Thursday 28 February 2008

[Interview] Sheek Louch - The Silverback Gorilla [Yoraps.com Interview]

Sheek Louch - The Silverback Gorilla
Published: Thursday - February 28, 2008 | Comments (0)


Sheek Louch is one of the most underrated MC's in the game though he's part of one of hip-hop's greatest groups The Lox. When Sheek Louch, Styles P, and Jadakiss came into the game for those that followed we all remember them being part of the Bad Boy movement. When it came to that gutter street music The Lox was the young hungry cats giving it there all. Just think back to the time when they dropped the street flamer "Money, Power, & Respect" with Lil Kim and that ill production that blew speakers. Once the Bad Boy thing was done The Lox really stuck to their roots and released the classic album (especially in the hood) "We Are The Streets". On that album you got some classics that will never be forgotten like "Ya'll Fucked Up Now", "Ryde Or Die, Bitch", "Wild Out", "Fuck You", damn it's too many to name I just fuck with these dudes too much [laughs]. As time went on another Lox album has yet to be released, but the dynamic trio still managed to keep their fans through credible solo projects.

Jadakiss went on to drop two albums you loved with "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye" and "Kiss Of Death". Styles P came hard as usual with his solo debut with "A Gangster And A Gentleman" then he gave two more with "Time Is Money", and the newly released "Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman". Sheek Louch always continued to drop giving you two albums when he first dropped "Walk Witt Me" on Universal then his first Koch release "After Taxes". "Silverback Gorilla" is Sheek Louch's new project and since it's wild out here he has to get the gorilla off his chest. Happy to be coming back out Sheek explains to Yo Raps! how you can learn from your mistakes and has some advice for you up-coming artists that want to get in the music industry (the importance of publishing, the flaws of big major label budgets, the benefit of being with Koch). Still hungry giving it to you raw and uncut though he's spitting that "Good Love" taking it back to Betty Wright's "Tonight Is The Night" Sheek still has the heat for the street and the "Silverback Gorilla" is where it all begins.

First you gave us "Walk Witt Me", then you gave us "After Taxes", and now you're about to out with the "Silverback Gorilla", so how it feels to come out for the third time?

It feels great for the fans to want you, still be relevant, and still make good music. It feels great all around the board with myself and my homey's. It feels great for "Silverback Gorilla", because like I said I call it that because it's a concrete jungle out there and I'm one of the fiercest motherfuckers in that shit.

So before you gave it the title "Silverback Gorilla", how many times did you come up with a name?

I don't know [laughs], I used to say that in all my raps like "This is the Silverback Gorilla". I used to call myself the gorilla and all that so it just stuck. That's how I wanted the album cover to look, I need the city to look like the jungle took over the city, the Empire State, all that, and I just want you being there.

Sheek Louch you have a good single out right now called "Good Love" and it was crazy because everybody know you spit hard for the streets so how did you come up with the idea?

My man Red Spyda came to me with this track and I was like "Yo" and I just felt like that joint anybody can relate to. Your pops, your uncle that's that Betty Wright right there and them young boys I'm a introduced them to that music right there. They used to electric slide to that thing right there man [laughs]. When I heard that "I like that baby just can't keep still" I had to let that breathe right there. I'm not giving you too much either, but I'm saying what I'm saying.

Cool, I was feeling the old school sample!

Yeah exactly, because I feel as though I have nothing else to prove when I talk that drug shit, that gun shit you know what I mean. I just tried to switch it up and people loving that song right now. It's not hardcore or none of that it's just good music right now.

Oh so I see Sheek Louch was giving the old soul into it?

Exactly, I got all that other shit on the album, that murderous shit that's coming right after.

So let me ask you this are you looking for that "Good Love" right now?

Nah I'm looking for that good money right now [laughs], that good money. Good love I got a wife right now kids and all that shit, but yeah I'm looking for that good money right now.

All your albums came out on Koch and it seems like they been doing pretty good so how it feels as far as the relationship you got going with them?

I love it, Koch is dope man. Koch grinds, Koch believes in your work, and Koch knows the music. They will let you know what's happening out there. You go to these other labels your not meeting the head of the label, your not meeting with Jimmy Iovine who will sit down with The Lox an established group. On the money side if you go to the majors and I'm not against no major at all I'm just saying as far as myself. The majors is giving 15 cent off each record, over here depending on your deal you can get 7 or 8 dollars off each record. A lot of artists think "If I go to a major they gonna put all this money behind me I'm a sell a lot of records" so to speak. That's what the young boy is saying in his head. You look at right now and the way the sells are going now these people got hit records on the radio, the label put a million dollars into them, and they come out doing 30,000 the first week". I don't get it, they say Koch is graveyard this and that, but what you call these people that come out on a major label and do way less numbers then what we doing over here? It don't add up, but you know what's happening now? Now you in debt for them boys over there for 2 million that you didn't even see!

You right and from what I heard Koch is the place to go right now!

It definitely is the placed to go, all day it's the place to go, Koch goes hard!

Now speaking in you knowing your business and being a veteran in the industry can you talk about how important it is for young dudes coming up as artists to know their business?

Yeah I think it's very important and you can take advice from me. We got with Diddy and we got with the dream team at the time B.I.G., Craig Mack, everybody and made hit records, but our paperwork wasn't all the way tight. As far as being covered publishing wise, getting the certain amount of money that we was supposed to see and we wrote "Benjamins", we wrote "Victory" for Puff, you name these songs that we wrote. Us not having our shit together use us for an example. We just recently got our publishing back from Puffy, everybody know how much radio shit it took, going to war all that. When I tell people they be like "What would you tell a new artists" and I tell people "Invest in some equipment man". I can sit there and tell you to read all day that's all good, but invest in your self. Get yourself a keyboard, get yourself your own studio so when you get that budget you can record in your own studio so you don't gotta run down to the Sony's and book a session or wait for the label to give you money so you can start recording the album. You want to start recoding early so you can warm your self up so when you get to the label you can be that much hotter. You know I've been around.

So speaking on the publishing and everything would you tell most upcoming artists that's where the most money come at?

Publishing is for life, publishing is straight for life. That's why you see us all now you see that passion in Styles voice. When he was like "I'm a throw stuff off the roof" and all that it was more like enough is an enough. Were not just getting at Puff, because he didn't have to give us our publishing back and that's something we signed as grown men. Young men at the time, but we still was supposed to know what we were doing. Publishing is for life, those checks come when you 50, 60 years old and so on.

