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!

Interview by Valeriya Safronova

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

Freeway says: I just don’t like when a chick is too annoying. Too many questions, too annoying…I can’t deal with that. My perfect woman, she gotta be beautiful and understanding. She gotta be a rider, no matter what. No matter what I need her to do, she gotta be able to handle it.

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

Freeway says: Back in the day when I was a young bol, I had a Jamaican shirt with a bunch of holes in it. I had met this girl that I knew back in the day, and she was bringing it up, like, “Remember you had that Jamaican shirt with the holes in it?” And I was pretty embarrassed. Can you imagine that?

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

Freeway says: If I had a week-long holiday I’d go to Orlando, and go to Disney World, and go to Universal Studios. And go to the mall out there.

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

Freeway says: Bottled water, juice, gotta have some fruit in refrigerator, some chicken steaks.

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

Freeway says: I love Louis Vuitton sneakers, just like the ones I got on.

 #6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Freeway says: I just left them alone. Just left the whole situation alone, let them figure it out.

 #7: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Freeway says: Last time I cried was at my cousin’s funeral. I actually had a song on the last album, Free at Last, called “I Cry.” And I talked about a lot of times where I had to cry in my life. Y’all should check that out.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Do you feel that your religion ever comes in conflict with your fans and the entire industry?

Freeway: Well, people are definitely not like me. There’s a lot of different things that I do. Like you see everybody’s drinking? I can’t drink [sipping on ginger ale], I got five prayers to make a day. There’s definitely a big difference between me and a lot of people, but I’m just doing me and hopefully some of the goodness might reflect on the people.

Complex: During the promotion of The Stimulus Package, you talked about how you want to return to the “real hip-hop”. What exactly did you mean by that?

Freeway: The Stimulus Package is basically what I grew up off of. The hip-hop that I’m used to. Who’s to say what’s real hip-hop and what’s not real hip-hop? People that are making music now, they’re making it from the heart, and I’m making my music from my heart, and that’s my version of real hip-hop. And I definitely think people are gonna love it.

VIDEO: The Beat Made Me Do It trailer

Click here to download The Beat Made Me Do It.

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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…

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

Jocko says: Mistrust. And it goes both ways…if you’re untrustworthy, I don’t want anything to do with you as a girlfriend. Moreover, if we are dating, and you don’t trust me, and I’ve given you no reason to not trust me—I somehow find that even more unattractive. I dated a girl once who questioned me all the time about every move I made, and every word I spoke, so much that I began to question myself. I was often left confused, and angry, and all for nothing. I’ll never do that again!

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

Jocko says: I had some Coach-brand Chucks a few years ago that I received as a gift. I’ve never gotten so much attention from women over a pair of shoes before or since. Those have to have been my favorite of all time.

 #3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Jocko says: This is a downer…and I mean a BIG one. I lost my grandmother in an car accident this past Christmas to a suspect who was running from police on the wrong side of the freeway and crashed into my family head on. I think about her all the time and I miss her. I can’t understand why people do such stupid shit (the suspect also died, along with my aunt; my uncle, as of today, cannot walk or talk). The shock of how my grandmother left hurts me. When I think about it, I often shed tears. I’m pretty sure the last time I cried I was thinking about her.

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

Jocko says: I would definitely spend it somewhere in a Latin country. Puerto Rico, Brazil, Domincan Republic. I love the cultures and the women are blindingly beautiful.

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

Jocko says: How about in my pantry? I have to have Frosted Flakes, and/or Cap’n Crunch.

 #6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Jocko says: Yikes. My ex-girlfriend got into an acting school in London while I was at college. When I realized that I wanted to “explore” other options while she was gone, I respectfully ended the relationship before I did anything, which was good. The bad thing is that I ended it over the phone!

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

Jocko says: For a job? Some child-like pajamas for a scene in a movie…and it wasn’t a comedy. By choice? A tight suede cowboy outfit to a beach party. Although it was in Texas, it surely was not the right environment to choose to be creative. Here we are 10 years later, and my boys still have not let me hear the end of it.

VIDEO: “Head Up,” Jocko Sims

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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…

Interview by Valeriya Safronova

 #1: WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND?

Allison Brie says: [If he] takes himself too seriously. That’s the number one deal-breaker. I feel like you have to have a sense of humor—I’m not saying you have to be a comedian and make me laugh, but if you take yourself too seriously, I can’t take you seriously.

 #2: WHAT TYPE OF FOOTWEAR WOULD COMPLETELY MAKE YOU DISMISS A MAN AS A POTENTIAL HOOK-UP?

Allison Brie says: Probably suede loafers. I’d just be like, “You know, not my thing.” I don’t know, maybe a guy could pull them off. I mean Chevy Chase pulls them off…but other than that, maybe not my guy.

 #3: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RAP ALBUM?

Allison Brie says: The Lil’ Wayne album was great. “A Milli” was a good song. I’m a big fan of that, but…T.I., actually, I think is better. That’s an album that I went and bought one song on iTunes, and then went back and bought another song, and four songs later, I was like, “I’ll get the album.” They were such good songs. I love that album.

 #4: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD OR HANGOVER REMEDY?

Allison Brie says: It’s a hangover remedy/comfort food: fried zucchini from this place High Life that was our local high-school hangout. I get it in South Pasadena, California. It’s where we would hang after middle school and high school. And it’s like the greasiest, best, fried [food]…it’s like the fried part is almost falling off the zucchini. And the oil is leaking through. With some ranch dressing? So good.

 #5: WHAT’S THE MOST EFFECTIVE APHRODISIAC FOR YOU?

Allison Brie says: Gosh. Probably…I feel like you want something tangible, and yet I would say taking charge or arrogance. There’s something about that. “Yeah, take care of me. Yeah baby. Do it just like that. Take care of me just like that.” [Laughs.]

 #6: WHO IS A CHILDHOOD CRUSH THAT YOU CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HAD?

Allison Brie says: I don’t know. Some—most of them—were pretty good, I gotta say. Joseph Gordon Levitt; I had a big crush on when he was on 3rd Rock from the Sun, with his hair down to his shoulders. And now he’s in 500 Days of Summer, and I still have a crush on him. That crush really stood the test of time. We were talking earlier about Full House, and having a crush on Uncle Jesse. John Stamos…I kind of stand by that one, too. I had good taste when I was little! Although…oh, I know! Jonathan Taylor Thomas. That’s embarrassing. We—my friends and I—our catch phrase would be “J.T.T. is H.O.T.” ’cause it was on the cover of Teen Beat Magazine. That was embarrassing.

 #7: WHO IS YOUR FEMALE CRUSH?

Allison Brie says: Zooey Deschanel. She’s gorgeous. I just love her. She was on Top Chef Masters—they cooked her a vegan meal—and I thought, “Oh, she’s eating a vegan meal on Top Chef Masters.” She stole my heart. I think she’s a great actress, and she chooses amazing roles, and her style…her singing voice is amazing. Yeah, I like her a lot.

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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.

Interview by Ralph Warner
 #1: WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Nate says: She can’t date any other athletes. [Laughs.]

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

Nate says: I would have to go with the Jordan VIIIs.

 #3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Nate says: On September 17, when my daughter was born.

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

Nate says: I would make it a basketball week. Everyone in the world would have to stop everything your doing and put basketball courts all around the world. Everyone would have to play basketball all day. They’ll be like slaves—slaves to the game.

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

Nate says: Oh man, that’s tough. I’m trying to think of what’s in my fridge right now. Probably Capri Sun for my kids; they love Capri Sun.

 #6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Nate says: [Laughs.] It was my ex-girlfriend from high school, I just never called her again.

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

Nate says: Aw man, I wore my mom’s sweats one day to school back in middle school. They were black with a pink stripe on the side. We didn’t have any money, so we had to make it work. [Laughs.]

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: What’s your favorite video game and video game character of all time?

Nate: Tecmo Bowl the game and Tecmo Bo (Bo Jackson) the player. That’s a classic right there!

Complex: What artists are you currently listening to?

Nate: I listen to everybody. I listen to my little brother—he raps a lot and sends me his music. I also listen to Drake, Jay-Z The Blueprint 3, Cassidy, Jadakiss, that’s about it. Oh, and Wayne! Can’t forget about Wayne!

Complex: If you had to create a rap name for yourself, what would it be?

Nate: It would be Nizzo.

VIDEO: Nate’s 2009 NBA Dunk Contest final dunk

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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.

Interview by Ralph Warner
 #1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Caron says: I’d have to say bad feet. [Laughs.]

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

Caron says: Of all time…that would have to be the Jordan Xs.

Complex says: We heard that while at UConn you always had the new Jordans before they were released, how did you get them early?

