In the world of crime investigation a cold case is defined as a crime or accident that has not been solved and is not the subject of current criminal investigation, but for which new information could emerge from new witness testimony or re-examined archives. As the times change it’s possible that new technology or a fresh look at the case years later can help lead to solving the mystery. Hip-Hop is all too familiar with the idea of the cold case with the notable deaths of top artists like Notorious BIG and Tupac. With that comes the release of Cold Case Files: Unsolved Murders on August 19 by Jam Master Jay protégés Onyx, a collection of unreleased tracks recorded during the mid nineties. With this release Onyx reopens a file of music to their fans that haven’t heard from the group since 1995’s Triggernometry. The group has managed to maintain a profile amongst fans with group members Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr having a prominent presence in the film and television world. Here the group speaks on, amongst other things, their latest tribute to Jam Master Jay, reflects on how Hip-Hop has changed since their appearance in 1993, and Fredro Starr candidly discusses the controversy surrounding recent appearance on Youtube.AllHipHop.com: You have a new album dropping in August but it’s all old material. Why are you deciding to release it now?Fredro Starr: Yeah, it’s called Cold Case Files. My brother (Whosane) and I were just sitting in the studio puffin’ on some trees and listening to a lot of old material that he had held onto. I mean he had tapes, DATs, and all types of s**t. We just sat there and listened to tapes for about three hours and I just thought the s**t sounded crazy. I thought it be good to give our fans something they would appreciate. We not trying to change the world with this album….this is Onyx collectables for Onyx fans. We have at least 60 tracks – this is just the first volume of unheard material. It gives old fans something they can hear and if we get some more fans along the way that’s cool. This is a representation of Onyx from 1993 until now. This will let them know how Hip-Hop used to be because right now…there’s still some ill n****s but it’s not being really put out there. When you look at the top ten videos all the artists are from down south. When was the last time a New York artist went platinum? New York fell off. We ain’t been the same. Sticky Fingaz: This is vintage Onyx for the Onyx fan. I don’t even know why we didn’t release….well I know one reason why. We didn’t even know a lot of these tracks existed. If it wasn’t for the brother Whosane all these tracks would have been lost. He’s the biggest Onyx fan on the planet and he had all this stuff we had forgotten about. This is old s**t that we had that was just collecting dust.

“I apologize for being absent from Hip-Hop and letting these corny ass n****s take over the game. See what happens when a n***a takes a vacation?” -Sticky Fingaz

AllHipHop.com: Even though the music was recorded around a decade ago the tracks don’t sound outdated and deal with relevant issues occurring today.Fredro Starr: Songs like the track we have with Method Man [“Evil Streets Remix”] are just soulful. That’s my favorite track and the beat sounds like it could have come out today. I mean I see what Kanye and RZA do now so the soulful sound is still relevant. It’s still relevant because we’re still relevant. Method Man is still relevant. We’re still here. The world is still going through the stuff we rapped about then. The ghetto is still feeling the same pain. The world hasn’t changed. We’re still at war—we’ve been at war for twenty years! When we came out the first time Desert Storm was over. We’re always at war. Two of my n****s got murdered two days ago so nothing is changing. Sticky Fingaz: A lot of music isn’t outdated. The music is timeless. What we’re talking about is timeless. I wouldn’t want to be conceited and say we were ahead of our time or anything, but the music we recorded is still hot right now.

Evil Streets f/ Method Man – Onyx

“New York is the start of Hip-Hop. We don’t sound like n****s from Atlanta. We don’t sound like n****s from Tennessee. All that Dirty South s**t sounds the same.” –Sonny Seeza

