MINI SUPER BOWL 2007 SPECIAL EDITION

PITBULL
UMP & MONEY MARK CAROL CITY CARTEL SUAVE SMOOTH PRETTY RICKY TRICK DADDY COOL & DRE JOE HOUND FLO-RIDA NOREAGA BRISCO WEBBZ D SHEP STACK$ C-RIDE KALIBA MECCA TORO

WELCOME TO MIAMI

MINI SUPER BOWL 2007 SPECIAL EDITION

COOL & DRE

CAROL CITY CARTEL PRETTY RICKY TRICK DADDY FLO-RIDA PITBULL BRISCO C-RIDE KALIBA MECCA BANG UMP TORO WEBBZ D SHEP STACK$ DJ EPPS DJ ENTICE NOREAGA SAM SNEAK MONEY MARK SUAVE SMOOTH

WELCOME TO MIAMI

PUBLISHER: Julia Beverly GUEST EDITOR: Ms. Rivercity PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR: Malik Abdul CONTRIBUTORS: Tene Gooden DISTRIBUTORS: Big Teach (Big Mouth) Buggah D. Govanah (On Point) Lex Promotions Mercedes (Strictly Streets) Pimp G Teddy T SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, send check or money order for $11 to: Ozone Magazine 644 Antone St. Suite 6 Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-350-3887 Fax: 404-350-2497 Web: www.ozonemag.com COVER CREDITS: Cool & Dre photo (cover & this page) by Brian Smith; BANG photo by Julia Beverly. DISCLAIMER: 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.

SUPER BOWL 2007

INTERVIEWS DJ Epps pg B27 BANG pg A34-37 Brisco pg A36-37 Cool & Dre pg A28-31 Mecca pg A52-53 Pitbull pg B16-17 Stack$ pg A40-41 C-Ride pg A42-43 FEATURES D Shep pg A46-47 Photo Galleries pg A15-17, B13-15 Flo Rida pg A48-49 Event Listings pg A20-22 Noreaga pg A54-55 DJ Entice pg B18-19 Club Listings pg A26-27 Sam Sneak pg B22-23 Miami Maps pg A23-25 Pretty Ricky pg A58-59 Chick Flix pg A19 Suave Smooth pg B40-41 Carol City Cartel pg B36-37 Money Mark pg B52-53 Trick Daddy pg B50-51 Joe Hound pg B58-59 Webbz pg B46-47 Kaliba pg B56-57 Ump pg B52-53 Toro pg B44-45

COVER STORIES

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01: DJ Khaled and Trina on the set of Trick Daddys Bet That (Miami, FL) 02: Dunk Ryders on the set of Trick Daddys Tuck Ya Ice (Miami, FL) 03: Trick Daddy and Baby on the set of Tuck Ya Ice (Miami, FL) 04: On the set of Tuck Ya Ice (Miami, FL) 05: Guest, DJ Khaled, and Keith of FUBU on the set of Make it Rain (Miami, FL) 06: Trick Daddy and Baby on the set of Tuck Ya Ice (Miami, FL) 07: DJ Demp, Tony Neal, and TJ Chapman @ Plush for the Ghetto Grammys (Jacksonville, FL) 08: Remy Ma and Jacki-O @ Plush for the Ghetto Grammys (Jacksonville, FL) 09: Young Cash & Paris Jontae @ Plush for the Ghetto Grammys (Jacksonville, FL) 10: Lloyd Banks (NYC) 11: Video models (Miami, FL) 12: Dunk Ryders & Trick Daddy on the set of Tuck Ya Ice (Miami, FL) 13: Ted Lucas on the set of Tuck Ya Ice (Miami, FL) 14: Video models (Miami, FL) 15: T.I. & Fonsworth Bentley on the set of Fat Joes Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 16: Young Jeezy & Rick Ross @ Mansion (Miami, FL) 17: DJ Khaled & Fat Joe on the set of Make it Rain (Miami, FL) 18: Dre & DJ Khaled on the set of Make it Rain (Miami, FL) 19: Fat Joe on the set of Make it Rain (Miami, FL) 20: Video models (Miami, FL) 21: Guest, Yung Sean, Rich Boy, & TJ Chapman @ Plush for the Ghetto Grammys (Jacksonville, FL) All Photos by J Lash except #15 by Julia Beverly

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01: Fentz, Che, & Louis Oliver @ The Forge (Miami, FL) 02: Akon & Gil Green on the set of Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 03: Cool & DJ Khaled on the set of Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 04: BANG & Mike Calderon on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 05: Fat Joe & his wife on the set of his Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 06: T.I. & C-Rod on the set of Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 07: Pitbull & Akon on the set of Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 08: Steve Rifkind & his kids on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 09: BANG & Durte Red on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 10: Pitbull & Benny D on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 11: E-Class, Big Teach, & Gil Green on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 12: Trina & Fonsworth Bentley on the set of Fat Joes Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 13: DJ EFN & Noreaga on the set of Fat Joes Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 14: Malik Abdul, Micha Porat, & Chubby Chubb on the set of Fat Joes Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 15: DJ Ideal & C-Ride @ The Forge (Miami, FL) 16: Benny B, Akon, & ladies on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 17: Toro & Zo on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 18: DJ Ideal, Bryan Leach, Vanessa, & Big Teach @ The Forge (Miami, FL) 19: Fonsworth Bentley & Scott Storch on the set of Fat Joes Make it Rain remix (Miami, FL) 20: Akon, E-Class, & Steve Rifkind on the set of Akons Dont Matter (Miami, FL) 21: T.I. reading OZONE (Miami, FL) Photos by Julia Beverly

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Model: Alex Photo by: J Lash 954-854-4008

GREATER MIAMI AREA MAP

DOWNTOWN MIAMI MAP

SOUTH BEACH MAP

Miami lub listing

clUB mAdonnA 1527 Washington Ave, Miami Beach Phone: (305) 534-2000 clUB oZone 6600 SW 57TH AVE, South Miami, FL 33143 Phone: (305) 667-2888 clUB WArehoUse 90 NE 11th St, Miami, FL 33132 Phone: (786) 425-3545 cocos loUnge living on the edge 1430 NW 119th St, Miami, FL 33167 Phone: (305) 688-5005 cristAl nightclUB 1045 5th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 531-0141 croBAr 1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 531-8225 expose 766 E 25th St, Hialeah, FL Phone: (305) 691-8980 FAt tUesdAy 3015 Grand Ave, Miami, FL 33133 Phone: (305) 441-2992 FiFth (the) 1045 5th St., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 538-9898 FUnkshion 1116 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 673-0554 gem nightclUB & restAUrAnt 671 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 674-0977 ginger BAy cAFe 1908 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood FL | Phone: (954) 923-1230 glAss 432 41st St., Miami Beach, FL 33140 Phone: (305) 604-9798 hArrisons 411 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 672-4600 ire night clUB 833 SW 29th Ave, Miami, FL 33135 Phone: (305) 643-3870 ivy room 1233 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-1525

AmikA 1532 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 534-1499 Angel UltrA loUnge 247 23rd Street, Miami Beach, FL AreA 51 950 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132 Phone: (305) 358-5655 At the BoUlevArd 7770 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138 BAB entertAinment inc 1000 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-2526 BAsh nightclUB 655 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 538-2274 BermUdAs 3509 NE 163rd Street Phone: (305) 945-0196 BlUe 222 Espanola Way, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 534-1109 Bricks 66 SW 6th St, Miami, FL 33130 Phone: (305) 371-6950 cAmeo 1400 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 695-0517 clUB Ache 3425 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140 Phone: (305) 604-8688 clUB 112 1439 Washington Avenue clUB 45 4545 NW 7th St, Miami, FL 33126 Phone: (305) 442-6369 clUB deep 621 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-1509 clUB eBony 12953 NW 7th Ave, North Miami 33182 Phone: (305) 685-5305

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JAZid 1342 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 673-9372 krAve 1203 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL Phone: (305) 673-5950 lAdy lUck 1610 NW 119th St, Miami, FL 33167 Phone: (305) 688-1151 level nightclUB 1233 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-1525 mAdonnA night clUB 1527 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 534-2000 mAnsion 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 531-5535 miAmi velvet 3901 NW 77th Ave, Miami, FL 33166 Phone: (305) 406-1604 mynt 1921 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (786) 276-6132 nikki BeAch clUB 1 Ocean Drive Phone: (305) 673-1575 noctUrnAl 50 NE 11th St., Maimi, FL 33132 Phone: (305) 576-6996 ondA 1248 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 674-4464 opiUm gArden A.k.A. prive 136 Collins Ave., Miami Beach FL 33139 Phone: (305) 531-5535 penthoUse inc 1434 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 538-4010 plAtinUm plUs 7565 W 20th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33014 Phone: (305) 558-2221 rAin 323 23rd St, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 674-7447 rokBAr 1805 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 535-7171

rUmi 330 Lincoln Road | Phone: (305) 672-4353 sAnto 430 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-2882 sAx on the BeAch 1756 N Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33132 Phone: (786) 924-5535 scores miAmi 17450 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Beach, FL Phone: (305) 945-6030 seven 685 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 538-0820 shelBorne BeAch resort 1801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 531-8416 skyBAr 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 695-3100 sin 1532 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-4786 soBe live 1203 Washington Avenue Miami, FL 33193 Phone: (305) 695-2820 soFi loUnge 423 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-4444 spAce 34 NE 11th St., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 375-0001 stAte 320 Lincoln Rd. sUite 1437 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 604-3664 tAntrA 1445 Pennsylvania Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 672-4765 tWist 1057 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 538-9478 vino miAmi 1601 Washington Place, Suite 110, Miami Beach FL 33139 | Phone: (786) 207-8466

