Ozone Mag Florida Classic 2009 special edition

8/7/2019 Ozone Mag Florida Classic 2009 special edition

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WELCOME TO ORLANDO

FLORIDACLASSIC

2009**SpeCI

ALeDItIOn**

BIG GAteS // BOneS // DAt DUDeDAWGMAn // DJ nAStY // DROpLIL BOOSIe // MIGHtY MIKe // pI BAnGpLIeS // pOetIC // SHO BOY // WeS FIF& MORe

+

KEVINCOSSOM

FeAtURInG


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SIDE A

A20 BIGGATESA22 DATDUDEA10 DJREllA16-17 DRop

A8 EVENTlISTINGA23 looCHIEA9 NIGHTClUBlISTINGA7 oRlANDoMApA18-19 plIESA12-13 poETIC

A14-15KEVIN COSSOM

SIDE b

B18-19 CASHCHRISB6 DJDSTRoNGB22 DJNASTYB4 DJSlYMB8-9 lIlBooSIEB10-11 pIBANGB20-21 SHoBoY

B12-13 WESFIF

b14-17bONES, DAWGMAN,& MIGHTY MIKE

PUBLISHER:JuiaBevery

SPECIAL EDITIONS EDITOR:JenMcKinnna.k.a.Ms.Rivercity

CONTRIBUTORS & CREW:EricperrinJeeVanBrwnMauriceG.GarandMercedesRandyRerTerrenceTysnTrreyHmes

PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR:MaikAbdu

STREET TEAMS:BigMuthMarketingDJSymlexprmtinsonpintEntertainmentpeByStrictyStreets

SUBSCRIPTIONS:Tsubscribe,sendcheckrmneyrderfr$20t:oZoNEMagazine

644AntneSt.Suite6Atanta,GA30318phne:4043503887Fax:4046019523Web:www.znemag.cm

COVER CREDITS:KevinCssmhtbyTerrenceTysn;Bnes,Dawgman,&MightyMikehtbyTerrenceTysn.

DISCLAIMER:oZoNEdesnttakeresnsibiityfrunsicitedmaterias,misinfrmatin,tygrahicaerrrs,rmisrints.Theviewscntainedhereindntnecessariyreectthseftheubisherritsadvertisers.AdsaearinginthismagazinearentanendrsementrvaidatinbyoZoNEMagazinefrrductsrservicesered.Ahtsandiustratinsare

cyrightedbytheirresectiveartists.Athercntentiscyright2009oZoNEMagazine,arightsreserved.Nrtinfthismagazinemaybererducedinanywaywithutthewrittencnsentftheubisher.printedintheUSA.

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MAPORLANDO, FL


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Friday, November 20th

Frontline & 4 Life Promotions Present 12th An-

nual Classic Greek Ste Show @ West OrangeHigh School // 1625 South Beulah Rd, WinterGarden FL // 863-838-5678Hosted by BETs Terrance J, Music by Doc D

Battle of the Bands @ Amway Arena // 600 W.Amelia St. // Doors open at 7pm

Frontline Presents VIP Happy Hour @ RainHosted by Jay Deezy, Music by DJ Live Wyre5pm 9:30pm // 2 for 1 Cocktailes, Free SoulFood Buffet

Florida Classic Kick Off Party @ 11/12Hosted by BETs DJ Q45 & DJ Herm T //RoyalPairEnt.com

Slip-N-Slide Celeb Bash hosted by Trina @Destiny // 407-290-1481Presented by DME, Cool Runnings, & TheSigmas // Featuring Disco JR, Disco & TheCity Boys, Clientell Party Starter DJs, & More

Frontline Promotions Presents: Paparazzi @Roxy // Hosted by BETs Terrance J & Rocsi, &

Kevin CossomMusic by DJs Nasty, Demp, Ratt, City, Shizm9:30pm 3am // 18 and Up for Women, 21and up for Men

DME, Morris Mngt, CMG Present ClassicWknd Party @ KOHAMusic by Disco & The City Boyz, Disco JR,Supastar J Kwik, Clientell Party StartersDoors open 2am to 6am // 18 & Up to Enter,21 to Drink // 407-290-1481

Frontline Promotions & Kheep Ent PresentAlpha, Kappa, Iota Frat Boy Classic @ Chey-enne Salon // 120 W. Church St // Hosted byAJ The Klassic, Super Man & Mr. BKS // Musicby DJs 108, Dev, Ego, Jay-R, Blaze

Frontline Promotions Alumni Jam @ RainHosted by Almighty Joe Bullard & Next LevelsJay Deezy // Music by DJs Saxwell & LiveWyre // 1opm to 3am // 25 and up preferred,21 & Up // Dress Code Enforced

Saturday, November 21St

Florida Classic @ Florida Citrus Bowl // Gamestarts at 2pm

OJ da Juiceman, Dorrough, Black Dada @Club 11/12 // Hosted by DJ DempTickets Available at Mens Closet or WantTix.com or RoyalPairEnt.com

Dawgman & Nasty Beatmakers Present 5th

eveNt LiStiNG

FLoridaCLaS

SiC2009

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Annual Classic Fest @ Club FirestoneStarring We the Best Family: Khaled, AceHood, & More

Music by Supastar J Kwik, Clientell PartyStarters, Disco & The City Boyz, Whilin Ent,Cool Runnings & More // 407-290-1481 // Clas-sicFest.com

Frontline Promotions Presents the Cash MoneyClassic Luau @ RoxyHosted by Birdman & The Cash Money Family// Music by Skool Boys, CT & PLO, Ratt, City,Doc D // 9:30pm to 3am

Gator Team Ent presents Twista, Yo Gotti,Webbie, Mullage, & Frank Lini @ DestinyHosted by Prostyle & Music by Bigga Rankin407-968-4886

DME, Morris Mngt, CMG Present Classic WkndParty @ KOHAMusic by Disco & The City Boyz, Disco JR,Supastar J Kwik, Clientell Party StartersDoors open 2am to 6am18 & Up to Enter, 21 to Drink407-290-1481

Bell Biv Devo Live @ House of Blues

Presented by Frontline PromotionsMusic by BETs Q45 & FAMUs SaxwellTickets 407-934-BLUE & All Ticket MasterLocations

Launch Party for Hennessy Black @ RainMusic by DJ Kid Capri & Resident DJ MSquared // 21 & Up, Dress Code: Classic Clean

SuNday, November 22Nd

DME & 102 Jamz Present:

11th Annual Riding Big Car Show/Concert@ Central FL FairgroundsHosted by Lil DuvalMusic by Clientell Party StartersGates Open 2pm 10pm

DME Car Show After Party @ AntiguaHosted by DorroughMusic by Disco JR & DJ Slym

All Pro Parties Presents Sunday Nights @RoxyMusic by DJs Prostyle, Quez & NiceEveryone free until midnight

Frontline Promotions Presents:Soul Session @ RainFeaturing Grammy Nominated SaxophonistEric Darius, along with Rohan Reid Band &Sisaundra LewisMusic by DJ Live WyreDrink Specials 6pm to 10pm321-276-9466


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Malllisting

FloridaMall

8001SOrangeBlossomTrail

407-856-7700

MagicMall

2155W.ColonialDr.407-648-0779

MilleniaMall

4200ConroyRd.

407-363-3555

WestoaksMall

9401W.ColonialDrive

401-294-2775

WinterParkMall

641W.FairbanksAve.

WinterPark,FL32789

407-671-3232

HouseoFBluesHOB.com1490E.BuenaVistaDr.LakeBuenaVista,FL407-934-BLUE

iconnigHt-cluB20E.CentralBlvd.407-649-6496

koHanigHt-cluB426E.KennedyEatonville,FL407-740-0556

MotoWncaFeUniversalCityWalk407-363-8000

rainClubWhispers.net4732S.KirkmanRoad407-290-9896

tHeroxy740BennettRd.407-898-4004

tHesocial

OrlandoSocial.com54N.OrangeAve407-246-1599

sky6064N.OrangeAvenue407-246-1599

taBunigHt-cluBTabuNightclub.com46N.OrangeAvenue407-648-8363

tavernontHelake6996PiazzaGrandeAve.Orlando,FL32835407-293-6233

tessa2425ASouthHiawas-seeRoadOrlando,FL32835407-373-0005

voyagenigHt-cluB17W.PineStreet321-277-0412

centralFloridaFair-grounds

4903W.ColonialDriveOrlando,FL

eastMonteciviccenter830MagnoliaDriveAltamonteSprings,FL

exPocenter500W.Livingston(acrossfromTD

Waterhouse)Orlando,FL

tdWater-House600W.AmeliaSt.Orlando,FL407-849-2020

cluBlisting11/12nigHt-cluB843

LeeRoad407-539-3410

akalounge68EastPineStreet407-839-3707

antigua41W.ChurchSt.407-649-4270

B.B.kings9100International

Drive

Blissultralounge123W.ChurchSt

cleosgentle-MenscluB1310S.OrangeBlos-som

Trail407-839-8559

cluBstatus912W.ColonialDrive407-841-1462

destiny7430UniversalBlvd.407-351-9800

dragonrooM25W.ChurchSt.

407-843-8600

eleMent39W.PineStreet407-841-1566

envy7552UniversalBlvd.(InternationalDrive)

eMBer

42W.CentralBlvd

FirestoneClubatFirestone.com578N.OrangeAvenue407-872-0066

Fusion1S.OrangeAvenue407-650-0556

tHegrooveCityWalkatUniversalOrlando6000UniversalBlvd.407-363-8000

HardrockHardRock.comUniversalCityWalk407-351-5483

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otHervenues


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IF YOURe LOOKInG FOR tHe LOCALStReet MIxtApe GUY In ORLAnDO, DJReLL IS It. BUt DOnt Get It COn-FUSeD, AS DJ ReLL IS qUICK tO teLLpeOpLe HeS FAR FROM JUSt A LOCALDJ. WItH HIS neW MIxtApe, Kiss My

LocaL ass, ReLL IS MAKInG A StAte-Ment ABOUt HIS StAtUS In tHe GAMe.

How did you get into DJing?MydadhadarecrdabeandIfeinvewithmusic.Ihadaassinfrit.Istartedayingarundwithrecrdsanduttingtgetherdierentcmiatinsthateeikedthear.FrmthereitwentintdingmixCDs.

