Skillz stops suddenly mid-sentence, glancing out of the corner of his eye. “He’s like, ‘You ever heard of Big L?’” he finally says, breaking the silence—almost with a giddy curiosity—from the other side of the table at Virgil’s BBQ in Times Square. He’s been eavesdropping intently on a fellow patron’s conversation. Seconds later, he’s turned his attention from his love of the punchline to discussing the importance of L in contemporary Hip-Hop.

It’d be easy to label Skillz scatterbrained, but you get the sense that the next big idea could strike him at any moment. Acclaimed for his ghostwriting skills, he never stops watching everything around him for a second—finding humor in everything from the Ellen DeGeneres look-a-like tending tables at the finger-lickin’ good barbeque joint to his sudden discovery of a dope graffiti tag name that he’s mapping out on the tabletop. Unconventional thinking, witty comebacks, and the ability to transfer that into real life—it’s all a part of what makes Skillz, “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.”

When he’s six feet under though, Skillz wants you to know that he’s about more than just penning the next smash record for one of your favorites. He just launched a movie entertainment company and starred in his own flick, can’t stand those damn “Ghostwriter” questions, and credits Will Smith with changing his outlook on life. Oh, and the yearly “Rap Up” is a wrap—for now, at least, unless a certain comedian wants to take a jab at it with Skillz’ assistance. Until then, pull out your wet napkin and a plate of ribs. It’s time for the Virginia native to get down with some down South cookin’.

AllHipHop.com: If somebody was to ask you what your profession is—what’s your occupation—what would you tell them?

Skillz: Writer.

AllHipHop.com: Writer? First and foremost…?

Skillz: That’s where it all came from. All the rapping, you know, freestyling, ghostwriting, it all came from writing. I put that on my, like, on my card when I go overseas and s**t. Occupation? I put writer. That’s what I would say.

AllHipHop.com: Right now, I know you’re doing the movie thing, album, and everything. All that stems just from writing?

Skillz: It all started from writing. Like, when I was in school, I was real big in my English class, just with vocabulary, you know what I’m saying? I was never really lazy in English. I loved that class. I was never really lazy when it came to English. Everything else I hated, you know what I mean?

AllHipHop.com: You liked writing papers or reading?

Skillz: I liked speaking in front of the class. I liked all of it.

AllHipHop.com: Really?

Skillz: Yeah, essays, all that s**t. I was real good at everything.

AllHipHop.com: Naturally, you’re going to get into it.

Skillz: Yeah, I still do so…And that just turned into this. I’ve always had a passion for Hip-Hop, just in general. I’ve done anything in Hip-Hop. I just happen to be good—good, good—at rapping. I did DJ’ing, break-dancing. I sucked as a graffiti artist!

AllHipHop.com: You tried it though?

Skillz: Yeah, I can throw a tag on a piece of paper but, for the most part? A graf artist? I sucked!

AllHipHop.com: What was your tag? “Skillz”?

Skillz: [laughs] I mean, everybody had a dumb rap name and a dumb DJ name, so I mean, I had them all. So my dumb tag name was “Devious 145.” I had it on a jacket and everything!

AllHipHop.com: [laughs] You had it on a jacket?

Skillz: I had it on a jean jacket, and then when I realized that I wasn’t good enough to put it on my own jean jacket—I had to get somebody else to do it—I might want to give up graffiti.

AllHipHop.com: What did that stand for?

Skillz: I don’t know. I just knew you had to have a cool name and a number behind it. That’s all I knew. Nah, I just thought about it. A dope graffiti name would have been “Freeze Tag.” I wonder if anybody ever had a name called Freeze Tag. That would have been hot! Damn. See, how you think of s**t later? Why couldn’t I have come up with that name? I might have got some…

AllHipHop.com: I saw the video on your web site when you were on 106 & Park in September. What are your thoughts on the art of the punchline right now? Freestyle Fridays have really made punches a novelty and it seems like it would be hard for someone like you, who has thrived on punchlines and wordplay for so long, to see that happening to the technique.