Your man Styles P just dropped his album on Koch, you already been on Koch, did you have any influence in bringing Styles P to the label after he left Interscope?

I have, but I think Styles decision was his. He was with Interscope, he was more like man he can't drop whenever he wanted. Styles had situations where like come on he dropped "Locked Up" with Akon which blew Akon up he should've dropped a record right after that if he wanted. They (Interscope) didn't, they stalled due to whatever situations over there. Alright cool he got on another song with Mariah Carey which was one of the biggest joints through the whole summer and he could've dropped again after that. Any label supposed to see that and run with that see what I'm saying, but they didn't. I think he was just like "Yo man I gotta drop this album, give them whatever they want, and I gotta get out of here so I can maneuver and do things the right way with these new people over here at Koch that does it the right way". Everybody is tryna come over here right now.

A lot of groups come in the industry and break-up, but you, Kiss, and Styles ya'll stayed together. What you think it was that keep ya'll around so long?

You know what it is? These groups get here and they are put together, we were not put together, we are from the same hood and high school. My mom hangs with his mom and everybody is tight like that. We own the same studio together, we own businesses together we own our own carwash and so on. I can get Kiss on the phone right now I'm not gonna call his manager or Kiss call me like "Yo what's poppin" like that for the good and bad times. That's how we keep it and when we leave here I'm a see them in the studio.

Why do you think the streets respect The Lox so much?

Because we put in so much work man, we can sit here and chop stories up all day. I think B.I.G. has a lot to do with that too, we hold our own but they like "These boys was under B.I.G. back then rapping on his records holding our own". You know what it is with us when you meet Sheek when I'm out in the hood or if I'm at a Black attire I'm the same guy you gonna meet. How I’m speaking now I'm a be the same guy you spoke to so that's what it is man.

Yeah it's crazy because I talked to your man Styles P about a month ago and he was cool as hell.

Yeah, like you said I did your first interview back then right?

Right!

I'm the same guy you speaking to right now, ain't nothing changed about me man.

Now doubt, now ya'll all dropped solo albums, but when are we going to get another Lox album because we missing it?

I know that's long overdue and I'm so sorry for all that man. I'm sorry for not putting this Lox album out we been tearing shit up. We just did B.B. Kings recently up here in New York and it was just ridiculous they was saying it was the best show of 08. I don't know man we've been recording and I'm hoping either back to school or something like that. We still at Interscope right now (note as a group) so we gonna push that button soon. We tryna get a D-Block/Lox tour with all the House of Blue's and all kinds of shit like that with those kinds of venues.

I'm talking to my homey's telling them I'm talking to Sheek Louch today they like "Man ask him when they coming out with another Lox album"!

Yeah tell them asap man it's called "Live, Suffer & Celebrate". We got a lot of songs done we keep recording we going in strong.

Alright cool, Now let's talk back about this "Silverback Gorilla" is this your best album to date?

Yeah, definitely because that's where I'm at right now in my life. If you asked me that about "After Taxes" at the time I say "Yeah this is my best album". I think this definitely as far as growth, lyrically, production, everything. Not saying the other ones wasn't hot, but I'm still proving myself. Right now in my life I ain't the 3rd dude from The Lox I'm Sheek Louch point blank. It ain't no "Yo Sheek you got nice", nah right now I'm nice, I'm sick with it. I'm standing on my own rocking it and everybody loving it. I'm in the best shape of my life.

What's the relationship like working with Red Spyda?

Spyda is dope look at how he came with that Betty Wright joint. He was like "Yo you gotta nail it this way" and Spyda did so many songs for people. Matter fact he hit me with this other joint called "Two Turntables and a Mic". Spyda also did the joint "Kiss Ya Ass Goodbye" so he feels me and what I'm doing.

Can you speaking on the guest features, who you have?

I got this mean Dipset/D-Block record it's so crazy. It's gonna shut New York down, it's gonna shut every where down, Jim Jones and Hell Rell is on there. I got my boy Styles P and Jada on there of course. I got Bun B on the album, I got my man Game, Fat Joe.

How you think hip-hop will remember The Lox?

Definitely one of the best groups of our time, of our century, The Lox is definitely the best group of our century. Along with the EPMD's, The Public Enemy's, The Mobb Deep's and all that. Classic groups and classic solo artists as well.

I feel you on that, Sheek Louch appreciate the love, I definitely look forward to "Silverback Gorilla"!

Go get that man, I appreciate it, and good questions too.

- By Quinton Hatfield

Sunday 24 February 2008

[TRACKLISTING] Sheek Louch - Silverback Gorilla Tracklisting, features... [Released March 18th]

Heres the Tracklisting for Sheek Louch upcoming album 'Silverback Gorilla'. Production comes from Vinny Idol, Red Spyda, Devine, Dame Grease, Buckwild & more...

Track Listing

1. Lottery Skit
2. Think We Got A Problem ft/ Bun B. & The Game
3. Keep Pushin' ft/ Mike Smith
4. Good Love
5. D-Block / Dipset ft/ Jim Jones, Styles P, Hell Rell & Jadakiss
6. We At War
7. Scrap To This
8. Don't Be Them
9. Getting' Stronger ft/ Styles P & Jadakiss
10. That's A Soldier
11. What What ft/ Bully
12. We Comin' ft/ UNK
13. Crowd Skit
14. We Spray Crowds
15. Rubber Grip ft/ Fat Joe & Styles P
16. 2 Turntables & A Mic
17. Mic Check
18. Go Hoodlums

The album is in-stores MARCH 18TH...you know what to do!

Thursday 21 February 2008

[Interview] Sheek Louch - Gorilla Warfare [Interview with MP3.com]

Sheek Louch: Gorilla Warfare
By Brolin Winning

Conducted February 20, 2008, 09:00 PM

Repping for The Lox, D-Block, and NYC, Sheek discusses his new album Silverback Gorilla.
A founding member of The Lox, Sheek Louch has been making music for both the streets and the charts for over a decade. Preparing to drop his third solo album, he speaks with us about proving himself to the masses, dealing with an ever-changing business climate, the mixtape grind, and where hip-hop is at in 2008.

MP3: What's up Sheek? Sheek Louch: Hey, how's it going, friend?

