Published: Friday - November 16, 2007
Words by Maya "The Brasilianaire" Medena & Spiridoula "Speed" Zis
Styles P (Photo: Koch Records)
There's been a remarkable transformation of Styles P since we last heard from him. In the early days, Styles was the laid back member of the Lox -- not too flashy or aggressive, but always an incalculable component to make their equation add up correctly. He may even have been overlooked at times just because of his nonchalant persona. But, that's why we like him. Styles P is a true "people's champion." From the gate, Lox fans could rely on the Ghost to deliver the same raw, consistent and authentic street music time and time again. It's almost ironic that he tagged himself as "the Ghost" early on in his career, when he's become anything but transparent and a dynamic force in hip-hop.
Through the highly publicized beef with 50 Cent, earlier label turmoil and most recently, loosing a member of D-Block, you would think that Styles P would be discombobulated in the game. But, he's not. In fact, he's better then ever. Styles P has not only displayed immense mental strength since his last solo project bombed with its release through Interscope, but also made drastic improvements to his health, physique and overall self-confidence. Ballerstatus was able to catch up with Styles on the set of his latest single, "Blow Your Mind," where he reunited with former label mate Swizz Beats to shoot the acid trip-like video.
BallerStatus.com: What is the whole concept behind this video, it looks very magical?
Styles P: Um. Basically, "blowing your mind." Kind of follow the theme of the song, tripped out a little. I'm trying not to make it so predictable 'cause videos are kind of predictable: chicks, cars, whips. So I tried put this "Narnia" thing on it.
BallerStatus.com: Is this another "Get High" record?
Styles P: (Laughs) It's "Blow Your Mind." You just gotta think a little different, go a little left with it. Enjoy yourself and have fun.
BallerStatus.com: Did you choose this as your single?
Styles P: I chose it. I am the label. I chose this one cause it felt good. I worked on this project real hard and it's all natural. Wasn't anthing industry about it, wasn't corporate. Wasn't worry about making corporate songs for the corporate people. So I was just taking my time with it and taking it where I wanted to. When that song came out, it felt good. It was the vibe, it had that "I get high" vibe on it.
BallerStatus.com: Since we last saw you in the winter, you were a bit heavier. What made you drop the weight and get in shape?
Styles P: I'm trying to stay healthy. I'm starting to get older, so I'm trying to get right. I broke my leg this winter, that slowed me down. When I got back up, I had to go double time.
BallerStatus.com: Did you have a trainer?
Styles P: Nah. Calisthenics. Cardio.
BallerStatus.com: Do you still smoke?
Styles P: Hell yeah.
BallerStatus.com: Yeah, but isn't that a problem when you want to allocate a diet in the same time?
Styles P: Nah, you can't look at it as a problem. See I don't do a diet. I just eat how I eat. I don't eat chicken or meat. I haven't ate chicken since I came out from jail a few years ago. I just try to feel good.
BallerStatus.com: What would you say if someone approached you to do a fitness video or book? Would you take them up on their offer?
Styles P: Yeah, I'm working on a movement right now. I'm affiliated with these guys, "The Bartenders," you might see The Street DVD out one day. My man, Giant. Just calisthenics movements, natural movements without weights. Outside in the park, different types of push ups and sh--. You know I travel alone; I don't do security, so that's for me to stay in my fittest condition.
BallerStatus.com: Would you say health wise, that you have a different mind set this time around?
Styles P: I think all around the board I have a different mindset. We go through a lot of adversity, trials and tribulations. Few years ago, it was jail. I was hoping I'd come home and get the right album out and everything would be perfect. But it went wrong with the company and all of that, but a good situation came out of that and I got to go independent and handle my own business. So I took things in a different light. Like I'm on my own. I mean, I'm not on my own, cause I got a good supporting cast, but as far as I gotta tell myself there's nobody to fall back on. If something goes wrong, it's on me. So with that attitude, I gotta take it all away around the boards. Instead of just handing the single out, I started writing the treatment for it and found someone to shoot it. So I'm responsible for all of this. I wanted to take it in my own hands. I got my DVD, "Gangsta Chronicles," coming out soon. You'll see it, it's um... I got Jim Jones, Busta, Clipse, Baron Davis, MTV all kinds of people. It's just interviews.
BallerStatus.com: Are you interviewing?
Styles P: Yeah, I'm gon interview.
BallerStatus.com: Let's talk about your last release and the situation with Interscope. Was their beef with the label?
Styles P: There wasn't no beef. You just gotta know what you're on in this game. I was at a label, I'm hip-hop. Real hip-hop and the streets love me a lot. Far as being on the A-list in the mainstream industry, I'm not, so I'm creative. I don't got no gimmick. You just get what you get with me. I am what I am and that's it.
BallerStatus.com: You still have managed to put out hits, street anthems... many people were definitely surprised to see that Interscope didn't do the right thing with you.
Styles P: It was bad timing. When I came home from being incarcerated I was like ready. I was ready. I had a game plan. I knew everything that I wanted to do. After "Locked Up" was poppin', I was practically done with the album. I had "Black," "Can You Believe It." I had "Favorite Drug," a year and some change before T.I. was like "Put this out, this is it." You know what I'm saying? Then I was like, "'Can You Believe It,' this is it, shoot the video." Then there was "I'm Black," which was too positive probably, so everything was going wrong. And then when it came out, I already had the feeling. Cause emotionally, even as an artist, I like to stand in a fan's shoes, even when I'm working. I try to make a lot of mixtapes, 'cause as a fan, you want a lot from the artist. I know I do. You want to hear sh-- constantly. So, I was like "Man, I can't f---ing get this sh-- right.
