DORROUGH - Ozone Magazine
DORROUGH - Ozone Magazine
DORROUGH - Ozone Magazine
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WELCOME TO DALLAS<br />
ALL<br />
STAR<br />
2010<br />
**special edition**<br />
FEATURING<br />
<strong>DORROUGH</strong><br />
+ DJ MR ROGERS // PARTY BOYZ<br />
BONE // DONDRIA // DOUGHSKI G<br />
FAT PIMP // RAY PAUL // B HAMP<br />
BLOCKBOI // DJ DROP // YOUNG T<br />
LIL TONY // TOMEKA PEARL // FAT B
WELCOME TO DALLAS<br />
ALL<br />
STAR<br />
2010<br />
**special edition**<br />
FEATURING<br />
DEF JAM’S<br />
BONE<br />
+<br />
DJ MR ROGERS // PARTY BOYZ<br />
BONE // DONDRIA // DOUGHSKI G<br />
FAT PIMP // RAY PAUL // B HAMP<br />
BLOCKBOI // DJ DROP // YOUNG T<br />
LIL TONY // TOMEKA PEARL // FAT B
PUBLISHER:<br />
Julia Beverly<br />
SPECIAL EDITIONS EDITOR:<br />
Jen McKinnon a.k.a.<br />
Ms. Rivercity<br />
CONTRIBUTORS & CREW:<br />
Edward “Pookie” Hall<br />
Jee’Van Brown<br />
Kisha Smith<br />
Maurice G. Garland<br />
Randy Roper<br />
Torrey Holmes<br />
SIDE A<br />
12 ALL STAR EDITORIAL<br />
10 CLUB LISTING<br />
10-13 DALLAS MAPS<br />
16 DJ DROP<br />
18 DJ MR ROGERS<br />
26-27 DONDRIA<br />
28-29 DOUGHSKI G<br />
8-9 EVENT LISTING<br />
30-31 FAT PIMP<br />
20-21 PARTY BOYZ<br />
22-24 <strong>DORROUGH</strong><br />
PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR:<br />
Malik Abdul<br />
STREET TEAMS:<br />
Urban South<br />
SUBSCRIPTIONS:<br />
To subscribe, send check or<br />
money order for $11 to:<br />
OZONE <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
644 Antone St. Suite 6<br />
Atlanta, GA 30318<br />
Phone: 404-350-3887<br />
Fax: 404-601-9523<br />
Web: www.ozonemag.com<br />
COVER CREDITS:<br />
Bone photo by Hannibal<br />
Matthews; Dorrough photo<br />
by SLFEMP.<br />
DISCLAIMER:<br />
OZONE does not take responsibility<br />
for unsolicited<br />
materials, misinformation,<br />
typographical errors, or misprints.<br />
The views contained<br />
herein do not necessarily<br />
reflect those of the publisher<br />
or its advertisers. Ads<br />
appearing in this magazine<br />
are not an endorsement or<br />
validation by OZONE <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
for products or services<br />
offered. All photos and illustrations<br />
are copyrighted by<br />
their respective artists. All<br />
other content is copyright<br />
2010 OZONE <strong>Magazine</strong>, all<br />
rights reserved. No portion<br />
of this magazine may be<br />
reproduced in any way<br />
without the written consent<br />
of the publisher. Printed in<br />
the USA.<br />
SIDE b<br />
7 2MUCH<br />
8 B HAMP<br />
9 BLOCKBOI<br />
10 DJ HOLLYWOOD<br />
12 DJ WHITE CHOCOLATE<br />
16-17 FAT B<br />
14 LIL TONY<br />
24-25 RAY PAUL<br />
26-27 TOMEKA PEARL<br />
18-19 YOUNG T<br />
20-22 BONE<br />
OZONE MAG // 7
DALLAS<br />
Event<br />
Listing<br />
Thursday, FebRUARY 11th<br />
Welcome to Dallas Happy Hour @ Beamers<br />
2443 Wallnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229<br />
4pm to 4am, 21 & Up Ladies, 23 & Up Gents<br />
214-902-6490<br />
All Star Tip Off Party w/ Ludacris, Allen Iverson,<br />
Letoya Luckett, Tank, & DJ Clue @ Palladium Ballroom<br />
- 1135 South Lamar St., Dallas, TX, 75215<br />
All Star Hollywood Soiree<br />
Hosted by Vivica Fox, Boris Kodjoe, Taraji, Columbus<br />
Short, Lamman Rucker, & Biz Markie @ Union<br />
Station - 400 South Houston St., Dallas, TX 75202<br />
Alonzo Mourning & Magic Johnson 8 Ball Challenge<br />
After Party w/ Doug E Fresh @ Kindal’s Soul<br />
Fusion Café<br />
10333 W. Technology Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220<br />
(I35 & Northwest Hwy, In Shadow of AMC Theatre)<br />
www.Kindals.com<br />
All Star Jump Off Hosted by The Game @ Skye Bar<br />
1217 Main St., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
General Admission $25+<br />
Table/VIP/Bottle Service 469-323-5148<br />
Dwayne Wade’s All Star Jump Off Partyw/ Trina,<br />
Brian (Day 26), Bu (Konvict Muzic), Bone (“Homegurl”),<br />
Tony Neal (CORE DJs) @ The Starlight Room<br />
603 Munger Ave., Dallas, TX - 214-560-8811<br />
Play N Skillz Welcome to All Star Affair w/ Bay Bay,<br />
Dallas Desire, Ken Hamlin, Inertia @ Plush<br />
1400 Main St., Dallas, TX<br />
Young Jeezy’s All Star Wknd Takeover w/ Nicki<br />
Minaj & Birdman Performing Live @ Cirque<br />
1930 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
Friday, FebRUARY 12th<br />
Mary J. Blige, Common, Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki<br />
Private Hangar Party @ Jet Aviation Hanger (Love<br />
Field Airport) - 7363 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas, TX<br />
75235<br />
Tickets: https://allstarvip2010.ticketleap.com<br />
Carmelo Anthony Presents Club Melo @ Beamers<br />
2443 Wallnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229<br />
8pm to 4am, 21 & Up Ladies, 23 & Up Gents<br />
214-902-6490<br />
Vibe <strong>Magazine</strong> All Star Comedy Explosion<br />
Hosted by Ricky Smiley w/ Bill Bellamy, Chris<br />
8 // OZONE MAG<br />
Spencer, Jay Lamont, Aries Spears @ The Majestic<br />
Theatre<br />
1925 Elm St., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
Shows @ 7pm & 10pm<br />
Tickets via TicketMaster<br />
Biggest Boss Party w/ Rick Ross & Shawty Lo<br />
@ Club Flow - 10945 Composite Dr., Dallas, TX<br />
VIP Tickets @ Da Bomb in Big T Bazaar<br />
VIP/Bottle Service call 214-366-FLOW<br />
All Star Clash of the Titans: NBA vs. NFL<br />
Hosted by Allen Iverson & Michael Vick<br />
@ Union Station<br />
400 South Houston St., Dallas, TX 75202<br />
Vibe <strong>Magazine</strong> All Star Affair<br />
Hosted by Laz Alonzo & Ken Hamilton<br />
Sounds by Biz Markie<br />
@ F.I.G. (Fashion Industry Gallery)<br />
1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201<br />
Trey Songz, Young Jeezy & Friends @ Kindal’s<br />
Soul Fusion Café<br />
10333 W. Technology Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220<br />
(I35 & Northwest Hwy, In Shadow of AMC<br />
Theatre)<br />
www.Kindals.com<br />
Lebron James & Drake Live @ AM/PM Lounge<br />
300 N. Akard, Dallas, TX 75201<br />
(Located in Mosaic Building)<br />
Tickets: TexasPartyScene.com<br />
All Star Jump Off Hosted by Derrick Rose & JR<br />
Smith @ Skye Bar<br />
1217 Main St., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
General Admission $50+<br />
Table/VIP/Bottle Service 469-323-5148<br />
Rosa Acosta Presents All Star Ladies Night<br />
Hosted by Boris Kodjoe, Hosea Chanchez, Brian<br />
White, Tank, Lance Gross @ Karma<br />
15203 Knoll Trail Drive, Dallas, TX 75248<br />
10pm – 2am<br />
Kenyon Martin, Michael Huff, & Dorrough<br />
Hosted by Ajia Nicole @ Plush<br />
1400 Main St., Dallas, TX<br />
Official Cash Money Birdman Bday Bash<br />
Music by DJ Green Lantern & DJ Holiday<br />
@ Sex In The City Lounge<br />
2616 Commerce Place, Dallas, TX<br />
TO’s All Star Welcome to Dallas Party @ Aloft<br />
Hotel - 1033 Young St., Dallas, TX<br />
Akon’s All Star Celebrity Bash @ Sting Ultra<br />
Lounge - 15240 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas, TX<br />
MyVIPAllStar.com<br />
5 Star Chicks Celeb All Star Edition<br />
Hosted by Nicki Minaj, Trina, Candi Redd @ Wish<br />
3001 Knox Street, Dallas, TX<br />
MyVIPAllStar.com
Play N Skillz Latin All Star Explosion<br />
Appearances by Pitbull & JJ Barea (Dallas Mavericks)<br />
@ Encore<br />
5361 Sears St, Dallas, TX 75206<br />
Young Jeezy All Star Wknd Takeover w/ Ludacris,<br />
Slim Thug, Trae, Webbie, Foxx & More Performing<br />
Live @ Cirque Nightclub<br />
1930 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
Saturday, FebRUARY 13th<br />
8th Annual TX Summer Music Conf. All Star Edition<br />
@ Maximedia Studios (10 AM - 6 PM)<br />
13300 Branch View Lane, Dallas, TX 75234<br />
Contact Info: Terry McGill 214-282-8933<br />
The All Star Weekend Network w/ Definition DJs,<br />
Jay Classik & Hustle Squad DJs, Chalie Boy & Dirty<br />
3rd, Fat B, Tum Tum & More @ The Mansion (11<br />
AM - 4 PM)<br />
2505 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX<br />
Contact: TheMillionDollaFamily@gmail.com<br />
Daytime Party Hosted by Terrence J @ Go Fish<br />
Ocean Club (Behind Galleria Mall)<br />
5301 Alpha Rd., Dallas, TX 75240<br />
2pm – 7pm<br />
Dorrough Music’s Gangsta Grillz/OZONE Release<br />
Party @ The Mansion - 2505 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX<br />
10pm - Late<br />
Nelly Presents Club Derrty @ Beamers<br />
2443 Wallnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229<br />
8pm to 4am, 21 & Up Ladies, 23 & Up Gents<br />
214-902-6490<br />
Nicki Minaj & Trina Live @ Club Flow<br />
10945 Composite Dr., Dallas, TX<br />
VIP Tickets @ Da Bomb in Big T Bazaar<br />
VIP/Bottle Service call 214-366-FLOW<br />
Katt Williams Live @ The Majestic Theatre<br />
1925 Elm St., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
Shows @ 7pm & 10pm<br />
Tickets via TicketMaster<br />
Vibe <strong>Magazine</strong> All Star Party Hosted by Gabrielle<br />
Union, Elise Neal, Gary Payton, Dwight Freeney, Ray<br />
Crockett, and more @ The Starck Club<br />
703 McKinny Ave., Dallas, TX<br />
9pm – 5am<br />
Vibe <strong>Magazine</strong> 30+ Sexy Party @ The Tower Club in<br />
Thanksgiving Tower - Sounds by Frances Jaye<br />
1601 Elm, 48th Floor, Dallas, TX 75201<br />
10pm – 2am<br />
30 & Over Only<br />
Drake Performing Live w/ Appearances by Young<br />
Money @ Kindal’s Soul Fusion Café<br />
10333 W. Technology Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220<br />
(I35 & Northwest Hwy, In Shadow of AMC Theatre)<br />
www.Kindals.com<br />
All Star Guest Appreciation Party Hosted by Allen<br />
Iverson @ Iron Cactus<br />
1520 Main St., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
VIP Admission Only, $200<br />
Table/VIP/Bottle Service 469-323-5148<br />
After Hours Hosted by Internet Vixen Tisha Marie<br />
@ Iniquity - 10821 Composite Dr., Dallas, TX<br />
2am - Until<br />
The Lavish Life w/ Jason Terry, Terrell Owens,<br />
Taraji Henson @ Wish Ultra Lounge<br />
3001 Knox Street, Dallas, TX<br />
MyVIPAllStar.com<br />
Ray J, Terrence J & Amber Rose @ Skye Bar<br />
1217 Main St., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
MTV Mixtape Daily All Star Party<br />
Hosted by Rahman Dukes & Shaheem Reid of<br />
MTV, Three 6 Mafia, Slim Thug, Marcus Spears,<br />
Play N Skillz, & Slim (112) @ Plush<br />
1400 Main St., Dallas, TX 75202<br />
Young Jeezy All Star Wknd Takeover w/ Plies<br />
Performing Live @ Cirque Nightclub<br />
1930 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
Sunday, FebRUARY 14th<br />
The Finale w/ Diddy & Friends @ Beamers<br />
2443 Wallnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229<br />
8pm to 4am, 21 & Up Ladies, 23 & Up Gents<br />
214-902-6490<br />
Waka Flocka Flame Live @ Club Flow<br />
10945 Composite Dr., Dallas, TX<br />
VIP Tickets @ Da Bomb in Big T Bazaar<br />
VIP/Bottle Service call 214-366-FLOW<br />
Grand Finale Hosted by Kenny Smith & Michael<br />
Vick - Sounds by Kid Capri<br />
All Star Game Watch Party 6pm – 2am, 21 & Over<br />
@ Union Station<br />
400 South Houston St., Dallas, TX 75202<br />
Dwele, Raheem Devaughn, Kjon @ Kindal’s Soul<br />
Fusion Café<br />
10333 W. Technology Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220<br />
(I35 & Northwest Hwy, In Shadow of AMC<br />
Theatre)<br />
www.Kindals.com<br />
Young Jeezy All Star Wknd Takeover w/ Drake<br />
Performing Live & Special Guests B.G. & Juvenile<br />
@ Cirque Nightclub<br />
1930 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75201<br />
For the Love of All Star hosted by Ray J @ Wish<br />
Ultra Lounge - 3001 Knox Street, Dallas, TX<br />
MyVIPAllStar.com<br />
All Star Valentines Day Finale @ Plush<br />
1400 Main St., Dallas, TX 75202<br />
Disclaimer: If any of these artists don’t show up, blame the promoter not us.<br />
OZONE MAG // 9
DAllas<br />
CLUB LISTING<br />
2026 Ultra Lounge<br />
2026 Commerce St.,<br />
Dallas, TX 75201<br />
(214) 390-6230<br />
8 Lounge<br />
1906 Greenville Ave.,<br />
Dallas, TX 75206<br />
AM/PM Lounge<br />
300 N. Akard, Dallas, TX<br />
Beamers<br />
2443 Wallnut Hill Ln<br />
Dallas, TX 75229<br />
214-902-6490<br />
Bijou<br />
2301 N. Collins St.,<br />
Arlington, TX 76011<br />
(817) 274-2916<br />
Carson’s Live<br />
17727 Dallas Parkway,<br />
Dallas, TX 75287<br />
Club Chrome<br />
2408 E. Belknap St.<br />
Fort Worth, TX 76111<br />
(817) 222-2244<br />
Cirque Nightclub<br />
1930 Pacific Ave., Dallas,<br />
TX 75201<br />
(214) 234-8404<br />
Club Che/Kindal’s<br />
10333 W. Technology<br />
Blvd., Dallas, TX<br />