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COOL & DRE

MIAMI, FL

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hat have you guys been cooking up lately? Cool: Weve been working at the Circle House studios for the past three months just banging out records left and right. Weve got a new artist named Joe Hound that we just did a deal with for Skeleton Key/Epidemic. Were in the process of wrapping up his album. We did five records on DJ Khaleds album. Were real excited about that. Were back in the studio with Christina Milian working on her album. We just gave David Banner two huge records and weve also been working with Ludacris, T.I. and Jadakiss. We just gave Rick Ross two monster records for his album. Were going all in. 2007 is gonna be big! Dre: Christina decided she wanted to go back in the studio early so she asked us and some other people to work on it. Its us, The Runners, Danga, Eric Hudson, and Lil Jon. Well probably do like three or four tracks. I called all my friends to help us out on this one. Were giving her a direction and everyone is really fucking with it. Were just making great music. Were not trying to do the whole album cause were in the studio working a lot but were trying to do as much as we can. We brought in reinforcements to help make it pop. The people were bringing in we feel are the hottest dudes in the game. Are yall involved with any community events? Cool: Actually, every year Willis McGahee does this charity football thing the week before the Super Bowl. It just so happens that the Super Bowl is here in Miami this year so its going to be extra big. The kids come out there and sign autographs. Me and Dre got our team that were coaching. Trick Daddy has a team. Dres performing, the whole Epidemic crew, DJ Khaled; Ross is coming on stage. You know, its just for the kids. You gotta give back to the community. Dre: Its all fun. Its for charity. Were gonna go out there and do Chevy Ridin High and Hustlin. Its for the kids and its a getaway from all the bullshit we gotta deal with everyday. Were real cool with Willis McGahee. Were all from Miami. Everyone knows each other out here. We were involved in it last year. This year they asked us to be more involved. Were helping make jerseys. Are there any ventures beside music youre working on? Cool: Were in the food business now. We co-own a restaurant called 510 Ocean on Ocean Drive. You cant get lost. Its the only minority owned restaurant on Ocean Drive. It was voted one of

the top ten restaurants on South Beach. Its the hottest spot on Saturdays. We have this thing on Saturdays called Social Snacks. All the Miami celebrity football and basketball players go up in there. Were also getting a clothing line called Dirty Royalty. Its crazy. Were in some stores locally like the Shoe Gallery and a few other spots. We just put out two shirts and the buzz is so big right now I cant even supply the demand. Were waiting for the clothes to get in so we can lace everybody up. Another thing is that were involved in this online community called BattleRap.com. Its like Myspace for rappers trying to get on. Its been in production for about a year, so hopefully by the second or third quarter we should be rolling. What kind of food do you have at the restaurant? Dre: Its fine dining so you know, steak, fish, Italian, things of that nature. Its a really fly spot. We look up to people like Sean Combs. We watched how he opened up a restaurant and we had an opportunity so we jumped at it. The place is packed on Saturdays nights with people mingling. Were bringing something called Dinner and a Movie. Were going to show classic movies like Boomerang, Coming to America, Four Brothers, Set It Off the shit that we fuck with, thats classics to us. And every week, whatever movie we show, the star of that movie is going to be at the restaurant hosting that night. Its dope. Its a hot idea. How is your life different now than from your pre-celebrity days? Cool: Me and Dre have always been some real down-to-earth grounded guys. We go out and sometimes we underestimate how big we are. But it aint different; were just ourselves. People meet us and say were cool as hell. When we go out we get bombarded with people giving us their mixtapes and we listen to everybody. That stays with people for a while. They remember that Cool & Dre showed them love. But aint nothing really changed. The success has never infiltrated us. My number has always been the same. Dre: We try not to look at ourselves as celebrities, even though we gotta accept what it is. I kinda go through a lot more being that Im doing the artist thing and a lot of people see me more often. My personal life is kinda out there. Its crazy but it just comes with the territory and you gotta deal with it and keep it moving. Once in a while it may get frustrating but at the end of the day, were just some real niggas from Miami. Some-

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times you may read something that bothers you, but I can remember a time when Cool and I was hot and then we wasnt hot. I couldnt read nothing bad about us or good about us. So I learned to appreciate the hate because when they hate, that means youre doing something. Do you think the saying more money, more problems is true? Cool: If you get more money, of course a different lifestyle comes along where you spend more money; you got bills and you got all this extra shit youre dealing with. Theres always extra baggage when you have more money. But weve struggled way too long to let stupid stuff mess us up. Do you ever hear a song thats dope and wish you had made it? Cool: Yeah, its been a few times that weve been like, Damn, that beat is crazy! When we heard that Crazy In Love we were like, Holy shit, that beat is stupid. When we heard Tingling, we were like, What the hell is that? When Still D.R.E. came out we were like, Wow! As much as were in the game, were still big fans. Dre: Ill tell you what record I wish I had produced a record I heard that made me say, Damn! that Gnarls Barkley record Crazy. Im a big 80s head so I get caught up in a lot of 80s shit. I wish I had done all of Phil Collins records. To be honest, I wish I had done Easy Lover, Thriller, Purple Rain, or Take Me With You. As accomplished as we are, I wish this was 1985 and Cool & Dre were at where were at now. Those times were just crazy. I grew up during the era of Michael Jackson, Prince, Lionel Richie, Madonna, George Michael, U2, New Edition, and Chaka Khan all at the same fucking time! At that time, you had the youngins and some of the same soul veterans still around. Have you ever thought about taking an up-andcoming producer under your wing? Cool: Weve never really thought about that too much. Maybe if we ever found the right person we would bring them in. If the right producer came along, I think we could give them a hand. We always have our ear open, but we havent heard something and been like, Wow, we need to fuck with them. After youve made a beat and you listen to it, how do you know if its a hit? Cool: I think through the years as weve grown, if its something out of the ordinary, well know.

We make hot beats all day but if its one of those select few beats that makes you go, Holy shit!, were calling everybody like, Listen to this. We did a record once and were like, This has got to go to Jay-Z. We let Khaled hear it and he was like, Jesus Christ, thats my song. Jay-Z ended up passing on it so we gave it to Khaled. Khaled made a movie out of it. When you hear it, youll know what record were talking about. Certain beats give you that feeling. Ill put the beat on a CD and if I play it all the way home, then theres something special about it. What happened at Jive? Dre: Im in a transition right now. I love everyone at Jive Records; theyre great people. Its just that we tried and I felt like Chevy Ridin High shouldve worked a lot better than it did. It was an incredible hit on the street and in the hood, but we couldnt get radio to take it to the next level. I love Jive and we do business with Jive to this day. We make records with everyone at Jive. I developed a great relationship with the people thats there. For them to be willing to allow me to move to another label without giving me any stress is a testament of how our relationship is. My album is called The Trunk 2008 and Im moving it to another label and the first single is My Name is Dre. I promise you its gonna fuck niggas heads up. What significance does the name of that song have? Dre: Im really crafting the album after The Chronic 2001 one of my favorite rap albums ever. And you know, my name is Dre so its like its one thing to be named Michael Jordan and make beats, and its another thing to be named Dre and make beats and rap. Its crazy the expectations. Dr. Dre is the greatest producer of all time. You cant come out with a name like Dre and be whack. You better be incredible or change your name, homie! Whats up next? Dre: Check out DJ Khaleds new album coming out. Look out for Rick Rosss new album. Look out for my new album. This is so important, Joe Hounds new single Choppa is real huge right now in the hood. He has an album called Misery Loves Company. Were shooting the video in a couple of days. And yall look out for C-Ride, the hottest rapper in the South. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Brian Smith

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BANG

MIAMI, FL
I just vibe with them. A lot of dudes talk about Myspace like theres something wrong with it, but theres not. Thats how you keep in touch with DJs. Have you done any performances? Im glad you brought that up. I did a show with the East Coast Ridaz at the car show. We rocked that thing. The crowd left and we brought them back. Now weve got to go to five more states and do it. How did you spend your time when you were locked up? It inspired me to write. You dont got nothing to do but work out and write. Thats how I chose to do my time. Other dudes chose to do it other ways, but thats how I chose to do mine. I focused on what I wanted to do. I had a sixteen year mandatory sentence. I was sixteen years old at the time when I caught that sentence, so it was like a life sentence. It wasnt a petty charge. It was for armed robbery and kidnapping so I had to wear that shit. Anyway, you got to keep your head up and stay focused. Did it change your perspective on life? When I was younger, I aint have no direction. If I would have had a little direction, I probably would have skipped all that. Now, I have a second chance back in society and its a blessing. A lot of dudes dont know what that means so they dont appreciate their freedom. Do you have any advice for anyone that may be traveling down that road with no direction? It aint about whos the strongest; its about who lasts the longest. Do you have any shout outs? I want to shout out Big Mouth Promotions, Big Teach my manager, Pitbull, Cubo, Trick Daddy, the Dunk Ryders Trick Daddys group. Im gonna be working with the Dunk Ryders in a minute. Im gonna be recording at their studio for a month. Shout out to the Codefendants thats my click. Vido, Rex, Kafalai. Kafalai records all my music for free. Also, I want to shout out C-Ride and The Most Organized Three. Come to my Myspace page www.myspace.com/bangmia. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Bogan OZONE 35

aised in the streets of Miami, BANG suffered a setback at the age of sixteen. Spending twelve years in prison didnt deter his spirit though. Since he appeared in our 4th Annual Patiently Waiting issue, BANG has continued his optimistic path towards success. With the support of his manager Big Teach and Latin superhero Pitbull, BANG is more focused now than ever. Whats new with BANG? Ive been working on a lot of production and some videos. I have a feature with Pitbull on his album El Mariel which is in stores now. Ive been riding with the Codefendants; were coming out with a compilation in March. Youll be able to order it online when it comes out. The underground mixtape is still out. Its the hardest in Dade County. Its called Gri-ami. Ive got production from Mr. Collipark. Dr. Dre has an artist coming out named Martinez, and Im featured with him. Were just vibing. Im basically just keeping my name out there. Ive been out [of prison] for eight months now. Ive been gone for twelve years so Im trying to learn everything and get used to the society and carry on. Im not in any competition and Im not racing with anybody. You feel me? Just to set the record straight, Ive only been out for eight months and people dont understand that. They expect me to do this and do that. Who am I? But its all good. How did you end up working with Pitbull? My manager, Teach, thats fam. I met him through Demi, a real good friend of mine. He had everything hooked up. Demi used to look out for Pitbull and all that. Whats the response been like towards your mixtape? Everybody loves it. The streets love it. Aint nobody that dont like it. Even labels and big name producers are feeling it. Its gotta a song called Dread Wanna Play. I put it on Myspace and it took off. Do you have any other songs out? Im fixing to push a new one out real soon. Have you been working with any DJs? Oh yeah, DJ Ideal is doing his thing. Khaled is holding down the city. Theres so many DJs. I keep in contact with all my DJs through Myspace.

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BRISCO
E

MIAMI, FL
How has working with Poe Boy Entertainment helped you as an artist? Poe Boy is where I got all my grooming from; thats where I sharpened my skills. Poe Boys like a big artist family. When you come here, its like a concentration camp; when you come in here, youre going to leave a man. Put you here and itll raise you. [laughs] Have you learned a lot from their guidance? From the guidance of Poe Boys E-Class and Big Chuck, youll learn to sharpen your skills. Its a real good environment. E-Class and all the cats around here are really my family. Its like theyve raised me since I was a baby. Being on Cash Money, have you worked with any other Cash Money artists yet? I just did five songs with Lil Wayne two nights ago big records. Its straight chemistry. They really pulled me in and accepted me as one of their brothers. Are you working on any promotional mixtapes? Aw man, if I started naming all the DJs Im doing mixtapes with - I got so many mixtapes coming out. Right now, I got a mixtape called The Streets. Thats basically going to come out before the Street Medicine album. Im going lace em with some crazy mixtapes. Any videos planned yet? Yeah, were getting treatments in right now for the single Im Into Dat. Whos going to be making appearances? You know, the whole Cash Money family. Its a whole new Cash Money. Shouts out to Mack Maine and Curren$y. Its going to be a lot of guest appearances. Ive been working with a lot of cats in the game over the years. I know a lot of people. What should people know about Brisco? Briscos next. Im gonna be here for a minute. And I really want to say, God is the best. Do you want to give out any contact info? www.305DJs.com thats where you can check out all of Briscos latest drops. And www.PoeBoyMusic.com. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Joe Wesley

xperience, intelligence and motivation are three traits that anyone successful should strive for. Poe Boy artist Brisco has them all. With a freshly inked deal at Cash Money Records, Opa Lockas greatest leader is ready to do big things in 07. What are you working on right now? Im in the lab going hard. My voice is gone right now. Ive been recording so much my voice shot out on me last night. Im working on my debut album Street Medicine. Im working with Triple C. I just signed a deal with Cash Money so Im working with them. How many hours do you spend in the studio every day? Aw man, my baby mamas so mad at me right now. A regular working person spends eight hours in the studio; I gotta spend sixteen hours. I be here from 8:00 in the morning till 8:00 at night or longer. Whos producing your album? Im getting beats from Cool & Dre. I got my single right now; its only being playing for a week and its getting a crazy response in Miami. They back it up ten times every time they play it. Its produced by Cool & Dre. I got tracks from Young Hollywood, J Roc who produces at Poe Boy Entertainment, Jackpot who produced my hood single called Opa Locka. Ive been working with everybody, even Scott Storch. Im just trying to get it. Im going real hard. So youre from Opa Locka it has a pretty bad reputation. Yeah, it was ranked third on the murder rate for the cities in the United States. Its a crazy place to live in. Im like one of the saviors. Do you think its getting better or worse? Its getting a little better. It needs direction. Sometimes your environment needs direction and a leader someone that can preach that goodness to em. Youve been compared to Scarface and Biggie. Would you say thats accurate? Yeah, I had a lot of influence from Scarface. I had a lot of influence from Big. I always admired a big man with style, a big character that has swag. I would say thats correct.

