The Complex 7: U-God & Grand Puba

According to Grand Puba and U-God, creating music doesn’t just pay the bills—it reaffirms their existence as individuals. So when NYC-based promotion company Frank151 offered to sign the two rap vets as the first acts for its new label, Frank Radio, the answer was never in doubt.

The results are solid solo albums from both artists, released this Tuesday (June 23). While Puba showcases his trademark flows over nostalgic boom-bap production on RetroActive, U-God finally flexes his golden arms with the help of fellow Clansmen and artists like Jim Jones and Sheek Louch on Dopium. During an exclusive listening session last week at Frank’s Chop Shop in Chinatown, we surprised Puba and U-God with our candid Complex 7. Read on to find out U-God’s trip to the insane asylum, Grand Puba’s fashion regrets, and to sample tracks from their respective albums…

Interviews by Jaeki Cho

THE COMPLEX 7: U-GOD

“Train Trussle” feat. Ghostface and Scotty Wotty

#1: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY SOMEONE BROKE UP WITH YOU?

U-God says: Females are crazy. They just wind up cheating. You’re like, “Why you do me like that?” And they just go, “You do what you do, and I do what I do!” I can’t say what most females are like, but it’s ugly, man. I might have another one of those in about four months, man. [Laughs.]

#2: WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

U-God says: Well, right now I’ve been through so much with the females. It’s hard because you get a freaky bitch and she’s stupid as hell, you get a lame broad that’s smart as hell. I like sophisticated, nice women that are freaky. I’m beyond the hood shit. My first baby mother was hood. But now that’s a wrap.

#3: WHAT’S THE MOST EMBARRASSING PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU’VE EVER WORN?

U-God says: When I was a kid I had plaid suits. [Laughs.] The photo album was atrocious! [Laughs.] We were poor, man.

#4: WHAT HAS TO BE IN YOUR FRIDGE AT ALL TIMES?

U-God says: Some lamb chops, ginger ale, a big juice, and a gallon of water.

#5: IF YOU HAD A WEEK HOLIDAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

U-God says: Right now, I want to take a 15-day cruise with two freaky bitches. I know where to get ’em. And go on this cruise and we just get drunk, high, and fuck every night. I’m getting old, man. All that Buddha shit? I’m trying to have some fun before I die, man. Yeah, we’re for the children, but come on! [Laughs.] I’ve been doing that shit for 15 years, man. You’re talking to a live muthafucka in the crew. I’m not going to sit here and be all preachy-preachy like RZA. Look at me as half-RZA and half-ODB.

#6: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SNEAKER OF ALL TIME?

U-God says: Gucci!

#7: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

U-God says: Probably last summer. I went into an insane asylum. I spent like 15 days in there. I think somebody slipped something in my weed and I freaked out. That was some crazy shit to me. Can’t buy weed from everybody.

THE COMPLEX 7: GRAND PUBA

“This Joint Right Here (Remix)” feat. Kid Capri, Sadat X & Lord Jamar

#1: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SNEAKER OF ALL TIME?

Grand Puba says: I like the Jordan V. The originals? I’m kind of feeling those.

#2: WHAT’S THE MOST EMBARRASSING PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU’VE EVER WORN?

Grand Puba says: Something that didn’t fit right, and I bought it just because you’re on the road, doing shows, you have money, and you’re just spending it. I bought these suede Polo boots. Shit just didn’t work out. Not the Polo boots with the strap. It was some suede, smooth, dressy-type bullshit. I just bought ’em for some show and I ain’t even wear them shits.

#3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Grand Puba says: Tears? Because sometimes when we cry it doesn’t necessarily have to be tears. I cry everyday then. I see something that bothers me to that effect. It could be about hearing some little kid get ran over on Queens Boulevard, or somebody getting shot over some bullshit.

#4: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU BROKE UP WITH SOMEONE?

Grand Puba says: It depends on whom you ask. I just left. [Laughs.] Nobody ever left me. I do the leaving. I’ve had one girl who pretended to break up with me but I didn’t know how to handle it. But that was what broke the camel’s back. Because after that shit? I couldn’t care less. It made me cold like, “Bye!” In the end, I ended up leaving her.

#5: WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Grand Puba says: Come on, man. What magazine is this? [Laughs.] First I get attracted by the look. And the conversation has to be straight. We just got to vibe. You just got to be on the level that I’m on. So it’s body, mind, and soul.

#6: WHAT HAS TO BE IN YOUR FRIDGE AT ALL TIMES?

Grand Puba says: Some fruit, man. This shit might sound stereotypical but I love me some motherfucking watermelons. [Laughs.] I ain’t going to front, I love watermelons, I love grapes, and I love cherries. Pomegranates and Chinese apples are my shit too.

#7: IF YOU HAD A WEEK HOLIDAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Grand Puba says: Probably get down with the kids. I have kids from one-year-old to 17. And coaching. I coach a basketball team with kids 16-years-old and under.