Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
www.hiphop-magazine.com HHM: NEXT TO BLOW Nov. 2, 2005
“BABY STONE- THE CORNER BOY”
____________________________
Next 2 Blow is a sneak peek at rising artists cool enough to turn hot. The mic-controllers, rappers, and producers you read about today might be the Billboard chart-toppers, VH1 and Bet darlings, and Grammy nominees next.
Serving as the flagship artist and Co-CEO of the thriving music house Corner Boy Records, the baby-faced Mississippian represents the struggle of underdogs worldwide. Having just been released from jail less than a year ago for manslaughter, Baby Stone has entered the rap game with full force. His Corner Boy Records collective is not only a record label, but a movement. Baby Stone’s motivation derives from his determination to breathe life into his homeboy Roc Dog’s dream. The two friends and fellow inmates started Corner Boy Records together, but after Roc Dog committed suicide, Baby Stone continued with the torch. It is Baby Stone’s primary intention to use his music as a voice for corner boys and girls worldwide. Baby Stone’s outlook on life’s adversities is truly inspiring. Baby Stone is a bonafide hustler and humble soul who’s definitely on a path of great success.
You’ve been out of jail for approaching a year now, yet you’ve accomplished so much in such a short period of time. Reflecting back on this past year, what accomplishments are you most proud of?
Getting a lot of my homeboys in on something positive.
How would you describe your musical style? What type of image are you trying to project?
Basically. I show the reality. I make music that’s enjoyable, but at the same time there’s a foundation and meaning to what I’m saying.
You just recently released "Better Way" and you’ll soon be releasing the Corner Boy Worldwide Mixtape. What project are you more so focusing on right now?
I’m focusing on both. "Better Way" is more reflective of my mind frame after coming home from prison. The Corner Boy Worldwide mix tape is more of an album, because I put more time into that than "Better Way".
Who is your target audience? Who does Baby Stone make music for?
I want my music to reach people of the struggle. I want to reach out to not only the hustlers and the dope boys, but also the regular 9-5 people, who are just trying to make ends meet.
What are you currently working on as far as shows? What are your radio spins like?
I got shows nearly every week, in fact 2-3 times a week. We getting great responses from the shows. I want to do a HBCU college tour. I got radio rotation in Jackson MS and a lot of smaller markets like Shreveport, Little Rock and Monroe. In addition, my music is getting spins on college radio.
What other avenues are you looking to venture off into?
I’m a universal hustler. Whatever enterprise that I see I can turn a profit in.
What else is on the horizon for Baby Stone and Corner Boy Records?
I want to build Corner Boy Records into a reputed company that produces good music.
With the successes of fellow Mississippi rappers David Banner & Lil Boosie, do you think that Mississippi could be the next big rap music market?
No doubt. It’s a roster of talented artist out here, but everybody for self, muthafuckas ain´t fucking with each other.
Mississippi is often slept on. Tell the readers what Mississippi has to offer as far as entertainment. What are some of your favorite hot spots in Mississippi?
I mean it’s a lot to do in Mississippi, but I’m on the everyday grind; getting money. If I’m not doing shows, I’m in the lab making it happen, trying to generate for some type of funds; trying to get some diapers and formula.
If you hadn’t entered the rap game, do you think you would have continued to pursue boxing?
Well, I thought about it, but so much time had passed. I would have though, but I would have focused on training the younger cats.
What did you learn from serving seven years in prison?
A lot of muthafuckas ain´t your friends. Only a few select muthafuckas is down. I learned that the only person I need and can depend on is the Lord. You can’t worry about anyone else. I learned a lot, I basically grew up in there. Prison is what you make. You can go in there with a fucked attitude or you can use it as a learning experience. I came out as a better man.
What artists and/or producers are you looking forward to working with?
To be honest, I really can’t say. As far as mainstream, every artist wants to work with Dre and I wouldn’t mind working with Kanye West, but I’m an underground ruler. I’d much rather take one of those producer cats working in their mama’s back room, who got just as much talent, but going unnoticed.
Thanks for the interview...
- www.hiphop-magazine.com
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
STONE
What was to be the end of the story
Turned out to be the only beginning
After serving 7 years of a life sentence, Rodney Jones was given a 2nd chance in 2004 by the Mississippi Supreme Court due to the negligence of the state prosecutor. Rather than adopting a lifelong criminal mentality, he re-entered society nearly a decade later a stronger and wiser man, more determined than ever to find a Better Way and Brighter Dayz.
Raised in a loving family, Rodney Jones was reared under the watchful eyes of his father, a southern Baptist minister yet tempted by the grasp of the streets of the "Bold New City", Jackson, Mississippi. Torn between God's gifts and the Devil's playground the young man was as good at sports and singing as he was at stealing cars and hustling. A standout amateur boxer who represented MS at the Jr. Olympic Nationals, Jones traded in his prize gloves for the lure of the gangster lifestyle and paid with the high price of his freedom at the age of 17.
Nicknamed "Baby Stone" while locked up, the teenager had to grow up even faster in the state Penitentiary. During his incarceration the baby-faced inmate developed an affinity for survival and a knack for writing. In fact, writing lyrics WAS his form of survival. He became the "in-house poet" for his Flatlands jail mates, writing romantic poems and clever verses for their girlfriends. Combining his choirboy talents with his composition skills, he eventually began to master a "sing-song" style of rap and honed his talents as an emcee and songwriter. His inmates were his first focus group and were inspired by his words, especially his song, Catchin Cases, a universal anthem on the struggles of everyday run-ins with the law.
Once released, he reconnected with childhood friends Roc Dog and Jar Loose and began recording songs and seriously exploring the music game. Just as he began to re-write his story it was as if some vicious curse had returned to haunt him. A few months after laying down his 1st tracks, Roc Dog committed suicide and became another premature ending that would challenge the fate of STONE.
Dead set on pursuing this dream, STONE and Jar Loose teamed up with another neighborhood buddy Alex "Bra" Brown, and together they translated hard learned lessons and life on the corner into business savvy and started what is now a thriving independent record label, Corner Boyz Worldwide LLC.
In slightly over a year's span, Stone has been blessed with a little angel named Raniya, and has in turn graced audiences throughout the Southeast, sharing stages with hip-hop heavy weights Mike Jones, Trick Daddy, Pastor Troy, Outlawz, Young Buck and others. Kicking down the doors opened by regional favorites David Banner and Dough Belly Stray, the confident newcomer is poised to once again rep the crooked letter state, this time with the release of his debut LP Better Way and 2006 projects Corner Boyz Worldwide: The Preview and Better Dayz. STONE has found a way, as Corner Boyz Worldwide flagship artist and co-CEO, to give a voice to youngsters just like him; full of talent, promise, hustle and ambition, corner boys and girls from hoods everywhere needing to turn tragic tales into happy endings.
Links
