Crooked I gets a 4 page-feature in French magazine

[Dimos]

http://dynastyentgroup.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=6e51bf408d6834677899686cfc6cef56&topic=12562.0

[187Proof]

He's perhaps the best hope for California. After a whole decade of struggles, Crooked I has finally put his name in the limelight. His album, B.O.S.S. (Beginning of Something Serious) should come out this year. Interview with the future.

From local mixtapes to more or less promising guest appearances, from a bunch of unreleased projects, to his affiliations with infamous record labels, Crooked I has had a very hard journey in the rap game. It looks like it only made him stronger than ever, though. The Long Beach rapper can be considered as one of the few MCs who dedicated their life to Hip-Hop, but never got their deserved sale numbers.

It seems that Crooked I's journey has come an end. Although he's an incredible lyricist whose talent can't be discussed, he almost gave up after his departure from Death Row... Then came the resurrection with the founding of his own label Dynasty Music Group, his signature to Treacherous Records, a bunch of mixtapes, the Hip-Hop Weekly series (which is now finished) and the cover of XXL... Crooked I represents the future of Rap. He has the ideas and the talent, he's not afraid to speak what's on his mind and he has a solid experience. How he got started in the rap game, his infamous affiliations, his album and his plan to take over the industry: Crooked I tells it all.

How did you get started in the rap game?

My mother and my aunt used to form an R&B group when I was a child. I used to hang in the studio like all the time. I've never seen my father until I was 25. I used to write him poetry. I fell in love with Hip-Hop when I was a child. My mother was buying and bringing home all them classics. I recorded my first rap when I was 8. I've always wanted to become a rapper.

Were you born in Long Beach?

I was born in L.A. My mother met my father in Long Beach, he was at a military base there. They moved to Long Beach. My mother liked this place, she used to write songs in front of the see. Unfortunately, she became sick when my aunt got murdered. She met depression and needed to change places regularly. That's how I lived in different places... From the ghettos in Vegas to the Oklahoma projects, from the streets of Texas to the hood in Philadelphia. Then I came back to Long Beach at the age of 16.

You come from 19th street Snoop and DPG come from 21st street... Did you know them at the time?

Yes, before the success. We're all from Eastside Long Beach. That's a legendary place in Hip-Hop history. They quickly made their way to the top of the game. With me it's totally different. I remember one night, they came to my studio and they had brought some instrumentals with them. We all freestyled over them beats for the whole night. These were the now classic instrumentals for the Murder Was The Case soundtrack.

How was it to be on Death Row?
I really wanted to put out an album with them. But Suge Knight was the only one who could take decisons there and he didn't like our situation with Koch Records. He wanted to sell millions like in the early days of Death Row, but he knew nobody would give him another chance because of his past problems. I lost my time there, but I learned a lot. I almost gave up when I left Death Row. They used some paperwork to keep me from releasing my music. I had to wait for another year, but I won my freedom in front of a judge. I've never had personal issues with Suge, though. We've always had a mutual respect.

What's up with B.O.S.S.?

I might add one or two cuts, but the album is basically done. I don't like listening to my own music, but I must admit I can't stop listening to this one. The project is divided in four parts. The first part is called "B.O.S.S.". It consists of songs in which I talk about being a boss, struggling, moving forward and taking big risks. The second part is "The Realest Shit I've Ever Wrote". I speak about my life, my friends, my family, those who are dead, my vision of the world and of the society. Then comes the third part, "Girls, Girls, Girls" which consists of songs about having a relationship, one night stands and strip clubs... The last part is "Gangster MC". That's the vision I have for the game. It explains what a gangsta MC is.
 