(214) 353-8701<br />
Club Flow<br />
10945 Composite Dr.,<br />
Dallas, TX, 75220<br />
(214) 366-3569<br />
Club Mystique<br />
455 E. University Blvd<br />
Odessa, TX 79762<br />
432-363-8531<br />
Crystal’s Nightclub<br />
3008 E. Pioneer Pkwy<br />
Arlington, TX 76010<br />
Encore<br />
5361 Sears St, Dallas, TX<br />
Iron Cactus<br />
1520 Main St., Dallas,<br />
TX 75201<br />
Karma<br />
15203 Knoll Trail Drive,<br />
Dallas, TX 75248<br />
Level 5<br />
10733 Spangler Rd.,<br />
Dallas, TX 75220<br />
972-501-9935<br />
Mambo Café<br />
2020 North Lamar St<br />
Dallas, TX 75202<br />
(214) 999-0935<br />
The Mansion<br />
2505 Pacific Ave., Dallas,<br />
TX<br />
Palladium Ballroom<br />
1135 South Lamar St.,<br />
Dallas, TX, 75215<br />
(972) 343-2444<br />
Plush<br />
1400 Main St.<br />
Dallas, TX 75202<br />
(214) 741-7587<br />
Rack Daddy’s<br />
955 N Cooper St.,<br />
Arlington, TX 76011<br />
The Ranch Bar & Grille<br />
701 106th St., Arlington,<br />
TX 76011<br />
(817) 640-5114<br />
Skye Bar<br />
1217 Main St., Dallas,<br />
TX 75201<br />
The Starlight Room<br />
603 Munger Ave., Dallas,<br />
TX<br />
214-560-8811<br />
Sting Ultra Lounge<br />
15240 Dallas Pkwy.,<br />
Dallas, TX<br />
Stone Trail<br />
14833 Midway Road,<br />
Addison, TX 75001<br />
(972) 701-9600<br />
TePhejez<br />
2226 Elm Street, Dallas,<br />
TX 75201<br />
(214) 744-5299<br />
Union Station<br />
400 South Houston St.,<br />
Dallas, TX 75202<br />
(214) 571-5700<br />
Wish Ultra Lounge<br />
3001 Knox Street, Dallas,<br />
TX<br />
(214) 389-5723<br />
DAllas<br />
AREA MAP<br />
10 // OZONE MAG
Map courtesy of visitdallas.com<br />
Many more Dallas area maps are available online at<br />
http://www.visitdallas.com/visitors/maps.php<br />
OZONE MAG // 11
DOWNTOWN<br />
DAllas<br />
MAP<br />
12 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 13
ALLSTAR<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
I<br />
apologize. It’s only right to start by expressing<br />
my regrets that we couldn’t include all<br />
the DFW VIPs in this special edition. There<br />
was definitely some rhyme and reason for who<br />
was interviewed, but there was also a lack of<br />
time. And some of y’all don’t have good phone<br />
numbers anymore (or your girl was lying when<br />
I called).<br />
As for the ones that are featured, I mostly selected<br />
people we haven’t shown love to in the<br />
past. We know there are a lot of OG’s in DFW,<br />
and many of them we’ve already featured in<br />
the mag or on the website, so we wanted to<br />
give the up-and-comers a look in OZONE too.<br />
OZONE always supports the indie grind and<br />
the underdogs. We also took suggestions from<br />
DJs and our reps, so essentially the movers and<br />
shakers of Dallas put together this lineup. Plus,<br />
there are a few names on the radar we plan to<br />
showcase in monthly issues yet to come, so we<br />
held off for now.<br />
I started to shout out the folks missing, then<br />
realized it’s impossible to quantify them all.<br />
So, just know that I know who’s who, or I know<br />
someone that knows who’s who, and we have<br />
respect for everyone equally. We also have a<br />
lot of future opportunities for Patiently Waiting<br />
articles, reviews, photo<br />
galleries, audio/video/event<br />
features on<br />
<strong>Ozone</strong>Mag.com, not<br />
to mention the Super<br />
Bowl issue next year.<br />
If you feel you’ve<br />
been overlooked<br />
or have something<br />
to submit, feel free<br />
to reach out (Jen@<br />
<strong>Ozone</strong>Mag.com).<br />
There are two<br />
special people I<br />
do need to thank<br />
for their help. Our<br />
rep Pookie of UrbanSouth<br />
provided photos, input, and a neverending<br />
street phone book. Without that I’d be<br />
lost. And shouts to my pa’tna DJ Merk, CEO of<br />
NGenius Ent., for keeping it 100 whenever I<br />
asked a question. Merk has his own artists, but<br />
he put me up on a lot of rappers outside of his<br />
camp. Really, Merk made me a fan of the whole<br />
Dallas movement in the first place, and he’s<br />
not even from there originally.<br />
Dallas is by far one of my favorite places –<br />
the culture, the movement, all of it. In many<br />
ways this city’s Hip Hop movement parallels<br />
Atlanta’s, and the comparisons are obvious –<br />
but there’s a big difference as well. Dallas’ full<br />
potential hasn’t been tapped yet. People are<br />
willing to grow, and most don’t have the “I’m a<br />
celebrity already, minus the check” mentality. I<br />
fux with people like that. And I predict the rest<br />
of the country will catch on soon enough too.<br />
Especially after All Star visitors see how y’all<br />
get down. BTW, have you seen the weekend<br />
event listing Am I gonna have time to eat<br />
Someone better take me to Rudy’s and Sweet<br />
Georgia Brown. “I finna hit dat hoe.”<br />
- Ms. Rivercity<br />
(Below: Louisiana Cash, Kiki J, Mr Lucci, Ms<br />
Rivercity, & Mr Pookie @ K104)<br />
14 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 15
DJ DROP<br />
Words by Jee’Van Brown<br />
DJ Drop isn’t afraid to take<br />
risks. As CEO and one of the<br />
founders of the Definition DJs,<br />
Drop has created his own lane<br />
and established a coalition<br />
that is growing more and more<br />
each day. He’s responsible for<br />
breaking some of the biggest<br />
party records that have exploded<br />
out of the Dallas AREA in the<br />
past year, and in doing so, he’s<br />
gained major respect.<br />
As a founder of the Definition DJs, what<br />
are you guy’s working on right now<br />
Right now we’re letting the whole world know<br />
about the power of the Definition DJs. We’re<br />
trying to get people to know that it’s not just<br />
about the dancing music. The Definition DJs<br />
are really overlooked in this market, but we’re<br />
really responsible for the whole D-Town movement<br />
that’s going on right now. If you notice<br />
every record that’s popped has been a party<br />
record, and that right there let’s you know<br />
it comes from the club. It was really ground<br />
breaking to me because a lot of DJs gave me<br />
get credit for the beginning of this movement.<br />
I think the Dallas movement has been going<br />
on for over several years, but this “Boogie”<br />
movement is the new Dallas movement.<br />
“Boogie” kind of combines your swag with your<br />
personality, and also the music. “Boogie” is a<br />
word that we use down here often, like if it’s a<br />
day where you haven’t made that much money<br />
then it’s a “slow boogie day.” If you’re about to<br />
go whoop someone’s ass, then you’re in “gangsta<br />
boogie mode.”<br />
You were around before the beginning of the<br />
digital era of MP3s, Serato, and downloads.<br />
Has the transition helped or hurt you, and<br />
how has the game changed from your perspective<br />
To be honest, I love it. I love the digital age<br />
coming from the analog era. I was fully trained<br />
in the analog era, I’m the last of a dying breed.<br />
Other people call me “the last of the true DJ”<br />
just due to the fact that I can still get on vinyl<br />
and still go as hard as I do on digital. When I’m<br />
on Serato, it’s still the same. Some people get<br />
it twisted. They think Serato is going to make it<br />
easier, but it’s not. The one thing Serato does do<br />
is create a better show and enhance everything<br />
you’re doing, but it doesn’t make anything<br />
easier.<br />
Are you DJing anywhere for All Star Weekend<br />
I’m DJing at Club Mystique in Ft. Worth on<br />
Thursday, at Southside Lamar on Friday, at Mansion<br />
on Saturday, and at the Grand Opening of<br />
Fat Dallas on Sunday. //<br />
What made you want to start the Definition<br />
DJs, and for the people who don’t know,<br />
what does a DJ Coalition do<br />
I can’t speak on other DJ Coalitions, because I<br />
don’t really agree with the way some of them<br />
are run. In the beginning we were only supposed<br />
to be a three-man crew. It was going to<br />
be a DJ version of a rap group – we were going<br />
to go out and perform through turntables,<br />
mixing, and MCing on the mic. It started with<br />
me, a Latin DJ named DJ Lil E, and DJ Chicken<br />
from New Orleans. The concept was that I<br />
would bring the hood crowd, Lil E would bring<br />
the Spanish crowd, and Chicken would bring<br />
the New Orleans crowd. The main goal I had<br />
was to put my city on, so that’s why we took it<br />
from a crew to a coalition.<br />
How did the name “Boogie” come about for<br />
the new movement<br />
You would have to see it to really understand<br />
it – it’s dancing, but it’s really not dancing.<br />
16 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 17
DJ MR ROGERS<br />
Words by Maurice G. Garland<br />
OVER the last FEW years, Dallas<br />
has eclipsed Atlanta as the dance<br />
capital OF Hip Hop. The latest<br />
craze comes courtesy of DJ Mr.<br />
Rogers and the Party Boyz hit<br />
“Flex.” Here is Rogers’ explanation<br />
OF “Flex” and his take on the boogie<br />
movement as a whole.<br />
Dallas is starting to become known for a lot<br />
of dance music. Was it always like this<br />
Dallas music has always had a club-like<br />
energy to it. It’s similar to Atlanta, so being<br />
in the club has always been a Dallas thing.<br />
Greg Street was in Dallas as much as he was<br />
in Atlanta at one point. I’m not sure if he was<br />
bringing music back and forth, but the music<br />
has the same style and essence. We never<br />
sounded like Houston. Lil Jon used to shout<br />
us out all the time on his songs because of<br />
that. The sound has always been here, it’s just<br />
now blowing up. For so long Dallas never<br />
had an identity. We never had an artist other<br />
than The D.O.C. but even with him the music<br />
sounded more West Coast because he was<br />
with Dr. Dre and N.W.A. We never had artists<br />
who we could call our own. But that’s starting<br />
to happen now.<br />
Explain to us the DJ Mr. Rogers and the<br />
Party Boyz make up.<br />
DJ Mr. Rogers and the Party Boyz is like Lil<br />
Jon and the Eastside Boyz. I’m the DJ and<br />
producer. We all handle the lyrics and ideas<br />
because we are all creative minds. We all went<br />
to Prairie View A&M, which we call the New<br />
Motown now because of all the music that’s<br />
coming from there. They used to get the<br />
party crunk all the time, by dancing and boogying.<br />
I was DJ and just developed a record<br />
for what they were doing and that’s how the<br />
Party Boyz came to life.<br />
So people are calling Prairie View the New<br />
Motown<br />
Yes, they are. I went to Prairie View and I graduated<br />
from there. When I came there a Dallas<br />
record couldn’t even get played, but that has<br />
changed. We’ve broken a lot of records there<br />
like Trap Stars “Get It Big,” and “Halle Berry”<br />
which was made by Superstar before Hurricane<br />
Chris blew it up. Plus the school is the<br />
closest black college to the West Coast, so we<br />
get all kinds of people coming through there.<br />
We have great alumni like DJ Premier. Prairie<br />
View doesn’t even have a music program, but<br />
we’ve got it popping out there.<br />
So how did your hit song “Flex” come about<br />
It started at a party at Prairie View. Dude was<br />
out there in the party and I played “Paper<br />
Planes” by M.I.A. with different acapellas over<br />
it. They did a routine to it, dancing behind<br />
girls, incorporating the dance into the beat.<br />
Then they started getting behind the girls and<br />
putting their hand on their head. It looked fun.<br />
After that I was with on the way back riding<br />
from Dallas to Houston. I made the beat in the<br />
car and my manager Cam was like, “It’s gonna<br />
work.” The whole pattern of the beat rolls with<br />
the boogie. I brought it back that next day to<br />
Hump Day on the Hill. I told them to go out<br />
and “hit that hoe,” which is what we say when<br />
mean “do the dance.” I played the beat, and the<br />
whole crowd was doing it. We knocked out the<br />
song the next week and took it to the club and<br />
it was a wrap after that.<br />
Earlier you said you guys are like Lil Jon and<br />
the Eastside Boyz. Ae you trying to brand this<br />
as your sound, the way he did with crunk<br />
The position he played in the group is what I<br />
mean. That’s my role. I don’t want to be limited<br />
to one sound. He has an incredible sound but<br />
it got stuck up under that moniker. I’m one<br />
