Artist/Group Name: Sean Price Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Brooklyn, NY Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): My whole Duck Down Record’s crew…Boot Camp Clik, Buckshot, Smif N Wessun, Rock (Heltah Skeltah), Ruste Juxx, O.G.C. Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): My Mother. She owned a record store, worked in a record store. Artist wise Jimmy Castor, Funky Bunch, James Brown, Barry White, Kook G Rap. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) Being a fan, taping the radio, listening to the radio, Red Alert, Marly Marl, Babito, Teddy Ted, Special K. I didn’t know I wanted to rap till I met Rock. From then on I knew this is what I wanted in my life. Hip Hop definitely saved my life. If I wasn’t rapping, who knows what I’d be doing. I’d most likely be standing on the corner of some block doing shit I wasn’t supposed to be doing. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) The album is Jesus Price Supastar out January 30th. I named it that cuz of the Bible, in the Bible it said Jesus went through the slums and spread the word, the word is God. Im going through the hood and Jesus Price, which is me, is going through the hood spreading the word and the word is real hip hop. I did most of the recording down south. I didn’t smoke like I wanted to cuz the Justus League studio is connected to a church. I study Islam, but I’m not trying to disrespect anybody’s church. I also did a photoshoot inside a Church and people were inside praying during the photoshoot. I had one person come up to me and asked me to recite a prayer. So I babbled some verse off and told the woman to bless the God! LOL People can expect a much more intense Sean Price from my second album, but understand the album is fire. People need Sean Price in their lives. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I don’t really know. That is for the people to decide. I hope when the album drops people go crazy and cop that shit. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Nah. I think if Nas would had heard Monkey Barz he wouldn’t have said that. I don’t think he listened to Monkey Barz. Someone should tell Son to cop that shit. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): I would bring my Mom back. I would bring Pun back so we could do an album Then with my third wish I would wish for 100 more wishes and on my 100th wish I would wile the fuck out! THE SAVIOR WILL BE RECOGNIZED JANUARY 30th.

Artist/Group Name : Buckshot of Black Moon Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Brooklyn, NY Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): The Co-Owner of Duck Down Records and lead MC for the mighty Boot Camp Clik (Buckshot, Smif N Wessun, Sean Price, Heltah Skeltah, O.G.C.). Also a member of the legendary rap group, Black Moon, known for their classic LP, Enta Da Stage. Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): Special Ed was a huge inspiration for me. Actually the first time I heard Special Ed on the mic, I knew I wanted to become an MC. I was like I NEED to get on stage and do what he’s doing. What’s crazy is I got to eventually do a track with Special Ed and Masta Ace when we collaborated to do the Crooklyn Dodger’s theme song. Spike Lee reached out to me as a fan and that was a special collaboration for me. KRS One was another huge inspiration for me as he taught me how to be a true MC on the stage. A lot of rappers have a hit song and can make some noise, but they aren’t SHOW MC’s. They don’t really have the craft of Mastering the Ceremony of what real Hip Hop is. I learned how to become a SHOW MC by watching KRS One. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I was an intern at first and then actually it was 5ft who brought me into Black Moon and from there I got up with Nervous Records and the rest is history. I met Dru Ha up at Nervous Records where we things started out more as management. That eventually led to Duck Down Records and our eventually departure from Nervous Records to Priority Records. Priority is where we put on groups like Heltah Skeltah, OGC and our first Boot Camp Clik ablum. Before I came into the game I did a lot of dancing belive it or not. I loved to dance, on some real b-boy, break-dance vibe. I just loved entertaining as a kid and now I get to do it for a living. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) Currently I’m pushing Boot Camp Clik’s new album, The Last Stand, which came out this past summer (July 2006). The album features the entire Great 8 and has some crazy production…Pete Rock is on there, Large Professor, 9th Wonder, Da Beatminerz, Coptic, G-Unit’s Ill Mind and Marco Polo. We named the album The Last Stand cuz we are trying to take a Stand on all the shit going on in Hip Hop. If it’s not Nas calling Hip Hop dead it’s some other bullshit, so as a collective whole we took a STAND. Sean Price is the other major project we are working right now. Son is one of the best MC’s in Hip Hop today. His new album, entitled Jesus Price Supastar hits streets January 30th. He’s got real good production from 9th Wonder and Khrysis from the Justus League. Sean will not disappoint fans following his first solo effort, Monkey Barz (May 2005). We got an artist by the name of Ruste Juxx coming out in 2007 as well. His album Indestructable is going to be a serious hood anthem. As for Buckshot the artist, I’m working with 9th Wonder again for our second release, first one being Chemistry (July 2005). Our second album is gonna be called The Formula. Duck Down is currently looking at expanding in a major way. We are close to signing a deal with rapper KRS One to put out his next album. Now that is Hip Hop!!! We are also looking at Justus League artists, Joe Scudda, Chaundon and Jossie Mo, all of whom have a solid following out of North Carolina. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) A business impact, a strong business impact. Not worried about going platinum. I want every artists in the world signed to Duck Down. Have every artist period. It’s time for people to see what Duck Down Records can do outside our core set of groups. Don’t get me wrong we are gonna continue to make Boot Camp Music, but we’re also looking to be a home for other artists as well. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Hip Hop is not dead. Get the fuck outa here. Especially when u hear Nas say HipHop is dead and it’s crazy that he should flip on New York. It’s dead only to Nas and all the funky fans that support that shit. The marketing campaign is too hypocritical. It’s doing more damage than it’s helping. It’s pushing people like me further and further back cuz I got to fight more and more to push through the murk. Hip Hop now if u watch the videos and listen to the tracks is dudes rapping about money and more money. But that shit ain’t the case. Nas is buggin. Bottomline, he is straight buggin. I heard him on the radio talking the other day about New York Rappers and how shit is dead. So now he’s talking directly at me. Don’t get me wrong Nas is my man and I saw him the other night at the Nike Air Force One event, dude was even the one who brought me up on stage to perform with the likes of Rakim, KRS ONE and Kanye West. In a sense how can Nas speak that shit about Hip Hop and then take the stage with the father of Rap. To combat that slogan that Hip Hop is Dead I would start by first saying Nas is whiling out, like a Jeezy did. To combat that Ima say I got KRS ONE. Hip Hop started before Buckshot, before Nas. If I’m saying ima Hip Hop artist than am I saying Im dead? Jeezy said it, but more people need to say it. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): First and foremost would be to bring Pac back so we could eventually finish the One Nation album. I also think Pac would have taken myself and other Duck Down artists to a new level. We had a serious bond and a good chemistry in the studio. Pac flew us out to his brand new home and we were like family. We recorded closet to 8 tracks with him in a matter of 3 days. One of the best memories of that trip was a huge watergun fight that broke out in Pac’s backyard. Of course it ended up inside his crib, where Dru Ha ends up shooting a water gun all over Pac’s brand new walls. We all laughed, but I think Pac was upset! I’d also change the DJ’s. Hip Hop started with the DJ, so how is it all of a sudden that they don’t allow us to matter. U not talking about that money, I’m not playing u. It’s a style thing. But what is crazy is u got to stay up on a trend. We do a good job of trying to stay ahead of the trends and u got to evolve with the trends. BUT a DJ needs to see your movement and they got to make it more accessible to reach them. In a sense Duck Down tries to stay true to a sound and ahead of its time. It feels like u got to be negative to get a somewhat positive result, so should I start doing that shit. NAH! I’m done with being negative. Buckshot is here now as a voice and I got a lot to say in 2007 and beyond.

