8
YEAR ANNIVERSARY
8
by Randy Roper & Maurice G. Garland
STILL PATIENTLY WAITING
In the last 8 years, OZONE’s Patiently Waiting section has featured some of rap’s biggest stars (and duds) long before other outlets started paying attention. While many (Akon, Pitbull, T-Pain, and Rick Ross, just to name a few) have gone on to superstardom and others into oblivion, a few are still around trying to get that one big look to take them to next level. Hell, some of them haven’t even dropped an album yet after all of these years. Here are 8 artists who have managed to remain relevant while they continue to wait for their time in the spotlight.
< Big Kuntry
Big Kuntry King (uh, c’mon!) has always been the most visible member of the P$C besides T.I. and unfortunately he’s spent a lot of time behind that shadow as well. After a couple successful mixtapes and scoring some underground club hits, Kuntry finally saw his debut album My Turn To Eat hit stores…on the same day as T.I.’s Paper Trail. Since then, Kuntry has laid pretty low, only releasing a few records here and there. Hopefully he will get chance to feast the next time around.
Bishop Lamont >
< Brisco
TERRENCE TYSON
Being signed to two of the more successful labels of the last four years (Poe Boy and Cash Money), you’d think that Brisco’s album would have dropped by now. But his Street Medicine album has yet to find a cure to prevent its constant delays. Brisco has kept himself relevant via internet videos (both good and bad), but the “Street Medicine coming soon” messages at the end are starting to lose their luster.
MS RIVERCITY
KING YELLA
When Bishop Lamont signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records he was supposed to follow in the platinum footsteps of Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game and Busta Rhymes. But even after dropping a string of acclaimed mixtapes he wound up getting sucked into the Detox vortex and sat on the shelf for five years. With no release date for his album The Reformation in sight, Lamont finally parted ways with Aftermath.
C-Ride >
< Glasses Malone
After The Game made West Coast Hip Hop matter again, labels went looking for the next big thing. Sony thought it was Glasses Malone, so they dropped $1.7 million on him and gave him his own label. Fast-forward: Glasses wound up leaving the label and doing a joint venture with Cash Money Records and Mack 10’s Hoo-Bangin’ imprint. He’s been paired with everyone from Akon to T-Pain to Lil Wayne but he’s still yet to secure that hit that will make his backers confident enough to drop his long awaited album The Beach Cruiser.
JULIA BEVERLY
This Miami rapper signed with production tandem Cool & Dre’s Epidemic label all the way back in 2004 and six years later we’ve yet to get an album out of the situation. C-Ride must be doing something right, though. As revealed in his OZONE cover story earlier this year, he’s turned down deals from Sony, Universal and can still afford to blow up to $2,500 in the strip club on a weekly basis.
< Mack Maine
After Curren$y left Lil Wayne’s Young Money crew for literally “greener” pastures, Mack Maine looked to be the heir apparent to the rap throne that pop star Weezy would leave vacant someday. Well, Mr. Carter still hasn’t gone anywhere and Mack Maine has yet to release an album. Actually, it doesn’t look like he’s sweating coming out with one soon, since he’s President of the company now. So you might as well just treat those Freestyle 101, Bitch I’m Mack Maine and This Is Just A Mixtape mixtapes like actual albums.
MS RIVERCITY
D-RAY
Jody Breeze >
Believe it or not, when Jody Breeze came onto the scene, he was just as hot and anticipated as his former Boyz N Da Hood partner Young Jeezy. But after a shelved debut album, his label home (Jazze Pha’s Shonuff ) crumbling and Boyz N Da Hood becoming an afterthought, fans still don’t have a proper Jody Breeze album. Each of his mixtapes, however, continues to show flashes of potential and keep fans interested. Hopefully with the internet and a restructured music industry, Jody Breeze can find a way to finally deliver the project that people have been waiting six years for now.
38 // OZONE MAG
MALIK ABDUL
D-RAY
Slick Pulla >
Primed to fit right into the lane that Young Jeezy carved out for him, Slick Pulla made a name for himself in the mixtape circuit with some solid performances and commendable lyricism. But street scuffles and legal troubles began to mar his career to the point that some folks actually thought his name was “Free Slick Pulla.” He was finally released from jail earlier this year, and is trying to get back on track in the rap game to release his debut album, The Trapublican.