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ew artists emerge on the rap scene every day, all with the same hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Some want in the game to get rich, some want in the game to make a better life for their family, and, some just want in the game to bag bitches. But due to the overall lack of quality music that’s being blasted on the airwaves nowadays, it seems that it is now easier to get into the industry than ever before. However, due to extreme oversaturation, an artist’s success once in the industry now depends less on talent and more on the grind of the individual and the respect he establishes for himself. There have been many artists featured in the Patiently Waiting section of OZONE over the years, and let’s face it, some are still content to wait, patiently, for success to come to them. However, there a few such as Rocko, 2 Pistols, Plies, and, of course, The Jacka, who have capitalized off the opportunity and exposure offered by coverage in OZONE, and continued to grind to create even more success on their own. Not only has The Jacka, one fifth of legendary West Coast rap group, Mob Figaz, been featured countless times in OZONE, as well as other major publications and internet sites, he also won the Patiently Waiting: California award at this year’s OZONE Awards. He is working on countless mixtapes, including one with Freeway. His single and video, “All Over Me,” has been blazing the airwaves and over his almost decade in the game he has established himself as one of the most respected West Coast artists in the game. Respect is, in fact, one of the hardest feats to accomplish in the industry, given that commercial and mainstream success is by far not a guarantee for outright respect from your peers. The now overly easy access into a once unbelievably talented pool of individuals has created a black hole in the genre. There are major artists in the game figuring that fact out at this very moment. It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how many videos you have out at one time. It doesn’t matter who you are if you don’t have the respect artists such as The Jacka have earned. It’s simple: out-of-towners, tuck your chains when you’re in the Golden State! You can buy that shit back, but you can never buy respect! What have you been doing since you were recognized at the OZONE Awards as the Patiently Waiting Artist of the Year for California? Man, I’ve just been running round this bitch like a politician trying to get elected. Winning the award was a big thing to me. It wasn’t just winning, it was the fact that everybody came out to Houston to support. That was one of the biggest things I’ve ever achieved, so it was really an honor to win, especially going up against some real, tough competition. It was cool. What has winning the award done for your career? It’s really helped out. It’s such a big magazine. I’m pretty sure that every artist who comes out wants to get an article in OZONE, you know? It’s a really big deal. It’s been a short time since it happened, but people are reaching out, wanting to do business. It’s always a good thing to pick up a magazine and see yourself in it. For any artist, when other people see you in the OZONE it’s always a good thing. OZONE is really on its way to the top. All the other magazines have really fallen off because they weren’t keeping it real. OZONE is already up there with XXL. Words by Mz. Jae 14 // OZONE WEST