GUNPLAY INTERVIEW

“That was cool to build the brand but now we trying to make money with it”


GUNPLAY: Grinding hard and letting them know that Gunplay coming. I am about to drop a mixtape with Dj PCutta out of Philly . The mixtape is called Don Logan. Don Logan is my alter ego and my company name as well I am starting to implement that in my music so that people know that I am not only Gunplay but Don Logan as well.

INTRO: So Don Logan is your music label as well?

GUNPLAY: Yeah that’s my label right there. We are in the beginning stages. I grind out Maybach Music and Triple C so I am doing the same for myself.

INTRO: Do you have any artist on your label?

GUNPLAY: Yeah! Gunplay

INTRO: What kind of feel can we expect from the Don Logan mixtape?

GUNPLAY: I get to talk about that street shit. On my mixtape I can really talk that street shit versus an album where you have to cater to a broader audience. I cater to the streets wit the mixtape. The streets know me. They know what I am about. They like to hear what I am talking about when I get on that street shit. That’s really the masses (the streets). When I do the album I tone it down to appeal to the masses. The mixtapes are strictly for the streets, slums, and ghettos.

INTRO: Are you in the movie Teflon Don?

GUNPLAY: No.

INTRO: You didn’t want to be in it?

GUNPLAY: I didn’t know they were shooting a movie.

INTRO: Yeah! Young Breed just told me about it.

GUNPLAY: Its news to me baby.

INTRO: What else are you working on now?

GUNPLAY: We working on the second album now. Color, Cut, Clarity” I am doing three projects right now. I am working on mixtapes but I am also working on my solo album now called “Kill Switch”. On the last album we kept it street. On this album we are really trying to crossover with this one. We are trying to get on the radio. The last album really didn’t hit the radios like that. It just hit peoples CD players. That was cool to build the brand but now we trying to make money with it. I also have “Apples and Onions” magazine and a modeling agency I am trying to start up. The motto of “Apples and Onions” magazine is “you gotta have a waist like a wasp and a ass like a horse”. Hopefully I can spin off with a strip club cause you know Don Logan loves the ladies.

INTRO: The ladies that are reading this and want to be part of the magazine Apples and Onions how would they be able to contact you?

GUNPLAY: I don’t have the web site up yet but you can send your pictures and info to donlogandjs@gmail..com I am about to get things set up now. Once the web site is up you would be able to see the girls that I am already working with.

INTRO: You mentioned earlier that you would like to be able to spin off and do a strip club. What location would be ideal for you to open up your club?

GUNPLAY: I would do it in Atlanta. Down here it is a lot of competition. There is competition in Atlanta also but the way that I want to do it is different. You will be able to get a hair cut in mine.

INTRO: So after a fresh cut they can run over to see the ladies.

GUNPLAY: Yeah you can get ya shape up, you play ya pool, and get ya sports on the plasma. You got pretty girls doing your manicure if you want.

INTRO: Are you doing any shows or features at the moment?

GUNPLAY: We are doing some spot shows here and there in Florida, Texas, and New York. We aree back in the lab working on the second album. I am doing features and people can reach me at donlogandjs@gmail.com or they can hit me on twitter @gunplay. I do want people to know that the features cost.

INTRO: Is there any particular artist that you would like to work with?

GUNPLAY: I would love to work with Sade. I have already worked with a lot of people like Young Jeezy, Bun B, Game, and Gucci however I would really love to work with Sade.

FOR MORE INFO:
@GUNPLAYCCC

JUNE/JULY 2010

KRAVE INTERVIEW

“We are taking it back to when the Temptations rehearse for 10-12 hours a day”

Krave is the new girl trio presented to you by rapper Akon and Devyne Stephens of Upfront Mega entertainment. These ladies are planning to take the world by storm with there fresh new sound and they plan on showing the world what it is to be truely entertained. INTRO got the chance to converse with the lovely ladies as they were getting ready to shoot their first video.


INTRO: I really wanna focus on the music. What are you guys working on? Are you working on an album or a new single?

Chanel: We are working on a new album and the album is going to be self titled. It should be out early May 2010. We have been trying to keep busy with the music.

INTRO: What kinda feel is the album going to have to it?

