AHH hears from Styles P and Sean Bell's Mother Valarie Bell!
Click the link below to listen to the Sean Bell Tribute track "Stand Up" featuring Swizz Beatz, Cassidy, Drag-On, Maino, STYLES P & Talib Kweli. Produced by the Heatmakerz.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1272541601c48054/
12:53 PM 0 Comments(Add Comment) |0 Kudos Edit Remove
Thursday, 30 October 2008
[VIDEO+PICS] D-BLOCK performance at Powerhouse 2008
D-Block performed at the Power 105.1 Powerhouse 2008 show at the Izod Center a couple days ago...check the videos below of the camp running thru the hits past & present.
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to check out a full D-Block gallery hit the link below:
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnBvd2VyMTA1MWZtLmNvbS9jYy1jb21tb24vZ2FsbGVyeS9kaXNwbGF5Lmh0bWw/YWxidW1faWQ9MTQ1NzM5
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
[VIDEO] Styles P Ondaspot Freestyle on Green Lantern’s show
S.P. kicks an acapella freestyle for Green Lantern then perfroms "I Come Thru" & "I Get High"....check it out!
Monday, 27 October 2008
[VIDEO] Jadakiss Explains the Album Title Change
[VIDEO] Jadakiss Explains the Album Title Change ["THE LAST KISS" COMING DEC. 9TH!!!]
So it turns out my Blog Post a couple days ago about Jadakiss' album title changing from "Kiss My Ass" to "The Last Kiss" is true and for the reason i had assumed. Peep the interview below with Young Sav of Best Of Both Offices to hear the reason behind the change & the meaning of "The Last Kiss" title. Fear not, it doesn't mean ya boy Kiss is bowing out the game lol.
So it turns out my Blog Post a couple days ago about Jadakiss' album title changing from "Kiss My Ass" to "The Last Kiss" is true and for the reason i had assumed. Peep the interview below with Young Sav of Best Of Both Offices to hear the reason behind the change & the meaning of "The Last Kiss" title. Fear not, it doesn't mean ya boy Kiss is bowing out the game lol.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
[Video] BET’s "The Cypher" featuring Jadakiss.[He Kills It!!!]
From the BET Award show 2008......DAMN!!
[NEWS+PHOTOS] Video Shot for Jada’s "By My Side" ft. Ne-Yo| Change of album title??
So on Wednesday, the video for Jada's lead single "By My Side" featuring Ne-Yo was shot in NYC, directed by Ray Kay. Expect behind the scenes video's to follow but for now check out some of the photos below...
View the complete gallery here:- http://www.whatspoppin.net/album/4701/4371/95808/Jadakiss_Video_Shoot_Featuring_NeYo__By_My_Side_In_NYC
shouts to What's Poppin'!
In other related news...although not confirmed, it would appear that the album title "Kiss My Ass" may have been switched to "The Last Kiss" at the last minute which if correct is probably due to retailers not wanting to stock an album with such a title name...smh. If you check the Roc-A-Fella website & the Jadakiss section you will notice where they used to have "Kiss My Ass coming soon" on the release schedule it now reads "The Last Kiss coming soon". Kiss did say in the All Access clip i posted they were dropping the Kiss My Ass part to please some of the "clean cut" retailers out there but could it be the album title has been changed all together? It would be a shame as all the promo interviews, videos thus far have been "Kiss My Ass" and the reasons & meaning behind the title & everyone out theres calling it that. Hopefully official word will be out soon...so until then hopefully whatever the title ends up, it will still be dropping on December 9th.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
[VIDEO] Jadakiss Interview on Streetsweepers Radio Part. 1
Kiss chops its up with DJ Kay Slay & the Streetsweepers Radio team & talks about the features and production on his album aswell as the autotune overkill thats going on in the game right now...check it out!
COMING DECEMBER 9TH
[VIDEO] Jadakiss - A Milli Freestyle [The Come Up DVD]
aaaahhhaaaaaaaa!!
Shouts to Jordan Tower & WSHH.com
COMING DECEMBER 9TH
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
[VIDEO] Jadakiss "Al Qaeda Jada" Original Web Series
All Access DVD takes you into the world of 'Al Qaeda Jada' with more behind the scenes footage from the 'Who Run This' video shoot and Kiss talking more about the upcoming album...Check it out!
COMING DECEMBER 9TH
Thursday, 16 October 2008
[COMMERCIAL+COVER] Styles P Phantom Gangster Chronicles CD/DVD Vol. 1 [OUT NOV 11TH!!]
I know its been a while coming but 'Phantom Gangster Chronicles DVD+CD Vol. 1' is here & is dropping on Nov. 11th so make sure you go pick up a few copies cos its crazy. Check out the commercial & cover below.
IN STORES NOVEMBER 11TH
[VIDEO] Behind the scenes on the set of Jada’s ’Who Run This’ video
Heres behind the scenes footage from the video shoot in Brooklyn for Jada's street single 'Who Run This' with director Rik Cordero & Kiss explaining the concept...expect the full vid very soon...check it out.
Jadakiss - "Who Run This" Concept from Three/21 Films on Vimeo
COMING DECEMBER 9TH
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
[NEWS+VIDEO] Video shot for Jada’s ’Who Run This’ in Brooklyn by director Rik Cordero
artist: Jadakiss
song: "Who Run This"
label: Roc-A-Fella/IDJMG
director(s): Rik Cordero
production co: Three 21 Media
rep: Robin Frank Management | producer: Mike Fox
If you don't know bout music video director Rik Cordero, hes the dude that done vids for Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Q-Tip, Ghostface Killah, Consequence, Beanie Sigel and John Legend and underground favorites such as Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Wale, Smif-N-Wessun, Buckshot to name just a few. His videos are seriously dope and fresh so you know 'Who Run This' is gonna be sick. More info to follow...
song: "Who Run This"
label: Roc-A-Fella/IDJMG
director(s): Rik Cordero
production co: Three 21 Media
rep: Robin Frank Management | producer: Mike Fox
If you don't know bout music video director Rik Cordero, hes the dude that done vids for Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Q-Tip, Ghostface Killah, Consequence, Beanie Sigel and John Legend and underground favorites such as Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Wale, Smif-N-Wessun, Buckshot to name just a few. His videos are seriously dope and fresh so you know 'Who Run This' is gonna be sick. More info to follow...
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
[Videos] Styles P, Bully & Sheek performing at S.O.B.’s NYC
More footage from the show at S.O.B's...check it out!
Monday, 13 October 2008
[NEWS] Styles P Says "Everybody’s Cool" In The Lox [SOHH.com]
Though recent focus has been on Jadakiss and his upcoming Def Jam debut, Styles P tells SOHH the D-Block movement is still alive and well.
In November of 2007 it was announced that Jadakiss, one member of the Yonkers, New York based trio The Lox had signed a solo deal with Roc-A-Fella/Ruff Ryders. His highly anticipated Kiss My Ass album is scheduled to drop at the end of this year.
According to Styles, The Lox are planning to follow up Kiss' release with a D-Block compilation album in mid January or early February and then drop a new Lox LP later in 2009.
