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.

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

Convict. Thug. Mixtape rapper. One-hit wonder. Yep, Jermaine “Maino” Coleman’s heard it it all before. And after years of sitting in hip-hop purgatory  the Brooklynite finally seeing the light with the release of his debut album, …If Tomorrow Comes on June 30th. In part one of our interview, Maino spoke to Rap Radar about beating the odds, Oprah’s BFF, and, puttin’ on for his city.

On your album, you have production from Just Blaze [“All The Above”] and Swizz Beatz [ “Million Bucks”]. How did you manage to obtain such a great look?
Man, why wouldn’t I get this look? I’m on a major label. That’s what’s supposed to happen, especially after I came out with “Hi Hater”. I did [that] without a major producer. I put myself in the game, so now that I have people that wouldn’t mind working with me. So it easy to go work with a Just blaze with a Swizz Beatz.

Did you know “Hi Hater” was going to be a success?

I knew I was holding on to something. I recorded that record right when

I got out of my Universal deal and I was recording it while I was

negotiating with Atlantic. I actually didn’t have a deal when I

recorded it. When I went to Atlantic, I had it. It was done already.

Atlantic signed me on having “Hi Hater”. A record without a plan ain’t

gone work. So, it put me in a position now from just an average dude on

the mixtapes to now international spotlight.

Do you regret making controversial records like, “Take It Like A Man?”
Nope not at all. I don’t regret those moves. That’s who I am, I don’t regret none of that. The decisions I made yesterday help me get here today. I didn’t come in the game kissing nobody’s ass. I came in the game speaking my mind saying what I want to say. It’s just now, I’m getting to another space so now I got to not move different. I got to think and plot out my moves a little differently and actions a little bit better.

Right.
You got to understand people, didn’t expect me to get this far. People wasn’t betting on me. When the convo came up about who’s gone be this, who’s gone be that a couple years ago, it was never me. When XXL did the who’s next and all that, I was never on the cover. I wasn’t even on the inside. There was no mention of me. I understood though and I forgive them for doubting me.

Why do you think that was?
Because they ain’t take me serious. They thought I was just some goon. My past was right there with me. I was getting into little incidents so it didn’t look serious from the perspective of critics. It just looked like, “oh, it’s just some street dude that just came off of jail. He’s not going to last,” And you can’t even blame them cause its like, N.Y. ain’t been doing good. So, how can you see a Maino coming up? So when it came to who they thought was going do something in the game it definitely wasn’t me.

After “Hi Hater”, you dropped “Hood Love” featuring Trey Songz but it failed to connect. When did you realize that song wasn’t going to work?
See one thing about me is I don’t get emotionally attached to my records. “Hood Love” was great record but coming after “Hi Hater” and the energy that I made in the streets, in the clubs, and on the radio it was like they almost wanted another “Hi Hater” from me. So, “Hood love” was moving but it wasn’t moving as fast as Hi Hater was. It’s no use of crying over anything. Lets get back in the studio lets come back with something undeniable and we came up with “All the Above.”

It seems as if you’re finding your footing. In fact, I hear Gayle King is a fan of yours.
I actually did an interview with her on Oprah radio. What happen was she was doing an interview on Good Morning America and they was talking about the First Lady. She was like “it’s like the rapper Maino who has a song called ‘Hi Hater,’” and they started smiling. And she was like yeah, I know the song and she started singing “Hi Hater”! So then, I heard about that, saw the footage and then sent her some flowers. I found out what kind of flowers she liked, she took that, and was like, “Wow, Maino is a good dude.” She touched out to my peoples and had me call into Oprah Radio and then we just chopped it up and it was all good.

Ha! So does this mean Maino is a celebrity now?
Aye man, aye man. I mean, I don’t know. What the streets saying?

I’d like to think you’re on your way.
All I do is just project success and I’m just try to come up and just because I’m able to perform in front of 65,000 screaming fans and I’m doing stadiums now and people want to touch me now, It don’t go to my head. I’m still who I am. I’m a grounded nigga that’s because when you see me —even though I’m on my third single and my second one is a gold single, I’m still me.

It’s crazy to say, but you’re but new face of New York.
I knew I would be , I felt like I would be. I felt like I had what it took, I was strategic and more strategic than a lot of of niggas were on those mixtapes. It feels pretty good. I want other people to come up to though, it cant just be me.

