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1/31/2006 How are you doing? I can't complain, just grinding hard. How do you want to introduce yourself to the HipHopGame audience? I just want to have my music felt and get respect. You don't have to love it but you have to respect it. I'm the first to kick open the door and my team is going to get it. What does your name mean? "360" is a breath of fresh air. The game is suffocating. I'm not a nigga that's applying by the rules and following anybody's path. I don't apply by the rules, I make my own steps. Your bio says that you can "do it all." What does that mean? If you want that club joint, I have something for that. I have something for you if you want to chill in your crib, I have something for your grandmoms…I'm not one-dimensional. I can give you any flavor you want. That's the type of dude I am. "Apply by the Rules" is a dope song about doing your own thing. How important is it to go against the grain? That's a major issue right there. The way that these niggas are spitting in the game, I can't follow that path. I can't let the money get in the way of everything. I'm going to make my own path. That's why I don't have any influences. On that song, you also spoke about not being the "most hardcore." Why say that knowing what today's game is like? I'm a fan of hardcore music, but a lot of the niggas that are saying it aren't hard. If you're hard, you don't have to say "I'm hard" a million times. You also mention being "signed to the streets." How does that affect what music you make? The streets dictate what's hot. The industry waters it down. The way I'm doing it is the streets are embracing me. They know I'm a stand-up nigga and my music is me. I'm going to give it to you raw and uncut. You have a song called "NY Problem." What's your biggest problem with New York Hip Hop? They complain that the South is taking over. 50's from New York. I don't know if anybody sees that, but I know 50's on top right now. Where has New York gone? Before 50, it was Jay-Z. New York dudes are disrespecting themselves. You have to give respect when respect is due. Don't regionalize Hip Hop. If you're nice, you're nice. Do you see a lot of jealousy in New York? Oh yeah! I see a whole bunch of that, but that's everywhere. People think Atlanta sticks together. They don't really stick together. I've been there and seen that. Jealousy is a part of life. What's your solution for New York? I am the solution. Listen to me, get my music, get my team's music, and you'll find the solution. I'm going to come in the game, bless you with my music, and make sure that no New York dudes disrespect me. My focus is not to beef for a buzz. My focus is to make music, and if I sell records, then I'm blessed. What's up with your crew Been Official? That's me, that's my life. If you see me, you're going to see my crew and the company I represent. We started a promotional campaign "Have You Been Official?" I got stickers, spray paint, t-shirts…we have producers, engineers, and singers. It's going down. How important is it to have a strong team behind you? Look at all the teams in Hip Hop. Bad Boy, Rocafella, Terror Squad…if I'm strong and my team is strong, there is no way we can lose. How do you approach the game today? I'm not going to go to labels and kiss ass. If the streets are feeling me a lot, the labels will come to me. If they see that I'm doing my thing, then they will come. Somebody will call from somewhere. It's happened already. People have already called, but they're bullshit people. I'm coming into the game and separating the real from the fake. I'm bringing it back to '94 when there was real Hip Hop with no gimmicks. Are gimmicks a necessity for up-and-coming artists today? I wouldn't call it a necessity but I would call it a strong thing. When you sit back and think about it, it just depends what your gimmick is. The gimmick is to only crack the door open, like "Laffy Taffy." I'm sure those dudes aren't doing that all the time. They probably just did that to get their spot. Whatever works for you, works for you. You have to feed your family. I know you've already dropped two mixtapes and are working on a third. How's the new one coming? Oh man! We're going to have to do another interview after I drop this mixtape. It's straight fire. All I can say is that when it drops, I'm going to make sure you get it and everybody in the neighborhood gets it. It'll be out at the end of February or the beginning of March. It's called "Have You Been Official '06." What are your goals for this year? I'm trying to develop a big buzz. I'm not even in a rush to get signed. If you're in a rush to get signed, you're in a rush to get jerked. I'm going to come through, get the buzz, make Been Official a household name, I got the website coming…it's going to be a great year. What do you want to say to everyone? Been Official is the movement. Thank you for your support. Hate or love, it doesn't matter. I'm setting up the pins and knocking them down.

By Brian Kayser

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