THE UNTOLD STORY
Whatever happened to CONTROVERSY
getting facts straight by Dee D.
[Inverview mit Ronnie M. Phillips aus den Jahre '95 oder '96]
Question : Let's start with: how did you get started in the rap buisness?
Answer : I got started in the rap buisness in 1988 - I've been in the music buisness since 1980.
Q : Who was your first rap artist and what is the name of this song?
A : My first rap artist was D. Rock and the Bayou Crew, the name of the song "My Mama Name Me Batman, get Some of this Funk" and Tweedy Bird Loc. -- 187 Ride By -- LP.
Q : How did you get involved with Bloods & Crips?
A : I got involved with the Bloods & Crips through Tweedy Bird Loc. He came to me real frustrated said he wanted to rap. He said all of these niggas is making money on Gangsta Rap, but did'nt do shit. He grew up with NWA and they're not helping none of the real homies. Let's make records using real gangstas. Giving niggas a chance whether they were Bloods or Crips. So I've thought about it, help fine tune it. We kick some thoughts around, Me Tweed and Battlecat came up with Bang'n On Wax.
Q : What was it like putting it together. Anybody get shot, any fights, what's the real scoop?
A : I'm not going to sit up here and tell you it was all peaches and cream and everything went well, it was the same bullshit --everybody sitting around strapped, waiting to set trip on each others. My thing was getting all the niggas in the smae room together. So if we could not be in the studio together, we can't make a record together.
Q : But how did you make it work?
A : Well, the first thing it was about respect, if they could respect me I could respect them whether they were Bloods or Crips. I noticed we could work together when food were served everybody came together. But after they eat, Crips was in their group and Bloods were in their group. My thing was to get the brothers communicating & talking to each other. Because we are all black men.
Q : I wanna know did anybody get shot or any gang fights?
A : Nobody get never shot around me, I always stopped it before it got started, but yeah there were a few fights. I don't wanna call no names.
Q : That is unbelievable. But what do you mean by a few fights?
A : Sometimes brothers have problems with each other --and if they wanted to get the shit out, it's a big old room out there in the studio to do it in. But it was always one on one.
Q : I could'nt believe it when you did the "Bangin' On Wax" Video, you had all these Bloods & Crips maybe two thousand or more, that was a real experience for me. I really didn't think you could pull it off --that was history in the making. How did you do it?
A : I've talked to a few Bloods & Crips and told them we were going to make a video & we were going to do it together. Everybody thought it wasn't going to work .. I told them it will work. It's all 'bout respect. You respect them. They'll respect you. Let's don't get caught up in the words like "slob", "cuzz", "ericket", "snopp". You have to control your emotions. They said let's do this, I told them if one brother trip on who ever, it's all over. We have a chance to do something here so let's do it!
Q : But I saw these Bloods & Crips taunting each other. How did you control that while making a video?
A : I stopped it before it got started, I walk around got to know everybody shook hands had a lot of hugs, they respected me I respected them. Everybody understood what we were trying to do and that was history being made. There was no fights nobody got shot.
Q : I saw a lot of guns, that were no prop.
A : That could be true that's why I'm so proud of my brothers to come together make a video & nobody got shot, everybody was strap, that shows me that my people can come together.
Q : How did you get the name Ronnie Ron?
A : That's funny -- The name Ronnie Ron came from Notorious Ass Joe -- we were in the studio in 1991 doing Tweedy Bird Loc. album. He said "I'm giving you a new name Ronnie ..that's Ronnie Ron. So everybody started calling me that.
Q : Do you still work with Notorious Joe?
A : I'm not working with him now, but he was a big part in the making of Bang'n On Wax. Joe had a lot of Ideal, Joe was "Blue Rag" on "Bang'n On Wax".
Q : I did't know that. So what happen with him?
A : Blue Rag was a real talented brother that could rap his ass off. But I don't think he really understood my realtionship with Quality Records or that fuck up ass Record Company PAR Records.