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

Despite the recent drama, Young Jeezy’s been busy from the top to the bottom of the map. Last month, he dropped the mixtape, Trappin’ Ain’t Dead and announced the title of his fourth album, Thug Motivation 103. In part two of our interview, Da Snowman discusses his latest projects, Kobe, and LeBron.  

The reception from your mixtape, Trappin’ Ain’t Dead has been real positive.
A lot cats thought it was an album, but I ain’t even look at it like that. When I do mixtapes, I don’t just do it like it’s just street music, I do it as if I was recording a record, a regular song. It came out good though. I got another tape about to drop with DJ Scream in a few and its called, I’m On My Way and I mean, that’s pretty much where I’m at now. I’m working on the album, Thug Motivation 103. This gotta be the one right here cause I’m going back to my roots. I just feel like it was an intervention thing. Everybody was like you need to do this, you gotta do that if you wanna be big. I was like, “man, I’m big in the hood,” I think that’s good enough. That’s who I’m supposed to be, feel me?

Throughout the mixtape, you say “trapping ain’t dead…these niggas just scared.” What does that mean?
I hear a lot people say things and then when they get into the game, they kinda just fall off the streets. I feel like I ain’t scared. I been talking bout this shit. If you ever got any music I done, I been talking about this shit since day one. I see different shit everyday, but where I come from, this all I know, so I feel like I’m a represent it to the end. I just feel like nigga’s was scared. Niggas wasn’t helping nobody get no money out here. Niggas was talking about themselves and they watches and they chain. I’m like fuck that. Trappin’ isn’t dead. Let’s get back to the money, its already fucked up out here in the streets.

So this is like the appetizer to the main course.
Yeah. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League gave me a couple [beats] that’s crazy man. I’m pretty much open man. I kinda wanted to go back and do a lot of the Thug Motivation 101 deal with a lot of those producers, but there’s a lot of new cats that’s hot, so I’m kinda doing a little bit of both.

Is “Biggest Movie Ever” the first single off TM3?
The Biggest Movie Ever”, that’s like a USDA single. Something I just wanted to do. We just create music like that. We go to the club, we come in there do our thing, and everybody just watch. I was like we just had to do that record.

Is there a reason why you reverted the whole Thug Motivation theme?
I feel like that’s who I am. The Recession to me was like just something I had to do for myself. Everyone knows the world’s fucked up right now, so I just figured like it’s time to just get people back on their hustle. When Thug Motivation 101 came out, it was just like people was about getting their money. That’s when everybody just wanted to stay on they grind and get money. I’m try to get them back to that.

What was your intention with “24-23”?
It was a little street record. It was really just a response to a lot of bullshit, ya know. Niggas play wit’ my niggas names, I’m a play wit your niggas name. That’s how I felt about that shit. That’s what it was. I didn’t do it like a diss record. Like I didn’t put it out for the purpose of that. I like the song. I said what I said. I’m a stand on it. You know, Kobe took it home. I thought LeBron was going to bring it home but you know, “24, 23″ [laughs].

Yeah right, Jeezy. I can read between the lines.
Yeah, yeah but for them lame cats that think I’m talking about Kobe and LeBron shout outs to them too! But for all them real niggas in the hood that know what I’m talking about I did that for y’all. Thank me later.

This weekend, you and Gucci Mane are scheduled to perform at the same venues. Are you worried about any potential conflict?
I ain’t worried bout nothing [except] what I’m gone wear, you know what I’m sayin’? Like, what my outfit gone look like, [laughs] That’s my worse problem right now. Like, what I’m gone wear, and what car I’m a drive, and which watch I might put on. Them my only worries right now.

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

Early this morning, rumors hit the world wide web that Young Jeezy was stabbed at Luckie Food Lounge in Atlanta and later checked into Grady Memorial Hospital. Although two people were injured, Mr. 17.5 phoned in with Rap Radar to address the allegation against him. Jeezy ain’t dead…you nigga’s just lying.

Rumors are swirling that you and members of your CTE camp were hurt early this morning at Luckie Lounge in Atlanta. Care to clear it up?
Ah man, shout out to DJ Trauma. His 10th anniversary party was crazy. That was the most broads I seen in the city in a long time. The baddest broads I ever seen out in a minute. The party was off the chain.

Do you know what transpired?
At the party? We was at the bar. I know they said something broke out, but we ain’t  catch nothing. We got up out of the building and we left. Headed back to the studio and kicked it.

Folks are saying that you were stabbed.
Someone like who? Something happened to me?

