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Raptalk.net have been given the chance to hook up with one half of the legendary C-N-N for another exclusive Rap Talk Q&A session. Capone talks about his career, being solo, the new CNN project and his new solo album & movie in the works. Enjoy!
Dub MD: Capone., What's good?
Everything good on my side, maintaining ya dig.
Dub MD: For those who don't know, could you just give a short review of what you've experienced in your rap career up until now?
Well basically its been a long road with a lot of ups and downs. I'm definitely happy with my career tho, 2 gold albums with Nore and a great solo album, i've definitely seen a lot and been on some great tours. I think the best one was the How High Tour with Red and Meth, also the Vendetta Tour cause it was a bunch of hungry artist on that joint and it was a bunch of things going on. I learnt the game and how to play it to my favor without being a platinum artist.
Dub MD: Coming from the NYC, what do you think of the New York music scene right now?
I think the new york music scene is adapting very well to where music is going without loosing the essence of hip hop.. NY is a mecca and in order for artist to become successful his or her music has to get heard and played by the new york based area fans and dj's, that’s the game!
Dub MD: A lot of people are saying "Hip Hop Is Dead" lately, how do you feel about the current state of hip hop?
Hip Hop will never die, as long as music is being made by great artist, hip hop will always be here. I think people are just not use to change but after a while the change becomes the norm. Nas made a point that was takin many different ways. the east took it one way and the south took it another way.. just think about it, when N.W.A came out, that era was suppose to be the death of hip hop. the west was on the rise. when people think hip hop they automatically think NY.. when people think gangsta rap they think west coast and so on. hip hop is the modern blues for the new generation.. hip hop can teach you how to dress, dance, read, write, etc..its proven! as long as there’s a message in music hip hop cant die.
Dub MD: Being one half of the legendary CNN, how did you and Noreaga hook up back in the day?
We met in jail when we was 14.. use to have to go to church to see each other in the jail cause we was on different sides of the joint.
Dub MD: Heard on the grapevine CNN got a new LP in the works, is that true?
We definitely trying to put it together for the CNN fans out there.. its been a long time!
Dub MD: Do you have a new solo album dropping?, whats its it called & what can your fans expect?
I'm definitely workin on another album.. its yet to be titled but when I get it together yall will be the first to get it. my fans can expect great music and im going a little more gangsta on this one.
Dub MD: Have you been working with any big artists and producers for any of your up coming projects?
Basically everything is in house but I will have some great artists on my album and as far producers go, I love working with new cats.. im actually doin a contest on myspace.com now for a producer and artist to appear on my new album details will be at www.capone-qb.com.
Dub MD: Whats your label situation like just now?
I just did a deal with smc recordings and we are currently working out the cnn situation.. great bidding war goin on.. independent is the new def jam baby!
Dub MD: Can you tell us a little about Pain, Time & Glory Ent.?
Pain, Time & Glory Entertainment, is my label which consists of all media outlets, artist management and development, production and my team LDR from Reading PA..I'm trying to have my company on an international scale feel me..
Dub MD: Back to the new material when is everything due to be released?
Not sure yet, were looking at the end of summer for CNN and maybe top of year for my solo.. I will be dropping mixtapes in the mean time..
Dub MD: You have a new radio show podcast out right now, can you tell us about that? where can the fans tune in?
That is currently being moved to www.capone-qb.com. You can contact podcast@eastcoastdigitalradio.com.
Dub MD: For your fans who haven't seen you perform yet are you planning a worldwide tour anytime soon?
Definitely, soon as the deal get done me and Nore hittin the road heavy..
Dub MD: If you could describe yourself as an emcee in 4 words, what would they be?
There’s No One Greater!
Dub MD: What is on tap for Capone for the rest of 2007 and beyond?
Getting this Pain, Time, and Glory movie done along with the albums and hittin the road!
Dub MD: Do you have anything to say to the fans? anything you wanna get off your chest? any shout outs?
I just wanna let the fans know I aint going no where and this is our year. shout out to the whole queens bridge and ptg family and all my comrades on lock! Fans can reach me at www.myspace.com/caponefromcnn or signup for newsletter at capone-qb.com to get n - Raptalk.net
Discography
The War Report (as a member of Capone-N-Noreaga) (June 17, 1997)
The Reunion (as a member of Capone-N-Noreaga) (November 21, 2000)
Pain, Time & Glory (2005)
Menace 2 Society (March 14, 2006)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Guru of Gang Starr once said, “It’s mostly the voice.” And few MC’s have a voice like that of Capone: nasal, intense and soulful, reflecting his upbringing in the Queens bridge Houses, New York’s largest and most notorious housing project. It was there that hip hop embraced him. “My man, Rapper Noyd was the only one out of the click who had the urge to rhyme, as a matter of fact he wrote my first rhyme in 1989, I was a DJ at the time”, Capone recalls. It was the sounds of Kool G. Rap that inspired him to take rapping seriously. “For any kid who liked the street life, G Rap was their God and he was from Queens”, he reminisces. Unfortunately Capone related to the messages in G Rap’s music too well. “Around 1994, I was hearing other motherfuckers and I knew I could do better but I was still involved in the street life”, says Capone. Like many young black men in New York’s drug saturated streets, Capone made a decision to head for greener pastures. “I was hustling out of town any my man called me to go to the radio station; it was there that B.I.G. saw me and told me I was nice. He wanted to sign me to Junior Mafia”, says Capone still in awe of the memory. Ironically, like the Notorious B.I.G., a decision to stop running the street and selling drugs right before a major bust proved to pivotal in Capone’s life. “Two weeks later, everybody I was hustling with was locked up.” Early in the game as fate would have it, Capone would be incarcerated at the Collins Correctional Facility in New York and meet Noreaga and form the dynamic rap group CNN and go on to becoming an overnight success. CNN would help pioneer the street sound of New York from the mid to late 90’s, even up to the early 02’s Shortly before finishing the recording of their classic debut album, War Report (1997), Capone was sent back to prison for violating parole on weapons charges, but War Report became an underground hit and went gold. Noreaga would release two solo albums of his own N.O.R.E and Melvin Flint the Hustler which Capone would become executive producer of one while still in prison. Upon his release, the group released The Reunion, which also went gold. The duo sold over 1 million albums to date in their short-lived careers. Despite a decade in the music biz, the depth of that powerful arsenal of emotions has yet to be fully explored. Capone would take 5 years away from the public eye and go underground to pursue his solo career and release his long awaited album entitled, Pain, Time and Glory. He would later land a joint-venture deal with Fast Life/Koch in 2004 and continue his mark in hip-hop.
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