AZNRAPS - Yo IZ, what up how you been?

IZ – All good homie. How u livin?

AZNRAPS - So I know you have a relationship with the Far East Movement. Since you're not a member of the group or a member of their label.. what would you describe your relationship with them like?

IZ – F*ck a label or group, we family. Period. Those are some of the realest cats I've ever met. Not just in the music game but in life in general.

AZNRAPS - How did you guys link up in the first place?

IZ – A couple of years ago (April 2007) to be exact, I dropped my first track on MySpace called “On My Feet.” Well actually it wasn’t me, my homegirl Rose who was really involved in the scene with Kollaboration and such, started the MySpace for me and posted my song without even telling me… Which in hindsight, was a pivotal moment in my life because I never planned on making a career out of rap, it was just an outlet for my emotions while I was doing time... I guess after my release, she felt that it would keep me out of trouble and it did… But anyways, Kev heard the track, got at me on MySpace and we started talking… At that point though, we were just scratching the surface... About a month later I was at a club in LA called Velvet Room with a big homie Scrappy and these two dudes (Prohgress and Jsplif) come in wearing Far*East Movement hats looking hella official, and to be completely real, I was impressed… I had heard about these guys from day one, mostly people hating because FM was making it and they were sitting around getting high talking about how FM was never gonna make it… (Look at you now muthafuckas.) Anyways, it turned out that Scrappy knew FM from way back and gave us a formal introduction… The rest is history… A couple collabos later, (“Windows Down”, “I Party”) here we are, me wit a new sound and single, and FM just about everywhere.

AZNRAPS - So Kev Nish of the Far East Movement produced your first single "Roll With a Gangsta". What's interesting about this song is that it sounds like a slowed-down Euro/Dance song, but with Gangsta rap on it. Tell us more about this and what you were trying to do with that sound.

IZ – The track itself was actually produced by Wonju of DBTonik who produced “I Party” as well… KevNish, is actually what you would call the executive producer. He created the idea and the direction of the song as well as the new sound. I would never have done “I Party” if it wasn’t for Kev pushing me to. Back then, I was doing hardcore hip hop tracks that were more lyrically focused. If you asked me then if I would have pictured myself spittin on a beat like “Roll Wit a Gangsta,” my answer would have been “F*ck no…” However, music changes, including rap, either adapt or shut the f*ck up. If you’ve been in the game for f*ckin ten years and sh*t, and havent made a name for yourself, you're obvously doing something wrong. Grow some balls and try some new sh*t. A lot of people make excuses, I make shit happen. Besides, I sh*t out Hip Hop tracks like Kobayashi after a hot dog eating contest: a lot at a time and extremely funky. I can go back to it anytime…

AZNRAPS - How has the reaction to it been so far?

IZ – Its been great. Honeys love it and DJ’s that have spun the track at clubs have gotten good reactions. Now, I just have to build on that. At first, some were caught off guard because people have a preconceived notion of what gangsta rap or electro sounds like, as well as what content should go on it. But that’s the point. This is some new sh*t that you aint heard before. Sonically and rhythmically though, everything is in its right place, so stop thinking and just led your head nod. Or if you're at a club, watch the booties shake…

AZNRAPS - Are you 100% sure this is the sound that will be heard throughout your album?

IZ – Yup.

AZNRAPS - A lot of Asian rappers have come and gone in the game, what do you think is going to seperate you from the rest?

IZ – Besides having the the most succesful Asian American artists of all time backing me up, I'm head and shoulders above the rest, heighth-wise, and vision-wise. Im not a rapper, Im a G, and gangsters make the world go ‘round. Besides, I can f*ck wit anybody lyrically. But these days, no ones paying attention to the lyrics, they wanna have fun and be hyped up. Well hey, I can do that too.

AZNRAPS - Along with rapping, you also started a show on UStream.tv, the online streaming video web site. Tell us more about your show, "Talkin Ish".

IZ – TALKIN*ISH (which airs on Ustream.tv and can be found on www.framagazine.com/talkinish) originally started as an interview. I was scheduled to do a live/online interview with a company, and I thought that instead of doing it the normal, someone-asks-a-question-I-answer format, we could make it more fun for the viewer… I called my homies, comedian Danny Cho and DebtStock Clothing co-founder Grinch Green to come along and be a part of it… Danny and Grinch, being the nuts they are naturally, really made the interview fun to watch. I pitched the idea of turning it into a recurring program and it was a wrap. TALKIN*ISH was born.

AZNRAPS - For someone who doesn't have time to tune in live to it, what would you say to encourage them to at least tune in to a replay of it?

IZ – There are a lot of reasons to watch it. We have dope guests and performances (Dumbfoundead, Lisa Kim Fleming, Roscoe Umali, DJ ZO, DJ Denkym, DJ Steady P to name a few), dope music, but mostly, the show is just crazy. We play stupid games like who can hold their breath the longest and who can touch Lisa the most times without her slapping us to name a couple. But the games are nothing, it’s the punishments that are funny. Danny Cho had to wax his chest, Grinch had to drink a hot sauce cocktail, I got my wrist slapped 15 times for saying “f*ck” the most times during an interview. (I lost by more than 20“f*cks” by the way). You can watch a trailer for the show at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLzyIsl_Zvg. Its just 3 dudes chillin out and talkin sh*t. Get it?

AZNRAPS - How has the viewership for the program been?

IZ – Thanks to the homies at Ustream broadcasting the show on their front page and dope guests coming on, the viewership has been great. The episode with Roscoe Umali was only our third and we’re already averaging a couple thousand per episode and the number is growing. If anyone has any guest requests or thinks they themselves should be on the show, holla at me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . But I have to warn you, we reserve the right to clown anyone who comes on the show and if your sh*t is lame, we’ll definitely let you know. So feel free to holla, but bring your “A” game.

AZNRAPS - Your music and this online show you're starting up is just starting to get off its feet. If things work out as you wish, where do you see yourself in 3 years from now?

IZ – Doing the same thing. Chillin wit homies and fly honeys while paving a way for our people. All the while making it look good. Feel me?

AZNRAPS - Alright IZ, good talking with ya! Any last words?

IZ – Shout outs to everyone from da hood and my G’s doin time. One Luv.
Oh yeah, big ups to you ,FD, who started this aznraps thang and gave people like me a platform to reach out and be seen. Much luv… Peace.

LINKS

http://twitter.com/IZREAL66
http://www.youtube.com/user/66iz
ll info can be found on www.real66.com
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