Rocko Da Don

Words from Jermaine Dupri So So Def
From... "Umma Do Me" ROCKO DA DON video shoot.

JD explains why he signed Rocko Da Don to his label So So Def. Ask him why? He replies being an CEO/record label owner that we are lookin for artists who have already made a NAME for THEMSELVES." Someone who is "Hurtin the Streets."

Therefore fellas/ladies the streets have to "co-sign you!" They want the Artists who can put in that work!! NO NAME = NO GAME! Although you just "might" be hotter "lyrically" ...but now does that mean anything?? Make sure your city KNOWS YOU!

Now a days it takes more than just having a Hot Single to in able to survive. Like Quincy Jones had mentioned [i]"CDs will eventually turn into a Novelty in which fans will want to purchase a DVD over a CD." [/i]Fans are NOW buying into the artist, because they want to capture the story behind the artist with a visual perception of who that artist is.

An artist must make a name for himself, somehow, or someway in order to just be recgonized to get a record deal in 2008.

Check the link below...
YOUTUBE >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE4WwDWTELw

MYSPACE >>>> http://www.myspace.com/rockodadon

YOUNG SHANK - REP MY HOOD

YOUNG SHANK just may be the next artist to put 216 on the map! He's been killing the scene the past year and he KEEPS a single in rotation! So when your in the club and that song drops and floor gets packed, don't act like you don't know... THE NAMES YOUNG SHANK! haha This artist is bigger than singles and club hits tho, Shank is lyrically gifted and lives a life most only see in movies. Check out the interview he gave exclusively to 2one6blogspot.

What was it like working with Gucci?

IT WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME WORKING WIT A MAJOR ARTIST, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE I HELD MY OWN ON THE TRACK...LOL..BUT YEA HE A REAL NIGGA AND REAL RECOGNIZE REAL SO WE CLICKED RIGHT OFF JUMP, HE INVITED ME TO THE "A" TO APPEAR IN HIS VIDEO "STREET NIGGA" AFTER WE DID THE TRACK AND OF COURSE WE DID THE TRACK UP HERE IN CLEVELAND IN PHATTY'S STUDIO. BUT IN ALL IT WAS REAL FOR ME THO YOU KNO? SHOUT OUT TO THE SO ICEY BOYS AND MY NIGGA WAKKA FLAKA FLAME!! WHATS TRAPNIN BABY!.....LOL...BUT YEA THEM NIGGAS LOVE THAT TRAP NIGGA SONG WE DID TOGETHER..THEY FUCK WIT ME TOUGH!!


What single has been most successful for you?

OH THATS A EASY ONE "REP MY HOOD" IT WAS ALOT OF CONFUSION WHEN I FIRST DROPPED IT THO, NIGGAS THOUGHT IT WAS CHIP THA RIPPER SONG CAUSE I LET HIM COME OFF FIRST, BUT I JUS DID THE REMIX WIT COREY BAPES, POOH GUTTA, AND YOUNG RAY..THAT SHIT GOIN HARD ALREADY...OH AND YALL THE FIRST TO KNO WE GON SHOOT THE VIDEO TO THAT SHIT! I GOT TO!!...IT GO STUPID



What do you think about the Ohio Hip Hop scene?

FIRST OFF SHOUT OUT TO MY HOME BOY CASA HE ONE OF THE CLEVELAND RAPPERS THAT I FUCK WIT TOUGH BECAUSE HE BE ON SOME LYRICAL SHIT.
I THINK ITS GONE BE BIG IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, I LIKE WHAT NIGGAS DOIN WIT THAT CAPPIN SHIT BUT I DONT REALLY LISTEN TO BUT I RESPECT IT! SHIT IF A NIGGA CAN COME OUT WIT SOME LEAN WIT IT ROCK WIT IT SNAP YO FINGERS TYPE SHIT AND NIGGAS WAS FUCKIN WIT THAT UP HERE WHY NOT FUCK WIT SOME SHIT THAT MIGHT START A TREND AND ITS FROM YO OWN CITY! BUT ME I TALK THAT TRAP SHIT!! AND THAT REAL TALK EVERYBODY CAN RELATE TO.
TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP TRAP!! THATS ALL I KNO MY NIGGA!....LOL I AINT HAPPY I'M TRAPPY HOE!...LOL



Do you think it's true that you have to leave the state to get any respect here?

