e o Z a l l i r Go
A
es recognize real. ent sounds, real do tem sta s thi as é ch s cli newest member, ck Entertainment’s Take for example Blo e. If you ask Block Entertainment CEO a Zo ristics 25-year-old Gorill veritable characte vibe,” , Zoe embodies the cer his en ed Sp lik t k” oc jus I “Bl de ll Russe “When I met the du gas. When I looked . ist art an to him that draw like real nig hood nigga, and I tter, gangsta Block says. “He’s a one of those real gu out what ’s He . me of me ed ab ind rap rem lly he , rea t him tha at gas t’s what I like. Nig ass niggas and tha gh.” they really go throu that pen those rhymes ars of struggle to ye , Zoe, an 14 red at du en me e ho Zo t r’s Bu er leaving his mothe ng odd jobs, Job Corps Aft . CEO his ed all enthr worki t his teenage years te that would Atlanta native, spen g an alternative rou partners, din fin e for be ing ess sin bu his and street hustl th wi his life. Zoe, along ultimately change
ATLANTA, GA
plan was studio. The initial Atlanta recording an studio o for int s y ist ne art mo charging invested generate income by abitant, teaching inh ry ma pri to use the studio to ’s dio himself the stu s time, time. But, Zoe found ment. Within a year’ outs of studio equip from local producer Chris d an ins the f sel him help Pro Tools and with independent Zoe had mastered songs to release an gh ou en ed let mp Flame, had co album. ns ependent album pla m with Block, those ind fro ng cks eti tra me ce ing an ord ch rec After a e knew it, he was re Zo mo e d for ha Be ck ld. Blo ho were put on ays visionary ing studio. The alw th Boyz the Block Ent. record ‘I wanna see what you sound like wi er the said, the studio. And ov plans for Zoe. “He “He threw us all in lis. all mp co rec e to d Zo ,’” rte od sta N Da Ho good. We rted sounding real d with the three ate cre e Zo t weeks that shit sta tha ry From the chemist Big Gee eze, Big Duke and ment each other.” of BNDH — Jody Bre roduced ers int mb lly me cia nt offi be s um wa inc — Zoe mber. me st we ne ’s up as the gro Da Hood “I first built Boyz N t types of en fer dif t en res to rep Block says. ,” od ho the niggas in of the er stl hu “Jeezy was the the gorilla of is e] [Zo w no w, cre ents niggas the crew. He repres n’ get it by go t’s tha in the hood lo single so e’s any means.” Zo king up spins pic is ” ga Nig d oo “H . And he has across the country ssion on DJs pre im g tin made a las the list of on #5 who ranked him w Up In 2007 in Blo To s ist Art xt Ne nual DJ Issue. OZONE’s second an res to release As the group prepa Back In The um alb d on sec ir the eduled for a sch ely tiv nta (te Chevy ains conrem e Zo , se) ea spring rel d the tan ths wi can fident that he a platinum ing lac rep of re ssu pre no pressure, superstar. “It ain’t Zoe says. ,” ga nig I’m a hood ndard so high, “[Jeezy] set the sta pressure, but everybody thinks it’s en to hell be ne do I . me not for // ” and back. Words and Photo by
40 // OZONE MAG 40 // OZONE MAG
Randy Roper