Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Julia Beverly
MUSIC REVIEWS:
ADG, Wally Sparks
CONTRIBUTORS:
Bogan, Cynthia Coutard, Dain Bur-
roughs, Darnella Dunham, Felisha
Foxx, Felita Knight, Iisha Hillmon,
Jaro Vacek, Jessica Koslow, J
Lash, Katerina Perez, Keith Ken-
nedy, K.G. Mosley, King Yella,
Lisa Coleman, Malik “Copafeel”
Abdul, Marcus DeWayne, Matt
Sonzala, Maurice G. Garland,
Natalia Gomez, Noel Malcolm,
Ray Tamarra, Rayfield Warren,
Rohit Loomba, Spiff, Swift
SALES CONSULTANT:
Che’ Johnson (Gotta Boogie)
LEGAL AFFAIRS:
Kyle P. King, P.A. (King Law
Firm)
STREET REPS:
Al-My-T, B-Lord, Bill
Rickett, Black, Bull, Cedric
Walker, Chill, Chilly C,
Chuck T, Controller, Dap,
Delight, Dereck Washing-
ton, Derek Jurand, Dwayne
Barnum, Dr. Doom, Ed the
World Famous, Episode,
General, H-Vidal, Hol-
lywood, Jammin’ Jay,
Janky, Jason Brown, Joe
Anthony, Judah, Kami-
kaze, Klarc Shepard, Kydd
Joe, Lex, Lump, Marco
Mall, Miguel, Mr. Lee,
Music & More, Nick@Nite,
Pat Pat, PhattLipp, Pimp
G, Quest, Red Dawn,
Rippy, Rob-Lo, Statik,
Stax, TJ’s DJ’s, Trina
Edwards, Vicious, Victor
Walker, Voodoo, Wild Bill
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Melinda Paz, Nikki Kancey
CIRCULATION:
Mercedes (Strictly
Streets)
Buggah D. Govanah (On
Point)
Big Teach (Big Mouth)
Efren Mauricio (Direct
Promo)
I just read your mag for the first time today, a rapper breathing (that goes for North, South, Try to see if any female rappers done did they
and I know I’m late. I read the second annual East, West, Midwest) that can put together a thang! Ha! Anyway, we wish you continued suc-
sex edition: November 2004! The first thing I better 16 than T.I.P., period. If it’s based on cess. – Focus, oxygen647@yahoo.com
turned to was the picture of Jasun Wiggins with sales, Jermaine Dupri would be in the top 5,
his wet jocks on. My boyfriend got a little of- no doubt! Outkast would be a hands-down #1, Y’all are holdin’ it down with y’all magazine.
fended when I said, “Damn, brotha showing lots and UGK ain’t sold that much throughout their Y’all ask the real questions while most maga-
of dick!” and promptly snatched the mag outta careers. Ludacris’ career sales are more than zines beat around the bush, like that Lil Wayne
my hand. I let that nigga know that the mag triple UGK’s sales. If the list is based on money, sex interview! Somethin’ serious! – Jasmine
was now my personal property! Anyway, I really J.D., Master P, and Outkast would be the top Bentley, jasmine111187@yahoo.com
enjoyed this issue. I am from Columbia, SC and I three. As far as contributions to the South, J.D.
am a single working mom and college student. I would still be in the top 5, along with Goodie I’m just writing to congratulate OZONE Maga-
don’t have cable (sad, I know) so this mag helps Mob. This list needs an extreme makeover. De- zine for your partnership with MTV Jams. God
me keep up with the entertainment world. fine the criteria of the list first and stick to it, moves through people, and OZONE is quickly
I’m like a damn fiend. I still have aspirations please. The list has to be based on the personal becoming hip-hop’s next big magazine. Coming
for living the celeb life. I know I’m late, but I opinion of the author. – Anthony Ingram, Un- from the South, it shows our entrepreneurial
promise to be a faithful OZONE Magazine reader cle_Mann@yahoo.com spirit and hustle. - Robert Robinson, robert3.
from now on. I actually did read this mag from robinson@famu.edu (Tallahassee, FL)
cover to cover and I enjoy your writing. I can’t Okay, I just read your 25 Greatest Southern
wait to see a recent edition! - Ms. Swizzle, artists list. Why is Pastor Troy #16? He started I tuned into your Southern countdown on MTV
nonlykme@bellsouth.net (Columbia, SC) crunk music. He should have been higher, at Jams and was very disappointed at some of
least in the top 10 if not the top 5. I like Petey your positioning. I think you guys should do
Just wanted to say congratulations to OZONE Pablo but he should have been lower. How in more homework before you try to have your
for joining forces with MTV Jams. That is amaz- the hell was he higher than Pastor Troy? I’m glad own countdown. Jay-Z is from New York!
ing, keep up the great work. It’s not often that 8Ball & MJG were on the list. – Abdullah Zakiya, My advice for any other countdowns you
you can start something from scratch and see it zaikyaabdullah2001@yahoo.com have is, Tighten up! - Jeremy Londergan,
grow to such a level that OZONE has reached. jlondergan636@yahoo.com
It has to stay true and be about the music, and Whoa, you’re making the South look so horrible.
you have proven it with every issue. It’s a true Half the artists on your list sucked. Ludacris is Editor responds: Jay-Z wasn’t on our 25 Great-
insider’s guide to the industry. – Trey Wilson, supposed to be in the top five, at least. – Leuri est Southern artists list. “Big Pimpin’” was
treygeorge3@yahoo.com Mejia, dnican@hotmail.com used in the countdown because it’s the only
commercially released video featuring UGK.