Chanel: Its gonna have a party vibe to it. We have a lot of uptempos, a lot of club records but at the same time we have other records for the ladies. You when your guy is fooling around and you wanna let them know. We are big on girl power dealing with unity, confidence and knowing who you are. Thats the type of feel you are going to get from this album. Its a feel good album.

INTRO: Do you have any special features on the album.

Chanel: Yes! We have our big brother Akon, Nelly, Twista, and RockCity. We don’t want to let too much out. We want to keep it a surprise for when the album comes out. Its gonna be a crazy album and we are really excited about it.

INTRO: Who are your influences? The last really big girl group that we had was Destinys Child.

Chanel: That is true. We get a lot of our influences from TLC, BBD, Jodeci, Xscape, Grace Jones, Madonna, and Michael Jackson (RIP). Music is in our there are just so many people. We love everybody. Music is in our soul. We like different types of music.

INTRO: What makes you different from any other group?

Jazzy: I would say what makes us different is or what makes us tick a little different is that we are have open minds. We really want to touch on everything. We don’t want to stay in the box of urban music or R&B or hip hop. We are eclectic and we like different styles that make us want to incorporate that into our music. We started with Devaughn and he modeled the group from the ground up. He taught us about etiquette when it comes to interviews, its about the look, its about the performance, its about the music. We are taking it back to when the Temptations rehearse for 10-12 hours a day. Its about putting in hard work for the audience and showing them that you are putting in that hard work for them. I think that some artists just focus on just being fly all the time. Of course you need to be fly but this is a business and we need to bring the focus back on the music and the substance of it all.

INTRO: What artists would you like to work with.

Shan Q: I would love to work with Swizz Beatz. His tracks and just his energy alone is just high and fun and we represent that. Another artist we would like to work with is Missy Elliot. She is dope. She is creative, innovative, funand her energy is high too. We have a lot of other artists that we would like towork with but right now those are the main two.

INTRO: Where do you see your self in the next two years:

Shan Q: Let me see. Krave album drops. We go platinum maybe even diamond. A couple houses cars! Naw, after the album drops hopefully we will eventually be headlining our own tour or touring with our big brother Akon overseas. We want to continue to make good music and continue to better ourselve and making legacies that will live on. Hopefully in the near future future we want to do like a Krave movie, Krave accessory line and make-up. We want to make everyone a part of our movement, part of our brand. We want to be big and universal and expand Krave worldwide.

INTRO: What country would you like to go to?

Shan Q: I want to go to Japan. I am a fashion freak. I want to go over there and snatch up everything. I might find me a little boyfriend over there you know and bring him back to the states.

Jazzy: I want to go to Paris. I am the romantic of the group. I love fairy tales and stuff.

Chanel: I would love to go to Africa. I think the scenery even though I have only scene it television is gorgeous and of course I would like to work with the charities over there. I want to see Egypt so bad. I am obsessed wit the pyramids and the sphinx so I definitely have to make my way over there. I am not excited about the shots that you have to get before you go to Africa but I have to go.

INTRO: How would you describe each others personality.

Jazzy: I would say Shan Q is a wild child. By that I mean you never know what you are going to get. One she might have on a neon jumpsuit and the next day she may have on a wedding gown. She is just very out there. Chanel is the median. She is the peacemaker of the group. She is very compassionate but on an extreme level I would say she is the rapper.

Shan Q: I would say Jazzy is the sexy one. She is the seductress. She is like a guitar/vintage. She is a bookworm. Jazzy will come out of now where and say things like “ You know Sir Humphry Davy is the guy that invented the light bulb”. She also likes fancy clothes. Chanel is goofy as well even though she is the more laid back one. She is a meddian like Jaz said. She is watered, very calm. I am a scorpio and I love the water. Jaz is a Scorpio to so we have two waters and one fire. She is like water somewhat.

Chanel: I would say Jazzy is more girly because she isn’t really tomboyish. She is very head strong at times. She is funny. She has cynical humor like the kind you see on Family Guy. I would say that Shan Q is all over the place. She is very creative. I love that about her. Those are my girls. These are my homies. We all have different facets to us. We can all be goofy at times and standoffish at times. We are just one big melting pot mess but I mean that in a good way. Like my mom says I am a “organized mess”. My room is always messy but it is proportioned and that is how we are. LOLA

More Info:
Myspace.com/riverward

Follow Kr ave on Twitter:
@Chanelkrave
@shanqkrave
@kraveworldwide

INTERVIEW WITH ROCCETT

“They liked my music and thought that I would be a good fit for the company”

Roccett is know by some as Jeezy’s young protege. He is also know to many as one of the west coasts hottest rappers in the game. He has also been seen as one of the many artists that can be seen in the Makaveli Branded clothing advertisements. Currently he is getting prepares for his 2009 album debut with Corporate Thugs Entertainment.