Not too bad. So let's talk about the new album, man, Silverback Gorilla. What do you got for us? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Silverback Gorilla, my third effort, my third masterpiece, you know what I mean. You heard Walk Witt Me, which was like, at the time, [people] was like, "Okay, let me see what this dude got. I know he's the third dude in The Lox. He's pretty much been quiet. All right, let me see." Then it was like, "All right, yeah, we feeling this." I got a lot of love from that joint. Boom, I had the joint on there with the "Everywhere we"—that D-Block, D-Block, that joint.

Yep, totally. And then after that, somebody was like, "Yo, when is your next thing out?" So I started working on After Taxes. Boom. And there was a lot going on around that album too. You know, we were so-called beefing with whoever and it was crazy. And I came with that "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye." And at the same time I'm like, yo, fam, I'm still proving my—even though people saying you hot, whatever, I'm still, like, trying to prove myself. Like, I ain't the diss dude, I'm Sheek Louch, boom.

Now this album here it's like there ain't no more like, "S***, you getting nice. Sheek Louch is hot." Now they're saying, "You're a monster. You're crazy with it." And that's the swagger that I have on this album, you know what I'm saying. I call it Silverback Gorilla, this is the metaphor. Now, I ain't talking about no, we ain't no monkeys or none of that s***. I'm just saying as far as, like, they say it's a concrete jungle out there and if it is a jungle, I'm one of them—you know what I'm saying, I feel I'm one of the fiercest motherf***ers in it.

And I mean that, like, you look at the big gorilla and I'm looking at the Nature Channel and all that, he's over there, the silverback gorilla. He's over there. He ain't running around hiding and all that. He's got his kids around him. He got his family there. You f*** with him and it's real, they make it real for you. But they hold their own, you know what I mean.

That's what's up. And that's how I feel with that. And the production is ridiculous, from Buckwild to Red Spyda to my man Dame Grease to Divine, Vinny Idol, a bunch of people. And I got my man Styles P and Jadakiss on the album of course. I've got Dipset on the album, Jim Jones and Hell Rell. I've got my man Bun B on the album. I've got Game. I've got DJ Unk from ATL, you know what I'm saying. I've got my man Big Bully. He's one of our artists you're going to hear a lot from, and myself, man, you know what I mean. It's straight crazy.

Right on. And are you going to be doing a solo tour once the album drops? Yeah, truthfully true. I'm going to definitely hit the road. I'm going to definitely hit the road and start pushing that album everywhere. But since we did a show recently in B.B. King's in New York and, I mean, everybody gave it great reviews, like, they said it was the best show of '07 or '08, whenever it was. And so everybody's been pushing for this Lox tour. They trying to get that started as we speak as far as, like, we're going to be in arenas like that, B.B. King's, House of Blues, all across everywhere. So we looking at—I'm going to get the word back on that, like, this month I think. But myself, as far as myself, definitely I'm going to be there doing my new album.

Cool. And now in terms of the new Lox stuff, are you guys actively writing and recording new songs yet? Yes, sir. Like, if I get you in the studio, play you any of these 20-something songs, you'll lose your mind. Like, this needs to be out right now in hip-hop, point blank. But we—it was—all right, let me give a rundown. Like, when [Jada]Kiss went over the Def Jam he had to make a move. His last album has been like three years and change or something. I'm not sure. Which was a great move because it gets him over there into another building and he could bring s*** to us, you know what I mean.

Anyway, Jay-Z was trying extra hard to get The Lox over there as well. But Jimmy Iovine at the time was like, "No, man. This Lox album has to come out over here in this house," you know what I mean, so that's what happened there. And we got the go-ahead that he wants that album out over here but at the time, even if you take it even farther back, not beefing, but when 50 and all that was going on, he was talking about I could push Styles album back and this and that. He was like, "Man, maybe you can, maybe you can't. I'm not sure," you know what I'm saying. I don't got no problem with him or none of that. That's done and over with.

But at the time, we was like, "These people, we ain't givin them a Lox album in so long to have one man tamper with it, push it back and stop songs, come on now. That ain't right. The people want this album," you know what I mean. So we was like, "You know what, we'd rather not. We'd rather not at the time. Let's get a different home." And the home didn't work so we got to be right there, so we'll see.

I know you guys are real heavy on the mixtape grind too. Yes, sir.

The Howling is out now. Do you have any other mixtape stuff you're working on or are you just sort of always doing stuff? No, I'm always grinding, you know what I'm saying. After The Howling, I went back to work dropping different stuff, you know what I'm saying. And they loved The Howling. I'm getting a lot of great reviews on that. But after Silverback Gorilla, of course Kiss is coming, you know, and The Lox whenever that comes. But we're putting out a compilation album called No Security, and that's going to consist of all our new artists, along with ourselves, but a lot of our new artists and we're going to showcase them with some banging songs and singles and all that. So whoever the people are screaming on after with that comp, they coming out with their album immediately. So we're moving in that direction, you know what I mean.

Sure, keep expanding. Yeah, you have to because that's something we never really did. We never, like, at the same time, we always been learning the business from back with Puff on up until now dealing with artists and solo artists. So you know what I'm saying, and we always got caught up, like, pushing my solo album out or Styles's or Kiss's or together as a group. It was just where we really didn't have to put people out. But now, we just, I think that's the whole mission of '08.

It's kind of crazy. I mean, it's '08 now. It's been 10 years, a full decade since the first Lox album dropped. Yeah.

Did you, when you were first getting into the game and first doing demos and all that, did you ever think that you would still be going this hard and this successfully 10 years down the line or does that still surprise you? I think there was a bunch of up and downs, man. It was like, like you said, 10 years. So, with that, comes history. Like, at the time when we got in the game it was like, man, we joined the Chicago Bulls when Jordan and them was there. You know what I mean? We got B.I.G., we got Biggie there, we got Craig Mack, Total, Puff, you name it, Ma$e, the newcomer, you know what I'm saying. And we put this dude on one of our songs called "Niggaz Done Started Something" off Money, Power, Respect and he blew up to become DMX and so on, you know what I mean.

So like, at the time, we running around, "Wow, we on Big's album and we about to drop our project all that." When Big died, it felt like, man, everything's about to stop. Like, "Dang, just when we got on," you know what I mean. That was a time when I didn't know if everything was going to keep going. You dig? And then God willing, I would say, and hard work these two dudes that was managing us named Dee and Wah came and started their own label called Ruff Ryders, you know what I mean. And us not even knowing, we're setting up one of their artists already putting them on mad songs.

