Interview by Justin "Lunatic 63" Melo

We go from the very beginning of Slip Capone’s career, his first ever professional recorded song which ofcourse appeared on the infamous “Murder Was the Case” soundtrack while Slip was still a young teenager. We then take it to the present where you can learn about the multiple projects Slip is currently prepping! 

At the end of the interview, check out the FOUR MP3 tracks Slip Capone was nice enough to allow us to give to our readers!

Q: We’re here speaking with Slip Capone. It’s been a while since we last heard from you so start us off by letting everyone know how you’re doing.

I’m good; I’m out here on the grind, just working. 

Q: Let’s start off at the beginning of your career, how old where you when you appeared on the “Murder was the Case” soundtrack?

I was four-teen years old. 

Q: Wow that is young. How did it feel to be so young and to be working on such a monumental project?

It was good, but at the time I didn’t know that the project was going to be as big as it was. Snoop (Dogg) wasn’t Snoop back then the way he is now and nobody knew what the project was going to do; plus as a kid, you kind of overlook shit like that. 

Q: Now that you’re a grown man and have fully taken in the experience, how does it all feel looking back on that?

It’s a beautiful thing; I love the fact that my song was right next to (DJ) Quik’s song because (DJ) Quik is one of my favorite artists; I was just honored to have a record back to back with his. 

Q: That is quite the honor. You were you ever officially signed to Death Row?

Nope, I was never officially signed to Death Row because I was underage; I just took some cheese under the table. Some people say that I got cheated and didn’t get enough money, but at four-teen, five-ten thousand dollars goes a long way. 

Q: Absolutely, I wish I had that kind of money at that age.

You’re absolutely right; it did a lot of good for all the pussy throughout high school. 

Q: (laughs) but you did record some tracks over at the Death Row studios besides that one, is that correct?

Oh yeah, I did a few unreleased joints with 2Pac that are probably floating around somewhere. 

Q: Do you think will ever get to hear those unreleased tracks?

I’m sure they’ll be released on 2Pac records all the way up until I die. I’m sure one or two will trickle out somewhere. 

Q Ok. Let’s get into the present, its come to my attention that you are currently working on many projects, give us the rundown on that.

I have my hands full, I’m getting dirty. I have about six songs on the new Bad Azz album that’ll be out sometime this summer and its off the chain – me and Bad Azz are buddies, we work together continuously so you can expect many Slip Capone and Bad Azz tracks. 

I have my solo record that I did while I was on LA Confidential that I am releasing through Paypal on my myspace page so it doesn’t go to waste. 

Then I have another record called “Kill the Industry” that I am shopping around for a deal to release. 

Then I have an EMO hip-hop record under the name of Slip Vicious, that’s like my baby and I’m really proud of that. All the EMO fans can get a little gangster stuff out of that. 

And then I have a compilation called “3 Ring Circus” which is showcasing a lot of west coast artists that are unsigned or didn’t get the proper recognition. 

Q: So the 3 Ring Circus project is going to be a compilation?

Yeah, I’m headlining it though. 

Q: Which of those projects do you anticipate you’ll be releasing first?

Whichever one the labels want to hand me a million dollars for (laughs). I am leaning towards releasing “Kill the Industry” first. I have been sitting down with these majors and I have five albums for them to choose from – just roll the dice and pick one. 

Q: Can you speak on any of the majors you’ve been meeting with?

I had a little meeting with Universal; I’ve been talking to a few little people at Def Jam but everything is still up in the air. 

Q: That is a good look, we wish you the best with that.

Most definitely, thank you. 

Q: What do you hope to achieve with all these projects?

First off, I want my city to get recognized; I’m from Hawthorne. I get tired of turning on the radio and hearing South Central, Long Beach, Compton, Watts; Inglewood; you can’t even get to Compton from Inglewood without coming through Hawthorne. Everybody knows somebody in Hawthorne or has a baby momma in Hawthorne; I didn’t move to Hawthorne, I’m from Hawthorne and I represent its locals. I rock the Hawthorne hat like Eazy-E rocked the Compton hat; I want to see that on the map. 