Skillz: It’s like, that’s the school of Hip-Hop I come from…A good punchline will never go out of style. That’s all you need. But a good punchline let’s you know where that person’s mind frame is—what they know, what they’re aware of. Like, Jay-Z could say a punchline and I could say a punchline, damn near in the same vein, and it means two totally different things, because his listener is like, “Damn, I would think Hov was too busy. I ain’t even know he would know about that s**t.” Me, on the other hand, I’m expected to know it. Somebody might tell me, “Yeah, that sounds real Hov-ish. That sounds real Jay-Z-ish.” But he’s also the type of guy who understands wordplay, too. “I tried to rhyme like Common Sense, I sold five mill, and I ain’t rhymed since Common since”] That was crazy, ‘cause it was so true!

[Skillz staring at another table]

AllHipHop.com: Everything all right?

Skillz: [The guy sitting over there is ]like, “You ever heard of Big L?” [laughs] I admired him. He was the type of rapper that—totally off the subject, talking about Big L because we were just talking about Jay-Z—he was the type of rapper that was respected as a lyricist. He hadn’t sold no records yet but a n***a like Jay-Z would listen to Big L. You wouldn’t hear Big L on your radio spittin’ and go to another station. You would stay there. These rap cats? Some of them don’t really want to or try not to pay attention to you because they feel like you’re not on their radar. But they have to keep their ear to you because you’re in the streets. You know what cats is flipping out about. I just saw Jermaine Dupri in line at the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors s**t and he looked at me like, “Huh?” He looked at me like,

“What’s this n***a doing here?” because he don’t really like me.

AllHipHop.com: JD doesn’t like you? Why not?

Skillz: Nah! ‘Cause of the “Rap Up!” And I just spoke to him like, “What up, playboy?” I’m so f**kin’ over the top! Like, “What’s going on?” We probably will end up sitting right beside each other tonight.

AllHipHop.com: Do you catch a lot of heat like that off those “Rap Up” songs?

Skillz: Never!

AllHipHop.com: ‘Cause they don’t want you to say something next year?

Skillz: Exactly. [laughs] See, what’s so funny is that I don’t plan on doing another one. I swear to God. They’re getting boring to me, and they’ll never be as good as the first one. It’s like sequels. Soon as I hop out of the cab, Hammerstein Ballroom, one security guy is going, “Yo, it’s mad s**t to talk about this year, son. You got Katrina, this, that, and the third.” But it’s never…I mean, sometimes it’s the people but then sometimes it’s my industry people. Like ?uestlove will call me as soon as something happens. “Yo, I know you’re gonna put Janet in your “Rap Up,” right?” I’m like, “Amir, it’s Super Bowl, n***a. It’s like January. I’m not thinking about the “Rap Up.” They’re still playing the old one.”

AllHipHop.com: Okay. So as of now, no “Rap Up” this year?

Skillz: [shakes heads]

AllHipHop.com: No “Rap Up?”

Skillz: Unless if like…I told ?uestlove I wasn’t making one last year unless he did the beat for it. It’s a lot to talk about though. The hurricane, George Bush…alright, I’m gonna stop now before I start writing the s**t down. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: Does every interview you do still include that question…?

Skillz: “Can you reveal the names to “Ghostwriter”?” I could, but why? I always say that’s my light bill record. I still got the masters to it. If I need to pay my light bill, I’ll put that s**t out.

AllHipHop.com: [laughs] You should put it in your will or something.

Skillz: It is.

AllHipHop.com: Wait, “Ghostwriter” is in your will?

Skillz: Yeah! Seriously.

AllHipHop.com: Do you seriously got it in your will to like leave it to somebody?

Skillz: My daughter. I don’t know. She might be able to put that s**t on eBay. I have an unedited version. Maybe some other rapper’s kid will want it. “I wonder if my daddy’s name is in this?’ Or, my mommy for that matter.”

