Thanks to the help of director Moon Jones, rappers like Master P and Kane & Abel are making the transition from music to film. Jones, who was born in New Orleans and later moved to Los Angeles, wrote and directed the movie I’m Bout It—a comedy drama filmed in New Orleans starring Master P. Master P, also a New Orleans native, had a gold album last year—Ice Cream Man on his No Limit record label distributed by Priority. Jones was in New Orleans last month shooting a new movie Strait Jacket (produced by Ron Scineaux) starring himself, local actors/actresses Gina Hartman, Kimberly Brashier, Kurt Hankton and others, and rappers-turned-movie stars Kane & Abel (You might remember them as rapping twins Double Vision).
The movie, which targets the young hip-hop crowd, is a fictional thriller about a colorful detective named Percy Scavenger (played by Jones) who investigates a mental institution. “What I wanted to do was reach the hip-hop audience with a hip version of the mysterious monster, the Frankenstein monster, the young hip version of a Clint Eastwood,” says Jones. In the movie, Kane & Abel play comical street hustlers. The soundtrack from the movie will feature local and national rap and hip-hop artists. Kane & Abel’s new album Armageddon on No Limit Records is due out this summer.
Cash Money Records, the label that brought us U.N.LV., Kilo G. and the late Pimp Daddy, is coming back strong in ’97 with new releases from some of the biggest names in local rap. This month we caught up with DJ Mannie Fresh (producer for Cash Money Records), and he gave us the 411 on Cash Money artists the B.G.’s (Baby Gangstas), Magnolia Shorty and Juvenile. You remember DJ Mannie Fresh. He’s one of the premier rap producers in the city who produced everybody from Gregory D. (G-Dog) to Cheeky Blakk and many others. These days, Fresh is busy creating phat tracks for Cash Money artists. The B.G.’s album Chopper City, produced by Fresh, has been hot for months. Fresh is currently working on the B.G.’s upcoming album (untitled as of yet) due out next month. The album features Juvenile, The Big Timers and The Hot Boys.
Fresh discovered female rapper Magnolia Shorty at a block party where he was deejaying. She got on the mic and the crowd liked her, so Fresh put her in the studio. “She has an old school feel,” says Fresh. “She sounds like Grandmaster Flash,” he adds. In December, Cash Money Records released Magnolia Shorty’s self titled debut album.
And be on the lookout this month for a new album from Juvenile (remember “Bounce for the Juvenile?”). The album, which was untitled at press time, includes bounce and rap music.
According to local producer Ice Mike, he, Tre-8 and Precise formed a production company called DA P.I.T. “It’s great to be working among friends again,” says Ice Mike, who DJed with Precise as a member of Fullpack in ’90-’92. Among the many projects to be produced by DA P.I.T. is the new album from Tre-8 due out this month (untitled at press time). The album features Threat and J-Dawg of Black Menace and the Ghetto Twiinz. Ice Mike is also busy producing local artists Threat, Tim Smooth, Rated X and Code-6. The album Smokus Pocus, featuring Smooth, Rated X, Lokee, Joe Blakk and others will also have Ice Mike’s name on the production credits.
The rapper some often refer to as “the big man” because of his large physique has a new album out on Hard Hittin’ Records. P.M.W. (Projects Most Wanted a.k.a. Darryl Howard) released A New Beginning last month. The album, which was produced by DJ Sneek, is “gangsta rap” with “more flava” and “no bounce,” says P.M.W. “The Big Man”, one of the first singles released from the album, samples Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.” “It’s like Heavy D. with my own twist,” P.M.W. adds. “Southern Love” is P.M.W.’s answer to 2Pac/Dr. Dre’s “California Love.” “It’s On” and “Definition of a Gangsta” feature new Hard Hittin’ artist Picasso.
On the national scene…Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (the group whose E. 1999 Eternal album recently went 5-times platinum) are holding true to their promise to take female trio Tre to the top with them. Tre, who were featured on Bone’s smash hit “Tha Crossroads”, released their debut single “Take Your Time” on Mo Thugs Records last month. Tre also sang on the LP Mo Thugs Family Scriptures, which debuted at number two on Billboard‘s Top Pop Album chart following Tupac’s #1 album Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
