Exclusive interview with Konu.
Reckle$$: Alright first off what is your name, Job title and distributor?
Konu: “MY NAME IS KONU AND I AM THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF CO. CO. SHACK RECORDS AND MY DISTRIBUTOR IS KOCH RECORDS.”
Reckle$$: What relate experience might be helpful in entering this field?
Konu: “I WOULD SAY DEFIANTLY HAVE YOUR EAR TO THE STREETS IS A PLUS CAUSE PEOPLE WHO REALLY DON’T GET A CATCH ON WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR, SO ASIDE FROM THAT ITS ALL KNOWING PEOPLE AND NETWORKING.”
Reckle$$: What benefits do you get from doing this?
Konu: “BENEFIT WISE I MEAN YOU GET TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO, THAT’S ONE BENEFIT AS FAR AS OTHER BENEFITS ONCE YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF ASCAP OR ANY TYPE OF PUBLISHING COMPANY YOU CAN GO INTO CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AND GET HELP WITH BENEFITS PEOPLE WITH NORMAL JOBS WOULD HAVE. I MEAN YOU GET TO TRAVEL, YOU GET TO DO SHOWS THINGS LIKE THAT, NETWORK, GO HAVE FUN, PARTY, BUT THERE’S A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED. SO YOU WORK HARD, YOU PLAY HARD.”
Reckle$$: What does the future look like for Co. Co. Shack Records?
Konu: “RIGHT NOW IT’S LOOKING BETTER THAN IT WAS YOU KNOW AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO WOOD, THINGS GOT A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT NOW I’M TRYING TO GET BACK ON MY FEET AND GETTING OUT THERE AND NETWORKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT’S LOOKING A LOT BETTER RIGHT NOW I’M WORKING ON A FILM PROJECT FOR A SOUNDTRACK AND MY NEW ALBUM IS ALMOST DONE SO IT’S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD SO FAR.”
Reckle$$: Describe a typical day.
Konu “WE’LL I WAKE UP AND YOU KNOW I DO THE MORNING THING I EAT SOME FRUITS, BERRIES AND SHIT LIKE THAT MAKE SOME BREAKFAST AND AFTER I CHECK MY E-MAILS YOU GOTTA ALWAYS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FANS YOU KNOW CONSTANTLY, ANSWER ALL YOUR FANS QUESTIONS AND I RECORD LATER IN THE STUDIO LACE DOWN SOME TRACKS AND THAT’S PRETTY MUCH A TYPICAL DAY KNOW WHAT I MEAN?”
Reckle$$: What do you like most about your job?
Konu: “WE’LL LIKE I SAID BEFORE YOU GET TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO AND YOU GET TO MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE BY NETWORKING YOU GET TO WORK WITH PEOPLE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK WITH AND ADMIRE YOU KNOW I GOT TO MEET SOME PEOPLE BY NETWORKING THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH AND WE KEEP IN TOUCH AND CAN LATER CAN GET EM ON PROJECTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. NETWORKING IS THE KEY.”
Reckle$$: What do you like least about your job?
Konu: “MAN, ALL THE THINGS I GET FROM PEOPLE WHO LIKE DON’T FEEL MY NEW STYLE KNOW WHAT I MEAN IT GETS FRUSTRATING TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY LIKE WHY DIDN’T YOU KEEP RAPPING LIKE YOU DID ON THAT NORTHERN EXPOZURE AND PEOPLE THAT HEAR MY MUSIC LIKE MY BOYS WHO HEARD IT AND LIKE THEY’LL STILL SUPPORT IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ITS NOT WHAT THEY WANNA HEAR AND THEY SAY THAT I WENT SOFT AND IM A SOFTY AND I AIN’T NO FUCKING SOFTY. I JUST TOOK A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH MY RAPPING STYLE THAT’S IT NOTHING ELSE HAS CHANGED ABOUT ME. SO YEA IT GETS FRUSTRATING.”
Reckle$$: How would you recommend that a person best prepare for this field?
Konu: “YOU GOTTA HAVE PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT, AND GREAT AMBITION. THAT’S WHAT I WOULD SAY WOULD BEST PREPARE YOU FOR THIS FIELD.”
Reckle$$: How did you meet Woodie?
Konu: “ONE OF MY HOMEBOYS THAT THAT I USED TO WORK WITH WAS HALF ISLANDER AND HALF MEXICAN AND HE WAS A NORTEÑO AND HE KNEW I RAPPED AND LIKE I SPIT SOME RAPS TO HIM ABOUT LIKE SOME HONEST STUFF AND IT ACTUALLY HAS HIS ISLAND IN THE RAP HE WAS LIKE ‘OH DAMN!’ YOU KNOW AND HE’S LIKE ‘YOU SHOULD MEET MY HOMEBOY’ AND I WAS LIKE ‘WHO’S YOUR HOMEBOY?’ AND I DIDN’T KNOW HIM AT THE TIME AND HE SAID ‘HIS NAME IS WOODIE’ AND THAT’S WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT WITH “YOC INFLUENCED” WELL WE WENT OVER THERE TO SOMEONE’S HOUSE AND WOODIE, SHADOW, MY BOY AND MYSELF AND WE WERE CHILLIN YOU KNOW AND I BUST A RAP FOR HIM AND HE WAS IMPRESSED SO HE TOLD ME ‘I’M COMING OUT WITH THIS NEW PROJECT CALLED “NORTHERN EXPOZURE” YOU WANT TO JUMP ON A TRACKFOR IT?” AND I SAID YEA SO I BROUGHT LIKE A SKETCH OF A BEAT OVER TO HIM AND HE TURNED THE BEAT OUT, AND HE GAVE IT BACK TO ME AND I WROTE THE SONG AND THE NEXT DAY I RECORDED IT AND THEN HE ADDED HIS VOCALS AND THAT’S WHEN HE ADDED THE SHOTGUN AND ALL THAT STUFF AND THAT’S HOW I CAME OUT AND A TIME OR TWO AFTER THAT AND I GOT TO MEET THE REST OF THE CAMP AND I KICKED IT A HIS PAD A COUPLE OF TIMES DRINKING 40’S AND WHATNOT AND ONE THING ABOUT HIM WAS THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST SOLID AND DOWN TO EARTH DUDES THAT I EVER MET HE’S AS REAL AS IT GETS. HE LACED ME ON WHATS GOING ON IN THE GAME, WHAT I SHOULD KNOW, AND TAUGHT ME A LOT OF THINGS THAT I HAD KNOW ABOUT THE INDUSTRY. I GOT ALL MY MENTORING FROM WOOD. THAT’S BASICALLY HOW I GOT TO MEET WOOD.”
