Mississippi native Boo da Boss Playa, a.k.a. Rossini, discovered his gift for writing at an early age. “Back in sixth grade, I’d get other people’s beats off the radio and write over their shit.” Along with his rap partner Shuck, Boo took advantage of every local talent show and opportunity. When his first album was complete, he wasted no time searching for an investor and began selling CDs out of his trunk. “I ain’t wait for nobody to come discover me,” Boo says matter-of-factly. “Somebody told me, ‘If you believe in yourself, invest in yourself.’ So I took my own paper and started my own label.” His label, 1Life 1Love Records, quickly gained a reputation throughout the South. After releasing four independent albums and three music videos (one of which landed on BET Uncut), Boo’s name spreading on the streets of Jackson caught the ear of a visiting Interscope A&R. He signed a label deal with Interscope, but when the A&R got fired, his project was shelved for two years before he was released from his contract. Despite the career setback, he isn’t bitter, simply chalking it up to the game as a learning experience. “Plus, I got paid to learn from it. Now I know how [major labels] operate.” His current single, the remix to “Say it to My Face” featuring Swizz Beatz, is gathering steady radio spins in over sixty markets. Despite interest from Sony and other major labels, Boo opted to keep control of his project and form a joint venture with Miami’s Royal Dollar Records. Together, they are working to secure distribution for his upcoming album, Definition of a Hustler, which features tracks from Swizz Beatz, Cool & Dre, and Boo’s in-house producer, 17-year-old Lil’ C. So, what exactly is the definition of a hustler? Simple, he says. “Boo. Me. That’s the definition.” - Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com (Photo: J Lash)
 

“All them DJs out there, y’all gotta fuck with this indie niggas comin’ up. They got heat, bruh, fo’ real. Just give ‘em a chance.” Within a month of saying this, Wes Fif has already acquired many valuable allies, including DJ Suggablack, DJ Fusion, Dawgman, DJ Jesse Jazz, DJ Splack, and Big Cee Jay. Wes Fif adopted his name from West 50, a state road running right through the heart of the city he calls home: Orlando, FL. With a hustle that’s matched by very few MCs and a catalog of tracks that has already gotten him radio and mixtape recognition, Wes is rising through the ranks quickly. His sound is Southern, without a doubt, and sometimes reminiscent of B.G. Over a 50 Cent instrumental, Wes informs us that he’s “like a damn slam dunk,” and he spits fire over the instrumental to Tupac’s “Realest Niggaz.” Wes rises above the rest of the industry hopefuls and lays it down with power and vigor, demanding respect. He’s begun making a name for himself locally, showing his knack for energizing crowds almost effortlessly. Wes has been hard at work trying to establish himself in Orlando, hitting the battle circuit. “I live for that aspect, dawg,” comments Wes. “I’m very big on the lyrical aspect of the music. I’ve started to veer away from the battling scene, but if anybody want it, holla!” But Wes himself knows that even the greatest battle MCs have been overlooked, and explains why he deserves a listen: “All killer, no filler, dawg. Guaranteed. I’mma say some shit that’ll make you rewind it, every track.” Wes looks forward to collaborating with artists like Sean Jay and Chamillionaire as he expands his own musical abilities and builds a reputation for his label, Choppin’ Up Records. He can be summed up in one word, the title of one of his songs: Wes Fif is simply “Fantasgreat.” – Rohit Loomba, ctpros@arcaneproductioncompany.com
 

Ever since John Singleton’s “Baby Boy,” there has been a new respect for dudes with the name Jody. As the first release on Jazze Pha’s brand-new ShoNuff Records, Jody Breeze has added onto that respect. When he first started writing rhymes, however, Jody didn’t expect it to become a career. “I just found rapping amusing, you know what I mean?” he says calmly, in a laid-back drawl. “I just do it ‘cause I know how to do it. I just feel it.” As he grew older, Jody found music to be a positive influence and a way for him to stay out of the streets. “I had to start payin’ bills, you know what I mean?” he laughs. Rap soon became a way of life. He began working at a radio station in Macon, GA, and got his big break at a car wash event the station held. He caught the attention of Jazze Pha’s manager, who was scouting for new talent. “He called Jazze right away and told him he’d found somebody. He took me to Atlanta the very next day, I rapped for Jazze, and he signed me on the spot [to his new label, ShoNuff Records].” Born in Griffin, GA, a small town outside Atlanta, Jody moved to the big city to pursue his dream. Since then, he’s been working with Jazze to record tracks for his upcoming debut album, A Day in the Life of Jody Breeze, a self-explanatory concept which chronicles his everyday life. Even though he’s a newcomer, Jody’s album proves that he can hold his own alongside seasoned veterans like Trick Daddy, Mannie Fresh, Sean Paul of the YoungBloodz, and of course, Jazze Pha. He’s recently started hosting mixtapes throughout the South, and his singles “Chevrolets” and “White Tees” are spreading through the club and radio scene. Look out for Jody’s album to be released this year through Warner Bros. - Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com and Malik Darby, malik@tjsdjs.com (Photo: JB)