Double or Nothing: The Street’s Saviors

Interview by Ashley West-Nesbitt:

Usually when an album gets packaged as a mixtape it's for a reason: the artist wants to make some quick money and the label wants to keep the artist’s name fresh in between albums. Except for underground rappers, most artists don’t put too much time into crafting a mixtape. They're just substitute albums packed with unmarketable hits that only entertain listeners for only a couple of minutes. But when you come across an album like the new much- anticipated mixtape, Cant Sell Dope Forever that brings together both Dead Prez and the Outlawz, -two of Hip-Hop’s most lyrical rappers-on it, it becomes more than a mixtape-it becomes the collector’s item of mixtapes. 

Delivering one of the hottest albums of the summer, Dead Prez and the Outlawz break their hiatus from the rap game to re-educate the streets once again. Featuring tracks that deal with drug addiction, the lack of black leadership and other issues in the community, the album combines both groups’ passion for reshaping people’s minds with their words along with their need to spit the black truth perfectly- no white lies on this mixtape. And with guest appearances from Lazy Bone, Messy Marv and newcomers Stormey and Malachi, this new album is certain to please fans while inspiring the streets to be move beyond the standard 'hood professions and to be more proactive about their side dreams. Taking time off from their busy studio schedules, EDI of the Outlawz and new artist Stormey sat down to open up about their latest project and the new movement it's spawning.

Talk about the title of the mixtape, Can’t Sell Dope Forever.

EDI (Outlawz): Its self-explanatory. Definitely an attention grabber that people would definitely take notice to it. But the message is way deeper than selling dope on the album. That’s just what we used to get people attention.

Now it’s been awhile since the Outlawz had an album out, why come back with Dead Prez on a mixtape?

EDI: Dead Prez is our comrades. Great minds think alike. WE all got similar ideologies as far as the Hip-Hop thing goes. It’s just natural for us. We started this last fall. The Outlawz are just trying to keep doing different things, give people different looks and to keep giving music to our people. 

Did the group approach this album any differently, since it’s not like a solo album from the Outlawz?

EDI: Nah, especially with stic.man and M-1 (Dead Prez). They just so cool and down to earth. And so good at what they do. They make my job easier. It was probably easier than doing a normal album. It was an easy process because the subject matter is so potent. The message is just so vital and it’s needed right now. 

Will fans be able to appreciate this collaboration?

EDI: I don’t see how they couldn’t. They get the best two of the best groups linking up together and with one of the hottest up and coming artist, my homeboy Stormey. Can’t be mad at this project. 

Now both groups are known for being political and active, what issues are you all addressing on this project?

Stormey: We just really promoting another option. Not a lot of options that are being promoted to the youth and as a whole in the Hip-Hop community. But we don’t rally know peoples situation. It would be unfair for us to be like follow this specific way of doing things. But what we are trying to is tell people that if you are out there in the hustling game and you got your back to the wall, I’m sure its something else out there that you like to do. So by all means, look into promoting that next thing and to step to the next level in your life.

EDI: Also we kicking it from the addict’s point of view. Stic got a real dope song called “Open Window” talking about his brother’s addiction and just addressing that. A lot of times in rap, you get cats kicking the drug culture from the drug dealer’s perspective being the hustler or selling it. This one of the first projects, probably ever that you get a perspective from somebody dealing with an actual addict in their family. 

Talking about issues, how do you feel about the direction that Hip-Hop is going in now?  Is this album needed?

EDI: it’s going to shift a lot of people’s perspectives in the Hip-Hop game. And because all it takes is one person to sound the alarm and say “ Look this is something new going on right now”. Then you going to have peoples that’s feeling what where saying and then the next thing you know its going to be a whole movement. 

With the album out now, are there any plans for touring this summer?

EDI: Hopefully, we will be on the road real soon supporting this album. We’ll becoming to a hood near year to deliver the message live and direct. 

And when can fans expect another Outlawz album or some other projects?

Stormey: We in the lab right now.

EDI: We got the Banging On The System, Volume 2 with Dead Prez again dropping maybe later this year. Top of next year you can expect a new Outlawz album. And the Tupac Legacy Tour, God willingly will pop off next year too.