Reckle$$: Do you have any interesting Woodie Stories?
Konu: “NO NOT REALLY, BUT THERE WAS A TIME AFTER I RECORDED FOR THE NORTHERN EXPOZURE COMPILATION THAT I WANTED TO GET A HOLD OF HIM, BUT I HAD LOST HIS NUMBER SO I WASN’T ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM ANYMORE AND THAT’S ALSO WHEN I WENT TO LIVE IN HAWAII WITH MY FAMILY FOR A WHILE THEN WHEN I CAME BAY TO CALI SHORTLY AFTER I WENT TO THIS RAP EVENT SOMEWHERE FORGOT WHERE IT WAS WHERE I SAW THIS ONE CAT WHO LOOKED VERY FAMILIAR, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW WHO HE WAS AND HE WAS SURROUNDED WITH HELLA PEOPLE AND ONE OF THEM WAS A GUY NAMED LOS I DON’T KNOW IF YOU MEMBER HIM LIL’ LOS HE WAS ONE THE NORTHERN EXPOZURE TOO, BUT I WAS LIKE I KNOW YOU AND HE WAS LIKE OH WASSUP HOMIE AND WE CHOPPED IT UP AND I TOLD HIM THAT I’VE BEEN WANTING TO TALK TO WOOD FOR A WHILE AND HE WAS LIKE ‘OH I’LL CALL HIM UP RIGHT NOW TO COME AND TALK TO YOU.’ THEN WE MET UP AND KICKED IT AND TALKED AGAIN AND CHOPPED IT UP AND CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.”
Reckle$$: What Island are you from?
Konu: “I AIN’T FROM NO ISLAND I’M A CALI BOY BORN AND RAISED IN THE EAST BAY I JUST HAVE FAMILY OVER IN HAWAII, BUT I’M FROM CALI.”
Reckle$$: What happened to the old Konu style from Northern Expozure one times?
Konu: “MAN SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE NE1 AND I'M NOT THAT PERSON ANYMORE, BUT THERE IS SOME NEW COLLAB RAP STUFF THAT'S PRETTY SIMILAR THAT IS COMING OUT SOON. I'LL BE SURE TO KEEP YOU POSTED ON THOSE PROJECTS. I STILL PRODUCE FOR OTHER RAPPERS AS WELL. ALSO I HAVE A NEW ALBUM COMING OUT AT THE END OF MAY SO CHECK FOR THAT.”
Reckle$$: Why didn’t you drop anymore songs on any Northern Expozures beside “How We Ride” and “We In The Bay”?
Konu: “NO DISRESPECT TO NONE OF THOSE GUYS, BUT I DON’T KNOW A LOT OF EM. LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP WAS MAINLY BETWEEN ME AND WOODIE. SO I WAS NEVER UNDER LIKE FULLY UNDER EAST CO. CO. I MEAN WOODIE HIMSELF MADE THE EFFORT TO HELP ME PUT MY MUSIC OUT I MEAN I WOULD LIKE TO CONNECT WITH THEM, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OFF THEM. I MEAN THE ONLY PERSON I CAN PRETTY MUCH GET RIGHT NOW IS SHADOW. PLUS I DON’T REALLY FIT ON THE EAST CO. CO. ROSTER RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE I STILL PRODUCE DON’T GET ME WRONG I STILL GOT BEATS, BUT I DON’T THINK IT WILL BE A RIGHT FIT.”
Reckle$$: Why didn’t you drop an album right after you made the first one the “Co. Co. Shack”?
Konu: “I’M JUST GOING THROUGH A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT I MEAN LIKE DAMN LIKE LOVE PROBLEMS, LABEL PROBLEMS, DEALING WITH A KINDS OF CRAZY SHIT I MEAN TOO MUCH E & J TOO MUCH 40S YOU KNOW THAT CAN PLAY A PART AS FAR AS IN HOW YOU MAKE MUSIC AND YOU GOTTA REFOCUS AND PLUS LIKE ITS KINDA DISCOURAGING WHEN THE GAME CHANGES YOU GOTTA BASICALLY DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF NOW AND YOU KNOW JUST GETTING YOUR MATERIAL TOGETHER SO I MEAN ITS COMING SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FANS ARE GONNA THINK, BUT ITS DEFINITELY IS SOME NEW STUFF.”
Reckle$$: Do you got any unused Woodie verses?
Konu: “I WISH I DID HAHA I WISH I DID. AND NOT THAT I YOU KNOW GONNA SELL THEM LIKE THOSE FUCKIN BUSTERS OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OFF HIS NAME THAT WEREN’T CLOSE TO HIM KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE EVERYONE THAT KNEW HIM, HAS A RIGHT TO PUT OUT YOU KNOW THOSE VERSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THERES THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT JUST LIKE MAKING UP SHIT THAT CAME OUT THE BLUE LIKE IM NOT TALKING ABOUT VERSES I’M TALKING BOUT LIKE I SAW CRAZY STUFF LIKE SOMEONE PUTTING UP SOME CRAZY WOODIE THING AND I’M LIKE HELL NAW! FUCK ALL THAT.”
Reckle$$: Wassup with Teddy G?
Konu: “HAHAHA SWEAR YOU KNOW TEDDY G? HAHA TEDDY G’S MY BOY I STILL WORK WITH HIM. TEDDY G IS A MUSICAL GENIOUS HE JUST DISAPPEARS EVERY ONE IN A WHILE HAHAHA .”
Reckle$$: What albums have you been on?
Konu: “LET ME SEE I WAS ON “CO. CO. COUNTY CLASSICS,” I WAS ON SOME OTHER COMPILATION I DON’T REMEMBER THERES A FEW I JUST FORGET IT WAS SO LONG AGO. OF COARSE MY ALBUM. I HAD AN ALBUM BEFORE THAT THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVEN’T HEARD, BUT I’M PROBABLY GONNA DROP THAT ALBUM ONLINE FOR FREE. ITS CALLED “OLDIES AND B-SIDES” KIND OF A MIXTURE BETWEEN LIKE STUFF LIKE B-SIDES AND SHIT FROM LIKE THE FIRST ALBUM, BUT EVERYTHING WASN’T ON THERE. NORTHERN EXPOZURE 1 AND 7. And bones has an album or two I was on, but I don’t remember the name of em. Yea that’s about it I guess.”