AllHipHop.com: Even though the times may not have changed Hip-Hop music has made drastic shifts. What do you attribute those shifts to?Sticky Fingaz: It’s regional. Every regions gets it’s time. When Onyx came out the west coast was on and the east coast was kind of soft. We had A Tribe Called Quest, and don’t get me wrong I love A Tribe Called Quest, But Dr. Dre was killing the game with the hardcore music. Then Onyx came and we started smashing s**t. Now the music is on the southern tip so each region has it’s time to shine. The south is shining, but all good things come to an end.Sonny Seeza: I think you’re looking at it from the wrong way. That’s rap. Rap is basically on some other corporate s**t. We come from the Hip-Hop standpoint. Today rap is prevalent because it’s corporate but what’s going on today is not Hip-Hop.Fredro Starr: Very true. When we came in the game we were signed to Def Jam. That meant something. Beastie Boys. Run DMC. LL Cool J. Public Enemy. The industry had integrity. People’s brands meant something. Now….it’s not the same. It went regional.Sonny Seeza: New York is the start of Hip-Hop. We don’t sound like n****s from Atlanta. We don’t sound like n****s from Tennessee. All that Dirty South s**t sounds the same. So now it’s turned into a regional game. New York is not popping so the corporate side is not looking for a rapper out of New York. Record labels and executives shut down New York. We started the 100Mad movement so we could build up the integrity and voice of the east coast. We want to build up east coast music. We want to give artist from the east coast a chance to be heard.Fredro Starr: 100Mad is short for 100 mad n****s with guns. We’re putting out compilation albums from artist in the tri-state area and the east coast that have no outlets. We’re going to put these records in the store and give these kids a chance because the rest of the industry isn’t. We’re going to be out there looking for talent.Onyx “Shiftee” Video

AllHipHop.com: Well you have been around as the music has changed so did you see the change in music coming? Was it gradual to you or all of a sudden?Sonny Seeza: That started at the start of the new millennium. It had already started with Cash Money and Master P. We saw it. We worked with it. We watched many east coast rappers become confused about who they were but we stayed the same. We calculated and planned so we could be here today.Fredro Starr: When we came up there were down south rappers out. You had artists like the Geto Boys and Luke. The South was there. When we came out they were growing and then their voice got bigger than our voice. I just never saw that coming. But everything evolves and it’s going to come back around.Sonny Seeza: It’s back around right now. Whatever the f**k that dance is…Soulja Boy….n****s ain’t trying to do that no more. Right now we are getting it together so that we can take Hip-Hop back from the corporations. It’s time to take the hood back.Fredro Starr: We going to come with an Onyx dance [laughs]. We black rock stars. We rappers but when you go to one of our shows it’s like a rock concert. You’re going to thing you’re in the wrong venue.

“We came out with ‘Slam’ and some other tracks and I’m going to keep it real, n****s in the street made comments. S**t like, ‘Why ya’ll on that white boy s**t?’” –Fredro Starr

AllHipHop.com: Aren’t you releasing an album of new material with more of a rock edge?Fredro Starr: Yeah, Black Rock. I think the Black Rock album should have been released in ‘94. It should have been our second album. We came out with “Slam” and some other tracks and I’m going to keep it real, n****s in the street made comments. S**t like, “Why ya’ll on that white boy s**t?” We made a U turn from those types of records because n****s in the hood wasn’t feeling it. But it’s not about the n****s in Brooklyn it’s about what we represent, and we represent high energy music. When we did songs like “Last Dayz” (All We Got Iz Us) we showed people that we can spit. That album proved we were ill lyricist. When we did the “Slam” record we never capitalized off it. We never did Lollapalooza or a show with the Beastie Boys. We stayed away from that lane and that was our lane. Why should we just stay in the Hip-Hop market when we can appeal to the rock crowd as well? We are Hip-Hop but we’re going to put on the mad face and Mohawk and bust n****s ass on stage. We’ve already done that in rap and our show is our strongest point. I like rock music and its energy matches our energy so that’s why we’re coming with the Black Rock album. Hopefully the Hip-Hop fans in Brooklyn will feel it but it’s really not for them. It’s Hip Rock. It’s for the Lollapalooza n****s.Sticky Fingaz: Really it’s for everyone to understand what Onyx is about. It’s for the fans that feel and love what Onyx is doing. That’s what it’s for. If you ain’t with that we’ll see you later. Sticky Fingaz: He’s right, we were scared of that lane. The president of Def Jam Lyor Cohen basically had to talk us into doing a track like “Slam.” We were so hood and so hard that we didn’t want to do that s**t. I mean our show is like a mosh pit. Overseas 90% of our audience is white. We are still going to release a street album, but don’t knock this rock s**t. This rock s**t is hard. It’s not like this is soft rock. Lil Wayne is the highest selling artist out right now and he comes out on stage with a f******g guitar. It’s not just to appease the Rock & Roll crowd. But it’s for everyone. Really it’s for everyone to understand what Onyx is about. It’s for the fans that feel and love what Onyx is doing. That’s what it’s for. If you ain’t with that, we’ll see you later. Fredro Starr: It’s the same lyrics–different beat. Same struggle—different beat.Sonny Seeza: We’re trying to be the ones that open up the doors for others to come through. Trailblazers. We’re not going to stop being who we are regardless of the media or anyone else.

