Issue 58- I Am The City 239

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table of content MUSIC 04 DJ SAMORE TOP 5 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS 05 YUMMY 4579 07 YUNG BP 08 BOLO SIMMONS 10 BABY J 13 FRANK LINI 15 DIRTY RED BEAUTY OF THE MONTH 20 TRULY 18 MOONA’S TROPICAL HAIR 22 R3D VILLA 23 KURIUS BOY PRODUCTIONS Editor’s note: The article on the 65% Reduction time has been moved to the next issue.

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We were talking about day ones and having people watch you from the beginning of your journey, so take me through your journey, how did you get started with music?

When I first started with music, I didn’t take it seriously, it was just a thing that everyone was doing in my era.

Because we emulate the greats, the Jays, the Rosses, the Beanie Siegals, just everybody that was doing their thing and putting out a good message in their music; we just wanted to emulate that. We were street dudes, we were young we were wild. I came up off of the Hot Boyz, I came up off Boosie, No Limit, that’s what motivated us on the streets.

Having experienced both the streets and the rap game, are the two similar?

From what I’ve seen, they are if you spread yourself thin. But if you stay in your lane and well grounded, and just follow your path, it stops you from getting mixed in with every else that’s going on. Staying focused is key.

show, so I set up the deal. Me and Fatboy got to vibing, since we’re both from the crib. So he came down for the show and had no DJ, I was the DJ. I had the records, I spunt the records, then he was like we need to do a record together. I was like, alright, that’s what it is.

We ended doing that record together. Then he doubled back on me and said he needed a club in Ft Myers, so me and God bless the dead, New York aka Dominican Don, we shot to Dade, met up with him and he gave us a bunch of promotional materials (flyers posters whatever), we had 24 hours to set up the show. He came through and did the show, somewhere in the middle of the show, he said “shout out to my dawg Yummy,” and the crowd went ham. I had performed the song we did together as an opening act, he was upstairs in VIP vibing, all them boys with Maybach music was up there and it was live. Then when he came down and did his set and the crowd went ham, he was like “ok”. When the show was over and he was on the tour bus, he was like, you’re signed to Maybach music.

What is the first step you took into the music game?

I was Djing for a party for Rick Ross.My homeboy’s birthday party, RIP Pierre Deville aka Bossman aka Big P. He hit me up and said he wanted to book Fatboy for a

Just like that...

Well me and him, we got history. When I was on the run he hid me out. I was there when he grabbed the White 745, before the rims and all that. I remember

Catching up exclusively with Yung BP, how you been?

I’ve been good. Good, bad and the ugly.

Couple things going down, but I’m still smiling, breathing.

That’s all that matters really, I’m breathing.

Last time we spoke you were getting ready to drop a project. Tell us about the

project and how it did.

It went good, it was pretty much my first mixtape, Dreams & Problems, it did good but it could have did better. It did 50thousand on Spinrilla. It did good. But I’m dropping a new project. Nightmares and Murders.

Really just a timing thing, when the time’s right I’ll go head and drop that.

Before we get deep into the next project, your last project, which song did people gravitate most towards? What was the feedback?

They was actually a few, the song I was really pushing was “In These Streets” which I also did a video to that, that’s probably my most viewed video. It has like 50k views on YouTube, 500 thousand plays on Soundcloud, it went really ham. The blog’s been posting it and all that. And the numbers keep going up, so that’s always a good thing.

And your music is always storyfilled, very personal, reflects your life. Is that the same vibe we should expect from the next project, Nightmares & Murders? First, explain the title for me.

The title, I came up with that, it’s deeper than a lot of people think. Nightmares because it’s very vivid.

I’ve been going through a lot of rough shit, so I call it Nightmares. And the Murders is because I murder the beats on the tracks. So the name has an impact. The name is important to me.

What can we expect from the new project?

Flow-wise, I kinda went with some more bouncy type beats on there, still trap beats, but it’s definitely a different flow. Like splurge type flow.

And can we expect more videos?

Definitely. Since last time we spoke, I dropped 4, 5 videos. Y’all subscribe to the channel: Yung BP YNE. How do you balance a life filled with challenges and stress with a booming music career?

You gotta have a strong mind. This shit is crazy out here, people getting snaked out, you just gotta move right and be humble. And take everything in and not fold under all the pressure. You just gotta be good under pressure. It’s like a football game, you gotta go hard. I just use that explanation with life.

Would you say you are the city when it comes to your music?

