Jan/Feb '17 issue ft Mook Boy

Letter from the Editor, Friends, how many of us have them? Friends, ones we can depend on? We all know that song. But how many of us live it? How many of us actually have decent friends we can depend on? Love is my weakness, I have a very fragile heart and I wear it on my sleeves. Recipe for tragedy. Add that to my fear of rejection issues and mommy daddy issues, and I’m in to be trampled and stepped on. But GOD in all His wisdom has surrounded me with people stronger than myself who become my strength at times of weakness. They are my voices when I’m speechless and my conscience when I’ve derailed.

That’s’ God. He provides even the things you didn’t know you needed. I want to reach the level in life where my children and I are happy and comfortable.

And in order to get there, I have to go through so many levels, so many rooms and they all seem to have been put together by Jigsaw himself. Wanna play a game? No! Jeez! Anyways, thank God for the great people he has surrounding me. If it wasn’t for them, I would still be stuck trying to solve puzzles and looking for clues on how to get out of these jigsaw-ass playrooms.

“Get you some great girlfriends in 2017” is the new motto. That and “Secure The Bag.” This year going to be amazing, it’s almost as though everything I’ve gone through in life has led me to this moment right here. Now, if only prince charming can make his entrance. Maybe in 2018? Here’s to hoping. -Chelle

Publisher

Ford Entertainment Magazine Writers

Rachelle Ford Contact Us

Inquiry@FordEntmag.info 302-313-6734 www.FordEntMag.info Ford Entertainment Magazine © 2017 by Ford Entertainment Magazine.

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Printed and published in the United States of America.

In This Issue: Features 05 BARBARA WILLIAMS 06 LALA J 08 DJ SAMORE- TOP 5 10 ONE ON ONE W/ COACH D Back to the Music

Q&A

11 A.T.F. 12 YOUNG GONZO 13 LIL MARK BABY 11 YUNG ICE Fashion 12 NEGASH

Exclusive Interviews 22 KT FIZZLE 23 DIRTY 1000

Cover Stories

Mook Boy The Fly Goon Pg 17

January/February 2017

www.Fordentmag.info

Multiple Locations Throughout SWFL

Travel The World With

Barbara Williams

We’re going jump right into the interview and we’re going to talk about LIVING for a living. You have the fun job. You get to go to the places we all sit back and wish “one day...” tell us how you got into that life.

Network marketing. I had a friend, I did MCA, which is Motor Club of America. I started there. He had an opportunity that he presented to me and I travel anyway, and I loved the idea, so I invested in myself and I joined. He presented a video to me of what a travel agent does and what

the job entails. And on top of that, you can build wealth off of that. Not only can you be a travel agent, if you build yourself a team, that’s residual income for those residual bills we all have. I thought this is the opportunity of a lifetime!

Plus you get to travel!

And I get to travel! That was my number one thing, plus I get paid for it. And I get to travel at a discounted price.

How much work does it take?

My work is a vacation. I am always busy because I’m building an empire.

I’m traveling, I’m booking travels, I go to ship inspections as a travel agent.

Carnival Cruise Lines will invite you, it’s no cost to you other than your time. They’ll feed you, they give you a tour of their ship so that you know the ins and outs and are better able to tell your clients about it and provide them with a personal touch. People seem to think travel agents are extinct, but if you don’t want to do the legwork, or rely on Google, it’s great to use a travel agent.

Before you took that opportunity was traveling something that you were intrigued about?

two jobs. Now I do one job and I’m a travel agent. Back then, working two jobs took time away from my kids. Now I have more time to spend with my family. It gave me something back that I was missing. If you love to travel, it’s definitely something you should look into.

Tell me the top 3 vacations you’ve taken.

Number one has to be Jamaica. My next one was Vegas. I love. If you’ve never been to Sin City you have to experience it. My third one has to be Memphis.

As a traveler and a travel agent, you’ve seen so many different parts of the world and so many different ways that other people live, how would you describe the world in general to someone who hasn’t seen it?

It’s different. You have to get out and experience the world. You have to get outside of that box. People are so different, so open and so friendly. When you’re out there traveling, you’re meeting new people, it’s a whole nother world. It’s networking.

It’s a totally different experience.

Gives you a different outlook on life.

