Ozone Awards 2007 special edition

WHEN THE SUN SHINES WE’LL SHINE TOGETHER

PLAYAZ CIRCLE MANNIE FRESH TREY SONGZ TOO $HORT RICH BOY DJ KHALED LIL BOOSIE DJ DRAMA PRETTY RICKY JIM JONES

: R NT US PL NE ST LLA MO O A O LA OZ T CO, HOT DSHOP S I WEGAMESON, B E TH CAR DE CLY

OZONE MAGAZINE

2nd ANNUAL OZONE AWARDS SPECIAL EDITION!

THE

S S O B RICKY ROSS

& MORE

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(**REGISTERED TJ’s DJ’s CONFERENCE ATTENDEES WITH BADGES ADMITTED FREE TO ALL NIGHTCLUB EVENTS BEFORE MIDNIGHT**)

Friday August 10, 2007 Defient Entertainment presents the Tastemakers Kickoff party @ Sobe Live (1203 Washington Ave in South Beach) Hosted by Trina, Jacki-O, & K-Foxx Live performances by Jon Young, J Cash, & Corey Bapes

Saturday August 11, 2007 10 PM – 12 AM CTE & 8732 present the Tasties Fashion Show @ Chakra (15th & Ocean – formerly Billboard Live) Hosted by K-Foxx Live performances by Roccett, Cassidy, Three Deep, J-Money, T-Hud, Kymani Marley, Young AC, Just A Girl, RawLT & other artists TBA 12 AM – 3 AM TJ’s DJ’s & OZONE Magazine present the official Tasties Fashion Show afterparty @ Chakra (15th & Ocean – formerly Billboard Live) Hosted by Lil Jon & Slim Thug Live performances by Crime Mob, Piccalo, Young Cash, & Grandaddy Souf VIP Guests including Killer Mike, Trae, Cool & Dre & more

Sunday August 12, 2007 10 PM – 12 AM Tastemakers Only Showcase @ Sobe Live (1203 Washington Ave in South Beach) Live performances by Foxx, Trae, Kinfolk Kia Shine, Montana, Jokaman, Sincere, Doughboy, Chief, Flauge, Chinkie Brown & more TBA 12 AM – 5 AM Official Plies “The Real Testament” album release party at Mansion Nightclub 1235 Washington Ave in South Beach Presented by Big Gates, Slip-N-Slide, & Atlantic Records Special invited guests include Twista, Big Kuntry, DJ Drama, B.G., B.O.B., Trey Songz, Flo-Rida & many more Atlantic Records artists Music by DJ Khaled

monday August 13, 2007 Def Jam presents the official OZONE Awards afterparty @ Mansion Nightclub Live performances by Def Jam, CTE, & DTP artists TBA Music by DJ Khaled

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(**CONFERENCE ATTENDEES WITH BADGES ADMITTED FREE TO ALL NIGHTCLUB EVENTS BEFORE MIDNIGHT**)

Friday August 10, 2007

12 PM - 1:30 PM Panels 5 & 6

4 PM – 8 PM Check in at Hyatt Regency (400 SE 2nd Avenue in downtown Miami) Registration in the lobby on 1st floor

Digiwaxx presents the Promotions Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Brickell Ballroom Panelists include Adam Favors (Interscope), Chad Brown (Jive Records), Steve Raze (Allhiphop.com), Shawn Prez (Bad Boy), Lex (Lex Promotions), Big Teach (Big Mouth Marketing & Promotions/Polo Grounds), Donna Gryn (Polo Grounds), Corey “CL” Llewellen (Digiwaxx), Jazz (Miskeen Originals) & more TBA

4 PM – 10 PM Hospitality Room @ Hyatt Regency Jpenga Lounge 11 PM - Buses depart from Hyatt to South Beach 11 PM – 3 AM Defient Entertainment presents the Tastemakers Kickoff party @ Sobe Live (1203 Washington Ave in South Beach) Hosted by Trina, Jacki-O, & K-Foxx Live performances by Jon Young, J Cash, & Corey Bapes

Saturday August 11, 2007 10 AM – 8 PM Check in at Hyatt (400 SE 2nd Avenue in downtown Miami) Registration in the lobby on 1st floor 12 PM – 7 PM Strictly Business Records’ Hospitality Room featuring Redd Eyezz @ Hyatt Regency Jpenga Lounge 12 PM – 7 PM Asylum Records presents the DJ Pampering Suite @ Hyatt Regency Orchid Room C/D Massages, haircuts, and manicures/pedicures – DJs only 2 PM – 3:30 PM Panels 1 & 2 Producer Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Monroe Ballroom Panelists include Polow da Don, Mannie Fresh, Cool & Dre, Bryan Michael Cox, Nasty Beatmakers, Traxamillion, Play & Skillz, Drumma Boy, & Nitti Indie CEO/Executive Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Brickell Ballroom Panelists include Bryan Leach (Polo Grounds), Jason Geter (Grand Hustle), Ted Lucas (Slip-NSlide), E-Class (Poe Boy), Wendy Day (Rap Coalition) & more

A&R Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Monroe Ballroom Panelists include Eric Nicks (Universal), Orlando McGhee (Warner Bros), Shawn “Tubby” Holiday (Interscope), Joie Manda (Asylum), Shakir Stewart (Def Jam), Mickey “MeMpHiTz” Wright (Jive Records), Aaron Bay-Schuck (Atlantic Records) & more TBA 2 PM - 3:30 PM Panels 7 & 8 Defient Entertainment presents the DJ Crews Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Flagler Ballroom Panelists include Tony Neal (CORE DJs), Latin Prince (Bumsquad DJz), Felli Fel (Heavy Hitters), 1st Lady El (Murda Mamis), DJ Trauma (SuperFriends), Bigga Rankin (Hittmenn DJs), Kaspa the Don (Hittmenn DJs), & Ray Hamilton (Legion of Doom) Business of Music Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Tuttle Ballroom Panelists include Jeff Dixon (DTP), Wendy Day (Rap Coalition), & more 4 PM – 6 PM CRUNK!!! Energy Drink presents the Artist Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Flagler/Monroe Ballrooms Panelists include Lil Scrappy, Plies, Pitbull, Too $hort, Killer Mike, Trey Songz, BloodRaw, Rick Ross, & Mistah FAB 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Listening Suites 2 & 3 Atlantic Records Listening Suite with Twista, B.G., and B.O.B. Capitol Records presents the Hyphy Happy Hour with Clyde Carson 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Listening Suites 4 & 5 Defient Entertainment Listening Suite with DJ Khaled, Jon Young & J Cash, and Corey Bapes Asylum Records Listening Suite with surprise artists!

4 PM – 5:30 PM Panels 3 & 4

9 PM - Buses depart from Hyatt to South Beach

Jive Records presents the DJ Panel @ Hyatt Regency – Flagler Ballroom Panelists include DJ Drama, DJ Smallz, DJ Khaled, DJ Q45, DJ Irie, DJ Backside, Mami Chula, OG Ron C, Freddy Hydro, & DJ Prostyle

10 PM – 12 AM Tastemakers Only Showcase @ Sobe Live (1203 Washington Ave in South Beach) Live performances by Foxx, Trae, Kinfolk Kia Shine, Montana, Jokaman, Sincere, Doughboy, Chief, Flauge, Chinkie Brown & more TBA

U Digg Records/Oarfin Distribution presents the Media Panel @ Hyatt Regency - Tuttle Ballroom Panelists include Grouchy Greg (Allhiphop.com), Darnella Dunham (Radio & Records), Tuma Basa (MTV Jams), Eric Perrin (OZONE), Matt Sonzala (HoustonSoReal), 1st Lady El (Don Diva) 10 PM - Buses depart from Hyatt to South Beach 10 PM – 12 AM CTE & 8732 present the Tasties Fashion Show @ Chakra (15th & Ocean – formerly Billboard Live) Hosted by K-Foxx Live performances by Roccett, Cassidy, Three Deep, J-Money, T-Hud, Kymani Marley, Young AC, Just A Girl, RawLT & other artists TBA 12 AM – 3 AM TJ’s DJ’s & OZONE Magazine present the official Tasties Fashion Show afterparty @ Chakra (15th & Ocean – formerly Billboard Live) Hosted by Lil Jon & Slim Thug Live performances by Crime Mob, Piccalo, Young Cash, & Grandaddy Souf VIP Guests including Killer Mike, Trae, Cool & Dre & more 3 AM – 5 AM Backbaby Inc & NuBreed Entertainment present The Official TOA late night after-afterparty @ Coco’s Hosted by Bryan Michael Cox & Doughboy 5:30 AM - Buses return to the Hyatt

Sunday August 12, 2007 10 AM – 8 PM - Check in at Hyatt Regency - Registration in the lobby on 1st floor

12 AM – 5 AM Official Plies “The Real Testament” album release party at Mansion Nightclub 1235 Washington Ave in South Beach Presented by Big Gates, Slip-N-Slide, & Atlantic Records Special invited guests include Twista, Big Kuntry, DJ Drama, B.G., B.O.B., Trey Songz, FloRida & many more Atlantic Records artists Music by DJ Khaled

monday August 13, 2007 12 PM – 3 PM - Meet N Greet Brunch with live performances by artists TBA 4 PM – 6 PM - OZONE Awards Red Carpet 7 PM – 11 PM 2nd Annual OZONE Award Show @ the James L Knight Center Performances by Rick Ross, Plies, T-Pain, Young Jeezy & USDA, Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy, Yung Joc, DJ Khaled, Hurricane Chris, Foxx, Lil Boosie, Webbie, Baby Boy, Fat Joe, Rich Boy, Lloyd, Too $hort, The Shop Boyz & many more TBA Appearances by Pitbull, Pimp C, Bun B, Slim Thug, Freeway, Trey Songz, Trina, Rasheeda, Jody Breeze, Buffy the Body, Play & Skillz, Kymani Marley, Jacki-O, Pastor Troy, Gangsta Boo, Cool & Dre, Juelz Santana, Devin the Dude, Baby, Lil Scrappy, Crime Mob, Killer Mike, Chamillionaire, Clyde Carson, Polow da Don, Mannie Fresh, Brisco, Gorilla Zoe, Mistah FAB, Keak da Sneak & more TBA 11:30 PM - Buses depart Hyatt to South Beach

12 PM – 7 PM Strictly Business Records’ Hospitality Room featuring Redd Eyezz @ Hyatt Regency Jpenga Lounge

10 PM – 4 AM Def Jam presents the official OZONE Awards afterparty @ Mansion Nightclub Live performances by Def Jam, CTE, & DTP artists TBA Music by DJ Khaled

12 PM – 7 PM DJ Pampering Suite @ Hyatt Regency Orchid Room C/D Massages, haircuts, and manicures/pedicures – DJs only

4 AM Buses return to Hyatt

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2nd ANNUAL

TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKERS MUSIC CONFERENCE

&ozone awards

weekend itINERARY

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TJ’s DJ’s HUSTLER AWARD

AIRING LABOR DAY WEEKEND on MTV JAMS

DJ Khaled Polow Da Don T-Pain T.I. Tony Neal Yung Joc TJs DJs TASTEMAKER AWARD Andre 3000 DJ Drama Jim Jones Oomp Camp Rick Ross T-Pain MTV JAMS’ BEST VIDEO AWARD DJ Khaled - “We Takin’ Over” Directed by Gil Green Ludacris f/ Young Jeezy “Grew Up A Screw Up” Directed by Chaka Zulu Pimp C - “Knockin Doors Down” Directed by Benny Matthews Three 6 Mafia - “Doe Boy Fresh” Directed by Gil Green Young Buck - “Get Buck” Directed by Bernard Gourley BEST PRODUCER Mannie Fresh Nitti Polow Da Don The Runners DJ Toomp BEST MIXTAPE DJ Bigga Rankin DJ Chuck T DJ Drama Rapid Ric DJ Scream DJ Smallz BEST RADIO DJ Crisco Kidd Emperor Searcy Greg Street DJ Khaled Nick@Nite BEST CLUB DJ B-Lord DJ Irie King Arthur DJ Q45 Supastar J-Kwik T-Roc

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BEST RAP ALBUM Devin The Dude - Waitin’ To Inhale Lil Boosie – Bad Azz Ludacris – Release Therapy Rich Boy – Rich Boy Rick Ross – Port of Miami Young Jeezy – The Inspiration BEST RAP ARTIST (MALE) Lil Wayne Ludacris Pimp C Rick Ross T.I. Young Jeezy BEST RAP ARTIST (FEMALE) Diamond & Princess of Crime Mob Rasheeda Shawnna Trina BEST RAP GROUP 8Ball & MJG Crime Mob OutKast Three 6 Mafia UGK USDA BEST R&B ALBUM Akon - Konvicted Beyonce - B’Day Lloyd – Street Love Ne-Yo – Because of You Pretty Ricky – Late Night Special BEST R&B ARTIST (MALE) Akon Bobby Valentino Lloyd Ne-Yo T-Pain Trey Songz BEST R&B ARTIST (FEMALE) Beyonce Ciara Fantasia Keyshia Cole Letoya Luckett BEST LYRICIST Andre 3000 Bun B Lil Wayne Ludacris T.I.

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

MOST SLEPT-ON ARTIST

Baby Boy Da Prince Lil Boosie Rich Boy Shop Boyz Unk

Devin The Dude Gucci Mane Lil Boosie Plies Trae

BEST RAP/R&B COLLABORATION

BEST MIXTAPE / STREET ALBUM

Akon f/ Snoop Dogg “I Wanna Love You” Lloyd f/ Lil Wayne “You” Ludacris f/ Mary J. Blige - “Runaway Love” Plies f/ T-Pain “Shawty” T-Pain f/ Yung Joc “Buy U A Drank” Young Jeezy f/ R Kelly “Go Getta”

DJ Drama & Young Jeezy – I Am The Street Dream Killer Mike - I Pledge Allegiance To the Grind Lil Wayne – Da Drought 3 Rob G – State of the Streets

CLUB BANGER OF THE YEAR

OZONE WEST: BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST)

Foxx f/ Lil Boosie & Webbie “Wipe Me Down” Jim Jones “We Fly High (Ballin’)” Rich Boy f/ Polow “Throw Some D’s” Shop Boyz “Party Like A Rockstar” Unk “Walk It Out”

E-40 – My Ghetto Report Card The Game – Doctor’s Advocate Ice Cube – Laugh Now, Cry Later Snoop Dogg – Tha Blue Carpet Treatment Too $hort – Blow the Whistle

MIXTAPE MONSTER AWARD Chamillionaire Lil Boosie Lil Wayne Plies Young Jeezy

PATIENTLY WAITING: CALIFORNIA Bishop Lamont Clyde Carson Hot Dollar Mistah FAB Mitchy Slick

2006 OZONE Awards photos by Ray Tamarra: (l-r) Plies; Lil Boosie & Webbie; K-Foxx & Young Jeezy; Yung Joc with hosts Trina & David Banner

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2007 OZONE AWARDS: PATIENTLY WAITING ALABAMA Mobile, AL’s Rich Boy bum rushed industry doors for Alabama last year and patiently waiting behind him were a slew of emcees ready to follow the D’s on Rich Boy’s Cadillac. Birmingham’s Attitude signed to Warner Bros., landed writing credits on Timbaland’s Shock Value album and Nelly Furtado’s hit single “Promiscuous,” and still kept his flow tight on Rich Boy’s “Role Model” and Key 2 Da Streets mixtape with DJ Wally Sparks. The BA Boys’ staked their claim claim with the Birmingham duo’s debut album Days of Being Broke and their single “Check Me Out.” After many years of independent hustling, Birmingham J sustained his presence in Alabama rap with his DJ Serious hosted mixtape Gotta Grind and asked the streets “How U Like My Style.” modesty xo showed Alabama how to re-up on his street smash “Bag It Up” and Columbia record’s newest signee Yela Wolf stood tall as the next great white hope.

Don’t call them ’Bamas anymore. In this age of slumping album sales and “Hip Hop Is Dead” rhetoric, sweet home Alabama has plenty to offer.

THE CAROLINAS The Carolinas haven’t seen mainstream Hip Hop success since Petey Pablo spun his shirt around like a helicopter, but this past year birthed a new breed of Carolina artists prepared to take their Carolina reign to the masses.

Disturbin’ Tha Peace’s Norfclk boasts two Raleigh, NC artists that made their presence felt. Small World and his distinctively heavy flow provided a new voice vying to be synonymous with Carolina music on the Don Cannon hosted mixtape World Domination, in preparation for World’s debut album World Premiere. And fellow Norfclk group member Brolic D impressed streets from Raleigh to the ATL on his Carolina’s Favorite mixtape alongside DJ Chuck T. South of the NC border, Lil’ Ru kept clubs and streets rocking throughout SC with his hit single “Don’t I Look Good” and 500 Grams mixtape. Meanwhile, all eyes were on Ru’s independent Headhunters Records labelmate, as Collardgreen’s single “Everybody Looking” smashed clubs and radio across the Carolinas. Two states, two cliques; these four rappers were a cut above the rest in Carolina during ’06-’07.

FLORIDA Poe Boy’s Flo-Rida lit up the Sun Coast with his hit single “Birthday” and followed up with a Rick Ross remix, proving that the Port of Miami got his back.

They say timing is everything, and for Des-Loc of the independent duo Piccalo, there was no better year for the club release “Stick N Roll”, not to mention a new clothing line and guest appearance in the movie Bloodline.

Sean Kingston, the Beluga Heights/Epic Records’ wonder boy, came out of nowhere with suicidal thoughts of “Beautiful Girls” and became living proof that MySpace.com is not only a place for friends, but a place to land major label deals. Haitian sensation Smitty found his way to the ballot with a “Diamonds On My Neck” remix featuring Lil Wayne and Twista; the 80’s inspired “Died In Your Arms” remix with T-Pain, Rick Ross and Jr. Reid; and don’t forget about his Nitti beat. Orlando representative Wes Fif conquered the streets with mixtapes by Bigga Rankin and DJ Smallz, while his Orange County brethren Treal smashed radio boundaries with the player anthem “I’m Not Lockdown.” Booty music may be extinct, but Florida has a fresh new crop of faces to keep the momentum going.

GEORGIA Though he’s been patiently waiting in T.I.’s shadow for 6 years, Big Kuntry continued to build his own fanbase via solid appearances on In Da Streetz Vol. 4 and street singles like “Yeah” and “That’s Right.” Fabo strengthened his popularity by voicing hit for other artists like The Alliance on “Tatted Up” and One Chance for “Look At Her.” B.O.B. came on strong with his Cloud 9 mixtape making fans from the Bay to the A salivate over is upcoming debut. The most distinctive new voice of the year, Gorilla Zoe, is putting in double duty as the newest member of Boyz N Da Hood and the latest solo star on Block Entertainment thanks to his club smash “Hood Nigga.” But the most patient of all of these artists is D.G. Yola who broke through last year with “Ain’t Gon’ Let Up” but saw his ascension stalled by label drama and a shooting that left him hospitalized. He returned earlier this year with “Rollin’” featuring Bone Thugs N Harmony. Atlanta’s megastars stomped through the last year snatching plaques and trophies along the way, but this crop of new talent will keep the state grounded.

KENTUCKY Thanks to those nappy rooted emcees, Hip Hop’s lasting impression of Kentucky is along the lines of country rappers eating watermelon, chicken &

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grits. But this year’s group of Patiently Waiting nominees proved that the Bluegrass State isn’t just country backwoods rap music. B Simm raised the bar in Louisville with his mixtapes (Legend In The Making and The Legend Continues hosted by DJ E-Feezy) and “Rope-A-Dope” single. G-Mack’s resume checked out as his street anthem “Hatah’s” rang loud from Lexington, Kentucky hoods. Mr. Kentucky Don Fetti’s “Let’s Get Em” featuring Pimp C was a D-boy favorite. And three man rap group, Below Zero, represented for Bowling Green on their ode to fitted caps, “New Era,” with Lil’ Flip. Kentucky may be better known for its fried chicken but even the Colonel would respect the grind these nominees have put in.

LOUISIANA Judging from the last 12 months, that state between Texas and Mississippi should probably be renamed Lou-WEEZYana. But there are still a few names that managed to eat.

New Orleans tradition was continued when B.G.’s Chopper City Boys kicked off the year with their indie effort We Got This, rekindling light memories of the Hot Boyz. Beyond that, it was obviously the year of Baton Rouge. B.R.’s Max Minelli continued his underground grind dropping On The Cut, while at the same time prepping for his Koch debut Pain Medicine. Fellow Baton Rouge rapper Foxx emerged from the shadows of his Trill Fam brothers Webbie & Lil’ Boosie with “Wipe Me Down.” But while he urged you to brush off your shoulder, chest, pants and shoes, Shreveport’s Hurricane Chris was in hot ass clubs taking his off to the chant of “A Bay Bay.” The entire state of Louisiana took in displaced New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina, and now it sounds like they are adopting their musical success too.

MISSISSIPPI It’s been four years since David Banner let the world know Mississippi does it “Like A Pimp” but the rest of the Crooked Letter state is still patiently waiting for their chance to baptize the game in Mississippi water.

Boo da Boss Playa had trouble making it rain this past year but still maintained a solid buzz with his Gangsta Grillz mixtape Drugstore. Canton, MS rapper/producer GMB made his claim for next to blow with his hit single “Like Dat” that had clubs all across the state doing the Mississippi bounce.

Jewman was out to prove Banner wasn’t the only talent from Jackson and made noise with tracks like “Swagg,” “Proof Be Gone” and “Pull ‘Em Out.” And Soulja Boy had everyone from Atlanta to Los Angeles crankin’ his dance as his smash hit “Crank Dat Soulja Boy (Supaman)” spread across the nation, up the charts and all over YouTube.

TENNESSEE From Three 6 Mafia to 8Ball & MJG to Young Buck, the Volunteer State has had its share of successful artists put it down for Ten-A-Key. And this year’s gang of Tennesseans have all made their push to carry the torch in ’06-’07. Cash Money signee All Star made his name known by showcasing his skills alongside the likes of Young Buck, Yo Gotti and the Birdman and proved his solo worth on his indie album Prince of the Ville. After years of independent grinding, Kia Shine finally broke through with his hit record “Krispy” which set the table for his major label debut album Due Season. Three 6 Mafia protégé Lil Wyte released his third studio album entitled The One and Only, as he attempted to match the success of his Hypnotized Minds camp. And Memphis duo, Da Volunteers, released their album What’s Yo Favorite Color?, with the single “Favorite Color” featuring MJG. TEXAS Texas remains a staple in the Southern rap movement and the new breeds appear ready to carry on a strong lineage in the Lone Star State’s rap legacy.

Houston legend Scarface introduced Green City and the Killeen, TX rap group drew attention with their single “Party Like A Pornstar” from their debut album Brand New Money. The Grit Boys spread their ghetto reality as their single “Fresh” caught on strong and anticipation for their album Ghetto Reality In Texas grew. Houston’s “Freestyle King” Rob G represented his city strong with hit single “Reppin My Block,” along with one of the year’s best mixtapes State of the Streets. And DSR member Tum Tum helped to establish Dallas as a city to take note of with his single “Caprice Music” that had trunks rattling all across the South. // - by Eric Perrin, Randy Roper, & Ms Rivercity

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MEET THE TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKERS PANELISTS compiled by Eric Perrin

1st Lady El (JERSEY CITY, NJ) CEO, Murda Mamis 1st Lady El is the CEO/Founder of Murda Mamis a respected group of female DJs, rappers, singers, and models. She also recently secured the title of Editor-at-Large of Don Diva Magazine.

Aaron Bay-Schuck (NEW YORK, NY) Director of A&R, Atlantic Records Aaron graduated from Columbia University in 2003 and went to work immediately for Interscope Records. He joined the Atlantic Records family in 2005 and quickly rose through the ranks to Director of A&R. He has contributed to numerous gold and platinum projects like T.I.’s Urban Legend and King, Trick Daddy’s Thug Matrimony and Back By Thug Demand, Twista’s Kamikaze, Trey Songz’s Gotta Make It, and most recently Plies’ debut album The Real Testament. Upcoming releases include Flo-Rida’s Mail On Sunday and Cupid’s Time For A Change. He is also currently setting up his own music venture, 25 YO Entertainment. He is always looking for the next great producer or artist and believes you can never listen to too much music.

ADAM FAVORS (SANTA MONICA, CA) Nat’l Director of Radio Promotions, Geffen Records Born in Cleveland, OH, Adam got his start in the music business as an intern at EMI Records. He is now the Nat’l Director of Radio Promotions for Geffen Records, where he is responsible for planning album releases and securing radio airplay. He’s played a key role in the success of the entire G-Unit camp, Slim Thug, Keyshia Cole, Common, Robin Thicke, and “everybody that’s been hot over the last five years.”

Derrick “Big Teach” Turton (MIAMI, FL) Founder and CEO, Big Mouth Marketing and Promotions & National Mixshow Director, Polo Grounds Music Big Teach has over 10 years experience in the industry. He has specialized in everything from artist development, to brand management, to product placement. He even dabbles in vehicle wraps and web design - to make it short, Derrick Turton is a hustler. He has worked with over 60 nationally renowned companies and continues to manage promotional accounts for Uncle Luke, Pitbull, Lil Jon, the Ying Yang Twins, Lil Scrappy, Hurricane Chris, Hpnotiq, Hennessy, Crunk Energy Drink, Polo Grounds Music/J Records, Virgin Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, TVT Records, Warner Bros, Luke Records, Universal Music Group, Jive, Oakley, Akademiks, Gilyard and Converse. Big Teach attributes much of his success to his firm belief that “relationships mean everything.”

Bigga Rankin (Jacksonville, FL) President, Slip-N-Slide Streets Known as “Florida’s A&R,” Bigga Rankin has an extensive resume. CEO of the Cool Running DJs, Founder of Real Nigga Radio Mixtapes, Vice President of the Hittmenn DJs and President of Slip-N-Slide Streets are a few of his prestigious titles.

BRYAN MICHAEL COX (ATLANTA, GA) CEO, Beat Factory Bryan Michael Cox was born in Miami but raised in Houston, where he attended high school with Beyonce Knowles and LeToya Luckett. In 1997, he moved to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University, and within a year, he was well on his way to becoming one of the game’s most successful songwriter/producers. He has co-written and co-produced such smash singles as Mariah Carey’s “Shake It Off” and Usher’s “Confessions Pt. 2,” among countless others.

Bryan Leach (NEW YORK, NY) CEO, Polo Grounds Music Group After developing artists like Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, the Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull as VP of A&R at TVT, Bryan Leach became President of his own imprint, Polo Grounds Music, distributed through J Records (home of Hurricane Chris, C-Ride and Lava House Records). Bryan also holds the title of Senior VP of Urban at RCA Music Group.