I’m confident in myself but I ain’t gonna say I am the city, because there’s alot of talent in the city. But I know that nobody can take away what I’ve done and what I’ve worked towards.

"It’s out there, you just gotta be hungry for it.”

When I decided to do an issue that reflected Ft Myers music, of course, I wanted to include you based on prior conversations and the role you’ve played in 239 music. So can you tell us a little bit about your history with music? Because when you say Bolo, people don’t associate your name with music.

Well, I mean it depends on the age group. For the last decade, I kinda calmed down on it. But, if we go back to 15 years ago it was only a handful of us going hard. I like to tip my hat to myself, at the time we didn’t see how hard we were going and not just on the music end of it.

But I think I was kinda influential on the mixtape circuit period. Just people being able to get their music circulated. I used to have a lot of mainstream artists point me out , just to get their music in this market.

A lot of big names that I’ve actually helped them break their music here that people don’t even know at all.

How did you come to play that role?

Being a hustler. Everything with me personally is about a few dollars.

My whole thing with music, it was totally different then than it is now.

How right now it’s every community for themselves, back then in our group, we actually had an artist from every hood. We had an artist from Michigan, Harlem Lakes, Habitat, from every hood, you couldn’t get around us.

Then it seems that eventually everyone started going their separate way, is that something that happened gradually?

To be honest with you, everyone started getting in trouble. Even the youngest of us which I think was Faust. Even at 15, we were catching big boy charges. By that I mean we weren’t able to stay out and stay free and it’s only so much you can do from behind them walls.

And speaking of staying free, you did some time and seems like you came home and was like “Fuck this music shit”, is that what happened?

It definitely kinda went like that, which is mind-boggling because we actually had a couple of different offers from Universal to Sony, to people at G-Unit, to Slip n Slide, it was a lot of people I was talking to in regards to the music. But doing time changes things, especially from the music point. When I came home, me and a lot of the fellas ain’t click the same way, they were doing their own thing, I was doing my own thing. Plus my daughter was growing up, and I had lost time I couldn’t get back with her.

So my main thing became to get some money to take care of her, so I got myself more into business.

So in hindsight, I guess that’s how it happened.

we didn’t need the rest of the squad Hop in Ft Myers? when really that’s what made us I see a lot more people working tospecial. gether now than back then. Back then, you couldn’t get any of those Do you feel like that’s something clicks working together. Now you that maybe now that yall grown do get some clicks working togethy’all might pick things back up? er. But I think right now most have We have. We actually had a meet- gotten away from making good ing. But things are totally different music and are just making what’s now. All of us were single back different. Most artists right now, I then, now 3 of us are married, we can’t listen to their whole projects. have kids, it’s kind of difficult. But I have to be able to listen to your we’re definitely on our grown man whole project. I want to be able to shit, and on our boss shit right now. put you in and slide. And I think a lot I wouldn’t expect the same kind of of the locals here aren’t doing that. music as we did back then, but I Plus you have to be able to invest definitely think we can make some in yourself. It’s about promotion. If good music. you’re a rapper you’re also a promoter, you have to promote yourself to the masses. It’s a business, What part did you actually play in it’s no different than what I’m doing the group? Did you rap or were with my t-shirt business. you the put-things-together guy? It’s a business and a lot of the locals I was the put together guy, but I are not conducting themselves as also rapped. I started off rapping, a business. They should be more but I never wanted to be a rapper businessmen than rappers. It’s like I always wanted to be in the back, right now, if I start a plumbing busimaking the decisions, getting that ness, I will research all the avenues bag.

I can make money. A lot of the artists aren’t doing that, when I ask them about their Spotify or streams, And we’ve had some conversa- they’re at a loss. How can you tions where you’ve hinted that spend all this money in studio time, you’re getting back to that soon, clothes, jewelry, and your swag but what can we expect? you don’t even know how to get a I got something in the works right bag out of it? now.

So you’re still the put together man?

Do you feel like, being that you I’ve been away, but I haven’t been were leading these artists, do away, because I still pay attention to you feel like when that hap- what’s going on. But I’ve been buildpened you let anybody down? ing my businesses, my storefront I do. Even to this day, I get peo- business, my t-shirt business and I ple that hit me up and ask where have several other businesses. And the music at. Music has legs and I’ve told myself if I was going back takes off on its own, so when you to this I wanted to be financially set have fans from all over and you first. So if it doesn’t work, I’m still walk away from the music, it feels straight, I’m already Gucci. like you’re letting them down. So I feel like we kinda did that as a group. I think all of us kinda went Being a veteran in the game, what to feeling ourselves a bit, and like would you say is the state of Hip

How do they get a bag out of it?

