love the MPC and all of the old school keyboards along with some of the new stuff. DBIC: Cool. It sounds like the MPC was a good investment purchase by your father. It’s worked out pretty well (laughs). TY Dolla $ign: (laughs) yes sir it has.
". . .to o k u s up to Def Ja m . R i g ht w h e n p l aye d t h e m we t h e m u s i c, t h ey we re re a to s i g n of f. I dy t w a s re a l ly e a sy. . ". DBIC: How did you link up with YG for “Toot It & Boot It” which has become a huge record? TY Dolla $ign: I linked up with YG through my homie Big D. He told me that he found this kid I should work with. I listened to his stuff and was like cool, let’s go. “Toot It & Boot It” was the second song we did together. It just happened like that. DBIC: And it’s really become a hit record. TY Dolla $ign: I’ve been apart of a lot of records but this is definitely the first record that has gotten major radio play. DBIC: No doubt. When you did the record, did you think it was a hit? Or has its success taken you by surprise? TY Dolla $ign: It definitely took me by surprise. I never thought it was gonna’ be the one. All praises are due. DBIC: And is that when the Def Jam deal occurred? TY Dolla $ign: It took off on the internet first. We got the radio play and it caught on. DBIC: So it was really about an online push and then the radio push came. TY Dolla $ign: The internet buzz was strong. We made a name for ourselves like that. That’s what it’s about these days. DBIC: For sure. How do you think artists can better utilize the internet? TY Dolla $ign: Use it as much as they can. Learn as much as you can about the internet; especially if you’re an independent artist. You can do anything with the power of the internet. It’s all about networking online.
DBIC: Preach. How did Def Jam come at you guys? What was the situation like? TY Dolla $ign: One of my homeboys took us up to Def Jam. Right when we played them the music, they were ready to sign off. It was really easy. DBIC: Cool. When is the YG album dropping? TY Dolla $ign: He’ll be dropping the album sometime next year in the first quarter. We’re working on the album right now until they give us the release date. DBIC: And how many records will you be producing on there? TY Dolla $ign: I’m doing the majority of the album; 7-8 songs. DBIC: It sounds like you’re sort of helping executive produce the album. TY Dolla $ign: Yeah, now I’m the new Dr. Dre. DBIC: Woah! That’s quite the statement – the new Dr. Dre. TY Dolla $ign: Yeah. I wanna’ be executive producing records. We built this up from the start and we plan on coming with new projects as often as possible. And I work with other people but I’m mainly focusing on my own projects.
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DBIC: I wanna’ talk about that as well. I’m sure lots of artists have been coming your way. Who have you worked with since then? TY Dolla $ign: This weekend I’m working with Nas. I’m writing some hooks for his new project. Whoever they throw me in with, it’s starting to flow. Everybody is trying to get in. Like I said, I’m focused on my own projects. DBIC: And what is your own project? TY Dolla $ign: My project is “House on the Hill.” That’s the first project I’m dropping on my solo tip. I’m also working on an artist named Alycia Bellamy from Daddy’s Girls [MTV reality show]. I’m also working on “Drugs”, that’s my group with my partner who found the sample for “Toot It & Boot It” and gave it to me. We work together a lot. That’s it right now. DBIC: “House on the Hill” is your project. You’re rapping on there as well? TY Dolla $ign: Nah, I’m like singing-rapping. You know it’s the TY Dolla $ign swag.
DBIC: For sure. You also linked up with Young Maestro to produce “See Me Girl.” How did that record come about? TY Dolla $ign: Big Wy got at me and he’s been the big homie for a long time. He told me about Young Maestro and wanted me to do a record for him. I was like cool, I wanna’ do a record with Cali Swag District too. He was like that’s already done! We made it all happen. They said it would be on radio. I did the record [Young Maestro “See Me Girl”] and it two weeks later it was on the radio just like they said. Shouts out to Big Wy. DBIC: No doubt. Big Wy is doing it. Tell us about your Pusha Ink movement. TY Dolla $ign: That’s YG, PC & the homie Ace started pushing. I came in 8 months later and they showed me all there artists. I started producing everything. Pusha Ink, let’s go! We got a whole crew in L.A. and we throw parties and perform our own music. We have our own merchandise too and we’re taking over. It’s a whole movement. DBIC: In your opinion, who’s the hottest new artist out right now? TY Dolla $ign: YG. That’s hard to deny right there. DBIC: Which artists would you like to work with that you haven’t worked with yet? TY Dolla $ign: That I haven’t worked with yet? Dr. Dre so I can learn how to mix my own records better. DBIC: His mixing is on another level. TY Dolla $ign: Definitely. DBIC: What’s next up for TY? TY Dolla $ign: More work. It’s all work and no play. DBIC: Do you have any last words before I let you go? TY Dolla $ign: All praises due. I love everybody! Let’s go
Gangsterism
@ Its Finest
If you don't know who this man is, then obviously don't know about real gangsta music, or you just don't listen to true West coast music. The veteran artist by the name of WC is back again with a new album, new business, but the same old classic music you love to here. Read as DBIC takes you in the current mindstate of one of our westcoast legends.