I was the white man flunky
Q : What do you mean by "flunky"?
A : What I mean by flunky is, using me to make these Bloods & Crips Records. White men never been in the studio or a video shoot didn't want no part of, these guy paid me peanut and I have to split my peanut with everybody. While that white man can go home sleep good at night, live in fancy houses, drive nice cars while I take all the bullshit they can make a million and I don't make shit. And I have to split that. That's what I call being flunky and Blue Rag and his crew wanted more which I don't blame them. becaus we had another fuck up deal with PAR Records which I never made a Dime from.
I spent my own money trying to make this shit happen. So they decided to go their own way.
Q : There rumor that "Bang'n On Wax" went gold, but Sound Scan says four hundred thousand. Explain? Becuase you guys had a lot of "Pub."
A : I belive that "Bang'n On Wax" sold a lot more record than they're telling us, but I can't prove it. But like you said with all the "Pub" that's out there, with number one Video, like "Piru Love", "Steady Dippin'" and "Bangin' On Wax" number three, we should have sold millions. I think the numbers that they gave us is Bullshit, we sold more records than that but I can't prove it.
You can bet your bottom dollars I will never get used like I did by another white muthafuckas in this record business again. You talking about paying dues, I've paid dues. But I knew I had to crawl before I walk and I knew I wasn't going to come in this record buisness getting rich quick. Sometimes you have to take a fucked up deal to get your foot in the door. Blacks need to own and control more shit.
Q : You sound like you have a lot of frustration built up in you.
A : I have a whole lot of frustrations built up in me. First of all I'm not going to keep gettin' pimp in this buisness no more. I'm not taking nor more bullshit. If I make anymore Gang Bang'n Records, me and my people want to get paid, no more peanuts --we're not putting ourselves out there like that anymore..
Q : What ever happened to the guy with the "mask"?
A : You mean Sin Loc. Sin was also a part of the Underworld Connection (UWC). Sin was also a big part in making the "Bangin' On Wax". He also rap on Tweedy Bird Loc albums -- 187 Ride By, A.K.A. Hitman D., a brother have a lot of talent, but like I said before he didn't understand my realtionship with the white men. Along with (A Love A.K.A. Do-Or-Die) was also a part of UWC also was a "big" part on "Bang'n On Wax".
Q : I heard you recorded the "Bangin' On Wax" record album in two weeks, when it takes the average rapper six months to make an album. How did you get those Bloods and Crips to rap?
A : First of all that's true, I recorded all my albums like that. I had an open session for Bloods and Crips to come in the studio & start bussing rhymes. I gave everybody a shoot that was there. I do my homework before I go into the studio and make sure my brothers got their shit together.
Q : How did you get Bloods & Crips to rap?
A : These brothers have a lot of hidden talent and I try to bring the best out of them. Everybody around me know how I work, if you don't have your rhymes together on the mic, out the booth. "Next." that make them try hard and come out right.
Q : How did you get RedRum and CK to rap like that. And all these other Bloods to sound so professional. How did that come avout?
A : I met RedRum 781 before I started doing "Bangin' On Wax", he was known as "Lyrical". He always had that flow that was slicing niggas up. He was a big part of "Bangin' On Wax". He brought his brother in Lil' CK, which was a real smooth rapper and all the girls seem to like him on "Piru Love".
Q : How did you meet Bloody Mary & there are rumors that Bloody Mary is NiNi X and the reason she left is because she never got paid. Is there any Picture of Bloody Mary?
A : Bloody mary is NiNi X! I met NiNi X through Tweedy Bird Loc. He brought her in I've been helping her from day one. She was on (G-R) when I met her, me personally I didn't want her to rap on Bangin' On Wax tape period. But she insisted on it so she became known as "Bloody Mary". But to answer your question 'bout gettin' paid ..I gave her money out of my own pocket. I bought her clothes to wear, gave her way over ten thousands dollars up front. Put the bitch on a weekly solary of four hundred dollars a week and I have checks to prove it.
