Jerry
Heller
, the man N.W.A., in particular Ice Cubehelped launched to fame (or infamy) has come out of his
semi-retirement to helped get another fledging label get
off the ground. The label, Hit A Lick Records, is similar
Ruthless Records, the label that brought hard core Gangsta
Rap onto the American public’s radar.
Hit A Lick
was founded by KDAY Hip-Hop poineer Tony G. and Pablito
Vasquez. The label is claiming to be the first to have
an all Latino roster. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times,
Heller said "It’s very difficult to come in cold
turkey and sell a movement, but this will draw national
attention and set the stage for the records we have coming."
The first
single the label has released is "Dreamin On Chrom,"
off of the G’Fellas album Gangster 4 Life. The album made
an appearance on Billboard last week at the number 68
slot with a bullet.
Other acts
on the label include Mellow Man Ace who hit big with his
1990 bilingual joint "Mentirosa," and Kid Frost
who also had a smash the same year with his song "La
Raza." Completeing their roster is 20 year old Lil’
Blacky and groups Eastside Ghetto, Big Shots With Malice,
ALT and a new take of N.W.A., the group that made Heller
his millions. Heller is betting the new version, M.W.A.,
short for Mexicans With Attitudes will bring his new label
just as much notoriety.
"I think
I can do this one more time." Heller said. After
being called out on Ice Cube’s "No Vaseline,"
a long battle with Eazy E’s wife and Estate, as well as
several Libel lawsuits over his portrayal in Ronin Ro’s
cotroversial "Have Gun Will Travel" book, Heller
left the music industry for awhile.
"Maybe
it was a hiatus," Heller continued. "Maybe I
was burned out. But retirement is so final. In my mind,
I don’t think I was ever out of the music business for
good."