And then it popped off, so there was ups and downs with it to where we felt like, man…But then the only thing that I can say, not to keep you here so long, one thing, the product that we put out never felt like it was going to be over because people was just loving certain songs like, "Oh, my God, did you hear them '24 Hours to Live'? Did you hear 'The Benjamins'?" You know what I mean.

Totally. That kept us, like, "Wow, these dudes, they're a force to be reckoned with.

You guys definitely had the anthems for sure. Yeah.

Now obviously a lot has changed in the last 10 years in hip-hop just overall, but… Hell, yes.

…in terms of the music that's coming out and a lot of these younger artists, but also in terms of the business of it and the whole downloads, with the labels and tripping and downsizing. Do you feel like things are in a better place, for yourself specifically? You know, you've done the major label stuff but the solo records you're doing indie. Do you feel like in '08 you're in a better place than you were? I think I'm in a great space, you know what I'm saying, as far as me being able to do me, and with Koch as well, like, that's a label that, they study your work, they want you to win, they know what's popping for the most part, they go out there and grind and get on the streets with you, not just sending Joe Schmo out there that really don't know s***. They don't got a rep on the road with you that don't know what the f*** is going on, he's barely heard the music. You know what I mean?

Yeah, yeah. Some jackass is going to bed at 8:00 at night when the rest of you all are going to parties, nothing like that. No, they've got real people with you out there as well as yourself. So it ain't just you putting it all in their hands. You've got to get out there yourself and grind because it is an indie and you've got to work just like them because you all want to win, and you see money off it as well, you know what I mean.

As far as the state of hip-hop, I think—I always say it's in a great space because regardless—it still gives us as young black men and women a chance to travel and see the world, to go to Switzerland and London and Germany and places that they would have never, ever been working at General Motors or any of these construction places or anything, doorman or supermarkets, they would have never got there. And as well as to make money and bring your homeboys and your friends with you, you know what I mean. So it's, I mean, come on now, anything that's getting you and helping you come up as long as you deal with it and do it right and hold your head and don't lose yourself, you're good. I think it's a good thing.

Now as far as musically, I don't like everything that's coming out. I'm not going to pinpoint everybody and all that but the state of it is just like, as far as like—but you hear what I'm saying right, one is the business side, what I just said where it helps you get that money and grow and do s*** and pay your mortgage and certain bills. The other side is, like, these guys, these kids right now they don't care. They're just putting out anything and they want one ringtone.

Yeah, totally. That's all it takes. All they care is for one ringtone. But also the label is coaching them into, "Where is our ringtone record? Where is our ringtone record?" to where they don't even give a f*** about the rest of the album. They don't even care if the rest of the songs is trash. They've got that one ringtone and they got a dance with the song and that's it, you know what I mean.

All set. That's it and they set, one dance and one routine and the ringtone and they feel like they're on top of the world until you hear the rest of their s*** and the reviewers is like, "Wow, what the f*** is this? This is the worst s*** I ever heard," you know what I mean. So that's—the state of that is, like, they need to get a grip and there's not a lot of lyricists anymore or anybody that's got pride in their whole project.

Definitely. I hear you, man. So what else do you want to say just to the fans out there, the people that's been waiting on a new Sheek record, been waiting on a new Lox record? Yeah, yeah. Yo, it's coming. It's right here, it's Silverback Gorilla. I'm looking at late March, early April. I don't have a definite date, but late March, early April. And it's fire, man, and it's coming. If you thought After Taxes was off the hook, this new one, Silverback Gorilla is crazy. Concepts, the production, the people on it, all my homies that's on it, just the growth lyrically and me playing with it, it's sick, it's sickening. You're going to love it. You're going to put it in and let it rock all the way through, I promise.

Excellent. Well I look forward to hearing it and thanks for taking the time to talk to me, man. I appreciate it. Yo, good look. Hold me down over there.

Absolutely, Sheek. Take it easy, man. All right.

Wednesday 20 February 2008

Tuesday 19 February 2008

[News] Catch Sheek Louch "Good Love" video premiering today on RAP CITY at 5pm EST

Tune into Rap City on TODAY (Tuesday, 2/19) at 5pm EST as Sheek Louch premieres the video for his single "Good Love"

The New Album "Silverback Gorilla" In-Stores March 18th

[VIDEO] SHEEK LOUCH - GOOD LOVE!!



Dope video & concept!! Directed by Todd Angkasuwan (also shot Styles P Blow Your Mind).

Sheek will be premiering this video later on, on Rap City at 5pm EST. Drop your thoughst on the new video...

If you missed it make sure you peep Another Classic's behind the scenes look at the "Good Love" video shoot.

Thursday 7 February 2008

Vote for STYLES P to win at the Mixtape Awards 2008

"They should name the award after me" - Styles P

Visit this link http://www.themixtapeawardsonline.com/awards/voting.aspx at vote for STYLES P.

The Ghost is up for the following 3 Awards at Justo's (R.I.P.) 11th Annual Mixtape Awards:

Best East Coast Mixtape Artist
Best Hip Hop mixtape for 'Big Mike & Poobs present Styles P 'The Phantom'
Best Mixtape of the Year for 'Big Mike & Poobs present Styles P 'The Phantom'

We all know P shoulda got an award for both Ghost In The Shell & Ghost In The Machine...

So make sure you hit up that link & cast your votes (you can vote as many times as you want lol)

Monday 4 February 2008

[Interviews] Two New Sheek Louch Interviews with Allhiphop.com & DJBooth.net...Check ’em Out!

Sheek Louch: Mighty Flow Young

Published Monday, February 04, 2008 8:00 AM

By Haaron Hines

There is usually minimal life after Bad Boy for artists who leave the label for greener pastures. But when you're a member of a group like the Lox, you become the exception to the rule. Sheek Louch rose to national stardom as one third of the Hip-Hop supergroup. Through all the label politics, fights over publishing and rap beefs, Sheek has built a respectable following with fans of hardcore Hip-Hop around the world with countless mixtape appearances and features. However, after dropping two solo albums, Walk Wit Me and After Taxes, the Yonkers, NY native has yet to match the solo success of the arguably more popular Lox members Styles P ad Jadakiss. With his third solo release, Silverback Gorilla, Sheek stands ready to prove to the naysayers how strong an MC he really is.

