Yes We Did!!!!!

Old School Video of the Day RETURNS!!!

Its been a minute due to the Holiday Season, but we are about to get back into the swing of things starting off with this Classic….Cell Theropy by Goodie Mob

Exclusive Interview with R.E.A.S.O.N. Formally of Relay/Thug Line

Thank you so much for this oppurtunity, it is greatly appreciated.

SaveOurHipHop:  To get right into it, how did Relay come to be?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  Wow…that’s a long story lol. But, basicly the group started as a dance group with me, my sister, and a few friends from the neighborhood back when we were 5 years old. We performed everywhere in and around Atlanta, until we met 2 producers Carl & Ken who worked at Daddy’s House Studios and they encouraged us to go outside of just dancing and to expose other talents we may have had. That’s how we got into rapping. I wrote my first rap at the age of 9, and we formed a group called “Perfect Image” or P.I.P (Perfect Image Posse …lol) with my sis Dasha aka “Snappy”, myself, and another girl named Mesha aka “Chyna Doll”. After a few years, we added another group member Vaneesa aka “Slick V” from around the way and changed our names to Relay. Ofcourse we felt since we were older we had grew out of the old name “Perfect Image”. I met Disco Rick through a radio rap contest and he introduced us to Krayzie at one of his shows in Atlanta. We rapped for him, he loved us and then Krayzie flew us down to Miami. We recorded the song and worked with him from there…

SaveOurHipHop:  Did you all get to record an album, because i believe your group was one of the first ones set to release an album on Thug Line.
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  Unfortunately, although we constantly pushed to work on an album, we didn’t get an opportunity to do so with Thugline. We recorded a few songs here and there while on tour, but nothing solid.

SaveOurHipHop:  What was your time like on the label?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  Well, I can’t exactly say we were “signed” to Thugline Records. At the time from what I understood Krayzie was still working on getting everything set up, so we never signed any paperwork or anything like that. But one thing I can say is that Krayzie did take us under his wing, always saying we were apart of Thugline, and helped show us a lot about life on tour, the industry, etc.

SaveOurHipHop:  When was the decision made to go your own ways?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  Well, shortly after the tour ended we were told by the road manager at the time (Steve Lobel) that we were going home and they’d be in touch. We talked to Krayzie and he told us that we were taking a “short break”, so we took the next flight back to Atlanta. We tried calling them after that, but they didn’t answer, and finally we tried one last time, but the number had been changed. We never heard from them again.
As far as Relay was concerned, Slick V got into some legal issues and got locked up for a hot minute. Chyna Doll on the other hand really crossed me and my family and was kicked out of the group. I won’t go into it in detail…but one thing I can say about this industry is that you can never be naïve on getting your money. PLEASE ANY UP AND COMING ARTIST, TAKE CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS! Slick V, Krayzie, and myself wrote the lyrics to the song on his album. Unfortunately, we didn’t take care of our paperwork, and I didn’t receive any royalties for completing the song. I was young..probably about 16 at the time…so I wasn’t really that educated on publishing, copyrights, royalties, etc. Our group’s lawyer was Chyna’s mom’s friend… so you do the math. She basicly took credit for writing the song, and I heard through word of mouth on the streets that she bought a new car, was ballin’, and everything else. Meanwhile, I went to work and back to finish school at Open Campus.

SaveOurHipHop:  I heard one of the members ended up going to jail, is that true?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  I heard one of the members ended up going to jail, is that true?Yes, “Slick V” ended up getting into a situation shortly after we got home from off tour, which I won’t discuss because I won’t get into her personal business. She’s out now, we talked a few times some years back so hopefully things are going well with her.

SaveOurHipHop:  Are you still in contact with any of the group members, Thug Line Artist or Krayzie Bone?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  I still communicate to K-Mont from Thugline on myspace from time to time. Like I mentioned before, I talked to Slick V a few years back, but nothing recently. I haven’t spoken to Chyna since 98’. I haven’t been in contact with Krayzie or any of the other Thugline artist since that time.