“50 is a smart businessman and at the end of the day we gave him respect. We put him on records when we was at the top of the game. He didn’t even have a car. We gave him respect on the strength of Jam Master Jay. What did we get in return? Someone talking slick on mixtapes? Swinging on n****s? So now I feel like it’s a problem.” -Fredro Starr

AllHipHop.com: On that media note, Fredro there’s video of you on the Internet making a few comments about Brandy, Dipset, and 50 Cent. Care to speak on any of it?Fredro Starr: The video…I’m going to be real…I played myself. I did a video where it wasn’t the right time…it wasn’t the right place. I was feeling myself a little too much. At the end of the day everything has a justification—even the Brandy thing. I never meant to put her on blast and say she gave me head. It was a joke and the media ran with it. That’s what it was. The comments about Dipset…Dipset is doing them. I can’t judge what they’re doing. Now the comments about me and 50…that’s a problem that we have. It’s just a problem…I don’t consider it beef. He said some things out of his mouth. I started working with Bang em Smurf. I don’t know what was going through his mind. But when you try to swing on me…we have a problem. He never called my phone and tried to explain what was going on. I never got any messages. 50 is a smart businessman and at the end of the day we gave him respect. We put him on records when we was at the top of the game. He didn’t even have a car. We gave him respect on the strength of Jam Master Jay. What did we get in return? Someone talking slick on mixtapes? Swinging on n****s? So now I feel like it’s a problem. We never put it on wax. So if you want to do it that way we’re ready to entertain. We ready. I’m ready. 100 Mad is ready. This was before he said f**k Jimmy Iovine. This was when he was a big dude. But what did G-Unit sell on their last album? Good, now we’re on the same playing field. Now it’s even. You want to say something about Onyx I will be more than happy to address it. If he calls my phone and want to put it behind us my ears would be open, but I ain’t get that phone call yet. I don’t give a f**k. I mean, every interview they ask me about this n***a. I can’t get away from it. So I think he just made it so we’re always relevant. Hopefully we can entertain some people and see who is really spittin’ that s**t.Onyx f/ 50 Cent “React” Video

AllHipHop.com: You and Sticky Fingaz are also well known for being in other aspects of the entertainment industry. How is it balancing mainstream acting careers while making hardcore music?Sticky Fingaz: There’s no problem. Ice Cube puts out comedy and family [movies]. The two worlds pretty much remain separate. Fredro Starr: Hollywood don’t care. If you’re selling records the people at the movie house don’t give a f**k….they just want people in the seats. Same hustle to me.

“Now I’m not about to fall off of the movies but we are going to hit the music stronger. Ask Eminem who his favorite rapper is and see whose name comes up.” -Sticky Fingaz