Artist/Group Name: Black Milk Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): I’m reppin’ straight out of Detroit City Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): People know me for rolling with SLUM VILLAGE and doing most of the production for their last 2 albums. Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): I’m inspired by a lot of artist in all genres from PRINCE, MARVIN GAYE, D’ANGELO CURTIS MAYFIELD and on the beats I’m inspired by PETE ROCK, DJ PREMIER, and the g.o.a.t J DILLA. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I got in the game by producing beats..the first group I produced for was SLUM VILLAGE, and after that I start jumping on projects like DIRTY DISTRICT VOL. 1 and Vol. 2, showcasing my MC ability, and then eventually put out my solo project SOUND OF THE CITY in the summer of 05 which started my buzz on the underground circuit Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) Right now I’m pushing my new album real hard which is titled POPULAR DEMAND. I named it POPULAR DEMAND just from me having a nice buzz right now as one of the new up coming artist in the game…its dropping on MARCH 13 on FAT BEATS RECORDS. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I’m just trying to be known as one the artist to always put out good music consistently in the game, no matter where I’m at in my career Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Nah, I wouldn’t say its dead, but just focused on one type of hip-hop and one genre…everybody’s using the same formula. I think it’s about to change for the better real soon…hopefully. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): 1. For different types of hip-hop to be exposed to the masses. 2. For the people to start going out and buying records again and supporting good music.3. and for me personally do a song with STEVIE WONDER AND PRINCE…lol!

Artist/Group Name: LIFESAVAS ARE JUMBO THE GARBAGEMAN VURSATYL REV SHINES Reppin’: NORTHEAST PORTLAND aka P-TOWN aka RAZORBLADE CITY (home of the cut throats) Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?) MISFIT MASSIVE and QP Influences HI-TEK, PARLIMENT/FUNKADELIC, good music, epic films and raw comedy Backstory : I (JUMBO) started out carryin records for my dawg MIXMASTA KD, then he taught me how to mix and I started DeeJaying house parties and hole in the wall after hours spots in NE Portland. My man Vurs and I played (basket)ball together and was always talkin bout gettin down on some music, ya know. So, he was working on a song wit my best friend at the time who got shot and killed (Big Red RIP). After that gettin down wit Vurs was destiny, feel me? We been down eversince… I put out a compilation called Bomb Threat that helped give birth to a lotta cats where I’m from. I put that out on our label Misfit Records. We did guerilla marketing until we got heard. I also did some production to get my name out there. Then we was doin shows like we had a record out, like three or four a month seasoning our live show. Then Vurs went on the road doin backround vocals for Blackalicious and I got invited to do merch/roadie/sound assistant….payed dues, ya know. Then Lifesavas got our shot-double duty working and started opening the shows, rippin’ every night. That established our fan base before our record dropped. Current project The current album is GUTTERFLY. The reviews so far say classic hip-hop album. We’ll see what’s really good when it come out. People should expect to get they monies worth, that’s good business. GUTTERFLY is a phrase that my camp been usin since 92′, that’s LIFESAVAS swag, ya dig! The record is influenced by blaxpoitation flicks like the Mack, Coonskin and others ya know. Funny side story- When we were workin on the record the city got hit wit black ice on top of snow and there was no internet in the lab. I needed to download some guitar parts from Vernon Reid of Living Colour fame. I walked ten blocks wit my laptop until I got wifi signalsat a busstop for a hour and down loaded them files. Yo, I had like three pair of sweats/pants, thermals, skully, two hoodies, gloves and Tims freezin’…but I got that song done and it made the record. This hip hop right!? Scream out loud AaaaaaaaaaaaH!!!!!! Purpose Purpose or one of the purposes we do it is, to show cats it’s cool, hot or OK to be yourself dawg. Somebody will relate, somebody will FEEL YOU. Hustle smart, hustle hard… As far as goin platinum, the game changes daily man…I think a hundred thousand is platinum for a independent now. I’ll take that. This goes out to the majors who will bid on LS- we’ll give you hits, but we gone do US. So come with the bread, we already workin the career. Is hip-hop really dead? Where hip hop is…Mos once said "that hip hop ain’t no giant in the hills, we hip hop -you and me." As long as my people decide what’s classic, what’s hot and we not just accepting corporate labels telling you and I what hip hop is we good. We gotta balance it ya’ll. Three wishes 1. Get ten HI-TEK beats!!!!!! 2.Obama for President!!!! 3.GUTTERFLY on your ipod,mp3player, in your whip,in the crib, in the club, computer, mixtapes…etc.