Reckle$$: Do you have fans all over the states/ countries feeling your music or just northern folks?
Konu: “OK HERES THE THING LIKE ONE THING I GOTTA SAY BEFORE I GET INTO MYSELF, JUST THE SHIT WOODIE WAS DOING, JUST OFF OF THAT ALONE FROM NORTHERN EXPOZURE THERE WAS FANS FROM GERMANY, JAPAN, POLAND, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS OR NOT, BUT THERE’S A WEBSITE FROM POLAND STRICTLY DEDICATED TO BAY AREA RAP, THEY ARE JUST LIKE IT WAS FUCKEN CRAZY I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT LIKE I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE WEBSITE, BUT HE TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND I WENT ON IT AND ITS LIKE OH SHIT THEY GOT THEY GOT THIS OLD SCHOOL LIKE ANTIOCH, PITTSBURG, FRISCO LIKE IT WAS CRAZY AND THIS IS IN POLAND AND LIKE THEY WATCH US WITH LIKE A MICROSCOPE. THEY CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BAY AREA RAP MUSIC TO COME OUT. AND THEN LIKE YOU KNOW WELL MY CD WHEN THEY GAVE MY REVIEW HAHA I DIDN’T GET THAT MANY STARS BECAUSE HAHA SHIT HAHA IT WASN’T WHAT THEY WERE EXPECTING, BUT HAHA THEY HEARD ME SING A LOVE SONG AND THEY LIKE WHAT THE HELLS THIS CRAP! HAHA NAW BUT AS FAR AS MY FANS NOW LIKE I GOT FANS IN HAWAII, TAHITI, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA A LOT OF PLACES I JUST RIGHT NOW UNFORTUNATELY I CAN’T TOUR CAUSE YEA YOU NEED MONEY TO TOUR, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT’S LIKE THE BEST WAY TO MAKE YOU CASH AS FAR AS THIS INDUSTRY I WOULD SAY. ASIDE FROM THE INTERNET YOU NEED TO GET OUT THERE CAUSE THAT’S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN MAKE NEW FANS ASIDE FROM THE INTERNET UNLESS YOUR ON TV OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHAT ELSE YOU GONNA DO? I MEAN PEOPLE DON’T REALLY BUY EVEN OUT THE CHALK NO MORE LIKE I’M SURE YOU KNOW YOUR BECOMING A RECORDING ARTIST OR ARE A RECORDING ARTIST AND THIS IS WHAT YOU WANNA EAT OFF SO YOU HOPE YOUR FANS BUY YOUR STUFF I MEAN IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK I MEANS IT WHAT YOU WANNA DO BUT ITS LIKE YOUR JOB AS WELL.”
Reckle$$: Whats your views on gangbanging?
Konu: “OGS LIKE THEY DIN’T EVEN WANT ME ON THE BLOCK ANYMORE THEY WERE LIKE ‘FOOL YOU GOT TALENT DO YOUR SHIT LIKE THERE’S NO REASON FOR YOU TO BE OUT HERE DOING THIS SHIT ANYMORE HAHA AND THERES ARE LIKE MY OLDER COUSINS YOU NOW AND THEIR NOT NORTES YOU KNOW AND I AIN’T EVEN GONNA GO INTO WHAT SET THEY WERE YOU KNOW WITH THEM SAYING THAT YOU KNOW IF YOU GOTTA GO TELL OUR STORY TELL IT YOU KNOW YOU CAN TELL YOUR STORY, BUT YOU KNOW ITS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS LIKE MY COUSINS ARE ISLANDERS AND THEY LIKE REGGAE MUSIC AND I LOVE AND GREW UP ON REGGAE MUSIC SO ITS JUST MADE ME MORE COMFORTABLE CAUSE ONCE YOU GET OUT THE STREETS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DID IN THE PAST ALL YOU WANT, BUT YOU CAN’T TALK ABOUT NO MORE NEW SHIT. IF YOU DO YOUR MAKING IT UP YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO LIKE I AIN’T FUCKING IN THE STREETS LIKE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I GO BACK TO CERTAIN AREAS WHERE I USED TO HANG OUT, SEE THE OLD NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU KNOW I GREW UP AND THINGS LIKE THAT JUST TO SOAK STUFF UP CAUSE I NEVER WANNA LET THAT GO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ITS LIKE YEA YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN YOU KNOW, BUT YOU KNOW HOW MANY REAL GANGSTERS I’VE SEEN FUCKING CRY OVER A GIRL? AND PEOPLE DON’T LIKE OKAY I GOT HOMIES IN THE PENN RIGHT NOW AND THEY DON’T WANNA HEAR FUCKING GANGSTA MUSIC. THEY WANNA HEAR LIKE LOVE SONGS CAUSE THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH THAT SHIT, THEY LIVE THIS SHIT WHY THE FUCK DO THEY WANNA HEAR SOMEONE TALKING BOUT THEIR LIFE HAHA I MEAN THEY WANNA RELAX THEIR MIND AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU KNOW LIKE I AIN’T TAKING ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY YOU DO WHAT THE HELL YOU WANNA DO I’M JUST TELLING YOU LIKE WHERE I’M COMING FROM. YOU KNOW I’M GETTING CALLS FROM MY COUSIN LOCKED UP AND SHIT LIKE ‘OH YOUR SONG RELAXED ME’ KNOW WHAT I MEAN AND HE KNOWS WHO I AM, HE KNOWS THE SHIT I’VE FUCKING DONE AND HE KNOWS WHERE I’M FROM AND SO ITS NOT LIKE I’M TRYING TO PROVE SHIT TO ANYBODY ANYMORE BACK IN THE DAY I WAS, BUT I JUST PASSED THAT. AND HONESTLY SOME PEOPLE CAN’T GROW OUT OF IT CAUSE SOME PEOPLE CAN’T GET OUT. I MEAN YOU GET OUT START THROWING UP A SET START CLAIMING, AY SHIT THIS GAME GOT RULES KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BUT I NEVER WAS WITH A SPECIFIC SET AND I WASN’T LIKE SWITCHING IT NEITHER I’M JUST SAYING YOU KNOW I HAD MY OWN ROUTE. AND ALSO I GOT FUCKING TIRED OF GETTING GAS PULLED ON ME HAHA DAMN IT’S JUST NOT A GOOD FEELING.”