DBIC: WC is with us today on DBIC Magazine as our cover story. Are you on the road right now? WC: I just got back from Australia. DBIC: And how was that? WC: We just got back in town. I was out there with Ice Cube of course. We were on tour for a couple of weeks. DBIC: I’m sure you’ve rocked Australia many times with Ice Cube, but how was it this time around? WC: We’ve been out there a few times now. It’s always been good. DBIC: Ok. I want to move into your upcoming solo album, “Revenge of the Barracuda.” Is there a release date for it? WC: It’s off the chain. There isn’t a specific release date but it will be top of the year. DBIC: First quarter 2011. What’s the influence behind that title? WC: It’s back to the hardcore. It’s filthy and grimey; that uncut, raw hip-hop. DBIC: Something your music has always embodied. WC: Yeah, but this one right here is an overdrive (laughs). DBIC: The fans will be happy to hear. The first single is “That’s What I’m Talkin’ ‘Bout” which premiered on HipHopDX and has been getting some radio spins. Tell us about that record. WC: That record is self explanatory. It’s talking about a lot of stuff that’s going on. Not so much socially, but a lot of stuff that I like and want to rap about. It’s about what I like seeing and hearing. If it isn’t about money, I don’t want to talk about it. And that’s not to say it’s about flashing or bragging; it’s not about me having money. It’s about getting bread and getting out here and making things happen. A lot of artists come out and brag about the money they have; they like to throw it in our faces. They got it and forgot about the people still stuck in the struggle. If you’re not talking about breaking dollars with the people in the streets, then I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a celebration record for all the niggas still in the streets to stand up and make a statement. Nobody is speaking for the niggas out here that ain’t got it and are trying to get it. Every nigga rapping is talking about ‘I got it already; I got mine.’ Fuck that, niggas are still scratching there backs out here; in the projects and all around the world. We’re caught up in the struggle. Fuck it, I’m not gonna’ forgot about them. That’s what that record is talking about. DBIC: No doubt. That’s a good look right there. You’re shooting a video, correct? WC: My man The Razor shot that video and I should be seeing a rough of the video this week. DBIC: And with the album, are you done with the recording? WC: Nah. We’re still working. We should be wrapping that up within two weeks though. DBIC: Can you disclose any information about who you’ve worked with on the record? WC: I have a lot of songs and worked with quite a few artists. As far as the songs that are going to make it, that is yet to be determined. Like I said, we’re a couple of weeks out. We’re about to start sitting down and listening to everything to see what we’re gonna’ keep and what we’re not gonna’ keep. I would say 70% of the album is done. It’s a solid album all the way through. It’s that raw and uncut.
