Hip-Hop Island

When Soulja Boy Tell'Em taught us how to “Superman,” we thought we had heard it all. Now we've been graced with the new phenomenon called the “Stanky Legg.” Everyone from fly girls to local science teachers are leaning and shaking to it. Thanks to Arlington, TX group GS Boyz it looks like Hip-Hop has a new move to add to its ever growing list of dances.

Prince Charmin, Soufside, Slizz, Marc D., and D.K. make up the GS Boyz and when they caught the attention of Atlanta's Yung Joc, these teens found themselves coming off a hot show and into the arms of a record deal. Are they here to stay? You be the judge.

AllHipHop.com: So how were you approached by Yung Joc?

Prince: What happened was that “Stanky Legg” was getting a buzz out here in Dallas at first and Bay Bay, a radio DJ for K104 out here in Dallas, he liked the song and he wanted us to come out there at the Street Port in Louisiana at Club Coco's. We went out there for one of our first big shows, and at the end of the night we had a good show. We came out to the VIP room, and he said, “Y'all kids just made history at Club Coco's.” And I said, “For real?” Well we all said, “For real,” and he was like, “Yeah I never promoted the song here; it's the first time I actually made the song in the club, and people in Coco's they are a hard crowd.” He said that we actually had the crowd loud and we wrecked it. So he told us that he gonna have a deal for us in less than a month.

All I know [is] he called me less than a month [later] and he was like, “Aye, didn't I say I would have a deal for you.” I'm like, “Bay Bay what are you talking about?” He was like, “I told you I have a deal for you!” And then Joc got on the phone and is like, “Woah, this is Joc!” And I was like, “Ohhh. you ain't Joc!” And then we just went on from there. And [Joc] said, “The song is hot, my two little cousins came to me and my children came to me and they said, 'Joc do the Stanky Legg.” And he was like what is this “Stanky Legg,” so he loaded it up and he said he'd seen a grandma and her daughter doing the dance and he just had to get in contact with us.

AllHipHop.com: Where did the name GS Boyz come from?

Prince: Well out here in Dallas, when we first started off doing this there was a lot of fighting cliques, like fighting groups, gangs, etc. Every time we used to be in the club we always see before the club gets shut down people always in there fighting. So me and Slizz we came up with a word that would attract everybody and that was GS. We had girls in GS, we had guys in GS and everybody looked at us like we the party people. So when you go to GS that's where the guys and girls are kickin' it. They see us as a club scene. If you pop in our music it's going to fulfill everything that you want, so GS was more to see if we can making something positive out of all the negative that was going on. Out here in Dallas all the kids are loving us right and we're looking good.

AllHipHop.com: What have you guys been working on?

Prince: New music, working on our promo tour.

D.K.: We're excited for it. Basically we've been getting ready for our promo tour and we gotta stay ready for our shows because we don't wanna go out to our shows and be half-steppin’. We want everything organized. So we can actually put on a show and everybody can leave and be like, “They really know how to put on a show.” And if we come back, they'll wanna come back and spend their money. So if Soulja Boy's headlining and we're opening up for him, or it's vice versa, we're making sure that when they leave our name is in their mouth. “GS Boyz they hot; we really gotta see them.”

AllHipHop.com: So you guys think you're going to work with Soulja Boy later this year?

Prince: Yeah, I have no problem with that. If he hits us up, sure why not?

AllHipHop.com: What is your response to criticism that you guys are another one hit wonder?

Prince: It's just funny because everybody said the same thing about Soulja Boy and look he's the master of a lot of stuff right now.

D.K.: We ain't going nowhere.

AllHipHop.com: What kind of affect has growing up in Dallas had on your music?

Marc D.: Well, I wouldn't say where we lived or where we started the group, but where we came from and where we were raised at some points does have to do with our music. Our experiences make our music better. When we write about real life experiences you can feel the music a whole lot better. Meaning we can go, where he [Prince] says Soufside brings the party-ness, but then again we can bring the seriousness of it. Meaning how hard it was growing up at first where we first lived before we got to where we are now or before we first met. We talk about what has happened and you can feel it and it makes the music a whole lot better.

AllHipHop.com: What kind of music should we except to hear on this album you're working on?

Prince: Well, Soufside he brings the party-ness of the GS Boyz. D.K. he's the singer; he brings the slowness of the GS Boyz. Marc D. he's the producer/beatmaker; he brings the music to the GS Boyz. Me and Slizz we just write the music for the boys and we just in it as a team. So basically, if threw a little bit of “Snap Your Fingers” from Lil Jon and some old Pretty Ricky and Jagged Edge together into one group with some normal music in there, then you got GS Boyz. That's us.