Reckle$$: You got any new shit coming up?
Konu: “I HAVE MY ALBUM COMING OUT AND IT SHOULD BE OUT BY THE END OF MAY AND I HAVE A PRODUCTION ALBUM I’M WORKING ON AND IT’S FUNNY YOU MENTION TEDDY G, HIM AND I HAVE A HOMEGIRL THAT’S IN LONDON RIGHT NOW HER NAME IS SHARYN MACEREN AND SHE’S A SINGER. WE WERE SUPPOSE TO DO A SIDE PROJECT, BUT WE’LL SEE ABOUT THAT ONE YEA I’M WORKING ON SOME STUFF, BUT MY MAIN PRIORITY IS GETTING MY PERSONAL ALBUM TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVEN’T DECIDED ON A TITLE YET, BUT IT’S GETTING CLOSE TO DEADLINE SO I NEED TO FIGURE ONE OUT.”
Reckle$$: What can we expect from your new album?
Konu: “I’M JUST HOPING PEOPLE CAN ACCEPT IT CAUSE ITS ACTUALLY KIND OF A CROSS BETWEEN WELL ITS NOT AS BRIGHT AS THE LAST ALBUM ITS KINDA IN BETWEEN. IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE AND A LITTLE BIT OF DARKNESS.”
Reckle$$: What features do you got on there?
Konu: “I GOT ONE OF MY BOYS ROTTO ON THERE, LIKE I SAID I WAS TRYING OR I WAS SEEING TO GET SHADOW ON THIS ONE SONG CALLED “CALI SOLDIER” I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S GONNA HAPPEN LIKE I GOTTA CALL HIM AGAIN HAHA IF WE CAN GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF, AND AS FAR AS THAT I GOT MY HOMEGIRL SHARYN ON THERE THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT, I HAVE SOME OF MY BOYS FROM DOWN THERE IN TAHITI, NO ONES GONNA BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM CAUSE THEYRE GONNA BE SPITTIN IN FRENCH, BUT HAHAHA OTHER THAN THAT NAW NOT REALLY TO MANY FEATURES. AND LOU-E-LOU IS ANOTHER ONE I DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF TOO.”
Reckle$$: Are you thinking about making any music videos for any of your songs that you’re coming out with from your new album?
Konu: “THIS NEW ALBUM I’M DEFINITELY WORKING ON GETTING AT LEAST THREE MUSIC VIDEOS AND PLUS I NEED TO SHOOT A VIDEO ONE OF THE SONGS FROM THE LAST ALBUM IS GETTING PICKED UP BY A FILM AND I NEED TO SHOOT A VIDEO FOR THAT ONE. BUT I’M NOT REALLY SURE WHEN THAT’S GONNA HAPPEN, BUT RIGHT NOW I’M FOCUSED ON GETTING THESE THREE MUSIC VIDEOS TAKEN CARE OF AND I’VE BEEN CASTING FOR FEMALES AND STUFF LIKE THAT FOR THE SHOOT SO HOPEFULLY IT GOES WELL.”
Reckle$$: Can you tell us what film is this song gonna be featured on or the name of the song that is gonna be featured in the film?
Konu: “NO I CAN’T REALLY SAY CAUSE IT’S NOT A FOR SURE YOU KNOW I’VE BEEN DOWN TO HOLLYWOOD DEALING WITH AGENTS AND STUFF SO AS SOON AS I’M ABLE TO TELL YOU I’LL DEFIANTLY MIGHT LET YOU KNOW.”
Reckle$$: What was your reaction when you found out that Woodie had passed away and how did you find out about it?
Konu: “WELL FIRST OF ALL I HEARD FROM THE STREETS FIRST AND I DIN’T BELIEVE IT CAUSE I HAD JUST TALKED TO HIM TWO DAYS BEFORE SO I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE JUST BULLSHITTING FORM THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CALLING ME TO LET ME KNOW. AND I TALKED TO SOMEONE THAT I KNEW THAT KNEW THE ANSWER AND HE LET ME KNOW IT WAS TRUE AND I JUST…..I DIDN’T REALLY DROPPED THE PHONE, BUT I WENT SILENT FOR A MINUTE…AND IT’S LIKE FUCK MAN….LIKE…I DON’T KNOW THERE IS NO WORDS TO REALLY SAY LIKE HOW I FELT…..IT’S JUST A FUCKED UP SITUATION……I DON’T KNOW I DON’T HAVE I JUST DON’T KNOW, BUT UH LIKE I SAID WOODIE AND I WEREN’T OUT ON THE STREETS OR NOTHING, BUT I MEAN AS FAR AS LIKE BEING IN THE STUDIO WITH HIM AND YOU KNOW AND JUST HAVING LIKE LONG DEEP TALKS I MEAN HE’S STILL MY BOY SO…IT WAS TOUGH YOU KNOW IT WAS TOUGH I PUT IT TO YOU THAT WAY IT WAS TOUGH……..YEA…..YEA IT WAS A TOUGH SITUATION.”
Reckle$$: Well thank you for taking the time out to talk with me and doing this little interview for me. I know you’re a busy man but good luck everything and I’m defiantly looking forward to hearing from you again and to hear that new album homie. And hopefully you and I can do a track in the future.
Konu: “NO PROBLEM MAN AND LET ME KNOW BRO IF YOU GOT ANYTHING THAT’S NO SUPER GANGSTERED OUT HAHAHA I’LL SING A HOOK FOR YOU IF YOU WANT HAHAHA, BUT YEA NO PROBLEM BRO I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.”
Reckle$$: Fa sho thanks bro you got any last words for the fans or shout outs?
Konu: WHATS GOOD EVERYONE THIS IS KONU, CEO OF CO. CO. SHACK RECORDS, MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT AND PICK UP THE “CO. CO. SHACK” ALBUM ITS IN STORES NOW FEATURING LOU-E-LOU AND THE LEGEND HIMSELF WOODIE. AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MY NEW ALBUM COMING IN MAY. AND A SHOUT OUT TO THE WHOLE EAST CO. CO. CAMP HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK ON SOME FUTURE PROJECTS TOGETHER. AND REST IN PARADISE TO MY BOY WOODIE I MISS YOU BRO. AND TO MY FANS THANX FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU’VE GIVEN ME OVER THE YEARS AND YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. PEACE OUT. -KONU
Reckle$$: Alright first off what is your name, Job title and distributor?
