editor’s note
Publisher Julia Beverly Editor-In-Chief N. Ali Early Art Director Tene Gooden Music Editor Randy Roper ADVERTISING SALES Che Johnson Isiah Campbell Contributors Big Fase 100 D-Ray DJ BackSide DJ E-Z Cutt Eric Johnson Jessica Essien Joey Colombo Keita Jones Luvva J Regi Mentle Shemp Todd Davis Ty Watkins Wendy Day Street Reps Anthony Deavers, Bigg P-Wee, Dee1, Demolition Men, DJ Jam-X, DJ Juice, DJ KTone, DJ Quote, DJ Strong & DJ Warrior, John Costen, Juice, Kewan Lewis, Maroy, Rob J Official, Rob Reyes, Sherita Saulsberry, Sly Boogy, William Major COVER CREDITS Messy Marv photo by Bogan
clapya hands
I
always wondered what it would be like to make a record. What the hell would I talk about? It’s not like I have any shortage of experiences to share with the world, but would anyone want to hear that shit? Like, would anyone care to know what I do every damn day? That’s why a nigga gotta give it up to the artists out there that stay in the booth. I get a little twisted from time to time and find myself, just like most of you that read this magazine, rappin’ over my favorite beats. You know, freestylin’ on my way to the club and whatnot. And you never truly know how wack you sound until you try that shit with a nigga who can really rap (my nigga AD had me feeliln’ like a chihuahua in a room full of pitbulls the other night!!). Now, I did make an attempt at a song once. It happened spontaneously. I walked in the makeshift studio that I used to call my bedroom and there was a beat playing that I thought was kinda fresh. I found my way to a corner and zoned out. Next thing I know, I was contemplating spitting over the track and before I knew it, the producer had up the mic, encouraging me to find a pen and pad to relay my thoughts on. So I did and before I knew it, there were four bars in front of me, then eight and ultimately sixteen. And the shit made sense! I got a rush ‘cause I thought I was on to something. “Man, I could really do this shit if I want to!” I hallucinated... At any rate, I banged out a hook and an intro the next night and then there was: a blapper! Only thing about it was we had to bring in some extras to finish it. For one, I thought so highly of the track that I wanted as many rappers (ones who actually practiced the art) as we could find to contribute. The other reason was I didn’t want to have to go about making up two more verses. That shit was hard! And that’s where you have to respect anyone who can do that shit for a whole album. I
really feel like the people who grace these pages (well, a good majority of them) are modern day authors, poets and philosophers all at once. To be able to pen your thoughts on a blank sheet of paper, then ride to a specific cadence, fuse the two AND talk about something relevant?? Then, to think some have the mental capacity to pull off complete songs without even penning them at all? Wow. You deserve a hand clap. So after attending the first annual Regional Hip Hop Awards in Los Angeles and meeting a lot of the cats who have graced these here pages in the past year, it’s good to know how alive the art is on the Coast. However disappointed I am that the Bay’s only representatives were D-Ray, Backside and I, I salute SKG for putting together a momentous event with tremendous potential. I commend the writers, photographers, videographers, publicists, pimps and homies who showed supported not knowing whether it would crack or not. And last of all, I applaud all those modern day authors, poets and philosophers for repping the West without incident. For that, you deserve a standing ovation! Peace 2 fingers,
N. Ali Early West Coast Editor Ali.early@ozonemag.com
R.I.P Pimp C
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