Caron says: I had a nice hook up at the mall. I use to always just tell the people that worked at the Foot Locker, “Man I got to have the Jordans before anyone else has ‘em.” Then I paid a little extra and made sure I had the shoes. If we played a game two weeks ahead of the time they were released, I definitely had them.

 #3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Caron says: When I was on the Oprah Winfrey show talking about my life and what I had been through.

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

Caron says: I would just want to spend as much time as possible with the family. My favorite holidays are ones like Thanksgiving where you’re just with the family.

Butler has raised his points per game average each year since 2004.

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

Caron says: I love O.J. and salmon, have to have those.

 #6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Caron says: [Laughs.] I’d have to say just not calling back.

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

Caron says: Oh man…the Michael Jackson Thriller jacket.

Complex says: That’s back in the ‘80s when it was hot not anytime recently, right?

Caron says: [Laughs.] Nah definitely back then.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: What artists are you currently bumpin?

Caron: I love Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend. Taylor Swift is also somebody that I have started liking, I like her new song. But usually during pregame I’ll listen to a lot of hip-hop. You don’t want to listen to R&B or something and get too relaxed. So I’ll usually listen to 2Pac, Biggie or Jay-Z.

Complex: We’ve heard about your commitment to improving on the defensive end this year. Can you tell us about what specific adjustments you’ve made?

Caron: Endurance, that’s something that I worked on a lot in the off season. Working on my strength and agility to be able to do it on both ends of the floor because it exerts a lot of energy.

Complex: What is the key to the Wizards’ success this season?

Caron: The health of our core guys. Myself, Gilbert, Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood.

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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…

Interview by Ralph Warner

 #1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

9th Wonder says: Girlfriend? I haven’t had one of those in years, I’m married so you can’t ask me that. [Laughs.] Trying to get me in trouble. When I was in high school or college it was a woman that smokes.

Tom Hardy says: Bad hygiene, I just can’t deal with bad personal hygiene.

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

9th Wonder says: Jordan, the Jordan V are my favorites.

Tom Hardy says: I’d have to say the all-white Air Max.

 #3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

9th Wonder says: When Michael Jackson died.

Tom Hardy says: The last time I cried…

9th Wonder says: Shit, last week. [Laughs.]

Tom Hardy says: …I cried when I was listening to my mixtape all the way through.

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

9th Wonder says: Sleep and eat. [Laughs.]

Tom Hardy says: Lay around all day and watch the shows I’ve DVRed that I haven’t got a chance to watch yet. That and just hang around with my girl.

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

9th Wonder says: Some type of gourmet juice, I’m talking about Minute Maid, Tropicana—the $3 a carton juice.

Tom Hardy says: Green Kool-Aid.

 #6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

9th Wonder says: A girl broke up with me after I traveled to see her in my car and the way I got there was I pawned my keyboard.

Complex says: Wow, she broke up with you when you came to visit?

9th Wonder says: Yeah, I promised I’d go see her and pawned my keyboard to get the money for it. I went to see her and maybe three days later she broke up with me.

Tom Hardy says: In middle school I broke up with my girlfriend through a poem. I wrote her a poem and said it out loud to her.

9th Wonder says: What?!

Tom Hardy says: [Laughs.] Yeah, it was crazy, it was in sixth grade.

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

9th Wonder says: JAMS shorts bruh, you know what Jam shorts are? JAMS shorts were these shorts kids use to wear in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. These shorts had like flowers, tropical plants, and stuff all over them. You’ve seen them in videos. Those were the worst!

Tom Hardy says: [Sighs.] That’s a long list. Middle school again, I had some zip-up Dadas.

9th Wonder says: Ugh!

Tom Hardy says: Yeah, they were navy blue and white. They were ugly.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Tom, on the track “As We Shine” you take a direct shot at Asher Roth with the “I’m a sicker spitter, than any Roth Asher” line. What was behind that?

Tom Hardy: It wasn’t really meant as a dis to him but the day I had written it I was just talking about Asher Roth with some people and they were saying you’re probably going to be compared to him because you’re coming out after him. I was just like, Damn, I don’t want to be compared to him just because he’s white. If we sounded similar I would want to be compared to him but I guess I put that on myself by mentioning his name. [Laughs.]. He’s obviously created a movement for himself and his music, he has got himself out there. For that I commend him. I haven’t really listened to that much of his music outside of his singles. I didn’t even know that song was going to come out, I wasn’t even thinking that far into the future.

Complex: How does it feel to work with 9th, who’s such a respected producer in the game?

Tom Hardy: It’s definitely an honor. Every since The Listening came out—I bought the first Little Brother CD when it first came I out, I was 14. It was the first time I’d been exposed to those types of beats before. It was an eye-opening experience, it was the first time I had heard those type of beats. Fast-forward five years later, and to have a whole mixtape with 9th and to be chosen to be a part of his label is very gratifying. It’s great to be associated with somebody who’s so universally respected.

Complex: 9th, who have you been working with as of late besides your artists on Jamla and the Academy?

9th Wonder: Murs and I are doing another album called Fornever, that will be our fourth album. There’s the next Buckshot and 9th Wonder album. David Banner and I are also working on an album, D.O.P.S, which stands for Death of a Pop Star. That’s going to be an album/comic book.

Complex: There have been rumors of a new Little Brother album. Is that true?

9th Wonder: Nope. [Laughs.] All I can say is I wish both of them well. Phonte is doing excellent with the Foreign Exchange, Big Pooh is doing excellent with his solo endeavors, and I’m doing my thing. We continue to keep up and put out good music so that’s all that matters.

Download The Hardy Boy Mystery Mixtape: Curse of Thee Green Faceded HERE!

VIDEO: “As We Shine,” 9th Wonder Presents Tom Hardy feat. Rapsody & D-Mal The World Famous

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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…
Interview by Tara Aquino

 #1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Walter Perez says: Number one deal-breaker? That’s a tough one. I don’t want to say anything that’s related anything to her physically. I’d have to say she has to be spontaneous.

Walter Perez says: I guess Halloween costumes don’t count. ‘Cause I dressed up as Tarzan and I went and bought this piece of fabric at the fabric store. It was like this leopard print and I just cut it up at the bottom ‘cause I was being cheap. I was like, “You know what, I don’t even wanna dress up.” So I just went there and I saw it and I got the idea.

Complex says: Wasn’t it cold?

Walter Perez says: It was really cold. I actually got sick that Halloween. I got so sick ‘cause on Halloween it was actually raining and that sucked. It was funny ‘cause we had set up this Halloween party at a friend’s house and we emptied out the pool, like completely emptied it out, like drained it. That’s where the dance floor was gonna be, in the pool, and we had just put stuff all over, like decorated. Then that night, like everybody comes and shows up. We have a cool DJ and stuff. Then it starts raining and everyone’s dressed up and it was horrible. And the pool starts getting filled up with water from the rain and we just started having fun with that water. So it was kinda nuts. But that’s probably the most embarrassing piece of clothing I’ve ever worn. Does that count?

RELATED: YouTubin’ With The Stars: Naturi Naughton from Fame

TRAILER: FAME

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.

It begins with “Sound Off,” where Royce assembles the clique and compares all four members to separate parts of Voltron: “Joell Ortiz is the body/the cannibal slash killer, kill you then eat your body.” On “Lyrical Murderers” the collective brings out the good-ol’ verbal gunplay, threatening to kill all rappers (lyrically!). While rap quotables continue to pour out like it’s ’94, the album takes on a lighter pace starting with the upbeat “Not Tonight,” followed by the surprisingly addictive single “The One.” The overall energy of the album is nicely exemplified on the Fat Man Scoop-assisted “Onslaught 2,” where each MC shines. If the LP consisted of only battle rhymes then it could have been labeled as a certified mixtape or even a dope street album. But the album elevates itself towards the end with a set of introspective tracks. The group discusses its inner demons (“Pray”), love-hate relationship with hip-hop (“Cut You Loose”), and past tragedies (“Raindrops”) all in a cohesive manner. With all four rhyme-spitters displaying top-of-the-notch bars, it makes one wonder about the competitive atmosphere which took place during the studio sessions.

Unfortunately, there are a few minor fall backs. All three skits on the album are unnecessary and “Salute,” produced by Mr. Porter, features bland guitar riffs and organs accompanied by a dull hook from Pharoahe Monch. Still, Slaughterhouse’s debut is truly an impressive effort. Now if only The Firm made something this solid…

KEY TRACKS (LISTEN):
“Onslaught 2″

“Sound Off”

“Cut You Loose”

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE ALBUM ON MP3 FOR $8.99

THE COMPLEX 7: SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Interview By Jaeki Cho

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

Joe Budden: My baby’s family and me. That breakup was pretty bad. It was hurting how we broke up.