I also want to upgrade the gangster status of hip-hop because people act like gangsters don’t have lyrical skills – they act like we don’t put it down like the underground cats like Atmosphere, Murs or that we don’t have the political views as Mos Def or Talib Kweli; if you listen to any of my albums, you’ll see that we do. 

We are not just some dumb niggas from the west coast in Khaki suits; we have flow – well some of us do and I represent the percentage of us that do. 

Q: Well I agree that you’re a good look for the west coast in terms of being a gangster rapper with dope lyrics.

Right, thank you; I just want the rest of the world to acknowledge that through these projects too. 

Q: I’m sure they will, especially if you have situations on the table with Universal and Def Jam.

Right and part of that was the intention of me doing the Slip Vicious record just to get the EMO crowd and the old school punk people getting involved in hip-hop more than you usually see as a whole. I’m not with things being so adverse because they’re diverse. A good record is a record; I don’t care if Green Day made it or if Snoop or Quik made it; if it’s banging; it’s banging. 

Q: Are you concerned with how the mainstream public might react to the EMO album?

I mean me personally, I don’t give a fuck; but me publicly, and I know what I see. A lot of these EMO kids, they like that Soulja Boy crank that and shit; they get gangster with it. I just want to bridge the gap. A lot of people might look at it like “cuzz kind of dress funny sometimes” or “he isn’t as gangster as we thought he would be by his dress code” but don’t judge a book by its cover and the clothes don’t make the man.   I’m gangster, it doesn’t matter what size jeans I’m wearing that day. 

Q: I agree that the clothes doesn’t matter.

Yeah. 

Q: What’s your current relationship with Timebomb?

Timebomb is my fellow rider gangster; we went to elementary school together - we still kick it in Memorial park together. Timebomb is working on a record as well; we’re at different places a lot though. Everyone could definitely look forward to a Timebomb, Slip Capone, J-Flow and J-3; that’s all Hawthorne related. 

Q: And is Timebomb working on anything right now?

Timebomb is working his ass off; I believe he’s in the studio right now. 

Q: We’re certainly going to have to interview Timebomb as well.

 Oh yeah, I can most definitely hook that up for you; that’s nothing. 

Q: For sure, will do that.

We can knock that out next week; when I eat, he eats. 

Q: You were signed with Timebomb to LA Confidential Records with Knoc-turn’al, which was at the time one of the most up and coming labels on the west coast.

Your right, they had potential. 

Q: Yeah they did.

They dropped the ball. 

Q: What do you feel went wrong?

We had a little bit of an egotistical CEO and they’re where a lot of creative differences. People want to put you in an image and say you’re too gangster or not gangster enough. I don’t do too well with conformity and I don’t follow the rules or respect authority too well. 

It came down to a head butting contest and at the end of the day, I walked out. I did my whole career there, walked out with nothing and didn’t give a fuck. 

Q: I don’t blame you. I think it was after the Knoc-turn’al “Way I Am” album dropped, they scrapped the label.

Well they totally dropped the ball on that album. I mean Knoc-turn’al really gave them a beautiful record; if you go back and listen to that album - it has passed the test of time as being a west coast classic. But marketing, promotion and people – the industry fucked that album up. 

Q: I am a big Knoc-turn’al fan and love that album and I’m well aware of how they messed up the promotion of that album.

Yeah, Knoc-turn’al is a musical genius and there will be future Slip Capone/Knoc-turn’al collaborations surfacing, many of them. 

What up Knoc! 

Q: Does that mean you’ve been in recent contact with Knoc?

I am trying to get back in contact with him. I haven’t spoke to Knoc since we parted ways, but everybody at LA Confidential just walked out because it was such a bad situation. All of the artists still and probably always will have love together; I and Timebomb are still working and I and Knoc are definitely going to be working. 

I believe Yykes is about to parole in about a month or two so I am going to throw him in all of my situations. He is a damn good rapper and my nigga! 

Q: Damn, I was wondering what was going on with Yykes; He is going to be released from prison soon?

Maybe one month, maybe three; it all depends on how he does on the county on that process out. 

Q: Well there’s another interview you’re going to have to hook up (laughs).

Oh yeah, don’t even trip; I have you all the way like you have me. 