AllHipHop.com: You've been in the game for a while now. First as a ghostwriter, then as a member of the Lox, now as a solo artist. What does this new album mean to you?

Sheek: This is my third masterpiece. The first album the people were like, "Okay let's see what homie's got, third dude of the Lox. Let's see what he's about." And people were like, "He's aight." So I had their ear. Then I came with the "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" joint on After Taxes. Now they're like, "Oh, homie is a problem. He got something going on here." Then I was releasing mixtapes and doing this and that and it went from, "Oh, homie is crazy," to me being on fire right now. Now I feel like I'm a monster with it and I'm coming with that type of swagger on this Silverback Gorilla album. Like when I got on a verse I murdered it, I manhandled them s**ts. Concept wise, lyrically, the growth is all there. One of my favorite joints is Don't be Them. I named mad people and it's just basically saying we don't need another Jada, Styles, and Sheek. We need a "you" little homie. Whoever you're going to be when you come in the game just come in and be that. I even tell all the new artists we got the same thing; "Yo, you sound like us. I don't want to hear that."

AllHipHop.com: You're in a group with two of the most respected lyricist in the game who have each seen their share of solo success. Do you feel like you still have something to prove?

Sheek: At the beginning, definitely. I was like I got to separate myself as a lyricist. They been had their solo things going on. When I got into it I would just run in and start airing it out. Now, they can't wait for Sheek to spit. Everybody knows what I bring to a feature or a mixtape or whatever. There's no sound similar to what I do.

AllHipHop.com: You're not known for doing the "radio friendly" songs. What made you do something like your first single, "Good Love"?

Sheek: I tried something like "Good Love" because I feel like I've got nothing else to prove with the gritty talk. I still got that on the album of course but I just felt like I needed to get a little radio record going. A lot of times people try to pick what the singles going to be but nobody really knows. I asked Hov years ago how he picks singles and he was like "I just put it out." No one really knows. You…the public is going to judge. So commercially, it comes. We still do songs with Mariah, we make songs like "Benjamins". We make those and we do the gritty stuff too. Sheek could definitely get more out there and get more of a commercial status but the respect is the main thing all the way through. Now I just need the money. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: With the talent that you and your other group members have, why do you feel you haven't made it to that next level?

Sheek: We been stagnated from back then when we joined the dream team with Puffy and B.I.G. and them. And due to us not looking at the paperwork, and I blame myself more than my lawyers and managers and all that. But we were young and nobody was really looking after us. So he had publishing money from back then going up to a few years ago. Thank god he let that go. Good looking Diddy for letting that off. People came in the game and within one year made mad money because their publishing was straight. Their s**t was done right so all the money from those hits went to them.

AllHipHop.com: Is that what led to the eventual separation from Puff and Bad Boy Records?

Sheek: It got to a point where we didn't even want to write anything anymore because all the money was going to him. That was frustrating man. When you heard Styles and them at the station talking about throwing TV's and refrigerators on him and s**t, that's how they was really feeling. It was like, I can't do nothing because it's going to this dude. And, at the time, he wasn't letting up, but thank Hod he did. Everything is dope. Shout to Diddy again for giving us our publishing back.

AllHipHop.com: For those that don't know, explain how important publishing is to an artist?

Sheek: If you're my artist and I put you out. I got you out there and the world knows you now, once you sign your publishing to me that's that. I gave you your money for the rights to your publishing and that's that. And that money is for life. Publishing is not like a one time thing. That money comes in every six months or so forever. Imagine you wrote everything Diddy said. All his raps from "Victory" to "Benjamins", all the remixes and all that. We sat there and wrote them joints. Fam you know how much I'm supposed to have?!? I mean don't get me wrong, n****s is good. We straight, got big houses and all that but, come on man. Fam, this is all the way up to Walk Wit Me and After Taxes. He just recently let that go. Some went to me, but most went to Puff. That's f***ed up but, it is what it is.

AllHipHop.com: Your first artist, J-Hood, started his own version of the campaign you used to get off of Bad Boy. Knowing what you went through with Puff wouldn't you feel the need to just let him go?

Sheek: He tried to go the same formula as us but the difference between the situations is when we had the "Let the Lox Go" campaign we had to. Puff is a paperwork gangster. We didn't have it to go to court with Diddy. We were sitting in these meetings with like 17 or 18 people like what the hell's going on? And we're like, "Look, I don't know all this s**t man. We just want to move on." The direction when B.I.G. was here was dope but when he started going in the direction he went with Ma$e there was nothing there for us. That's not the direction for us to go. So it was that plus we just found out what we were supposed to be getting paid for writing these songs. So it wasn't like we hated Diddy or couldn't stand being around him. He had it popping. The parties and all that was aight. But besides the parties, it wasn't for us. He had dudes in the sweatshop just grinding and we were just like this isn't what it's about. But I'm not downing him at all. But with J-Hood, we never had beef with him. He could've got off. We couldn't get off for nothing. We'd have let Hood off from the jump.

AllHipHop.com: So how did things get to the point they did?

Sheek: Styles had a meeting with him and after that he came to me and was like, "Yo Sheek, let's just let him off so he can go on with his life." Me I was like, "Nah, we discovered this dude, brought him along and s**t. Whoever wants him, tell them to holla at us so we can do this business." You and Kiss don't want to do it that way, cool. I'll put some money in your account when whoever signs him works out the deal to sign him. That's just me. I'll go take that meeting immediately. But after a while I was like you know what, screw it. Let him off. Then I start seeing him talking about, "Sheek took my chain… Sheek smacked me," and stuff like that. His homies were telling me that he was putting s**t on the Internet trying to build some kind of campaign. And they were telling him he didn't have to do it that way. They were like, "Yo, they said they'll let you off." But he was like, "No. I have to make it like this." So now I'm seeing him on DVD's talking about his guns go off and s**t. I'm like, When Hood? I'm not even talking guns with you. What are you doing? Then he got on stage with 50 during that whole time. But what he doesn't realize is 50 will do s**t like that for attention. "Come on Remy. Get on stage and dis Terror Squad. Come on Hood, say f**k D-Block." And that'll be for that moment.

AllHipHop.com: So there was never any interest expressed by G-Unit?

