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Proclaiming yourself, as “The Hardest Out” can be a difficult task if you don’t have the firepower to back it up—so it’s a good thing that Styles’ mouthpiece is like a broken safety on an automatic assault rifle. If you visit any street corner, in any ‘hood, in any project; chances are you might come across some people who don’t believe in day jobs arguing about who’s better out of Jadakiss and the Ghost himself. While “Al Qaeda Jada” might have more commercial appeal, denying Styles’ street credibility is like trying to convince Donald Trump that Melania-Knauss Trump married him for his looks and not for the three billion dollars he has tucked away in his piggy bank. Since the dust from his third album Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) settled, the Yonkers-bred lyricist has released Phantom: Gangster Chronicles vol. 1, a mixtape/DVD combination. Filled with gritty rhymes, “SP” wastes no time in getting things underway with songs like ‘Two Clap.’ The material that makes a valid point on whether he’s actually the best LOX member or not comes into play with lines like, “Now I’m the boss of the bosses/if you think you’re married to the streets, I can make you divorce it/always hear me speak on the Porsches/I think it’s the horses/and how it zig-zags on the courses/big bags of money, try grabbing a fortune/the wheel get real, gotta spin it with caution/I ain’t really into the flossin’/I’m a stay dark/follow you home/get into your Porsche-in.” An eerie piano loop is the star of the show on ‘I’m Your Pusher’ featuring Straw and Trav; where Styles sits this one out in order to let the young D-Block associates get their own individual shine. But he returns on ‘Told You,’ and goes for self, “They can tell a n*gga to pop off/I’m here to pick all the money up, when it get dropped off/crossin’ n*ggas over like Hot Sauce/but this ain’t a ball game.” Styles taps into the R&B world on ‘Real N*gga’ as it features Ray J; and the mixture of the crooner’s faint tone blends in perfectly with the MC’s coarse word play. Other songs like ‘Where I’m From’ featuring Tre’ Williams, ‘Don’t Want It’ featuring Bucky and AP, and ‘Nuttin’ Come EZ’ also featuring AP are good additions as well—while the Next Generation could’ve used a little more prepping for their debut on ‘Cook Up.’ Phantom: Gangster Chronicles vol. 1 is a cool listen, and worth checking out, especially if you’re on the side of the debate that thinks Styles P is the best member out of the three-man collective. With only nine tracks (including ‘The Hardest’ which was previously featured on AZ’s Undeniable album), the Ghost manages to give the streets that love him so dearly more heroin bars that should hold them down until they start itching for another fix. Rating: 3.0

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What’s left to be said about EPMD? Besides being one of first MC’s that actually made it cool to use your government name, their track record includes six albums and over 20 years of legendary Hip-Hop status. But for the past couple years, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith’s love/hate relationship had them giving each the silent treatment as usual. As we enter another year, the duo that brought the world ‘You Gots To Chill,’ ‘So Wat Cha Sayin,’’ ‘GoldDigger,’ ‘Head Banger,’ and never ending saga known as the ‘Jane’ series reunites for the seventh time around with We Mean Business. The two can easily be thought of as Hip-Hop’s Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney due to the fact that they’re literally the last of a dying breed; who are still capable of creating their own sound without worrying about BDS spins. They stick to the “If it ain’t broke” mentality by having the “Green Eyed Bandit” handle the production duties, but switch it up with a hint of 9th Wonder. The album gets underway with ‘Puttin’ Work In’ featuring Raekwon. Over a well-placed violin loop, all three rhyme veterans prove that they have more than enough left in the tank. From there, they throw church organ in the mix on ‘What You Talkin’ featuring Havoc. Erick Sermon starts things off with his metaphor-heavy rhymes, “Comin’ for ya, the Oscar De La Hoya, the Golden Boy/I’m that dude, don’t believe, I’ll show you boy/ask Destiny’s Child, I’m not soldier boy” and Parrish Smith ends it with his