third of DSF productions. We did “Swang” for<br />
Trae, “Walk Like That” for Hurricane Chris, as<br />
well as some production for Boss Hogg Outlaws<br />
and “Walk That Walk” for Dorrough. So we<br />
have a lot of sounds to offer. //<br />
18 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 19
arty<br />
oyzWords by Ms. Rivercity<br />
20 // OZONE MAG
Discovered by DJ Mr. Rogers at<br />
Prairie View A&M, The Party Boyz<br />
were known for a dance they had<br />
everyone doing around campus –<br />
but they weren’t actually rappers.<br />
After linking up with Rogers,<br />
they recorded their first song<br />
ever, “Flex,” and quickly entered<br />
THE Billboard charts. Here the<br />
newly signed Hitz Committee/Jive<br />
artists explain how they fit into<br />
the new Dallas music movement.<br />
How did the whole Party Boyz’ group situation<br />
come to be<br />
Iceberg Slim: It all started when we were at<br />
school at Prairie View. We had a dance we were<br />
doin’ at parties and everyone at the school was<br />
doin’ it so we had a lil buzz goin’. Everyone was<br />
tellin’ us we should get a song to go with this<br />
dance. We didn’t pay it no mind, we just kept<br />
doin’ us. We got call from Mr. Rogers and he<br />
said he had an opportunity for us. We met up<br />
with him and got a beat. We took it home to all<br />
our friends, and everyone was excited about it.<br />
A couple weeks later we did the song.<br />
Did “Flex” catch on fast with everyone already<br />
being familiar with the dance first<br />
Iceberg Slim: Everybody at school jumped on<br />
board right off the bat. We got a lot of love just<br />
‘cause of who we were at the school. We were<br />
always the cool kids at school, but we didn’t<br />
know we could end up doing this. That was<br />
our first time ever being recorded. We’re fresh<br />
in the game.<br />
Besides Texas, where else has the “Flex”<br />
record gotten a lot of play<br />
Iceberg Slim: We took over the whole south<br />
really quick – Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma,<br />
Arkansas, Mississippi. We’re working on the<br />
Midwest.<br />
Is everyone in the group from Dallas Did<br />
you know each other before going to Prairie<br />
View<br />
Iceberg Slim: We’re all from Dallas. There’s a<br />
misconception because we went to school at<br />
Prairie View, but we all grew up in Dallas.<br />
Duce Phat: Lil Pudge is my brother. Everyone<br />
thinks we’re twins ‘cause we look just alike, but<br />
we’re not.<br />
Lil Pudge: He’s older than me. And Big Chris,<br />
that’s our blood cousin.<br />
Big Chris: That’s me, a.k.a. HiC. I’m from the Cliff,<br />
which is a hood in Dallas. My granny is the one<br />
that talked me into going to going to college.<br />
When I graduated high school I was just tryna<br />
get this money, but after two years I finally<br />
went [to college]. A year later we started doin’<br />
this.<br />
So did y’all finish school or did you put it on<br />
hold for now<br />
Iceberg Slim: Some of us put it off. Some of us<br />
are still in school.<br />
Duce Phat: Well, I put school on hold for now.<br />
Big Chris: I was never really into school. I was<br />
just seeing where it would take me.<br />
What’s your perception on the boogie movement<br />
in Dallas<br />
Iceberg Slim: As far as all the haters, I think the<br />
reason they’re hatin’ is ‘cause they can’t do it.<br />
We don’t do it for the haters – we do it for the<br />
ladies. Think about it like this: when rap music<br />
came out it was made for people to dance to,<br />
and then it evolved into the lyrical stuff. If they<br />
don’t like it, oh well. We’re just gon’ boogie our<br />
way to the top.<br />
Duce Phat: We’re from Dallas. We like to party,<br />
handle our business, get money, and boogie.<br />
We don’t hate on nobody. Life’s too short. We<br />
just boogie and do us.<br />
What are each of you like as individuals<br />
Describe your personalities.<br />
Iceberg Slim: I’m the player, the ladies man, the<br />
lover. I’m always takin’ my shirt off. All I wanna<br />
do is have fun by any means necessary. I love<br />
to party. I love Polo – Polo is the only thing I<br />
know. Shout out to Ralph Lauren.<br />
Duce Phat: I have a 2 year old son. I love to<br />
party. Coogi is all I wear. I wear Coogi from my<br />
boxers, to my promotional T’s, I might even<br />
get a Coogi part in my head.<br />
Lil Pudge: Since I’m the youngest out of the<br />
group, everyone thinks I’m the one raising<br />
all the hell. But not me personally. I love the<br />
ladies, I enjoy what I’m doing. And yeah, me<br />
and my brother are Coogi fanatics.<br />
Big Chris: I’m the more laid back one. You can<br />
hear it in my lyrics.<br />
What else do you have going on right now<br />
and coming up<br />
Iceberg Slim: The first day our video was on<br />
WorldStarHipHop we got 2.3 million views.<br />
Before the video was even put up, we had<br />
1,000 radio spins a week. We got our Welcome<br />
to Dallas mixtape droppin’ All Star Weekend.<br />
We’re #43 on the Billboards. We’re coming<br />
soon to BET, Spring Bling, MTV, TRL, all of that.<br />
Dallas got next. PartyBoyzFlex.com. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 21
orrough<br />
Words by Ms. Rivercity<br />
Photo by SLFEMP<br />
22 // OZONE MAG
SINCE’s HE’S A Dallas ambassador,<br />
we had Mr. Yeah Buddy break down<br />
what’s popping off in his city<br />
All Star Weekend. Along with his<br />
Gangsta Grillz release party, Dorrough<br />
also lets us know about<br />
some other hot spots in D-town, as<br />
well as artists he’s working with<br />
on his label. Be sure to check out<br />
Dorrough’s other cover feature<br />
on our annual Sex Issue hitting<br />
newsstands soon.<br />
You’ve been putting out a lot of new videos<br />
and collaborations. What do you have circulating<br />
on the net right now<br />
I just put out a new track with Yo Gotti called<br />
“Hood Chick Fetish” off the Gangsta Grillz I’m<br />
droppin’ All Star Weekend. It’s pickin’ up a lot.<br />
DJs are spinnin’ it in the club. It’s gonna be a<br />
big record. We’ve also been pushin’ the “Number<br />
23” record. We just dropped the “Caramel<br />
Sundae” video. It picked up a big buzz. It got<br />
like 6 million views on Worldstarhiphop.<br />
Is the Gangsta Grillz mixtape your first<br />
nationally released mixtape I know you’ve<br />
done other tapes here and there, but is this<br />
your biggest one so far<br />
I did a lot of mixtapes in the past, but this is<br />
my first major mixtape. I also believe I’m the<br />
first Texas artist to do a Gangsta Grillz, if I’m not<br />
mistaken.<br />
How did you link up with Drama for this<br />
mixtape Was it something you reached out<br />
to him to do<br />
One day we ran into each other and he was<br />
spinnin’ the “Ice Cream Paint Job” record. This<br />
was back in the summertime. We exchanged<br />
numbers and after that we started hittin’ each<br />
other up for drops and different things I was<br />
doing. I started givin’ him other records that<br />
were on my album and he thought they were<br />
jammin’ so we started talkin’ about doin’ a<br />
mixtape. I wanted to do something after the<br />
album [was released] and he was cool with<br />
it. After the album dropped I started putting<br />
together mixtape tracks, which are on the<br />
Gangsta Grillz that’s being released All Star<br />
Weekend.<br />
What’s the experience been like for you<br />
since “Ice Cream Pain Job” hit number one<br />
This is probably not where you saw yourself<br />
years ago; I know you used to have basketball<br />
dreams.<br />
It’s just fast. One day I’ll be here, the next<br />
day I’m there. I do a lot of stuff so fast. That<br />
was probably the main thing I had to adjust<br />
to, living a faster life than I was [before]. I’m<br />
adjusted to it now. That’s been the experience.<br />
Everything comes fast. You make some<br />
mistakes, you learn and grow from ‘em. So<br />
that was the process, and now I’m more of a<br />
OZONE MAG // 23
mature artist than I was a year ago, and now I<br />
see a whole different lane for where I want to<br />
go with my music.<br />
You put out a huge remix for “Ice Cream Paint<br />
Job” and you have some records with Three<br />
6 Mafia, Yo Gotti, and a lot of other people.<br />
What’s it’s feel like to work with artists that<br />
have been in the game for a while<br />
I grew up listenin’ to Three 6 Mafia. To me I feel<br />
like they’re veterans in the game. Snoop Dogg<br />
is a legend in the game. I’m on Juvenile’s new<br />
single “We Be Getting Money” with Shawty Lo.<br />
I feel like the artists I grew up listenin’ to and<br />
now I’m workin’ with, it’s an honor just be doing<br />
it. I grew up listenin’ to Lil Flip, and to get<br />
him on my album shows how far you can go<br />
with the music. I’ve worked with a lot of artists<br />
and I plan on working with a lot more. Mainly<br />
I’m trying to get to [the point] where people<br />
respect me as an artist.<br />
How do you plan to get that respect<br />
One thing I can say I’m proud of is that I came<br />
out with my own lane when I put my singles<br />
out. I didn’t have features on none of my<br />
singles, not “Walk That Walk,” “Ice Cream Paint<br />
Job,” or “Wired to the T.” Those were all just me<br />
rapping, and a lot of people nowadays don’t<br />
really do that. I feel like the ones that come out<br />
and stand on their own two feet stay in the<br />
game longer than most other artists.<br />
What about the artists within your camp<br />
Primetime Click and NGenius Entertainment<br />
What’s the lineup look like<br />
I’m President of the NGenius label. DJ Merk<br />
and Cash Capone are the CEOs. We made that<br />
up in college. The artists are me, Lil Tony - an<br />
upcoming artist making some noise in Dallas,<br />
Da Blockboi, and a singer named D Jo. Primetime<br />
Click is my imprint that I put together.<br />
Blockboi is in that also, and we got Yung Lott<br />
in the Bay Area, and Teddy B who’s in Houston.<br />
We got Norm T and Q Smith, he produced “Halle<br />
Berry” and “Caramel Sundae.” He’s gonna be<br />
a big producer. We’re putting our first official<br />
Primetime Click single that’s on the Gangsta<br />
Grillz too. It’s called “Stop Light,” produced by<br />
Q Smith. It’s gonna be big by summertime. I<br />
want the brand to be bigger than me, so I’m<br />
putting a lot into that.<br />
This is the first time Dallas has hosted the All<br />
Star game. What do you think it’ll be like<br />
Man, it’s gonna be crazy! It’s gonna be different<br />
from any other All Star game. I was at the<br />
one in Houston a couple years. As far as the<br />
Hip Hop scene and everybody coming down,<br />
//Dorrough<br />
continued<br />
they’re definitely gon’ have a good experience<br />
and see how we do thangs in Dallas. We’re<br />
very unique, from the club nightlife, to our<br />
fads in fashion, to the spots we hit up, to the<br />
food. It’s gon’ be real exciting. Everybody’s<br />
gon’ leave with a good taste in their mouth.<br />
On that note, what are some food spots<br />
people should check out while they’re in<br />
Dallas<br />
You gotta hit up Rudy’s Chicken that everyone<br />
hears about. You gotta eat Hall’s Chicken as<br />
well. Sweet Georgia Brown is a big spot in<br />
Dallas. TD’s BBQ is a big spot. William’s Chicken<br />
too, we got a lot of chicken restaurants.<br />
There’s more, but those are the main spots.<br />
What clubs are jumping off out there<br />
On Saturday you’ve got The Mansion. That’s<br />
one of the newer, biggest spots. On All Star<br />
Weekend I will be hosting my Gangsta Grillz/<br />
OZONE Release Party there Saturday night.<br />
You’ve also got Club Beamers; that’s a big<br />
spot. Level 5 goes down on Sunday. Cirque<br />
goes down on Friday and Saturday. The Palladium<br />
is gon’ jump off that Friday. Dallas has<br />
so many club and nightlife spots. It’s crazy.<br />
They’re all spread out though.<br />
When people come to town, where do they<br />
go to get a fresh Dorrough-type haircut<br />
Quality Cuts off Pleasure Run. My barber’s<br />
name is Malcolm and he’s the one that freshens<br />
everybody up and gives ‘em my official<br />
Dorrough fade. That’s the spot I recommend.<br />
What else do you want to mention to everybody<br />
coming to your city<br />
I just want to let everybody know that they<br />
should pick up the Gangsta Grillz featuring artists<br />
like Shawty Lo, OJ da Juiceman, Yo Gotti,<br />
Diamond from Crime Mob, and Chalie Boy. It’s<br />