Q : But why did she leave?
A : She's stupid, you never bite the hand that feed you. She caught up with that bullshit. Everybody telling her what they can do for her. Now she don't have nothing happen for her. But I can understand her frustration that she's going thru because she rap on a lof of album. But I was a front for the white men and they pimp us both. But we were all trying to reach the same goals. I always made sure she was taken care of. Fuck the white men .. you don't do that to your friends.
Any groups or rapper that was sign to me got paid up front. If they are saying anything difference they are a muthafuckin' lie. Niggas for get real fast when the money is gone. The majority of Bloods & Crips wasn't sign to Dangerous Records. A very few was. There's a photo of Bloody Mary in the Greatest Hits LP.
Q : Was Bangin' On Wax about the peace treaty?
A : Hell no, it was about respect for each other never about peace treaty. You can't get a bunch of brothers in the same room today without no job or some way they'll go home and have the same problem, that's why you have to bring something to the table. Like I did with Bangin' On Wax.
Q : What was it like working with Lil' Stretch and Red Rag. How did you meet them? Is it true they are the "Young Soldierz" and on Death Row Records now?
A : The word was out I wanted some Blood from different sets. The Blood side was weak at the time, so Lil' Stretch stroll thru check everything out and we talked, got to know each other at the time. He was freshout the joint
(=jail). I ask him "Do you have any rhymes?"
"Hell yeah I got plenty rhymes! So I can dis and say what I wanna say."
"Man this is Bangin' On Wax", you can rap and say what you wanna say!"
Q : But what was it kike for him rapping on the tape with other Bloods & Crips, espically for him since he's fresh out the joint.
A : I could tell when he came thru, he had a lot of frustration build up in him, the "Bangin' On Wax" was a good way for him to let some shit out. Few of the brother did like the fact that I took a few guy off the tape and add him, there some didn't like that. But I ain't no doubt without Lil' Stretch on "Shuda Been A B-Dog" and a lot of the Bloods Songs wouldn't been the same. He was a big part in the making of "Bangin' On Wax" and yes it's true they're Young Soldierz and on Death Row Records now.
Q : How did you meet Red Rag?
A : I met Red Rag the same time I met Lil' Stretch. I call him Big Wy. We talk and got to know each other. He had a lot of ideal and from that day we started rolling. I took also a few guys off to add him. He had plenty of rap always ready to throw down. Big Wy was a great inspiration for the Blood side. He added a lot of flavor. We established a great relationship and he played also a big part of making "Bangin On Wax" Volume one and two. Red Rag is also a part of "Young Soldierz".
Q : Who is Dog and Yank?
A : I met Dog thru Big Wy & Lil' Stretch. He rap on a few songs and he's a good brother. I met Yank at the same time. He rapped on the Saga LP, he's a more laid back brother.
Q : How did you meet AWOL and Rider J.?
A : I met AWOL thru Tweedy Bird, AWOL was there from the beginning always had a plenty of rhyme and his homeboy C'Inch. And has A lot of raw talent. I met Rider J. thru Tweedy Bird ..real cool brother. He was there from start rapping and help keep the homies in line so that we could make the LP. He understand the business side ..that's my Nigga!
Q : Is it true that Domino rap on "Bangin' On Wax" under the name "Genuine Draft". How did you meet Domino and what was some of the songs he rap on and why didn't sign Domino? The rumor are he never gave "Bangin' On Wax" no prop.
A : I met Domino in the studio. I think he was working with Leon Haywood at the time. He use to hang around the studio amd at night I was recording "Steady Dippin'". A few nigga didn't have their shit together so Domino said "I have some lyrics so listen to them!" He jump on the mic. about 2 AM in the morning and got down ..the rest is history.
