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Okay. Aight, cool…we saw some pics with you and Macy Gray in the studio some time ago, and we wanted to ask how did you hook up with her for the album and if you could tell us, you know, I don’t know if it’s too early to ask, as far as any features you might have on the upcoming album…

Well right now you definitely got Macy Gray on the album, it was a honor…I actually gotta give it all up to my producer, Caviar, I [told] him I needed a chick on the hook, and I thought he was gonna call a hoodrat from the hood and he called Macy Gray, and Macy Gray came to the studio like a real O.G., laid down the hook, killed, you know, smoked, drank…you know…and it was just wonderful to know that there’s other people that exist in the world that’s just as humble as I am. So, it was a great experience, it was great meeting her, and we did a classic record and I can’t wait to come out with it.

N.O.R.E. Announces New Solo Album

Aw man, we can’t wait to hear it either…when can we expect the album to come out? Ot is it still a tentative release?

Well it’s definitely a tentative release without a release date right now, I’m probably aiming at, you know, the first quarter next year, who knows. We got that single out there crackin’ right now, for ‘The Nutcracker‘. Get ‘The Nutcracker’ or go crack your nuts, know what I mean?

(Laughs) Okay, aight, what um, I guess I don’t know if this is also, we just wanna ask, to make sure…are there any artists that you have on your dream list that you might wanna collaborate with that you already haven’t? ‘Cause, we know you have a long history of gettin’ down with a lot of artists old and new, is there anyone that you might want on this album, or anything that you might be able to talk to us about?

Uh, well, I guess [Dr.] Dre has always been my dream collaboration, but I [was able to] be in the studio with Dre during The Firm album, and, you know, he’s so incredibly hard to contact, you know what I’m saying, I think it’s easier to get Obama on the phone right now then to get Dre on the phone…

(Laughs)

…so I think my next best [collab] would be Drake, you know what I mean…

That would be big…

I want the R&B side of Drake, I want him to come sing a hook, like Teddy Pendergrass…

Oh, aight, cause…call me crazy, when I ask a lot of artists, it’s like they always wanna hear the more Hip-Hop side, so you’re one of the few that actually wanna get a little bit of that R&B flavor, so that’s definitely respected.

Absolutely, I wanna show the grown-up N.O.R.E. on this album, know what I’m saying.

Right, I like that, okay.

…I got Masspike Miles on the hook, it’s not all singing, it’s singing but it’s singing the hood culture. I wanna explore, I wanna show people I grew up, you know last time N.O.R.E. album came out was 1998, you know…last 10 years right now, so it’s about time I show my growth, as an artist, as a human and as a man.

N.O.R.E. x Neptunes – Oh No

Aight, so N.O.R.E. so what do you feel like has changed in the last 10 years in the game? Like, as far as business and production and everything like that?

As far as business and production, you know production, producers get hot, they get cold, they get hot again, you know what I’m saying…as far as the business, the business is crazy, when it involves the internet, I love the internet, as far as…when I come out with a record, like I’ma drop a freestyle tonight, and y’all gon’ have it tonight, you know what I’m saying. As far as that goes, I love it, but as far as the download thing, I hate it…so, [with] the difference and changes, you just learn how to deal with it, you know, learn how to adapt with it and learn how to swing the way the swingers swing it, you figgasmell that?

Yea, I dig it, you gotta a site we can get that link on, for the freestyle you’re dropping?

Absolutely, that’s 57thave.com…it’s where you get all the exclusive N.O.R.E., CNN, Capone, Imam Thug…if you wanna get the exclusives from Thugged Out Militainment, that’s where you fo 57thave.com.

It’s definitely be on our site tonight, soon as you drop it.

Okay, okay.

N.O.R.E. – XXL Interview

Um, quick question, and of course, tell me if I’m wrong on this, we heard, and I don’t know if you’ve already done this, that you were going to recreate a Gang Starr classic for 2011, is that true, and if so, could you explain that to us?

