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aving just inked a new deal with Slip N Slide Records, the “Don of Dade” is gearing up for a serious comeback. His new song with Monica is predicted to be the next big MIA record – it even comes complete with a DJ Khaled cosign. What’s popping for you right now? I’m working on a new single called “Ain’t Trying To Hear It.” It’s doing real good on all the underground stations. I got all the main DJs on it. I’ve been taking it to the radio and trying to get ads and get a good buzz. It’s got a lil’ old school flavor on it. I got Monica on the hook. A girl named Shonie wrote the hook and she did her thing. That’s the main thing I’m putting in the streets right now. I’m going to be hitting up the streets Memorial Day weekend with my mixtape Bag Full of Dirt. Cool & Dre helped me throw some tracks on there. My dawg CP Hollywood got some tracks on there. I’m just going to be promoting and having my place in the face. If I’m not performing, I’ll be promoting. What spots in Miami do you personally like to chill at? You gotta understand, I’m a street nigga, so you can always find me in the street. I do my booty club thing – I ain’t gonna say which particular one I be at. I’m more of the after-hours type of fella though. I go across the bridge every now and then but most of the time I’m in the hood, at the after-hours spots or in the booty club. You’ve been doing your thing for a while. What would you say to someone who thinks it’s easy to make a quick dollar in the music business? I mean, it could happen. Some people do come in and make a quick dollar; some people just take longer than others. All I can say is when you get your money, do good with what you get. When you make your cheese and do good with your bread, just take advantage of your opportunities and keep it moving. But some people do blow up overnight; that’s a possibility. Mine’s been more of a long road. Has it been difficult for you to come up in the rap game? It’s been hard as hell but it’s been good. Everything’s a working process, just like playing for the NFL. You play some games and tear your ACL, now you gotta get back in shape and come back. It’s been a tough terrain for me but I got some good things coming ahead.
Do you think this business is as shady as people make it out to be? How do you know if someone is real or not? Hell yeah, people are very shady in this business. Anything that deals with a lot of money is going to have shady people. If somebody says they’re going to do something and they don’t do it, they’re fake. Some people say they’re going to do something and when you call ‘em they don’t pick up. Then you see ‘em in the club and they say, “Why you ain’t call me?” They know I called ‘em; they just don’t be picking up ‘cause they flaw. The difference between real and flaw is, real people do what they say they’re going to do. How do you maintain a connection with your fans, as far as knowing what they want to hear from you? There’s a million muthafuckas like me. I ain’t the only one living day by day, beat to beat, check to check and making things happen. I’m an underdog nigga and it’s a lot of underdogs. I make music for people that’s in my situation and going through what I go through. That’s what keeps me having my fanbase. I do me and if they can relate to it, they’re gonna buy my CD. If they can’t relate, they’re gonna buy Puff Daddy. I keep my fans happy by doing Dirt. What’s something one of your fans has done that you’ll always remember? (laughs) I can’t even say what it is, but I had a fan do something real good for me with ice cream. I’m just going to leave it at that. Describe your personality outside of music. There is no personality outside of music. I is what I is. When I wake up, I’m Dirtbag; when I’m shitting on the toilet, I’m Dirtbag; when I’m asking the judge to do me a favor, I’m Dirtbag; when Daddy gotta pay the bills and get new clothes and shoes, I’m still Dirtbag. I’m still the same ol’ G. What would you like for your fans to be looking out for in the near future? The new single’s coming together. I’ve been talking with Ted Lucas from Slip N Slide, Cool & Dre, E-Class from Poe Boy and DJ Khaled. The bosses are coming together to help me out in my situation with this new album called Blanket of Trust. It’s going to be real big. Gator Boy Records will be in full effect. It’s still an Epidemic. //
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