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STACK$

MIAMI, FL
me how to rap. Two years later I met Scott Storch; we were chilling on his boat. I originally did two tracks with him and after that he said he was feeling the project and wanted to executive produce it. He had Twista in the studio and asked if I wanted to do a song with him. Thats how we ended up doing Git It Git It. Tell me about the infamous car. The drop-top Phantom! Yeah, that car has gotten a lot of press. We put it out for the MIA video the first video I put out with Puff. We took one of the cars we had and actually cut the top off of it. The owner of Rolls Royce is here in Miami and they had been watching the video all the way over in London and didnt realize I was the crazy kid that cut the top off their car. They had caught wind of it and said, Nah, dont cut the top off such a beautiful car. But it came out so nice the owner asked me to come by [so he could see it]. It actually jump-started a new line of convertible Rolls Royces. Do you still have it? Yeah, we still have it. My friends are borrowing it; Im not in Miami a lot so they all want to borrow it for the weekend. They keep bringing it back all fucked up [laughs], but its still here in one piece. I cant even imagine what you find in the car when they give it back. Ive found a lot of shit in that car when Ive gotten it back; I probably shouldnt even say what. Did the value of the car go down when you cut the top off? I dont ever plan on selling it. I remember when we first got it done, Shaq saw it and was like, Just name a price, but I needed it for my video. To be honest with you, a lot of shit is wrong with the car. When you cut the top off a car a lot of the electrical wires get fucked up. It still rides but I wouldnt trust it on the highway. What else should people be checking for? We have the single with Lil Wayne. When our story is told over the next couple of months, its going to be controversial for hip-hop cause were flipping a lot of stereotypes and what you thought hip-hop was about were flipping that. Whether you hate it or love it, its next. The project is really big. Pay attention and watch. CraZee and ConfuZed will be out the first quarter of this year. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Mike Frost OZONE 41

n 2005, hurricane Stack$ crossed paths with Twistas cyclonic thunder and a whirlwind was formed. Git It, Git It knocked down walls for the 20-year-old lyricist and he has since worked with Paul Wall, Pitbull and 8Ball & MJG. Get your umbrellas ready, another storm is coming and Stack$ is about to make it rain. You have a lot going on right now. Whats poppin? Were working on the album. Its coming out this year. Its titled CraZee and ConfuZed, executive produced by Scott Storch. Were pushing a single with Lil Wayne called Money Ova Here produced by Steve Morales. Youve been working with Scott for a while. Is he doing your whole album? Hes got something like ten tracks on the album. The album features everybody Fat Joe, Trina, Beanie Man, Lil Wayne, Twista, Paul Wall, Pitbull, and 8Ball & MJG. A lot of people are associated with the project. Weve got a lot of labels showing support, like Swishahouse, Black Wallstreet, and Cash Money; so even though its coming out under Sobe, there might be some side ventures were working on right now. So I think its going to be real big for everybody when it drops. Its going to be a big event for hip-hop. Didnt you have a CD release party recently was that for a mixtape? Yeah, thats the second mixtape Ive put out The Empire Strikes Back. Its hosted by the Nu Jerzey Devil and Big Mike. We actually got Hulk Hogan on the intro. We had all them show up to the event at Sobe Live, our club here in Miami. We put on a little show for em. Since youre on Sobe, have you worked on anything with your labelmate Brooke Hogan? We have, actually. Were finishing up a duet that we did together that Im probably going to put on my album. Were definitely working hand in hand. Youre not from Miami originally. Did you go to Miami to pursue music? I was born in Washington D.C. and was raised in Maryland. But Id say my hip-hop education came when I moved to Miami after I graduated high school in Maryland. So I went to Miami and spent a couple of years in college but the rap thing kinda took over. I started off working with Poe Boy Entertainment shout out to Rick Ross and E-Class. Actually, Brisco gave me the name Stack$. Thats the man that first really showed

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OZONE

C-RIDE

MIAMI, FL
gotta get a publishing company so you can track your money. How long had you been rapping before you figured out some of the business aspects? I was rapping for four years before I got my mind right. I was just waiting for a deal and hoping to blow, which is what ninety percent of rappers do. They go out and hustle for a deal but if you go out there and get it from the ground up, youre going to be worth a lot more. Aint nothing wrong with getting a deal and shooting for the top, but if it doesnt happen, you need to sit down and come up with a plan to build your fanbase without a major label. Theres no independent scene in Miami at all. Nobodys making money here with music like in Houston and Tennessee and all those states. Do you think Miami is a hard market to break into? Yeah cause I think its how were brought up; Miamis not that friendly. They hate you before they love you. You gotta prove why we should like you in Miami. Theyre not just going to open their arms for you, no matter how good your music is, its about you. Were trying to break through and start a movement. Its hard but its gonna happen. Whats different about you from everybody else trying to get in the market? I think my music stands out. It attracts people automatically, faster than it would for somebody else. When they hear my music, they want to hear it again. I try to make timeless content, not just novelty, fad music. I try to make music you can play ten years from now and still have the same vibe you got today. Whats the next step in your plan? Since my mixtapes doing so good, Cool and Dre got me running around and sitting down with a lot of people. Im going to just tell them what Im doing and see how they can help me. From that, Ill see if Ill take a deal or not. Other than that, Im alright. Im getting money from mixtapes so Im going to see how big thatll get. Im shooting videos, DVDs, and selling ring tones. Im trying to run my company, Stash House Music. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: J Lash OZONE 43

ith help from DJ Khaled, Cool & Dre and DJ Ideal, C-Ride has come up with several income generating strategies, including the sales of his new mixtape. In todays era of independent money makers, C-Ride is capitalizing on Miamis untapped market. Hes a man with a plan. Where are you from? I was born and raised in Carol City. Tell me about your mixtape with DJ Ideal. Its called Get Right or Get Left. Its doing pretty good. Actually I didnt think I could sell CDs until I sat down with Ideal and he showed me how. So when I finished it, I sat down and set up a plan on how to create income for myself, which I wasnt doing at all before. It came out the end of November and weve sold almost 5,000. And I never sold one CD in my life before that. I still pass it out for free in Miami, but other than that, its on the internet and in the stores. He showed me how to make money off the mixtapes cause thats what he does. He could have sat down with any rapper and showed them how to do it but he chose me. I thank him a lot for that. Well probably do a lot of other stuff too. Are you working with any other DJs? Of course Khaled is my big brother. Thats family. But I fucked with all the DJs in Miami Entice, Epps, and all the club DJs. What single are you pushing? Its called PPPushin, and Cool & Dre did the beat. Im shooting a video for it during Super Bowl weekend at four different locations. Weve got another artist named Joe Hound; hes shooting a video for Chopper and Im on that. So were shooting two videos Super Bowl weekend. Is that the song thats on the movie soundtrack? Yeah, somebody at Jive had heard PPPushin and put it on the soundtrack for Steppin Up. I still dont know who did that. Chris Brown had the lead single and Ciaras song with Chamillionaire Get Up was on there, too. Did they cut you a check for that? I just got it a week ago. I dont have a publishing company me and my lawyer are setting that up right now. I think it was like a work for hire thing. Thats where a lot of rappers mess up; you

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D SHEP

MIAMI, FL
Ive worked with DJ Toomp and Akon. Ive got an in-house producer named O-Horn. Have you ever been compared to any artists in the game? I dont think my style is really similar to nobody. I think the streets are the streets. Its just street stories being told through different words and through different mouths. Its just your perspective and the streets that you came from. I rap about everything. I rap about life issues. What do you get out of making music? To me, my music is a release. Its therapeutic. I think a lot of people should be able to relate to my music. What type of team is behind you? My management is in-house. We do everything. We put up everything to go on this promo tour. Basically, everything is in-house. Are you trying to take your music to a major level or keep it independent? I got a couple of majors looking at me and I got a couple of offers on the table but I mean, if I can, if everything goes right, I would love to stay independent. Whats your biggest accomplishment? Just getting the buzz Ive got so far coming out of one of the toughest cities for rappers. Miami is starstruck. If you aint nobody yet, its hard to get on the radio. I accomplished that and Im real proud of myself. How would you describe yourself personally? Im just real. The type of person I am, Im not going to change who I am or my attitude. Im me one hundred percent, regardless of who Im around. What made you decide to rap? I was seeing other people make music. I was never really interested in rapping, but hearing other peoples music made me think if people like that song, I know theyll like me. Thats what motivated me. I tried something and it just happened to work. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Joe Wesley

iami can be a tough market for independent artists, especially when it comes to radio play. This doesnt seem to be an issue for D-Shep. His new single Stay Real is picking up speed and gaining some spins along the way. Are you originally from Miami? Born and raised. How did you come up with the concept for Stay Real? When Rick Ross had come out with Hustlin, a lot of people was biting off him. They had the same sound. So I just took the word nigga and just started describing this type of nigga. Everythings based on the n word. How have you been building your buzz? I put out a mixtape called Rent Money and off of that I ended up having two singles, that werent planned to be singles, spinning on the radio. My single Stay Real is getting a lot of play in Miami. Its getting played in other cities, but its strongly supported here. Right now as we speak, Im on a promo tour. Im going to twelve cities promoting the single. Are you doing shows on your tour? Ive been doing shows in the Miami area and a couple out of town. My next show is in Tallahassee at TJs DJs Music Conference. What do you like most about performing? Getting love from the fans. When you perform a song and people know it and feel it, you really get a chance to express to them how you feel about the song. It aint nothing like getting on stage and people vibing with you. Have you done any collaborations recently? I did a song with Brisco and one with B.O.B. I got the remix of my single Stay Real coming out with Trick Daddy. The song with me and B.O.B. is a different type of song. You know, its a song that you probably wouldnt expect to come from me. B.O.B.s on some crazy, good shit. We got together and blended our styles and came up with the sound for If You a Baller. And Brisco, hes from Dade County and so am I so we linked up. The song with Brisco is called Get Off My Dick. Its real groovy. What other producers are you working with?

