RAW, UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT

NEW bOYZ THE JACKA J-RICH

QuIT HATINTHE WEST

LMfAO SHORT STORIES

WILLY NORTHPOLE
OZONE MAG // 1

RAISING ARIZONA

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editOrS NOte IM JUST SAYINTHO BY D-RAY

s hundreds of millions of people around the world mourn the death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, so do I. In my mind and in my heart, the King of Pop will never die, even though I never got the chance to see, touch, or freeze a moment with him! Man, that was a concert Ive always wanted to experience since I was a child. I would run through the house laughing, dancing, and singing without a care no matter what Michael record was playing. He brought life into households around the world in an amazing way. Every since he was a child, Michael had a gift that you normally dont find in such a young person. He had soul for real, not the fake soul people talk about. When he sang, he got so caught up in the emotion of the record. I think thats what made the world such huge fans of his! He came with real music! I didnt want to believe it when I heard that he was rushed to the hospital. I was so devastated, believe it, and Im not one to get all emotionally caught up and cry over a celebrity, especially one Ive never even met! But, you have to understand that when I was a child, he brought so many happy times into my single parent home during hard times. I recall that when my mom played Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and Lionel Richie she would just glow! So the memory of MJ has always been a great feeling. He just made everything better through his music! Ever since I was very young, my auntie promised she would take me to a Michael Jackson concert, but it just never worked out. There was hope when I heard he was planning his London tour. I thought, damn, I should just take a vacation and go out to London so I could see him during his last tour! WOW! I procrastinated myself right out of that idea and didnt get tickets in time. The day he died, I was at DJ Backsides house in Los Angeles. I told her, I bet you anything the kid that accused him of the child molestation charges will come clean and say he was lying! He wont be able to live with the lie any longer. Right after that, I heard that he did come forward to clear up the allegations. Michael Jackson will live on through his music forever. His funeral was very touching. He had an amazing support team that came out to show everlasting love and respect for him. The speakers had some great and touching things to say to him. It was great when Al Sharpton turned to Michael Jacksons three children and said, There was noth-

ing strange about your daddy. What was strange was what he had to deal with! Brooke Shields was also very touching, with her memory of MJ. I cracked up when she said, Aye, so whats up with the glove? I just thought as his friend, shed seen a lot and been through a lot with him! Usher also touched me with his song. Magic, yeah, hes too much with the story he told about the cook asking him what he wanted to eat and he said grilled chicken. Thats what he got, as MJ had a bucket of KFC. Magic said, Man, Michael, you eat KFC? Too funny to have such memories. My heart goes out to his children. Paris killed me when she spoke and said her final goodbyes to her father. My daddy was the best daddy! I love him! Thats something thats very hard to do. I know when my granddaddy passed, I couldnt even talk at his funeral. I can honestly say that I regret not being able to say my final goodbye to him at the funeral out loud, but I guess I did say my goodbyes when he took his final breath. It just felt like he waited for me to come in his room to say he loved me before taking that last breath. Im grown, and I know how hard that was to deal with, so I cant imagine being eleven years old and dealing with death. We shouldnt take our everyday lives for granted, nor the lives of the family we have around us. Tomorrow is not promised! We are all on borrowed time, and when God calls for us, its time to go home! Only God can judge us, so love life and live it with no regrets. Make sure you tell your people you love them. I know its a task with the stressful lives we live, but always try to show it. Make the effort to let them know it! With that being said, I love you mom, for never turning your back on your kids and putting us first over everything in your life. Being a single parent is a struggle, and you did a great job! R.I.P. The King of Pop Michael Jackson! Thank you for bringing such great memories to my hard times as a child.
- D-Ray, OZONE West Editor-At-Large dray@ozonemag.com

P.S.: I feel that the BET Awards sold all their viewers short without a Chris Brown MJ Tribute. Chris Brown wouldve shut it down, hands down! Much love, Chris! The world needs to learn how to forgive, especially when its not their business. If you didnt see it yourself, please dont tell me what it looks like! Again, only God can judge us!

DJ Quik & me in L.A.

Me & Terrace Martin in L.A.

Andre Nickatina & me @ Club Me & felecia @ Cinco de Suede in San francisco, CA Mayo in San Jose, CA

Ya Boy f/ Dr. Hollywood Run LA Willie Joe f/ Traxamillion Giggin Juice f/ Bun B Crush My Cool Mistah FAB Hit Me On Twitter DJ Quik f/ Kurupt 9 Times Outta 10 Glasses Malone f/ Rick Ross, Baby, & T-Pain Sun Come Up The Jacka f/ Andre Nickatina Glamorous Lifestyle

tOP 10 SLAPS

DJ BACKSIDES
Big Rich Something Special Damani You The One E-40 On Oil

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(above L-R): Shawnna & Ludacris @ K 107 Summer Jam in Denver, CO; G Malone & Jay Rock in Los Angeles, CA (Photos: D-Ray); Hurricane Chris & Soulja Boy @ Hot 103 Summer Jam in Kansas City, MO (Photo: Ms Rivercity)