Originally published @ http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2009/01/20/20802928.aspx

Welcome to Hustlenomics 101, today we learn to get it done by any means necessary. That pretty much sums up Yung Joc’s latest Hustlenomics (Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South)—lying, cheating, stealing, and genuinely being sly are the building block to any successful hustler. And Joc plays an amazing hustler because he sure did a great job hustling the public into thinking this album would make bank.

Between Joc’s southern drawl and weak rhymes about dealing drugs and being the greatest hustler known to mankind, Hustlenomics is packed with much-needed guest appearances from Hip-Hop’s biggest names Snoop Dogg, Diddy, Jim Jones, The Game and Rick Ross. Joc’s collaborations manage to save this album from itself, yet it’s still a lame collection of get-rich quick anthems.

On the Fixxers produced “Cut Throat” featuring The Game, Jim Jones and Block, Joc and his boys brag about kickin’ it with the greatest gangstas from the east to the west coast. Jones outshines the rest of the players on this track with his solo: “You either slang crack/Or had a wick jump shot/Either or there was no between/It was either be poor/Or move coke and feigns.” On “Getting to da Money,” Joc not so cleverly manages to connect the dots of hustling—it’s all about making money. Really? We had no idea. Thanks, Joc.

“Coffee Shop” has already become a summer favorite because of its playful beat and childish, anthem-like lyrics, but Hustlenomics features jumpin’ club tracks like “BYOB” where Joc rhymes over a Neptunes provided, slinky-like beat, “Gotta make the quota/I mix it with the soda/I chop the dope and sell it/With the rings of the Motorola.” Then there’s the R&B flavored track “Livin’ The Life” where Joc tries to show off his soft side for the ladies as he boasts about his hustler ways and player status.

Giving thanks to his mother on “Momma,” Joc unconvincingly attempts to come off as a newer version of Tupac by showing respect to the game and respect to the woman who made him who he is. Hustlenomics features snippets of greatness which comes mostly from guest artists; on “Brand New,” Snoop’s OG status overshadows Joc’s weak chatter. Joc put this album together with a “go get it” attitude, and unfortunately he fails to actually get anything going. This Bad Boy hustler's ideology lacks a strong thesis as to what really makes a hustler; instead, Hustlenomics is a collaborated effort of weak songs with no vision.

Originally published @ http://allhiphop.com/blogs/reviews/archive/2007/08/27/18484996.aspx

The Screamfest 2007 Tour (featuring T.I., Ciara, T-Pain, Lloyd, and Yung Joc) is already in full swing and coming to a city near you! But between shows and long bus rides, Yung Joc made some time to chat with us about touring and his new album (dropping August 28). Wanna know who Yung Joc is crushing on? Keep reading...

How's the Screamfest Tour going with T.I. and Ciara
It's going pretty good. Man, it's great -- it's going really well. The fans are really receptive and everybody's happy to be a part of this tour. And a lot of money's being made. The Scream Tour is about people wanting to scream because they're happy.

Any funny stories from the road?
Not right now. We just started the tour, so later on in the tour I'm sure we'll have some funny things to talk about. We've been to Houston, New Orleans and Dallas so far.

Your sophomore album's coming out this month, how is this album different from your first?
I put a lot more effort into the production of this album. The production is up, for example, I'm working with Dre, Pharrell, Quik -- I got some big producers on this album. Even the features on this album working with Pharrell and Diddy.

How was it working with Pharrell?
Me and Pharrell are real cool. I was real cool working with Pharrell; he's a real open-minded producer. I like his work ethic.

What exactly is "Hustlenomics"?
"Hustle" means "go get it." "Economics" means, you know, "supply and demand." So "Hustlenomics" is understanding all the hustling going on and understanding supply and demand.

So how are you supporting supply and demand?
Well, for me, I'm an entertainer. I'm a rapper. So people demanding me; I try to supple them with that. But I gotta hustle in order to do that.

What's your favorite song on the album?
Probably "Play Your Cards." It's about being on top of your game and never letting anyone get you down no matter what.

Who are you dying to collaborate with? What's your favorite song of theirs?
I'd love to do a record with Luda. And I really wanna do a record with Kanye and Mary J. Blige. My favorite song by Luda is "Pimping all over the World." For Mary, it's "I'm Going Down," and Kanye, probably, "Through The Wire."

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
I love it. Performing my music.

What part do you enjoy the least?
Being exhausted and away from my family.

Who's your celebrity crush?
Elise Neil. I just like her a lot.

What else can we expect to see from you in the future?
There's so much I'm trying to do right now. My own cologne called Distraction, a clothing line called Claudio St. James, so I'm working on different things right now. Doing a comedy with Dallas Austin.

Originally published @ http://www.alloy.com/5/35/4536/1/