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FLO-RIDA

MIAMI, FL
Ive worked with Devante of Jodeci, Rich Harrison, Flava Flav, Rick Ross, Brisco, a lot of names. Whos doing your production? Im working with The Runners, Trae Pierce of the Brown Boys in Alabama, Cool & Dre, Khaled the Beat Novocain. I got some beats from Nitti. Thats about it so far. Who produced your single Birthday? Thats one of The Runners tracks. Were getting a great response from that. Describe the song. Its definitely a club song. The hook goes, I dont want no cake on my birthday / I want my cake every day. The first verse states out what its about Tomorrow aint promised today / Thats why I say this / Here today then youre gone. Thats where the concept comes from. Youre not promised tomorrow so you could be looking forward to your birthday but you dont know if youre going to have a birthday so its best to go ahead and enjoy life. I mean, dont take it overboard, but enjoy it like theres no tomorrow. When are you putting out another project? Im actually putting out another mixtape. I put one out earlier this year called Its a Done Deal. Do you have a DJ hosting the mixtape or putting it together? Oh yeah, its gonna be with Papa Smirf and DJ Kronic. What other DJs in Miami are showing you a lot of love? We got DJ Khaled, Entice, Sam Sneak, Irie, and Big Will. Do you have plans to release an album? I have an album coming out the first quarter on Atlantic Records/Poe Boy. What else would you like to mention? I want to give a shout out to Poe Boy, E-Class, Strong Arm Management, Big Chuck, Brisco, Triple C, GroundHoggz, 305, Dade County, and Carol City. Do you have a website? Yeah, its www.myspace.com/officialflo Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Joe Wesley OZONE 49

ailing from Opa Locka, Flo Rida is one of Poe Boy Entertainments newest editions. As his name suggests, Flo Rida is a specialist at rocking a beat. His new song Birthday is not only a banger, but a banger with a powerful message. As he says, tomorrow is not promised today, so hes wasting no time in his pursuit for happiness. How did you get into music? Basically, Ive been rapping for about twelve years. A couple of my friends used to rap. I wasnt doing it at the time but I was really interested for the fact that they used to get the girls. So I started practicing and finally, the dudes around the way cosigned me. How did you end up at Poe Boy? I grew up with E-Classs brother. I went to school with him. Me and his brother went to the studio and did songs together. I was part of a group called The GroundHoggz. Actually, I knew of them doing music early on, before they even started the record company. E-Class heard me and was like, You need to start rapping. He said I should be a solo artist and told me to let him know what I wanted to do. After that, I went to California instead of staying in Miami. They was giving me a call when the Rick Ross thing was going on. I started thinking it would be a good thing if I came back. I came back, cut a couple of records and there it was. Why did you leave Miami was it because it was hard to make it as an artist? Its not that I felt like it was a harder market. It was because of trials and tribulations, things I was going through down here in Miami. I moved for a breath of fresh air. And knowing that California has an industry for everything whether it be for fashion or music I just decided to go out there. Would you say theres more opportunities in Miami now than there was before? I would definitely say that. Just like Houston had their run, St. Louis had theirs, now its like Miami is the new movement. Everybody is coming to the forefront. Theyre on the widescreen now. You got Rick Ross, Cool & Dre, Smitty, Pitbull, Trick Daddy. Back in the day, we didnt have it like that. Weve got a lot of household names now. You can turn on 106th & Park and see em. Who all have you worked with?

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MECCA

MIAMI, FL
other, but weve also got to keep it moving. Its not just Wyclef thats out there. We have some Haitian artists that are out and dont really say theyre Haitian. Theres an identity situation going on because of that and the situation in Haiti. Through the music, Im starting to educate the young Haitian-Americans to connect with their culture. I feel its up to our generation to do that. But I salute Wyclef. Im just trying to come up to that level. Tell me about the community work youre involved in. The first project is with the Haitian Heritage Museum. Theyre building a museum with Haitian artifacts. Thats a way they found to educate the kids in the neighborhood and get them to appreciate art. Weve got to get our kids involved with the culture. The program goes to these schools and does presentations about the beautiful island of Haiti because people have negative stereotypes about it. They bring different art forms to the schools and I rap and I also bring to the table spoken word poetry. I perform for them. Theyre already familiar with me because theyre already playing my videos on the Caribbean stations. Theyve already embraced the hiphop/Creole movement becoming mainstream. We also want to educate other nationalities besides our own. The other program is with the commissioner of district 5 called Unite for Peace. Theres seminars and different programs. We go to the schools again and talk to the kids about having a leadership frame of mind and not conforming to peer pressure. We just share knowledge and use hip-hop as the platform. Sometimes when the elders are talking to them they dont understand, but with music, they understand that language. I always have a message attached to my music about what theyre trying to present. Do you have any songs out right now that people should be checking for? I have a song with a legendary artist named Sarah Jusde; shes like the Diana Ross of Haitian folklore music. The name of the song is titled Paradise. Its a song speaking about Haiti and our paradise. I also have a hip-hop Creole mix CD out called Kreyole Konneksyon. Where can people hear some of your music? www.meccaakagrimo.com and www.myspace. com/meccaakagrimo Words: Ms. Rivercity

ecca is a proud Haitian-American with a big voice. He uses his lyrical prowess to spread education amongst youth that might otherwise be distanced from their heritage. With honorable intentions and a love for his culture, hes poised to become the next spokesman for Haitian hip-hop. Where are you from? I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens. Miamis my second home; Ive been here for a while. Im a brother of Haitian descent; my parents are Haitian. Describe your style. Im a hip-hop artist as well as a spoken word poet. Ive also added some acting to my belt. I did an independent film called Kidnappings. Im just trying to create a hip-hop/Creole movement, something that hasnt been brought to the forefront. Theres different genres that have come out and I think its created an influence on all these Creole populated cities. I was told that youre translating some English songs into Creole. When I first stepped on the scene doing this Creole stuff, [I realized] youve got to have money and marketing behind it so I do these remixes to get their attention. I do it to show them I am just as good as the stuff thats out on the radio. The philosophy doesnt really change. Theres a lot of Haitians-Americans that have been torn away from their heritage because theres no way to express it, except through fashion. Through the music, which is a universal language, the people are able to absorb their culture. Its not always remixes; sometimes Ill take a song and do my own song. Sometimes I translate it. Thats another skill in itself to translate it, make it rhyme and make it sound like it goes together with the beat. Thats not easy. Its easier to promote to the DJs because theyre familiar with the music. A lot of DJs wont break music thats not backed by big companies because their reputation is on the line with the crowd. With the remixes, were able to slide in and get a buzz because people havent heard Creole rap over hip-hop tracks. Its fairly new. Theres been forefathers whove done it, but the movement has died out. Its starting back up again. How do you feel about other Haitian artists, like Wyclef, that have been successful with the mainstream? I think its beautiful. Weve got to support each

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NOREAGA

MIAMI, FL
B, Jadakiss, and Kurupt. How long have you been working with DJ EFN? Ive known EFN forever, for almost ten years. I just recently moved to Miami so now were working in a controlled environment. I still live in New York as well but I didnt want to go work at The Hit Factory or Circle House or anything like that. I didnt want to see other artists that are just as big as me. It makes me too comfortable. I wanted to be around hungry artists like Garcia, artists that didnt have a chance to break into the music business. If Im around hungry artists, Im always going to make hungry music. So me and EFN opened up his studio Crazy Hood. Were partners on that now. EFN gives me his honest opinion. Hes not there to be frontin; hes there to be my friend for real and give me his honest opinion. Thats what I need. Why move to Miami and not somewhere else? I needed to get some peace of mind. The thing about Miami is, once you go to a place more than five times, it actually becomes more than just a place you visit. It becomes something youre used to. My two favorite albums are the War Report with Capone and the N.O.R.E. album. The N.O.R.E. in its entirety was made in Miami and the War Report album was made in seclusion. I wanted to be in seclusion and I wanted to be back in Miami. I wanted to recapture those two feelings and I wanted to make music for me, as opposed to making music for the world. I wanted to please me again. Since youre back to your hip-hop roots, whats up with you and Capone? Are you working with him on anything? Yeah, were definitely getting together next week and thinking about knocking this album out. Its really a no-brainer. Working on a CNN album is really an easy process. Its about him doing his part and me doing my part and making a great album. Whats your label situation looking like right now? I had two albums that came out on Def Jam. Right now were looking to do our own thing and move on from that situation. Theres no beef. There wont be no diss records on Jay-Z or anybody else at Def Jam. Were looking to own our masters this year. Thats the process were working on. Until then, Im going out and doing my album on my own. Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE 55

very few years N.O.R.E. manages to reinvent himself. After locking down the hip-hop market with his debut album in 98, Noreaga moved on to tackle another genre reggaeton. His 2004 release of Oye Mi Canto, featuring Nina Sky, Big Mato and Daddy Yankee, paved the way for his first ever Latino album. After a successful run on the Latino Billboards, N.O.R.E. is back in Miami working on his next batch of heat. Why did you decide to make reggaeton music? At the end of the day, Im black and Latino so I always felt like me doing hip-hop represented my black side. I wanted to venture out and do something different for once. I did it; its done; I got it out of my system so its time to move on. Were you trying to tap into a different audience? Basically, the Latino community is the hip-hop community but its a very distinctive group when youre talking about the reggaeton community. Im Puerto Rican and the birthplace of reggaeton is Puerto Rico. By me venturing out there and hearing this music that wasnt getting love in the United States it definitely wasnt getting love on the BET or MTV stations I wanted to show people I was hip not only in the pop culture but also in a whole different society. I wanted to show people that there is a new movement. Oye Mi Canto was the first [reggaeton] video that got played on BET and MTV. It was the biggest reggaeton record that ever came out with that audience. Do you have any new songs out right now? We had the album that came out on Roc La Familia. N.O.R.E. y La Familia was number one two weeks in a row on the Latino Billboard charts. We threw that out and now were back to hiphop. We just did a song produced by DJ EFN called My Name is N.O.. Its blowing up on the hiphop level. We also have another joint out called Cocaine Cowboys. Im proud of my reggaeton movement and my accomplishments with that market but Im back to hip-hop now, doing what Im known for. Are you putting together a new album? Yeah, Im working on a new one called Global Warming with my man DJ EFN. Hes the A&R on the project. Look out for it; its one of the best albums I ever made. Ima give everybody what theyve been waiting for. Who have you collaborated with on the new album? Right now I got T-Pain on the album, Game, Bun

