Hip Hop Lives Online: We Make the World Go Round

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A Journey though the underground of Los Angeles allowed me to find hope that Hip Hop is still alive and well. Check out the words from an up and coming crew that go by the name of Brothaz Bent…

Element: So who are the consisting members of the group Brothaz Bent?

Woozy: Woozy Medwix, Donchalant,

Element: With A fresh unique sound and a widespread appeal I have to ask you. Where did the root of your influences come from?

Woozy: Everything raging from let’s see, E-40 to ODB, Wu-Tang, Boot Camp Clik, Heiroglyphics, living Legends, Company Flow, MF Doom, Old School Busta Rhymes shit, Gershwun and DLX. We also get our influences from movies. Movies like Scanners, Video Drone, Freddy Crougher movies, Vampire movies, yeah shit like that man.

Element: How did you guys come up with the Brothaz Bent name?

Woozy: Chilling in the lab with the homie Don, we just finished the first song we ever did together and he said, “what should we call it”? And I was like sh*t, we’re bent right now so I mean we’re Brothaz Bent. I mean you got Brothers Grim who did fairytales, we’re Brothaz Bent we do street tales

Element: What projects have you done, or are currently working on?

Woozy: We did the Brothaz Bent album Up in The Desert out on Blunt Boogie records. Then we have Cadillac Ron Surrenge Syndicate album coming out. We have the Art Juliad LP coming out. I’m working on two Woozy solos right now and the Mellowmosity album which is Mr. Mellow and the homie Hyde Hise aka Animosity. That’s a Mr. Mellow and Animosity collaboration album called Mellomosity. Those are the only projects we got coming out right now.

Element: With all of the bubblegum rap and all of the repetitive content in Hip Hop Nowadays exactly what is your interpretation of the contemporary state of Hip Hop?

Woozy: Contemporary Hip Hop right now has no sense of self. That’s what it is right now. Not saying I’m hating on the game, but a little bit yeah maybe I am but there’s no sense of self right now man. Only with dudes that act real. Like I said, Custom Made, my crew Blunt Boogie, my boys like Concept. Like dudes who do it for the sense of the art in its self. You know what I’m saying. I like Roc Marciano. I think right now Roc Marciano, that ni**a is gonna be the next hot sh*t in the game and I can’t wait because it’s about time for somebody to hear some raw s##t.

Element: So tell give me the name of one artist that should stop rapping. Somebody that makes you want to hurl at the sound of their voice.

Woozy: Yeah Lil Weezy. (Laughs) Supposedly he’s so hot right now. And this whole gutter rap thing, rapping to no beats, freestyling like street gutter rap or whatever. Homie, nah dude. You know what I’m saying? Nah that ain’t fresh to me. That ain’t clever.

Element: He was raw back in the day right?

Woozy: I would rather listen to Hot Boyz s**t. I would rather listen to “Bling Bling.” Like even that song. That’s commercial shit but at least that commercial shit had some kind of flavor back in like 98’ 99. I know a lot of people say this but after Pac and Big died man it’s true, the game has never been the same.

Element: Any advice for the new comers that want to get on in the game?

Woozy: To all the new comers man just stick to the rawness. Stick to what you love. If people hate on it, shit even if somebody like me was hating on it still be like I don’t care. If you don’t like it I don’t give a f**k. I do it for me. You know that’s what it’s all about

Element There you have it. A Los Angeles Hip Hop crew staying true to the Hip Hop roots. Creativity and rawness, respect the real.

A Journey though the underground of Los Angeles allowed me to find hope that Hip Hop is still alive and well. Check out the words from an up and coming crew that go by the name of Brothaz Bent…

Element: So who are the consisting members of the group Brothaz Bent?

Woozy: Woozy Medwix, Donchalant,

Element: With A fresh unique sound and a widespread appeal I have to ask you. Where did the root of your influences come from?

Woozy: Everything raging from let’s see, E-40 to ODB, Wu-Tang, Boot Camp Clik, Heiroglyphics, living Legends, Company Flow, MF Doom, Old School Busta Rhymes shit, Gershwun and DLX. We also get our influences from movies. Movies like Scanners, Video Drone, Freddy Crougher movies, Vampire movies, yeah shit like that man.

Element: How did you guys come up with the Brothaz Bent name?

Woozy: Chilling in the lab with the homie Don, we just finished the first song we ever did together and he said, “what should we call it”? And I was like sh*t, we’re bent right now so I mean we’re Brothaz Bent. I mean you got Brothers Grim who did fairytales, we’re Brothaz Bent we do street tales

Element: What projects have you done, or are currently working on?

Woozy: We did the Brothaz Bent album Up in The Desert out on Blunt Boogie records. Then we have Cadillac Ron Surrenge Syndicate album coming out. We have the Art Juliad LP coming out. I’m working on two Woozy solos right now and the Mellowmosity album which is Mr. Mellow and the homie Hyde Hise aka Animosity. That’s a Mr. Mellow and Animosity collaboration album called Mellomosity. Those are the only projects we got coming out right now.