Your 25 Greatest Southern artists list is trash! Y’all are on some bullshit. Just to let y’all know,
First of all, UGK and the Geto Boys should not I didn’t spend any money on your piece of rag Dirty Down Records would like to respond to
be in front of Outkast. None of them has put out magazine. I saw your so-called top 25 list on your March 2005 interview with Khia:
as many albums as Outkast. It should have been allhiphop.com. Tell me how Outkast is rated
2 Live Crew/Uncle Luke first, then Outkast. #4 when everyone knows ‘Kast is probably the 1. Contrary to her statements, Khia was signed
No other rapper on the list has had as many greatest group in all of hip-hop. How the hell is to Dirty Down Records as an artist and she was
Grammys as Outkast! Outkast revolutionized Goodie Mob #19? Are you seriously saying the 69 also signed to our management company, Ty
the game for all Southern artists! Outkast put Boyz, Pastor Troy, and T.I. had a bigger impact Joyce Management. We “upstreamed” her to
the South on the map! Furthermore, there are in the region than Goodie Mob? I’m highly dis- Artemis and retained our equity position with
other issues. Ludacris should be higher. Mysti- gusted at your bullshit and your audacity to try her album in the process.
kal should be higher based on his body of work. to rate something you obviously have no idea
Mystikal has done more than T.I.! 8Ball & MJG about. Fuck OZONE. I predict your magazine 2. Taz Williams, CEO of Dirty Down Records,
should be higher than UGK. – Ben and Shannon folds before you print out 12 issues. – Robinson produced and co-wrote Khia’s “My Neck, My
Shaw, smbryant98@hotmail.com Karanja, binkaranja@yahoo.com Back.” Just check the album credits and the
ASCAP registration; there are no other individu-
I read your 25 Greatest Southern artists list. I’m Editor responds: We’ve already printed 33 is- als mentioned as producers. With the exception
not hating on anybody on the list, I just hate the sues. of “K Wang,” Taz produced the entire Thug
list itself. What was the criteria for this? Lyrics? Misses album.
Album sales? Money? Contributions to the South? Y’all are killing the game. When I first sub-
This list is bullshit. If it was based on lyrics, then scribed to OZONE, I was just trying to support 3. According to their last financial statement,
how in the hell is 2 Live Crew #2? And non-rap- another independent since you put the articles Artemis/Sony spent over 2 million dollars
pers like DJ Screw and DJ Magic Mike, why are online. But man, nobody is really coming close marketing the Thug Misses album, and the
they on the fucking list? I mean, 69 Boyz? Get to y’all with the quality of the material that video cost over $150,000 (noted video di-
real! Y’all put Mia X on the list but left off C- y’all are putting out. I put y’all at the forefront rector Diane Martel has never shot a video
Murder, Soulja Slim, and Fiend, the real niggas of indie music magazines, so I just wanna say for $20,000! Where does Khia get her in-
that were spittin’ on No Limit. If you’re basing keep it up. This 25 Southern artists thing is off formation?).
it off lyrics, Goodie Mob and Lil Wayne would at the chain. You and your staff are killing it right
least be in the top 10. Hell, Tip would be in the now. And for the groupie confessions, I want you 4. Whatever happened to Khia in New
top 5 off lyrics alone. I don’t feel that there is to try to find some male groupies to confess. York was unfortunate, but we had
Remember when Coco Brother confronted Khia with a magazine printout of her 19 mugshots on How I’m Livin’? That was OZONE. When T.I. brought
out the “Game Over” posters and dissed Lil Flip at Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash, OZONE was in the front row. Back when no one had heard of Ciara,
OZONE was on the set of “Goodies.” When Young Buck brought the entire G-Unit crew through the ‘hood in Nashville and nearly caused a riot, OZONE
was there. When B.G. and Lil Wayne reunited on-stage in Tampa, OZONE was there.
Pitbull. Akon. Mike Jones. Lil Scrappy. Slim Thug. Young Jeezy. Jody Breeze. Lil Boosie & Webbie. Jacki-O. Trillville. PaulWall. Check our back issues:
OZONE has a history of featuring artists long before they get signed and become household names.
Don’t be fooled by all these folks jumping on the Southern bandwagon. Over the past three years, OZONE has covered Southern artists and events
that no other media outlet thought was worth mentioning. It’s the original Southern magazine, up-close and personal. For us, by us.
May 2004 (Pastor Troy / BloodRaw) Memorial Day 2004 (Pitbull) June 2004 (Pitbull)
BloodRaw dropped by the OZONE office with For this special mini-Memorial Weekend edition In this hustler’s edition, Pitbull explained every-
a slab of raw meat for his cover shoot for our of OZONE, we hung out at Lil Jon’s mansion on thing you need to know about the dope game
two year anniversary edition. Mike Jones, Jody South Beach, caught up with David Banner on and Jacki-O broke down the strategies of a Mi-
Breeze, Young Jeezy, and Boo Rossini all made the road, and featured two of Miami’s finest: ami booster. We had to seriously edit both inter-
their OZONE debuts in this issue. Pitbull and Jacki-O. views to prevent them from getting indicted.
Memorable quote: “Andre 3000 got up at an Memorable quote: “Every time [people in my Memorable quote: “There are a lot of artists
awards show and said, ‘The South got something hometown] turn on the TV and see the ‘Missis- out there who don’t care about ownership and
to say.’ That inspired me and kept me rolling. sippi’ on my back, that’s what means the most. control. A lot just want fame. And any major
The South still got something to say, and noth- It’s hard to compete with people that stay in deal can give you fame, without the money, as
ing is gonna stop us. Nothing.” - Dirty States of New York or Los Angeles because they can bump long as they work you properly.” - Rap Coalition
America DVD producer FLX into a camera anytime.” - David Banner founder Wendy Day
July 2004 (Terror Squad / DJ Khaled) Aug. 2004 (Don Yute / Birmingham J) September 2004 (Temmora)
OZONE spent Memorial Day at the Eden Roc for Birmingham J took us on a tour of the city’s grit- Damn near every bubbling Southern underground
these dual Terror Squad covers. We conducted a tiest spots, while Don Yute brought the Jamai- artist appeared in our second annual “Patiently
very scientific Pimp Juice vs. Crunk! Juice taste can vibe. We checked in with Jadakiss, Twista, Waiting” edition, including Chamillionaire,
test at TJ’s DJ’s, and chased down both Lil Flip former Terror Squad reps Triple Seis and Cuban DirtBag, Grandaddy Souf, Mr. Magic, Kamikaze,
and T.I. to get the real story behind their beef. Link, and DJ Drama of Gangsta Grillz fame. Play-N-Skillz, P$C’s Big Kuntry, Miss B, and Ra-
sheeda. By popular demand, we checked in with
Memorable quote: “Everyone always wondered Memorable quote: “[The success of Southern Mike Jones and Chamillionaire to find out if they
what it would be like if Cash Money and No Lim- music] is a testament to how smart these artists really had beef.