"We got a lot of music done," he told SOHH. "We just waiting to put these two projects out and then sit down and put all the touches on it."
Styles will also make an appearance on Jada's upcoming album but he declined to disclose many details about the track. "It's sick," he said. "That's all I can tell you. It's crazy though...real lyrical."
Styles P and Sheek Louch both inked solo deals with the independent label Koch Records while Jadakiss opted to sign with a major. Despite this, Styles says there's nothing but lover between the group members.
"Yeah, we definitely all got our own agendas but as you heard, you heard the D-Block compilation," Styles said. "It's all three of us on the single, 'It's like That.'"
"Everybody always cool," he continued. "I mean you know it's bigger than music with us. It would take more than something to happen to music to be different."
In November of 2007 it was announced that Jadakiss, one member of the Yonkers, New York based trio The Lox had signed a solo deal with Roc-A-Fella/Ruff Ryders. His highly anticipated Kiss My Ass album is scheduled to drop at the end of this year.
According to Styles, The Lox are planning to follow up Kiss' release with a D-Block compilation album in mid January or early February and then drop a new Lox LP later in 2009.
"We got a lot of music done," he told SOHH. "We just waiting to put these two projects out and then sit down and put all the touches on it."
Styles will also make an appearance on Jada's upcoming album but he declined to disclose many details about the track. "It's sick," he said. "That's all I can tell you. It's crazy though...real lyrical."
Styles P and Sheek Louch both inked solo deals with the independent label Koch Records while Jadakiss opted to sign with a major. Despite this, Styles says there's nothing but lover between the group members.
"Yeah, we definitely all got our own agendas but as you heard, you heard the D-Block compilation," Styles said. "It's all three of us on the single, 'It's like That.'"
"Everybody always cool," he continued. "I mean you know it's bigger than music with us. It would take more than something to happen to music to be different."
[VIDEO] Styles P, Sheek Louch & Snyp Life performing ’Its Like That’
ILL! From Thursdays Styles P show at S.O.B.'s in NYC....D-Block compilation coming soon.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Thursday, 9 October 2008
[VIDEO INTERVIEW] Jadakiss Talks with OnSMASH.com Part. 2
KI double SS talks to OnSMASH.com bout dropping in the 4th Quarter with the 'heavyweights', D-Block, LOX and more...check it out. Kiss My Ass coming...aaahahhhhhhhaa
[VIDEO INTERVIEW] Styles P Interview with K-Salaam + Styles P Show @ S.O.B.’s NYC tomorrow!!
Styles P the Ghost chops it up with K-Salaam for Illroots.com. Check it out!!
Styles P & ST.Raw will be performing at S.O.B.s in NYC tomorrow night (Thurs) for all you lucky people able to attend you know the Ghost will tear the place down like he always do!! As the flyer says "An Evening of True NY Hip Hop" so Enjoy!!
[NEWS+AUDIO]Jadakiss Kiss My Ass listening session/Hot 93.7 WZMX Interview [KISS MY ASS DEC 9!]
Eskay over at Nahright.com reports...
Slick Talk, Pain & Torture
October 9th, 2008 ..
A few hours ago, Jadakiss and the good folks from Def Jam played a bunch of cuts from his upcoming album, Kiss My Ass for a room full of DJs, a couple of bloggers and some other industry types. None of the tracks we heard were mixed or mastered, and Kiss said the material represents only about 75% of the album, so you know how that goes. I will say that he goes in on the title track, and he's got a back-and-forth joint with Styles P that is going to melt the streets. You can bet that I'll be harassing these guys to leak that shit for the next couple of weeks. The joint with Barrington Levy is dope, and there's a track with the title of this post in the chorus that is sick. The slick talk is at 100 thousand trillion. The song that everybody was waiting to hear, the letter to Big, is everything you'd expect it to be. Don't quote me, but I think Kiss is finally going to put out the album everybody always knew he had in him.
Kiss My Ass is dropping on December 9
Jadakiss was also interviewed by Jenny Boom Boom on Hot 93.7 WZMX, check the audio below
http://www.zshare.net/audio/20235643841ca156/
Slick Talk, Pain & Torture
October 9th, 2008 ..
A few hours ago, Jadakiss and the good folks from Def Jam played a bunch of cuts from his upcoming album, Kiss My Ass for a room full of DJs, a couple of bloggers and some other industry types. None of the tracks we heard were mixed or mastered, and Kiss said the material represents only about 75% of the album, so you know how that goes. I will say that he goes in on the title track, and he's got a back-and-forth joint with Styles P that is going to melt the streets. You can bet that I'll be harassing these guys to leak that shit for the next couple of weeks. The joint with Barrington Levy is dope, and there's a track with the title of this post in the chorus that is sick. The slick talk is at 100 thousand trillion. The song that everybody was waiting to hear, the letter to Big, is everything you'd expect it to be. Don't quote me, but I think Kiss is finally going to put out the album everybody always knew he had in him.
Kiss My Ass is dropping on December 9
Jadakiss was also interviewed by Jenny Boom Boom on Hot 93.7 WZMX, check the audio below
http://www.zshare.net/audio/20235643841ca156/
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
[INTERVIEW] Jadakiss: Top Five, Dead Or Alive [HipHopDX.com Interview] Good Read!
Jayson Phillips is a man's man, a rapper's rapper, a hoodlum's thug and a D-boy's kingpin. More Nino Brown than John Wayne, Jadakiss speaks his soul in a raspy narrative, reminiscent of Marlon Brando's Godfather. In the streets and on wax, the Yonkers native proves that he is cut from a different cloth…Possibly that army fatigue, clothing Generals and cadets alike. He's never forgotten where he's come from. Whether Vh1's The Glamorest Life or the sidewalk of Nepperhan Avenue, from concrete he was molded and on it he forever stands.
Everyone's list is different. Not only are we talking ingenuity and strength of catalog, we are talking talent and success. It's your list versus mine, each with it's own handicap and quirky criteria. We're talking Hip Hop and it's storied hall of fame legacy that is finally being done justice with the likes of Vh1's annual Hip Hop Honors. If nothing less, Jadakiss can be ranked as one of the top five emcees out of New York—all time. Which is a heavy crown for any rapper repping the birth-state of Hip-Hop.
Jadakiss' first solo effort arrived in 2001 with Kiss Tha Game Goodbye. He did just that with hit singles that topped the Billboard 200. Jadakiss' strong reputation in the rap industry proved notable on his debut, as he commanded top tier producers (DJ Premier, Timbaland, The Neptunes) and artists (Nas, DMX, Snoop Dogg) in Hip Hop, considered heavyweights by many. Kiss The Game Goodbye became certified gold in a matter of months. The L.O.X. front man reached platinum status with his sophomore follow-up, Kiss of Death that also earned him a Grammy for his pointed political commentary on "Why" featuring Anthony Hamilton. The most memorable line, "…why did Bush knock down the towers," sparked controversy and spoke to the hearts of everyday Americans.