AllHipHop.com: So let’s backtrack for a second. From Where? was ten years ago, right?

Skillz: ’96. I came out on the worst day in SoundScan history. I came out the same day as the Fugees and All Eyez on Me. I was a wrap! Only thing that was good about that was I was in the stores. I had no promotion and I’m going up against the Fugees and a guy that just got out of jail? Crazy!

AllHipHop.com: Well, you’re riding with Koch in the ’06, right?

Skillz: Album will be out first quarter of next year. Koch Records/Big Kidz Entertainment.

AllHipHop.com: Any title?

Skillz: I don’t know yet, man.

AllHipHop.com: Are you working on it now?

Skillz: Yeah, yeah, I’m like maybe six tracks in. I ain’t deep at all. [If you make beats], send joints, man. The party’s never over. I’m always looking for new cats. It’s a movement. It’s so much bigger than that. Peace out, b*tches!

Many of us only saw the damage of Hurricane Katrina from our television sets, however, Young City was there to see it first hand. Born and raised in New Orleans, Chopper was one of the millions of people who were uprooted from the only homes they knew. While many people are still, four months later, struggling to bounce back from the devastation, Chopper was a lot more fortunate.

AllHipHop.com recently got up with Chop to talk about how the horrific hurricane affected him and his loved ones, as well as what he has done over the past few months to help the cause. Chopper has much love for his hometown, and he’s reppin’ New Orleans till the day he dies.

AllHipHop.com: So I see that album is finally getting ready to come out…

Chopper: Yea, New Jack City is the album, and it’s ready…

AllHipHop.com: Okay, ‘cause I know you were talking about it before, but like I said, it’s been so long since I talked to you that I knew some of the details had changed….

Chopper: Yea, now it’s official like a referee with a whistle.

AllHipHop.com: Okay then, so of course, that’s the first thing I wanna get into. Who did you end up working with all around with production and guest appearances?

Chopper: Well let’s see, I got Mannie Fresh all on there, I got T.I. all on there, Lil’ Wayne, Jody Breeze, and I got some more…

AllHipHop.com: Man, right off rip, it’s got to feel like a major accomplishment for you, because back when you were doing the show on MTV, the one thing I remember you saying was that you always wanted to get down with Mannie Fresh.

Chopper: I did, and it does feel like a major accomplishment. But honestly, I gotta say that I made this shake for myself. Nobody gave me a handout or anything. I made this shake for myself. I went out there and I made it pop! I made them believe in me.

AllHipHop.com: So how did you hook up with him? Do you think he’s was paying attention to the show and heard you say it, or did someone get you two together?

Chopper: It was kind of a mutual thing. It was kinda like, “I see you homie” on both sides.

AllHipHop.com: So what type of feel are we getting with this album? Is it a major difference from what we were getting with Da Band?

Chopper: It’s a very big difference. You can tell by the new single, “Lil Daddy”. It’s a very big difference. With this album, you are getting the real Chopper. The Chopper that we always wanted, or that I wanted y’all to see and that I knew…

AllHipHop.com: So are you telling me that you weren’t being yourself, or that we weren’t getting the real Chopper before?

Chopper: I mean, you seen the young Chopper, the naïve Chopper. You saw the wild side of me – very talented, but wild. I couldn’t really show off like I wanted to, which was a bad situation, but that’s history. That side of me is in the trash can. The real Chopper is cool, calm, collected, fly, gutta, you know – the Chopper that I always was. I’m finally getting my shine and my freedom. I finally got my oxygen tank. It’s like I was struggling in the water with no oxygen tank. I was being told what to do. When you first come in the game as a rapper, or a rookie, you got to do what they tell you. Whatever they tell you, that’s what you do. Now, I got a brand new situation. I call the album New Jack City, and not because of the movie, but because I’m a new jack to this game, Chopper Young City, and I got something to prove. That point that I’m proving is that I’m one of the hottest newcomers coming in the South. Matter of fact, I got to be one of the hottest newcomers, period. I’m definitely one of the youngest in charge in this game. People don’t believe s**t stink ‘til they smell it. But you know what, I’m about to give them some s**t to the face!

