The question that’s on everyone’s tongue is: How did Boyz N Da Hood, an Atlanta-based act, get a veteran power player in the industry like Puffy Combs to sign them to Bad Boy South? As owner and CEO of Block Entertainment, Block carries an authoritative air of a person who is definitely in charge. He says, "I watched how Eazy-E put together N.W.A. and I wanted to do some s**t that n***as from the hood could hear and understand. I took the idea to Puffy and he liked what I had to offer and we signed a deal together."
A veteran to the game, Block’s name first surfaced while working with Suave House putting together compilation albums as well as working with 8 Ball and MJG. He ran with Tupac and the Outlawz for a minute, now he is co-manager to Jazze Pha and part owner of Shonuff Records [Ciarra, Jody Breeze, Jazze Pha]. The legacy and the power behind Boyz N Da Hood is rich, as is their future.
The group consists of four members: Duke, Big Gee, Jeezy and Jody Breeze. Together as a group the dynamic energy is displayed over gritty beats with lyrics that make a valiant effort to bring the real talk of the streets to true Hip-Hop fans. After Puffy re-energized 8Ball & MJG’s careers last year, it’s time for another act to come out on Bad Boy South. With the album slated for a March release date, AllHipHop.com thought it was time you were made aware.
AllHipHop.com: How does the reference to Boyz N Da Hood being the N.W.A of the South make you feel?
Duke: Honestly man, it is just an honor for us. We are privileged that people even compare us to someone like N.W.A. They are legends, ground breakers especially to this type of music we are doing; gangster, hard-core street music. I love it. I just hope we can live up to what people except from us.
Jeezy: I feel like Ice Cube, it is what it is.
AllHipHop.com: How did the group transform each member’s underground buzz to formulate the group then get signed to Bad Boy South?
Duke: Actually, we were with Block Entertainment and Block met with Puff and made it happen. After he heard the music, he fell in love with it. Three days later, he flew us up and we went from there.
AllHipHop.com: The first single is “Dem Boyz,” what is the second single from the album?
Big Gee: It is between “Felony” and “Don’t Put Your Hand On Me,” we still trying to get feedback from the public to see which we should push out next.
Jody Breeze: The single is hot and the album is hotter.
AllHipHop.com: How would you describe each of those songs?
Big Gee: “Felony” is just mainly giving you an idea of people from the hood. A lot of my partners I know got felonies, and we are basically letting them know it ain’t a proud thing but it’s real, and we are speaking on it. “Don’t Put Your Hand On Me” is self-explanatory. We are in the streets and that been street rule number one from day one.
AllHipHop.com: Tell me about your solo projects before Boyz N Da Hood?
Jeezy: Trap or Die is in stores right now, the CD and DVD.
Big Gee: My last solo project me and Block did with Greg Street, I called it Mechanic-ville USA. I keep it hot and blazin’. I had producers like Jazzy Pha and Bryan Cox. As far as features I had Big Duke, Jazze Pha, and Baby. It was a real album.
AllHipHop.com: Jody, how did it start for you as a solo artist?
Jody Breeze: I started rapping on this little radio station in Macon, Georgia. From that, I was asked to perform at a car show and Jazze’s people was there and like what they heard. They took me to Jazze the same night, and I got signed.
AllHipHop.com: There are four individuals and I know each member brings his own unique perspective to the group. If you had to describe your own perspective what would it be?
Big Gee: I bring the grit to the group. My style is for the voice of the projects, the grit of the projects. Not all about the ballin’ of the projects but the people that suffer and struggling in the projects.
Duke: Mines is more laid back and sleek type of style. I talk more then just rap. I’m really just talking in a rhyme form and just conversating. Big Gee is more aggressive. Jody is more of a ripper, he will attack a track, a young Hip-Hop cat for real. Jeezy is pretty much on some a laid back Rap – spitting game crazy. I’m the O.G. out of the clique, so a lot of stuff that I refer to using as far as using me
AllHipHop.com: Name some of the producers who contribute to Boyz N Da Hood album?
Duke: Jazze Pha, Frank Nitti, DJ Toomp, and CKP.
AllHipHop.com: The group got a distinctive southern sound that is not your typical Crunk sound coming out of the South. How receptive have the fans been?
Duke: The fans are loving it. The overall response has been incredible. We are about to get out on our promo tour and really see what the fans are talking about. Atlanta is a city with a whole lot of people from a whole lot of different places, a lot of times stuff can spread from being hot here and they going back from where they’re from and just talking about it.
AllHipHop.com: Any tour plans?
Jody Breeze: We are about to hit every major city, starting [now] until the end of April.
AllHipHop.com: What is your advice to cats that are just getting in the game?
Jody Breeze: Stay humble, stay grinding and make sure you learn the business.