Konu: “MY NAME IS KONU AND I AM THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF CO. CO. SHACK RECORDS AND MY DISTRIBUTOR IS KOCH RECORDS.”
Reckle$$: What relate experience might be helpful in entering this field?
Konu: “I WOULD SAY DEFIANTLY HAVE YOUR EAR TO THE STREETS IS A PLUS CAUSE PEOPLE WHO REALLY DON’T GET A CATCH ON WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR, SO ASIDE FROM THAT ITS ALL KNOWING PEOPLE AND NETWORKING.”
Reckle$$: What benefits do you get from doing this?
Konu: “BENEFIT WISE I MEAN YOU GET TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO, THAT’S ONE BENEFIT AS FAR AS OTHER BENEFITS ONCE YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF ASCAP OR ANY TYPE OF PUBLISHING COMPANY YOU CAN GO INTO CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AND GET HELP WITH BENEFITS PEOPLE WITH NORMAL JOBS WOULD HAVE. I MEAN YOU GET TO TRAVEL, YOU GET TO DO SHOWS THINGS LIKE THAT, NETWORK, GO HAVE FUN, PARTY, BUT THERE’S A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED. SO YOU WORK HARD, YOU PLAY HARD.”
Reckle$$: What does the future look like for Co. Co. Shack Records?
Konu: “RIGHT NOW IT’S LOOKING BETTER THAN IT WAS YOU KNOW AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO WOOD, THINGS GOT A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT NOW I’M TRYING TO GET BACK ON MY FEET AND GETTING OUT THERE AND NETWORKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT’S LOOKING A LOT BETTER RIGHT NOW I’M WORKING ON A FILM PROJECT FOR A SOUNDTRACK AND MY NEW ALBUM IS ALMOST DONE SO IT’S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD SO FAR.”
Reckle$$: Describe a typical day.
Konu “WE’LL I WAKE UP AND YOU KNOW I DO THE MORNING THING I EAT SOME FRUITS, BERRIES AND SHIT LIKE THAT MAKE SOME BREAKFAST AND AFTER I CHECK MY E-MAILS YOU GOTTA ALWAYS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FANS YOU KNOW CONSTANTLY, ANSWER ALL YOUR FANS QUESTIONS AND I RECORD LATER IN THE STUDIO LACE DOWN SOME TRACKS AND THAT’S PRETTY MUCH A TYPICAL DAY KNOW WHAT I MEAN?”
Reckle$$: What do you like most about your job?
Konu: “WE’LL LIKE I SAID BEFORE YOU GET TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO AND YOU GET TO MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE BY NETWORKING YOU GET TO WORK WITH PEOPLE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK WITH AND ADMIRE YOU KNOW I GOT TO MEET SOME PEOPLE BY NETWORKING THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH AND WE KEEP IN TOUCH AND CAN LATER CAN GET EM ON PROJECTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. NETWORKING IS THE KEY.”
Reckle$$: What do you like least about your job?
Konu: “MAN, ALL THE THINGS I GET FROM PEOPLE WHO LIKE DON’T FEEL MY NEW STYLE KNOW WHAT I MEAN IT GETS FRUSTRATING TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY LIKE WHY DIDN’T YOU KEEP RAPPING LIKE YOU DID ON THAT NORTHERN EXPOZURE AND PEOPLE THAT HEAR MY MUSIC LIKE MY BOYS WHO HEARD IT AND LIKE THEY’LL STILL SUPPORT IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ITS NOT WHAT THEY WANNA HEAR AND THEY SAY THAT I WENT SOFT AND IM A SOFTY AND I AIN’T NO FUCKING SOFTY. I JUST TOOK A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH MY RAPPING STYLE THAT’S IT NOTHING ELSE HAS CHANGED ABOUT ME. SO YEA IT GETS FRUSTRATING.”
Reckle$$: How would you recommend that a person best prepare for this field?
Konu: “YOU GOTTA HAVE PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT, AND GREAT AMBITION. THAT’S WHAT I WOULD SAY WOULD BEST PREPARE YOU FOR THIS FIELD.”
Reckle$$: How did you meet Woodie?
Konu: “ONE OF MY HOMEBOYS THAT THAT I USED TO WORK WITH WAS HALF ISLANDER AND HALF MEXICAN AND HE WAS A NORTEÑO AND HE KNEW I RAPPED AND LIKE I SPIT SOME RAPS TO HIM ABOUT LIKE SOME HONEST STUFF AND IT ACTUALLY HAS HIS ISLAND IN THE RAP HE WAS LIKE ‘OH DAMN!’ YOU KNOW AND HE’S LIKE ‘YOU SHOULD MEET MY HOMEBOY’ AND I WAS LIKE ‘WHO’S YOUR HOMEBOY?’ AND I DIDN’T KNOW HIM AT THE TIME AND HE SAID ‘HIS NAME IS WOODIE’ AND THAT’S WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT WITH “YOC INFLUENCED” WELL WE WENT OVER THERE TO SOMEONE’S HOUSE AND WOODIE, SHADOW, MY BOY AND MYSELF AND WE WERE CHILLIN YOU KNOW AND I BUST A RAP FOR HIM AND HE WAS IMPRESSED SO HE TOLD ME ‘I’M COMING OUT WITH THIS NEW PROJECT CALLED “NORTHERN EXPOZURE” YOU WANT TO JUMP ON A TRACKFOR IT?” AND I SAID YEA SO I BROUGHT LIKE A SKETCH OF A BEAT OVER TO HIM AND HE TURNED THE BEAT OUT, AND HE GAVE IT BACK TO ME AND I WROTE THE SONG AND THE NEXT DAY I RECORDED IT AND THEN HE ADDED HIS VOCALS AND THAT’S WHEN HE ADDED THE SHOTGUN AND ALL THAT STUFF AND THAT’S HOW I CAME OUT AND A TIME OR TWO AFTER THAT AND I GOT TO MEET THE REST OF THE CAMP AND I KICKED IT A HIS PAD A COUPLE OF TIMES DRINKING 40’S AND WHATNOT AND ONE THING ABOUT HIM WAS THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST SOLID AND DOWN TO EARTH DUDES THAT I EVER MET HE’S AS REAL AS IT GETS. HE LACED ME ON WHATS GOING ON IN THE GAME, WHAT I SHOULD KNOW, AND TAUGHT ME A LOT OF THINGS THAT I HAD KNOW ABOUT THE INDUSTRY. I GOT ALL MY MENTORING FROM WOOD. THAT’S BASICALLY HOW I GOT TO MEET WOOD.”
