What with his trademark beard, it’s tempting to spend an entire conversation with Freeway pestering him for the lowdown on his grooming habits—been there, done that. Luckily, the prolific Philly rapper has a lot of other things to talk about. Having dropped 32 tracks last year as part of his “Month of Madness,” Free is back (like he left something) with a brand-new mixtape, The Beat Made Me Do It. The new tape is a prelude to Freeway’s upcoming album, The Stimulus Package, which is due on February 16, 2010.
No Sigel-style Jigga beef or fraudulent Roc signs here, people: Freeway’s strictly ’bout his business. We sat down with him to hear all about Jamaican shirts, Disney World, and his religious faith in another edition of The Complex 7. Read on for the interview and a download link for his smokin’ new tape. EARLY!
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Courtesy: Starz
What do Grey’s Anatomy, Lincoln Heights, and Yes, Dear all have in common—we mean, besides being shows we’ve never watched by choice. Jocko Sims, that’s what. Though the up-and-coming actor’s resumé is in its early stages, his role as chauffeur Anthony Adams on the Starz series Crash is finally starting to earn him some much-deserved shine.
With the recent release of his song “Head Up” on iTunes and the approaching finale of Crash (Fridays, 10 p.m.), we decided it was time to sit down with Jocko and ask him some of our favorite questions. His name may evoke images of athletic supporters (pause) and creepy computer characters, but give the man a chance—he’s got a lot to say. Read on for Jocko’s take on Latin women, cowboy outfits, and good girlfriends…
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Photos By Greg Chow
She may play an semi-uptight rich girl on Mad Men, but don’t get it twisted—Alison Brie is down to earth and willing to share all her dirty secrets. Her role on the show—playing wifey to professional cockboy Pete Campbell—leaves us wishing we could see more of her face on the screen, and not just consoling Pete after JFK’s assassination, like last night’s episode.
Luckily for us, Alison’s been getting serious face time on NBC’s only saving grace new hit, Community. And if you’re one of those “I don’t own a TV” people, you can still get familiar—Alison will also soon appear in the indie film Montana Amazon opposite Haley Joel Osment (which we’d be happy to buy you a ticket for if it means you’ll stop the pretentious yammering about your TVlessness). With all that, you’d expect the girl to have at least some dark circles under her eyes, but Alison is as energized and open as can be. Click on for more pics and Brie’s thoughts on suede loafers, arrogant men, and her many male (and female) crushes…
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Nate Rob reps Complex front to front.
Let’s be honest, New York Knicks fans haven’t had much to cheer about this decade. Even the masochists among them must have been overwhelmed by Stephon Marbury, the sex scandals, and seven consecutive losing seasons. Fortunately the Knicks do have a bright spot: 5’9” point guard Nate “Krypto-Nate” Robinson.
Tomorrow, on Halloween, the Knicks host their home opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, and Garden fans will hope that the energetic Nate Rob, who won dunk contest titles in 2006 and 2009 with his 44-inch vertical leap, will treat them to some hustle and an ill jam. Complex caught up with the Seattle native and avid gamer at an NBA 2K10 party to get his answers to “the Complex 7.” Read on to see if his answers were slam dunks.
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With the official tip off of the 2009 NBA season tonight, we’ve got a sleeper pick for a team to watch for: the Washington Wizards. Ok, stop laughing, we’re serious. With Gilbert Arenas back for a full season, and new coach Flip Saunders taking the reins, we’re looking for the Wiz to make a run at the Cavs, Magic, and Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Remember, you heard it here first.
The secret ingredient for our sleeper pick though is forward Caron “Tough Juice” Butler. With a personal commitment to defense, the 29-year-old UConn product is hoping to be the glue that keeps the Wizards together. The two-time NBA All-Star took some time out to answer the Complex 7 and discussed getting Jordans weeks ahead of the release date, bumpin’ that new Taylor Swift track, and the keys to Wizards’ success this season.
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Thee Tom Hardy (left) and 9th Wonder.
Rap history is filled with many interesting “put me on” breakthrough stories, but if there’s a common lesson, it’s this: Seize your opportunity. Case in point—Durham, N.C. native Thomas Hardison was attending a local community college when he found out that producer 9th Wonder was teaching a hip-hop class at nearby North Carolina Central University. Tom promptly ditched his remedial math class and snuck into one of 9th’s classes as an unregistered student. Tom would attend a few of 9th’s academic sessions, each time spitting rhymes for him—and eventually, persistence (and a dope flow) overcame resistance, and 9th signed the newly christened Thee Tom Hardy.
9th has his hands full with his labels Jamla and The Academy, which just released The Hardy Boy Mystery Mixtape: Curse of the Green Faceded, Tom Hardy’s debut. We chatted with the 20-year-old new artist and his mentor for the latest edition of The Complex 7, in which Tom and 9th discuss bad breakups, dissing Asher Roth, and the possibility of a Little Brother reunion album. Also see below for a download link to the tape and Tom’s video debut…
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Chances are, the name Walter Perez isn’t totally familiar yet. Until recently, he’s been under the radar with a grip of lesser-known films (Emilio, A Beautiful Life) and small roles in television shows (Judging Amy, Friday Night Lights). But with a starring role in Fame, comes…well, fame. At least that’s what it looks like for the star of the highly-anticipated remake of the ’80s classic, out in theaters tomorrow.
In the film, Perez plays tough-guy Victor Taveras. In reality, however, Walter is not so difficult to deal with. The wringer that is The Complex 7 refreshingly reveals more than what you’d expect, so check it out as he discusses tears, trekking, and Tarzan…
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ARTIST: Slaughterhouse
ALBUM: Slaughterhouse
SOUNDS LIKE: Punchline-heavy verses from the ’90s x Non-commercial production from ‘09
FUN FACT: The four MCs initially came together on “Slaughterhouse”—a track included on Joe Budden’s Halfway House. Nino Bless, who was also featured on the song, wasn’t invited to join the group because other members felt he didn’t pay enough dues.