Artist/Group Name: Pigeon John Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Lost Angels Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): LA Symphony and the Quannum crew. Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): Bob Dylan, Q Tip and Bill Cosby Backstory : Pigeon John hails from sunny Southern California, Inglewood to be exact. It’s easy to assume his signature blend of wit, charisma and undeniable stage presence is a fortunate gift (and it is), but let’s be real. Everyone starts somewhere. Pigeon John cut his teeth in the early 90s at the legendary Good Life Café, spitting rhymes on the same stage with then fledgling, now established artists like Freestyle Fellowship, Kurupt, The Pharcyde and Jurassic 5. Good Life open-mic nights became PJ’s ritual. It was the perfect environment to hone his performance and delivery skills amongst discerning peers. Time at the Good Life gave way to time spent at local venues and in the studio with friends like Brainwash Projects and LA Symphony. His appearances on the underground classics, The Rise and Fall of… and Composition #1 from Brainwash Projects and LA Symphony, respectively, put him on the radar as one to watch In 2002, Pigeon John released his solo debut Pigeon John… Is Clueless, selling over 11,000 copies with no distribution. He followed up with Pigeon John… Is Dating Your Sister and Pigeon John… Sings The Blues. The albums garnered significant praise landing him features in Spin’s “Next Big Things” issue, URB‘s “Next 100” and Mic Check in The Source. PJ’s infectious tunes have been used by XBOX for the games “Project Gotham” and “NBA Inside Drive 2002,” as well as the major motion picture “Get Over It.” John has also performed and appeared in print and television ads for both Levi’s and Nestle Crunch. Touring the nation 8 times over, Pigeon John has earned his veteran status, using a clever balance of self-deprecating humor and confidence to rock any crowd, any stage. His boundless energy seduces crowds making ladies swoon and fellas embrace their geek appeal. Enamored by PJ’s infectious energy and raw talent exhibited on the Cali Comm tour, Lyrics Born brought Pigeon John into the Quannum fold in 2005. His Quannum Projects debut Pigeon John… And The Summertime Pool Party (his best album yet!) hit stores September 12, 2006. Current project : I’m promoting my album And The Summertime Pool Party that is out now on Quannum Projects – Representing classic west coast hip hop that has a twinge of humor, a twinge of tragedy and with a backbone (beat) of melodic hip hop. Purpose I’d love to be a legend in some peoples eyes. I’d for my music to help people and for people to look back 20 –30 years and say to themselves “Pigeon John’s run added to hip hop” and I want to own a Lamborghini. Is hip-hop really dead? Hip-hop is not dead, it’s alive and well. It may be lethargic in certain areas (namely the East Coast – the style there for the most part has not changed) but it’s certainly not dead. Hip-hop has been re-focused in new areas outside of where it started (NYC, then West Coast) and is now alive in the South and the Bay area. Those scenes may have certain different sounds that may not appeal to everybody, but it is still hip-hop. I think its time to let different scenes of hip hop shine. When I see kids in high school like 15 and 16 it reminds me that hip hop is not dead. Aske them and they will tell you hip hop that they love is live and well they don’t consider it dead at all. Three wishes 1. I wish that Phife Dog in Tribe Called Quest from when they first started. 2. I wish Fat Lip was lead singer of the Roots. 3. I wish the Beastie Boys would start drinking again.

Artist/Group Name: Aloe Blacc of EMANON (DJExile) Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Los Angeles Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): Stones Throw, EMANON, Do Over Influences (Who inspires you? )Not limited to just hip-hop): Family and friends. Cat Stevens, Nat King Cole, Joni Mitchell, J Dilla, Nas, Blu, Exile, Georgia Anne Muldrow, OH NO, D’Angelo, Ambrosia, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Fela Kuti, DJ Rodgers, Frou Frou, etc. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I started working with Exile in 1995. We made a few mixtapes with some original music on the b-sides and that helped us develop fans. Then a fan offered us money to put out our first 12" and since then we have been releasing EPs and singles on vinyl. We performed all over Southern California and toured Europe in 2005 after we released our debut LP, "The Waiting Room." In 2006 we both released solo efforts on different labels. I signed to Stones Throw and he signed to Sound In Color. My album is called Shine Through and DJ Exile released Dirty Science. This was a big year for both of us. Shine Through was received well internationally and Exile worked with major label acts producing for Mobb Deep and Jurassic 5. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) Right now I am just trying to get the world to hear Shine Through. I am working on a series of music videos for as many songs from the album as possible. I am also going to complete an acoustic version of the album so that people can hear the songs in a different way. I really like to be diverse with the sound and express thoughts in multiple ways because that is really how my life is. There is always something different happening that is exciting so I just want to share that with my fans. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I need to go plantinum. Not for the money, that would be nice, but more for the messages. I have learned over the years that I have something special to offer the world and for me to keep it to myself or try to only share it with a limited few in the indie scene would be a waste. My purpose for music is to help people celebrate life and be positive as well as spread the love. There are so many artists who have no health insurance and it is a shame that when someone gets sick or hurt they don’t have the resources to help themselves. I want to establish an organization that helps subsidize healthcare for artists. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Hip hop is dead as we once knew it. The recent corporate focus on certain types of hip hop has ruined the culture in the commercial media and has brain washed the youth. In a way it helps to make what we do on the indie level stronger and better. I am sure that commercial hip hop will have to change pretty soon because it has eaten itself away like a cancer. When I was coming up, there was a lot of variety and what made an emcee special was how unique he or she was compared to the rest of emcees on the scene. Nowadays it seems like the commercial atists are all the same with the same tired flow and sorry beats. Come check the underground, especially LA. The heat that is coming out of LA is ridiculous but the cats bringing it are too humble to shout it. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): I would bring Dilla back, and if that takes all three wishes then so be it. I would bring Unity events back to LA, and if that means bringing Bigga B back then so be it. I would own a television network to give hip hop proper representation. So be it.