it worked together. Soulja Slim actually brought have become. They’re stepping their game up to
B.G. to me...so his death has been real hard for have a bigger piece of the pie. To control your Memorable quote: “[My label] doesn’t give a
both me and him.” - former Beats By The Pound career, you’ve got to prove that you can handle fuck about me. It’s a savage industry.” - Gran-
producer KLC it.” - TVT’s VP of Urban A&R Bryan Leach daddy Souf
Super Bowl 2005 (Ms Cherry) Feb. 2005 (Ms Cherry / Boyz N Da Hood) March 2005 (Mike Jones / Nivea)
When the NFL headed to Jacksonville, so did ATL’s female pimp Ms. Cherry and the Southern We headed out to the Swisha House to interview
OZONE. This special mini Super Bowl edition version of N.W.A, Boyz N Da Hood, graced the Mike Jones, and and spoke with a very pregnant
featured 50 Cent, David Banner, Mike Jones, cover of this “pirate radio edition.” We reluc- Nivea by phone for the March edition. C-Murder
Young Jeezy, Webbie, and Ms Cherry along with tantly interviewed the much-overhyped 50 Cent contributed the very first “prison diary,” and
Jacksonville favorites like Young Cash, Cool and asked Akon how it felt to be “Locked Up” we learned a little too much information about
Runnings, and Kashus Deniro. and “Lonely.” Noreaga in the fourth installment of “groupie
confessions.” Other features included Trillville,
Memorable quote: “I mostly play gangsta mu- Memorable quote: “Hip-hop is our CNN. That’s the Outlawz, and Slim Thug’s live performance
sic in the clubs, and with all that killing on the why there’s a big fight to get rid of it. Our com- back home in Houston.
record sometimes you get caught up. When [my munication, man. They can’t take this shit. We
son drowned], it opened my eyes.” - Cool Run- need a new form of the underground; another Memorable quote: “It’s definitely 90% grind,
nings’ DJ Bigga Rankin form of independence.” - Uncle Luke 10% sleep.” - Mike Jones
April 2005 (Pitbull / Out Da Cutt) BCR 2005 (Tigger) May 2005 (Pimp C / Baby)
Classic issue. If you missed this one, go read it Tigger and his Grand Lenare cognac models at- For this current issue (our 3 year anniversary),
on our website (www.ozonemag.com). Our 25 tracted a lot of attention on South Beach dur- we headed out to Texas to visit Pimp C behind
Greatest Southern Artists of All Time edition was ing our cover shoot for this first annual Daytona bars and stopped by the Cash Money offices in
also a feature on MTV Jams, hosted by our cover Beach BCR special edition. In addition to our New Orleans. We had lunch with Michael Watts,
artist Pitbull. We paid homage to the ground- features on Pimp C, Trillville, and Pastor Troy, roamed South Beach with Tigger, and spoke with
breakers and showed love to the newcomers. we featured some up-and-coming Central Flori- the most slept-on artist in Georgia, Bohagon.
da artists like Bedo, Wes Fif, and Slim Goodye.
Memorable quote: “Without the Geto Boys, Memorable quote: “If ‘Pac hadn’t got out of
people like me wouldn’t even be here. They Memorable quote: “[I dissed Lil Jon because] as prison, he might still be alive today. Maybe
paved the way for all these rappers.” - Chamil- he got bigger, I felt like the ATL movement be- there was a worse fate out there waiting for
lionaire came more like a competition.” - Pastor Troy me.” - Pimp C
Photo Credits:
General: #14
Julia Beverly: #02,04,05,06,
07,08,12,13,15,16,17,19,21
Malik Abdul: #10,20
Marcus Jethro: #09
Ray Tamarra: #11,18
Sophia Jones: #03
Spiff: #01
Photo Credits:
Julia Beverly: #01,03,05,07,0
8,10,15,16,19,21
Julia Schell: #06,09
KG Mosley: #12
Malik Abdul: #04,13,14
Marcus Jethro: #11
Rahiem Shabazz: #20
Ray Tamarra: #17,18
Sophia Jones: #02
Photo Credits:
Averi-Minor: #12
General: #10,13
Julia Beverly: #01,02,03,05,1
4,16,18,19,20,21
Julia Schell: #11
KG Mosley: #06
Malik Abdul: #07,09,15
Marcus Jethro: #08
Ray Tamarra: #17
Spiff: #04
Photo Credits:
Averi-Minor: #13
BrightStar: #04
General: #05
Julia Beverly: #01,02,03,06,07,
08,09,11,14,15,17,19,20,21
Malik Abdul: #12
Ray Tamarra: #16,18
Spiff: #10
Right now there’s a void in the music indus- ventures you’d like to do in the future? signed yet.” Yup, the glitter did it for us. So for
try as far as “boy bands,” like, now that B2K We gonna be the next Russell Simmons and the everybody who didn’t like the glitter, y’all can
has broken up, there’s no groups really fill- next Puff Daddy. We got our own clothing line keep hatin’.
ing in that slot. Is that your goal, to appeal coming out, it’s called Marco de Bleu. We’re
to the younger female audience? gonna have a cartoon coming out, and we got Do you have a second single picked out to fol-
We targeting girls like you. We targeting ev- a reality show on MTV we’re working on. We’re low up “Grind With Me”?
erybody; we tryin’ to get you freaky-deeky su- gonna be the next sex symbols out of the South. The crazy thing is that we can’t decide on the
per wet. Everybody in the group got a differ- single. We’ve got so many songs. We’ve been
ent category. If a girl don’t like the pretty boy, What’s the name of your album? doing it for so long, any song that we pick out
she can get the lil’ wild thug. But, we make Blue Stars. of all of them could be singles.
music for everybody, and our album comes
with two versions: clean and dirty. You know Do you have a release date? Are there any major features or producers on
how politics are. [Our single] “Grind On Me” is Blue Stars comes out on May 24th. your album?