One day I knew it ain't gon be right and it was gon brick. I knew it was gon brick. I'm a business man, so I think that's where that came from. I separated myself as an artist and said "You know what? Let me look at this as a business man." I knew it was gonna brick. Then I'm on a label with G-Unit and them, Keyshia Cole... this one, that one. Where the f--- am I gon be next year? I'm gonna have to call and beg. I had my plan worked out right and they knew I did cause I kept coming to the table correct. I don't come as a dumb artist. I come prepared, I know BDS, I know what markets I'm hot and what markets I'm not in. I know the game pretty much. Not to say I know it all, but I know what I really need to know. So I was just like "You know what? Just let me go." I can't rely on the times. I've been in this for a while. I'm not gonna make no certain song. One day it might be "Blow Your Mind," another day it could be a song like "Testify."
BallerStatus.com: Was it hard to let that last album just go and take an L on that project?
Styles P: Yeah. As a fan, a fan of my music. When the album came, you heard more then half the sh-- already. So like my fans felt the same way. It did better then I thought it would. I thought it was an ultimate, total brick, but it was just a normal brick.
BallerStatus.com: Did 50 Cent have anything to do with the success of your career?
Styles P: He might've helped me out when all that sh-- happened. Nobody can stop me, I feel, in the industry with my business. Before 50 Cent, I dealt with Puff, I dealt with all kinds of sh--.
BallerStatus.com: And you just recently got the Lox publishing released from Puff.
Styles P: Yeah two years ago. He didn't ever have to release us in terms of the contract. You sign something, you signed it. A lot of artists don't know that and they'll go to change it, their lawyers will say they can't change it, which he didn't have to change. He really didn't. Our point of view was, "Come on man, we coming in this game from the streets, we didn't know what we were getting into."
BallerStatus.com: Is your relationship with Puff now?
Styles P: Yeah, Puff's a good dude. I f---s with Puff.
BallerStatus.com: Are the Lox on Def Jam now?
Styles P: No, Jadakiss might be on Def Jam. You gotta read the papers. You gotta keep up with us.
BallerStatus.com: Speaking of the papers, how do you feel about the whole J-Hood situation?
Styles P: I mean J-Hood was uncomfortable. I mean, what he's doing now is some knucklehead sh--, but I understand 'cause he was uncomfortable. We gave his music a chance, the songs didn't pick up, so we didn't know what to do. You know what I'm saying? He was uptight for being on the label for so long and told him he's got to keep working. There's a lot of people in that situation -- Papoose, Saigon, this one that one. We gave him the whole rundown of the list. There's a bunch of people doing the same thing. But he's frustrated at the situation, which I understand, so he came to me and told me that he want off and I said "Cool, I understand." I wished him the best. The same day I called Alan from KOCH and told him to let it go, get the paperwork ready. A week later, he's all over the internet.
BallerStatus.com: 50 Cent is on SMACK DVD saying he had a sit down with J-Hood. Do you feel like 50 just did that to come at you indirectly?
Styles P: If we don't f--- with a n----, and you f---in' with him, how is that f---in' with us? Our relationship was what it was before he went and did that.
BallerStatus.com: So this is after you let J-Hood go and wished him the best?
Styles P: I told J-Hood that everything was fine and he could be out. This was before all the internet sh--. So to me, I didn't understand why he went that route when he just came and talked to me and I said "It's all good my n----. I'm sorry, I know how you feel." And for us being in that position, I didn't want him to feel how we felt. So I'm like "You can be out, God bless you and do what you got to do. I wish the best for you." Definitely was a publicity stunt on J-Hood's part.
BallerStatus.com: Clearly it was also a publicity stunt for 50 Cent, not because he had any intent in actually signing J-Hood, but more of a jab to The Lox camp since there was prior tension between your camps...
Styles P: I'm not even in that mood right now. I'm an artist when it comes to spittin'. If you want to spit and get out a problem you got with me, do that.
BallerStatus.com: Would you battle J-Hood?
Styles P: Hell no, are you crazy? I fathered J-Hood. Why would J-Hood wanna battle me for? Nobody in rap wants to battle me. I'm the GHOST! I will battle the whole rap. Nobody wants to get embarrassed like that. I will battle anybody; you know, I'll battle anybody. Will anybody battle me? That's the question. My street MO and my record is the same, anytime there's been a problem. Anytime. You've never heard me back down. I do nothing but go forward. I pop sh-- every mixtape, saying "I'll battle everybody." If you follow my mixtape work and listen to me on the mixtapes I say "f--- everybody" constantly. That's my theme.
BallerStatus.com: With the fourth quarter releases, like Jay-Z and Kanye, what type of impact will your album have on the market?
Styles P: The street man. I got real sh--. I got 90s feel music. I got no industry sh--. This sh-- is not for your kids, this is not for people who don't want to hear certain sh--. I bring straight street hip-hop. Straight real music. Straight 1 through 13. No gimmicks. I didn't call whoever's hot right now to hop on a track with me, I'm not trying to use the hot producer for the moment. I give you straight music. Every time.
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