Yea, well, I was hanging out with DJ Premier one night, and I was like yo, I always kept Premier–I was always non-selfish when it came to Premier and Premier’s production, I always kept it sacred with CNN, but this time around I wanted to [work with] Premier for my solo, so what happened was we did his radio show, he came downstairs and he came in my car, and I played him most of the tracks that was on my album, and he heard…cause I’m trying to make a whole album full of uptempo…and if it’s not uptempo, it’s still club. So the whole album for the club, I’m trying to make the whole album, so the DJ can play the whole album…pick number 1, pick number 9, pick number 5, pick number 13, pick number 15, and they all bang in the club. So when Premier heard it, he said ‘Man I could do another Dwyck‘, and I said ‘Holy moly guacamole’…

(Laughs)

…so, we’re on a quest right now, me and DJ Premier, we also doing a contest, I believe we’re gonna do that contest with XXL, and we’re gonna see what features should be on Dwyck Part 2, absolutely.

Mobb Deep x Capone x Noreaga x Tragedy Khadafi – LA, LA

Ok…to try to close out on a few more questions, just to speak on Prodigy for a bit, have you…I don’t know if you’ve ever been to visit him or anything, and if so, if you could tell us how he’s doing, and, you know, what’s going on with him, is that okay to talk to you about?

Absolutely, I have not been to go see Prodigy, I’ve always sent my love, I try to reach out to his wife and things of that nature, I speak with Alchemist all the time…but me personally, physically, I have not been able to go and see Prodigy. But a lot of people know I didn’t go see [Capone], but when ‘Pone came home, he came home to a mansion, he came home to a limosine, he came home to a tour bus, he came home to two mink coats, you know, that’s how I do it, you know what I’m saying? I’m a person who did time myself, and I don’t really like going back to jail, you know what I mean?

Yea.

Word, so…when a person comes home, I take care of ’em, that’s just who I am, it’s my human nature, Michael Jackson.

I can fully understand that. Okay, you spoke on Drake and a few others, were there any new and upcoming artists that you are feeling that you might be listening to right now?

Well right now I’m listing to [Shawn Chrystopher], I don’t know if y’all heard of him, he’s a new artist, you know, I put him in the Big Sean, Drake slash Soulja Boy category, does his own beats…and the kid is crazy, he sent me a beat last night, I went in on it, I did it, so you know I’m listening to him, I’m listening to who else, I’m listening to…I’m still listening to Kid CuDi, you know…I be spaced out sometimes, spacely sprockets, you know I’ll go to the moon with Kid CuDi.

Classic.

Who else…that’s about it, man, I’m listening to Drake, listening to Lil’ Wayne still, listening to that Fat Joe album heavy, but you said new artists, I think I’ll hang with artists…

Actually, no–we would love to know what you’re hearing, new, old, classic, you know…I really shouldn’t have said new artists in specific, but we were just trying to see who you were listening to period.

Well right now I’m listening to that Rick Ross album, I’m listening to that Fat Joe album…I’m listening to…I got Bun B album, but I’m ashamed to say I have not listened to it yet–

Aw, man, you gotta definitely check that out brother, most definitely. Great album.

Yep. I’m into everybody, man. Pause.

(Laughs) Aight bet, to be more specific, I don’t know if this is a hard question to ask, but…if you could think of the top track–even if it’s your own music–what’s the number one track that you’re listening to, or what’s your favorite track right now, period?

My favorite, it depends…in the club? Or just…

Overall, in the club, in your car, in your bedroom, period.

In my car, it’s that Drake and Nicki Minaj [called ‘Up All Night’].

Okay, alright.