Artist/Group Name: WAX TAILOR Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): NEW YORK / PARIS Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): The Others, Voice, Ursula Rucker, A state of mind, Sharon Jones… Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): So many artists, among them James Brown (R.I.P), John Barry, John Coltrane, Serge Gainsbourg, Billie Holiday, Public Enemy, Native tongue & so much more Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I began in the early 90’ as a rapper and beatmaker in a French crew called La Formule, (The Formula). We produced several records. In 98, I started my own label Lab’oratoire & produced breakbeats vinyls. I also produced a projected called “Breathing Under Water” with Looptroop fromSweden. I began to work as Wax Tailor in 2002. My first WT EP was released in 2004, followed by 2 12’ inches & the album “ Tales of the forgotten melodies”. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) I’ve just ended my new album that will be called “Hope & sorrow”. On this album I got some hot tracks with featuring from soul sista Sharon Jones, Spoken word queen Ursula Rucker, L.A flow diva Voice, my fellows from The Others, the UK crew A State of Mind, & the French singer Charlotte Savary. I’m very proud of this album that keeps this cinematic mood I had on the last album but with more vocal tracks. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I’m coming from the heart of the Hip hop culture, I began break dancing in 83 when I was akid, and listening to hip hop in 86 with UTFO, RUN DMC… I started rapping in 90, began to produce in 92 & all those things I did came through this culture. For this reason even If my project sounds a bit different I feel it’s a hip hop project. My purpose is not to go platinum (although if it comes, so be it !) but I just want to do my own thing to demonstrate that hip hop is large & we got to recreate it each day. Is Hip Hop Dead? I don’t think hip hop is dead. I think HH is like an iceberg. The emerged part is often the one that got no flavour. Of course I got nostalgia from the days of old when everything was fresh but on the other hand I think that HH is more open than it has ever been & that it’s like a kind of phoenix that can bring something new each time people think that it’s the end. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): First wish would be that we could use any sample with no fear or problem to bring back hip hop to the golden years & let us dig in peace Second one would be that 2007 gives us a classic album Last one would be to collab with rappers like Chuck D, Beastie Boys, Rakim or one of those MC’s who made me grow.

Artist/Group Name: Main Flow Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Cincinnati, Ohio Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): MOOD, Wannabattle, 7L & Esoteric Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): Nas, Bob Marley, Nina Simone Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I got in the game by making a demo with my group MOOD and shopping those songs to every Label possible in NY until we got signed to TVT Records. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) I am currently pushing "Flow Season" a cd I did with 7L feat. Cormega, Eso and the Grouch. I named it Flow Season because I felt that it would be my season after the cd dropped. One thing that happend that happend that was kinda funny is when Eso emailed me and said I stole his DJ. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I want to make a lyrical impact by being a dope writter and performer without having to comprimise for the money Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Hip-Hop is definately not dead, there are just more groups now adays that achieve commercial success then there was when I was coming up Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): If I had three wishes I would make the entire world middle class get rid of poverty. I would take Jay Z’s position as President of Def Jam and last but not least get a joint Bank account with Oprah. LOL

Artist/Group Name: Artist: A.E.,Speedy, & Ice Group name: THE A’z Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?) Oakland/Richmond,Ca Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): Ice:We are affiliated through family… WingTeam Gang… Speedy:That’s worldwide by the way. A.E.:that’s us…A’z..if u rep WingTeam u down with THE A’z…and if your down with us…we’re down with you…straight up! Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): A.E.:My self as my worst critic inspires me…but I’d have to say my mom motivates me…so all the aunties,uncles,friends,and co workers that thought she was crazy for letting me conquer this dream,can tell her…shit girl,u knew it. as far as Hip-Hop…I look at THE A’z as a new breed…we want to let all the past achievements in Hip Hop be the past and build a future.also the desire to be the greatest fuels me.us.THE A’z…We bleed each other. Ice: My mom, she rides for me like no other. My Grandfather, who inspires me to be great in life. Musically, The A’z inspire me…if I a crazy verse from A.E. or Speedy it pushes more out of me creatively.we are eachothers favorite rappers. Speedy:My Mom and Dad as well…our parents really held us down when nobody believed in us…we are forever appreciative.as far as artists everybody contributes…THE A’z just got that shit. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) Ice:We been bestfirends since 6-7 years old A.E.:foreal,same elementary,highschool,and we dropped out together. fucked bitches together.and when I said dropped out I meant in the 10th grade…we were gone..hustlin! Ice: That was to pursue this dream full time and those closest to us were fully supportive. Speedy:A.E. was like we can do this shit. I agreed,Ice agreed,we here now! A.E.:before we got signed I’d say we were the biggest underground hype in the bay area and beyond. Due to performances,shows,website hits up to 1.5 million hits a month…A gang of muthafuckas are waiting for us…shit,we are too. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) Speedy:Right now,its all A’z…the album “City Of Gods:They Dreamed Of Being Legends” We put 100,000% of us into this album A.E.:yea that means every word,every addlib,shit…we put our own money into this album…its all about Faith…and we got nothing but Faith. Ice: Great!everybody in the world should own “City Of Gods:They Dreamed Of Being Legends” Its musically in genre of its own and lyrically in a league of its own. Its motivational,its moving,its triumphant,its real,its love,its money… I mean damn…its genious! “City Of Gods:They Dreamed Of Being Legends” TVT Records 2007. A.E.: We named the album “City Of Gods:They Dreamed Of Being Legends”…because we feel we live in a world of worship…and we choose to worship our dream and live for it…and we dream to be legends…that’s the key to immortality…to live for ever is to create history for the present time…its been the dream since day 1! Speedy:We knew it was a classic while we were recording it and if this muthafucka don’t hurry up and drop I might go crazy…the world needs this. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) A.E.: We are going to inspire a generation to be them selves and find complete happieness and confidence in who they are and what makes them who they are…but on the surface its goin be Beatle-mania all over again x’s 10… Ice: like selling out record stores,concerts…even when we fly into cities,they’ll be waiting for us to step off the plane!its WingTeam…and its worldwide Speedy:We are bringing back that rockstar shit…real rock star shit… A.E:and we’re talking dark shades and sagging name brand jeans,and tattoos every where…proving dreams come true. Ice:platinum?