out for it. It’s coming. Every empire falls, from the great Romans all the way down to YOU, Joe Hustle. Who are you, anyway? Move over. Here comes the next baller. You had your time; how did you spend your profits? Here are some years to think about it. Now get back, and when you get out if you think you’re ready, try again. Now that you’re down, do you think about life on the outside? Were you truly happy? Was there anything you see now that was trapping you, mentally or spiritually, or that contributed to your demise? I always knew I was in a fortunate situation. I knew that if people understood me or not, I would still be who Allah intends me to be. It’s been a rough road and I paid so much. I sacrificed a lot. I lost a lot. I lost friends, I lost love, I hurt a lot of people, and for that reason I remained distant from most. I accepted [my lifestyle], and I didn’t wish to have any passengers along on the path I took. I drive coupes on the streets, two-seaters. I do my own thing. My reality may seem to be the next man’s nightmare, but at the same time, my actuality is the next man’s dream. I dance in the middle of a war zone and somehow I don’t have a scar. Emotions is only based on something you miss. I don’t even know what emotions are; all I know is that I feel alive. I would go through it all again if that was what it took to know what I know now: Allah is greather than anything great, and I am a warrior. People are making mixtapes and albums with certain Mob Figaz on them. Does that bother you? I’m in prison; they need to keep the grind alive. I’m cool with it. I don’t look at it as disrespect, as long as the Mob is keeping it lit. I’m good; staying healthy and avoiding busting heads every day. This game we grew up in is vicious. The life we are forced to live is deadly. Most street ninjas don’t know that what they ride with every day on the block would only get them two years in state prison but can get you 20 years in the Federal system fast. Only a few ounces of crack is damn near a ten year [sentence] off top for a first-time [offender]. And if you’ve got a [gun] now it’s about ten more [years]. It’s crazy. Ten ounces of crack will get you more time than ten kilos of cocaine. Why? Because young blacks deal crack, and rich people like Lindsay Lohan snort coke. Crack is only a processed version of its true form, cocaine. It’s like that old song, “They Smart Boy.” Watch out. This shit is no joke. Should we expect to see a complete Mob Figaz album anytime in the future? I have faith that we are going to record and release an album, but we’ve been through so much. I’m happy to see my ninjas alive. Feddy sustained a bullet to the head and not only is he alive but he still talks more shit than before. We’ve all been in legal trouble. We are fools to have went through all this crazy shit when all we had to do was make music. The people pull for us everywhere we go. When I came to prison, people knew the song from the first and only Mob Figaz album and I forgot them. I was so caught up in trying to be some type of overlord that I forgot about the people and the music. But if I get rich we all get rich. If Rydah gets rich, we’re all rich. If Jacka gets rich, we’re all rich. Since you’ve been in the Feds you have an anthem on the streets “Cuttin’ it Up.” It’s performed in your name and fans go dumb. Does that surprise you? I always was the one in the group to have my own fans. I always had the super grimy dudes and women who liked what I brought to the table. I was cool with just being on the hook, or having the start off verse, and letting everybody else shine. I like to see everybody get on, because deep down, I know what I’ma do. I’m great and it takes time for people 18////OZONE OZONEWEST WEST 18
to see that. I won’t tell you I’m great, you’re going to have to find out that secret. People started to get that special secret while I was in here, so now it’s not just the grimy hustlers who love me, but regular people too. Who would’ve known? Regular people like maniac music. That’s kind of funny to me. Has the music game changed since you started? A lot has changed. People rap about selling kilos but they’re wearing fake chains. It’s crazy. I was a young ninja with dreams so I support even the smallest rappers. As long as you’re a solid person, I fucks with you. I’ll even do your crazy dance. I love black culture and everything that is project and ghetto. I’m gonna need everybody to make a hit song so the whole hood can do a concert. We can have a million dances that white people love and the hood can have stars again, not just dope dealers, who might only be there until they get shot or end up here in Federal prison, looking at pictures of what we had. Whatever it takes to feed the kids, I’m all for it, even the songs that sound like they were [recorded] in the bathroom. Take [that song] to number one so Junebug can stunt and buy a car and some rims, so I won’t have to give him a ride. I drive two-seaters and the other seat is for baby with the big butt, so you need to get your own car so we can get in traffic and stunt on everybody.