Reckle$$: Do you have any interesting Woodie Stories?
Konu: “NO NOT REALLY, BUT THERE WAS A TIME AFTER I RECORDED FOR THE NORTHERN EXPOZURE COMPILATION THAT I WANTED TO GET A HOLD OF HIM, BUT I HAD LOST HIS NUMBER SO I WASN’T ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM ANYMORE AND THAT’S ALSO WHEN I WENT TO LIVE IN HAWAII WITH MY FAMILY FOR A WHILE THEN WHEN I CAME BAY TO CALI SHORTLY AFTER I WENT TO THIS RAP EVENT SOMEWHERE FORGOT WHERE IT WAS WHERE I SAW THIS ONE CAT WHO LOOKED VERY FAMILIAR, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW WHO HE WAS AND HE WAS SURROUNDED WITH HELLA PEOPLE AND ONE OF THEM WAS A GUY NAMED LOS I DON’T KNOW IF YOU MEMBER HIM LIL’ LOS HE WAS ONE THE NORTHERN EXPOZURE TOO, BUT I WAS LIKE I KNOW YOU AND HE WAS LIKE OH WASSUP HOMIE AND WE CHOPPED IT UP AND I TOLD HIM THAT I’VE BEEN WANTING TO TALK TO WOOD FOR A WHILE AND HE WAS LIKE ‘OH I’LL CALL HIM UP RIGHT NOW TO COME AND TALK TO YOU.’ THEN WE MET UP AND KICKED IT AND TALKED AGAIN AND CHOPPED IT UP AND CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.”
Reckle$$: What Island are you from?
Konu: “I AIN’T FROM NO ISLAND I’M A CALI BOY BORN AND RAISED IN THE EAST BAY I JUST HAVE FAMILY OVER IN HAWAII, BUT I’M FROM CALI.”
Reckle$$: What happened to the old Konu style from Northern Expozure one times?
Konu: “MAN SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE NE1 AND I'M NOT THAT PERSON ANYMORE, BUT THERE IS SOME NEW COLLAB RAP STUFF THAT'S PRETTY SIMILAR THAT IS COMING OUT SOON. I'LL BE SURE TO KEEP YOU POSTED ON THOSE PROJECTS. I STILL PRODUCE FOR OTHER RAPPERS AS WELL. ALSO I HAVE A NEW ALBUM COMING OUT AT THE END OF MAY SO CHECK FOR THAT.”
Reckle$$: Why didn’t you drop anymore songs on any Northern Expozures beside “How We Ride” and “We In The Bay”?
Konu: “NO DISRESPECT TO NONE OF THOSE GUYS, BUT I DON’T KNOW A LOT OF EM. LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP WAS MAINLY BETWEEN ME AND WOODIE. SO I WAS NEVER UNDER LIKE FULLY UNDER EAST CO. CO. I MEAN WOODIE HIMSELF MADE THE EFFORT TO HELP ME PUT MY MUSIC OUT I MEAN I WOULD LIKE TO CONNECT WITH THEM, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OFF THEM. I MEAN THE ONLY PERSON I CAN PRETTY MUCH GET RIGHT NOW IS SHADOW. PLUS I DON’T REALLY FIT ON THE EAST CO. CO. ROSTER RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE I STILL PRODUCE DON’T GET ME WRONG I STILL GOT BEATS, BUT I DON’T THINK IT WILL BE A RIGHT FIT.”
Reckle$$: Why didn’t you drop an album right after you made the first one the “Co. Co. Shack”?
Konu: “I’M JUST GOING THROUGH A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT I MEAN LIKE DAMN LIKE LOVE PROBLEMS, LABEL PROBLEMS, DEALING WITH A KINDS OF CRAZY SHIT I MEAN TOO MUCH E & J TOO MUCH 40S YOU KNOW THAT CAN PLAY A PART AS FAR AS IN HOW YOU MAKE MUSIC AND YOU GOTTA REFOCUS AND PLUS LIKE ITS KINDA DISCOURAGING WHEN THE GAME CHANGES YOU GOTTA BASICALLY DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF NOW AND YOU KNOW JUST GETTING YOUR MATERIAL TOGETHER SO I MEAN ITS COMING SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FANS ARE GONNA THINK, BUT ITS DEFINITELY IS SOME NEW STUFF.”
Reckle$$: Do you got any unused Woodie verses?
Konu: “I WISH I DID HAHA I WISH I DID. AND NOT THAT I YOU KNOW GONNA SELL THEM LIKE THOSE FUCKIN BUSTERS OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OFF HIS NAME THAT WEREN’T CLOSE TO HIM KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE EVERYONE THAT KNEW HIM, HAS A RIGHT TO PUT OUT YOU KNOW THOSE VERSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THERES THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT JUST LIKE MAKING UP SHIT THAT CAME OUT THE BLUE LIKE IM NOT TALKING ABOUT VERSES I’M TALKING BOUT LIKE I SAW CRAZY STUFF LIKE SOMEONE PUTTING UP SOME CRAZY WOODIE THING AND I’M LIKE HELL NAW! FUCK ALL THAT.”
Reckle$$: Wassup with Teddy G?
Konu: “HAHAHA SWEAR YOU KNOW TEDDY G? HAHA TEDDY G’S MY BOY I STILL WORK WITH HIM. TEDDY G IS A MUSICAL GENIOUS HE JUST DISAPPEARS EVERY ONE IN A WHILE HAHAHA .”
Reckle$$: What albums have you been on?
Konu: “LET ME SEE I WAS ON “CO. CO. COUNTY CLASSICS,” I WAS ON SOME OTHER COMPILATION I DON’T REMEMBER THERES A FEW I JUST FORGET IT WAS SO LONG AGO. OF COARSE MY ALBUM. I HAD AN ALBUM BEFORE THAT THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVEN’T HEARD, BUT I’M PROBABLY GONNA DROP THAT ALBUM ONLINE FOR FREE. ITS CALLED “OLDIES AND B-SIDES” KIND OF A MIXTURE BETWEEN LIKE STUFF LIKE B-SIDES AND SHIT FROM LIKE THE FIRST ALBUM, BUT EVERYTHING WASN’T ON THERE. NORTHERN EXPOZURE 1 AND 7. And bones has an album or two I was on, but I don’t remember the name of em. Yea that’s about it I guess.”