…nah…hip hop needs a diamond plaque. Speedy: We’re talking diamond plus worldwide,cuz they get down outside of what we see A.E.:they are just as loyal to this shit across seas,as we are here. Ice:We going to see Michael Jackson numbers. A.E.:yea…his 1980’s numbers. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Ice:Fuck no,-“but if it ever was in danger/make sure u thanks us”-“Dope” (track from the album City Of Gods:They Dreamed of Being Legends) A lot of other older rappers might be a little jaded and unexciting.but we are attracted to older women. A.E.:Lets pretend hip hop is a woman…and few girls have got lucky with her, but a lot of niggas have had their way with her…of course they’ll find it boring, or in a depressed state of mind,dead.but our goal is to let mother hip hop chill and raise her son to be the greatest…that’s that A’z shit.thats us. Speedy:cuz today niggas like doin whut other niggas make hot… A.E.:as if now a nigga got confidence cuz that nigga showed u it was cool. Speedy:so its stale…nothing sounds fresh…though,few are expempt…but in general niggas got to do them…and not look at doin them as taking risks,but more of showing the world themselves…and that’s what we want…the world to know THE A’z. Ice:hip hop is fine…we like it…ya’ll like it,don’t front…but u don’t love it…not like you used to…but guess what…THE A’z got you. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): A.E.:I would defintely want 2Pac and Biggie to see me do my thang…to see what me and my brothers (THE A’z) brought out of something they helped evolve in such a fatherly role…ya know what im sayin? I would definitely make all the beautiful women on the celebrity A-List love my shit,and love me..fuck it,that’s gonna happen anyway…we’ll chalk that one up to “self fulfilling prophecy”… And snap music can go… Ice:I agree wit the Pac and Biggie,cuz id love to see what they think about THE A’z…even though it don’t matter..they rock wit our shit… Kill all the shit that’s polluting Hip Hop…there should be like a clearance…like would snap music pass?its coo when females be on that shit. That’s it. THE A’z would be all there is. Speedy: Yea all that shit. A.E.:did u ask us if there were any last things we wanted to tell the readers ICE:cuz we’d like to say THE A’z are the Greatest Speedy:Period

By: Will “Deshair” Foskey Just waking up in the morning, gotta’ thank God. I don’t know, but today seems kinda’ odd. No barking from the dog; no smog, and Momma cooked us breakfast with no hog. Do you recognize a classic when you read one? Do you recognize an “Icon” when you see one? You should, because you’re now rockin’ with the one of the greatest to ever do it; Ice (place expletive here) Cube. You may know him as one of the original members of the immortal Rap legacy, N.W.A. You just might know Cube as the silver screen giant starring in classics like, “Boyz n’ the Hood”, “Friday”, “Barbershop” and a countless amount of hits in between. Me personally, I know Ice Cube for being one of the founding fathers of Gangsta’ Rap. I know Ice Cube for his dynamic songwriting skills, his signature snarl & his political acumen. I know Ice Cube as you should know him… but if you aren’t as familiar as you should be with West Coast Royalty, this HipHopCrack.com exclusive sit-down will do the trick. With his latest album, “Laugh Now, Cry Later” moving off the shelves, Ice Cube talks about his first week sales, clears up the Oprah drama and speaks on his reasons for going Independent. At what time did you decide that going totally Independent with “Laugh Now, Cry Later” was the best decision for you? Ice Cube: I was just kicking it at home after XXX (State of the Address) came out. At that time, people were just trying to shove movies on me. And I was like, “man, I need to get back in the studio.” I had just did a few records on Lil Jon’s “Crunk Juice” album. He gave me some beats to work on, so I just put everybody off for a week, and basically never came out. I just stayed in the studio knocking out songs to a point that when I looked up, I had 6 to 7 songs completed. My contract had just run out at Capitol. I thought to myself, “Why should I go and take these songs to some record company?” All they are going to do is put me on some conveyor belt. I made that decision to do this album for my fans and not for the ulterior motives that Major labels try to suck you into. From start to finish, how long did it take to complete the album? Ice Cube: I just went on and kept recording for about a year and some change. I’ve completed about 30 songs and narrowed it down to 17. 140,000 plus copies sold in your first week of sales. When you received the final tallies, were you satisfied with the numbers, and if not, what did you originally project? Ice Cube: I was satisfied with the numbers. I really didn’t have any mental projections at all, because I made my mind up that I was doing this for my fans. So I didn’t care about how much it sold. All that I cared about was that the people who bought it, liked it. The shit can sell a million copies in the first week, but if people think the album is garbage, what good is that million sold at the end of the day? After a few years with my music and my movies, I’ve developed an attitude that no matter how you see or hear me, bootleg or whatever, do you like it? Are you still happy with Cube at the end of the day? If there is a disappointment, you are going to spend your time and money elsewhere. That started to become my concern about 7 or 8 years ago. It’s all about the QUALITY. Earlier this year, you were highly publicized by your observations which involve Oprah Winfrey not inviting you on her show. After I did a poll on females who are within the same demographic of her audience, most of them only knew of you as the actor from “Friday”, “Barbershop”, etc. For all they’ve known, the group N.W.A. could have been a wrestling foundation. Do you feel that this is the only case where your past has determined your overall future with the mainstream audience, because of what you’ve pioneered? Ice Cube: Maybe… she (Oprah) is just one person. I don’t know what’s going on in her head. I was on her show back in 1990 as a part of the Boyz n’ the Hood cast. I haven’t been invited, ever since. So maybe something happened back then, but I don’t know what it was. It has to be a personal thing. I mean, it has been in the media a lot, but I’m not really trippin’ over it. I just had to let it be known, because people were saying, I saw your show on Oprah; why weren’t you there? The “Black and White” show, that’s yours right? I thought that was your show, what’s up? I started getting those questions so I had to address it. I had let the “Barbershop” show slide. I figured that Oprah just wanted to pump up Eve and Cedric. But with Black and White, I couldn’t let that one slide. So what you’re saying is that this situation is heavily publicized, but you’re not worrying about it at all. Ice Cube: I would love an answer. I’d love to be on the show. But she doesn’t make or break me. She didn’t put money in my pocket or take money out of my pocket. Looking ahead, how many more songs from the album do you plan on making a single out of? Ice Cube: We’re looking at a few songs. One of them is, “Doin’ What It Pose 2DO.” We’re looking at, “Growing Up.” And we’re also looking at, “Holla @ cha’ Boy.” I’m leaning towards Growing Up, because I believe that it’s a song that the people can get with. I think that if we go in that route, it will be a real creative video and situation because the lyrics take you back into my past. I would hope that it takes off like, “Today was a Good Day,” took off.