Are mixtapes your main focus as a DJ?

ImamixtaeDJ,tbehnestwithyu.IdcubsifImbked.lateyIvebeengettinbkedutfstateasaheadineDJ,butIthatsthemixtaes.Ijustgtaddedt88.5inTama.IdamixshwtherstSaturdayfeverymnth.

Whats the name of your mixtape series?Idntreayhaveasetseries.Mybiggestseries,thatreaygtmeknwnttheubic,wudabeentheWilt ChamberlainseriesIdidnGucciManeastyear.

Do you have any DJ aliations?Imaiatedwithmysef.Imntartfanybdyscrew.Ibustmyass,andmywhemarketingcamaignandeverythingisreayayingnw.IdsayIvegtthesamecnnectinsasaDJcrew.IwasaiatedwithacuefthembutIwithdrewcauseIfetikeittherewerentbenets.Ideverythingnmywn.Igtrecrdsbefretheygetem.

What crews did you belong to?IwasaSiNSideDJ,IwasaFutureStarDJ,IwasalrdGangDJ,IwasaStreetCnnectDJ.Idnebeenthrughacuefcrews,butikeIsaid,ifImbringingmretthetabethantheDJcrew,thenIcanditnmywn,right?

Do you put together tapes for local artists?Yeah,fcurse.Iwrkwithatfcas.AnybdyntheirgrindImushingfr.MybiggestbreakutwaswhenIwrkedwithArmstrng.Iwasveryhandsnwithhim.Imthegtguyfrindeendentsinthecity.

You have a heavy street presence. How impor-tant is it for an artist to connect with that mar-ket in addition to radio and club promotions?Ifyuvegtabigenughstreetbuzztheabesaregncmetyu.Ifyugtastreetbuzz,itsgnnagenerateaidshwsandrevenue.But

attheendftheday,abeskatnumbers,regardessifyuremakingshwmneyrrmtingreahardandthewhecityknwsyu.Theykatnumbers.Imafanfradi.Ifyureabetgetaradirmterandyugtahtenughsng,getinthestreetsandgetnradi.TheykatthatMediabase.

What are you promoting for the Classicweekend?ImdrinarjectcaedKiss My Local Ass.ItsrettymuchteingatfeewhthughtIwudntbeabetdwhatImdinnw,rgetasfarasIam,IjustteemtKiss My LocalAss.Imfarfrmca,butIstikeeitgrundedtthecascene.

What else do you want to say?ShututtmywebsiteMixRUs.cm,mybrtherBigWi,Darren.ShututtmycusinHQ.IareciateoZoNEfrgivingmethisrtunity.Ifyuredwnwithmeyuknwwhyuare,ifnt,kissmycaass.FreeNate,freeArmstrng,freeHtMike.Ifyutryintgetatme,yucanreachmeat4077708168,Twitter.cm/DJRe,rMysace.cm/WhDJRe.

DJ RELLWords by Ms Rivercity

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eticWords by Ms. RivercityPhoto by Blenus Martin12 | OZOne


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AS A MeMBeR OF tHe GROUp tReAL,pOetIC HAS HAD A SUCCeSSFULRUn AS An ARtISt/pRODUCeR tHeGROUp even LOCKeD DOWn A SInGLeDeAL AFteR BReAKInG tHROUGH On

RADIO. WItH tHAt expeRIenCe BeHInDtHeM, tReAL HAS BRAnCHeD IntOneW ReALMS, ALLOWInG pOetIC tOexpLORe HIS InDIvIDUAL tALent.

So youve been working on some of yourown music lately. Tell us about the solo proj-ects youre promoting.IjustdredanewmixtaecaedTwist theIndustryhstedbyDJJayRckandmixedby

myhmebyCheezefTREAl.IjustdredavidefrImatient.Itsabutwithmerightnw,Imkindaimatient.Isendbeatsteeandsmetimestheytaketngtdrversesnem,reetaketngwithbusiness.Ijustwantedtdrasngertainingtmyifeandabuttryingtgetmney.Timeismneyrightnw.Tgetmymixtaeyucanggeit;Itsgettingawhetfdwnads.peehavebeenhittinmeufrbeats,hks,awhetfstu.

What do you mean by twist the industry?Imjustasgdastheindustry.Mysngs,mybeats,myhksImjustasgdastheindustry.putmysnguagainstanindustrysngandettheeejudgehwgdIam.Imarducer,awriter,anartist,athatatthesametime.Iwanteetkatmycreativity.IcaitTwist the IndustrycauseImmixingmysngswiththeindustrysngs.

Is that your family in the Impatient video?Itsmysn,mydaughter,myittebrther,mygrandmamma,mydad,everybdyinthatvide.Mywhefamiyisinitrettymuch.Mymm,fcurseshecudntmakeit,andmywifecudntbethere.ButIuteverythingintthatvide.ItwasvertherefparramrecausethatswhereIrettymuchgrewuatinparramreViage.

How do you think the song pertains to other

peoples situations and whats going on withthe world right now? Especially the economy.Yuvegtawhebunchfraerscmingutactiniketheygtawhebunchfmney.Imbeingreawiththeee.Atftheseartistsaintgtit.Theysignwitharecrdabejusttgetachainfrmem.Iaintabutthat.Imseakinfrtheeethataintgtnthin,eethatarehustineverydaytryintfeedtheirfamiyandmakeendsmeet.

ThatstheeeImtargeting.Eventhepresidentsayswerebrke,shwdeseverybdyhavemney?Atfartistsarescaredttuchnthat[tic]causetheydntwantt

messutheiraearancettheee.

You touched on some pretty personal thingsin that song, like living in a foster home.Iwasivinginafsterhmeatneintinmyife.Mymtherwenttjai.IsawmymamanthenewsandeverythingwhenIwasakid.Ihadtstaystrngfrmyittebrtherandsister.Imthedestnmymamasside.Astimewentn,shegtutfjaiandgtusback.ButIwentthrugha

that,andIwantedttakabutitcauseatfeedntknwthatabutme.ItsmytimetshweewhIam.

Whats going on with the group TREAL?Wererestructuringeverythingbusinesswise.Wewannabeabetsigntherartistsandexand.Wegtwnbackandfrthtryingtwrkut[recrd]deas,butthedeastheywereeringwasntwhatwewerekinfr.Weainthaveenughutsaywhat

wewanted.WehadaittesingedeawithUniversa,buttheyneverheedusushtherecrd.ImNtlckDwnwasahitrecrdandtheydidntushit.Everyradistatinitgtayednwasbecausefusandurersnagrind.BigustCayD,heheedusutntraveingandeverything.

But you guys didnt break up?FreverybdythatssayingTREAlbrkeu,Igtantherthingcminfryuhaters.We

gtanewmixtaethatsnnabedrinreasn.Weverventthegamethatweretaented,wejustgttamakegdbusinessmvesrightnwfrusasagru.

Before we go, is there anything else youwant to say?IjustwanttgiveashututteverynethatkedutfrTREAlandmeersnay,andthewheorandmvementerid,atheDJsandrmters.Iasgtanew

rjectwhereImjustdingbeatsandhks,whichisrettymuchwhatTheRunnersdid.ItsgnnabeaFridatyethingandImgnnaetthesecaraersriit.Imjustgnnakeedringthesehits.Imtryingtbuidastrngbasefrmysefasanartistandrduceratthesametime. //

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K

evinossom

Words by Eric Perrin

Photo by Terrence Tyson

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CHAnCeS ARe YOUve Been SInGInGALOnG tO KevIn COSSOM SOnGSFOR YeARS, YOU JUSt neveR KneW ItUntIL nOW. Meet KC, A pHILLY-BORn,ORLAnDO pRODUCt WHO UntIL Re-

CentLY HAS Been tHe MAn BeHInD tHeMeLODY. He HAS penneD A pLetHORAOF SOnGS FOR ARtIStS RAnGInG FROMR. KeLLY tO ACe HOOD, AnD SCOReDHIS FIRSt BILLBOARD nUMBeR 1 SInGLeLASt SUMMeR WItH KeRI HILSOnSKnOCK YOU DOWn FeAtURInG KAnYeWeSt AnD ne-YO.

ReGARDLeSS OF HIS UnDenIABLe SUC-

CeSS AS A SOnGWRIteR, KCS FIRStLOve IS HIS OWn MUSIC, SOMetHInGHe FeeLS He WAS BORn tO CReAte.nOW WItH tHe BACKInG OF A MAJORLABeL, HIS vOICe MAY SOOn BeCOMeAS FAMILIAR AS HIS pen.

Youre an established songwriter, but when didyou decide to become an artist yourself?Beinganartistwasawaystherirityfrme.In

myquestfrtheartistendeavrt,thewritingthingcameaittefasterfrme.

Youve written some very big hits throughoutyour brief career. Can you talk about some ofyour biggest records?IgtmyrstacementwithTheRunnersfrasngcaedGGetterbyYungJeezyandR.Key.Iwrtethehkfrthatsng,andthatswhenIgtmyubishingdea.AfterthatIwrte[RickRsss]Seeding,[AceHds]CashFw,

andWntletYuDwnfrChamiinaire.AndrecentyIjustgtmyrstnumberne[singe].IwrteKnckYuDwnwithKeriHisnandNeY.S,everythingisginggd.

When you rst found out that Knock YouDown was the number one song in the coun-try, how do you react?Firstfa,whenIheardthatitwasgnnabeasingethatwascrazy.WhenIheardthatKanyeandNeYweregnnabenitthatwascrazyas

we,eseciaybecausefhwitahaened.Igtafewemaissayingthatithadgnenumber1intheUKbefreitbecamenumber1here,butwhenitreachednumber[intheU.S],Ihadtactuayseeitasthenumber1sngintheBibardMagazinebefreIcudbeieveit,andwhenIsawit,andsawmyname[inthecredits],itwasamazing!Icantiethugh,nefthemstamazingfeeingsistgtacubandtheyay

thesngyuandeverybdyssingingatheyrics.Justthinkingabuthwtheyreasing

ingasngIwrteisatri.

How important do you think it is for singers towrite their own material?Ifeeikeitsimrtanttknwhwtutarecrdtgether.Ifeeiketheeewharemstreevantinthegameareeewhwritetheirwnsturareateastartfthecreativercess.Ifyurentartfyurcreativercess,yurerbabygnnandyursefaittest.Everynethatswinningiswriting

theirwnshit,andIfeeike[writingyurwnmateria]etsyucreateyurwnane.