01 // DJ Quik, guest, & Jay Rock on the set of DJ Quik & Kurupts 9x Out Of 10 video shoot (Los Angeles, CA) 02 // DJ D-Wrek, DJ Backside, & Pizo @ Tatous (Los Angeles, CA) 03 // Cellski & Dame Fame @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 04 // Damani reppin his Adidas shoe @ Tatous (Los Angeles, CA) 05 // Kafani, Gary Archer, Laroo, DJ Juice, Gold Toes, Matt Blaque, & guests @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 06 // Raekwon, Bad Lucc, DJ Quik, & Warren G @ West Lake Studios (Los Angeles, CA) 07 // Nio Tha Gift & Willy Northpole @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 08 // Trae & J Prince (Los Angeles, CA) 09 // Gorilla Zoe & P-Nut @ Club Elixir (Anchorage, AK) 10 // Kuzzo Fly, T. Woods, Mistah FAB, Kilo Kurt, & Big Dant @ Mistah FABs Hit Me On Twitter video shoot (East Oakland, CA) 11 // Tito Bell & Willie Joe @ Fahrenheit for Nio Tha Gifts album release (San Jose, CA) 12 // Mitchy Slick & D-Lo @ Mistah FABs Hit Me On Twitter video shoot (East Oakland, CA) 13 // Terrace Martin & Roscoe @ West Lake Studios (Los Angeles, CA) 14 // Willy Northpole,The Jacka & FedX @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 15 // Gary Archer, Furious, & Balance @ Bay Area Music Conference (Berkeley, CA) 16 // Erk Tha Jerk & Nio Tha Gift @ Mistah FABs Hit Me On Twitter video shoot (East Oakland, CA) 17 // DJ Moe1, DJ Drama, & DJ Juice @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet (San Francisco, CA) 18 // AP9 & Rahmean @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 19 // DJ KTone & DJ Mars @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) Photo Credits: Bad Lucc (13); D-Ray (01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19); Julia Beverly (09)

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s much as I love hanging out in New York or D.C., partying all night in Miami, ATL, or H-Town, and as much as I love Midwest women and all my Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee homies, Im still a 100% Cali Nigga. I love being from the West Coast. Its been over ten years since the nations love for West Coast Hip Hop transformed into a hatred that has been analyzed and explained in a million different ways. The most popular version Ive heard is that the West Coast is just plain whack and we dont have skills, but Ive even heard people claim that because we killed Tupac and Biggie theres a curse on West Coast rap music. But, whatever reasons people have for hating on the West, that isnt what I want to talk about. I believe if the right artist comes out with the right music, it doesnt matter where youre from. The music will speak for itself. Speaking for myself and quite a few other West Coast rappers, we have been eating and continue to eat good off Hip Hop. Id rather have a long career than one huge hit record and then your career is over. Its cool with me if you say fuck the West Coast or if you feel that the Dirty South or the East Coast is whack. I dont have a problem with your opinion because I love Hip Hop period and in my world, there is no regional dominance. I love rap music from everywhere. Im into the beats, the rhythms, and the subjects, not just whoever the media says is hot. I love originality as well as the same old everyday shit that seems to work over and over again. I just want all of us to acknowledge the fact that the West Coast made some very significant contributions to Hip Hop. Too Shorts pimpin, Tupacs tattoos and his swag, Dr. Dres production, Snoops silky smooth delivery, E-40s slang and the overall West Coast street game and our dedication to the funk have all influenced Hip Hop. The East Coast gave us Hip Hop, no doubt about that. I heard the Jamaicans invented the whole deejaying and emceeing concepts that Hip Hop was born from. Right now I feel like the Dirty South is making sure Hip Hop stays fun and making sure that we dont let go of the importance of dancing and rap music. I think the Midwest is making sure the originality and integrity of Hip Hop isnt lost in the monotony of lately. In the meantime, the East and West Coast artists are attempting to maintain careers and bring fresh new artists to the forefront. Wherever this Hip Hop journey takes us, you can never come to the conclusion that the West Coast was never relevant or the West Coast didnt contribute to the culture. When and if its ever all said and done, I believe every region will be recognized for their advancements and contributions to the Hip Hop culture. So, do me a favor and quit hating on everybody thats not your homie or your favorite rapper or from your region, and learn to appreciate the good things in our world that arent promoted by Corporate America a.k.a. Major Labels. Hit me up on my crackberry at ShortStories@ozonemag.com

THE WEST CoAST HAS MADE SoME vERY SIgNIfICANT CoNTRIBuTIoNS To HIp Hop: Too SHoRTS pIMpIN, TupACS TATTooS AND HIS SWAg, DR. DRES pRoDuCTIoN, SNoopS SILkY SMooTH DELIvERY, E-40S SLANg AND THE ovERALL WEST CoAST STREET gAME.