It’s always been something I was in- For more information, visit: trigued about. Ever since I booked my 239BusinessDiva.Paycationonline.com first cruise and my travel agent told me that she gets a commission for booking travels. Because back then I was a workaholic, I was working

Dear E: Are You Listening?

You’re a self-published author, your book came out last July, but before you were publishing and telling your story, what were you doing previous to that? or is has the book always been your major project?

Before the book, I was on my paper chase and even though I hadn’t physically put the book out it was something I’ve been wanting to do.

The book is based on your true story, your journey. Tell me about the process of writing this book and putting your journey on paper.

The book is a lot of my diary entries, what I did was convert them into a story. I took my everyday life and turned it into a book.

Did putting the book together affect you in any way as you relived some of your moments?

Definitely, as I wrote it, as I re-read it even now today as I pick up the book and read through certain things it definitely takes me back there and I get very emotional.

Give us an idea of the book and its subject line Well, my book is about me. I talk about a lot of related things like domestic violence. As you know one out of 4 of each of us as far as females, I know we all have endured it somehow, whether physical, verbal or whatever. So I do touch base on a lot of that. I just wrote it for people to see what I went through and how I overcame things and want to show people that you can do it to or at least have somebody that you can relate to. And let’s get through it together. That’s what I want people to get out of the book.

I’m just telling my story so they can tell somebody else so they can be aware of it. These things just don’t happen.

What took you from experiencing this and going through this to wanting to be an advocate for women.

Because I look at a lot of my faults and how I disconnected with this type of issue where while I was going through it I was oblivious to it, like this is not really happening to me, what made me want to do the book is I really wanna put it out there like, hey let’s notice the signs, I see people going through it now, I have friends and I tell them “hey, he’s abusive” but they won’t listen. So I want to start showing people what the signs are, they are all in front of us and I want them to see it before it goes too far.

Would you say there’s a big misunderstanding of what domestic violence is?

I think there is. A lot of people think that it has to be physical abuse. Even though I’ve endured that but I’ve also been taken advantage of financially within being in my relationship, which is another form of domestic violence as well not just physical abuse from your partner. It could be emotional abuse, tearing somebody down emotionally. It just as bad as physical abuse, because once you tear down that person’s soul it’s so hard for them to even get it back. That’s all domestic violence. When you alter the way someone looks at themselves or feel about themselves or you can change their mood just by coming around, there’s a problem there.

What’s next for Lala J? Right now I’m focused on getting part 2 out of my book. And I am writing a children series, I do want

to do something for kids.

I don’t really want to speak too much on that. There will also be a doll and it will be Haitian-based, the character is a girl from Haiti. Besides that, I’m trying to get my nonprofit E.G.O. off the ground, which stands for Every Girls’ Option meaning we want to be your outlet for everything. We don’t discriminate, we do take guys too.

And I also have my shirts on my website www. itslalaj.com as well as my book on there for sale. And also working with my man Zoe Nes on his musical projects as he has a new CD out called “No Hand Outs”.

Music News

DJ Samore

Top 5

Top 5- February 2017

1

REA SREMMURD Black Beattles

4

2

BRUNO MARS 24k Magic

3

DRAKE Fake Love

5

MIGOS Bad and Bougee

DJ LIKE NASTY OTW

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As a Man Thinketh One on one With Coach D Before we get into your book and everything else, let everybody know who Coach D is what you’ve accomplished and what you are about.

Well, I’m Coach D and as far as accomplishments I still feel like I have long ways to go. I’ve published my first book. I’ve been coaching in the sports industry for over 11 years now. I currently work with professional athletes all the way down to what we call rookies, the youth, very important investment. The most thing I’m proud of is the mentorship that I do. I’ve been mentoring for the last 5 years that’s probably my biggest accomplishment, just being able to reach out to people and-and people actually wanting to listen.

People have certain needs that they only want to get from certain people, and I’m happy that I am able to provide that to a lot of guys who are dealing with certain issues. I would say that’s my biggest accomplishment.

How did you get into that role?

Mentorship? At one point in my life, I needed mentors and I didn’t have any.

The mentors I always had, for the most part, were my coaches. Football coaches, basketball coaches, track coaches. You spend more

time with coaches then you actually do with your actual fathers, if you have a father in your life. I grew up without a father, so those were my mentors. So there were certain areas in my life where I had them but also a lot of areas where I didn’t.