Uh, yeah.
Hell no! Niggas stab me? Ain’t no one dead is it? [laughs] Nah, we one hundred, quit playing. I’m a tell you something too man, you better quit listening to them TMZ-ass dudes, man. Com’on man. These internet gangstas—I mean, bitches. Nah, we good man. We one hundred. Everybody we left with was good. Club pretty much closed after that. I ain’t see nothing so I can’t tell ya. We had a ball, man. We got up outta there.

So I take it you didn’t check into Grady Memorial Hospital.
Me? I checked into a broad’s house. [laughs] If that’s the hospital, then we we’re playing doctor. I’m quite sure there’s some records, you go and check ‘em. We good, all bullshit aside. Shout out to DJ Trauma for real. That was one of the flyest parties I been to in a while, man. That shit was crazy.

Three days ago at the MTV Movie Awards, Sacha Baron Cohen caused a firestorm as “Bruno” when he landed ass first on Eminem. Many speculated for the days whether the stunt was staged or real, with everyone speaking except the man himself. Breaking his silence, Em spoke exclusively to Rap Radar about the entire “ordeal”.

Can you clear up the Bruno stunt at the MTV Awards? Was it staged or planned?
Sacha called me when we were in Europe and he had an idea to do something outrageous at the Movie Awards.  I’m a big fan of his work so I agreed to get involved with the gag.

If it wasn’t planned the way you agreed to, do you hold MTV or Sacha responsible and will you take any kind of action?
I’m thrilled that we pulled this off better than we rehearsed it.  It had so many people going “nuts” so to speak. Everyone was blowing me up about it.

After you left the ceremony, where did you go?
After the ceremony I went back to my hotel and laughed uncontrollably for about 3 hours. Especially after I saw it on air.

There is a rumor that you hotel room was robbed and theives got 60K and your laptop while you were at ceremony. Is that true and if so what would someone find on your computer?
The only thing was that I lost a Nike watch that we were looking for. The rest it is made-up like half the other stuff out there.

How do you think the show with Jay went and how did it feel performing “Renegade” again?
I love performing with Jay. Its the third time we’ve done the song together live and its always fun. It was an honor to share the stage with him again and to work with his band.

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

The road to success is currently under construction for Leslie “Freeway” Pridgen. Coming off the debacle Philadelphia Freeway 2, It was revealed that Philly’s Roc Boy abandoned the house that Jigga built and enlisted into the Cash Money army. With the ink still wet, Free phoned into Rap Radar to discuss his new situation. Belie’ dat.

RR: You signing to Cash Money came as a surprise.
Freeway: Man, I don’t know how that got out there like that! Like, what’s going down is I’m bout to put out this album, called the Stimulus Package. It’s with Jake One. Jake One producing the whole album. I was in Miami fucking with Baby and them, and me and Baby got a song on the album that’s called “Follow My Moves”. I been fucking with Cash Money. You know, me and Wayne did a joint for the last album, but we couldn’t get the shit cleared in time and all that.  We just throwing around some ideas. And I’m launching a label, Free Money, so what better home for it.

Who approached you to joining the label?
I seen Baby in a mall. I seen him in Louis Vuitton and we was busting it up. And my man Ceelo, he worked with Baby, so he really basically connected us like that. But, right now everything is still in preliminary.

How does this affect your situation with Roc-A-Fella?
It’s still Roc-A-Fella for life. That’s something that’s not going to leave me. But as far as my situations, I gotta do what I gotta do. I’m grinding.
 
Did you talk to Jay about it?
Everything still preliminary. Jay give me his blessing with whatever I want to do. Jay want to see niggas making moves.

Did you feel stagnant at Def jam?
I can’t take nothing away from Def Jam. I just need a situation where I’m the first priority.  It’s a lot of artists over there and I can’t take nothing away from Def Jam, but I gotta do me. Like right now, it’s just a time in my career where I gotta do me.  I gotta do what’s best for Freeway.

But, what does that mean?
That means, do me. Kill the Internets. I’m on the road every weekend. I’m on the road every weekend doing shows like a I got a first single coming out.  

Do you think your style will mesh with Cash Money?
I mean, I think my style mesh well with real people.  I do it all dog.

First two albums were sleepers. But your last album didn’t fair as well. What went wrong?
That was just a project I did. I did that in two days.

Huh, two days?!

Yeah, I did that album in two days. That’s some shit I did with my man Sac from Sacremento. He flew me out there and knocked that shit out in two days. That wasn’t really nothing. The people still loving it.

