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Winston "Wilmo" Robinson - A.O.G. Entertainment Marketing & Management
Ill Spittaz- Founded in 1913 when the Moravians merged their city of Salem with nearby Winston, the North Click city of Winston-Salem, affectionately known as Winston-Slums, seems to have been blessed with the love for the arts, work ethic, and spiritual fortitude of its founding fathers. Although a quick drive around Winston-Salem may have it seem far removed from its righteous roots, perhaps the spirit of its orgins may be burning in three of its residents. Ricky Ruckus, a.k.a. Lil Rick, Billionz, and Glu, a.k.a. Big Glu Easy, a.k.a. King of the Hill comprise the Ill Spittaz. Under the influence of lifestyle in Tre-4 (Winston-Salem, Triad District Four), the Spittaz seem to be spearheading a movement for which Winston-Salems founding fathers would be proud. Or maybe not. As Glu, the stocky 59 force say on Spittaz Town, the self-produced Glocks N Nines is Tre-4s first street tape. Blanketing North Carolina, Glocks N Nines breaks new industry ground in many ways. Yes, as far as this writer can tell, Glocks N Nines is likely Winston-Slums first street tape. Also, at a time when the music industry seems to be imploding operationally and stagnating creatively the Ill Spittaz music and personalities seem misplaced in the beloved Tre-4 district they represent, the way a diamond seems misplaced among the other stones and dust from which it comes. A quick check of the of the Spittaz tracks on www.soundclick.com/rickyruckus reveals their innovative, hungry, hilarious, gifted flavor. From the funny as shit I Dont Know Your Name freestyle to similarly titled Alicia Keys hit, to the club friendly Freaks pt. II, these dudes got game. Personality-wise, just seeing the trio together, it is obvious some almost Twilight Zone type ship is going on. The 64 Ruckus, the 59 Caucasian, Bobby Hill look-alike Glu and the 57 pimpster Billionz, when together make people initially think; what the f*ck are these dudes up to? Chilling with the Spittaz a minute is a live viewing of a situational comedy. Every member off I Dub has jokes and you will get tested. Even more stirring is how efficient the Ill Spittaz are in the studio. With a beats blazing in the background, the trio sinks into a trance. Maybe writing feverishly, maybe mumbling to themselves, maybe meditating motionlessly. Then one pops up and jumps into the booth. Ricky Ruckus also plays the roll of engineer, the Cool Edit genius is exceptionally skilled in arranging songs. This efficient, cost-free way of recording has attributed to a catalog of over six-hundred songs. In watching the process of the Ill Spittaz making a song, it is as if you are watching something being created.
-Anthony Sulefel realhiphopheadmusic.com
D.D.E. (Death Due to Everybody) - D.D.E (Death Due to Everybody) is not just a title for one of the hottest groups storming out of the south. It is the reality that these young legends of Winston-Salems notorious Cleveland Projects live, day in and day out. This triple threat featuring BGZ (LaTravis Green), Triple 4 (Edward Bryant), and Kenny G (Kenneth Grooms) are infamous characters that have collectively decided to emerge from behind the dark history of drugs and violence, to the forefront of hip-hop with the same do or die philosophy they held while living the streets.
BGZ carries the hood on his back; his voice holds the years of pain & struggle from surviving in a city amongst the nations top twenty in highest crime rate percentage. Living that hard knock life has weighted his rhymes with real life situations that not even the best ghostwriter could fathom. Trying to support his ten kids, ducking vengeful baby mamas, dodging drug charges, and surviving the harsh life of the hood still doesnt keep him down. BGZs humor is what has helped him heal from all hurts, whether shotgun wounds in the foot by rival gangs or the solidarity of jail sentences starting at the age of 15. His sound is not smooth because it is smeared with sweat, blood, filth, and the fear of failure which give him the gritty voice of his gutter surroundings.
The same way that Triple 4 fearlessly blazed the highways between North Carolina and Florida on business he blazes tracks with his twist on why the game is a game. This life long hustler made it past the corner, but not far enough from the lurking eye of law enforcement. After an extensive term in prison, Triple 4 has come back to regain his hood celebrity status by selling his life story through lyrics instead of illegal substances. His contagious charisma, energy and enthusiasm is sure to attract your attention as his jargon and word play will solidify his lifes credentials. Expect Triple 4 to bring the passion and the power of living fearlessly to your ear.
Dont let the smooth name fool you. Kenny G is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Hungry for the hoodrich lifestyle portrayed by his peers, Kenny G took a bite out of crime early. Convicted for the first time in 1997 for soliciting to an undercover officer, Kenny G began a hectic schedule of stints in & out jail for graduated offenses as deep as attempted murder. Kenny G amazingly walked out of his last corrections facility with no hate towards his main girl who unknowingly sold two kilos of uncooked raw for $200 and spent his last stash of mattress money, $20,000 on a 2001 Toyota Camery and other miscellaneous expenses. He holds no animosity towards her understanding the pressure of the situation in which he placed her. It was this same allegiance to street morale that kept him from pressing charges on a known enemy in 2004 after he dumped 6 rounds from a .45 magnum into Kenny Gs 72 Cadillac after clubbing at a popular Winston-Salem night-spot. After maneuvering in the finite amount of space in his car, Kenny G feels extremely lucky to receive only the one bullet that pierced his jaw. Still bearing a swollen face today, Kenny G truly understands the value of life. This outlook has translated into a raw desire & drive to master his craft. His tenacity craves success.
We done seen it all, We been strugglin all our life/ From taking people groceries, pumping gas and stealin bikes/ From hustlin on tha corners, mom and daddy on the pipe/ TRUE STORY/ We focused, now we hustle on the mic.
-D.D.E True Story (chorus)
Marion Bobbitt -Image Magazine (March 2004)