West Coast Connection Forum
DUBCC - Tha Connection => Outbound Connection => Topic started by: Elano on February 08, 2009, 10:50:00 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/v/11QG8XEao3Y
They say the third times a charm. For Yonkers bred rapper Jadakiss the third time is the last the chapter. After delivering the streets two well received solo albums, Kiss The Game Goodbye (2001) and Kiss of Death (2004), Jada is dropping The Last Kiss in just four short weeks.
With his Ne-Yo assisted single, "By Your Side" already in regular rotation across the country, Kiss hasn't let up one bit and continues his media-friendly onslaught with a new music video, a second single ["Can't Stop Me"] which is already climbing up the charts, and a new mixtape on the way. "I hooked back up with Green Lantern and DJ Clue for my mixtape called Kiss My Ass,” says Jadakiss from the 29th floor of his Def Jam label home. “Me and Green ironed everything out, and I always loved Green Lantern’s energy. I just need to finish a few more freestyles and it'll be ready.”
It's way past dinner time on a much delayed and relentless press day for Mr. Raspy, yet Jada's spirits are on high and he has much to let the world know about, "The D-Block compilation album, No Security, comes out at the end of April right after my album,” he reveals of his gameplan for ‘09. “Then we coming with the LOX album and you know what to expect; no f**kin' audio-tune [Yes, that's what he calls it.], no funny money, none of that. Just hard music, we don't care if it ever gets played on radio."
AllHipHop.com: A lot of artists have come and left this building disgruntled, how are things coming along with the new project?
Jadakiss: My new tagline is "the greatest rapper of all time died on March 9th, the greatest rapper alive coming March 10th! Everything is f**kin' beautiful over here! I'm about to go on a promo tour, get back on the bus and hit all the markets again. See, I'm real hands on with the people, I'm still going to all the malls, colleges, mix shows and keep it old school.
AllHipHop.com: Your latest single "Can't Stop Me" is almost like theme music for you but content wise it's still street. And there isn't that "forced" sound a lot artists fall victim to when trying to record a single…
Jadakiss: “Cant Stop Me,” was actually my choice. They picked the Ne-Yo joint [“By My Side”] for my first single which is smart move for the radio and the ladies to let em' know I'm coming back. But it wasn't actually the joint that I wanted to set off the new album with. So I took a meeting with LA Reid and he said, “We gotta follow your audience Kiss.” Then I gave him the “Can't Stop Me” song, and he loved it. He brought the whole staff in and let them know we going with this. You gotta be able to manipulate the program directors and just slip a few things in here and there.
AllHipHop.com: You just shot the “Letter to B.I.G.” directed by Vashtie which turned out crazy. You've also recently worked with Rik Cordero, how is it shooting videos now on way lower budgets with up and coming directors?
Jadakiss: First of all, let me say Vashtie is an amazing director. “Letter to B.I.G.” might have been the best video I've ever shot, and I've worked with everybody from Paul Hunter, Hype Williams…all the best. The key is you got to be able to get the energy from the artist. It's a new day and age, it's about delivering a high quality video with a smaller budget. Vashtie gets five thumbs up though, when I saw the finished video I said "HOLY S**T!"
AllHipHop.com: What did you think of the Notorious movie, was it accurate in your opinion?
Jadakiss: I loved the Notorious movie, and for the parts when I was around Big it was pretty accurate. Some of scenes in the movie looked just like the actual places I was at with Big, so I'd say it was about 75-85% accurate. Of course they had to make it into a movie, and add little s**ts here and there. But overall I loved the flick.
AllHipHop.com: Even though you partnered with Def Jam this time around, you still have your own label, D-Block, and your own artists like Bully, Bucky, and AP. Was it important for you to put on artists from Yonkers?
Jadakiss: There's a whole a lot of artists in Y.O., and it's like you want to put everybody from Yonkers on, but you really pick the select few ones that you have the best chemistry with. It's really the well rounded ones that have good work ethics, know how to talk to business people, and not act ignorant when you take them on the road. The thing I say to new artists the most is don't get discouraged because timing is everything in this business. Sometimes it takes longer than you think, as long as the people are still embracing you and your music has integrity, keep working and pushing your music.
AllHipHop.com: DMX, who you came into the game with is currently incarcerated. Have you spoken to X in a while?
Jadakiss: I ain't speak to big homie in a minute, but he going to be alright. X makes the best out of any situation, they can't break him. People got to understand the Dog is built for this, he'll be good no matter what, so there's no need to worry.
AllHipHop.com: You've mentioned being content with your status in the rap game, is it just about the money now?
Jadakiss: It's about the money every time with everybody. Don't let anyone say that it ain't about the money, but also there's the passion. You got to keep that same hunger and intensity from where you started. That's the hard part, and there ain't too many rappers who can keep that same passion for the music. I feel like the LOX are one of the only ones left.
AllHipHop.com: How do all your features and guest appearances come about, and do you ever turn songs down? Honestly, how did that Paris Hilton collabo happen?
Jadakiss: People just hit me and once I start heating up the songs come out naturally. I just feel like I shouldn't turn down too many songs, if you ain't got s**t else to do… (laughs). It's like free money! (laughs) And that Paris Hilton joint was a favor for Scott Storch. You got to do favors, especially for the producers.
AllHipHop.com: We also felt it was important to acknowledge Black History Month, and first off how do you feel that now that Obama has been officially inaugurated?
Jadakiss: We been doing a lot of partying, and everyone's celebrating Obama being in office, but they making him into a rock star quick. The big topics in the media are the fashion designers that his wife and kids had on. Really, we need to put all that s**t to the side and know that Bush left us with a whole bunch of s**t to clean up. There's definitely new hope though, this election reached the youth and minorities more than any other in history. We all got to make a conscious effort to live right.
AllHipHop.com: Do you have any special performances or events coming up to celebrate Black History month?
Jadakiss: I just do whatever they call me for, I ain't going to do nothing extra crazy, but I'm just going to live righteous for the whole month of February (laughs) I might let my beard grow or something. I'm all for it though, I'm with Black History month even when it ain't February
AllHipHop.com: Who are your top five conscious emcees?
Jadakiss: I fuck with M-1, Mos Def, Talib,… can Kanye be in there?
AllHipHop.com: Sure, if you consider him a conscious artist…
Jadakiss: Aight then, put Chuck D in there and Brother J, that's it man. Nah, we might have to make it six and put KRS in there too.
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props man