AllHipHop.com: Do you feel like the acting may have taken you away from rap too much?Sticky Fingaz: The acting definitely took us away from rap. You can’t do everything at once. Some people have a good machine behind them where they can do both. Some people can’t let the music fall off because that’s how they feed their families. We’ve been lucky enough to be able to do both. Now I’m not about to fall off of the movies but we are going to hit the music stronger. Ask Eminem who his favorite rapper is and see whose name comes up. We got a lot of stuff coming out but if you ever wonder what’s going on go to onyxdomain.com.Fredro Starr: Yeah, I can say that. Sometimes I’ll walk down the street and see a white girl and she’ll say “Oh s**t, that’s Malakai from Save the Last Dance!” She doesn’t know about my music career. I think when you know how to balance it works for you. I mean, Sticky wrote a movie that will have me and Mekhi Phifer, and Bokeem Woodbine where all the dialogue is rapped. It’s just bringing both our worlds together. We have a lot of stuff that’s going to be coming out soon. Things that we’re producing and working on ourselves that I can’t even speak on yet. We do have a documentary about Jam Master Jay called Two Turntables and a Mic which just shows people more about his life. We’re going back before Russell even knocked on his door looking for a DJ. That’s one of the projects that we’re really proud about. Sticky Fingaz: I have a movie coming out under Lionsgate that I wrote produced and directed. All the dialogue is rapped. And this isn’t] rappers but A-List actors in the movie. I learned a lot from being an actor in a lot of movies. I’ve got connections, I got a crew, and I got money so I shot the beginning of the story. I showed it to Lionsgate and they told me not to show it to anyone else. We want to do this. I have another one with that same rap concept coming out with Vivica Fox, Cedric the Entertainer, Angie Stone, Joe Torre and some others.AllHipHop.com: When you’re listening to the old recordings, what’s biggest difference from the you on tape and the you listening today?Sonny Seeza: I think I was ill then and I’m ill now. It shows the relevance of what I’m doing now. It just gives me insight to my mind state and vibe. That period is now etched in stone because of those recordings. Sometimes I listen and I don’t even remember saying some things. Sometimes I’m still surprised that I feel the same way about certain things.Sticky Fingaz: That’s just the old me. Every second we change. You can’t be the same 20 years ago; you can’t be the same ten minutes ago. I’m about to release another solo album because people need to see more Onyx. I feel like people are trying to write us out the book of rap. I look at ten year reviews, or things about Hip-Hop past and I don’t see Onyx. We don’t get mentioned and that’s bulls**t. VH1 has that Hip Hop Honors…we haven’t been honored. I see 50 Cent climbing stages—I started that s**t. I see Method Man jumping into the crowd—I started that s**t. I see Busta throwing water—n***a I started that s**t. And people act like they don’t know. When Def Jam was in the hole Onyx brought them back. Not only them we brought the whole east coast back. I’m not going to let people forget that. Some of the people coming our right now are just young. They was two or three years old when we first came out but them n****s need to know their history. You know what, I don’t give a f**k if they know their history or not…they need to know their present. We’re coming back out. Jay-Z says he’s getting nicer and he’s over forty. I’m only thirty four and I’m in the prime of my life. So right now I apologize for being absent from Hip-Hop and letting these corny ass n##### take over the game. See what happens when a n***a takes a vacation?Fredro Starr: I still feel the anger in my heart. I still feel the pain we go through in the ghetto. Really nothing has changed. I honestly feel like one year has gone by. I don’t know where the years went but I still feel young. This Hip-Hop music keeps you young.

Joe Budden is Hip-Hop’s equivalent to Neo in the first Matrix movie; an average guy who discovers his potential for greatness and goes forward to achieve his destiny. Sure the Jersey City native was good at the time, but after the release of his self-titled debut album, fans were salivating for what was sure to be an amazing sophomore effort. But just like in the movies, the forces of the machine stood in the way of Budden attaining his destined greatness and let what was supposed to be his second album, The Growth, sit on a shelf for several years, where it still resides. With no hope of survival without a steady presence in the Hip-Hop scene our hero refused to be left for dead and began releasing the critically acclaimed Mood Muzik mixtape series. After what seemed like an endless fight Budden finally freed himself from the matrix known as Def Jam in 2007. With a new deal at independent label Amalgam Digital comes a new era in the timeline of Joe Budden. On October 28th fans will finally get to see him reloaded with no rules and no limitations as he takes you through his mind with the release of his highly anticipated sophomore release, The Padded Room. I can’t tell you how this story will end, but I will tell you how it begins, with some dope music.AllHipHop.com: You’re one of the most lyrical guys in the game. While by the usual standards the diss tracks you released against Ransom and Prodigy were hard, many fans feel you were taking it easy on them. Why is that?Budden: Because they can’t rap. I can rap, they can’t so I always feel like it’s not fair for them to go write these b####### bars and me sit here and go hard on these n****s who can’t rap. It’s not fair. Both of these situations were just me taking it light. AllHipHop.com: I can understand Ransom getting a pass because you and he have a prior relationship but you didn’t owe Prodigy anything. Budden: Well, when you got someone with so many classic joints that they’ve been a part of… I kind of felt like it wasn’t really worth it.

“The fans have all the choices. If you don’t like the ringtone s**t, don’t listen to it. If you don’t want to hear real, lyrical s**t, the backpacker s**t…don’t listen to it. If you don’t like this dude’s video, don’t watch it. The days of being force fed and brainwashed into liking something are over for grown n****s.”