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT: There have been many hip-hop “supergroups” that looked great on paper, but never fully materialized on wax. In that sense, Slaughterhouse—consists of Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, and Royce Da 5′9″—deserves praise just for putting out an actual album. In addition, more praise is due, since all four MCs deliver on the album as a unit. And let’s be clear: Slaughterhouse isn’t necessarily built for the current market. What fans can hear is exactly what you might expect—verses filled with vicious punchlines and sharp deliveries that are guaranteed to get heads nodding.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW AND OUR COMPLEX 7 INTERVIEW WITH SLAUGHTERHOUSE!
Photo: Kevin Scanlon for The New York Times
Most likely, Chris Kattan’s name hasn’t crossed your mind since you last YouTubed a “Mango” SNL skit or pulled out a copy of A Night At the Roxbury in a fit of nostalgia for the days when Will Ferrell was actually funny. Recently, however, Chris Kattan’s name has been everywhere—or at least it seems so, with the über-colorful billboards announcing his return to TVs across America in the mini-series titled Bollywood Hero. The three-part series will air on August 6-8 at 10 p.m. on the IFC channel.
In Bollywood Hero, Kattan will be playing an exaggerated version of himself: an actor so desperate for a leading role that he takes one in Hollywood’s South Asian sibling industry. Up next for Chris is a role in the upcoming ABC sitcom Middle. The man’s busy, but we managed to grab a few minutes of his time to chat about cock rings (ayo!), 3-D glasses, and heartbreaking actresses…
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Things have gotten better for Phillies shortstop James Calvin “Jimmy” Rollins. After inking a deal with Red Bull earlier this month, the former MVP and his team went on to a 10-game winning streak (which ended yesterday with a loss to the Cubs). Since signing with Red Bull, the previous all-star seems to have gotten out of his slump, hitting multiple doubles, two home runs, and ten RBIS—looking more like the J-Roll who played a crucial role in helping Phillies win its championship last season.
Although his past comments, solidifying Philadelphia Phillies as the “it” team in the National League East, won criticism from its rival team—the New York Mets—fans and players on both sides know who’s having the last laugh. In our Complex 7 with J-Roll, he talked to us about his Red Bull consumption, music taste, and rivalry with the Mets. Read on to see if he can beat Shaq in a rap battle, and a video of Rollins giving a tour of his house…
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The personality formerly know as Fonzworth Bentley simply goes by Bentley now, and he’s ready for you take him seriously as an artist. After a handful of setbacks during recent years, the G’s To Gents host has teamed up with E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records) and is set to release his Kanye West-executive-produced debut album, CoolOutrageousLoversOfUniquelyRawStyle, later this year. With an album on the way, we put Bentley through our seven-question grinder and got him to talk about everything from his longtime love for Paris and newfound love for guacamole to his worst fashion experience. Keep reading to check out what he had to say…
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Rapid-fire rapper Twista drops his seventh album Category F5 today, and with its flashy collaborations (R. Kelly, Gucci Mane, Busta Rhymes) and some classic Legendary Traxter production, fans of Chi-town hip-hop just might be in for a treat (click here to buy it on MP3 for $6.99
). When Twista was in town recently doing press for the album, we put him through the Complex 7 cipher and got him to speak on kicks, chicks, and foul-smelling turnoffs. Read on to see his responses…
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Photo by: Hannibal Matthews/Helio PR
Memphis-bred, Atlanta-based producer Drumma Boy has been quickly adding hits to his discography. Within the past few years, the 25-year-old musician has worked with T.I. (”What Up, What’s Haapnin’”), Gorilla Zoe (“Lost”), and most memorably, Young Jeezy (“Put On”); along the way, he’s even earned two Grammy nominations. Drumma recently released a free mixtape (Welcome II My City), and his latest work with Plies (“Plenty Money”) is steadily heating up the clubs (and the Complex office…Big Face Hunnids!!).
In addition to his studio work, the classically-trained beatsmith is gaining more attention these days for his role on BET’s reality show Welcome to Dreamland (Tuesdays, 10:30 p.m.), where two teams of aspiring singers (one headed by Drumma Boy, and the other by Jazze Pha) compete for a recording contract. On top of our usual Complex 7, the speaks on the show, working with The Game, and how he’s ready to compete against Quincy Jones and Dr. Dre…
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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…
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Few hip-hop producers have the pedigree of DJ Muggs. In addition to his pivotal role in one of rap’s most successful groups (Cypress Hill), Muggs has produced monster songs (“Jump Around,” House of Pain; “Insane in the Brain,” Cypress Hill) that are still earning him that Jock Jam royalty gwap. Along the way, he’s influenced countless other beatsmiths as well as helped foster the careers of The Alchemist, tattoo icon Mr. Cartoon, and photographer Estevan Oriol. You just can’t fuck with the résumé, dunnies.
After two critically acclaimed releases, Muggs’ longtime Soul Assassins crew is back from a near-decade hiatus with Intermission, which hits stores today (Click here to buy it on MP3 for $8.99
). “This album is a preview before the release of Soul Assassins III,” says Muggs. “The fans can check out the Intermission before the third album and the movie, which will be a documentary on how the Soul Assassins formed.” In our extended Complex 7 with Muggs, he talks about why producers should own their songs, his love for his daughter, and why he thinks Ice Cube is better than Biggie. Check out the interview and the Soul Assassins’ new video below…
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