gon’ be a big project in the streets. It’ll be at<br />
all the mom and pops, it’ll be at Big T Bizarre;<br />
they gon’ see and hear it everywhere. //<br />
24 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 25
ondria<br />
Words by Ms. Rivercity<br />
Photo by Derek Blanks<br />
26 // OZONE MAG
23-year-old songstress Dondria<br />
is exploding on the scene with her<br />
R&B song “You’re the One.” After<br />
amassing a YouTube audience comparable<br />
to some major artists,<br />
The Dallas native was discovered<br />
by Jermaine Dupri and signed to<br />
So So Def. Now that her album is<br />
nearly complete, Dondria talks<br />
about how she got her start, and<br />
publicly singing the National<br />
Anthem for the first time.<br />
Tell us how you got serious with your singing<br />
career.<br />
In ’06 I put my first video up on YouTube where<br />
I was singing “Love” by Musiq Soulchild acapella.<br />
I wanted to see the opinions of people<br />
other than my family and friends. I knew<br />
they’d be straight honest: either I sucked or I<br />
was good. I wasn’t trying to get a deal. A year<br />
later I had put up 25 videos. I reached a million<br />
views on the video I did for Ciara’s “Promise.”<br />
My name was getting popular and people<br />
were requesting videos. People were trying to<br />
collaborate on records and even trying to sign<br />
me to underground labels.<br />
How did Jermaine Dupri hear about you<br />
Someone told him, “Go look at this girl on<br />
YouTube singing other people’s songs. She’s really<br />
dope.” It took him a while. I guess at first he<br />
was thinking, why would he watch someone<br />
singing other people’s songs Eventually he<br />
went and looked. In addition to the numbers,<br />
he saw the talent. I think he was impressed<br />
because he hit me up and wanted to work<br />
with me. I signed with him about 6 months<br />
after that.<br />
You have a song on the radio called “You’re<br />
the One.” When did that come out<br />
It was released in November so we’re workin’<br />
that. I’m actually about to start a promo tour<br />
to work the record in surrounding cities like<br />
Chattanooga, Augusta, Macon, Charlotte,<br />
places like that.<br />
Have you been working with other writers or<br />
do you write music as well<br />
I’ve been working with people like Johnta Austin.<br />
Bryan Cox wrote a song, and some others.<br />
I wrote some things on the mixtape I put out.<br />
I’m getting the album together; it’s supposed<br />
to come out in March.<br />
have 20 songs, so we’ll see if it makes the cut.<br />
It’s intended to be for the album.<br />
Do you have a title yet<br />
Yeah, it’s gonna be entitled Dondria Vs. Phatfffat.<br />
Phatfffat was my username on YouTube.<br />
My college roommate gave me the nickname<br />
because of how much I eat and I’m so little.<br />
The deeper meaning of the title is, Dondria is<br />
the artist coming out, and everybody is about<br />
to see that she’s more than the Phatfffat on<br />
YouTube singing other people’s songs.<br />
Did you have any formal music training<br />
when you were growing up<br />
I’ve been singing in church since I was like 3.<br />
My mom put me in the youth choir. Once I<br />
got into middle school, I started recognizing<br />
the talent and figured out that this is what I<br />
wanted to do. That’s when I started taking formal<br />
voice lessons. I did that in middle school,<br />
all through high school, and even into college.<br />
For those who haven’t heard your music yet,<br />
do you have more of an R&B sound or it is<br />
like pop/crossover<br />
I’m taking the R&B route.<br />
You’ve been working a lot in Atlanta. Did<br />
you move to Atlanta<br />
You could say I moved to Atlanta. I’m out here<br />
6 to 8 months out of the year. You could really<br />
say I live in Atlanta and Dallas.<br />
Are you going to be home in Dallas for All<br />
Star Weekend<br />
Yes I am, actually. I’m really excited because<br />
I’m gonna be singing the National Anthem at<br />
one of the games. I’m excited, but nervous.<br />
What else do you want to let people know<br />
about<br />
Stay on the lookout for the single “You’re the<br />
One.” It’s spreading pretty quickly – it’s on<br />
iTunes and it’s on the Billboard charts. That<br />
makes me very happy because I’m not even<br />
really out yet. My mixtape Dondria Duets is<br />
available for free. It gives people a feel for me<br />
‘cause they’re still trying to figure out who I<br />
am. It’s a small introduction. You can find that<br />
on Global14.com – that’s J.D.’s website. And<br />
you can see my videos on YouTube.com/Phatfffat.<br />
I also have Myspace.com/DondriaNicoleMusic<br />
and on Twitter it’s @Dondria. //<br />
What about collaborations for the album<br />
I have one with Johnta Austin and Bow Wow<br />
that might be on the album. At this point we<br />
OZONE MAG // 27
oughski G<br />
Words by Ms. Rivercity<br />
Photo by Edward “Pookie” Hall<br />
28 // OZONE MAG
EVEN THOUGH HE’S A familiar name<br />
in the Dallas area, Doughski G<br />
isn’t actually a native OF the city.<br />
Born in California, Doughski G<br />
didn’t earn his stripes as a D-Town<br />
rapper until HE WENT on the road<br />
with Pookie & Lucci a few years<br />
ago and put out the regional<br />
smash “She Baad.”<br />
Take us back to how you got started.<br />
I’ve been a serious artist in Dallas about three<br />
to five years now. I feel like now is the time<br />
for me; back then I was on some other shit.<br />
I started out pushing a group called T.M.A. –<br />
they were some buddies of mine. I was getting<br />
them into parties, clubs, and all that. One<br />
day someone [challenged me] and told me I<br />
couldn’t do it, so I started doin’ me. I was doing<br />
shows and I bumped into Pookie and Lucci.<br />
They took me on the road and that’s how I got<br />
my first paid show and my first paid verse. I<br />
stuck with it ever since.<br />
What happened with your career after that<br />
My brother sings and raps, so we did a little<br />
mix CD together and we were selling ‘em at the<br />
club. That’s when I really saw people liking me.<br />
From sittin’ in the trap freestylin’, to freestylin’<br />
on the radio 97.9 the Beat, to battling on MTV<br />
2, I did all that and it started opening people’s<br />
eyes. DJs started reaching out to me. I dropped<br />
a mixtape in 2008 called Just Feel Me Bro with<br />
DJ Q. I had a song on there called “She Baad.”<br />
That’s the song that a lot of people know you<br />
for, right<br />
Yeah. A female friend of mine made me make<br />
the song and it popped. I shot a video in November<br />
of 2008 and that’s what really elevated<br />
the song. It took off in 2009 and it’s still got<br />
legs. I go out of town for shows every week<br />
pretty much – from Kansas, to Oklahoma,<br />
Arkansas, Louisiana, east/west/south Texas.<br />
Where were you born You’re not from Dallas<br />
originally.<br />
I was born in Inglewood, California and I was<br />
partially raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. I’ve<br />
been in Dallas since ’96.<br />
With you coming from other regions, what<br />
do you bring to the Dallas sound<br />
I bring more of a street essence to the game,<br />
but I don’t want to be an artist that can only<br />
make street music. You’ve got artists that<br />
can only rap about dope, but I just want to<br />
rap about real life situations that an average<br />
person goes through. I wanna be a regular<br />
nigga, and that’s what I put in my music. I<br />
don’t boogie, but at the same time I make<br />
good music that works. I’m a songwriter more<br />
than I am a rapper.<br />
According to how you describe your overall<br />
aim with music, would you say “She Baad”<br />
was out of your normal element<br />
Well, I made a mixtape with 28 songs and 2<br />
of ‘em were about females. To this day they’re<br />
both bubblin’ in the clubs, which is crazy to<br />
me. I ain’t gonna say I made the boogie music<br />
– I respect it to the fullest – but it’s not what I<br />
do. But the song fits with that sound. When I<br />
was making the song, I just looked at it like a<br />
regular cat would do lookin’ at a woman. The<br />
response I got let me know I stayed in my element.<br />
DJs and real cats on the street came to<br />
me like, “You did it right.” That song changed<br />
my life.<br />
What have you been working on since then<br />
My main focus was to keep moving, make<br />
new music, stay in my element, and make<br />
fans that I gained from “She Baad” happy at<br />
the same time. I got a mixtape with OG Ron<br />
C called Still On It that I’m about to drop after<br />
I complete my album. My album is called<br />
Doughski By the Zone and the release date is<br />
set for 4/20. I have a distribution deal with<br />
Music Access.<br />
Are you involved in any other projects<br />
We have an N.D.A. movement which stands<br />
for Nawf Dallas Association. It’s a group of<br />
artists like Lil Wil, JB, Mr. Pookie, Mr. Lucci, T.<br />
Cash, Deonte, the list goes on. It’s not just<br />
about music, it’s about the youth and trying<br />
to keep violence out the neighborhoods. We<br />
try to teach kids positive things like staying in<br />
school, playing sports, reading, stuff like that.<br />
Kids look up to us so we try to give them a<br />
different direction.<br />
Do you want to give out any contact info for<br />
booking or collaborations<br />
Hit me at Twitter.com/DoughskiG or Myspace.<br />
com/BigDoughskiG. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 29
Fat<br />
Pimp<br />
Words by Ms. Rivercity<br />
Photo by Edward “Pookie” Hall<br />
30 // OZONE MAG
Originally from Dallas, Fat Pimp<br />
moved to Houston to attend college<br />
where he landed his big break<br />
freestyling on BET. Since then, the<br />
rapper/producer has had some<br />
major label offers on the table,<br />
but is currently pushing his music<br />
independently. Songs like “Rack<br />
Daddy” and “I’m Gettin’ Money”<br />
have made Fat Pimp in high demand,<br />
and he continues to release<br />
new material for his fans, like the<br />
mixtape he’ll be promoting All<br />
Star Weekend.<br />
Give us your background in music. How did<br />
you start rapping<br />
I started in 9th or 10th grade. Then I went to<br />
TSU and used to host a lot of talent shows.<br />
B.E.T. came to TSU in ’04 and I won the freestyle<br />
competition. Ever since then I’ve been<br />
takin’ it serious with this music.<br />
Besides rapping, you’re also known for being<br />
a popular producer.<br />
Yeah, I actually produced all the songs I came<br />
out with the first go around, like “Rack Daddy,”<br />
“I’m Gettin Money,” and “Rollin’ Off X.” I was<br />
really known more for being a producer than<br />
a rapper, but at the end of the day, I can’t help<br />
the love I’ve got for rapping. Rappin’ is what I<br />
love, but producing pays the bills.<br />
Out of those songs you mentioned, is “Rack<br />
Daddy” your claim to fame<br />
Yeah, I guess you could say “Rack Daddy” was<br />
the most popular song. “I’m Gettin Money”<br />
with Ray Paul was big, but it didn’t take off like<br />
it was supposed to. “Rack Daddy” was really<br />
the start of the whole D-Town boogie movement,<br />
along with Lil Wil’s “My Dougie.”<br />
What’s your perspective on the boogie movement,<br />
as far as it representing Dallas<br />
On one hand it’s good ‘cause the attention<br />
is good for my hometown, but on the other<br />
hand it’s not good ‘cause the record labels ain’t<br />
respecting it. I just left New York and they think<br />
it’s a joke ‘cause it’s not sellin’ no records. It’s a<br />
gift and a curse. You can enjoy the music in the<br />
club, but on a national level, it’s not profitable.<br />
As far as you being with a major label, what’s<br />
going on with that step in your career<br />
I’m kinda glad my situation last year didn’t go<br />
through with Warner Bros. Business wasn’t<br />
right at the time. I’m glad I stayed independent<br />
because it gave me a chance to build my catalog<br />
of music and develop a track record. The labels<br />
are looking for an artist that’s consistent,<br />
has a fan base, and is gonna sell some records.<br />
That’s something I wouldn’t have been able to<br />
[prove] a year and a half ago.<br />
What do you have going on now as far as<br />
new records<br />
I got a record buzzin’ on the radio right now<br />
called “Maserati.” By the time this is printed it’ll<br />
be on the Billboard charts. I sampled “Bizzy<br />
Body,” that Mouse produced. It’s a big record.<br />