Element: With all of the bubblegum rap and all of the repetitive content in Hip Hop Nowadays exactly what is your interpretation of the contemporary state of Hip Hop?

Woozy: Contemporary Hip Hop right now has no sense of self. That’s what it is right now. Not saying I’m hating on the game, but a little bit yeah maybe I am but there’s no sense of self right now man. Only with dudes that act real. Like I said, Custom Made, my crew Blunt Boogie, my boys like Concept. Like dudes who do it for the sense of the art in its self. You know what I’m saying. I like Roc Marciano. I think right now Roc Marciano, that ni**a is gonna be the next hot sh*t in the game and I can’t wait because it’s about time for somebody to hear some raw s##t.

Element: So tell give me the name of one artist that should stop rapping. Somebody that makes you want to hurl at the sound of their voice.

Woozy: Yeah Lil Weezy. (Laughs) Supposedly he’s so hot right now. And this whole gutter rap thing, rapping to no beats, freestyling like street gutter rap or whatever. Homie, nah dude. You know what I’m saying? Nah that ain’t fresh to me. That ain’t clever.

Element: He was raw back in the day right?

Woozy: I would rather listen to Hot Boyz s**t. I would rather listen to “Bling Bling.” Like even that song. That’s commercial shit but at least that commercial shit had some kind of flavor back in like 98’ 99. I know a lot of people say this but after Pac and Big died man it’s true, the game has never been the same.

Element: Any advice for the new comers that want to get on in the game?

Woozy: To all the new comers man just stick to the rawness. Stick to what you love. If people hate on it, shit even if somebody like me was hating on it still be like I don’t care. If you don’t like it I don’t give a f**k. I do it for me. You know that’s what it’s all about

Element There you have it. A Los Angeles Hip Hop crew staying true to the Hip Hop roots. Creativity and rawness, respect the real.

Dear Mr Ei8ht

I am a 32 year old, married Caucasian woman. My husband is an aspiring hip hop artist, he is ok, but I don’t think this is his future. I try to stay as supportive as possible but I wish he would just grow up already!! I have helped to fund his music career and I even play the role of his manager at times

But here is my problem, he is a MySpace junkie. He has a music page and on the page it states that he is single. There are all kinds of women who look like hookers, leaving comments on his page. I know that he is flirting with them at the least, if not more. He says that all of the attention that he receives from women is just a part of the business. I don’t know what to believe. He is a Caucasian male, but most of the woman on his page are Black. I am starting to think that being with a Black woman is what he would rather. I read one of your articles before and I know you take these things as a joke but I am dead serious Ei8ht I NEED HELP!! Do you think he is sleeping with these women or what?

Sincerely Yours,

Lady E

Dear Lady E,

I am so sorry that you take my advice column as a joke. Every piece of advice that I give is as serious as a heart attack caused by the dollar menu. It maybe harsh advice but that would explain the title of the column you joke of a woman you. Now that I have set the record straight I will attend to the matter at hand.

You are a 32-year old white woman married to a white rapper, (and you take my column for a joke) woman you have issues. Now you claim to support your husband in his music career and I applaud your efforts for that. It is important to support your spouse while they are in pursuit of their dreams. This reminds me of a sweet young tender woman I dated a few years back. She use to rub my back and bring me a cold cup of ice tea every time I had writers block, and whenever I needed to let out my frustrations she would bring me my lil Wayne poster so I could spit on it. It was then, and only then, that I realized that this was the only woman for me. But that’s neither here nor there.

Your Husband (the MySpace rapper) has an itch that can only be scratched by the black woman, the queen of the earth. Yes your man has probably been humping around with mother Africa for sometime now. He probably gets the urge from his ancestors. The same ancestors who would impregnate black slaves, deny their own child once he is born, and then send little Tyrone into the field to pick cotton. So to answer your Question, yes I do believe he would rather be with a black woman. He wants a woman who as an a** the size of the new intrepid and who can teach him all the hot new n***a dances. I am sorry but you probably can’t do the soulja boy quite like she can.

If you are in need of some harsh advice send your letters addressed to Mr Ei8ht to Ei8ht@hiphoplivesonline.com

Dear Mr Ei8ht

I am a 32 year old, married Caucasian woman. My husband is an aspiring hip hop artist, he is ok, but I don’t think this is his future. I try to stay as supportive as possible but I wish he would just grow up already!! I have helped to fund his music career and I even play the role of his manager at times

But here is my problem, he is a MySpace junkie. He has a music page and on the page it states that he is single. There are all kinds of women who look like hookers, leaving comments on his page. I know that he is flirting with them at the least, if not more. He says that all of the attention that he receives from women is just a part of the business. I don’t know what to believe. He is a Caucasian male, but most of the woman on his page are Black. I am starting to think that being with a Black woman is what he would rather. I read one of your articles before and I know you take these things as a joke but I am dead serious Ei8ht I NEED HELP!! Do you think he is sleeping with these women or what?