Joell Ortiz: For me it was probably with my ninth baby mother?

Complex: Word?

Joell Ortiz: Nah! [Laughs.] I would probably say with the first girl I ever loved back in ’99.

Royce Da 5′9″: Honestly, I don’t remember breaking up with a girl. My wife and I knew since high school. The relationship that I had that affected the most was my relationship with Eminem.

Crooked I: Yea, mine would be outside of that type of stuff too. I don’t know for some reason I’m good with all my exes.

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

Crooked I: Bad feet are a deal-breaker for me. I don’t care if she’s bad. I’ve turned down bitches that you’ve seen on TV because they had bad feet.

Joell Ortiz: Airheads.

Royce Da 5’9”: [Nods.] I fuck with you on that level. I don’t like to be in a relationship with a girl who talks too much and curses too much.

Joe Budden: For me personally, if she has a problem with Tahiry, I can’t be in a relationship with her.

All: [Laughs.]

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

Royce Da 5’9”: I’m not a sneakerhead. I’m not the type of dude who stands outside in line to wait for $300 Air Force 1s. I just don’t like shoes that look like it’s been worn a few times. It’s like I can’t wear a white tee twice. I just like to look crisp.

Crooked I: Me personally? I like the old school Air Maxes.

Royce Da 5’9”: I wear shoes based on what my money is looking like. If I’m wearing Gucci everyday this week you could be like, “That nigga just got a check.”

All: [Laughs.]

Joe Budden: I’m a big fan of comfort. I’m not spending a night outside waiting for the shit to come out.

Crooked I: They were doing that heavy in Long Beach for the Air Yeezys.

Joe Budden: I ain’t doing that, man. Yeezys are dope though.

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

Royce Da 5’9”: That’s easy. Hammer pants!

Crooked I: I knew you would say that.

Royce Da 5’9”: Paisley shirts. That was a crazy look.

Crooked I: I don’t know if ya’ll had this, but when we were mad young, we used to have this thing called the Gucci fold. You take the jean right here, and [folds it] put this right here and then you roll this fold all the way up. With your socks showing and all that.

Complex: What’s that some farmer shit?

Crooked I: [Laughs.] Niggas used to be mad on the Gucci fold!

Joell Ortiz: I was 10 years old.

Royce Da 5’9”: I know what you’re going to say. The “Beat It” jacket.

Joell Ortiz: Nah! [Laughs.] One of my favorite uncles who always came through with the illest gifts on Christmas got me these Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sneakers.

All: [Laughs.]

Joell Ortiz: And you don’t tell him you can’t wear them. And I was like 10 or 11 years old, man. I went to school with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sneakers for a week! Them niggas killed me over that. I got funny that week because I had to defend myself.

Complex: What about you, Joe?

Joell Ortiz: This shirt! [Laughs.]

Joe Budden: I’ve seen that shit coming.

Joell Ortiz: Pause! This nigga is crazy!

Joe Budden: Back in the days, my mom used to put me in some crazy shit. For Halloween she dressed me up as Prince. I was like four or five.

Joell Ortiz: You remember it!

Joe Budden: [Ignores Joell] Man, my mother put me in some leather pants at some point. And them fucking Converses or were they Lottos? Either one it was something that had the little plastic you kept changing the color on it.

Royce Da 5’9”: Lottos.

Crooked I: Lottos or Kaepas.

Joell Ortiz: Lottos were hard!

Joe Budden: Not the thing I had.

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

Crooked I: I’m with the down time, man. I’m big into politics so I’m probably watching MSNBC.

Joe Budden: I would have sex with my girl all week.

Royce Da 5’9”: I’ll do nothing. Spending time with my family.

Joell Ortiz: Yea, I’ll spend time with my two sons. Probably watch mad movies and order food in. Laughing, joking…

Joe Budden: Aww…

Royce Da 5’9”: I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to get people to fall in love with you.

Joell Ortiz: You know what? I’m being honest, aight? I do that every weekend.

Joe Budden: Every time there’s press people you’ll be like, “Taking girls to the carnival, cotton candy and hold the door for them.” Man, shut the fuck up, nigga!

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

Crooked I: Ramen noodles.

Joe Budden: My fridge is empty as a mutha…

Royce Da 5’9”: I’ll say milk. My kids eat cereal every morning. So I got all kinds of milk in the refrigerator.

Joell Ortiz: Eggs because I could eat those all day. I know how to make scrambled eggs, I know how to make omelets, and I know how to make egg salads.

Joe Budden: Yo, who is he auditioning for?

Joell Ortiz: I’m telling them…

Joe Budden: Nobody asked you what you do with eggs, man!

Royce Da 5’9” and Crooked I: [Laughs.]

Joe Budden: This nigga’s trying to get a girl so bad.

Joell Ortiz: A girl? I don’t want a girl. But listen, I’m just saying this because I’m the type that could survive off eggs.

Crooked I: I want Patron, Tequila Sunrise, nah’mean? And I want them ramen noodles!

Joe Budden: I’ll have ramen noodles with eggs and murder both of you!

Crooked I: Don’t fuck with me on some ramen noodle shit! I can fry ramen noodles.

Joell Ortiz: I’m serious on the egg game.

Complex: I think ya’ll need to have a battle.

Royce Da 5’9”: I don’t know, because I do my shits in the microwave.

 #7: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Joell Ortiz: Yo, when this nigga walked in with the shirt [points at Joe Budden], I cried…laughing!

Crooked I: When we finished this track on our album called “Raindrops.” I have a verse about my mother’s identical twin that was stabbed, killed, and raped. And it brought tears to my eyes to make the verse up.

Royce Da 5’9”: Last time I cried was when Proof died. When I first found out about it I didn’t cry because it didn’t hit me. But before his funeral, I cried without anyone knowing, and I didn’t cry at the funeral. And my son had a talent show, which I got a little bit misty. Not like he was a superstar in the group or anything, but I was just like, “That’s my boy!”

Joe Budden: Super-slaughter-badass niggas. I was crying last night watching 24! When Jack Bauer came back. I was teary-eyed then. I was teary-eyed when Padded Room came out. I was teary-eyed when Obama won. I don’t care how many times. It’s therapeutic.

Crooked I: You know muthafuckas act so damn tough. “Oh, I never cry.” But the day you do?

Joe Budden: They need a mop.

Royce Da 5’9”: Why bottle that shit up like that? Niggas is super thugs.

Complex: You all right, Joell?

Joell Ortiz: I was thinking about my cousin who got killed. He was 19. He was rolling through a block in Brooklyn. Niggas chased him through, he was on his block, him and his man split up, and they were supposed to meet at a movie theater. His man told me he was at the movie theater and was there for like five to 10 minutes, he never showed up. He went around the corner and saw my cousin who fell into his arms and died. Yeah, I get tears just thinking about that story. And before that I was teary when I saw Brown Sugar on TV.

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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…

Interview by Valeriya Safronova

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

Chris Kattan says: My fridge? What has got to be in there? Well. Lemonade? And I like kombucha. It has algae in it. That’s like a living organism. It’s really amazing for you. Look it up online! Kombucha. You drink it. It doesn’t taste great. I try to drink it everyday.

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

Chris Kattan says: I think New Balance. I’m wearing New Balance 990s. Those are nice. I mean, they feel good, and they have a little extra height on them. I’m 5’8”, though, so it’s not too bad, but I like to date girls who are 6’11”.

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

Chris Kattan says: A cock ring. I’m joking. No, I never wore a cock ring. How about…I know! One time I went to a tanning booth—like a few years ago—and they said, “Here’s a little thing for your crotch.” And it’s like a little pocket. That was embarrassing. That or a dance belt. Any dance belt. It’s a thing for your front that has a string on the back. Basically, it’s like a G-string.

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

Chris Kattan says: If they don’t have a sense of humor.

 #5: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Chris Kattan says: Worst way? A friend of mine, she broke my heart. She’s an actress and she said she had to go do a movie outside of a L.A., and she might have to fall in love with the leading man opposite her. And I went, “Oh, okay.” She said for creative reasons. She was doing a love story—she’s a great, amazing actress, and that’s how she…Yeah. There you go.

 #6: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Chris Kattan says: Uh, I’m about to, ’cause, um, you’re upsetting me. With the [last] question. Uh, no. Last time I cried was when, uh, I saw UP in 3D. Not because of the movie, but because my glasses were hurting.

Complex: The movie was sad too though.

Chris Kattan says: I don’t know. My glasses were hurting. I don’t know if it was sad or not.

Complex: You know you’re allowed to take them off.