He's come a mighty long way from the shiny suit era of waving the Bad Boy flag. Jadakiss has matured as a man and taken off the fatigue, from trading scathing verses with Beanie Seigel to surviving verbal warfare on mixtapes with G-Unit. Now he just wants the world to "Kiss My Ass," as his latest fourth quarter offering promises. Jadakiss chops it up with HipHopDX about the streets, his new Roc-A-Fella venture and reminisces on his most memorable moment with rap legend, Notorious B.I.G.
HipHopDX: What kind of influence did The Notorious B.I.G. have on your career as an up and coming rapper?
Jadakiss: I thought Big was incredible. We grew up…right about the time we was about to get in the game, is when Big was poppin'. So when we was sittin' around writing together we'd be like "I wonder what Big would say if he heard us." After we got the time to meet him and he was feeling us and it was mutual, that was like the greatest inspiration ever. "This nigga we been trying to meet, and he feeling us? It's no turning back now."
DX: What's your most memorable moment of Biggie?
Jadakiss: My best moment; I had a birthday party one year, uptown, and Big came to the party. It was him and [Lil] Cease. No security, no other people, none of that. He stood on the wall, popped bottles with me and smoked all night.
DX: What do you think of the new Notorious movie, that portrays his life, soon to hit theaters?
Jadakiss: I hear it's aiight, I'm glad they made a movie. I just hope they portray him right on there.
DX: Lately you've been like Barry Bonds; hitting it out the park with freestyles, mixtapes and guest verses. Where has this recent inspiration come from?
Jadakiss: Well you know, it's a certain formula for when you gonna come out and now with this Internet shit you gotta put out even more music. That's what it is. You gotta feed the people, feed the streets and the net.
DX: The "Hi Hater remix" is dope. I was listening to Hot 97 and Maino was on the radio saying how you were one of the first people to support the record.
Jadakiss: No doubt, I heard it in the club and was like, "This is gonna be something." I let him know that I was gonna hop on there when he did the remix. I try to help the new niggas out 'cause they can't get in touch with [Jay-Z] [click to read] or Nas or their favorite artist. I'm the only favorite artists that they can get in touch with, so I try to keep that love with 'em.
DX: Are you like an O.G. in the rap game to up-and-coming emcees?
Jadakiss: Yeah, I am like an O.G. I'm like niggas' fathers in this...like a forefather that ain't too much fore. [Laughs] I'm like a young parent. You know when you see niggas with they pops, chillin'.
DX: The hottest song in the game right now is "We Run This" featuring Jay-Z.
Jadakiss: Yeah, that's something I let out for the streets.
DX: How did that come about?
Jadakiss: Well you know I'm on Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, Ruff Ryders, Vivendi and a couple other shits before the money even get to me. So, I just hollered at him. I don't need him to hold my hand or walk me through this joint. I just needed some light love and I'll be alright.
DX: Explain the sit-down between bosses that led to the Roc-A-Fella deal.
Jadakiss: "Ayo, you wanna make some money? Let's make it happen." He already know where the skills is at 'cause we came in the game somewhat together. It's not like a new artist where he don't really know what it's hittin' for. Who wouldn't be happy to have 'Kiss down with 'em?
DX: Plus, you were a free agent.
Jadakiss: Yeah. I was flirting with Star Trak and Roc-A-Fella, back and forth.
DX: Why are you going with Kiss My Ass for the album title?
Jadakiss: That's how I'm feeling right now. At the third album, this is what it is. The game is all rearranged right now, it's all digital, this and that, not selling. Not really to the fans, but whoever ain't feeling my movement; kiss my ass. It's always love with the fans, that's why I keep giving you music. That's why I do all the handshaking, picture taking and rent paying. But even you feel like telling your boss that, every couple of times a month. Everybody feels like that. Even kids feel like that without talking but with gestures and hand movements. There comes a time when you gotta tell somebody that. You get fed up and you say, "Kiss my ass." It's almost legal. It ain't like nigger. I ain't gonna have the same problems as nigger, because even white people tell other people to kiss they ass.
DX: When can we expect the album to hit stores?
Jadakiss: Trying to get it out late November, early December. We just heatin' up right now so when we get to a full sizzle and it feel right, we gon' let it go. It's right around the corner though. I only gotta do prolly two, three more songs, finish up some hooks, do some interludes and we gon' be ready to rock.
DX: Who are some of the artists and producers you worked with for this project?
Jadakiss: I got Buckwild, Alchemist [click to read], this new kid Success. Eric Hudson [click to read], Pharrell [click to read], Baby Grande, Barrington Levy, Styles [P] [click to read] and Sheek [Louch] [click to read], [Lil Wayne][click to read], [Young] Jeezy [click to read], Baby Storm. I'm a have Faith [Evans] on there. You know I'm trying to give you a nice voluptuous project.
DX: What's different on this third go around?
Jadakiss: I just really did it by myself; picked all the beats and all that. I really started working and then I got my team right as I started the project. So it's not like before; people was giving me beats, telling me...I did every beat that I wanted to do. I don't care who felt they liked it or not, if I liked it I did it. I did whatever I wanted to do on all of the songs and that fits in with the whole Kiss My Ass thing. I never got to do that on my other projects. It wasn't like I was cooped up and told what to do but I had to wait my turn to get to this point and do it all by myself.
DX: Are you still top five, dead or alive? Where did that originate?
Jadakiss: It might have been a couple people coming up to me telling me that or is just how I see myself in the game. I'm up about number three now. I moved up a couple notches.
DX: Who are the other two, if you're top three?
Jadakiss: Nah, I don't know right now. Hov is alive, so he got that number one spot. The number two spot is just floatin' around and it keeps switchin'.
DX: But it always comes back to Jadakiss.
Jadakiss: Yeah, it's gon' come back. When they make that next MTV list, I'm on there.
DX: I was actually watching Vh1 and...
Jadakiss: Yeah! I was in the bed watching that and seen me come up on The Most Glamorest joint. It was on my sneaker game.
DX: What's the deal with your customized Air Force 1's?
Jadakiss: You know…I'm old-school baby. You know how we feel about sneakers. I gotta get all the exclusives. Keep my Nike game…Jordan connects. You know how we do. 914. Fly baby!
DX: Vh1 said you had an Asian artist working on your sneakers.
Jadakiss: Yeah, my man Hue. I knew Hue before he blew up. I used to order wild shit from him. I got a good stylist, Groovy Lou, he put me up on the hot stuff.
DX: You've spoken about how bizarre the rap game is with kids wearing tight clothes and all that.
Jadakiss: I'm not really playing when I say tight clothes people, 'cause to each is own. I even stepped my clothes down a size smaller, not too small but, you gotta touch on stuff like that. That's what people like to hear. Whatever is hot or contemporary, they wanna hear what's going on.
I was in the sneaker store the other day, this young kid told me about some sneakers that's the hottest shits that I ain't even know about. You gotta stay in touch with the young people.
DX: I have spoken with Styles and Sheek before and one thing that always impressed me about The L.O.X. is that ya'll are close to the concrete; riding through your old neighborhood and showing love. You make it a point of stopping through the local car wash just to say what's up.
