HipHopHavoc interviews Cory Gunz(interviewed by Omar)

Cory Gunz Interview

By

Omar


How's the world treating you right now?


Cory Gunz: The world is kinda good right now, you know what I'm saying and a lot of little different looks, different little opportunities. Definitely right now, I can't even express the way I feel the world is treating me. I feel like I'm overdue at the same time, but I'm also feeling like it's a breath of fresh air because all of a sudden all of the hard work I put in, is finally starting to pay off for me you know what I'm saying, I've been doing this for 7 years, so it's really looking good. My world is looking good.

What influence did Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz have on your development?

Cory Gunz: A huge influence. If it wasn't for them two dudes. Back in the day my pops and Tariq was in one separate group and then a made a group together called the Gun Runnaz. They ranged off and formed Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. It's been for years since I been under them you know what I'm saying. My dad is my dad. That's my inspiration for the music thing. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be touching music. As far as Tariq is concerned it's the same thing. You know what I'm saying, Tariq is one of those underrated lyrically nice dudes that a lot of people sleep on and I think that he's underrated and overdue. Just them two as a whole are my main inspiration and they made me want to pick up a pen.

What made you sign to After Platinum? How's that going?

Cory Gunz: That's going good. Actually they're kinda like family now. That's what I call them. They're real cool people. Real excellent as far as working, it's just freedom of expression. They never tie me down or tell me what to do. Not that I haven't been through that before. It's just like a family kind of thing and I know they have the same goals on their mind that I got.

It was some controversy well I should say a good rumor going around that you were signing with G-Unit. You want to speak on that?

Cory Gunz: Ah yeah. I can't really (pauses) I want to first of all shout out Tony Yayo, Banks, 50, the whole G-Unit. I did a joint with Yayo called the "Face Off" record. It was me, him and Ransom on that joint. It got good feedback definitely in the streets as far as mixtapes. Since after that a lot of people are under the whole misconception that I'm signing to G-Unit which is not true at all. G-Unit is family. But right now I'm trying to go to a place where I'll be a priority at. Like Yayo is my dude, know what I'm saying? A lot of people don't know that. Yayo is cool peoples. Like I met the dude, he showed me love and respect ever since the day I met him. That's how it's always gonna be between me and him. 50 is 50. He's an icon and he's a superstar. I'm just testing the waters and trying to grind.

Also, I noticed that there was a little controversy over the "Gamble On Me" song. It's supposedly a JR Rotem (interrupts)

Cory Gunz: I don't mean to cut you off, but that record I don't even like talking about it. Basically, a long story short, a record was sent to my email that promises a feature from T Pain or whatever. I recorded the record, I didn't even send it out, didn't even leak it. My peoples sent it out supposedly, someone had access to the emails or whatever that what was told to me. But my whole thing is I've been doing this for years and I don't want people to be confused or think that I'm one of those dudes who ride people's coattails, that's not what I do at all. T-Pain is a great artist. I actually have a relationship, a very good relationship with Barry Weiss, I was actually suppose to sit and do a situation at Jive prior to this whole foolishness. So it's like it just rubs me the wrong way when that record got out because it makes me look kinda funny like I'm trying to live off of other niggas talent. First off the record got leaked. Somebody in my camp leaked it. Somebody that I wasn't keeping an eye on like I should have been. I thought I can trust them with my music obviously I couldn't. That won't happen anymore.

How did you link up with Ryan Leslie?

Cory Gunz: I knew Ryan since I was little. Since I was about 15 or 16. Me and him signed up at Casablanca together. At the time I think I was the only rapper up there. I believe Ali Vegas was there and he left. It was me, Ryan and Lindsey Lohan. No disrespect but I didn't know the other artists. Ryan is cool, he actually wanted to sign me to NextSelection. So, shout out to Ryan Leslie and the whole NextSelection.

How's everything going with the Militia? Any new cuts? Will they be featured on your new album?