Just having somebody in your life to guide you if you make a mistake or bad choices. And I wanted to make sure that I was able to impact the youth so that they didn’t have to make those same choices, so that’s how I got into mentoring. Myself needing a voice, then being placed in a position where I was able to change lives. And knowing exactly what I wanted to do.

When you’re mentoring, you said you’re coming from a place where you needed a mentor, now would you say you’re at a place now where you’re good and no longer need mentoring yourself?

Absolutely not. And I mention that in my book in one of the chapters. I talk about mentors, I call them elective mentors because a lot of the mentors that I choose or I elect, they don’t even know that I’ve elected them. That I would listen to the seminars they do, or what their videos they put up and then I actually have physical mentors as well.

Any millionaire you know,

any billionaire or anyone who is successful at what they do, they have people around them that either guide or direct them. You have to have mentors in order to be successful and to maintain a certain level of success. Even if you look at somebody like Michael Jordan, who we would consider one of the greatest athletes ever, he had people around him. Whether it was strength coaches that he hired full time. Look at Lebron James who reads books before games and that’s a form of mentorship because somebody is putting that information out for him to be able to access.

If you look at the greats, there’s a certain mentality behind them. One thing they understand and knows that nobody sails a ship by themselves, you can be the captain but you have to have help.

What is the title of the book?

The title of the book, it’s actually a series of books and this the first in the series in the “As a Man Thinketh” series which also will link up with a Youtube page. This one is 30 Days to Jumpstarting Your Success. Basically this book, it’s not just what you should do, but what you should do and how you should do it. If you can apply at least one of these

principals in your life you should be able to find success. So I decided to put a book together 30 Days to Jumpstarting your success, it’s something that you can apply every single day and there’s no way you can have any excuses.

What is your definition of success?

Everybody’s definition is gonna be different. Some define success with money or freedom. Success could be traveling the world, or it could be a 9-5 if that’s what you’re aiming at. Success is kinda defined by you and what your goals are.

Tell me one of the favorite principals in the book.

Examining yourself. Before you can step out and be an advisor, a mentor, or help somebody succeed.

You have to figure out who you are and what it is that’s within you, and what drives you. To be an influence to someone else they have to see it in you first.

Music

with You’re out of Broward, correct?

It’s where I live now but originally I was born in Jamaica I know Broward has been making a lot of noise in the industry as far as the caliber of artists that has been coming out of there. Where do you fall on that spectrum?

It’s definitely different. I would categorize my music as just something I use to express myself and how I’m feeling at the time. It’s very versatile than anything else.

I’ve been compared to more pop artists than anything.

Would you say your music is more lyric based then the turn-up vibe we currently have out?

Lyrics are very important to me because you’re sharing a message. That more of the type of music when I started rapping that I tried emulating.

Tell me some of the subjects you cover with your music.

The latest ones are really about my ambition. Me going out there and just hustling and having people that say no to you, to prove them wrong. It’s something I’ve experienced throughout my life with people saying No you can’t do it, you’re not good enough. I talk about people being fake as far as friends and family, I talk about money, women, a lot of different things, whatever comes to mind.

How long have you been writing music?

I’ve been writing since I was a teen, but recording I would say for the past 2 years.

You mentioned that in some of your songs you talk about friendships and people being fake etc..So I’m gonna ask, how do you spot a fake friend.

Definitely the negativity, you can kinda sense people’s energy. If you sense that they’re not really trying to support your dreams, that’s definitely the first thing.

I’ve seen that from the first-hand experience. I think

ATF

on top of that, it’s just seeing who support you. Something as simple as retweeting something on twitter or sharing something on facebook. If they’re not going to support you with something so simple, when you accomplish something and they’re not there to clap for you, then you can see that there’s some animosity.

What projects do you have coming up?

Currently working on my project “Destined For Greatness”. I ‘ve already recorded about 5 songs and I only have a few more to do.

Can you tell us what your name ATF stands for?

It stands for Anonimous To Famous Twitter/IG ATFmusic_

Music

Young Gonzo with

We recently caught one of your performances of a new single you just dropped, tell us about that.

I recently dropped Take Over on em, I’ve been sleeping for a while, but you know, I’m about to wake them back up with a new project, had to drop the single off of it. Getting ready to do it all.