In your own music, what kind of themes doyou cover?Itakabutatfthingsthateecanreatet,eseciayintermsfreatinshisandthebymeetsgircncet.Ifyuveeverbeeninareatinshibefre,rifyuveeverikedsmene,Igtsmethingfryu.Itsdeniteyreatabecncetsandntjustrandmmusic.

In your opinion, why havent there been moreartists from Orlando making it on a nationallevel?Thisiskindfatuchysubjectfratfeewharetryingtdmusicinorand,butIfeeikeatfeethinkyuneedtstayinorandtmakeit,andeegetffendedwhenyusteutandgtheraces.Wedhaveatftaentinorand,butitsunderdeveed.Therearenrecrdabesin

orandsitshardfrustgeteetayattentintus.ButIveorandandIfeeikewehaveatftaentandIdeniteywanttdthingsthebringthattaentut.

Do you feel discouraged at all by the fact thatthere are so many artists trying to get on themusic industry?Naw,itsntdiscuraging;Ijustdme.IfeeikeImbessedtbewhereImatrightnw,andhefuythesuccesscntinues.Ifeeikeifyu

wrkhardandcmmittwhatyuresusedtbedingandstayfcused,yuregnnaeateitherway.Whatyuutiniswhatyugetut.Yucantwrryabutwhatthenextmansding.Imjusttryingtcreatemywnsituatin,mywnstry,mywnane,andfreetseemefrwhIam.//


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opWords by Ms. RivercityPhoto by NVD Photography

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IF YOUve FOLLOWeD DROpS RAp CA-ReeR tHeSe LASt COUpLe YeARS, YOUKnOW HeS In ALL tHe RIGHt pLACeSWItH ALL tHe RIGHt peOpLe. WORK-InG WItH ALL pRO ReCORDS UntIL

ReCentLY AnD DOInG SeveRAL MAJORARtISt FeAtUReS, DROp CReAteDMAnY SItUAtIOnS FOR HIMSeLF. HeReHe tALKS ABOUt tHe tHInGS He DIDtO CReAte A BUZZ, HIS tIMe WItH ALLpRO ReCORDS, AnD HIS pLAnS nOWtHAt HeS A FRee AGent AGAIn.

How did you come up in the rap game? Giveus your history.

FirstIstartedinagrucaedGuttaByz.WedidaturfFridaandstartedgettingcasutsidefFrida.Thesituatindidntwrkut.Myatnahadababyandhebacked.Hefetikethemusicthangwasntgingfastenughfrhim.Istarteddinmywnthanganddredamixtae.Itcaughtreaibit.Ikindafebacktherathangfrabutayear,andwhenIcamebackIdidaCDcaed Free Agent.EverybdywasvinitandDJprstyearachedme.Hewantedt

wrkwithmesIstartedfuckinwithim.Thatwasattheendf07.

What happened after that?Igtmycreditfthegrind,hustin,beingwhereIneededtbe.IwasatatheDJretreats,cnferencesikeTJsDJs,athatgdstu.Istayedincntactwitheverybdyandketmyreatinshisgd.Everybdyintheindustry,ikeWendyDayandTnyNea,stifuckedwithmewhenIcamebackut.

What have you been working on lately?IjustdredamixtaecaedNo RookiehstedbyDJprstyeandDJDrama.IgtBsie,GriaZe,paaDuck,andTrakntherehesartfAprRecrds.Afterthatmixtae,thesituatinwith[eaving]Apr,itwasagdk,butasfaraswhatIreresentandthebusinessartwasntrightfrme.Ijusthadtmakethebestdecisinfrmeasanartist.Wec,IstifuckwithApr,butwe

dntdbusinesstgether.

Whats the plan now moving forward?Mymmisstimymanagement.Wereawayswiingtwrkwitheverybdy.Asfrightnw,IjustdredanthermixtaewithMarquisDaniesheaysfrtheBstnCetics.Werediscussingdingacuethingstgetherwithhisbacking.Imdingmythingandeverybdyfuckswithme,ifeverything

wrksut,meandbruhgnmakesmethinhaen.

Whats up with that mixtape? Hows theresponse been?DJScreamfrmAtantahstedit.WegtTrina,Bsieandacuethereenthere.WedidarecrdnthatCDcaedSwagfrSaeandthesnggtkindaht.AfewweeksagIstartedgettingatfcassaying2pistshaddnetherecrd.Icheckedintit,butitaintreaygtnthintdwith2pists.Weweresedtdsmethinwiththerducerbutitdidntgdwn.[2pists]hasasngwiththesamebeatandthesamehk,sIwasgettincnfrntatinacasike,Thisniggadnesteyursngandheutyurnameinit.Iistenedtthetrack.Imthetyefniggathatmymindisen,swhenIistenedttherecrd,Idntreaykatitikeadiss.HesaidmynamebutIdidntkatitikeadiss.Iknwhwthestreetscanbe,butIdntgetintathat.Ididntreaygetintitwithhimikethat.Wewereareadysusedtdarecrdtgetheranyway.

Youve done a lot of a collaborations. Wouldyou say thats helped you a lot?Yeah,Iwudagreewiththat.ThenerecrdIdidwithWaynegtveramiindwnadsntheinternet.Thatheedmeutatwithexsure.Iranacrssatfmixtaesthathadtherecrdnthere.TherecrdwithmeandBsie,hegtthatntwfhismixtaes.ThenewithmeandZe,heushed

thatrecrd.Idgdmusic.InydmusicIfeeisgdenughtbeutut.

Which single are you promoting right now?ThemainsingeImushingrightnwisthemixtaewithMarquisDanies.Itsasngwithme,him,andTrinacaedSheDntlikeMe.Weregininhardnthatrecrd.Werejusttryintmakeshithaen.

Is there anything else you wanna let the

people know?leteverybdyknwImuttinnfrFrida.Everybdywihearfrmmeeventuay.Iaintginnwhere.Imgnnakeeginhardfrthecityandfrthewhestate.ImthenewfacefFrida.//

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lies&

Words by Eric PerrinPhoto by Hannibal Matthews

BigGate

sWords by Julia Beverly


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pLIeSnO LOnGeR CLAIMS tOBe ReAL. BY nOW, WeALL KnOW. FROM HIS 2007 DeBUt TheReaL TesTaMenTtO HIS FOLLOW-UpThe DefiniTion of ReaL ALL tHe WAYtO HIS tHIRD OUtInG The ReaLisT,

FORt MYeRS pLIeS HAS COnStAntLYRe-IteRAteD HIS ReALneSS. nOW,WItH HIS BROtHeR BIG GAteS HOMeFROM pRISOn, pLIeS FeeLS ItS ABOUttIMe tO pIvOt FROM HIS OnCeUBIqUItOUS ReAL pHILOSOpHY AnDBRInG tHe WORLD Goon affiLiaTeD.

onhisfurthabumin2years,piesisrmisingtditbiggerthanheseverdneit.He

guaranteesacassicryurmneyback,andiscndentthathisatestertwibefarbetterthananyfitsredecessrs.

Youve always had a great balance betweenstreet and commercial music. How are youable to go the commercial route but main-tain love from the streets at the same time?Iactuaygivemyfwingathatcredit,theeewhgravitatetwardsmysituatin.Ijustawaysmakemusicthatstruetme.I

nevernetimewentinthestudiandsaid,letmemakearecrdfrradi.Ineverdid.Befremycareerreaybssmed,IwasnanatinaevewithcertainrecrdsikeGetYuWet,rMs.prettypussy.Therewereatfrecrdsthatwerewrkingfrmewithutthenatinaexsure.IwaswrkingnanatinaevebefreIevergtsignedtamajr,andthsesituatinswerewhatIiketcnsideratestamentttheeethatreayfuckwithme.AtfthserecrdsfrmShawty,t

BustItBaby,tHyntize,tBecky,andIGtpentyMney,IjustersnayfeeikeImakediversemusic.Iaintmadeveryday,sIdntmakejustmadmusic.IthinkImrbabynefafewartiststhatthisindustryreayaccetsintermsfbeingabetmakediversemusic.Iveearnedthattheresatfdierenttyesfmusicfansinthewrdthereseewhnyistentradi,thereareeethatjustwatchtheutetsncabeTVthatayvides,therescertaineethat

justistentshitthatsnyinthestreets.Ireaizethatatfeejustknwpiesbasednwhatsayingntheradiassedtwhatsactuaybeennthreefmyabumsasweasmymixtaes,sfrmetndthatbaance,Icredittheeethatfuckwithmeandsurtme.Evenwhenyuhearrecrdsntheradi,eegttarequestthserecrdsfrthemtkeeayingem.

What made you decide to release Beckyas a single? Thats a pretty unlikely radiorecord.IactuaycutthatrecrdabutthreeweeksbefrewehadtheSuerBwdwnhereinTama.Irememberhavingacuefmyhmebysistentit,andIve[creating]a

recrdthat[brings]everybdytaunanimuscnsensus.Wheneverybdyheardthatrecrdtheyfetikeitwasamajrrecrd.WhenmybrtherBigGatescamehme[frmrisn]IayedmyabumfrhimandBeckywasthethirdsngntheabum,assnasheheardthatsnghetdmethathedidntneedthearnmrerecrds,becausehewantedthattbetherstsingefrmynewrject.Iwudvenevertriedthatshitatradi.Ithughtitwasaheuvarecrd,but

atthesametimeIdeniteygttagivehimathecredit,becauseheickedittbethesinge.

After 3 albums, what keeps you motivated?Ifeeikethecmany.ImhnredtbeaartfasystemthatsranikeaminimajrintermsfthewheBigGatesRecrdsbrand.EvenwiththisBeckysituatin,thisisaurvisin.ItaintaaberabusinessartnerthatutadimeintthissituatinbesidesBig

GatesRecrds,andwevegtarecrdthatscrazyinthestreetsandcrazynradi.Ithinkthatmindframeawsustbewhweareasacmany.

The rest of this interview is featured in the cur-

rent issue of OZONE.