UMM NOT REALLY TRUE BUT YOU DO GOTTA EXPAND CAUSE ITS HARD TO GAIN RESPECT HERE IN CLEVELAND. NIGGAS RESPECT ME BECAUSE THEY KNO ME AND THEY KNO THAT IT AINT JUS RAP WIT ME, I BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT, I AINT GONE LIE, I AINT NO GANGSTA BABY I GET PAPER HOMIE. I BEEN GETTIN MONEY BEFORE RAP, I LIVE THIS SHIT, I REALLY GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS, I REALLY LOST MY MOTHER TO A HOMICIDE WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I NEVA MET MY REAL FATHER UNTIL LAST YEAR, I REALLY BEEN IN AND OUTTA JAIL HOMIE...SO I AINT GOTTA GO NOWHERE THEY GONE FEEL ME CUZ I'M REAL!


What's more important, internet promo or street promo? Thoughts?

I THINK INTERNET PROMO BECAUSE EVERYBODY FUCKIN WIT THE INTERNET NOW AND DAYS, EVEN THOUGH MOST NIGGAS IN THE STREETS DONT FUCK WIT THE INTERNET CUZ THE BARELY KNO HOW TO WORK THE SHIT...LOL..BUT SOMEBODY IN THEY DAM HOUSE DO...LOL


What are some other ventures you're pursuing or that you would like to pursue outside of music?

I WANNA GO TO COLLEGE AND LEARN HOW TO MESS WIT THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS..


What music do you listen to that might surprise some people?

I LISTEN TO ALOT OF R&B MUSIC, THAT OLD SLOW MUSIC THO LIKE THAT AL GREEN, MARVIN GAYE, KEITH SWEAT, AND CHRIS BENDER TYPE SHIT.



Any advice or words of wisdom?

YEA BE YOSELF AND DONT LET THIS MUSIC SHIT CHANGE YOU, NIGGAS RESPECT THE REAL! AND QUIT HATIN ON NIGGAS FROM YO OWN CITY, IF THEY HOT LET EM KNO THEY HOTT BUT IF THEY WACK TELLIM THEY NEED TO WORK A LIL HARDER..I LUV MY CITY AND MY PROJECTS, GARDEN VALLEY PROJECTS STAND UP BITCH..I DO THIS SHIT FOR THE HOOD AND EVERY PROJECTS IN CLEVELAND, I WANT EVERY PROJECT IN CLEVELAND TO STAND UP!!! BE REAL NIGGAS.


Any new projects we can look forward to?

YEA MY MIXTAPE DROPPIN ON FEBUARY 7TH ITS CALLED "TRAP ORIENTATION" HOSTED BY DJ E-V....I'M HOSTING A MIXTAPE WIT PRETTY BOY FLOYD CALLED "I AINT HAPPY I'M TRAPPY" THEN I'M HOSTING ANOTHER MIXTAPE WIT DJ UNCUTT IN MID FEBUARY CALLED TRAP HISTORY MONTH..

OH YEA AND THIS AINT GOT NOTHIN TO DO WIT NOTHIN BUT WHY YOU AINT ASK ME NOTHIN ABOUT THE LADIES? WELL I'MA ASK MYSELF..LOL....WHAT KIND OF FEMALES DO YOU LIKE? I LUV EM ALL WHAT THE HELL!!...LOL...AND ITS A LIL JOINT I'M LOOKIN FOR OUT HERE AND YOU KNO HER 2ONE6.BLOGSPOT....LOL



NOW.. I'll just ask you a couple more and please give me short answers.