AllHipHop.com: You recently released “Who.” In the track you’re walking us through why Hip-Hop is what it is right now. What made you decide to do it and has anyone you mentioned given you feedback?Budden: It’s something I wanted to do for a while; something I thought should have been done for a while. I just went in and said f**k it. I didn’t care what anybody would say about the s**t I was saying or if what they would have to say in response. I just said I’m going to go in. I wanted to go in and just give…almost a Hip-Hop time line. I wanted to do it like a Law & Order episode and take you through where s**t started and how it became different. I ain’t want no crazy beat because I didn’t want the beat to take away from everything I was saying. I think in the end, everything fit perfectly. I haven’t received any negative feedback. Everything I heard from everyone has been good. Who – Joe BuddenAllHipHop.com: What would you like to see more or less of in Hip-Hop right now?Budden: Honestly, I don’t give a f### what’s going on. I really don’t. I’m not happy about it, I’m not mad about it. I feel like n****s can do whatever the f**k they want. Whatever they do, it’s not going to affect Joe Budden and what Joe Budden is doing at all. Because it’s really all up to the fans. The fans have all the choices. If you don’t like the ringtone s**t, don’t listen to it. If you don’t want to hear real, lyrical s**t, the backpacker s**t, or whatever you want to call it, don’t listen to it. If you don’t like this dude’s video, don’t watch it. The days of being force fed and brainwashed into liking something are over for grown n****s. I don’t listen to radio because I don’t like the s**t they play on the radio. I don’t watch videos because I don’t like the bulls**t videos that come on. I’m not going to complain, I just don’t watch it.

“When I got released from Def Jam, well first off, I found out the same way the fans found out. I didn’t get a phone call or my lawyer didn’t tell me. I had to read that s**t online. When I read it, it was like having that winning lotto ticket and the guy is about to say that last number.”

AllHipHop.com: After your release from Def Jam you used mixtapes, particularly the Mood Muzik series, to keep yourself relevant and in doing so proved that you have a respectable fan base. With that being said, why did you choose to stay indie instead of linking up with one of the majors?Budden: I didn’t want to rush into anything. I shared some of the same ideas and the same vision that Amalgam shared and I wanted to try my hand at it. I kind of wanted to pioneer that whole digital record label thing that’s going on right now. When I got released from Def Jam, well first off, I found out the same way the fans found out. I didn’t get a phone call or my lawyer didn’t tell me. I had to read that s**t online. When I read it, it was like having that winning lotto ticket and the guy is about to say that last number. I wasn’t even sure after I read it so when I called to confirm it I was happy as f**k. I was so excited. It was like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. After that, I’m not going to just hop back into another major situation. I’m trying to enjoy this freedom for a little bit. AllHipHop.com: You gave a lot and suffered through a lot while on Def Jam. Don’t you think you deserved more than that?Budden: I felt that way the entire time I was there. I felt like I deserved more but it was apparent that n***** k about what I felt I deserved or me period so it wasn’t shocking that I found out that way. AllHipHop.com: Your second album is called The Padded Room. What’s the meaning behind that name?Budden: It’s called The Padded Room because the booth is padded, number one. And number two, because I’m crazy. I just try to arrest my craziness daily. But I’m really a f**king psycho. I think about a lot of crazy, weird, psychotic s**t. And I’m not alone in that aspect because a lot of people do. They’re just too afraid to say it or too afraid to speak on it or even let somebody know what they’re thinking. A n***a like me has to run his thinking by other people because I’m so crazy. The Padded Room is an album that was never released on a major. It’s very different. I took s**t to another level creatively and lyrically. I’m tired of talking about the regular s**t. Some of the s**t will come across as movies but I didn’t want to be on that usual s**t. I didn’t want to be on that Joe Budden debut album s**t. I wanted to go someplace different so I went to the f**king psych ward. AllHipHop.com: You said you think weird and strange things. What’s one of the strangest or more psychotic thoughts you’ve had recently?Budden: I wouldn’t even tell you. If I did you might be able to get a glimpse as to just how crazy I can be at times. See, you trying to get me to show how crazy I can be and I just got through saying I’m trying to hide that s**t. AllHipHop.com: What can fans expect musically from The Padded Room?Budden: There’s no The Growth leftovers. No floating tracks, everything is brand new. It’s all fresh. New ideas, new music, nothing recycled.  The “Who” song, parts one to three is on there. “Touch and Go” is on there. But you really cannot get a good idea of what’s on The Padded Room by “Touch and Go” or “Who.” I’m probably going to shoot my own video for this one record called “Dream.” That song gives you a better understanding of what this album entails. AllHipHop.com: Sticking with that theme, if you could be locked in a real padded room with anyone who would it be and why?Budden: Halle Berry. Hands down. If I had to do it, I got to say Halle Berry. You can never get tired of looking at Halle Berry. I don’t give a f**k who you are. And you never know, she might be a little crazy too. We might get crazy together.AllHipHop.com: With individuality and lyricism on the decline in Hip-Hop music, are you worried about where your album will fit in?Budden: I’m not worried about where I fit in. I’m not trying to fit in. I don’t give a f**k about what n****s is doing. I don’t give a f**k about the climate in Hip-Hop. I don’t give a f**k about a lot of things. My sole focus is on Joe Budden and what Joe Budden is doing. There is no more conforming or trying to get in where you fit in. F**k all that.AllHipHop.com: What’s the biggest difference between 2003 debut album Joe and 2008 The Padded Room Joe?Budden: When I first came in the game I was open minded enough to listen and take suggestions from people because I wasn’t knowledgeable about the situation I was getting myself into. I have more information and information is a weapon for me. Now I’m not so naïve, not so open minded and a lot more “I don’t give a f**k” today as opposed to back then. Oh yeah, and I rap better today.