But in the club, I can’t even front: “I go hard in the motherfuckin’ paint, nigga…” [referring to Waka Flocka Flame’s ‘Hard In The Paint]

N.O.R.E. x Nina Sky x Gem Star x Daddy Yankee x Big Mato – Oye Mi Canto

(Laughs) Ay, we agree with you on that fully. I guess we’re gonna close off with a couple of questions, just to see…me and my brother, personally, we’re big fans of the Reggaeton culture…I didn’t know if we could check with you on if you making, are you planning on going back into that genre at all or are you just going to stick with Hip-Hop at this point?

Naw, I’m definitely just sticking with Hip-Hop, I had a great time with Reggaeton, it was a lot of beautiful things that we saw, lot of beautiful events, a lot of activities, so I got it out my system, you know what I mean, and it’s back to the roots, like the group from Philadelphia, you know what I mean? Back to the roots…and I got something to prove, you know what I’m saying? So I have to prove what I want to prove again, you know…and until then I won’t even think about doing any type of [music].

Download his latest single, ‘Nutcracker’ – iTunes

It’s hard to simply tell a person or his demeanor by a voice on the phone, but you can certainly get an idea of his roots, along with the conversational nature of the interview. He grew up on the East Side of Atlanta in the Stone Mountain, Decatur area. He spoke about his parents and the shifting demographic of his neighborhood: “My parents were the first parents who really had a chance to get good jobs back then and had a chance to move away from the ‘hood”, he says. “Of course, you move enough black people to any area and it turns back into the ‘hood. When I first moved to my neighborhood it was all white people. Five years later it was all black. “

Read more after the jump.

The first surprising bit of information was that he was a poet first before he actually learned to rap (in retrospect, not that surprising if you follow what we be believe to be in the culture…spoken word really is as just much a part of it): “I actually used to write poetry at first. It was my way to get this girl to like me in school…later on I met this dude from Philly that taught me how to rap, [as far as] putting it into actual bars, and structure. I knew about song structure, because I was in the school choir. I just didn’t know how to actually write raps in bars. I used to a comedian and make jokes, but everyone was telling me, “You need to rap for real.”

Cyhi Da Prynce – Popular Demand (Freestyle)

We read in some previous editorial somewhere that he had a very strict upbringing, (it read that he wasn’t able to listen to rap until he was 12), so we wondered if he had to sneak behind his parents back or find other ways to be able to listen. Turns out it wasn’t that difficult. “Well, I actually did listen to rap…one of the main ways being when I went to clubs. I listened to [a lot of the music around me like] Triple Six [Mafia, also known as Three 6 Mafia], Playa Fly….I did begin listening to music in the northern regions like Jay[-Z], DMX, then Eminem came later, and Wu-Tang [Clan].” As time continued on, he was able to develop a lot of important and influential relationships (to name a few: LA. Reid, Clive Davis, Mark Pitts, Ludacris, Lil’ Jon, Jazzy Pha, Scarface and Keith Sweat) within the music industry while he grew up in Stone Mountain, learning more along the way. “Being around them I learned a lot about myself, how to take talent seriously. I started meeting some big people…dudes that raised me, everybody telling me that no one could ever fuck with me. Everyone was very protective.”

Early on in his career he was in a rap group called Hoodlum who were signed under Jazzy Pha’s ShoNuff (which should also be noted as the former home of Boyz N Da Hood member Jody Breeze before he left in 2008) along with Def Jam, which eventually disbanded. “Hoodlum went through five, six different labels…as time went I eventually stood out from the group in Atlanta. Shakir Stewart [former Executive VP of Def Jam who committed suicide in November of 2008] was actually the one holding the group together, other members had different situations so I decided to go all the way in solo…”

Cyhi Da Prynce – Sweet Georgia

In 2007, he began a relationship with Konvict Music, later signing with them, along with rejoining the Def Jam roster since he left Hoodlum after a showcase with the label. He spoke about Akon & L.A. Reid: “Akon is a special person to me…L.A. Reid told Kanye [West] that I was the only person that he signed twice, once to Konvict and once to Def Jam…Akon let me know once I did the showcase.” He also spoke on the benefits of running into the well known Atlanta DJ Greg Street. “I just happened to run into [him], and he already understood I was dope. He’s the one who let me know all the history as well as the dos and don’ts of the industry”.