It’s probably like the new “Back That Ass Up.”<br />
We just got rotation in Houston on 97.9, Louisiana<br />
jumped on it, Austin’s jumpin’ on it.<br />
Who are some other big names you’ve<br />
worked with that people might not know<br />
about<br />
I started doing a couple songs with Mannie<br />
Fresh that’s probably gonna be on my new<br />
mixtape. He really helped me out and gave<br />
me direction. I got Slim Thugg on a new<br />
single coming out called “Like a Boss” that I<br />
produced. It’s gonna be like a DJ Khaled type<br />
of record for DJ J. Boss in Houston.<br />
So you live in Houston now<br />
Yeah, I stay in Houston. I was going to school,<br />
but with the music going on I don’t really have<br />
time to go to school. That’s why I don’t really<br />
consider myself to be just a Dallas artist – I really<br />
consider myself to be a Texas artist. Dallas<br />
is home, but Houston is what put me on.<br />
Where do you think the Dallas sound is going<br />
in the future<br />
If the rappers don’t learn how to be artists<br />
and not just songmakers, I don’t think Dallas<br />
is gonna stand a chance in the industry. You<br />
need to be able to create an album and a fan<br />
base. I don’t think my city has enough artists<br />
like that right now. Like Tum Tum, he’s been<br />
in the game a long time, he has a fan base. He<br />
has numbers across the board. If we don’t get<br />
enough people in my city doing that, we’re<br />
not gonna be successful.<br />
Where will you be during All Star Weekend<br />
I’m coming home early. I’ma try to hit as many<br />
parties as possible and get my network on.<br />
Plus I got a mixtape out called Bad As I Wanna<br />
Be hosted by DJ Storm so I’ll be out pumpin’<br />
that. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 31
32 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 33
<strong>DORROUGH</strong>BOOKING@GMAIL.COM
2MUCH Words by Ms Rivercity OZONE MAG // 7<br />
Describing himself as an upcoming<br />
underground producer<br />
with some nationwide exposure,<br />
Dallas producer 2Much landed<br />
his first major hit last year with<br />
Dorrough’s “Ice Cream Paint Job.”<br />
Here 2Much talks about his future<br />
placements and what makes the<br />
Dallas sound so catchy.<br />
For those who don’t know, which records are<br />
you most known for producing<br />
“Ice Cream Paint Job” was my first nationwide<br />
hit. I did that and “Wired to the T” for Dorrough’s<br />
album. I have some records that are more<br />
popular in Dallas – “Work That Lumba” by Young<br />
T. I got two joints on C-Murder’s last album<br />
Screamin 4 Vengeance. I did Yung Texxus’ “Drank<br />
In My Cup” and Sparkdawg’s “Mouf Full of Blang”<br />
featuring Trae on the remix.<br />
Do you have any songs with major artists that<br />
haven’t been released yet<br />
I’m doing some work with Slim Thug. Bun B’s<br />
people at Rap-A-Lot got at me for some placements<br />
on his album. There’s a Florida artist<br />
named Triple J with a record called “You Know<br />
It’s Me” – he reached out to me to do the remix<br />
featuring Lil Boosie and Bun B. I’m working real<br />
close with Glasses Malone and Cash Money. He<br />
hasn’t released the song yet, but I think he’s got<br />
Red Café and Birdman on it. I got some stuff<br />
with Young Money’s Lil Twist featuring Birdman<br />
on the Head of the Class mixtape. I’m working on<br />
some stuff with Plies and Flo Rida for an A&R at<br />
Atlantic.<br />
Right now I have the MPC 2500 and a Motif<br />
XS6. I go back and forth from Mac and PC. I<br />
mess with the FL Studio and Reason too. I try<br />
to work with everythang ‘cause artists like different<br />
sounds.<br />
A lot of producers have artists they’re developing.<br />
Are there any artists you’re directly tied<br />
into<br />
My artist Young T is the next Dallas artist about<br />
to get a major deal. He has a song on the radio<br />
right now called “Shawty What It Is.” I did the<br />
beat for that. We’re just pushing him. And I’m<br />
still doing beats with Dorrough. We’re working<br />
on his Gangsta Grillz mixtape, so look out for<br />
that All Star Weekend.<br />
How can people get at you if they want to<br />
shop for beats<br />
Get at me on Myspace.com/BlackTeeProductions<br />
or Twitter.com/2MuchBTP. My publisher’s<br />
email is songs@mindermusic.com. I’m pretty<br />
easy to get at. //<br />
Where did you get your name from<br />
I got it in middle school. I used to be DJ 2Much, I<br />
did little house parties. I started making beats in<br />
9th grade and dropped the “DJ.” There’s not a big<br />
story behind the name though.<br />
How does Dallas’ sound differ from other parts<br />
of Texas<br />
I know Houston got the laidback, sippin’ on<br />
some drank, Screwed up kinda sound. Dallas<br />
music has more of a faster paced bounce<br />
to it, it’s got a jig to it. It’s real radio friendly.<br />
You got your hood stuff too, but it’s not like<br />
Houston hood, or Scarface type stuff – it’s more<br />
up-tempo and Atlanta-type crunk. Dallas has a<br />
variety of music.<br />
What equipment do you use to make beats
B HAMP<br />
Words by Ms Rivercity<br />
Photo by Keith Milburn<br />
You’re probably familiar with<br />
B-Hamp’s Talladega Nights inspired<br />
single “Ricky Bobby” that<br />
took off last year. He never had<br />
an opportunity to share his<br />
story with OZONE so we reached<br />
out to him for a few questions.<br />
B Dash is still putting out new<br />
music and will be appearing at<br />
23 parties All Star Weekend (yes,<br />
TWENTY THREE).<br />
Last year you had the Ricky Bobby single<br />
poppin’. How did you get that song out<br />
there<br />
When I recorded “Ricky Bobby” I was in a<br />
group. “Ricky Bobby” was my solo song. When<br />
I recorded it, I was just playin’ around, being<br />
goofy, and I gave it to my manager and he<br />
heard somethin’ in it. He gave it to DJ G Rock<br />
and they took it to the other DJs around here.<br />
They liked it and blew it up in the clubs. And<br />
YouTube helped me a lot.<br />
Which clubs started playing “Ricky Bobby”<br />
first<br />
It started in Rhythm City on Sundays, Stars<br />
Lounge, Cirque was hittin’ it. In Fort Worth it<br />
was at Club Access, Cristal’s…it was crazy how<br />
quick everybody caught on to it. I didn’t expect<br />
it to blow up that fast.<br />
You had a couple other songs buzzing in your<br />
area after that too. What were those<br />
I put out “I Be Jiggin” and “Put You On,” which<br />
was a slow song featuring Dorrough and<br />
Daron Jones from 112. I also had another song<br />
called “Don’t Say Nothin’.”<br />
When did you drop the album Was it<br />
through a major label<br />
I dropped an album in May of last year. I’m<br />
signed to the label CKB Entertainment and it<br />
was distributed through Malaco Music group.<br />
I had a bunch of major labels reach out – Sony,<br />
BMG, Asylum, Koch, a lot. Malaco was the one<br />
that stepped forward and let us know what<br />
they wanted to do, and it was great so that’s<br />
who we went with.<br />
Who else is on CKB Entertainment<br />
CKB just signed two new artists – Cor’ess is an<br />
R&B singer featured on my new track “Fooly”<br />
and Motion is another rapper. And we have the<br />
rappers Lil Rick and Aqua Man. We’re also working<br />
with an R&B group called Lush.<br />
What’s going on with your Yums deal<br />
I have a clothing line with Yums. We put out a<br />
bunch of stuff with Yums and we have a bunch<br />
of stuff coming up that y’all will see soon. And I<br />
have eyewear called Forever K. Michaels.<br />
How did you get interested in music in the<br />
first place<br />
When I was younger I used to sit in front of<br />
the television and watch The Box channel<br />
that used to be on basic cable. I would watch<br />
videos all day – from country, to R&B, to rap,<br />
to pop, everything. Me and my little brother<br />
knew every word to every song on the radio.<br />
My mama used to be like, “Shut up!” And when<br />
I’d get ready for church I’d imitate James Brown<br />
and dance in the mirror. In high school I was on<br />
the step team, in theatre, so I always knew I had<br />
to do something with music.<br />
What are your plans for All Star Weekend<br />
We have 23 parties planned and people still<br />
calling. I’m tryin’ to work ‘em all in. The first party<br />
starts Wednesday. A lot of the clubs don’t end til<br />
6 in the morning because it’s All Star Weekend.<br />
What else do you have in the works<br />
We got that new single “Fooly.” Look out for the<br />
official video soon – we just put up the unofficial<br />
video on YouTube. I’m working on a new<br />
mixtape right now, and I’ve got three movie<br />
soundtrack songs with Lions Gate Films. 2010<br />
finna be real “Fooly.” //<br />
8 // OZONE MAG
BLOCKBOI<br />
Words by Ms Rivercity<br />
Da Blockboi can be found this<br />
All Star Weekend alongside his<br />
labelmate Dorrough Music at<br />
all the spots hittin’ in Dallas. As<br />
part of the Prime Time Click/NGenius<br />
roster, Blockboi is working<br />
on his own material, which includes<br />
the new single “Bottles N<br />
Models” featuring Chalie Boy.<br />
According to Dorrough, he says you’re on<br />
both his label Prime Time Click and DJ Merk’s<br />
label NGenious Entertainment. Tell us how<br />
you ended up being their artist.<br />
I was in college and Merk asked me if I wanted<br />
to be with NGenius. At first, nothin’ was really<br />
official. Then Dorrough put me in Prime Time.<br />
Him and Merk worked it out so that I’m under<br />
Dorrough and Merk at the same time.<br />
What were you doing before you linked up<br />
with them<br />
Originally I had my own song called “Check<br />
Out My Fit.” I kinda already had a name by<br />
myself before I clicked up with them. Dorrough<br />
happened to be the front man because “Walk<br />
That Walk” and “Ice Cream Paint Job” jumped<br />
off. Now that Dorrough opened a lot of doors,<br />
it’s easier for me to my thing.<br />
What do you have poppin’ right now<br />
I just dropped the single “Bottles N Models”<br />
with Chalie Boy. It’s only been out for two<br />
months and it’s doing pretty good. Corpus<br />
Christi radio just started playin’ it and I’m waiting<br />
on everybody else to pick it up.<br />
How’s your mixtape game looking<br />
Man, I done hosted so many mixtapes. I just<br />
did Southern, Smothered N Covered with DJ<br />
Mr. King. The next mixtape I’ma do is with my<br />
manager DJ Hella Yella in Austin. It’s gonna be<br />
a compilation of just my songs.<br />
Where are you from originally You don’t<br />
really have the full Dallas accent.<br />
I was born in Hartford, CT. I stayed in Cleveland,<br />
OH, Dayton, OH, Charlotte, NC, New York, then<br />
I came to Dallas. I’ve been in Dallas since I was<br />
12 years old so this is my home.<br />
Describe your sound and what you’re trying<br />
to express with your music.<br />
I don’t feel like I got a certain sound because<br />
I’ve lived everywhere from the Midwest to the<br />
East Coast to Down South. And I like all types<br />
of music. It’s just how I feel at the moment, but<br />
I do prefer to make club music – not dance<br />
music, but club music.<br />
What type of resources do local artists in Dallas<br />
have for getting their music heard<br />
Dallas is really supporting Dallas. There’s a lot<br />
of open mics. If you grind hard enough and get<br />
your stuff poppin’ in the club, you can get a paid<br />
show. The Definition DJs throw an event called<br />
The Dallas Explosion where artists can bring<br />
their music. The GO DJs have a meeting every<br />
Monday for artists to bring their music. But you<br />
can get a couple hundred singles pressed up<br />
and grind in the streets with the people.<br />
Is there anything else you want to mention<br />
I’ve also got “Drop, Pop, Repeat” with my bro<br />
Dorrough, and another song called “Go Dumb.”<br />
A couple DJs got it but we ain’t really put it out<br />
there yet. Just support this whole Prime Time<br />
Click and NGenius movement because I feel it’s<br />
one of the strongest movements in Dallas with<br />
me, Dorrough, and Lil Tony. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 9
For the last two years DJ Hollywood<br />
has been at K104 in Dallas,<br />
where he breaks a lot of the new<br />
music coming from the region. His<br />
DJ affiliations include the Go DJs,<br />
CORE DJs, Funhouse DJs, which is<br />
based in Dallas. This All Star Weekend<br />
you can catch Hollywood spinning<br />