INTRO: You have been in the game for awhile now. Who are some of you influences?”

Roccett: Dr. Dre, Snoop, Tupac, Jay-z just to name a few.

INTRO: What projects are you working on?

Roccett: I just got off the phone with Trey Songz and he was talking about doing a joint together. I am also working on that new “Chronic 2009”. I also have my own record label called Get Your Green Up Ent and we currently negotiating with labels and for all the labels out there interested we still talking so holla at us.

INTRO: I have seen you in the “Makaveli” clothing advertisements. How did you end up getting that deal? Did they approach you or was it vice versa?

Roccett: They liked my music and thought that I would be a good fit for the company.

INTRO: I know that many ladies would like to know if you are single and if you are what do you look for in a woman?

Roccett: Currently I am in a relationship but what I do look for is a a woman that is strong minded woman that knows what she wants. I need a woman that can handle the truth.

INTRO: You are making quiet a few moves right now with your career right now. Where do you think you would be in the next two years?

Roccett: Sky’s the limit. Hopefully I will have 3 albums done and a movie.

LINKS:

Official site: www.roccett.com
http://www.iamroccett.com
http://www.twitter.com/iamroccett
www.myspace.com/roccett
MAR/APR 2009

INTRO would love to thank all its readers for its support. Check out our past interview with Triple C's Torch

INTRO: Since I last spoke to you “Yams” was going hard in the streets and in the clubs and in the streets. Whats the next single we can expect to go hard if not harder?

TORCH: There are a couple and I really don’t put the names out right now cause we want everyone to focus on “Teflon” right now. We got that Maybach Music in the streets right now but trust me there is one called “Lay It Down” you ain’t heard it from me but watch for it.
INTRO: Since the last time we talked you were getting ready to drop your first album and now you are working on your sophomore album. Can you tell us what we can expect from this album?

TORCH: Its gonna be a certified classic unlike the last album this is a more polished look for Triple C. Its not going to be so raw and rugged like the last album. We are going to have a few cuts for the ladies on this one as well as a few radio cuts. You are going to get a more grown Triple C on this one.
INTRO: You were very street and rugged on the first one.

TORCH: You still gonna get that gutta appeal but you know you what I mean. At the end of the day the gutta is always gonna love us but we are not trying to go back there so we gotta appeal to the masses.

INTRO: What kind of features are you going to have on the album? TORCH: The features on the album are going to be more calculated. We are going to have a couple of the O.Gs in the game like Jay-Z and all that stuff. The last album was oversaturated with features. We are going to keep the features this time to a minimum. We may have a few singers for the hooks but this album is going to be more Triple C and less features.
INTRO: What singers do you have featured on the album?

TORCH: We got Trey Songz checking in. We got Lloyd checking in and the big homie T-Pain just to name a few. We got a lot of surprises in store. We have a song called “Diamonds and Maybachs part 2” with the homie Ryan Leslie. Look out for that its gonna be a banger.

INTRO: Now are you in the new movie Teflon Don with Rick Ross?


TORCH: Of course I am! You know I also have my own thing going on with “Specialyst Films Beyond Vision” I am in the process of writing a screen play. Its like a biography but I don’t want to call it that. movie that is why it is taking me so long. It really easy to verbally tell someone but it takes more work to write it down. The name of the screen play is called “Tell Myra” its going to be a good movie. I am in the perfect position to make it happen on the production end cause I own a film crew. Usually you go through screen writers but I am doing this myself. We are going to put it down and look for a company to put it out. We already have all of the filming in the bag.