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pLIeS BROtHeR BIG GAteS, WHOpLAYeD A SIGnIFICAnt ROLe In HISpLIeS DeCISIOn tO RAp AnD eventU-AL ASCenSIOn tO StARDOM, ReCent-LY RetURneD HOMe FROM A tHRee-YeAR HIAtUS. HeRe, He teLLS OZOnetHe tRUe StORY OF HIS InCARCeRA-tIOn AnD HIS FUtURe pLAnS FOR BIGGAteS ReCORDS AnD MORe.

This past weekend you hit the streets again.What was your mindset at the time youfound out that you were gonna actually bereleased?Itfetikeadream,withmebeinginthemcnditinsfrsng,andtheamuntfressureandrbemsthatsgingninsidethse

aces.Ithinkeverybdyutthereknwsthat[risn]isntthebestcnditinstbeivingin.Sitsjustmecmingutandseeingmybrther,seeingtherestfmyfamiyandbeingabetbefree.Icantreaydescribethefeeingverwhemingjyisthebestwaytutit.Itsikewinningthetteryfr$500miin.Hwwudyufee,yuknwwhatImean?Ireaydntthinkyucudteme.

You were in for three years, right?

Yeah,threeng,rugh,hardyears.Secndtime,threeyears.Itwasactuaytwsentences.Itwasathreeyearsentenceandatwentysevenmnthsentencecmbinedwithstateandfederacharges.

Did you get out early for good behavior?Iwasbasicayawedtgetutwhenthetimewasu. (laughs) TheFedsdntreaygiveyuanyfavrsunessyuresnitching.Smetimestheydntgiveyufavrsthen

[either].Itwas[just]medingmytimeandmytimebeingu.

I think some people were under the impressionthat you were away for a lot longer than that.Yeah,causemsteewantbadfryuanyways,eseciaywhenyuaintgtanythinggingfryu.JB,whenyuwerersttryingtcmeuwithamagazineyearsag,yuwerentnanybdysradarstheyreaydidntcareabutwhatyuwereding.Yu

werentafactr.Butnceyuaresuccessfu,eehaveknwedgefyursuccess.Thatcmeswiththefameaswe.Thatswhenathehatredcmes.peewishbadfryuatthatint.Sme[ee]wantedmetbegnefrever,yuknw?Itwasaseriuscase,sixattemtedmurders,rstdegree,andssessinfarearmbyacnvictedfen,federaviatinandshtingintabuiding.

Eachchargeisenughtutyuawayfrever.Seejustrejudgesituatins.

Were you able to take a plea bargain onthose charges, or what actually developedwhen it came to your sentencing?

Ittkabutayear.Thersecutrsdidntwantttaktme,yuknw?Theybeievedthatitwasanenandshutcase.TheyfetikeIwasdne;thestatehadninetywitnessesagainstme.Theyfundsixgunsinthecar,thecar[was]inmyname,I[was]driving,andtheyvegtafthevictimswhweresht.Ntny[werethere]ninetywitnesseswhdidntgetsht[testifyingagainstme],butthethervevictimswhactuaygtsht,themajrityfthemweresayinIdidit.Thats

hwIgtthesixattemtedmurderchargesintherstdegree.Swiththsetyefchargeseerightfuyassumefrthewrstinsteadfthebest.

Obviously, your brother has become a lotmore successful on a national level since youwent away, so is there a sense of you comingback to join the party? Or just resumingwhat you were doing in the early stages?Idntwannasaytmuchandgiveaway

tmuch.WhieIwasaway,Iwasabetdatfthingsandmakeatfthingshaentkeehiscareerginguward.Icantgetintthedetais,causeyuknwFedsreadmagazinest...

The rest of this interview is featured in the cur-

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DAt DUDe StARteD RAppInG 2YeARS AGO AnD GAIneD LOCALSUppORt qUICKLY. HIS FIRSt SOnG,CLAIM YOUR CItY, ReCeIveD RADIOpLAY On 102 JAMZ vIA DJ CHInOAnD LAUnCHeD DAt DUDeS MUSICventUReS. SInCe BeGInnInG HISRAp CAReeR, DAt DUDe HAS OpeneDFOR ARtIStS LIKe tHRee 6 MAFIA,YUnG JOC, AnD LIL WAYne. HeS nOW

CAMpAIGnInG FOR HIS neW SInGLeAnD pRepARInG FOR HIS UpCOMInGCOLLeGe tOUR WItH DJ SMALLZ.

What songs are you pushing right now?ThesingeIhaverightnwisAowithpeticfrmTREAl.ThereasnIcameuwiththatsngisbecauseeverybdybesayinayeinthecubandheretheysayhhbeinginorand.IfeeikeweretaentedandhaveurwnmvementjustikethemcatsintheA.S

itskindaikeareversesychgything.IasgtastricubanthemcaedCameTe.ofcursethatssefexanatry.MeandDJBabylaccameuwiththat.

What are you known for mostly in Orlando?Tbehnestwithya,Ivebeeninthestreetsrettyheavydinmythang.Iminanewerathugh.IwenttschfrCriminalaw.Thatshwrettymucheverybdyknwsme.Theyknwmefrmsrtst.Iayedhigh

schandcegeba.MycusinandthestreetsstartedcainmeDatDude.Ijustketthename.

At what point did you become interested inrapping?Istartedthrwingmywnshws.Ihadmywnartistanditdidntwrkutwithhim.IhadathesebeatsandstuthatIhadbughtsIjustsaid,letmestartrain.IwrtemyrstsngcaedCaimYurCityandithit102

Jamzinikethreemnths.DJChinusedtawaysayitwhenhewasnair.Hebrkeitntheradihere,andthatreaymtivatedme.Itwasmyrsttimewritingasnganditreaywasntthardfrme.

So far, is the rap game what you expected?WhatIearnedabutthemusicisyugt

deawiththesecatstryintrunaverya,causeitsaabutmneyattheendftheday.Everybdytryintmakeadaryaandgivinyubrkenrmises.IearnedthebusinessfitrstbefreIjumedinthegame.IwasntheradwithSkuDuggeryinsevendierentstatesbackin05.MyhmebywashismainrmtersIsawitrsthand.Ngrindnshine.

Have you put out any mixtapes yet?

Yeah,ImtherstartisttdthisIgtfurDJsnnemixtae.Ibrkeitdwnintfurquartersikeaftbagame.IgtDJRe,DJHeadbussa,DJBabylac,andDiscJr.anthesamemixtae.Iutthatutayearag.

Where will you be during Florida Classic?IbeatDawgmansRidinBigCarShwnSunday,andatTheCassicFestatFirestnenSaturdaynight.FridayImdingtheTeenJamatCub360.

What do you want people to know about youand your music?Mycncetsarettaydierent.Ihaveadierentsund.ourrbeminorandiswednthaveadenitinfasund.Miamiandathesetherareashavetheirwnsund.SwhentheyistentmymusictheywihearareaorangeCuntyreresenta.Andeverythanginmymusicisfacts.Itsntmadeu,takinbutridinn30s,Igtathesebricks,

andathat.Itsareaity.Ifyuaskanybdyabutme,theygnvuchfrme.Whenitcmestkeeinitrea,thatswhatId.Everybdyhasresectfrme.

Dat DudeWords by Ms Rivercity


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OZOne| 23

LoochiWords by Ms Rivercity

Ft. LAUDeRDALe RAppeR LOOCHIe ISMAKInG HIS DeBUt In tHe FLORIDARAp SCene. AS A SeLF-DeSCRIBeDFeeL-GOOD RAppeR, He KeepS tHeStAte DAnCInG WItH SOnGS LIKe HIS

neW SInGLe SHeS peRFeCt.

How did you get into rapping?Iawaysvedmusic.Iveawaysbeenamusicdude.Imandschmusicver,IikeR&Bandra,smusichasawaysbeenaartfmyife.Iveawaysbeenabetutrhymestgether.IayedarundwithrainandIstartedtakingitseriusywhenIwasinhighsch.IstartedwritingwhenIwasginthrughthangs,andIgtusedtwriting.I

startedmywnabecaedluewEntertainmentabutveyearsag.Inmysaretime,IstartedettingeehearmymusicandIgtagdreactinutfthat,sIdecidedtursueit.

When you started letting people hear themusic, were there any songs that they likedthe most? Or did they just like the music ingeneral?Ijustgtgdresnsesatgether.Iaready

knewIwasgdatmakingsngsbythatint,snceIheardfrmthereethatIwasrettygd,Idecidedttakeitserius.

What are some topics you cover in yourmusic?Imafeegdraer.IwriteabutthingsIveexerienced.InevertakabutthingsIdnthaveacueabutbecauseImnttryingtsundignrant.Mymusicisexainingthings

Ivedne.Ivednerbabyeverythingthereistd,sIvegtatttakabut.Basicaymymusicisjustafeegdvibe,dancingmusic.Thatsrettymuchit.BeingfrmFt.lauderdae,andintheSuth,weiketarty.Wesendurrentmneytarty.WereveryfastacedandikethavefunsthatsthekindfmusicyuregnnagetuttaFrida,musicthatmakesyumve.

What are you promoting right now?ImrmtingmysingeShesperfectfeaturingYungCash.Itsdingreagd.AndIvegtthe4th QuartermixtaecmingsnwithBiggaRankinandDJBiggV.

So you linked up with Young Cash for thesingle and Bigga Rankin for the mixtape. Youseem pretty big on supporting the Floridamovement and working with artists fromyour home state.

Thatsveryimrtantifyucantmakeitwhereyurefrm,ifyuhavetgsmewhereesetmakeit,Idntthinkyurecareerisgnnaastasngbecauseyuveawaysgttacmebackhme.Yugttahavethathmeteamandfanbasebehindyuathme,sifnwhereesevesyu,yustihavehme.

Have you been working with anyone else?IdidasngwithAceHdcaedInMy

Dnk.IwannacnnectwithatftheseartiststhathavebeeninthegamefrmFridaikeTrickDaddy,pies,RickRss.Ijustwannashwmyresect.onceImakeitIdntwantnbdytsayIdidntkeeitGwithmyhd.

Where can people check out your music?Mysace.cm/lchie75andTwitter.cm/lchie75.