Ah, I see.
I don’t count that as a major release. It’s more so like a mixtape album. I knocked that shit out and came back.

What happened to the joint venture deal between 50 Cent and Jay-Z?
Basially, right before the album was coming out, there was a lot of different situations that wasn’t going right, for the whole  party. So it fell through. Fif was just on the album and Jay wound up executive producing it by himself.

Last year, you released a new song daily and billed it as “The Month of Madness.” Do you think you might’ve oversaturated the market?
I felt as though it was beneficial. [Critics] can kiss my ass. If they don’t like it, they ain’t don’t go to listen to it.  I work, so what am I gon do? Sit on the material. I’m on the net a lot I get the feedback from people. I think more people loved it than the few people that felt like I oversaturated the market. Like, a lot of people have something to say, but they be sitting on they ass not doing nothing.

But couldn’t that be a pro and a con?
If you put out more quantity than the quality than of course that’s fucked up. But if you put out a lot of quality, than that’s what’s up. From all the reviews that I got, I think the month of madness was quantity and quality. What you think?

I thought some were good. But wasn’t a fan of all of them.  Thought it was weird cause your an established. Thought it was something a younger act would do to get his name out.
Yeah. Yeah.

Interview: Tracy Garraud

Call 21-year-old Jeremih an R&B singer and he’ll smack you with a smirk. The Chicago native only recently discovered his talents as a vocalist and by recently we mean less than a year ago. While his cousin Willie got his man-band on auditioning for Day 26, Jeremih was busy experimenting with engineering science, instrumentation—and what do you know—rapping. But after transferring to Kanye’s drop-out school, Columbia College, Jeremih solidified his passion in music and when Chi-town caught on, everyday started feeling like a birthday. Currently perfecting his Def Jam debut, Jeremih talks to Rap Radar about the current era of R&B, how he created a radio monster and who’s birthday cake he’d like to taste.

RR: Congrats on the single reaching #1 on iTunes for R&B. That’s a real good look.
Yeah, thank you, thank you. It’s crazy to see how things are going right now.

Yeah, you’re receiving plenty of love super early…
Man, this has only been a matter of months. I wrote the song and recorded it in September of ‘08 and it was October 31st when they first played it in Chicago.

I heard that you just went in to the radio station and asked them to play it?
Well in Chicago they offer a power hour of local talent. They played it back to back like it was a new R. Kelly track. And they were still mispronouncing my name, but I didn’t care (laughs). Then my manager, Louis, gave it to the Hot Boyz from Power 92, who said that by that night their lines were just filled with calls talking about who’s this new “Birthday Sex” dude and from that day on it was more of a reaction record because people would call in every day and be like it’s my birthday.

Ha! Did you have that in mind when you were writing the song…that it could work every day?
I mean some people like it, for it’s sexiness, for it’s words, for it’s content, but some people like it for just it’s composition, for it sounding just like a good ass song. I didn’t think about it when I was writing it, but you’re right, it’s a birthday every day.

How does your mother feel about you having a song called “Birthday Sex?”
(laughs) She sings it now. At the end of the day she knows…

…You’re a grown ass man.
Yeah, and who doesn’t love to have sex? I mean that’s how she had me (laughs). But I managed to write the song, have the title, and have the radio play it, so that means a lot and that it really wasn’t that vulgar. It wasn’t on some, “let me put my dick in you.” I was able to write it more with metaphors and that’s how I write period. 

So how do you feel about everybody flipping it? You’ve got Trey, Fab, Pretty Ricky, Pitbull…It’s like some R&B “A Milli” shit.
Yeah, seems like it. It’s a good feeling to know that people would spend their time writing another verse to it and I’m just this new kid on the block. It let’s me see how big of a hit just this one song is and I’m so curious to see how people are going to respond to the rest of it.

Who did your favorite remix out the bunch?
The perfect remix to “Birthday Sex” can only be done by a female. Teairra Marie did one, this girl Esther Dean from Atlanta she did one, and Shanice who’s a new signee of Def Jam. And they were cool, but I don’t know though (laughs). I don’t even want to brag on myself, but there’s nobody who’s made the song any better than what it was. And that’s personally how I feel. I’ve heard a lot of people make remixes and it just doesn’t hit it. It was either too vulgar or too something.

True life. Is there any one female celebrity that you’d love to be with at the end of her birthday night?
On my birthday I heard Beyonce’s going to be in Chicago…

Um, I heard Beyonce’s a married woman…
(laughs) Recently, I think Keri Hilson kinda grew on me. I think she’s like the female swag version of me.