Name a good music video (new or old): BAD BOYS BY SHYNE
Name a good club song (new or old): SHAWTY LO THAT L.O
Name a good song that ain't a club song (new or old): I JUS WANNA BE THERE BY AZ
Name a good show on tv: EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
Name a good book: ICEBERG SLIM
Name a good movie: AMERICAN PIE
Who are you voting for: THE BLACK HOMIE...LOL

BOW WOW GETS INTO A FIGHT?

(taken from Allhiphop.com)

UH OH! On Jan 27th, I heard that Wow Bow aka Bow Wow got into a fight with security at the Q Arena in Cleveland. I don’t know what happened! Yes, I do. Well, I heard that his road manager Deon, DJ Jus, Lil D (whoever that is) and Wow Bow’s security were fighting with security during Chris Brown’s set!

And my homey Big Heff told me the whole ordeal went all the way backstage! Where the hell was Omarion? HE’s bad! He could have kicked those mikki fikki’s back to the county! I bet this has something to do with people not respecting Wow Bow…hmmmmmmmm

CHIP DOIN THE G5

It's been rumored that Cleveland artist, Chip the Ripper, left Dreamlife Records to sign with Jive. His appearance in Huey's new "G5" video is further evidence that Chip has found a new home.

This could be Cleveland's summer! Continue supporting our scene and it's only a matter of time!

SLICK WATTS / KASHI KICKS MERGE!!

Here's a bit of news that was brought to my attention... It's crazy when I hear about rappers dropping their own shoes before I hear about them dropping any new music! Regardless, congrats to big homie Slick Watts..

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Wattsy Music Management is pleased to announce a new partnership for Slick Watts with Kashi Kicks out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kashi Kicks will become the Official Shoe of Slick Watts and will be the exclusive shoe for his performances, media appearances, and any photo or video shoots. They will also be the presenting partner of Slick Watts Birthday Bash on November 30th in Columbus, Ohio. Kashi Kicks are the hottest shoe out today in Hip Hop and are worn by R&B artist Ginuwine, football player Joey Porter and Hip Hop legend Flava Flav. “This is a big opportunity and I feel blessed to be in this position.” Watts stated, “It just makes me want to go further and push harder. It is a huge step forward in my music and life and is a great feeling to know Kashi Kicks has faith in my music and is willing to put their name behind the Slick Watts brand.”

Kashi Kicks were started by Pittsburgh jeweler Alan Kashi of Kashi Jewelry. These shoes are covered with bright colors and patterns, prints, glitter and even clocks on a thick-soled shoe ranging in price form $120-$250. They are known as jewelry for your feet! Kashi Kicks are distributed all over the world and can be purchased in stores all over the world in countries such as the United States, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands and Korea. “We here at Kashi Kicks are very excited to work with Slick Watts and Wattsy Music.” said owner AK for the entire Kashi Kicks family. On November 16, they have asked Slick to perform the song he created specifically for the shoe line “Ashy to Kashi” at their annual party in Pittsburgh with Rocky Fontaine a Kashi Kicks artist, Slim from 112 and Hot Rod from G-Unit.

The partnership will also include a Slick Watts Shoe and other opportunities between Slick Watts, Kashi Kick and their affiliates. Kashi Kicks will also be onsite for the Slick Watts’ Birthday Bash at Major Woody’s Night Club in Columbus, Ohio on November 30. The doors will open at 9pm and will include shoe giveaways by Kashi Kicks, performances from various artists and headlined by Slick Watts.

When asked what he thought about the new partnership Slick said, “To come from not being able to afford expensive shoes for the longest time to having my own official show is really special to me. It just goes to show the young people in the Ohio Valley and everywhere that anything is possible with hard work. This is just the beginning for me as well as the other artists in the BittaSweet Records family. The sky’s the limit!”

The Slick Watts Birthday Bash and Live Performance will be Friday, November 30 in Columbus at Major Woody’s Night Club. Tickets start at $10 and a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $25. To order VIP tickets or for more information visit www.wattsymusic.com. To find our more information on Kashi Kicks or to order a pair of their shoes today visit www.kashikicks.com.

GET IT AND GO!!