with y t r a p e h t n walk i o t C W r e big o f m o s d "But n a n jeans o y n n i k s e ugie, I o som D e h t o d ing to glasses try at..." can’t do th It’s something that’s not being done right now. And when I say that, a lot of cats are doing a lot of commercial records. I mean one or two is cool, but when I’m listening to albums now, I listen to a lot of songs that sound the same. I see a lot of people trying to fit in. There is nothing wrong with playing the game and being current, but you also have to be you. I’m not knocking cats that are doing it because it’s a new generation. I love to see cats coming up under us getting some money out of this game. It’s all about providing for your family. But for WC to walk in the party with some skinny jeans on and some big glasses trying to do the Dougie, I can’t do that because that’s not WC. I’m not knocking it but that’s not me. More niggas need to be them. Get out there and do you. I want to see more creative input in this game. That’s where I’m taking my album lyrically and with the concept. I’m taking shit to a new level. It’s that raw music niggas have been missing. That’s what I’m bringing on this album. DBIC: And I think that’s what WC fans want from WC. It’s clear that you’re about two weeks out from closing the album and you have a lot of songs, but do any of them stick out in terms of some of your favorites? WC: I like all my songs. I don’t get too attached towards one record. I don’t call any song one of my favorite records. If all my records aren’t from the heart, I’m not gonna’ fuck with it. Everything that I do, I take special pride in. So no, there aren’t one or two records that mean more to me than the other records. I don’t have a favorite. I’ve worked with quite a few cats on my record from production wise to guest appearances. One thing I refuse to do is put out a compilation. I don’t want to have every song with a feature on it. Once again, nowadays it seems like that’s the shit to do. It works for some artists. There is nothing wrong with a couple of features. I have some features on my album. I worked with some cats I’ve never worked with before. As far as getting down with artist, I have a record with Juvenile called “Hustlin” that’s off the chain. It’s about life and the hustle that takes you through the struggle. It’s about trying to make it up out the struggle. I got a record with Tha Dogg Pound called “Stick to the Script.” I have a record produced by Battlecat called “Can’t Sleep.” That’s another one that’s on another level. That’s some different shit. It’s a new scenario. It’s still street and hood though. It’s a whole new look though. DBIC: Awesome. Thanks for the in-depth details on some of the songs and features with production. People were surprised when they heard news of the album coming out through E1 and not Lench Mob. How did that happen? WC: Well it’s still Lench Mob. It’s Lench Mob/Big Swang/E1. I’ve been in the game forever. I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon but I also don’t plan on doing this shit forever. I’m talking about putting out albums as a solo artist. Eventually, I want to be able to sit back and put out artists. I want to put out soundtracks and films. I want to have my film company and develop films.
"Crazy Toone s was the firs t DJ to put ou It was like a m t a mixtape w ini-movie to ith a DVD. go along with the mixtape.. ." The only way to do that is to brand myself. Sometimes you have to step out of the shadow and do what you gotta’ do. Ice Cube is so large and we’ve been doing it for so long. That’s family no matter what. I don’t care where I put my record through. It’s always gonna’ be Lench Mob and Cube is always gonna’ be there no matter what. He will always be involved with my projects in one way or another. I had a situation that presented itself with E1 that I couldn’t pass up. They gave me a sweet distribution deal. This is a record I’m putting out through there distribution but it’s still gonna’ be Lench Mob/Big Swang. DBIC: And I think that’s where the confusion came from. People had the impression that it was E1 and Lench Mob and Ice Cube had no involvement. WC: Not at all. It would never be that. DBIC: We’re glad to hear that. Speaking of Big Swang, you have Young Maylay of course. WC: I have Young Maylay on there. He’s the only artist right now officially on Big Swang. We’re dealing with a couple of other artists but right now my main concern is WC and Maylay. I’m lining up Maylay and making sure he’s good. DBIC: Cool. You’re a big fan of Maylay of course. Outside of Maylay, which young west artists are you feeling? WC: I’m feeling a lot of them. Do I fuck with a lot of them? Nah, I don’t fuck with a lot of them. And that’s just because we haven’t had a chance to hit the studio together. But I’m feeling a lot of them. There are a lot of artists out here that are good emcees. I blame our radio stations out here for not giving them a look. In the beginning, it was a thing where a lot of the younger artists didn’t understand it and they felt that if a lot of the older artists should come out and co-sign them and they would blow up like that. They realized as time went on that that’s not the case. We need our outlets out here to support. I can give a nigga a verse all day or jump on the chorus of a record but just because I’m doing that doesn’t mean we don’t need the radio support. In order for the fans to hear it, we need the radio, the program directors and our mix shows to support. We need some sort of video outlet too. We need those creative outlets on this end in order for us to get that notoriety to our fans out here. These are the main ones that are gonna’ support us before anyone else in the world does that. I’m feeling a lot of artists out here. I only work with a handful of them though. I have one on my album who spits fire and that’s Bad Lucc. DBIC: Bad Lucc is tight. WC: Bad Lucc is really nice. DBIC: No doubt. And what did you think of the sound on Cube’s “I Am the West” album? A lot of people feel that although there were a lot of west coast records, but there was also some southern influenced stuff. We even heard you rapping on some songs like “Y’all Know How I Am”. WC: I think Cube has a dope record. I think he’s earned that right. There are only a few niggas that shine out west and he’s one of them. He is still putting it down for us. He’s still relevant and that says a lot. The beats on the record, he’s always had a good ear for picking records that have more life in them. The same people that shit on Cube and say they weren’t feeling it are holding there hands out. I’m not tripping off what they say. We do like the feedback from the fans to see where we stand as artists. But my take on his album is that I think he has a solid album. I always support the homie no matter what.