Cory Gunz: The militia that's most definite. I got my fam Square Off, that's my team, my brother. They're working on their own project. We're working on a project together. That's really a team effort. We're all going in an knocking out a lot of mixtape shit . I'm not saving anything because I think that's been my biggest mistake. It's cool to keep gems but you can't keep all the treasures. You gotta know that. I'll keep feeding the streets. I don't want to force feed them. I don't want to oversaturate the market and people get tired of me. I'll take my time and take over slowly, but surely. I got a DJ Drama mixtape coming out "March Or Die", "Cory Gunz presents The Militia March Or Die", The Militia Squad mixtape coming out, that's titled "Youngest In Charge". That's who we are as a group. We call ourselves the "Youngest In Charge". That's it. We're really on the grind with everything right now.
What made you come up with the title "God Forgives and I Don't"?

Cory Gunz: Oh yeah that's the title of the album.

What producers are on the album?

Cory Gunz: Oh definitely, my in house producer S-Dot, Sam S. I got. I feel bad not knowing the names. On my album its going to be a lot of dudes on there. Nottz, Rockwilder, Hi- Tek, J.R. Rotem suppose to giving me some shit . I'm suppose to be reaching out to Swizz. Anybody you can basically name I'm trying to cut a record with. You know what I'm saying. I'm getting a lot of production from different people that's just been fire. So it's kinda hard to pick and choose records we're gonna keep for the album. But it's coming together perfect. I'm overwhelmed kind of because it's like I'm still young and new at this. A lot of people are quick to point the finger. I love hip hop for what it is. I just want to make great music of course everybody is in it for the money. I do it for the music at heart you know what I'm sayin. That's all I'm really trying to do. It really humbled me for people to take notice of me. Even with ya'll giving me this interview I really appreciate it. I acknowledge all of the stuff. I really appreciate it. I really do it for the people who listen to me and pay attention.

How's the Best Kept Secret going?

Cory Gunz: Cool. Honestly that tape had an internet release and hasn't even come out like that. Its got good responses. So what I'm a do is. I'll leak another internet version of the Best Kept Secret mixtape and its gonna have a couple of bonus cuts and a couple of features. My Drama mixtape is gonna be ridiculous. I also got a mixtape coming out with DJ Whoo Kid. We ended up doing a 90's mixtape.

Do you come with a different mindset when you do a mixtape compared to working on an album or is it basically the same philosophy?

Cory Gunz: Most definitely different. As far as the work ethic the same philosophy but it's most definitely different. I find it to where I can have more fun and I don't mean it in a playful way, but wordplay wise. Entertaining the listeners. I feel like I can entertain the listeners more on a freestyle and the streets. All the people in the streets I started doing it for, I feel I can entertain them more coming from a mixtape angle. But as far as like everybody from the streets to the mainstream. I want to sit down, when I'm doing an album. I really like take into the consideration trying to piece together the perfect record, the perfect album concept wise. I consider freestyles records so I feel funny trying to explain it to you. I look at all of it the same. I look at a freestyle as a song. Everything I write I put thought into it. I try to entertain the listeners. It's just a flow; know what I'm saying. I can't even call that. I look at both of them the same.

How did it feel being in the B.E.T. cypha? I mean you did your thing. How did it feel being amongst other emcees?

Cory Gunz: That feels like, I couldn't even tell you. When I got the phone call for that, the XXL magazine. I made the cover of that and I'm basically in awe know what I'm sayin. I'm in shock. I remember being little seeing my dad and Tariq on the cover of the Source with Pun, DMX, Cam, Kurupt, everybody is on the cover . So like when they told me they were doing a cover like that, a collage it was kind of like damn. At that time all the artists on the cover with my dad, brought a whole new breath of fresh air in the game in '98. That was that year for Hip Hop. It was one of those good years. So I just look at it like that's a dream come true. I can't put into words how I felt.

Do you have any last shoutouts/comments/any questions I didn't ask you/or anything like that?

Cory Gunz: I like to shout out the whole militia, the whole square,I want to thank everybody taking their time out to listen to me and paying attention to me. I want to thank the people who's been there for me, who know the politics in the game and is just waiting for me to blow. Because I'm not going to disappoint ya'll. You know what I'm saying so. I want to thank you and Hip Hop Havoc for this interview. I really appreciate this and as far as everything else. Militia "March Or Die" coming soon with DJ Drama, Cory Gunz, "Son Of A Gun" mixtape coming soon, DJ Whoo Kid "Youngest In Charge" mixtape coming soon featuring Square Off and "God Forgives and I Don't" that's it.