Raptalk.Net caught up with lyrical assassin Roscoe while he was on his way to support Warren G at a concert in Hollywood. Needless to say, it must have been a long ride because Roscoe spoke to us about every detail any fan would love to know about him.

Read this interview in story format; from how hip-hop caught his attention as a youngin, the deal with Capitol Records and the release of his debut album "Young Roscoe Philaphornia" and what happened over at Capitol with the promotion of that album. 

Everybody knows Roscoe was than in an unfortunate car accident that nearly took his life. Learn about that experience and his sophomore album "I Luv Cali."

Finally, Roscoe has two new projects dropping on September 30th and yes you guessed it, Raptalk.net has all the details! 

RAPTALK.NET: We’re here with Roscoe; how is it going right now?

Real big! What up Raptalk.Net!? I’m real funky-fresh, just chilling over here; single as a pringle! Workin’ on records, it’s a beautiful thing! (Laughs)

RAPTALK.NET: You began going to the studio with your older brother Kurupt very early on in your life. Tell us about what that felt like for such a young kid and what about hip-hop grabbed you at such a young age?

Wow. I mean hip-hop is a culture and I grew up in the hip-hop culture; it’s a way of life. I think just getting into music was just something I was always interested in. I got up in the studio for the first time when I was ten years old and everyone was workin’ on “Murder Was the Case” (soundtrack) with Snoopy (Snoop Dogg) in like 1994. That was my first time in the studio. We where all little kids, you know what I’m saying? I grew up around the music so it was only a matter of time before I started playing with it and it was only a matter of if I was good or not to see if I should pursue it.

RAPTALK.NET: OK. How old were you when you actually began rapping and taking it seriously?

I started taking rap seriously when I was twelve years old. That’s when I started really writing raps and drinking serious liquor (laughs).

RAPTALK.NET: When did Kurupt, for the first time really show to you that he believed in your skills as a rapper and how did it feel to have that kind of support from not only your older brother, but a popular and skillful rapper?

It’s crazy because I look at it like Kurupt was like a father to me since I was about thirteen years old; he brought me to California and he showed me the ropes. I always looked at him like what you said; I never looked at him like anything different. Most people think because he’s my brother… I look at Kurupt the same way as everyone else does. When he grabbed a mic I’d sit down and be amazed just like everybody else (laughs). The rate you’d imagine it feels like, that’s pretty much exactly what it feels like. You have to work hard to try and stand out.

RAPTALK.NET: You eventually got the deal at Capitol Records. Tell us about how that came about.

They came and bought us out! (Laughs). I had no idea I was going to end up on Capitol Records, that was something that just happened. I just woke up one day and it was like… I was signed to Priority originally when I was fifteen years old. By the time I was sixteen, I was already working on my album. We were on the CNN building from the beginning; right on top of Larry King and Ed McMahon and all of them. Next thing you know, Capitol Records bought us out. I come to pick up the cheques and the address has changed! It was the Capitol building now. I liked being on Capitol. It was a big upstream from Priority; to be on the label that put out acts like Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra, Garth Brooks, and Lisa Marie Presley – big acts like Kylie Monogue. It was definitely a big change to be on Capitol Records.

RAPTALK.NET:  “Young Roscoe Philaphornia” was your debut album released in 2003 on Capitol. How do you feel about that album as you look back on it today?

Wow! That was my baby right there, that album. That was like my first album; you can’t compare any album to your first album. You learn everything right there. It’s the most fundamental time of your career. To me, that was like rap school for me.

RAPTALK.NET:  There’s no doubt it was a good album and you should be very proud of it, but are you happy with the amount of promotion Capitol put into it?

You know what; Capitol did a great job promoting the album. They did a whole lot of work. I’m happy with everything they did. I could have felt like more could have been done afterwards, but I don’t look even look back at it like that. I look back at it like there was a whole lot of politics that no amount of money in the world could surpass these politics. We had a lot of politics going on where everybody that was working together to promote the album had to actually part ways in the middle of promotion. It wasn’t a matter of what Capitol did; it was a matter of the team and the structure behind the project and how that fell apart.

RAPTALK.NET: What was the reason behind some of the people having to part ways?

It was just a lot of creative differences. Capitol is doing there thing now but at that time, they were just getting into the hip-hop game. They were just learning the ropes to the hip-hop game when I was just learning the ropes to the business. It was more of that type of situation where it was like four different record labels all working together to put out one album, it was just too much. You have my company with my momma Rosa Sharon, that me and Kurupt have; and then you got Priority and Capitol, all these people coming together to put out one thing is just too much.