Chris Kattan says: Yeah, but then there’s like a thousand balloons as opposed to a hundred.

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

Chris Kattan says:I would nap on the plane and then have six days in India. As opposed to five. Cuz the travel is another day and a half. It takes at least a day to fly there.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Are there any major impressions that India made on you?

Chris Kattan: Major impressions? That I think it’s a good idea to go to a third world country for a while once in your life to get a taste of the world. So you can get out of your own little box.

Complex: Did you get to see a lot outside of the typical Western experience over there?

Chris Kattan: Yeah, definitely. Ten weeks is a while, so…We shot on location, on the streets of Mumbai, so I saw a lot of the slums and got a taste of the poverty, and the population, and the struggle of human beings. And survival. Its depressing, and it’s reality.

Complex: On the other hand, it’s inspiring that everyone manages to keep going.

Chris Kattan: Yeah, well it’s life. That’s survival. We just don’t know what that kind of survival is. We Americans are really fortunate. That so-called freedom of speech is a subject I completely forgot about. Being there, I was like, “Oh, that’s right. American Constitution thing. Declaration…” All those things I learned in school that I completely took for granted.

Complex: Were you a Bollywood fan before this project?

Chris Kattan: Well, I was but I didn’t know as much about it. I wasn’t educated because America doesn’t get the opportunity to see a lot of those great movies that are over there. They’re so magical…the music and the vibrancy. You know, they’re really pure, really entertaining films. They can be a little campy for those of us that only watch The Reader or something, but you know, it’s great entertainment.

And that’s what was neat about this show. To play somebody, to play an extension of myself that has the ego of somebody who really wants to be the leading man, but doesn’t understand that you don’t have to be. Which I learn in (episodes) two and three—I find out that it’s okay to be myself. [Co-star] Maya [Rudolph] was like in the beginning, “Why don’t you just be you? A shorter, less attractive version of Keanu Reeves.” I was like “Oh, thanks.”

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…

Interview by Jaeki Cho

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

Jimmy Rollins says: Red Bull, man. [Laughs.] I love ice tea lemonade from Wawa, and I recently got these mint ice tea lemonade that I’m crossing over to.

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

Jimmy Rollins says: The Jordans that came out in about ‘96. It was the 11s. It was the first pair of Jordans I was able to get on my own. I was hustling cutting hair, trying to get myself some Js.

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

Jimmy Rollins says: You remember them short biker spandex that was out? This was around ‘88 or ‘89. Everybody was rocking’em! So I had me one of those joints in black with white stripes down the side. Looking back I don’t know what I was thinking. I remember going outside and seeing the girls wearing them, and I’m like, “Ah, I think this was a mistake.”

 #4: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE OF ALL TIME?

Jimmy Rollins says: The first Matrix. The other ones got too futuristic for me. When I suited up the Cadillac Escalade with the sound system, and TV screens, I had to play The Matrix in the car to check the sound.

 #5: WHAT ALWAYS HAS TO BE BUMPING IN YOUR CAR?

Jimmy Rollins says: In every car I bump different music. When I’m in a Bentley, I always have Raheem Devaughn. When I’m in the Audi, I play [Shanelle], an R&B act, which I signed to my record label called Jimmy Rollins Entertainment. And one more thing, when I’m in the Benz, I have to bump E-40.

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

Jimmy Rollins says: I’ll probably go to the Caribbean somewhere. Jump on some jet skis, play some golf, make sure I line up some nice dinners, and have a couple Caribbean drinks…If I could go diving or swimming with some dolphins that’ll be cool. I’m a nature man myself.

 #7: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Jimmy Rollins says: I don’t recall from the top of my head, but it was probably when one of my relatives passed away.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Now that MLB banned greenies [Amphetamines], is Red Bull regarded as a replacement?

Jimmy Rollins: It’s definitely been a substitute now that you can’t do amphetamines. Back in the days cats would pop a greenie and you would have the energy to carry you through. Obviously that’s illegal, so you have some cats that’ll take about three Red Bulls to get ready before the game. That’s way too much for me. I’m trying to go to sleep when the game is over. I don’t drink coffee, but some cats have a coffee and then have a Red Bull as the game starts. Their heart rates must go way off the charts. Two Red Bulls a day are good enough for me.

Complex: Since you own a music label, and you seem to have a good knowledge of rap, if you get into a rap battle against Shaq, do you think you stand a chance?

Jimmy Rollins: [Laughs] I don’t know. Shaq’s been doing it for a while. I think that’s something he’s passionate about. I like the creation process of music, but I’m going to let the people who are naturally born with the talent to do it. So I’m going to take my hat off, and give it to Shaq.

Complex: Does the Phillies versus the Mets rivalry exist amongst players, and not just the betting fans?

Jimmy Rollins: Well, fans are always going to be more intense than the players. They’ll be drinking, and they want to rep for their city harder than the other team. And as a player, don’t get me wrong, there’s a big rivalry, but the implications are on, which team gets to go the playoffs.

VIDEO:Jimmy Rollins Gives A Tour of His House

Interview By Ernest Baker

 #1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Bentley says: I don’t want to say if she doesn’t have faith because I know people who didn’t that now do. Maybe if she doesn’t let me get in my recreation. All of the above for men. As a man, you’re born a hunter so you have to get it in. Video games, golf, running, exercise, being with your boys doing absolutely nothing. I need a woman that’s comfortable with me doing all of that.

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

Bentley says: The Jordans that had the gray with the maroon. The Bugs Bunny joints. I don’t know the number. [Ed. note: He's referring to the VII.]

 #3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Bentley says: I’m trying to think if I busted a tear on Sunday at church. If I didn’t bust one this Sunday it was the Sunday before that.

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

Bentley says: I would completely turn this BlackBerry off and I would try to see if I could split my time between Paris and um, Paris.

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

Bentley says: Lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and whatever else you need to make a salad. I just got hip to the guacamole since I’ve been living greener and I didn’t know what I was missing. It’s not bad. I used to hate on it.

 #6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE EVER BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Bentley says: I just disappeared. Straight up disappeared and never said anything. I called later and apologized for doing that, but that was pretty bad.

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

Bentley says: I was the concert master in my high school orchestra and it was the first time I had invited some people from the hood to it. I was hanging out on my side of town, wearing my Damage shirt, and I was like, “Just come with me real quick. I’m about to knock out this concert and then let’s keep it moving.” Messing around, I forgot to get my tuxedo out of the freaking cleaners. So I showed up, and I’m the concert master, right? I’m supposed to come out and help everyone get tuned up and I had a big solo this time too. There was a tuxedo there, but it was entirely too tight and entirely too short all across the board. Not on some Thom Browne, cool-to-be-tight type stuff either. And I didn’t have a shirt or a tie. So I had on the Damage T-shirt, some white and purple Huaraches, with a super-tight tuxedo on. But it was funny because as I began playing people really forgot about what I had on, because I was merking on the violin.

SONG: Bentley, “Greener”

Interview By Max Schlusselberg

 #1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Twista says: If a girl got a little stench to her. You know, like an odor. It might be a little musty it might be a little pussy smelling. [Laughs] But if I get up to her and I don’t like the way she smells, even if it’s not a stinky smell, it’s a complete turn off.

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

Twista says: I’d say Jordans. I forget the numbers but they’re all dope. Especially the red-and-white ones with the red in the back.

 #3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Twista says: Maybe the day before yesterday. A family member is sick.

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

Twista says: I’d go to Jamaica and I’d take all my homies. Me and the homies would hang out in Jamaica and eat everything Jamaican and smoke everything Jamaican.

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

Twista says: I gotta be honest, I don’t fucking know what’s in my fridge. I’d say a bottle of champagne and Tropicana orange juice, I guess.

 #6: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY SOMEONE HAS BROKEN UP WITH YOU?

Twista says: It was probably back in the day when I was in school. This girl just told me right in front of everybody. She was like, “We don’t go together,” and everyone was standing around like, “Damnnnn.”

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

Twista says: It was an outfit where instead of a zipper on the pants there were these buckle things went across where the zipper would’ve been. And I remember this one time this girl was like “Damn, baby. What you trying to do, lock the dick up?” [Laughs] It was back in the day, and I didn’t really have a lot of clothes. And when you wear something a lot, where I’m from they call it, ‘dickin’ it down.’ So, I used to dick the shit out of the buckle outfit— and if my boys read that and they hear me say that, they’ll just crack up.

VIDEO: Twista, “Wetter”

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…

Interview by Jaeki Cho

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

Drumma Boy says: I’ll have to say the Jordans. I wear them all the time. I’m looking at my closet right now, and all I see are Jordans and Chuck Taylors.