Jadakiss: That's how we maintain our love. We're hands on with the people. There are people that like us that don't even like rap music. 'Cause it ain't always about the music or profession, you gotta have a good rapport with people, no matter what job or field you in.
DX: On tracks you often talk about the state of the community, specifically with kids running wild today. I remember hearing you on the "Smile remix" with Trae and Styles P...Are you referencing rap, the community or both?
Jadakiss: All of that. I'm from the hood so I gotta let it be known. And I got kids and you gotta let 'em know what's really going on out here. I can't pull the wool over my son or daughter's eyes. I gotta try to show them the best of both worlds like my mom and pops did for me. I lived in the crib but I went over to my cousin's house in the projects a couple of times a week, feel it out over here. This is what it could be like. Gotta let 'em know both sides of the fence.
DX: On your last album you had the song "Why" which was very political and earned a Grammy. In this election year, when can fans expect a Barack Obama endorsement on wax?
Jadakiss: Nah, I aint really gonna do that too much. I'll probably vote this year, but I'm a stay away from that. I might throw a little reference in here and there.
DX: Nothing too political this year...
Jadakiss: Yeah, I'm a keep it official. They didn't expect it, that's why I did it before. You gotta always come from left field.
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1238/title.jadakiss-top-five-dead-or-alive
Everyone's list is different. Not only are we talking ingenuity and strength of catalog, we are talking talent and success. It's your list versus mine, each with it's own handicap and quirky criteria. We're talking Hip Hop and it's storied hall of fame legacy that is finally being done justice with the likes of Vh1's annual Hip Hop Honors. If nothing less, Jadakiss can be ranked as one of the top five emcees out of New York—all time. Which is a heavy crown for any rapper repping the birth-state of Hip-Hop.
Jadakiss' first solo effort arrived in 2001 with Kiss Tha Game Goodbye. He did just that with hit singles that topped the Billboard 200. Jadakiss' strong reputation in the rap industry proved notable on his debut, as he commanded top tier producers (DJ Premier, Timbaland, The Neptunes) and artists (Nas, DMX, Snoop Dogg) in Hip Hop, considered heavyweights by many. Kiss The Game Goodbye became certified gold in a matter of months. The L.O.X. front man reached platinum status with his sophomore follow-up, Kiss of Death that also earned him a Grammy for his pointed political commentary on "Why" featuring Anthony Hamilton. The most memorable line, "…why did Bush knock down the towers," sparked controversy and spoke to the hearts of everyday Americans.
He's come a mighty long way from the shiny suit era of waving the Bad Boy flag. Jadakiss has matured as a man and taken off the fatigue, from trading scathing verses with Beanie Seigel to surviving verbal warfare on mixtapes with G-Unit. Now he just wants the world to "Kiss My Ass," as his latest fourth quarter offering promises. Jadakiss chops it up with HipHopDX about the streets, his new Roc-A-Fella venture and reminisces on his most memorable moment with rap legend, Notorious B.I.G.
HipHopDX: What kind of influence did The Notorious B.I.G. have on your career as an up and coming rapper?
Jadakiss: I thought Big was incredible. We grew up…right about the time we was about to get in the game, is when Big was poppin'. So when we was sittin' around writing together we'd be like "I wonder what Big would say if he heard us." After we got the time to meet him and he was feeling us and it was mutual, that was like the greatest inspiration ever. "This nigga we been trying to meet, and he feeling us? It's no turning back now."
DX: What's your most memorable moment of Biggie?
Jadakiss: My best moment; I had a birthday party one year, uptown, and Big came to the party. It was him and [Lil] Cease. No security, no other people, none of that. He stood on the wall, popped bottles with me and smoked all night.
DX: What do you think of the new Notorious movie, that portrays his life, soon to hit theaters?
Jadakiss: I hear it's aiight, I'm glad they made a movie. I just hope they portray him right on there.
DX: Lately you've been like Barry Bonds; hitting it out the park with freestyles, mixtapes and guest verses. Where has this recent inspiration come from?
Jadakiss: Well you know, it's a certain formula for when you gonna come out and now with this Internet shit you gotta put out even more music. That's what it is. You gotta feed the people, feed the streets and the net.
DX: The "Hi Hater remix" is dope. I was listening to Hot 97 and Maino was on the radio saying how you were one of the first people to support the record.
Jadakiss: No doubt, I heard it in the club and was like, "This is gonna be something." I let him know that I was gonna hop on there when he did the remix. I try to help the new niggas out 'cause they can't get in touch with [Jay-Z] [click to read] or Nas or their favorite artist. I'm the only favorite artists that they can get in touch with, so I try to keep that love with 'em.
DX: Are you like an O.G. in the rap game to up-and-coming emcees?
Jadakiss: Yeah, I am like an O.G. I'm like niggas' fathers in this...like a forefather that ain't too much fore. [Laughs] I'm like a young parent. You know when you see niggas with they pops, chillin'.
DX: The hottest song in the game right now is "We Run This" featuring Jay-Z.
Jadakiss: Yeah, that's something I let out for the streets.
DX: How did that come about?
Jadakiss: Well you know I'm on Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, Ruff Ryders, Vivendi and a couple other shits before the money even get to me. So, I just hollered at him. I don't need him to hold my hand or walk me through this joint. I just needed some light love and I'll be alright.
DX: Explain the sit-down between bosses that led to the Roc-A-Fella deal.
Jadakiss: "Ayo, you wanna make some money? Let's make it happen." He already know where the skills is at 'cause we came in the game somewhat together. It's not like a new artist where he don't really know what it's hittin' for. Who wouldn't be happy to have 'Kiss down with 'em?
DX: Plus, you were a free agent.
Jadakiss: Yeah. I was flirting with Star Trak and Roc-A-Fella, back and forth.
DX: Why are you going with Kiss My Ass for the album title?
Jadakiss: That's how I'm feeling right now. At the third album, this is what it is. The game is all rearranged right now, it's all digital, this and that, not selling. Not really to the fans, but whoever ain't feeling my movement; kiss my ass. It's always love with the fans, that's why I keep giving you music. That's why I do all the handshaking, picture taking and rent paying. But even you feel like telling your boss that, every couple of times a month. Everybody feels like that. Even kids feel like that without talking but with gestures and hand movements. There comes a time when you gotta tell somebody that. You get fed up and you say, "Kiss my ass." It's almost legal. It ain't like nigger. I ain't gonna have the same problems as nigger, because even white people tell other people to kiss they ass.
DX: When can we expect the album to hit stores?
Jadakiss: Trying to get it out late November, early December. We just heatin' up right now so when we get to a full sizzle and it feel right, we gon' let it go. It's right around the corner though. I only gotta do prolly two, three more songs, finish up some hooks, do some interludes and we gon' be ready to rock.
DX: Who are some of the artists and producers you worked with for this project?
Jadakiss: I got Buckwild, Alchemist [click to read], this new kid Success. Eric Hudson [click to read], Pharrell [click to read], Baby Grande, Barrington Levy, Styles [P] [click to read] and Sheek [Louch] [click to read], [Lil Wayne][click to read], [Young] Jeezy [click to read], Baby Storm. I'm a have Faith [Evans] on there. You know I'm trying to give you a nice voluptuous project.