Sheek: We spoke to Nelson and them and they were like "We got nothing to do with that. We can't stop 50 from doing what he's doing." So they felt bad about letting him use these guys but they weren't trying to sign J-Hood. That was never the plan. To this day he's still signed to us. These people ain't reach out. Where are all the people that? Nobody wants Hood. I was waiting for someone to holla at us but I'm thinking about just letting him off. I would never stagnate that man's career. It was just a matter of him pulling all the f****t s**t he was pulling and the way he was going about things for nothing. Like we never had beef with you, why are you talking so tough? You want it that way or something?

AllHipHop.com: So what is the future looking like for D-Block as a label?

Sheek: D-Block is looking real good. I'm loving it. We got Don D., AP, Bully a lot of dudes out of Philly and New York. And I'm kind of glad that s**t happened with Hood because I'm still learning, myself. Hood has every right to be mad that his album didn't drop but it was because I loved you as a brother and certain songs that we thought was fire, a lot of people didn't. People weren't thinking s**t was hot to death like that. From the main DJ's to the figureheads. And what most labels do they don't care. They'll just say put the album out like, "Here. I don't care. Put that s**t out tomorrow." We were like we need to go back again until we've got a hit. And there were probably a lot of mistakes that we made. Especially me, because he would come to me a lot.

I may have made some mistakes with him. With him it was real family like. But now, I'm not going to do that. Like I knew Hood when he still had contacts and finger waves doing all that silly s**t. And it still feels funny when I down Hood because even with all the s**t he talked, it's still like, "Fam, what are you doing?" But now when it comes to working with the artists I fall back. I used to be in the studio constantly with the artists but now it's like, "Word, that's what you came up with? Go see what Styles and them think about it."

AllHipHop.com: As we all know there is no 401K in Hip-Hop. With that being said, what are some ventures you'd be interested in getting into?

SHeek: We got gas stations, car washes, I'm reading scripts right now. We're just trying to keep it going. I'm keeping my foot in the music. I'm going to always be involved in the music. I feel like I have so many good ideas for the new, young dudes who're coming out. I just want that other bread man. I want to know what that side feels like. I want to work on it and put it out there so I know what that side feels like. Even if I'm not rapping on it but just to know that I was a part of that next big project. I got that popping right there.

AllHipHop.com: Just to go back a bit, the Lox have always been street dudes. But what was it like for you the first time Puff approached you, Styles, and Jada and said I want you to put on this shiny, green suit?

Sheek: Them s**ts is shiny like a muthaf***a! [laughs] With the suits and all that s**t with Diddy, we didn't really question it that much. Like when we got with Diddy we were like this is a guy who knows what he's talking about. He used to be like, "Look. You might be known out in these streets and on the blocks out here but I'm telling you what's going to knock in Texas. I'm telling you what's hot in ATL." And, at the time, these were places we'd never been. He was like we have to make these kinds of songs and we're following his lead but still like, "Man, is this shiny s**t in the videos going to pop off like that?" But it was the trend.

After B.I.G. died there was a whole wave of all that Ma$e s**t going on so we tried it out. We threw the shiny suits on but we'd be mugging and (simulating firing a gun at the camera) in the video. Shooting the clouds and s**t. We didn't really f**k with the image like that but, as far as the songs, we figured he knew what he was talking about. We figured all we had to do was put our twist on it. And, once again shout to Diddy for doing what you did. But another thing that had us tight was how he'd be all over the records and s**t. All the "take that" on everything had us tight. We were like, "Damn son, let us breath." Because we knew what we were doing. We do what we do well on these streets. And he used to say, "The streets ain't buying your s**t. These other people are… Them and the chicks. The streets will only buy the mixtape." And to tell you the truth, I've learned a lot from Diddy. He works. His work ethic from studio to his stage show is serious. I learned a lot from watching homie and his team. I can't lie about that.

AllHipHop.com: So, with your past, if Puff called you tonight and said I want to work with you on a project you'd do it?

Sheek: I'd get on any song he wants as far as his artists are concerned. I'd go do something with Making the Band tonight. I'd go to Spotlight and get it in then be like cut that check Diddy. The difference is now I know I should be getting one. That and some Ciroc. Now I know my business. I know what I'm doing. Diddy's my man now. He sent a case of Ciroc to my video for "Good Love" and all that. That's my homie. And actually, when Hov was trying to get the Lox, Diddy was trying as well. We were young and going through s**t. The whole second album, We Are The Streets, was strictly us getting at him but we're grown now. We've done shows and all that.

AllHipHop.com: Fans have bee held over with solo material from you guys but when can fans expect another Lox album?

Sheek: I apologize to all the fans waiting for that Lox album. It definitely took too long. The situation was Hov wanted the Lox and Jada as a solo act to go to DefJam/Roc-A-Fella. Then Jimmy Iovine was like, "This new Lox album is going to be a big project. We've got to do that over here." So he wanted it to come out on Interscope. The album been recorded and is straight fire. At the time 50 was going through all that push Styles' album back s**t with the so-called beef and all. There's no problems now, it was what it was. But at the time we were like, "Damn, if he that strong over here he's going to f**k with this Lox album too." The fans didn't deserve that. You're not just hurting us. These people been waiting for a Lox album. For somebody to just push s**t back and leak songs is crazy. We'd rather not put it out. We'll wait until we get another deal somewhere. So now that the smoke cleared and all that we're going to move ahead. If I let you hear it right now you'd be like, "This s**t needs to go out tonight, this s**t is crazy."

AllHipHop.com: If an executive came to you with a check in hand and said they wanted you to only do solo projects and never work with Jada or Styles again, would you take it?

Sheek: I wouldn't take it. That's my fam. Those are my n****s, I love them n****s. It's bigger than any of that with us. We're not a put together group. My moms hangs out with his moms. I seen Kiss last night at the studio. Styles will call me up for nothing just on some, "Yo, you seen this s**t on TV?" We do it like that. We watch each other's kids. It's like that with us. Our manager didn't put us together. We grew up together. No matter what the amount, even if that one check could feed my family forever, I couldn't do it. That's our craft, that's our skill and you're going to tell me I can't do s**t with my boys no more?

AllHipHop.com: With Hip-Hop becoming more and more commercialized each day, do you feel there'll still be a place for the type of music you make?

Sheek: There's definitely a place for our kind of rap. We just did a sold out show at B.B. Kings that got great reviews. And just from traveling, going to different places you see it. I walk outside or go to the supermarket and get the same screams Chris Brown or any of these muthaf***as get. I hear cars riding by bumping my Howling mixtape, radios playing the single. The love is there. But I know what you mean. I went to a club and they was doing the Aunt Jackie and all that funny, dancing s**t. No shot's at anybody that does that music. But I'm like what the hell is going on in here? Then we took the stage and soon as "Wild Out" came on [and] the club lost their mind on some shut the club down s**t.