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

Drumma Boy says: That’s a good question. I regret wearing Tommy Hilfiger, man. Tommy was a little trend that was going on for a minute. I look at that shit now and I’m like, “How the fuck was I wearing Tommy fucking Hilfiger?” It’s just not fly, man.

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

Drumma Boy says: Water for me, man. Without water I get headaches. Body shuts down and all types of shit.

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

Drumma Boy says: All of my breakups been cool, man. I’m not really on that drama shit. But there was an instance when I produced for a group of individuals, where I showed them love, I gave them music, and I put them out. Then they hated on me. It might have been some homeboys I came up with. But shit, I cut off anything that’s not supposed to be around me, man.

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

Drumma Boy says: There was one chick who was bad as a mu’fucka. She was cool, but just her brain…I mean the conversation was just…the first three words that came out of her mouth just turned me off. She was concerned about the wrong shit. She was like 29, but she was still on some, “What kind of ride is that, what kind of rim is that.” Like who cares?

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

Drumma Boy says: I’ll still be in the studio. We might go bowling or something with a bunch of ladies, and just kick it. But majority of the time, I’m working.

 #7: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Drumma Boy says: Probably when my grandmother died. When I was like 11 or 12? I remember getting super mad when I was watching Roots. You know how you get teary when you’re super, super mad? But that’s about it.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: What has been the response thus far to Welcome to Dreamland?

Drumma Boy: We got a good look nationally. It’s the number-one show in Atlanta. A lot of girls, and people’s aunties calling me crying. Even junkies started showing me love after the show. I’m getting a lot of positive feedback. We really made a lot of dreams come true, and we really did change every girl’s life. Unlike other music shows where they sing other people’s songs, for this show we actually had to write our own songs, and create artistic images for these girls with a team of photographers, writers, and choreographers.

Complex: How did they approach you for the show?

Drumma Boy: Actually this show belongs to Vawn who is the host of the show. Initially, if I’m not mistaking, it was Jazze versus Polow da Don. But I think Polow’s schedule was too busy. So they reached out to me, and did couple interviews. They liked my personality and music. Plus, it just happened to be that both Jazze and I are from Memphis doing it big in Atlanta. It’s also crazy because Jazze’s like my godfather. I learned a few things from him coming up.

Complex: Do you think you have a good chance against Jazze Pha’s team?

Drumma Boy: Anybody I go up against I have a great chance. I’ll have a great chance if I was going up against Timbaland, Dr. Dre, and The Neptunes. If they were to put me up against a blues artists or a jazz artist I would’ve been able to jam out. Whatever genre of music you give me I’m cooking it up. I could go up against Quincy Jones, man! I write and compose all the instruments in my music. I do it all.

Complex: Out of your team, who do you think has the most mass appeal?

Drumma Boy: Man, I think the big girl. I don’t recall her name. I just call her the big girl. Oh! Sabrina. I think she’s definitely someone to lookout for, man.

Complex: I know you mostly work with artists from the South, but do you have any plans on working with artists from other coasts?

Drumma Boy: I’m working with The Game, and a lot of West Coast artists, man. I’m about working with the next generation out there. We definitely got the West Coast banging.

Complex: So The Game’s retirement plans are thrown out, huh?

Drumma Boy: Yea, I heard about that, but I think he’s definitely working on another album, man. [Laughs.]

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.

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…

Interview by Jaeki Cho

#1: IF YOU HAD A WEEK-LONG HOLIDAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

DJ Muggs says: I’ll just chill, man. A lot of people want to jump on these fucking planes and that’s a lot of work, man. I’ll just lay on the beach in North Shore of Hawaii. Then again, I got a place out in L.A. next to the beach. Living in L.A., I kind of live a vacation lifestyle. I kind of mix my work into my play.

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

DJ Muggs says: I have a 7-year-old daughter, so I always keep fruit and vegetables. Granola and fresh vegetables. My daughter knows about eating healthy. She knows that shit because they didn’t teach me when I was a kid, man. When I was young, my mom was always working so all I ate were TV dinners. That fucking apple pie was cracking! But I didn’t know that shit was bad for you. I thought that shit was always good.

#3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

DJ Muggs says: Probably when I see my daughter doing Tae Kwon Do. I was so happy laughing like, “Look at this kid! She’s killing him!” Those were tears of joy I guess. I didn’t cry since I was like 13. Wait, you know what? When my grandmother died back in 1989. That’s the only person I gave a fuck about like that next to my daughter. I mean, a few tears when my homies passed away, but not feeling the emotion to sit there and cry. But I know people cry just by watching TV. How do you watch TV and cry? I can never watch TV and get sad enough to cry. But I’ll cry every week watching my daughter doing something that makes me happy.

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

DJ Muggs says: A broke hoodrat with no fucking dreams, no ambition, and no spirituality. I’m fucking miserable by myself and I don’t need your help. You have to bring understanding and your own career because that’s what I bring to the table.

#5: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

DJ Muggs says: Oh, man. There is no worst way. If you’ve really loved somebody it’s just never good. It’s all fucked up for everybody that’s involved. Be on the phone, or be with that person…it just kills you. It’s just life and you get tired of people. It’s nothing more complicated to explain than that.

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

DJ Muggs says: I don’t wear bad shits. I wear basic shits. I wear T-shirts and Levi’s. But when we were kids I wore Lee Jeans with permanent pleats, pinstripes, and Pro-Keds. My friends wore some tight pants back then, but that was just the way it was. It’s not as tight as these motherfuckers that got their pants spray-painted now. I can’t say it was embarrassing. That was just the way things were. That’s what hip-hop was.

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

DJ Muggs says: Probably just basic black-and-white Converse Chuck Taylors, man. Simple shit. I’m not into sneakers like that. I like basic Vans. I never got on the Nike shit. I own a clothing store in Pasadena called Soul Assassins, but I’m not into fashion like that. I don’t think about asking a man, “What the fuck are you wearing?” Jimmy Hendrix said, “People are too busy listening to music with their eyes than with their ears.” Oh, “I’m the fashion rapper.” No, shut the fuck up! You’re a fucking idiot! Go make some fucking music.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Given your simple tastes in clothing, what’s your take on “fashion rappers” that are influential musicians? Like Kanye West, for example.

DJ Muggs: I love Kanye’s music, man. I think it’s fucking incredible. I let my daughter listen to his last album. There’s a lot of shit on the radio I can’t let my daughter listen to. Like Pussycat Dolls? I ain’t letting my daughter listen to that. But Kanye’s positive, man. Now the way he dresses, that’s his thing. That’s cool. Whatever you want to do go ahead. I’m still going to listen to your music if it’s good.

Complex: Do you still blaze?

DJ Muggs: I blaze occasionally. Not like when I was a kid. I don’t smoke to get stoned, but I smoke to get high. When you get stoned you sit on the couch like a rock and that’s a waste of fucking time. When I smoke I go work out, I make music, I write, I study, and I read. When it becomes this monotonous fucking thing and you are not getting any good out of it then you should move on to something else, man.

Complex: When was the highest you’ve ever been?

DJ Muggs: I’ve had brief periods during my first tour with Salt-n-Pepa, Kid ‘n Play, Tony! Toni! Toné! and MC Hammer. I’ve had some moments playing Mike Tyson’s birthday in 1987 in Cleveland with Slick Rick and Run-DMC. There were moments during the first Cypress album.

Complex: What’s your relationship with The Alchemist?

DJ Muggs: I met Al when he was in high school. He was about 14 or 15. He was just a little kid that rapped. They wanted me to produce The Whooliganz album, and I was like, “Get the fuck out of here, I ain’t producing that shit.” But when I met them kids, [Alchemist] reminded me of myself. He’s a little hungry and he just wants to work because he loves it. I didn’t have a mentor so I decided to mentor this kid. I took him on tours, I introduced him to DJ Premier, Infamous Mobb and that’s how he got with Mobb Deep. I created these avenues for him and I gave him the keys to the doors. He went in and opened the doors, and created his own things while I just showed him some guidance and directions. I’m fucking proud of that kid. There are few other people I’ve done that for but they didn’t make it happen for themselves. And they would go, “Oh, what the fuck? Man, can you do this?” I’m like, “Homie, I made you $85,000 dollars you better go out there and hustle.” And they didn’t, that’s why you don’t hear about them.

Complex: Tell us about the Soul Assassins.

DJ Muggs: A lot of people don’t know how the Soul Assassins function. We’re probably the number one artistic movement to ever come out of Los Angeles. We got rap groups like Wu-Tang Clan where it’s made of rappers and producers. But on top of musicians, we are made of graphic artists, tattoo artists like Cartoon and photographers like Estevan. We took Cartoon on tours with us and introduced him to Eminem and 50 Cent. When I hired Estevan, he was House of Pain’s road manager. Now he is one of the biggest photographers out of L.A. We are a unit. And the Soul Assassins are a brotherhood that’s helping each other out with our personal goals and our artistic goals.