straight-to-the-point talk, “I be killin’ it when I’m feelin’ it/straight drillin’ it when I’m peelin’ it/comin’ through in the Tahoe truck four-wheelin’ it.” ‘Roc Da Spot’ includes elements of the funk-influenced sound that people are accustomed to hearing from E-Double’s production. ‘Blow’ gives listeners more of the vintage EPMD sound with the tandem bouncing off each other perfectly, while the voice sample of woman screaming echoes in the background. ‘Run It’ sounds more like an old school class reunion of sorts, as it features someone else who also has meaningful letters in his name for Hip-Hop, who happens to be KRS-One. Method Man joins in the fray on ‘Never Defeat ‘Em,’ and shows that he hasn’t forgotten where the booth is, and uses is signature rhyme pattern wisely, “Nothin’ to lose cause I got nothin’ to prove, I’m rugged/who be like f*ck it, If I front in my shoes, you love it.” 9th Wonder’s unmistakable snares take center stage on ‘Left 4 Dead’ featuring Brooklyn newcomer Skyzoo—as they pay tribute to all of the people who lost their lives in the hook (including Hip-Hop as a whole). The rest of the album contains authentic Hip-Hop material like, ‘Jane’ (of course), ‘They Tell Me’ featuring Keith Murray, ‘Back Stabba,’ and ‘Yo’ featuring Redman; while songs like ‘Listen Up,’ could have used a little more tweaking before making it to the final cut. EPMD’s We Mean Business won’t break any sales records (especially in this economy), but for those who yearn for that throwback sound in a world filled with Auto-Tuned voices, listening to Erick Sermon’s lisp-flow with the combination of Parrish Smith’s monotone vocals puts their newest business installment right up your alley. Rating: 3.0

Everywhere you go, you always run the big risk of people getting the wrong idea about you. Even though appearance shouldn’t be a factor, it usually determines how people judge you in the end. You can be a loving husband and the sole provider for your family, but if someone like a Wall Street broker sees you wearing a pair baggy jeans, and Air Force One’s coming his way; he’s more likely to clutch his briefcase so tight—his hands will develop more calluses than a construction worker. In this edition of Six Degrees Of Separation [Click for other editions], the subject of being misunderstood by way off misconceptions comes into play with Ruste Juxx, The Knux’s Krispy Kream and Rah Al Millio, DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples, Illa J (the younger brother of J Dilla), and Detroit’s Trick Trick all discussing their own point of views on the matter. Now lets see if you can relate… [Click on names for individual interviews] iHipHop.com: Would you say that you’re misunderstood at times, and if so, what’s the biggest misconception about you? Krispy Kream: That we grew up in the suburbs, and since we’re not two ‘hood mothaf*ckas that you won’t be feeling our sh*t. But we’ll still knock you the f*ck out, and that’s pretty much the biggest misconception… Rah Al Millio: [Laughing] That’s like the BIGGEST one right there… Rutse Juxx: Some people think that I’m this big 6’7” dude before they see me. A lot of people are like, “Yeah, I thought you’d be bigger!” I guess they that think that way because of my voice… Illa J: I think what’s crazy is that I love basketball… Music was always a part of my life, and it was something that was just there anyways. It started from birth, but my first passion was basketball—I LOVE BASKSETBALL! [Laughing] That’s my sport right there… DJ Babu: I guess one of the biggest misconceptions about me that I’ve been trying to work out for over the past few years is that I can only get busy on the turntables… But I’m hoping that people will soon find out that I get behind the boards, and that I do get down with MC’s. People just know me for my DJ’ing background, and being with Dilated [Peoples] and Beat Junkies for years. But I’m ready to show people what I’ve been working hard at… Trick Trick: People think I be starting sh*t. People think I’m this super violent tyrant, and sh*t starting monster. But if you ask me, I’m more of a comedian. Even though I’m 6’3” and 250lbs, I’m from the same streets as these mothaf*ckas, or the same ones they claim they grew up in—but I’ll still f*ck you up. But I would rather laugh all day then beat the sh*t out of people. Whenever I f*ck somebody up, it just manages to get publicized. So the people just take that and run with it, and think I’m just a sh*t starting murderer, but that’s not the case. If you die by my hands, you done f*cked up, and I ain’t never did something to somebody that they didn’t have it coming to them. So I think that’s the biggest thing right there. I might be an asshole, but that’s it… [Laughing]