Well I hear she’s a Scorpio (laughs). So how do you feel about today’s state of R&B?
I feel like it’s a new era of R&B. There’s a lot of things we call R&B now that weren’t considered that back then and people were saying “How is that R&B?” Like a lot of Keri’s records are club, but they’re considered R&B. I think there’s gonna be a name for a different genre of music coming soon. Years ago the number one records were slow, K-Ci and Jojo vibes, but now if they were to come up with that type of sound again, I don’t think it would hit as number one and blend in with this new era. I feel like…it is it good? I mean, it just shows how music has changed.

I know some people thought that “Birthday Sex”, was completely auto-tuned, but then you have the You Tube videos showing that you can actually sing in those chords. So how do you feel about rappers using it now to enhance their voices? Does that diminish the quality of R&B or show it’s popularity?
I think some people diminish their quality with using it. Cause, I aint gonna lie, on “Birthday Sex” I used the slightest amount of Auto Tune, but it made the song sound just a tad bit…the texture of it helped. But now a lot of rappers feel like in order to have a hit they need Autotune. But you’ve got Kanye West and I think 808s and Heartbreaks was a great album. But for some people it just really doesn’t benefit them.

Who are your favorite people in this new era of R&B now?
I would have to say R. Kelly, The-Dream…when I heard his music I was like ohhhh, it’s the type of music I’m in to. I respect his artistry. And R. Kelly is just the king of R&B hands down…still. He knows how to adjust.

Where does your artistry stand?
I’m not even an R&B cat, to be honest. The single was chosen for me. I love all types of music and I make all types of music. Really when I write and produce, I just go off a feeling. It just starts with a blank canvas.

So if you don’t consider yourself R&B, what are you?
Urban Pop. That’s my genre. We’ve got some tripped out rock songs, more old soul love songs, we’ve got club bangers, we’ve some pop and it’s just a variety of songs. I could almost top about three charts with this album. So I don’t want people to think just R&B, this new Dream, R-Kelly dude. Cause “Birthday Sex” is just all you’ve heard.

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

In part two of our feature, Rap Radar spoke to Bob’s son on his philanthropic efforts to Africa, Jamaica’s music ban, and Westerners’ laziness.

Previously: Nas x Damian Marley: E Pluribus Unum  (Part 1)

Whose idea was it to do this album?                             
It came about through an idea that was really from management. I guess the seed was sowed before [with] me and Nas working together previously. But it was really my manager who brought the idea to me saying that it would great if me and Nas did an EP together toward Africa. So, originally when the idea came to me, it was supposed to be like five to six songs based around Africa. And when we started working on the music, everybody was loving what we’re doing so we decided to make it an album.

Will you be spitting any rhymes?
Um, [laughs] well, the album isn’t finished yet, so we’ll have to see. I mean, a lot of the words I’m using, I have to express myself clearly so that even Nas fans can understand that are my fans. So I can definitely say that about the approach I’ve been taking on this album.

Will any of your brothers be featured on the album?
Stephen will be on the album also.

Have you always been a fan of Nas?
Yeah, definitely. That’s really how he became a part of “Road To Zion” cause I was a fan of his music.

If your father were alive, what do you think he’d say of this collaboration?
Well, I think he’d be very proud. I think Nas would be on the artists he would be a fan of in terms of what Nas stands for in his lyrics and what he has communicated to the fans over the years when it comes to Africa and African philosophy. So in that sense, I can see him being a fan of Nas even without me having to do an album with him. And of course, you know the fact we’re doing an album geared toward Africa there is no secret that was something that was very close to my father’s heart, so that’s something that would definitely resonate with him.

Are they’re any other rappers you think he’d be a fan of?
You kind of put me on the spot there cause I don’t want to name and leave out anyone. I can tell you that, my father is very much a fan of  people who are trying to uplift people and make people become more conscious and more aware what’s going on in life and especially in a very spiritual way. “One Love” is one of the greatest songs of my father and that’s really speaking about oneness of people regardless of faith, regardless of skin color, regardless of culture. So, I know he’d be very much appreciative of anyone that does music of that caliber.

You often speak highly of Africa. Why are most of your efforts connected to the continent?
As Rastas we have a great affinity toward Africa. Our faith is definitely based on a lot of African philosophy and we’re very close to Ethiopia. As Rastas we use Imperial majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as reincarnation of Christ in our time. So that in itself brings us close to Africa.