Complex: Why do you think your name often gets overlooked amongst hip-hop’s greatest producers?

DJ Muggs: I have no idea. I mean the two biggest producers out of Los Angeles are Dr. Dre and me. The way we changed the game and made international impact for hip-hop? Maybe I’m not black? I don’t know and I don’t care because at the end of the day I’m more than just a hip-hop producer. Or maybe I’m just not done, man. I’m still drilling and I’m still hungry as I was when I was 16. People forget things. I think Ice Cube is one of the greatest MCs of all time. I think his shits were better than Biggie’s. Don’t tell me Biggie’s first two albums were better than Ice Cube’s first two albums. Lyrically, the impact they had on society, the times they were released, what they meant…People forget, man. Or the people writing for these magazines weren’t bumping our shit at the time.

Complex: Do you own the record “Jump Around” by House of Pain?

DJ Muggs: Yeah, I own that record. I want to own everything I do, man. If I sold beats, I get the publishing from these artists, but I still have to wait for the next guy to buy my beats. Beat style changes so I have to chase the new trends. But I’m cool with what I’m doing the way I’m doing it.

Complex: Why weren’t you into selling beats?

DJ Muggs: It was kind of boring for me. Going around selling a beat means you are dependent on an artist to buy your beat as a form of survival. And I like to have ownership and control my own things. So in the end of the day I got records that I own and I don’t depend on anybody for my livelihood. One time I remember talking to Diamond D, I said, “Your shits are banging.” But he was like, “Yeah, but you own your shits, you create your own groups and your own beats.” But when brothers sell a beat, they got to wait until they get the next paycheck. So I never wanted to put myself in that position. That’s why I took my route and created brands through my things that pay me every four months.

VIDEO: Soul Assassins feat. Evidence & Sick Jacken, “Classical”

We’re giving Pulse Of The People—whose highlights includes “Don’t Hate My Grind” with Bun B and the uptempo, dancehall-influenced “Gangster, Gangster” featuring Styles P—a definite Complex cosign. And that’s even before the two emcees and one DJ visited our office and had us laughing out of our seats with their hilarious anecdotes. Read on for the Complex 7 as Dead Prez and DJ Green Lantern recall their most embarrassing outfits, the most gutter hoods they’ve ever been to, and the night stic.man got robbed for food stamps. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this…

Interview By Jaeki Cho

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

M-1 says: Open-mindedness is a turn-on. A turn-off would be not willing to stop smoking. You could be a cigarette smoker and I could like you, but you got to be willing to stop smoking. But weed? Well, she has to put up with me constantly smoking weed. [Laughs.]

stic.man says: For me I would say, a turn-on is healthiness. I like women who are actively healthy. A martial artist, chef, a vegetarian…somebody who’s going to keep me inspired. A turn off would be a police uniform. [Laughs.] Shout out to Lil Wayne with that “Ms. Officer” bullshit.

DJ Green Latern says: [Laughs.] I would say a turn-off would be signs that you are going to be all up in my business. Neediness? I can’t rock with it. My wife and I’ve been together for 14 years and it’s effortlessly intriguing.

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

stic.man says: I’ve never had a break-up because my relationships are non-traditional. A turn-off for me is a woman who’s looking for the traditional things—ring on the finger, and expecting people to be other than themselves for selfish reasons. I believe a man is like the sun, and a woman is like the earth. There are nine planets and there’s one earth. But there are eight other planets that play a role in the universe. If you are going to say, “It’s only one woman in my life.” I think that’s opposite of your nature as a man. In the West it’s all about being politically correct and conforming with the church in contrast to who we are as real people.

DJ Green Lantern says: Well, for me it was a long-distance relationship. She went away to school and she started being obsessed. She was an art major, and she would send in cards that were made out of handmade paper. Like out of papyrus and shit! But that wasn’t it. It was just the intensity of the letters and how she emphasized that we needed to be together forever. She was just crazy.

M-1 says: Oh, man! When I was in Tallahassee, Florida I joined a movement called African People’s Socialist Party. As a result, I moved to Chicago in 1991 to work as an underground revolutionary. So my girlfriend at the time was from Atlanta and we met in Florida. I was trying to figure my shit out so I go off to Chicago, which ended up in this long-distance relationship. And basically I guess it ended when she just got with the next n*gga.

All: [Laughs.]

M-1 says: I called her and she told me she got with the next n*gga. I was really salty behind it. And it was probably in the worst way it could have happened because she was very casual at informing me about it.

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

stic.man says: Beach or traveling. I want to go to Asia, India…never been to Australia.

M-1 says: I’ll go right back to East Africa. Somewhere between Kenya and Tanzania. Drink a whole bunch of Safaris and Kilimanjaro beers. I’ll go to Zanzibar, which is right off the coast of East Africa right there. And Dar es Salaam and chill out.

DJ Green Lantern says: Probably just take the family on a vacation and go to Dominican Republic real quick. That’s probably one of the only places I’ve never been besides Antartica and the South Pole.

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

M-1 says: Sneaker? Hands down Reebok Pump.

DJ Green Lantern says: Jordan III, elephant print.

stic.man says: adidas Decade Hi-Top Black Leather.

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

M-1 says: Rice milk. That’s always got to be there. I have children and they love it. They drink it like hell. [Laughs.]

stic.man says: My fridge got to have avocado that’s almost ripe. You got to have some olives and some herbs too like cilantros.

DJ Green Lantern says: I’m just going to revert and go to hot sauce. Somehow it ends up in the fridge.

#6: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

stic.man says: Man, that’s a good question.

M-1 says: Last time I cried? Man, ya’ll going to bug out. I was on a plane coming back from Dubai and I saw The Secret Life of Bees and I cried. And I couldn’t believe it because I don’t cry over any sad movies. But you see I’ll be crying over wack movies. One time I cried watching Batman.

All: [Laughs.]

M-1 says: I’ll show you the sensitive side for the first time! When Batman’s parents got murdered in the alley it was like the first time I cried over a movie like two years ago. I don’t know if it was because I was on a plane. The altitude was high, and the emotions just came through. Now you have my dearest, tender moments in ya’ll hands now.

DJ Green Lantern says: Probably when my dad died? It was about seven years ago.

stic.man says: I’m pretty sure it was in Brownsville. It was sometime around ‘96 or ‘97. I have an older brother who’s been addicted to cocaine for like 17 years. It doesn’t matter what we try to do, same shit. I remember I was in the bathroom looking in the mirror after I got off the phone with my mom about the latest fiasco. I just broke down. I remember looking at myself in the mirror like this ain’t going to change it. So I just decided to get that out of the box and not waste my energy. He is still struggling with it, man.

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

M-1 says: It was at a sixth-grade dance. I wanted to look Michael Jackson cool, but I couldn’t afford Michael Jackson stuff. So my mama got me damn near the closest I could get. At the time they had these pants with the little piping down the side and mine had this yellow piping. I threw on a white shirt, my hair was already out, but I threw some curl juice stuff in there and I brushed it back on the side and made a little [picks out a piece of hair] thoing! And then I threw my collars up. I thought I was doing it! [Laughs.] Everybody at the dance was laughing at me hard, but I danced with her though. So it worked.

stic.man says: It was at a university in Florida. I wasn’t a student, never been to college, but I would be at the college. Eat free food, taking classes, and all types of shit. So there was a contest with people from New York, Philly who felt like they had a monopoly on hip-hop. So I was performing there. At this time Kwame was popular, so I got this blazer from my father’s closet, which was green or yellow or some shit. Had a pair of Hammer pants, and some patent-leather shoes. I was so confident that day! [Laughs.] I was rapping over Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison.” Man, as soon as I got on the fucking stage with my outfit? Mu’fuckas were just like, “Boo!” And then the beat came on, I tried to rap like two bars and then…“Boo! Get out of here!” I got totally booed off the place.

DJ Green Lantern: I had a red and green Wu-Wear leather jacket. It was fly as shit. I loved it. But I wore it a little too long though. It was a year too late to wear the Wu-Wear. So I walked pass a bunch of shorties in the mall and I hear snickering and laughing. And as I get about 20 to 30 feet away I just hear, “Wu-Wear! Hahahahaha.” It brought me down a notch like, “Damn, I’m taking this fucking coat off.”

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Tell us about your craziest tour experience.