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PRETTY RICKY

MIAMI, FL
on a show. Okay, you guys are definitely known for making music the ladies want to hear, but do you have anything for the fellas on this new one? We always do something for the fellas. Everything we do is for them too, because the fellas aint gotta really say anything. All they gotta do is pop that Pretty Ricky CD in and press play and the girls just gon relate to it. It makes life easier for the fellas. So your first single On the Hotline has done pretty well so far? Yeah, the video is all over BET. Its on the countdown and its hot. Baby Blue directed the video and we got a lot of input on this project, too. Thats why I can say the project is going a lot better, because its a 50/50 thing with us and Atlantic. Were signed to our own record label which is Bluestar Entertainment International. A lot of critics have trouble defining your style, but would you say youre more rap, R&B, or pop? We all three, were all three in one. Thats whats so phenomenal about us... Words by Eric Perrin Photo by Ray Tamarra

ell me about your new CD. Late Night Special is an extension from the first album, Bluestars. Bluestars was a lot of pre-recorded music and with this album we got a chance to take our time and actually give the ladies what they want. Weve had more time to organize the album and weve been around the world. Weve been through different experiences and stuff, so its gonna be crazy. We actually did two albums again this time; a clean album, one you can find at Wal-Mart and then one you can find in record stores. So for the parents thats concerned out there, you can go get the Late Night Special from Wal-Mart for your daughter. Were kinda beating them to the punch, so we dont get that animosity that we always get where they say, Aw, they raunchy. So parents, you gotta pay attention to what your kids listen to, cause if you did, then you wouldnt have no problems with Pretty Ricky. Were just artists at the end of the day. But our new record is phenomenal. Im gon say that myself. I think its gonna be the best album out this year. Thats a pretty bold statement. What exactly makes Late Night Special the best album of the year? Weve actually stepped it up and were growing older now. We got a lot more to talk about and its a crazy album, but a different crazy. Youll see. Record sales have been down a lot this year. Are you afraid at all of a sophomore slump, in terms of sales? Im gon tell you the truth. I mean, our first album was a good album, but our second album is gonna top it a whole lot. We really aint stuttering that sophomore blues stuff because were talented young men and we make good music that our ladies love. We dont really care about this album sales thing thats going around because Pretty Rickys gon sell no matter what. I know last year at The Scream IV tour, you guys had some of the parents a little upset by giving the ladies what they love in terms of some of your stage antics. Everything was just over the top. People overreact to what we do, I mean, youve never seen some guys on stage with boxers on? I dont really think thats all that bad compared to somebody on the stage getting naked. I aint saying no names, but you know. Everything was taken a little hard on us. If we grind, people start overreacting, but were just artists putting

The rest of this interview is featured in the March issue of OZONE Magazine - check it out online at www.ozonemag.com

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01: Baby D & Unk @ the Rollexx (Miami, FL) 02: J Lash and a friend (Miami, FL) 03: On the set of Trick Daddys Bet That 04: Lennox Lewis & Keith of FUBU @ The Forge (Miami, FL) 05: Trick Daddy & Dre (miami, FL) 06: Carol City Cartel @ Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) 07: K-Foxx, DJ Irie, & friends @ Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) 08: Trick Daddy & a friend on the set of Bet That (Miami, FL) 09: Udonis on the set of Bet That (Miami, FL) 10: Model reading OZONE (Miami, FL) 11: Ray Lewis & a friend @ Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) 12: Kelly Rowland & friends @ Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) 13: Gun Play of Carol City Cartel (Miami, FL) 14: Supa Cindy @ Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) 15: Trick Daddy on the set of Bet That (Miami, FL) 16: Trina on the set of Trick Daddys Bet That (Miami, FL) 17: Rick Ross & Brisco performing (Miami, FL) 18: Zo & friends (Miami, FL) 19: Rick Ross & a friend (Miami, FL) 20: Ladies @ Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) 21: Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) Photos by J Lash

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01: Lorenzo Ice Tea & friend @ 400 Club (Miami, FL) 02: Jones of Daed Jewels & friends (Miami, FL) 03: James Jackson & Shonie of Slick Salt Entertainment (Miami, FL) 04: Gocha of Image Salon & friend (Miami, FL) 05: Tony Neal & DJ Smurf @ Pitbulls party (Miami, FL) 06: Keyshia Cole performing @ Opium Gardens (Miami, FL) 07: Boxer The Prince (Miami, FL) 08: Gary Payton @ Dwayne Wades birthday party (Miami, FL) 09: Mr. Mauricio & a friend on South Beach (Miami, FL) 10: Pitbull @ his listening party (Miami, FL) 11: Pitbull, DJ Khaled, & Trick Daddy performing Born & Raised @ the American Airlines Arena (Miami, FL) 12: Cassie & J Lash @ Cafe Iguanas for Diddys listening party (Miami, FL) 13: Dwayne Wades birthday cake (Miami, FL) 14: Guest, Fentz, Alex, & Che (Miami, FL) 15: Sonnema Vodka models @ Pitbulls listening party (Miami, FL) 16: Guest, Jim Jonsin, guest, & Mistah FAB (Miami, FL) 17: Cubo & DJ Ideal @ Pitbulls listening party (Miami, FL) 18: DJ Laz & a friend @ Pitbulls listening party (Miami, FL) 19: J Lash & JT Money (Miami, FL) 20: Dwayne Wades wife wishing him a happy birthday @ his party (Miami, FL) Photos by J Lash

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J Entice is most known for his mixshow on Miamis 99 Jamz and his affiliation with The CORE DJs. As one of the citys top DJs, Entice has spent years practicing and learning the business. Now that hes made it, he has some pretty good advice for the up-and-comers. How did you start DJing? When I was a sophomore in high school, a friend of mine was selling some equipment and records. I always wanted to try it out so I gave him a hundred dollars and he gave me all his stuff. I just sat here and spent a long time practicing. How did you end up getting to the radio level? I used to watch a lot of videos of DJ competitions. My first route was really turntablism. I started realizing that to make it, you gotta do clubs. I started going out and watching other DJs, practicing more and more, listening to music more often and then I finally started getting with some DJs in the clubs. I started working with Khaled and Irie. Cedric Hollywood, who was the PD [at WEDR 99 Jamz] at the time, was always hearing me and he gave me a shot. Are you working with any local artists? I also produce so Ive done a couple of tracks for some artists. Im about to start doing a lot of work with Brisco, who just got signed to Cash Money Records. I do a lot of work with the artists that everybodys hearing about right now, like Rick Ross. Im also working on some mixtapes. How long have you been with The CORE DJs? About two years. How has being with a crew helped your helped your DJ career? I notice that some DJs dont believe in having a crew but being part of any DJ affiliation is good for you because it gets you more outlets. With The CORE DJs being as strong as they are right now, I can go anywhere in the country and out of the country and call up a DJ and tell them Im in town. Its like my brother is taking care of me. Im on a real family-oriented basis with The CORE DJs. Im happy with them. What are the top 5 most requested songs in Miami right now? Omarions Icebox is real big right now. Jim Jones We Fly High is still on top. Fat Joes Make It Right. Jeezys I Luv It is blowing up

DJ ENTICE D

MIAMI, FL
in Miami. The newest one is definitely Rich Boys Throw Some Ds. What are the differences between Miamis music market and those from other cities? I definitely think theres a big difference. I havent been everywhere, but Ive been to a lot of spots and Ive noticed a lot of places, depending on where you go, you can only play certain types of music. If you go to Atlanta, youll hear a lot of Atlanta music. Miami has so many different people and different cultures and when you come here, youll get a little bit of everything. Youre gonna get East coast, West coast, Midwest. I think Miamis on top for that reason. Do you have any advice for any up-and-coming DJs? I tell people that want to get into the DJ industry, just hustle it. Believe in yourself. If you can believe in what youre doing, you can do it. Dont let nobody stop you. Just grind 24 hours a day and live it. Is there anything else you want to plug? Lookout for my mixtapes. I got one coming out with Rich Boy, one coming out with Brisco. I got a Jay-Z/Lil Wayne coming out; and I got Clipse coming out. My website is www.djentice.com. Words: Ms. Rivercity

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am Sneak has a unique niche in Miamis music scene. His signature catch phrase Saaam Sneak! can be heard on underground radio stations, in the club and in the hood. After being slept on for so long, people are finally noticing Sams knack for breaking new artists. Where are you from and how did you get started DJing? Im out of North Miami. Ive been DJing about eight or nine years now. Ive worked with Rick Ross, Poe Boy, and Triple C. Im doing the strip club scene real hard right now. I got mix CDs heavy out here. Basically, all the underground radio stations in Miami play my mix CDs. Are you working with any independent artists? Yeah, Im working with Supa Chino. Im doing a mixtape with him. I basically try to get a lot of independent artists out there. Even when the Rick Ross record Hustlin came out, I played it in the hood. With my mix CDs, a lot of dudes buy them off the corners and from the bootleggers. If its hot, its going to make it. Different artists hit me up from Jacksonville everywhere. Im working with Brisco, Flo Rida, Supa Chino, and Piccalo. Its so many; I dont even know where to start. You mentioned doing mix CDs for radio stations. I provide the underground stations with mixshows. I put together the songs for them. 89.1, 92.7, 97.7, 89.5 all these stations know me. Is it hard to break music in Miami? Miamis a very different market. Down here, its hard to break a record compared to Tampa or Orlando. If you play a record out there, its not that hard to break because they show love out there. Miamis real tough. It depends on how you introduce the song. Sometimes they might not respond in the first twenty seconds; sometimes they start vibing when the hook comes on. It varies. What does it take to make a mixtape that will circulate as much as yours do? Theres certain things you do when you put the product out there. Holla at certain vendors and let them know what youre trying to do. Basically, I give it to them for free and let them listen to it. If its poppin and they want it, then you can start saying what you want for it. Thats how I started it. I gave a lot of my mix CDs away for free like for six or seven months I was giving them out for free. People were loving it and I kept doing it.

SAM SNEAK S

MIAMI, FL
Eventually people started knowing who I am. How long did it take for you to get your name out there? I know youve been at it for a while. Its funny, when I first started doing it, people didnt really respect me. They were like yeah, whatever. I felt like they werent giving me credit so I started tagging my music with Saaam Sneak! and it stuck. So whenever the underground stations would play my mix CDs, thats what youd hear. One day this dude opened up a local hood spot called Aquarius and he gave me fifteen minutes but he underestimated me. I rocked the house. Different people started giving me chances and I would do like ten minutes for free. Then they realized I was good. Even my cousin hes a promoter out here would tell me I wasnt ready. Then one night he let me open up at Oxygen and he was like, Damn. What else are you working on? Im working on this new mixtape called Sneak Peek. Im dropping Volumes 1 and 2 during Super Bowl weekend. Im also working on the Triple C mixtapes. Do you want to give out any contact info? Contact me at samsneak@tmail.com. Shouts out to North Miami, the Westside and Jam Squad DJs. Words: Ms. Rivercity

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DJ EPPS
D

MIAMI, FL
and Germany. Shadyville is DJ Epps, E-Rock, Noodles, Whoo Kid and a whole lot of other staff. Hot DJs in different markets is our thing. You can check it out at www.shadyvilledjs.net. Are you originally from Miami? Im originally from New York. I came out here fifteen years ago and it was pretty wide open. There was nobody out here. There was no Irie, no Khaled, no Ideal, no Maurico. Everybody pretty much calls me a pioneer in Miami cause when I came out here it was wide open. I came out here and did my thing. I took my career to the next level. Would you say the scene in Miami has grown? It has grown but it hasnt grown to where its supposed to be like Atlanta, Houston or New York City. Miami is very different. Not one radio station has given me a radio show. Its really pitiful. Anybody thats out there right now is not coming back to the hood and giving the rest of Miami a chance to make it happen. I feel theyre pretty much keeping it to themselves and thats not cool. So Im about to grab all the hot songs and artists and bring my city up single-handedly. Do you want to plug anything? Be sure to pay attention to Night Breederz Ent., CG! and North & Agony are coming soon. I cant forget Kaliba, C Traffic, and the beautiful twins Unique. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Julia Beverly

