THE WEST IS BACK... SIDE!!! The Bay Area’s DJ BackSide links up with the Best of the West to see what’s really goin’ on in their heads!
DAMANI
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his month, I traveled down the coast of California to Los Angeles to speak with the Mayor of Inglewood himself, Damani. With a song on Snoop’s Blue Carpet Treatment and more projects in the kitchen to be released on Snoop’s label, Damani is servin’ up the real. Here, he reveals that he does in fact have love for New York and he also believes Michael Jackson can come back despite his daycare dilemma. He keeps us up on the new West Coast slang, unleashing the new word for “groupie” in the 2007. Get ready, a player is in the building. BS: So I first heard you on the Keak Da Sneak record, “Gotta Stay Paid.” What’s your connect to the Bay Area? Damani: Well yeah, I first heard of the “Super Hyphy” record by Keak and I just wanted to get down wit’ dude. I like who I like, and he GO.
You know, Marlo Stansfield on these hoes.
BS: And this groupie song you got with E-40? Damani: Yeah, you see we lettin’ the word groupie go for the 2007. They are now called “Degos” (pronounced Day-go).
BS: I’m ashamed to say I’ve never watched it. Damani: Well you’re missin’ a big part of the culture right now. That shit is real. The actors – them muthafuckas be playin’ they parts to the T. Period.
BS: Degos? Damani: Yeah, them girls who see all the stars in the club and be pointin’ when they see someone famous. You know, “[Day-go] Snoop, ay [Day-go] Damani, ay [Day-go] Kobe.” Feel me? ‘‘Degos.” They them girls that be pointin’ everyone out in the clubs and shit.
BS: And what about the Mixtape Game? The DJ Drama DRAMA? Damani: I mean, it was only a matter of time, especially when niggas get on the record talkin’ bout makin’ $100,000 off mixtapes. Not sayin’ they they were, but these dudes [the Feds] are listenin’ to all of that shit. It’s like the Nas video “Hip Hop Is Dead”, when they get raided. The game’s changing. It’s like the DJ is their own separate record label now. You gotta pay the DJ and shit.
BS: Everyone talks about L.A. first and foremost when it comes to the west. So Mr. Inglewood, is the West back? Damani: Yeah, definitely. We are rebuilding right now. Beef is bein’ worked out, we are startin’ to move as a whole unit now. Groups like the Warzone and the Western Union are with Snoop’s label now and we are uniting as one. It’s just some hustlin’ we doin’. I signed with Columbia first and I’m keepin’ it goin’ with some more situations. Snoop’s helpin’ out with my album called Congratulations Player. You like that?
BS: I hear you, if you look at it like that. Everything is changing anyways. I mean, look at you. While we are doing this interview you’re on Myspace. Damani: Yup, this shit is all in your own hands now. [Leans over to look closely at his computer screen] Damn, she is thick. Jesus….!!!!! Yeah, anyways. Music? Online? It’s gonna be go online for everything. EVERYTHING.
BS: The title? Damani: Yeah, [suavely and slowly] Congratulations Player.
BS: Yup, even for Michael Jackson’s music. Damani: What?
BS: Um, I don’t know you like that to be making such affirmations. Damani: Mmmhmmmm… I love when people doubt me.
BS: Yeah, Michael is back from exile and he’s gonna leak his singles on myspace first. You didn’t hear? Okay, just kidding. But he did go into exile. Damani: I mean, who even knew he left? I never even seen the nigga in my life. So, who knows?
BS: American Idol is a huge show these days. You like it? Damani: I don’t watch it, not really, unless it happens to be on. BS: Not even for mean-ass Simon or drunk-ass Paula? Damani: Being an African-American Idol, I already feel like I’m being watched. BS: Riiiiiiiiight. So do you think a Rap American Idol would work? Damani: Yeah, I think so, cause all these little shows they doin’ now like “The White Rapper Show” are such a mockery and so fuckin’ stupid. It’s really like they are givin’ the fans a chance. It’s just entertainment and comedy. It’s comedy. That’s exactly what it is. BS: Speaking of comedy, do you got love for New York? Damani: I think I can make some money with her. She’s got a professionalism about herself. That could turn into a very lucrative business in the streets. I feel like she has those type of qualities. I mean, I have love for what she could be under my tutelage. You get me? BS: [laughing] Yeah, I got that. I’m sure everyone else will too. So what would Damani’s reality show be called? “The Player’s Life” or something? Damani: I like how you said that with so much conviction. Say it again. Either that or “The Hustler’s Life.” I mean, the player aspect of it is just a way to maneuver your way through the game. But man, I watch “The Wire” for reals.
// OZONE WEST
BS: Well, he’s back in the studio with Will.I.Am. Do you think he can come back? Damani: Yeah, if R Kelly can, of course Michael Jackson can. If Michael does play with kids, at least it ain’t on tape. R. Kelly pissed on girls and ON TAPE and we saw him! Like, the piss was runnin’ down on the girl’s titties! If R. Kelly can make a record after that and everyone from age 3 to 93 is twosteppin’ in the club right after that – miracles can happen. Anybody can do anything. BS: Boxers or Briefs? Damani: Boxers, briefs. Hell, it’s all comin’ off anyways. The Big Squeeze compilation drops in March 2007 and features Damani and his group Western Union (Superfly and Badluck), The Warzone, Snoop, Badazz, Kurupt JT The Bigga Figga and more. Cop that! The West is Back Bitches. Also check out: www.myspace.com/damanila See you all every month here in the West Coast section of Ozone Magazine hounding the best West Coast DJs, producers, and more! Holla at your girl: www.djbackside.com or info@djbackside.com