RAPTALK.NET: You left Capitol after the release of that album. Tell us about that decision.

I left Capitol but the whole reason why I left was because… the way they put there albums out when they first got into the hip-hop game was a little different than the way I wanted to get down. They had there differences too. It wasn’t like I left Capitol, it was a mutual decision. I didn’t owe them anything and they didn’t owe me anything. There were no phone calls about it or issues. It was a simple goodbye and handshake with the possibility of doing business again sometime in the future.

RAPTALK.NET: So there was no love lost with Capitol?

No, no love lost. I still love everybody up there. I heard they have a whole new staff up there now. Everybody that was originally there and the people they have there now, I’m pretty sure they have good people. Some of my old, good friends still work there.

RAPTALK.NET:  A little bit after all this happened, you then had a near death experience with a car crash. How did that change you as a person?

It made me get more serious. It made me grow up. It changed me a lot as far as my views on everything as far as friendship goes, as far as family goes, as far as life goes. It’s not promised. You could be here today, gone tomorrow. I made a conscious decision that I was going to re-habilitate myself and get back to 100%. I wasn’t going to let that situation slow me down. It was a scary situation. I’m just glad to be here.

RAPTALK.NET: You then released “I Luv Cali” in 2006; why such a big gap in-between albums?

(Laughs) that’s Dr. Dre teaching right there! You can’t rush shit! You got all these rappers now in days that just want to flood the market and put everything out because it’s like – I guess you know when your window is going to close so people try to make the most out of it while they have it; they want to make the best out of it. I’m like that’s what’s up! I’m going to make the best out of music. I’m not in the game to milk it, I’m not worried about. I’m not broke! (Laughs) I’m not filthy rich, but I’m not broke. I’m not really worried about much as far “I’ve got to tour around the world.” I’m young, I’m twenty-two years old; I’m taking my time until I turn twenty-five. I really want to venture off into this movie game.

RAPTALK.NET:  You didn’t swear at all on your first album and that changed with this project. What led you to make the decision to curse on this album?

(Laughs) when you turn twenty-one, you’re partying! I was just doing what I wanted to do at that time. I really wasn’t being a role model on that album. I was really just enjoying myself, that album was for me. “I Luv Cali” didn’t even sell a gang of records; that was an independent release. I just threw it to the game because I felt like it was time for me to put a record out. My records and my albums are not necessarily for sale; this is what I do for a living, but an artist… when he paints a picture, he doesn’t paint that picture to sell it – it’s what he does to liberate himself. When I go in the studio to make music, I go in there to make stuff that will make me feel good at the end of the day. At that time, I was going through a lot; the separation from the label, the car crash, the whole Death Row incident, we fell out with the homies; there was a lot going on, it was a crazy situation. I personally took it hard and that’s what you do when you’re young, you go through changes and express yourself. I feel like everybody that supported me when I was doing the positive, you have to stay down with me when I’m doing the negative. You have to at least hear me out because I’m expressing myself; that’s what I do through this music. I don’t do this music for anybody else but myself. If I sit down at high school and I’m talking to the kids, you won’t hear any cussing come out of my mouth. If I make a record that’s for the radio, you won’t hear any cussing come out of my mouth. “I Luv Cali” was not for the radio – that was for California and Roscoe first and foremost.

RAPTALK.NET: Good explanation. How do you feel that album stands up against the debut?

Wow. I don’t know because it’s me. At the end of the day when I listen to it, I definitely feel like the songs I did on “I Luv Cali” had the staying power that the songs that I did that “Philaphornia” had. I put more time into “Philaphornia” than I did into “I Luv Cali.” I was a three year hiatus on that album; one day I decided to out an album out – it was summertime and I just started feeling better from my accident and started feeling good again – I had a new job as a President at West Coast Customs Music where I was training all there artists and getting that label together; I was making great money. I was feeling very good. I was like “I got it, I am going to throw an album out and just chalk it to the game, I don’t care what it does.” The songs weren’t from my archives either. I made all of those songs in a week. I made the whole album in a week. I just got in the studio, sat down with Fingazz – I hadn’t seen Fingazz in a long time. There are a lot of reasons why I did that album. We just sat down and banged one out for everybody that loved Roscoe. We called it “I Luv Cali” because that was our big record together. 

RAPTALK.NET: You’re dropping a brand new street album on September the 30th. Give the fans the details on the project at this time.