kinda explicit, so we recorded two albums so We work with Jim Jonsin a lot as far as pro-
everybody could listen to our music. Is most of the material on the album similar to duction. He did “Let’s Go” for Trick Daddy and
“Grind On Me”? “Dammit Man” for Pitbull. That’s about it. We
I first heard you guys when you had the song Everything we do is for the ladies. We got a cou- tried to keep the album hometeam. We gon-
“Flossin’” out a while back. It seems like ple joints for the fellas, though. We try to cover na let everybody know that we could do it in
you have real songwriting abilities. Where everything. We’ve got love songs, hate songs, Florida the same way ATL and New York are do-
do you think that came from? sex songs, everything. We’re trying to bring ing it. You be everywhere, so you know how it
We make feel-good music, and evyerobyd in slow music back to the club. We try to cover ev- is. It’s time for all of Florida to come together
the group is talented. We write our own mu- erything, though. We got other records for the and do it. We tryin’ to keep it hometeam. We
sic. Our daddy had a record label back in the freaks out there, we got some club records, and did a record with Pitbull, too. We got another
day with Piccalo, Black Haze, and everybody we got some thug records. We just try to cover feature from Static, he wrote a lot of songs for
in Miami, so when we was growing up, we the whole nine yards. Aaliyah and Genuwine. And there’s gonna be an
learned a lot just from being around them. international album.
Pitbull and Trick Daddy are like our uncles. What label are you signed to?
We got a strong leader, old boy, so we just fo- We got our own label, Blue Star Entertainment, What’s gonna be different about the interna-
cused. We already know what we need to do. and we’re on Atlantic. tional album?
Pitbull and everybody from Miami done taught It’ll have the reggaetone version of “Grind With
us the game, so we just moving like that. We How did you get your deal with Atlantic Records? Me” and stuff like that.
gonna stay focused regardless. “Grind With Me” ended up being the #1 most
requested record in the history of Miami [on Do you have a tour planned? Where can we
Did you have any formal music training in Power 96] and Craig Kallman from Atlantic Re- see Pretty Ricky over the next few months?
school? cords came down to see us. We performed for On the road, on the road, on the road. That’s
Nah, we just learned everything on our own. him at the hotel. We ain’t really know who he how they got us right now. We just workin’,
It’s basically natural. This is just the tip of was. That was during Martin Luther King week- goin’ from city to city.
the iceberg as far as what we can do. Every- end. We invited him out to our show, and the
thing in music is just common sense for us. girls were chasing us. They were breaking down Anything else you wanna say?
If it’s a guitar, drop it in the studio and give the barriers and screaming. We had to get police Check out www.prettyricky.com and make
us a month or two to learn how to use it escorts because the girls were tryin’ to get to sure you go get that album on May 24th. Check
and we gonna learn how to play that shit. us. When we got in the van we had them running out Soul Train on May 7th. You can catch us in
Back in the day, it wasn’t no instructions, like four blocks chasing us. After that, it was a the May edition of Vibe Magazine, and OZONE,
we just had to figure it out. done deal. of course we all over that. Julia, we wanna in-
terview you for the next sex issue!
Aside from music, do you have any The screaming girls convinced him?
plans for other companies or other He was like, “It’s unbelievable that you aren’t - Words & photo by Julia Beverly
“At one point, the East coast was very hostile towards us. After
buying all their records for so many years, it was like a slap
in the face. After trying to be accepted for so long, we turned
our backs. That’s the attitude that created Southern music.”
personal, it’s business. But, there have been What do you enjoy more – being an artist or I’m real good friends with Brand Nubian, but it
situations where people tried to buy us out of being a producer? was never a public thing; it was behind closed
our contract and Jive wouldn’t let us go, and I I don’t know if I enjoy being an artist, but I know doors. We did a record with Keith Murray, too. I
never understood that. I like to rap. I like to make beats, too. respect his gangsta.
What’s your relationship with Trill Entertain- Our last issue was called 25 Greatest Southern Do you consider Southern music to be “hip-
ment? Artists of All Time. Why do you think UGK be- hop” or a totally separate genre?
I’m co-owner. longs near the top of that list? It’s a hybrid. It’s kinda like reggae and dance-
That’s not for me to say. Ask me about 8Ball & hall. What you hear from Spragga Benz and Bob
Were you actively involved in finding and de- MJG. When they came in the game, they was Marley are two different types of records, but
veloping Trill’s artists Boosie and Webbie? grindin’. They had that attitude: Either you like they both fall under the reggae category. What
Boosie was there before I left. Webbie came on us, or you don’t like us, but we’re gonna keep we do is a lot different from the East coast. We
after I was incarcerated so I haven’t had the on making our records the way we want to make have more West coast characteristics than East
chance to work with him. them. To me, they’re one of the greatest groups coast. The West coast never judges or points
of the South. They’re one of my favorites; them the finger or says, “Y’all ain’t makin’ real rap
What impressed you about Boosie? and the Geto Boys. The Geto Boys were actu- records down South.” At one time, the East was
The lil’ dude was on fire. He was rappin’ it and ally the first group from Texas I ever heard on very hostile towards us. They were like, “That
living it, and at that time I was real wild so it a record. But you’ve gotta understand, there’s ain’t real hip-hop that y’all are doing, so we
was attractive to me to see someone on that been three or four different Geto Boy groups don’t wanna hear y’all. We don’t care how many
same crazy vibe. I know he can take it to the throughout the years. Which Geto Boys are we records you sell, it’s not real.” After buying all
top. They both can. Webbie’s got a knack for talkin’ about? The first Geto Boys, or when ‘Face their records for so many years, it was like a
writing singles. I can see that already and it’s and Willie came into the group? slap in the face. If we ain’t from New York City,
still early in his career. Very talented guy. we don’t got the right to rap? We don’t wear
Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill. backpacks so we can’t make records? So, after
How did UGK get on Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin’”? ‘Face’s lyrical content speaks for itself. Willie trying to be accepted for so long, we turned
It was his idea. He contacted us, and he’d al- D’s got that attitude, too: Either you like me our backs. We don’t wanna be accepted now.
