CLASSIC - Ozone Magazine

A key member OF the rapgroup The Titus Boyz,Armstrong is now flyingsolo with his new mixtapeThe Money Bag hosted by DJRell. Armstrong hopes tocapture and inspire the rapgame with the truth aboutthe Orlando streets.What do you have going right now?Just on the grind. I just put out my first mixtapewith my solo project, but other than that, I’mjust out here trying to get this money.You recently dropped a mixtape with DJ Rell?Yeah ,I dropped the mixtape with him not toolong ago. It’s called The Money Bag.How was it working with him?Working with DJ Rell was real nice. He’s a realmotivational nigga; we got it in real good. Ithink he’s underrated but every dog has its day.That was your first solo project, right? Whatgroup were you with before?The Titus Boyz, that’s my family. As a whole, it’sabout 10 of us. You have me, Mook Boy, andKilla Creepa – we’re the main three that havebeen on the previous albums.How many mixtapes have you guys put out?About four mixtapes before The Money Bagwhich were Drug Money, Swagged Out, StreetThang, and Brick Chasing.How long have you been rapping?About four years.What were you doing before you startedrapping?I’m street nigga now and I was a street niggathen. I’m all in the hood, so basically whatever ittook to get that paper. I’m still that same nigga.What do you have planned for the Classic?We’re trying to put some shit together for theClassic but nothing [finalized] yet. The weekafter the Classic we have a show in Daytona.What is your ultimate goal with rapping?My ultimate goal is to show these young niggasthat a street nigga can cross over to get thatindustry money, and be the same street niggaand have that same swagger while being inthat market. I’m all about motivation.Since you’re from the streets, how do youthink you can paint a picture to people outsideof Orlando that there’s more to Orlandothan Disney World?Aw man, they’ve just got to pop in my CD andlisten. We’re a long way from Disney World, butwe can pull magic tricks on niggas. It’s a realtrickery game over here, pullin’ rabbits out ofhats.Are you signed to anyone?No, we’re independent getting our own money.You have my label which is Fly Boy Entertainment,then you have Mook Boy’s label which isFly Goon Entertainment, and we have a couplemore things going on entertainment-wise.What obstacles have you been through toreach this point?Just about everything that’s related to thestreets. When I was younger I was in the detentioncenter, juvenile center, just about every jailsystem. A lot of my niggas have ended up inmessed up situations where they are locked upor even dead. It’s just real unfortunate.You have a song called “Blood Gang.” Are youaffiliated with the Bloods?I’m going plead the fifth on that one.What was your favorite mixtape you put out?My favorite mixtape was Swagged Out becauseyou have a little bit of everything on thatalbum. It’s plenty of juice on there, you evenhave music for your moms and pops to listento. It was just a real mixtape and cutthroat. I didit like that because I wanted people to knowexactly who I was and what I was about. But thenext one is going be a street gangsta album. Itwill be some more stuff for the ladies, but stillon some gutter shit.Have you collaborated with other artists fromOrlando?Yeah, I collaborated with different artists fromOrlando, like Young Drop and Fly Ball, just toname a few.What other side hustles do you have?We’re actually about to open up two new studios.One is going to be our headquarters andthe other one is going to be open for everyone.If people want information on the studio theycan go to our Myspace page.What producers are you going to be workingwith?I’m working with a lot of local niggas. I fuck withniggas that fuck with me because I’m not aboutto chase a nigga down for a beat. I’m goingdo this myself and start straight from groundzero. //OZONE MAG // 17