Yelawolf x Cyhi Da Prince x Pill – I Wish (Remix)

Even at the current level he was experiencing, life was already setting him up for the next…it definitely earned him a lot of attention when out of the blue (seemingly), Mr. Kanye West himself decided to show love to Cyhi on his blog, immediately garnering him lots of new attention both in and out of the industry. “I remember that moment [vividly], I remember I was mad about something…then suddenly somebody on Twitter hit me, “Kanye just posted your joint.” It didn’t stop and just one post, either: he not only threw up videos of his or ones he’s collaborated in, when Cyhi released his highly accliamed The Prynce Of Jacks, Kanye was one of the first bloggers to promote it on his website, which effectively “blew the whole roof off it”. After a while of being associated with his admirer, the Chi-Town producer eventually took it to the next level, with the help of Akon. “Konvict worked it out, [and] everybody wanted to work with him…we were flown out to Hawaii and the rest is history.” He also spoke on how it is working with an individual that’s been so polarized in the media, and public as a whole: “He’s a great guy, and there are a lot of misconceptions about him…when the spotlight is on you, people don’t feel what they understand.”

Cyhi Da Prynce – Never Again

As far as who he has worked with since joining the new team, well, he opts to stay mum, and rightfully so, as they are probably the type of releases you’ll be seeing at the top of the charts in the future. “I already worked with a lot of artists at G.O.O.D. Music, I can’t speak too much on it though, they’re surprises…I do wanna work with Eminem, with T.I., DMX, Playa Fly.” While he has many hopes for collaborations with many artists, you’re less likely to hear them as much in his disk changer. “I do listen to Yelawolf, Pill, Donnis, Big K.R.I.T, Kanye, T.I….I don’t listen to anyone too much, though…[if you hear someone’s music all the time, after a while] you start to emulate [the sound] if you listen to too much.”

Cyhi Da Prynce – My Name Rings Bells

He brings in the interview by letting us know that his next project (Royal Flush) is locked and loaded, though, due to “his hectic schedule working with Kanye”, it is still waiting to be released. The other shocking revelation is that he has yet to be invited to come and perform in DC (which is a fact that won’t last long, I presume). Finally, he also mentioned his respect for the XXL Freshman cover that made a lot of news this year, and that he would be open to join a future class if called upon. Regardless, we are certainly going to be looking out for every new level he approaches on the way to the top.

Cyhi Da Prynce: Twitter – Myspace – Island Def Jam
Prynce Of Jacks (Mixtape)

Ian ‘E Major’ Powell was born and raised in Northwest Washington D.C. His father, a pianist, instilled a love and admiration for music in Ian at a young age. With his passion for music intact, E Major began experimenting with composition, producing his first beat in middle school. Throughout high school, E Major began to refine his sound by experimenting with different genres of music. He grew to develope a distinctive R&B, Hip-Hop, & Reggae sound, which has allowed him the opportunity to have several songs played on the radio. He’s already had a taste of big time success with the hit ‘Mind On My Money’ featuring industry leaders Busta Rhymes and Nicki Minaj as well as up-and-comer Brinx Billions.

JukeBOX. sat down with him on a break from his busy schedule to ask him a few questions about his life and career…

Brinx Billions x Nicki Minaj x Busta Rhymes – Mind On My Money (Remix)

How did you feel when Brinx Billions, Busta Rhymes & Nicki Minaj decided to collaborate over your production?
The track Mind On My Money was CRAZY…I never even expected to get those features, at first it was Brinx song, then I heard Busta jump on it, then I heard NICKI jump on it. I was ecstatic hearin it. I just wish more people knew the genius behind the track (laughs), but it’s all good. I felt a good sense of accomplishment for real.

What artists would you like to to work with in the future?