Sincerely Yours,

Lady E

Dear Lady E,

I am so sorry that you take my advice column as a joke. Every piece of advice that I give is as serious as a heart attack caused by the dollar menu. It maybe harsh advice but that would explain the title of the column you joke of a woman you. Now that I have set the record straight I will attend to the matter at hand.

You are a 32-year old white woman married to a white rapper, (and you take my column for a joke) woman you have issues. Now you claim to support your husband in his music career and I applaud your efforts for that. It is important to support your spouse while they are in pursuit of their dreams. This reminds me of a sweet young tender woman I dated a few years back. She use to rub my back and bring me a cold cup of ice tea every time I had writers block, and whenever I needed to let out my frustrations she would bring me my lil Wayne poster so I could spit on it. It was then, and only then, that I realized that this was the only woman for me. But that’s neither here nor there.

Your Husband (the MySpace rapper) has an itch that can only be scratched by the black woman, the queen of the earth. Yes your man has probably been humping around with mother Africa for sometime now. He probably gets the urge from his ancestors. The same ancestors who would impregnate black slaves, deny their own child once he is born, and then send little Tyrone into the field to pick cotton. So to answer your Question, yes I do believe he would rather be with a black woman. He wants a woman who as an a** the size of the new intrepid and who can teach him all the hot new n***a dances. I am sorry but you probably can’t do the soulja boy quite like she can.

If you are in need of some harsh advice send your letters addressed to Mr Ei8ht to Ei8ht@hiphoplivesonline.com

Â

Sean Bell Case Update  

  

Written by Princess Jones

  

For those of you not keeping up, Sean Bell was a twenty three year old man shot and killed by NY police during his bachelor party at a local strip club. Shot at fifty times by three different NY officers, Bell was unarmed. For over a year the New York community, led by prominent black leaders like Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton, has been protesting and calling for the conviction of the officers involved in the shooting. This past February, the trial of Det. Michael Oliver, Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper for first- and second-degree manslaughter, as well as assault finally began.

 

  Yesterday, the grand jury testimony of Oliver was read into the record, describing the moments that led up the Sean Bell’s death. Oliver is believed to have fired 31 shots at the scene, including the fatal shot. In March 2007, he testified to the grand jury that he thought that his life was in danger. His testimony also admitted that he emptied his 9-mm handgun, reloaded and emptied it again. He told the skeptical grand jurors that he “made a quick reassessment” while reloading and thought that he was still being attacked because he heard continuous gunfire. The general opinion is that Oliver’s previous testimony is damning to the defense because it was so unbelievable and differs wildly from other witnesses’ accounts, as well as the other defendants.

 

Also testifying yesterday was the medical examiner, Dr Micheal Greenberg. He indicated that four bullets entered Bell’s body during the shooting. One pierced the right side of his neck, tearing through his vocal cords and making it impossible to call for help. Another bullet went into his right shoulder and lodged in his chest. The third one entered the back of Bell’s torso and ripped through his liver, diaphragm and a lung before coming to a rest in his spine. Greenburg describes that bullet as “Fatal in and out of itself”. The fourth bullet shattered a bone in Bell’s right arm. He also stated that Bell’s blood alcohol content was .16 at his time of death, more than twice the legal limit. The testimony was so detailed that Bell’s parents abruptly left the courtroom

 

And today, one of the young men partying with Bell that night took the stand. The witness, twenty-eight year old Jean Nelson, testified that the undercover officer, Gescard Isnova, approached Bell’s car on the drivers’ side with his gun drawn. Nelson says that Isnova was saying “Yo, I want to holler at you.” Bell immediately pulled his car out, forcing Isnova to jump on the hood. It was then that the shooting started. “Sean Bell was intoxicated. He was using the motor vehicle as a deadly weapon,” said Michael Palladino, head of the Detectives Endowment Association in a news conference today. But Nelson also told the courtroom, the gun was already drawn when the undercover officer approached the vehicle and he never heard Isnova (or anyone else) identify themselves as police. Nelson also addressed the theory that one of the Bell’s friends had a gun because of an earlier confrontation. Evidence shows that Bell had words with another man outside of the strip club his bachelor party was being held. Nelson said that he and Bell’s other friends were worried that man, later identified as Fabio Coicou, may have had a gun. Still Nelson says that he didn’t hear about any of his friends having a gun or going to get one.

 

 

As the trial goes on and more evidence comes out, HHLO will keep you updated with all the info.

 So keep checking back with us.