at some of the hottest parties<br />
in D-town, as well as his regular<br />
scheduled radio mixshows.<br />
What’s your history as a DJ<br />
I’ve been in the game since I was 15. I’ve been at<br />
several radio stations, and I’m currently working<br />
at K104. I’m one of the main mixers. I try to break<br />
a lot of new local artists and put Dallas on the<br />
map. I started at a community station and DJ<br />
Reave took me under his wing and really inspired<br />
me to get where I’m at now. I also want to thank<br />
everyone at K104 and our music director for leading<br />
me in the right direction.<br />
Who are some hot local artists getting radio<br />
play in Dallas<br />
Young T – “What It Is,” Bone – “Homegurl,” Party<br />
Boyz – “Flex.” I also do a local show on Sundays<br />
where we have artists like Vell’s “Coogi 2 The<br />
Frame.” Mr. Cirque is big too. Young Black had<br />
“Big Boy Stuntin” and now he has “That Pipe” and<br />
“Sorority Chick.”<br />
What’s your on-air schedule<br />
I mix on Friday from 8pm to 12am with Cat Daddy,<br />
Saturday 4pm to 8pm with Cat Daddy, and<br />
from 7pm to midnight I mix with Kiki J on Street<br />
Swag Sundays. I also do the 8 O’Clock mixtape on<br />
Monday through Thursday.<br />
Why do you think Dallas is more open to breaking<br />
new music than some other markets<br />
We’ve got a lot of talent out here, like Atlanta<br />
does, but I’d rather break a local artist than break<br />
an Atlanta artist. We’re more of a dance and boogie<br />
scene. If you go to the clubs here you’ll see<br />
DJ<br />
HOLLYWOOD<br />
Words by Ms Rivercity<br />
the difference. We’re a #5 market in the radio<br />
industry and even the #1 markets look at us as<br />
kind of [trendsetters]. We just need more artists<br />
that aren’t one-hit wonders. If more of them can<br />
come out with a whole album like Dorrough,<br />
we could have a shot. We’ve got talent, but the<br />
only one putting us on the map right now is<br />
Dorrough.<br />
Do you think the artists in Dallas just need to<br />
be more educated on how to get their music<br />
hot outside of the city<br />
That’s what I tell a lot of the local artists. They<br />
can’t just stay at home, they’ve got to go to<br />
other cities. You don’t need a lot of money, just<br />
go on a little road trip and get a cheap hotel.<br />
They don’t get out there. They just want to stay<br />
in Texas.<br />
Besides radio, do you DJ in the clubs as well<br />
On Thursday I’m at Whiskey Charlies. On Friday<br />
I’m at Club 2026 in Downtown Dallas. On Saturday<br />
I do a new club called Infinity 81 and on<br />
Sundays I’m at 8 Lounge. I travel to San Antonio<br />
a lot as well.<br />
Where will you be during All Star Weekend<br />
On Thursday I’ve got a big show with the “I<br />
Work I Jig” Boyz performing, B-Hamp, Trai’D, and<br />
I’m working on Candi Redd. Wednesday we’ll be<br />
doing a Welcome to Dallas party at Infinity 81<br />
for all the Latinos. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday<br />
I’ll be at the Crowne Plaza with the Go DJs. If<br />
people don’t want to pay $150 and up [at the<br />
clubs] they can just come to the Crowne Plaza<br />
and hang out. You ain’t gotta dress up, it’s a<br />
hood spot. Just enjoy yourself. //<br />
10 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 11
DJ WHITE CHOCOLATE<br />
Words by Ms Rivercity / Photo by Juicy Graphix<br />
As a member of the Definition DJs<br />
and Hustle Squad DJs, DJ White<br />
Chocolate holds down the teen<br />
club market and also DJs on 97.9<br />
The Beat. At only 17 years old, he<br />
still attends high school and<br />
manages to put out one of the<br />
HOTTEST mixtape series in Dallas –<br />
appropriately titled Ahead of the<br />
Class.<br />
How long have you been DJing<br />
I’ve been DJing almost 5 years, since I was 12.<br />
DJing intrigued me, and one year for Christmas<br />
I asked my parents for a beginner DJing<br />
kit. It started out as a hobby at first. I was<br />
at a record store and met a DJ that worked<br />
for a Hip Hop station in Dallas. That’s when I<br />
started taking things seriously. Through him I<br />
started going up to the radio station and one<br />
thing led to another.<br />
Did you start out with mixtapes or party<br />
DJing What got your name out there<br />
I actually started out as a turntablist. I was<br />
focused on doing tricks and scratching. If you<br />
go on YouTube, the videos of me when I was<br />
younger are scratch videos. That got my name<br />
out there ‘cause everyone was like, “Check out<br />
at this scrawny little white boy scratching like<br />
crazy!”<br />
You’re Ahead of the Class mixtapes are really<br />
popular. When did you start doing those<br />
It’s one of the biggest mixtapes in Dallas,<br />
especially with the teen crowd. I dropped that<br />
series when I was 16, but I started doing mixtapes<br />
when I was 14, just little compilations of<br />
the hottest songs out.<br />
You’re also big in the clubs too. What’s your<br />
club schedule like<br />
I do almost every teen club in Dallas. I don’t<br />
have a permanent spot, I bounce around.<br />
When I turn 18 I’ll do bigger clubs. My birthday<br />
is September 4th.<br />
What about radio What’s your on-air schedule<br />
I’m with 97.9 The Beat and I guest DJ on different<br />
stations around Texas in smaller markets. I<br />
don’t have a permanent schedule. Until I turn<br />
18 they can’t fully hire me so they have me on<br />
during stuff like holiday weekends. They’re<br />
putting together a teen radio show, so if that<br />
goes through I’ll be on every Sunday.<br />
With you being in school and DJing, how are<br />
you handling both responsibilities<br />
I’ve had to turn down a lot of video shoots<br />
and gigs because school comes first. I’m pretty<br />
much making A’s and B’s right now. It gets<br />
hectic sometimes, but I manage to balance it.<br />
What’s the big plan after graduation I’m<br />
sure the DJing is about to blow up for you.<br />
I hope so, I need something to pay rent.<br />
(laughs) Once I get out of high school I’ll be<br />
able to go on tour and get outside of the city,<br />
which is the next step for me. The way things<br />
are going right now, I’m getting a lot of offers<br />
so I might not go straight to college. If I do go<br />
to college, I’ll go somewhere in Dallas so I can<br />
still do clubs and radio out here.<br />
Are you working with any artists<br />
The main artist I’m working with Thug Boss Nation.<br />
You’ll be hearing about them pretty soon.<br />
My group is SkyHigh. There’s so many people.<br />
I was supposed to go on tour with Lil Twist for<br />
the I Am Music tour but that never happened<br />
– I’d like to do something with Lil Twist ‘cause<br />
he’s doin’ it big for the younger generation.<br />
How can people get at you<br />
Myspace.com/DJWCMusic, Twitter.com/<br />
DJWhiteChoc214, YouTube.com/DJWCTV. //<br />
12 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 13
LIL TONY<br />
Words by Jee’Van Brown<br />
On the road to success many<br />
people give up after facing OBSTA-<br />
CLES, but not Lil Tony. For nearly<br />
ten years, Lil Tony has been chasing<br />
his dream of becoming an All-<br />
Star rapper, and it seems that all<br />
the hard work is finally about to<br />
pay off. After being in a rap group<br />
where things didn’t work out<br />
and losing some of his closeST<br />
friends, he’s finally found his<br />
home with NGenious Entertainment.<br />
Now Lil Tony plans to do it<br />
big, Texas-style.<br />
What do you have going on right now<br />
I just joined NGenius Entertainment, and I’m<br />
pushing my singles “I Like That” and “Shout<br />
Out.” The first artist off of Ngenious Entertainment<br />
was Dorrough. The second time around<br />
we’re going do it real major, plus we’ve got DJ<br />
Merk as the CEO. I’m also working on my visuals<br />
like YouTube, Twitter, and MySpace.<br />
How did the opportunity for you to get<br />
signed to NGenius come about<br />
I was a friend of Dorrough’s and he used to<br />
always tell me he was going to look out for<br />
me. One day DJ Merk just hit me up when<br />
they were on their way back from a show. He<br />
said he was thinking about bringing me onto<br />
Ngenius Entertainment.” We just took it from<br />
there. He put me in the studio and it’s been<br />
crazy ever since.<br />
How did you and Dorrough know each<br />
other<br />
I knew Dorrough because he played basketball<br />
in high school, and in Texas, high school<br />
basketball is a big thing. I had been hearing his<br />
name and then I heard he started rapping. We<br />
really hooked up from doing shows together,<br />
seeing each other in the club, and networking.<br />
As a child you were in the group S.A.S., Street<br />
All Stars. What happened with that group<br />
Well, we never broke up. It was a group with<br />
me, Lil Twist of Young Money, and Gator<br />
Main, now of the Ball Playaz. We were signed<br />
to M.V.P. Entertainment, but we all parted<br />
because of financial problems.<br />
You’re half African-American and half Mexican.<br />
Has your racial background affected<br />
your rap career<br />
It kinda helped me because a lot of my fans<br />
are black and a lot of my fans are Spanish, but<br />
I really felt like some people just wouldn’t give<br />
me the chance that I deserved. They thought I<br />
was this mixed breed trying to be something I<br />
wasn’t.<br />
Your two best friends died when you were<br />
younger. How did that change you<br />
My two best friends Sergio and Hillard were<br />
murdered on October 4th, 2007. From how<br />
the story was told to me, they tried to rob a<br />
security guard. During the robbery Sergio was<br />
shot dead on the scene, and my other partner<br />
Hillard was driving off and the security [guard]<br />
shot his car 11 times. He was hit 5 times. That<br />
changed my life forever. That was my last year<br />
of high school, and I just couldn’t believe I lost<br />
two of my partners like that. That woke me up<br />
and helped me change my life. It inspired me to<br />
work harder at what I do.<br />
Are you working on any new material<br />
Yeah, I have two projects coming out: Flight 214:<br />
No Destination with DJ Drop and The Original<br />
Tape…Posted, Loaded, Floatin. Chalie Boy is<br />
also putting me on his All Star Remix for “I Look<br />
Good.” //<br />
14 // OZONE MAG
at B<br />
Words by Ms Rivercity<br />
Photo by Aaron Cortez of<br />
Non Stop Graphics<br />
16 // OZONE MAG
Always a big mixtape seller, Fat<br />
B, a.k.a. Fat Bastard, is dropping<br />
a new tape for All Star Weekend.<br />
Also preparing for the release of<br />
his debut solo album, the former<br />
D.S.R. member explains what really<br />
happened with the group and how<br />
he’s grown from the experience.<br />
For those who don’t know the history,<br />
explain how you came up and some of the<br />
things you’re known for.<br />
Everybody knows me from my underground<br />
mixtapes, that’s how I started out. I was<br />
collabing with a lot of H-Town artists on<br />
the freestyle level. We started traveling and<br />
everywhere we’d go we’d leave our mixtapes.<br />
Then when we’d come back they’d want us to<br />
perform because the whole town knew our<br />
music. People know me as Fat Bastard with<br />
D.S.R., they know me as Mr. Get In My Belly –<br />
they know me for being on “Not a Stain on Me”<br />
with Tuck. I also collaborated with Dorrough<br />
on his new joint “Caramel Sundae.”<br />
A lot of people consider you to be a pioneer<br />
of Dallas rap. Would you agree with that<br />
I don’t really wanna be a pioneer – I’m like a<br />
legend. I feel like I originated a lot of the freestyle<br />
in Dallas. We were the first cats to really<br />
grind on the mixtapes and move units out of<br />
Dallas. It was all freestyled, it wasn’t written.<br />
We set a lot of trends. Even though a lot of artists<br />
coming out of Dallas today got the dance<br />
movement, they’re still using the freestyle<br />
swag in their dance songs.<br />
How do you view the current music scene in<br />
Dallas right now<br />
It’s great. We’re at the peak of our game. The<br />
whole city is jumpin’ with All Star coming up.<br />
We got the Super Bowl coming up next year.<br />
We got the hottest music right now. It’s a real<br />
big movement. We’re all coming together and<br />
have unity. It’s never been better and I feel like<br />
it’s my time too.<br />
Take us back and explain what really happened<br />