Chad Brown (Atlanta, GA) Southeast Regional Mixshow Manager, Jive Records Chad Brown began his career as a DJ at Georgia Southern University’s college radio station. Initially, Chad’s endeavors were

motivated by his desire to attain status and power on campus, but it soon got serious. Brown earned an internship at Universal, which led him to the mailroom at BMG — and we all know how mailroom stories go. Today, Chad Brown is the Southeast Regional Mixshow Manager for Jive Records, and most call him the #2 Mixshow Rep In The South. He claims to be “The Go To Guy” in the South, as he can get records to start & crackin’ in the streets, clubs, and on mixtapes. Now he asks, “What can Brown do for you?”

Cool & Dre (Miami, FL) Co-CEOs, Epidemic Super producers Cool & Dre need no introduction. They are from North Miami and it ain’t no secret, homie. They’ve produced for everyone, including 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, and Fat Joe (they are a part of the Terror Squad camp). They have also worked extensively with actress/songstress Christina Milian. Cool & Dre are responsible for discovering a slew of new talent emerging from the 305, including C-Ride and Joe Hound, both signed to their Epidemic record label.

Corey “CL” Llewellyn (New York, NY) Co-Founder/President/CEO, Digiwaxx CL is a seasoned music magnate with more than a dozen years experience promoting and marketing urban music for various companies including Elektra Music Group, Cornerstone/Fader Magazine, and Sony/Crave Records. Although he achieved success within all these mediums, it has been the inception and nurturing of Digiwaxx Media that has been his greatest glory. Initially formed as a digital music distribution company offering exclusive digital content in the form of fixed and streaming audio and video media, Digiwaxx has branched out to become an online and offline marketing and promotions company offering a plethora of services and programs to influence tastemakers and trendsetters globally.

Darnella Dunham (Los Angeles, CA) Radio & Records - Urban/Rhythmic/Gospel Editor Darnella Dunham has worked her way up the radio industry ranks to become the Urban/Rhythmic/Gospel Editor for Radio & Records, a well-respected industry trade publication. Her past career titles include Music/Programming Coordinator at WEDR 99 Jamz in Miami, Morning Show Producer/Co-Host at WJHM 102 Jamz in Orlando, Music Director at WMBX 102.3 FM & WJBW in West Palm Beach and WMIB 103.5 The Beat in Miami.

DJ BackSide (Oakland, CA) DJ BackSide began her career in 2002 at a college radio station in Southern California and later moved to a late-night time slot 106.1 KMEL in the Bay Area. Her Got Bay? mixtape series has been instrumental in the hyphy movement. Backside, who recently relocated to Los Angeles, is also an OZONE West columnist.

DJ Drama (Atlanta, GA) Owner of one of the most prominent voices in Hip Hop, Philadelphia native DJ Drama has been an honorary ATLien since his days on the strip at Clark Atlanta University. It was at CAU where Dram met Don Cannon and DJ Sense (both Philly natives as well) and began DJing parties around the Atlanta University Center. The DJ trio became The Aphilliates, and have since taken the DJ game by storm. DJ Drama is responsible for the world famous Gangsta Grillz mixtape series and has appeared on the covers of such magazines as OZONE, Billboard, Scratch and XXL. Drama is undeniably a superstar DJ. DJ Freddy Hydro (Memphis, TN) With over eight years experience DJing in the Memphis area, Freddy Hydro is known as one of M-Town’s musical powerbrokers. After organizing the Grand Crew Record Pool and founding the Rip Squad DJs, he also became the Mix Show Coordinator for WMPW Power 99. Freddy is a valuable member of Greg Street’s Hittmenn DJs and Tony Neal’s Core DJs. His skills on the tables have received countless accolades and have been featured on MTV, BET and a host of others.

DJ Irie (Miami, FL) As the official DJ for Jamie Foxx and the Miami HEAT, and with appearances on BET’s Rap City and Nickelodeon’s Teen Choice Awards, DJ Irie knows no boundaries. He’s a member of the Hittmenn DJs, Def DJs, and 99 Jamz WEDR in South Florida.

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DJ Khaled (Miami, FL) Though Khaled is actually from New Orleans, he might as well have been born and raised in the country of Dade. The Palestinian DJ has taken over the MIA like Pablo Escobar in the 80’s.

He not only has the number one rated night show in Miami, on WEDR 99 JAMZ, but is also the co-manager for the super producer duo The Runners, and the self-proclaimed “Number 1 DJ in the world!” Khaled’s second and most recent Koch release We The Best debuted as the #1 independent — and 10th overall — album on the Billboard Charts.

DJ Nasty (Orlando, FL) Nasty Beatmakers For almost a decade Nasty has rocked on Orlando’s WJHM 102 Jamz as well as in the nightclubs. He is also a producer, known as Nasty Beatmakers along with his brother LVM, and has worked with artists like Lil Wayne and Ludacris. Along with DJ Khaled, he also manages the production duo The Runners.

DJ Prostyle (New York, NY/ORLANDO, FL) Originally from Queens, NY, Prostyle prospered as the more vocal half of Orlando’s premiere DJ duo (Prostyle & Nasty) before locking down a spot on BET’s 106th and Park. He now maintains his own record label, All Pro Records, in addition to DJing on Power 95.3 in Orlando.

DJ Q45 (Jacksonville, FL) Rap City DJ Q45 is the fresh new face of BET’s Rap City. In addition to being a TV personality, his skills and energetic personality are in high demand in clubs from Jacksonville to Miami and beyond.

DJ Smallz (TAMPA, FL) 22 year-old DJ Smallz was born overseas, but moved to Florida at the age of 3 and fell in love with Hip Hop almost immediately. His passion for the turntables in his early teenage years spawned his nationally recognized Southern Smoke CD series; playing a monumental role in catapulting major and independent Southern artists to the attention of national and international markets. Smallz also has a weekly 2-hr show airing on Sirius Satellite Radio and DISH Network. MTV News named the Southern Smoke DJ as one of the “Top 10 DJs of 2005” and Rolling Stone Magazine named him one of the “Top 10 DJs to watch in 2006.”

DJ Trauma (ATLANTA, GA) SuperFriends Trauma, originally from New York, got his start in the music industry by DJing at clubs and working for Sony Music as a college rep. Currently, he is a Mixer at Hot 107.9 WHTA in Atlanta and a founding member of the SuperFriends DJ crew. He has worked with a variety of artists including Monica, Ciara, Jermaine Dupri, and Vawn.

Donna Gryn (New York, NY) Sr. Dir. of Rap Promotion & Artist Development, Polo Grounds New York native Donna Gryn began her career in music in 2001 while attending New York University. She landed an internship at Roc-A-Fella Records and earned a full time position in just three months. Since then, Donna has held down positions as Director of Promotions (Pharrell’s Star Trak label), co-management at JackMove Inc (working with DJ Cipha Sounds and Nina Sky), and Senior Director of Mixshow Promotions (Virgin Records). Donna departed Virgin 2007 to head up the rap department at Polo Grounds Music, a new joint label venture with J Records.

Drumma Boy (Memphis, TN) Drumma Boy’s name has flown under the radar but his production on songs like Young Jeezy’s “Standin’ Ovation” and “The Realest” and Yo Gotti’s “That’s What’s Up” has his name buzzing in the streets as a producer to look out for. In addition to Young Jeezy and Yo Gotti, this hitmaker from Memphis, TN has produced for Gangsta Boo, Pastor Troy and Boyz N Da Hood. As the beatmaker behind USDA’s “White Girl” and Plies’ “Shawty,” the demand for Drumma Boy’s orchestral-influenced production is on the rise.

Eric “E-Class” Prince (Miami, FL) Founder & CEO, Poe Boy Entertainment This entrepreneur and marketing genius is responsible for one of the fastest growing labels in Florida. Acknowledged as a leader in the South Florida movement, Poe Boy Entertainment is cur28 // OZONE MAG

rently home to Brisco (Cash Money), Flo-Rida (Atlantic), Carol City Cartel, and several other artists. Poe Boy also cultivated major label deals for Rick Ross and Jacki-O. Eric Nicks (New York, NY) Senior Vice President, A&R Universal/Motown Former positions at Violator Records, Def Jam and Sony Records paved the way for Eric Nicks’ current role as Senior VP/A&R for Universal/Motown. Nicks helped shape the careers of Foxy Brown, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, and Lyfe Jennings, just to name a few. He is also on the board of advisors for the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Felli Fel (Los Angeles, CA) Born in the small town of Rock Hill, South Carolina, DJ Felli Fel is now Hollywood — literally. In fact, over 1.6 million people listen to him each night, as he is the host of the #1 nighttime show in Los Angeles. Felli Fel’s show on LA’s Power 106 has held down the number 1 spot for years, garnering the highest ratings in his respective time slot. Though he was born in South Cak, and raised in Atlanta, Felli Fel has truly made his mark on the West Coast. He is now venturing off into producing and has a new single buzzing across the country.

“Grouchy” Greg Watkins Co-Founder of AllHipHop.com For 9 years, AllHipHop.com has been the #1 online destination for Hip Hop news, reviews and industry insights. After joining forces in 1997, AllHipHop.com’s founders Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur & “Grouchy” Greg Watkins have since launched the Daily Hip Hop News Alerts and the annual AllHipHop Week.

Jason Geter (Atlanta, GA) President, Grand Hustle Jason Geter, along with his business partner Clifford “T.I.” Harris, formed the powerhouse label Grand Hustle in 2003. With a joint venture deal through Atlantic Records, Grand Hustle has had enormous success with artists like T.I. and Young Dro, and continues to develop its roster of up-and-coming talent.

JASMIJN “Jazz” RIJCKEN (PHILADELPHIA, PA) VP of Marketing, Miskeen Originals Jasmijn a.k.a. Jazz, originally from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, got her start as an unpaid intern at Miskeen. She worked her way up the ranks and is now VP of Marketing, where her job responsibilities include sponsorships, global marketing, product placement, branding, public relations, and point-of-sale promotions.

Joie Manda (New York, NY) Head of A&R & Promotions, Asylum Records Asylum, billed as an “incubator” label, serves as the “umbrella” for several successful indie labels like Swishahouse and Trill Entertainment. As head of A&R, Joie is involved with projects from artists like Webbie, Lil Boosie, Cam’Ron, and many more.

Kaspa The Don (Atlanta, GA) President, Hittmenn DJs “Kaspa is his name and PROMOTIONS is NADAGAME!” Los Angeles native Kaspa the Don was born and bred on the left coast, but relocated to ATL in the 90s. He started his promotional company after interning at Hot 107 in Atlanta, where he was the among the all star draft class of interns that included Chris Luva Luva, MTV’s LaLa, Coco Brother, and Marsha Meadows. In 1997 Kaspa started Dulo Marketing and Media, servicing clients such as Interscope, Violator, Coca Cola, 1-800-CALL ATT, Warner Bros, Suave House, and BME. In 2003, he started Legion Of Doom DJs, but soon linked up with Greg Street and Bigga Rankin to found the Hittmenn DJs. Latin Prince (Los Angeles, CA) President, BumSquad DJs The BumSquad DJ’s founder Latin Prince is a mogul in the making. The former TVT Records exec and LA native has been taking over all facets of the music industry for over a decade. Now with BumSquad Muzik inking a new deal with Universal, there really is no stopping this Latin Prince of Belair.

Alex “Lex” Pierre-Louis (Miami, FL) National Promotions Director, Lex Promotions & Marketing Group Lex Promotions & Marketing Group boasts a client list including

everyone from Russell Simmons to Trick Daddy to Courvoisier Cognac. Their mission is to “bridge corporate America to today’s youth and urban market”.

DJ Mami Chula (Atlanta, GA) As a member of both the Murda Mamis and The CORE DJs, Mami Chula plays a significant role in the Hip Hop culture. MC began her radio career while attending Kansas State University. She has since moved on from college radio to dominate the Atlanta club circuit as well as Hot 107.9.

Mannie Fresh (New ORleans, LA) Mannie Fresh is a Hip Hop legend. The New Orleans producer was once known as Cash Money’s exclusive beat man. His distinctive sound ushered in an entirely new era and helped the N.O. dominate the game. Today, he has widened his clientele base and has worked with dozens of artists from T.I. to Rick Ross.

Matt Sonzala (Houston, TX) Freelance Writer/Blogger, International Booking Agent, CEO Pushermanagement, Pushermania Productions and HoustonSoReal The official Texas Hip-Hop Ambassador, Matt Sonzala has been repping the South on the radio and in magazines like Murder Dog, The Source, Rappages, and more since before it was cool. He’s currently focused on breaking Southern and independent music outside of the United States and in regions where it may not have recieved much attention yet. He considers himself “quite possibly the realest dude ever.”

Mickey “MeMpHiTz” Wright (New York, NY) Vice President of A&R, Jive Records CEO, HiTz Committee Memphis native Mickey “MeMpHiTz” Wright earned his nickname while at Arista Records, where he gained a reputation for consistently churning out the hits. He was responsible for such artists as The Youngbloodz and J-Kwon. He later relocated to Jive Records, and has been influential in the success of T-Pain and HiTz Committee’s artist Huey. Mickey’s slogan is, “In Hitz We Trust!”

Shakir Stewart (Atlanta, GA & New York, NY) Senior Vice President of A&R, Island Def Jam Shakir, originally from Oakland, got his start in the music industry by promoting parties. Currently, he is Senior VP of A&R at Island Def Jam, where his job responsibilities include signing new artists and overseeing the creative process. Some of his recent signings include Ciara, Young Jeezy, and Rick Ross.

Shawn “Tubby” Holiday Senior VP of A&R, Interscop/Geffen/A&M (Los Angeles, CA) A Brooklyn native, Shawn Holiday began his career in the music business while attending Florida A&M University. A chance meeting with Sean “Diddy” Combs resulted in Holiday being offered a position as a college rep for Bad Boy, and since then, the music industry and Shawn Holiday have been inseparable. Upon graduating from FAMU, Shawn moved to California to work at EMI in 2004, and soon after, he was named VP and General Manager of Hitco Music Publishing by Antonio “LA” Reid. A year later, Shawn was named Senior VP of A&R for both Interscope and Geffen Records, where he plans on not just making hits, but making history.

Steve Raze (New York, NY) Executive VP of Digital Content, AllHipHop.com As editor of the Breeding Ground section of AllHipHop.com, Steve Raze is the man who has helped expose artists like Mims, Maino, Joell Ortiz, C-Ride, BOB, Wiz Khalifa, Stimuli, Nawledge from Kidz N The Hall, Willie Joe, Qualo, Garcia, Damani, Fred the Godson and countless others.

Raze is also the photo editor for the site in addition to being responsible for all the music and video content. Raze bridges the gap between internet and radio, delivering weekly AllHipHop report segments to radio stations nationwide.

Ted Lucas CEO, Slip-N-Slide Records (Miami, FL) Ted Lucas is the man behind the label that introduced Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, and Plies to the world. As CEO of Slip-N-Slide Records, Ted Lucas has received several accolades for his contributions to the record industry.

Nitti (Atlanta, GA) CEO, Playmaker Music Nitti got his first taste of success on 8Ball’s “Stop Playin’ Games,” but Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin’ Down” was Nitti’s first #1. The record helped the world recognize that Nitti wasn’t playing games with his beats. This ATL beat man has worked with a variety of artists from Bow Wow to T.I. and continues to produce hit music with that classic Nitti sound.

Tony Neal (Milwaukee, WI) Founder, The CORE DJs Tony Neal has quietly become one of the most important people in Hip Hop. A former middleweight kick-boxer, Neal has transformed the CORE DJs collective into an immensely successful all-star assembly of DJs, record breakers, and industry movers and shakers. Tony is a visionary whose plans for The CORE DJs are limitless.

OG Ron C (Houston, TX) One of the founding members of, Swishahouse, OG Ron C is an HTown legend. Formerly the official DJ of Chamilitary Entertainment, he has also made a name for himself nationwide with his chopped and screwed CDs. His slogan is “Chopped up not slopped up,” and his music is true to the mantra. In January 2007, OG Ron C introduced his new record label, Platinum Sounds. He is also the CEO of the GO DJs.

Traxamillion (SAN JOSE, CA) Super-Producer, owner of Slapp Addict productions “The Slapp Addict,” Traxamillion is known across the country for his phenomenal talent in making radio-ready hits. Artists such as Keak Da Sneak, E-40, and Too $hort can all attest to the power of his creativity, which is sought after by the most powerful people in the industry.

Traxamillion is a special talent on the microphone as well, and his new mixtape, Ridin’ High is a testament to that fact.

Orlando McGhee (ATLANTA, Ga) Sr. Director of A&R, Warner Bros.

Born just outside of Atlanta, in Augusta, GA, this graduate of Hampton University got his foot in the door of the music industry as a college rep for Loud Records in 1993. Currently the Sr. Director of A&R for Warner Bros. Records, Orlando has coined the phrase, “Nothing is achieved without hard work.”

Play N Skillz (Dallas, TX) The Texas beat bosses Play N Skillz are perennial hitmakers. They have crafted several influential tracks including Chamillionaire’s “Ridin,’” which helped King Koopa ascend beyond the platinum plateau. Play N Skillz are also responsible for Kia Shine’s hit “Krispy,” and a multitude of other hits.

Polow da Don (Atlanta, GA) Atlanta native Polow Da Don is undeniably one of the hottest producers in the game. He produces unique beats that love to linger at the top of the charts and he has worked with an array of artists including R. Kelly, Rich Boy, Ciara, Gwen Stefani, and Fergie.

RAY HAMILTON (ATLANTA, GA) CEO, Legion of Doom Record Breakers

Tuma Basa (New York, NY) Manager of Music Programming Initiatives, MTV Jams Originally from Rwanda, Tuma Basa was born in Congo but grew up in both Iowa and Zimbabwe. A 1998 graduate of The University of Iowa, Basa completed three internships, including one at BET, which led to a full-time position in their Music Department in Washington, DC. Tuma was relocated to New York by BET in 2000. In 2002, Tuma joined MTV’s Music & Talent department, where he is currently a Manager of Music Programming. Along with co-Programming MTV Jams and conducting Label Relations at MTV, Tuma is currently working on earning an MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business. Tuma’s a certified hip-hop lover and his favorite artists of all time are Tupac and Jay-Z. Wendy Day (Atlanta, GA) Founder, Rap Coalition Wendy Day is the founder of the Rap Coalition and a certified music industry Queenpin. She is instrumental to virtually all levels of industry success, and has ushered deals for the likes of No Limit, Cash Money, Eminem, David Banner, Twista, and Fiend, among countless others.

In addition, Wendy writes a monthly column for “Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Magazine” and consults independent record labels through her company, PowerMoves.

SAVALAS HOLLOWAY (LOS ANGELES, CA) Head of Rap Promotions, Warner Bros. Records OZONE MAG // 29

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TJ’s DJ’s, OZONE Magazine, & Defient Entertainment would like to welcome ALL our DJ attendees TO TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKERS MUSIC/DJ CONFERENCE & 2nd ANNUAL OZONE AWARDS 1st Lady El A.G. A.W.O.L Ali North Alias Allen J Amir Boyd A-Stomp Aych b brian Baby T BamBam Bay Bay BIG BREAD Big Hulk BIG MO Big Swoll Big Tom aka Chevy Boy Bigg V Bigga Rankin biggaboss Bigz BLACK DRAGON Black Prin Blackberry BLAST Blaze Blondie bnard BOBBY LEE BP Brandi Garcia Breaka10-4 Busha Byrd Byrdman C MO C.I.U. Captain Jack cellski CHARLIE FUNK ChuckieBigBux Cj Tha Sticman Clinton Sparks CoCo Cohen Dabakeryman COLA Cool Candice Core Dj Isis Wisdom Cream Shah creepdawg C-RENA Crisco Kidd d boy D D-Tec D Mac D Wash D.Quick Da Peanut Danny Danny Boy DAPA DaveFoto Deacon DEEJAY NOTISS Derty D dirty dave DISCO RICK dj 007 DJ 1 DREAD Dj 12-G DJ 151 DJ 17 32 // OZONE MAG

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dj O.N.E DJ O3 DJ OBSCENE DJ Ososmooth dj p from da o DJ PAT PAT DJ Phill DJ PLAY Dj Playtz DJ PR TRIGGA DJ PRINCE ICE DJ Princess Cut DJ Prostyle DJ Purfiya DJ Pyro DJ Q45 dj quake DJ Queserious DJ Quest DJ Quote Dj r.sin DJ Rally DJ RASCAL Dj REAL Dj Reckonize DJ Redd DJ Reign DJ REN dj rick rude DJ Ricky Dee Dj Rico Sanchez DJ RIO DJ Rip DJ Ritz Dj Rob-N DJ ROBYN S DJ RON WHITE DJ RR DJ Ruckus DJ RY-N DJ Ryno DJ S DUBB DJ S&M DJ S. Boogie dj saint dj sample Dj Sandman DJ SAO DJ Sauce DJ Saxwell DJ Scorpio Dj Scream DJ Scrizz dj sdub DJ Sense Dj Serious DJ Shack DJ SHAWNEY DJ SHEEM DIGGY DJ SHIEST D DJ Shine Dj Silkk Dj Silver Knight DJ Skee DJ SKEE BOO DJ SKILLZ DA HUSTLA DJ Skyy DJ SL Jamz DJ Slim DJ SLYM Dj SlyTAy DJ Smallz dj smitty DJ SMOKEY BEAR dj Smooth

DJ Spaceage Dj Sparky DJ Speedracer dj spice Dj Spin DJ SPINATIK DJ SPINNER DJ Spinz dj star DJ STARR DJ Steel dj steve dj stilo DJ Storm DJ STR8 DJ Strong DJ Stylez DJ Stylz DJ SUPA C Dj Swiff DJ T DOT BOOGIE dj T double DJ TANTRUM DJ Tay Dj Tay James DJ TD THA DON Dj Testarosa DJ Tha Troof DJ Tone Capone DJ TOURE Dj Trans DJ Trauma DJ TRILL DJ T-Roc dj truth DJ TYGA T DJ Unknown DJ VB DJ V-Dub Dj Venom DJ Victorious DJ Warrior DJ WHITEGIRL DJ WHO Dj wildhairr DJ WINN DJ WOLFPAK Dj WREK DJ X-Rated DJ xXx DJ Young City Dj Young s.a.m.m DJ YOUNGBANK Dj zoeboy Doc D doe boy Don Cannon DrasticX dresta D-ROCC drunkenmaster Dusti Dynasty evil empire EXCESS Felli Fel Fivestar Framedtight FRANK WHITE Freddy Hydro Furious Styles G.I Joe GMB guess who Hazzel

Hustle’on Icecold Incognito INFARED DJ SCOPE J TROUBLE J.Wright J3 Java “dj hova” Chatman Jay Classik Jay Roc Jiji Sweet JITT DA RAW Johnny Ka$h JonniKuest Jordan JP j-style JuniorBlack Kalizion Kash Kastro Kaspa the Don Kenny Crooks Kevin Shine Killa Cam King Ron Kingpin Villian OF VINYL Klarc Shepard Koko Komplex Kreep KShine Kwasi Kwa Kydd Joe Lady C lady choice Lady Dj CC Lady Lyric Lady Mysteria lance leek Latin Prince Lil Larry lil roc LIL TAE Lisa R Lucky Leon LUNGZ P. Lyrikill MAHOGANY STEEL MALIBU Malik Shabazz Mami Chula Marcus Kage Mayhem Michael Watts Mr Orange County mr sharp mr willie mays Mr. Burnz Mr. Concert mr. concert MR. HAMPTON HUSTLER Mr. Prada Ms. Bree First Ms. Cristal Ms. Lyx 96 N.I.K.K.I. da JukeBox Nate P Neek During The Day/Nite OG Ron C one mystery Onrea

OSCILLATOR papa smirf PEDAGREE Petey Wheatstraw Phatt Lipp Philley Phresh PIMPZILLA PRIMETIME Prince Ice PUG QUATY D Rapid Ric RED LION ReeseTheDoorMan Reggie Love Remo Roscoe Samson SDiNc Sean Mac Selecta Preece Selector Speedball Shekeese Tha Beast Sho Nuff SLICK Smokey Dee smoth mcduck Southern J steelz Stix Malone STRIZZO/DJ DADDY STRO Supa Cindy SUPA SOUL-JA SUPASTAR J-Kwik Syco T MOE DAWG T.Coop T.K. Romeo T-Dub The Bigg DM The Black Bill Gates The Mighty Joe Young The Truth Metro Dee Tim Armstrong tina T-Money T-NICE Tony Neal Tony nu TRINI TROY2DAVENT Venom VJ Falonda Voice of da Streetz Wallstreet Wally Sparks Wes Fif white boi pizal WHITE DAWG Wild Billo Wild Wayne Wildman Teddy T WIZ YellaBoi young g.p Zippy Zoetip AND ANY OTHER DJS WE FORGOT TO MENTION!

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10

reasons why polow DA DON is the GREATEST PRODUCER OF ALL TIME As told to Eric Perrin // Illustration by Tene Gooden

38 // OZONE MAG

NOMINATED FOR BEST PRODUCER

W

e’ve all heard Polow Da Don’s proclamations of his own greatness, but until now we haven’t exactly known why. OZONE has given Polow the opportunity to enlighten us all on exactly why we secretly wish we could be him. The only limitation was that Polow could only give us ten of the many reasons he’s the best.

We’re sure it was an extremely difficult task for Polow to limit his list to just ten, but our printing costs would have skyrocketed if we had allowed him to go on. Regardless, here are ten reasons why Polow is not only the best producer in the world, but also a far better person than you. Enjoy.

polow da don

1.

I Bring Out The Best In People Whether it’s an engineer, intern, musician, custodian, or somebody who just carries my bags, it don’t matter what they do, if they’re in my circle or my camp, I’ll push them to be the best at what their job is. I expect out of them what I expect out of myself — nothing but the best. If you’re a custodian, be the best custodian you can be and own the clean-up company. There’s always room for growth.

2.

I’m A Natural Leader I’m a natural leader because it’s just been proven. Ever since I was 8 years old playing little league football I’ve been the captain. Even amongst my friends, I’m always pretty much been the most vocal person. There’s mutual respect and it’s a fair friendship, but there’s just something about me. My ideas seem to always be the idea of the group sooner or later. With Jim Crow, we all went our separate ways, but from there I started this whole Zone 4 thing, and I made the transformation from rapping to producing. My success as a producer is just crazy, especially with me coming from being a rapper. And being a producer, you have to be a leader. It’s like being a quarterback, because you’re calling the shots. When the record is a huge success, you get the glory, but when it’s a failure you get the blame. Jimmy Iovine and the Interscope family, I think they recognize my leadership. From day one I was always honest with them about how I feel the future should go for me, my career, and even how things should go within the building. They respect that and they love it. But to be a great leader you must be a great follower. You can’t teach people how to follow if you don’t know how to follow yourself. You’ve got to know when it’s time to just shut up and listen, and learn. I know all these things because I learned them somewhere.