Now Take Over is the new Single to the new project that’s coming? Correct?

Yes, the name of the project is Loyalty is Law. It’s gonna be based on keeping it real with all your surroundings, keeping it real with your friends and everybody that’s been keeping it 100 with you.

Is this your first solo project?

Yeah, It will be the first project that I drop since I’ve been making music.

Do you have any features on this project?

I have the Steve Woodz feature on there and that will probably about the only feature I have. I just want to show what I can bring to the table instead of having a lot of featured artists/ And you’re fairly young correct?

I’m 17. I’ve had the love for music since I was about 13, 14 but around 14 is when I started freestyling around with my cousins and we never took it seriously until one day we actually did a song and pretty much fell in love with it. I took it more serious than my cousins did and so far it’s taken me a lot of places.

What’s your flow like? what kind of vibe?

I bring that underage crowd party type. If you’re at a party or in the club and you hear one of my songs you’re basically going to see everybody vibe out to it.

How involved are you with your music? How much do you feel like you know about music from behind the scenes?

Being young, I understand I have so much more to learn and that’s what I love about it. Music, you never stop learning. There’s always more to imIs that what we get to look forward to prove, always so much more music on Loyalty is Law? to put out. There’s always something You’ll see a whole lot of club bangers, new to music. my intro, I’m just gonna shut everybody off. You’re gonna fall in love with IG/Twitter 1Yung Gonzo this project.

Music

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been doing music.

I’ve been doing music for about 15 years. On and off with Make More Records, Self Made Hits Entertainment and also Stretch It Out Entertainment.

Lil Mark with Baby

What are you currently working on?

Right now I’m currently working on a solo mixtape and I got another artist I’m working with right now. C4, that’s going to be one of our newest projects. I just dropped one, the latest one I dropped, it’s called C4 versus Lil Mark. And we’re looking at doing anAnd in the 15 years that you’ve been other one before Christmas. doing music, describe your growth to me and your journey And you said you’re working on a solo I’d say it’s been up and down. I’ve just project, will that be your first solo been doing a lot of producing. For a project? couple artists on my team and just It will be my first solo mixtape. I curgetting better at engineering and mix- rently have 4 mixtapes currently out. ing and mastering.

What has encouraged you to now go And how did you get started with mu- do a solo project? sic?

Just having people in my ear, telling I was inspired by hearing music on me that I should. Being the person the radio and trying to figure out how they got their songs on the radio. Watching my cousins as I was growing up who were DJs. They were part of music labels and record labels and that inspired me to start writing my own music. And what is your goal with your music?

What is your goal with your music?

Right now I’ve been doing a lot of underground stuff so, I want to start doing more commercial industry type music. But That’s the next level. Just trying to get in the right direction. .

that I am I had to learn how to critique and be critiqued. So that’s what made me want to step in that direction.

You mentioned that you produce and engineer. How do you separate the focus from making the music versus being behind the scene?

Putting in a lot of time formatting yourself with vocals and then difference with compressing and engineering. It just takes a lot of time separating each task. Taking this amount of time to focus on vocals and that amount of time focusing on engineering and mixing.

Do you find it hard to mix and engineer your own music versus having an outside ear have a go at it?

No, I feel like I know what kind of sound I want.

With you getting ready to drop your solo project, what is the game plan for it?

Get more in the streets and push it like a street team would. As far as hitting different counties and hitting different cities.

What stands out about you as artists?

I’d say my originality and creativity.

Social Media: Lil Mark Baby

Music

Yung Ice with

You have this whole Hip Hop/ R&B soul flow going on. tell me a little about that First I’d like to say that I’m a versatile artist and you never know which direction I’m going. But I’ve always been a big fan of hip hop from being a kid listening to Tupac, Biggie and some of the greats that were in music, they inspired me.

Hip Hop was always my biggest inspiration from being a kid. That was always with me.

When an artist does R&B they tend to have to dig a little deeper in their music to get the feelings, can you tell me where you draw inspiration for your music?

I would say mine come from dealing with past relationships and just really understanding what love is all about and making women feel good. To me, nowadays a lot of artists are making music about women but they’re not really uplifting women and appreciating them. So I feel like as far as that, I really wanna dig deep and bring back the essence of feel-good music when it comes to R&B and hip hop.