Â

Sean Bell Case Update  

Still Relevant? (60 Second Assassin)

Written by Pete The Meat

Bedstuy, Brooklyn’s 60 Second Assassin should be no stranger to longtime Wu-Tang fans. One fifth of the Sunz of Man, 60 Sec has been around for a minute, mostly gaining fame from his collaborations with Ol’ Dirty Bastard in the early ‘90’s. The two often joked about being brothers, though there is no real proof of this rumor. Still, 60’s unique, gruff voice and singing-rap style is a kin to the late ODB who first gave 60 Sec his shine in the early ‘90’s. In 1995, 60 recorded one of his most famous cuts with Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “Dirty N Stinkin’”, which was only released as a promo track for Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version and “Protect Ya Neck II The Zoo” which made it on the album. The track also featured other Sunz of Man members Killah Priest and Prodigal Sunn. 60 Second Assassin also made one of his most historic appearances in 1995 on the legendary track “Glaciers of Ice” from Raekwon’s debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… The debut Sunz of Man album The Last Shall Be First, came out in 1998 and debuted at #20 on the Billboard 200. The album featured production by the likes of RZA and Wyclef. Since then, 60 Second has appeared on a number of Wu-related albums and a few Sunz of Man albums.

60 Sec is still around and active in the underground hip-hop scene, though he is a hard guy to track. This is in-part do to his number of other aliases including his real name Fredrick Cuffie Jr., 60 Seconds, 60 Sec Assassin, Black Satin, as well as the alternate spelling - 60 Second Assasson.

While 60 Second Assassin is best noted for his work in the mid-90’s, he has done a bit of work since the turn of the century. In 2000 he made an appearance on the Ghostface album Supreme Clientele on the track “Stay True”. Sunz of Man dropped their second studio album, Savior’s Day, in 2002. In 2005 he appeared on the Prodigal Sunn’s solo album The Return of the Prodigal Sunn on the track “Godz People”. 2006 saw the return of Sunz of Man with The Old Testament, a “greatest hits” album released on indie label Green Streets Entertainment. Spanning the Sunz early and recent career, many other artists appear on the record including Method Man, RZA, Raekwon, and MC Eiht, and one track featuring ODB produced by Wyclef.

But very recently, 60 Second Assassin has been coming out of the woodwork and keeping his name still relevant. He is featured on the 2007 soundtrack to the cartoon series Afro Samurai under the moniker “60 Seconds” with his track “Take Sword Part II” with True Master. The Koch Records album was completely produced by The RZA and also featured appearances by Talib Qweli, Q-Tip, GZA and Big Daddy Kane among others. 2007 also saw 60 Second Assassin featured on the Wu-Fam’s Civalringz album I with the track “Vantentine Day Massacre”. The album was released on indie label TopNotch and also featured appearances by the likes of Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Masta Killa, GZA and the RZA.

Rumors of a solo album have been circulating since 60 Second first stepped on the scene. However in 2006 he announced he had begun working on it and he had already selected a production team. According to Wu-Tang fan site Chambermusik, 60 is currently working on the album with producers Y-Kim the Illfigure (Killa Priest/Royal Fam), G-Clef da Mad Komposa (Soul Kid Klik/Lost Secret), Link 6 (Sunz of Man/Royal Fam), & Select. No telling if and when the album could ever see the light of day, though with two appearances on different Wu-related albums in 2007, 60 is definitely still active and making music. In fact, the elusive rapper was spotted in November of 2007 performing at a birthday party for M-Eighty along with Killah Priest and C-Rayz Walz.

Still Relevant? (60 Second Assassin)

G-Unit Crip Spider Loc sits down with Ei8HT at HHLO.net to speak about his fading relationship with G-Unit, his on going beef with The Game, and why The Game’s mother called his phone.

50 SHOTS “Somebody go get me gun”

Written by Ei8ht

As the highly publicized Sean Bell case continues, it is becoming evident that the three detectives, who are facing charges of negligent homicide, acted carelessly the night of the shooting. A Key Witness in the trial, Fabio Coicou took the stand on Wednesday.

Coicou and Bell, according to police reports were arguing the night of the shooting when someone yelled out “somebody go get my gun”. The 30-year old Coicou, a prosecution witness, claimed that he never heard anyone yell out that statement. The Defense attorney however pointed out that he presented a different story in January 2007 to Queens Prosecutors.   “Do you remember telling prosecutors that you heard someone say, “We’ll get the gat?” defense attorney Anthony Ricco asked. “I don’t recall that. I don’t remember anyone saying that, and I don’t recall that statement.” Coicou replied. 

Police said that they believed Bell, or one of his two friends who were also wounded in the shooting, had a weapon. It was later revealed that the men were unarmed. Two of Bell’s friends told the judge that they thought Coicou had a gun. “I kept my hands in my pockets to demonstrate peace,” Mr. Coicou said.

50 SHOTS “Somebody go get me gun”

Princess from HHLO has a heart to heart with Pretty Tony, author of Playaology and Playa Step Your Game Up, to discuss the books, his inspiration and what makes him qualified to teach the art of the playa.