For one, they need to reach out to people who know about the music business. People like yourself, like myself. I know a lot of the locals don’t see me in that light because they’re not seeing me putting in work, but I’m putting in work behind the scenes. Like I told you, I got something brewing off, I already have a major artist on it and I’m just trying to see who else I’m gonna put on it, tryna see what direction I want to go with it. You can google a lot of stuff, read a lot of stuff. It’s out there, you just gotta be hungry for it.

What makes you stand out as an artist?

I have an image. When people see me they wanna get to know me, they wanna know my story. I carry good energy, it’s not hard to be around me for too long. I have a sound that attracts a mass amount of listeners. In music, I can change my sound and be versatile and still have great taste. I can create a great record in whatever style of rap you like because I don’t just listen to music, I study music. I’m a musician.

I study all kinds of genres of music.

I study what made a record number 1 and why that record is the hottest.

I study the beats and I study what instruments are being used in those beats. I study the break-downs and formats in those beats, and I study how the artists flow on those beats.

You wanna be great, surround yourself with greatness. When I’m writing a song or making a beat, I use my studies. I keep in mind what makes an artist great or what makes a beat sound great. Sometimes when making a beat, I might do a cross-over between two genres and collide them into one beat. Through my studies and years of experience, I have the skills to make another artist a great artist. So, if you were to put me in a room full of producers and rappers, I would stand out because I really have more to offer.

You started in the game real young, middle school, what would you say was the hardest lesson you learned along the way?

“It’s not the talent that gets you rich, it’s the business behind the talent that gets you rich.”

When I first I started rapping, I was offered a deal with BIG GATES RECORDS as a group with 2 other artists, but there were things going on with the group that I didn’t fully agree with, so I scheduled to talk with Ronell (CEO Of BIG GATES RECORDS) about the issue and he pretty much told me he wasn’t looking for any more solo artists. I was introduced to Bolo (CEO of PLYERZ RECORDS, PRC) a little after that and Bolo made room for me over at PRC. This was around 2002/2003 and I stayed down all the way till the ride was over, which was 2013.

During my time at PRC, I didn’t get the chance I deserved. There was never a budget there for me.

By 2012, I was the only artist left at PRC. I stayed down like Wayne did with Cash Money Records, but my CEO didn’t go hard for me like Baby & Slim did for Wayne. Bolo completely gave up the rap game, leaving me stranded and instead went into business. I’m not all that mad at him though, I’m madder at myself because I was more loyal to his career (PRC) and not my own.

I think about all the promising opportunities I passed up that potentially could have furthered my career. Like, an offer I once got from a Haitian CEO. He showed me 20k in a black mid-size duffle bag; this was in 2006\2007 when I was in everybody’s top 5 as hottest rapper in Ft Myers. He told me to take it home as a signing bonus, and all he wanted was for me to sign a contract for 3 albums. But even tho I wasn’t on contract with PRC, I told him we needed to sit down with my CEO and do things the right way. But he didn’t want to work with Bolo, so I didn’t want to work with him. I was being loyal to Bolo’s career and not my own. I still get angry at myself for passing up opportunities along the way just for my CEO to get out of prison and pass me up. If I could go back in time, I would have taken one of those opportunities. So,

my message to up and coming artists, and also the biggest lesson I ever learned is, IF YOU’RE NOT ON A CONTRACT, AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE LABEL YOU’RE ON, THINK MORE OF YOUR CAREER AND WHY YOU STARTED. THROUGH THE GOOD AND BAD, I STAYED DOWN AND LOST OUT. The streets vs the music game, which is more cutthroat?

Ima say the music game and the reason being is, in the streets, you hear a lot of things. The streets talk. whatever it is going on rather its beef, hating, murder(s), cheating or stealing, somebody’s going to talk.

All you gotta do is keep your ear to the streets and know the right people. And of course, how you handle your business is how you handle your business. But with the music game, you got politics, you got people behind the scenes that you don’t even know about and they’re calling all the shots. You got paid lawyers that write contracts to purposely fool you and trick you into deals, you got hidden intentions that you don’t know about. The dirtiest things can be done legally through paperwork and agreements. There are people in the music game that will use your lack of knowledge to their advantage. Imagine getting robbed broke legally. Kevin Gates said someone trademarked his name and wanted 1-million dollars for it. You got devils employing the people you work for. The rap game is very cutthroat.