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(above L-R): Gary Payton & Too Short @ the Palms for Too Short & DJ Franzens private TV show launch party in Las Vegas, NV; Memphitz remembering Michael Jackson on the red carpet @ the BET Awards in Los Angeles, CA; Bow Wow & Baby Bash @ K 107 Summer Jam in Denver, CO (Photos: D-Ray)

01 // JT Tha Bigga Figga & Cellski @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 02 // GoldToes & DJ Amen @ Club Suede (San Francisco, CA) 03 // DJ KTone, Stooie Bros, Baby Bash, & Cory @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 04 // Bad Lucc & Krondon of Strong Arm Steady @ SAS Studio (Los Angeles, CA) 05 // Matt Blaque, Shady Nate, 211, & DJ Devro @ Street Symphony Studios (Fremont, CA) 06 // Soulja Boy signing autographs @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 07 // Baydilla, the boat captain, & Gorilla Zoe on the Portage Glacier cruise (Anchorage, AK) 08 // DJ Drama & JT Tha Bigga Figga @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet (San Francisco, CA) 09 // Kurupt & Gail Gotti @ G1 Studio (Los Angeles, CA) 10 // Jamal, Gary Archer, Laroo, & Amon @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet (San Francisco, CA) 11 // DJ Chonz & DJ KTone @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 12 // Bad Lucc & We Da West reps on the set of DJ Quik & Kurupts 9x Out Of 10 video shoot (Los Angeles, CA) 13 // DJ Crook & Big Rich @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 14 // Odd & Even @ Bay Area Music Conference (Berkeley, CA) 15 // Nio Tha Gift & The Jacka @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 16 // DJ Smallz & Pookie from Urban South @ Ms Honey Siccles release party (Oklahoma City, OK) 17 // DJ Quik, Richie Abbott, & Kurupt @ G1 Studios (Los Angeles, CA) 18 // Baydilla & Megga @ Club Elixir (Anchorage, AK) 19 // Jimmy Roses, Goldtoes, & Serg Knight @ Cinco de Mayo (San Jose, CA) Photo Credits: D-Ray (01,02,03,04,05,06,08,09,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,19); Edward Hall (16); Julia Beverly (07,18)

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imilar to the basketball player who shares his moniker, Bay Area rapper J Rich has been traveling a lot over the last couple of years. Though he still calls the Bay home, Rich had to do some jet setting to get his career going the way he wanted it to. Hed been soaking up game from the areas well known independent scene for years before he even put his first project out, but it took a move to New York to get things going. I moved to NYC in 2006, just me on my own, he recalls, mentioning being the studio with everyone from The Game to Fabolous and sharing studio time at Sony Studios with both 50 Cent and Beyonce. My nigga Sky Balla moved with me and he got a small deal. I was piggy-backing off him while I was out there and ran into everyone in the industry. I put together three projects in one year, a DVD and everything. I came back to the West Coast in 2007 with wrapped vans and everything, dropping all four of my projects. Unfortunately, upon his return, J Rich saw a number of his friends and associates caught up in a deadly crime wave. Figuring that sticking around would be bad for business, he made another move, this time to Miami. Niggas is used to what theyre used to, sighs Rich, of his peers who are regional superstars, but national unknowns. Ive begged niggas to come with me, but they cant leave home. Theyre in love with their comfort zone. If they leave their comfort zone, they think they cant succeed. Dedicating the entire year of 2008 to networking (I didnt make any music, says Rich), the 28-year old rapper forged a relationship with Young Money Records, among others, and says he was recently invited to open up on this summers Young Money tour. In addition, J Rich is currently promoting his new single Im A Trapper, which uses the familiar hustlers theme of comparing the studio to the trap. But, the sound of the song is something that you may not expect from a Bay Area artist as it sounds like something more suited for a Southern artist. Im diverse, insists J Rich, the younger brother of Coleone, the man accused of killing the man who murdered Mac Dre. Ive lived in New York, Miami and Texas. Im trying to please everybody. My block loves me for who I am so they know what it is. Words by Maurice G. Garland Photo by Hiltron Bailey

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(above L-R): Erk Tha Jerk & Traxamillion @ Club Suede in San Francisco, CA; Roscoe & Kurupt @ G1 Studio in Los Angeles, CA (Photos: D-Ray); Gorilla Zoe rockin some native furs in Anchorage, AK (Photo: Julia Beverly)