J Epps has been putting it down in Miami for over fifteen years. Hes currently working with several artists in the area, including North & Agony. His future plans include the release of several mixtapes as well as a new website. Check him out at www.myspace.com/djepps. What are you working on right now? I have a couple of things going on. Im working with my artists North & Agony theyre two Puerto Ricans; theyre very funny. They call em the Tag Team Champions here in Miami. Youll be hearing from them very soon. Theyre putting out mixtapes all over Miami. Im also working with a website called PeopleClick.com. Its like Myspace on steroids. You can load up unlimited video clips and mp3s. Did you come up with the idea for the website? My friend came up with it cause hes the computer genius. Im gonna be taking care of the music side and getting the record labels to sponsor it. Were already gonna build up Big Tigger and Gino Greens site as well as Trick Daddy and North & Agony. Were going to launch it here in Miami. Do you DJ at any clubs as a resident? I try not to do residencies because the promoters dont keep their word. Its hard to keep a residency because the loyalty in here in Miami is not that great. Im always going out of town and overseas every month cause honestly, thats where my moneys at. Talk about the mixtapes North & Agony are working on. Were putting out several mixtapes. We got a future mixtape that were getting Whoo Kidd from G-Unit to host. Were about to put out Who The Hell is North & Agony right now. Have you ever done production work or do you plan to get into that? Night Breederz Entertainment is my company and its also a production and record label. We have several producers on deck. Me, myself, Im just getting ready to start doing the producing thing. I just got a crib and were setting up a studio. We also have some producers on our team like Chaotic; North & Agony have in-house producers as well. Are you affiliated with any DJ Crews? Yeah, Im the Southeast Regional Rep for Shadyville DJs. Thats Whoo Kids squad. Were very new and very powerful. We also have an international roster. We have some people in the U.K., France

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PITBULL T

MIAMI, FL
to say about El Mariel is that it can be confusing to the consumer. They dont know if its Spanish or English. They dont know what to expect from it. So Im going to put out a Part 2 called The Boat Lift. Whats going to be different about The Boat Lift from El Mariel? Its going to be just straight urban records in all English so theres no confusion within the consumer. The Pitbull movement is a little bit ahead of its time. So we better figure it out; it confuses us sometimes. [laughs] So youve been in the studio working on Part 2 as well? Have you come up with any singles yet? Ive been working on the records for The Boatlift. We pretty much got a single right now that Im going to release called Sticky Icky. Lil Jon produced it. I think thats going to be a big club and street record. You can imagine what its about. Didnt you shoot a video not too long ago? Yeah, I shot a video for a record I got on El Mariel called Be Quiet. When are you going to release it? I got the final edits back and what Im going to do is leak that to MTV Tr3s and then do the whole internet game on YouTube.com and Myspace.com. Like I said, its a grind. I dont got that major label money behind me. But it should be out in a week or two. YouTube and Myspace are fairly new outlets for artists. How have they helped you since they came out? Its definitely an important part of my career cause instead of behind out here passing out mixtapes, you can put up a record on Myspace and youll have a million plays in two or three days. Its definitely something I use as a marketing tool. Compare the support from the Latino community to that of your American listeners. Is it the same? Its definitely the same from both sides. When do you usually come up with your song ideas? Do they hit you all at once or do you sit down and plan them out? I usually come up with the idea and then find a record for them. Its different now that Im on the road. Before I could get the beats, sit down, and think about it. Now that Im on the road, Im OZONE 31

he slow grind is the fa sho grind, Pitbull explained in his last interview with OZONE. These are words of an artist characterized by patience and persistence. Some may wonder if its better to be a platinum-selling one hit wonder or a gold artist turned legendary. While one promises instant fame and money, the other is focused on building a foundation and appreciation for success. Pitbull chooses the second option the one with longevity. Since the release of his second album on TVT Records entitled El Mariel, Pits been putting his all into touring and promoting. His travels around the world have enlightened him on many issues that others take for granted, such as freedom. Fresh off a flight from Mexico, Pit shares his thoughts on his current album, his future ventures and life in general. Is El Mariel living up to your expectations? Id say one hundred percent, especially with me having to fight through the fourth quarter. Thats all I know is how to grind so its a beautiful thing. Im still on the road with it. Since youve released several projects, what does it take to successfully promote an album? I think you definitely have to have everything aligned right and organized. Everythings got to be ready. The labels got to be behind you. You gotta be grinding in the streets and making sure youre taking care of these DJs. How important is touring when youre trying to sell a project? You gotta have that connection with the fans. If you dont got that foundation, no matter what kind of record you got, youre not going to sell no records. Its already hard enough to sell records in this business. It aint no algebra, geometry or trigonometry to this shit. Its real simple. Go out there, grind and do shows so people will watch you and like you. You gotta get out there and make people your fans. How is important is the team behind an artist? My team is very important. Without my team, there is no Pitbull. Bottom line.

Is your Spanish album Armando completed yet? I havent finished it. Im still working on it as we speak. What other projects are you planning? Im working on another album. One thing I want

just waiting to get home to knock it out in the studio. You work with several local artists in Miami like B.A.N.G., Cubo and Piccalo. Why do you feel its important to work with up-and-coming artists? I think its always important cause youre opening the doors for them. If any of them succeed, then of course it will be part of my success also. If one hand washes the other, then well both wash our face. The more successful they become, it makes the whole circle successful. We all need to unite and make it happen. Thats pretty much what its about to me the whole Dade County, 305 movement. Im blessed to be a part of it. Did you ever have anyone look out for you when you were coming up? Who were your mentors as an artist? Luke was my mentor. You sponsored a scholarship contest a while back. How did you come up with the plan for that? Its a basically a foundation we opened up to make sure certain kids go to college and get their education. I thought, what a better way to give back to the community than to send them off to a university. Do you feel that going to college and getting an education important? Me, myself, I aint go to college but its a great opportunity for someone underprivileged to experience that. Do you know who won the contest? To be honest, we dont have a winner picked out yet. What do you love most about living and working in Miami? How is it different from any of the other places youve been? I love everything here. The weather everything. It feels good to be home. Theres no other city in the world like it. Its the most international city in the world. Theres so many different people and cultures here. What would you say to people living in the United States that complain about the problems here? Does it seem like Americans are spoiled to a certain degree? Most definitely but I can understand that. Ive gone back to Cuba and seen whats going on over there. Ive done been to different countries and seen what poverty is like in their country. How would you compare poverty in other countries to poverty in the U.S.? A ghetto here in the United States is like Beverly Hills compared to another countrys or islands ghettos or neighborhoods. I get a chance to un32 OZONE

derstand it; a lot of people dont because they dont get out. They dont understand the freedom and opportunities that we have here. You know, the number one disease weve got in this country is called ignorance. Is there anyone you havent worked with yet that youd like to collaborate with in the future? The only person that I didnt get a chance to work with, that I really wanted to work with was Celia Cruz. Shes a legend. Ive pretty much worked with everybody and I think its only gonna continue. Whats the most requested Pitbull song right now? I got two. I got a record thats number one on the Spanish charts. Its called Dime featuring a cat named Ken-y. I also got a record called Ay Chico thats taking off. Do you have anything else you want to tell people about before we finish the interview? I think weve pretty much covered everything. Just let them know make sure to check me out on Myspace www.myspace.com/pitbull. And I always appreciate the love because without them, there is no Pitbull. Look out for my music and The Boatlift. Go get El Mariel its in stores right now. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Vincent Edmond Louis

For more on Pitbull, check out the November 2006 issue of OZONE Magazine online at www. ozonemag.com

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CAROL CITY CARTEL

F
or most hip-hop groups, the concepts of loyalty and longevity are hard to master. For Miamis trillest trio Rick Ross, Gun Play Murddock and Torch the concepts are second nature. Over the past several years, Triple C has gone from surviving the streets of Miami to enjoying the successes of Port of Miami (Rosss platinum solo album) to becoming a family. How long have yall been working together? Ross: Weve been a squad and doing music together for the last 10 years. Torch: I actually met the boy Ross back in 98. Then we founded the Carol City Cartel. I just want people to know that we real street niggas, not some fly by night dudes. Gun Play: When I was fourteen or fifteen we said we want to do the rap thing and get money. We started it and called it Carol City Cartel. What does the name Carol City Cartel mean? Ross: Thats Triple C; they came from our hood. Were still representing the hood and representing the movement. My homeboy, hes doing time right now, Kenneth Williams. Were really representing for a lot of dudes thats no longer here with us, either serving 200 years in prison or dead and gone. So when Im screaming it, Im thinking about them. What projects have you done collectively? Ross: Weve been doing music together forever so we released our mixtapes together. Everything Ive ever released Triple C has always been a part of it. Were basically in the studio working on this debut album right now. What keeps you motivated to stick together? Gun Play: The love of the music and the game, and of course the money. I always knew it was gonna get me rich. That was enough motivation for me. Not only do I love to do it, but I love to get rich, too. I like a lot of money. Torch: I think about my little boy. Making sure hes eating good and setting the future up where he dont gotta struggle like I did. Im from the Castle Hill Projects. Im trying to make it so he dont grow up in that type of atmosphere. Thats all the focus I need. What have you learned about the music industry that you didnt know before? Torch: Besides the fact that its cutthroat, you just got to be focused and try hard. As long as youre determined, itll work out. So the group as a whole has a good chemistry?