Oh yeah, you know I’m doing an internet release called “Stray Dog: Off the Leash, Off the Chain Vol.1” which is more of a mixtape/album where I’m putting songs that I wouldn’t put on my mainstream album. There are certain people that like “I Luv Cali” more than my first album. You have two different crowds. “Philaphornia” was me at my finest feeling; I was feeling like a superstar – I was on top. “I Luv Cali” was more like a street album because I was more grown and I was back on the ground and I was back in tune with reality; I was not on a major label, I was really doing my gangsta thing.

September 30^th you’ll get to see more of the “I Luv Cali” Roscoe and then at the same time, I have a new album that I’m prepping for 2009 which is another three year gap. My solo album is going to be a real album that will be on the majors called “Scoedelic.” That’s coming very soon.

RAPTALK.NET: We’re definitely going to get into that new solo album, but how will the new street album be available? Free download or hard copies?

It’s not going to be free download. I was going to make it for free download originally but now I have Itunes and everybody calling me. I have a lot of people hollering at me telling me I mines will sell these records.

I got an album coming out the same with Kurupt, the Roscoe and Kurupt album; that is called “Frank & Jesse James: The Untold Story.” The funny thing is Bun B & Scarface have an album coming out “Frank & Jesse” too. That comes out in stores everywhere September 30^th, the same day as the internet release.

The internet release is just me doing that on the side for all my fans that love to read my blogs and get on the internet. It’s just something for the internet people.

Q: RAPTALK.NET: We have a whole lot of projects going on so let’s clear it up for the fans. On September 30^th, we’re going to get the “Stray Dog: Off the Leash, Off the Chain” street album available on Itunes; on that very same day, we’re also going to have a Kurupt & Roscoe duo album in stores with hard copies.

Exactly!

RAPTALK.NET: Is the “Stray Dog” street album all original material or will it have beats from other songs or free styles?

It’s all original material and that’s what makes it a mixtape/album. All the songs on the album are free styles; half the album is free styles and the other half is hardcore songs from the archives. That’s what makes it more of a mixtape. I wanted to do more hip-hop on the record so I did a lot of free styling; I didn’t use anybody else’s tracks. I used all original tracks but there are a lot of free styles on the album just shit going two minutes straight free style like that.

RAPTALK.NET: And give the fans the details on the Kurupt duo album that is dropping on September 30^th.

It’s a beautiful record! It’s a collaborative effort. It’s out first collaborative effort as a group, me and my brother. We don’t get to see each other as often as we did in the beginning because he’s doing his thing and I’m doing my thing; we’re both putting these records out. That’s what happens when you have a successful act; sooner or later you have your own music that you’re putting out and that’s what Kurupt is going through right now. He’ll be in Japan and I’m over here; Kurupt is in Russia right now! (Editor’s note: interview was done a few weeks ago, unclear if Kurupt is still in Russia). That’s basically what it is; just us in the studio together making good music as brothers and enjoying each other in the studio. Get the album, it’s real hard and it’s for the MC’s that love Roscoe & Kurupt!

RAPTALK.NET: Will that be available in the all major retailers or will it be mom and pop shops?

You’ll find it at Best Buy, Target, FYE, wherever you find Roscoe and Kurupt records is where it will be; everywhere!

RAPTALK.NET: What is current label situation like right now?

I have my own label, Scodie-Mac Records, Rosa Sharon Entertainment. I’m currently searching for a distribution; I have a distribution deal for Rosa Sharon Entertainment but I’m looking for a separate distribution deal for Scodie-Mac. I’m just looking for another mainstream situation for my next album as well. We’re talking to a couple of people at Interscope and Konvict Music. You never know where it’s going to pop out of but the new album is going to be big; y’all look for it! Get the internet release and get the Roscoe and Kurupt album, but wait until 09’ and get that Roscoe “Scoedelic” album! We got Bobby Valentino on it, Ray J is on it, Kurupt is on it, and Eazy-E is on it! There going to love it. I don’t want to give too much away right now.

RAPTALK.NET: Can we get some names of who is producing on the album?

I got production from Organized Noise, J.Wells, Detail from Konvict Music; that’s Akon’s new guy who just phenomenal. He did “Sexy Can I” with Ray J and Young Berg. He has a couple records he’s doing for the new Michael Jackson album with Akon. I got a lot of different production coming in. I got Sleepy Brown on the album with some production, beats from Organized Noise as well. I got David Banner! It’s going to be good.

RAPTALK.NET: How much of the album is completed at this time?

The album is at this time, I would say about 80% complete. We’re waiting for the 09 to iron out the rest of the year. After we’re done the holidays, I’ll get everybody together and really put the entire particular’s in place to make it happen. When I say 80% done I mean the music is there, all that’s left to do is just pay everybody and put it out (laughs).

