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9/30/2005 How have you been lately? I've been good. I've been grinding real hard trying to get this music and the movement popping to where it needs to be. What went down at the Fight Klub battle against Jin? Pretty much, I was told by people at the Fight Klub that they were going to have a big battle for $10,000, and I had a pretty good idea who would be there. I came in ready to get that money, and that's how it went down pretty much. How has things changed since the battle? Things haven't really changed. Winning the battle's made it easier to get my music in the streets. I'm able to maneuver a little better with that money. And more people on the outside are paying attention. I'm not trying to downplay it, but that was no big deal because I feel like I got so much more to accomplish. Word is that you had racist lines to get Jin, what do you have to say? Can I curse in this interview? Go for it. I have to say to that comment, "stop fucking bitching." People are going to have an excuse to say why this happened, or why that happened. It's like battling a fat person and not saying anything about them being fat. That'd be stupid. The way I did it, there was no coming back from it. If anyone was there at the battle, they'll see it was way more than Chinese jokes. I think that whole shit is weak and people are just making excuses for dude. What are you doing with Needlz today? Needlz is my man. We've been doing records together for the last six years. When we both started, we met each other at the same time. We were going to structure a deal where it'd be with his production company. But what he's doing as a producer, we both feel that he has a lot more work to do to get to super-producer status. He doesn't have the time to dedicate to me, so I have my own company. I'm basically signed to myself, but Needlz is my man and we still work together. How is Needlz in the studio? I really don't work in the studio with Needlz like that. He's so fucking talented that he makes a crazy beat in 15 minutes, and I just take it from there. Sometimes he'll come up with an idea or concept, but for the most part, I take a beat and focus on that because I don't want to hear his other shit because that'll make me want that too. We build a song together from the concept and hook and all that. Needlz is a real critic. He doesn't really like a lot of shit which makes him a good producer. When I do a song, I'll come back to him and make the beat as thick as it can be. That's how our relationship works. How would you describe yourself to everyone out there? Real. Down-to-earth. It's hard for someone to describe themselves because people are going to see you how they see you. My music comes from the heart and it's creative, and I'm not trying to follow anyone else's blueprint or piggyback off of anyone. I just want to make real classic music that's timeless. You've definitely done your thing in the battles, but are you concerned with being seen as a battle MC? I used to. Unfortunately, this is America and we need money to survive. It's not an issue of battling, it's an issue of money. If someone comes to me with money to battle, I'd be a fool to say "no" because I don't want to be seen as a battle rapper. With my songs, people are going to hear for themselves that my songs are not based on battling. It's just that God blessed me with the talent to do that. And another thing, I need to get that $50,000 in the Bahamas. I heard I'm not going to be able to get in there this year which is ludicrous. What's going on with that Mixshow Power Summit Battle? They were saying that I wasn't on their roster for whatever reason. I don't know what politics they have going on, but I feel that I definitely deserve a chance. Even if I can't be in the battle I'm still going to be there. How legit will the battle be if you're not in it? Honestly, I should have been in the battle before I beat Jin. Realistically, there's politics in this game and that's one of the things that I hate. It's sad that it has to take me winning a battle with Jin for people to even pay attention to my talent. But that's the nature of the game we're in. God willing, I'll get in the battle and get that 50k. What are your goals right now in the game? My first goal is to establish myself and my movement and take it to the next plateau. "Life is Serious" is what I use to explain my life. It's the spin-off of what everyone else is doing being a hustler and being a stereotypical rapper. It's not about all that. You need a real nigga that has a different perspective, because I'm not going to fall into the category of all these other rappers because I feel like I have to sell records. I'm just trying to take my organization and movement to the next level. How involved are you in your business? I am the business. All of my team knows too much. I don't have dudes that do what I say. We're all grown men. Everyone in my camp is my age or older. A lot of them are O.G.'s in the game and they know how things should go and what good marketing schemes are, and where to go with things. The things we think about are on a different level. I can't help thinking with a business mind because I'm an entrepreneur by nature. It's fortunate that I'm around people with the same mindset. Everything that we do is either conceived or approved by my team. What's next for you? I've been in a couple of different studios just perfecting my sound and getting it as big as it can be so the records can be as big as they can be. I let a couple of them leak out. There was that freestyle on HipHopGame, and I don't even know how you guys got it. That was an unmixed version of it. The streets want the stuff I do because people have heard of me, so I let mixtape joints leak out. As far as the core joints for my album, I'm just perfecting them. You can be on the lookout for my mixtape which should be done in the next few weeks. I'll be out there in the Bahamas with "Life is Serious" t-shirts and towels, look out for us. What do you want to say to everyone getting to know you? If I do have fans based on this battle stuff, I want them to know that it's much bigger than that. I want you to know that the battle was not a trick in getting you to know me and like me. I write about real life. All these beefs in the streets, I'm not with that. I'm trying to eat, this is real-life. I don't do beefs for publicity stunts. For all these beefs going on, just know that Serious Jones is not involved in any of that. Making music, this is a God-given talent. I appreciate the love and support, and any way I can give it back, I'm going to do so.

By Brian Kayser

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