In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper/writer, as well as one of Queensbridge’s finest – CAPONE. Naturally, this interview begins with Capone breaking down the elements that turned Queens into such an epicenter for hip hop excellence. Capone goes into how he met Noreaga in ’92 while incarcerated, the two finding kinship through their shared hometown of Queensbridge and love of basketball. He also tells about his meeting the Central Park 5 while locked up, how he became close friends with Big L, as well as the lasting Influence and legacy of Tragedy aka Intelligent Hoodlum and what he meant to the success of C-N-N. Capone speaks on Noreaga’s gift of slang, he reflects on Biggie wanting to recruit him into the Junior M.A.F.I.A. collective, he talks about his struggle with leaving the street life behind him after achieving success, and they discuss things surrounding his and Noreaga’s record ‘LA, LA’, in response to Dogg Pound’s ‘New York, New York’. Later they talk about Capone-N-Noreaga’s falling out with Tommy Boy Records, and how it affected their view of the industry, as well as discuss the Lil’ Kim/Foxy Brown feud, which resulted in a shootout Hot97 Studios when the mistake was made to book the two at the station back to back. Capone also brings in his newest rapping partner Lak to join the interview. They chop it up about their latest self-titled project ‘Wolves’, and it’s theme of educating from a street level perspective. Talib, Jas, Capone, and Lak then go on to discuss and hone in on the importance, especially now, of supporting and uplifting the voices of black women, as well as telling their stories.
Speak On It!