Be careful, be aware, be protected.

Not only are you an artist, you’re also a producer. Which of the two do you prefer and which do you think you’re best at?

If I had to choose between being an artist or a producer, it would probably be the hardest decision I would ever have to make. It’s almost equivalent to making a slave choose between getting his foot cut

off or his nuts. I always wanted to make my voice & my messages famous. I always wanted to show the world what it is that I can do. But, I can also produce, a very skilled producer. I have years of experiences.

Like the R. Kelly song, “MY mind is telling me to produce, but my body says rap,” Lol. But if I had to choose between the two, wisely I would choose to produce. It’s a life-time hustle. I can make beats as long as I can hear or don’t get ill. I can be 80 years old sitting in my wheelchair making a beat, feel me. Producer money stretches longer than that rap money so I would say, PRODUCER. Besides your own beats, do you ever work with other producers?

Hell yeah, all the time. I have a computer and hard-drive full of other producer’s beats. I use to have people ask me why would I rap on other peoples beats and I make beats?

But I mean I like different flavors too. You don’t think the founder of Mc Donalds ever eats at Burger King? I just love love greatness, rather I’m producing it or someone else is. My rap qualities have a lot to do with that. I have a lot of different styles of rap music so I like a lot of different styles of beats. I’m great but truthfully, I’m not the only one. If you want me to check out your work send me your beats to babyjsocialmedia@gmail.com and I’ll check em out and get back with you.

When making a beat, do you usually get a concept in mind and go off that? Or is it more like free styling?

I mostly always have a concept first.

I barely freestyle beats. I would sit back, roll me a Backwood while thinking of a melody. Once I find an instrument to match the melody and I lay it down, the rest pretty much fills in from there. I usually don’t start my kick bass or 808’s until I’m a few melodies in and then I

can easily hear if I want to do some- agree. But, looking at the stats and thing different or stay on route.ffer- the score sheet, he definitely makes ent or stay on route. the best business moves in the city.

You gotta give it to’em, homie knows There are some talented people in how to stay rich. He knows his busithe city who’s been at their craft for ness. And when we’re dealing with a while, like you, why do you think money, IT’S NOT THE TALENT THAT they haven’t made it as a national GETS YOU RICH, ITS THE BUSINESS artist just yet?

BEHIND THE TALENT THAT GETS Simple, timing & location. I honest- YOU RICH. Plies makes great busily think Ft Myers would be a major ness moves. Shout out to BIG GATES threat to the rap game. We have RECORDS. a sound that a few artists have already copied. We have a swag that I would place your sound with the draws attention. The “PULL-BACK” likes of Kevin Gates, especially your and them “KODAK KNOTS” that shit latest work. Is that something you started here in Ft Myers waaaaay molded yourself to or did you natuback in 2010. Kodak didn’t even rally evolve to that? have golds or dreads at that time, I listen to Kevin. I love his music, he do the math. I’m not trying to throw shows his intelligence through his salt on lil homie, ijs, we started that. music and that’s the type of music I We started the term “LIL BABY” and love to listen to. I love that wisdom “BUSSIT BABY” and so on... The way rap, but I wouldn’t say I molded mywe talk and how we act, it grabs at- self around his sound, no. I actually tention. People outta town love our always wished I could sing, and beswag. I believe Ft Myers can be big, cause I can’t, I use to always write but the industry is not in Ft Myers. hooks for Dirty Red to sing for me.

What we as artists in Ft Myers are We have about an album worth of looking for is not in Ft Myers. We music together. Go on youtube and got to leave the city and go where check out “My Baby, Stay The Night, the industry is. Houston Texas, At- Aquafina Flow, Front Row, Stripper lanta Georgia, New York, or Miami and Everynight” and there’s more.

Florida, but it’s not in Fort Myers. Back to the matter at hand, when The big music labels don’t hang that autotune and pitch correction out in Ft Myers. If you wanna sell plugins came in the game, I started crack-cocaine you gotta go to where doing all the singing myself. “Henthey smoke crack. I say that to say, nessy & Mollies” was my 1st try with if you wanna get a record deal, you the autotune and I nailed it. I fell in gotta go to where they’re signing love with using my voice in other record deals, or at least promote ways other than just rapping. Meloand distribute in those areas. Plies dy rap has always been my favorite. didn’t get to where he’s at now by Like I say, I wish I knew how to sing. promoting and marketing his music Sometimes I may unconsciously pick out of Ft Myers, he moved to Tam- up that Kevin Gates like sound bepa, Florida and starting clicking up cause like I said, I do study great rap with them Miami niggas. Timing is and I use my studies when creating also important. LEARN TO MASTER music, but no, I never intentionally THE ART OF TIMING. try to sound like anybody.