3.

I’m Loyal I’m one of the best producers in the world, and one of the best people in the world because of my loyalty. I’m very loyal. In the music game you can very rarely find loyalty. People use you for what they can use you for, and then it’s over. But everybody that I work for, or that works for me, or with me, we all have great relationships. We’re all in it for the long haul. When we’re all 50 years old, we plan on still being friends and being loyal to each other even then. I’ve built my strong foundation because of my loyalty, and that’s why loyalty has been given back to me.

4.

I Have Patience I have short patience for stupidity, but I have a lot of patience for someone trying to get it right. If you don’t know, but you’re trying, I can bear with you. If I see effort, I can bear with you all day. I just hate when you don’t have the desire to learn. I have patience for winning, and wanting to win. And, I have patience for music. If I have an idea for a sound and it doesn’t come out great at first, I’ll keep messing with it, and messing with it, and then, surprise, that one sound changed everything. Even with my whole career, I’ve been patient. It’s seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel so many times, but I just kept grinding, and it kept working.

5.

I Never Compromise When I know something is right, or when I believe in something, I can’t compromise. I won’t compromise for success, to be commercial, or to go along with the crowd. That’s what a lot of people miss about my success. I dare to be original. I dare to do things that the whole industry was telling me wasn’t going to work.

The whole industry was just following radio, and my plan was to dictate radio. I’ve always been that way. When everybody is going right, I go left.

6.

I’m Versatile You have to give it me. In recent times I’ve shown that I’m the most versatile producer out there. I love all types of music, so just by me loving all types of music I basically show interest in producing all types of music. In the last year, I’ve had a number 1 hit in all genres and nobody else can say that. The only thing I’m leaving out right now is country and gospel, and I’m very interested in doing both. I think that if I mix what I do with country music it’ll be a whole new sound. I’m looking forward to doing country, and of course gospel. I’ve been telling Coco Brother forever that I’ve got some dope ideas for gospel music.

7.

I’m Not Afraid To Be Different That takes a lot of balls and a lot of character to not be afraid of being different. We live in a world where we’re all trained to be a certain way. Society tells us when to stop and when to go, when to wear white and when not to wear white anymore. It tells us when to celebrate New Years, and when it’s time to pay taxes; we just live in that type of society. So when you dare to be different, you’re gonna catch a lot of flack, and I always dare to be different.

The same producers that were hot two years ago that were telling me what I was trying to do musically wasn’t going to work are the same producers that aren’t hot anymore.

8.

I’m In Touch With THe People Whether I’m doing pop, R&B, or gangsta, I have a great feel for what people wanna hear, or what’s gon’ make them feel good. Even when I do a pop record, I can still make the hood say, “That was hot! That record was dope!” And that’s because even with all my success, I’m still just everyday me. I have new friends, of course, but I also have the same friends I’ve always had, and that keeps me grounded. It keeps me in touch with the community and with the hood. It keeps me in touch with reality, and with what’s real and what’s not. I don’t get caught up in the hype of the business.

9.

I Understand The Evolution Of Music And Taste I was always able to tell people what was going to be next.

I think being from Atlanta helps because Atlanta is like a melting pot, and everybody is from everywhere, but Atlanta also has it’s own thing, too. So, you kind of get a sense of what’s gon’ be next. I had Akon’s demo in record label’s offices years ago, and nobody wanted to listen. I took T-Pain to the same people, and everybody took a pass on him as well. My point is, some of the things that turned out to be the biggest thing in music, I was right there for. I saw it way before it happened, and was campaigning for it. It wasn’t about money, but when I heard T-Pain and Akon, I just got that feeling. It was something incredible. Even in production, I always produce for the future — with a little taste of what’s happening now. I always tell people, “It’s cool if you don’t like it, you’ll understand it next year.” When I’m making a record, it’s almost like I’m an A&R in a producer’s body. When I meet an artist, I look at them and listen to their music. I listen to the way they view themselves, and have a conversation with them and vibe with them.

I tell them what I think they should do for their career, and what they should or shouldn’t change about themselves. And from there, we paint the picture musically.

10.

People Wanna Be Me I’m the one the playas wanna be; I’m the one the ladies wanna see. I’m a great person to be, and that’s not bragging. I’m a great person to be because I work on being a great person first, before producer or anything else. I have a great foundation, my parents are still together, I have family ties — very much so, and I work on myself everyday.

How I push the people around me, that’s the same way I push myself. That’s how I stay in shape, I use the same mentality, like, I’ll tell myself, “You bitch ass nigga, you can’t fuckin’ stop eating pizza?” I think I am a true role model, because through all my success I’ve managed to stay grounded and I understand the things that are truly valuable in life. And I do music with integrity. Another extension of how people wanna be me is that they make their music sound like mine. Whenever a new, hot record comes out, people think I did it. Like that “Bed” record, whoever produced it, thank you very much, because everybody thinks I did it. And it is a hot record, but “Bed” is like “Promise’s” little, baby brother or sister. I like getting calls from people like, “Did you produce this record?”

That’s great; because I think only few producers have their own sound: Three 6 Mafia, Mannie Fresh, Pharrell and The Neptunes, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, the Medicine Men, and a few other people. So when I hear people try to emulate my sound, it’s great. // OZONE MAG // 39

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10 Reasons Why I’m Like Saddam HUSSEIN As told to Maurice G. Garland

pastor troy 10 9 8

I’m Still the President - No matter what they say, they can’t take me out of office.

I’m The GA Dictator - What I say goes. If I say I like it, we ride with it. If I say we don’t fuck with, we don’t.

I Got Body Doubles - I got people walking around with dreads and gold teeth, looking just like me. Folks think they running up on me asking for an autograph.

7

My People Love Me and the Haters Can’t Stand Me - Sadaam had his people on lock, but the powers that be couldn’t live with that. There are people over there doing worse now with him dead and gone than they were when he was alive.

6

They Tried to Hang Me - Man! Those major labels tried to hang me! Left me out to die! They put the noose around my neck, but I bounced back on them though.

5

I’m Misunderstood - Nobody ever understood what Sadaam was doing, they just hated on his power and wealth. I feel the same way.

Everybody says “Troy this,” and “Troy that,” but never sat down and talked to me.

4 3 2

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Because I Got A Bunch of Palaces and Hideouts Because I Keep That AK-47 Because DSGB Represents Like the Taliban - My boys don’t play that shit; we’re just like them.

Because I’m Ruthless - On the mic, I am ruthless. I will fuck you up on the microphone! The booth is the only place I can do that and not get hit with 15 years.

OZONE MAG // 41

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OZONE MAG // 43

khujo goodie

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10

Reasons Why The South Is Still Dirty

As told to Maurice G. Garland // Photo by Julia Beverly

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

1

No matter how rich you get, you’re still a nigger.

The South took the music industry by storm and they ain’t letting nobody make no money. The South is playing keep away with the ball just like in basketball when the clock is winding down.

The music directors and programmers at the radio stations keep people in darkness.

Gas prices are so damn high. They price gouge in the summertime to make money off people traveling.

Dirty cops and politicians make the South extremely filthy and dirty.

The school system refuses to tell so-called “African Americans” about their original heritage.

We still got the Ku Klux Klan, skin heads, white supremacists, Masons and a whole bunch of secret societies that hold the truth in our righteousness. They know whats going on, but they won’t share the truth with the people.

We still got pulpit pimps trying to get people to change their God. The God we had on the boats coming over here, we was talking about the real deal. But when we landed here, we started talking about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

They still haven’t legalized marijuana. In California you can own one plant, but for medicinal purposes. It’s bullshit that you can have a narcotic in one side of the country but not the other.

This is where the slaves were first brought to this country, and they still haven’t been compensated for building America.

OZONE MAG // 45

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We at TJ’s DJ’s & OZONE Magazine wish to thank the following partners who helped to make the 2007 TJ’s DJ’s Tastemakers DJ/Music Conference & 2nd Annual OZONE Awards the Greatest Event in Southern Music History!

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3535 Entertainment BBH Entertainment CRUNK!!! Energy Drink Deepside Entertainment Digiwaxx Epidemic Eve’s Executive Services J Records Jive Records Nutty Boyz Entertainment Rowdy/Front One Royal Blunts Trill Entertainment U Digg Records/Oarfin Distribution

Gold

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF // Julia Beverly CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER // N. Ali Early MUSIC EDITOR // Randy Roper FEATURES EDITOR // Eric Perrin ART DIRECTOR // Tene Gooden

ozone award nominees top 10 lists

ADVERTISING SALES // Che’ Johnson PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR // Malik Abdul MARKETING DIRECTOR // David Muhammad Sr. LEGAL CONSULTANT // Kyle P. King, P.A. ADMINISTRATIVE // Cordice Gardner, Kisha Smith CONTRIBUTORS // Alexander Cannon, Bogan, Carlton Wade, Charlamagne the God, Chuck T, Destine Cajuste, E-Feezy, Edward Hall, Felita Knight, Iisha Hillmon, Jacinta Howard, Jaro Vacek, Jessica Koslow, J Lash, Jason Cordes, Jo Jo, Johnny Louis, Kamikaze, Keadron Smith, Keith Kennedy, Kenneth Brewer, K.G. Mosley, King Yella, Luis Santana, Luxury Mindz, Marcus DeWayne, Matt Sonzala, Maurice G. Garland, Mercedes (Strictly Streets), Mike Sims, Ms. Rivercity, Natalia Gomez, Ray Tamarra, Rico Da Crook, Robert Gabriel, Rohit Loomba, Shannon McCollum, Spiff, Swift, Wally Sparks, Wendy Day STREET REPS // Al-My-T, B-Lord, Big Teach (Big Mouth), Bigg C, Bigg V, Black, Brian Franklin, Buggah D. Govanah (On Point), Bull, C Rola, Cedric Walker, Chill, Chilly C, Chuck T, Controller, DJ Dap, David Muhammad, Delight, Derrick the Franchise, Destine Cajuste, Dolla Bill, Dwayne Barnum, Dr. Doom, Ed the World Famous, Episode, General, Haziq Ali, H-Vidal, Hollywood, J Fresh, Jammin’ Jay, Janky, Joe Anthony, Judah, Kamikaze, KC, Kenneth Clark, Klarc Shepard, Kuzzo, Kydd Joe, Lex, Lil D, Lump, Marco Mall, Mr. Lee, Music & More, Nick@ Nite, Nikki Kancey, Pat Pat, PhattLipp, Pimp G, Quest, Rio G, Rippy, Rob-Lo, Stax, TJ’s DJ’s, TJ Bless, Tim Brown, Trina Edwards, Vicious, Victor Walker, Voodoo, Wild Billo, Young Harlem DISTRIBUTION // Curtis Circulation, LLC SUBSCRIPTIONS // To subscribe, send check or money order for $11 to: Ozone Magazine, Inc. Attn: Subscriptions Dept 644 Antone St. Suite 6 Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-350-3887 Fax: 404-350-2497 Website: www.ozonemag.com COVER CREDITS // Rick Ross photos (cover and this page) and Playaz Circle photos by Blake Ribbey; Lil Boosie photo by Julia Beverly; Trey Songz photo by Ray Tamarra.

DISCLAIMER // OZONE Magazine is published 11 times per year by OZONE Magazine, Inc. OZONE does not take responsibility for unsolicited materials, misinformation, typographical errors, or misprints. The views contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or its advertisers. Ads appearing in this magazine are not an endorsement or validation by OZONE Magazine for products or services offered. All photos and illustrations are copyrighted by their respective artists.

All other content is copyright 2007 OZONE Magazine, all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publisher.

Printed in the USA.

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28 88 18 58 74 52 81 89 80 30 76 48 73 79 32 94 56 78 64 26 50 80 54 77 95 46 72 44 90 82 20 66 84 62 93 94 22 92 85 68 70

TRAE E-40 FOXX TRINA TREAL LLOYD DJ Q45 DJ IRIE DJ T-ROC STAT QUO TUM TUM RICH BOY THE GAME DJ TOOMP FLO-RIDA RAPID RIC DJ DRAMA DJ SMALLZ JIM JONES RASHEEDA DJ KHALED DJ B-LORD LIL BOOSIE DJ SCREAM DJ CHUCK T TOO $HORT MISTAH FAB TREY SONGZ HOT DOLLAR CRISCO KIDD KILLER MIKE SNOOP DOGG GREG STREET PRETTY RICKY CLYDE CARSON BIGGA RANKIN MANNIE FRESH BISHOP LAMONT SUPASTAR J-KWIK BOBBY VALENTINO DIAMOND & PRINCESS

features 16 CHIN CHECK 13 JB’s 2 CENTS 14 MATHEMATICS 83 JON YOUNG & J CASH 13 10 THINGS I’M HATIN’ ON

RICK ROSS pg 34-38 PL AYAZ CIRCLE pg

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jb’s 2cents I

t’s that time of year again. OZONE Awards time! The time of year when everyone is my friend. The time of year when I get text messages, voicemail messages, Myspace messages, and emails (isn’t technology a bitch) from all my long-lost “friends and family” a.k.a. “business associates” expecting free tickets. The time of year when people I’ve never met send poorly worded emails in all caps demanding backstage passes. The time of year when my men say I’m stressing them out worse than a pregnant wife. The time of year when Patiently Waiting nominees and Pretty Ricky members ask me to be their date and I laugh because I realize, after last year, that come Award Show time the last thing I will be worried about is a date.

10 Things I’m Hatin’ On: OZONE AWARDS EDITION Disclaimer: This is really what everybody else is sayin’.

I know I’m dead wrong, but I’m hating anyway.

TERRENCE TYSON

By Roland “Lil Duval” Powell

01 // TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKER AWARD Does anybody know what the hell this award is supposed to represent?

04 // BEYONCE Speaking of not coming, JB, y’all know gotdamn well Beyonce ain’t coming to the OZONE Awards. She don’t even know this shit exists.

Editor’s note: Beyonce’s manager’s assistant sent us a polite email declining to attend because of her tour schedule, so technically, she does know it exists.

TERRENCE TYSON

03 // BEST R&B ALBUM We already know who’s gonna win this one - Pretty Ricky - cause they’re the only ones coming who are nominated for this category.

....Midget Mac?

D-RAY

02 // BEST FEMALE RAP ARTIST They should rename this the “Even Though They Haven’t Put Out An Album We Still Have To Nominate Them Because There Ain’t No Other Women To Use” Award.

Who rocked the middle finger look better? You decide... Kisha & me, or....

Bryan Leach forced me at gunpoint to be in Hurricane Chris’ video, and smile for this pic

06 // WHOEVER THE HOST IS Y’all should’ve used me, but by the time y’all are gonna want to, it’s gonna be too late.

ERIC PERRIN

05 // DJ KHALED The “You Know They’re Gon’ Win ‘Cause We’re In Their Town Award” goes to...

Malik & I at Sobe Live in MIA

09 // EDDIE KANE AWARD And the winner is... Fabo!

10 // A NEW CATEGORY There should be a new category called the “They Blew The Fuck Up, Now Where The Fuck Are They?” Award. The nominees are DJ Webstar, Cadillac Don & J-Money, DG Yola, and Mims.

Me and TJ have been on a permanent conference call 24/7 for the past month trying to make this happen, and during one of these calls, a label executive commented that our event is “bigger than Mixshow Power Summit.”

Everyone’s free to form their own opinion about that, but shout outs to Rene and everybody over there at RPM for kicking me out of MPS every year and treating me like absolute shit every time I tried to participate and cover their event. The last time it happened I had a long talk with another major record label executive who shall remain unnamed, a conversation which kicked off the planning for the first annual TJ’s DJ’s Tastemakers Music Conference & OZONE Awards. Be very careful who you disrespect, because you just might inspire them to become better than you.

With that said, it’s important to note that the OZONE Awards weekend isn’t just the OZONE Awards. My event planning skills are not totally up to par and contrary to popular belief I am not Superwoman, so it wouldn’t happen at all without the TJ’s DJ’s crew. The general public is drawn into the event by the big names appearing at the OZONE Awards, but all the TJ’s DJ’s conference events that happen throughout the weekend are just as important. You can get drawn into the music industry by expensive cars and jewelry and delusions of grandeur, but at the end of the day that shit is mostly rented and fake. It’s a business and there’s people behind the scenes who are more powerful than anybody you see in a music video. Learn how the business works or you won’t make it. We’ve put together panels comprised of successful people in the music business who know their shit and know how to break it down for you, so if you’re trying to be somebody, come to the conference and pay attention. I know, I know, there’s a million music conferences with panels these days, but we do this shit right. Trust me.

Speaking of panels, I hear that TJ’s homeboy J-Mills from The Source is coming down for our media panel. I might have been a little hard on ol’ Jeremy when he tried to compete with OZONE. His lil’ wannabe OZONE never caught on, obviously, so now that I’ve sufficiently proved my superiority, maybe I can start being nice to him again. At least he’s willing to participate in our event, which is more than I can say for certain other Hip Hop magazine editors who are afraid to leave New York because they don’t know how to drive.

Like I said last issue: We taking over. One city at a time!

07 // PATIENTLY WAITING If you already have a video on BET, you shouldn’t even be allowed to be nominated for this category.

08 // THE DUMBEST CATEGORY I don’t see how you can even have a category for The Best Radio DJ Award. The only way you would know that DJ is if you were in that city.

Last year’s event definitely gave me a newfound respect for promoters and people who plan big events, because to be honest, this shit is a major headache. Three weeks out, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You know those little “quote of the day” emails that people send out that are meant to be “inspirational” but tend to be an annoyance when they get forwarded to you multiple times by multiple people? One of them caught my attention recently and I honestly couldn’t even tell you who sent it to me because I get so many of them. It said something like this: “Stop telling God how big your problems are, and start telling your problems how big your God is.” So it hit me that I’m looking at this totally the wrong way. The glass isn’t half empty, it’s half full. Yes, I have 11,229 unread emails and my head is spinning, but if we did it last year, damn it, we can do it again! I have faith.

Me & Cory Mo in LA

- Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com

T-Pain f/ Akon “Bartender” BloodRaw f/ Young Buck “26 inches” Soulja Boy “Crank That (Supaman)” Playboy Tre f/ BOB “Addicted To The Nightlife” Kanye West “Can’t Tell Me Nothin’” Playaz Circle f/ Lil Wayne “Duffle Bag Boyz” Nelly f/ Pimp C & Sean Paul “Cut It Out” Foxx f/ Lil Boosie & Webbie “Wipe Me Down (remix)”

jb’splaylist 50 Cent “I Get Money” Rick Ross “Trilla” Attitude “When I Roll Up” Gorilla Zoe “Hood Figga” Amy Winehouse “Rehab”

www.myspace.com/rolandpowell OZONE MAG // 13

mathematics byWendyDayof the RapCoalition

www.wendyday.com

TOP10 Reasons To Have A REAL Manager (and not your boy, cousin, or just anybody) Controlling Your Career.

1. Experience is a mutha. Someone who has successfully managed the career of other artists in your genre has the necessary connections and proper experience to help you get as far as you’re able to go. Many, many, many artists have not fulfilled their potential ability because they have managers who (barely) answer phones instead of being outgoing and aggressive and seeking out opportunities that would benefit their artist. Having someone in control of your career who can call other power players in the industry for favors or to get answers to questions would warrant giving up the 15% or 20% you will have to pay your manager anyway, so you may as well hire the best for your career.

2. Power matters. If your team, especially the folks putting up the money, doesn’t respect your manager, how will you get them to do what needs to be done? Now, this doesn’t mean that your label has to actually like your manager — in fact, the relationship shouldn’t be overly cozy, just respectful. But if you have a manager they absolutely despise and won’t take his calls (your label banning him from their building is a bad sign, by the way), or at the other extreme, a manager whom they love so much that they are offering him (or her) deals behind your back, you are fucked. This is where someone with a track record of success and integrity has value. The labels will respect them and go the extra mile to keep the team calm and happy by doing what’s right to build your career.

3. Structure and Organization matter. A real manager will have an infrastructure in place to run the day-to-day operations of his management company and your career. There will be people in place to answer phones, return calls, and actually do some work. If your manager gets busy on another project, or is on the road, you won’t be left hanging because there will be people in place to pick up the slack.

4. Opportunities. It’s no secret that the best opportunities come from relationships and awareness. Someone who has already done a shoe deal, shopped a banging deal, or negotiated a film project for another artist is in a golden place to do one for you too. At the very least, they know the going rate and what the assets and pitfalls are of doing those types of deals and can steer you clear of the stuff that will fuck up your career.

5. Knowledge matters. Something as dense as publishing, for example, can be a minefield for any novice in this business. A serious, experienced manager will already know the ins-and-outs for having your money collected for you (and will be smart enough to never put his or her hands on your money — it all goes right to your accountant for you and to pay your taxes) from your label, your performance rights organization, your co-publisher, plus all of those features or beats that you’ve done over the 14 // OZONE MAG

years. When it’s time for you to tour or sell CDs overseas, that money will be collected properly as well.

6. Mailbox money is king! An experienced manager knows that your career will have ups and downs so securing as much income as possible is necessary to float you over the times when there is no money coming in.

A real manager knows the value of residual income (money that comes into your mailbox without you doing direct and constant work to get it) such as publishing, synch fees, appearance fees, endorsement deals, etc.

7. Exclusivity isn’t an issue. If someone is doing a super job for your career, you won’t mind one bit if he takes on another client. If your boy takes on another client because he can’t afford to eat off of just making 20% of your income, you may have issue with sharing him — especially if your career isn’t at 100%, and let’s face it, whose is? Without experience, connections and knowledge, there’s no way he or she can survive from just 20% of one artist (meaning you).

8. Touring. Performance money is the crux of income for most artists.

Besides, you love to hear adoring fans screaming your name when you perform. Real managers have great relationships in place with the few legitimate booking agents and key promoters around the country. 20% of show money is the biggest bulk of income your manager will make, so he’ll work hard on it. But his or her relationships can be the difference between touring with Lil Wayne, Jeezy, Ludacris, or 50, instead of opening for MC Louie Lump Lump. If you aren’t doing shows at least five nights a week during the height of your release, you’re bullshitting.

9. Money. A real manager that has been through the major label system before knows when a royalty statement is supposed to come, what it looks like, and how to analyze it (I have never seen one that is 100% accurate yet).

A real manager also knows how to read and analyze a mechanical royalty statement, an overseas royalty statement, and a performing rights organization statement. These statements symbolize money and income for the artists.

They also know what to do when they find errors and can get them corrected (I know this is kind of repeating numbers 1, 2, 5 and 6, but it’s that important!).

10. Proactively building a successful career. A manager is more than a babysitter, someone to hang out with you, or someone to answer incoming calls. A real manager structures a plan for the artist’s career and implements it. He or she makes certain the day-to-day efforts rarely veer from the long term vision of the plan and that the right team members are in place to accomplish everything. The manager is the #1 cheerleader and the #1 whipping boy (or girl), and needs to be able to effectively do the job. I have seen more stars come crumbling down due to poor management than any other factor. Your manager is the keystone of your career. Don’t fuck it up by giving the job to someone you trust rather than someone qualified. //

OZONE MAG // 15

CHINCHECK P

eace! What’s South Crackin’ with you homies?

I’m back, Dr. Poison Paragraphs. I am to an article what Lil Wayne is to track 12 on The Drought Is Over Pt. 2 (That’s “I’m A Beast” for all you slow short bus types who spend hours trying to lick your elbows!). The 2007 OZONE Awards are upon us once again. Here are my predictions: TJ’s DJ’s HUSTLER AWARD DJ Khaled should win for the simple fact this dude is a radio personality/mixer. We all know radio is a thankless business and jocks/DJs make no money.

So for Khaled to be doing what he’s doing and translating it into paper, he’s got to be hustling his ass off. He deserves this award.

TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKER AWARD In order to give this award to the right person, you must first define “tastemaker.” Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “one that determines or strongly influences current trends or styles, as in fashion or the artist.” Well, it should be Jim Jones. He had everybody except me dressing like him this year. Ask Lil Wayne, he’ll tell you the same thing.

BEST VIDEO Three 6 Mafia’s “Doe Boy Fresh” was crazy, but I gotta give it up to DJ Khaled.

He made me wish I was him, running through the church in that one.

BEST PRODUCER My heart says Polow da Don had the most hits, and Mannie Fresh made probably my favorite joint that is still the soundtrack to my joyride when I’m going down I-26 in Columbia (“Top Back”), but DJ Toomp is a monster! T.I. needs to let Toomp produce a whole album for him because their chemistry is like Nas and Premier, or Snoop and Dre. Think about it – he did “Dope Boyz,” “Look What I Got,” “U Don’t Know Me,” “What U Know About That,” c’mon. That’s Tip at his best, and only Toomp can bring that out. Not to mention that new Kanye single “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” As a matter of fact, OZONE might need to give Toomp some kind of Lifetime Achievement Award. Just a suggestion!

BEST MIXTAPE DJ Chuck T is my muthafuckin’ brother! He’s a South Crackaholic just like me!

BEST RADIO DJ DJ Khaled is breaking a lot of records and he’s having the most impact right now. Look out for my homie DJFrosty.com to be in this category next year.

BEST CLUB DJ DJ B-Lord is South Crack’s kingpin! Am I being biased here? Of course, but BLord gets busy! If he didn’t he wouldn’t be nominated, and he’s been waving the flag for South Carolina by himself for a long time.

BEST RAP ALBUM Young Jeezy’s The Inspiration should win. Even though he went platinum, people slept on this album artistically and creatively. Jeezy really took it there, and he didn’t stray too far away from the trap.

BEST RAP ARTIST (MALE) T.I.P. Do I really need to explain why?

BEST RAP ARTIST (FEMALE) Diamond and Princess of Crime Mob should win. I love these two young ladies and you can’t deny their star quality. They need to put out their own album and start shooting their own reality show ASAP, and when Diamond turns 21 make sure she does King Magazine.

BEST RAP GROUP This isn’t a fair category. Award Shows are for people who have had tremendous years, right? Well, 8Ball & MJG, Outkast, Three 6 Mafia, and UGK have had tremendous careers. They really should be excluded from this category. With that said, my personal favorite rap group this past year was Crime Mob. Hated on Mostly was slept on. “Circles” is still my shit.