DX: What's different on this third go around?
Jadakiss: I just really did it by myself; picked all the beats and all that. I really started working and then I got my team right as I started the project. So it's not like before; people was giving me beats, telling me...I did every beat that I wanted to do. I don't care who felt they liked it or not, if I liked it I did it. I did whatever I wanted to do on all of the songs and that fits in with the whole Kiss My Ass thing. I never got to do that on my other projects. It wasn't like I was cooped up and told what to do but I had to wait my turn to get to this point and do it all by myself.
DX: Are you still top five, dead or alive? Where did that originate?
Jadakiss: It might have been a couple people coming up to me telling me that or is just how I see myself in the game. I'm up about number three now. I moved up a couple notches.
DX: Who are the other two, if you're top three?
Jadakiss: Nah, I don't know right now. Hov is alive, so he got that number one spot. The number two spot is just floatin' around and it keeps switchin'.
DX: But it always comes back to Jadakiss.
Jadakiss: Yeah, it's gon' come back. When they make that next MTV list, I'm on there.
DX: I was actually watching Vh1 and...
Jadakiss: Yeah! I was in the bed watching that and seen me come up on The Most Glamorest joint. It was on my sneaker game.
DX: What's the deal with your customized Air Force 1's?
Jadakiss: You know…I'm old-school baby. You know how we feel about sneakers. I gotta get all the exclusives. Keep my Nike game…Jordan connects. You know how we do. 914. Fly baby!
DX: Vh1 said you had an Asian artist working on your sneakers.
Jadakiss: Yeah, my man Hue. I knew Hue before he blew up. I used to order wild shit from him. I got a good stylist, Groovy Lou, he put me up on the hot stuff.
DX: You've spoken about how bizarre the rap game is with kids wearing tight clothes and all that.
Jadakiss: I'm not really playing when I say tight clothes people, 'cause to each is own. I even stepped my clothes down a size smaller, not too small but, you gotta touch on stuff like that. That's what people like to hear. Whatever is hot or contemporary, they wanna hear what's going on.
I was in the sneaker store the other day, this young kid told me about some sneakers that's the hottest shits that I ain't even know about. You gotta stay in touch with the young people.
DX: I have spoken with Styles and Sheek before and one thing that always impressed me about The L.O.X. is that ya'll are close to the concrete; riding through your old neighborhood and showing love. You make it a point of stopping through the local car wash just to say what's up.
Jadakiss: That's how we maintain our love. We're hands on with the people. There are people that like us that don't even like rap music. 'Cause it ain't always about the music or profession, you gotta have a good rapport with people, no matter what job or field you in.
DX: On tracks you often talk about the state of the community, specifically with kids running wild today. I remember hearing you on the "Smile remix" with Trae and Styles P...Are you referencing rap, the community or both?
Jadakiss: All of that. I'm from the hood so I gotta let it be known. And I got kids and you gotta let 'em know what's really going on out here. I can't pull the wool over my son or daughter's eyes. I gotta try to show them the best of both worlds like my mom and pops did for me. I lived in the crib but I went over to my cousin's house in the projects a couple of times a week, feel it out over here. This is what it could be like. Gotta let 'em know both sides of the fence.
DX: On your last album you had the song "Why" which was very political and earned a Grammy. In this election year, when can fans expect a Barack Obama endorsement on wax?
Jadakiss: Nah, I aint really gonna do that too much. I'll probably vote this year, but I'm a stay away from that. I might throw a little reference in here and there.
DX: Nothing too political this year...
Jadakiss: Yeah, I'm a keep it official. They didn't expect it, that's why I did it before. You gotta always come from left field.
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1238/title.jadakiss-top-five-dead-or-alive
Monday, 6 October 2008
[NEWS] ’Everybody’ is calling Jadakiss [MTV Mixtape Monday]
It's one of the worst-kept secrets, at least to those of us who are really in the know in the industry (ahem!), but Jadakiss was supposed to announce that he was joining the Roc-A-Fella family years ago, during Jay-Z's "I Declare War" concert in New Jersey. Jada and the other two members of the LOX — Sheek Louch and Styles P — were poised to make the jump from Interscope to Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam back then, but the paperwork wasn't finalized in time.
"That was something Louch had set up," Jada told us. "[Jay] was supposed to bring out the Roc chains. It didn't happen, but Steve Stoute and Hov reached back out to me [years later], and we made it happen. Def Jam and Interscope are in the same system. It's just a matter of passing the contract over there and them saying, 'Don't call this number; call this number.' Ruff Ryders let it go down, but they still involved in the equation."
The Black Babe Ruth's Kiss My Ass is being cooked right now. Lil Wayne, the LOX and a few others are on the set.
"I got Ghost and Rae on there," he said. "I'm trying to get some of that Purple Tape element on there. It's gonna be good. [But Def Jam] ain't even letting me mold my joint. I keep going to these dinners at Mr. Chow's. Once I get another good week in the studio by myself, we gonna wrap that thing up. Plus, I got a few mixtapes coming. The West Coast joint, and of course I'm gonna do one for New York. Maybe another R&B joint. I'm just doing joints, baby.
"I got that M.O.P./ Statik Selektah joint," continued the cameo king, who recently jumped on New Kids on the Block's "Summertime." "I did something with Juelz Santana. The new Ross album. I should be on that new Hov album, The Blueprint 3. It's like a trickle-down effect. If we come back and do this same interview in two or three weeks, I'mma have a whole bunch of stuff to tell you. My BlackBerry, my Sidekick is filled up. My Gmail is filled. Everybody is calling. Everything is falling in line. I know how to get it hot. Hop on everything! You see me on the Slim joint, the 'Hi Hater' remix. I gotta catch one or two more big R&B joints, and we should be where we need to be in the next couple of months or so."
The first official single off Kiss My Ass is "By My Side" with Ne-Yo.
"It's for the ladies," Jadakiss said. "We trying to make big music. We're trying to do it big for the ladies. [The women] still gonna cop before they get their hair and nails done, so we gotta cater to them. We gonna always show love to the streets, but we gotta show the ladies we acknowledging them this year. Heavy!" ...
"That was something Louch had set up," Jada told us. "[Jay] was supposed to bring out the Roc chains. It didn't happen, but Steve Stoute and Hov reached back out to me [years later], and we made it happen. Def Jam and Interscope are in the same system. It's just a matter of passing the contract over there and them saying, 'Don't call this number; call this number.' Ruff Ryders let it go down, but they still involved in the equation."
The Black Babe Ruth's Kiss My Ass is being cooked right now. Lil Wayne, the LOX and a few others are on the set.
"I got Ghost and Rae on there," he said. "I'm trying to get some of that Purple Tape element on there. It's gonna be good. [But Def Jam] ain't even letting me mold my joint. I keep going to these dinners at Mr. Chow's. Once I get another good week in the studio by myself, we gonna wrap that thing up. Plus, I got a few mixtapes coming. The West Coast joint, and of course I'm gonna do one for New York. Maybe another R&B joint. I'm just doing joints, baby.
