"10 Shots with Cinque of Man Up Squad" Interview w. Flo Dirt

Arizona. A state largely overlooked in all genres of music. Mainly known for a 2001 World Series win over the Yankees and a better than average basketball team, not quite the place anyone would look to for the next big movement in hip hop music. But behold: The Man Up Squad. The brainchild of Southside Phoenix's Cinque and Suave House II/Capitol Records recording artist Jiggolo, the Man Up Squad includes G Unit's Young Hot Rod, Willy Northpole and Carnegie. On 4/3/07, your favorite literary superstar, Flo Dirt, had a chance to sit down with cappo, Cinque, in an exclusive interview to discuss several topics from his endeavours to the state of hip hop in AZ. Check it out in the latest edition of "10 Shots with Flo Dirt"...



Flo Dirt: 1. What’s good on the South Side of Phoenix?

Cinque: We got a lot of talented cats that come from not havin much. Everybody got big dreams. We’re doing better at getting up out of that neighborhood. That’s what happens. We got a lot of things to talk about because of where we come from. It makes the music that much more authentic.

Flo Dirt: 2. I’ve done some investigation on The Man Up Squad an it's worldwide with delegates and affiliates on the west coast, Midwest, down south and even over in Europe.

Cinque: We got Man Up South, Man Up Midwest, Man Up Cali and Man Up Europe.

Flo Dirt: How did the movement begin and what’s in store for the crew?

Cinque: Me and Jiggolo went on tour with Ice Cube last summer. He was like, “You know what? I got this idea. This thing called the Man Up Squad.” At first, it was like a small group: me, him and Durty Bo Dean. People were feelin the movement so much and a lot of cats wanted to get down. We opened the doors and the flood gates opened. It got so big it got what it is. It can’t be a group. It’s a big ass movement. In Arizona alone, we got over 100 members. We got people in other states. That’s how it grew.

Flo Dirt: What’s going on this year for Man Up?

Cinque: We got big things. We got Hot Rod album coming out. Willy Northpole just signed to Disturbing Tha Peace. They lovin him over there so he might be coming out real soon. Jiggolo bout to come out soon. He’s signed to Suave House. My boy D-Boy is putting the independent smash down real tough. He’ll have some new shit out real soon. I’m working on a little deal, a little situation that I’ll speak on at a later date. Jiggolo just got a beat placed on Young Buck’s album and on 50 Cent’s album.

Flo Dirt: Yeah I heard about that!

Cinque: We got a lot of big things going on. Me and Hot Rod got a mixtape coming out called “Phoenix Sons” hosted by DJ Warrior. We got a lot of shit going on. This ain’t like somebody got signed and put all they money into it. This is cats coming together and really making it happen and standing behind each other. You know?

Flo Dirt: Exactly. That’s what I love about it. I was telling you how I met you at the One Stop Shop conference in Phoenix in February and hooked up with Phearless Records there. I’ve been talking to them too about the movement. That leads to my next question:

Flo Dirt: 3. With your partnership with Phearless Records, you really represent unity amongst the Black and the Brown. Why is that important to you and also to hip hop in general?

Cinque: We got a real good relationship with Phearless because you know, we’re not all black. We got White artists, Hispanic artists like D-Boy. Man Up Squad is predominantly Black. In a sense, a lot of us are from the streets. In jail, you got the Blacks, Whites and Mexicans. Everybody stick together. There are a lot of those principles that you apply out here on the streets. If you look at it like that, they’re the most prominent, talented and powerful Latino clique and we’re the biggest Black clique. It was a mutual respect thing off the top. Then we started coming around each other, going to each other’s shows, doing shows together, doing songs together. We all developed a real good relationship. Solid cats. I fucks with them!

Flo Dirt: 4. Who is gonna be the one to rep AZ and give us the spotlight? Hot Rod is signed to G-Unit and Willy Northpole to DTP. Who’s next to blow and really get us some shine out here in Arizona?

Cinque: You know what? That is to be determined by the Most High. I do got some things on the table; some MAJOR things on the table. We’ll see how things turn out, you know what I mean? That’s a really good question to ask the streets.

Flo Dirt: 5. I’ve heard a couple of your songs on XM, man. How has getting spins on XM and satellite radio helped your career, if at all? And what about support from local radio stations?

Cinque: To be honest, we don’t get much support from radio out here for the simple fact that there’s only one urban station out here. They don’t have any major competition. It appears that they don’t really care about local groups even though we’re doing things on a much bigger level than just local. I don’t really feel the support here at home. My whole philosophy is to grind hard in the streets which spills into radio so they have no choice BUT to fuck with it. No help there. XM is a big help because that’s worldwide. Isn’t it ironic how your hometown won’t play you?

Flo Dirt: You know what man, I lived in San Diego and I’m from the Bay Area and I’m gonna tell you, it’s the same shit no matter where you go. It’s unfortunate. Even in the Bay with so much talent coming out of the Bay Area, you never hear any local artists on the radio. It does you guys and us as emcees a disservice and makes it hard and makes you not even want to mess with them at all.