MIAMI, FL

Ross: Oh yeah, most definitely. We all come from the same thing. Everybody compliments each other. Thats what makes it a real special situation. Youve got Gun Play Murddock hes like the black Tommy Lee. He can do more than Rick once he becomes a millionaire. As far as lyrically and what he brings to the microphone, he cant be compared to nobody else in the game. Torch is the ultra-lyrical dude with his word play. When you see them on stage with me, you see them really holding me down. But everybody already did their thing before. This album will really showcase their solo talent. Their showmanship is where it needs to be. Their performance is legendary. Gun Play: Ross is the best rapper that I ever had an opportunity to work with. And Torchs word play and his whole different style makes me want to catch up to them, and work harder. When you listen to their lyrics and how they formulate those words, it makes me really step my game up. Talk about the album and the collaborations. Ross: Its going to be the best group album coming out in the game in a long time, period. Its real creative and real powerful music. Weve got Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, Junior Reid, Brisco, you know, Poe Boy checking in all the way. 8Ball, Smitty, Cool & Dre, DJ Khaled, Yung Joc. The production is top shelf crme de la crme. Were negotiating a distribution deal right now for the album. Im just bringing everything I can to the table, as far as production, features and everything Ive learned. Gun Play: Its real music. Its real life stories, real life issues that weve put on beats. Its stuff that you deal with everyday and we put it in perspective. We go through the same shit, maybe even worse. We feel your pain, patna. Whats the significance behind the album name Black Flag? Ross: Down here in Miami were representing that black flag. Its just a saying and a symbol. When you see that black flag you know its real; you dont want me to wave it. Is there anything else you want to add? Gun Play: Im one of the realest and best rappers in the game. Torch: We about to be running this game with so much diversity, so many angles, three different flows all coming as hard as you want to hear it. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Julia Beverly OZONE 37

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SUAVE SMOOTH

WEST PALM BEACH, FL

Very supportive. Very surprised, too, cause they aint never really think it would have been as big as it is. They remember me being in the band and it was the same thing then. In Palm Beach County, Im like the main head honcho around here. The whole county is behind me. How did your buzz get so big? Actually by interacting with the people. It was more about me as a person than my music. At my shows, I always stuck around and signed autographs for everybody and interacted with them. Basically, by doing that so much, everybody feels like they know me. Are you working with any DJs on any mixtapes? I was getting ready to start on a mixtape but the DVD thing is starting to become real big down here. You used to get a big buzz off the mixtapes, but the DVDs are starting to be the biggest things. But I got a lot of love for the DJs, especially down here. Whats up with the Dem Damn Dogs DVD? They named the DVD after one of my songs called Gangstas and Thugs. They caught heat from the Feds, the city, the mayor, and theyre still catching heat from the news. It was actually on the news last night and the DVD was released last year. Anytime a fight happens or a kid gets beat up, theyre throwing the DVD up. It was good and the bad. The lieutenant of our police department had something to do with the DVD, too. They couldnt put too much heat on it or it would make everybody look bad. What do you mean? How was he involved? Its rumors but they say he funded the money to get the DVD pressed up. He helps rent out a teen club in West Palm Beach. It kinda made him look sloppy. It looked like he was allowing all this stuff to go on. But it was real beneficial for the artists that had songs on there. Them and the street cats that spit freestyles on there got known. I was poppin before that but it helped, too. The song didnt really get as hot until the DVD was released. We had actually stopped pushing the song. After the DVD was released, I got calls from Clay D and all them in Orlando trying to get shows. Do you want to give out any contact info? Www.myspace.com/suavesmoothofficial and my managers email address is torrey@outlookmusic.com. Words: Ms. Rivercity OZONE 41

est Palm Beach is home to several talented artists, including Suave Smooth. One half rap star, one half producer, Suave is as gifted as they come. With the unfolding of the new year and his new record deal with Fontana/ Universal, hes geared up for the release of his second album. What are you working on for 2007? I have a new album dropping this year; we dont have an exact release date yet. I produced the whole album. Its called Govt Work. Ive got Tampa Tony, 8Ball & MJG, T-Pain, and Triple J featured on the album. What singles are you pushing? The song I have with 8Ball & MJG is the first single from the album. Well be really pushing it the first quarter of this year. How did you link up with them? I had been wanting to do a song with them and they just so happened to be in Orlando. My A&R is cousins with their manager. What shows have you done? The last people I opened up for were the Ying Yang Twins, David Banner and Smilez & Southstar in Fort Myers. Ive really been headlining shows lately. Whats been your biggest achievement? Actually, signing this deal with Trevor Price from the Baltimore Ravens. It got me a deal through Fontana/Universal. I had an offer to do a group deal through Pretty Rickys label Blue Stars. Spectacular called me directly because we known each other for a while. It didnt go through because I already have a contract. How did you learn to produce your own beats? I was involved with music my whole life. At the age of nine, I had a piano in my house. My sister was supposed to be learning how to play it but she aint never really take it serious. I taught myself how to play by ear and eventually, when I turned fourteen, I got a keyboard and took it from there. I was in the band too in high school; I played the tuba. I was the section leader. Who were some of your musical influences? It wasnt any rappers. Its kinda crazy cause I grew up listening to a lot of Barry White. As far as my production, it kinda came from Barry White, even though I dont sound nothing like him. Are they supportive?

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TORO

MIAMI, FL
Who all have you worked with as far as production? Ive worked with a lot of producers out of Miami like the Drum Majorz. Ive worked with a couple of other underground producers. Are you performing in order to get yourself out there? Yeah, I was on tour with Juvenile in about 36 cities. Ive been performing a lot in Miami and other parts of Florida. How was the tour? It was a good experience but its not like what you see on TV. Its blood, sweat and tears. You gotta really be ready for that road cause that road will make you or break you. Its hard work. For somebody who hasnt had the chance to go on tour yet, whats the typical day like when youre on the road? Get up, eat breakfast, do radio interviews, magazine interviews, sound check and the show. Thats how it goes. Every day is the same thing. Are there any artists in the game that you look up to or are influenced by? I grew up on JT Money, Luke, 8Ball & MJG, N.W.A. and stuff like that. Whats next for Toro? I have a DJ Drama mixtape coming out. That should be the last mixtape before I get a deal. Im doing a couple of shows Super Bowl weekend. Basically, Im on the grind. Do you have any shout outs? I want to shout out the whole Dade County, 305, Opa Locka, Carol City, all that. Yall go check out that Bloodline movie, too. I got a part in that movie. Im doing a good supporting acting role. My name is Smurf in the movie. Thats doing real good in the streets right now. How could someone get in contact with you? Yall can hit me up on Myspace at www.myspace. com/toroiconz or www.lifelineentertainment. com. Check me out in the hood, flea markets, all that. We in the hood out here. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Julia Beverly

05 is on the rise and Toro is making his mark in the movement. His new CD, Walkin Check, features his latest single Ima Star a statement that is backed by Toros grind and stage presence. Hosted by DJ Khaled, the project is industry certified and approved. And just in case the world needs more proof of Toros star qualities, he landed an acting role in the new Bloodline movie. Where are you from? Im from Dade County, FL. I was born and raised in Bunch Park; thats in Opa Locka. Describe your style for someone who hasnt heard your music. Its original. Its like street lyrical. I wouldnt say its gangsta rap, but its real life situations put into lyrical form. Its killing em! Do you have a single? Yeah, Ive got a singled called Ima Star. Its killing the underground right now. Is it getting any radio play? Were trying to get some spins. As we speak, I got 99 Jamz on it and I got Khaled backing it. What projects are you working on? I got my street CD out. Ima Star is on the CD. Its doing real good. Its called Walkin Check and its hosted by DJ Khaled. Were moving a lot of units on the street right now. Everythings going good. Have you done any collaborations? I got collaborations with Mario Winans, The Game, Rick Ross, and the Goonz Squad. Were moving units, moving units, moving units. Whats the name of your label? Lifeline Entertainment. The CEO is Zo of Czar Entertainment. Jimmy Henchmen is my manager. Are there any other artists on the label? No, Im the only artist on the label right now. Where have you been promoting yourself and your street CD? In Southeast Florida, Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Fort Myers. Basically, were covering Florida right now but I got a couple units up in New York. I got some in Alabama, too.

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OZONE

WEBBZ

MIAMI, FL
high school? Well, my grades decided not to let me pursue it. I wasnt really getting good grades and I thought I could get by with skills alone. I was getting by for a long time but finally the grades came into play. I was skipping a lot and not going to class. When did you start pursuing music as your career? A little bit after I got kicked off the team and basketball was over. Ive always been into music though, forever. I used to see a lot of people in the industry blowing up and doing it real big, like around the time when Master P and them was on top. I was like, hey, I can do the same thing. I just said I wanted to rap. So I got into and here we are now. What type of music did you listen to growing up? Like I said, my parents are Jamaican so Im heavily influenced by Jamaican music Reggae, Dancehall. And then I was into hip-hop, like JayZ, Nas, Biggie, Tupac. Those are my dudes right there. Which producers have you worked with? Im currently getting production from Ron Lawrence. He co-produced the Biggie joint Hypnotize. Hes the one that did the single with Akon. He did Money, Power, Respect. Im working with Chop D.I.E.S.E.L., whos on Kay Slays album. He did an Amerie and Nas joint. Are you working with any other DJs besides Papa Smirf? Yeah, hes just the first one that Im coming out with. Im working with a lot of local and out of state DJs, like Mr. Maurico, DJ Haze and DJ Ideal. When will you be releasing the other mixtapes? Watch My Moves will be out the end of January and then Im going to do The Underdog. After that, Im gonna be doing Coming from the Bottom, hosted by DJ Ideal. Anything else you want to mention? Look out for me. Im gonna be real heavy. A lot of mixtapes are dropping. Also, the second single after the Akon joint is gonna be On the Block featuring Pleasure from Pretty Ricky. You can go to www.worldwidewebbz.com or www.myspace. com/worldwidewebbz Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Kevin Pamphile OZONE 47

Southern boy with big city skills thats how Webbz describes his style. His new mixtape, Watch My Moves promises to prove this theory right. Webbz is ready to take his southern swagger to the streets of Miramar. How long have you been rapping? Six years. Where are you from originally? Im from Miramar, Florida but I was born in Canada. We came here in the 80s. My parents are Jamaican.

What projects do you have out right now? I just dropped a new one called Watch My Moves. Its hosted by Rick Ross and DJ Papa Smirf. Is it your first project? Thats my second solo mixtape and my fourth mixtape overall. Do you have any singles your pushing? I currently have a single with Akon called All I Know. Whats the song about? Its a real street song about what were used to, like dudes in the hood and what they do and about their attitudes. Its about all that we know. For someone who hasnt heard your music, describe what you sound like. The first time you hear my music, youll hear a very lyrical artist from the South. Its something you might not be used to. When you first hear me, youre gonna think Im from New York. But check it out, Im from the South. You mentioned that youre lyrical what do you typically rap about? Most of my music is real struggle music. Reality music is what I like to call it. Its what the average person is going through looking for a job or the bills are backed up. I rap about whats really going on and what Im trying to do which is get out of this situation. Most people are stuck in fucked in situations. You used to play basketball what position did you play? Point guard at Miramar High School. Why did you decide not to pursue basketball after

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TRICK DADDYS
10 Ways To Get Fucked Up In Dade County
10 Counterfeit Money
If you come tryin to cop with them dummy wads and counterfeit bankrolls, thatll get you fucked up real quick.

09 Dummy Birds

Fake blocks, you know?

08 Ride Through The Triangle With That Bullshit

The Triangle is Opa-Locka. If you aint from 21 and you dont hang in 21, you dont got no business on 21.

07 Slippin

Some red lights are meant to be ran at certain times of night. Dont get caught slippin.

06 Snitchin

Any nigga that points fingers and testifies is a snitch. A nigga thats been debriefed is a snitch that dont even know they a snitch yet.

05 Getting High

Weed, laced, base, or pills. Getting doped up will get you fucked up in Dade County.

04 Hating On The Heat, Dolphins, Or Hurricanes

You can get killed by hating. That means hating on the 305, period. Niggas who dont like the Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes, or Miami Heat are straight haters, and thatll get you fucked up.

03 Gambling

Gambling will get you fucked up. Tryin to stop my bank in the cee lo game will get you fucked up.

02 Slimy Ass Hoes

Slimy-ass hoes will get you fucked up in Miami with that he-say she-say shit.

01 Guns

223s, 308s, mini 14s, AKs, SKs, Calicos being on the wrong end of em will get you fucked up. Its better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.