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by Charlamagne Tha God cthagod@gmail.com

BEST R&B ALBUM Who cares? I bumps old Jodeci.

BEST R&B ARTIST (MALE) I really don’t give a fuck! I like Ne-Yo and I got Bobby’s CD but didn’t bump it. T-Pain really went outside the box on Epiphany. Trey Songz is my man (he told me a long time ago I should be in New York; you spoke it into fruition, homie). I guess it should go to Akon. And I’d like to take this opportunity to throw some grease Lloyd’s way. Lloyd looks like a dirty-skinned girl. He’s got that bright orange in-between Mexican and Puerto Rican complexion, and he looks like he could’ve been roommates with Bert and Ernie. Seriously, doesn’t this flow: Bert, Ernie, and Lloyd?

BEST R&B ARTIST (FEMALE) Another category I don’t care about. How ‘bout we rename this one the “Rip The Tip Of The Condom Off So When You Put It In It Rolls Back And You Can Bang Her Raw Award” and that would go to… Beyonce! God has blessed that young lady in so many different ways. She makes you look at your own girl and get mad, thinking, “Why the hell doesn’t your ass look like Beyonce’s?”

BEST LYRICIST Andre 3000. It would be blasphemy to give it to someone else.

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST None of these dudes really broke through. “Breakthrough” means you’re nationwide and everybody knows you. The Shop Boyz, Unk, and Rich Boy all had records that were bigger than them as an artist. Boosie is still regional.

He hasn’t broke through yet, but he will. Baby Boy da Prince (allegedly) broke through Fantasia’s pussy walls, but that’s about it.

BEST RAP/R&B COLLABORATION T-Pain featuring Yung Joc, “Buy You A Drank.” I love this record for the simple fact that when I throw parties, I’m usually getting all or a percentage of the bar. This record made people buy drinks, and damn if it don’t sound good when you’re drunk in the club at 1 in the morning.

CLUB BANGER Jim Jones “Ballinnnnn’!” New York 1, Down South too many points to keep track of and still scoring.

MIXTAPE MONSTER Lil Wayne. If you’ve heard the Drought Is Over 2, I shouldn’t have to explain.

MOST SLEPT-ON ARTIST Devin the Dude without question. Honorable mention Gucci Mane.

BEST MIXTAPE / STREET ALBUM Lil Wayne’s mixtapes prove that the hype is real, but wake your ass up when it comes to my big homie Killer Mike. I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind will have you mentioning Mike in the same breath as T.I., Wayne, and Ludacris lyrically.

BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST) The Game’s Doctor’s Advocate reminded me of old Death Row shit.

PATIENTLY WAITING I can only give you my picks for two of the Patiently Waiting Awards because I’m not up on what’s going on in those other regions. For Patiently Waiting Georgia, you’ve gotta give that to the homie Big Kuntry. He’s been waiting patiently for a long time and he stays on his grind. Fabo is a superstar and when he cracks, he gon’ crack. Fall back off the pills a little bit, though, homie. We don’t want to be talking about what could’ve been. Last but not least, for Patiently Waiting Carolinas, without question this should be a tie between Collard Greens and Lil Ru. They are on the same label, Headhunter Records, and I guarantee those two lil dudes from South Carolina are going to take over where Petey Pablo left off. Mark my words.

So those are my thoughts and picks for the 2007 OZONE Awards. I want to salute TJ Chapman and thank JB for once again giving me the chance to express my opinion. If any artist is offended by the things I have said, God bless you and may the force be with you. //

OZONE MAG // 17

top 10

Reasons To Wipe Me Down As told to Randy Roper Photo by King Yella

10

foxx

9

I Don’t Hate On The Next Man For Getting Money I’ll wipe him down before I do that. Being that I got more haters than people that like me, I go through it everyday. So I know what that feels like.

8

I Can Go in the Strip Clubs and Write a Check That’s just how much pull I got in the strip clubs. Cause you know, that “Wipe Me Down” is a strip club anthem, so they love me in the strip clubs.

7

I’ma Get “Wipe Me Down” Cut Into My Hair I keep a design in my head. The next time I sit in the chair, I’m going to get “Wipe Me Down” put in the back - the next time I get a haircut.

6

My Rims Are Bigger Than My Car I went and got a four-door Cutlass and put some 26”s on there. That thing looks like a four-wheeler.

5

I Got A Pocket Full of Clouds And I can make it rain, even when the sun’s out. I keep big bundles on me, I’m fortunate enough to do that.

4

My Girl Gotta Girlfriend That Gotta Girl That Got An Old Lady I’ve been meeting a lot of gay girls lately. And I noticed a lot of girls like girls. You don’t know that until you get to that status where they feel like they can tell you that.

3

I’m Fresh Like I’m At My Funeral I stay in the mall. I buy clothes. I don’t like to wear the same thing twice.

2

I Am Mr. Wipe Down I started this, I made this. This is all me.

NOMINATED FOR CLUB BANGER OF THE YEAR & PATIENTLY WAITING LOUISIANA

1 18 // OZONE MAG

OZONE Gave Me the Privilege to Be In Their Magazine So wipe me down. I’m fresh out the gate, one single. I didn’t have to be mentioned in little bootleg magazines or neighborhood magazines.

The Whole World Knows Where Baton Rouge Is They didn’t even know Baton Rouge existed. They didn’t even know Baton Rouge was a part of the world until the “Wipe Me Down” movement.

OZONE MAG // 19

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BULLSHIT PHRASES RAPPERS SAY As told to Julia Beverly

KILLER MIKE NOMINATED FOR BEST MIXTAPE/STREET ALBUM

10 9 8 7 6 5 20 // OZONE MAG

“I’m Keepin’ It Real” “Keepin’ it real” what? All the real street rappers drive Lamborghini Murcielagos and eat at five star restaurants. You entertain millions of people for a living. That’s not “real.” We get paid to tell people stories in which the bad guy always gets away. We have an 80% black male prison population, but of course that’s not “real.”

“I’m A Real Nigga” So why ain’t you pickin’ cotton?

“I Ain’t Really A Rapper, I’m A Hustler” Why would somebody on the top of the hustlin’ food chain choose to leave their hustle and get on the bottom of the rap food chain?

It makes no sense. Sosa from Scarface would never say, “I’m not a manufacturer and distributor. Just call me a trap boy.”

“I’ve Got My Own Liquor [insert: Clothing Line, Shoes, Etc.]” Having a product in itself does not make you a hustler or a businessman. And until any rap brand outsells any regular corporate brand, I ain’t buyin’ into this shit. PS: I hope this does not affect my free bottles of Armadale and/or 3 Vodka, because I totally view those differently than any other brand of rap shit. Shout out to Jay-Z and JD. “I Got A Record On Here For Everybody” I too have made this mistake, young Jedi. Fuck everybody. Rap is like high school – pick your clique and run with it. Hopefully you’re in a clique with 500,000 to a million people, but if not, take notes from Talib Kweli, the Hieroglyphics, and Rap-A-Lot Records on how to make money and keep it underground. Stop trying to please everybody and be somebody.

“I Think This Acting Thing Is Next For Me” Just because you spent $100,000 on veneers doesn’t make you Denzel. Acting, like rap, is a craft.

“It’s A Movement” Get the fuck outta here. The Panthers were a movement.

The SNCC and SCLC were movements. Hell, even the P-Stone Nation and the original Crips and Bloods were movements.

But rap production companies do not constitute movements for social change. I repeat, rap production companies do not constitute movements for social change, although they do, on average, employ about twenty niggas from the block – which should dramatically decrease crime in a four block radius at any given time in any given hood. But a “movement,” no. A moment, yes.

4

“She’s Not My Girl. We’re Just Hanging Out” Remember when we were broke and bitches never wanted us? Remember those days when we started talking about, “I’m gonna have this much money and that car and that woman?” Don’t get it all and act like you don’t want it.

That’s your money, that’s your car, and by now she should be lookin’ at you telling you she’s pregnant. Congratulations.

That’s your bitch.

3

“Oh, We Still Cool. I Ain’t Trippin’” This one is usually said by people who used to work together or were former members of the same posse. It’s very peculiar, though, that songs never happen amongst these people that are “still cool.” In other words, I’m still waiting on my fucking Hot Boys reunion, and no, there will not be a Purple Ribbon All-Stars reunion. But we still cool. I ain’t trippin’.

2

“Never Been Robbed, Never Will” That’s because you don’t leave the hotel with your chain on no more, nigga.

1

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10

White Girls I Really Wanna Hit As told to Randy Roper Photo by Julia Beverly

mannie fresh NOMINATED FOR BEST PRODUCER

10

Angelina Jolie Her lips…God damn! She got black girl lips. Every black dude that look at her be like…God damn! Ain’t like she’s super fine but those God damn lips.

9 8

Jennifer Biel She’s just solid. She got a black girl shot. She’ll be good club material.

You can walk in the club with her.

Michelle Pfeiffer She ain’t the finest but she was in Scarface. That’s classic, she did a G-movie for the hood. And she’s always had the hood movie for the black folks, so she’s like the Bill Clinton of white women.

7

Jessica Alba She’s fine as a muthafucka and her lips are always shiny. She don’t got big lips but they’re always shiny.

6

Julia Beverly She always got fresh Air Force Ones on, she keeps a tight little shirt on that shows off her tits and nice little jeans that shows off her white girl ass.

5

Diane Sawyer She’s classy as fuck. Diane Sawyer keeps on a new fucking outfit. She don’t wear the same shit twice. I gotta have at least one classy chick.

22 // OZONE MAG

Britney Spears She got black folk tendencies. She’s in and out of rehab. She’s got a tight little body. On top of that, she tried to kick off her dude’s rap career. If I was fucked in the game I could go with Britney, pretend like my career is getting back on point and spend her fucking money.

4

Mariah Carey I don’t think she’s a fine chick but Mariah Carey, just for the scandal of it. Just for the record sales, I just wanna get caught with her in an elevator somewhere, just for the good look.

3

Lindsay Lohan She’s done a lot of ghetto shit, so I know we would get along. She’s a fucking drunk. I can party with Lindsay Lohan. She fucks cars up and leave them right there. And her bank is right. And her weight fluctuates - sometimes she’s fine, sometimes she’s anorexic.

2

Coco T Williams

No disrespect to Ice-T but that muthafucka is bad. She knows that shit, that’s why he’s just running around flaunting her. You can put a drink on her ass. Keep it real, all black dudes wanna hit some white girls. If we’re going to make this a better world, we’ve got to start sleeping with the white girls.

1

OZONE MAG // 23

24 // OZONE MAG

OZONE MAG // 25

NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ARTIST (FEMALE)

Ways to pull a Georgia Peach

10

Be Financially Stable I’m financially stable and I ain’t finna be with no nigga who ain’t financially stable. I ain’t finna be cakin’ and upgradin’ and all that. No sir.

9 8 7

Get Your Swag Right Just be laid back and look like you got your shit together.

6

Be Persistent, But Don’t Overdo It I might not be feelin’ you the first time I meet you, but slide some nice things in there. Slide in some things to let a female know, “I’m checkin’ for you, FOR REAL. This ain’t no bullshit.”

5

Don’t Be Afraid To Put Somethin’ On It I ain’t talkin’ about nothin’ over the top. You ain’t gotta send a bitch a G5 to pick her up, but just go out of the way a little bit to show that you’re serious.

26 // OZONE MAG

Come With Some Real Conversation, No Lines Nobody wants to hear lines anymore. You really want a dude to come at you with some nice, quick, entertaining conversation.

Be Prepared To Have Patience So many niggas have some shit up they sleeve that it makes it hard when you tryin’ to come real. You might just have to catch her the next time around and let her know you’re serious then.

As told to N. Ali Early

Be Prepared To Wait For Some Lovin’ That takes some time shawty. Ain’t finna be no straight jump off action. That takes the stock way down. Plus you don’t wanna be fuckin’ around with somebody and catch something that you can’t get rid of.

4

Keep It Simple, Stupid I love to eat, movies, maybe a nice little… trip! It ain’t gotta be too elaborate, but something simple and impressive. Maybe hop on the yacht and have some dinner. Pick up a nice little gift, open up some doors or something!

3

Step Ya Game Up You ain’t gotta be loaded, but I am blessed and I ain’t hurtin’. I definitely want somebody who ain’t at all hurtin’. I ain’t tryna say a nigga gotta be super duper rich, but I definitely want somebody who’s on my level or higher.

2

Be A Friend Be someone I can kick it with, be a homie with and just enjoy each other’s time.

1

OZONE MAG // 27

trae As told to Randy Roper Photo by King Yella

reasons the streets ain’t going nowhere

top 10

NOMINATED FOR MOST SLEPT ON ARTIST

10 9 8

The Streets Make The World Go ‘Round That’s self-explanatory.

Try That Bullshit And You’ll Be Under That Muthafucker If you come out there with that bullshit, thinking you’re Superman, you gon’ get laid up under the streets. The streets still gon’ be here after you’re gone.

It’s What Real G’s Stand Up And Die For That’s what I represent. I’m not gonna let no bullshit or no muthafucka who think they’re better come shit on the streets, cause that’s what I live and die for. And I know there’s plenty other niggas from any other hood feels the exact same way I do.

7

The Hood Is Where You Start And For Some, When You Fall Off, It’s Where The Fuck You Will End Everything that goes up gotta come back down. But there’re a lot of niggas in the game who come from where we come, get up there and shit on where we’re from. Then they fail to realize, you’re gonna come right back to these muthafuckin’ streets.

6

Fake Niggas Will Get Exposed By The Streets It’s gon’ happen. Slowly but surely they’re getting exposed already. A couple of their careers done went down the drain already. It’s gon’ be a lot of people that’s gonna get exposed.

5

I Am The Streets And I Will Not Lose If you come to Houston, I am the streets. The streets is me. You’re gonna hear me say that all the time. Come to Houston. I’m the king of the streets and I don’t plan on losing. It’s gonna be a hell of a fight if you think I’m going somewhere.

4

The Code Of The Streets Is Designed For Street Niggas To Be On Top No matter how long it takes, it’s designed that everybody’s hood is gonna have their day.

28 // OZONE MAG

Everybody Wants To Be Street This goes way back from N.W.A all the way up. When you got niggas like N.W.A and Geto Boys doing stuff, everybody’s gonna tend to follow their lead. If you look a couple of years ago, the industry was on some straight rapping to a girl or rapping on some bullshit. But now everybody’s gone back to the N.W.A days and the Geto Boys days because it’s a lot of niggas like us who the younger generation came up under - a lot of O.G. cats. Then you got a lot of people trying to do shit that we do right now. Half of the industry, they think if you go in there and make a song about dope or make a song about shooting somebody, that’s what’s needed to sell. A lot of them misrepresent it. If you’re from the hood, any real hood nigga gon’ know, you don’t always shed light on [the] negative. That’s not what we’re trying to do all the time.

3

The Whole Industry Is Based On The Streets You got a lot of these muthafuckas who ain’t never even been in the streets, claiming they’re street and rapping about street stuff. And then half of them be rapping about street stuff, messing it up for the streets because they told certain stuff in the wrong way.

2

The Real Niggas Are Here To Spread Real Shit No matter how much the industry and the rest of the world wanna keep real life shut out, real niggas like myself and a few others, we’re here to spread our side of the story which is these streets. That’s where we come from and that’s what really be happening out here. This ain’t no fairytale shit.

1

OZONE MAG // 29

reasons why niggas don’t get no pussy in the strip club As told to N. Ali Early

OZONE AWARDS special edition

10 9 8

Niggas Are Disrespectful You can’t go in there tellin’ a bitch to give you some muthafuckin’ pussy and expect some. That ain’t it. She not finna fuck you after that, brotha.

These Muthafuckas Hygiene Ain’t Together How a bitch dancin’ on you and she smell yo’ ass? That’s not pimpin’, pimpin’.

Niggas In There Tryna Be Mr. Nice Guy a.k.a. Schoolboy Elroy “Oh, I would never disrespect a woman…” all that bullshit. You not supposed to be disrespectful, but don’t be so see-through to where a bitch know you lyin’.

7

Niggas Walk In There And Act Like They Ain’t Never Seen No Pussy Before They just in there starin’ and shit, just lookin’ at every bitch. You gotta go in there and act like you been there before; like it’s no big deal.

6 5

You’re In The Strip Club Every Week Ain’t no bitch finna fuck you like that. You doin’ too much my nigga.

Damn!! Every week? That’s just not pimpin’, man.

30 // OZONE MAG

You Lame As Hell This is the guy who got picked on in school. He’s just a square and bitches can see all through that. Money don’t buy you no coolness.

You could have all the money in the world, but you still could be an uncool, uncoordinated, lame-ass nigga.

You Tryin’ To Holla At Every Stripper You can’t try to holla at Champagne and Strawberry right next to her. Then you wanna holla at Cherry and they all three back to back. Then you spittin’ the same ass line to each one of ‘em.

These bitches be in the locker room communicatin’. They talkin’ about you… and not in a good way.

4

Niggas Talk Too Much You askin’ dumb ass questions. Them girls are at work, man. You in there askin’ all about they family history, all that stupid shit; come on, man. You see a scar on their knee and you askin’ when they got that scar. Nigga, get the fuck outta here. Look at the pussy!

3

Trickin’ On Every Stripper One thing strippers can’t stand is a trick. They love gettin’ money, don’t get me wrong. But when you come off like a trick and you trickin’ on every bitch, that shit don’t look right.

2

Niggas Are Broke As Hell You don’t even have a drink in your hand – not even no water. You don’t have a drink, no ones, no nothin’.

1

OZONE MAG // 31

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Reasons I Need My Cake Everyday As told to Eric Perrin

10 9

I’m Addicted To Diamonds That’s why I need my cake. I gotta shine. It’s just a sign of success, so I gotta show I’m successful, and the ladies like success.

8

So I Can Drive The Flyest Whip I gotta be stuntin.’ When I pull up to the club I gotta let ‘em know I’ve arrived.

7 6

So I Can Get My Money Right In The Streets I gotta touch money everyday. So pass that cake, you feel me?

5

Gotta Pay The Bills I gotta pay the bills. With no lights I can’t see the pad of paper and I can’t put my pen down on that paper to write my rhymes. So I definitely gotta have my cake everyday to keep the lights on.

4

I Want That Ten Digit Account That’s in the billions, for those of you who don’t know. I gotta get them 10 digits.

3

Makin’ It Rain I want that cake everyday so I can make it rain in the club. Most of the niggas in the club are broke, so I gotta show some love in the club and make up for them broke dudes.

Flo Rida 1 2

NOMINATED FOR PATIENTLY WAITING FLORIDA

32 // OZONE MAG

So I Could Dress Fresh From Head To Toe I gotta be looking appropriate for the ladies.

They like that, you feel me. And I like the ladies, so staying fresh is a must.

Mo’ Riches I need that cake everyday because it ain’t nothing like indulging in more riches and mo’ bitches. You know what I mean? Enough said.

To Help Other People I gotta get that cake everyday so I can look out for those less fortunate. The community needs a lot right now.

I Know My Family Gonna Want Shit I gotta have that cake everyday cause they’re gonna want to eat everyday. I gotta feed the family, you know? That’s gotta be the number one reason.

OZONE MAG // 33

R R R k c i R RR “

R

R

R

s s Ro When you’re at a low point as a hustler, that’s the rules. That’s what you’re supposed to do. You don’t just lay down cause you’re fucked up. If you’re broke, you wake up and you go make something happen.

“

34 // OZONE MAG

Beverly Words by Julia e Ribbey ak Photos by Bl

W

hat are some of the business ventures you’re working on now?

We’ve got the clothing stores, Blow Out Promotions, the printing company, the record labels, the film companies, the liquor endorsements, and of course the Converse shoe endorsements. We’re doing five shows a week, not to mention, more yayo, more yayo, and more yayo. Believe that.

How do you choose what type of business ventures you pursue?

It’s simple: One plus two equals three. As long as that’s the formula, that’s what it boils down to. I’m surrounded by niggas that hustle and know how to get money, so whenever we want to make an investment and go do something, it’s nothin’. If we want to buy a property that costs two or three million, it’s nothing for us to get together and make that happen. It’s easy. We’re all getting homes. You’ve seen my Atlanta home. I have five Miami homes, my L.A. home, and my New York loft. I’m comfortable everywhere.

In this rap game, you hear a lot of different hustler’s stories. They all start out the same way and they end up either in jail, dead, or a rapper. Why do you think you survived and others didn’t?

It ain’t even about that, man. I believe everybody’s got their own destiny. If you’re a nigga in the streets and you know you’re doing wrong every day, you’ve gotta take that into consideration and watch how you move. Most definitely get money, but you’ve gotta do it in a way where you’re still here.

I’m still here. All the times I was up and all the times I was down as a hustler, that’s what you go through. Life is a roller coaster ride. I don’t care if you’re making a million a month, life is like that when you’re in the streets. It’s a roller coaster and when you do that, you learn. Every time you go up and every time you come down, you learn something from that. I’m glad I went through those trials and tribulations hustling, so when I got legitimate and Jay said, “Here goes a three million dollar check,” and, “Here goes a million dollar check,” I knew how to invest it, or just let the money sit. A lot of times I just like to let the money sit and have money pile on top of the money. I like to put money on top of money on top of money. Sevens on top of nines on top of fours. Sixes on top of fives and let ‘em sit. That’s what you learn.

If you’ve never been through that, you don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about.

What was your lowest point as a hustler?

The lowest point as a hustler is being in debt, owing your connect. Can’t answer the phone, gotta cut your phone off, gotta go out of town for two weeks. I remember it clear as yesterday. I will never forget it. Owing niggas in the street, like, damn, I’m in this situation so I’m gonna get this from buddy, take the cash into this other shit and holla at him next week. I did that every day. When you’re at a low point as a hustler, that’s the rules. That’s what you’re supposed to do. You don’t just lay down cause you’re fucked up. If you’re broke, you wake up and you go make something happen. That’s what it’s called. You’re gonna break some little kid’s heart. That’s the name of the game, that’s how it goes. You stay focused. You straighten everybody you owe once you accomplish everything you’re trying to accomplish, and everybody wins. Everybody’s good. I’ll run off with your work quick. That’s what it’s about. That’s like me being an artist and you having a magazine, I might be like, “Hey, do me a favor. Give me five ads on consignment and once I get my deal, I got you.” You know what I mean? That’s the street mentality – not having nothing, but putting yourself in a position to get something.

Is it true that you used to be a correctional officer?

Of course not. I heard that rumor two or three times. But the shit I represent, real niggas die by this. Real niggas kill by this. I couldn’t represent the shit I represent if that was the case. That’s entertainment. But niggas gotta bring it better than that to really test the boss. This is how I affiliate. This is how I ride. This is how I rock.

What about the rumors that there’s tension between you and Trick Daddy?

I’ma tell you something: The reason why a lot of niggas sell records is because it’s the entertainment business and it’s going to be a lot of speculation and rumors. That’s what they are. But you see niggas in the street every day.

You just saw me in the club with Trick the other day. It’s always gonna be speculation, and I’m comfortable with that. Trick is my nigga. He’s on my new album Trilla, so make sure y’all go get that. Real niggas only, believe that.

Did the two of you come to an agreement to keep things civilized for the sake of the greater Miami movement?

It wasn’t even about having an agreement. It’s about me getting my money and him getting his money. It’s gonna always be that way. That’s still my nigga. Trick’s my nigga. I’m a real nigga. Trick could get mad with me, and I could get mad with Trick. Trick might be mad at Ross this week, but as soon as we see each other in the Rollexx, I’ma buy him a bottle or he gon’ send me four bottles and we gon’ smoke out. I’m gonna send him two bitches over there and he gon’ send me three. That’s how we do, man. Me and Trick, we share Miami. It’s our city. We ride in the dunks and toys all the way around and do what we do. Those are our strips. Those are our restaurants. Those are our cars. That’s our skyline. Those are our hoes. That’s our beach. That’s our ocean. We own it. It’s ours. That’s our South Beach. They built those things for us. Their name is on the papers, but we own it. It’s a difference.

Pitbull says everything in Miami is named after cocaine – Brickell Ave., Key Biscayne, the list goes on and on.

Yeah, I loved that when I read that Pit said that. It made a lot of sense. As soon as a Democrat gets back in office, we finna get more yayo back. Believe that. So Bush, get your ass out of the chair. You know you’re too short. When a Democrat gets back in office, you know, you’re gonna get more independent label ads. Business is better for everyone. Tell ‘em to open up the ports. God loves us.

So the name of the new album is Trilla.

That means “realer than fuck niggas.” September 25th but it’s tentative to change due to the timing of my records getting mixed. I’m making sure the album is prepared. It’s an incredible album. It’s going to be the album of the year. I already know I’m gonna win all the OZONE Awards because I’m the best. I look the best and the OZONE likes me.

What’s your prediction for the biggest record on the Trilla album?

You already know, “Maybach Music.” Shout out to my big homie Jay-Z. I just got some big shit. Me and Pharrell just did some shit that may get the Grammy. It won’t be bad to be smoked out at the Grammys. They’ll say my name for no reason and I’ll go up there just to show off my jeans.

How are you doing on your OZONE New Years resolution to smoke only $1,500 worth of weed every day instead of $3,000?

I’m doing bad. I just spent $1,400 on these two ounces right here, so I’m failing on that. Bad. When you’re an artist introduced to the world with a huge record like “Hustlin’” is it hard to top that this time around?

Nah. You just do your music, keep doing what you’re doing and making big records. I’m pretty sure when Dr. Dre goes in the studio he just wants to create timeless shit. It’s hard to say he’s gonna top “California Love” or “In Da Club.” “In Da Club” was an incredible record the same way “Hustlin’” was, but you just wanna keep making that great music that the people in the streets love.

Do you think the South is gonna continue being on top of the rap game for years to come or is it just a phase in rap music?

We’re making great music. It ain’t about a phase. The South has got the best producers and now the best rappers, and that’s what it’s all about. The East coast has got great rappers, and the West coast too. It’s just all about representing that shit, keeping that gumbo rolling. That’s why I’m up in Atlanta. I love this shit. I love the way the producers roll, all the niggas roll, all the artists roll together. I love the way that shit works, and that’s what I’m cultivating in Miami. I could come up to Atlanta for a week and see twenty producers versus going to another city, so it makes sense to come to Atlanta.

What’s the vibe in New York and the East coast in general to you? Do you feel like there’s more respect now for Southern artists than before?

