Def Jam's Own 334 Mobb
Where does the name 334 MO.BB originate, who are the current members, and what was your inspiration to start rapping?
334 MO.B.B. - Name stands for 10 MO. B.rothers B.uried we rep for our folks that are dead and gone that dont have voice out here in america. The members in 334 MO.B.B. is Big Ken and Sawed-Off we 2 blood brothers. The inspiration to start rapping was just having a story to tell and being in the street hearing other niggaz doing it, and we knew we had the talent to do it.
What surprised me is your lyrical abilities and roughness on record. The standout record is "Here In Da Gutta" (Anthem) being from Montgomery, Al a place in history for racial disturbance what would be the views on your state nowadays?
334 MO.B.B. - If it does we dont see it, in Montgomery all the black folks stay in like one side we all around Montgomery really and we running sh-- what can i say? The Klan aint never been to my house burning a cross or nothing like that you feel me? The whole racism thing is old really unless you talking about the Police which is the new Klan now they harass niggaz all the time.
How did the deal with Def Jam evolve and what lessons have you learn about artist development since signing?
334 MO.B.B. - It evolved from hard work and determination and talent we rap, sing and produce so we hit them from alot of different angles and we A1 at everything we do and LA Reid loved it. He never met anybody like us who has the skills we have. What I've learned since signing is their are alot of phony people in this business and alot of snakes in the grass so keep your lawn cut and just know the snakes are coming regardless.
Can you leave our viewers with some words of wisdom in breaking into this industry and your future plans in taking over this industry?
334 MO.B.B. - Stay focused on you and always know your the sh*t until you love your self no one will ever love you. Trust me put faith in God the bible says faith of a mustard seed can move a mountain and that's all we ever had and other people believe in us and our dream became reality trust me we were not born rich i know about heating the whole house with a stove or just selling dope to maintain but we kept pushing. www.myspace.com/its334mobb
Interview with Kelly Rowland
Some don't know your real name is not Kelly explain?
Kelly-Well, oh well, My name is Kelendria Trene Rowland, but growing up no one pronounced it right so I took my middle name Kelendria and shortened it to Kelly to make it easier on every one.
How would you describe your recent sound?
Kelly-In the past there was more of a rock-pop influenced, dance-oriented sound album, this one I feel is more me, more complete, it will be my best album to date. The sound you hear will be a mix between dance and urban, don't get me wrong r&b is my roots, but dance right now is what I'm aiming for, similar to the vocal work done on DJ David Guetta album.
Kelly-Who did you work with on this album?
Chris Brown actually wrote a record which came out really, really great, Rico Love, whom did the recent Usher record Daddy's Home, Jim Jonsin (T.I's Whatever You Like, Soulja Boy Kiss Me Thru The Phone) Bangladesh (Lil Wayne A-Milli), Neyo, Makeba Riddick, Victoria Horn and many more.
Do you have any collaborations yet and when is the album coming out?
Kelly-Well can't tell you everything, but you know Brandy is my girl so expect a song with her, I reached out to Nelly to do another duet, also in talks with Pharrell and Will.I.Am. My single “Commander” is out now produced by Dj David Guetta,The track was co-written by Rico Love and the album should be out late summer.
Can we expect a Destiny Child album soon?
Interview with Nikki Giovanni
Alot of people are not aware that you are Tupac’s godmother,what aspired you to dedicate a poem to Tupac? And what is the name of it?
I am godmother only in my heart and have never set eyes on the physical Afeni though our hearts have been bonded by this terrible loss. My friendship and sisterhood was extended because we both loved and appreciated the talents of her son. Of course, I was aware of Afeni when she was under siege because of her Panther connections. She was a brave and wonderful source of inspiration and when Tupac began emerging it was as if a star was in the heavens. We all worried because he was so brave so clear so on point, his loss is incomparable.
What are your views on the lack of social and spiritual awareness in
Today’s poverty stricken communities? What values do you think would be the mediator to find an equitable solution?
I do not think the black and brown communities are neither spiritually unaware nor lacking in social understandings. No one is really listening to them and a lot of vicious misinformation is being spread but the black and brown communities remain committed to survival and that means a commitment to change. When I look at the hip hoppers I see the voice of not the United States but the voice of this planet. A people as despised as the Black American poor have taken our culture, once again, around the world. Just because there are those who would want us to think the NASCAR nation rules, I know, as do we all, that that is a lie. Hip Hop Rules.
With poems written like "Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day" its obvious alot of your selected work is to empower women of all nationalities, in your own words what defines perseverance?
We all have persevered through this terrible storm. Our years here among these people have been and, it seems, will continue to be troubled. Yet we find a way to raise our voices, we find a way to tell our story, we find a way to survive and thrive.
Do see hip-hop as a voice to protest injustice or an art form attached with materialistic subjects?
My respect for this new cultural wave means that I try to learn what is being conveyed. The poet Melvin Tolson said “You judge a culture in its decline.” Hip-Hop/Rap/Spoken Word is still evolving. There will be things that I like better than others but I don’t think we are ready to judge the height of this wave; it has not yet crested.
It's been 13 years since Tupac's death and his name is still embraced as a prolific conscience rapper. Why do you think these fans immortalize his name?
I think we continue to love and praise Tupac because he always loved and praised us. We continue to lean on those now forever young strong arms. He has joined that other Black Shining Prince, Malcolm X, to give us aid and comfort when we are humble enough to call on him. I think Pac will always be remembered and loved despite what some might want to try to make of his most courageous life.www.nikkigiovanni.com
Interview with Freeway
What's been going on with you?
Working hard, recording like crazy, got some fire with my brother Sigel, signed a deal with Cash Money, but still got my own label called, Free Money, my home team with my man Ceelo and Phoe Notes on beats, we coming.
Everyone is rapping nowadays how do you separate yourself from other emcees?
When I first starting rapping people was like what's wrong with his voice, it was high-pitched something that was new, they were saying he hot on a verse, but what about an album, being a smart man I used that to my advantage, also the same thing with my beard I'm a real spiritual dude, at the time of entering the game I was the only one with a beard, that made me unique, but really it's my work ethnic a lot of people see that battle with Cassidy as classic, they don't know Jayz had me battling everyone that came down to the office so that prepped me to work like crazy, even now I'm got over 100 of songs recorded some with Wayne and me.
Your thoughts on Beanie Sigel rants about Jayz not helping out, and your stand on Rocafella Records?
Your thoughts on Beanie Sigel rants about Jayz not helping out, and your stand on Rocafella Records?
It's still Roc-A-Fella for life, that will never leave, I touched a little of it on my verse, "I ain't saying n----s left us in the 'hood, but we ate our little food, did the dishes, cleaned the plates up," Freeway rhymes. "You was eating steak while we was eating Steak-umm/ But I never complained/ Dapped you up and tipped the waiter,” Everybody was confused doing the split up, Def Jam wasn't promoting our material like before, we didn't really know until later, so if the person directing the ship abandons the ship it's going to sink, but no one can deny how powerful that label was, and how much we all learned and grown from that situation.
How did the deal with Cash Money records come about?
I've been down with them since the Ruff Ryders and Cash Money days, just chopping it up with Baby and Juve, but my partner Ceelo hooked that up on the business tip, it really was around the Carter III album though just being around Wayne we did about five songs together but do to time none made the cut, it reminds me of the older Rocafella hunger times when Jus and Ye was going at it with beats and everyone was grinding.
Any Last Words?