01 // Willie Joe & Don P @ Club G3 (Los Angeles, CA) 02 // Ena Jade, D-Ray, Dru Down, & DJ Backside @ Club G3 (Los Angeles, CA) 03 // Big Rich loves the kids @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 04 // Baydilla & P-Nut @ Club Elixir (Anchorage, AK) 05 // DJ Devro, Willy Northpole, & Tiffany J @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 06 // DJ Quik & Kurupt @ Ruby Sky (San Francisco, CA) 07 // Jay-Z, DJ Franzen, & Lupe Fiasco @ The Palms (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // Keri Hilson & DJ Mars @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 09 // Laroo & Paul Wall @ Club Suede (San Francisco, CA) 10 // Nio Tha Gift & CoCo @ Bay Area Music Conference (Berkeley, CA) 11 // G-Stack, Gary Archer, Paul Wall, Mistah FAB, & Diesal @ Club Suede (San Francisco, CA) 12 // Danny Dee & DJ Impereal @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 13 // Gold Toes & his wife @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 14 // Roccett & crew on the set of Roccetts Bang video shoot (Los Angeles, CA) 15 // Guest, Kurupt, Bad Lucc, Damani, Roscoe, DJ Quik, & guest on the set of DJ Quik & Kurupts 9x Out Of 10 video shoot (Los Angeles, CA) 16 // DJ Rick Lee, DJ Juice, & ladies @ Club Suede (San Francisco, CA) 17 // Nio Tha Gift & his family @ Fahrenheit for Nio Tha Gifts album release (San Jose, CA) 18 // Gorilla Zoe & Megga @ Club Elixir (Anchorage, AK) 19 // Brannon Scales & Jay Rock (Los Angeles, CA) Photo Credits: D-Ray (01,02,03,05,06,08,09,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19); DJ Franzen (07); Julia Beverly (04,18)

OZONE MAG OZONE WEst // 9

Patiently Waiting
ver the last few months youve probably heard the term new west getting thrown around. Typically its been used to describe the offerings of artists such as Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock and Glasses Maloneartists who may be new, but are obviously cut from the traditional West Coast bandana cloth. But just as the early-90s gangsta rap era also came with groups like the Pharcyde, this new west movement also has act like Pac Div trailing alongside it. And in the coming months, expect an even newer west to come along thanks to Los Angeles-based teenagers Ben J and Legacy, appropriately named the New Boyz. Everything is becoming positive out here. People are growing out of that old mentality, says Ben J. Rapping about gangs aint really what its about out here now. Everybody is having fun. Legacy adds, I think music like ours is coming from people being tried of the same ol thing. People thought they had to bang to be the cool kid but now the smart kid is the cool kid. People being creative are the people coming up right now. Their hit song Youre A Jerk has teens from coastto-coast doing the accompanying dance and since their appearance at the 2009 BET Awards, a couple grown folks might get caught doing the dance too. The nimble dance step originated from the L.A. club scene, hugely inspired by the bassline from D4Ls Beam Me Up Scotty, hense the scratching of Fabos voice at the end of the song. [Youre A] Jerk is the least lyrical song we have, insists Ben J. We were already making fun songs, but with Youre A Jerk we just wanted to bring it outside of L.A. Currently prepping their debut album Skinny Jeans & A Mic, the New Boyz are poised to take both their music and image beyond La La Land. Judging from the straight-to-the-point title of the album, people should know what to expect. We dont care about whos talking about us. It gets old after while, says Legacy, of those who criticize their style. Its like the bully in school. They talk and talk, but after a while they look stupid. Electing to shy away from getting big name features on the album, the New Boyz vow to put on for their city by recruiting peers emerging from the same scene. Will they be able to usher in their own variation of the new west? We shall see. Words by Maurice G. Garland

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(above L-R): Paul Wall & Traxamillion @ Club Suede in San Francisco, CA; E-40 & Omeezy @ Tatous in Los Angeles, CA (Photos: D-Ray); Gorilla Zoe & Baydilla @ Club Elixir in Anchorage, AK (Photo: Julia Beverly)

01 // Amon, Gary Archer, Portia, & Big Rich @ Bay Area Music Conference (Berkeley, CA) 02 // DOT, DJ Imperial & John Brown @ Street Symphony Studios (Fremont, CA) 03 // DJ Quik, Russ, & Kurupt @ Ruby Sky (San Francisco, CA) 04 // Erk Tha Jerk, Big Rich, & Drew Gooden @ Fahrenheit for Nio Tha Gifts album release (San Jose, CA) 05 // 211 & K-Boy (Los Angeles, CA) 06 // DJ D-Wrek & E-40 @ Tatous (Los Angeles, CA) 07 // JT Tha Bigga Figga, The Jacka, AP9, & FedX @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 08 // Andre Nickatina & Paul Wall @ Club Suede (San Francisco, CA) 09 // Julia Beverly & Gorilla Zoe @ Club Elixir (Anchorage, AK) 10 // Boo, Kilo Kurt, Mitchy Slick, & Willie Joe @ Mistah FABs Hit Me On Twitter video shoot (East Oakland, CA) 11 // Gary Archer, DJ Rick Lee, & The Jacka @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 12 // Beat Roc, Nio Tha Gift, & Walt @ Mistah FABs Hit Me On Twitter video shoot (East Oakland, CA) 13 // DJ Maniakal & DJ Juice @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 14 // Nio Tha Gift & Bad Lucc @ Street Symphony Studios (Fremont, CA) 15 // Kurupt, DJ Quik, & their band backstage @ Ruby Sky (San Francisco, CA) 16 // Traxamillion & Bad Lucc @ Street Symphony Studios (Fremont, CA) 17 // Devi Dev, guest, Guerilla Black, & Hot Dollar @ Tatous (Los Angeles, CA) 18 // DJ Drama, Willie the Kid, & LA the Darkman @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet (San Francisco, CA) Photo Credits: D-Ray (01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18); Julia Beverly (09)