We definitely still get it in and definitely still relevant. I'm in the best shape I been in, in my life, I'm feeling great. But the industry is ringtoned out. It's all the same routine and a bunch of dances but I blame the labels for that. Soon as an artist comes in the first thing they say is, "Where's your single, where's the ringtone. All we need is one." And they don't care about the other 11 or 12 songs, the rest of that s**t could be trash. They don't care. They want that one hit for the ringtone money. You have to care about making that music.

AllHipHop.com: A lot of people just put their energy into that one song and don't really focus on the complete album.

Sheek: Yeah. Then you get the commercial on BET running every five minutes; "Call 1-800 such and such and you can fly and snap like this." No shots at anybody flying or snapping their fingers. You have to say that s**t now because n****s are sensitive these days.

Sheek Louch Interview with 'Z' from JBooth.net

Times have certainly changed for Sheek Louch. The man who was once merely known as "that guy in the Lox" is now gearing up for the release of his third solo project, Silverback Gorilla, in late March.

Following the independently successful release of "After Taxes" (Koch), Louch and his D-Block brethren (Jadakiss and Styles P) have kept the streets fiending for more of their jagged lyrical edge and raw gangsta appeal.

In an exclusive interview with DJBooth's DJ "Z," Sheek steps inside the booth to discuss the importance of using hip-hop to encourage voter registration, how he feels about his four-year-old son listening to his music and the status of the highly-anticipated new album from The Lox.



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Sheek Louch Interview Transcription:
DJ Booth: What's goin' on ya'll? It's your boy "Z," doin' it real big, and joining me inside the DJ Booth is one third of The Lox. Excitedly awaiting the release of his new studio album "Silverback Gorilla," please welcome my man, Sheek Louch – how you doin'?

Sheek Louch: I feel great, man. I'm doin' good. I'm excited, gettin' ready for this new album, "Silverback Gorilla," like you said – it's fire! If you loved the last two, this one is even crazier.

DJ Booth: I have no doubt that that is the truth. We last spoke November of '05, right after you dropped your last album, "After Taxes," so, what is the most exciting thing that has happened in your life, either personally or professionally, since the eighth of November, 2005?

Sheek Louch: The most exciting thing – wow. Keepin' my family around, seein' my son get older every year – he's almost four now – that bugs me out. And musically, not to sound generic, just havin' the fans with me and lovin' my growth, and lovin' that I'm a monster right now in the game.

DJ Booth: You mentioned fatherhood – what do you think is more challenging: going into the studio to create a hot, new album, or just the daily life of being a father and raising a son?

Sheek Louch: Definitely bein' a father and raising a son. Your album, you put it out there for the people, to give 'em insight into your life. But your son is your life; your family is your life, on my behalf anyway. And just moldin' him, and showin' him what's wrong and right, and this is why it's wrong or right, its a challenge. And lettin' a boy be a boy, you know what I mean?

DJ Booth: Do you let your son listen to your music?

Sheek Louch: Yeah, for the most part. Until he tells me, "Daddy, that's a bad word," you know what I mean?

DJ Booth: Yeah. [laughter]

Sheek Louch: Like, "Now you can't listen to that."

DJ Booth: When you divulged the details of the original deal that you signed with Koch a couple years ago, you explained that D-Block was gettin' eight dollars per record sold. A lot has changed, Sheek, in the music industry over the past two years. So, is the record deal still as favorable this time around, or was it renegotiated?

Sheek Louch: Yeah, yeah, definitely. We kept the same core format and all that. Because, Koch respected our growth, Koch respects our grind, and it's still all structured the same, but we just don't deal with J-Hood anymore. We got so many new projects and so many new artists that they're like, "Wow, we gotta keep everything the same. And not to mention, you guys are on fire right now," know what I mean?

DJ Booth: Mm-hm – I know you are.

Sheek Louch: And to elaborate on that, the industry, you ain't lyin' about that, man. F*ck, sales, everything is down at least forty-five to sixty percent.

DJ Booth: Sheek, a lot of artists, all they're doing is really complaining about how the sales are down, but what can artists do themselves, separate from whatever a label can do for them, to turn this all around?

Sheek Louch: Yo, Z, you know what? I got some money for you if you know that answer. I wish I knew the answer. Downloadin' is definitely at an all-time high, with all the sites where you can go and get your music that way. Bootlegging is at an all-time high; that's been goin' on since the Temptations, you know what I mean? You can say, "Keep your music, and hold it till the last minute, till you gotta turn it in," but if everybody has their hustles and their schemes. It could be the engineer, where you recorded your album at, it could be whoever, who's turning your album in and putting it online. You don't know who – I wish I knew that secret! I'm sorry about that one, Z; I don't know.

DJ Booth: Well, I think one of the solutions – and you tell me if you think I'm correct here – would be just to focus on making better music. A lot of artists in the industry, they put out mediocre music.

Sheek Louch: You're a hundred percent right with that. And I blame a lot of labels also, because right now these labels got these young boys comin' in the game to make one ring tone. They don't care about the rest of the album, all they want is one ring tone hit, and that's it. The rest of the album sounds garbage! Real people such as yourself and me that's listening, is like, "What is this?! Who said this is hot?!" Yeah, that one song is, but other than that, the rest of the record is trash! We gotta knock that off and get back to makin' that fire, like "Silverback Gorilla."

DJ Booth: Isn't that the truth. I couldn't agree more. In a press release, Sheek, for your new album, Alan Grunblatt, the GM and executive VP over at Koch, is quoted as saying, "Sheek Louch is a successful, core Koch artist, and he defines gangsta rap in New York." So, if you were asked for a quote on how the industry perceives your significance in the game, how would you explain Sheek Louch?

Sheek Louch: Yeah, yeah, shout out to Alan. I didn't know he said all that – good lookin', brother! My growth is ridiculous. I'm definitely one third of The Lox, but at first I was like, "That's the dude from The Lox." Now, I'm Sheek Louch. I'm that dude. Like, they love my music, I'm standin' on my own. My swagger is all the way up, and it reflects in my new album comin' on out. It's no longer like, "Yo, your joint got hot!" I'm on fire right now, and I feel that way. I think people see me definitely as a "gangsta" rapper, and what people love about me is when they meet me and they meet me again later, I'm the same dude they spoke to and ain't nothing changed.

