CINO
ORGANIZED GRIND WORDS: N. ALI EARLY
B
orn in Compton, California, Vegas based rapper Cino indulged, in real life, the cinematic fervor that most movie directors live to fantasize over. While his Bel Air peers were sizing up rims for their new Benzes, he was embracing the pressure of living as a fourth generation Carver Park Compton Crip. By the age of 21 his good conscience forced him to make a decision as to whether he would continue to risk his life on the same streets that were rapidly absorbing his friends and family, or find reprieve in some other city. Since choosing Sin City two defining years ago, the 23-year-old has found himself focused and more importantly, a main component in the family that is Triple P Records. Upon impressing CEO Dwayne “Crum” Crumwell enough to organize a seven month multi-city/state promotional tour through the South, which included Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and Arkansas, Cino’s spent his days wrapping up In The Closet – his unofficial mixtape debut and an as yet untitled debut album to follow. What was your experience in Compton where gangbangin’ is concerned? I’m like the fourth generation from my neighborhood. My daddy was one of the young foot soldiers back in the 70’s. We had the 80’s on lock and I’m fourth generation from my block. But you know, a nigga tried to turn himself around. I wouldn’t say I was the hardest, but being hard is not [an option] when that’s all you grew up around.
“Anywhere you go you got niggas somewhere outdoing the next, but most niggas don’t speak on what they did and I’m one of them cats.”
OZONE WEST // 19