You say you have your own label and also you have a few artists on that roster as well. How is it balancing the focus on running a label and running your own music projects?

How we do it, everyone has their own situation.

that incarcerated right now or killing twin brothers back in 2007. I definitely base my music off of different situations.That’s one of my favorite tracks and I think when it comes out a lot of people are going to be able to relate to it.

Tell me about your music journey so far?

It has been a struggle due to the fact that, as you know, when you’re doing this music and you’re independent, I Well, as a woman I can definitely would say my biggest downfall is findappreciate that. All the music that ing the right team that believe in you you write, you pour from your own but since I’ve been focused on doing emotions and your own experiences, my own thing, I can honestly say that have you ever written a song that was I’ve learned more of the business side drawn from observing someone else’s from understanding your own papersituation? work as far as having your own LLC I’ve definitely wrote based off of some- and me really just branching out and one else’s experience. Like this project, linking up with the right people. I’ve I got coming up on my EP called “Ice started my own label called ADMG Knows Best” I have a song on there which stands for Audio Dope Mancalled “Cold World”. That’s not about agement Group and its cosign with love. It’s more about one of my homies my brother.

Being a label, how to you encourage artists when thy feel like throwing in the towel?

First of I always tell them it starts with believing in yourself. We all know that this business is not overnight. it takes blood sweat and tears and many sacrifices to get where you wanna go at in this business. And I always tell them in order to become a winner you have to understand what being a loser is because you can’t expect to get somewhere if you haven’t taken a loss. For the most part, I just try to tell artists, whatever you do, never give up Because it might not happen today, it might not happen tomorrow. But as long as you keep your faith in God first, It’s guaranteed its gonna happen.

What’s in store for you in 2017?

I’m tryna hit them hard with the promo, I’m tryna continue dropping great music and continue to push my single Slow Motion. I have 3 projects that I’m working on right now. My self-titled EP called Ice Knows Best. I got a California Dreaming EP along with one from the label called SwagTag which is gonna tap into the West Coast fan base. I’m also working on a project, a mixtape called Underrated Genius.

IG Twitter Theonlyyungice

Steps Above Average

Negash Apparel and Footwear was created in 2007 in Detroit, MI. Inspired by our hometown of Detroit, the arts and life of Egyptian culture, and the ancient ancestral royal blood that still runs through our veins, the brand takes heavy influence from Egyptian symbols, Pharaohs, Gods, and Goddesses. Our logo, the Deshret crown, was worn by the Pharoahs ruling over Lower Egypt. We inspire our customers to know their history and know they are royalty. www.Negash83.com

The Fly Goon

When we decided to do a cover featuring the hottest artist out of Central Florida, your name is the only that rang bells. Tell me a little about the work that you’ve put in to attain this level.

I’ve been in the game for the last 7 8 years, getting paid for shows for the past 5 6 years. And I got 8 or 9 solo mixtapes out in this area right now.

When you say solo mixtapes, does that mean your other works were with a group?

Yea, I was in a group with a few of my partners and we have about 5 or 6 mixtapes also. Titus Boys.

What is the difference between being a group and doing a solo project?

You ain’t gotta split the check and you can have full control of your own project and say whatever you want to say, it’s not a combined thought process.

Was it a major decision to go solo or was it something they were already anticipating?

It was a major decision because we all started off as individual artists anyways, but some events occurred and it just pushed it to that point where everybody eventually just broke off.

And what is your relationship now with you previous group members?

No relationship at all.

It that on purpose? Yall beefing?

Nah we have beefed before. It’s just a closed door now.

Is there still support for each other?

Nah. I won’t push them to do what they doing but I won’t stand in their way. I just don’t want to be bothered with the situation anymore.

And speaking on beef, when I asked around to see if you had

any beef with anyone, the one name that came up was Koly P. Is there Beef with Koly?

Hell nah, If that’s what they say...I don’t know. I let Koly P on my Juvy remix. It can’t be any beef.

And speaking of which I heard you barely do features, what’s up with that?` It’s just a lot of the features be bullsh*t and that’s not how I’m trying to rock my music. I’m protecting my brand. When I charge for a feature, the price that you’re paying is not going to substitute what I have for my brand.

So you value your brand over the couple dollars you could make from the features.