“I would pick up shoe boxes full of bundles of money, and the money would reek of death; blood. I had to get another room to keep the money in. It was screaming every story of every soul who had been destroyed for my personal gain.” Who did you look up to as a youngster that influenced your rap career? I grew up in the Bay Area, and I really didn’t look up to any particular rapper. I looked up to the dudes who my favorite rappers were talking about and emulating. Two of them to be exact, who I happen to be on the yard with. Both are known as legends, Bay Area icons, who inspired everything from how we walk to how we hustle: Lil D and JB. These two men sacrificed a lot to remain men with honor and integrity, and stood for everything that is honor in the world that people glorify in music. To me it’s not just that they are legendary hustlers. They stand for ambition and strength, traits that any person can look up to, not just street people. You’ve got a unique style. Do you have a stylist? My mom is my real stylist. I’m from El Pueblo and staying dipped is what we do. Even when I was young and dudes pulled overnighters for Jordan money, I had to have Gucci sneaker and kick money. My hood stays stupid clean. Mobsters, hustlers, and players 100% across the board. I’m the type of dude that can knock you out with a left hook while you’re still thinking, “He won’t fight me with a coke white $600 sport suit on.” Before you know it, you’re down flat. I’m everything fake dudes wish to be, live in the flesh. Shitting on people. Having fun. How have you been spending your time in prison? The first year I was wilding out, like every young ninja that come to prison. Slapping the shit outta anybody I wasn’t feeling. I was winning fights, but when I got moved to a [higher security prison], I had to think, “Hold on, player.” So I learned how to do my bid like a real ninja; feeding my mind, striving towards my faith in Allah. Work out, soak up game, bullshit around, talk shit, listen to all the different types of lies you hear in prison. Everybody says they had thousands of bricks. Some really did,
so it’s fun to hear it all. If you know somebody in prison, your actions are all we have to go on. If you don’t look out, how do we know [that you love us]? This shit is our reality. Look out for whoever you love that’s in a place like this. It’s real shit. I see you’ve been working out. What’s that about? You peep that? (laughs) I’m working my supermodel game for when I peel out in that new stupid coupe. I can’t let my car look better than me. What should we expect when you come home? Don’t expect anything. I am a Muslim before rap, before anything. My path is the will of Allah. I don’t mean to sound like I’m preaching, but it’s true. Have you been writing songs? I really don’t write in here. I’m an artist who works on emotion and vibes, and I’m not in a place that exudes creativity. I look up and see a thousand ugly dudes. How could I be feeling it in that circumstance? I do listen to a lot of music from all genres and I have a lot of ideas. The verses fall into place for me, but the music and feelings are first. Verses are only words, but the music moves the soul. What’s the latest book you read? RIYAHD-US-SALEHEEN, a book of habits and fortress of the Muslim. I read it every day. You’ve got a good view at Terminal Island, huh? Yeah, my bunk actually sits right on the L.A. harbor, so I’m beachfront. This is actually an island, and I always wanted to have a beachfront estate. I never imagined it would be a Federal Correctional Facility (laughs) but I have a great view. I’m right on the water and I sleep with the sound of the waves and the tide rolling in. My life amazes me sometimes When I get back, the world won’t be the same. Is there anything else you’d like to say? Everything a man goes through can only make him stronger or destroy him. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. People have their priorities fucked up, and the reality of life is that this shit is not a joke. Have faith in Allah, and strive for what you believe in. To everybody in the system, stay solid, and believe that Allah does not bestow upon any man that which he can not handle. Even when this shit seems like a no-win [situation], keep pulling. Shout out to my young ninjas in this shit who I’ve been bidding with: JB, Big Boob, Mark Young V, my brother Mike Mike, Slick G, my pops, everybody that’s down, everybody from the Pueblo area. If I’m on, you’re on. Most above all, the uhmmah across the world. Allah the Glorified and Exalted is greater than anything great. //
Mistah