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ItS 113 deGReeS IN PhOeNIx, AZ, but WIlly NORthPOle ISNt SWeAtING A thING. heS the cOOleSt heS beeN IN A lONG tIme. hIS lONG-AWAIted debut Album Tha ConneCT IS fINAlly IN StOReS.

RAISING ARIZONA

WoRDS BY MaURICe G. GaRLanD PhoTo BY TY WaTKInS

It feels good, he says via telephone, with the smile on his face evident from the joy in his voice. I know what I did. I know how important this was for me and my city. Word of mouth is the best promotion I can have now. I have a product that I can actually sell. I have something on the shelf. Im in grind mode now. Willy burst onto the scene in 2007 with a Disturbing Tha Peace record deal and an OZONE West cover. From there he found himself answering two questions: People rap in Phoenix? and Who the hell is Willy Northpole? Thats why I named my album Tha Connect, says Northpole, who spent time as a G-Unit affiliate before joining DTP. Everybody was asking what happens in Phoenix. Im going to be the connect that tells everyone about what goes on here. So tell us, because wed hate to assume, what did you listen to growing up in Phoenix? When I was growing up I listened to Geto Boys, a lot of the West Coast and Death Row stuff, N.W.A. Then we got to into Pac. Then I got on Redman, he was one of the first artists that I kinda crossed over and listened to from the East Coast. Then I got incarcerated and when I got out I was listening to Biggie and Jay-Z. Since were between the South and the West, it depends on what catches out here. A lot of people from Phoenix are not from here. They come from Chicago, the South, some East coast people too, but theres a lot of Chicago guys out here. The release of your debut album has been a two-year process. Would you say youve grown through the process? A lot of niggas cant walk these shoes. As a new artist you gotta restrain yourself from running up in peoples office with baseball bats [laughs] but I love doing what I do. I just l love what I do. I definitely accomplished growth in the music and accomplished things like landing videos on TV. At the end of the day, were still human, I have to go through a lot of BS to get shit done. Radio is scared to play new artists. Radio used to play stuff because it was good, but now its so many politics. I just came in at a time when its fucked up. So far the reviews on your album have been pretty favorable. People are saying its an actual album. Is that what you set out to do? I come from an era where I loved albums. Thats the format I laid out on

the album, instead of focusing on singles. I started off with the intro and showed them my lyrical side, no hooks, damn near a freestyle. Its 3 minutes of me spitting all the way through. Then we went to Hood Shit. Im starting from the bottom, its a story in the album. That was the grimier side, going from banging and stupid shit and jail. Then we get to Hood Dreamer where Im looking for a way out. From there it leads up to The Life with Ne-Yo. I have My Beliefs where Im showing what went on in the Bible days and comparing it to whats going on now. Then I have The Story and my dead homie tribute. I have some Slick Rick-like storytelling on there too. Nothing talking about rims and money. I really wanted to show me on this album. The Life couldve been my single, but I couldnt do that yet. I wanted to do that after the album was out, so that way I could go back to songs like Body Marked Up if I wanted to. I wanted to start from the bottom to the top. You see how Jay-Z started with Reasonable Doubt? He blew up and did Kingdom Come later on. Niggas hated on that, so he came back with American Gangster. He can go back to that when needs too. But cats that come out with their lady records first cant do that. Many times when an artist signs to a label run by an artist, they get overshadowed by the bigger artist. We cant necessarily say thats the case with you. Its easy to forget youre even affiliated with Ludacris. I always told myself that I didnt want to be like [DTPs] other artists. I just wanted to be signed to the label and let me do what I do. Hes not on my album or my singles, but everybody knows who Im signed to. I wanted to establish myself by getting my music out. Its gonna be a process but I think its a plus. When you think of me you dont just think of Ludacris. But weve done stuff together, I can call him and hell do whatever I ask. Do you think music is getting back to being homogenous, where it doesnt always matter where you are from? You know, getting back to being strictly about the music? because you havent shoved Im from Phoenix down our throats. Im not gonna rep my hood all the time and shove it down your throat. Thats like a Puerto Rican putting all Puerto Rican stuff on their album and not appealing to the Dominicans, but theyre Latin too. All I have to do is make music and just rep where Im from. Music was fucked up for a minute. I think its coming back out the way its supposed to. If people let these new guys come out it will be good. Dont get me wrong, some of these new niggas are weird as fuck, but theyre making good music though. Weve got niggas rapping again. All weve got to do is keep that base. //