INTRO: Whats going on with Specialyst Ent?
TORCH: Its huge! Its one of the biggest movements in New York. When Ross talk about that muscle he got he is talking about me and my homies. We run New York. The Bronx is officially in the building!We have a mixtape out right now. We are working on another one that will drop after my solo album drops. My solo album will drops after the next Triple C album. I would go on the record and say the name of it but people be biting and shit so I am just going to keep that to myself.
INTRO: When can we expect the albums to drop?
TORCH: You can look out for that in Spring 2011. The Triple C album should be out in December of this year coming up right after the Teflon album. We have a lot of albums coming out this year. We have the mixtapes that are out such as “Sticks and Stones” and my new mixtape “Crash Course”. Young Breed and Gunplay have their mixtapes out right now and Ross just dropped a Timeless collection. We are about to drop more mixtapes, more albums which means more money.

INTRO: For the ladies that want to get with the modeling “Means and Models” how would they get in contact with you.
TORCH: You can send them pics to ceotorch3@gmail.com . We are always looking for models. We are not all about the cosmetics stuff. We like genuine girls. You know even if you have a couple of flaws still send a pic. There is

INTRO: Since I last spoke to you “Yams” was going hard in the streets and in the clubs and in the streets. Whats the next single we can expect to go hard if not harder?
TORCH: There are a couple and I really don’t put the names out right now cause we want everyone to focus on “Teflon” right now. We got that Maybach Music in the streets right now but trust me there is one called “Lay It Down” you ain’t heard it from me but watch for it.

INTRO: How long have you been working on the screen play and are you working with anyone to produce the movie once its done?

TORCH: I have been working on it for two months right now. This is my first time trying to write a movie that is why it is taking me so long. It really easy to verbally tell someone but it takes more work to write it down. The name of the screen play is called “Tell Myra” its going to be a good movie. I am in the perfect position to make it happen on the production end cause I own a film crew. Usually you go through screen writers but I am doing this myself. We are going to put it down and look for a company to put it out. We already have all of the filming in the bag.

INTRO: What made you want to start a production company. Torch: I wanted to eliminate the general. You know I see how you stay prevalent in the game is to maintain the internet presence, being able to do your own videos, and own your own business rather than blowing your money on trivial stuff like most artists. I invested in myself with the films and the studios.

INTRO: Now as far as the models that you have working with you what videos did you have them cast for? Were they just for Rick Ross/Triple C videos?
TORCH: Yeah just that to name a few. They have also been featured in a couple Khaled videos and most of the videos shot in Miami. We just keeping it low key right now, A lot of people don’t even know that we are a team but Amazing Models is definitely going to be the next thing up.

INTRO: Is that going to include model Amazin Amie?
TORCH: Hey!! How do you know about that? Shout out to Amazin Amie she doing big things. That is my partner right there.

INTRO: How do you feel that the fans have accepted you as far as the Ross and 50 Cent beef?

TORCH: At the end of the day beef is when there is blood on the floor and someone is dying. That is the element that I love. It is like wrestling to me so I don’t even consider it beef. As far as the fans, after Ross did what he did they showed us even more love because it takes a strong team to accomplish what he did. Ross is still here and relevant in the game as one of the best and that is enough in itself.

JUNE/JULY 2010




FOR MORE INFO:
www.torchisny.com
@TORCHCCC

D. Woods talks about Danity Kane Reunion

“I just really think that whatever my presence at the time they did not want anymore”

D. Woods has continued to make moves since her departure from the girl group Danity Kane. D. Woods is now currently working on her new mixtape series “Independence Day”. She is also expanding her career by working on some other new ventures. D took some time out to give us an update on her career and to give her side of her departure from Danity Kane.

INTRO: I understand that you are working on a new project. Can you tell us a little more about it.

D. Woods: I working on a mixtape series called Independence Day. It will be a series of mixtapes online. I am a very creative person. I do some rapping and singing on the album. I really am not one particular genre because I don not compartmentalize myself.

INTRO: What producers have you worked with on the new album?

D. Woods: Kwame, Stroud (affiliated with Grand Hustle), Jay-Lac he did Lloyd’s get it shorty, Keyes and the Apple Juice Kid. I am working with a lot of younger producers. I want to create my own sound instead of someone trying to stamp me with their sound. I love going to beat battles. I find some people during that battles and I run up to them and be like “You were hot, you should have won, give ya number” (laugh). That is how I met the Apple Juice Kid.

INTRO: I know that many people want to know what happened with the break up?