Princess: So I always like to start at the beginning, Tony. Where are you from?

Pretty Tony: New York, LA, Miami and Vegas. I’m a LA boy for real.

Princess: Alright, tell me a little about your background.

Pretty Tony: Basically just grew up in the street. In my early twenties, I decided I needed a change, moved to Vegas and started my own little body guard service. Started my own entertainment company, Kingston Entertainment. Started pushing these books in the streets.

Princess: Tell me more about the books for someone who hasn’t ever read them.

Pretty Tony: In Playa Step Your Game Up, I was just telling playas the rules and regulations on how you go about being that. And it was more a book about honesty. Once you got beyond the swagger of it, it’s really about being honest and not taking people along for an emotional rollercoaster. So that’s what it’s really about but a lot of times, people hear the name and think it’s about pimping. I’m like nah.

Princess: Well I am looking at the cover right now and that does look like a pimp stick on the front. So you’re right. That was my first thought.

Pretty Tony: (Laughing) I did that by design because there’s an old cliché that goes, ‘never judge a book by its cover.’ Like I said, once you get beyond the swagger, you’ll see in there that it’s asking brothas to keep it real.

Princess: Ok, so what made you want to write these books?

Pretty Tony: What led me to write them?

Princess: Yeah. You woke up one day and something said ‘Hey, write these books.’ What was it?

Pretty Tony: Okay, let’s just say that over my lifetime, I’ve been a very blessed man when it comes to women. I’ve had a charmed life when it comes to women. And so that was my motivating factor. And people around me would always say, “The things you pull off, you need to write a book.”

Princess: So give me an example of that. Give me an example of a situation that your boys look at you and said, “How do you do that?”

Pretty Tony: Without sounding egotistical?

Princess: There’s a difference between egotistical and telling the truth. The truth is the truth.

Pretty Tony: That’s true. The easiest way to put this is that I have a certain rapport with women. They feel comfortable around me and it’s easy for me to conversate with them. I’m very in tune with women because I grew up with a single mother. So a lot of things that the male ego and other brothas don’t have, I have. So one day on a piece of napkin sitting at a buffet with a few of the fellas . . . Matter of fact, no, it started in the back of a strip club one night. And they’re like you should write a book and I’m like no I can’t write no book. And I picked up a napkin that same night and started writing a book. One word led to a sentence. A sentence led to a paragraph. A paragraph led to a chapter. That chapter led to a book.

Princess: Wow. I’ve done a lot of interviews. And I’ve asked people this question many times. “Where did you get the inspiration for your work?” And never has anyone said that it all started in the back of strip club. You are an original, man.

Pretty Tony: (Laughing.) But once you get to know me and get beyond the swagger, you see the honesty of what I am. I am what I am. I’m a product of these streets. I grew up hard and fast with knuckleheads. I just got to a point where I needed to do something with myself and everybody was in the studio and trying to make an album. I ain’t no rapper. And I ain’t trying to start no record label. So I was like, what can I do for myself? And I was like “Whoa. I can put out books for us.” My generation doesn’t have a lot of books for us.

Princess: That’s true. That’s true.

Pretty Tony: As you sit down and get to talk to people, every cat you meet claims he’s a playa. Everybody’s a pimp. And I’m like, what does that mean? What? Cause you sleep with a lot broads, you a playa? I’m like my man, you gotta school up. And like I said, that’s where the book was born. Sleeping with a lot women or having a lot of women does not define you as a playa. And I want everybody out there to know that playas and pimps are two different things.

Princess: Ok so what’s the difference between the two?

Pretty Tony: A playa does not depend on a woman entirely for his source of income. A playa is confident in his swagger. He let’s a woman know that I’m not about to buy you a diamond ring and you get me a $9.99 Wal-Mart necktie. So that’s what a playa is about. A pimp is someone who puts broads on a track to make his money. A playa has his own hustle. He does things for himself but if a broad is willing, her generosity is necessary. I’m not gonna be generous to you and you’re not generous to me. It’s not a one way street. You dig?

Princess: Yeah, I dig. So can a playa be a woman? Or should I say, can a woman be a playa? Just so I have the definition right.

Pretty Tony: Oh hell yes. They are the best kind. That’s another thing brothas don’t like to put out there. That y’all invented the game. Y’all are better at it than we are. Check this. A brotha can go out and sleep with four women in the day and he can go home and he ain’t got no use to himself. A woman can go out and do the same thing. Go home and take a warm bath, ’cause y’all need to soak, and you would never know nothing she’s done. Brothas can’t hide stuff like that. Some of the best playas that I’ve known have been women.

Princess: So who’s your target audience?

Pretty Tony: My target audience is anybody who wants to step their game up. It’s not only about being a playa. That’s what led to Playaology. When I wrote Step Your Game Up, it was too street. One of my white friends was like “Tony, I love you but you need to caucasian-ize this book”. He’s a white guy and I laughed when he said that.

