New Crooked I article/interview

[Episcop Cruel Cvrle]

CROOKED I
By: Craig Johnson

 

            One of the most talented lyrical rhyme spitters on either coast, Crooked I has been putting in work for over 10 years and still has yet to release an album.  Now secure in a deal for his Dynasty Records imprint through Treacherous and Universal Music and Video Distribution, Long Beach’s lyrical genius is set to release his debut “Boss Music” this fall.  A lot of work still lies ahead for him and his company, as his situation is an independent one still, with a lot of potential perks in the future.  “Universal is just for distribution, because we don’t need them for the promotional money and all the things of a normal deal.  We need that back end to be real beefy,” he said.  He calls it a no sleep type of situation; he says he is starting from scratch but guarantees to all of the doubters and fans that the album will be on store shelves.  “I’m just trying to make sure that I do all of the footwork and the legwork that I need to do to make sure that the album comes back as a success in the market place.”  Continuing he states “people have been waiting on something from me dog, and it can’t be no half steppin’ it’s gotta be right.”

 

            Up to this point what has been the problem or the delay with getting a project out from you?  “Probably a voodoo curse (laughs).  I think what it is, is I had to be my own boss, my own company, I had to be more in control of my fate.”  Crooked I has certainly made the rounds as far as record label signings, having been an artist on Virgin, Capitol, Death Row, and now his own venture Dynasty / Treacherous / UMVD.  “Whatever acts were at the front of the label, weren’t producing numbers so the urban departments got shut down before I got a chance to prove myself.  And we all know the situation with Death Row, that was a four year stay, every time Suge Knight got incarcerated, the whole label got incarcerated.  When he would get out, nobody wanted to do business with him or the label because they were scared.”  Do you think his reputation hurt your situation?  “I know his reputation hurt my situation, I would go to radio stations and they would tell me I couldn’t come in or I would go to do shows in different cities and they would tell me I couldn’t perform because I was from Death Row no matter what.  When that type of thing is going on, it’s hard for any artist to step their game up in the industry and go further and progress.  A lot of doors was closed.”

 

            Over the years Crooked I says he has comprised about 10-11 albums worth of material.  Of this incredible amount of unreleased work, he says he has the masters to about 30 of the songs, and they will come out possibly on a ‘bootleg & b-side’ or ‘lost album’ type of project.  Although most people know him from coming up under the Snoop Dogg & DPG umbrella, Crooked I has been doing his own thing since day one.  He was already a 1/3 partner in a record label before he ever even met the big boss dogg.  Being able to prove himself in the business world, he says that Snoop would respect him more, than if he’d just tried to stay up under his wing.  Plus Crooked wants to be able to take some of the burden off of Snoop, and help some of the other up and coming artists in Long Beach so they don’t all have to run to Snoop.  “It’s both, a yin and a yang situation,” Crooked I says when asked if he’s more frustrated or has learned from all of his label woes.  “It’s mixed emotions, you get frustrated.  It’s hard not to get frustrated when you’re not putting your music on the streets when you have deals for a 10 year span.  But then what makes you calm your ass down is when you realize that it all is a learning experience.  Death Row is like the boot camp of all muthaf**kin’ labels.  Yeah I did learn a lot, that’s the way I stay positive.”

 

            Anyone that has ever heard Crooked I rap knows he is one of the most vicious lyricists ever to make words rhyme.  Although he dropped out of school and hit the streets at an early age, he always had a heavy thirst for knowledge.  “I was always a book reader.  I just ate books when I was young.  Then fortunately I got to travel as a younger man.  Before I was 16 I pretty much had been all across the map.  I got to see and adjust to other rapper’s styles.”  He says the keys are to be versatile, be a fan, and appreciate what others do.  “Nobody wants to hear a stupid rapper.  You’re gonna run out of gas on the mic if you don’t have that knowledge.  Stay in school, read, and keep your pen sharp if this is what you wanna do.”  Don’t get it twisted though, he is well known to be a lyrical beast, but as he states, the “Boss Music” album will give listeners a chance to see what kind of song writer he truly is.  He writes accordingly for each situation.  “I’m over working, I’m up late late late, never going to sleep making sure this sh*t is hot.”

 

            On Crooked I’s long awaited debut solo album, you can expect top notch tracks from some of the heaviest hitters in the industry, but as he says, he always likes to bring up brand new talent as well.  Producers include Jim Gittum, Complex, Rick Rock... “Rick Rock is one of the most underrated producers in the whole world, man this n**ga got hits!  Rick definitely got down on the project.  Scott Storch, I did three with him.  He’s just bananas right now, he’s the most ignorant muthaf**ka in the game.  Nobody is seeing him right now.”  The lead single from the album will be a Storch produced cut.  “All I need now to wrap this up, is I gotta go get my features from my fellow MC’s.  I’m gonna go to the South, East, Mid-West.  You can expect a hot representative from every region on this project.”  There has also been a lot of talk about the possibility of Crooked I working with Dr. Dre.  This would be a ridiculous combination.  He says if he’s got something to say about it, it’s going to happen, it would be an honor.  He’s hoping it can happen on this project, but if not, the next one.  Until the lead single hits and the album gets ready to drop, look for the street / buzz single and video “Boom Boom Clap.”            Also coming is the “Life After Death Row” DVD.  Centering on ‘transition,’ Crooked I calls it a hip-hop collectors item.  There is also the possibility of an LBC Crew album coming out sometime in the near future, which Crooked I will be a part of.  Much luck and success to Crooked I, hopefully he can finally get over that hump and make it to the top where he belongs.

[Darksider]

nice article