to D.S.R. and T-Town Music, from your<br />
perspective.<br />
It’s the same thing that happens to every other<br />
group. Everybody already knows it’s about<br />
m.o.n.e.y. Some of the people wanted more<br />
than everybody else. It was a lot of issues –<br />
miscommunication, greed, and management.<br />
You might could say there was favoritism too.<br />
What did you learn from that experience<br />
that could help others avoid the same issues<br />
Do you, but be a team player. Everybody’s<br />
time is gon’ come. If you’re in a group workin’<br />
hard, your time will come. Just be ready<br />
when it does. Groups aren’t permanent. Most<br />
groups break up. Take the promotion you get<br />
and really stand out in the group.<br />
So once things started to disband with<br />
D.S.R., you and Tuck did “Not a Stain On Me.”<br />
Where did things go from there for you<br />
It blew up in markets we never had before like<br />
Kansas City, St. Louis, parts of Indiana – we<br />
were going to different places. During the<br />
midst of “Not a Stain On Me,” it jumped off<br />
the beginning of MPR Ent. It was a whole new<br />
label with new financing. That’s the label I’m<br />
on now. Free Trini, that’s my CEO. He’s actually<br />
George Lopez’ cousin from T-Town. I’ve been<br />
with Trini from the day one. I’m doing it for<br />
him.<br />
What direction are you and the new label<br />
moving in now<br />
We got the mixtape droppin’ February 4th<br />
with Definition DJ Drop. I’ma be promoting<br />
heavy during All Star Weekend, hittin’ radio<br />
stations and doing in-stores. It’s all Fat B freestyles,<br />
no pen, which is what the fans want.<br />
The buzz is crazy. We’re in New Era music, all<br />
the mom and pop stores. It’s a good look.<br />
What about album plans<br />
I’ma drop Belly of the Beast after the mixtape.<br />
It’s gonna be the first Fat B album ever. It’s<br />
real anticipated. We’re droppin’ hot singles,<br />
exclusives with other artists, just gettin’ it in<br />
right now.<br />
You mentioned working with Dorrough.<br />
Who are some other people you’ve been<br />
featured with lately<br />
I’ve still been workin’ with Tum Tum. We’re on<br />
both of each other’s projects. I’m everywhere.<br />
If you go to Worldstar you’ll see me in the “Mr.<br />
Hit Dat Hoe” video, Bone’s video, the Chalie<br />
Boy video. We’re gettin’ a lot of cameos in<br />
with Mr. Boomtown [the director] and we’ll be<br />
shooting my video soon. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 17
oung T<br />
Words by Ms Rivercity<br />
18 // OZONE MAG
Currently promoting his single<br />
“Hit Em With a Jimmy (Shorty What<br />
It Is),” 22-year-old Young T has several<br />
local DALLAS hits under his<br />
belt. Having collaborated with<br />
Treal Lee on “Work Dat Lumba,”<br />
Young T is also getting a buzz<br />
with the new party record “2 Da<br />
Flo.” With 3 songs in rotation simultaneously<br />
throughout Texas,<br />
Young T is on the verge of signing<br />
a major deal. We sat down with<br />
the Dallas All Star to find out<br />
how he got to this point.<br />
How did you come up on the Dallas rap<br />
scene I know you have a few hits out there<br />
already.<br />
Me and Treal Lee went to school together at<br />
West Mesquite and I heard he had a song in<br />
the clubs called “Bad Lil Braud.” He had some<br />
exposure so me and him did a song together<br />
called “Work Dat Lumba.” It starting gettin’ hot<br />
real quick. He went on to do “Mr. Hit Dat Hoe”<br />
and he got on. I went on to do “Hit Em With A<br />
Jimmy” by myself. I just been hitting the clubs,<br />
grinding every day, anything the radio had<br />
going on I was there pushin’ my single.<br />
So you were definitely taking things seriously<br />
at a young age<br />
Oh yeah, I’ve been serious since I was 16. That’s<br />
how long I’ve been rappin’ – about 6 years. I<br />
just been practicing my craft and I’m very serious<br />
about it.<br />
Is “Hit Em With a Jimmy” the same song<br />
people call “Shorty What It Is”<br />
Yeah, it’s the same thing. We had to kinda<br />
change the name from “Shorty What It Is” to<br />
“Hit Em With a Jimmy” for radio.<br />
What other songs do you have that people<br />
are familiar with<br />
“Work Dat Lumba” came first. It’s still in rotation<br />
in Houston. Then I got “Hit Em With a<br />
Jimmy,” and I got another song called “2 Da Flo”<br />
featuring Double R. We ain’t even been pushin’<br />
that one, and it’s already spread to Tennessee.<br />
We had one DJ push it in Level 5, that’s like the<br />
biggest club in Dallas, and it spread out from<br />
there. It’s on the radio in Tyler right now. So I<br />
got three different songs on radio, not just in<br />
Dallas.<br />
Did 2Much produce all of those songs<br />
Yeah he produced all of ‘em.<br />
You’ve had a lot of success working with the<br />
producer 2Much and BTP. What’s your history<br />
with them<br />
Yeah, me and him have been working together<br />
for a good 6 years now. We went to school<br />
together too. I remember rappin’ in the studio<br />
with a sock over the microphone. We’ve been<br />
doing this forever.<br />
You make dance music, but do you actually<br />
dance yourself Or is it more for other<br />
people’s enjoyment<br />
I mean, I make the music for the people to<br />
dance to. I call it party music. If that’s how<br />
they gon’ categorize me, that’s how I want to<br />
be categorized – party music.<br />
How did you know when you had hits<br />
people would like Were you testing your<br />
music in the clubs first<br />
We have the Definition DJs here so I go to<br />
their meetings. I play the music for them and<br />
then they’ll rate it and give feedback. Once I<br />
played “Hit Em With a Jimmy” they said, “Yeah,<br />
we need this.” So they started pushing it. The<br />
radio got a hold of it and it’s been a wrap<br />
since then.<br />
What do you think it’ll take to get some of<br />
your music a little bit more known nationwide<br />
I’ve already been talking to different labels<br />
that have called. We’re just waiting to see<br />
who’s gonna give me the better deal and<br />
who’s gonna promote me the best. It’ll happen<br />
any minute now. If they promote me right<br />
it’s gonna go.<br />
Are you promoting any mixtapes right now<br />
Yeah, I got a free mixtape right now called<br />
Sex, Drank, Money on Myspace.com/YoungT-<br />
BTP. I’m on Twitter too @YoungTBTP. I have<br />
27 tracks on the mixtape. Most of ‘em are<br />
produced by 2Much, and a couple of ‘em are<br />
radio beats. It’s jammin’. People are liking it. I<br />
been promoting it as best as I can by myself.<br />
My grind is paying off right now.<br />
For people just now hearing about you and<br />
your music, what do you want people to<br />
know about you<br />
From my sound, you’d think I’m the crunkest,<br />
loudest person in the club. But that ain’t me.<br />
I’m a real laid back, chill type of dude, but<br />
when it comes to rappin’, that’s my thang. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 19
OFTEN, a hit record explodes<br />
overnight and disappears just<br />
as quickly. but for Bone, his<br />
song “Homegurl” had to marinate<br />
before hitting the charts.<br />
Circulating in the Texas region<br />
for nearly six months, “Homegurl”<br />
got a major push after<br />
being discovered by THE CORE DJs<br />
CEO Tony Neal during the Texas<br />
Summer Music Conference last<br />
year. Bone, a student at Prairie<br />
View University, was signed to<br />
Citi USA Ent/Def Jam and the song<br />
was eventually added to radio<br />
rotation. NOW OVER A YEAR SINCE<br />
HE ORIGINALLY releasED the single,<br />
Bone and his label ARE DROPPING<br />
the video and introducing him to<br />
the rest of the country, starting<br />
with the patrons of All Star<br />
Weekend. Here he explains how a<br />
small town kid from east Texas<br />
landed a big break.<br />
How did you get the “Homegurl” song so hot<br />
out there in Dallas It’s been out for a little<br />
while now.<br />
It got popular after Definition DJ Tuss broke<br />
it in the club, and then it spread to the other<br />
Definition DJs. Michael Watts put it on his I45<br />
2K8 mixtape. Then more DJs started pickin’ up<br />
on it. After the Texas Summer Music Conference<br />
with the CORE DJs and Definition DJs,<br />
Tony Neal heard the song and liked it. He put<br />
the CORE DJs on it and that’s how it all came<br />
about.<br />
Are you originally from Dallas<br />
No, I’m from East Texas. It’s not too far though<br />
– Dallas is the closest metropolitan area to<br />
where I’m from. I don’t say I’m from Dallas<br />
though. When I graduated high school I<br />
went straight to Prairie View where I met my<br />
producer, and he was from Ft. Worth. I wanted<br />
to continue doing music, so after that I moved<br />
to Dallas/Ft. Worth. I had family that stayed<br />
in Arlington so I decided to move there to be<br />
closer to the music scene.<br />
What did you go to college for Did you<br />
finish<br />
I’m actually still in school right now. I’m a history<br />
major.<br />
Did your song start poppin’ and that’s when<br />
you decided to pursue music, or were you<br />
always serious about rapping<br />
It was something I always did since I was little.<br />
It’s just that being from a small town, there<br />
really wasn’t an opportunity. I knew I’d have to<br />
leave eventually – that’s why I came to Prairie<br />
View and moved to Ft. Worth.<br />
Were you known in the area before “Homegurl”<br />
blew up<br />
Nah, actually I was part of a group. When I<br />
met my producer we established a group but<br />
things weren’t moving completely the way we<br />
wanted. I always had this idea for “Homegurl”<br />
but I never made it because I was trying to<br />
do the group thang. But after I got out of the<br />
group and we did the record, it came out the<br />
way it did and that’s how it happened.<br />
Do you have any mixtapes out right now<br />
At school we did group mixtapes. Freshman<br />
year we did Kings of the Yard mixtape, we did<br />
another one junior year. We were just trying to<br />
get ourselves out there.<br />
So you were going to school at Prairie View<br />
and staying in Ft. Worth during your off<br />
time – where did the song get hot at first In<br />
school or in the Dallas area<br />
It got hot at Prairie View, and then it got hot in<br />
Dallas at the same time.<br />
How long did it take for “Homegurl” to get in<br />
radio rotation<br />
The amazing thing is, the first time it was<br />
played on radio was by Michael Watts. Watts<br />
played it on radio in December 2008 and the<br />
radio spins picked up after that. It was getting<br />
like two or three spins a week, nothing major,<br />
then it took off.<br />
So when did you sign to Def Jam<br />
20 // OZONE MAG
Bone<br />
Words by Ms. Rivercity<br />
Photos by Hannibal Matthews<br />
OZONE MAG // 21
After the Texas Summer Music Conference,<br />
Tony Neal introduced me to Citi Under Siege<br />
and Citi got me the opportunity to perform for<br />
L.A. Reid. I performed for L.A., he liked what he<br />
saw, and signed me that day. That was October<br />
16th when I got signed; I believe it was at<br />
11:32 pm. (laughs)<br />
What has the label had you working on the<br />
last few months since you signed with them<br />
I actually just learned that I have the number<br />
one priority record in the building, which is a<br />
great look, especially coming from Def Jam.<br />
It’s a dream come true. They really got behind<br />
me and the person I am. I’m just keeping it real<br />
for the whole college boy movement. They’ve<br />
been putting me out there with the marketing<br />
and everything. It’s truly a blessing.<br />
There’s a lot of rappers coming out of Prairie<br />
View right now. Is that like the new trend<br />
I think it’s a tremendous thing. I really hope to<br />
publicize that as much as I can. The first record<br />
to pop was Supastaar’s “Halle Berry” record.<br />
After that, Dorrough had “Walk That Walk” and<br />
“Ice Cream Paint Job.” Then I came with “Homegurl.”<br />
After me, it was the Party Boyz with “Flex.”<br />
All of us have had the opportunity for major<br />
exposure, and it’s a lot of new artists coming<br />
along. It’s a beautiful thing on campus. It’s a lot<br />
of love from everybody. The Hip Hop scene out<br />
here is real crazy.<br />
Have you had a chance to collaborate with<br />
any major artists yet<br />
The only one I had an opportunity to work<br />
with so far is Tum Tum and TBGz. I was on his<br />