RAPTALK.NET: What release date are we looking at?

Definitely summer time 2009! I have to sit down and get my marketing strategy together and everything. It will definitely be summer time 2009, no later. Be ready for that Roscoe! I love the summertime, that’s when I come out and rise!

RAPTALK.NET: Thanks for giving us all the info on really the boatload of projects you have coming out soon.

I and Kurupt don’t stay too far apart! If it ain’t Dogg Pound, we ain’t doing it unless it’s something that’s just super major like when we do stuff with Cash Money and when we do stuff with these other cats. We don’t stay too far from each other.

Look for that Kurupt and DJ Quik album as well; they got an album coming out too.

RAPTALK.NET: Are you going to appear on the Kurupt & DJ Quik album?

I’m not going to appear on it but I will be on the tour for it.

RAPTALK.NET: There is an Armory Gang album that is being sold on the net. Are you aware of the project and do you support it?

(Laughs) you know what, I’m aware of the album; it’s a leak, I can’t lie, it’s a leak. That’s what happens when you have people that can’t wait for the music because they love it so much. I ain’t really trippin’ right now. I’m focusing on the project; we just put the Armory project on hold so that’s been pushed back. That album is out there. Feel free to go ahead and download that! It’ll add to my chance when I go head and knock on there door! (Laughs) It’s all good, I want everybody to go buy that, I need that! I can go and knock on there door and go collect!

RAPTALK.NET: So that was a leak? It was supposed to come out as an official release?

That album wasn’t even supposed to come out. It’s definitely a leak. I’m about to go see Warren G! He’s doing a show so we’re going to show some support to the homie; that’s how we get down!

RAPTALK.NET: I like that right there. Are you still working with DJ Muggs at all?

I love DJ Muggs! I’m still working with anybody that is working with me, that’s how I get down. I haven’t really talked to DJ Muggs but I’m pretty sure that it’s nothing but love just like I got nothing but love for him. You can definitely expect to see me working with Muggs! I got something I’m about to jump on for B-Real’s new album too!

RAPTALK.NET: OK! What is the status of the album you were going to do with Scott Storch?

I was supposed to do an album with Scott Storch but I haven’t really been in touch lately with Scott (Storch). You know how that is. That’s just the industry, it’s all the game. I don’t really be in Miami as much as I would like to be. I actually saw Scott (Storch) when I was riding around Hollywood – I jumped out on him and was like “What’s happening?” we exchanged numbers. I just really haven’t reached out, we haven’t been in touch. Scott is a good dude and he’s from my home town, Philadelphia. You could definitely expect to see us do something together over the course of our careers.

RAPTALK.NET: What’s going on with YA right now?

YA are the greatest! YA are everything! That’s all I see when I wake up. We just a camp and a family, we’re over here eating. I can’t realty play around with YA, YA have to succeed! Get rich or die trying type of shit! I can’t win without YA winning. Wherever you see Roscoe, you see YA! LT is my DJ and he’s working with Snoop (Dogg) traveling all over the place; I had him with Tyrese before that. Tri-Star just did his thing, he had an independent album that he was working on, I don’t know what happened with that; He’s definitely eating well off the project. Eastwood, same thing. The whole camp is good. We’re just trying to work it out; we’re praying for YG, he’s doing forty-four right now, federal. We are all taking it as a loss. It’s hard everyday for all of us but we’re praying everyday for YG! We miss him and we’re just trying to do everything we can for him. The camp is beautiful! Stay down with YA because that’s real LA right there!

RAPTALK.NET: OK. Who is the illest MC you ever battled and tell us about that battle.

The illest MC I ever battled? Hmm (thinking). That would have to be Bad Azz (laughs). I and Bad Azz grew up together so we battle all the time, we always spar. When we battle it’s not a “who wins” situation, everybody has their own opinion. We get down every single time! That’s all I’m going to say about that. Bad Azz is one of the dopest, can’t nobody say anything bad about him. 2Pac put that nigga on.

RAPTALK.NET: Do you have any last words for the fans before I let you go?

Peep that Roscoe and Kurupt album! That will be in stores September 30th! The internet release “Stray Dog: Off the Leash, Off the Chain” will be in all digital stores on September 30^th. Everybody have a safe holiday, kids go back to school! Get your mind right in the books; get cha’ money mayne! I’m wishing all positive things man! Everybody just stay down with me, I’m going to keep on doing my thing! New Roscoe album in 2009, that’s going to be big.

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