SaveOurHipHop:  What all have you been up to since that time?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  After the whole Thugline thing, I had to deal with the realization of failure on so many levels. I had to go back to school and face the same people who thought we were blowin’ up. Face my family with no money. I basicly got back on my grind, went to Open Campus or “da camp”, and graduated in 2000. I got a job, I’ve never shyed away from working, and worked very hard and have been working since that time. I never went to college… not really for me. Reality set in..I had to make a living for myself, shelter, food, everything so the music thing took a back seat for a while. I did some things here and there with the music, but nothing concrete. I will admit, I was completely devistated by our group breaking up because music is the only thing I’ve known since I could remember. We had always been together…so it was a hard pill to swallow. Around 05’ I finally got back into the rap thing and got with my sis “Snappy” and we formed a group together called “Duo”. That ended after a year or so, and I decided I was going to do my solo thing. I still believe in the dream me and my sister always had, so I formed my own independent label called Duo Entertainment as a testiment to our dream. It’s an all female run label and we hope to be the first to do it. I spent time educating myself on the ins and outs of the music business and writing. I really have a team of people behind me who support me 100%, and please believe I got my BIDNESS ON POINT, KAY!

SaveOurHipHop:  What is R.E.A.S.O.N. an acronym for?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  LOL, it actually isn’t an acronym. I just put it that way for myspace. It’s actually just REASON.

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SaveOurHipHop:  What can fans expect to hear on your album, and are you signed to anyone?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  Something fresh and new. I try to do everything I can to separate myself from other artists out there both male and female. I write about the real things going on in our everyday lives. I keep it all the way real, focusing on what regular people go through on an everyday basis. The majority of us are not “ballers”. We struggle everyday to make ends meet, to feed our kids, just to live, but we have goals and dreams just like everybody else. I try to express that in every song I make. Its really a movement and I think my fans will enjoy it. My music is very versatile, I don’t stick to just one sound or rhyme scheme. I work with a number of up and coming producers to get their name out there like Super Producer East who worked on songs like “Reason”, Dj B-Eazy who did “Do What U Do” and my title track for my upcoming album “Art of Music”, and C-Gizzle who did “Be Me” to name a few. I want to uplift and bring together our community by writing heartfelt songs, and writing lyrics that our help others to think outside of the box. 
Right now I’m pushing my demo, setting up performances for 1st quarter (look out for me in the streets ya’ll!), working on my upcoming mixtape “Comin’ From the Back” and finishing up the album called “The Art of Music”. The Art of Music is that we can express ourselves however we want. The Art of Music is that we can be heard on a larger scale and use that power to reach out to others and put knowledge and positive things into their ears. It’s truly an Art and I’m proud to be apart of this new movement. 
I’m also working on putting together my own independent label called Duo Entertainment. I’m not signed to anyone as of yet, trying to do the independent thing. I have a group of friends, family, and just people in general who believe in me and want to see me make it. I’m proud of my team. Shout out to DUO ENTERTAINMENT! WE ALL LADY!

SaveOurHipHop:  When can we expect it?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  I’m working on having my mixtape done by summer of 09. Hopefully the album should follow towards 3rd quarter. I’m performing all over the city of Atlanta and surrounding areas, promoting, and getting my stuff out there.

SaveOurHipHop:  Any last words for the fans?
R.E.A.S.O.N.:  I really appreciate all of the support I’ve had throughout my career. I’m talkin’ about people that have believed in me since day 1 and have never stopped believing in my talents. When peope believe in you, you feel like you can accomplish anything. Trust in God with all of your heart and always keep him first. Trust in your talents and never stop believing in yourself. Most importently, use that talent for the greater good. If you have a voice, don’t waste it. Don’t let people who don’t want to see you make it get the best of you, and KEEP WORKING! The music industry is tough, so keep your name out there. Perform, stay in the studio, write, focus on the task at hand. What you put into it is what you will get out of it, so always put your heart and soul into whatever you believe in, and let God do the rest.

Thank you once again, and continued success?
Please feel free to visit R.E.A.S.O.N. at her myspace: www.myspace.com/duoentertainment

Exclusive II Tru Interview!!

SaveOurHipHop:  Thank you so much for this opportunity, I’ll jump right into it.  How did II Tru come together, and how did you hook up with Mo Thugs? 
Brina: Tru started with me and Jhaz being solo artist, but she was Arch artist and I was buying beats for my solo project. When I purchased tracks at Arch studio I met Jhaz, which was one of the coldest female rappers I ever heard from the voice to the flows. We vibed well every time I came to the studio, and then Jhaz and Arch asked me to be down with them. We came up with the name that we go bye today II Tru.
Jhaz:  Brina and I were solo artist, but, I had a fear of being on stage by myself… I guess it was feasible for the both of us to become partners.
Brina:  Arch was doing tracks on Bone which was Bone Enterprise, and Jhaz knew them boys. After Bone got on, they came back and got all the artist that was doing shows with them or down with them, when they came back for Jhaz and Arch I was already part of II Tru. Everybody in mo Thug was down for the same vibe, it was fun putting them projects together.
Jhaz:  We (Bone, Brina, Me, ect.) vowed to each other that whoever got on first would come back for the rest of us. 