M-1: Does it have to relate to the fact that we were actually performing? Because when we go to Brazil we’ll just do two shows but we’ll be out there for ten days. [Laughs.] I guess that’s a tour.

stic.man: You reminded me. We met this dude Carthur at a music function and he was like, “Let’s go see the city.” He took us to the top of this mountain with only one way up. So we get to top right? We back up, turn the lights off, and then it quiets down. All of a sudden all these dudes with rifles come out pointing at our car! Then my man Carthur looked back at us and started laughing like, “Ah! I got you!” And when we get out, he’s like the general of this army. Now this place had little dudes with MK-45s, heroin packets on the floor, dudes with AKs on the lookout. And when they took us in, they started playing Miami bass music. It was crazy.

M-1: Police is not a factor there. People who run the particular favelas are the people who are most armed. So everybody has guns. Women were dancing with 9 mm handguns in their bikini straps. The area that we went to was controlled by Comando Vermelho [Brazilian criminal organization]. That’s why the area is called C.V.

Complex: Then what’s the most gutter hood you’ve been to?

M-1: Well, places like Alexandria in South Africa was a township that was created out of nothing. And they are still living in the dirt. I’m talking about people’s houses [stands two books next to each other] with no tops, but just two sides. Like a lot of them are built that way, but there’s like a million people that stay in these. So if you can imagine that kind of poverty spread that far wide…

stic.man: Imagine this. I think it was Soweto? First of all, it was like millions of tires burning so you can’t even fucking breathe. It is total poverty. Katrina or even worse. People there were like, “Come to my house. We’re going to make ya’ll dinner.” I got my hair braided, got some cornrows. You couldn’t tell how fucked up it was from people’s vibe. Everybody was sharing, giving you shit, even though it was the hood. People didn’t lose the community spirit.

M-1: Like Korogocho in Nairobi. These people don’t even have cribs. They live on sofas.

stic.man: Now mind you, we’ve been through all this shit right? War-torn impoverished shit. But I got robbed in Minnesota. [Laughs.]

Complex: You got robbed?

stic.man: Yea, like Boyz N The Hood. Real talk, I was rolling a blunt in the car and I dropped the inside of the shit all over the floor. So my girl’s sister who was driving pulled over and went to get another blunt. My head was down picking the shit up and then something told me like, “Hey, look up.” And when I looked up I see a gun in the driver side and they had it pulled up right next to me. I was just thinking like, “N*gga, might be trying to get a rep.” I had some food stamps. These n**ggas wanted my food stamps. They snatched that shit. And it was a shotgun so I thought, “Buckshots going to spread. If they bust? I’m fucked up.” And when I hunched down to make an attempt to get out the car, they drove off.

With buzz going around about her being a younger version of Alicia Keys, we decided to meet up and tap in on what the Laura Izibor hype was about through the Complex 7 experience. Read on to see her take on narcissistic men, Prince’s shoes, what gets her in the mood and more…

Interview by Grace Efuwape

#1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND?

Laura Izibor says: I think vanity. I think if a guy spends longer in the mirror than me and catches himself in every reflection, I just can’t stand it. I can’t even be friends with somebody like that. Just you know, look after himself, look in the mirror, “I’m cool” and out the door. That’s it. All the guys, they’re always fixing themselves in every reflection and that’s just so unattractive to me.

#2: WHAT TYPE OF FOOTWEAR WOULD MAKE YOU COMPLETELY DISMISS A MAN AS A POTENTIAL HOOK-UP?

Laura Izibor says: You know those Prince-like boots that have the heel? The only sound you should hear are my heels. They’re kind of half-cowboy, half-… it’s just like [stomps heels.] Imagine that. You’d be like “oh my God, change”. I’ve actually seen a lot of them. It’s scary. It’s kind of a height thing to get the extra, you know. [Laughs.]

#3: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RAP ALBUM?

Laura Izibor says: The one I can’t stop listening to right now is T.I.’s Paper Trail. That’s the truth. It’s great, every song. “No Matter What,” just those drums. It’s crazy.

#4: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD OR HANGOVER REMEDY?

Laura Izibor says: I don’t really drink, so it’s chocolate, any kind of chocolate. Ice cream, anything. I just raided the mini-bar yesterday!

#5: WHAT’S THE MOST EFFECTIVE APHRODISIAC FOR YOU?

Laura Izibor says: Music. There is nothing sexier than a sexy ass song to get you. Have you ever heard the song “Cry To Me” by Solomon Burke? Seen Dirty Dancing? [Starts singing.] It’s the scene, THE scene. That one, any Al Green song, Marvin Gaye, “Let’s Get It On.” When you hear a sexy song, that to me is the song where you’re like ‘oooooh’. A great-looking guy could walk into the room and the music can make it so hot but if he just stands there, it doesn’t do anything. The music can just bring everything to life.

#6: WHO’S A CHILDHOOD CRUSH YOU CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HAD?

Laura Izibor says: [Laughs.] Well, see, I still think he’s still kinda cute, though. [Laughs.] I used to love Will Smith, but now he’s kind of more cute and still kind of does this goofy thing. He was actually more goofier younger—in Independence Day, I was like, “I wanna marry that man”. I don’t believe I have any major embarrassing ones; maybe I’ve just like blocked it out of my brain so badly.

#7: WHO’S YOUR WOMAN CRUSH?

Laura Izibor says: Everybody always says Angelina Jolie, but she’s so skinny these days. When she came out as Lara Croft she was rocking it. Do you know who just has a continuous sex appeal like 24/7? Gabrielle Union. She is just so sexy all the time ’cause she’s smirking with her eyes; she’s cute but you know she’s not just cute.

We made the trek up to Yonkers recently to listen to the album and chat with the L.O.X.—probably the friendliest-but-gangsta dudes in all of hip-hop. They got so-called “street cred” for days yet are all legitimate family men with kids. In our latest Complex 7, we spoke to Jada, Sheek and Styles about past break-ups, family trips, and shiny suits, as well as which L.O.X. member would win a group fistfight…

Interviews by Jaeki Cho
#1: WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Jadakiss says: She just has to have a good personality besides looks.

Styles P says: I need a chick who understands me and accepts me for me. I’m from the streets, so I’ve seen hoodrats but I’ve been with my wife since the beginning of my career. There were definitely temptations and I’ve been through my ups and downs. You just need to have a good foundation. At the end of the day you need somebody you feel comfortable talking to.

Sheek Louch says: I would have to say her family. She could have a certain image, but when you get to meet the rest of her family you’ll get to know a lot about her. I ain’t talking about rich, I’m talking about aunties or uncles not running around wilding.

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

Jadakiss says: By finding out without her telling me. [Cringes.] She was feeling somebody else the hard way!

Styles P says: I was with my wife kind of young. Before that I didn’t have many relationships. I had a couple but those were in high school and I was on the streets so I was never a sucker for love.

Sheek Louch says: Probably some regular shit that young men go through. Chicks cheating! You find out later on like, “Oh, word? She is fucking him? Damn…” [Laughs.] Some high school shit. I’ve gotten my heart broken a thousand times by bitches.

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

Jadakiss says: I’ll chill, play basketball, shop, and watch sports.

Styles P says: Chill with the family—play-fight, video games, and Scrabble. I do family trips. I’ve been to St. Thomas, Bahamas…Last family trip was a month and a half ago when I drove to Cape Cod.

Sheek Louch says: I was going to say, man. I’m in a dying need for a vacation right now. I’ll take my whole family down somewhere and I’ll bring my mom too so she can help out watching my son. [Laughs.] I was about to head down to Cabo in Mexico until all this swine flu shit took place.

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

Jadakiss says: I just need water and cranberry juice.

Styles P says: Soy milk, fruits, juice, no liquor, I got a wine cooler but that shit is barely ever full. I’m not big on beers. I’m trying to stay in shape.

Sheek Louch says: Chopped turkey meat. Countless boxes of cereal everywhere for the kids, milk…

#5: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Jadakiss says: When my grandmother died. She passed away last year. We lost a couple close figures last year.

Styles P says: That’s a good fucking question. I cried a couple months ago thinking about my pops and my brother. My pops recently passed not even a year ago so thinking about that made me cry. Sometimes they are tears of joy too. It’s a blessing that they are in a better place. I’m human you know? I grew up close to both of my parents.

Sheek Louch says: Probably when my grandmother passed away a couple years ago. I don’t do too much movies with Kleenexes sobbing. [Laughs.] And when my son was born! Just like, “Look at this little n****!”

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

Jadakiss says: Shiny suit. It’s actually all good. All of them things were experiences. I would probably do it now being that all of the good and bad that came out of it. I would do it just for the love.