ready planned it out. He called one evening and or you don’t. That’s the kind of attitude I like: We’ve got our own thing down here. We don’t
said, “Hey, we need y’all to do this song.” We Either you like me or you don’t like me, and wanna listen to you, and we don’t care if you
were like, “Okay, when?” He said, “I need you I don’t care either way. I’m gonna keep doing don’t wanna listen to us. We’re gonna do our
here today,” so that’s how it went down. it my way. The Geto Boys paved the way. They own records and sell our own records to our own
were going to New York and trying to be ac- people. That’s the attitude that created South-
Were you surprised to get a call like that? cepted before folks were accepting us, so they ern music. I call it country rap tunes. Nothing
Not really. I mean, you’d be surprised. People took a lot of the critical beatdown for us and we do is hip-hop. The only similarity is that we
in the industry communicate quite a bit. He got everyone else that’s comin’ up. I give them a lot all rap, and we all make our music on the same
my number from Too Short, I think. of credit. They’re #1 down here to us. type of equipment.
- Julia Beverly
You drop a couple mixtapes a month, but how do you profit from them? It’s illegal to sell mixtapes, right?
We all know that, first and foremost, it’s illegal to sell mixtapes. You can not sell mixtapes. When you sell a mixtape, you’re actually selling your DJ
capabilities or your turntable skills or your CD covers. There’s a whole lot of ways you can word it, but selling the actual music on the mixtapes is
illegal. Everybody gets around it because you can put “promotional use only.” Mixtapes are used to promote an artist, and DJs are not supposed to
make any money off them whatsoever. When you pay for a mixtape, you’re actually paying for materials itself, because that “promo use only” thing
is running out. We make no profit. We charge at cost. You’re not making anything from the music. You’ve got to have a disclaimer on there letting
everybody know that the music does not belong to you.
Isn’t there paperwork or a release form you could have the labels sign that would protect you from the RIAA?
Honestly, everybody has tried, but you’re not gonna get it. Nobody’s really gonna give you permission. I know it’s crossed a lot of DJ’s minds at
one point in time, but it’s just not gonna happen, especially when you consider how competitive the mixtape game is. If you sit around and wait
on paperwork, the song is gonna be old by the time you get it out. Since you’re not supposed to make any money off it, you really shouldn’t need
permission. There’s no need for paperwork.
So it’s kind of a catch-22 with the labels, because they want you to put their artists on your mixtape to promote them, but they don’t want
to give you written permission to do it.
Exactly. But the one thing they can’t deny is the importance of mixtapes and they influence mixtapes have on the industry itself. They’re very im-
portant when it comes to breaking new artists. But the labels couldn’t care less about the DJs. When the chips are down, they fall back. They’re
not gonna help you.
What’s your advice to other legitimate mixtape DJs? How should they protect themselves legally from the RIAA or Grayzone, to make sure they
aren’t investigated also?
Make sure you have all your contact info on hand at all times: A&Rs, managers, record reps, record pools, everything. Save all the packaging that you
receive your records in. I gave them packages from Universal Records that shows that I consistently get stuff from them and I’m on their mailing list.
Also, make sure you always ship copies of your mixtapes to the labels. A lot of the mixshow coordinators ask to see the mixtapes so they can present
them at the office for meetings and stuff like that. Save all your emails from the A&Rs.
You hear a lot of stats thrown around saying that bootlegging causes the record industry to lose billions of dollars a year. Do you think mixtapes
help or hurt album sales?
In all honesty, mixtapes help good artists and they hurt bad artists. Mixtapes are a way of exposing the fraudulent artists; the one-hit wonders. Mix-
tapes actually let people get a preview of your real skills. If people don’t see you making moves on the mixtape circuit, then nine times out of then,
they aren’t gonna buy your album. But, if the music you’re taking to the DJs is quality stuff, you’re definitely gonna succeed both on the mixtape
circuit and with album sales.
Some people don’t believe that this whole situation actually happened. Some people are saying it’s a publicity stunt.
Honestly, the last thing they wanted to do is piss me off. Tomorrow I’m calling every record label I know to get some new music. I admit I was getting
sorta lazy, but all this is doing is motivating me. With all the talk going around and niggas saying its a publicity stunt, yeah, right. If this really was
a publicity stunt, everybody’s about to see how good I’m gonna milk it.
Photo Credits:
General: #02,09
Greg G: #13
Julia Beverly: #04,05,07,08,
10,11,12,17,18,21
Kevin Cooper: #06
Malik Abdul: #14,20
Marcus Jethro: #19
Ray Tamarra: #01,03
Sophia Jones: #16
Spiff: #15
Photo Credits:
A Turner: #20
General: #09
Julia Beverly: #04,06,07,08,
10,13,15,17,18,21
King Yella: #19
Malik Abdul: #01,11,12
Marcus Jethro: #14
Ray Tamarra: #03
Spiff: #02,05,16
Photo Credits:
General: #10
Greg G: #04
Julia Beverly: #01,02,03,05,
07,09,16,17,18,19,20,21
Malik Abdul: #13
Marcus Jethro: #08,12
Spiff: #06,11,14,15
(The studio damage is a crushing financial blow for the notoriously cheap studio manager of Circle House, Abebe
Lewis, who is still apparently unable to pay for their May 2003 Inner Circle ad in OZONE.)
Did Jacki-O take your purse? Why did she throw water at you?
I was told from like, the entire city of Miami [after- She couldn’t get next to me so she threw a cup of water, and the water messed up the
wards] that this girl was a booster. I did not know this, console. That’s a million dollar fuckin’ board. She was mad because we were in there
and I have a lot of valuable stuff in my purse. This is just recording some hot shit. I was in there writing [lyrics]. She ain’t no writer. She had nig-
crazy to me. This is crazy, but you know what? I’m re- gas writing her shit. She seen me in there grindin’ it out on my own, and that shit fucks
ally happy that I can help someone’s career. I’ve helped with her. She got the word that niggas from Brooklyn and Harlem are fuckin’ with me,
open her budget up. But, I will never respond to her. and she mad. When [Lil] Kim comes down here and gets on a record with Trick, I don’t
get mad. I’m just glad she’s in the game. I’m glad we got females in the game. I love to
So there were no blows thrown? see two different regions come together. She was talkin’ about, “I’ll get you thrown out
No, there were no blows thrown. And I had the $9,000 of the studio!” Girl, I live here in Miami. You can’t get me thrown out of shit, especially
Fendi bag in my hand when I left that studio. Did she when I didn’t cause no fuckin’ trouble. Anyway, she was the one who got thrown out,
attempt to steal it? Probably, but I walked out with it. and she was very, very, very embarrassed.