DJ Booth: You gotta stay humble in this industry, 'cause one day you're on top, the next day you're on the bottom.

Sheek Louch: That's right! It's called longevity, man. And workin', and studyin', and knowin' what's goin' on out there.

DJ Booth: "Silverback Gorilla," as we've mentioned, is the name of your new album. After doing some extensive research, I discovered that when a threatened male Silverback shows his dominance to a younger or outsider male, he screams, beats his chest, breaks branches, bares his teeth, and charges forward. When your dominance is challenged in this industry, how do you best respond?

Sheek Louch: A hundred percent! And I watch the Discovery Channel too, baby, I know what you're talkin' about. You see the Silverback, got his kids, ain't botherin' nobody, but when it's time, it's on. When people's like, "Let me see what he got," I came forth and I brought it and I beat on my chest that way. Whether it was Jay-Z at the time or when we was beefin' with 50, if you wanna call it beef. I'm doin' what I gotta do.

DJ Booth: Shouts out to yourself for admitted you watch Discovery Channel; I know a lot of people probably wouldn't want to. I have no problem with saying it to the world: I watch that channel.

Sheek Louch: There's so much stuff on there, man! Sheek watch the Discovery Channel, Nature Channel, and all that. It's an interesting fam!

DJ Booth: One of the new songs off the album is the single, produced by Red Spyda, "Good Love." In it, you talk about potentially finding some good love while out on tour. So, in all the years of performing, have you ever found anything close?

Sheek Louch: I got a wife and all that right now. [laughter] Yeah, yeah, of course I had my share on the road, runnin' around, before I settled down. But for the most part that song is just speakin' to the ladies. I think a lot of ladies, regardless of my status as far as gangsta and all that, they're attracted to me. A lot of people's like, "Man, Sheek, you gotta do more sh*t for the ladies, 'cause they on you!" And that's why I give 'em that music. And it ain't just for the ladies, it's a hot party record. Also, that sample, my mom used to love that record, that "Good Love," by Betty Wright. So, yeah, shout-out to Red Spyda.

DJ Booth: The album's gonna feature guest appearances by your D-Block brethren Jadakiss and Styles P, and, of course, Jim Jones, Bun B, Game and Fat Joe. Was there anybody that you wanted to scoop up for sixteen bars that didn't make themselves available?

Sheek Louch: I had Avant on this joint – it's a funny story. I had a song called, "I'm So Hood." Same kind of concept as Khaled – shout-out to Khaled – but he came out with it first, and then he remixed it, and it was just a big, big record. So I'm not even tryin' to compete with it. But shout-out to Avant, man; he killed the hook for me.

DJ Booth: Let's go back to our earlier interview that we conducted a few years ago. You promised me, and the world, that we would all get a new Lox album. Then, this past year, I spoke with Styles a few times, and we discussed the album as well. A lot of talk's goin' on and no new album. So the world still awaits – what's the latest?

Sheek Louch: Oh, I know. You know what, Z? I apologize, it's been too long for this Lox album. And I definitely thought it was comin' at the time. We just ripped down a big, big show in New York at BB King's. The reviews were ridiculous. They called it the best show of '08. Kiss just made his move over there to Def Jam with Jay-Z, so at the time, when we was ready to drop that Lox album, when I promised it at the time, 50 [Cent] was – you know, if you wanna call it beef or whatever – was talkin' about how we was gonna push Styles' album back. When we wanted to drop that, we was like, "Man, if he can really do that, he's gonna tamper with this Lox album as well." The fans don't deserve that, for anybody to put their hands on it. That's why we didn't move on that. But now Jimmy Iovine is sayin' that stuff is goin' down with Def Jam, and he wants the album to come out on Interscope. So we're gonna move forward on that.

DJ Booth: I can only imagine, with four to five years' worth of recorded material, you guys are gonna have a hell of a hard time deciding what the best twelve to sixteen tracks are.

Sheek Louch: Yo, Z, if I get you in the studio, you'll lost your mind! You'd be like, "Yo, this gotta come out today!" I'll let you hear some of that Lox stuff and you'll bug out. It's crazy.

DJ Booth: If you let me listen, I'm going to select too much music for eighty-minute CD. Sheek, with 2008 an election year, and Democratic candidate Barack Obama running for office, do you feel the need to use your status as a popular figure in hip hop-

Sheek Louch: Yes! I feel the need to use my status and anybody else. It's not a race card, but in a way it is, because, I could be a part of history right now. If we [elect] a black president right now, regardless of what, that is history. I didn't think that'd ever, ever take place. It'd be a great thing, man. Even Hillary, I didn't ever think there'd be a woman either.

DJ Booth: It's certainly shaping up to be a crazy election. Let's put it this way: if you could get one promise from whomever our next president's going to be, that would be one hundred percent guaranteed, what would you ask for?

Sheek Louch: I would wanna get rid of the downloading of our music. I would want to get rid of the piracy. I'd wanna get rid of all that, man.

DJ Booth: Okay, so stop everybody from putting your hard-earned work online and allowing the world to take it for nothing.

Sheek Louch: A hundred percent. And I may need two. I want these video shows to give us more music, more videos, and less reality.

DJ Booth: Well, the concept behind MTV was to play videos, and a long time ago something changed. So, we definitely need to do something about that, I agree completely.

Sheek Louch: That's what I challenge the president to do: give us more videos and music on these video shows and less reality, man.

DJ Booth: Well, if I talk to Barack, I'm gonna tell him those are on your wish list. Hopefully he'll make it happen.

Sheek Louch: [laughter] That's right.

DJ Booth: Sheek, give everybody a website or a Myspace page so they can find out more about the upcoming album.

Sheek Louch: My Myspace is myspace.com/sheeklouchlox

DJ Booth: I wish you nothing but the best of luck. Thank you for joining me inside the DJ Booth, and do it big in March or April, whenever the album drops.

Sheek Louch: Z, this was a great interview; I liked those questions. Good-lookin' on everything. "Silverback Gorilla," go get that, y'all, when it come out in late March. Hold me down, y'all, D-Block.

I can't wait for this new Louch album, Sheek is that dude...shyts gonna be rediculous. Make sure you check the blog for more updates on 'Silverback Gorilla'!