AllHipHop.com: So what else is happening besides this album?

Chopper: Well the album should be dropping in January, but right now, it’s about this mixtape that I got coming out. That’s the situation right now, with DJ Smallz, called “All Eyes On Me”.

AllHipHop.com: Where can we fans up North find it?

Chopper: You can get that at www.chopperyoungcity.com.

AllHipHop.com: Oh word. So are you playing a part in the site? Do you go on and chat with your fans?

Chopper: I most definitely do that. My sidekick is right in my pocket! I have to, because they love me, just as much as I love them. I love them so much! I’m going to keep giving them good music, because that’s all I can do! I told you, it’s official like a referee blowin’ the whistle! You know the deal! I’m not a star! I’m a super super star! I ain’t even 21, and I done been through so much. I been through so much! Like, I done been shot, but I don’t talk about that because it ain’t really the type of s**t to be glamorizing! I ain’t trying to get shot again! I been out in the streets.

AllHipHop.com: I wanted to ask you what’s happening with Katrina relief on your end? I know New Orleans is your home, and your family is there.

Chopper: I lost a couple of my homies. My family is good now, but it don’t seem right with my city gone.

AllHipHop.com: With you being there, do you see rebuilding the city as feasible?

Chopper: I mean, I see it, but I think it’s going to be to the point where the new housing is going to be so expensive that a lot of the Black people won’t be able to afford to come back! I remember New Orleans for what it was! It’s not going to be the same.

AllHipHop.com: I know. I’m just sorry to hear about your loss and everything.

Chopper: Most definitely, and I appreciate the condolences. New Orleans was a city like no other. I feel like sheddin’ a tear, and it hurts, but I got to be strong for my family.

AllHipHop.com: Exactly. And at least with stuff like your houses, you can definitely replace that.

Chopper: Right, but it’s just so messed up that some people already didn’t have a lot, or was struggling, and now that this done happened, they really don’t have nothing. That’s what hurts.

AllHipHop.com: There are so many artists getting involved in aid and what not. In what ways have you been able to help?

Chopper: I gave to a few organizations. I gave to the Red Cross, and helped to supply food and water.

AllHipHop.com: The Hip-Hop culture is dogged and criticized so much, but it’s really good to see how in a time of crisis, we can stick together and help each other out. I mean, you know how this government is…

Chopper: Definitely. This is a time to get a reality check on voting, especially for the next election. Bush, them are some f**ked up people! It’s a trip, but let me shut up for they try to sabotage me.

B-Legit is a hell of a lot more than E-40’s brother. After a decade plus, B has led by quiet example for his community, both as an artist signed to Jive and today, as an independent. His hemp-themed albums sat lovely with red-eyed cruisers everywhere, but in 2005, B-Legit brings it back to the block.

In a conversation with AllHipHop.com, B-Legit waxes Bay politics, beat-downs, touches on South and West ridas, and reveals just how gangsta his buddy Jadakiss is out East. For everybody that ever admired the curves on a ’72 Cutlass or kept it extra Clickalicious, this one’s for y’all!

AllHipHop.com: What is the Block Movement?

B-Legit: The Block Movement is this: When I first got in the game the core audience was the block. That’s who we made this music for. As time moved on, the music changed and took a couple of twists. After the death of Tupac and Biggie, a lot of people were not too hip on listening to gangster music. The radio began to dictate which type of music got played. So, if you had a gangster song, there wasn’t anyway it was going to get on the radio. They tended to play more Ja Rule stuff- tryin’ to keep everybody at peace. That thing kinda took over. I was like “Man, that’s not what this was about. It was about the block.” So, I’m trying to bring the block back. If I did anything else, I’d be outta my zone, trying to imitate something that I don’t really do.

