Thursday, May 25, 2017

"He Writes Books Nowadays"...talking with Mister J Dee ( Da Lench Mob)

Da Lench Mob live How and why did you start writing? I started writing in 2008 as a challenge to myself and to try to win a writing contest at the Calif. Mens Colony by my partner Ira Hayes from Oakland, CA. Did you (voraciously) read stuff from Chester Himes, Walter Mosley, Iceberg Slim, Donald Goines? I've read every book Walter Mosley has ever published and a few by Chester Himes. However, Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim are not the type of writers who inspire me. I love writers like Sister Souljah, Kwame Teague, E.J. Dickey, Zora Neale Hurston and Stone Ramsey. And of course Walter Mosley. If we have to deal with black crime novels, it leads us to movies like "New Jack City", "Menace II Society", "Dead Presidents", "Sugar Hill" ( 1993, not the zombie related blaxploitation one), "Boyz'N'The Hood", "Colors" to name a few. What's your opinion about those pictures, knowing that Da Lench Mob and other gangsta rap/ G funk acts were rising at the same time, and sometimes involved in some movies? This question is very ambiguous and fragmented. First of all no one is forced to deal with black novels, crime or otherwise. As for the aforementioned films they are classics and they came at a time when the war on crime/drugs was at its apex. Rappers during this period were perfect for these roles because it allowed us to become multi-dimensional and grow as artists. Ice Cube is the perfect example. And if we have to deal with 1990ies movies we must go to the big brother or father of all them, Blaxploitation. If you had to choose the main movies of this era, which ones would you pick? Maybe you were able to watch some of them when you were a kid. Do you remember any story/memory? Wtf do you mean by having to deal with 1990s black movies? Your question implies that our artform is somehow a pimple on the ass of entertainment that doesn't depict our story or our plight and I'm a bit offended. But I digress. Black Exploitation films of the 1970s were the movies that didn't demand African Americans to be maids, butlers, step and fetch it's, or junkies strung out on heroin. My top five of the era are "Trouble Man", "Across 110th Street", "Foxy Brown", "Uptown Saturday Night", "Claudine". When you were young, did you like reading/writing (poetry, novelettes, anything...)? Yes. As a kid I loved poetry. Pablo, Sonia, Nikki and Baldwin. But being in a gang I kept that part of my life hidden. Lol Let's deal with music...in the 80ies, for what I read, California rap scene was ruled by electrofunk ( Arabian Prince, Egyptian Lover, World Klass Wrekkin Crew, Uncle Jam's Army...), were you into it, or did you prefer acts like Toddy Tee and NWA ? I was very much into the early days of L.A. Hip Hop, long before NWA, Toddy Tee and Mixmaster Spade (rip). I attended every event/function Uncle Jam's Army put on. Electrofunk was the foundation and template to Gangsta/ Reality rap on the West Coast What would you advise to people in 2017 when it comes to 80ies funk? What would people listen to in their cars or parties? 80s Funk-Hop was what we were about. Songs like "Rockberry", "Egypt", "J-U-I-C-E", "Electric Kingdom", and "Play At Your Own Risk" blared from stereos of Nissan Sentras, Capris, VW Bugs, and Mazda RX2, 3,4 's. Street racing, Fila suits, and Jheri curls. About Da Lench Mob, were you in touch with bands like Brand Nubian, X Clan, rappers like Paris, Askari X? I know you were close to Kam also... Yes sir of course. Sadat X and Lord Jamar were my brothers. As was Brother J, Paris, Wise, and the brother Kam. How was created the song "Guerillas Aint Gangstas" (featured on the "Menace II Society" soundtrack)? How did the lyrics come? Who picked the samples and put the whole beats together? I came up with the lyrics and title to "Guerillas Ain't Gangstas" while sitting in an hotel in London, England. We kept being asked about Gangsta Rap by so many reporters I ended up exploding. I'd like to believe that Da Lench Mob were "street politicians" and not gangsta rappers. While Ice T, Snoop, King T and Eazy E (rip) were reporting the reality of the hood we all were raised in, me, T-Bone and Shorty were providing political and social commentary to our fans. Exposing the darker side of systemic racism, classism and mass incarceration. The production was done by Ice Cube and QD III Back to "He Luvs Me Not", is it your first book? How would you present it? Do you think it could be turned into a movie? No, this is not my first book. I have another on Amazon titled "Los Angeles Tymez Urban Tales". I have 6 more and 2 in production. I want to present "He Luvz Me Not" as a love story crime thriller. With a lesson in loyalty, family values and morals. I believe it definitely has the potential to be adapted to the big screen which is something I'm planning to pitch to Ice Cube this month. Did people reach you to write screenplays? Yes I've had a couple of directors reach out to me and ask me to write and submit my book "Dirrty" in screenplay format. I can't say too much but I am excited to even be considered for the opportunity. Anything to add? Yes thank you for the platform to speak from and the opportunity to plug my book. I wanna give a sincere shout out to all of France especially the ghettos of Paris. I wanna thank Shane Kinoshita, Tyler and Julie Busik and Die4Productions. Not to mention Chilly Chill, Threi and the entire Lench Mob family. My homie Ben Westhoff for the original Gangstas piece. To my brothers Jazzy and Dada. And as always my beautiful wife Kristi Cooper for inspiring me to write "He Luvz Me Not" in the first place. She's an incredible, sexy, brilliant woman and I'm grateful to have her in my life. Thanx Saul! In Solidarity J Dee Cooper, CEO, Kreole Soul Publishing #IMPEACHDJT #LOYALTY2ROYALTY #KREOLESOUL PG