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Patiently Waiting

or years, the Hollywood, California duo now known as LMFAO would kick it at The Coffee Bean on Sunset and Fairfax, where a then unknown Perez Hilton would blog from his office, the corner table. Perez and I didnt have too much to talk about, because Im obviously a straight man, but we were actually friends, says Redfoo. We even watched them film the pilot to his reality show. They filmed it on our street, adds Sky Blu. And though Sky and Foo may not share the same sexual preference as Perez, the experimental DJs-turned-emcees definitely fit in amongst a similar crowd - a coffee shop convergence of loud and colorful people whose style summarizes the current Southern California scene. LMFAO describes their music and style simply as fun, stating, We put the F.U. in FUN, and if you dont like it, F.U.N ya mama. Redfoo is actually Sky Blus biological uncle, but the two are only a few years apart. They began making music together 4 years ago in various nightclubs throughout LA and quickly earned a reputation as raucous DJs, recognized for their energy and ability to effectively mix electro, pop, and Hip Hop genres. Eventually, the pair began to produce their own tracks, and adopted the name LMFAO (Laughin My Fuckin Ass Off in internet terminology, for the few who dont already know). Our name was originally gonna be Sexy Dudes, because that was the name that best suited us, says Red Foo, completely serious. Our friends thought the name was kinda lame, but we thought they were just jealous, so Sky jumped on iChat and asked his grandma what she thought of it. She simply replied, LMFAO, are you seri-

ous, my nigga? And that instantly became our namethe entire question: LMFAO, Are You Serious My Nigga? But then we went to the swap meet to get shirts made with our groups new name and the dude said [in a Korean accent] 5 dolla a letta. So at that moment we cut it down to just LMFAO and it was 25 bucks a shirt instead of $120. And while LMFAOs sound is completely Hollywood, it wasnt until the SoCal kids discovered South Florida that the world began to appreciate their music. The DJing duet actually wrote their definitive anthem to Miami nights while planning a trip there in 2007, before ever visiting the city. We were just imagining how it would be. You know how when you go on vacation, you do research on where youre going before you actually go? Thats what we did before we went to Miami, remembers Red Foo. We asked our friends what Miami was like and they all hyped us up. We were so excited to go that we wrote a song before we had ever even been there. Sky Blu adds. We wanted to make a song for tourists to sing and brag to their friends back home like, What you doin? Im in Miami, bitch! Within two years Sky and Foo bragged Im in Miami, Bitch, all the way to a contract with Interscope Records and a debut album, Party Rock, which was released earlier this summer. To this day, the group has mixed and mastered every song theyve ever recorded, including the almost 100 versions of Im In Miami, Bitch that cater to different cities throughout the world. Though the group has yet to convert many of their critics, they have certainly amassed a huge following. And for those who still dont take them seriously, LMFAO promises to have the last laugh. Words by Eric Perrin

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(above L-R): DJ Drama @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet in San Francisco, CA; DJ Quik & Kurupt on the set of their video shoot for Bees To The Flowers in Los Angeles, CA; Julia Beverly & Soulja Boy @ Club Bash for JBs Denver Bday Bash in Denver, CO (Photos: D-Ray)

01 // Jazze Pha @ Union Station for BET Awards afterparty (Los Angeles, CA) 02 // Mistah FAB @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 03 // KT & DJ Franzen @ the Palms for Too Short & DJ Franzens private TV show launch party (Las Vegas, NV) 04 // Kafani the Ice King & his daughter Sparkle @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 05 // Mac Mall @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 06 // Paul Wall @ Club Suede (San Francisco, CA) 07 // T-Pain @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 08 // Roccett @ AllHipHop Mansion Party (Los Angeles, CA) 09 // Dah Dah on the set of DJ Quik & Kurupts video shoot for Bees To The Flowers (Los Angeles, CA) 10 // Willy Northpole, DJ Jaycee, I-20, & Ludacris @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 11 // JBar & Arab @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 12 // Devi Dev @ Union Station for BET Awards afterparty (Los Angeles, CA) 13 // Baydilla @ Club Elixir (Anchorage, AK) 14 // Shawnna @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 15 // Baby Bash @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 16 // John Costen & Big Rich @ The Room Ultra Lounge for OZONEs Get Famous showcase (San Francisco, CA) 17 // Uncle Hush @ The Room Ultra Lounge for OZONE Get Famous showcase (San Francisco, CA) 18 // Laroo @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet (San Francisco, CA) 19 // Prime (Los Angeles, CA) 20 // Furious @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet (San Francisco, CA) 21 // Soulja Boy @ San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose, CA) 22 // DJ Juice @ Icon Lounge for DJ Dramas meet & greet (San Francisco, CA) 23 // The Dragons @ Street Symphony Studio (Fremont, CA) 24 // Smurf, Dr Teeth, & Rick Edwards @ AllHipHop Mansion Party (Los Angeles, CA) 25 // Honest Bob @ The Room Ultra Lounge for OZONE Get Famous showcase (San Francisco, CA) 26 // Even Odd @ The Room Ultra Lounge for OZONE Get Famous showcase (San Francisco, CA) 27 // DJ SlowPoke @ The Room for The Jackas Tear Gas listening session (San Francisco, CA) 28 // Big Body Gotti @ Club Suede (San Francisco, CA) 29 // DJ Quote @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 30 // DJ KTone, Nikki Swarn, & Curtis @ K 107 Summer Jam (Denver, CO) 31 // DJ Bobby Black @ Club Elixir (Anchorage, AK) 32 // DJ B-Eazy @ the Palms for Too Short & DJ Franzens private TV show launch party (Las Vegas, NV) 33 // Dre Dae @ Poetry for JBs Vegas Bday party (Las Vegas, NV) 34 // CoCo @ Bay Area Music Conference (Berkeley, CA) 35 // Bad Lucc @ Street Symphony Studios (Fremont, CA) Photo Credits: D-Ray (02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09,11,15,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,27,28,29,30,32,33,34,35); Julia Beverly (01,10,12,13,14,16,17,25,26,31)