The animated movie, Anastasia was filled with musical interludes, and a plot well deserving to be read right out of a fairytale book, but that storyline takes place in the infant stages of the 20th Century. As we approach the first decade of the 21st Century, a new version of Anastasia is formulating once again. This time though, she’s not make-believe, and her curvaceous measurements of 34-24-38 can certainly attest to that. 20-year-old Anastasia Garcia has been making the rounds and earning a name for herself in the already-competitive world of urban modeling. Aside from being in magazines such as The Source, the 5’5” 125 lbs. Cleveland, Ohio native of African-American and Dominican descent has brushed elbows with the likes of Gorilla Zoe, Lil Scrappy, Shawty Lo, and B.o.B. by being featured in their videos. Not to be confused with your average “video girl,” this young beauty with a fetish for McDonald’s aims to break that stigma by utilizing her full talents to further get her feet wet in the entertainment industry; and with the path she’s on, it shouldn’t be any longer. In the business of “comers” and “goers,” one thing that you can definitely place your bets on is that the fact that Anastasia Garcia aint’t no fairytale. iHipHop.com: Where are you originally from? Anastasia Garcia: I’m from Cleveland, Ohio. iHipHop.com: How’s it like growing up there? Anastasia Garcia: Um, it was weird. There’s no real trends here or anything, but I wasn’t bad, I was a good girl. Plus it gets really cold. iHipHop.com: What’s your nationality? Anastasia Garcia: I’m Dominican and African-American. iHipHop.com: Do you speak any Spanish? Anastasia Garcia: I speak very little Spanish… iHipHop.com: What made you get into modeling? Anastasia Garcia: I always thought I was pretty, and I really like modeling but I would rather get into acting. When you’re modeling, it’s like you’re acting, but I would rather be an actress, and I’m looking into getting acting classes right now. iHipHop.com: You’ve been in videos by B.o.B., Lil Scrappy, Gorilla Zoe, and Shawty Lo. Do you ever get worried about people stereotyping you as just another “music video model”? Anastasia Garcia: I don’t think so, because of my looks and my size, so I think I can cross over. I don’t think people would just think of me as a video girl. iHipHop.com: So what’s your opinion on this industry so far? Have you had any bad experiences? Anastasia Garcia: Well it hasn’t been positive all the time… But it is what it is, and you have to take the good with the bad. iHipHop.com: Do you have any personal goals you want to accomplish in this industry? Anastasia Garcia: I want to land a really, really, really, big video. I’m not done doing videos yet, I think videos are fun. I would like to do a Beyoncé video; that would probably be the next video I would want to do. Most likely at the end of the year, I’ll be done, and then I’ll completely move onto acting. iHipHop.com: Were you at all camera shy when you first started shooting? Anastasia Garcia: I’ve always been a little shy in front of the camera, but I’ve gotten more comfortable with myself through my modeling. It’s easier now, and before I was just afraid to look ugly, and so some of my pictures would come out funny looking. But now I’m more comfortable. iHipHop.com: What are your family’s thoughts on your modeling career? Are they supportive of what you’re doing? Anastasia Garcia: [Laughing] They are, but to a certain extent. Like the booty pictures—they don’t really like those too much. I have to stop doing booty pictures… [Laughing] iHipHop.com: [Laughs] Is modeling your full time gig, or are you in school as well? Anastasia Garcia: Modeling is my full time gig, and I used to go to school part time. But now I just completely model. iHipHop.com: What’s been the toughest part of this industry for you so far? Anastasia Garcia: Getting my name out there more, that’s the tough part for me. Not too long ago, I was talking to a photographer from Don Diva [Magazine], and he hadn’t seen any of my work, so he didn’t