J-Zone: Captain Back$lap Speaks funny interview read

[STILLDRE IS THE GODFATHER]

J-Zone: Captain Back$lap Speaks
Wednesday - February 09, 2005
J-23
You’d be hard-pressed to find an artist more entertaining than J-Zone in music today. The man who claims everything in his wardrobe was previously living spits pure comedy over his own blazing beats, full of cursing, pimping and shit-talking. His interviews aren’t much different.

Looking back at when you were making “Music For Tu Madre,” did you ever think you’d be 5 albums deep one day?
Hell no! “Music For Tu Madre” was a project for college, I made it for fun and to graduate. I wanted to strictly do production. I knew how hard it was to get beats to established rappers, so I figured I'd put it out to draw attention to my production and make a lil’ money at the same time. I never planned to rap again, and I was anti-performance. I never did a show in my life til’ that album came out. Bobbito had to convince me to do my first show ever for his event at The Nuyorican cause I was petrified of crowds. My intentions was to be behind the scenes in the studio, not a solo artist, but the shit just happened by accident.

I know at one point you had said you didn’t really consider yourself an emcee, since you’ve improved considerably over the years, has that changed?
I still feel weird calling myself an MC. I've grown to enjoy rapping on
records and doing shows and I really enjoy the songwriting part, so I guess I am an MC, but I'm not a full time MC. I still won't freestyle and I still feel uncomfortable when I'm asked to rap on the radio and at in-stores, for whatever reason. That's why I never draw attention to myself as an MC, cause I'm not always in the mood to rap. Sometimes I'm the J-Zone you hear on the records, loud and outgoing and not giving a fuck. But at times I can be withdrawn and real shy around people I don't know, depending on my mood. But when I am in the mood, I've gotten real comfortable and I have fun with it.

What is the best and worst aspect of being an artist?
The best: Getting’ my got damn paycheck. The worst: Not getting’ my paycheck! Haha, it's just crazy to be doin’ this for a living. It's weird because you're earning a living doin’ what you love and always wanted, but with that comes the fact that it's no longer the hobby and the escape from the bullshit it used to be. When you're 16, you have to go to school and you hate it, but the music is your getaway from the stress. But now, what was my getaway and hobby for my whole life is now my living. If I don't do this show, I don't eat, and sometimes what used to be my hobby is now part of my stress. Now I got days where I don't wanna even hear no fuckin’ music, I just wanna go to a basketball game at one of the local high schools and cut my phone off and not be bothered with no rap shit. Now I need hobbies other than music to keep me from going nuts cause I have to do music to eat, but I'm lucky to be makin’ a living doing what I love to do cause so many people are stuck in a 9 to 5 they hate. It's a dual natured thing.

You weren’t too kind to rapping ballplayers on “A Friendly Game of
Basketball,” but who is the best of the bunch?
None of them! They all suck. Lemme stop, Master P is nice, he did an NBA tryout. He can play. Lil Bow Wow actually got some handle. But you know who's nice? Brian McKnight! Them R&B muthafuckas be wreckin shop! You think cause they be singin that Luther Vandross "I love ho's, gimme the pussy" shit makin’ the bitches swoon, they would be too smooth to run ball. But them romeo ass R&B dudes be playin’ for real! S-Curl shinin’ and shit. I seen Brian McKnight drop 30 on’em, give muthafuckas the business. He'll sing that ho-savin’ shit with that Jet Magazine pretty boy style, then dunk on your ass! I would never challenge no R&B dude to no game, cause they catch you sleepin and bust your ass all day! And I can't lose a game in public to a brother with an S-Curl. No. (for those unaware, McKnight used to ball with Karl Malone on the regular).


Primo once said Cedric Ceballos was the best hands down? You ever heard him?
Naah, but I disagree. Allen Iverson is NICE! You ever hear "40 Bars", that 12" he put out on Universal, the one the NBA got mad at? I got doubles! Its crazy ignorant! Mad cursing, gunshots in the background...ah man, it's incredible! I'm puttin it on my next Ign'ant Mix CD and remixing it, cause there's an Acapella. "This type of jam don't need no hook, just 40 fuckin bars from the mouth of a crook!!" Whew, that record is classic!


How is the Zone’s game coming along anyway?
Ain't been ballin much. I fucked my knee up back in October when I came home from my European tour. I didn't warm up and started playing after not playing for a month and a half, which was stupid. I had an MRI and I'm OK, so I'm just doin rehab for the knee. I also had 3 herniated disks in my back from an injury in high school and that shit flares up as I get older and try to ball too hard, so The Zone be on the injured list a lot, haha. I played last month and I was rusty, but I started gettin my jumper back gradually. I won't be consistent til it gets warmer and I can practice a few times a week. Injured and rusty, I'll still bust Ice Cube's ass right now though!

imo this is hilarious

What’s better, your rap game, your ball game or your pimp game?
Definitely not my pimp game. Haha. I really been goin through a rough stretch with women lately. I be findin these crazy broads that make life miserable! I'm ready to get me a porno flick and call it a day. At the moment, I'd say my rap game is the strongest.


Movie samples have played a big part in your songs, what’s your secret to finding them? Or are you just a crazy movie buff?
Just always keep my ears open 24/7/365.

What are we gonna see from you in 05?
My new remix project, “Gimme Dat Beat Fool,” drops this month. I got an album with Celph Titled dropping in the fall. Our super group is tentatively called The Bo$$ Hogg Barbarians, we haven't 100% decided yet. We're both rappin, I did most of the beats, he did a couple, maybe an outside beat or two. Look for that.

More importantly, when are you gonna get that caddy?
When I find a 1978 Fleetwood Brougham in baby blue for the right price.

Check out HHDX’s reviews for Zone’s last 3 LP’s:

“Pimps Don’t Pay Taxes”
“$ick of Being Rich”
“A Job Ain’t Nuthin’ But Work”

[Suffice]

LMAO J-Zone is one funny motherfucker. His CD's are pure comedy

[OpTiCaL]

Good read!