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THA JACKA OF ALL TRADES

Words by Maurice G. Garland

Its been a long time since the Bay had an artist who put out an album that could appeal to everyone. With his latest album, Tear Gas, Tha Jacka made every attempt, phone call and song that he could to let the world know an artist from the Bay can reach past the Mountain Time Zone. So far the album has been lauded as both a great piece of work and a blatant effort to get more fans. As he sat at an airport waiting to catch a flight to Portland, Oregon for a show, Tha Jacka spoke with us about the inspiration and actions behind Tear Gas, his Muslim faith and the reason major labels are afraid to sign independent Bay Area artists. Now that the album is out, what kind of feedback have you been getting? The first response is that the people loved it, but then after that people didnt know what they were listening to. After weeks went past I started getting a lot of great responses. People have been telling me its really quality material. I didnt get any real input at first when it came out, but now after its been out for a while people are speaking up. As good as people are saying the album is, some are saying that the only flaw is that you have too many features. Do you still feel comfortable with your decision to go that route? Yeah, and its an independent album and it did real good, that what makes it special. So I think it was a good decision. The people I got on there, most people do a radio song with them. But I let them do what they felt like doing. We gotta do what we feel sometimes. Its about making good music. I think people appreciated that. Your first single All On Me isnt something that people would expect from you, based off your past catalog. What went into your decision to make that song? When I did that song, I aint know it was gonna be on the album. I did that just to promote me or what I had out at the time. I didnt expect it to make the album. It wasnt a song for Tear Gas off top. Yeah, that song seemed to be on the other end of the spectrum of the message your album cover and art puts out. The images were very alarming. Why did you choose to go that direction? At the time we did that, even now, there was like a war between the police and the minorities. It was like the youth against the police. Out here in the Bay Area when the police mistreat someone, we really go out and protest, we really go hard. The Oscar Grant situation might have triggered all of that. Then someone in Oakland knocked down five police officers, thats what the inside cover was taken from. Were just tired of this shit, were not going out like that. When something happens, were going to riot for whats right. Were used to this out here. And the reason why Im on the cover with nothing on my face is that Im saying Im immune to the gas. I dont need a mask. Rioting, activism, independence, and survival are all things that come to mind when you think of people from Oakland. All the way from the Black Panther Party up to the Too $horts and E-40s. Do you think such strong traits are what has kept the Bay from getting back on the radar of major companies and labels? Yeah, I think its kind of scary to some labels to have artists like us. A lot of us are independent, and you gotta do whatever it takes to get your album out, if you know what I mean. So yeah, it scares them away sometimes. We dont have a major label here [in the Bay] but people love the music. They dont mind that its independent. But I can see why labels dont rush to do something with Bay artists. Its been said that wanting to stay so close to home cripples some Bay Area artists and the movement in general. Do you agree? What is your approach? I like going out. I think its better going out. An artist like myself, my music doesnt even appeal to the Bay sometimes. I dont get the majority of my sales from the Bay. I prefer to be gone and getting known and building relationships, following the footsteps E-40, Too $hort and C-Bo laid out for

