HIP HOP LEGEND

BY Marcus Blassingame

IKONIC KURUPT

Marriott Newark Intl Airport, May 22th-23rd 2021, the founding co-publisher of WORD UP Magazine/Hype Hair, Black Menand TBW John Blassingame fi- nally breaks out of the COVID lockdown to celebrate his annual International All Star Fashion Weekend. In attendance are some notable media outlets, maga- zines, talents and artists such as the magnificent Keith Murray, the legendary Atlanta mogul Bernard Bronner and all the way from the West Coast, no other than the Tha Dogg Pound lyrical legend himself Kurupt (Young Gotti) with a whole slew of amazing new projects. In Black Magazine met up with Kurupt and wife Lili Gotti to talk about some of his new ventures, interests in fashion, music and new films.

Born November 23, 1972, he hails from Philadelphia PA and moved to the west coast and disrupted the creation of lyricism like he was highjacking a stage coach in a Western Movie. Better known by his stage name Kurupt, an iconic and legendary rapper who helped propel Gangsta Rap!s rise via his 1990s vers- es helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, along with

Daz Dillinger. His first solo album arrived in 1998. After feuding, the duo reunited in 2005. Kurupt has been in rap supergroups too, like the DPGC, which includes Snoop Dogg.

1/4 of the hip hop supergroup HRSMN including Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Canibus, Kurupt holds no bars in dropping jaw breaking flows in this resurrect- ed collaboration and Debut album The Horsemen Project which was uninten- tionally leaked in 2003 and then heavily bootlegged. Now they’re finally following it with a proper album, The Last Ride (“aka the debut final album”), on June 18 via Fat Beats Records. It features guest appearances and production from Planet Asia, Hus Kingpin, Chino XL, WaisP, RBX, Phil da Agony, Tragedy Khadafi, Bronze Nazareth and Anno Domini.

"1/4 of the hip hop supergroup HRSMN including Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Canibus, Kurupt holds no bars..."

Along with the announcement comes lead singles “Believer” and “False Profits,” and as you might expect from these four, it’s a very fine example of the aggres- sive, in-the-pocket ‘90s hip hop that they all helped shape, and it sounds fresh today too. A multi talented artist, Kurupt has appeared in many movies including Murder Was The Case, Half Past Dead (1-2), G Funk, Dark Blue, The Wash, Johnson Family Vacation, A Day In The Life, Hollywood Homicide, Vice, Loaded, The Penthouse, Tupac Resurrection and Thug Angel to name a few. Currently he is scheduled to film an undisclosed project with the acclaimed director Yolande Geralds via co-producer Shawn King. IB Let!s talk about the HRSMN project? KYG It all starts with mutual respect for each other!s talents, no egos, but mutu- ally aligned in our crafts we agreed to form this group unlike any ever seen in Hip Hop. The apocalyptic concept was derived by Canibus based on the Bibli- cal Four Horsemen (famine, pestilence, war and death) and we all loved the di- rection. Unfortunately it kept getting leaked, and as we were busy on our own individual projects, it took a very long time to revisit the production. After 20 years of anticipated initiation it!s finally ready. (I!d just like to thank all of the fans for their patience and celebration). IB How did you guys decide who would be in the group? Looking at the lyrical level of each member, you all have been known for your advance creatively, thought provoking, metaphoric and mind-blowing lyrical excellence, (you all are known as some of the spittas! of all spittas!). Did your skill levels play a part in this collective choice to unite? KYG Actually we just have fun (the mic is fun to us). We are focused on the cul- ture, the essence of Hip Hop more so than trying to make a hit, not really fo- cused on each others lyrics besides the song subject. Once the song idea was clear, we put pen to paper and whoever was done first went. No do overs, one take and steel sharpens steel. IB I heard about the current Dogg Pound Project. Why was now a good time to release it? KYG It!s Dogg Pound time. We have been working on that project for at least 8 years. We were on the road with Snoop 24/7 so that took up a large amount off our schedule. As we were on Snoop!s tour we would sneak in some (portable) studio time at the hotel with Carlos (RIP) of 1,500 Or Nothing and piecing it to- gether one piece at a time when permitted. After coming off the road the project actually began as Daz started organizing the Official Dogg Pound (DPG For Life book) autobiography which coincides with the new album. We plan on shooting a few videos to begin featuring our own Snoop Dogg and artists like Eric Bellinger. We are giving you that raw gangsta shit, good classic hip hop story telling but on a new page. You can find find the book on Daz page bio @dazdillinger (on Instagram). The HRSMN project drops June 18th, DPG Album Drops July 30th and the HRSMN X DPG Tour all the way through to the new year. IB We have been in talks about your own brand Ikonic. We tossed a few brand- ing ideas around, some fashion and streetwear related collaborations and other things. I!d love to share more about the roll out. KYG This fall I!m dropping my solo album called Transition, reflecting on the transitions in my life, musically and in general. My life transformation is what oc- curred to understand my Ikonic mindset and what it means to me. Everything surrounding the fall projects will revolve around IKONIC KURUPT which best describes my life. This includes the clothing line, my life auto biopic, magazine, radio station, my upcoming artists the Black Steel Music project, Pentagon Ent. films and more. IB You!ve done over 30 films I see in your filmography. KYG That!s that Pac game (Tupac Shakur) who inspired me in acting in general. My son Trend!s mother Natina Reed (RIP) formerly of the group Blaque who did the movie Bring It On walked me into my profession of acting with representa- tives like William Morris and Pac put that bug in my ear as I began to excel.

"The first role I appeared in was Dark Blue (starringKurt Russel and Ving Rhames" KURUPT

- directed by Ron Shelton), then came Hollywood Homicide (starring Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnet and Isaiah Washington also directed by Ron Shelton) , Half Past Dead with (my uncle) Steven Segall, Morris Chestnut, Nia Peebles and Bear (RIP), worked on Bill Bellamy’s projects. I also did a movie with Daryl Hannah, Michael Madison, Lolita Davidovich (a film called Vice). Uncle Steve put me on to a lot of game. We were supposed to do some music together also (he performed Reggae and was really good). IB Steve Who? KYG Steven Segall IB #Get out of town, really”? IB I heard about a possible film project with Yolande Geralds? KYG It!s still in the works in its beginning stages but more info will be available via my Social Media and website. www.instagram.com/official_kurupt • www.DPGC4Life.com • hrsmn.com