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WELCOME TO ORLANDO

FLORIDACLASSIC 2009

**SpeCIALeDItIOn**

BIG GAteS // DAt DUDeDj D StROnG // Dj nASty // Dj ReLLDROp // kevIn COSSOm // LIL BOOSIemIGHty mIke // pI BAnG // pLIeSpOetIC // SHO BOy // WeS FIF & mORe

+

FLORIDAMUSCLEBONE, DAWGMAN,& MIGHTY MIKE


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Dj SLym UnDeRStAnDS tHAt A BIGeLement OF DjInG IS ALSO pROmO-tIOnS. tHROUGH HIS COmpAny StReetBUzz ent., Dj SLym IS StRenGtHenInGHIS ImpACt In tHe ORLAnDO mARkettHROUGH mIxtApeS, CLUB DjInG, AnD

pARty pROmO. DURInG tHIS yeARSFLORIDA CLASSIC WeekenD yOU CAnCAtCH HIm At SeveRAL BIG eventS,InCLUDInG DAWGmAnS 11tH AnnUALCAR SHOW.

Whats new? Where have you been DJing?I DJ at Rain on Thursdays with Q45. Im bookeda few nights for the Classic weekend. Im at afashion show at Firestone that Thursday during

the day. Friday and Saturday Im at the after partyat KOHAs with Dawgman. Saturday Im also atFirestone and Roxy. Sunday Im at the car showand Sunday night Im DJing at Antigua.

When did you move back to Orlando from PalmBeach?I moved back about 4 months ago. Palm Beachis home, but for what Im trying to do, Im tryingto do things on a bigger scale. What Im doingwould make a bigger impact in Orlando.

Are you working with any artists in Orlando?Im putting together something called ThePipeline to promote dierent artists to dier-ent regions. Were gonna release a south FloridaPipeline for artists in Palm Beach, Broward, andDade. Were gonna be cross-promoting those art-ists in Orlando, helping them get a buzz up here.Im gonna take that nationally. I have DJs placedin Mississippi, Dallas, Atlanta. Were gonna do aFlorida/Atlanta Pipeline, a Florida/Dallas Pipeline.

Have you put out any mixtapes recently?Im putting out the Classic Weekendmixtape.

Were putting out 20,000 copies. Were doingthat with Frontline Promotions and Flyer Promo.

Who are some of your favorite artists inOrlando?PI Bang is doing his thing. Hes really making alot of noise. Drop is really increasing what hesdoing. Wes Fif is making noise with his singleGoin In. Hes from Orlando but he has thesong buzzing in Atlanta. KC is doing his thingwith the R&B side. Armstrong had a strong

movement before everybody went to jail. If wetake it back to Palm Beach, G Boy is doin histhing. Theres a new producer out of Palm Beachnamed Schife. Hes working with Triple Cs.Another person to lookout for is Tay Dizm. Hesgot a real good single called Point Em Out onthe Classic mixtape. Its a banger.

How do people get in touch with you?They can contact me at Twitter.com/DJSlym orcall me 561-542-8444.

DJ SLYMWords by Ms RivercityPhoto by Thomas & Adams Photography

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Dj D-StROnG HAS Been WItH 102jAmz FOR ABOUt 5 yeARS. ALOnGWItH HIS FULL CLUB SCHeDULe,WHICH InCLUDeS nIGHtS At CLUBFIReStOne AnD ICOn, AmOnGOtHeR venUeS, StROnG ALSO pLAyS

neW mUSIC On HIS mIxtApe SeRIeSStrong radio.

Where can people catch you spinning?Sunday nights I do Club Firestone. Tuesdays Imat Cleos. Wednesday I do an all new night inDaytona thats crazy at The Coliseum. Friday I doIcon. I like to keep Saturday open so I can bouncearound. Im on radio Monday through Thursdayfor the 8 Oclock bomb. Thats from 8pm 9pm,and then I have my own radio show on Sunday

from 3pm to 7pm on 102 Jamz.

If someone comes to one of your parties whatcan they expect from you as a DJ?Youre gon have a great time. They hands aregonna be in the air, they gon start dancin andnot stop all night. If they partyin with DJ D-Strong they gonna wanna come back.

Theres a big dierence in DJing for radio andDJing for the club.

Radio is a little more conservative. When youDJ in the club youre able to open it up more,whether its a street-based club where youll getto hear a lot of songs you may not hear on theradio. Youve got a lot more freedom in the club.

What are the hottest new club records?For me, the biggest club record, whether its newor not, is Gucci Mane Wasted with Plies, and theremix with OJ and Wayne. Plies Becky is crazy.Gucci Manes Ima Dog. Lil Waynes Steady

Mobbin. For the ladies, a crazy song right now isBeyonces Sweet Dreams.

Are there any highly requested songsfrom local artists right now?Right now I wouldnt say theres aparticular local song thats highly indemand. Theres a couple local art-ists out there thats on the grindand doin their thing, but I dontthink theyre really penetratingthe market to where peopleare coming to the DJ boothrequesting their song.

Youve been doing your DJ thing for awhile. What are some things youre mostproud of in your career so far?Honestly, Im just proud to still be here atthis point. The way the music game is going,

its just becoming so small. People are fallin o,people are disappearing from the DJs, to therappers, to the promoters. Im blessed to knowthat Im still relevant. Im still here and I aintgoin nowhere for now. I got a lot of things goindown. Im blessed and thank God that Im stilldoin my thang to this day and I aint fall o.

What are your plans for the Florida Classic?My normal parties are goin down as usual. Onthe business tip, I got a couple websites Im set-ting the launch date for during that weekend.I got a social networking website and my ownpersonal website 247Strong.com. I got a couplemixtapes Im gonna drop that weekend. Imgonna do a big mixtape release party thatFriday and Icon. And Im doing a part 2 continu-ation party that Sunday at Club Firestone.

Tell us about the mixtapes.Im gonna do another D-Strong Radio Edition.Im also thinking about dropping another mix-tape catering to everybody in central Florida.Ill probably do a joint venture with Disco J.R.Itll have artists like TREAL, Drop, Popov, PapaDuck, and more. Other than that, Im workingon this album Im dropping independentlywith distribution through Universal Records. Itsgoing to be under my company, S.M.G. StrongMusic Group. Im focused on leaking the singlefor 1st quarter.

DJ D-STRONGWords by Ms RivercityPhoto by Corday Cardwell of Lution Media

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il BoosieWords by Maurice G. Garland

Photo by Diwang Valdez

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OZONE | 9

tO LIL BOOSIe RIGHt nOW, tRILL ent.IS In HIS pAS.t AnD even tHOUGH Su-perbad jUSt CAme OUt, ItS ALReADyAnCIent HIStORy. BOOSIeS FIRSt SteptOWARDS InDepenDenCe IS StARtInG

HIS OWn COmpAny, BAD Azz enteR-tAInment AnD FROm tHIS DAy FORtH,tHAtS ALL HeS FOCUSInG On.

Superbadjust hit the streets and people aresaying good things about it. The album didhave a lot of features on it, which was oddconsidering we never saw that from you inthe past.Really, I didnt have a lot of features. I broughtten songs to the album with just me on there.

My CEO was trying to blow his son [Lil Phat]up, and put him on my CD. [The only features]I thought were on my album was Webbie,[Young] Jeezy, Trina, and Bobby Valentino.I didnt tell [Turk] to put [Lil Phat] on there.When I saw Phat on a quarter of my album,that was the CEO trying to blow him up. Thatswhat made the album look like it had morefeatures. Hes on ve songs, and I aint like thatshit at all. I wasnt going for a lot of features, Iwas going for a classic. They weakened it.

Have you spoken with your CEO since thishappened?Were not talking right now. I will express it insongs theyll hear later. I am going to express itthough. Every nigga in every city is calling measking, Why is [Lil Phat] on so many songs?No, I turned the album in and the CEO put thatnigga on the rest of the songs.

[Turks response: We dont talk as often as weused to because we both have legal issues thatwe are working through, but [we speak] at leastonce a week. My business manager talks to himfour or ve times a day, so we are communicat-ing. You see the album out and him working.Thats us getting it done.]

If thats true, we can see why youre eager tostart your own company.Thats why Im focused on getting my own shit.Theyre trying to blow their son up o me. Imtrying to do my thing, so this new album Imdoing, Im turning it in straight to the people inNew York so it aint gonna have nobody fromTrill on the album but Webbie.

Why would they do that to you?They mightve thought I was doing my thingtoo much and gured since I got one of thebiggest albums of the year coming out, let me

put my son on there and get him famous. Iwas disappointed by that. Theyre not lettingme have say-so on whats on my album. Iwanted a double disc and couldnt get that.Theres all kinds of fucked-up shit going onwith me. I feel like if there was more of me on[Superbad], it wouldve been a classic. Most

people fast-forward his shit and rewind myshit; it makes people have to keep fuckingwith the song. I like for people to let my songsride. So that was a big-ass mistake, trying toblow your son up on my album. Some peoplesons have it and others dont, like his son.

[Turks response: Our normal practice of doingrecords is similar to most labels. We have tracksand artist hop on them. The artist with the hot-test verse stays on the track. Three of the songs

that Phat is featured on, Boosie delivered to uswith his verse already on there.]

But you dont have a problem with Lil Phathimself though, right?I aint got no problem with lil buddy, theyaint gangsta no way. My thing is, I turn analbum in and you put him on all those songslike that. This is myalbum. They know if theycalled and asked me [if they could add him],Ima say, Shit no! So dont do no shit like put

him on ve songs. You dont do that to me likethat. You got me having listening sessions forpeople and Im having to explain my CD?

The rest of this interview is featured in the cur-rent issue of OZONE.


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P

I

angWords by Ms. RivercityPhotos by Colourful Money

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ORLAnDO-BASeD RAppeR pI BAnGGOt tHe StReetS (AnD tRApS) OFCentRAL FLORIDA jUmpIn WItH HISneW zAytOven-pRODUCeD SInGLe,tRAp keep jUmpIn.

Whats your story? How did you end up becom-ing a rapper?Ive been rappin since like 01. I rst started bycalling the radio station with a dude Copafeel,yall probably know him as Malik. He was on anunderground station and I used to call in andfreestyle. He ended up giving me my own showand everybody liked what I was talkin about. Icame out dissin everbody and shit. Id be like,Fuck so-and-so, fuck Smilez and Southstar. I gotmy name buzzin in the city. I got good at [rappin]

but I just didnt have the right record. Now I got ahit record.