What I don’t understand is this: After speaking with my
girl Trina, we’re like, What is wrong with this girl? You’re Who else was in the room when this was happening?
killing yourself in this business, baby. We’ve been in this Gravy, her security, and another nigga. Even her security needed security. Everybody
for ten years. We’re veterans. You’re going up against seen her actin’ a fuckin’ nut, but she was acting like she ain’t need anybody. She was
people who are loved and adored. You can’t just come like, “I got this.” Everybody thought she was finna whoop my ass because I just sat
up in the game and go against us. there while she was talking big shit for about five minutes. Girl, you woulda been so
proud of me for just sitting there and taking all that shit. But after she ran out of in-
Will your next album come with a Jacki-O vs. Foxy sults, it was time for her to fight. She walked out getting her ass whooped.
Brown “Girlfight” DVD?
No, no more press for this girl. I’m done. No more press. I heard there was blood shed during the incident. Were you bleeding?
I’ll let Trina handle that. I’m good. Foxy Brown having Come on now. Be for real. How would I look in my hometown if I was leakin’? It’s
any discord with homegirl is like Jay-Z battling a no- not gonna happen.
body. You see my analogy? Lil Kim vs. Foxy Brown is a
battle. Eve vs. Foxy Brown is a battle. This is nothing. Why didn’t her security intervene?
Why would a boneafide celebrity rapper have any kind of Wasn’t nobody fighting but me and her. They was pickin’ her up off the floor. And
discord with an unknown artist? I ain’t bragging. They’re claiming that I’m trying to gain or capitalize off this.
No, I’m not. In fact, I’m appalled that someone would even think like that.
01: Infarel, Champ, and Mike Jones @
Club 112 (Tampa, FL)
02: Cubo, Pitbull, Bryan Leach, and
Cutty @ Webster Hall for Lil Jon’s
AOL concert (NYC)
03: David Banner performing @
Club Fuel (Daytona Beach, FL)
04: Antonio Tarver and Get Cool
reppin’ OZONE @ Grandaddy
Souf’s “Run It” video shoot
(Orlando, FL)
05: Jason Geter and Clay
Evans reppin’ Grand Hustle @
Madison Square Garden (NYC)
06: Lil Jon & the Eastside
Boyz get crunk with Brooke
Valentine @ Webster Hall
(NYC)
07: Team Invasions’ Amed
and Noodles reppin’ OZONE
(NYC)
08: Magic Mike @ Antigua
(Orlando, FL)
09: Piccalo reppin’ OZONE
@ Club Fuel (Daytona
Beach, FL)
10: DJ Prostyle and
Black Jesus @ Firestone
(Orlando, FL)
11: DMC 2002 winner
DJ Fade reppin’ OZONE
(NYC)
12: Pat and NIkki Nix
reppin’ OZONE @ JJ
Whisper’s (Orlando, FL)
13: Question, Clay D,
Disco, and JT Money
(Orlando, FL)
14: Acafool and JD
Hawg @ Club 112
(Tampa, FL)
15: Traffic, Bedo, and
Nicotene on the video
set of “Go Head” (Or-
lando, FL)
16: Heavy Hitters
Kast One, Rey Mo, DJ
Prostyle, Mashonda, DJ
Enuff, and L Boogs @
102 Jamz (Orlando, FL)
17: Fat Joe and Lorena
Cartegena @ Madison
Square Garden (NYC)
18: Trick Daddy and Tig-
ger @ Club Fuel during
BCR weekend (Daytona
Beach, FL)
19: Grandaddy Souf, Ro-
land Powell, and Christian
Strickland on the set of
“Run It” (Orlando, FL)
20: Stephen Hall, DirtBag,
Pat Pat, and Nero @ WBTT’s
Ludacris concert (Tampa,
FL)
21: Slim Goodye and South-
star @ Club Fuel during BCR
weekend (Daytona Beach, FL)
Photo Credits:
General: #07,11
Julia Beverly: #02,04,06,09,
10,16,18,19,21
KG Mosley: #01,14
Malik Abdul: #08,12
Pat Pat: #20
Ray Tamarra: #05,17
Question: #13
Spiff: #03,15
Photo Credits:
Julia Beverly: #01,03,04,07,
08,11,12,16,18,19,20,21
Malik Abdul: #05,09,10,17
Marco Mall: #06
Marcus Jethro: #13,14
Ray Tamarra: #15
Spiff: #02
Director: Asshole Who Isn’t Getting Any Free Publicity in OZONE Director: Jesse Terrero
Photos: Spiff Photos: Julia Beverly
You’re primarily known for your screwed & chopped mixtapes. How old were you when DJ Screw began making screw tapes?
I was about 23 or 24. I’m 33 now.
So you started off as a regular DJ, just doing blends and stuff like that?
Yeah, I started off just DJing parties, making regular speed mixtapes, and mixing on the radio. I got my first radio gig when I was 21 years old.
What did you see happening with screwed music? How did it become such a dominant force in Texas?
It became a dominant force on its own. It went from being a local thing to being an art form of its own, just like jazz, rock, and pop music. DJ
Screw didn’t just create a hit record; he created a whole art form. It’s just like the person that created country music or jazz music. Screw music
is a whole art form.
Slowing down a record might sound simple, but for you as a DJ, how much work does it take to create a screwed & chopped tape?
If you listen to any of our Swisha House stuff, you can tell that it’s more than just slowing down a record. It’s an art behind it, just like house music.
It’s more than just a drum beat behind it. Jazz is more than putting a saxophone behind it. It’s a whole art form. It makes the lyrics stand out more
and the beats stand out more. I really can’t put it into words.
