[INTERVIEW] The Complex 7: D-Block

The Complex 7: D-Block

We’ve been hearing the name “D-Block” forever, but the L.O.X.’s longtime crew has never dropped an official studio album—until now, that is, with today’s release of No Security. Of course we already know Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P, but D-Block features a bunch of new rappers like Bully, Snyp Life, Bucky, S.I., and Don D—yeah, us neither. Still, with Jada and co. appearing on most of the tracks, you can be sure that the album is worth knocking. As Styles says, “It’s a platform to introduce our young boys to the world.” Poor J.Hood.

We made the trek up to Yonkers recently to listen to the album and chat with the L.O.X.—probably the friendliest-but-gangsta dudes in all of hip-hop. They got so-called “street cred” for days yet are all legitimate family men with kids. In our latest Complex 7, we spoke to Jada, Sheek and Styles about past break-ups, family trips, and shiny suits, as well as which L.O.X. member would win a group fistfight…

Interviews by Jaeki Cho

#1: WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Jadakiss says: She just has to have a good personality besides looks.

Styles P says: I need a chick who understands me and accepts me for me. I’m from the streets, so I’ve seen hoodrats but I’ve been with my wife since the beginning of my career. There were definitely temptations and I’ve been through my ups and downs. You just need to have a good foundation. At the end of the day you need somebody you feel comfortable talking to.

Sheek Louch says: I would have to say her family. She could have a certain image, but when you get to meet the rest of her family you’ll get to know a lot about her. I ain’t talking about rich, I’m talking about aunties or uncles not running around wilding.

#2: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY SOMEONE BROKE UP WITH YOU?

Jadakiss says: By finding out without her telling me. [Cringes.] She was feeling somebody else the hard way!

Styles P says: I was with my wife kind of young. Before that I didn’t have many relationships. I had a couple but those were in high school and I was on the streets so I was never a sucker for love.

Sheek Louch says: Probably some regular shit that young men go through. Chicks cheating! You find out later on like, “Oh, word? She is fucking him? Damn…” [Laughs.] Some high school shit. I’ve gotten my heart broken a thousand times by bitches.

#3: IF YOU HAD A WEEK HOLIDAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Jadakiss says: I’ll chill, play basketball, shop, and watch sports.

Styles P says: Chill with the family—play-fight, video games, and Scrabble. I do family trips. I’ve been to St. Thomas, Bahamas…Last family trip was a month and a half ago when I drove to Cape Cod.

Sheek Louch says: I was going to say, man. I’m in a dying need for a vacation right now. I’ll take my whole family down somewhere and I’ll bring my mom too so she can help out watching my son. [Laughs.] I was about to head down to Cabo in Mexico until all this swine flu shit took place.

#4: WHAT HAS TO BE IN YOUR FRIDGE AT ALL TIMES?

Jadakiss says: I just need water and cranberry juice.

Styles P says: Soy milk, fruits, juice, no liquor, I got a wine cooler but that shit is barely ever full. I’m not big on beers. I’m trying to stay in shape.

Sheek Louch says: Chopped turkey meat. Countless boxes of cereal everywhere for the kids, milk…

#5: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Jadakiss says: When my grandmother died. She passed away last year. We lost a couple close figures last year.

Styles P says: That’s a good fucking question. I cried a couple months ago thinking about my pops and my brother. My pops recently passed not even a year ago so thinking about that made me cry. Sometimes they are tears of joy too. It’s a blessing that they are in a better place. I’m human you know? I grew up close to both of my parents.

Sheek Louch says: Probably when my grandmother passed away a couple years ago. I don’t do too much movies with Kleenexes sobbing. [Laughs.] And when my son was born! Just like, “Look at this little n****!”

#6: WHAT’S THE MOST EMBARRASSING PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU’VE EVER WORN?

Jadakiss says: Shiny suit. It’s actually all good. All of them things were experiences. I would probably do it now being that all of the good and bad that came out of it. I would do it just for the love.

Styles P says: You know what it was with the shiny shit? People didn’t have beef with the shiny shit until we had beef with the shiny shit. People thought that shit was dope. It was still a good look. It was just something not to be done all the time. We just needed something to say against at the time.

Sheek Louch says: Now that I think about the shiny suits back then with Puff…It put us in a different tax bracket, man. We didn’t understand it then, I still don’t understand it now, but it took us to another level.

#7: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SNEAKER OF ALL TIME?

Jadakiss says: Air Force 1s and Jordans. Neck-and-neck. I like the Air Jordan VIIs.

Styles P says: It’s hard to say because a pair of Air Jordan I’s is crazy, a pair of Air Jordan VII is crazy too. I don’t have a particular favorite one. I like shits like these [points at his sneakers]. These are typical Prada joggers.

Sheek Louch says: Jordans. Shout out to my man Reggie from Jordan. Jordan staff, they send us so much stuff and show us so much love, man.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Now that DMX is out of jail does D-Block have any plans to work with him?

Styles P: If X wants? Hell yea! That’s our homie forever.

Sheek Louch: I’ll love to work with X, man. You got to understand where we are in the Yonkers. Right down the street is the hood and a bit down is School Street where [DMX] is from. I’m just saying that because he is a legend. Before the standpoint the masses know of DMX, in Yonkers people knew he was crazy with it.

Jadakiss: Yeah, look out real soon. I don’t want to speak on it too early. I haven’t talked to the Dog yet, but it is coming. You’re going to see him real soon. When I say real soon, I mean real soon. In the next couple of weeks you’ll see it. It’ll be a big thing.

Complex: You guys have known each other since grade school. If you guys get into a fistfight who would win?

Styles P: Louch is definitely the biggest but I don’t know, I’m dangerous. [Quiets down.] But Louch too big, so I’ll give it to Sheek. It would be a long one though.

Jadakiss: Me of course! But we wouldn’t get into fistfights. Not since we’ve been grown men.

Sheek Louch: Jada and Styles will beat me up, man. They got it. [Laughs.] I do my little workout that’s it.


http://www.complex.com/blogs/2009/06/09/the-complex-7-d-block/