I’m just getting in the game so I’m only seeing it from this side of the gate, but real niggas get respect everywhere they go. Music-wise, the South is just more commercially successful now. Scarface, the Geto Boys, Willie D, all them niggas got that street respect and artist respect before, but now niggas like T.I. and Rick Ross and Jeezy are selling millions of records so now we’re getting commercial respect too.

Record labels are all claiming that digital downloads are hurting record sales.

Do you feel like it’s a legitimate concern?

I believe it’s legitimate, but if you can’t do nothing about it, you’ve gotta keep hustling. Every day a fuck nigga dies, a real nigga is born. So whenever they start bootlegging, you start getting money with ringtones. When they start downloading your music, you’ve gotta do other things to get money. If y’all niggas bootleg my album, cool. The shows are going up to $50,000. We’ll make that shit work some kinda way. // OZONE MAG // 35

OZONE AWARDS special edition

10

Eva Longoria I like her short black hair, and it turns me on that she’s dating someone. I like that. Oh, she’s married now? That’s even better. I like her more. Eva, holla at your boy. I’ve gotten a few of those calls in the middle of the night: “Are you fucking my girl?” and I’ll say, fuck it, I ain’t gon’ fuck her no more. If you call me, I’ma keep it real. I ain’t gon’ hit your hoe no more. But if you don’t call me, you don’t care. I mean, I got more hoes. So if you actually call me saying you don’t want me to hit your bitch no more, I’m not gonna hit her no more. I feel you. Real talk.

9

Julia Beverly I’m really turned on by you. I’m attracted to you. Y’all might not know who she is, but Julia Beverly is big time. We’re all looking at you. You fine. I like how the jeans fit right and the rack is immaculate. And we’re not even gonna talk about your influence.

8

Fantasia That’s my friend. My girl. She’s ghetto. She’s like me. Hi, Fantasia!

We’re thinking about making a great couple. But I can’t be her baby daddy. No more kids. I’ve got two already, my son William Mafia and my daughter. Yeah, my son’s middle name is really “Mafia.” It’s on his birth certificate.

7 6

Gabrielle Union Put her on the list just for no reason. She’s beautiful.

5

Robin Thicke’s Wife I forgot her name but Robin Thicke got a dimepiece. She’s a movie.

But they’re married, so he’s good. He knows what he’s got.

Trina She’s my friend and she’s beautiful. I watched her grow up. She’s always been a hood diva, the baddest bitch. She reps that to the fullest.

** Rick gets stuck at this point: “I gotta touch into my white, older audience.” He then moves on to video vixens: “Vida Guerra can’t be on the list because Game had her already. I don’t wanna be in Superhead’s book. Superhead is washed up. I wanna be in these new hoes’ books. Superhead is finished. She can’t sell no more books. She can’t even sell magazines. But the new ones that’s gon’ be coming out, I’ll be in their books. The book will say, ‘He was a boss. He made me roll his blunts and lick his feet and entertain him.’ Entertaining me consists of a lot of different things.”

4 36 // OZONE MAG

Mary J Blige I love her for one reason: the What’s The 411? album. She’s on my top 10 list forever. Kendu better do right by Mary J, or I’ll have her walkin’ around the house singin’, “I will love you anyway, even….”

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Celebrity women i wanna fuck

Rick Ross Rosario Dawson She could get it. She’s definitely one of my top three. Remember in the movie KIDS, when she was talking real sluttish? I think she’s real freaky. I could sense it, she’s a freak. I like that.

3

Halle Berry I heard she’s got a dry problem downstairs, so that means her upstairs has gotta be right. That’s what I read – wasn’t that a rumor or something? The sprinklers don’t come on down there in the basement? She was crushed by what Eric Benet did to her, right?

So I figure I’ll smoke some kush with her, get her mind right, talk to her, and just don’t be all sexual with it. I’ll just talk to her.

She’ll be my kush buddy. I’ll get her a little Porsche for Christmas.

2

Paris Hilton and My Weed Lady (tie) I don’t know if I should just give one broad that much credit to be my number one. I might let these bitches co-exist. I might have to split it. I don’t wanna give off the wrong impression and make her think she should move into one of my territories. I have feelings, but that don’t mean, “Live with me.” I’m a make it a tie between Paris Hilton and a ghetto chick. It’s a split decision. I think Paris could satisfy me financially with what I’m looking for in a woman.

And for my ghetto chick, it could be my kush girl, the lady I buy my weed from in Miami. Hopefully she’ll read this and give me a discount. So I’ma split that number one spot with my weed lady and Paris Hilton. My weed lady cultivates and always has the true passion of my life, which is mary jane. And Paris Hilton satisfies what I’m looking for financially in a woman. She’s just gotta believe in me and my dreams and invest in what I believe in, that’s all I would ask from her. I’d let her know, “It’s nothing sexual, baby. Please. If you want, we could wait til we get married. But we can’t wait for you to write the first check.” She just has to believe in my dreams. But really, my true number one lady is out there. It’s one of you lucky ladies, and if you buy my album Trilla, I’m gonna have something special on the inside for you. It’s gonna be a special phone number, and I want you to call me.

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Greatest Hustlers

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DJ Uncle Al Rest in Peace. He was the first nigga to introduce pirate radio to Miami. He kinda cultivated the whole music scene. He was before his time and he was slain at an early age. He really influenced me, and he was a nigga that I heard so much about as far as getting money and hustling and reppin’ that music shit.

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Mr. Wonderful The legendary Mr. Wonderful of the notorious 15th Avenue in Liberty City in Florida. He’s legendary. 15th Avenue is one of the most legendary trap spots in the history of Miami. I mean, his name speaks for itself – Mr. Wonderful. May he rest in peace too.

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Yahweh bin Yahweh Do y’all homework on him. Out of Miami. Go back to the 80’s and do y’all homework, that’s all I’m gonna say.

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E-Class He pioneered Rick Ross and Poe Boy Entertainment. He invented the stand-up billboards that are industry standard now. He owns a printing company and he does whatever I need him to do, so he’s a great hustler. He’s the best.

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Kenneth “Boobie” Williams He made millions in the game and he gave niggas that pride, that hood pride, that willingness to ride and lead by example.

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Convertible Burt He was the first Miami nigga to come up to Atlanta and show them what a kilo could do.

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Jay-Z He runs New York rap. He’s the greatest, the best at what he does, and he was the smart man that signed Rick Ross, so you have to move him to the top of the list.

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Rick Brownlee He was out of Opalocka, and he created the 8ball – 3.5 grams of cocaine. On 21 Jump Street. Believe that.

Luke Skywalker He made Lifestyles of the Rich & Ramous when I was in school off rap, tellin’ hoes to suck dick and eat pussy. He went on tour and got rich off bulldaggers and strippers. I love it. It’s beautiful.

DJ Khaled He showed up from nowhere, put in work for ten years, and now he’s everywhere.

I salute him. We’re here at our second OZONE Awards and we’re representing the movement, the hood. We’re well respected worldwide. We don’t have no problems.

We’re good.

OZONE MAG // 37

RICK ROSS

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reasons im a boss NOMINATED FOR TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKERS AWARD BEST RAP ALBUM BEST RAP ARTIST (MALE)

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I’m Rich I started with nothing and now I’m rich. I own ten homes. My net worth is an estimated $18.5 million and moving fast. By the time you read this I may be at the $20 million mark. Every month it gets better. But the thing is, you know, I’ve got a family. I got a family of riders; my niggas. So my total combined family net worth is at an estimated $50 million, feel me?

E-Class is my brother.

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My Family Is Good When I say “my family,” I mean, the niggas I came in this with.

We’re still together. Triple C’s, E-Class, Poe Boy, DJ Khaled, everybody involved in the movement.

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The Hood Promoted Me To Boss You’ve gotta go through rank, and I did that. I did my fifteen years getting dirty.

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I Run The Streets I really do. Niggas see that white on white, and niggas knew what that represented before the video. Before my career, before the entertainment was involved, when I pulled up in that white on white with a smile on my face niggas knew I was finna make it rain.

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I’m Fly I’m a boss because I’m fly. I mean, look at me. I’m the flyest of the fly. I’m fly when I’m riding. I’m fly right now. The definition of fly is me, Rick Ross. I got diamonds to match my sneakers.

I’ve got too much jewelry. Niggas don’t want to talk about my jewelry. But being fly is not just about jewelry. Being fly is really a mindstate. My mindstate is a movie.

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My Business Savvy I did the biggest solo deal in the history of Southern rap. I’m negotiating my label deal right now. I just closed my distribution deal on my documentary M-I-Yayo. I was the executive producer, and that’ll be in stores real soon. I just opened my upscale beauty salon and barbershop off Old National [in Atlanta]. I’ve got the clothing line, and I just opened a clothing store in Miami.

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The Ladies Love Me I’m a boss because the ladies love me. I have a celebrity friend now. I can’t say her name because she loves me. Once we go through whatever we go through, we can talk about that in another issue.

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I’m Not Going Nowhere I’m gonna be here forever and we’re gonna get money forever, and that’s what a boss does. A boss structures the family to get money forever. When you see Triple C, Brisco, Cash Money, FloRida, Poe Boy/Atlantic, it’s family. It’s longevity. We the best!

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I Survived I’m still here. And when I say that, I salute all my niggas who put me on – Kenneth “Boobie” Williams, I love you. That’s my brother, feel me? But I’m still here, so that’s an important reason why I’m a boss today.

I’m Rich Last but not fuckin’ least, do you really want to know why Rick Ross is a boss?

Drumroll, ladies and gentlemen. Do you remember what number one was? I’m rich.

Exactly. By the time you get to the last answer, if there’s any questions or problems, you refer back to the first answer.

And that makes a ten answer cycle. It makes sense for me to end it where I began.

OZONE MAG // 39

Words by Randy Roper // Photos by Blake Ribbey

Playaz Circle

L

udacris and his Disturbing Tha Peace label’s forthcoming compilation, Strength In Numbers, has a fitting title. With label incumbents (Bobby Valentino, Field Mob, I-20, Lil’ Fate and Shareefa) along with with newcomers (Serius Jones, Small World, Brolic D, Willy Northpole, Block Xchange and Steph Jones) the house that Luda and Chaku Zulu built boasts one of the deeper rosters in Southern Hip Hop. Even the departure of DTP’s first lady, Shawnna, seems minuscule with the label’s most successful solo artist, the once disgruntled Chingy, returning to the fold.

But the buzz in the streets for DTP’s third compilation doesn’t stem from a single featuring the STL hoodstar nor their R&B crooners or their Grammy award-winning superstar. Instead, Tauheed “Tity Boi” Epps and Earl “Dolla Boy” Conyers, collectively known as the Atlanta duo Playaz Circle, have streets ablaze with their breakthrough single “Duffle Bag Boy” (assisted on the hook by the omnipresent Lil’ Wayne). The duo first appeared on DTP’s 2002 debut album Golden Grain, and when Field Mob leapfrogged the tandem as DTP’s first group project, PC patiently waited for their chance to formally introduce the world to their duffle bag boy M.O. These childhood friends turned rap group from College Park have made it through the street life (Tity Boi survived a shooting and Dolla served two years in prison) and are prepared to tell their story on Playaz Circle’s debut album Supply and Demand.

Today, PC is “situated” at one of their favorite College Park hangout spots, the Frozen Palace. Over a couple plates of crab legs, PC is ready to discuss their deal with DTP, why the industry’s been jacking their slang and what it really means to be a “Duffle Bag Boy.” We’re at one of your favorite hang out spots, the Frozen Palace. So what part of Atlanta is this?

Dolla Boy: Basically, this is College Park. Southside of Atlanta, right by the airport. It’s kinda hood but at the same time a lot of wealthy people come out here to stay. Not too far down the street is Fayette County, where all the mansions are. Evander Holyfield and Jermaine Dupri stay out there. When we were in high school, we were in an environment where we didn’t have that much. So being right down the street from an environment that had a lot, it just made us wanna strive and go harder.

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Tity Boi: We’re trying to get to the other side of Old National [Road]. It’s segregated. We’re learning as we get older. When we were coming up, we stayed in some apartments called Perimeter Creek. We’d always go to PC to play ball, get a sack to smoke, everything happened in PC. Is that where you got the name Playaz Circle?

Tity Boi: That’s where the initials first started from. We’ve been going by Playaz Circle for years.

Dolla Boy: We had a really thick clique, a lot of emcees, and Playaz Circle was gonna be the label. You know, shit started happening. Niggas started going this way and that way. Me and Tit stayed true to the Playaz Circle shit. And we got an opportunity through the record deal with DTP, so we were like, we’ll continue to put Playaz Circle on the map.

How did you come up with the name?

Tity Boi: Playaz Circle was an acronym. Preparing Legal Assets for Years from A to Z. We all did the hustle thing. The normal youth mistake but our whole goal was to prepare our assets, make them legal. Clean up our money some kind of way. Playaz Circle was gonna be more than just music, it was gonna be everything. Whatever we used our money for, preparing our legal assets.

And the circle just symbolizes 360.

Dolla Boy: We wanted to cover the game all around.

Tity Boy: And you know, the Duffle Bag Boys have been our street side, our gutter side, our independent side. With Playaz Circle being backed by a major label, Duffle Bag does everything on [our] own. Dolla and myself, that’s our label. We got a whole movement. We got a group, we got a click, everything that the people can imagine. So “Duffle Bag Boy” ain’t just a new hot word, it’s a clique, we live this. We’ve been doing Duffle Bag. We’ve been carrying ourselves like that. We been thought it was cool. A street nigga, if he got a duffle bag full of money, that’s like a hustler’s trophy, you’re successful. You look at women with their purses and you look at niggas with their wallets. If you can imagine putting money in that, then you can put money in a duffle bag, then you’re a “Duffle Bag Boy.” At what point did you all go from a clique to being a rap group?

Dolla Boy: Our first shit together was ’98. We came with United We Stand, United We Fall. That was the first release from Playaz Circle.

Tity Boy: The feedback that we got was so tremendous. Niggas was fucking wit’ it. That’s how I meet Luda. Lil’ Fate, he was fucking with us, he was like, “Luda likes ya’ll shit.” That’s how we first started getting wit’ Luda for that first [DTP] compilation. I was doing the rapping thing, and Dolla got into a little trouble.

Dolla Boy: Yeah, I went to the chain gang for a little bit. I’m seeing this nigga on TV with Luda and all them. So I’m like, This shit’s gon’ work when I get out. I got on my writing game and when I came out, the situation opened with DTP. Tity Boy: I was already with them. I was doing solo acts. My first budget was a solo budget. I was supposed to be working on solo project. I’d go in the studio, I’d do one solo song and I’d do one with Dolla. [DTP] started getting invoices like, “Dolla! You’re trying to be slick. You’re trying to do two albums at once.” But ‘Cris got ears; the rest of them were really thinking corporate.

He was like, “Ya’ll sound good together.” At this time [DTP] didn’t have a Field Mob, they didn’t have a group. So I was thinking we could be the first group off the label.

Playaz Circle was on DTP before Field Mob was signed to the label. How did you feel about Field Mob coming on and putting out an album before you did?

Tity Boi: God does everything for a reason but you couldn’t tell me that back then. I felt like we’d been waiting long enough. Of course they looked at it differently, like a business. They looked at it like, Field Mob’s been out already, and they’ve got fans.

Dolla Boy: It wasn’t really no crazy shit because Field Mob, they’re some cool niggas. They had to get their record hot and we had to get our record hot.

They had a record wit’ Luda. We were a new act, out there on our own. They were the ones that popped but we ain’t trippin’ off that situation.

You’ve been signed to DTP for a while now, so what’s been the hold up on your project?

Tity Boi: We’ve been around but we haven’t been around. We’ve been staying consistent in the studio. We’ve been trying to cook up something that we thought people can relate to. Our album has been done. Everybody was looking for that one song that everybody [liked]. We had songs that nine people like and one person didn’t. Now we got ten people that all like the same song, [“Duffle Bag Boy”].

Tity Boi: I gave [Wayne] the track, he did the hook and I guess the rest is the reason why we’re right here with you. The hook was so good, all we had to do was rap our ass off.

You had a song with Ludacris last year, “U Can’t Believe It,” that received a lot of radio play. Why do you think that track didn’t break for you like “Duffle Bag Boy?” Dolla Boy: With us being a new act, it’s extra hard to break a record.

Tity Boi: Everybody thought it was a hit but people weren’t familiar with us.

I think [Universal] was trying to see what DTP was gonna do. I think DTP was like, What ya’ll gonna do. I think me and Dolla just got caught up in the middle by it being our first go around, inexperienced, we were just eager to be grindin’.

Dolla Boy: We realized our mistakes. We parted ways with Universal, and right now we’re with Def Jam. I think it’ll be a better situation cause that’s where DTP has their label deal at.

What’s the situation now over at DTP? It’s seems like a lot is going on. Chingy came back. Shawnna left. Rumors say Field Mob is breaking up.

Tity Boi: Good thing we don’t worry them or ask them for nothing cause I can see how they could get stressed out with all those artists. They pick up our calls. We can call them right now and they know we ain’t about to ask them for a damn thing.

Dolla Boy: We’re one big family. We’re all just trying to win.

Do you think the industry is more suited for your style of music now compared to earlier in your careers?

Tity Boi: Times and everything turn. Back when me and Dolla were doing what we were doing, we were talking street shit and trap shit. They weren’t putting that type of stuff out.

Dolla Boy: Now, you can’t turn on the radio without a nigga talking about selling dope and he a trapper. We’ve been doing that shit since it wasn’t cool.

Tity Boy: We could put out old songs. Our first song ever on the DTP compilation was a straight D-boy track and it stood out on there.

Dolla Boy: The streets know, you ain’t really gotta worry about us changing who we are, trying to adapt to the industry. Cause we think that industry shit is really just some bitch shit. We understand you need radio, but radio plays stuff washed down. That ain’t what you get when you mess with us. I think the industry knows we’re coming. And you can even hear it through their music. You know, the slang and styles you make up, then they start using it.

Tity Boi: Aw, man, slang? This is the slang capital right here, jack. I don’t know who’s coming over here and taking it other places, jack. This is where the slang starts and I’m flattered. People that say they started something, nine times outta ten, they didn’t start it. They got it from [someone] else but they’re in the eyes of what people can see. You wanna make up a word right now for them?

Dolla Boy: Situated.

Tity Boi: Situated is our new word. I’m trying to get situated, jack. I have a little situation going on. I got a little situation to get at. I left the club last night with a situation.

Dolla Boy: Did you get situated.

Tity Boi: I got situated! [Both laugh] Dolla Boy: Tell them they can have that.

Can you explain the differences in Playaz Circle and Duffle Bag Boys and your music?

Tity Boi: We tried to distinguish the difference one day. Playaz Circle is more coveted. It’s like players, that’s how we first started. So a lot of the music has that feel to it. You might lay back, hear some guitars, smoke a blunt to it, you can feel it. Then you got some other songs on [our album] that are on the Dboy side. It might have a little more 808 to it. It might get you a ticket.

Dolla Boy: When it comes to Duffle Bag Boys, we’re straight getting to the money and doing something right with it. We’re trying to show that you can go get it. We ain’t saying you gotta go sell dope.

Tity Boi: There’s so many ways out there to get money. It’s about getting off your ass. You gotta go get your money. People think that when the trees start shedding, these damn leaves are gonna be money and fall right here. You better go get that check!

Dolla Boy: And that’s basically what Duffle Bag is versus Playaz Circle. Playaz Circle’s laid back, trying to cool, mack a broad, chillin’ wit’ your partners.

Duffle Bag Boys, we’re showing you how to get to the money to get your situation situated, you feel me. [Both laugh] Situate that, jack! //

Whose idea was it to put Lil’ Wayne on the “Duffle Bag Boy” hook?

Dolla Boy: The track was so hot, we were just sitting there listening to it like, What we gonna do with it? Tit was like, “I’mma send this to Wayne. I’ma let him come up with a hook and we’re just gonna rap.”

OZONE MAG // 41

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Things To Keep In Your Duffle Bag

Playaz Circle OZONE AWARDS special edition

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High Top Pradas Tity Boi: High top Prada is the certified Duffle Bag Boy shoe. You know how in the army you wear boots? Our soldiers wear high top Pradas.

Duffle Bag Boys T-shirt Tity Boi: You might need to leave town and when you get where you’re going, you’re gonna need to change shirts.

Laptop Dolla Boy: You need a laptop so you can go online and checkout Playaz Circle’s Myspace page. www.myspace.com/playazcircle

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iPod Dolla Boy: You need your iPod to fill it up with Duffle Bag Boy music.

3

Pistol Dolla Boy: You’re gonna need a pistol. Cause when they see you walking around wit’ that big ole bag, you’re gonna get tried. You can’t be a Duffle Bag Boy gettin’ punked.

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$20,000 (All Big Face Hundreds) Tity Boi: $20,000 big faces is a lot of money but less to carry. With $20,000 and a passport, you should be able to start fresh anywhere.

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A Pack of Cigarillos Tity Boi: You need some cigars, and don’t forget your lighter.

Paris Hilton Cologne for Men Tity Boi: Cause you’re gonna need something to spray on yourself after you smoke.

Work Dolla Boy: I don’t know what type of work you do. It might be computers.

Tity Boi: Whatever it is, you’re gonna need some work in that bag.

Passport Dolla Boy: You might have to leave the country. Depending on the contents of the bag, you might have to get outta here.

OZONE MAG // 43

top Things TO do on my day off

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As told to Julia Beverly Photo by Ray Tamarra

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Pop Pistols I got woods in the back of my house, but we actually went to the range today. We was out there bustin’. Sometimes we just go into the backyard and put it up in the trees. Target practice. That’s the least important thing to do on your day off.

Smoke A Lil Reefer I ain’t no weed head, but I do smoke on occasion.

Go To The Studio I’m in the studio right now. I still work on my day off. I have a studio at my DJ’s house; I record at his spot. I’ve got equipment over here so we just kept it at his crib, and it ain’t far from my spot.

Go To The Recreation Department I just went by there and took the kids like 100 packs of popsicles. I go to the Petersburg Department of Recreation because I used to be enrolled in their program when I was younger.

6 5

Play With My Dogs I’ve got two pitbulls.

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Get Some Time In With My Little Brother My brother is 12, but he’s gone on summer vacation right now. We might play X-Box, go go-cart racing, hit the movies, or just kick it. I just left the movies with my lil’ cousins. My mama’s youngest daughter has three kids, so I took them to see Transformers.

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Get Some Time In With My Mama and Grandmama Gotta put some time in with my women, you know?

My grandmamma, she’s got this newfound love for gardening. She was telling me how the vegetables touch the ground and it stops them from growing, so I stopped by there earlier and helped bind ‘em so they’ll grow upwards. She was happy as hell when I went over there. I used to live with my grandmamma but she don’t see much as much now. I took my mama out to lunch today, too.

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Work Out I got weights downstairs at my house. On the road I try to work out too, but some of the hotels don’t have good equipment so I gotta get my workout in at home.

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Fuck With My Cars I’ve got old school cars, so my brother and my peoples start ‘em up while I’m gone. But if I haven’t driven them for a while, I’ll take ‘em out and hit the highways. I ride out about 45 minutes one way and just come back.

Sleep When I come home, I go straight to sleep. That’s gotta be number one, cause as soon as I get off the plane, I sleep til my body gets up.

Trey Songz NOMINATED FOR BEST R&B ARTIST (MALE)

OZONE MAG // 45

NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST C)AST)

too $hort

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People You Should Never Call A Bitch Photo by D-Ray

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Mo’Nique She’ll talk so bad about you, you’ll wanna kick your own ass.

Layla Ali She will kick your ass for real and might even knock you out.

Queen Latifah You don’t want Dana to ask you, “Who you calling a bitch?”

Serena Williams She’ll bitch-slap you with a tennis racket, and I know you’ve seen her arms.

Mike Tyson Just don’t do it.

Steven Jackson You’ll get an instantaneous “NBA bad guy with a bad temper” ass whoopin’.

Pam Grier She might have a flashback and turn into one of her movie characters and fuck you the fuck up.

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Lorena Bobbitt She’ll cut your dick off.

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Julia Beverly She’ll write a sarcastic editorial about you, and your picture will never be in OZONE again.

My Mama

First, I’ll talk about your mama and your grandmamma, your aunts, sisters, and all your female cousins on a nasty-ass Too $hort rap.

Then my brother Wayne Loc is gonna Hannibal Lecter you. So, Don Imus and all the rest of you non-certified wannabe pimps, watch who you call a bitch. Might be your ass!

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OZONE MAG // 47

rich boy

NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST, & CLUB BANGER

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We Just Had A Bad Name For Some Reason I don’t what it came from, but we just had a bad name. I don’t know if it was because of slavery, or the image people had of Alabama and racism, or what, but we just had a bad name for a long time. But hopefully I helped change that image a little bit.

Our Timing Wasn’t Right No rapper from Alabama had ever been in the right place at the right time, until me, I guess. I feel like I was blessed to find my situation. I feel like God is a big reason behind my success. God has thrown me a lot of positives that helped me, and Alabama get recognized.

The Game Was Already Oversaturated With Rappers You can walk into any restaurant or any store and somebody in there raps; that’s why people don’t take albums seriously and don’t purchase them anymore.

They Didn’t Know About Our Big Events Like Mardi Gras Our Mardi Gras is just like the one in New Orleans, but it’s more widespread. We have 30,000 more people at our Mardi Gras than New Orleans has at their Mardi Gras. But I guess they don’t advertise it that much because, first of all, it’s in Alabama, and second of all, it’s real ghetto. It’s a lot more black-oriented than New Orleans’s Mardi Gras, but it’s a great event. I think if more people knew about some of the events we have in Alabama, they would be more likely to listen to an Alabama artist. It would help them relate more.

We Kept Ourselves Down You know, the whole crabs-in-a-barrel syndrome. People in Alabama can sometimes hate on each other, and that prevented us from really blowing up. But that’s something I’ve been trained not to pay attention to. I feel like I got the state on my

Reason’s Alabama Was Slept On As told to Eric Perrin // Photo by Julia Beverly

back now. I gotta be responsible. My state most definitely looks at me as a role model and an image to follow, so I gotta stay positive.

People Underestimated Us If you were a rapper and even said you were from Alabama, they would count you out before they even heard your music, like, “This just some Alabama bullshit.”

5

The Major Networks Like BET and MTV Never Focused On Alabama But I can’t blame them because we never really gave them nothing. We never gave them a reason to come and fuck with us, until Rich Boy came along. [laughs]

4

People Thought Alabama Was Too Country They thought it was all trailer parks and cows, pigs, and stuff like that. They didn’t know we had real music, or at least they didn’t respect it.

3

History Wasn’t On Our Side Every other state in the South had some artist that made it, but no artist ever blew up from Alabama before, so people weren’t really paying us no attention.

