ARTFORM

I know it´s a stupid way to start an interview but... for those who don´t know you, introduce yourself.

J-Zone aka Captain Back$lap... The Tom Jones of rap, the 2003 Bobby Brown, pay me or disappear!

I´ve just read in your site you are just back after chilling under the sun with Angelina Jolie, Does that mean it didn´t work with Lucy Liu?

Yup. She was takin too long. She missed the oportunity to be with a superstar!

Ok, let´s stop the bullshit and get to the point. Two years later, your fourth album is to drop this summer, what can you tell us about it? (are you, as usual, gonna share the lyrics with Al and Hug? Is there gonna be any other guests? Release date... talk all you want about it)

The album is called “$ick of Bein Rich”. It´s a little different from the older stuff. Hug wasn´t on it this time around, he´s doin his own thing, but we´re still cool. I got Al-Shid, on it, King T, J-Ro (of Tha Liks), Celph Titled, Masta Ace, Copywrite and Dick $tallion. Look for it in July. First single is “5-Star Hooptie” in May.

What can we expect of that new album? Is there any change in the style or you still are the same “full os S-H-I-T” guy(as your grandma said) you were two years ago?

A lil change with the beats... I been tryin to work with a slight change in the production style, you´ll see. On the mic...look, I don´t try to save the world, I never did. I´m still runnin my mouth and talkin trash. Ignorant nonsense, but it´s hilarious. You´ll love it. Buy it

Though it´s hard for me to understand all you say ( because of a matter of language ) I can´t help breaking my jaws laughing everytime I listen to your stuff. How do you deal with that topics? I mean, You sit around a table with Al, Hug and some booze and drop it or you are a lonely brainstormer (you lock down in your room with some beer, some porn and some weed and wait for inspiration to come)?

We all wrote our rhymes separately. I came up with a lot of the concepts, then whoever was rappin on the song would go back and execute. I actually write to silence, no beat, and do whole songs in an hour or two...Then don´t do another one for 3 months

Why only Al and Hug rap in your albums? Is there something sexual on it or it´s just you trust no one else to fit your music?

Huh? Thats a weird question. What do you mean by that?

What kind of equipment you use to make your music?

Mpc-2000, Planet Earth Sound Module, Crates, Da-88 tape machines, turntable, cd turntable, dat player, F/X & compressors, mixing board, the enviroment, anybody or anything I can grab. No computer though!

What kind of stuff you check to get the samples? Music? Tv? Films?

Silent films.

You use to say you don´t want to be underground forever. Does that mean you want to blow up the spot as Eminem o you just want all the money you can get without letting your pants drop?

Not necessarily. Actually, I don´t think I could handle being a big star cause when I´m in the store or playing basketball at the park, I don´t like to be bothered. I do want that money though!...But fuck the fame.

Talking about business, how is “old maid” working?

It´s good, can´t complain. Makin a living doin what I love to do, that´s all that matters. I´m having fun, even with the music business shady shit that goes on.

Is there much difference between being behind boards and behind a table running your business?

No, not at all. I need to do both to give myself a balance. Paperwork can be a pain in the ass, but sometimes it relaxes me when I´m in a musical slump.Either way I bust my ass in both jobs to get shit right.

What would you say is your main goal as an artist? And as a businessman?

Artist: to have fun, do the music I like, work with some of the people I grew up listening to and make a mark for the rap history books.

Business man: to make some damn money and set myself up to buy a cadillac and retire early. And never work a day job again!!

Now let´s talk about history, which is your favoutite album ever?

Ever? Kool and The Gang “Music is the Message”. In rap? Ice Cube “Amerikkka´s Most Wanted”.

And the one you would have like to produce?

Any of Kool G. Rap´s albums.

And what about the record you would like to produce? I mean, what mcs would be in it, would you handle the whole production or you would like to work with any other producer...?

I´d produce it alone. Honestly, my new album is what I´ve always dreamed of. I got some of my favorites on there as guests. The only people I would add that I couldn´t get would be Project Pat, Suga Free, Devin the Dude and Kool G. Rap. Add those 4 to my new album and that would be the one.

What´s rocking your discman or you HI-FI at the moment?

The complete catalog of St. Ides Malt Liquor Commercials, Devin the Dude, Mickey and the Soul Generation.

Are you feeling the status of hip hop nowadays? I mean, the different ways hip hop is going (Anticon, Def Jux, ... and in the other side, Eminem, Jay-z...)

I´m kinda out of the scene. I don´t listen to much new hip hop. I spent the last 7 months workin on an album and when I do that, I cut out all current hip hop. I just got the Devin album, The Dock and 50 Cent yesterday. That´s my first time hearin any new stuff for a long time. I´m just focusin on myself and I listen to a lotta early 90´s rap and old gansta rap albums.

Have you ever thought including Spain ( preferably Madrid, J) the next time you go on tour? ( This year people like El-p, RJD2, Mr. Lif, Sage Francis, Sole,... are including us among the chosen few)

I haven´t heard from any promoters, but I´d love to. I´ll party real hard, get real drunk and have to get escorted out the country!

Have you ever been here?

Nope.

Do you take your time looking for the hip hop done out of the States? If you do, what have you heard and what do you think about it.

I´m in the UK often and I been to Australia, Iceland, France and a lotta other places and I always hear stuff. Some of the producers, especially in the UK, are real dope. The Djs overseas are incredible. I´ll admit, I have a tough time with the accents, but I´ve rapped on tracks alongside UK artists and if the flowin good, it´s all good.

Now some little questions. Beer or bozze?

Booze! I hate beer. Always hated beer. I like vodka and rum.

Cigarrettes, weed or mint chewing gum?

Gum. I rarely smoke weed and I never smoked a cigarette before. I can´t stand teh smell.

Ok, it´s just to make sure you´ll have lots of this waiting for you if you decide to come to visit us to Madrid. I hope the interview wasn´t too long! Spit your last words for all the readers.

J-Zone loves Spain, even though I never been there. Much respcet, and bring my ass out there for a show so I can drink up the liquor and meet some fine women!

Thank you very much for blessing the site with this interview J . It´s the first, I hope it won´t be the last. Peace!!!

No prob, cousin.

NACHO