THE HARRY O AND RAPALOT CONNECTION?

[djlocskeet]

 

Poppa LQ
Interview by Scott Bejda
Continued from Murder Dog Volume 12 #3

Rapalot back in ’95 sent me a promo tape with all the new acts from there and Noo Trybe. That was the first time I heard about Luniz, you, and CJ Mac! Did you get a lot of feedback from your first album?

I got a lot of positive feed back from that first album. I just wish the business side of it could of matched the feedback that I was getting. It was different coming from the West Coast and it was a very musical album with the producers that I had on there. I had N.O. Joe who was doing a lot of Scarface stuff at the time, I had Battlecat who was just really starting to burn up on the West Coast at that time. I grew up with Battle Cat, and I’m like a centerpiece on the West Coast that a lot of people really haven’t got a chance to identify with. Really that promo tape that your were speaking on was what birth The Regime. That was the time of the birth the Regime with me and Yuk. He said "I’m gonna push the Bay and you push LA and we bring it together." A lot of people really don’t connect the Bay and LA but a lot of cats from the Bay are down here in LA and vice versa.

You are originally form the Midwest, right?

I’m from St. Louis. I moved to LA when I was about 9 years old.

What was the change like?

I was really just starting to figure out St. Louis. It was a shame that I left because I left my roots as soon as I was getting to identify with them. I planted new roots out here on the West Coast . I know more about LA than I do St. Louis all though I’m in contact with my family down there, and I go down there quite often.

What is it like to go back to St. Louis now that you are all grown up?

St. Louis is not as big as LA so I’m meeting a lot of people that know my parents, and I’m still meeting cousins. I plan on moving back there though! I lived 2 years in Houston when I was signed to Rapalot so I got a chance to get a taste of the South, but now I’m gonna go home to the Midwest. I always told myself when I’m ready to build my first home from the ground up it will be there. I will always be here in LA too because LA is also my home.

You did stuff with D.B.A too right?

When Bosko first moved out here from Portland I was one of the first cats he started working with him from early on. Bosko did some production on the Your Entertainment, My Reality album too. Right before that we were working real heavy, and I was introducing him to a lot of cats out here. I hooked Bosko up with Yukmouth, and Yukmouth in turn was the one who actually hooked Bosko up with E-40.

It’s like 6 degrees of separation?

Exactly that’s what the game is! That’s why you always treat people with respect, and on your word always keep it 100.

You and CJ Mac were the only people from the West other than Seagram that Rapalot signed at that time?

I was the 2nd person, and Seagram was the one who actually influenced them. I got my whole deal through Battlecat when he was doing his thing through Harry-O. Me and AMG was like the only features on Domino’s 1st album. Battlecat produced the whole album except for the one song that AMG produced. I was gonna be the next artist on Outburst and I ended up going to the studio with Battlecat, and met Lil’ J. Harry-O wanted to sign me, but him and Lil’ J worked out an agreement. I have a lot of respect to this day for Lil’ J. He taught me more than anything! Even though I’m not on the label any more the education that he gave me, I take that with me even today. That’s one of my mentors in this music business as well as Yuk. I will forever have a loyalty to him!

Do you still talk to J-Prince?

I talk to him from time to time, but he’s busy and I am busy. Yuk is still signed to him so I see him quite a bit being a Regime member and being with Yuk all the time. The love is there!

Will you be on the actual Regime album as well?

The founding Regime members is me, Tech N9ne, and Yukmouth. You will hear us three equally and all the other members as well.

Do you still work with Cool Nutz?

I just talked to him a few days ago. We are getting ready to put together another D.B.A. project with me, Bosko, and Cool Nutz. I’m all over right now! The hard work is paying off!

 
   



New Interviews
Black Smoke
Tony Yayo
Young Bleed
Dopegame
Al Kapone
Turk
Webbie
Big Mike
Poppa LQ
Mo B. Dock
Master P
Paul Wall