"I got that M.O.P./ Statik Selektah joint," continued the cameo king, who recently jumped on New Kids on the Block's "Summertime." "I did something with Juelz Santana. The new Ross album. I should be on that new Hov album, The Blueprint 3. It's like a trickle-down effect. If we come back and do this same interview in two or three weeks, I'mma have a whole bunch of stuff to tell you. My BlackBerry, my Sidekick is filled up. My Gmail is filled. Everybody is calling. Everything is falling in line. I know how to get it hot. Hop on everything! You see me on the Slim joint, the 'Hi Hater' remix. I gotta catch one or two more big R&B joints, and we should be where we need to be in the next couple of months or so."
The first official single off Kiss My Ass is "By My Side" with Ne-Yo.
"It's for the ladies," Jadakiss said. "We trying to make big music. We're trying to do it big for the ladies. [The women] still gonna cop before they get their hair and nails done, so we gotta cater to them. We gonna always show love to the streets, but we gotta show the ladies we acknowledging them this year. Heavy!" ...
Friday, 3 October 2008
[INTERVIEW] JADAKISS: D-BLOCK ROC [ALLHIPHOP.COM INTERVIEW]
By Haaron Hines
When it comes to rap music, the motive to go from being the best on your block to top five dead or alive can be one of three words; money, power or respect. When it comes to New York street music, we want all of the above and do what needs to be done to get it.
No one personifies the wordplay or bravado that you must possess to get it better than Jadakiss. After coming into the game as one third of the Lox, the Yonkers, NY native became an every hood favorite with the release of his two solo albums, 2001's Kiss the Game Goodbye and 2004's Kiss of Death trademark metaphors, punchlines, and ad libs earned him a cult like following.
But as time went on people became less concerned with an MC's rhymes and more impressed with the extravagance of his chain. With the industry turned upside down a vet has to make new alliances and build new bridges to be able to survive. So it shouldn't have surprised you when you heard Jada is now on Roc-a-fella/Def Jam.
New deals mean opportunities for new money and with the release of his third solo album, Kiss My Ass, You're going to see a new contender for one of greatest of all time.
AllHipHop.com: You're a veteran in the game and a co-owner of your own label. No disrespect to you or Jay-Z, but a lot of people were wondering what made you sign to another artist?
Jadakiss: I mean I'm signed to Def Jam too. If anything ever happens I'll be right on Def Jam. It's just that these new kids and the new ages, they just want to see something new. So that's why I did that with the solo deal. Interscope wasn't really doing it. I mean, 50 had that whole s**t on smash and I really didn't feel like they we're going to help me go to the next level so that left me looking for a new outlet.
It ain't like I need Hov. Not to say it like that but I need him for what I need him for. I don't need him there at every session, I don't need him to pick my beats…none of that. I just need him to make a couple phone calls, pull a couple strings, you know, let me get some of that power and put some sprinkles on me here and there.
AllHipHop.com: With Def Jam noticably focused more on their R&B acts and Roc-A-Fella not being what it used to be....
Jadakiss: The whole game ain't what it was but Def Jam is doing the best right now outside of the independent s**t. All labels are taking a hit right now. Everybody everywhere is down. It's up to you to keep yourself afloat as much as you could because the labels don't do s**t. They get on board when they hear you're out there heating up. Once they know you're hot, then they come aboard. They won't heat you up. If you ain't got no staff and you ain't trying to work your own stuff you're going to be up s**t's creek.
AllHipHop.com: So you're confident Def Jam will give you the push you need to reach that next level?
Jadakiss: I'll see. It's worth it to try than stay somewhere where they ain't helping me out. Why stay there? F**k it, let's try the hand elsewhere. Chances make champions.
AllHipHop.com: When people heard about this move a lot of fans began looking forward to a possible collab with Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. What's your relationship like with Beans and have you worked on anything yet?
Jadakiss: Me and beans is cool. We ain't get to do no music in a while but we're cool.
AllHiphop.com: You've gained a faithful following among hardcore Hip-Hop fans but the primary consumers aren't exactly hardcore fans. How do you expect to reach that audience?
Jadakiss: You got to switch it up a little. You got to be able to adjust with the times. Whatever the times is, you got to be able to keep up with the Jones', as they say, to bring them into your element somehow. The fans have switched. Now the tight pant, skateboarders and this and that, you have to acknowledge them. You have to cater to that group of people too because they're really like the broad of the audience right now. You got to get your Internet game up. The blogs and your websites got to be popping. It's a whole new thing out there and if you can't keep up with the technology and the times, you're going to get lost in the sauce.
AllHipHop.com: In addition to the new label you also brought an end to the beef you had with 50. Was that something you wanted to do or was it for the sake of business?
Jadakiss: It really wasn't about nothing. New York has taken a hit off that. Everybody's sitting around watching the south get together and get money. S**t ain't that serious. We should be able to do the same thing. Nas and Jay did stuff to each other's baby moms and all that and got cool so why can't we get cool? I mean the whole situation was just words. And really, it ain't even about being cool, it's about creating some business opportunities and getting some real money. He does big deals, why wouldn't I want to get a part of that?
It's got nothing to do with the lyrics. I mean I've done songs with everybody so the people know what I'm going to do lyrically. The rap game is hurt right now. You got to do stuff like this to go to the next level and get you a sneaker deal, clothing line, endorsements, vitamin water, Liquor and all that. Whoever's just trying to do this rap thing, they're in it for the wrong reasons.
It ain't really popping for the money that I'm looking for. And it was pretty much over anyway. He had stopped saying stuff and I stopped saying s**t about him. It was what it was but the people know what time it is. The lyrics are going to be there forever but we got to get on that next level. We got to get on that millionaire train to Georgia.
AllHipHop.com: What can fans look forward to with this album?
Jadakiss: Just some good music. Good music with a dab of the '90s on it. Expect what you love us for, what you love me for. You can feel proud to be from New York. You can be proud to cop a New York CD or download it or whatever you're going to do to listen to it but once you listen to it and embrace it, you're going to feel good. You're going to be like, "Aight, New York is back. Now I need that new Lox, I need Fab." It's going to get your appetite ready to get the game back over here where it's supposed to be.
AllHipHop.com: You, Styles, and Sheek were having a lot of problems with Interscope. Will fans ever get that Lox album they've been waiting for?
Jadakiss: We're just riding the wave right now. I'm coming first then we're going to do the D-Block compilation and that's going to serve as a promo for the Lox album. We're going to break some of our new artists and let you hear us together on some songs you haven't heard then set that Lox album up right there. If it's going to be on Interscope or Def Jam, that has yet to be determined.
AllHipHop.com: You're co-owner of D-Block records. How do you balance being a solo artist, a member of a group, and an executive?
Jadakiss: My executive skills ain't really up where they should be. As far as Koch, I really let Sheek and S.P. handle the whole Koch thing. If I see something too crazy, I step in and do whatever they need me to do, as far as business over there. But I'm going to try and get us another deal, a better situation. Not to take anything away from Koch but I want to have another situation. Like how the Wu did it. I don't want all our artists on Koch. I want to sprinkle the artists around.