us. They go to Detroit, Denver, Oklahoma City, Kansas City. Were trying to piggyback off that. We hit Arizona, the whole West Coast and the Midwest. But we dont go to the South a lot. I know C-Bo used to go to the South all the time and thats why he had a fanbase there. But the South has come up and [created] their own identity and theyve been supporting their own. You gotta let them do their thing. You cant force feed niggas your music. When you get something they like, cool. Thats why I did the song with Devin the Dude and Paul Wall. Throughout your music, you make it known that you are Muslim. Some may find that hard to swallow, given some of the material that you rap about. Well, I talk about that to wake the youth up, or people that dont have a faith. We were all raised in the church, except for the people who missed out because of the crack era. I talk about my faith because its more than just rap now. I do get a lot of compliments for adding that into my music. Some people have even told me theyve become Muslim from listening to my music. I dont even hit them with the bars as much as I want to. Sometimes I want to do more of that. I dont just want to leave my listeners out there lost. I remember Beanie Sigel told me one time, You dont want to be Haram, which pretty much means bad in Islam. You want your music to leave a good legacy. Your fellow Mob Figa Husalah is out of prison now. Im sure a lot of people want to know if they will be getting some more Mob Figaz music. Were working on that right now. Hus got a new single out. Its a good start to getting us back together, because the people really want it. I want things to get to back to how they were, but he can only get out 2 hours a day and hes got a family. Weve all got kids now. It sucks that we cant be around him the way we want to. Just getting caught up in the lifestyle, it messes me up a little bit. But Im happy that we at least have him home now. //

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tHa jacka/tear GaS With high expectations for this album, Tha Jacka does not disappoint. Perhaps the most commercially viable album in his catalog, if not the most mainstream-ready album out of the Bay in years, Jacka finds that balance between his graphic street novels and radio-friendly jams. The only drawback to this album could be Jackas anxiousness to work with everybody within emails reach. While the flooding of cameos rarely overshadows his presence, it would be nice to hear how he sounds by himself. - Maurice G. Garland

willy nortHpole/tHa connect DiSturBinG tHa peace/DeF jam Although he hails from scorching Phoenix, Arizona, Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam artist Willy Northpole is seriously cold on the mic. Mixing his Hood Dreamer mentality with an obvious appreciation for lyricism, it is clear to see throughout this effort why Willy has gotten the buzz he has in such a short time. With 15 tracks featuring artists like B.O.B., Sean Kingston, and of course Ludacris, Northpole heats up the game on his debut Tha Connect. This album gives a taste of what Arizona has to offer, and shows the West Coast is bigger than L.A. and the Bay. - Tony Burgos

Dj quik & kurupt/Blaqkout maD Science/Fontana DiStriBution Kurupts opening commentary on BlaQKout perfectly sums up this collaborative effort from these two West Coast legends: This is one of those things that when you put it together, you make gumbo. How can you go wrong? DJ Quik on the beats, along with Kurupts lyricism and Quiks energetic flow, makes for an imposing tandem. From the first track on, Quiks production is top-notch, with beats like Ohh, Whatcha Wan Do, and Hey Playa! showing his versatility for both West Coast G-funk and Neptunes-esque quality. Most of the content is in the vein of it aint fun if the homies cant have none. In the end, the one question left after hearing this album is why didnt Kurupt and Quik think of this sooner? - Randy Roper tHa realeSt/witneSS tHa realeSt rBc/team Dime/e1 muSic This long-awaited debut album from former Death Row artist The Realest lives up to its title with songs full of aggressive content (Mind of Ah Madman), cold-hearted tales (IceKold) and gun-toting realities (Y I Keep My Burna On Me). And artists like Fat Joe, C-Bo, Crooked I, Devin The Dude, Sean Paul, Ray J, Yukmouth, and WC, give this album constant breaks from Tha Realests abrasive bars and vocal tone reminiscent of 2Pac. Witness Tha Realest is a decently put together album, but for most listeners it may be too difficult to overlook Pacs heavy influence on Tha Realests music. - Randy Roper yukmoutH/tHe weSt coaSt Don Smoke-a-lot/aSylum The West Coast Don is Yukmouths fifth solo album, but from top to bottom, he approaches the mic with hunger as if its his first go round. This album has tons of guest appearances, like Im a Gangsta with Crooked I, Ray J and Dyson, and All Night with Glasses Malone and Tha Jacka, that will have you pressing the rewind button. But there are collaborations that look better on paper then they actually sound, like the T-Pain assisted 44. Still, Cali representers Mistah FAB, Keak Da Sneak, Tha Realest, C-Bo and a host of others help give West Coast Don more material to praise than to criticize. - Randy Roper

SpiDer loc/lanD oF tHe loSt Spider Loc is somewhat of a forgotten soul on G-Units roster, so this Land Of The Lost mixtape/street album is properly titled for the West Coast MC lost in 50 Cents mix. This 16-track street album has standouts cuts like the knuckle-up joint Knocc Out Kid, and When Im Gone, where Loc takes a minute to clear his thoughts. But there are songs like the out-of-place Los Angeles Lakers tribute song, Lake Show, and the sloppy flow on Get Fucced Up, which sounds like Loc had one too many drinks before he recorded this track, that would have been better off unheard. Still, a few throwaways tracks aside, this release deserves more from 50 Cent than just a promo post on ThisIs50. com. - Randy Roper

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DJ Quik & Kurupt Venue: Ruby Sky City: San Francisco, CA Date: June 11th, 2009 Photo: D-Ray

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