Princess: He just meant that you need to commericailze the book and make it for a broader audience, right?

Pretty Tony: Yeah, I wrote Playaology for the everyday guy. Not just those in the street.

Princess: So these books are kinda like twins separated at birth. They have the same message but they are geared toward different audiences.

Pretty Tony: There are definitely two different favors to them. In Step Your Game Up, I was teaching the swagger and the mindset. In Playaology, I’m basically calling brothas out. I was basically putting the spotlight on us. And you know we brothas are like cockroaches. We don’t like light on us. So I turned the spotlight on us and said “look at us.” I categorize certain kinds of guys that I’ve seen. In Playaology, I’m teaching men that they can be a playa and be a gentleman too. You don’t have to be a gangsta all the time. Pay a woman a compliment. That’s a lost art. Brothas don’t know how to pay a woman a compliment now.

Princess: That’s true. In your dealings with women, where’s the best place to meet women?

Pretty Tony: I can’t tell you that. Anywhere, anytime. It depends on the woman. You can meet her in the club, in church or in a hotel lobby. Anywhere. Her eyes are gone tell you if she’s in the frame of mind to deal with you. It’s a lost art, dealing with women. Even though I put myself out there as a playa, it’s not always about sex. Brothas don’t know how to sit down and have a genuine conversation with a woman. And you’d be surprised how much easier it is dealing with a woman after you get to know here. But we’re not taught that. Especially brothas from the hood. We ain’t never had no role models. The first thing we’re taught is “Yo, get them drawls, kid”. So what separates you is your ability to sit down and get to know a woman. That’s what I’m trying to give these brothas; the ability to connect with a woman. We’re too into machismo and grabbing our dicks.

Princess: Can a playa be with one woman?

Pretty Tony: That’s a personal choice and depends where you are in your life.

Princess: Can you still be a playa if you’re with one woman, though?

Pretty Tony: No.

Princess: So if you decide to be in a monogamous relationship, say get married or something, you have to make a conscious decision to put your playa-hood away. Is that correct?

Pretty Tony: There you go. There comes a time in your life when you have to grow up. It takes a conscious decision to say, “You know what, I’m done. I’ve done did the strip clubs and the parties and the things that I need to do.” But at the same time, it takes a certain caliber of woman to understand you. Because you’re not average and the average games that women play, she can’t come at you with that. Somebody has to grab your attention and understand who you are. And understand the swagger doesn’t go away but your past is your past.

Princess: So are you a playa for life?

Pretty Tony: I’m an elder statesman now. I’m just selling the game. The game is to be sold, not told. I’m an elder statesman. I’ve calmed down. I’ve got my daughters growing up, you dig? I’m in my thirties now and my life is about who I am. Not who I used to be. Who I used to be doesn’t define me. Understand?

Princess: Yeah, living in the present, not the past.

Pretty Tony: There you go. All I have is this moment. I can’t worry about yesterday and I damn sure can’t tell you about tomorrow.

Princess: Now as you describe a playa, you are real specific with that. Not everybody can be a playa. Not everybody can practice Playaology.

Pretty Tony: No, you have to have a certain mindset. And once it takes hold of you, it ain’t never gone let you go. You struggle with it. And you gonna meet a broad one day out of thousands. She may catch your heart, but your mind will always be what it has been. You gone struggle with that. I struggle with that to this day.

Princess: What kinda woman does it take to catch a real playa’s attention and make him think of doing something other than being a playa?

Pretty Tony: She has to see you for who you are in that moment dealing with her and what you bring to her life. That’s all she’s focus on. She can’t worry about who was or wasn’t or might have been. She has to worry about the moment that y’all are in. And that’s where her focus lies. She’s not concerned about the past. That’s what the woman I deal with now does. I don’t need you to remind me of who I used to be. I have the memories for that myself.

Princess: You already know so you don’t need to be reminded, right?

Pretty Tony: I don’t need to be reminded. If the fire’s too hot, get your ass out the kitchen. You shoulda neva brought your ass up in here.

Princess: What’s next for you, Tony? Are we gonna be seeing another book from you?

Pretty Tony: I have two out right now. And I have a novel called Street Dreamz that’s coming out too. My goal is to be the first black publishing powerhouse to come out of the hood.

Princess: It looks like your books are available online but can our readers get them in the store, too?

Pretty Tony: Yeah, they’re available online at Amazon.com or they can download the eBook on iTunes. If they’re not in your local bookstore, you can have them request them and they should be there within a couple of days. But over the next couple of months, they should be in every major store. That’s my goal. That’s my hope.

Princess: One last thing. If I had to leave our readers with one last impression or one last thought about you, what would you want that to be?

Pretty Tony: I am what I am. Don’t try to define what I am. I don’t

Princess from HHLO has a heart to heart with Pretty Tony, author of Playaology and Playa Step Your Game Up, to discuss the books, his inspiration and what makes him qualified to teach the art of the playa.