“My whole point in the situation is that you’re great, we all know you’re great but don’t think it’s sweet. I will come at you too. I don’t give a f**k. And that’s not just for him [Jay-Z], that’s for everybody if I feel like I’m being tested or being taken for a joke lyrically.”

AllHipHop.com: There has been mixture of subliminal lines aimed at Jay-Z. You’ve given him praise at times and other times you’ve ridiculed him. If you had a chance to sit down and talk to him is there anything you’d want to just get off your chest?Budden: I don’t think there’s anything in particular I’d really want to say. Aside from “what up” there’s not much I want to say. He knows I have the utmost respect for him and his accomplishments and all that he’s done. But at the same time, it’s like in ball, you can have a jump shot. You don’t have to take it all the time but sometimes you’ll shoot it just to let n****s know they better check it. My whole point in the situation is that you’re great, we all know you’re great but don’t think it’s sweet. I will come at you too. I don’t give a f**k. And that’s not just for him, that’s for everybody if I feel like I’m being tested or being taken for a joke lyrically. AllHipHop.com: If it came down to it, and people started mentioning your name less when talking about dope MC’s would you go after who ever had the crown at the time?Budden: I’m not with that. I can’t just start going at whoever’s the hottest at the moment. If that’s the case you’d be going at a different n***a every year. You’ll be at Kanye one year, then Wayne one year, then 50. I’m not with that. I really just want to do Joe Budden. If that ends up being appealing to enough consumers, I’ll be where I need to be soon enough. I’m not going to rush the process. I’m not going to just diss n****s or do whatever to try and get more people to say my name. AllHipHop.com: There’s always the question of rapper vs MC vs entertainer. What does Joe Budden consider himself to be?Budden: I’m certainly not an entertainer. That’s not happening. I’m an MC, more than a rapper. I like the word artist. I like to think of what I do as art. It’s more than rap. I can paint pictures and have people see and feel what I’m saying. N****s be on some “I’m not a rapper. I’m a drug dealer who raps.” Or they’re on some “I’m not a rapper I’m a killer n***a that happens to rap.” Get the f**k out of here. Nobody’s trying to hear all that. I don’t believe none of that s**t. If n****s is rapping, they’re rappers. That’s it. You’re not a drug dealer, not a murderer, not a killer. You’re a rapper. If you were into all that you wouldn’t be making f**king videos and you wouldn’t be living the lifestyle that you live. AllHipHop.com: So do you feel some of the dudes that talk that drug and gun stuff need their cards pulled on the things they say?Budden: To each his own. I don’t give a f**k what everybody else is doing. Certain things I see and I sit back and I ponder upon it and I laugh at it. I laugh at a lot of n****s but it doesn’t mean that they’re doing something wrong and I’m not trying to spend my time calling them out. Do whatever it is that moves you and you feel is making you successful. I just don’t have that same frame of mind. AllHipHop.com: It seems like you have the best of your years ahead of you. What would you like your legacy to be when it’s all over?Budden: Whenever I’m at the tail end of my career I’d want to be seen as one of the best rappers, or better yet, best artists ever. I’m sure everybody feels that way about their craft. At least, they should. But I feel I have the potential to make that come to fruition.