What about in Jamaica? Have you extended your efforts there as well?
Well, you see. The words on the album is going to be uplifiting no matter where you come from. We try to make sure that there is a balance between songs that are really geared toward Africa and songs that anyone could relate too. And even the songs that are geared to Africa, we try to make them related to people who are not from Africa. I’ve done a lot of work toward Jamaica and Jamaica is still very much my homeland where I have a lot love for. At the same time, you know I always try to explain, like in Jamaica and America you have things like public libraries. Adults who don’t have education can go to high schools and get free education after hours in a lot of communities in America. Like wise, in Jamaica too. They’re certain privlages that are not really opportunities that are really available in Africa. As bad as things are in Jamaica, it’s still not really comparable to Africa.
 
True, but places like Spanish Town are real wicked.
Not just Spanish Town—all towns. [Laughs] Yeah, the situation in Jamaica is dire. But like I said again, in Jamaica I think a lot of it has to do with the waking up of the people. There is a lot of opportunity there for the people if they would take it. A lot of it in Jamaica also in America, it has to do with also laziness. So, you can’t over look that factor. Meanwhile in Africa, you still have a lot of people who regardless of laziness, there is not certain opportunities available.

Oh, from lack of resources.
Exactly.

Speaking of Jamaica, how do you feel about the recent music ban?                                                                       
I’m not too much of a big of a fan of the ban. But at the same time, I’m not too much a big of the fan of the fans that created the ban either. That’s kind of my stance. As a Rasta—in the 50s and 60s even the 70s also a lot of Rastas were persecuted for being a Rasta. So in that sense, I’m an advocate of freedom of expression. Freedom of speech. Freedom living how you want to live because I want to live how I want to live. We been through that struggle as Rastas. But at the same time, artists got to remember they’re role models. Whether they like it or not.  You have a lot young children that look up to artists and take what we say as gesture, a lot of young people take it seriously. So, it’s trying to find a balance. Maybe the ban is not the balance, but they’re really trying to find a balance.

It seems crazy, because dance hall has always been rebellious. It’s rooted in Jamaican culture.         
Yeah, it comes out of left field. But as outrageous as we have been, certain things are getting really outrageous and a lot of the problems stem from school kids. There was problems of school kids having sex on school buses, ya know. Doing things of sexual nature in school. Things of that nature which they say we need to influence on the children. It’s a whole stem of where this is coming from. You got to look for a balance.

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

This June, hip-hop icon Nas and reggae star, Damian Marley plan to release their collaborative album, Distant Relatives. Though the announcement came as a shock, their chemistry proved positive on the mash up, “Road to Zion.” In part one of Double R’s feature, Nas discusses their collision course, his fixation with the motherland, and why a collaborative album with AZ never materialized.

Doing an album with Damian Marley seems like a stretch. How did this even come about?
You know certain things, just happen because they was supposed to happen ’cause it was a good thing. And certain people you just gon’ meet. It could be a two minute conversation or a two hour conversation or it can be a relationship that starts because of two people meeting. I’ve known him for a while and he’s good people, man. And the energy of it and the flow of it is good money, man. Nothing else but pure fun.

Is this coming out on Def Jam?
Well, cause of me, Def Jam is involved. It’s Def Jam, the label Damian is on which is Republic and you have even also Tuff Gong, the Marley label.

So being that this is not coming through a major label, is there less pressure?

Yeah, ’cause it hasn’t been done only [for] a hip-hop artist and reggae

[artists] to the level of my knowledge. Forgive me if I’m wrong. But,

I think it hasn’t been done, so it has its own lane. If we had a radio

hit, cool, but it’s like it has its own lane so it’s interesting to see

what happens with the single. Does it remain among music people and

they choose it? Or, does it become a top ten hit? Who knows, we don’t

know. So, there is no pressure ’cause we don’t have to do the norm. We

can do what we want.

Growing up in Queensbridge, did you listen to a lot of reggae?
I grew up, it definitely was in my mix. Early hip-hop to me is like reggae. From, what’s the kids called? Sound of a generation?

Musical Youth?
Yeah, them. To a few other records that were out when I was hearing early hip-hop, I was hearing early reggae at the same time. So, you know yeah, big time fan.

On your record, “Theif’s Theme” you named dropped Peter MacIntosh. Was he an influence?
Yeah man, “Legalize It!” He’s amazing. Just that whole thing, The Wailers. Like, Jamaica’s own Temptations or Supremes or what have you. But it was just that movement and the music that came out of that group is crazy.