Why were you dissing everybody? Did you re-ally feel that way or was it just a way to get on?I half felt that way, and I wanted to make a namefor the O cause wasnt nobody doing it. I wantedto be the rst person to do it. I was like, fuck ev-erybody else. If I gotta push everyone else downto do it, then thats what Ima do.

You said you have a hit record now. Lets talkabout the Trap Keep Jumpin song that Zay-toven produced. How did you link up with him?I hit him on Myspace. I had just got out of jail afew months before that, last October, and whenI got out the rst thing on my mind was comingup with a record and getting on the radio. I hitZay and his people hit me back and sent mesome records. The night I recorded it I went to doa show with Dawgman at Destiny. I performedthat song and when Disco J.R. heard it,he was like,

thats it. I started pushin it, it got hot, and I did thevideo.

You mentioned Disco J.R. and Dawgman. Whoare some other people in Orlando that supportyou and your music?Greg G and DJ Prostyle, denitely. Hes spinninthe record on his mixshow on 95.3. D-Strongmesses with me a little bit. The whole Disco andthe City Boyz. Everybody messes with me excepta few DJs. My song is getting played in almost

every club every night.

So youve been rapping for about 8 years now.Is it what you expected it would be in the begin-ning when you rst started?Hell naw. When I rst started, I thought if youwas hot you would just get on, like if somebodysees you hot then they sign yo ass. But the gamedone changed so bad, you gotta invest a certainamount of money to even have your name

known. Otherwise you gon waste your time. Yougotta put some money in. You gotta have a seri-ous marketing game, you gotta have mixtapes,you gotta buy beats from producers. Its nothinlike I thought it was gonna be. Its more of achallenge.

Are you with an indie label? What kind of teamdo you have behind you?My team consists of me, really. I got my ownlabel. I played around with a couple artist overthe years, but aint nobody stickin out. They ainttryin to do what Im tryin to do. They aint tryinto grind and pass they own CDs out, holla atthe DJs, get on the internet. I just try to stick tomyself and do my own thing.

Within those 8 years of you rapping, what

projects or other songs had you put out?I did a lot of big shows. I opened for a lot of artists Boosie, Plies, Juvenile, Gucci Mane, OJ da Juice-man. I was actually throwing my own concertsand doing teen nights. Thats how I really stayedrelevant. The last mixtape I put out was in late2006 with White Boi Pizal. That did real goodand thats when my name really startin ringin.I had good records, but never really had a hitsong, so what kept my name relevant was showsand mixtapes. I got a mixtape coming out this

month. Its really more like an album cause its alloriginal beats, but its gonna be put together likea mixtape. Me and Sho Boy got a record comingout too called Paper Chase. We tryin to showeach other love. We both kinda got a name in theO and got people behind us, so were trying toput a movement together.

Are you performing during Florida Classic?Ima be at Dawgmans Car Show.

What keeps you motivated to make music?Im trying to turn a negative into a positive. Icome from the street and aint nothin good outthere. The money is good, but it ends up nega-tive. If you put work into your music, shit will startlookin good. Right now Im getting paid to do acouple shows and features. Im just tryin to getout the street. Im tryin to speak for the city of Or-lando. We gotta support each other. I aint tryinto toot my own horn, but Ive got the hottestrecord outta Orlando in a long time. If everybody

supports that, then we can move a little faster. Ifsomebody else had a hit record, I would do thesame thing. If it woulda been Drop, Sho Boy, WesFif, any of these dudes, I would support. If some-body asks whos the hottest in Orlando, Im notgonna say myself, but I have a hot record. Thatsthe problem with Orlando, everybody wannabe a rapper, even the DJs wanna be a rapper. Weneed to show support for each other.


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WeFif

Words by Ms. Rivercity

Photo by Sertified Photography

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WeS FIF HAS Been BUSy SInCe tHeLASt tIme He SpOke WItH OzOne. HeSBeen ALL OveR tHe BLOGS WItH neWvIDeOS, COntROveRSy WItH tHe CItyOF ORLAnDO, AnD A qUeStIOnABLepHOtO WItH keySHIA COLeS mOm

FRAnkIe. tHey SAy tImInG IS eveRy-tHInG, AnD In tHIS CASe, It WAS tHepeRFeCt OppORtUnIty FOR FIF tODROp HIS neW SInGLe GOIn In.

Hows life with no hair treating you since youcut o the braids?Life with no hair is good. I dont get too manyof them funny looks like I used to get. I guess Iused to look like a hoodlum or somethin. NowI look handsome and shit.

I see the new song Goin In is doing well. Isthat your ocial single?Yeah, despite all the other singles Ive putout, thats probably my rst ocial single thatwere pulling out all the stops on. I look at allthe other singles as buzz singles. This is therst one were putting everything behind. Imabout to go up to Power 95.3 with DJ Prostyleon his mixshow for the world premiere. Heholds down everything I do, as far as Orlandoradio goes.

Whats your label situation looking like? Tellme about the team that holds you down.I started my label Street Smart Music earlierthis year. Ive got my management team NickLove and Dinero Jones out of Atlanta, andmy partna Leon Bailey in Orlando, who alsoruns WordOfSouth.com. I got a publicist outof Houston named Sharelle Renee. Thats my

core team. Im pretty much hands-on witheverything. Between us ve, we get everythingdone like email blasts and viral promotions.

What happened with Clientell Music? Areyou still working with them?Thats family right there. Dawgman is alwaysgonna be a mentor to me. We still break breadtogether, but as far as the paperwork situation,as far as me being an artist with Clientell, mytime with that ended last November. They still

doing their thing. They got a few artists andDawgman still got the party shit on lock.

You travel back and forth between Orlandoand Atlanta. How does that inuence yoursound or aect your business moves?In Atlanta, theyve been on top for so longtheyve got it gured out. It enables meto move more professionally when Im inOrlando. A lot of people in Orlando havent

got the opportunity to go outside of thecity and see how shit operates elsewhere. Asfar as the music, its dierent, but it aint toomuch dierent. Going to Atlanta enables meto get in touch with [producers like] CNoteand JUSTICE League and all that. The level ofproduction in Atlanta is top notch. That allows

me to sound dierent and makes my qualitybetter. Its more crisp and it hits harder.

We havent had a chance to talk to you aboutwhat happened with the Get It In Orlandovideo. The media came down on you prettyhard.That was really just the media being media.I think they were bored as fuck that day. Thewhole purpose of the song was saying thatOrlando is basically like anywhere else. Shit

goes on here just like anywhere else. At onepoint in the song I said, You better watchthe news before you leave your hotel room.Somehow they got the idea that I was threat-ening terrorism and put shit on the news likeve days in a row. The FDLE had opened upa case on me. At the end of the day it was amisunderstanding on their part. We actuallyreached out to them to come kick it with us,ride through the hood or whatever and do aninterview, of course they declined.

I see you on a Twitter a lot and youve alwayshad a pretty heavy internet presence. Howimportant is that, in addition to being out inthe streets?People dont really understand, but theinternet for me is like a shortcut. It doesntcost you as much. My last mixtape got 6,000downloads and it didnt cost me shit toupload it and throw the link out, versus press-ing up 6,000 CDs. I tell niggas all the time,

you need to nd somebody whos good withthat shit, or take the time to learn about it.Its cost eective. Nowadays you either haveto have spins or have the internet on smash.You can spend 30 or 40 stacks for spins, oryou can spend $1,000 for a laptop and get theinternet.

What else do you have going on that thepeople should know about?I got two mixtapes in the streets Just Watch

Me with DJ Spinatik, and I got my groupmixtape called Public Enemies with my partnasHoodlum and Ill Essence. Goin In is the o-cial single. I got the Im Tellin Ya video comin.We aint lettin up. If you see me in Orlando,Miami, Atlanta, wherever, when you see mefuck wit me. Im a good nigga most the time,as long as you dont catch me in a bad mood.(laughs) Follow me on Twitter.com/WesFif.


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FLORIDAMUSCLE

Words by Eric Perrin

Photo by Terrence Tyson

14 | OZONE14 | OZONE

BoneDawgman

MightyMike


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WHetHeR He AnD HIS CLIenteLL FAm-ILy ARe DOnAtInG 1,000 tURkeyS FORtHAnkSGIvInG OR ORCHeStRAtInGtHe SOme OF tHe HOtteSt eventSIn CentRAL FLORIDA, DAWGmAn IStHe emBODIment OF tHe FLORIDA

mUSCLe mOvement. tHIS mULtI-FAC-eteD ORLAnDO ICOn DeCLAReS tHeFLORIDA CLASSIC AS HIS DOmAIn, AnDHe DAReS AnyOne WHO DenIeS tHISCLAIm tO COme FORWARD.

What is Florida Muscle in your denition?To be honest, Florida Muscle is us just doingsome shit from the heart and basically givinit 100 and putting the game in a chokehold.

Florida Muscle is a spino of Florida PowerOZONE did a Florida Power issue a while ago,and I was on that [cover] with DJ Khaled, but alotta mufuckas aint authorized right now, sowe changed it to Florida Muscle. Its basicallythe same thing with how a lotta little bullshitass magazines tryin yallbut they aint gotthat Florida Muscle, so they cant fuck wityall. So basically, were just re-dening FloridaPower, because we are the creators. Print this:Dawgman Entertainment is the new Orlando.

I got 90.9 backing me a hundred percent, I gotsome Taliban niggas thats backing me up ahundred percent, I gotta couple of banks thatsbacking me up a hundred percent, and I gotOZONE backing me up a hundred percent. Imstraight. With Florida Muscle we went and gotthe niggas that were making the most buzzwhich was Mighty Mike, Bone, and Dirty G.Dirty G missed his plane so he couldnt be hereat the photo shoot, but were just gon rep forhim in ink.

What does the Florida Classic mean to you?The Florida Classic? We are the Florida Classic.Next question.