I’m just very selective. I’m not saying I won’t do any features.

So who would you allow on a feature?

Ross.

There’s also rumor that offered to Ross. How that?

an internet you were sign with true is

It some talk, and it’s still some negotiations going on with MMG and Cash Money. We got a couple of different things on the table but you don’t too much wanna speak on it because people just take it and run with it. Like this news did in the first place.

How do these things leak?

I don’t know. Social media I guess.

Maybe somebody in the room.

Speaking of the entourage, in the rap game. At the level that you’re at, you have so many people around you. How selective are you of your circle?

I keep my circle real real small and it doesn’t really have anything to do with music. It just has something to do with my previous mistakes and things that I’ve been through.

Do you feel like your circle is positive enough that if you were going sideways that they’ll stop you or do you feel like you’re just going to do what you want to do?

It’s like a double edge sword. I’m a man at the end of the day, I still have the final decision.

So you’re hard-headed? (laughs) Nah I ain’t hard-headed. I’ve just been through so much if ima crash Ima crash on my own.

And have no one else to blame for it. (laughs). And as an independent artist, you’re doing fairly well for yourself. What is the secret? Is the secret to chasing a deal or to remain independent?

To remain independent and chase a bigger deal. Because if you have to climb that ladder anyways, the higher you go independently the higher the check raises. If the check ain’t big enough, we ain’t talking.

You can’t offer me peanuts if I’m eating steak.

Is it pure talent or it the grind?

What’s the secret to climbing that ladder?

I think its talent. People relating to what I have going on.

sponsorships we’ve been working on.

What’s your top 5 New Year’s resolution for 2017?

Record more music Put out more music

Drop Mookaveli (laughs) yes, drop Mookaveli, less drugs, more working out.

You’ve been doing this for 7 years and you’ve achieved so much.

Where do you see yourself in the next 7 years?

In the next 7 years, I’ll be on tour overseas.

Speaking of future projects, you were supposed to drop Mookaveli last Halloween. What happened?

The money dried up on the streets.

Coz what we heard was that, since Koly P dropped his on Halloween you decided not to drop yours.

Oh sh*t, nah on Halloween I was not thinking about Koly P, I was carving pumpkins with my little girls and sh*t. My projects fall around me and what I got going, always. Because I’m still being booked off of my last project. And people are still jumping on the Juvy remix.

Mook Boy, The Fly Goon. Tell me about that nickname.

Fly Goon is just around the time the goon sh*t was going and everyone was on that, and me, of course, I just had to mix that fly with my sh*t. I used to see a lot of dudes just on the straight goon, but I always liked the fashion so I mixed in the fly with it.

Is fashion something you’re eventually going to branch into?

Yeah either that or a couple of these

“The higher you go independently the higher the check raises. If the check ain’t big enough, we ain’t talking. You can’t offer me peanuts if I’m eating steak.”

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Conveniently located directly across from the mall, and within walking distance from hotels, and a variety of stores, it’s the perfect resting shop if you need a quick food break during errands. With a menu filled with the finest Italian cuisine, a 5-star chef, classy decor and great music, whether on a date or grabbing lunch, this place can accommodate either vibe. Not only a full-time restaurant, but V Lounge transforms in the evenings into one of SWFL’s hottest spots to be if great music, great people, and a great time are what is on your agenda that evening. The best part, the kitchen remains open!

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Keeping it 10 times

with

Dirty 1000

What I’ve noticed, I was listening to your new mixtape yesterday, and I noticed a real difference between your sound now and your sound then. And by then I mean 09 2010.

I feel like you’ve sat down and they That was the whole reason for 1008. are now actual songs that people can 1008 in street term is a whole brick of vibe to. raw cocaine or a whole brick of anything. And I consider myself like that.

