Forbezdvd.com is one of the best sites online for videos. I like it because it is real. You know I have my issues with worldstar (Fedstar), so I only rock with Forbez. Doggie Diamonds is the co-owner of the site. He is known for doing interviews in the game and is respected in the game as well. So I was on twitter a couple of hours ago, and @doggiediamonds had asked a question why doesn't he get interviewed. So I stepped up to the plate and asked to interview him. He was real and asked me to send him questions. I did, and hours later I got the interview! Here it is:
1. I know you are the co-owner of Forbez DVD. How did the idea come about?
ForbezDVD was an idea that M.Reck, Jordan Tower and I came up with. Jordan was looking to break away from the Come Up DVD and do his own thing, so we came up with that idea. It was looking like it was going to down, we did a interview with J-Hood when he was leaving D-Block. We also caught the footage with Mobb Deep and Saigon confrontation on the club. If you look on youtube all that footage says ForbezDVD coming soon with release dates. It was never intended to be a website at first, But Jordan made the jump to wackstarhiphop (after I put him on the the website) and we didn't hear from him in a few months. All we saw was his videos on that site and he wasn't answering calls. Reck was like fuck it, so he started COD DVD and put that out. I was like we did too much to build the Forbez name up, let's still run with it. So...we built ForbezDVD.com and here we are today.
2. You are known for having great interviews. What was your first interview?
Well I used to do interviews for a website called Trickology.com (out of business now).The first one was Sun.N.Y. He was the freestyle friday champ on 106 & Park. They were audio interviews and I would have to transcribe them. That shit was wack as fuck to me so I got a camera. So my partner had already put his hat in the DVD game (Outside Hot 97 DVD) so he was like why don't you do the interviews, being that you have a little more hip hop knowledge. The first interview I did on camera was Babs (Making The Band) and it has over 100k views on youtube. I actually got a youtube deal off of that video.
3. What is your favorite interview and why?
It would have to be my Max B interview on the Come Up DVD. I knew I had to do the interview with Max, but I didn't have a contact on him. So I get my dude to ride with me up to Harlem to see if we could find him. So we go to the block he lives on and no Max B. All of a sudden, I see someone walking down the block with their hair blowing in the wind looking like Ron O'Neal (Super Fly). So I'm like, "I know this aint that nigga right here". Sure enough it was him LOL. So I knew it was gonna be special because he was in rare form. And what I liked about Max was he welcomed all questions He didn't give a fuck what I asked him, he just answered. I think that was the interview that really really blew us both up.
4. When did you realize this is what you wanted to do?
Since I was younger I used to walk around with a camera. I had one of those big ass cameras that had the VHS tape in it. I used to tape me and my niggas fucking niggas up, knocking out crack heads and throwing snowballs at people. The we used to film us with all our guns and shit. Then I realized, this shit is some incriminating shit, so I was like we need to do something useful with this camera. So from there I started taping shows and taping my group I was in at rehearsal studio. We used to watch the tapes like athletes do to see how we needed to get better with our shows. But me personally, I used to interview myself in the mirror all the time LOL. Crazy as that shit was it paid off in the long run, because now I know how to ask questions.
5. Any advice for up and coming journalists and bloggers?
Just do you. Don't be a dickrider. Because this worked for him, that doesn't mean it's going to work for you. If this it what you REALLY wanna do, then do this shit day in and day out. Study the game, the pros and cons, the success and the failures and you should be fine. Oh and never let and artist make you believe they're doing you a favor. They need media and if you're on your shit they will respect you and look for you.
6. What do you do other than interview artists?
I'm a music producer. That's what I REALLY do. And it's funny because everyone who knows me, knows me, laughs at me doing interviews. But if I see Lil Fame or Uncle Murda they always ask me for a beat CD. But I don't believe in being the jack of all trades and the master of none. So I wanted to make sure I secured my spot in history with the interviews, then I'm going to let this music go. Some people will be in shock when they hear my beats. Just like my way back crew is in shock when they hear me doing an interview. But I'm happy people care at all. I'll take it how I can get it.
7. How long have you been interviewing for?
2 years, I'm a baby at it LOL. But, I used to do like 7-11 interviews a day. I used to never wanna go home because I was having so much fun doing it. I used to be on my feet for like 12 hours some days with no water or eating like 1 time a day. But I couldn't believe that I was able to make calls and artist would meet up with me because they knew of my work.
8. Where is the craziest place you have interviewed someone?
Spliff Starr. Right on the corner of Church Ave in Flatbush Brooklyn. What made it hot is because I like shit like that. I hate those office or studio interview. If you talk all that shit in you records, let's go to you neighborhood and let me see if the people salute you like that. It's easy to hide in the office, fuck that. I like to touch the pavement and hit the streets.