know what I’ve done so far. Then he was telling me that I have to pay to get into their magazine, and I was like, “I think you guys should pay me, because I’ve been in better magazines.” I like Don Diva, but I’ve been in better magazines, and I didn’t have to pay to get in those magazines. If I do pay, then I need the cover. Then he said if we do a cover it would have to be for someone like Buffie [The Body] or a model like that. I’ve done enough videos to get a cover, and I’ve been in enough magazines to get a cover on Don Diva. So that’s the hardest part, when people don’t really know who you are. I hate the fact that I have to tell people what I’ve done, I would like for them to see and already know. iHipHop.com: With that said, have you found it difficult to stand out in such a competitive field? Anastasia Garcia: No, I think I stand out because I have my own little personality, and I think people will like that. Plus I’m very different from all the other models. iHipHop.com: What do you like to do away from modeling? Anastasia Garcia: I like to eat and shop… [Laughing] I like listening to music too, and I like going to strip clubs. I go to the beach a lot too. iHipHop.com: What foods do you eat that you shouldn’t? Anastasia Garcia: WOA!! There’s a lot! [Laughing] I eat a lot of stuff that I shouldn’t eat. I’m always in McDonald’s every five minutes, and I eat stuff like pickles and cheese together. iHipHop.com: Pickles and cheese?! Anastasia Garcia: It’s kind of weird… [Laughing] But it tastes really good though. The only thing that’s hard to do is to keep my weight on me, because I’m so active, and I’m always exercising. I’m trying to keep my weight on. It’s not hard to lose it, but it’s hard to keep it. iHipHop.com: And what about your trips to the strip club? Trying to learn some new moves? [Laughs] Anastasia Garcia: [Laughs] Nah, I don’t need to do that, I already have my own moves. I just like to check it out. iHipHop.com: Are you single or taken? Anastasia Garcia: I was taken, but I’m single now. I’m just going to focus on my career now, instead of all these guys. A lot of them can be assholes… [Laughs] Not all of them, but some of them… iHipHop.com: [Laughs] What kind of man are you attracted to? Anastasia Garcia: I really like the football player type, like the build and the swag. Football players just have that swag. There’s this one guy, he plays for the [New York] Jets and he’s old has hell, but he is so sexy! He has a nice swag to him, I would never tell him that, but he does have a VERY nice swag. I love guys like that, and with a beautiful smile. iHipHop.com: What’s best way for him to impress you? Anastasia Garcia: If he smiles at me and has pretty teeth… [Laughing] Of course if he looks nice too, but if I’m in a bad mood I probably won’t talk to him. If I’m in a good mood, I’ll talk to him. iHipHop.com: What’s the most sexiest part of a man’s body in your opinion? Anastasia Garcia: OH MY GOD!! Is it the pelvis area? I don’t know, it’s that little cut… iHipHop.com: You mean the pelvis V-shaped separation? Anastasia Garcia: YEAH!!! OH MY GOD!! Plus his pecks!! Oh yeah! [Laughing] I love arms too… iHipHop.com: [Laughs] What do you find unattractive in men? Anastasia Garcia: I don’t like really skinny guys, and I never have. I don’t like super short guys either, and if you don’t have a nice scent to you, that’s a turn off to me. Oh yeah! And you have to brush your teeth! Because some guys don’t do that… They really don’t… [Laughs] For more info on Anastasia Garcia, make sure to visit: myspace.com/modelanastasiagarcia

Two’s company, and three’s a crowd. But when you’ve been performing as a trio for most of your life, it just seems natural. Case in point: The LOX, or better yet, Sean “Sheek Louch” Jacobs. The big man from D-Block and Yonkers native sat around idly for years while the power current from his spot light was transferred over to his more known brethren. As of late, the New York lyricist with the in-your-face-flow has been getting his just due as The LOX continue their group hiatus in order to pursue solo endeavors. With Jadakiss’ highly anticipated album, The Last Kiss [Click to read review] scheduled for an ’09 release, (hopefully) the man once considered as the odd ball can take credit for playing a big part in keeping the entire movement afloat. With three studio albums under his belt, (that’s right, one