regurgitating the same facts over and over again. I think I’m beginning the process of putting this all behind me. I ain’t really focusing on it. I saw your interview you did the other day with Chelsea Lately. I’m sure you’ve gotten a lot of comments on that. It seems like you’re getting to a point where mainstream white America is paying attention to you. Even though you were a superstar before, you might not have necessarily gotten that mainstream recognition that you’re getting now. Do you think that’s true? I think every year we grow and we create different, new opportunities for ourselves and we expand under successes of the previous year. A lot of people say this most recent album is your best work so far. Do you agree with that? I think every album is my best work so far. What can you do on the next one to top what you’ve done already? Are you already working on it? Yeah, I’m working on it. I can’t tell you until I wrap my mind totally around what it is that’s gonna be done. When I figure it out completely, then I’ll share it with the rest of you guys. It’s been said that you lost $10 million dollars in sponsorships and such due to your most recent arrest. Do you feel like the experience you’ve gained or the things you’ve learned going through that process was worth what you may have lost financially? Of course if I could do it all again I would avoid it completely and do what was necessary to keep me from having to put myself in such a tragic, hazardous situation. But I feel like God don’t make mistakes, so if that’s the plan he had for me, who am I to disagree?
community. This situation only expounded on all the things I had already been doing. The focus has really been on violence prevention, correct? Yeah, violence and making good decisions, values, and education, all types of different things, just living productive lives. What’s your advice to teenagers on how to constructively deal with situations without violence? Thinking about the things they do, instead of just going out there and acting irresponsibly without any regard for the consequences that are to come.
Have you taken acting classes or had a mentor or anything, or just picked it up yourself? I haven’t taken any acting courses. I mean, I would if it were necessary. Like if I did a [biographical] role and I was trying to specifically act like someone, if I was responsible for depicting someone else’s personality and mannerisms, someone else’s dialect, then I would take acting lessons. As far as portraying a character off the pages of a script, I don’t think I need lessons for that. Speaking of mentors, the one piece of advice Denzel and Will Smith gave me was not to act. “Don’t get caught acting, just be, just do it.” You’ve gotta be honest. If you’re fakin’ and pretendin’ for the camera, it’ll show. Acting coaches teach you how to act.
“I don’t like to speak directly about my situation [with girlfriend Tiny]. I think that’s how we’ve remained so strong for so long because we don’t let people in our business and we don’t put ourselves out there like that. People that know, know; people that don’t need to stay out our business.“ Tell me about AKOO. Many artists lend their name to a clothing line, as a spokesperson. Is this actually a line that you’ve designed yourself? It’s a collaboration. We’re definitely hands on in the designing, the marketing, and the cultivating of that line.
There were some rumors or allegations, and 50 Cent made some comments, implying that you were a snitch or you did something unethical to get off with less time. Do you have any thoughts on that? That’s absolutely false. If that were the case it would be public record. You can pull up my agreement and if cooperation was a part of it, it would list it right there in my affidavit. If there’s not an indictment with my name on it, with my signature, saying that someone had done something, and if I had snitched on someone, wouldn’t they have come forward by now and say it was me that put them in jail? I think that’s preposterous. If there was a such thang as being a secret snitch we’d have no need for the witness protection program. People just wanted to see my outcome be a lot more negative than it was, and you know, that’s just the hater in them. I think God’s plan for me supersedes that hate.
AKOO stands for? A King of One’s Self.
You’ve been doing a lot of community service as part of your court requirements. Are there any moments that have really stood out to you, where you feel like you’ve really been able to help somebody? Have you learned anything from the process of giving back to the community? I enjoy all of it. I’ve been doing it even before this situation. This is something I’ve been very passionate and working very consistently at, even prior to this. Every Christmas I’ve been giving back, every Thanksgiving, every back to school, I’ve been doing things. I’ve always been working with the Boys and Girls Club, It’s Cool to Be Smart, I’ve always worked with the Make a Wish Foundation, YMCA, Youth Detention Centers, trying to do everything I could to give back to the
So you just did a record together to prove it was no situation, basically? Yeah, it wasn’t major. It was of very little importance. It was a non-issue to me.
52 // OZONE MAG
acting projects? Yeah, I was. I’m doing a film right now, it’s a flick about some young, fly bank robbers pulling the biggest heist of their life.
I’m guessing that was your idea. Absolutely. Are you surprised? Nah, you have the King theme throughout your family and albums so it makes sense. Is the line mostly t-shirts to begin? Naw, we have an entire line – outer wear, denim, t-shirts, polos, button downs, knit sweaters, jogging suits, leather hoodies, everything. We have a lot of different items. We’re in some Macys, some DTLRs, some Dr. Denims, and some other department stores and specialty stores. Recently you and Ludacris officially squashed whatever situation there was… I’ve already told you it was never really a situation.
I don’t know if you want to speak on the other guy from Bankhead, but rumor has it that’s also been squashed. Is that true? As far as I’m concerned. I don’t have time to dwell on anything negative. I ain’t focusing on nothing but positivity and prosperity. Anything other than that, I don’t got time to waste on it. I salute whoever shares my enthusiasm. It’s always been a non-issue to me. Were you happy with your performance in American Gangster? Do you have any upcoming
A lot of artists go into acting just because it’s the most logical progression from music, but obviously, all rappers aren’t great actors. True. I don’t think I’m a great actor yet. I think I’m decent. I think I’m good at what I do, but great? I don’t know about that. I’m working towards being great. Those are my definite intentions. Well, this is for the sex issue, and you know OZONE keeps it raw. On the Chelsea Lately show you referred to your relationship as a “considerable situation.” A significant situation. That’s because I don’t like to speak directly about my situation [with girlfriend Tiny]. I think that’s how we’ve remained so strong for so long because we don’t let people in our business and we don’t put ourselves out there like that. People that know, know; people that don’t need to stay out our business. That’s the way we keep it and I think that works to our advantage. Do you think by labeling a situation it causes more pressure? I think by putting people in your business you open it up for criticism, for ridicule, for unnecessary opinions. All the people I’ve seen stay strong and stay together, that’s how I see ‘em do it. Like Jay and B – they’ve been together just about as long as me and my ol’ lady been together. That’s how they do it and I feel it’s working for them. That’s how we do it and it’s working for us. The blogs seem to have new rumors about you, and about you and Tiny, daily. How do you not let that affect you? I deal with the truth and I ain’t seen nothing they said that was true yet so it ain’t necessary for me to deal with it. The blogs are 100% wrong? Yep. I ain’t seen nothing that was true yet. Not of any shock value. Not anything that was other than obvious. What’s obvious? T.I. went out and voted. Stuff like that [is true]. I know you had some issues with your baby’s