Rap Radar

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

A week before the release of  his debut, …If Tommorrow Comes Maino gets a few things off his chest. In part two of our conversation the Bed Stuy bully speaks on Jay-Z, passing the torch, and the art of making hit records.

Do you feel as if you had the last laugh?
Sometimes I feel like, “Yeah, nigga you slept on me,” but then, I understand why they slept on me. Why have faith in Maino? Why should I believe in him when nothing in New York is working anyway and everybody talking about somebody else. Member how on the mixtape scene everybody was talking about somebody else like I had my buzz but—

Wait a second, Maino. You’re just as guilty of that.
What?

Of talking about people. Remember your “Take It Like A Man” record?
Right, but the take it like a man record, you know what’s crazy about that record? Everything I was saying on the “Take It Like A Man” record is what people are saying today. All I was saying back then was like, “Llisten man. Open up man. Let the new nigga get in the game, you been around too long.” Who’s New York’s biggest star? Jay-Z right?

Yeah. I’d say so.
So you mean to tell me that there is no one capable of becoming a Jay-Z? The problem with New York is that we don’t produce stars no more we sill stuck on the old stars.

But, I think a lot of artists just can’t make good music. That’s what it all boils down to, no?
I don’t think that its just that niggas cant make good music. Take me for example. I have proved hands down that I make good music right? But when Jay-Z puts out a record its gone be like, the biggest thing since the steering wheel.

But Jigga put in the work in.
Right and it opened up the door for me. All I’m saying is New York has to start generating new stars in order to bring New York back. I’m glad Diddy signed Red Café cause nowhere [else] is opening up a avenue for a new nigga. Instead of concentrating so much on his self, he opening it up for a new nigga. [Uncle] Murda was signed nothing came out  of that

Right. But, Jay gave him the lane. He dropped “Bullet Bullet”, but he never capitalized off it.
That is true. That is true.

So it’s hard to blame a Jay-Z or Puffy for that.
No you misunderstanding what I’m saying. For example: A nigga can’t take you to the water and make you drink, but if a nigga shows potential and to be helped, than as an elder than, school him. Give him some advice. It’s just like in the streets. The .OG.’s school you. “I’ma help you with this cause I made my bones already,” It’s no camaraderie between the new and old in New York City. So it being no camaraderie and no connection it makes it that much harder for a nigga to make it to that point to be a Jay-Z . Not to say they cant have to have hits, cause at the end of the day niggas got to have hit records. Niggas cant make the records for you.

So, what’s the secret. What are you doing that other N.Y. rappers aren’t.
You know what? That’s a good question. [I'm] making the best music I could possibly make and still being myself at the same time. that’s all. The same dude that did take “Take it Like a Man”.  I’m the same dude that did “Rumors”. I’m the same dude that held up Lil Cease’s chain in front of mad people. I’m the same dude that did all this. But, it still comes down to a record.

I agree.
what im trying do is just show people that there is a new face to New York City. We love our legends. We love the niggas that paved the way. But, we not just stuck there. We not just stuck in the past. We got to bring something new. Big Daddy Kane aint come back to save the day, it was B.I.G., it was Nas, its was Wu-Tang. It was new niggas! And they had the music and they had the momentum. I’m looking to help inspire that type of movement, where it could be a new regime.