- Borrowed from OZONEs September 2006 issue >

OZONE 51

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OZONE

MONEY MARK & UMP

et in South Florida, the DVD Bloodline is an urban drama about two brothers who have led very different lives. Separated early in life, one becomes a victim of circumstances; the other a man of the law. When their paths cross again, they must choose between family ties or their current lifestyles. Were not going to give away the entire plot, but we did sit down with the lead actors Ump and Money Mark to get some insight on the film, their characters and life after filming. Tell us a little about the movie. Ump: Its about two brothers that were separated fairly young in their childhood. I play the younger brother Nate Williams. They didnt get a chance to bond until they were adults. The first time they met happened to be the same day that one of the brothers murdered the other ones best friend. They met under some strange circumstances. Mark: I play Marcus Dorsey, a police officer. He starts off as a young man from a broken home. As we see often in the hood, me and my brother get split up. I go live with my father and my father helped me better myself. My brother Nate stays in the hood and becomes a victim of the hood. I go on to become a police officer and he stays in the hood and becomes a big time dope boy. We meet up further down the line and I got to choose between my blood or the law. Thats very ironic. Werent you just involved in an incident with the Atlanta police? Mark: Yeah, fuck the Cobb County police. I went and got me something to smoke. I guess they were watching the place where I was getting it at. As soon as I pulled off, they arrested me. That sucks, right? Hell yeah. So was this your first acting role or have you done other film work? Mark: This was actually my first movie. Im actually an artist but I did some acting in a music video. Im friends with Piccalo from Miami. The videos called Pictures on a T-Shirt. They felt that I have the look and mannerisms to try acting so they gave me a chance in the video. It was the same thing with this movie I guess. Ump: This is probably the fourth or fifth film Ive done, but all of them have been minor roles. This is the first key role Ive had in a movie. What was the experience like for you? Ump: Wow, it was really hard. Its a big difference between playing a minor role and having a lead

MIAMI, FL

role in a movie. Theres different levels of concentration and dedication. Its intensified by ten. Was there a particular part of the movie that was harder for you to act out? Ump: Probably the most difficult part for me to do was the first scene in the movie; its close to the last scene also. It introduces you to the movie and takes you all the way back to the beginning. Its a part where me and him had met up on that bridge. That was the first time we met each other in like ten years. But like I said, we met up under such bad circumstances I had just killed his best friend and the range of emotions that my character had to display in this was crazy strenuous. I ended up with a crazy headache after filming that scene that day. The emotions I had to go through in that scene went from one extreme to the other. We had to shoot it from so many different angles and every time I had to build that energy back up. It was extremely draining. It was the toughest scene for me. How long did it take you to prepare for the role before you started shooting? Ump: I prepared for probably about six weeks. Mark: It took me about a month. I sat down with a few of my friends and we watched a lot of movies like Menace to Society and Gang Related with Tupac. Tupac was a great influence on me cause I figured if Pac could play a police officer role then I could definitely do it. How long did the actual filming take? Ump: We shot during the course of three and a half weeks. After three and a half weeks of shooting, was it hard to get out of character? Ump: Ive never really had that problem. Some days we would probably shoot for twelve hours or more but when we were done I basically put the character to bed till that next morning. On the set, I tried to stay in character as much as I could but once shooting was done for the day, I came out of it. A lot of people say that character is so much like me. Its funny cause people must dont know me cause that character is nothing like me. What are the differences between yourself and the character you played? Ump: The character was persuaded and influenced a lot easier than I am. I think he expected less out of people than I do in life. I think Im OZONE 53

a little harder on my (above) Ump friends and associates (right) Money Mark than he is. And definitely were different as far as women; Im a real family oriented person when it comes to me and my girl. The character was totally opposite. Mark: Wow, my character is very different from me. No disrespect to police officers doing they job and not busting peoples balls, but Im obviously not a police officer. The similarities would be the player mannerisms, loyalty to my family, and the bravery. Me not being a police officer would be the main difference. Do you hope to do major films eventually? Ump: Yep, I stay in contact with a couple people and Ive been contacted by a few production companies. When you do a role like this and people accept it so easily, its not that hard to get typecast into that character. Im pretty sure theyre gonna wanna see me along the same line of this type of character. I definitely want to branch out into something else. I really hope the next thing I can do is a comedy. Mark, do you plan to do any more movies? Mark: Most definitely. Most likely. Gabrielle Union I hope youre listening, and all those actresses like that, I would love to play opposite of them. Is there anything else you want to talk about? 54 OZONE

Ump: I want to give a lot of thanks to my partner Quick. Without him, its a lot of stuff I probably wouldnt be able to accomplish as far as the acting and writing. Its almost like we think on the same level, especially when it comes to movies and script writing. Mark: Fuck Cobb County Police. Everybody support. I have a mixtape out called Treasure of Dade County. Check me out on Myspace www.myspace. com/moneymizzell and leave a message. Words: Ms. Rivercity

Kaliba (center) and Thunda Tracks

56

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KALIBA

HOLLYWOOD, FL
Thats the only collaboration so far. What have you been doing to promote yourself? Weve been doing a lot of shows on South Beach at most of the clubs. We did DJ Khaleds birthday party. Ive performed at a lot of clubs like Metropolis, Evolution; I did a show with Juvenile, Boosie and Webbie. I did a show with them on Thanksgiving. Weve just been doing a lot of shows to promote and putting up flyers and doing the ground work. Are you using the internet for promotions? Oh yeah, we have the Myspace page too. The official page is www.myspace.com/thundatracks. Who are some of your influences? My idol is Nas but my other influences include Outkast, Ludacris and Lil Wayne. Are you looking for a deal or do you want to make it as an independent artist? Were trying to go major. We have a couple of major labels looking at us right now that were talking to. We should definitely do something major by the end of February with the way things are going. Do you think you have what it takes to blow? For one, Im young; Im only 20. Im the most the versatile person youre gonna meet. I listen to a lot of music, whether its from signed or unsigned artists, and I notice that everybody is on the same page as each other. Everybody seems to want to fit in with the times. They have one basic style. With me, I could do everything and Ive done everything. Thats just who I am. I think thats going to give me the edge when I get in. What has been your biggest accomplishment? I think the DJ Khaled [birthday] party was the highlight of my career. Every celebrity was in there, as far as the music industry goes. A lot of big people were there, a lot of people Ive looked up to all my life. They actually got a chance to see me perform and after the show a lot of people approached me and told me I was hot. Whats next for you? Right now were working on the album and a second mixtape will possibly be coming by the end of February. It all depends on how things go with these labels were talking to. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Reggie Saylor OZONE 57

aised in Florida all his life, Kaliba is proud to be part of the vast rise of southern artists. With his unique style and marketable look, he hopes to be the next to blow from the Sunshine state. He even has a few label deals on the table. What are you working on right now? Right now, were still letting the Take 1 mixtape circulate. Were working on our new singles for the new year. Were also shopping around with a few labels. Which singles do you think youll release? Really, thats undecided. We have a good idea of what theyre going to be, but its undecided right now. Did you have any songs in the past that did well? One is called Dont Be Scared and another one is called Screwed Up. Was it a chopped and screwed song? Nah, it was like a Southern anthem talking about how the South is taking over and the growth weve developed in the hip-hop game and how we made room for ourselves to be noticed. How has the growth of the South helped you as an artist? Its definitely helped me as an artist cause when I first started rapping, the South wasnt really that hot yet. I wasnt ashamed to be who I was but I was trying to be what the industry wanted at that time, which is basically a Northern sound. Once the South started blowing up, it gave me more of an opportunity to lay back and be myself and make my own kind of music instead of having to adjust to what the industry was based on. How long have you been rapping? I started rapping about three or four years ago. Who makes your beats? My production team is called Thunda Tracks. Theyre from the same neighborhood Im from but we never knew each other. We just met right before the mixtape came out in August. Weve been working together ever since. Their style is very versatile; they do everything Southern beats, chick songs, whatever. Theres two of them Mav and Thee. Have you worked with any other artists? On the mixtape I have a song with Jadakiss.

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OZONE

JOE HOUND

MIAMI, FL
Ive been working with them since 98. Me and Dre went to the same high school. I didnt know Cool in high school, but I knew Dre. So I bumped into Dre in 98 and its been on and bumpin ever since. So youre from Miami originally? Born and raised. Have you collaborated with anyone else? I have no collaborations on my album right now. I have a couple collabos from Dirt Bags album thats coming out on my mixtape. As far as collaborations for my album, Im trying to get Rick Ross. Hopefully I can get a collabo with Trick. You gotta have Trick on your album. If I can get Trick, that would be lovely. Im hoping we can pull strings to get those things to happen. What are you doing to promote the album? Right now were putting posters out in all our target markets. But for Super Bowl weekend, were going to be doing it big. Were shooting a video for Choppa. We start that on the 1st of February. It might be a two day shoot or it might be a one day shoot. It depends on the weather and how quick we do our thing. Were going to promote well. We got a couple of teams in Miami thats setting up marketing strategies. Theyre supposed to get back with us and let us know what they plan on doing. We got a lot of things in the works. Were doing a lot during Super Bowl weekend. Hopefully in all the markets were targeting, were going to do it big there, too. We got plans to go in a lot of cities. Were doing some things during All Star weekend as well. Is there anything else you want to mention? The albums coming out in May of 2007. Look out for Choppa the single with Dre and C-Ride and Connect Boy the next single off the album. The pressures gonna be on now. Thats all I need to say. Do you want to give out any contact info or a website? You can get in contact with me at www.myspace. com/joehound. Im always on there. Thats where all my people can check for me. Everything I mentioned is on my Myspace page. Words: Ms. Rivercity Photo: Big C Photography OZONE 59

oe Hound will be making a lot of noise this Super Bowl weekend. With Miami cosigners like Cool & Dre, his new single Choppa is taking off. In preparation for his forthcoming album, Hound and his crew will be shooting a music video and releasing two mixtapes all at the same time. What are you working on right now? Im working on the album. Its called Misery Loves Company. Itll be out in 07. I got two mixtapes Im dropping Super Bowl weekend. One is called War 2; thatll be hosted by DJ Khaled, and the other ones called Two Sides to Life. Its coming out with DJ Papa Smirf and Kronic all three of them are Miami DJs. Its going to be big. Its going to definitely be an event. Whats the independent hip-hop scene like in Miami? Is it growing? As far as independent artists in Miami goes, the scene is getting bigger. Right now we got a couple of independent acts thats making noise. You have me; Im signed under Epidemic. You got C-Ride under Epidemic, too. You got D-Shep and Brisco. You also have a guy named Flo Rida. Are the people in Miami supporting yall? People in Miami are starting to understand that you dont have to be on a major label to have good records. Back in the days, people used to think if you didnt have no Def Jam, Atlantic Records, or Universal behind the project then the project aint no good. Now theyre realizing there are talented cats in Miami that can rap, that can make good music, too. Now that the scene is growing, they can hear Joe Hound on the radio. Theyre seeing theres a lot of other talented artists out there. So the scene in Miami, as far as music is concerned, is really growing to tell you the truth. Since youre working on the album, have you chosen a single yet? I have the Choppa record featuring Dre from Cool & Dre. I got another single dropping in March called Connect Boy. Its dropping on the Epidemic label. Khaleds playing the Choppa record; Entice is playing it; Ideals playing it. The radio is basically showing me love. Cool & Dre have really been pushing you lately. How long have you been working with them?