 

SaveOurHipHop:  What was the atmosphere like when Mo Thugs really came out for the first time?

Jhaz:  When we came out for the first time, I would say we all were star struck! It felt good to finally have actualized your dreams! There were a lot of things everyone probably should have done differently, but everyone was new to the game on that type of scale. 

 

 

 

SaveOurHipHop:  You all were definitely one the top elite from the label, with so many artist, how was the feeling knowing that you’re group were able to put out an full length album, and how come more Mo Thugs artist didn’t come out at the time?

Brina:  II Tru was a self made group that knew what it took to put albums, videos, shows, and interviews together sweetly. We were naturals that was too advanced to not come with flows for days. We already knew our direction, and it was easy as pie for us. I can’t speak for other groups. Arch was the coldest on tracks with out a doubt and Jhaz and me naturally flowed hits without much thought. We enjoyed living and breathing the game because we was doing it regionally independent, before joining Mo Thug.

Jhaz:  Before signing with MOTHUG, we had other opportunities. We felt more comfortable signing with someone we knew. Our album was finished with the exception of some fine tuning, and we were the most prepared at the time. It was a blessing to be able to come out on a national level and I thank Bone for that chance. It was very unfortunate that the company was new and did not have the required business ethic to successfully launch the label. If the label would have survived, I’m sure all of the artists would have been released. 

SaveOurHipHop:  When was the decision made to leave the label?
Jhaz:  Once it became clear that neither party was getting what they needed out of the relationship… we went our separate ways. I still speak to all of the artist from the first mothug album. I rarely speak to or see any of Bone in comparison to how we used to kick it.
Brina:  Every artist or label at some point and time may change up paths, but it was business, and a project. Each individual have to do what’s best for them. That’s why you see more than one Mo Thug Family, it was fun though. The music game goes on!

SaveOurHipHop:  New Breed was a great album, is there any material from that time that didn’t make the album out floating around anywhere.
Brina:  II Tru been flowing for years we cannot even keep up with how much music we got by counting, because it was and still is and always will be a hobby, ya mean.
Jhaz:  The songs that didn’t make the album are buried away… probably on tape cassette! I don’t think any the album was pirated.

SaveOurHipHop:  What has II Tru been up to since leaving Mo Thug?
Jhaz:  Well we definitely love music. I believe that will forever be apart of our lives. I do some work for hire projects as well as Arch. Brina basically is concentrating on finishing this II Tru project before she does anything else.

SaveOurHipHop:  When can the fans expect to hear new music from the group?
Brina:  Forever II Tru and tru to the game. You will be catching our new music drops on me Jhaz and arch site, keep checking our pages. Arch always making tracks , the real music any artist would love to flow on, Jhaz flow solo’s and duo’s so raw it will make any gender want to know how she do that there, and me personally will always be knockin ya head off with that perspective you would want to give some play back!
Jhaz:  Once we are finish recording we will be posting songs on all of our sites…there will also be updates on where to purchase our music…so check our sites often.

SaveOurHipHop:  They say imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and the Original Mo Thugs definitely had an impact on hip hop, still even today (Soulja Boy Tell Em), in doing some research on II Tru I ran across other groups of similar or exact names. Do you take that as a compliment?
Jhaz:  When people imitate it’s cool I guess. Sometimes it’s hard when you hear someone take something that is yours and don’t give you any credit. But like I said we do this music for the love and the money… but for the love first! It’s alright. Talented people make things that stand out. I think we stand out.
Brina:  We take any be likes as a compliment, but it can never deter us from who we be.  II Truze coming to get ya fools! We nothing but he best females! It’s cool, that they admire our style, but it is only one all original II Tru.

SaveOurHipHop:  Any last words for your fans?
Jhaz:  Thanks to all the fans who supported us and didn’t forget. We hope to give you more music that’s II Tru in ’09′. Please be patient…good things come to those who wait.

 

Keep checking for updates for II Tru by going to the following sites

www.myspace.com/archieblaineiitru   

www.myspace.com/jhaziitru   

www.myspace.com/brinaiitru   

God bless and continues Success.
Terry Hicks
t_hicks5@hotmail.com
http://saveourhiphop. wordpress. com

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much again for this opportunity.

SaveOurHipHop:  When was decided that you all wanted to leave the label, and is there still any communication with the members of Bone or any one at Mo Thugs at the time?