9. You post interesting videos on Forbezdvd.com. How do you find them?
All over, people send me shit. Some of them are videos I shot or M.Reck shot. Some of them shits are just some stupid crazy shit. But I try to balance it out with something for everyone. But I take pride in the videos we shoot or my interviews.
10. Who do you want to interview that you haven't?
Jay-Z. I'm tired of people like Funk Flex and Angie Martinez getting the opportunity to interview him and all they do is suck him off all day. Ask him some real fucking questions. All that giggling and sucking up gets on my fucking nerves. Jay-Z hasn't been interviewed until Doggie Diamonds interviews him. Because if he lets me ask what I want, we'll finally get the answers to some of the questions people have been asking for all these years. I wouldn't treat him no different from any other interview I did.
Make sure yall check out Forbezdvd.com! And there will be a part 2 to this interview....
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Interview With Doggie Diamonds
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Process Album Review
While Elus may be a new name to some people, to me it is not. Elus is definitely someone who has been making moves in the NY underground. His 3 mixtapes (The On With The Show Series) have been heard across NYC and you probably have either brought a cd from him or he tried to sell you one. He is also a part of the supergroup Triboro, who also have been making their mark in the NY undergrund.
This is the first official release from Elus. Titled The Process, it is definitely something worth listening to. It is a classic. Now that word is tossed around loosely sometimes, but not here. Elus is being no one but himself, and in the process of doing that, he creates something that everyone can vibe to. And makes us laugh at the same time by putting aspiring comedian Jay Frost on the album with a skit (you are familiar with Jay Frost if you have listened to On With The Show 1, 2 and 3). Overall, the album is definitely something worth buying. From the intro titled The Oath to the end titled Marryjuana, this is the beginning of a great journey for Elus.
Favorite track: What You Know About Me feat Fred Da Godson & Goodz
Least Favorite Track: Retweets (That is a skit, but the album is so solid I had to choose the skit. In other words, GO BUY IT! ITS HOT!)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Music Monday: 9-21-2009
Whats good y'all? I know it has been a while since I have blogged and all, but I have been busy doing a whole lot of things on and off the internet. So to compensate for that, I'm bringing music and video for this Music Monday.
Navy: Go To Work
Navy: All I Hear
Ashy L Bowz: Luv My Weed
And as promised, a video:
Look out for The Foundation by House coming next month...........
Monday, September 14, 2009
About The VMA's
Hey guys,
I am back. It has been a while. I decided to type this blog because I know ever since I was younger that there was always an uproar the next morning after awards on who should and shouldn't have won. In the case of the VMA's, I would like people to realize something. That contest is a numbers game. Yes, the Video Music Awards is a numbers game and a POPularity contest. Why do I say that? Because every artist who won sold records and are household names. Example: The Best New Artist is Lady Gaga. (Her fellow nominees were 30H!3, Asher Roth, Drake, and Kid Cudi). Lady Gaga sold over 3 million copies worldwide of her debut, The Fame. 30H!3 sold about 300,000 copies. Asher Roth sold about 150,000 copies. Although Drake and Kid Cudi have big internet and mixtape buzzes along with appearing on other artists albums, they have yet to come out with official debut material (Both are releasing their official debuts on September 15th). Lady Gaga wins by numbers.
Second example: Best Female Video. Taylor Swift sold 4 million records. Lady Gaga sold 3 million. Katy Perry sold 2.5 million copies. Kelly Clarkson sold a little over a million. Pink sold 1.2 million copies. Taylor Swift wins.
I am not doing this to shoot MTV down or anything, I am just being realistic. MTV is the center stage for America. It gives America what it wants. Viacom owns all three major music networks (BET, VH1, MTV). Each network has its core audience. The BET demographic is for urban audiences. The VH1 demographic (except for the reality shows) is for older audiences. The MTV demographic is for everyone. MTV is the melting pot for the music networks. Basically the demographic the musician appeals to, is the network they will be upheld and featured on, and MTV signifies that you made it.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Im Sorry People, I Have Been Busy
Whats good y'all? Haven't forgotten about y'all, but I have been making moves otherwise. I have finally started the Kwan Lee Network. You can go check that out here. I have also been pushing my music more. It is not easy to do everything I do myself. I am currently seeking management because I feel I am at that next step. For people to actually dig my music is real dope! That being said, I have to make it up to you guys that check out the site on a frequent. You know I have some videos to put up soon. I have switched the style up as far as that goes too. I love my Youtube, but Vimeo has an advantage. No time limit.... More on that soon
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
New Pause TV: Who Is Marcus Banks?
Another episode of Pause TV. Got me laughin as usual. Dope videos....