2

People Just Thought Alabama Was A Slow State, Period They thought everything about us slow. They thought our whole way of life was slow, they way we talk, our conversations, they we rap.

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OZONE MAG // 49

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Reasons God Loves Me As told to Randy Roper Photo by Julia Beverly

Dj Khaled NOMINATED FOR TJ’s DJ’S HUSTLER AWARD, BEST VIDEO, & BEST RADIO DJ

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He Gave Me OZONE Magazine and the OZONE Awards At last year’s show he gave me some awards, and this year he gave me some new nominations for the OZONE Awards. And I’m on the cover of the magazine two months in a row. Put this is bold letters: I AM OZONE MAGAZINE. I’m the logo. We the best!

9

He Gave Me The Number One Rated Radio Show In Miami The Takeover, alongside K Foxx, is the number one rated night show in Miami on 99 Jamz, WEDR. Liiiissten!

8

He Gave Me A Chance To Meet Great Producers Like The Runners He gave me a chance to manage The Runners alongside DJ Nasty, and that’s a big accomplishment for me, man. They’re some of the biggest producers in the game.

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He Blessed Me To Be A Part Of A Great Family Like The Terror Squad That’s a real family, and it has absolutely enabled me to be in the position to do some of the great things I’ve done.

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He Gave Me My Drive When somebody says that you can’t do something, I love to do it and show them that anything is possible.

He Gave Me My Musical Talent It was a gift to not only be able to produce beats, but to make hot beats, and to be the Beat Novocaine.

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He Gave Me the Skills To Be The #1 DJ In The World No ifs, ands, or buts about it. We the best!

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He Gave Me The Energy To Make Music And Great Albums Like We The Best My album is in stores right now. It debuted as the #1 independent album in the country. We the best!

He Gave Me My Family He gave me a great mother and father, and a great brother and sister.

He Gave Me Life He gave me life. He gave me the opportunity to live. He created me, and that’s the ultimate reason he loves me.

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OZONE MAG // 51

lloyd OZONE AWARDS special edition

NOMINATED FOR BEST R&B ARTIST (MALE) & BEST RAP/R&B COLLABORATION

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The Fugees They put out one of the most classic Hip Hop albums of all time. Lauryn, Pras, and Wyclef had a great sound. They were the greatest.

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No Doubt They’re way too young to have a Greatest Hits album.

They have too much potential. Gwen Stefani rocks solo, but with a band behind her it’s just crazy.

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Groups I Wish Would Put Out Another Album As told to Eric Perrin

52 // OZONE MAG

Outkast They’re my favorite group of all time. I would love to see them put something new out, because I’ve had the chance to work with both of them and they really are legends.

UGK I know they’re supposed to be coming with one, but man, it’s taking too long. Pimp C and Bun B are good friends of mine, and I’ve learned a lot just by listening to their music. They’re pioneers of southern sound.

6

Destiny’s Child They’re the biggest selling female group of all time, and everybody can’t like Beyonce, so together they got something for everybody.

5

The Firm With Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature, everybody just brought something to the table that was crazy. And they all had successful solo projects, so as group it would be incredible for them to put out another album.

4

New Edition I think New Edition paved the way for a lot of the newer bands like The Backstreet Boys and N’SYNC, and even New Kids on the Block. So if they all came back together, with Bobby Brown, it would be great.

3

The Jackson 5 They paved the way for New Edition to be here, so how ‘bout that? They’re the real originators of this thing.

2

The Hot Boys They were dope! Man, Weezy, Juvenile, B.G., and Turk — I don’t have to say anything else. They are all legends, they are all dope.

1

Jodeci They supplied R&B for the streets. If they came back out it would be Street Love times five!

That’s how dope they are.

OZONE MAG // 53

OZONE AWARDS special edition

Lil Boosie

NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ALBUM BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST MIXTAPE MONSTER & MOST SLEPT ON ARTIST

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10 Reasons I’m a Bad Azz

As told to Randy Roper // Photo by Julia Beverly

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I Keep Two 40 Glocks & I Love To Go To The Club I done seen too many niggas leave, so I ain’t tryin’ to get crept up on like that. Then I got a lot to protect, so a gun is part of my outfit. And I like to go out. When I was little I always wanted to be the one to go out and shine. I ain’t never had shit though. Now that I’m the one, I gotta let people see what I’m doing.

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My Haircut I got the Bad Azz haircut, the Boosie Fade. It’s legendary.

6

The Way I Carry Myself I’m different from eveybody. When I go somewhere they’re like, “Who’s that little nigga?” Because of my character.

54 // OZONE MAG

I Don’t Follow Rules I’m hardheaded; I don’t follow a lot of rules.

My Rap Legacy I’m a muthafuckin’ preacher. My raps can change a lot of bad ass children. Cause I rap ‘bout that straight shit. I done been through it and that attracts bad kids.

My Lifestyle I want the better things in life. I like the expensive cars, the fancy clothes, the big houses. That’s part of my lifestyle.

A.D.D. When I was little I had Attention Deficient Disorder, so I like attention. That’s probably why I’m a rapper, cause I like attention.

Money & Power Is My Motivator You get money and power, and everything else falls into place.

My Surroundings My community. Going outside everyday, if all your friends and family are involved in the streets, you tend to pick up the street life.

Mama Raised Me Daddy wasn’t home, so mama raised me. Growing up without a father, you feel like you’re grown yourself. Without a daddy, you tend to take stuff into your own hands.

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OZONE MAG // 55

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ALBUMS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE As told to Randy Roper // Photo by Blake Ribbey

NOMINATED FOR TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKER, BEST MIXTAPE DJ, & BEST MIXTAPE/STREET ALBUM

dj drama 10 9 8 7 6 5 56 // OZONE MAG

Michael Jackson – Thriller Michael Jackson. What else needs to be said?

Run-DMC - Raising Hell Run-DMC was the biggest thing ever in Hip Hop at the time. It was a three man band that pretty much changed the game forever [and] it was my first real introduction to a DJ. Guns N’ Roses - Appetite For Destruction Party like a rock star.

A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders During my high school days, there was a lot of weed smoking. A lot of riding around, picking up girls, rocking out to that [album].

The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!

That was the first time I had seen niggas really do it right in front of my eyes. I knew The Roots before they got their deal, so to see them come out with a major label album right in front of me was quite an accomplishment. From the inside looking out and from the outside looking in, I was real proud of those niggas.

Outkast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik Me and my dad drove to Atlanta for the first time in ’94, when it came out, on some business trip he had to do. I rode to that album and that was really my first introduction to Atlanta, and one of the reasons I chose to come down there and live.

Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever I was listening to Wu-Tang Forever in ’97 when it came out, after my first year in college. And I made a decision just listening to that album that I was gonna move back to Philly. And I packed my bags that weekend and went home for the summer. And that was the last time I lived in Philly.

4

T.I. - Down With The King (Gangsta Grillz) Down With the King was important because that was a coming out party for Tip. Up to that point, it was my biggest Gangsta Grillz.

And it represents Hip Hop history because it’s the ultimate Hip Hop battle, where one man’s career took off and another’s was crushed.

3

Young Jeezy - Trap Or Die (Gangsta Grillz) If you know anything about Hip Hop, it’s one of the holy grails in the mixtape game.

2

DJ Drama - Gangsta Grillz: The Album Long time in the making. I put a lot of hard work into it. I put my recent life into it. I’m just real excited and I can’t wait for the world to see what I cooked up.

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OZONE MAG // 57

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Reasons I’m the Queen of Miami As told to Randy Roper

trina

NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ARTIST (FEMALE)

10 9

I’m The Only Female Artist Who Performs Every Year At The Temple for DJ Khaled’s Birthday Bash We the best!!!

8 7

I Participated In A Candlelight Ceremony For The AIDS Walkathon I was there along with the mayor of Miami, Manny Diaz, and I was awarded the key to the city of Miami.

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I’m The First Female Artist From Miami To Have MTV, BET, and OZONE Award Nominations I also performed at the MTV Awards.

5

I Had The Most Fabulous Birthday Bash With Deco Drive On Palm Island In South Beach It was filled with celebrity A-listers, exotic animals, white tigers, giraffes, panthers and Cirque du Soleil body painted dancers.

That’s hot.

58 // OZONE MAG

I Host Some Of The Biggest Events And Parties In My City I run my city! When you come to Miami you think of the beach, booty and of course, Trina! (laughing)

I Hosted The First Annual OZONE Awards I’m the first female artist to host the 2006 OZONE Awards, with David Banner.

I Have Graced The Covers Of More Than 20 Magazines I’ve even been on the cover of Miami’s most extravagant magazine, Ocean Drive.

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I’ve Worked With Some Of The Best Artists In The Business I’ve worked with everybody! Kelly Rowland, Lil Wayne, Fergie, Eve, Missy Elliott, Trick Daddy, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Tweet, Lil Jon, Lil Mo, Total, Jagged Edge, Rick Ross, Da Brat, Paul Wall, Remy Ma, Rob Zombie, Lionel Richie, Twista, Silkk Da Shocker and the list goes on and on.

3

I Hosted The 2004 Source Awards In Miami Along With Big Tigger From BET I changed into six different outfits and also took home the “Best Collaboration” Award for “Right Thurr (remix)” featuring Chingy, Jermaine Dupri and myself.

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I’m The First Female Rap Artist To Put Miami On The Map I turned my name into a brand. My debut was Da Baddest Bitch and now women all over the world consider themselves as the baddest bitch.

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OZONE MAG // 59

60 // OZONE MAG

OZONE MAG // 61

pretty ricky

NOMINATED FOR BEST R&B ALBUM

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10 Things I Want To See Happen In Miami

By Pleasure of Pretty Ricky As told to Julia Beverly

10 9

Everybody Come Together I want to see everybody just come together and support each other. There’s different movements, but I would want to see all the artists from Miami come together. We should do a tour. We’re big enough to do it together.

Miami Radio Playing Miami Music I wanna see Miami radio stations playing Miami music instead of playing music from everywhere else. When you go to Atlanta, it’s all Atlanta music getting played. All their artists break records down here. The radio stations have been doing alright but it’s only a chosen few artists that get played and it’s so much talent down here. I ain’t gonna say no names, but you know, they only play certain shit from a certain circle.

8

People From Miami Getting Love In The Club I see people get a little bigheaded. When I go in the club they don’t shout me out, but they’ll shout out whoever else is in town.

They act like this ain’t our home, like we ain’t from here. It’s crazy, they forget who’s from here. I don’t understand. It’s crazy that we can go somewhere else and get more love there than we do at home.

7

Show Respect For One Another I’d like to see people in Miami showing more respect for one another and recognizing one another. There’s a lot of disrespectful shit going on.

6

The Dolphins Make It To The Championship I wanna live to see the Dolphins make it to the championship, so if there are any Dolphins players out there reading, just try to make that happen for me.

5

Fix Them Damn Potholes Man, I done ran into a big one last night and it fucked my rims up.

62 // OZONE MAG

Rick Ross and Trick Daddy Not Beefin’ Are they beefin’ or they good? We’re all from the same place and if everybody opens their eyes we can all get a lot of money together.

Stop The Violence Period, in every party of Miami. There’s a lot of kids getting killed.

Recognize The Difference Between The Other Side Of The Bridge I wanna see people start recognizing the difference between the other side of the bridge from South Beach to the hood. One side is gutta, where the poor people stay. One side is where the poor people stay and one side is where the rich people stay. Tourists mistake the rich part for the whole Miami, but that’s not the case.

Show Pretty Ricky The Respect We Deserve We’re platinum on our first album. We sold three million ringtones worldwide and our second album is already gold. We’re on BET a whole lot, we were nominated for the BET Awards and the American Music Awards.

We’ve won BMI Awards. We write and produce our own records. Check Soundscan – all the radio spins and all that just shows that we’ve got respect. We’ve got girls that faint over us and pass out, and we love each and every one of them girls. They’re our superstars for life. Just recognize. A lot of people don’t recognize what we’ve got and they try to tell me I should go solo or tell Baby Blue he should go solo or put bad thoughts in our heads. But the power is what we’ve got together, and that’s what people fail to realize. Just respect that and stop trying to put bad thoughts in our heads. Respect what we’ve got going.

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OZONE MAG // 63

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WAYS TO BE BALLin’!!!!!

As told to Julia Beverly // Photo by Rico da Crook

Make Sure You Got A Driver Shit, if you’re a baller, most likely you should be in the back gettin’ high and enjoying the sights while he’s driving you around.

jim jones NOMINATED FOR CLUB BANGER OF THE YEAR & TJ’S DJ’S TASTEMAKER AWARD

64 // OZONE MAG

10

Make Sure Your Bills Are Paid You can’t be runnin’ around with eviction notices talkin’ about “Ballin’!” That’s not a good look. You can’t have that car note and get repoed, that’s not a good look. So make sure your bills are paid, for starters.

9

Make Sure They Close The Store When You Go In They know you’re about to spend that gwop if they close the store. And every time you’re in Foot Locker, get about 10 pairs of all-white Airs. You can’t just keep one pair of them Nike Airs; get about a dozen so you ain’t gotta come back for a couple months.

8

Have The Car Dealer on Speed Dial That’s just in case you gotta hop in something new and pretty, you know what I’m talkin’ about? Me, I just bought what they call a S 63, a McLaren, probably the most expensive Benz they got - $175,000. Then, I’m gonna get this Aston Martin. I wanted to get it for my birthday but I didn’t have a chance to go look at it.

7

The Bank Manager Has Gotta Know You By Your First Name You know, you should’ve been in there to withdraw $90,000 at a time, buck fifty at a time. No bank tellers, bank managers only. We don’t stop and talk to the tellers.

No disrespect to nobody, but I’m in a different lane.

6

Get Them Good Rates On Them Jets A true baller loves a good rate. Unless you’re power ballin’. There’s ballin’, super ballin’, super dooper ballin’, and then there’s power ballin’. Super dooper ballin’ is extravagant. Super ballin’ means you’re off the Richter scale. Power ballin’ means you don’t even know what to do with yourself cause you’ve got so much fuckin’ money.

Me, I’m on super ballin’ right now. I’m two levels down from power ballin’. I stepped up to super and I’m tryin’ to get to dooper. I’ma keep it funky, I can’t lie. I’m not a power baller.

5

Know How To Pick Out A Good Bag and Good Shoes For Your Lady If you’ve got fly ladies, they’re gonna put you on to what’s poppin’ anyway.

4

Your Watch Game Gotta Be Spectacular You’ve gotta get shit from Switzerland and all that. And you ain’t never supposed to have the right time on your watch if you’re gettin’ money. That’s why I buy so much ice. I know [the watch hands] ain’t moving. They frozen.

We stuck in time, baby.

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Utilities Wallet, credit cards, and at least $20,000 in cash on a daily basis.

2

Say Your Prayers ‘Cause everything could be over tomorrow.

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OZONE MAG // 65

Snoop has managed a successful rap career and track record of hit after hit so when he blesses a track for another artist with his vocals it’s supposed to guarantee a hit. Here are 10 songs that didn’t pan out that way.

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Snoop Dogg tracks that no one knew about except him

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Trina “Sexy Gurl” (The Glamourest Life) Trina is a pimp in her own right so it was only natural that Snoop would hook up with the Diamond Princess.

But isn’t she better at making money doing personal appearances than rapping? There’s no glamour in poor record sales.

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Lil Kim “Kronik” (The Naked Truth) Snoop wanted to be part of the Lil Kim movement since she’s been heralded for not snitching on her people. But the truth is Kim needs to go back to getting naked, which is what got everyone excited about her in the first place. Put your light-uhs up!

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Daddy Yankee “Gangsta Zone” (Barrio Fino En Directo) Snoop laid it down with Reggaeton’s favorite son.

Although Snoop always reps for the lighter shade of brown, is it safe to assume that he’s the only one of the two?

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NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST) 66 // OZONE MAG

Wu-Tang Clan “Conditioner” (The W) Back in the 90’s when Wu dropped their debut 36 Chambers, Snoop Dogg would have never worked with 16 or however many of them grimy niggas could fit on a track. By 2000 though, the ice cream had melted and The W stood for the West.

Freeway “We Get Around” (Philadelphia Freeway) Beanie Sigel’s protégé was met with skepticism with the loud nasal-flow that bordered annoying. Even with the Roc behind him and a Snoop track on deck, that free ride got him nowhere. Matter of fact, he got lost and ended up back where he started - home.

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OZONE AWARDS special edition

LL Cool J “U Can’t Fuck With Me” (G.O.A.T.) LL named his album the greatest of all time and Snoop is still rapping… all the time. Isn’t that great.

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Words by Kay Newell

snoop DOGG

Babyface “Baby Mama” (Face2Face) This was at the time Babyface really needed a hit record or his wife was going to leave him. So he looked to the big homie Snoop for help. Needless to say, that line of thinking didn’t help and his wife still ended up leaving.

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Mac Dre “Executives” (The Appearances) Can’t really say anything bad about this collabo. Two “Boss Tycoons” puttin’it down from the Bay to L.A. This is one of those moments where Dre’s not here to defend himself so just get you some candy and do the Thizzle dance.

Kid Rock “WCRS” (Cocky) Rap meets rock as Snoop lays it down with this rambunctious white boy. The album was a representation of Kid Rock’s new found attitude thus the title, and now this cowboy is missing without a cause. Selfconfident or just an ass?

Will Smith “Pump Ya Breaks” (Lost & Found) WHOA! The Prince of No-Curse Words and the Prince of the Crips joined together hoping all of us would believe Willard was on some thug shit. News flash: Bel-Air is a long way from Long Beach, and the only thing hard about this rapperturned-actor-turned TV producer is his wife. What up, Jada?

OZONE MAG // 67

bobby v alentino As told to Randy Roper

5 Reasons R&B music isn’t the same as it used to be

5 Reasons Atlanta is home to the best R&B talents

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We’ve Got Our Own Culture Atlanta has a lot of culture in the music scene.

Timing Is Everything New York had their time, the West Coast had their time and now it’s Atlanta’s time. Atlanta is a melting pot with so many people from different cities here. It’s not many people you find born and raised from here. You got people from Mississippi, people from out of the country, all over, and it makes Atlanta the Motown of the South.

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Atlanta Has The Best Women Atlanta has the best selection of Black women in America. For R&B, women are my motivation, so when I’m in the A I’m always motivated. I can always find motivation somewhere. We’ve got the most beautiful black women in the world. I can ride anywhere in Atlanta and just see beautiful women. It’s inspiring.

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There’s Something In The Food There must be something in the chicken. Atlanta is known for good soul food, so that must help grow a lot of talented people.

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Everybody Knows Each Other It’s a small circle in Atlanta where everybody helps each other out.

It’s not like everyone is hating on each other. Everybody helps each other out. Some people might collaborate and push each others’ music and that’s the reason why Atlanta music is so big right now, just because that bond is there.

It’s All About Hit Singles People nowadays just focus on one song. Everybody isn’t into the way an album is constructed, they’re just into making one hit record. Nowadays you can go on iTunes and buy one song so people aren’t really interested in hearing what the album has to say. It’s all about visual sales and ringtones. In 20 or 30 years I don’t know what’s going to happen, and that’s the difference between R&B now and back in the day. Today they make music just for today and today only, but in the past they made classic songs. You can still pop in a Jodeci or Babyface album and ride out to it and the music still sounds new and classic. Now, snap and crunk music is what’s hot and R&B cats are trying to make music that is snap or crunk just to be current, but what happens when that style of music fades away? Then you cant even bump the song anymore.

5

There’s No Substance The content is different. A lot of the R&B songs now aren’t talking about real love or relationships. They’re just taking about meeting a girl and trying to take jer home. The songs that are popping right now are about going to the club, poppin’ some bottles and taking girls home – it’s basically like a rap song but as an R&B song. The R&B songs are saying the same thing the rappers are saying. I like “Flirt,” great song, but it sounds like a rap song.

4

R&B Artists Are Forced To Conform An R&B artist can’t really drop an R&B song anymore because it needs to bang in the club. People just wanna party, so for an R&B artist to make it big you gotta have a record that bumps in the club – it’s gotta be raporiented. It’s hard for an R&B artist to put out a quality ballad or a quality R&B song and have it work because radio gets scared to play it fearing it slows up the tempo. Even if it’s a hot R&B song, if radio’s not playing it then you can’t get a music video for it and then you’re stuck. You’ve gotta kinda change your stuff just so you can get radio play and have presence in the club and presence in the street. When I go into the studio I want to make some baby-making music, that real R&B, but it’s kinda hard because you have to aim to get radio play so you have to cut back on what you can really do.

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People Don’t Care If You Can Sing Back in the day you had to know how to sing. Luther Vandross is known because his voice sold the music.

Now, people are more interested in dance moves.

It’s cool to dance- Michael Jackson was known for his dancing - but I don’t think that the people really respect good singing anymore. It’s a sad thing when I see people performing and they’re lip syncing! And the kids don’t even catch on – I mean, do what you do, but I feel we need to get back to real singing.

2

The Music Is Gone There aren’t really any more real R&B acts like the Jodecis, the Isley Brothers, the Marvin Gayes. Singers wanna be like rappers now. What is R&B right now? It’s gotten to the point where people don’t know what R&B is. Back in the day when a rap album came out and an R&B album came out they were different albums, but right now they sound the same. It’s like R&B is lost right now.

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OZONE MAG // 69

NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ARTIST (FEMALE) & BEST GROUP (CRIME MOB)

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Princess: We Both Have Our Own Businesses Diamond is the CEO of Dimepiece Collection which consists of aspiring actress, rappers, and models, and I am the CEO of Royal Throne Entertainment and a partner in Lewis Management.

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Diamond: I’m An Aspiring Actress I’m interested in doing a movie based on my life, and I also want to be in a sci-fi movie. I’ve always been in plays and wrote plays. I wanted to go to school for it, but of course rapping took over my life.

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diamond princess

OZONE AWARDS special edition

7 6

Diamond: I Have 15 Tattoos I’m infatuated with them.

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Diamond: Princess Has To Have Her Thongs And Bras Match Her Shirts We both shop at Victoria’s Secret, but Princess has to get matching everything. She kind of overdoes it.

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Princess: Diamond Loves Low Cut Jeans And Hates Niggas Who Wear Reebok Classics For some reason she thinks she got a butt. But I guess to make up for the lack thereof she likes to wear low rise jeans — always, always, always, always. And she will not even pay any attention to anybody who wears Reebok Classics. She won’t even say “Hey,” to any guy wearing Reebok Classics, not at all. They could be brand spanking new, fresh out the box. That’s like her pet peeve - dudes with Reeboks.

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THINGS You Don’t Know About Diamond & Princess As told to Eric Perrin // Photo by Julia Beverly

70 // OZONE MAG

Princess: I’m Writing A Book About My Life I think a book would be a good way to start off, just so people can know Venetia — not just Princess, but the real me. It’ll let the fans know me better and hopefully it will be picked up by somebody and made into a movie.

Princess: I Love The Smell of Febreze Clean Linen and Gain Clothing Detergent When I was growing up I used to always love Gain; no other detergent but Gain. I would pour Gain all over the floor and then vacuum it up so the whole house would smell like Gain, but I would always get into trouble because there would be so much powder all over the floor and the vacuum cleaner would always mess up. I would always get in trouble for that. But now I got my own house and my found the Febreze Clean Linen spray, so the whole place smells wonderful. Diamond always wants me to come to her house and clean. She’s the messy one.

Diamond: When I Get With A Guy, I’m Afraid Of Betrayal Princess: I’m Hesistant To Let People In Because I’m Afraid Of Getting Hurt I’m real picky, and I stay to myself a lot. Diamond is more of the serial dater, and I’m the real picky one. I have a very small circle of people I choose to be around, because I don’t like negativity and I hate drama. But when it comes to guys I’m picky because I really don’t like people to waste my time.

WE WRITE OUR OWN SHIT!!!

We’ve always written our own lyrics. Look at the credits on both [Crime Mob] albums and you’ll see Venetia Lewis and Brittany Carpentero on almost all of the songs. Not to sound arrogant or cocky in any way, but we get all our publishing, we write all our own music, and we’re young. We’re not even 21 yet. We showed the world that you can be a hardcore female rapper and still be cute. You don’t have to be sagging your pants like a nigga or anything like that to get respect. You can be in stilettos and still say, “I’ll beat yo’ ass.”

OZONE MAG // 71

mistah

fab

NOMINATED FOR PATIENTLY WAITING CALIFORNIA

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highs and lows of the boutique shop As told to N. Ali Early // Photo by D-Ray

What I like about boutique shops

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Exclusivity They’re always going to have something that nobody else has. I go in there for the glasses and the shoes.

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They Got The Official Stunna Shades They’re what the streets be thinkin’ they be havin’ on, like when they be havin’ the G or the big D on the side. You be like, “Come on bruh. Them is the stupid booleg version.” And you don’t be knowin’ until you hit one of them Louis or Gucci or Prada stores. Then you see where they done knocked off them glasses from.

1 72 // OZONE MAG

Customer Service When you walk in they give you champagne, especially if they know you. They treat you like a king!

The Element Of Surprise You never know who you’re going to run into. You may run into a superbad breezy!! Especially when you in pimp mode. You like a gold diggin’ female. She pricin’ you up and soon as she walk in, I’m pricin’ her up.

The Shoes What’s so good about the shoes is niggas in the streets don’t bootleg them. Like the special design Louis shoes, I ain’t seen them bootlegged. But them brand new Jordans?

Them wet ass Jordans? They be in the street.

Shoes is like a nigga’s CD now. “Nigga, you know them Jordans finna come out next month?”, “Nigga I already got em!” Dumb ass bootlegs. You ain’t finna find no Gucci shoes bootleg.

What I dislike about boutique shops Judgemental Employees They might look at you all cross when you walk in there dressed down, but when they type in that name and see stupid ass receipts, they switch up. Why I got to be somebody before you respect me? I’m still the same person as when I walked in.

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They Don’t Always Have A Nigga’s Size That European shit be waaay smaller mayne! They clothes be hella tight. You’ll find some wet ass shoes, but try and find something to go with it. It ain’t happenin’.

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They Think Niggas Ain’t Comin’ In To Shop Stop askin’ me if I need help hella times. I know you chasin’ commission, but damn! “Can I help you? Is there anything you need?”

Leave me alone. I know what I want. Them be the rookie ones, though. The O.G. ones, they respect your mind.

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When They Read You The Price I hate that. Sometime I’ll go in there without no jewelry on and they’ll be like, “You know these shoes are like $800.00?” I’ll be like, “Aaaannnd?!” Then I’ll pay ‘em in all $5’s just to fuck with them, even though I got a credit card, just to make em mad. “This dice game money, beeyaatch!!”

