AG - interview

They brought you nothing but hardcore Hip Hop: the `Soul clap' EP, `Runaway slave', `Goodfellas', the `Full Scale' EP and of course their participation in the D.I.T.C. crew. Show and AG, a giant called `Andre' and his partner on beat `Showbiz'. Raw as ever and they got the flava to get on that next level. So that's what they're doing.

October 8th there was a 2 years `Fat Beats' anniversary party in Amsterdam. Starring a lot of DJ's, `Dilated Peoples', `Missing Linx' and Big L with AG. AG seemed to be nervous off stage, always on guard and constantly monitoring the surroundings, even on stage. But he still rocked the mic right! The day after, we had a chance to speak to him shortly at `Fat Beats'. Hold ya heads.

DTF: How did you like the show yesterday?
AG: It was fat, dope, it was real.
D: Ya like Amsterdam?
AG: Yeah, no doubt.....stay high!
D: Have ya ever been to Europe before?
AG: Yeah, a few times, last time I was here I was in Germany. Big L and them (O.C & O.G) came to Holland but I didn't come then.
D: Why wasn't Show here?
AG: He had a pre-arranged date to do something in the studio while we was out here.

D: What about the new D.I.T.C. shit that's coming out?

AG: Well, we got the D.I.T.C.-album we're trying to finish now, it will be out early `99. But right now we're finishing up a remix version of the `Full Scale' EP and after that we're gonna work on an album, this time it's gonna be available on CD also (who buys CD's now-a-days?, ed.). And at the same time I got a group The Ghetto Dwellers that's coming out.

D: And what about the rest, Lord Finesse, Big L?

AG: Ehmm, Finesse is about to drop an album. Maybe the end of this month (October), but I'm not sure (at 'Penalty Records' they say first half of `99, so!?!, ed.). Big L just put out a single (Ebonics/Size `em up), he's gonna put out a few more and then the album. He's building up his label `Flamboyant Entertainment'.

D: Can you tell us something about the D.I.T.C.-history, how Big L got hooked up, `cause he's from Harlem and the rest is from Forest Projects (The Bronx)?

AG: Well, Finesse was the first one who put out an album that made some noise, and we all got our piece. Diamond on production, Show on production, I was rhyming on it, did two tracks. And from there me and Show made an album, kept it going. Then Diamond did his and Fat Joe.
Big L met Finesse in a record store. He (LF) heard him, liked him, started flowing with him. Finesse put him on a few singles and eventually he got signed to Columbia. And then he came out with his full album.

D: Whatever happened to Percy P?

AG: Aiiight, Percy's my man! He's still in the game, he's trying two to do his thing, big ups to Percy P, man?

D: Is he coming with something?

AG: Ohh I don't know man, I haven't spoken to him in a while.

Kenneth: AG Live in Amsterdam Why did ya leave Payday?

AG: First of all Payday didn't know how to promote us, they were second-guessing our songs. They were trying to interfere with the creativeness and that doesn't work. They couldn't promote us the way we wanted to. When we wanted to be different, they were shaking nervous and not backing us up, so... We was still on contract when we wanted to leave, so we couldn't. So we rather not make any albums any more. Then we got independent and also get some money out of it `cause with them majors you don't get so much stash out of it!

Kenneth: What about selling more records before Payday then on the label?

AG: No that's not true, we sold like 5000 records out the trunk of Show's car, just in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, ed.), then we signed to Payday, we sold more records there, but if we kept it independent we would be at a different point right now.

Kenneth: How ya survive in this RnB dominated industry?

AG: I don't have to make radio-friendly songs to make money `cause there still gonna be heads that buy the real hardcore. and that's what the independents provide!

D: And what do ya think about Puffy and them?

AG: Well, ya know, to each his own!

DTF (& Kenneth)



		AG They brought you nothing but hardcore Hip Hop: the `Soul clap' EP, `Runaway slave', `Goodfellas', the `Full Scale' EP and of course their participation in the D.I.T.C. crew. Show and AG, a giant called `Andre' and his partner on beat `Showbiz'. Raw as ever and they got the flava to get on that next level. So that's what they're doing. October 8th there was a 2 years `Fat Beats' anniversary party in Amsterdam. Starring a lot of DJ's, `Dilated Peoples', `Missing Linx' and Big L with AG. AG seemed to be nervous off stage, always on guard and constantly monitoring the surroundings, even on stage. But he still rocked the mic right! The day after, we had a chance to speak to him shortly at `Fat Beats'. Hold ya heads. DTF: How did you like the show yesterday? AG: It was fat, dope, it was real. D: Ya like Amsterdam? AG: Yeah, no doubt.....stay high! D: Have ya ever been to Europe before? AG: Yeah, a few times, last time I was here I was in Germany. Big L and them (O.C & O.G) came to Holland but I didn't come then. D: Why wasn't Show here? AG: He had a pre-arranged date to do something in the studio while we was out here. D: What about the new D.I.T.C. shit that's coming out? AG: Well, we got the D.I.T.C.-album we're trying to finish now, it will be out early `99. But right now we're finishing up a remix version of the `Full Scale' EP and after that we're gonna work on an album, this time it's gonna be available on CD also (who buys CD's now-a-days?, ed.). And at the same time I got a group The Ghetto Dwellers that's coming out. D: And what about the rest, Lord Finesse, Big L? AG: Ehmm, Finesse is about to drop an album. Maybe the end of this month (October), but I'm not sure (at 'Penalty Records' they say first half of `99, so!?!, ed.). Big L just put out a single (Ebonics/Size `em up), he's gonna put out a few more and then the album. He's building up his label `Flamboyant Entertainment'. D: Can you tell us something about the D.I.T.C.-history, how Big L got hooked up, `cause he's from Harlem and the rest is from Forest Projects (The Bronx)? AG: Well, Finesse was the first one who put out an album that made some noise, and we all got our piece. Diamond on production, Show on production, I was rhyming on it, did two tracks. And from there me and Show made an album, kept it going. Then Diamond did his and Fat Joe. Big L met Finesse in a record store. He (LF) heard him, liked him, started flowing with him. Finesse put him on a few singles and eventually he got signed to Columbia. And then he came out with his full album. D: Whatever happened to Percy P? AG: Aiiight, Percy's my man! He's still in the game, he's trying two to do his thing, big ups to Percy P, man? D: Is he coming with something? AG: Ohh I don't know man, I haven't spoken to him in a while. Kenneth: Why did ya leave Payday? AG: First of all Payday didn't know how to promote us, they were second-guessing our songs. They were trying to interfere with the creativeness and that doesn't work. They couldn't promote us the way we wanted to. When we wanted to be different, they were shaking nervous and not backing us up, so... We was still on contract when we wanted to leave, so we couldn't. So we rather not make any albums any more. Then we got independent and also get some money out of it `cause with them majors you don't get so much stash out of it! Kenneth: What about selling more records before Payday then on the label? AG: No that's not true, we sold like 5000 records out the trunk of Show's car, just in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, ed.), then we signed to Payday, we sold more records there, but if we kept it independent we would be at a different point right now. Kenneth: How ya survive in this RnB dominated industry? AG: I don't have to make radio-friendly songs to make money `cause there still gonna be heads that buy the real hardcore. and that's what the independents provide! D: And what do ya think about Puffy and them? AG: Well, ya know, to each his own! DTF (& Kenneth) ©1998 ART12/VanderHoek Publishing. All rights reserved.