Would you consider plies to be the most talented artist to make it “out” the city? Why or why not?

I don’t think I would say “THE MOST TALENTED”, and I think he would

gonna just let the people find out when they read it. But its an autobiography, so I am telling my life story and my experiences with the industry and much more more. If you’re an upcoming artist you definitely wanna purchase this book. It will help you along your journey. I put the do’s and don’ts in there, and there are a lot of tips and great messages in it as well. I also give a lot of props in the book and may also piss a lot of people off. The truth hurts so yeah, you definitely wanna get your hands on a copy of my book.

You can make a preorder today on my website www.hoodboyzent.com for just $15. I love the support my fans and followers have been showing me, so keep it coming and make those pre-orders today! My book is titled “HISTORY [HIS.STORY]” published by FJ Publishing.

What are you hoping to accomplish with your book?

My fans and followers have high expectations of me. They all feel like I’m not where I should be and they want to know why. So through my book and my documentary, I plan to tell the whole truth. That’s what they wanna know, THE WHOLE TRUTH, TOLD BY ME. I want to use this opportunity to show the world my History, so I give’em my story.

“HISTORY [HIS.STORY]” available now for pre-orders at www.hoodboyzent.com

Also, check out my social media pages.

(Facebook) Kenny Jones (Facebook Fan Page) BABY J (Twitter) @BABYJ_239 (Snapchat) Kiing_239 (Instagram) @baby_j_239 (Youtube) BABY JAY or in the search Beyond music, you have a book bar type in 239 BABY J coming out, tell us about it.

(Email) babyjsocialmedia@gmail.

Lol well, I don’t wanna spill the ex- com (Booking) 239-321-0552 citement about my book. It’s almost like shouting out what happens on the next episode of POWER lol. I’m

the voice of the city

Mr Lee County, Mayor of the City, the Governor of Lil Pakistan, no matter what title you use, they all remain facts when speaking of Fort Myers, Music, and Frank Lini, a true veteran in this game. His first mixtape alone in 2006, won him an underground award.

He once stated that 95% of his music is based on emotions. A fact proven by a couple of his earliest, most popular songs. “All in” and “Ain’t Friendly”, which both concepts came about while Lini was sitting on the 4th floor of the Lee County Jail, facing 40 years. With “All In” he promised himself that if he made it out the situation, he would go All In. He’s kept his promise and has yet to let up. Dropping mixtape after mixtape, doing shows after shows from one coast to another, this street poet makes music that is iconic & legendary.

“My fans want to see me make it, to them its like we made it together.”

You’re not only a success in your homecity, but your name also rings bells all across the southern states. What have you learned by taking your music outside the city?

You have to appeal to a bigger crowd. You’re not just rapping for your local fan base. Like, Ft Myers, we have a deep slang.

When you’re saying the words, a lot of people won’t catch it, then you’re throwing people off. That’s why you have to appeal to more people.

Amongst many titles, you’ve been called “the unofficial Mayor of Fort Myers”, do you feel like you still hold that title?

Yea, definitely.

You don’t feel like it’s been contested at all?

Nah. There’s some talent out here tho. But not really nobody putting in that body of work yet.

What drives you to go so hard?

Being in a situation where I was looking at 40years. Being in a situation like that, I got time to sit down and decide to get serious about my music.

How was that transition from doing music as a hobby to taking it serious and making it a livelihood?

It’s a sacrifice. I just had to dedicate myself to my music.

It’s a lot of unnecessary crime and violence going on in the city.

It’s more so the youth. It’s not really their fault, they look up to the wrong people.

They lack guidance?

Yea.

So how do we fix that?

First, you start by doing your part and voicing your opinion. The mentality of the people have to change first. We can’t change it Did you feel you had to change overnight but we can play a part certain things like changing your tho. circle and changing situations just so you can focus more or do You think it’s hopeless? you feel like you could balance it I wouldn’t say hopeless. But the all? mentality of the people in the Nah. You have to change your world is just messed up. We as surroundings and people too. If people have to get together first you’re trying to be successful, and get an understanding as to you gotta surround yourself with what we’re trying to accomplish. successful people. Even tho that’s your homeboy, if he’s out Back to your music, finish this there doing negative and you’re sentence: The game needs me trying to turn away from it every because: day, eventually you’ll fall into it. I reflect the struggle, I’m still in That’s why I surround myself with the struggle. I give game on how positive people. to survive during the struggle, and many of my fans want to see Ever feel discouraged? me make it, to them its like we Definitely. made it together.