Reckle$$: Do you have fans all over the states/ countries feeling your music or just northern folks?
Konu: “OK HERES THE THING LIKE ONE THING I GOTTA SAY BEFORE I GET INTO MYSELF, JUST THE SHIT WOODIE WAS DOING, JUST OFF OF THAT ALONE FROM NORTHERN EXPOZURE THERE WAS FANS FROM GERMANY, JAPAN, POLAND, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS OR NOT, BUT THERE’S A WEBSITE FROM POLAND STRICTLY DEDICATED TO BAY AREA RAP, THEY ARE JUST LIKE IT WAS FUCKEN CRAZY I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT LIKE I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE WEBSITE, BUT HE TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND I WENT ON IT AND ITS LIKE OH SHIT THEY GOT THEY GOT THIS OLD SCHOOL LIKE ANTIOCH, PITTSBURG, FRISCO LIKE IT WAS CRAZY AND THIS IS IN POLAND AND LIKE THEY WATCH US WITH LIKE A MICROSCOPE. THEY CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BAY AREA RAP MUSIC TO COME OUT. AND THEN LIKE YOU KNOW WELL MY CD WHEN THEY GAVE MY REVIEW HAHA I DIDN’T GET THAT MANY STARS BECAUSE HAHA SHIT HAHA IT WASN’T WHAT THEY WERE EXPECTING, BUT HAHA THEY HEARD ME SING A LOVE SONG AND THEY LIKE WHAT THE HELLS THIS CRAP! HAHA NAW BUT AS FAR AS MY FANS NOW LIKE I GOT FANS IN HAWAII, TAHITI, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA A LOT OF PLACES I JUST RIGHT NOW UNFORTUNATELY I CAN’T TOUR CAUSE YEA YOU NEED MONEY TO TOUR, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT’S LIKE THE BEST WAY TO MAKE YOU CASH AS FAR AS THIS INDUSTRY I WOULD SAY. ASIDE FROM THE INTERNET YOU NEED TO GET OUT THERE CAUSE THAT’S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN MAKE NEW FANS ASIDE FROM THE INTERNET UNLESS YOUR ON TV OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHAT ELSE YOU GONNA DO? I MEAN PEOPLE DON’T REALLY BUY EVEN OUT THE CHALK NO MORE LIKE I’M SURE YOU KNOW YOUR BECOMING A RECORDING ARTIST OR ARE A RECORDING ARTIST AND THIS IS WHAT YOU WANNA EAT OFF SO YOU HOPE YOUR FANS BUY YOUR STUFF I MEAN IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK I MEANS IT WHAT YOU WANNA DO BUT ITS LIKE YOUR JOB AS WELL.”
Reckle$$: Whats your views on gangbanging?
Konu: “OGS LIKE THEY DIN’T EVEN WANT ME ON THE BLOCK ANYMORE THEY WERE LIKE ‘FOOL YOU GOT TALENT DO YOUR SHIT LIKE THERE’S NO REASON FOR YOU TO BE OUT HERE DOING THIS SHIT ANYMORE HAHA AND THERES ARE LIKE MY OLDER COUSINS YOU NOW AND THEIR NOT NORTES YOU KNOW AND I AIN’T EVEN GONNA GO INTO WHAT SET THEY WERE YOU KNOW WITH THEM SAYING THAT YOU KNOW IF YOU GOTTA GO TELL OUR STORY TELL IT YOU KNOW YOU CAN TELL YOUR STORY, BUT YOU KNOW ITS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS LIKE MY COUSINS ARE ISLANDERS AND THEY LIKE REGGAE MUSIC AND I LOVE AND GREW UP ON REGGAE MUSIC SO ITS JUST MADE ME MORE COMFORTABLE CAUSE ONCE YOU GET OUT THE STREETS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DID IN THE PAST ALL YOU WANT, BUT YOU CAN’T TALK ABOUT NO MORE NEW SHIT. IF YOU DO YOUR MAKING IT UP YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO LIKE I AIN’T FUCKING IN THE STREETS LIKE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I GO BACK TO CERTAIN AREAS WHERE I USED TO HANG OUT, SEE THE OLD NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU KNOW I GREW UP AND THINGS LIKE THAT JUST TO SOAK STUFF UP CAUSE I NEVER WANNA LET THAT GO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ITS LIKE YEA YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN YOU KNOW, BUT YOU KNOW HOW MANY REAL GANGSTERS I’VE SEEN FUCKING CRY OVER A GIRL? AND PEOPLE DON’T LIKE OKAY I GOT HOMIES IN THE PENN RIGHT NOW AND THEY DON’T WANNA HEAR FUCKING GANGSTA MUSIC. THEY WANNA HEAR LIKE LOVE SONGS CAUSE THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH THAT SHIT, THEY LIVE THIS SHIT WHY THE FUCK DO THEY WANNA HEAR SOMEONE TALKING BOUT THEIR LIFE HAHA I MEAN THEY WANNA RELAX THEIR MIND AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU KNOW LIKE I AIN’T TAKING ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY YOU DO WHAT THE HELL YOU WANNA DO I’M JUST TELLING YOU LIKE WHERE I’M COMING FROM. YOU KNOW I’M GETTING CALLS FROM MY COUSIN LOCKED UP AND SHIT LIKE ‘OH YOUR SONG RELAXED ME’ KNOW WHAT I MEAN AND HE KNOWS WHO I AM, HE KNOWS THE SHIT I’VE FUCKING DONE AND HE KNOWS WHERE I’M FROM AND SO ITS NOT LIKE I’M TRYING TO PROVE SHIT TO ANYBODY ANYMORE BACK IN THE DAY I WAS, BUT I JUST PASSED THAT. AND HONESTLY SOME PEOPLE CAN’T GROW OUT OF IT CAUSE SOME PEOPLE CAN’T GET OUT. I MEAN YOU GET OUT START THROWING UP A SET START CLAIMING, AY SHIT THIS GAME GOT RULES KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BUT I NEVER WAS WITH A SPECIFIC SET AND I WASN’T LIKE SWITCHING IT NEITHER I’M JUST SAYING YOU KNOW I HAD MY OWN ROUTE. AND ALSO I GOT FUCKING TIRED OF GETTING GAS PULLED ON ME HAHA DAMN IT’S JUST NOT A GOOD FEELING.”