Do you think DJing is just a gift that you were born with, or something that you had to develop over time?
DJing was just something I was born with. That’s what I was put on this world for.
When you made the transition from regular DJing to Screw tapes, was it a difficult transition?
No, it really wasn’t that hard of a transition, cause I’ve been listening to DJ Screw for years. I’m a fan of DJ Screw. I’d been listening to him for a
while, before I even started doing [Screw tapes]. I would just listen to it and enjoy it. I was still making regular mixtapes and I was just enjoying it
as a fan. It came to a point where people were like, “Man, we want you to do this for us.” DJ Screw was from the South side of Houston. I’m from
the North side of Houston. Everyone on the North side enjoyed this style, but they wanted to represent the North. When they came to me [for Screw
music] I started doin’ it to satisfy them.
Are there any artists you think come off better on Screw tapes than regular speed?
One of my favorite artists to hear slowed down is Keke. I first heard him screwed, so when I heard the record at regular speed it was a shock to me
cause I was so used to hearing him slowed down.
Why do you think Screw music fits the Houston vibe so well?
I mean, it was created right here in Houston, Texas. On the South side. Houston’s more laid-back, just like Atlanta is crunk. In Houston we’re more
laid-back. We sip syrup and shit, we just chill.
Do you think someone who’s sober can appreciate Screw music as much as someone who’s sippin’ syrup?
I think so, because there’s a wide variety of people that buy Swisha House mix CDs. It ain’t just people that sip syrup and smoke weed. If you ap-
preciate the art, you can learn to enjoy it without being high.
A lot of major labels are starting to put out screwed & chopped versions of their CDs now. Do you think the art form is becoming too commer-
cial, or do you think it’s a good thing for the culture?
I think it’s a great thing for the culture, because it exposes the art form to a lot of people that weren’t exposed to it before. I did David Banner’s
screwed & chopped CD [for SRC/Universal], 8Ball & MJG’s screwed & chopped CD [for Bad Boy], and Three 6 Mafia’s screwed & chopped CD [for
Sony].
What made Swisha House decide to go ahead and sign with Asylum?
We wanted to be a little more independent [than signing with a major]. We needed a bigger machine, and I felt like Asylum was the place for us to
expand. We’ve got a bigger and more experienced team to help us get further than where we’ve been. They’ve helped us get into some of the retail
spots we need to be in. Asylum has the networking connections to help us get into some of these chains.
There’s artists like Slim Thug who have branched off from Swisha House to do their own thing. Are you proud of them?
Man, I’m very proud of Slim Thug. I’m very glad to see him doing things. He kept a level head and took the ball and ran with it.
What was your opinion on the Chamillionaire vs. Mike Jones beef?
I don’t have any opinion. I just think the whole thing is stupid. I don’t know what that shit is about. The only people who know what that shit is about
is Mike Jones and Chamillionaire.
How did you develop an ear for music? If you get paid the same whether it takes two
I think I kinda developed my ear from listening to hours or two days, are you ever tempted to rush?
my dad’s old records. Growing up, my dad had all No. I’m a perfectionist, and my name’s gotta go on
the collections: Isley Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, it. That’s what keeps me working. People see these
Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, all of them. I used songs that are playing forever on the radio or in the
to listen to those records as a kid. In high school I clubs and hear that I mixed them, so that’s how I get
started DJing and doing local house parties. When I more work. If I rush it and don’t do the song right
was a junior in high school I went to a concert, and then I’ll start getting a bad name, so it wouldn’t re-
I saw this dude sitting in the middle of the room at ally pay to do it like that.
a big console. I asked him what his job title was,
and he said sound engineer. I decided I wanted to
Ray Seay Are there any artists that are particularly enjoy-
be a sound engineer. I can’t rap and I don’t sing, but
I just like music. I played the saxophone in junior
Mix Engineer able to work with or difficult to work with?
A lot of times the artist doesn’t even come to the
high, so I had some musical training. My father is mix sessions. It’s really the producers and the re-
an electrical engineer, so he taught me some of the I did a lot of the old Cash Money hits, cord company I deal with, so I don’t get too much
technical stuff about speaker polarity and stuff like like “Get Your Roll On.” I’ve mixed a drama. I don’t do a lot of recording anymore just
that. I like music and electronics, so I just put the lot of Lil Jon songs, like “Get Low” and straight mixing. I don’t even see the artists. I prefer
two together. “Saltshaker.” I mixed Ciara’s “Good- it that way. I like being alone because it gives me
ies,” T.I.’s “Motivation” and “A.S.A.P.” time to be more personal with the song. I can sit for
Did you go to college? Mike Caren [at Atlantic Records] has a couple hours, let it play over and over again, and
I went to a technical school called Full Sail in Orlan- started using me for a lot of the big start getting ideas and visuals about where I want to
do. It was an eight month technical program, I got a mixes, like Juvenile. Juve didn’t like take the song. Lil Jon is also a perfectionist, but he
specialized Associates degree in sound engineering. the way the records had been mixed lets me do my thing and then comes in and makes
After that I came back to Miami and did an intern- so he sent them to me to fix. the final judgements and arrangements. Some art-
ship at studio center. ists just send me stuff and trust my ear. Sometimes
When you’re mixing a song like “Get I’ll do a mix and mp3 it to the artist or producer,
Full Sail is pretty expensive. Is it worth it? Low” or “Goodies,” do you know it’s then they’ll hit me back with changes.