Can you tell us what artists you feel match that talent just a little bit?

It ain’t none. There is some talent tho. They just gotta do more. Be around, stay relevant. They might come out this year with a How do you deal with that? mixtape then ain’t rapping again A lot of people look up to me. So next year. when I feel the pain, I can’t show it. People looking to me for Take us through your creative strength. Alof of shit you gotta process. keep it in and talk to God, and I write from emotions. However take it into your music.

I’m feeling, that’s what you’re gonna hear. I don’t have a set You keep it real in your music topic. When I hear a beat, how and often speaks of the realities I’m feeling the beat, it takes me of the street life, how do you there. feel about the violence that often plagues the city?

“I do me. And I don’t worry about what anyone else does, I don’t really even care because it doesn’t really matter.”

consistency is key

When we decided to do an issue called “I am the city 239” of course your name came up, do you feel like you belong in that category?

To be quite honest, I don’t even really feel...I just make music. What I do is just embedded in me. So it’s not like I really feel anything about whether I belong anywhere. I don’t wake up worrying about that, I just wake up and I just do me. I just get up and go hard each and every day, I’ve been making music for my whole entire life, from being in a band to being one of the top saxophone players at Fort Myers High School, to doing a lot of everything when it comes to music and academics in Ft Myers, Fl. Just overall. So I don’t really feel anything, I do me. And I don’t worry about what anyone else does, I don’t really even care because it doesn’t really matter.

Besides the saxophone, do you play any other instruments?

Piano, drums, guitar, I really can play anything. Anybody can play anything if you practice to become proficient.

It really is nothing anybody can’t do.

Just have to have dedication and time to devote to learn. I used to practice the saxophone 4 hours every day after school since middle school, that’s how I became proficient enough to be a pro player. I played on the beach at 16, I used to steal my grandma’s car, I used to fish the keys out of her purse, get in the car, go get me something to smoke and go on the beach and play. They would pay me with food and something to drink. I’ll never forget this.

Sounds like music has always been your driver.

Yes, since I was in the church actually, in the choir. Singing, music, poetry it’s always been a part of my life. It’s a lifestyle, it’s not like I’m trying to be anybody. It’s just who I am. It’s hard to explain when it’s you.

Being that you’ve been an artist for a very long time, can you speak on

the state of music back when you first started compared to the state of music now?

Back when I first started with HBO, I used to rap about what I felt was popular. As I got older, I started realizing, rap about what you’re going through, and what’s really real to you. And that’s what I stand by. I feel like the state that it is now, it’s hard for me to say because as an artist from when I came up, it’s always gonna be different. Like there’s an old saying, there’s nothing new under the sun so it’s just gonna revolve back around. Me being a music producer, I’ve learned to evolve with what I love. That’s how I can stay relevant, even tho I’m not worried about being relevant, I’m a music fanatic.

I’m glad you brought up HBO, tell us how it got started, who’s in it, and where it’s at now.

HBO really started with me, Lenier Crawford aka Booman, Roger Nader aka PB, Daryl Scott aka DRow, Allen Haisley aka Lil Rudy, Josh McCray aka J stax, and Dominique Rolle aka Dj. There was a game on Playstation called “Music Maker” and I was already in the band, and I picked up the game and started making beats. We would go over to Roger’s house and we would record on the Windows computer, on the sound recorder and we’d just freestyle. So you could say it started from there. I went into the military at the age of 17, the delayed entry program for the Florida Army National Guard. I told my boys, I’m about to go to training and I’m gonna take all the money when I come back and buy all the equipment. So I came back from training and spent about $1000 and got everything I needed, I bought stuff I didn’t even know I needed back then but I would just go to the library and go online and learn what I needed to know how to do. And then we just started rapping. That’s just how it went.

We were out there in Michigan projects apartment 215, I was living with my Grandma Henrietta, God bless

the dead, and I was just making music every day.

What was the vision for HBO then?

You know what, to be honest, there really was no vision. That’s why HBO is no longer. We’re still friends. My buddy Darryl Scott, God bless the dead, he was just murdered tragically last year on Mother’s Day, we took that lost. But we’re all still good friends, we all still hang out, but I’m the one that’s focused on music per se and they understand that. We’re like brothers.

Is there hope for a reunion?