Introducing... CJ. He got a single on 1079, "Party Pack" with Chip the Ripper, and a hot joint in the streets called "Get it and Go." I'm predicting we'll be hearing alot more from CJ in the near future. Rumor has it, CJ was offered a record deal by Nelly in 03 on swag ALONE! Apparently at this time, CJ wasn't even rapping. Check him out Skent Dukes "I Got Swagga" single and video. Here's a link to the myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/cjplatinum1

CLEVELAND ARTIST, K.I.D. CUDI, SIGNED TO DJ A TRAK'S (KANYE WEST DJ) FOOLS GOLD RECORDS!

At the age of 15, Kid Cudi recorded his first song on a karaoke machine in his friend’s basement. It was a freestyle over the beat to Wu-Tang Clan’s “It's Yourz,” an undeniable hip-hop classic. From recording on a karaoke machine in his friend’s basement in Cleveland to packing venues all over the country with his Fools Gold cohorts, Kid Sister, A-Trak, and the Cool Kids, Cudi is clearly living out his dream, even though his journey to underground stardom hasn’t been an easy one.

It’s difficult to compare Cudi to any of today’s marginally successful artists, mainly because he’s made his music with the intention of developing his own sound. Kid Cudi hasn’t even released an album yet, but already holds a spot on my most anticipated albums of 2008, largely because of a track called “Day N Night,” a spaced out, R&B influenced tale of loneliness and isolation, something not often heard in the world of hip-hop anymore. After the song was released last spring, Kid Cudi began to receive acclaim from various bloggers and fans who refreshed his Myspace page numerous times, just to hear that song again. CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW HERE:

http://www.hhnlive.com/features/more/393

LIL WAYNE BITING OHIO RAPPER???

I saw this circulating myspace... apparently this rapper feels strongly that Lil Wayne straight jacked his shit! In his own words:

"i was listenin to z1079 couple days ago and i heard some dj mixing lil wayne. after poppin bottles someone scratched in a half ass verse of some other joint i aint heard, but wayne bit one of the first tracks i ever made. i said "im the shit u a fuckin poop stain." i made that up years ago. wayne said im the shh u a poop stain. last line of that verse. it might be coincidence, but i dono. he bit gillie the kid last year. i put that line up on face book and he musta heard it, saw it or some shit. maybe he got a copy of the track. weezy cant spit punches like me doe."

THIS MAY BE TROUBLE FOR THE GREATEST RAPPER ALIVE!!

MAJOR LABELS LOOKING IN OHIO FOR TALENT

Shout out to the homie Sickamore, world reknown DJ and A&R at Atlantic Records, who fell through Cleveland the past few days. I saw him at Cyrus and asked him what he was doing in town and he told me he was "networking." That means: if YOU were in the spot last night, you could've chopped it up with someone with "signing" power at Atlantic Records! You're not gonna make it out the basement if you never leave it, nameen? It's all about being in the right place at the right time.. get on ya grind yungins.

Rappers, singers, and producers looking to get on, make sure you google: DJ SICKAMORE, and contact him with your material. Check out his artist, NEAKO... Sick passed me a mixtape and dude can spit AND produce. You gotta be multi-superhuman-talented to make it nowadays! Step ur skills up SUCKAAAAAAAAAS!!!!!!!

POOH GUTTA feat. A ROD - ROYALTY DISS

DAMN, it seems Dreamlife's Royalty Camp (Al Fat, Pooh Gutta, RJ, Tae) has fallen out over a dispute at The View Nite Club two weeks ago. This freestyle featuring Pooh Gutta and A Rod surfaced on the net:

http://www.myspace.com/poohgutta2

I remember seeing them perform at the 1079 Birthday Bash a couple years back, THEY SHUT SHIT DOWN!! One of the best live rap shows I've ever seen (and I SEEN good performers, Common, Jay, 50, you name it..). I give them alot of credit, and I fuck with they shit. I hope they can work out the differences and get back to making music. They have alot of potential and it seems like egos and a little regional fame may be the downfall of something that could be much bigger. As always, if you know something regarding this situation and wanna weigh in, holla at us 2one6blog@gmail.com