AllHipHop.com: I think proof of this lies in “Knock His Ass Out”. It’s also proof that you are an O.G. All the young cats now are so afraid to squabble and scuffle like we did way back. Today everybody is reaching for the AK to spray. What made you do that song?

B-Legit: Back in the day, me and my cousins, we were pretty big guys. We were raised country style. If you had a problem with a cat, you take it to the field and get ‘em up. You don’t have to kill a n***a [laughs]. Just beat his ass. If you get yo’ ass beat it’s all good. There’s another day. You can come back. That’s what it was really about. Other people forced the other s***t into it. I guess they cowards. So, if they don’t wanna get ‘em up, they bring a gun into it. What’s wrong with a good old fashioned ass whoopin’?

There’s always somebody in the club. They see you in the club tryin’ to be in your own zone. Tryin’ to get your groove on. But they just keep on talkin’ and keep messin’ with ya. Then they spill their drink on you. You ain’t got to kill him. Just knock him out, drag him out and let the party go on.

AllHipHop.com: Do you have a personal favorite knock out story for me?

B-Legit: I got one. But it was way back though. We used to drink a lot of 40’s back in the day. They used to turn us into the Incredible Hulk. Have us thinkin’ we was real strong. We used to do real stupid s**t like walking into bars and stealin’ [giving big punches to the jaw] on people.

We used to do that at this place called the wharf. It’s a military bar. Military people liked to drink to. We’d be outside drinkin’ 40’s. They’d be inside drinking shots or whatever. Somehow, we met out in the parking lot. We tried to shake their hand. They thought they were too good. We just started poundin’ on them [chuckles]. It was stupid. But you live to tell about that- ya know what I mean?

AllHipHop.com: On most of your previous LPs’ you busted over mid to down tempo beats- ‘cause that’s very Bay-ish. But on this one you have a lot of club bangers with strong hooks. Was that a conscious move, or just the evolution of B-Legit?

B-Legit: It was a conscious move. I’m in the club a lot. I wanna hear my joints in the club. Back in the day, they’d play my joint, but they had to break the mix…Like slow it down, start talkin’ then play it. I wanted to make this album mix-friendly. Those beats that they call ‘Southern beats’ – are regular West Coast beats but they appear faster because the symbol is moving faster. So, it has that bounce to it.

AllHipHop.com: A lot of people in the Bay have criticized the Southern Hip-Hop. The Ying Yang Twins specifically, have been in question. What’s your take on all this?

B-Legit: When I first came in the game, we did a compilation called, South West Ryders. We were letting people know that the South and the West are riding together. The East, sometimes, they are not interested in what we have to say. But the South, they supported us from the gate. When I first came out and was not getting played out here, the South was the ones that took us in. They were buyin’ our CD’s at first. They adopted our sound and our language at first, but then they put their own twist on it. They had the fast moving high hats. Now, instead of having to buy a West Coast tape, they can buy their own artists. But they have to understand that our people, migrated from the South to [the West]. But we’re not getting the promotional dollars, and being incorporated into the machine to advertise big. It’s not that they don’t like us. They don’t know about the CD. But we are not getting’ pushed in those markets so it’s not sellin’ out there.

AllHipHop.com: That’s a fair assessment.

B-Legit: If there was a major label pushing Bay Area acts hard out there, it would sell. But cats are independent. So, it’s not reaching out there.

AllHipHop.com: So they can’t support what they don’t know?

B-Legit: Exactly. I also think some people here focus on being locally accepted. Some of them need to broaden their horizons. Do songs for the South. Do songs for back East. You can’t be one-dimensional in life.

AllHipHop.com: You mentioned your songs being in the club. Recently E-40’s club “The Ambassadors Lounge” got shut down by a city council woman [allegedly Cindy Chavez] who was in cahoots with the San Jose Police Department. A lot of people on the avenue said the SJPD was very oppressive in the way they treated the patrons of The Ambassadors Lounge. How do you feel about the way that went down?

B-Legit: San Jose is a city that wants to be known as one of the safest city’s in the Bay. In order for them to do that, they have to keep the “hoodlums, thugs, prostitutes” knowing that, “We’re gonna be on your back”. They want to make it like “I don’t wanna be there [in San Jose] because they sweat me too hard”.

So, by the club being there and by 40 being who he was- it attracted a lot of young Latinos and Blacks. Like any other gathering, sometimes thing happen, people fight, there was a shooting. They did not want that in their city. So they allowed the same club to be open called, The Bee Hive. But they did not want 40’s name on it [the club]. When the major concerts come, they come to San Jose. They don’t go to Oakland or San Francisco. They go to San Jose and Sacramento. This is a city that’s ran by the police. A long time ago they used to have lowriders cruising. They [SJPD] shut that down. They harassed anybody they thought was even trying to have a good time. They did the same thing to the club. But they allowed the club to open back up as long as 40’s name was not on it. But I think they are violating a lot of peoples’ rights.

AllHipHop.com: Moving onto bigger and better, long before Nate Dogg, the Bay had the vocal tones of Levitti over Hip-Hop beats. That brother is featured on this album as well. When are we gonna see an album from Levitti? Enquiring minds wanna know!

B-Legit: I been recently having him in the studio. He’s my personal favorite. I tried to shop a deal for him. But I think he was ahead of his time. He had a gangster twist to him. But now they got Akon and Lyfe [Jennings] out. But Levitti was doing that a long time ago. At the same time, I know Nate Dogg did well with the Dogg Pound and Dr. Dre, but I don’t know how he did as a solo artist. Because it’s a different approach and marketing technique to putting out a rapper than a vocalist over Hip-Hop beats.

AllHipHop.com: Speaking of Tha Dogg Pound, I loved “Playa Potnas” from Daz’s Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back LP. That’s a good jam to work-out to. When y’all gonna team back up and make some more heat for the streets?

B-Legit: I gotta line in on Daz. He be moving around a lot, so it’s hard to get hold of him sometimes. But that was a combo between him and Soopafly. If we can get them back in the studio and hook it up again- wow.

AllHipHop.com: I was surprised to hear the collaboration with Styles P and Jadakiss. I loved it, but I was surprised. How did that happen?

B-Legit: I’m an international type guy. I travel lot. Super Bowls, All Star Games, award shows and stuff. I see Jada everywhere. We have some mutual friends too. I’m tellin’ him “You gotta come out to the Bay more often. You got love, but they don’t see you.” He’s like, “I do need to get out there more. I got some 16’s [16 bar raps] for you whenever you want them.” So I was up in Denver at the All-Star game, and we chopped it up. When I started working on this album, I waited till I got towards the end of it. I called him and told him about it. He was like, “Send it to me.” He took it and did something with it. He got Styles on it. He did that on the love. It worked out. The name of my album is Block Movement, they D-Block. It was the perfect time for something like that.

AllHipHop.com: A lot of people across The Bay, across the West, across the country are fighting to save the life to Stanley “Tookie” Williams. Can you tell me any of your thoughts on that?

B-Legit: I think so many people in Hip-Hop have love for him with the Crip and Blood thing. In the beginning, it showed brotherhood. Now you got Bloods and Crips all over the world. It started out as a brotherhood. Like, “These are my homeboys and we’re looking out for each other”. Over time, of course the wars came. By him being a triple OG he has had time to live, learn and examine what he did. What he’s doing now is trying to give back. To let the people know, by using himself as an example of where he went bad. He’s trying to keep them out of being in the same things so they are not facing what he’s facing. Sometimes, if you a preacher and you try to talk to a thug- the thug ain’t trying to hear what you have to say. Because he feels like you have not been through what he has been through. But lookin’ at Tookie, they gonna listen. He’s the start. He the founder of this. All he’s trying to do now is rebuild from his mistakes and give back. I don’t think they should kill him.

Adisa Banjoko is the controversial author of “Lyrical Swords Vol. 2: Westside Rebellion”. For more info visit www.lyricalswords.com !