When Dylan of Bad Boy’s Da Band signed on the dotted
line, he made history to become the first dancehall artist signed to the monolithic
label. Now, he might make history as the first to depart as he is slated to drop
a mixtape entitled "Life After Diddy," which is hosted by Brooklyn’s
DJ Sickamore.
Tonight, is the finale of MTV’s "Making
The Band II" season and Dylan had opted to add to the furor as millions
tune in.
"It’s called "Life After Diddy."
Dylan told AllHipHop.com. "With all the controversy surrounding Da Band,
I felt it was time to really let my lyrics out, make them feel me," Dylan
said. "Any question people have about me, it’s on that mixtape."
The band came to fruition as Sara, Young City
(Choppa), Ness, Babs and Fred were all hand picked to be the next generation
of Bad Boy artists. However, all of their exploits – good or bad – were captured
on film by MTV’s camera. Now, Dylan is about to tell his side of the story,
much of which was left on the studio chopping block, he contended.
Dylan said he and CEO Sean Combs simply didn’t
see eye-to-eye the direction his career would take and refrains from using the
word "beef" to describe their current relationship.
"I wouldn’t say that we have beef. I would
say it’s more like creative differences," Da Band’s reggae leg stated.
"I felt disrespected by some things he said on TV so I responded and I
gave him some words too."
Continuing, he said, "I’m like the only
person that can make somebody worth $500 million feel p##### off. I got him
real aggy right now. Me and him, we have our differences. I’m not f**king with
[Diddy]. I’m cool with other people at Bad Boy."
He also said that he wasn’t fond of the editing
process behind the show.
"There is so much f**kin’ editing. There
are certain episodes where it seems like I am bugging out, but it never really
happened like that. There are a lot of time when I respond to comments [Diddy]
made and [the people] never get to see my response, dog," he said. "They
made it seem like I was just quiet and taking it. You can’t talk to me anyway
– this is Brooklyn. I was like ‘Where is my part.’"
While the ending of the show has yet to be revealed,
he said he knows where he stands with himself.
"I am a dancehall lyricist above anything,
yo. People look at me like ‘Oh, he’s just an act.’ But, its more than an act.
I would rather people respect me for my lyrics than because I am on MTV. I’m
like let’s take it to the root, lets take it to the streets," Dylan said.
Dylan not only took it to the streets, he took
it to DJ Sickamore, one of the most popluar DJ’s nationwide.
"It’s all me and him," Sickamore said. "I’m co-signing like a
mother fu**ker. It’s all his music."
As the pair interview, Sean ‘P.Diddy’ Combs,
Bad Boy CEO and executive producer of "Making The Band II" walks past
with his entourage. There is no exchange, but Sickamore expected it to come
at some point.
"Any ramifications, people can’t tell me
anything – I do what the streets tell me. I’m the streets. If the streets want
me to do something, I do it. Every time I put out a diss record, the other rapper
comes at me like ‘Why’d you play that?’ he said. "The reason why I am what
I am right now, because I don’t really care. When I start adjusting, that’s
when I am dead and I feel that [Dylan] is putting out great quality music. I’m
not going to just put my neck on the line."
Dylan admitted that he is still contractually
bound to Bad Boy and would have to contend with the industry politics later
on. "I’m not out of the contract," he said. Despite his conflicts
with Diddy, Dylan said he still had love for his cohorts in Da Band.
"Da Band is my family, dog. No matter what
the label head [says], we are the ones that walked to get the cheesecake. We
still f**k with each other. We might do something together tomorrow, but I also
got to establish myself as a solo artist. People gotta know what I am dealing
with and [I have to] make myself shine."
A huge part of getting that shine was starting
his own company, Nu G.U.N., the dancehall artist said.
"That stands for Nu (new) Gorilla United
Nations. I incorporated that. I have to make sure my family eats too,"
Dylan stated.
Although Dylan is doing his own thing, he refused
to confirm or deny whether or not he truly wanted off Bad Boy, no matter how
powerful the mixtape title suggested.
"I’m just taking it one step at a time.
I’m not actively trying to [get out of the deal]," he emphasized.
Since Wyclef appeared on "The Band,"
there has been speculation that he would become the musical statesman’s protégé,
but Dylan only recognizes them as good friends.
"You never know what can happen. Wyclef
is a big supporter of everything that I do. He Co-signed the first song ‘Dear
Diddy,’" he said. "Me and ‘Clef chill every other day if I am in New
York City."
More than signing to ‘Clef or staying with Diddy,
Dylan said he wants the masses to feel what he is doing right now.
"This album is something," he said.
"I need the people on the streets to hear what I am doing. This is the
end of the show, but it’s the beginning of Dylan."