Raw Roots - Rap News, Interviews & Reviews

Bad Newz

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Written by Isabelle

Bad Newz thanks for taking the time out with us, hows life treating you?
I cant complain, lifes been good lately!

How did you come to get started as a rapper?
When I was in elementry school I was nice w/ the poems. So I started putting my poems to beats, and then I eventually stopped doing poems all together and jus started rappin.

Seeing and having been through a lot on the streets how did you make the transition from there to Strezzed Out Entertainment?
Well, we were peoples before the music. When BK(BostonKazz (co-ceo)) told me he was gonna stop fuckin w/ the streets and go hard w/ the music, I looked at it as my last chance to do something I been wanting to do, but neva had the opportunity to do.

Can you give us a bit of background information on the label and who else is involved?
Well, S.O. was started by Sean Riley, BostonKazz, and P-Black, I call them the 3 wisemen. They bought some equipment and taught themselves how to use it. Within six months they had a studio going. Seeing that gave me extra motivation to get my shit together.
But im not the only artist on the roster. We got another artist named Juste. Hes up next with his Mixtape. I think its called “Vitamen MC”. Hes young and hungry, and his potential is limitless! Then we got Gaff Dram. Hes another talented dude. When hes focused hes a problem. We got my dude EyeGod who does spoken word, Kwe D Unknown Is our in house producer, Edubs runs the street team, Suge Dizzle and Akeem handles most of my business for me. We fully staffed fam.

Having heard a few of your tracks it's not hard to see how talented a writer and emcee you are, where do you draw your inspiration from for your rhymes and what artists have influenced yourself?
My musical inspiration comes from the streets and real life situations that ive encountered. I cant rap about things I don’t know about or haven’t seen. That’s why its easy for me to paint a picture for the listener. As far as artist that have influenced me, I would have to say G-Rap, Nas, Big L, AZ and Pac the most but I take a little bit from everyone past and present. Some days I be on my Chuck D shit and other days Im on some Dog Pound shit, I keep my mind open to all forms of Hip-hop.

When people are comparing you to the likes of Nas and Big L how do you take that in and manage to not get big headed about it?
You gotta understand that im a realistic person. I love the compliments but im smart enough to know that I got a long way to go to get to that level. Nas and Big L have done what im aspiring to do. So until I get to the point where there at, ima keep on grinding, keep on woking, na’mean?

Coming out of Boston, there a few artists I have came across since starting Raw Roots with enough raw talent they really should be doing bigger things than they are, what is the current scene in Boston like and who should we all be checking for besides yourself?
The scene in Boston is kind of crazy right now. Theres a lot of politics going on when it comes to venues and age limits at the clubs, but the good thing about the Bean is the talent is off the charts. U got dudes like Slaine making big moves,Tripple Threat is one of the best groups out anywhere, Dre Robinson is doing his thing heavy, Prano,Steis, Smoke, Tangg, Terror, Lou Armstrong, Team 220 are all making things happen . Theres so much talent it would take a hour to name everybody. I just want everybody to know that Mass is on the come up.

Right now you have the mixtape "Falling Down" out can you give us a bit of information on this and what people can expect to hear?
If you’ve never seen the movie Falling Down with Micheal Douglas, Its about a man that gets fed up with the way things are in our everyday lives and releases his frustration by using aggression. So that’s what I did on this Mixtape. I released some of my frustration with aggression. But I still tried to keep it as raw and street as possible.

What type of feedback have you been receiving?
The love has been Crazy. A lot of people thought it was my debut album.

Your part of GWOP Gang, can you tell us about the crew and how it came about?
The Gwop Gang is myself, Trey Pound, Juste, and BR. We all met thru mutual friends like 2 years ago. One day last year BR put the idea out there that we should do an album together. Since we were already featuring on each others projects it made sense for us to put it together. So like three months ago we started writing songs together. And now were like 20 songs in and we plan on recording 20 more before we wrap it up.

What can we expect to hear from GWOP gang in the coming future?
We’ll definetly be putting out alot of Promotional music in the next few months, So look out for that. We’re just trying to make good music for a wide range of people to enjoy.

How do you see the current state of Hip Hop?
Right now it seems like everything is pretty much the same. Its seems like theres no more reality or emotions in the music, just a bunch of loose thoughts and a nice hook.

For someone who hasn't heard you how would you describe your style of rap?
Mature, Realistic, and visual. Just press play and close your eyes.

Are there any plans on an album this year and what else can we expect from you in 2007?
We’re working hard fam. My next mixtape is just about finished and I’m halfway done with my album. But until then its about this “Falling Down” Mixtape and the Gwop Gang album.

Have you had any contact from Majors and is that a route you would take given the opportunity?
Ive recently gotten requests for my Demo, but I cant worry to much about that right now. I feel like if I just keep making good music all that stuff will take care of itself. I got good people around me that will do all they can to get my music in the right hands.

What are your plans for the future and is there anyone in particular you would like to work with artist or producer?
Im jus gonna continue to spread the bad news. If I do that I truly believe that everything will work itself out. As far as the people I would like to work with, I would have to say G-Rap, Saigon,L.E.S. and Jus Blaze. That combo would probably bring the best out of me.

Is there anyone you want to shout out or anything you want to touch on that has not been mentioned?
First of I want to thank RawRoots.com for supporting real hip-hop and showin love to unsigned artists. Then I gotta shout out my whole StrezzedOut fam for holdin me down from day 1. Juste, Suge D, Akeem, Dubs, Gaff, EyeGod, the whole roster. I also gotta shout all the producers that have been showin me love. My nigga Hunt, Kwe, WMS the Sultan, Cosmo, Stu, Knox, GC, Wayne & Manny from CT and M-dot form Brooklyn have all held me down with tracks to lace. Theres more but those are the names that come to mind right now. And last but not least I gotta shout out my big homie Ricc Rocc, my dude Slaine, BR, Trey, Tangg, Triple,Steis, repdabean.com,Spotlight DVD and Lou for holdin me down on all my projects. Look out for that Gwop Gang album this Summer, and if u don’t have a copy of my Falling Down Mixtape, make sure u go get one. Download it, steal it, whatever just get one. Hit us up @ www.myspace.com/sobadnewz or u can send a email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and somebody from my team will take care of you. ,O and I almost forgot to shout out my niggaz that keep it poppin 4 me in the streets.My niggaz Dez, Koz, Geeze, and Ritchie

Thanks again for taking the time out with Raw Roots.
Anytime fam.

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