That’s a good question. It is really expensive. It’s gonna be a hit?
really up to the person as far as what they can get It’s funny because the songs that I Since leaving Circle House to open The Vault, is
out of it. It’s just like college. You could go to Mi- don’t really like always seem to blow there any bad blood?
ami-Dade and apply yourself and come out and get a up, and the songs I really do like don’t No, I wouldn’t say that. We’ve had words, but in
big job, or you could go to Yale and mess around and do nothing. It’s a joke among the pro- the long run, they gave me an opportunity to really
not take advantage of the situation. So in answer to ducers. If I mix a song, they ask me if grow over there. They allowed me to mature. When
your question, yes, it’s expensive, but if it’s really I like it. If I say, “It’s okay,” they’re I first started working there I was the recording engi-
something you want you’ve gotta spend the money. happy because they know it’s gonna neer and the mix engineer, so I was kinda doing two
be a hit. For example, when Trick did jobs. Over time, they started getting so big where
What skills do you need to become an engineer? “Take it to The House,” I did not like I couldn’t even get my clients in there. They’d call
You’ve just gotta have an ear for it. It goes back to that song, period. I hated that song, me to work and I couldn’t even get a session there
my experience with DJing. I also did sound systems and it blew up. I even asked [Slip-N- cause they’d be so booked up. It just got to the
for cars back when they started gutting out the Slide CEO] Ted Lucas, “Man, are y’all point where it was time to get my own spot. I don’t
backseats and putting in 15” speakers. From that serious?” He was like, “Hey, this is have to tear down my equipment, I can come and go
experience, I started going into clubs to see what what the people want,” and that’s as I please, and I don’t have to worry about being on
people were dancing to and see what people are one of their biggest hits to date. Same the clock. Since I opened The Vault, my mixes have
playing in their cars. From there, you try to take thing with [Lil Jon’s] “Saltshaker” and gotten five times better, quality-wise.
that song the producer has created and make it fit “Get Low.” DJ Smurf came down when
the mold. If it sounds like a club song, you gotta I was mixing that song and I was tell- What artists come through The Vault?
mix it for the club. The beat’s gotta be bangin’, the ing him I really didn’t like the song. All my usual clients, like Trick Daddy, Trina, Lil Jon.
snare’s gotta be in-your-face. If it’s more of a radio But just to clarify, when I say I don’t I mixed [Trick Daddy’s] “Let’s Go,” in here. That
song, you’ve gotta bring out the melodic lines. It like the song, I mean I don’t like it was the first big hit from The Vault. I mixed Pitbull’s
might sound easy, but when you really start getting from a technical aspect. Sometimes stuff here, and T.I’s “Motivation” was mixed here
in-depth it’s really hard. It’s a lot like production. when I get a song, some things are not too. They’ll usually send me a Pro Tools session to
recorded right and I’ve gotta go in and mix and I do my thing. That’s one of the benefits
When you’re listening to music outside of work, change a kick or redo the vocals. of having my own studio. I’m not in the business
can you enjoy it or do you overanalyze it? of selling studio time, I’m in the business of selling
All the time. It’s been so long since I could re- What’s your work schedule like? Ray Seay’s sound. There’s not a clock running over
ally listen to a song normally, cause I’m always It’s like a twelve-hour day. I come in here.
critiquing. I’m like, Man, the vocals are too low. around noon and leave at midnight. I
They shoulda did this, they shoulda did Do you have special rates for indie labels?
that. The snare’s too low. I hear different We try to work out stuff for indies, especially if
things, even with my own stuff. If I mix a “I like being alone [in they’re local and I’ve got some downtime. But
song, I have to not listen to it for like a
month and then come back and listen to the studio] because it if a major calls me, they gotta understand that
I gotta go get that money to pay the bills.
it objectively with an open mind.
gives me time to be more Would you like to give out any contact info?
Name a few songs you’ve mixed. personal with the song.” The Vault studio number is 305-556-9435.
Disclaimer: I really hate giving movies a rating, because sometimes I start liking them more or less later. I may come back next
month and recant something after I see a movie again. I’m the same way about music. Usually, the songs or the albums that I don’t
like become the ones that I like for the rest of my life. Sometimes you don’t get it the first time.
(916) Magazine / The Yay ACE Magazine Block 2 Block Magazine Da Seen Magazine Don Diva Magazine Exposure Magazine
Sacramento, CA West Palm Beach, FL Grand Prairie, TX Miami, FL New York, NY Chicago, IL
www.the916.com 772-332-7979 214-597-0883 786-263-2724 877-366-3482 847-366-8915
916-452-2482 acemagonline.com block2blockonline.com daseen.com exposuremagazines.com
F.E.D.S. Magazine Frosty’s Flava Get ‘Em Magazine The Grind Magazine Grooveline Magazine Hater Magazine Tha Hole Magazine
New York, NY Miami, FL Pensacola, FL Miami, FL Grambling, LA Houston, TX Huntsville, AL
1369 Madison Ave #406 frostysflava.com getemmagazine.com 305-804-4188 groovelinemag.com www.hatermagazine.com 256-652-0804
NY, NY 10128 thegrindmagazine@yahoo.com 318-803-0450 www.thahole.com
Holla Magazine HooD Magazine Iceberg Magazine Industri Magazine The Juice Magazine Murder Dog Magazine Neo Magazine
Atlanta, GA Daytona Beach, FL Jacksonville, FL Houston, TX Atlanta, GA Los Angeles, CA Atlanta, GA
www.hollamag.com 386-235-6846 icebergmag.com www.theindustri.com 866-34-JUICE 707-553-1850 neomagmail@hotmail.com
770-438-0112 everythinghood.com 904-472-5711 866-309-9997 thejuicemagazine.net www.murderdog.com 404-806-1480
New Power Magazine Next Level Magazine Owners Illustrated Mag OZONE Magazine Rude Magazine Seaspot Magazine Showcase Magazine
Columbus, MS New York, NY Washington, DC Orlando, FL New Orleans, LA Seattle, WA Los Angeles, CA
662-251-0075 thenextlevelmagazine.com 202-607-3629 407-447-6063 504-246-1491 206-320-SPOT 510-481-3080
newpowermagazine.com ownersillustrated.com www.ozonemag.com seaspotmediagroup.com
Streetz Magazine Strip Joint Magazine That’s What’s Up Urban Living Magazine Urban Pages Magazine UrbLife Magazine Xplosive Magazine
Virginia Miami, FL Miami, FL Nashville, TN Charleston, SC Montgomery, AL San Francisco, CA
800-770-1078 954-447-7246 954-733-3613 615-497-5036 urbanpagesmag@aol.com 334-799-9773 925-427-9330
www.streetzmag.com urbanlivingmag.com 843-747-5131 xplosivemagazine@hotmail.com