editor’s note
Publisher Julia Beverly Editor-In-Chief N. Ali Early Music Editor Randy Roper Art Director Tene Gooden Contributors D-Ray DJ BackSide Joey Colombo Toby Francis Wendy Day Street Reps Anthony Deavers Bigg P-Wee Dee1 Demolition Men DJ E-Z Cutt DJ Jam-X DJ K-Tone DJ Quote DJ Strong & DJ Warrior John Costen Kewan Lewis Lisa Coleman Maroy Rob J Official Rob Reyes Sherita Saulsberry William Major
MUST BE DREAMIN’
I’ve
been living in Atlanta a good decade and I still haven’t gotten completely accustomed to it, nor have I embraced it all the way. What can I say? I’m a Bayboy to the heart. Anyone who knows me, knows that I rep the Bay – all day, every day. I went home for Xmas and all I could think about was what kind of Bay Tees I was gonna snatch so I could have the option of reppin’ my soil every day for two weeks straight (that’s 14, but who’s counting?). Took Moms in there and scooped about eight of ‘em REAL QUICK (already had 6). Alas, I didn’t leave my heart in San Francisco ala Tony Bennett. It’s somewhere in Tha Rich! But I gotta love the A and I gotta give JB props for bringing me on board, ‘cause without the move from Orlando this opportunity may have never cracked off. I’d prolly still be SLIPPIN’ at some dead end publication that can’t afford to pay its employees or contractors… and I’da stayed, tryna make ends meet, ignoring the truth ‘cause I love what I do. But I’m not. I’M HERE.
ozone west 4 5-11 6 8 10 12-14 16-20 20 21 22-23 24 25 26
the west is backside PHOTO GALLERIES hustlin’: latin prince patiently waiting: clyde carson patiently waiting: beeda weeda e-40 west coast dj section MIXTAPE DRAMA turf talk big fase mac mall cd reviews end zone: the pack
Funny how the world works. The day I walked in JB told me about OZONE West and I damn near lost my top. When I told our cover subject, E-40 (BOSS HOGG, pg. 12), he simply responded, “I know you be representin’.” Upon unwinding over a couple glasses of Merlot, his attention turned to his cousin – BARS Awards Rookie of the Year Turf Talk (FROM THE SOUL, pg. 21) – and the hyphy movement of course. But don’t be misled. This issue ain’t all Bay. Big Fase 100 (STEADY MOBBIN’, pg. 22) holds it down for the streets of Compton and the hottest DJs on the Coast express their feelings for Drama and Cannon’s (MIXTAPE DRAMA, pg. 20) recent brush with the law. GET READY. This is just the beginning.
N. Ali Early OZONE WEST Editor
OZONE WEST //