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All The Males That Work In The Department Stores Are Gay I don’t wanna get Tim Hardaway’d, but that shit gets a little outrageous. They think just cause you in Gucci you gay or somethin’.

Ain’t nuthin’ worse than a gay Asian. I ain’t got nothin’ against em, but if you gay don’t be tryna press up on another nigga just cause he shoppin’ wit’chu.

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NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST)

the game

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10 reasons why no rapper wants to beef with me As told to N. Ali Early // Photo by Jonathan Mannion

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I Make Rappers’ Strengths Their Weaknesses If Muhammad Ali was a rapper he would have been me. I ain’t afraid of nobody.

common knowledge. Google “Game, Ras Kass beef” if you ain’t knowin’.

I Gave My People Their Own Wall Street It’s only a matter of time before we take over. No one is too big for the movement. We will continue to prosper no matter what happens.

4

I Can Make A Whole Mixtape About A Rapper I rap until my voice starts makin’ that cracklin’ sound. I’m really not as hoarse as I be soundin’. I just flow til’ I can’t go no more.

Ask them G-Unit niggas.

A Lot Of Rappers Remember “300 Bars” And they don’t want it like that. Can you imagine catchin’ it for that long with no chorus or break? The energizer bunny ain’t got shit on me.

3

I Destroy Careers Suge Knight buried Death Row. Ja Who? Joe Budden can’t get an album off and Vida Guerra never had a career one to begin with.

What Good Is The Game Without The Game?

I am The Gangsta All Muthafuckas Envy. If I left there would be no one to hate. Again I ask, what good would that be?

2

I Brought The West Back Yeah, I had to start from scratch, but I still managed to put out arguably the best album on the Coast this year without Dr. Dre and the “machine” to back me.

I Make Rappers Change Their Style You heard “Bluetiful World?” All that sparring back and forth with me forced dude to step his Game up.

Most Rappers Talk It, But I Live It Ain’t no need in repeating my life story and what I came from. It’s

I’m The Hottest Rapper In The Game Haven’t you heard the remix to “One Blood?” I set a record or something with all them damn people on it!

1 OZONE MAG // 73

top 10

ways to not get lockED down As told to Noel Malcolm

treal OZONE AWARDS special edition

NOMINATED FOR PATIENTLY WAITING FLORIDA

Wrap It Up! Always use a rubber. Keep condoms in your car and house for them to “accidentally” find.

Be A Homewrecker Date someone who’s already in a current relationship.

Be Clear After you smash or get smashed, don’t answer their call or text until you are ready to smash or get smashed again.

Be Busy Stay out of town on “business.” If you’re not on the road, lie and say you are. Tell them you are tired, and resting up for the next “business trip.”

Be Honest Be upfront and tell ‘em that you ain’t trying to be in a relationship.

No Questions Never answer a “yes” or “no” question, or answer their question with a question.

Be Obvious Make sure they see you being very social with other “friends.”

Don’t Meet The Family!

Never meet their family, and never let them meet yours, especially if they could be considered “marriage material.” If they become friends with the family, it’s a wrap!

Make Use of Technology Call or text their phone and ask or mention the wrong name.

Tell ‘Em You’re A Treal Fan Let ‘em know that your favorite song is “I’m Not Lock Down” by Treal, and hopefully they’ll get the picture.

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OZONE MAG // 75

Ways to Eat and Avoid Getting Ate As told to Randy Roper Photo by Edward Hall

tum tum NOMINATED FOR PATIENTLY WAITING TEXAS

WAYS TO EAT

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Grind 24/7 I never get home and feel like I’ve done enough that day. Ya smell me? Oh yeah, Eat Rudy’s Chicken on Lancaster Rd.

3

Learn The Business Took me a while to learn it. Now you will see it on the next go around. Learn about budgets, efficient marketing, promo and don’t forget to buy an ad in OZONE!

2

Stay True To Yourself; Don’t Be Something You’re Not Remember what got you here. Once the pop crowd gets tired of you, the streets don’t want you back! Make sure your niggas are thorough.

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Hit The Road Lots of people are hot in their cities, but don’t ever make a trip out. Instead of buying a new pair of J’s, fill up your van and go!

Make sure you have your ingredients for your crack: posters, CD singles and videos.

Get Money Don’t depend on album sales! Not for cash flow at least. Invest in other business ventures: mixtape, clothes, sneakers and models.

WAYS TO AVOID GETTING ATE Don’t Think Your Label Is Going To Work For You Do it your damn self!

Don’t Spend It If You Don’t Got It Keep yourself hot within your means. We’re in the space age now, so there are a lot of ways to stay hot without breaking the bank, like YouTube and MySpace.

5 4

Don’t Think With Your Emotions Think with your head, not the one down there, you dig?! Watch these trifling ass bitches, these snake ass niggas and these homo thugs.

3

Lose All The Dead Weight I only run with helpers, not hurters. Everybody in your camp should always be doing something. If they’re not, they’re hurting you.

2

Keep The “Yes Men” Away You will get nowhere if you keep them around. Your camp needs to be solid. If everybody gets paid, you have crutches to fall back on.

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10 Artists Next To Blow

As told to Randy Roper

DJ Scream NOMINATED FOR BEST MIXTAPE DJ

10

Papoose Let me put it out there even though he’s been doin’ it for a second, I’m really impressed wit’ Papoose. He’s a good lyricist on delivery.

I think it’s been a little over people ears, that’s why people haven’t caught on to him. I feel like he’s one hit away.

9

Don P (from Trillville) Rapper/producer, he’s doin’ his own tracks. He’s doin’ it all. That’s definitely a cat to watch. He’s already got hits under his belt.

“Never Ever,” “Some Cut” and everything on BME. But he’s doin’ his solo thing, I heard a lot of his music and it’s pretty impressive.

8

Montana the Mack He’s got a big hit single, “Rock On.” He just got signed to Koch.

He’s from the hood so even outside of “Rock On,” he ain’t nothing new to the scene. He’s been doin’ his thing for sure, for sure.

7

Hot Dollar He recently just signed to So So Def. Also, he’s got a real good work ethic. He’s a good lyricist, good songwriter, and a hard worker. He’s definitely somebody to watch on the West Coast.

6

Green City They’ve been grindin’. They’ve got a movement out there in Killeen, Texas. It’s crazy. They pack out shows and everything.

5

Remo Da Rapstar He built a solid reputation on the mixtape circuit. He’s got a good work ethic, swagger, and a crazy buzz in New York. He’s a real talented guy. I think he’s somebody to definitely watch out for.

Trae He’s got a strong street reputation. We’re workin’ on this tape together and his work ethic is like no other. He might be one of the only other artists who has a stronger work ethic than myself. I think he’s one hit away from really getting’ his just due.

4

Al Gator Real sharp delivery. Real lyricist. He’s really been beatin’ up the mixtape scene and had a nice buzz goin’ on.

3

Big Kuntry He’s definitely somebody that’s under the radar. I think he’s like one of the most slept on artists over there at Grand Hustle. I mean, a lot of them are slept on, but he’s really doin’ his thing. His songs got the clubs goin’ nuts in Atlanta.

2

Shawty Low (of D4L) Everybody knows him from “I’m Da Man.” We did a mixtape and pretty much made history wit’ it. He’s real crazy in Atlanta. He’s the total package: songwriter, lyricist, he’s got the swag, the image, everything. He’s also got a real strong street reputation.

He’s a sure shot.

1 OZONE MAG // 77

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10 next ARTISTS to blow

As told to Randy Roper // Photo by Luis Santana

DJ smallz

NOMINATED FOR BEST MIXTAPE DJ

10

Allstar Already murdering the streets of Tennessee with a swagger like no other, Yo Gotti’s protégé is ready to unleash his debut album with one of the south’s top labels - Cash Money Records. “Get Money” featuring CEO Baby The Birdman is infectious, and has the ingredients to take Allstar to the top.

9

B.O.B. Atlanta ain’t been the same since B.O.B. entered the picture. The streets were on “Cloud 9” a few months ago, and the new record “Haterz” is a taste of what you can expect from his debut album on hitmaker Jim Jonsin’s label Rebel Rock. He reminds many of Outkast with his quick tongue and lyrical thrashing. He’s this generation’s future superstar.

8

Miss B Signed as Yung Joc’s first artist on his Hustlenomics imprint, Miss B will make sure the streets know they see it. Her witty lyrics and street swagger will have the jaws droppin’ and clubs hopping with her hit records, including her new smash “Ringtone” with Joc.

7

Curren$y Co-signed by Lil’ Wayne, representing his new label Young Money, Currency’s unique swagger and clever lyrics make him one of the next artists to blow out of Louisiana. “Where Da Cash At” featuring Lil’ Wayne & Remy Ma was just a taste of what you can expect from this New Orleans saint.

6

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BloodRaw Mr. Florida has been representing Young Jeezy’s USDA movement from the very beginning. After touring with Young Jeezy and Slick Pulla, polishing his skills and giving the streets a taste on the USDA album, Blood Raw is ready to go solo with his first single “26’s” featuring G-Unit’s Young Buck. I know the streets will be bumping this smash record in their trunks.

Stat Quo Dr. Dre and Eminem’s first Southern artist has been on deck for the past couple years and they are ready to unleash him in 2007. He has a smash on his hands from Dre that will have the clubs going crazy with “Here We Go.” His debut album has been highly anticipated for years, and I don’t think the streets will be disappointed.

5

Sean Kingston This 16-year-old phenom representing the Jamaican culture within his Miami roots is unbelievable and with platinum producer J.R. Rotem controlling the boards on his debut project, SK will have hits for days. He’s very versatile, killing the streets with Rick Ross & The Game on “Colors” to his new hit for the ladies “Beautiful Girl.”

4

Hurricane Chris Louisiana has a new weather problem on their hands and he goes by the name Hurricane Chris. “A Bay Bay” is quickly murdering the charts, and with Mr. Collipark executive producing his project, hits should come endlessly. Polo Grounds went hard with Chris as their first artist out of the box, and it’s paying off.

3

Gorilla Zoe The newest addition to Boyz N Da Hood is Georgia’s next artist to blow. His “Hood Nigga” smash has already been blessed by Young Jeezy and Big Boi, and Zoe is extremely versatile not only with his clever raps, but his tremendous production game as well. With Block & Bad Boy South behind him, he’s a grand slam.

2

Gucci Mane The streets have been fiending his music for the longest, since his Trap House album. He has a huge presence in the surrounding states outside of Georgia and he will blow easily with the trap behind him. They will have the “Bird Flu” by the time he blows across the entire South.

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10 Songs I’ve Produced

As told to Randy Roper // Photo by Ray Tamarra

DJ toomp NOMINATED FOR BEST PRODUCER

10 9

8

Suga Suga – “Do It Wit’ No Hands” “Do It Wit’ No Hands” was my attempt to put out something fresh out of my lab. A lot of times when I produce records, I may do something with an artist and it maybe five, six months before it comes out. But this time it was my NZone Entertainment. I was like, “Let me see what would be the reaction of a song straight out the studio that hit the streets the next day.” And it did pretty good. It was more of a test, but the song ended up catching and it’s still an anthem to this day.

MC Shy-D – “Shake It” I started DJing for MC Shy-D and later on he found out that I could produce. We were working on the Comin’ Correct album. That’s when I first got down with Luke and them. But we were basically done with the album. We were over Shy-D’s house and I said, “The album is done but I think we still need that one more song. And the hook needs to be real repetitive.” I said a few different hooks and finally we came up with “Shake It.” We sampled Shy-D’s voice and put it in the drum machine. And we started to build the beat around it. It was the last song on the album, but it ended up being the biggest song on the album.

2 Live Crew – “Dick In The Dust” 2 Live Crew was known for the up-tempo booty shake music. So when it came down to the New Jack City soundtrack they wanted something that could blend in with the New York artists on [the soundtrack]. It’s a beat that I came up with. I sampled it from a group called the Never Brothers and it ended up being a good song.

That was one of the first records I did with 2 Live Crew. So it was a real special time for me in my life, especially with it being on the New Jack City soundtrack.

7

T.I. – “U Don’t Know Me” “U Don’t Know Me” was a beast. I was moving that track around cause I felt strongly about it. There were a few people that I gave that track to and they just didn’t hear it the right way. And finally T.I. hit me one day and was, “Man, I got something for that track.” He started saying the hook and then the verses, it was a blazer.

6

Young Jeezy – “I Luv It” That particular song was never in my line up [of beats] that I play when artists come through. [Jeezy] specifically asked me for something different that I don’t usually play for everybody. And when I made that track for “I Luv It,” I immediately put it in the computer and never went back to it. He heard the first five bars and was like, “I think that’s it. This the single right here.”

5

Rick Ross – “White House” Rick Ross got real lucky cause that track was only about a week old when he got it. They mp3ed [the song] to me and I was blown away.

He put a concept like that to the song without me being there and it was so hot. A lot of times I’m in the studio working with an artist.

Even though it wasn’t a single, it was still a street anthem.

Ludacris – “Two Miles An Hour” I gave Luda a beat CD about a year [before]. I put a whole lot of stuff on the disc that I thought would be right up his lane. That ended up being the last song I put on that CD. He called me like, “I got something on one of these CDs you gave me.” I went over to his house and he played it for me. And I was like, “Yeah, bruh, that’s beautiful.” It came out to be a great song. They used it on the Pontiac commercial.

It was a big song.

4

Kanye West – “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” We were working on stuff in New York and I laid a few tracks down.

Kanye took the beat and put a few things to it, and I took it and added more stuff to it. After he put the hook to it, it was like a masterpiece all over again. And then it’s very interesting producing something with another producer/artist. Everybody knows Kanye for doing his own production. So it was definitely a privilege for him to say that outta all the producers out the South, I want Toomp.

3

Pastor Troy – “Ridin’ Big” That’s one of my favorite songs. I love what he did to it. That song is one of the hood anthems too.

2

T.I. – “What U Know” When I took [the beat] to Tip, he heard it. He started walking around the room and he said, “What you think about this hook?” He was saying some other joints, “How you know about that, what you know about that.” I said, “Keep it, ‘what you know about that.’ Don’t change it cause you’ve got to keep it repetitive.” After he put the verses down on it the magic was there. Then I was excited with that being the lead single for the movie soundtrack. So there was a lot of excitement around that record as well.

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OZONE MAG // 79

Dj T roc NOMINATED FOR BEST CLUB DJ

top 10

club songs As told to Randy Roper

dj b lord NOMINATED FOR BEST CLUB DJ

10 9 8

The Alliance f/ Fabo “Tattoo” Fuck all haters of snap music, this song is gonna stand the test of time. Even if you only play the last 30 seconds when Fabo start singin “aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh,” the crowd loves that shit, especially if you geekin’.

Lil Ru “Look Good” Lil Ru is from Columbia, SC but you can drop this shit in Myrtle Beach, Florence, Sumter, wherever and muthafuckas fuck wit it. It’s a hit!

Somebody give Lil Ru a fuckin deal already!

Gorilla Zoe “Hood Nigga” Even though this shit is relatively new compared to my other picks, trust me, this record has got staying power!

top 10

Club Records of the Year As told to Randy Roper

The Shop Boyz “Party Like a Rockstar” I’ve seen the song grow from the beginning to where it is now.

The whole club goes wild on that song.

Foxx f/ Lil Boosie & Webbie “Wipe Me Down” It’s a fun, upbeat song and every time that song comes on, everybody in the club stops what they’re doing and just starts partying. It really brings the energy up in the club.

10 9

T.I. “Big Things Poppin’ “ I like that song because T.I.’s always been a legend in the music business. He put out several good CDs in the past but this particular CD and this particular song, he brings a certain amount of energy.

8

Plies f/ T-Pain “Shawty” I like that song because it’s very raw. Plies’ verses are very raw.

And the ladies and the fellas love this song right here. It makes everybody feel good. It’s sorta like one of those songs where it’s an up-to-date song but it makes a person reminisce at the same time.

7

7

Pachino Dino “Dummin’ Out” If you in or anywhere near Charleston, SC and drop this shit, you’re gonna see the definition of “Dummin’ Out.” This is a South Cack classic!

Playaz Circle f/ Lil Wayne “Duffle Bag Boy” It’s jumpin’ off real tough. Every time I play that song in the club the whole energy just changes. It’s like it’s coming from their heart, coming from within when they’re singing the lyrics to the song. I haven’t seen that since Jeezy.

6

6

Lil Jon f/ Pastor Troy “Throw It Up” Go anywhere in South Carolina and throw this shit on when you’re ready to leave early (laughing). This is crunk music at its finest. “Back up bitch, get the fuck out my face!”

Fabolous f/ Ne-Yo “Make Me Better” That Fabolous and Ne-Yo is one of the best collaborations that I’ve heard in a long time. That song, you can play in any club, upscale to hood club, its working. It’s a great collaboration.

5

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Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz “Who You Wit’” This that early (2000) Lil Jon. I seen him do this at a lil’ hole in the wall in SC back then and I been playin’ it every weekend ever since!

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4

Big Tymers “Still Fly” As soon as the bass drop and the horns come in, it’s like an instant fuckin’ flashback. It’s like a time machine back to 2001 when this shit comes on.

Young Ralph “Look Like Money” He’s a newcomer out of Atlanta but he’s hittin’ real hard. And that thing is a real good street song. It’s not one of those songs that sounds like a one hit wonder, it sounds like an introduction to a great album. And the crowd loves that one every time it comes one.

Soulja Boy “Supaman (Crank Dat Soulja Boy)” Soulja Boy reinvented the snap sound and came up with a whole new dance. And it don’t seem like it’s an easy dance but they’re doing the dance.

3

C-Murder “Down For My Niggaz” It could be 300 or 3000 muthafuckers in the club but when you throw this shit on everybody reps their hood. Even the club owner gets crunk on this.

Montana “Rock On” It’s another hood rock song. It’s kinda hard to come after a group like the Shop Boyz that came with hood rock but he did and did well. The song is just crazy. It’s another hood rock song that gets the crowd pumped up.

2

Mystikal “Here I Go” Even though this song over 10 years old, every single time I drop this joint in the club, they go craaazy!! FREE Mystikal!!

Tight “Dump That” It’s very underground, it’s a straight club song. It hasn’t hit big yet but it’ll hit big once he gets the right people to listen to it.

3 2

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Three 6 Mafia “Slob On My Knob” Instant singalong in the spot, even chickens be singing this shit.

“Slob on my knob, like corn on the cob....”

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Dj q45 NOMINATED FOR BEST CLUB DJ

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10 THINGS REAL DJs HATE

As told to Randy Roper // Photo by Julia Beverly

10 9 8

Shady Promoters When you’re a big time DJ, everybody’s trying to make a buck off of you.

Clubs With Bullshit Equipment Clubs should have up-to-date equipment. Most of them don’t understand the DJ is the most important part of the muthafuckin’ club, not the bar. Cause if the DJ ain’t good, no one’s gonna come in that muthafucker and drink from the bar. And some clubs don’t have speakers with enough bass, some clubs don’t have enough highs and mids. And some clubs don’t even have turntables, only CD players.

DJing For a Club That Doesn’t Really Fuck With Black Clients They need us cause they need to make money to save their muthafuckin’ club. The black dollar goes a long way. And these white clubs need that black dollar to keep their business afloat. White folks don’t drink like black people do. White folks drink $5 drinks.

A nigga will come in that bitch and spend $30 on one drink. White folks don’t do that unless they’re buying champagne or something.

7 6

Groupie Bitches That Wanna Get In the Club For Free I hate groupie bitches that you fuck and they think you owe them something.

5

DJs That Can’t Spin Vinyl Real DJs know how to spin vinyl. That’s how DJing started. Now, a muthafucker puts in a CD, presses play and the song plays. What about a DJ that knows how to play records and actually mix two records together? What happens if someone spills water on the CD player and the screen goes out? Then what? The party can’t go on.

Artists That Think You Are Their DJ Some artists come to a show and don’t have a DJ and expect you to be their DJ. Some artists come to do a show and expect the DJ there to have all their records for their show. I’m not your muthafuckin’ DJ.

Undercutting DJs Know your worth. Don’t let these clubs make you think you need them. They need us.

Warm-Up DJs That Think They’re the Headliner DJ When you go to the club and you hear the biggest song at 11:00 and it’s supposed to be played at 12, the warm-up DJ is trying to get shine the wrong way. The warm-up DJ is the most important part of the night if they warm the crowd up and get them ready for all the big records. If you have a good warm-up DJ that knows when to play a record and how to warm the crowd, parties go a lot better. It’s fucked up when you go to the club and they’re playing the biggest record at 11:00. The customers are wondering, “I hope they’re gonna play that again, because there ain’t nobody in this muthafucker yet.”

Overrated Big Name DJs If you read that and got mad, you’re one of those overrated big name DJs.

Artists Thinking Their Records Broke Themselves These artists don’t respect the DJs. Without us there is no you. I don’t give a fuck if your record is the baddest shit on the planet. If no DJ plays it, no one’s ever gonna know.

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1 OZONE MAG // 81

2007 HOUSTON CLUB RECORDS

As told to Randy Roper

NOMINATED FOR BEST RADIO DJ

10

Cupid f/ Unk & Fabo “Cupid Shuffle (remix)” The biggest “line dance” song to hit since Tha Bunny Hop out this way! This record’s an undeniable floor filler.

Rob G f/ Lil Keke & Slim Thug “Reppin’ My Block” The next Latin legend got’s the street goin’ crazy in the clubs with this one! “How You Like Me Now” featuring Trae is up next!

4

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Foxx f/ Lil Boosie & Webbie “Wipe Me Down” This is the “I’m fresh, creased up and fly” anthem in the club right now!

Lil Keke f/ Baby “I’m A G” Real shit the streets been needin’. Tha Don and Birdman, you gotta feel it!

Shop Boyz f/ Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire, & Trae “Party Like a Rockstar (remix)” Just when you thought the original version ran its course, here comes tha, tha, tha remix!

Gorilla Zoe f/ Trae & Young Jeezy “Hood Nigga (remix)” Boyz N Tha Hood’s newest member delivers another record for the streets from tha A to tha H. With Jeezy and Trae on the Houston remix, it’s officially been hood certified.

3 2

7

Trae f/ Lil Wayne “Screwed Up” The streets of tha N.O. and tha H team up for a hood and club favorite. You ain’t shit if you ain’t never been screwed up!

6

Trackstarz “Get It Big” They’re outta Dallas but making noise in the H! Ladies & fellas know what time it is when this record drops!

5

T.I. “Big Shit Poppin’” Big shit poppin’, little things stoppin’... Period.

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K.B. feat. Lil’ O & Wonderus “Put It In Tha Air” One of the youngest rappers comin’ out tha H, K.B. features S.U.C.’s Lil’ O and Edgebrook’s Wonderus on this strip club turned nightclub banger!

1

J. Cash & JON YOUNG T

ell me a little about yourselves.

J. Cash: We’ve been music for 11 years now, ever since we met in 9th grade. We didn’t really get a lot of exposure until Myspace came along, but we’ve had songs on pirate radio a little bit, back when Dawgman and them were doing their thing.

Jon Young: We kinda just kept working on the songs and getting better and learning from each song so we could make the next song better.

Speaking of Myspace, that outlet has been huge for you guys. I was on your site earlier today and you guys had over 10,000 plays this morning alone.

Jon Young: Yeah, we average around 30,000 to 40,000 per day, and we got almost 15 million total plays. We’ve only been on there maybe a year and a half.

J. Cash: And that’s all from word of mouth and people just coming through the page and telling their friends. We don’t do any spamming on people’s page or anything like that; it’s all from word of mouth and people putting our songs on their profiles. We have people in Indiana adding our songs to their profile. It’s growing all across the country.

Yeah, but you have a bigger Myspace buzz than artists with a top ten single.

I know you said it’s from word of mouth, but there has to be an element that attracted the word of mouth?

Jon Young: When I first signed up on Myspace, I added like the first 500 people, and they just started spreading. I just think it has to do with the music.

J. Cash: People can easily relate to it. It’s universal music.

Jon Young: And also we made our page look really professional, even though we weren’t major artists. People thought we were signed already.

J. Cash: It’s a lot in the presentation, with Jon Young doing all of the graphic work that made it look a lot more official before it even got to that point. A lot of people don’t realize the importance of the presentation. Its not just the music, the marketing is almost equally important.

Orlando is a pretty diverse city. How has that affected your music?

J. Cash: I was born and raised in Orlando — born in Florida Hospital. And growing up in the Pine Hills, Lockhart area it’s a good mix of different kind of people and different lifestyles and everything. You kinda just absorb that, and take that it, from the cars to the streets, to everything. It all just plays in to the sound of the music Jon Young: It’s a mixture of people from up North living here, from Cali, and a whole variety of people, but it’s still mainly a Southern influence living in Orlando, but you get a little bit of everything.

It seems like you get a lot of hometown love in Orlando. Do you think the fact that you are minorities in a black-dominated industry has hindered you or worked to your advantage?

Jon Young: I’d say in the beginning when we first started recording it was a problem, but in the past few years its gotten more accepted. It’s more about the actual music. If you make a hot track people don’t care what race you are.

J Cash: That’s another thing about the internet: People were hearing our songs on downloaded mix CDs and not even knowing that we were white, so to add to what Jon said, it really is about the music.

You just did a song with Lil Boosie, right? What else are you guys working on right now?

J. Cash: We just signed with Defient Entertainment under Warner Music, and we’re trying to make big things pop with that. We put out a couple of underground CDs, a few on our own, and we’re gonna be putting together a major

project pretty soon that will be in stores and all that. It’s gonna be kind of a combination of some of the songs from the albums along with some new songs, too.

Jon Young: We’ve been hitting all the DJ crews and everything, like the CORE DJs and all that. We’re trying to get some more exposure in the industry.

John Young Parkway is a major street in Orlando. Is that where your name came from?

Jon Young: Yeah, me and Wes Fif used to work together and we kinda came up with our names at the same time. His name is based on Colonial and West 50.

We thought it would be a good way to put the city on the map.

Speaking of Wes Fif, how is your current relationship with him, are you guys still cool?

Jon Young: Yeah, we’re cool. He’s just kinda going in a different direction musically. But we still talk everyday, so we’re cool.

What are you most looking forward to in terms of your career? What keeps you doing this rap thing for going on 11 plus years?

J. Cash: Me, personally, I just want to keep getting it out there. The music inspires me. It’s such a good feeling to hear our song played in a club, or to perform in front of a crowd that doesn’t even know us, and have them fans by the end of the show. We just got back from Milwaukee, and we performed in front of a crowd of 2,000 people who didn’t know us. By the second night, they wanted us back to perform again.