Princess: So I always like to start at the beginning, Tony. Where are you from?

Pretty Tony: New York, LA, Miami and Vegas. I’m a LA boy for real.

Princess: Alright, tell me a little about your background.

Pretty Tony: Basically just grew up in the street. In my early twenties, I decided I needed a change, moved to Vegas and started my own little body guard service. Started my own entertainment company, Kingston Entertainment. Started pushing these books in the streets.

Princess: Tell me more about the books for someone who hasn’t ever read them.

Pretty Tony: In Playa Step Your Game Up, I was just telling playas the rules and regulations on how you go about being that. And it was more a book about honesty. Once you got beyond the swagger of it, it’s really about being honest and not taking people along for an emotional rollercoaster. So that’s what it’s really about but a lot of times, people hear the name and think it’s about pimping. I’m like nah.

Princess: Well I am looking at the cover right now and that does look like a pimp stick on the front. So you’re right. That was my first thought.

Pretty Tony: (Laughing) I did that by design because there’s an old cliché that goes, ‘never judge a book by its cover.’ Like I said, once you get beyond the swagger, you’ll see in there that it’s asking brothas to keep it real.

Princess: Ok, so what made you want to write these books?

Pretty Tony: What led me to write them?

Princess: Yeah. You woke up one day and something said ‘Hey, write these books.’ What was it?

Pretty Tony: Okay, let’s just say that over my lifetime, I’ve been a very blessed man when it comes to women. I’ve had a charmed life when it comes to women. And so that was my motivating factor. And people around me would always say, “The things you pull off, you need to write a book.”

Princess: So give me an example of that. Give me an example of a situation that your boys look at you and said, “How do you do that?”

Pretty Tony: Without sounding egotistical?

Princess: There’s a difference between egotistical and telling the truth. The truth is the truth.

Pretty Tony: That’s true. The easiest way to put this is that I have a certain rapport with women. They feel comfortable around me and it’s easy for me to conversate with them. I’m very in tune with women because I grew up with a single mother. So a lot of things that the male ego and other brothas don’t have, I have. So one day on a piece of napkin sitting at a buffet with a few of the fellas . . . Matter of fact, no, it started in the back of a strip club one night. And they’re like you should write a book and I’m like no I can’t write no book. And I picked up a napkin that same night and started writing a book. One word led to a sentence. A sentence led to a paragraph. A paragraph led to a chapter. That chapter led to a book.

Princess: Wow. I’ve done a lot of interviews. And I’ve asked people this question many times. “Where did you get the inspiration for your work?” And never has anyone said that it all started in the back of strip club. You are an original, man.

Pretty Tony: (Laughing.) But once you get to know me and get beyond the swagger, you see the honesty of what I am. I am what I am. I’m a product of these streets. I grew up hard and fast with knuckleheads. I just got to a point where I needed to do something with myself and everybody was in the studio and trying to make an album. I ain’t no rapper. And I ain’t trying to start no record label. So I was like, what can I do for myself? And I was like “Whoa. I can put out books for us.” My generation doesn’t have a lot of books for us.

Princess: That’s true. That’s true.

Pretty Tony: As you sit down and get to talk to people, every cat you meet claims he’s a playa. Everybody’s a pimp. And I’m like, what does that mean? What? Cause you sleep with a lot broads, you a playa? I’m like my man, you gotta school up. And like I said, that’s where the book was born. Sleeping with a lot women or having a lot of women does not define you as a playa. And I want everybody out there to know that playas and pimps are two different things.

Princess: Ok so what’s the difference between the two?

Pretty Tony: A playa does not depend on a woman entirely for his source of income. A playa is confident in his swagger. He let’s a woman know that I’m not about to buy you a diamond ring and you get me a $9.99 Wal-Mart necktie. So that’s what a playa is about. A pimp is someone who puts broads on a track to make his money. A playa has his own hustle. He does things for himself but if a broad is willing, her generosity is necessary. I’m not gonna be generous to you and you’re not generous to me. It’s not a one way street. You dig?

Princess: Yeah, I dig. So can a playa be a woman? Or should I say, can a woman be a playa? Just so I have the definition right.

Pretty Tony: Oh hell yes. They are the best kind. That’s another thing brothas don’t like to put out there. That y’all invented the game. Y’all are better at it than we are. Check this. A brotha can go out and sleep with four women in the day and he can go home and he ain’t got no use to himself. A woman can go out and do the same thing. Go home and take a warm bath, ’cause y’all need to soak, and you would never know nothing she’s done. Brothas can’t hide stuff like that. Some of the best playas that I’ve known have been women.

Princess: So who’s your target audience?