Cinque: Right. We get love from XM, I got Shade 45 playing my shit. It’s good. It motivates you to wanna go hard. It don’t discourage me at all!

Flo Dirt: We talked about Jiggolo getting a beat placed on Buck and 50’s albums. I know that he was a finalist in that beat battle at the conference. You guys really represented hard at the One Stop Shop Conference sponsored by Sha Money XL. How do you think that conference helped you, if at all?

Cinque: We didn’t need it. Jiggolo definitely didn’t need it. He was already getting things crackin’. He got a song on 50 Cent’s album. What’s bigger than that??

Flo Dirt: Yeah, man. That’s major.

Cinque: It was cool. We had to make our presence felt because it was in OUR city. We not gonna NOT be there. Plus, we fuck with Sha Money. It was cool.

Flo Dirt: 6. Top 5 emcees?

Cinque: Top 5? I gotta give you more than 5!
Cinque
Jiggolo
Willy Northpole
Hot Rod
D-Boy
Big Fraze
Preach
Ocean
Raymond Redd
Lo
Blitzkrieg
Trife
Fif
Carnegie
No Remorse
....That’s about 12 or 13.

Flo Dirt: 7. What impact does Myspace have on your career and how seriously do you take it? Meaning, who do you respond to if anyone? I feel blessed that you responded and reached back to me for this interview. I appreciate that.

Cinque: I got my personal manager AV Action. He usually does my Myspace. Every now and then, I hop on there too. I respond if I’m on there. A lot of times, people will hit it up and by the time I get on there, the message will be so far down there that I don’t see them. He goes back and forth with people who want features or shows. Myspace has been a big help because you don’t need a website no more. You can put your music on Myspace and it broadens your fan base. If you got good music, they gon’ feel it. They gon follow you. It’s a good promotional tool. You got shows, you can post bulletins. Like I got a show tonight. You should come through.

Flo Dirt: Where you a couple of nights ago?

Cinque: I was at Diamond Jacks.

Flo Dirt:Ok!

Cinque: Also, you can put your PayPal information on there and sell cd’s off of there. I sold a ton of cd’s of my last mixtape “R.I.P.” (Realist In Phoenix) off of there. Myspace is a big deal and I fucks with Myspace!

Flo Dirt: 8. When I hear you rhyme, I don’t hear a regional flow. I can hear some west coast mixed with a little of everywhere else, including some ragga flavor as well, especially on that “Man Up” track. Why is that and who is Cinque?

Cinque: I travel a lot and that’s why you hear a lot of difference in my style. I love music so much and love so many different types of artists. You can’t just put me in a box. I got a universal sound because I do commercial music, I do gangsta music, I do real music, I do all of it. To be honest with you… Underground? I do it all. I don’t ever want to be put in no box. You can’t put me in no box. If you didn’t know where I was from, you couldn’t tell where I was from by listening to my music if I never said what coast or what region. I like to keep it that way. That way, anybody in any hood can feel it. I go directly to the hood and I preach to the hood.

Flo Dirt: 9. Finish this sentence: “That Arizona is…”

Cinque: Cats in other states that hustle and grind, when you say “That Arizona” they know what you talking about. I ain’t gonna really get into it over the phone, you know? “That Arizona” is a BIG STATEMENT in other states to hustlers. I’m plugged into that. It’s an invitation and introduction to come and get money.

Flo Dirt: 10. Last question: Obama or Clinton on ’08?

Cinque: Obama ALL DAY!!

Flo Dirt: That’s right! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking time for me, getting your haircut and all!

Cinque: No doubt. Come to the show and I’ll buy you a drink or somethin’.

Flo Dirt: Aiiight. There it is homie. Peace.

Cinque: All right then.

Yo, to check out the latest news on what's happening in Cinque's world, hit him up on myspace.

For all questions and inquiries for Flo, hit him up at this link or visit his myspace page.

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"Tribe Called Quest 'Get's Up' with Puma" by Queen Princess

Posted at 4/06/2007 11:37:00 AM

The urban fashion industry today is growing at an outstanding rate due to artists launching their own clothing and sneaker lines. Many artists have teamed up with shoe companies to introduce their custom sneakers, but rarely do we see the same sneaker companies paying tribute to the artists. Reebok has collaborated with heavyweights such as Jay-Z and 50 Cent to launch the G-Unit sneakers and the S. Carter collection. Daddy Yankee can also be included in the Reebok group, because he has recently signed a shoe deal. Game partnered with 310 motoring to create his Hurricane sneakers while Baby hooked up with Lugz to release his Birdman sneakers. There hasn’t been much collaboration for the ladies, but of course we can’t overlook Missy Elliot’s Adidas line Respect Me.