AllHipHop.com: So you want to have a lot of options when it comes to distribution?
Jadakiss: Yeah, but nothing crazy. Like a couple on Asylum, put somebody over here, and a couple over there and we're good.
AllHipHop.com: The Lox was having a very public battle with Puff the same time you were having problems with Interscope. In regards to your image, do you think taking those problems public did more harm than good?
Jadakiss: No. It definitely didn't do more harm than good. The publishing situation got worked out, everything got worked out. If it did more harm, s**t wouldn't have gotten worked out. Matter fact we're about to do another publishing deal for a couple million dollars.
AllHipHop.com: There's currently a film being made about the Notorious BIG. As some of Bad Boy's first artists you all had gotten close to him. Did the makers of the film talk to you while making it? Are you looking forward to the film?
Jadakiss: We ain't have nothing to do with the film. I got a song on my album that might be in the movie but they didn't ask us for no input or none of that. I really tried to stay away from the movie until it hit the theaters. I want to see it all put together. I didn't want to catch no trailers or clips or none of that. I want to watch the whole thing so I can take it in then see what my thoughts is going to be on it. I don't want to catch no pieces of it. I want to see the whole thing the first time out like a new Pacino and Deniro movie.
AllHiphop.com: What's one of your favorite memories of the time you spent around BIG?
Jadakiss: I had a birthday party uptown and he came and chilled with me all night. Him and Cease. He just chilled on the wall and popped champagne with me the whole night. People from Y.O. couldn't believe it. They was all like, "Yo, is that BIG over there drinking and smoking with Kiss." That's when I knew I made it. I got BIG to come chill with me all night. Him and Cease came all the way uptown just to chill with me.
AllHipHop.com: Your career spans almost 15 years. You said that the rap game isn't what it used to be and there's not enough money in it for you so one has to wonder, what keeps you coming back?
Jadakiss: We keep coming back because, even though we're veterans it still feels like we're new. It's like we been here but we still haven't gotten our just due. Me, Styles, Sheek, we got so much more to say and so much to let out so that just inspires us to come out. Plus it's just so much garbage out there that the people need us. We're like superheroes. We need to come back and make them feel good about this music again.
AllHipHop.com: So when people talk of the greatest of all time the hottest verse and all that, you feel like people don't give you enough credit?
Jadakiss: I mean you'll always feel like you ain't getting your proper credit. At the end of the day you have to just step back and know that you got a beautiful family, beautiful kids, house, cars, money in the bank. You really have to be thankful for that. We came from nothing so to get your moms a house and get yourself a house, it's a blessing and you have to just appreciate that.
AllHipHop.com: A lot of artists keep themselves relevant through shows. How do you maintain your home situation while balancing being on the road?
Jadakiss: That's how you eat. Shows is the most beautifullest thing ever. If you can do five shows a month…that's why I take so long to drop albums. I get so much money off shows I get side tracked. I be on the road for two years then be like, "Oh s**t, I got to go back in the studio." But the money is so sweet on the road it makes you not even want to go to the studio. But you have to remember it's bigger than this show money. You're trying to get this world money so you go back in then come back out again. I'm fortunate because I still do shows off that last album.
I got a couple next week. Like I try to get the shows on the weekend so I can work during the week then travel during the weekend. Everybody wants to eat. They just got to understand that if they want nice things. You're doing it for them. Especially if you're somebody like me that's taking care of the majority of your family. They want you on the road so you can come back and cop them some Pradas and all that…pay a few Con Ed bills.
AllHiphop.com: When it's all said and done do you still feel like you have something to prove as an MC?
Jadakiss: I'm really good where I'm at. BIG told me I was nice. BIG, Hov, Dr. Dre, Nas, Eminem, everybody who everybody loves told me I was nice so I'm content with that. I would love to sell five million or 10 million one time before it's over or just some kind of millions, anything over
When it comes to rap music, the motive to go from being the best on your block to top five dead or alive can be one of three words; money, power or respect. When it comes to New York street music, we want all of the above and do what needs to be done to get it.
No one personifies the wordplay or bravado that you must possess to get it better than Jadakiss. After coming into the game as one third of the Lox, the Yonkers, NY native became an every hood favorite with the release of his two solo albums, 2001's Kiss the Game Goodbye and 2004's Kiss of Death trademark metaphors, punchlines, and ad libs earned him a cult like following.
But as time went on people became less concerned with an MC's rhymes and more impressed with the extravagance of his chain. With the industry turned upside down a vet has to make new alliances and build new bridges to be able to survive. So it shouldn't have surprised you when you heard Jada is now on Roc-a-fella/Def Jam.
New deals mean opportunities for new money and with the release of his third solo album, Kiss My Ass, You're going to see a new contender for one of greatest of all time.
AllHipHop.com: You're a veteran in the game and a co-owner of your own label. No disrespect to you or Jay-Z, but a lot of people were wondering what made you sign to another artist?
Jadakiss: I mean I'm signed to Def Jam too. If anything ever happens I'll be right on Def Jam. It's just that these new kids and the new ages, they just want to see something new. So that's why I did that with the solo deal. Interscope wasn't really doing it. I mean, 50 had that whole s**t on smash and I really didn't feel like they we're going to help me go to the next level so that left me looking for a new outlet.
It ain't like I need Hov. Not to say it like that but I need him for what I need him for. I don't need him there at every session, I don't need him to pick my beats…none of that. I just need him to make a couple phone calls, pull a couple strings, you know, let me get some of that power and put some sprinkles on me here and there.
AllHipHop.com: With Def Jam noticably focused more on their R&B acts and Roc-A-Fella not being what it used to be....
Jadakiss: The whole game ain't what it was but Def Jam is doing the best right now outside of the independent s**t. All labels are taking a hit right now. Everybody everywhere is down. It's up to you to keep yourself afloat as much as you could because the labels don't do s**t. They get on board when they hear you're out there heating up. Once they know you're hot, then they come aboard. They won't heat you up. If you ain't got no staff and you ain't trying to work your own stuff you're going to be up s**t's creek.
AllHipHop.com: So you're confident Def Jam will give you the push you need to reach that next level?
Jadakiss: I'll see. It's worth it to try than stay somewhere where they ain't helping me out. Why stay there? F**k it, let's try the hand elsewhere. Chances make champions.
AllHipHop.com: When people heard about this move a lot of fans began looking forward to a possible collab with Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. What's your relationship like with Beans and have you worked on anything yet?
Jadakiss: Me and beans is cool. We ain't get to do no music in a while but we're cool.
AllHiphop.com: You've gained a faithful following among hardcore Hip-Hop fans but the primary consumers aren't exactly hardcore fans. How do you expect to reach that audience?