Jon Young: Yeah, that’s a real good feeling, and also we want to help out Orlando. There is so much talent that’s overlooked. There’s Treal, Dee Boi, and all these people who are struggling to make it, and if one of us can help someone else out, that’s really what it’s all about.

Does Orlando have what it takes to become the next big Hip Hop hub, like an Atlanta or Houston?

Jon Young: There’s no reason for it not to be.

J. Cash: It’s like any other city that doesn’t have any major artists that are really reppin’ hard for it. In Miami, they’re always shouting, “MIA,” “Dade County,” and “305” on songs. So Orlando artists just need to make the city more recognizable. So that’s what we push in our songs” “Orange County,” “Orlando,” “407,” and everything like that. We got people all over the country trying to get 407 hats because they can see that Orlando is gonna be the next big place for Hip Hop. Jon Young: We just gotta all work together, that’s the only way it’s gonna happen. If we all just stay to ourselves, it’s not gonna pop off like it should, but with teamwork we can do it.

You’ve got some pretty hot beats. What producers are you working with?

Jon Young: Actually, I do all the production myself.

J. Cash: Yeah, we do it all ourselves. It’s a combination of us doing all the hooks and coming up with all the concepts. We wanted to make it real easy, so we did everything in-house. Even the recordings are done in-house on the computer.

Jon Young: We were strapped for cash.

J. Cash: Yeah, the best way is to just start on your own. With us, it’s more about the quality of the music than the actual quality of the recording. We put some time in to think about the song and everything, and not just if it’s gonna be a hot sounding song, but if it’s gonna be marketable. // - Eric Perrin OZONE MAG // 83

NOMINATED FOR BEST RADIO DJ

Greg Street

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Keys to Longevity in the Game As told to Randy Roper // Photo by Julia Beverly

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Stay Grounded Be on time, focus on the music and respect the people you work with.

Television Know how to conduct yourself during a TV interview. Make sure your video is cool. [It doesn’t have to be] over the top, just creative.

Publicity Have a good publicity team, people that know how to put your story and music out there.

Street Team Depending on what type of record it is, getting your record in the streets, to the audience that’s your fan base. Street teams really [need] to hit the foundation of what your music is about and the audience that’s you’re catering to.

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Promoters [They are] the people that book the shows. Don’t try to charge [them] too much money, and they’ll stay in business. If they stay in business, they’ll keep you in business.

5

Concerts Know how to perform. We got so many rappers who got record deals and got records out that don’t even know how to hold the mic. They’re screaming to the soundman to turn their mic up and they have their fucking hand over the mic.

4

Retail A lot of people are blaming the slump in retail on downloads and bootlegging. But the real factor is artists. When they get so big they feel like they’re too good to go to retail stores. Like Beyonce

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and Jay-Z, those types of artists, they ain’t going to a retail store to do an in-store, sign autographs and sign CDs, so people don’t really have a reason to go to the stores. If there’s nothing special about going, why should I go and I can sit at home and download the shit on a computer? You should have a good relationship with the retailers, the distributors and the buyers. If you have a good relationship with the retailers and distributors, they’ll push your record more.

Streets Make sure that you give back to the streets, the real people in the streets that support your music. If you’re neo-soul, go to the neosoul clubs. If you’re rap and street, go to the street clubs or the hood clubs. Be out in the community, doing different things in the community. Scholarships, giving back, order food for career day.

Radio Have a good relationship with the DJs and the radio stations. When you come to a market, don’t be too lazy to go by the radio station and do interviews. If you’re a big artist you want to remain big.

When you’re outta sight, you’re outta mind, so people don’t think about you. And there’s always somebody trying to take your place.

So the radio stations that made you what you are, you need to continue to do what you do when you first got in the game.

Fans Make sure you stay connected with the fans, through the internet, through Myspace. Don’t be an asshole when people see you in public. Keep a personal relationship with the fans.

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10 RECORDS TO GET THE CLUB POPPIN’

Superstar j Kwik NOMINATED FOR BEST CLUB DJ

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Curt Cru Sho f/ G-Rob “Let’s Get Freaky” This is a Dade County special! Shout out to DJ Skip-A-Chuck (R.I.P.) for putting us up on this one. This always gets the club jumpin’! A party record no more, no less! Guaranteed to fill the dance floor. A Florida classic!

Notorious B.I.G. “One More Chance (remix)” CLASSIC RECORD. Note to all DJs: PLAY THIS IF YOU ARE DYING IN THE PARTY. This will win the ladies over and the fellas will follow.

Jay-Z “Public Service Announcement” This is the hardest intro of any song on planet earth! “Allow me to reintroduce myseeeeelfff!!!” Just Blaze murked this one. I don’t care if you’re from the North, South, Midwest or West Coast, this shit goes hard in the paint off the dribble!

Nappy Headz “Robbery” For all those that don’t know, this is the group T-Pain was in and produced for before Rappa Ternt Sanga. It’s the consummate street song. “This one here for da thuuuugs / All my thugs cock your 9’s like this…” 8-5-0, Tallahassee, FL Leon County club classic.

Birdman f/ Chop “Out The Ghetto” This is a hood classic! Period. This is for all the people from the ghetto that have made it. The chorus drives this song. The beat is infectious. Ladies and thug niggas love this song, especially when they’re liquored up. Play this after 1 AM!

O.H.B. “Paralyzed” Free J-Green! When I first got this record, J-Green said, “Kwik, we coming to The Moon to support the record.” They came 100 deep!

Ever since then it’s been a club classic. It’s an ode to getting high, drunk and geeked up!

Fat Man Scoop f/ Faith Evans “Be Faithful” Classic party break. Motivates any and every crowd, from old to young. ‘Nuff said.

Gucci Mane “Trap House” This is a street nigga classic. This one motivates all the dope boys and trap girls to get crunk and wild the fuck out!

Trick Daddy “Can’t Fuck With The South” This one’s from the little known Bait soundtrack, so I gotta thank DJ Demp for putting this on the map. The instrumental intro is incredible and the anticipation for Trick’s verse is bananas: “Hold up, wait one muthafuckin’ minuuuutte!”

C-Murder f/ Snoop Dogg “Down For My Niggaz” If you got a homeboy or homegirl, this is the ultimate club song, period. No matter what skin color, this tears the roof off the joint every time.

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e -40

NOMINATED FOR BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST)

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Mobb Shit Biotch!!

Though he didn’t invent the vintage sound the Bay Area is most known for, 40 coined the phrase “Mobb Muzik” and brought it to the main stream while screaming “mob shit biotch!” at the beginning of most songs on his albums. The slow-grinding bass and 808 kick drums that are the most distinctive sounds in contemporary southern rap music get their roots from Bay Area music and are highly prevalent in 40-Water’s catalogue, featuring production by Mobb Muzik pioneers Ant Banks, Sam Bostic and of course, Studio Ton. The Architect Of The Independent Hustle When E-40 and his Sick-Wid-It label signed to Jive, it was the most lucrative deal offered to any rapper in Hip Hop history. This unprecedented agreement between 40 and Jive allowed him to get more money per unit sold than any other rapper in the industry signed to a major label, while simultaneously allowing Sick-Wid-It Records to function as an independent label.

Family Over Friends Instead of following the lead of other rappers who made it big by signing and releasing music from meager emcees with lackluster lyrics off the strength of them being homies from the hood, E-40 kept it all in the family, enabling him to bring his family out of poverty. The result, two classic albums from the “family orientated” rap group The Click followed by the cross over hit “Sprinkle Me” and his son Droop-E becoming the new president of Sick-Wid-It Records as well as the most sought after producer in the Bay Area.

For 40’s efforts, “Lil E’s” beats were heard on every radio station, club and scraper in California this past summer and he was still a high school student.

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He Is The Original Friendly Neighborhood D-Boy In 1989 E-40 and The Click (then known as M.V.P.) released the infamous hood classic “Mr. Flamboyant.” When New York rappers were recording songs about battling or partying and L.A. rappers were releasing gangster rap, “Mr Flamboyant” emerged as the blueprint to what is now known as “Bling Rap.”

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He Is The Reigning Slanguage Samaritan If you are under 26, your favorite rap song by your favorite artist features catch phrases and slang terms by Mr. Flamboyant himself…

Every rapper got a little E-40 in him.

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He’s As Consistent As The Mailman With the exception of the two and a half year hiatus 40 took between Breakin’ News and My Ghetto Report Card, E-40 has released an album every year since 1993 consisting of hard hitting beats dubbed “Slumpers” and “Blappers” as well as innovative trend-setting lyrics. Not only focusing on quantity, but quality, seven of the nine solo albums released by E-40 are recognized as classics by his truest fans.

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reasons why E-40 is the most underrated rapper in Hip Hop Words by Keita Jones // Photo by Eric Johnson

“Anybody Can Get It” Not only the title of a previously released track, but also a philosophy that E-40 lives by. The fast talking unorthodox style of rapping E-40 is known for was no longer recognized as a sign of weakness in 1996 when he released “Record Haters” – a song that took shots at basketball player Rasheed Wallace and Queens rapper AZ for talking down on him during interviews. To date, no one has had the gall to cater a diss record towards the V-Town veteran.

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Posse Cuts Before it became popular to release a remix of a Bay Area song featuring everybody and they mama, Charlie Hustle dropped “Dusted and Disgusted” featuring 2-Pac, Spice-1 and Mac Mall. The song about female gamers who set unaware horny males up for robbery, featured an artist from nearly every corner of the Bay Area (Pac’s Bay Area roots were from Marin City, not Oakland), something that was never done before.

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He Ain’t Rappin Too Fast, Y’all Listening Too Slow Not many rappers have the versatility E-40 does. One minute he can be the tongue-twisting demon on “Rep Yo City” and “Element of Surprise,” spewing lyrics so fast that will make Twista and Busta’s rhymes sound like they were screwed up by OG Ron C, to slowing it down so listeners can comprehend the game spat in songs like “The Way it Is,” “Rappers Ball” and “Happy to Be Here.”

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The Ambassador It takes a lot of humility for the Bay Area’s most popular rapper to not refer to himself as the “King.” Instead, 40 chooses to refer to himself as the “Ambassador of the Bay,” expressing his influence, while at the same time paying homage to his predecessors.

He is the true ambassador to the Bay pushing every Bay Area trend into the mainstream. Within minutes of a 40 song release, copycat hyphy songs by local artists spring up and amateur videos appear on youtube.com featuring teenagers from suburban America ghostriding their whips.

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dj irie NOMINATED FOR BEST CLUB DJ

Club Records of All Time As told to Randy Roper

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Jim Jones – “We Fly High (Ballin’)” I always gotta give it up to an artist or a group that can not only make a great club record, but have it transcend into the sports world as well. It’s pretty amazing when you see the whole New York Giants “ballin’.” There’s sports commentators now using that term because of the record, so you know you’ve got a monster on your hands when it gets to that level. But I’ve gotta give it up to Jim and them for having a record that really just transcended into something bigger than just a radio or club record.

Run DMC – “Tricky” Back to the old school. When they came out wit’ that, it had so much energy. The shit was poppin’ everywhere. That record is a staple in my set. Every time I drop that record it’s an incredible reaction.

Jay Z – “Give It To Me” That was one of the few records that got an instant reaction. It’s not many times I play a record for the first time that’s not on the radio, it’s no video out for it, not on any mixtapes and it gets that type of reaction. I got the record from Dame [Dash] and all them that Saturday night, and I went to the club and I played it. I must have played that record seven or eight times. They couldn’t get enough of it. And that’s the first time anyone in that club had ever heard the record. It’s a very, very special thing when you can play a record in the club for the very, very first time and get people just go crazy about it. That’s why I gotta give it up to Jay. DMX – “Party Up” Still today, this shit is so bananas. This record still gets a reaction.

That’s one of the few Hip Hop records that transcended into the sports world as well. At any kind of sports engagement, that record still is on today in a major way.

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Sugar Hill Gang – “Rapper’s Delight” The significant thing about that record was that it was one of the first rap records that everyone could sing along to. It was the blueprint of what rap was going to be and what Hip Hop was going to be. Anyone who was exposed to Hip Hop from an early age or back in the day, nine times out of ten, this was the record that got them crunk.

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Dre Dre featuring Snoop – “Nothin’ But a G Thang” No matter where you go, the second you hear this beat, the dance floor is gonna be packed. That’s the classic West Coast groove that disrupted the nation. Everybody knew that joint, no matter what region. Drop “Nothin But a G-Thang” and it opens up the door to a West Coast set.

Notorious B.I.G. – “Hypnotize” Hell yeah. Shit, what more explanation do you need? It’s Biggie bitches! At the time he was puttin’ out all kinds of records, talkin’ bout all kinds of things from the “Ten Crack Commandments” to “Dreams,” all great records which people would bump around their cars on it. This was that record like, “Hey, you know what, I can own the clubs too. I can own the clubs and make everybody dance all night as well.” And that was that record that made that statement.

Rob Bass & DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two” I’m going old school a little bit. Pretty much whatever age group or wherever you from, if you’ve been in the club, that’s just a club anthem. You put that record on pretty much anywhere, anytime and you’re going to get a reaction. You’re going to get someone who can relate to that song and it’s just a classic.

Terror Squad – “Lean Back” A lot of dance records have come out in history, but there’s never been a Hip Hop record about a dance that really crossed over with pretty much everybody. What 50 did with “In Da Club,” in terms of just getting people to sing along wit the record, is what Terror Squad did wit’ “Lean Back,” getting everyone to do the dance. From high school kids, to people older, sophisticated folks, everyone knew about this dance. “Lean Back” was that record that everyone, no matter what language you spoke, where you’re from, you knew how to do that dance.

50 Cent – “In Da Club” The reason why that record is so incredible is that’s one of the first records on some real Hip Hop shit that I would play, not only for the high school parties or younger audiences; I would do Heat games and older sophisticated crowds. I wasn’t playing any Hip Hop at all, but if it was one Hip Hop song they wanted to hear it was 50 Cent “In Da Club.” I mean, even the real old white people were singin’, “It’s your birthday.” It turned into this whole birthday song. If someone is celebrating their birthday, they wanna hear “In Da Club.” I’d definitely say by far that’s the number one club bangin’ record.

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OZONE MAG // 89

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REASONS WHY I’M THE MAN

As told to N. Ali Early // Photo by Ty Watkins

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I’m Willing To Go All Out In the movie Scarface, he was willing to go out and they had to respect it. Even though they took him out they had to respect it. Like, “Damn! We didn’t just take him. He went out with a bang!”

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I Speak Highly Of My Peers Without allies you can’t be a king. You can be a don, but you can’t be a boss.

8

I Realize My Responsibility If you’ve got people who follow you, it comes with responsibility. If you’re not a supreme leader or someone who understands what it is to be a leader, it doesn’t make a difference.

You’ll never be seen.

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I Trust God You gotta keep God close at all times and if you do things that may not be right, you gotta pray about it and ask his forgiveness.

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I Am The Streets I really walk a lot of what these rappers talk about. I lived it and I did it in two cities.

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I Love What I Do It’s not something I just like to do, like a broad… I’d get tired of her.

4

I Take The Bitter With The Sweet You gotta take a loss to get your ball on, and I’m committed to my success.

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I’m Focused On The Finish Line Whatever I gotta do to get there within my means, I’ma do, and that means inside and outside of the studio.

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I Stand Behind My Word I never over-obligate myself to people or tell people I’ma do something I know I can’t do.

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Paid The Cost To Be The Boss From the grind, to the initial hood, to the good life, I’ve done everything under the sun to get money.

At the same time even from a hood perspective you don’t just come in the hood and just be the man.

NOMINATED FOR PATIENTLY WAITING CALIFORNIA It take grind and it take time to get the respect of other hood niggas.

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10 Favorite Albums

As told to N. Ali Early

bishop lamont NOMINATED FOR PATIENTLY WAITING CALIFORNIA

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Prince - Purple Rain It was a whole new level of rock & roll and soul.

Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggy Style When Snoop came out, it rocked the world.

N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton That got everybody trying to gangbang and do it correctly, for the most part.

Ice Cube – Amerikkka’s Most Wanted One of the greatest albums ever, hands down.

Michael Jackson – Thriller What else can be said? The nigga bust a move when the video came out. “Beat It.” ‘Nuff said Raekwon – Only Built For Cuban Linx You can sing almost every song by heart. You had “Ice Cream,” you had “Verbal Intercourse” with him, Nas and Ghostface, etc. It was Wu-Gambinos. The type of production that RZA did on there, I haven’t heard til this day.

Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life You don’t even need to say nothing else. If you ain’t got that album, niggas need to be pimp slapped.

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Nirvana – Nevermind What it did for grunge and rock, it was just innovation, period.

When “Smells Like Teen Spirit” first came out I was still in high school. I think I was the ninth grade when I heard that shit. We was the only mu’fuckas in Compton High playing that shit, That’s how gangsta that was.

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Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the 36 Chambers Never heard nothing like that. They were mixing the kung-fu movies and Shaolin shit with raps and niggas coming out of New York with crazy shit. When I first heard ODB on “Shame on the Nigga,” it was crazy.

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A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders After Low End Theory, they came out with some shit like this. When I heard “Electric Relaxation,” it changed my life.

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REASONS why Clyde Carson got next

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I’m Comfortable With Stardom Ever since I started emceeing I felt like it was going to become something bigger. I always felt like I was the best at what I was doing. I’m a star in the Bay and I know what comes with the territory.

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I Understand I Have To Grow I’m good in the streets, but I know that the only way I’m going to blow up is if I leave the Town. The Bay Area is its own world. If I wanted to I could stay here and be cool on an independent level and do a chitlin’ circuit, but I want more.

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I Have A Dedicated Fan Base The only thing the fans got in common with me is they feel I’m the one who can take it to that next level. It’s not something that I’m out there pushing. I’m just giving them my music.

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I Ain’t Scared To Take Risks I’ve been homeless in New York and slept in train stations, out there gettin’ it. I was out there on the East Coast tough in 2001 and 2002 when platinum acts were coming out there, hustlin’ and gaining game. Niggas respect a nigga’s hustle.

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I’m Not Scared To Grow I’m from Oakland, but I’ve lived all over the country and got game from hella different areas. I soaked up game from everywhere and spread my game nationally, so when I do come out, I got a universal sound.

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I’m A Real Hood Nigga Straight Outta Oakland I’m from the land of the hustlers and I’m bringing a new sound to Bay Area music, trying to expand nationally and gain respect from my hood niggas everywhere.

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I’m On A Major Label I’m one of the few Bay Area artists that’s signed to a major label – Capitol Records. I’m gaining major promotion with my new single, “Doing Dat,” produced by J.R. Rotem.

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I’m A Peacemaker I negotiated a joint venture between Moe Doe entertainment and The Game that unified Oakland And Compton, bringing together Northern and Southern California.

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I Own Moe Doe Entertainment We are home to many Bay Areas artists such as myself and Keak da Sneak and The Team. Together we’ve sold over 200,000 records independently.

NO MI NA TE DF OR PA TIE NT LY WA ITI NG CA LIF OR NI A

As told to N. Ali Early

Hyphy Juice Energy Drink It’s the # 1 energy juice in the Bay Area and a huge phenomenon. It’s spreading over the whole West Coast as far south as San Diego and as north as Seattle, expanding even to Utah. It’s independent and black-owned.

OZONE MAG // 93

NOMINATED FOR BEST MIXTAPE DJ

top 10 Artists Next To Blow

NOMINATED FOR BEST MIXTAPE DJ

As told to Randy Roper Photo by Edward Hall

Rapid Ric

bigga rankin

top 10

ARTISTS TO LOOK OUT FOR As told to Randy Roper // Photo by Ray Tamarra

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Jacki-O (Miami, FL) She’s the bitch you love to hate!

P.R.C. (Ft. Myers, FL) The #1 group out of Florida.

Papa Duck (Belle Glade, FL) He is an excellent producer/rapper, and he stays on the grind.

Young Cash (Jacksonville, FL) It’s his muthafuckin’ turn.

Big Floaty (Atlanta, GA) He’s paid his dues.

Treal (Orlando, FL) Good music, great performance, and they stay on the grind!

Swordz (Jacksonville, FL) He’s got the lyrics, the swag, and he’s a beast on the stage.

TMI Boyz (Houston, TX) They are what the industry is missing.

BOB (Atlanta, GA) I like his style and delivery. He is the future of Hip Hop.

Wes Fif (Orlando, FL) This lil nigga is just every–muthafuckinwhere!

Da Bosnian Incredible beat-makin’ skills for almost all of Texas.

Black Mike Producer, singer, rapper, writer and class clown: be prepared to hear a lot from him in the near future.

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Latasha of Carnival Beats This young lady has a voice, a look and the best producers any Southerner could ask for. Plus, what I’ve heard at their studio is even better.

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Magno The once-DJ Clue-affiliated artist hopes to continue his North Houston reign with his Green City Movement.

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Kyle Lee 3rd Degree’s Rap Superstar continues to make singles and drop tapes like there’s no tomorrow.

Da Ryno Dirty 3rd Record’s Big Man has grown to have his own style and has been appealing to artists all over Texas.

Famous With San Antonio being one of the largest cities in the US now, and no steady rap scene, Chamillionaire’s first signed artist has a bright future set for himself and his label Cocked & Locked.

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Gerald G Not just because he’s my artist on Dew Music, but the energy; either recorded or live, will make everyone a 1st time fan.

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Gorilla Zoe We all love the “Hood Nigga” record, and we’ve heard a couple of features. I wanna know what the album sounds like.

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Chalie Boy Everyone from Texas to Florida knows this dude has the biggest street buzz down here. We’re all just waitin’ for the majors to put it on paper.

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top 10 ARTISTS NEXT TO BLOW

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As told to Randy Roper

Carlos Cartel (Charleston, SC) Carlos Cartel has the look, lyrics and street credibility that all of the so-called “gangster rappers” in the music industry today rap about and A&Rs look for. Even though his “beef” with Juvenile cast a dark shadow over his career, Carlos Cartel has bounced back and proved that he’s no gimmick rapper and just because his career started off on a bad note it won’t end there. Popping up in magazines across America and appearing on tons of street DVDs, Carlos Cartel is making moves in the rap game as an indie artist that most signed artists dream of.

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Ferl Gates (Charleston, SC) Ferl Gates blends a smooth, laid back rap style with a deep Geechie accent to give him a flow that’s not only unique, but very catchy also.

Ferl’s strong point is his ability to write hooks that are simple yet articulate and make music that slaps you in the face with the dark realism of the world we live in. His deep tone accents his dark lyrics and helps him paint a picture of street life and poverty that are the main topic of most of his songs. You want the streets? Ferl Gates will give it to you on a silver platter.

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Charlieo (Charlotte, NC) Charlieo has come a long way in a short period of time and has grown as an artist in leaps and bounds. Charlieo’s animated rap style and the deep country twang in his voice were once his biggest attributes but he’s stepped his lyrics up to the point that his catchy rhymes now have a true purpose and firm lyrical substance to match.

Charlieo’s improvements over the last 7 months are a sign that in months to come he’ll be a highly sought after artist in the music industry.

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Brandon D (Greensboro, NC) Brandon D is a lyrical beast that can freestyle for hours on end and turn around and make a complete song in the studio. With freestyling being his strength he can rap about any and every topic there is known to man at the drop of a dime. But unlike most freestyle rappers, Brandon D’s story telling abilities are what will make your head spin. After losing his deal with Elektra Records when the company folded, Brandon D has added a 3rd element to his music: grinding!

Not only can you catch Brandon D performing at damn near every club in North Carolina but also posted up in the back of the club with a table full of his projects and the latest mixtapes he’s featured on.

Like he says in one of his freestyles, “The back of my wrapped truck looks like a convenience store.”

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P.I.M.P. (Charleston, SC) P.I.M.P.’s lyrical versatility is his most interesting attribute. He can go from making a song that makes you want to shoot the person next to you to making a song that makes you want to pawn your jewelry and feed the homeless in 3 minutes flat. He also knows how to change flow mid-bar and go from slow and “pimpish” to aggressive and intense. P.I.M.P’s ability to make bouncy club bangers and songs that are both politically and socially conscientious will make him a hot commodity within the next few months.

5

Kinfolk Kia Shine (Memphis, TN) Kinfolk Kia Shine’s delivery is unlike any other new artist in the game today. His smooth and mellow flow meshes perfectly with the beats he chooses to spit over and creates music that will make you head nod without you even noticing it. His unique swagger and flashy style of dress also put him in a class all by himself when it comes to the other new artists emerging from the South. If his music doesn’t make you think he’s a star, then his clothing definitely will.

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BloodRaw (Panama City, FL) BloodRaw’s high-pitched southern drawl is the first thing that grabs your attention when you hear his music. After being lured in by his voice, you immediately notice that his lyrics are not only catchy, but bear a realness that lets you know that everything he’s spitting is factual. BloodRaw’s ability to capture every aspect of the street life through his words will keep you listening to his music for hours without getting tired of hearing him.

Grandaddy Souf (Orlando, FL) Grandaddy Souf’s work ethic and perseverance are unmatched by 90% of the artists in the game today. Unlike most rappers who focus on looking for “hit” records to push their career, Grandaddy Souf has relied on making plain ol’ good music and not following the “one hitta quitta” formula that seems to be degrading and dissolving Southern music. Grandaddy Souf puts together tight verses with catchy hooks and knows the importance of making a good, complete song.

3

Tum Tum (Dallas, TX) Tum Tum has a distinct flow and a very original voice to match. Tum’s ability to make a street anthem as well as a club banger is what sets him apart from a lot of new artists in the game. His style of dress as well as his shag haircut also separates him from the slew of new artists that have come out this year.

2

Trae (Houston, TX) Trae represents the streets to the fullest and reflects that in every song he drops. His flow is versatile and he can spit rhymes faster than Twista without sacrificing lyrical content. On top of that, he can sing just as good as he can rap. On most songs he shows that he can carry a tune better than most R&B stars. Trae is the total package when it comes to Southern rap.

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Dj Chuck T NOMINATED FOR BEST MIXTAPE DJ

OZONE MAG // 95

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Z A Y A L P CIRCLE

: R NT US PL NE ST LLA MO O A O LA OZ T CO, HOT DSHOP S I WEGAMESON, B E TH CAR DE CLY

2nd ANNUAL OZONE AWARDS SPECIAL EDITION

ETZ E R T S A H T G N I B R DISTU NNIE FRESH MA

LIL BOOSIE JIM JONES RICK ROSS RICH BOY

& MORE

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