In the spring of 1998, Southcoast Music Group was looking for producers to finish Prime Time’s album, Duck Tape’N.
Their in-house producer Leroy “Precise” Edwards had left Southcoast to pursue projects with the Ghetto Twiinz and Noo Trybe Records. Fullpack Music stepped in to do the job and a new era at Southcoast began.
“I think we brought new life to Southcoast. We brought fresh ideas, tight production and an overall good production team,” says Player Will (William Nelson). Will is one of three members of Fullpack along with Big Fess (Anthony Rout) and DJ Don Juan (Don Henry). They wasted no time getting down to business and producing great music. Their first project for Southcoast was a single called “Tell Me Why” featuring Prime Time, Partners-N-Crime and Ms. Tee. The song became a huge hit locally and was one of the most requested and most played songs on Q93 FM. Since then Fullpack has been busy working on albums for Drama, Squad, Tre-8, Recon, 7-Leaf, So Unique and others.
“We developed a relationship with the label and the artist first,” says Fess. “We vibed together fast, and that’s why we’re able to get a lot of projects done.”
Part of that relationship means giving each artist more creative control, something that seems to work well for both the artists and producers.
“We are more open and willing to take ideas from the artists for their tracks,” says Juan.
Fullpack is no newcomer to the local music scene. Originally Fullpack consisted of Fess, Juan, Precise and CMJ. In the early 90’s they started out as mobile deejays, deejaying at clubs, high schools and parties. Their first EP 9 Cuts Deep included the popular song “Give You What You Want, Give You What You Need.” After writing, performing and producing that EP, Fullpack decided to move into production.
They were the creative musical force behind artists like T. Tucker, Gregory D., Pimp Daddy, DJ Jubilee, Joe Blakk, Badd Fellaz, Che’, DJ Mouche, Mia X and many others. They bounced from studio to studio but did most of their work during that time at Studio 13, owned and operated by Matt Buras. For years Studio 13 (originally in the Maison Blanche building on Canal Street) was the hot spot for local rap music. Eventually Precise and CMJ left Fullpack, and in ‘97 Player Will joined the production team.
Of all the projects they’ve worked on over the years, Fess says he’s most proud of Pimp Daddy’s music.
“It opened up the gangsta, chant, bounce sound that the city has come to love and support,” says Fess.
Juan, on the other hand, was tired of all the bounce sound and is most proud of the work he did with the group Phat.
“Phat had the best album never released,” says Juan. “This one had a lot of live instruments, live bass and guitar. That’s kinda like what our foundation is now, live music.”
Southcoast will release a CD on Drama Squad this month called On Front Line produced by Fullpack. Fullpack is currently working on Partners-N-Crime’s new album and has plans to release a compilation album which will include songs by Fullpack and other Southcoast artists.
“Look for Southcoast and Fullpack to make a big impact in the music market locally and worldwide,” says Fess.
Rapper Mr. Ivan has a new album out this month call Resurrection on Bang’N Records. It’s Mr. Ivan’s first release since ‘94 when he recorded an album with Cash Money Records. Mr. Ivan says that during the time he was away from the music scene rumors surfaced that he had been shot and was dead. “I basically fed off the rumors that were going on about my death,” says Mr. Ivan. “I just decided to base the album on that. I wanted people to know that I was alive, and I’m putting my heart into everything as far as music is concerned.”
Resurrection was produced by Mr. Ivan and Don B. (Don Bartholomew). Co-owner of Bang’N Records along with his brother Ron B. Before getting serious about music, Mr. Ivan was living the fast life, a life filled with drugs and crime.
“Growing up in my neighborhood (9th ward) was real tough,” says Mr. Ivan. “We had a lot of idle time on our hands so we slipped off into the crime scene. It was a means of gettin’ paid.”
Mr. Ivan spent years in and out of jail, but at age 19 something happened that would turn his life around. He was involved in a drug related car accident that left him with serious injuries, and while hospitalized his heart stopped twice. The driver of the car was killed. That incident was the turning point for Mr. Ivan who at age 20 decided to put all of his energy into music. He recorded for Cash Money Records for two years before signing with Bang’N Records and says he has no regrets about leaving Cash Money (the label signed a multi-million dollar deal with Universal Records last year).
“I’d like to thank Cash Money for introducing me to the recording business, and I wish them well,” says Mr. Ivan.
Lucious G. Smith refers to his No Name Brand clothing line as “The Fashion Revolution.” Smith, known in the fashion industry as Rockwell, will introduce his new hip hop gear this month.
“It’s the ultimate fashion statement,” says Smith. “It’s a statement saying that even in this materialistic world, I can wear a no name brand and still be in style.”
With over 20 designs in his collection, Smith plans to release two to three designs a month. His collection currently includes caps, nylon jackets, t-shirts and hoodies (sweatshirts with hoods). Smith says his clothes have universal appeal. “I want to design clothes that everybody will wear. I want to set trends by introducing brand new styles and being unique!” he adds.
Models interested in modeling No Name Brand clothing should mail their composites to No Name Brand Clothing Company, P.O. Box 870695, New Orleans, LA 70187-0695. For more info call (504) 245-0440.
Fire on the Bayou Records shot a video for their latest release “Gettin High” last month. The single is from the compilation CD Respect My Mind which includes songs by Neferious Mike, Bigg Ramp, Skull Duggery, Legend Man, Crazy and others. The video was filmed in uptown New Orleans and at a club in Houston.
Fire on the Bayou will release a CD on Da Ryders in March, and Neferious Mike’s CD is due out this summer.
DJ U-Neek was in New Orleans last month promoting his new compilation CD Ghetto Street Pharmacist Vol. I. DJ U-Neek, best known for his production work with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, started his own label, Kingpin Records.
“I wanted more of a fair share of the profits,” says DJ U-Neek. “I wanted to get my whole vision across and have a universal label. We’re not just rap, we have R& B also,” he says.
The CD features Krayzie Bone, Byzie Bone, Cold 187 of Above the Law, The Kingpin Family, E.W.F., Nytowl, DJ U-Neck and others. DJ U-Neck is looking for new talent. Demos can be mailed to Brenda Morris, 8306 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 76, Beverly Hills, California 90211.
After six years of writing the “Street” column, I have decided to move on to pursue other interests. I want to thank the hundreds of musicians that I have worked with over the years. It has been a pleasure sharing your music with OffBeat readers. I would like to thank the many readers who have supported the column with encouraging letters and kind words. Thanks for the inspiration. And finally I would like to thank Jan Ramsey and David Jones for letting me be part of the OffBeat family.