Right. So on this album can we expect to hear you kicking any Patois?
[Laughs] Nah, so far we almost done. But it’s a good chance you might not hear any of that, but we do mess around in the studio. I just haven’t laid my vocals like that, yet. So it’s possible before we close it out. Dame went crazy. His whole style is so crazy ’cause most guys who listen to hip-hop [and] don’t listen to dancehall or reggae, they don’t know what they’re missing. But a lot of the lyrics from reggae music—— and if you listen to any of Damian’s albums, he’s going in. So, with this album, it’s really dope like that ’cause dude is bringing it. It’s for real.

The press release mentions your “bond to African ancestry,” it seems like you’ve always had this fascination with the motherland. Have you ever visited?
Yeah, I been. My fascination is with the fact that there is such a mystery with a great history and [with] the present genocide, it just strikes me like, “Wow”. And in some point at my African American family tree, it cuts off. And at that cut off area, is something now with DNA research you can find out where you from forever. They didn’t have anything like that. And, it’s still a thing that’s not common to everyone. So that whole mystery of Africa has always been crazy to me since Tarzan was coming through the television in black and white.

Right. On your record, “I Can” off God’s Son, people criticized your last verse for its inaccuracy.
Yeah, and I expected that. And a lot of radio stations wouldn’t play that verse. When it comes to Africa, there’s such a beautiful history that’s forbidden to talk about. And, it’s just interesting to me, there are so many people who think they know the history of Africa and don’t have any idea. Or the people who think they know the story behind the African American don’t even really know. Masses of us don’t really know. And it’s so much good to come from it.  I look to it to [not to] bring out any anger or rage. It’s just that when you look at it, you realize, why is this such a mystery? I’m intrigued by mystery. I’m intrigued by the Deep Sea. I’m intrigued by space. I’m intrigued by Rome. I talk about a lot ’cause of my race.

Many fans thought they would’ve seen an AZ and Nas album before one with Damian Marley. How come that’s never happened?
I think certain things have to be ready. You can’t do it for the sake of doing it and mess up what it was supposed to be. Things have to really be in place. They have to——like with Junior Gong, it was meant to happen. There was something puling us together that made it happen. It’s like, last year I couldn’t told you I was doing this. Neither can Damian tell you we coulda been doing this album. But, something’s pulling us together. So, we’re not fighting it, we just going with it. I think that’s when it’s fun. But other than that, you don’t see a lot of duet rap albums because, every artist rap dude or everyone has a way of doing albums. So when you got to get with another rap guy, that process of putting that together can be either easy or can be hard. But, for some reason no one has ever done it. Same reason we never done it is the same reason I guess no other hip-hop—— it hasn’t been done by anybody.

But com’on Nas. You guys made classic records like, “Life’s A Bitch” and “Mo Money, Mo Murder.”
I feel like at one point, it was ready to go and I saw it being ready to go. And I’m saying 10 years ago. It was ready to go and we had The Firm and everything. That was a movement. It was ready to go. But, I don’t know why it didn’t. It was a whole movement we had out there doing and I was out there trying to make it happen and I don’t know why. But I guess it’s not a easy question to answer. There are no duet rap albums. There have never been one.

Wait, let me think.
If there has been, it hasn’t been good cause we should’ve remembered it, know what I’m saying? They’re none, bro. They’re none.

So you wouldn’t be willing to do one with him?
I was willing to do one again ten years ago and I think that was really the time. So if it happens in the future, man, that’s all good. I don’t wanna say yeah and it don’t happen. It’s not as easy at it sounds. Again, we would’ve had at least five rap albums with duets. There is not one. Why is that? That’s crazy! But let me be fair to rap, look at R&B, they’re not tons of ‘em.  You have Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway. Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. You got few but there’s not a large amount.

Wait, I got one. What about Black Star?

[Short silence] You got one. That’s one out of a million MCs and can’t even get another one. You got me there. You right.

Um, Let me think of another. Oh, Baby and Lil Wayne did an album together too.

Yeah,

but you know what then, I think you will see that in the future going

down and that kind of thing will start happening more. If that happens,

I’m looking forward to doing that kind of shit.