We were talking about that, I think we’re actually gonna do that.

What’s the secret to remaining friends for that long a period of time?

If you’re gonna be friends with somebody, you’re gonna be friends with somebody. If you ain’t you ain’t. It’s whatever you can grow through, you can get through. I can’t really sit up here and explain why.

Besides your work in the city, you’ve done some major projects outside the city as well, can you tell us about that?

In the past I’ve had productions with JT Money, Creazy & JT Money, I produced that. I linked up with my buddy Sean Paul from the Youngbloods you know, if you don’t give a damn we don’t give a fuck, then the ATL originals and Sean Paul is like a brother to me now, we have a couple of tracks and we’re about to drop videos to them this summer. Most notably right now, Baby Soulja, he’s up and coming and just cut a record with Kodak Black, the average track, it’s actually one of Kodak’s better verses, I can say he did better on that than his own track, that ZeZe track. I feel like he went harder on Average.

I can’t speak on his character but I can speak for his music abilities and I can say it’s a blessing and an honor to actually be able to work with him.

IG: DirtyRedProductions

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“I feel like, ain’t no limits for real. You might have a harder situation because you’re behind some walls, but you can do anything with opportunity. Might be harder for some folks, and if some of y’all fighting to come home, you gotta have faith.”

Is it Truly or Truly 1K? It’s Truly, Truly 1K is the brand.

my mind, I figure, I’m a street dude and I’m going against the United States, shit I’m representing the streets at the moment. Coz I went to trial against these people, and not the streets as in the people, but the streets by themselves, I went to trial by myself. So I think that certain things can mean more than one thing, its what you get from it.

I might say one word and mean 10 different things by it, so 10 different people can feel it.

I am the city, see that sounds cocky but I feel that way too. But at the end of the day, I don’t really feel cool saying something like that. I’m about actions, I’d rather someone say it for me, but shit if you want me to say it...shit, I got my own phone number. I think I’m the only nigga in the city with his own phone number, 362-TRUE. The city gave me my own phone number, niggas might think “how he do that?” Over your head brother.

You said earlier you’re determined to get it with or without the music, what other avenues do you see yourself branching into?

My brand, Truly 1K, I got my own logo. I got different little things, I have clothing, I have different products I’m getting ready to release.

I have my own bag, phone cases, Explain that to me jerseys, towels, robes, things of that At the end of the day, it’s not like I’m nature. I’m getting ready to release in it for the money but I am in it for that stuff. I don’t have an official the money. date.

You’re definitely 10 steps ahead.

Where can people get the gear?

Really I’m just on social media, I just got home from federal prison, actually, 20 months and 4 days and I think I’m doing pretty decent for myself. My music, they’ll be able to find it the regular places you find them at. I don’t even know all the things, SoundCloud, YouTube, maybe Worldstar, all the outlets.

Ok, and who is Truly?

I represent the United Streets of America. Street Niggas worldwide.

I like that, and does that reflect completely into your music?

It reflects on my life, I ain’t really put none of my music out yet, but I do have projects coming soon.

Take me through your process of creating music, is music something you live or something you have to get into a mindset for?

Mine is more like what I live, but it’s contradicting at the same time coz I don’t think I’m doing it for what everybody else doing it for. Kinda sound weird to say.

So its passion driven?

It means something different than to just get your money or to seem cool or some shit.

Basically, what I’m tryna say, I ain’t tryna get into music to blow. But everybody would love to blow. Get what I’m saying? My ambition is to get it with or without the music. The music is a tool that can be used and also a way to get some real shit out to touch the people and put people on to some real shit that people can relate to.

Since you haven’t dropped your own project, have you been doing shows?

Nah, I’ve hung out with my fellas who’ve been working on their situations, I’ve been part of people stuff, but I haven’t done anything official.

And when does your official project drop?

I’m working on a video or two, I’m getting a couple of songs mastered and I’m gonna release them real soon. Same with the products, my products damn near sold out and I Speaking of people being able to haven’t even released yet. I’ll probrelate, what is your story? ably be releasing in the next 60-90 When I say I represent the Street days. niggas worldwide, that means I went to trial against the United The theme of this issue is “I am the States government. At the time, in City,” how you feel about that title?

We have a large subscribers base who are incarcerated, being that you’re freshly home, what message would you like to give to those people?