He also rap on songs like "Bangin' On Wax", "Mackin' To Slob Bitches" and more. I was going to sign Domino but he had to get in line there were three or four other artists before him. I put him on "Bangin' On Wax" but Domino was not sign me. He came to me like a man and said "I have a offer for a record deal". I said take it because I knew my situation wasn't that great. He said tahnk Ronnie for not locking me down. And personally I don't give a fuck if he don't give "Bangin' On Wax" or Dangerous Records prop as long as he knows where he came from. "Bangin' On Wax" was design for my brothers to make deals. I can't sign everybody and I'm glad to see my brothers and sisters come out of my camp and make deals with other record companies. That's what it was designed for. As long as they know I put them on "Bangin' On Wax" and made names for them, fuck the bullshit, get paid with your talent.
Q : Who is Lil' Hawk, id he rap on the first Bangin' album and is it true he have a solo album to come out?
A : No, Lil' Hawk didn't rap on the first Bangin' album. He rap on the Saga album and "Damu Ridas". Yes he does have a solo album coming out call "Lil' Hawk - Red Ridin' Hood"
Q : Is it true that Fo' Clips sang background on "Piru Love", "Wish You Were Here", "Grippin' Ain't Easy" and do he have a album out?
A : Yes it's true, he sang background on all of those songs. Yes he have a album out call "Fo' Clips / Eclipse".
Q : What happen to Big Freeze, Cixx Pac, G-Bone and Scarface? Do they have a album out?
A : Big Freeze is rapping on "Nationwide Rip Ridaz" and tryin' to put a solo deal. Cixx Pac is writing and rappin' on the same album and wants a solo deal. G-Bone is kickin' it on the drive and also on Nationwide album.
Scarface is writing rapp and keeping his hustle on and is also on the Nationwide album.
Q : What happen to Troll Loc., Bronco, Trouble Loc. and K-Tone?
A : Troll rap on the Saga album and he move out of town. Bronco is writing songs ..he's also on Nationwide LP and also wants a record deal. Trouble Loc. is AWOL's girl and she rap on a few songs. I like her sound. K-Tone rap on a few songs he doing his own thang.
Q : What happen to C-Note, the girl rapper on the cover.
A : C-Note rap on "Bangin' On Wax" and did a lot of TV stuff. I offer her a solo deal but she was with the UWC so it never happen. She doing her own thing.
Q : What happen to B. Brazy, Batman, Green Eyez, Laniak, Lil' Hawk & Pops?
A : B. Brazy is still rappin' ..he's on the Damu Ridas LP & wants a solo deal. Batman was on the Saga Continues album. Last I heard he took a vocation too. Laniak rap on the Saga album ..he is no longer with us, may god bless him. He was a very talent brother and had much love. Lil' Hawk rap on the Saga album. Pops is my nigga, he rap on the Saga album and is also a part of the Young Soldierz.
Q : What happen to Tweedy Bird Loc. Does he have a new album out? And what 'bout Battlecat, J. Stank, Eastside Tag Team?
A : Tweedy Bird is still down writing, rapping and producing ..He's my main man and we got a lot of projects comin' up. Yes he have a album out call "No Holds Barred" which Quality didn't promote, it was a good album. Me and Battlecat are still down. He come by the studio every now and then he producing other artists like Domino and others. He's still my nigga. J. Stank is doing his thang, he's with another label "Eastside Tag Team". They also come by the studio every now and then.
Q : Who is Duke E. Fingaz and where did he get the name from? Is Leroy Dukes related to Duke E. Fingaz and who is Silkski and QLuso?
A : Duke E. Fingaz is my main producer. He plays a hell of guitar and programs beats. He's also Vice President of Production. He's a very talent brother. Yes Leroy Dukes and Duke E. Fingaz are brothers. The Name "Duke E. Fingaz" come from Notorious Joe A.K.A. Blue Rag.
Silkski & QLuso both worked on Bangin' On Wax I and are now doing their own thang.
Q : Who is Twin Loc & Koolay?
A : Twin Loc. and Koolay are both on Nationwide Rip Ridaz Album. Twin Loc. has a solo deal now.