Jadakiss: You got to switch it up a little. You got to be able to adjust with the times. Whatever the times is, you got to be able to keep up with the Jones', as they say, to bring them into your element somehow. The fans have switched. Now the tight pant, skateboarders and this and that, you have to acknowledge them. You have to cater to that group of people too because they're really like the broad of the audience right now. You got to get your Internet game up. The blogs and your websites got to be popping. It's a whole new thing out there and if you can't keep up with the technology and the times, you're going to get lost in the sauce.
AllHipHop.com: In addition to the new label you also brought an end to the beef you had with 50. Was that something you wanted to do or was it for the sake of business?
Jadakiss: It really wasn't about nothing. New York has taken a hit off that. Everybody's sitting around watching the south get together and get money. S**t ain't that serious. We should be able to do the same thing. Nas and Jay did stuff to each other's baby moms and all that and got cool so why can't we get cool? I mean the whole situation was just words. And really, it ain't even about being cool, it's about creating some business opportunities and getting some real money. He does big deals, why wouldn't I want to get a part of that?
It's got nothing to do with the lyrics. I mean I've done songs with everybody so the people know what I'm going to do lyrically. The rap game is hurt right now. You got to do stuff like this to go to the next level and get you a sneaker deal, clothing line, endorsements, vitamin water, Liquor and all that. Whoever's just trying to do this rap thing, they're in it for the wrong reasons.
It ain't really popping for the money that I'm looking for. And it was pretty much over anyway. He had stopped saying stuff and I stopped saying s**t about him. It was what it was but the people know what time it is. The lyrics are going to be there forever but we got to get on that next level. We got to get on that millionaire train to Georgia.
AllHipHop.com: What can fans look forward to with this album?
Jadakiss: Just some good music. Good music with a dab of the '90s on it. Expect what you love us for, what you love me for. You can feel proud to be from New York. You can be proud to cop a New York CD or download it or whatever you're going to do to listen to it but once you listen to it and embrace it, you're going to feel good. You're going to be like, "Aight, New York is back. Now I need that new Lox, I need Fab." It's going to get your appetite ready to get the game back over here where it's supposed to be.
AllHipHop.com: You, Styles, and Sheek were having a lot of problems with Interscope. Will fans ever get that Lox album they've been waiting for?
Jadakiss: We're just riding the wave right now. I'm coming first then we're going to do the D-Block compilation and that's going to serve as a promo for the Lox album. We're going to break some of our new artists and let you hear us together on some songs you haven't heard then set that Lox album up right there. If it's going to be on Interscope or Def Jam, that has yet to be determined.
AllHipHop.com: You're co-owner of D-Block records. How do you balance being a solo artist, a member of a group, and an executive?
Jadakiss: My executive skills ain't really up where they should be. As far as Koch, I really let Sheek and S.P. handle the whole Koch thing. If I see something too crazy, I step in and do whatever they need me to do, as far as business over there. But I'm going to try and get us another deal, a better situation. Not to take anything away from Koch but I want to have another situation. Like how the Wu did it. I don't want all our artists on Koch. I want to sprinkle the artists around.
AllHipHop.com: So you want to have a lot of options when it comes to distribution?
Jadakiss: Yeah, but nothing crazy. Like a couple on Asylum, put somebody over here, and a couple over there and we're good.
AllHipHop.com: The Lox was having a very public battle with Puff the same time you were having problems with Interscope. In regards to your image, do you think taking those problems public did more harm than good?
Jadakiss: No. It definitely didn't do more harm than good. The publishing situation got worked out, everything got worked out. If it did more harm, s**t wouldn't have gotten worked out. Matter fact we're about to do another publishing deal for a couple million dollars.
AllHipHop.com: There's currently a film being made about the Notorious BIG. As some of Bad Boy's first artists you all had gotten close to him. Did the makers of the film talk to you while making it? Are you looking forward to the film?
Jadakiss: We ain't have nothing to do with the film. I got a song on my album that might be in the movie but they didn't ask us for no input or none of that. I really tried to stay away from the movie until it hit the theaters. I want to see it all put together. I didn't want to catch no trailers or clips or none of that. I want to watch the whole thing so I can take it in then see what my thoughts is going to be on it. I don't want to catch no pieces of it. I want to see the whole thing the first time out like a new Pacino and Deniro movie.
AllHiphop.com: What's one of your favorite memories of the time you spent around BIG?
Jadakiss: I had a birthday party uptown and he came and chilled with me all night. Him and Cease. He just chilled on the wall and popped champagne with me the whole night. People from Y.O. couldn't believe it. They was all like, "Yo, is that BIG over there drinking and smoking with Kiss." That's when I knew I made it. I got BIG to come chill with me all night. Him and Cease came all the way uptown just to chill with me.
AllHipHop.com: Your career spans almost 15 years. You said that the rap game isn't what it used to be and there's not enough money in it for you so one has to wonder, what keeps you coming back?
Jadakiss: We keep coming back because, even though we're veterans it still feels like we're new. It's like we been here but we still haven't gotten our just due. Me, Styles, Sheek, we got so much more to say and so much to let out so that just inspires us to come out. Plus it's just so much garbage out there that the people need us. We're like superheroes. We need to come back and make them feel good about this music again.
AllHipHop.com: So when people talk of the greatest of all time the hottest verse and all that, you feel like people don't give you enough credit?
Jadakiss: I mean you'll always feel like you ain't getting your proper credit. At the end of the day you have to just step back and know that you got a beautiful family, beautiful kids, house, cars, money in the bank. You really have to be thankful for that. We came from nothing so to get your moms a house and get yourself a house, it's a blessing and you have to just appreciate that.
AllHipHop.com: A lot of artists keep themselves relevant through shows. How do you maintain your home situation while balancing being on the road?
Jadakiss: That's how you eat. Shows is the most beautifullest thing ever. If you can do five shows a month…that's why I take so long to drop albums. I get so much money off shows I get side tracked. I be on the road for two years then be like, "Oh s**t, I got to go back in the studio." But the money is so sweet on the road it makes you not even want to go to the studio. But you have to remember it's bigger than this show money. You're trying to get this world money so you go back in then come back out again. I'm fortunate because I still do shows off that last album.
I got a couple next week. Like I try to get the shows on the weekend so I can work during the week then travel during the weekend. Everybody wants to eat. They just got to understand that if they want nice things. You're doing it for them. Especially if you're somebody like me that's taking care of the majority of your family. They want you on the road so you can come back and cop them some Pradas and all that…pay a few Con Ed bills.
AllHiphop.com: When it's all said and done do you still feel like you have something to prove as an MC?
Jadakiss: I'm really good where I'm at. BIG told me I was nice. BIG, Hov, Dr. Dre, Nas, Eminem, everybody who everybody loves told me I was nice so I'm content with that. I would love to sell five million or 10 million one time before it's over or just some kind of millions, anything over
Thursday, 2 October 2008
[VIDEO] New Kiss Interview: Talks more on ’Kiss My Ass’ LP progress
Kiss talks to Best Of Both Offices about the BET cipher hes just done for the upcoming Hip Hop Awards (lookout for that), the progress with his 'Kiss My Ass' album & shooting videos for the single 'By My Side' with Ne-Yo & 'Who Run This' with Jay-Z...check it out.
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