Artist/Group Name: Raydar Ellis Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): CT, Boston, NC, ATL, NY Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): Short Bus Alumni, United Crates, The Elite, Vinlyiquists Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): J4DA, The Fundamental, D&S, Marty Macfly, Anjuli Stars, etc. Mostly people I know because I get to see more sides of their art besides shows and releases Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) My earliest brush with the industry was when my friend got me picked up by Lizzie Grubman and took me to Steve Rifkind when Loud was still around. My group didn’t have their thing together so a deal never materialized. I also worked at WNAA 90.1 when Terrence J was still there while I was a student @ NC A&T. I left A&T and did an internship @ Motown in the summer of ’02 (I count the internship cuz they had me WORKING. I never got coffee or ran errands. I was making phone calls, setting up meetings, and collecting W2’s. The REAL shit!). I then went to Berklee College (not school) of Music and did the “Beats for Peace” Tour as part of JHO with Slum Village, Medusa, Cee-Lo, Anwar Superstar, & Pharoah Monch. I spent the rest of my Berklee career performing alongside artists like George Duke, George Porter, Shiela E., & Michelle N’Degeocello. I started as an intern for Brick but left when I recorded the first version of “Late Pass”. I performed around the Northeast with my band, The Fundamental, and hat led us to performing in Denver @ Club NBA for All Star Weekend. Brick signed me after they heard the 1st version of “Late Pass”. Then my album dropped Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) My album is called “Late Pass”. People can expect a variety bag of topics, moods, and styles that are all held together by the theme/story on the record of me needing to get an album into my label (It’s already Late, hence he title). So basically, it’s an album about an album. There is a story for every song on there so for anyone who wants to know…you’re just gonna have to get the record aren’t you? : P I’ll leave you with this about when it came out.. while rehearsing for my instore performance with DJ Wreckineyez I looked in the corner of the room and saw my roommates flute. We joked how we’d have a flute solo in the set but Wreck didn’t really think I would do it. So @ UGHH, on my 1st instore I stopped mid song and had Wreck beat scratch while I sat indian style in front of the crowd and took a flute solo. PS-I can’t play the flute Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I don’t care about the game because it’s a game. I care about trying to find peace and comfort inside of music way more. I care if I’ve left a legacy or inspiration to the people who listen to or have met me. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t want to sell records because I do. I want to sell as many records as possible. Selling isn’t enough to me though. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Hip-Hop isn’t dead. People and their ideas are. There are a lot of ways to look at it but I’ll just break it down into 4 segments for now. This isn’t everybody, but to me it’s a good majority. Labels: Still try to push records instead of molding careers. They look for hits, not a catalogue and try to conform to the entertainment businesses sped up metabolism instead of check and balance it. They don’t control where there product ends up well which helps result in leaks. They blame consumers & P2P sites for the state of the industry Radio Stations: This is to DJ’s especially. We all know about the fact that they play the same songs over and over, but some of us remember when the DJ was the tastemaker and actually broke new artists whether indy or major. If it was dope it got played. Clear Channel came and put handcuffs on the playlist. DJ’s didn’t stand up for themselves because they knew they could lose their jobs. On air personalitys (this goes for television and written publications too) for the most part don’t ask the hard questions and really get into an artists story. They just go through the motions between songs. College radio didn’t realize their true value and started playing what commercial radio was playing which further pushed out the diversity. Everyone is this arena’s excuse is that they are playing what the people want to hear. But it’s easy to say that when you haven’t given people options. Who do radio stations blame? Labels and the consumer. Consumers: This group used to just want to hear the music. Now they want to be A&R’s. Everyone wants to know your first weeks numbers like it’s really going to effect how good the record is artistically. Some of them buy records but a lot more download instead. They don’t realize their value and don’t see that them buying a record is like voting. If their favorite artist doesn’t get enough votes then he’s gonna get dropped. A lot of these folks do or don’t know that there’s something better out there than what they’re spoon fed, but many don’t savor the music anymore because all they have to do is click to get it. Example: Thousands of mp3’s that you downloaded but haven’t listened to yet (except previewing to make sure you got the right song). They care about what’s hot more than what’s quality. They blame the radio for not providing more options and the label for signing crappy acts. Artists: This group acts like a new born baby thinking that they can’t help what’s going on in their own careers. They expect the afformentioned groups to be waiting for them like they’re the second coming of Christ and tend to copy each other instead of going off into their own world. They lost they’re step the minute someone took the “No Biting allowed” sign off the door. This is due to the fact that a lot of them didn’t have to work from the ground up. Many of them just got put on by their famous homie or got picked up because someone who knows someone important said they were hot. This group also cares more about what’s hot and not what’s quality. They blame everybody. So after all this what’s the ultimate thing that keeps not just Hip-Hop but this whole industry in danger? It’s the fact that out of all these groups I mentioned, nobody looks at themselves or sees where they might have went wrong. That’s a danger no matter what business you’re in. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): 1. I wish Graffiti & Breaking were as big as Rap and Djing 2. I wish people would appreciate older Hip-Hop like they appreciate older jazz. 3. I wish there was a more organized & reasonable way to clear samples based on your budget, distribution, and usage.