It’s great that shoe companies teamed up with those artists, because most have been very successful. Despite their success, Puma does things a little bit different. Now we all know that Puma has done their share of tributes to artists in and outside the realms of music. This time, the 80’s hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest is being paid homage by the well-known sneaker company Puma. The red, black and green colorways are designed to represent the groups in the colors that they displayed as their own on the majority of their album covers. The group has not had an album release since the late 90’s, therefore, the release of the Puma tribe sneakers just shows the heavy impact that the group has made in hip-hop music. I view the tribute as “respect getting respect”. The group showed appreciation of jazz, hip-hop and soul in their music. They were also positive lyricists who shed light on conscious topics that weren’t necessarily the talk of the town during the height of their popularity. Because of their appreciation, they are being honored. The release date of the Tribe Pumas has not yet been issued, but is expected to be later this year. Be on the lookout.

Source of Info: Hypebeast

Got questions or comments for the Queen Princess, email her at this link.

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Lil Wayne "You Ain't Know" feat. Birdman (Video)

Posted at 4/06/2007 11:28:00 AM

Exclusive Video
Aye, peep this new video by Lil' Wayne "You Ain't Know" featuring Birdman. Nice video but damn, Weezy's rhymes are a little suspect though...see for yourself and critique.

"You Ain't Know" (click to view)

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"Thank You Nike for the New, Air Force Ones" by ReddBoi

Posted at 4/06/2007 10:59:00 AM

The Nike Air Force 1 Anniversary Series kicks off in Baltimore, Maryland beginning in April. The launch of the anniversary series will run from April to June in 3 different cities that also include New York and Philadelphia. With prices ranging from $150-$200 this series is combining a 3M croc reflector on the toe, and a Vibram sole.

Air Force 1’s have been a mainstay in hip-hop fashion and culture. Who even realized it has been 25years since these shoes first made their debut? Now with more styles and colors to choose from you can mos def rock these kicks with just about anything you got in your closet. Staying so fresh and so clean just like Nelly said “stomping in my Air Force 1’s” you can be sure everybody is going to be stomping around the city they are reppin.

One thing about the Air Force 1 shoe collection is that it is never dated and they can be worn at anytime. Always coming with new and inventive ways to keep them popular in the streets from the classic look of the all white kick or to the extreme with croc reflectors. Of course shoes are always going to be the one of the main focal points when you are rocking your gear. What better way to jazz up your look with some new AF1’s. No matter how you dress it up or down just remember to always do it with style.


-Terrance G AKA "ReddBoi"
If you have any questions or comments for "Reddboi" hit him up at this email. Holla!!

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Butta B "Street Pon Blaze" feat. Gladstone (Audio)

Posted at 4/06/2007 10:40:00 AM

Exclusive Audio
Well, we introduced new artist Butta B earlier this week. We wanted to let u hear a second single from him called "Street Pon Blaze" featuring Gladstone. Good stuff boi! Hit'em up if you want more from Butta by checking out him out on myspace. One love! Note: This audio player only works in I.E.

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Exclusive Event In NYC starring DMC, Chuck D and Large Professor

Posted at 4/06/2007 10:29:00 AM

GUITAR CENTER PRESENTS "GC SESSIONS" IN NY CITY FEATURING DARYL MCDANIELS (DMC), CHUCK D and LARGE PROFESSOR

















WHO
DMC, Chuck D, Rob Swift, Buckshot, DJ Second Nature, Grand Wizard Theodore, Large Professor, 88 Keys, DJ Hapa, DJ Jab and Dru Ha (Drew Friedman)

WHAT
The first in New York, GC Sessions is a new music based initiative featuring informative, provocative and fun discussions and tutorials geared to aid musicians. In addition, there will be performances from the top participants throughout the evening.

WHEN
Thursday, April 26th, 6pm-9:30pm

WHERE
Guitar Center
25 West 14th Street
Free and Open to the Public

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Introducing "The Mint" - New Track and Bio (Audio)

Posted at 4/06/2007 10:02:00 AM

We all about independent and underground acts especially the rugged ones... The group we want to you today is called The Mint. They are a musical collaboration consisted of Kaliban and DJ Obi. From servin kids on the school bus at the age of nine to surviving the street wars of South Central, Kaliban is a true soul survivor. With an agenda of terror, he’s known in the L.A. hip-hop scene as one of the fiercest battle rappers with clever writtens in the notebook. Many well-known if not famous mcs have been defeated by Kaliban in the blink of an eye.

Reppin' The Mint and Filthy Rich Crew, Kaliban stays hungry and humble at the same time while pushing his lyrics to the next level. His forceful voice and energetic hellfire delivery lace DJ Obi’s beats with pinpoint accuracy. Known for his aggressive beats, catchy melodies, and sick scratches, DJ Obi steps up to the plate at every opportunity. As a skilled guitar and bass player, Obi makes it a point to make every song a mixture of knockin drums, dusty samples, and live musicianship. With a strong distaste for mainstream hip-hop and a refusal to conform to any trendy formula, Obi’s style is completely his own. With an abundance of mix tapes, albums, eps, radio appearances, and live shows under his belt, this L.A. native has become a fixture in the City of Angels.

The Mint represents a meeting of the minds and the realization of a dream. With their self-produced label Think Green Records, The Mint handles every aspect of their music on their own, representing creativity, hostility, a subtle sense of humor, creative control, and an overall dedication to the craft of hi