Interview: Brian “B.Dot” Miller

On the hit 90s sitcom Saved By The Bell, Lark Voorhies’ persuasive ta-ta’s and thighs, gave pubescent boys a reason to ditch the Saturday morning cartoons. In fact, hip-hop neophyte Asher Roth recorded the ode, “Lark On My Go Kart” off his debut, Asleep In The Bread Aisle as a testament. While promoting her new film The Next Hit, Lark spoke to Rap Radar about her future endeavors and never hitching a ride with Mr. Roth.

You recently made an appearance on VH1’s Black To The Future. Aside from that, what have you been up to?
Well, I have invested into my repertoire. Actually I just completed a movie called The Next Hit. It’s going to be a summer release. [It’s about] the rap world in Miami and what goes on in there. And it’s an action adventure thriller. A lot of suspense. I’m the associate producer on it and it’s in the final process re-editing. So it’s coming together.

Oh, so now you’re stepping behind the camera?
Uh, indeed I am. I’m broadening my horizons in that respect. And, it’s not my first time, so I’m getting a good rhythm with it. A nice feel for it. Cause I do enjoy all areas of my craft and I’m enjoying growing and developing. I’m more than just an entertainer, so it’s been fun.

What was it like growing up on the set of Saved By The Bell?
It’s a unique experience. You take on more than one role. And, it’s freeing. But it requires a lot of organization and responsibility. And at an early age, it comes in handy. When you grow up in a professional world, you’re more apt and ready to enter the real one. Once, you reach that age and step onto that plateau you work hard to succeed.

Did you feel any pressure as one of the first African American faces on Saturday morning television?
Nah, I never felt any pressure. Well see, my upbringing prepared me well for that. So, I made it a fun activity. Yes, there is a responsibility. Yes, people did wake up to that. And I had realized that upon auditioning that this was a unique opportunity for someone of my walk of life.  There’s an interesting story behind that. But to suffice to say, to the best of my ability, I like to believe that I lived up to that.

Do you ever watch re-runs of the show?
Definitely. We had such a good time. It’s like going through a treasured picture book.  

Were you aware that you were a teenage crush?
Let’s see.  Well. [Laughs] Like I said, I made it an adventure. You gain so many applicable qualities and abilities. You learn to memorize and translate literature and you just had so many advantages on regular schooling.

Uh, so it never occurred to you?
Well, I did realize I had a value and an audience to cater to.

Indeed. In addition to acting, you were also active in music. Is that something you’re still pursuing?
Indeed I am. We’re still active with it and it’s coming along great. I’m having a really great time with it. I’m working with an independent label, which is exciting, [through] Voorhies Entertainment. When an opportunity suits, you got to hit that entrepreneurship. So, it’s been an interesting ride.

Do you listen to hip-hop?
Absolutely.

Who you do check for?
I’ve been studying different genres of music [so] I have to stretch my hip-hop legs again. My cousin is really good with that. He keeps me posted on who’s hot and what’s going on. We got satellite a few months ago, so I haven’t had my VH1 Soul. Got to hook that up. [But] let’s see. That’s a good question. The Black Eyed Peas. They’re definite favorites.  Some of the music is pretty challenging and pretty racy. Not that I discriminate, but you know, I am careful. You are what you eat. And I’m careful as to what I listen to. I don’t get a chance to talk about all the music out there. It would be overwhelming. But yeah, Black Eyed Peas definitely keep me in tuned. Kanye West. Stuff like that.

Are you familiar with the song inspired by you?
Hit me.

It’s a song called “Lark On My Go Kart,” by a new rapper named, Asher Roth.
Wow.

You didn’t hear it?
You’re the first! This is news to me! I’m excited. Awesome, let me take some writing material. I have to write that down.

Actually, it’s a single.
Awesome! What’s his name again?

Asher. Roth.
I’m going to check that out. I’ll probably get it from Amazon.com. They’ll probably have it. I’m really excited! That is so cool. I really appreciate that. I’m so happy that you were able to pass off that bit of information. I’m quite thrilled. I’m blushing all over the place. I mean, it’s something to be recognized by another person. Growing up with it all my life doesn’t deplete the value of that.

Would you be willing to meet him?
Oh, absolutely, I’d love to. That’d be too cool. If you can hook that up, I’ll really owe you one.

Great! After all, you are an original video vixen.
Ah, ok. I’m going to give you some toast on that butter. That’s nice. Thank you. [Laughs] OK.

Do you think you’d ever do something like that again?
That was fun. At this level, I probably would. It would make sense, being that, “Hello, I’m doing music” but, you know I got a point—[I'm] sticking to the plan. I’m definitely going to go for it.