D. Woods: I am saying this with the up-most respect. The break-up was on its way before it the group even started. It was on very shaky ground from the beginning. I applaud each girl for trying to make things work but there were too many odds and ends and to many people in each girls ear with divide and conquer tactics and a lot of bad business. I you don’t handle your business right no matter how talented you are its not gonna work. There many to many variables working against us especially for us having to compete against each other and then having to get on the same team. We didn’t have that foundation. I did my best. It was really, really hard.

INTRO: Why didn’t you show up to the reunion.

D. Woods: For one I showed up to quite a few meetings, “lets get it together” situations and the meeting where I was ultimately fired from when I had no idea even that was what the meeting was for. After being fired (laugh) I showed up to the Christmas Party and was told and I quote “Get out I don’t want you here. As the Chief Executive of this company I am making this executive decision and I don’t want you here. You after someone tells you that to you face and you ask them if they are sure and they say yes then that is ground one. What can you say to that? You just have to bow out gracefully and move on with you life. After time went by and they wanted everyone to come back fro the reunion show and I basically said I would love to be there and say my piece however I have moved on with my life and I have do have a prior commitment and I am not going to cancel the commitments that I had already made to walk into something especially after being fired and not knowing what I was going to be walking into. That is the situation with reality tv. You never know what you are going to walk into. I just had to make a decision for my well being and I decided to go to London and do host The Music of Black Origin Awards with Reverend Run and Mel B of the Spice Girls than to go to MTV and be humiliated. I definitely offer many different solutions. I asked could we do it via phone or satellite and Badboy declined on both options.

INTRO: How is it working for Diddy?

D.Woods: Its everything that you could imagine it to be. Its one big emotional roller coaster.

INTRO: What was the situation that brought him to take you out of the group?

D. Woods: Really, I don’t know. I just really think that whatever my presence at the time they did not want anymore. I know that he was going forward with Dawn’s solo project and maybe he wanted to disband the group so that he could focus on her.

INTRO: How do you feel about the solo project that Dawn is working on and Diddy’s relationship with her?

D. Woods: I definitely feel that I had a lot to offer that I had to down play almost make myself smaller. In my last conversation with Puff I told him congratulations with and that I am glad that he wanted to move forward with Dawn’s project. He had always voiced that she was his favorite in the group. I never really expected for him to see that in me because I never really got a chance to show it because I was pretty much downplayed but I did my best in the situation. Once you do your best you can’t be mad at yourself you can’t be mad at someone else. You can’t be mad if you did your best. You have to know that there is a place where you can go to ultimately be your best instead of just doing your best and that is what I did.

INTRO: What is the single that you are currently pushing?

D. Woods: The new song is called “On My Side”. It is produced by soundz. That is the main single that I am pushing. The other songs on the album are re-mixes of other people’s joints. I like to put a whole new spin on songs so that it is just not a remix but a whole new song. (A lot support from the Future Star DJs)

INTRO: What other projects are you working on right now?

D. Woods: Right now I am working on a work out dvd it is currently in pre-production. We are still working on all the nuts and bolts of what we are going to film. We definitely want to have it out late summer early fall in 09. My schedule is crazy.

INTRO: I heard that you had an interesting story on how Lil Wayne got the “Milli” beat. Can you share that with us?

D. Woods: I can definitely say that Wayne is like a brother figure to me. We really have been cool since 2006-2007. Girls Club member Shanell passed him some beats from other producers that we know like Bangladesh and Mystro and those were the producers that we have had a good relationship with for a very long time. It was just like friends helping out friends. That’s also how he got “Prom Queen” (laugh). Wayne and Shanell have been in this Kurt Cobain rock star world and Prom Queen was the result. Anyone that did not get the prom date that they wanted can relate. Please go to the website and support my brother Wayne and Shanell.

INTRO: What is the Girls Club and who are the members?

D. Woods: The Girls Club consist of Mika Means, Shanell and myself. We are a group of women that are writers, dancers, choreographers, singers, and rappers. We do a lot of writing for other artists and groups.

INTRO: How is your relationship with the other group members?

D. Woods: I talk to some of the girls. The relationships are pretty much the same.

Myspace.com/yagirldwoods
www.dwoods.com
Mypace.com/thegirlsclub07
@yagirldwoods

MAR/APR 2009