Q : Who is Mad Eye, Pimp D, Peanut II, Spider, Big Hawk and Tip Tow?
A : Mad Eye rapped on Damu Ridas. I met him thru Lil' Hawk around the same time. Pimp D wanna rappin' that pimp shit, also rapped on Damu Ridas. Peanut II is another talented brother that rapped on Damu Ridas. He's no longer with us may he rest in peace.
Spider rapped on "I Wish You Were Here" Single and Video and on the Damu Ridas album. He's a good brother. Big Hawk is my nigga and he's down with Lil' Hawk, Tip Toe rap on the Damu Ridas video and album, he's no longer with us may he rest in peace.
Q : Did the Bloods & Crips ever do any concerts? There were rumors that they did concerts in Portland, Oregon and in Brazil.
A : Yes, the Bloods & Crips did their first concert in Portland, which went very well. It featured Tweedy Bird Loc. and Bloody Mary. The Bloods & Crips came together on stage to rap "Bangin' On Wax". It was like "We Are The World". Brothers were hugging and shaking hands ..it was great.
The news media don't talk 'bout positive side. Nobody got shot and not a single fight broke out. It was a very successful concert. The concert in Brazil was also a success. The Bloods & Crips were there for about two week and everybody loved them. Again, the concert was positive. There weren't any fights or shooting. The Bloods and Crips also did a live performance on the Morton Downey Jr. Show.
Q : I understand the Bloods & Crips were very successful on The Box with songs like "Bagin' On Wax", "Piru Love", "Steady Dippin'" and "I Wish You Were Here". You had two number one videos back to back ..those videos were classics, masterpieces in the rap field. What ever happened to your videos?
A : First of all I think The Box need to go back to the streets. That's the type of music that made The Box. I started sending my videos to The Box back in 1990 to 1993. Everyone else was going toward BET, MTV and Rap City. The Box was unknown until I put the Bloods & Crips videos on it. Everybody started watching The Box. Now the're flooded with videos and don't want to play the Bloods & Crips, when the gangsta rap is what made those muthafuckas. The Box made bitch ass excuses like no gang signs, no guns, you can't say this or you can't show that, after they made money off of us.
Q : I was wondering why I only saw a lil' bit of Nationwide Rip Ridaz and Damu Ridas video. They only play in small parts of L.A. How does that make you feel and then they remove it off the Box.
A : That's fucked up -- don't you believe that bullshit .. this is music you control, we don't control a muthafuck'n thang. That music they control. The Box was a street outlet for all the street music. But now they're tryin' to be like MTV, VH 1 or BET. A real cute video or a few Gangsta Rap videos they like to play, thats why I'm doing my videos raw & uncut so you can get the real deal. FUCK THE BOX ..they need to take their ass back to the street, that's what got them there.
Q : Ronnie, you seem to drive a pretty nice car and seems to have your head on straight and they say you help people you don't even know.
A : I was drivin' a pretty nice car before I met Tweedy Bird Loc. or the Bloods & Crips, as a matter of fact I had more money then before I started fuck'n with this shit. Somebody had to have some kind of money to start this project. I help a lot of brothers and sisterts, gave them money and also people I didn't even know.
Q : Ronnie Ron where do Dangerous Records go from here, what's coming up next?
A : Dangerous Records is GONE SOLO, I'm no longer distributed by Quality Record or Warlock Records. Dangerous Records have a lot of projects comin' up.
We're doin' our own thang ..fuck the bullshit. I have a brand new album "By Tweedy Bird Loc.", "Lil Hawk - Red Ridin' Hood", "Bloods & Crips - Greatest Hits" and also "The Best of Ronnie Ron's Compilation Album", which features every rapper I've been involved with from 1990 up until 199. Plus "The Best Of The Damus" and " The Best Of The Crips" and also the "Bullets Don't Have No names" mini movies and the single and a lot of more coming in 1997.
Going to the next level!!
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