Realest Rhymers AWARD Tie: < Grit Boys & Killer Mike In the immortal words of astronaut Jack Swigert, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Atlanta has too. This entire generation seems to as well. “Hip Hop, we’ve had a problem.” But like the nether regions of our universe, there’s still plenty of shining stars to marvel at, they’re just not always visible as often things obscure their radiant light. Killer Mike and the Grit Boys are Hip Hop’s shining stars at the moment. While most of Atlanta is trying to figure out new dance moves and the bulk of Houston is still obsessed with their cars and sizzurp, Killer Mike and the Grit Boys are taking time out to speak to the people about what’s really going on in the world, from a perspective that young kids in the street can grab a hold of and understand. Problem is, the powers that be keep them off the radio and out of the video shows and all the youth really knows about these days is Soulja Boy and a bunch of lame R&B. These two real rap stars are receiving this award this year for holding down the underground and keeping the hungry masses of real Hip Hop fans, people who appreciate great art, satiated until the next big renaissance hits. Hopefully it’ll happen before the oceans swallow us up. Passport Pimpin’ Award Chamillionaire Five years ago I was sitting at my kitchen table with Chamillionaire and his then-partner Paul Wall talking to them about how no southern rap artists ever go to Europe and never exploit any territories outside of their native regions. I told them that they had the potential to hit all over the world, but the only way to make that impact was going to tour those places and touch the fans. I remember my analogy, I said, “You guys have gone and done free shows and tons of promo in places like Birmingham, Alabama and look at you now. You can go there and do shows for $5,000 and sell a ton of mix CD’s to boot. You’re gonna have to go do some promo runs to places like Birmingham, England and do the same things you did in Alabama to make that world wide impact. Chamillionaire obviously listened as he has performed all over
INTL K
Europe and Canada and recently even went to do three shows in India. What other rappers are doing shows in India? Chamillionaire’s Victory might not be as Ultimate as he had hoped, but he’s still winning this game on so many levels. Big respect.
JULIA BEVERLY
TALIB HAQQ
Activist Rapper Who Should Respect His Elders But Has A Point AWARD < David Banner Although it’s silly that Congress is taking time to discuss rap lyrics at a time when our nation is ass deep in a war that means nothing but woe to anyone who doesn’t have stake in an oil company, it’s equally silly for David Banner to direct so much energy to attacking Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey. We all know that Banner has a point (they aren’t in the community and don’t do all that much to help the situation so they really shouldn’t speak on it) but Banner’s energy could be put to better use attacking much greater problems. Al Sharpton saying that rap music is vile and obscene means almost nothing to anyone, so there’s really no need to call for his head. And although we might not see these rich TV-activists doing all that much right now, people like Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were on the front lines way before any of us were born and should be respected for the progress they did bring. You wanna attack someone, fine. Stay focused bro, you’re too smart for this shit.
Most Anticipated Texan < Killa Kyleon Come on, man, even your Boss Hogg Outlaw partner J-Dogg has a hit now. We’ve heard countless freestyles and flows that blow the pants off of just about every one of your contemporaries, but I can’t remember a real, genuine, Killa Kyleon official solo song. Is there one? Does it exist? The man spits straight fire and genuine reality on the mic every time he hits the booth, but it needs to stop being over other people’s beats. We need an album, man. Killa Kyleon is a soldier in the fight to save Hip Hop, but real talk, he ain’t gonna save shit without an album. We love you a lot Slim Thug, but it’s time to change your lane for a minute and get your boy the hell out there. Time is now. < The Pimp C Fanga In The Bootyhole Award Tie: Viacom and The Recording Industry as a Whole We know that most of y’all calling the shots in the music game are extremely out-oftouch evil white men who don’t know shit about music or art and only care about the bottom line. We know. We know that kids buy CD singles and ringtones and we know that as a business you have to do something to keep your ship afloat. All that being said, there’s still great art out there that needs to be heard and legions of people who want to hear it. If you keep stifling genuine art, if you keep spitting on the streets, if you keep portraying black men as nothing but coke dealers who can barely complete a sentence, then we’re gonna come to your offices, rip the fangaz out yo’ bootyholes and replace them with bombs. For real. Muthafucker, we gon’ rip your suit up and stick a bomb up your ass if you don’t get it straight. Bitch! Editor’s Note: This is the opinion of one freelance journalist and we here at OZONE Magazine love the Viacom-owned MTV Jams. Look out for OZONE’s Rapquest airing soon as well as reruns of the first and second annual OZONE Awards. :) City Under Siege Award < Houston, TX Two, three years ago it was the “it” city for Hip Hop. The whole world seemed to become obsessed with Houston’s “culture” of putting diamonds in your mouth and buying a big, gas guzzling car. The cartoonish imagery provided a lot of attention for a short period of time and as soon as the masses began to tire of said “culture,” magazines, newspapers, gossipy bitch radio hosts and corny, lowquality DVD makers began announcing that Houston was over. Houston is not over, we’re just back to where we were before the media came down here for lap dances at butt nekkid clubs and sex with “publicists.” Houston is an independent city and its Hip Hop scene is incredibly dynamic when you look past the surface and really dig in. Real will always recognize real and the cream will always rise to the top. It might not go triple platinum again for a while, but who is? Instead of hollering about how Houston has fallen off (XXL) OZONE MAG // 57