(laughs) Okay, can you elaborate a little sopeople from out of town can get a betterunderstanding?We is the Florida Classic, we do this. But shoutsout to Frontline, them the only niggas that Ifeel put in work for the Florida Classic. The rest

of these niggas, Ill give em an A for trying, butthats about it. Ill share the Florida Classic withFrontline, because they showed me a lotta lit-tle shit and I showed them a lotta little shit. Wedo the teen parties at 360. We got Club Destinyfor the grown and sexy, we got DJ Nasty onSaturday, hes bringing the whole Live from the305 and I got all my niggas coming from theA, then on Sunday we got over 10,000 peopleat the riding big car showits just too many

names on that roster to list. But theyll seethe ads. Weve got the ocial afterparty thatwere doing with OZONE for everything thats

going down on Friday and Saturday at ClubKoha, and the ocial after party for the RidingBig Car Show at Icons. Were just trying to beblessed, man, and we gon bless the hood bydoing a turkey drive for Thanksgiving. Weregiving away 1,000 turkeys!

You have a good reputation around Orlandoand do a lot for the city, but why is thattraditionally, most promoters are looked asshady individuals?

Because promoters are putting their moneyand their reputation on the line by bringingartists and events to the city and if one smallthing goes wrong the people hold you to it,and think youre trying to be shady. And ithappens to best of us [promoters], like whenShawty Lo got sick and aint show up to ourshit, it looked bad on us. Its the promotersthat hold on to that type of shit. But I dontthink promoters try to do it on purpose. Tomake a long story short, we were the rst todo this type of big shit for the Classic, and weeven got a movie coming out called RidinBig: The Movie.

I know you always have a lot going on, soaside from the Florida Classic events, whatare you working on?Right now at DME were looking for talent. Welooking for producers, we got the studio, wedo CD and DVD duplication, we got a promo-tional company, and were doing a big dancecompetition called Whos Got It, and thatsgoing to be on January 16th at the arena, itsgon be big. Look out for the SEMA (SoutheastMusic Awards) Show, thats coming up. Andwe got our own eet of DJs called ClientellParty Starters Reloaded.

Damn, so youve been pretty busy.Were just trying to get money. Wachovia,Suntrust, and Bank of America; those are mysponsors. But I just want people to know thatIm a sincere cat that loves to give back to thecommunity. We know we cant save the world,but we do give back.

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DADe COUnty BORn BOne HAS BeenASkInG tHe WORLD tO LISten tOHIm FOR yeARS, AnD nOW HeS DOneASkInG. ItS tIme tO kICk DOWn tHe

DOOR AnD tAke WHAtS HIS.Why is the Florida Classic important to yourmusic?The Florida Classic represents a very bigmarket and it only happens once a year. I thinkevery artist thats trying to get their music outneeds to attend that and do a lot of promo.People are coming from all over just to attendthe FAMU-Bethune Cookman classic and beingthat its in the middle of Florida, its easier forpeople from all parts of the state to attend.

Do think Florida artists are nally getting thenational recognition they deserve?Florida has been slept on for a long time. Itsnot like we just started it, we were just slepton for a long time. Now, we renally gettingrecognized, but what we just gotta do is usewhat we got to actually get further, becausereally, we still aint getting the respect the statedeserves. We just gotta really get our respect

o the muscle; thats why we named the mix-tape Florida Muscle.

Talk about the bats and the all-black youguys are wearing. You dont think thats alittle intimidating for the Florida Classic?Well, black has always been perceived as anegative color, unfortunately. But thats notalways the case. Everybody wearing blackcould also signify unity. We couldve all wornsomething dierent on the cover, but that

wouldnt catch your eye. If a bunch of peoplewalk in with all black on, its like, Damn. Itmakes you wanna know whats going on. Its astatement that were trying to make, a strongstatementwere here, its Florida Muscle.

Okay, so when people see the black andwonder whats going on with you specically,what do you want them to know?I just want everybody to know that everythingI say is real. Im not just all about being in the

club, or all about being the block, but I donebeen on the block, and I done been in theclub, so you gon hear some of those songs. Ialso had a lot of pain. I had a lot of joy and alot of happiness, so you gon hear all that in mymusic. I dont want people to just assume thatIm this or that, because really you gotta listen

to it for what it is. I dont want people to auto-matically label me negative, because Im notnegative like that. I done did a lot of negativethings, but who didnt? I want people to look

at me for what Im doing now, and how far Idone came from that.

Howd you get involved in the Florida Musclemovement?Im from Dade County and all of us are fromdierent places and were doing our ownindividual thing, cause were all bosses. Wewere all making noise individually, and we allknew of each other and had respect for eachother. It ended up that we would always be

in the same place together doing shows, soeventually we started talking about forming apowerhouse group, and thats what were do-ing right now. Believe me, if you aint got themix CD Streets Most Wanted, make sure youget that because its serious. Its killin em.

How has Dade County sculpted your music?Thats where Im from and I love it. Its rough,but its also fun. A lot of people think you cantgo down there because its so bad, because

they see The First 48, and whatnot, but if yougo down there to party and have fun, youregonna have fun. If you go down there to be ina dierent realm though, yeah, you gon getcaught up. As far as Miami relating to my aurain terms of the music, I dont want to be tootied in to nothing. Im not trying to be labeledas somebody who tries to follow the trend. Idont want to do the same music as every-body else. Im not trying to get caught in abox, I believe its all about being yourself, and

thats what Im doing.

Finally, tell us in your words exactly whatFlorida Muscle is.Florida Muscle is this: When you get tired ofasking for so long, and not being answered,then you get to the point where you just gottago ahead and get it yourself. It aint no asking.We done been asking, we done been trying,now we kicking the door in. We was trying totell yall we was hear, and yall wasnt listening,

so now we aint asking for it no more. Wetaking it.

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SOmetImeS LOOkS CAn Be DeCeIvInG;mOSt OF tHe tIme tHey ARent. InmIGHty mIkeS CASe, HIS AppeARAnCeIS RIGHt On. HIS ImAGe pORtRAyS tHeexACt SketCH OF WHAt He WAntS HISLIFe AnD mUSIC tO COntAIn: mUSCLe.

mORe SpeCIFICALLy, FLORIDA mUSCLe.

What does the Florida Classic mean to youand how does it pertain to your movement?First of all, Orlando is like my second home.My familys down there and Clientell. Ive beenfuckin wit Dawgman forever; and the Classicis like one of our pressure points when youretrying to takeover Florida. Youve got Orlando,you got Tampa, you got Miami, Jacksonville,Tallahasseebasically any city that has a big

event, and the Florida Classic is huge. Wevebeen grinding, putting up posters and moveCDs in Orlando forever. During the Classictheres gonna be like 2 million people downthere so we really gotta step it up.

What do you want people who are comingto visit Orlando just for the Classic to knowabout Mighty Mike?I just want them to know strictly that I grind.If they dont know nothing else, know that

I grind and respect the grind if you dontrespect nothing else. I got yers everywhere,street team everywhere, and when they seethat they gon know that Mighty Mike is in thestreets. Mighty Mike is everywhere.

How have you been able to build your buzz?Recently it seems youve been building a lotof momentum.It aint no play-play about my music. I hookedup with my cousin BloodRaw, BRE Entertain-

ment, and I represent that shit, I represent theCTE shitIm well connected. Everybody whoknows my grind knows that Im a real cat, andthats made people start talkin about my mu-sic. Right now we really buzzing in the streetsand if you aint got that Streets Most Wantedmixtape with me and my cousin Bloodrawyoure missin out on a raw ass CD.

Aside from the mixtape, what other projectshave you been working on?

Ive been doing a lot of tracks with a lot of ma-jor artists; I did a track with Pastor Troy calledKill Em Dead, talking about snitches andstu. I done did a song with Lil Boosie talkinabout that re-re. I did a song with Brisco,

and some of everybody, so basically Im outhere. Niggas know me from the streets, niggasknow me from the industry, niggas know me

from everywhere.

I know youve been doing music for aminute, but how exactly did you get startedin rap?I really dont rap, I just tell you what I did inlife. But basically, me and my cousin Bloodrawstarted this shit when we got outta prison. Igotta outta prison before him so I started theNFL Riders. Then he got outa prison after meand our dream was always to do somethingto get up out the hood and do better for our-selves and our family. We had a song togetherwith Lil Jon, but then [Bloodraw] caught onand I started helping him out, and then Jeezyand Kinky B came and sat down with us oneday at the Superbowl in Jacksonville and itjust kept going from there. This shit just donthappen overnight, you gotta be persistent. Ifyou aint persistent you aint nna get itandIm a persistent cat. If you go to the library mymusic would be over there with the real shit,like the Malcolm X type shit. I aint over therewit Snow White and all that shit. My music isgon touch people.

How did going to prison at the age of 15aect your outlook on life, and how is thatexpressed in your music?When I went to prison at 15 it was a crazyexperience, but I never let shit like that bringme down. I took it and made the best out ofit. I caught 15 years and prison made me read,play a little chess, and taught me how to goin the law library and represent myself. I hadto go learn the law myself to bring that shitback to they ass and get back out, because if Ididnt, I would still be trapped up in that bitch.I ended up only doing 3 and a half years andthen they found out that they over-sentencedme, but thats what they were doing to young-black males. Clarence Foster was the Judgethat was sending niggas over the guidelines.He was fuckin us and if you didnt know noth-ing about the law you woulda been stuck upin there.

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a

sh

hrisWords by Ms Rivercity

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CASH CHRIS IS A neW nAme WItH mAy-BACH mUSIC. nOW ReSIDInG In ORLAn-DO, CHRIS IS ORIGInALLy FROm SOUtHFLORIDA BUt ReLOCAteD tO CentRALFLORIDA tO WORk On HIS CRAFt. Be-InG In A CentRALIzeD LOCAtIOn, In

A CIty tHAt BRInGS OUt tHe mAjORFIGUReS, CHRIS mUSIC eventUALLyFOUnD ItS WAy IntO tHe HAnDS OFtHe RIGHt COSIGneRS. tHROUGH DjnASty, CHRIS WAS GIven tHe OppOR-tUnIty tO SHOWCASe HIS tALentSOn-AIR AnD At vARIOUS nIGHtCLUBS,BUILDInG A nAme WORtHy OF tHemAyBACH mUSIC StAmp OF AppROvAL.

How did you build a name for yourself inOrlando?Im originally from Palm Beach, and I moved toOrlando in 2000. My homeboy had moved uphere and he had met this producer from Miaminamed Da Deacon. Me and him started mak-ing music. We had a group for a couple years,then I wanted to move on to my solo project.In 2007, I met Spi TV. At the time he was anA&R for DJ Nasty and the Nasty Beatmakersand he eventually introduced me [to them].