Styles P says: You know what it was with the shiny shit? People didn’t have beef with the shiny shit until we had beef with the shiny shit. People thought that shit was dope. It was still a good look. It was just something not to be done all the time. We just needed something to say against at the time.

Sheek Louch says: Now that I think about the shiny suits back then with Puff…It put us in a different tax bracket, man. We didn’t understand it then, I still don’t understand it now, but it took us to another level.

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

Jadakiss says: Air Force 1s and Jordans. Neck-and-neck. I like the Air Jordan VIIs.

Styles P says: It’s hard to say because a pair of Air Jordan I’s is crazy, a pair of Air Jordan VII is crazy too. I don’t have a particular favorite one. I like shits like these [points at his sneakers]. These are typical Prada joggers.

Sheek Louch says: Jordans. Shout out to my man Reggie from Jordan. Jordan staff, they send us so much stuff and show us so much love, man.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: Now that DMX is out of jail does D-Block have any plans to work with him?

Styles P: If X wants? Hell yea! That’s our homie forever.

Sheek Louch: I’ll love to work with X, man. You got to understand where we are in the Yonkers. Right down the street is the hood and a bit down is School Street where [DMX] is from. I’m just saying that because he is a legend. Before the standpoint the masses know of DMX, in Yonkers people knew he was crazy with it.

Jadakiss: Yeah, look out real soon. I don’t want to speak on it too early. I haven’t talked to the Dog yet, but it is coming. You’re going to see him real soon. When I say real soon, I mean real soon. In the next couple of weeks you’ll see it. It’ll be a big thing.

Complex: You guys have known each other since grade school. If you guys get into a fistfight who would win?

Styles P: Louch is definitely the biggest but I don’t know, I’m dangerous. [Quiets down.] But Louch too big, so I’ll give it to Sheek. It would be a long one though.

Jadakiss: Me of course! But we wouldn’t get into fistfights. Not since we’ve been grown men.

Sheek Louch: Jada and Styles will beat me up, man. They got it. [Laughs.] I do my little workout that’s it.

VIDEO: D-Block feat. S.I., “Get That Paper”

The NYC-born, Minnesota-raised DJ got his first break as a teenager when Stretch Armstrong introduced him to Steve Rifkind. The SRC owner liked young Skee’s ideas, and eventually brought him on as a consultant. Since then, Skee has helped launch the careers of Akon and The Game. Recently we got a chance to chat with Skee for another round of The Complex 7 in which he professed his love for Jordans and discussed how he put Chris Cornell on to Twitter. To read Skee’s answers and hear a snippet from his new tape, see below…


Snippet from The Demo Tape by DJ Drama, DJ Skee & R. Kelly

Interview by Jaeki Cho

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

DJ Skee says: Girls who are around for the wrong intentions. Especially in L.A. it’s tough because they are so many actors and singers. And their looks matter. I might sound superficial, but I’m just being real.

#2: WHAT’S THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

DJ Skee says: I could be a jerk sometimes. I just turn my phone off and be an asshole.

#3: WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

DJ Skee says: I’m not going to lie. I’m sensitive. I don’t recall what it was, but I know it wasn’t a romantic comedy. [Laughs.] I was probably watching a rerun of Forrest Gump. That’s real, man. When Bubba dies? Man…

#4: IF YOU HAD A WEEK-LONG HOLIDAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

DJ Skee says: I’m dreaming someday when I could literally leave my phone home and just go to an island with a dope-ass spa in a nice hotel. Hang out, get on the beach all day and get a massage. Just do nothing and get your mind right.

#5. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SNEAKER OF ALL TIME?

DJ Skee says: Air Jordan XI. The first shoe I ever got was the Air Jordan X. Those were all right; I just got them to say that I have a pair of Jordans. But when the XIs came out? Those shut the game down. Shoes are like wine—some age well, some don’t. But Jordan XI is a classic. It actually looks better over time. So I literally have a hundred pairs of Jordan XIs in my room in various colors. And as a kid I had a Jordan XI in black and white, but couldn’t get the red and black. So when they retro’d those, I bought literally like 40 pairs.

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

DJ Skee says: I really can’t remember this one. [Laughs.]

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

DJ Skee says: Well, I don’t drink liquor and I don’t even drink soda. So all I have is water and juice.

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: What’s the latest mixtape that you are coming out with?

DJ Skee: I got one with Chris Cornell. It’s kind of like a mash-up with hip-hop, rock and soul. The new album that Timbaland produced for [Chris Cornell] got some backlash. I mean Chris Cornell from Soundgarden has one of the greatest voices in rock history, but rap fans just aren’t familiar with him. People just don’t open their ears. This mixtape is going to have all the old and new rock and hip-hop mash ups just to show that, “Yo, good music is good music.”

Complex: How did you get to work with Chris Cornell?

DJ Skee: His camp actually hit me up. He is just a super cool, workaholic dude. We just premiered [Chris Cornell’s] video “Long Gone” that we directed. I was the first person who really got him on Twitter. Now he has like 300,000 followers in a month. He didn’t know what it was and he didn’t know how to reply back to people with certain stuff. So I just took a day out, went to his house, showed him how to use it through BlackBerry and showed him how to upload pictures. He is addicted to it now. Even at KIIS-FM, I was in a meeting and I was like, “Twitter’s the next thing.” And everyone was like, “What is Twitter?” Now everybody’s on it.

Hungry for rock with theatrical flair but don’t enjoy the taste of 61-year-old Meat Loaf? Feast your ears on the music of Brooklyn, NY-based Jon “Corn Mo” Cunningham and his band .357 Lover. Like Meat Loaf, Corn Mo has a quirky style that has been aptly described as a mash-up of “circus music, glam rock and humorous novelty songs.” Furthermore, his live shows feature sparkly suits and the kind of showmanship associated with ‘Loaf, Queen’s Freddy Mercury or David Lee Roth.

After two early-millennium solo albums and time spent touring as part of The Polyphonic Spree, Mo got with .357 Lover and dropped an EP, Your Favorite Hamburger is a Cheeseburger, in 2007. The group is currently working on its debut LP, Diorama of the Golden Lion, and a rock opera titled Alice Wakeman, for summer. They also just signed on to be Triumph the Insult Comic Dog’s backing band at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, so you know they’re good…for you to poop on! Complex pulled Corn Mo away from all his mad creationism to see what he’d do with The Complex 7. Continue on to see video of the man doing his inimitable thing and check out his answers…

#1: WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND?

Corn Mo says: She hates Rush. But pretty much every girl hates Rush actually… So, she hates David Lee Roth? I had an argument with a friend who said he liked Sammy Hagar better than David Lee Roth. I asked him if he could name every Sammy Hagar Van Halen song, and he couldn’t, but I could name every Van Halen song with David Lee Roth, so…

#2: WHAT WAS THE WORST WAY YOU’VE BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE?

Corn Mo says: I’ve never broken up with anybody. Oh wait! No, I did! The worst way was I called up this girl in 10th grade and told her we were broken up, and then I started messing around with her sister. It was awesome! The [second] sister got mad at me for breaking up with her sister, but then we ended up making out in the band supply closet. The girl I broke up with married one of my best friends in my rock band.

#3: WHAT HAS TO BE IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR AT ALL TIMES?

Corn Mo says: There’s a German sweet mustard that I really like but I can’t remember the name of it. I like to have that with any kind of meats, sandwiches, cabbages. I have a sweet tooth and I like mustard, so it takes two tastes I like to the next level. It’s a good, fun mouth thing to have.

#4: WHAT WAS THE MOST EMBARRASSING FASHION MOMENT FOR YOU?

Corn Mo says: I dressed up like a hobo in my dad’s old clothes with dirty makeup on for Halloween and went to a party, but there was no Halloween party, so I had to play it off like it was my regular clothes. I was in like second grade. I showed up and people were like, “What is that? Makeup?” And I was like, “No, it’s dirt.”

#5: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ALL-TIME SNEAKER?

Corn Mo says: Kangaroos. They had the zipper on the side. I used to put change in mine—it’s too small for a condom—and when I had ‘em I was too young for condoms.

#6: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD A WEEK-LONG HOLIDAY?

Corn Mo says: I’d go to space and get drunk; I don’t think anybody’s really done it. I’ve been drunk in a lot of places around the world but never space in zero gravity. I imagine I’d start out thinkin’ it was fun, then vomit and realize it wasn’t a good idea and wish I’d decided on doin’ something else.

#7: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Corn Mo says: Uh, fuck, I know this one! I was watching the end of Step Brothers, the scene where Will Ferrell starts singing that [Andrea] Bocelli song and it makes his stepdad remember the time that he met his mom. The turning point towards the end of a movie always gets me.

Corn Mo in action: