With the Southern movement dominating the sound of hip-hop across the country, SupaStishun, representing for Georgia, is an unsigned artist ready to make an impact on the industry. Even though he’s been approached by major labels, he’s remained independent, mentioning that a deal is “not the direction I want to go.” He plans to release his album, “Grady Baby,” through an independent distributor to avoid becoming “lost in the masses.” His first single, “What Tha Feezy,” and the remix, featuring David Banner, generated a buzz throughout the Southeast. His album provides listeners with the opportunity to get acquainted with SupaStishun, who describes it as “an emotional roller coaster. It isn’t just crunk or fight music, it’s music at its best.” The wide variety of material on the album demonstrates his agility on the mic. With the industry becoming bland, Supa comments, “The industry is full of followers and no leaders. It’s all about a fast buck right now.” He feels like he can bring something new to the table: “Music that you can ride, fuck, smoke, club, shit, shower, and chill to.” In the future, SupaStishun hopes to be able to work with artists that inspired him to pursue a music career, including Slick Rick, Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Kilo Ali. Having already worked with David Banner, Supa has nothing but praise for Banner. “He gave me advice, which he didn’t have to do. He cares about people.” Supa reps the South to the fullest, even though he feels that his region doesn’t get love from the rest of the country. “Not too many people from the West of the East have love for the South, for whatever reason. I will take care of home first, just like they do. I am what I am.” Look out for his album – it’s “sum real down Souf shit that you’ll be loving to the fullest!” – Rohit Loomba, poombster@aol.com 

He did it the way hungry artists are supposed to do it. He stayed on the grind, making sure that his time was well-spent and his music was heart. Although he’s been rhyming since he was eleven, at first Stat wasn’t really focused on trying to get into the game. Rapping was just a hobby. Now, it’s his promising future. Three years ago, he began mastering his craft, leaving mixtapes scorching with third-degree rhymes. Both volumes of his mixtape collection were hits throughout the Southeast and Midwest, earning him airplay on major stations and creating a buzz that left people hungry for more. The respect he gained landed him in the same room with Scarface. Game recognize game – the rap icon and then President of Def Jam South gave Stat Quo the go-ahead, encouraging him to focus on rap as a career. Shortly after, he submitted a demo to Def Jam South, and also shopped around to other labels. Stat Quo started attacking the streets relentlessly, keeping the underground fire burning, and eventually his demo reached California. Dr. Dre sent for Stat to come work with him, and once the doors were open, Stat Quo’s government name was scribbled on a contract signing him to Shady/Aftermath Records, a very good place to be at this point in the game. So how has Stat’s life changed since signing his deal? “Nothing’s changed,” he says, “I’m still on the grind, still working, trying to make sure I come out with hot music.” His new single, “Problems,” from Green Lantern’s “Underground ATL Volume 3” mixtape, is spreading quickly throughout the country. Stat summarizes his upcoming album as “my interpretation of life and the things I’ve been through. I come with witty flows and gritty tracks, trying to expand the Southern stereotype. We’re still just building our roster up. It’s a countdown to Armageddon.” – Noel Malcolm, noel@ozonemag.com

Juvenile hall is usually more like juvenile hell for those who are forced to go, but doing dirt and getting punished for it was actually one of the best things that happened to Vido No Shake and Des Loc. Their stint in juvenile hall brought them together as Piccalo: Professional Intelligent Cash Collected Advanced Lyrical Oh my God! That’s their acronym for what they’re bringing to the rap game. You probably won’t hear their music on commercial radio stations yet, but the streets have been supporting them for years. In 1999, their single “Big Money Ballers” created a buzz and led them to a deal with the now-defunct EKG Records. Even though the song was popular in the region, their label was unable to convert the buzz into record sales. Major labels expressed interest in signing the group, but EKG was more interested in a deal for their entire roster. No major was interested in the whole roster, so when EKG went out of business, Piccalo was without a home. They continued putting out music through their own Infested Records/Towners 4 Life, focusing on exposing themselves. Once a month they put out a self-produced mix CD. “We gon’ grind ‘til the wheels fall off,” brags Vido No Shake. Proudly representing their ‘hood of Overtown, they’re the originators of the popular Miami phrase, “Towners! Fo’ life!” Like many unsigned artists, they look forward to having a major label finance and market their music to the masses, but in the meantime, they’re preparing to release upcoming collaborations with hometeam favorites Jacki-O, Dirtbag, Pitbull, Luke, and Cognito. The good Reverent Jesse Jackson always says to “keep hope alive,” but according to Des Loc, “We been in this game so long there ain’t no time for hoping.” Jadakiss described the Piccalo mentality best: “We Gon’ Make It.” – Darnella Dunham, darnelladunham@aol.com