 Q: I appreciate it, it’s a beautiful thing. Well I am going to try and get Knoc-turn’al to get at you, that’s on the record.

Oh yeah, make that happen. Tell Knoc I need some verses and some hooks. 

Q: Some rumors suggested that you were on the original version of “Pen Bound” alongside 2Pac, is that true?

Oh yeah, I was on that. 

Q: You were on that?

Yeah I was on that. 

Q: Why was your verse and Pac’s verse removed from the original version?

You know what, I am not sure. I believe Daz (Dillinger) has the original, so I’m just going to bootleg it (laughs). It might have had something to do with me being underage, or me being unsigned, it might have had something to do with Death Row just not liking how it came out; but yeah I and Pac got down on that, he was always looking out for me on tracks. 

I was suppose to be on that damn “Initiated as an Outlaw” but me being an idiot, I said “nah there’s too many people on this song; I don’t want an eight bar verse, I want a six-teen; I don’t want to rap on this. Fuck it I won’t do it.” I should have damn sure jumped on it. 

Q: We all make mistakes.

(laughs) yeah. 

Q: you’ve mentioned 2Pac a few times in this interview and you said he looked out for you; what is the best memory you have of 2Pac?

My best memory of hanging out with 2Pac was sitting in the Oakwood apartment and watching “The Mack” every night, which was his movie. If you hung out with Pac at his house, you were going to watch that because that was his favorite. 

My favorites were “JD’s Revenge” and “The education of Sunny Carson.” But Pac was a mack kind of guy. 

Q: Which artists are you currently feeling on the west coast right now?

That’s a dangerous question because I’m not feeling too much shit. I like more of the underground stuff. There’s a guy everyone has to be checking for by the name of NME; he’s off the chain. Red-Rum from Banging on Wax, he’s such a gangster rapper that he doesn’t get the lyrical credit he deserves, he’s off the hook. There’s a little EMO kid by the name of Intention from Huntington Beach; check his myspace, he’s off the chain – straight shock value too, he is dope as fuck. 

I’m with the underground you know? I think Sly Boogy is off the hook, he does his thing. Strong Arm Steady and Xzibit are dope; Ras Kass as well. 

I listen to a lot of east coast shit too; Mos Def and Talib Kweli are forces to reckon with; I’d like to hear more of Marley G, that’s my boy and I’d like to hear him put more records out. I am going to try and get him on my record – I heard he’s been kicking with Roscoe, Kurupt’s little brother.  I’m out here checking for him, I’m calling the streets. 

Q: Now you mentioned Kurupt and Roscoe, what’s your current relationship like with Tha Dogg Pound?

Kurupt and Daz (Dillinger) are like my big brothers. I am writing some songs for the new Daz (Dillinger) album, they’re will be some new Slip Capone popping up on that new Daz (Dillinger) album. I and Kurupt are like master and apprentice and I’m in my prime right now; he did a great job. 

Q: You mention being on the new Daz album, will that be ghost writing or will you have some vocals?

I’m going to have a bit of both. 

Q: What’s your current relationship like with Dr. Dre?

I mean (Dr.) Dre is on a pedestal, he’ll fuck with you if he wants to fuck with you. I’d love to do more work with him in the future, but (Dr.) Dre doesn’t really check for me. 

Q: Hopefully he’ll call you in soon for the Detox record.

He should - if he had of, it’d be done by now. 

Q: That would be a good look.

Oh yeah, I got love for Dr. Dre. 

Dr. Dre: call me cuzz! 

Q: (laughs). Do you have any last words for the fans before I let you go?

Check for my myspace, I respond back. It’s www.myspace.com/slipcapone. There’s only one of them, I hit everybody; I talk to my folks, I holler.  I’m real in the streets and I have a lot on my plate right now, I’m working on a lot of projects. Check for me and my homie Bad Azz projects that are dropping. Check for the whole Hawthorne movement. Check for my EMO gangster movement and you’re going to be hearing from me a lot more frequently; get used to it.
 

As promised, here are the four tracks from Slip Capone himself:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "MIND ON MY MONEY"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "STARVIN' ARTIST"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "SELDEM SCEEN" 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "DA BUIZNESS"  

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