more than “J To The Muah”) he decided to further his catalog by releasing Extinction (Last Of A Dying Breed), [Click to read review] a mixtape with is a collection of songs that didn’t make his Silverback Gorilla project back in March. Further capitalizing on his momentum, he also plans to drop another full-length album during the summer. So with all that going on, will the Hip-Hop community ever hear another LOX album again? You’re just going to have to read, and find out. iHipHop.com: So were you happy with how Silverback Gorilla was received? Sheek Louch: Hell yeah, I loved everything about Silverback Gorilla, no lie to you. I loved my single, and it was a Top 10 record. Just seeing it on the number four and three spots on 106 & Park, it was just crazy! That was a whole ‘nother lane for me to be added on pop stations, so it was dope. iHipHop.com: What made you release Extinction (Last Of A Dying Breed) [Click to read review] as a mixtape, instead putting some more songs on it, and dropping it as an album? Sheek Louch: That wasn’t my intension. It was more like me just hollering at KOCH and telling them I had some joints that didn’t make the album, and lets put something out as a mixtape and hit the streets with it, you know what I mean? It wasn’t like having the whole concentration of an album; it was more fun. Instead of holding on to these songs and not letting people hear them, I wanted to put them out. iHipHop.com: With it being called Extinction (Last Of Dying Breed), [Click to read review] is that how you view yourself? Is the title a little personal? Sheek Louch: It is… That’s how I view myself, and my two brothers; you know what I mean? Plus a handful of other people. I came up the in era with the mixtapes, like the DJ Clue’s, the Ron G’s, and all these people. You had to be NICE to be on those! It was a real honor to get on those. As for now, not discredit to anybody, but there is a lot of garbage mixtapes out, and it seems like everybody just drops every two days. They come out with a mixtape, and put anything on it, you know what I mean? I’m from the era of the B.I.G.’s the Craig Mack’s, and the Total’s, and there’s only a handful left that are cut from that cloth. iHipHop.com: With that being said, about dropping all the time; Silverback Gorilla was released back in March, and now you have this new project. You’re not worried about over saturating yourself? Sheek Louch: Nah, and that’s why I wanted to make it clear: This is not an album; this is straight fun. This is a time where we can drop a lot of music. One of the complaints that I hear just from my research alone—and actually Fabolous talked about this not too long ago on the radio. He was like, “Yo, D-Block/The LOX them n*ggas are crazy, they’re hot!” “They just don’t put out a lot of music.” Besides Fab saying that, it’s true. People always say we don’t drop as much as other people, and people would love for us to put more stuff out. iHipHop.com: So is that more strategy-wise? Like waiting a little bit longer than anyone else? Sheek Louch: Before it was like that because Kiss was dropping his album, now I came out with mine because his wasn’t coming for another month. So it was more like that. Then everybody heard the songs, and they were like, “Just let them go.” So I just put this out to feed the streets, then we have a compilation album coming out that’s CRAZY! But definitely go support that Jada album that’s coming out. Then I’m coming out around May with my real album. iHipHop.com: Speaking of Jada dropping, Styles [P] has Gangster Chronicles out on top of The Last Kiss, [Click to read review] and your project. So when is everybody going to hear The LOX as one whole unit again? Are you guys too busy? Sheek Louch: [Laughing]… I hope not, damn I hope not. EVERYBODY wants that project man, and it feels dope. But we’re definitely going to bang that out, and as far as I know Jimmy [Iovine] and everybody at Interscope wants it. But like you said, we just been busy man. But we’ve been teasing people, like with the Pete Rock joint we had out, ‘It’s Like That Y’all.’ So we’re keeping them hungry, because when they hear us all together, it’s like, “Oh my God!” Plus we been killing these big arenas like the Summer Jam’s and the Power Jam’s. iHipHop.com: Right now it seems that a lot of fans are obsessed with SoundScan numbers. Are first week sales something you think about? Sheek Louch: Nah, especially not right now, HELL NO! [Laughs] NOBODY is selling, with the exception of Lil Wayne, and that never happens. Look at the statistics. Me and Ed Lover was talking about how somebody will come out, and sold about 200,000 in their first week; then you check months later and they’re only at three-something… [Laughs] It’s a crazy game right now as far as sales and the whole Internet. A lot of the Mom & Pop stores are going down. iHipHop.com: So what does the 2008 “Sheek Louch” know that the 1997 “Sheek Louch” didn’t know? Sheek Louch: Ah man! You know my main one, I’m not going to give up on that one, and it’s to read your paper work. That was too much money I lost, you dig? But I would have jumped into the game a little earlier. Like when you were only hearing Styles [P] and Kiss; I should’ve really been thinking about getting a studio and getting our own sh*t popping. iHipHop.com: With you basically being the epitome of East Coast Hip-Hop, do you think that’s hindered you a little bit from reaching larger audiences? Sheek Louch: I think so, but I f*ck with all of the West Coast and the South; everybody. I f*ck with all of them. I think it was because I was younger back then, but as you get older, it’s okay to do that record with Snoop [Dogg] it’s okay to do some Southern records. I had a joint on Silverback Gorilla that had [DJ] Unk on it. As I got older, no one was beefing, so it was okay to do those records with [them] dudes. iHipHop.com: I want to go back to how you said it took you a while to jump in the game: When you first started doing solo material, was it difficult to create knowing that all 16’s would be fall on your shoulders? Sheek Louch: At the beginning I know everybody was like, “Let me see what this n*gga got” because at first all you heard was Kiss and Styles [P]. They would hear records with just them two, and they were wondering where I was at. So I know I had something to prove, and not to be that third wheel, and I knew I had to hit them and hit them. So I came out with “Everywhere we goooo” then it was “You can kiss your ass goodbye,” and I just kept dropping mixtapes. So when I came in with my third album, people were like, “Homie is hot!” iHipHop.com: Also, you’ve been on the independent circuit for a while, but would you align yourself with another major, if the opportunity presented itself? Or are you content with what you’re doing now? Sheek Louch: My only concern with a major is the traffic. There’s traffic at KOCH, and all these independent labels but I can drop three albums if I want to this year or the next year coming up. I wouldn’t do it, but I can if I wanted to because I have creative control. Over [there] you just get caught up in all of these long-term contracts and it’s all political and you have to wait because [Young] Jeezy is dropping, or this person or that person is dropping. At an independent, it’s hands-on and I meet with the people I need to meet with. At majors, they don’t even know who each other is, and they’re emailing each other when their offices are right next to each other… [Laughs] At least when you’re dealing with an independent, some coin comes back to you. So when you get that check, you’re like, “Damn, that’s another house!” You know what I mean? iHipHop.com: [Laughs]… So how do Sheek Louch and The LOX stay relevant in a fickle industry, especially surviving all the red tape drama you’ve all been through? Sheek Louch: You want to know why? I keep my ear to the streets man… I’m really out there, and I go to these clubs, and I’m not on none of that bullsh*t. I hear the music, and I go out there and see that sh*t changed. A lot of it has to do with changing with the times, and changing yourself as a person. A lot of people get into the game and they’re like, “Damn, now I have to become this other person.” On my last album I had a song on there called ‘Don’t Be Them,‘ and I meant that. iHipHop.com: So you’ve never felt pressure to change? Sheek Louch: Nah, hell no… If I did, it’s still going to be that music that you love. I can’t do any dance routines, I’m not going to lie to you fam, I can’t do none of that sh*t. I ain’t got a dance step for you, I ain’t got none of that! You know what I mean? [Laughs] I’m not trying to be none of that at all, I’m “Sheek Louch” and it’s D-Block ALL DAY!

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