DJ Nasty started putting me on the 5 OclockTrac Jam and I would perform at his parties. Istarted getting a lot of attention from that.

When did the situation with Maybach Musiccome about?Rick Ross came down for one of DJ Nastys par-ties, and Spi TV was working closely with RickRoss. He had me come to the radio station andI met Ross; then I saw him at the studio withKhaled, Fat Joe, and The Inkredibles. We talked

after that and Ross did a feature for my songthat was produced by OZ n Da Deacon. Afterthat, he was hearing more and more of mymusic, and on March 15th, they aired a videoon WorldHipHop saying I was signed. I didnteven know. A month later they put down thecontract and the rest is history.

You have the Due Bag video out withRick Ross. What are some other songs youreknown for?

If you listen to Due Bag, youll hear a lotof shout outs. Its kinda like my welcome toMaybach Music song. Prior to that, Rick Rosswas featured on two of my other songs: I LikeDat was the rst one, and Put Em On Me hasRick Ross doing the hook. It was produced byNatural Disaster.

Besides Ross, who are some other Maybach

Music artists youve collaborated with?Ive done a song with Magazeen, hes a reggaeartist on Maybach Music. It was produced byThe Inkredibles. Im currently working on asong with Masspike Miles, an R&B singer onMaybach Music. And I did the song with TripleCs.

Are you putting out any mixtape projects?Im working on a mixtape right now calledEverybody Hates Chris. I got one out right nowon DatPi called Dirty Sexy Moneyhosted byDJ Slique of Block Movaz.

Why are you calling your new tape Every-body Hates Chris?Im not from Orlando, and I felt like in a lot ofsituations I wasnt shown love because Im notfrom a certain area. But you gotta keep goingon anyway and not let that be a problem.And I call it Everybody Hates Chris because itscatchy. Everybodys gonna pay more attentionto it. All I have to do is deliver the music.

Its interesting that youre from South Flori-da, and after you moved to Central Florida,that led to you signing to a label based inSouth Florida.Yeah, thats crazy. Thats the thing aboutOrlando, being a tourist spot and a centralpart of Florida, I felt that if I could startedgettin heard here, because theres so manytourists, my music could be taken so manyother places. A lot of people from Jacksonville,Miami, Tallahassee come in and out of the city.And weve got a lot of schools and universitieshere.

What else should people know about youand your story?Ive been doin this for a while. This is authen-tic music, this isnt a guy livin somebody elsesdream. I did this. When you hear the raps, thisis actually my life. I done did those crimes,anything I did you can look up in public re-cords. Im not rappin things I dont really knowabout. This is authentic street music. Its notcoming from a guy that was from the suburbs,Im from a hood. I have a mother addicted todrugs and Ive never seen my father, so mymusic comes from a whole dierent place.


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hooyWords by Ms. Rivercity

Photo by Wrap Giants

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An ORAnGe COUnty nAtIve, SHO BOytAkeS pRIDe In RepReSentInG FORHIS CIty. He GAIneD LOCAL SUppORttHROUGH Dj nASty FOR HIS SOnG SIpSLOW WHICH Went On tO COLLeCtOveR 100 RADIO SpInS. SInCe tHen He

AnD HIS InDepenDent LABeL HAveCOntInUeD pUttInG Up nUmBeRSAnD ARe nOW FOCUSeD On pRODUC-InG A mOvIe AnD BOOk FOR tHeUpCOmInG yeAR.

Tell us about your background and how youcame up in your rap career.Im still coming up and catching a buzz rightnow. I started writing in 2007, but youre not

a rapper until you get the deal. My grind hasbeen impeccable, doing hand-to-hand sales.I met DJ Nasty and was able to establish agood cosign. I got over 100 spins on ClearChannel 102 Jamz. With my Haitian decent, Iwas already doing shows in Haiti. That was allwithin 12 months.

What was the song that got you all thosespins?It was a song called Sip Slow produced by Da-

vid Breed. He went on to do production for LilBoosie, Anthony Hamilton, and Young Jeezy.Were all on the come up and its a blessing hedid the track. It also got me on the corner storeand street mixtapes that DJ Khaled does. Itwas a good look for me.

What did you move on to after that? Whatcame next for you?I did records, like DJ drops, for DJ D-Strong,Chino, and other guys that were coming up at

the time. It kept me on the radio and kept mepoppin on air. Soon after I caught a buzz, get-ting on every central Florida rappers featuresand whatnot.

What made you want to start doing music inthe rst place?I think money is the biggest motivation on theface of this earth. Everyone moves for money,and nobody moves without money. But backin high school, I started o with my homie Big

Rob making beats rst. We had our own littlestudio and it was kinda cool. Then I startedgetting in the freestyle ciphers and freestylingover beats and started getting recognition.When I heard girls reciting the words, thatswhen I kinda knew what was good. What reallygot me into it, was when I was in the cafeteriaand I got $5 for one of my tapes. I went home,dubbed two more, came back, and made $10more. It was on and poppin ever since.

Being from Orlando, who would you say arethe pioneers in your citys music scene?I got to give my #1 shout out to Preacher.Other than that, Id like to say that Im thefuture and I will be a forefather of Orlando rap.

A lot of people migrate to the city, so most ofthe rappers that have made it out of Orlandoarent really from here. I feel like Im one of therepresentatives of Orlando as a forefather.

Whats the signicance behind your rapname? Where did it come from?Being Haitian, sho in Creole means hot.When I was younger, and still to this day, Ima hot boy so thats why people called meSho Boy. Some people think it has to do with

me performing, so I guess that could be themeaning too.

Are you with a label?My independent label is called Swamp House.Im backed up by big homie Kizzo. Were doingpretty good numbers. We do move more indiesales than any other artist, period, in centralFlorida.

What are some things you guys are working

towards in the near future?Well, right now, Ive been talking to DavidGeen, hes interested, and Warner Brothersis interested in me. Theres a movie situationwere working on. Im also nishing writing abook with my publishing company Norfolk.Were on set and have the screen play of themovie nished already. My goal is to releasethat during the 1st or 2nd quarter. We haventpicked the ocial title yet. I want to call it 100,but of course they want to go with something

more commercial.

What do you have going on for the FloridaClassic?On Friday Im booked at Club 57 West down-town. Im also booked at Dawgmans CarShow.

Is there anything else you want to say?People can always check me out at Myspace.com/TheRealShoBoy. Id also like to say this,

$10k to anybody who can say whos hotterthan Sho Boy at the top of 2010. Ill put up$10k to anybody who does it harder. I got 10mixtapes, 6 videos, the movie, and the book. Iaint braggin, Im just swaggin.


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tHe GRInD IS neveR enDInG FOR DjnASty. In ADDItIOn tO HIm AnD HISBROtHeR Lvm mAkInG Up tHe pRO-DUCeR GROUp nASty BeAtmAkeRS, DjnASty IS ALSO A pROmInent FIGUReOn 102 jAmz, At CLUB ROxy, FIReS-

tOne, AnD SeveRAL OtHeR venUeS.ALOnGSIDe kHALeD, nASty mAnAGeStHe RUnneRS AnD WORkS WItH neWpRODUCtIOn DUO tHe InkReDIBLeS.

What have you been up to lately?I dont even know where to start. As I get deeperinto this music business, Im not just DJing any-more. Im a producer, a manager, and I got myown company. I manage producers and artistsnow. We been working on Khaleds album. Meand my brother from Nasty Beatmakers did somework on Ace Hoods album. We did a beat withAce featuring Ludacris that we shot a video fora couple months ago. Weve been working withWeezy for his Rebirth album. Me and Khaledmanage The Runners so weve been working withUsher, Mario, Jeezy, Lloyd, Wayne, you name it.Ive also got my producers in VA, The Inkredibles.Me and Khaled got em on the Jay-Z album featur-ing Young Jeezy.

Whats your radio schedule look like?You can catch me on 102 Jamz at 5 Oclock. Alsocatch me on Saturday night from 10 to 12 duringthe Classic. DJ Nasty and DJ Khaled are takingover the radio heavy. You can also catch me inthe clubs. I just got back from Europe with RickRoss. We did 5 shows in Germany and we also hitLondon. Its non-stop. They dont call us We TheBest for nothin.

Who discovered The Inkredibles?My partner in crime, Spi TV. He discovered themon Myspace. He would play me their beats all thetime, and I would be busy with all types of otherstu. Id hear it and be like, Oh, thats alright, itneeds a little work. He would keep playing mestu as they were advancing. One day it caughtmy attention. I was like, Damn, who is that youplaying? They sounded dope. We set up a meet-ing and brought them down. Then it was on.

Being a producer yourself and being hands-onwith music, how does that help you with themanagement and business side of things?When it comes to music, theres unlimitedresources out there when it comes to puttingthese albums together. Theres a million produc-ers, but only the cream of the crop is getting onthese projects nowadays. With me being handson, I like to get on the project as much as I can.

When it comes to producers I looked up to, likeTimbaland, Neptunes, The Runners, and nowThe Inkredibles, those dudes are on anotherlevel. They do pop, R&B, rock, you name it. I takemy hats o to them. They drop bangers left andright; I get in where I t in.

What are your plans for Classic weekend?Its goin down in a major way. On Friday weredoin Phat Friday at Roxy with Frontline Promo-tions. Saturday night we got The Classic Festat Firestone We The Best and Friends with DJKhaled, Ace Hood, Red Rum, The Runners, TheInkredibles. Its the family. Sunday Ima be at theSunday Night Shut Down at Firestone Live. I gotthe home team there Disco and The City Boyz,DJ D-Strong, DJ Chino, Young City.

Is there anything else you want to tell thepeople?Stay tuned for the new Rick Ross album TeonDon. Were gonna be on there heavy. Stay tunedfor the Lil Wayne album. Hopefully its droppingthis year. Im hearing a December date. We got alot of greats on that album. Ludacris is droppinreal soon Battle of Both Sexes. Check me out inthe streets heavy. If Im not in Orlando, I mightbe in a country near you. Follow me on Twitter.com/DJNasty102 and Myspace.com/DJNasty.

DJ NASTY

A-22 // OZONE MAG

Words by Ms Rivercity

22 | OzOne


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Ozone Mag Florida Classic 2009 special edition

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