Artist/Group Name: RAHEEM JAMAL Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): BOSTON MASS Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): PROJECT MOVE/ ELECTRIC / 54th Regiment/ RAYDAR ELLIS/ INSIGHT/ DAGHA/ MOE POPE ANONYMOUS/ M3 Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): My inspiration comes from the daily struggles of life mostly. I see life as potential alchemy. The chance to make something out of nothing , take the negative everyday b.s. and make something beautiful out of it .Thats what I try to do with my music . My creativity is also often inspired by the people closest to me, i.e. All the folks listed above . Also by anyone who is original and not afraid to be themselves.Public enemy /RAKIM / ERIC B / KRS ONE / BDP / PRT / BIG DADDY KANE / KOOL G RAP / RUN DMC / SLICK RICK / DOUG E FRESH / LL COOL J / NWA / WU TANG / NAS / JAY Z / THE ROOTS / COMMON / MOS DEF / KANYE WEST / OUTKAST / THE FUGEES / A TRIBE CALLED QUEST / DE LA SOL / MF DOOM / SOULS OF MISCHIEF / JAY DILLA / DIAMOND D / PETE ROCK / CL SMOOTHE / HEAVY D / SALT N PEPPA / MC LYTE / LAUREN HILL / BIGGIE / PAC / L.O.N.S / DITC / THE JACKSONS / MR WONDER / MARVIN / AMEL / SADE / AL GREEN .. too many to list Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) By being just a dreamer …lol watching yo mtv and rap city … wishing it was me instead of them …Met some kids in Hischool who use to write rhymes and that’s when I started…like yo …i can do this …me and Anon decided shortly after that that we wanted to make music ..from my moms basement in like ’93 to this day we haven’t stopped …and it was only out of the love for the music …we hooked up with our boy Mike El who had some equipment and we just started having freestyle/smoke sessions any free moment we could…just having fun rhyming about whatever was on our mind …after years of that we had compiled so pretty decent recordings and we decided we wanted to get them on cd. So Mike El introduced us Anonymous and I to Inisight…=Insight heard the freestyles and the rest is history as they say …lol …he said he wanted to do a new project and thought we would be dope for it …from that we from the group “Electric”. We met Moe Pope and Dagha thru Insight …we all clicked instantly and then we started on our way … Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) As of right now we are still pushing the Project Move album (love gone wrong/Butterfly theory) and just preparing for the spring release of my Solo project called “BoomBox”on Brick Records , Produced By Raydar Ellis and featuring Project Move and Raydar Ellis . I think people can expect more of that Good shit that they have been missing the last few years …if you are familiar with any of the people I roll with then I think I know what u can expect . More freshness !!! . I got some feel good party jams …some more reflective personal songs …some love songs …a lil something for the ladies … some social political songs … Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I Just hope people can respect what I is im trying to do as an artist …staying true to the art while staying true to myself …in all honesty I could care less about platinum status in this industry …ive realized that being slept on has a certain level isn’t the worst thing in the world … Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Hip Hop is like good verses evil …there are the good guys and there are the bad guys …ill leave that up to you to decide who is who …i think if your willing to look outside the tunnel vision mainstream you will find that Hip Hop is very much alive ,kicking and banging loud !!!…in my humble opinion there is a difference between Hip Hop and Rap… 9 out of 10 songs on the radio and in the tv videos aren’t hip hop…they are Rap …to me hip hop is more organic , grounded with more of a message of substance…i like to consider myself a hip hop artist. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?) : I simply wish she (Hip Hop) would love me and my people as much me and my people love her ….thats all for now …i still got 2 to go .

Artist: D-Tension Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Lowell, MA Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): Los Wunder Twins del Rap aka D-Tension & Effect with DJ Gleek Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): KRS ONE, The Clash, Cat Stevens, De La Soul, Billy Bragg, Run DMC. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label ?): I started producing beats 12 years ago and started to sell them to rappers, which got me more involved in the music scene. At that time I also fronted a live hip hop band The Unforgettables, which opened a lot of doors for me. From there I’ve done many hip hop related jobs from booking agent to journalist, promoter and radio personality. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?): I am finishing up the debut album from Los Wunder Twins del Rap, which will include a DVD with 6 music videos and a full length film. I am also working on my next solo album "Sell Cocaine to the Kids" which is about the pimping of ourselves and our culture with total disregard to the consequences and our future. This is handled in a humerous way and no actual cocaine was sold to any actual children. I’m also in the middle of writing a screenplay for a Wunder Twins movie, which is hilarious. In addition I am directing music videos for bands and hip hop artists. Directing is definetly my next career. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I want people to see that you can do things your own way and have success. The major label formula isn’t really for artists, it’s for rap stars who aren’t very concerned with making art. They want money and will do anything to get it. You do not have to go that route and can still pay your bills. Ask Mr. Lif or Atmosphere. I’ve even cashed a check or two and my music is not exactly for Da Clubs. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Hip hop isn’t dead, but rap music sucks. I had this concept for an album and released it before Nas. However I was careful to distinguish the difference between rap music and hip hop. I didn’t want to disrespect hip hop by saying "hip hop sucks" because it doesn’t suck. Rap music is the problem. I do agree with Nas’s basic thesis but, no, hip hop is not dead. It just has cancer. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): 1. I wish young people understood the history of hip hop. If they did, then half of the crap on the charts right now would not exist. I find it interesting that when a kid takes guitar lessons and wants to be a rock star, he learns what today’s music is all about but he also studies The Beatles, Chuck Berry and Robert Johnson. But most aspiring rappers don’t have any sense of history, tradition or culture. They just want the quick fix and imitate what’s hot right now. Your average 17 year old has no idea what "Criminal Minded" was or what "3 Feet High and Rising" is. They live for the moment and since "the moment" passes and is not timeless they gain very little from their CD collection. They don’t go back and listen to an album that was hot 2 years ago because it’s old and irrelevant. Most of these modern rap records have no staying power where as I can still listen to The White Album or The Low End Theory and still think they’re as great as they ever were. 2. I wish Major Labels would choke on their own vomit. That is slowly happening as technology makes the indie artist more viable. At the same time, if a major wants to give me money to make an interesting album, I’m all ears but I ain’t holding my breath. 3. I wish people would quit doing that stupid arm swing dance while saying "yoyo" when I tell them I rap. I mean, who actually does that

Artist/Group Name : HELL-RAZAH/ SUNZ OF MAN – KILLAH PRIEST, PRODIGAL SUNN, 60 SECOND ASSASAIN. SHABAZZ THA DISCIPLE,AMBASSADOR. Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): RED HOOK .BROOKLYN,NYC Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): GHETTO GOVERNMENT, MACCABEEZ Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): THA TRUE AND LIVING GOD,MY FAMILY, KING SOLOMON, MOSES, DAVID, MESSIAH, MARVIN GAYE, CURTIS MAYFIELD, RICHARD PRYOR, BIG DADDY KANE,KRS-1, RAKIM ALLAH, BRAND NUBIAN, BOB MARLEY,EARTH WIND N FIRE. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I GOT IN THA GAME DOING BLOCK PARTY’S AND JAMS IN RED HOOK IT WAS ONLY A FEW ILL MC’S AND MY OLDER BROTHER WAS ONE OF THEM SO I FORMED A GROUP CALLED LIVE AND DIRECT AND STARTED DOING SHOWS WE PRESSSED UP SOME VINYL INDEPENDENT AND STARTED GRINDING IT WAS ME AMBASSADOR, SHABAZZ THA DISCIPLE AND SUPREME WE WAS THA M.A.D. M.O.B. BACK THEN "BAZZ HOOKED UP WIT RZA AND THE REST WAS HISTORY…. THE GROUP FORMED IN 92 WHILE WE WAS IN THA STUDIO WITH WU-TANG WAITING TO RECORD. I PUT IN WORK FROM SPENDING MY OWN PERSONAL MONEY FOR STUDIO TIME TOO WRITING THA HOOKS AND SONG CONCEPTS EVENING OUT SELLING MY OWN MUSIC. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) THA CURRENT PROJECT IM PUSHING NOW IS "RENAISSANCE CHILD" MY FIRST OFFICIAL SOLO RELEASE…PEOPLE CAN EXPECT A CLASSIC ALBUM THEY DIDNT HEAR IN A WHILE.. FROM BEGINNING TO END IT’S GOOD. THE CONCEPTS THA STORIES,POLITICAL,SPIRITUAL,REAL LIFE, IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO HAVE A REBIRTH OR RENAISSANCE BECAUSE HIP HOP HAS CHANGED ALOT..I CAME UP WIT THA TITLE WHEN WE WAS OVERSEAS TOURING IT WAS A DEEP JOURNEY…I CAME BACK FEELING LIKE I NEEDED TO BE REBORN AGAIN TO THESE LISTENERS AND I NEVER CAME OUT SOLO. SO THE THEME WAS TAKING IT FROM THA WOMB TO WHO I AM NOW..I WANTED CLASSIC ARTWORK TO GO WITH IT… Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) MY PURPOSE IN THIS GAME IS TO ENLIGHTEN ANYBODY I CAN BY SPEAKING ON THA REALEST SITUATIONS I CAN THINK OF..THEY MAY SAVE ME ONE DAY..GOIN PLATINUM JUST MEAN IT’S A MILLION PEOPLE LISTENING AND FOLLOWING YOUR MESSAGE IN YOUR MUSIC. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) DEATH IS A HIGHER PLANE OF LIFE SO IF ITS DEAD THAT MEANS ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE. TOO MANY OF THA SAME STYLES AND SOUNDS ARE OVERLY PROMOTED. FOR EVERY ORIGINAL THEY CAN MAKE A MILLION COPIES.. AINT NO MORE RAKIM’S AND KANES OR KOOL G RAPS AROUND…DJ’S PLAYIN MP3′S NOW U GOT PRO TOOLS IT’S EITHER DEAD OR BECOMING DIGITAL… Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): 3 WISHES 1.MAKE HIP HOP A CLASS IN SCHOOL 2.MAKE ALL CONTRACTS PERFECT 3.BUILD A HIP HOP MUSUEM..

Artist/Group Name: Edgar Allen Floe Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Raleigh-Durham, NC Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): The Justus League: Edgar Allen Floe, Cesar Comanche, Mike Burvick, 9th Wonder, Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh (Little Brother), Sean Boog, Khrysis (The Away Team), Chaundon, L.E.G.A.C.Y., DJ Flash, Yorel, Eccentric, Big Dho, Median. Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): Knowing I have something to say, instead of rapping “just because”. I know my music is not the average, and fans appreciate my work. They truly feel what I’m trying to relay. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) The name was given to me by my partner in rhyme, Mal Demolish of The Undefined. It had a nice ring to it, so I decided to run with it. As a group, we managed to release our own material independently, which helped us further believe that what we were doing was right. I’ve work from 8:00am-6:00pm, get off work, and immediately drive 5 ½ hours for a show. I’m always on the grind. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) The new album is ready to be released this year, called “The Streetwise LP”. Featuring production from 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Slicemysta (EA Floe’s alter ego), and many others. Also, “True Links Volume 2” will be released this year as well. This project will feature only non-U.S. producers. And finally for 2007, a new project from The Undefined will be released, called “Plan U”, with production also from Slicemysta, 9th Wonder, Khrysis, and more. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I just want to be comfortable…period. Just being able to be happy and doing music for a living is all I need. Eventually, I would like to start a production company and/or record label, and help the next leaders get a chance. This is my way of “keeping the torch lit”. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) No comment. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): 1) Enjoy 2) The 3) Music