song “Just Might.” For me that’s major because<br />
I remember buying Tum’s mixtapes. I had to<br />
drive all the way to Tyler, which is like an hour<br />
and thirty minutes away, just to get the D.S.R.<br />
mixtapes. So for me to do a song with Tum<br />
was like a dream come true for me. I was in the<br />
studio nervous and sweating, but it came out<br />
pretty good.<br />
Tum and D.S.R. definitely opened a lot of<br />
doors in Dallas, but the sound has somewhat<br />
changed since they came on the scene.<br />
What are your thoughts on how things have<br />
evolved since then<br />
I don’t think it’s necessarily different, I think<br />
it’s just gotten more loose with the younger<br />
generation. When Tum and them started it<br />
was more like crunk, aggressive type of music,<br />
and it’s still crunk and aggressive but it’s more<br />
about dances now. It wasn’t so much about<br />
dance music back then. It’s more of a party feel<br />
now than a fight feel.<br />
//Bone continued<br />
Who are some other artists in the Dallas area<br />
that you looked up to<br />
Recently Doughski G reached out to me. I<br />
was a quick fan of Twisted Black. He’s one of<br />
the most amazing artists I’ve ever heard. He<br />
didn’t get a lot of publicity like I thought he<br />
would. I used to jam Fat B’s Get In My Belly like<br />
every day when I was 16 years old. I’m a big<br />
fan of Big Tuck. I’m a big fan of Mr. Pookie and<br />
Mr. Lucci and Diamond D. When I found out<br />
The D.O.C. was from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area,<br />
that’s when I knew there was a chance for me.<br />
6 Tre is from Ft. Worth – he’s on the “Explosive”<br />
song with Dr. Dre. Listening to them, I saw<br />
there were opportunities out there if I kept<br />
workin’. It motivated me not to give up.<br />
What are you working on for the next month<br />
or two<br />
We got the mixtape finished called Realest<br />
N*gga in the Classroom. That’s what we’re<br />
pushing right now. We’ve got my second single<br />
coming called “I Got Paper.” It’s already L.A.<br />
Reid approved so we’re gon’ get everythang<br />
goin’ with that. I’m working on my album with<br />
my producer JB. Hopefully we’ll have a summertime<br />
release on that.<br />
Do you have your show schedule lined up<br />
for All Star Weekend yet<br />
I’ma definitely be rockin’ the house at the<br />
Dwyane Wade/Trina CORE DJ party. I know I<br />
got some more stuff comin’ and I’ma be real<br />
busy, but that’s the only thing set in stone<br />
right now.<br />
For all the out of towners coming to Dallas,<br />
where are some local spots people should<br />
check out, as far as shopping, eating, etc.<br />
I’m a big fan of Rudy’s. Sweet Georgia Brown is<br />
my favorite – that’s the best soul food in Dallas.<br />
As far as Ft. Worth goes, they don’t have<br />
the Chill’s Snow Cone stand up right now, but<br />
I’d definitely tell you to go there if it was open.<br />
As far as clubs, Mistique is gon’ be packed.<br />
Beamers is crazy. I heard Diddy is throwing a<br />
party at The Palladium. The CORE DJ party is<br />
gon’ be crazy, Level 5, Crystal’s, The Ranch in<br />
Arlington, they’re all gon’ have a lot of people.<br />
What else do you want to let the people<br />
know about<br />
Boogie music is more than dance. You got real<br />
artists that make real music. The dance songs<br />
are a foundation – now it’s time to build up. //<br />
22 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 23
ay<br />
aul<br />
Words by Ms Rivercity<br />
Photo by Edward “Pookie” Hall<br />
24 // OZONE MAG
Representing the Oak Cliff area<br />
of Dallas, Ray Paul has a heavy<br />
street presence in the city, along<br />
with his click the Y.G.z. Last summer<br />
Ray invited OZONE out to the<br />
Y.G. picnic and it was clear that<br />
their crew comes out in numbers.<br />
Here he gives us the scoop on his<br />
fan base, his affiliation with Greg<br />
Street, and some insightful opinions<br />
on the music game.<br />
Introduce yourself and tell us how you became<br />
known in Dallas.<br />
They call me Ray Paul Massaun in the streets.<br />
I started getting known when I was in 7th or<br />
8th grade. I was always popular in the streets<br />
so that made it easy for me. I knew people<br />
from the nawfside, soufside, all the hoods<br />
everywhere. When I was about 16 that’s when<br />
I started rappin’. At first I took it as a joke but I<br />
started seeing the fan base we had. You can’t<br />
buy that overnight.<br />
Where did you go from there<br />
My cousin T-Nick kept telling me, “Man, I think<br />
we got somethin’.” He was gettin’ calls from<br />
everywhere about me and Y.G. – Y.G. is a click<br />
of about 400 people and we all support each<br />
other. It’s a big family thang. I was one of the<br />
leaders out of the situation so people knew<br />
me. One day a few years ago I was performing<br />
my first single “I’m Gettin Money,” and I met<br />
Marone – he’s Greg Street and C Dawg’s patna.<br />
He’s an A&R for Def Jam and Bad Boy South. He<br />
saw me performing at Rhythm City and I had<br />
the whole club goin’. We took over the whole<br />
hood area with that.<br />
So Marone is the one that hooked you up<br />
with Greg Street<br />
Yeah, he called Greg Street in Atlanta and<br />
Greg Street was lookin’ for an artist out here<br />
in Dallas. A few weeks later he threw a party<br />
with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. I<br />
performed up there and we made magic after<br />
that.<br />
Has dealing with Greg Street helped you get<br />
your music outside of the city at all<br />
That’s one thing I can say about Marone,<br />
that’s one hard-workin’ dude in Dallas. I hadn’t<br />
been out of Dallas till I started doin’ shows<br />
with people like them. Them and Greg Street<br />
hooked me up with a lot of different people.<br />
Marone and T-Nick keep me live.<br />
Where exactly are you from in Dallas<br />
The middle of Oak Cliff – Wheatland and Polk.<br />
Dallas has a big dance/boogie movement<br />
going on but you obviously don’t fit into<br />
that sound. Talk about how your music differs<br />
from some of the stuff Dallas is getting<br />
famous for.<br />
I don’t hate the dance music. If a person<br />
makes a #1 hit off a dance song, I’ma congratulate<br />
‘em. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a competition<br />
out here, and this industry is not a<br />
friendly sport. But as far as me, that’s not what<br />
I’m tryna come into the game with. I brought<br />
“Gettin’ Money” to the game. I brought another<br />
character to the game. I don’t try to be<br />
like the next man. I’m not tryna be on Jay-Z or<br />
Lil Wayne’s level – nah, I’m just focused on Ray<br />
Paul. I think a lot of youngsters can learn a lot<br />
from me and my music.<br />
Besides “I’m Gettin’ Money” what are some<br />
of your other hits<br />
We got “Feed These Streets” featuring B.o.B.<br />
Me and Gorilla Zoe got a song called “Tudilu.”<br />
I got another song called “Feel Free to Hate,”<br />
which is all me. We have a new one we’re<br />
pushing right now called “Out of There (I’m<br />
Gone)” with Young Black, he did “Big Boy<br />
Stuntin’.”<br />
Do you have any mixtapes out right now<br />
Matter of fact, I’m putting out two of ‘em. I’m<br />
doing one with Y.G. J Don, that’s my lil youngsta<br />
comin’ up in the game. We’re gonna drop a<br />
Y.G. compilation and I’m gettin’ ready to drop<br />
a mixtape with Greg Street. I might come out<br />
with a mixtape just for All Star Weekend just<br />
for promo.<br />
Where will you be during All Star Weekend<br />
My patnas Marone and C Dawg are throwing<br />
a lot of parties out here. They got Club Che,<br />
Cirque, they got Drake coming out, Snoop<br />
Dogg, Trey Songz, Jeezy. I’m gon’ be at all of<br />
‘em.<br />
Outside of All Star Weekend, what else do<br />
you have going on<br />
We have the Y.G. picnic coming up again<br />
June 1st. People can also check me out on<br />
Myspace.com/YGRayPaul or Myspace.com/<br />
YGTexas or Twitter.com/YGRayP. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 25
Tomeka<br />
Pearl<br />
Words by Jee’Van Brown<br />
26 // OZONE MAG
Setting herself apart from other<br />
female R&B artists, Tomeka Pearl<br />
brings spice and bounce to her<br />
music. After debuting her artistry<br />
on Dorrough’s album Dorrough<br />
Music, more opportunities are<br />
coming left and right for this<br />
talented young singer. With her<br />
street single “You Like It” heating<br />
up on the south and west coast,<br />
you can believe this isn’t the last<br />
time you will hear from her.<br />
You were featured on a few songs on Dorrough’s<br />
album. What else do you have going<br />
on right now<br />
I have a little single that I’m working on right<br />
now. I have a street single that’s doing pretty<br />
good out there in the Bay area, it’s a song<br />
called “You Like It” featuring Dorrough.<br />
Do you have a name for your album yet<br />
It’s probably going to be self-titled, but I’m really<br />
kind of crazy with the whole artistry shit so<br />
I don’t know. I want to say it will be self-titled,<br />
but it probably won’t.<br />
How long have you been singing and writing<br />
I’m 23 right now so I want to say I’ve been<br />
pursuing it since I was about 18, but I’ve been<br />
singing since I was about 10 or 11. I’ve been<br />
out here in Dallas performing since I was 18.<br />
You graduated from high school early to pursue<br />
your music career full time. Do you think<br />
you missed out on any of those childhood/<br />
teenage memories<br />
Definitely not. I graduated a semester earlier<br />
than everybody else so I could pursue it full<br />
time, but I wasn’t really into school. I’m not saying<br />
don’t go to school and don’t go to college,<br />
but school just wasn’t my thing. I originally<br />
wanted to pursue the whole music thing full<br />
time, so I had my little childhood moments.<br />
Your cousin, who was very close to you, died<br />
on your birthday. Did that motivate you to<br />
keep going<br />
Yeah, my cousin died on my birthday when I<br />
was 11. He was killed in Houston, and he actually<br />
rapped. I looked up to him especially with<br />
what he was doing [musically]. I wanted to<br />
pursue the same thing he wanted to pursue so<br />
when he passed I felt like I wanted to continue<br />
his legacy because he was only 19.<br />
As a child you took vocal lesson and acting<br />
lessons. Do you have anything going on as<br />
far as acting right now<br />
Yeah, I am actually reading for a role right now<br />
that is being filmed through Prime Time Click.<br />
I can’t get in depth about it, but I am reading<br />
for the main role.<br />
How did you hook up with Dorrough for his<br />
album<br />
Man, it’s crazy, we actually hooked up to do<br />
his last album on the track “Hood Song.” When<br />
we did “Hood Song” he liked the whole vibe<br />
and sound, so he put me on some other records.<br />
Then he hopped on the “I Like It” record.<br />
When that happened he was kinda like, “Do<br />
you want to be a part of the whole Prime Time<br />
Click movement” I saw that his movement<br />
was doing big things, so I was like shit, I’m<br />
gonna fuck with it.<br />
What is the process like when you two are in<br />
the studio<br />
Well, for the most part we’re both just in there<br />
vibing and we kinda bounce ideas off each<br />
other. With his whole album situation, Dorrough<br />
did his thing with the hooks and kind<br />
of had everything laid out and ready with how<br />
he wanted to do it. But, we definitely do vibe<br />
all the time.<br />
Your style of music isn’t the typical cliché<br />
R&B. What made you want to step out of the<br />
box and be different<br />
I don’t want to really say it was me being different.<br />
At that time in my life, that’s just what I<br />
was into. But right now I’m at the point in my<br />
life where I want to talk about love, getting<br />
hurt, or being with a dude. With me it’s going<br />
to always be a little more edgy – like if I say,<br />
“I love somebody,” I’m going say, “I love that<br />
nigga!”<br />
Are you performing anywhere for All Star<br />
I’m doing a Haiti Relief show out here in Dallas<br />
around the same time All Star comes here. I<br />
also have a fashion show and a couple of appearances<br />
lined up for All Star. //<br />
OZONE MAG // 27
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OZONE MAG // 29
DAllas<br />
AREA MAP<br />
30 // OZONE MAG
OZONE MAG // 31