I want to set a new trend in the rap game for those who are seen as gangsta rappers, but actually are real Hip-Hop MCs as well. Tell me what's their category? Some of these gangsta rappers will say they're not rappers, just gangsters who have talent. At the same time we're not gangsta rappers because we are seen as people who have love for the Hip-Hop culture. That's because we grew up in the hood and went through a lot that we are seen as gangsters. We are real gangster MCs, we're on another level. Someone like Yukmouth is a true Gangster MC. There's a lot of so-called gangsta rappers who are great lyricists. Someone who's feeling Lupe Fiasco has to listen to Yukmouth because he has as much talent as him. Right now, I have as much backpackers as gangsta rappers looking to to do a record with me. When you have the chance to listen to my album, you'll see who I am... That's something the game's been missing nowadays. After I finished listening to someone's album, I still don't know who he is... His vision, his way of thinking, what does he think about Obama for instance...

Who did you work with on your album?

I have my in-house producer Jim Gittum who I've been working with for years, I have Komplex on the album, I have Rick Rock who I think is underrated as a West Coast producer... I have Scott Storch, I have the Konvict Music producer, a Danish production team called Lounge Lizards is on it too, they have crazy beats. As far as guest apperances, I want to keep it in the family. I want to change the game and I don't like dealing with big names because most of the time there's no relationship. They just send you an mp3 by email. I want my album to sound real. I have the Horse Shoe Gang on it. They are a group who I taught the art of MCing to. I have some other artists from my Circle of Bosses family. We're like a secret society spreading all over the world. I also have a few surprises, but I still ahev to get the clearances before I speak on them. Anything can happen. My releationship with Aftermath is getting better and better. I have deep respect fro Dr. Dre. So if I can have a chance to be featured on his album, I will do everything to make sure it happens.

You're done with the Hip-Hop Weeklies, right?

We've been dropping a new song every week for a year. My fans sent me their names and their favorite instrumentals. I gave most of them a shoutout and rapped over some of the beats they sent me. It was an incredible thing. I had the chance to connect with my fans worldwide, which is something that had never been done before in Hip-Hop. Now that I'm through, the world is continuing from where I left of. i'm going to launch a brand new website called hhweekly.com on which unknown rappers will have the chance to share their music with fans of Hip-Hop worldwide. I already have people from Japan and Germany that are going to be featured on it... By the way, I'd like to give a shoutout to every single website that posted my weekly freestyles, that's definitely a good look. I changed things. How can a rapper release a new song every week when his promo is done only every new quarter? That's something the industry cannot handle. I was tired of hearing all these rappers complaining about the internet, and about their money... I wanted to show to the listeners that there's still love for the music and that not only money matters. A lot of people feel connected to me now. Some of my fans talk to me on Myspace, send me text messages or even call me on my phone. They're more like an extended family than customers to me.

What is your current situation as far as distribution?

I'm already making money independently. I want to stay in control of my career. There is a lot of labels that want to distribute my album, but I won't let them rape me. They know that I'm worth, though. I was in New York in March and I was approached by a lot of people. I'd rather wait a little bit. My "New West Anthem (N.W.A.)" is on the streets right now and I got another one coming with Akon. I will likely take my decision this summer. I'm in a good position right now in which I can negotiate. Every time I go to New York, I'm invited to Hot 97, expect to see me on MTV... I'm tellin you, you'll even see Crooked I cereals by the end of the year! It gives hope to the ones who think the industry controls rap and that Hip-Hop is dead. This interview is the proof. You're interviewing me although I have no big single or music video on TV. I'm backed by most of the websites out there and I made the cover of XXL without any label help, without even having a publicist. When I got called by XXL, I was shocked and I said to myself: "Damn, Hip-Hop is alive."

[BANGADOSHISH!!]

good lookin

[Dimos]

Don't be too rough with my translation. Take a good look at the first question about BOSS...

[MY FIRST LOVE WAS HIP HOP]

props

[RhyanG]

he can have a 40 page feature but so what!? he aint ever goin to drop an album!

[Webby05]

props for the post but... another Crooked I interview YAWNNN we want albums not interviews

[1234]

LMAO Germany and France got a thing for Crooked.

[Booz]

At least he is doing something to get some name.