That’s deep right there, stay strong, smile, you’re still living. I feel like, just have a purpose. If you have a purpose, it’s a lot of messages you can get out from behind the walls, you can still link with the right people, you can do anything. I feel like, ain’t no limits for real. You might have a harder situation because you’re behind some walls, but you can do anything with opportunity. Might be harder for some folks, and if some of y’all fighting to come home, you gotta have faith. Before anything can be real to you, you first have to believe.

When did you first start doing music?

In 6th grade, the first song I wrote was B3trayed.

What inspires you?

I loved music ever since a baby, I’ve always wanted to sing and dance. My inspiration was Chris Brown and Michael Jackson. Then I when I turned 9, I got into Rap. When I went to Texas, it’s when I realized what type of rap I wanted to do.

What are you goals in music? Where you tryna take it?

I wanna make a legacy before I turn 20.

What do you enjoy most about music?

Everything. Mostly the vibes the song is pursuing.

What kind of music do you like listening to?

I used to listen to XXX, Trippie Redd, and Lil Uzi. Now I listen to NBA Youngboy, Quando Rondo, Yungeen Ace, Roddy Rich, Lil Durk & Lil Baby.

Oh ok, so you kinda went from mumble rap to lyrical. What do you like most about their music?

I like the vibes of mumble rap and I go through some of the stuff the rappers listen too and I feel their story.

Ok, tell me about your lyrics?

I rap about what I’m going through and what is mostly on my mind, or I make a fun song.

Do you feel like as a kid you don’t get taken as serious with your music?

It hasn’t happened yet, but it wouldn’t bother me because I know what I’m worth.

You seem to be very comfortable on stage. Was there a time when you were ever nervous?

No, I don’t have stage fright and I learn how to do that naturally.

Ight, last question, what kind of projects can we look forward to?

2 mixtapes, one of them is basically Texas, the oher one sounds similar to what I listen to now.

Interviewed by @Imnottheone_3.

Follow R3d Villa at @R3dvilla3

Ladychelle sat down with the owner of Kurius Boy Productions, William George Smith for a bit of insight on his services, how he got started in the game, and why you should visit him in Immokalee Florida.

How you get started in the music game?

I really got started in music, after my injury. I got hurt back in High School, playing football. After I got hurt, I was playing around with my cousin, he was always freestyling to beats, so whenever we moved to the house I’m in now, back in 2000, I got a computer, and we just started recording ourselves, getting beats online and recording ourselves on the basic recording on the PC. That’s how we started.

After that, I learned to make my own beats, because I didn’t want to buy anyone else’s beats. Once I learned how to make my own beats, I started recording myself and my cousin and a lot of people around here in Immokalee and I’ve been doing it ever since then.

Producer engineer graphic designer www.kuriusboy.com each artist uniquely? Do you ever lose the passion for it?

I wouldn’t say lose the passion because every body’s different, ain’t too many artists who sound the same so it’s kinda hard to mix everybody the same or treat everybody the same, some people aren’t as talented.

Some are really talented. You try to make sure, the people who are really talented or really serious about their music, you try to do everything you can to make sure their music sounds best as possible. When they come out of here, I want their music to be the best and sound the best.

Say you have an artist who comes in and is not as talented, do you ever not want to put something out there because ultimately that’s your name on it.

So you rap as well?

That’s hard to say. It’s like, some people who are not Yes, I rap, I have music online as well. I rap, I pro- as talented, you give them advice. But some people, duce, do graphics, flyers, write, it’s a one-stop shop they don’t listen. But after a while, I can only do my at Kurious Boy Records, Kurious Boy Studio. best. I make it clean so the only thing they can really judge the music by it’s the song itself and their Been that you’ve been doing this for a while, tell skills. I can’t be a miracle worker with everybody. me about some of your experiences, some of your Only thing I can do is make them sound as best as memories.

I can. But with the people who are really talented, I Starting off, I would always have people from the go even further so it sounds like the best thing that town come through. One time, everyone from town ever came out of here. came by the studio and we would just freestyle, it was fun and entertaining at the same time. It was So finish this sentence: Come to Kurious Boy Rethe vibe, being the only studio in town, anybody cording Studio because... who did music, or produce, they would come through We gon take care of you. We gon do the best I can here and make beats, or come through here and rap. to get you that sound that you’re looking for. I make Just seeing what everyone else was working with, it my responsibility to make sure people are happy putting our songs together and vibing. when they leave up out of here. After I work with an artist, I give them feedback or whatever I can. And if you need something and I can’t do it, I know someone who can. I network with everybody.

Being that you’ve experienced so many artists, does it become a routine thing or do you treat A one-stop shop, snacks and all.