Reckle$$: You got any new shit coming up?
Konu: “I HAVE MY ALBUM COMING OUT AND IT SHOULD BE OUT BY THE END OF MAY AND I HAVE A PRODUCTION ALBUM I’M WORKING ON AND IT’S FUNNY YOU MENTION TEDDY G, HIM AND I HAVE A HOMEGIRL THAT’S IN LONDON RIGHT NOW HER NAME IS SHARYN MACEREN AND SHE’S A SINGER. WE WERE SUPPOSE TO DO A SIDE PROJECT, BUT WE’LL SEE ABOUT THAT ONE YEA I’M WORKING ON SOME STUFF, BUT MY MAIN PRIORITY IS GETTING MY PERSONAL ALBUM TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVEN’T DECIDED ON A TITLE YET, BUT IT’S GETTING CLOSE TO DEADLINE SO I NEED TO FIGURE ONE OUT.”
Reckle$$: What can we expect from your new album?
Konu: “I’M JUST HOPING PEOPLE CAN ACCEPT IT CAUSE ITS ACTUALLY KIND OF A CROSS BETWEEN WELL ITS NOT AS BRIGHT AS THE LAST ALBUM ITS KINDA IN BETWEEN. IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE AND A LITTLE BIT OF DARKNESS.”
Reckle$$: What features do you got on there?
Konu: “I GOT ONE OF MY BOYS ROTTO ON THERE, LIKE I SAID I WAS TRYING OR I WAS SEEING TO GET SHADOW ON THIS ONE SONG CALLED “CALI SOLDIER” I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S GONNA HAPPEN LIKE I GOTTA CALL HIM AGAIN HAHA IF WE CAN GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF, AND AS FAR AS THAT I GOT MY HOMEGIRL SHARYN ON THERE THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT, I HAVE SOME OF MY BOYS FROM DOWN THERE IN TAHITI, NO ONES GONNA BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM CAUSE THEYRE GONNA BE SPITTIN IN FRENCH, BUT HAHAHA OTHER THAN THAT NAW NOT REALLY TO MANY FEATURES. AND LOU-E-LOU IS ANOTHER ONE I DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF TOO.”
Reckle$$: Are you thinking about making any music videos for any of your songs that you’re coming out with from your new album?
Konu: “THIS NEW ALBUM I’M DEFINITELY WORKING ON GETTING AT LEAST THREE MUSIC VIDEOS AND PLUS I NEED TO SHOOT A VIDEO ONE OF THE SONGS FROM THE LAST ALBUM IS GETTING PICKED UP BY A FILM AND I NEED TO SHOOT A VIDEO FOR THAT ONE. BUT I’M NOT REALLY SURE WHEN THAT’S GONNA HAPPEN, BUT RIGHT NOW I’M FOCUSED ON GETTING THESE THREE MUSIC VIDEOS TAKEN CARE OF AND I’VE BEEN CASTING FOR FEMALES AND STUFF LIKE THAT FOR THE SHOOT SO HOPEFULLY IT GOES WELL.”
Reckle$$: Can you tell us what film is this song gonna be featured on or the name of the song that is gonna be featured in the film?
Konu: “NO I CAN’T REALLY SAY CAUSE IT’S NOT A FOR SURE YOU KNOW I’VE BEEN DOWN TO HOLLYWOOD DEALING WITH AGENTS AND STUFF SO AS SOON AS I’M ABLE TO TELL YOU I’LL DEFIANTLY MIGHT LET YOU KNOW.”
Reckle$$: What was your reaction when you found out that Woodie had passed away and how did you find out about it?
Konu: “WELL FIRST OF ALL I HEARD FROM THE STREETS FIRST AND I DIN’T BELIEVE IT CAUSE I HAD JUST TALKED TO HIM TWO DAYS BEFORE SO I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE JUST BULLSHITTING FORM THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CALLING ME TO LET ME KNOW. AND I TALKED TO SOMEONE THAT I KNEW THAT KNEW THE ANSWER AND HE LET ME KNOW IT WAS TRUE AND I JUST…..I DIDN’T REALLY DROPPED THE PHONE, BUT I WENT SILENT FOR A MINUTE…AND IT’S LIKE FUCK MAN….LIKE…I DON’T KNOW THERE IS NO WORDS TO REALLY SAY LIKE HOW I FELT…..IT’S JUST A FUCKED UP SITUATION……I DON’T KNOW I DON’T HAVE I JUST DON’T KNOW, BUT UH LIKE I SAID WOODIE AND I WEREN’T OUT ON THE STREETS OR NOTHING, BUT I MEAN AS FAR AS LIKE BEING IN THE STUDIO WITH HIM AND YOU KNOW AND JUST HAVING LIKE LONG DEEP TALKS I MEAN HE’S STILL MY BOY SO…IT WAS TOUGH YOU KNOW IT WAS TOUGH I PUT IT TO YOU THAT WAY IT WAS TOUGH……..YEA…..YEA IT WAS A TOUGH SITUATION.”
Reckle$$: Well thank you for taking the time out to talk with me and doing this little interview for me. I know you’re a busy man but good luck everything and I’m defiantly looking forward to hearing from you again and to hear that new album homie. And hopefully you and I can do a track in the future.
Konu: “NO PROBLEM MAN AND LET ME KNOW BRO IF YOU GOT ANYTHING THAT’S NO SUPER GANGSTERED OUT HAHAHA I’LL SING A HOOK FOR YOU IF YOU WANT HAHAHA, BUT YEA NO PROBLEM BRO I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.”
Reckle$$: Fa sho thanks bro you got any last words for the fans or shout outs?
Konu: WHATS GOOD EVERYONE THIS IS KONU, CEO OF CO. CO. SHACK RECORDS, MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT AND PICK UP THE “CO. CO. SHACK” ALBUM ITS IN STORES NOW FEATURING LOU-E-LOU AND THE LEGEND HIMSELF WOODIE. AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MY NEW ALBUM COMING IN MAY. AND A SHOUT OUT TO THE WHOLE EAST CO. CO. CAMP HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK ON SOME FUTURE PROJECTS TOGETHER. AND REST IN PARADISE TO MY BOY WOODIE I MISS YOU BRO. AND TO MY FANS THANX FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU’VE GIVEN ME OVER THE YEARS AND YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. PEACE OUT. -KONU