DBIC: I really appreciate your time WC. That does it for my questions. “Revenge of the Barracuda” will be in stores top of 2011. WC: Sometime first quarter. I have a new EP coming out soon too. I’ll be dropping three tracks off the album and three that didn’t make the album. The EP will hold fans off until the album drops. They will be able to digitally download it. We have the “That’s What I’m Talkin’ ‘Bout” video dropping soon. That song will be on the digital EP as well. Will go really big with the single and then drop the album. The digital EP will drop the top of December. Check out www.dubconline.com for updates on me. Look out for that Young Maylay record coming out as well. Keep your eyes open for that. We also have a new CT Experience mixtape coming out. Crazy Toones was the first DJ to put out a mixtape with a DVD. It was like a mini-movie to go along with the mixtape. This next mixtape is called “It’s A Demo” and it’s ridiculous. We leaked some records but that was at the time. Also be ready for a new duo album from WC and Daz Dillinger titled “Gangsta Shit” that’s coming out shortly after I release “Revenge of the Barracuda.” I also have this film coming out through Big Swang as well.
-Justin Melo
Do You Crave Sex? Does She Know? By: Mysheka Ross
If you are involved in a relationship and you crave sex and your partner is not aware of this intimate side of you there are something's that you need to do to secure your relationship. This could be a very dangerous situation and could possible lead up to separation. If she is not aware of the intimate side of you, you will find yourself always trying to think of ways to fulfill your sexual desires, and while doing that it could lead to your partner feeling deceived and unwanted. The next thing you know you will be fighting to save your relationship and trying to convince her that you are not cheating. If you are not careful and allow the situation to get out of control cheating will then become a factor especially if you happen to meet someone that you feel comfort expressing your sexual desires too. You can end up cheating rather than sharing your innermost sexual desires with your partner. It’s up to you to make the right choice that's why it’s so important to be yourself when meeting someone. Here are some steps to consider helping you in a situation such as this. First off don't worry about her reaction, what she may think of you as a person,and try not to be nervous. If you fall under pressure then you will began to think of reasons why you shouldn't go through with the process and that can cause you to decide to keep it a secret and hope that the problem will fix itself. (Wrong) Always have an open mind because you don't know how she will respond to your needs. Keep in mind that you are sharing a side of you that's never been exposed to her before and you don't want to give her the impression that you were with someone else. Remember you didn't come clean at the beginning so don't take it wrong if you happen to get a negative response time to time. Start off with something simple to draw her to you so that both of you are comfortable and pay attention how she is responding to you while leading up to the point. Don't make fun of her if she happens to do something off the wall because you don't want her to withdraw. The key thing is making her feel (Free) with you so she can allow herself to step out of the box with you.
As the days go on continue to throw something new in with the old so that she doesn't feel as if she has left her comfort zone. What ever you do don’t go to her on a night that you are on the rise and just expect for her to jump on your level because you just might get cut off! Keep in mind that this is all new to her and before you know it she will be right where you want her to be. Hell for all you know she might shock you, and she was just waiting for you to show your true colors. If that's the case still go slow. Because you can still set her off. Now that she has gotten the okay from you she may be more willing. So, from this point on your focus will need to be on opening up to your partner and sharing more of that side of you. Allow yourself to explore more of her rather than trying to fulfill your own needs. It may take her sometime to adjust to the new you, maybe it won’t. But, you have to be open and willing for it to work if you want her to be able to fulfill all you sexual desires. Its much better when you involve that special someone to be apart of something you enjoy. Intimacy plays an important role in a relationship and if you are going to give yourself give all of you and stop holding back. Show how much you enjoy her. Fall in love each time all over again if that's how you want to look at it. Stop cheating her and stop cheating yourself. Everything you need and want is right at your fingertips all you have to do is slow down just a little bit. Don't lose your focus! What I mean by that is, keep in mind why you were drawn to her in the beginning. Was it a smile, laugh, touch, look, it could have been just a kind word. Don't put all that on the line when all you have to do is try a new route. The new route is called (Free). If you are able to show her how to be free with you, you will also free yourself.
Written By:Mysheka Ross
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