But you only named two. He said you’re on five drugs. What’s the other three? Gun Play: You know, somebody got some fire skittles, and I’m with that too. These niggas blow them fat dirtys too. But that’s another segment. Black Flag coming soon. I’m the underboss, man. Ross took me, by the back of my neck like a little puppy, when I was a kid, and just basically showed me how to get money and how to interact with real niggas, real playas, across the map. He molded my career and I followed him cause I knew he was a boss early. So he was kind of a father figure to you? Gun Play: Yeah, you know, it’s deeper than that. I got these C’s on my eyes, these black flags on the other side. I’m a fucking billboard. It’s [Carol City Cartel] all over, you know? So for the people who aren’t from Miami, let ‘em know what Carol City Cartel is all about. Rick Ross: Carol City is all about money, man. That’s where the biggest players come from. The biggest hustlers, the most gettin’-money niggas in the world. Gun Play: It’s all about the MIA. We rep the whole city of Miami. We most definitely rep Carol City, but the whole 305, we ridin’ with them. This is the city of dope. That’s where we come from.
I’ma just keep it real and do my best to be a good leader and a good motivator. I tell them to stay off the drugs, save their money, and invest in things. Saving your money is the best investment ever, feel me?
I heard Rick had to bail you out a couple days ago. What was that about? Gun Play: [laughs] Ooh, shit. Who told you about that? Yeah, I was fucking around on some shit and almost missed my flight to Chicago the next day for a New Years’ Eve party. You know, when I get the girl at the end of the night, that’s a happy ending. But why are you talking about my problems again? That’s a whole different issue. That’s what makes an artist great, right? Gun Play: My issues? Yeah. So what are your issues? Gun Play: Man, my issues are cocaine, man. Goddamn promethazine, man. Goddamn pills, goddamn weed, goddamn alcohol. All that there, man. I gets fucked up, cause I work hard, ya dig? That’s what I do, playa, so it’s all good. Okay, we’ll leave you alone for now. Torch, you’re the quiet one in the group? Torch: Yeah, I lay low. What do you bring to the table as an artist? Torch: I bring the hustler’s angle from up top. I’m the Cartel’s headbussa from up North, you know? I bring the transporters. My hands are dirty. I’m from the streets. I’m from the Castle Hill Projects in the BX. How did you end up down here in Miami? Torch: I came down here around the end of ’98, ’99. That’s probably one of the biggest misconceptions about me; a lot of niggas probably think this is some new shit because they just met me. But a nigga been down here putting in groundwork. What are the similarities and differences you’ve seen between your time in the Bronx and Miami? Torch: Shit, same work, different hustle everywhere. You just gotta go get it. If you a go-getter, you’ll know what I’m talking about. You gonna get it. How do you feel about the “North vs. South” mentality in the rap game? Torch: Shit, I don’t even know about all that. Niggas just need to make music and get money, straight up. If niggas are making good music, they’re gonna get money no matter where you’re from. North, South, East, West, if the shit is hot, they’re gonna get money. Should we expect the same type of music from a Carol City Cartel album that we heard on Rick’s album, or are y’all bringing a different flavor musically? Rick Ross: It’s a different flavor. Triple C sticks to more like the “White House” records, you know? It’s that vibe. We keep it all the way gutter, all the way street. On the Triple C album you’re going to get a lot more different flows, coming with Gun Play and Torch. They’re both lyricists. I’ll put a million on both of them. They’re both playing their position right now, but the time is going to come when they stand up on their own. The world is going to see what I’ve been seeing for the last decade. Both of them boys are ready. Do you think you have to work harder for the world to respect you as artists and not just Rick Ross’s homeboy? Torch: Nah, they’re going to hear the music and understand. The music speaks for itself. OZONE MAG // 61