That was definitely on purpose. Like I A whole kilo of it. Being that I’m dropsaid, it’s just been a lot of growth. I’m ping my first solo project, I wanted Yea, and I actually take pride in that. In not necessarily a kid anymore, a lot to re-introduce myself. I knew it was my progression, and growing. I want- of life experiences have happened to gonna be that dope. I felt like it was ed to make my music so undeniable me. And I was off and on with my mu- gonna be that dope. I put in a lot of that regardless of what happens or sic. I just had so much buildup I just time and energy. I strategically picked how many resources I have when peo- had to get it off, and I now realize re- out the records I wanted to put on ple hear it, they have to f*ck with it. ally who I am and what I’m about and there. I put out 22 tracks, and that’s I don’t wanna leave no room for any what I’m on. I’m so comfortable with what it was, it was a re-introduction of doubt. That’s what I pride myself in. I myself. That’s probably why my music me. I wanted to everyone listening to spent a lot of time and energy grow- is a lot better. I’m a lot more in tune get real familiar with 1Grand. And we ing and found my own sound, playing with who I am. grow together from here. with the words, different flows and all that.

Another thing I’ve noticed about your music is that now you have a lot Being that is your first solo project, The main different that I noticed was of transparency in regards to your life and it recently dropped in October. that, back then, all your tracks be- and your experiences.

But every time I turn around, your fore, actually sounded like freestyles, name is ringing bells. What have you just spazzing on the beat, and now been doing that has your name ringing like that?

“It’s hard for me to hate n*ggas.

I’d be rich if God made me how he made n*ggas.”

-Dirty 1000, 1008, Jeffery

The thing about it is, I’ve been blessed to be around other guys. Like Koly doing his thing now. You know we were in a group together. Kodak done went crazy and you know we got records together. We spent a lot of time with each other. And they just kinda opened up the doors and shed light on Broward. But at least around here, people always know, it’s just now I’m taking the initiative. I’m not waiting on anything to come to me. I’m just grinding and reaching out to people and grinding as much as I can. I feel like anything that might come to me now from music; I feel like I put in enough time. I feel like I deserve it. I can truly say that. And people who’ve been around me, they’re rooting for me also.

Tell us about your music and how long you’ve been in the game.

You can say I’m in the street lane, being that’s where I come from. Before incarceration, I was in the music game for bout 2 or 3 years. I always saw myself on a big stage or being someone that can be big in the industry ‘cus I been stunting. I just started fucking with it when my homeboy came home from prison in 2010. That’s when I actually started investing my time and money into taking it more serious.

Especially after I’ve seen everybody in my city (Fort Myers) was f*cking with it. I was like, this rap shit can proudly work. I was already popping on social media, so I figured I could use that platform to get my music out and build me a fan base.

You’ve had to pause your life for the last 4 years due to incarcaration. Tell us how that has affected your music?

I’d say there are an upside and a downside to getting locked up when I did. The downside is I ain’t been able to put any new music out, and 2 months before I got picked up, I just had dropped my first official mixtape which I thought had the potential to get me a buzz but I never even got to promote it, so it went down the drain. The upside is I got more to talk about and got my story to tell plus being in the feds I’ve met n*ggas from everywhere and built relationships with n*ggas in almost every state. I

feel I can take advantage of this situation and get my music out in a lot of different markets. This the worst thing they could have done, let somebody like me link up with all these n*ggas from everywhere, Alabama, Georgia, Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, Cali. Yeah, Ima be everywhere!

You’re also getting ready to come home and gearing up to bring your music back. What should we expect?

No doubt! I’m definitely on the way.

Shout out to the Johnson case and shout out to my lawyer Robert Harris. It’s finna be big like Lebron going back to Cleveland when I touchdown back in my city. You definitely can exWhat has your life been like the last 4 pect somewhat of a sequel to my first years? mixtape which was basically about It’s been challenging. For the simple everything I was going through at the fact that I’ve been away from all of my time. Being jammed up and being out family and going from people depend- on bond and just being all the way in ing on me to me having to depend on the streets for real. I got a variety of other people. And on top of that, I’m music cooked up but my 1st project damn near a virgin again lol. But I’ve I’m blessing the streets with, will be been able to study and educate my- my priority coming out. I ain’t gon give self about all the business and things you no names or nothing, just know I wouldn’t have gave myself a chance I’m getting straight in the lab and getto read about and do because I was ting it out ASAP. It’s been long enough! busy running the streets. So I feel like I’m a lot sharper then I was.

What artist you would like to work with coming home?

If you 100, I’m definitely f*cking with ya. Kodak, Boosie, Gucci. My niggas doing they thing right now, T-Row, Yo Baby, they all went through the same shit I’m going through and what I’ma be going through when I do land. Go get that Fizzle “Under Investigation” from Datpiff.

Catching up With

Fizzle

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