Pretty Tony: My target audience is anybody who wants to step their game up. It’s not only about being a playa. That’s what led to Playaology. When I wrote Step Your Game Up, it was too street. One of my white friends was like “Tony, I love you but you need to caucasian-ize this book”. He’s a white guy and I laughed when he said that.

Princess: He just meant that you need to commericailze the book and make it for a broader audience, right?

Pretty Tony: Yeah, I wrote Playaology for the everyday guy. Not just those in the street.

Princess: So these books are kinda like twins separated at birth. They have the same message but they are geared toward different audiences.

Pretty Tony: There are definitely two different favors to them. In Step Your Game Up, I was teaching the swagger and the mindset. In Playaology, I’m basically calling brothas out. I was basically putting the spotlight on us. And you know we brothas are like cockroaches. We don’t like light on us. So I turned the spotlight on us and said “look at us.” I categorize certain kinds of guys that I’ve seen. In Playaology, I’m teaching men that they can be a playa and be a gentleman too. You don’t have to be a gangsta all the time. Pay a woman a compliment. That’s a lost art. Brothas don’t know how to pay a woman a compliment now.

Princess: That’s true. In your dealings with women, where’s the best place to meet women?

Pretty Tony: I can’t tell you that. Anywhere, anytime. It depends on the woman. You can meet her in the club, in church or in a hotel lobby. Anywhere. Her eyes are gone tell you if she’s in the frame of mind to deal with you. It’s a lost art, dealing with women. Even though I put myself out there as a playa, it’s not always about sex. Brothas don’t know how to sit down and have a genuine conversation with a woman. And you’d be surprised how much easier it is dealing with a woman after you get to know here. But we’re not taught that. Especially brothas from the hood. We ain’t never had no role models. The first thing we’re taught is “Yo, get them drawls, kid”. So what separates you is your ability to sit down and get to know a woman. That’s what I’m trying to give these brothas; the ability to connect with a woman. We’re too into machismo and grabbing our dicks.

Princess: Can a playa be with one woman?

Pretty Tony: That’s a personal choice and depends where you are in your life.

Princess: Can you still be a playa if you’re with one woman, though?

Pretty Tony: No.

Princess: So if you decide to be in a monogamous relationship, say get married or something, you have to make a conscious decision to put your playa-hood away. Is that correct?

Pretty Tony: There you go. There comes a time in your life when you have to grow up. It takes a conscious decision to say, “You know what, I’m done. I’ve done did the strip clubs and the parties and the things that I need to do.” But at the same time, it takes a certain caliber of woman to understand you. Because you’re not average and the average games that women play, she can’t come at you with that. Somebody has to grab your attention and understand who you are. And understand the swagger doesn’t go away but your past is your past.

Princess: So are you a playa for life?

Pretty Tony: I’m an elder statesman now. I’m just selling the game. The game is to be sold, not told. I’m an elder statesman. I’ve calmed down. I’ve got my daughters growing up, you dig? I’m in my thirties now and my life is about who I am. Not who I used to be. Who I used to be doesn’t define me. Understand?

Princess: Yeah, living in the present, not the past.

Pretty Tony: There you go. All I have is this moment. I can’t worry about yesterday and I damn sure can’t tell you about tomorrow.

Princess: Now as you describe a playa, you are real specific with that. Not everybody can be a playa. Not everybody can practice Playaology.

Pretty Tony: No, you have to have a certain mindset. And once it takes hold of you, it ain’t never gone let you go. You struggle with it. And you gonna meet a broad one day out of thousands. She may catch your heart, but your mind will always be what it has been. You gone struggle with that. I struggle with that to this day.

Princess: What kinda woman does it take to catch a real playa’s attention and make him think of doing something other than being a playa?

Pretty Tony: She has to see you for who you are in that moment dealing with her and what you bring to her life. That’s all she’s focus on. She can’t worry about who was or wasn’t or might have been. She has to worry about the moment that y’all are in. And that’s where her focus lies. She’s not concerned about the past. That’s what the woman I deal with now does. I don’t need you to remind me of who I used to be. I have the memories for that myself.

Princess: You already know so you don’t need to be reminded, right?

Pretty Tony: I don’t need to be reminded. If the fire’s too hot, get your ass out the kitchen. You shoulda neva brought your ass up in here.

Princess: What’s next for you, Tony? Are we gonna be seeing another book from you?

Pretty Tony: I have two out right now. And I have a novel called Street Dreamz that’s coming out too. My goal is to be the first black publishing powerhouse to come out of the hood.

Princess: It looks like your books are available online but can our readers get them in the store, too?

Pretty Tony: Yeah, they’re available online at Amazon.com or they can download the eBook on iTunes. If they’re not in your local bookstore, you can have them request them and they should be there within a couple of days. But over the next couple of months, they should be in every major store. That’s my goal. That’s my hope.

Princess: One last thing. If I had to leave our readers with one last impression or one last thought about you, what would you want that to be?

Pretty Tony: I am what I am. Don’t try to define what I am. I don’t