Sup Juggalos and Juggalettes and bass junkies alike. It’s your fuckin boy BeZerk back with the attack that’ll leave your mother bitch slapped. I got some important personal news for ya real quick. I just wanted to let ya’ll know my computer is fucked until I get a new one in February (I got my scrubbing ass a job now).

With that said, this is probably my last interview for another couple weeks, and I couldn’t be happier to put this dude up. Sozay is a So- Cal rapper that spits nothing but fire. I listened to his album, and had to go to the hospital for third degree burns.

I provided two tracks for ya ninjas, and don’t be fucking stupid, so make sure you download it. It’s off the hook. He’s been bumping and grinding with local ninjas, so maybe that’s why you ain’t heard of him, but working with Slick Rick and Digital Underground, he ain’t small either.

So check this interview, get Who Iz Sozay (available on iTunes), and enjoy. This has been your boy BeZerk. Here is the one and only Sozay…

Interview for: Sozay
From: Los Angeles, CA

Faygoluvers: Why do you rap?

Sozay: I started writing at a very young age, anything from poems to short stories. When I was introduced to hip-hop music in 1988 at the age of 11, I was immediately hooked. So rapping just seemed like the natural thing to do. Of course growing up in Los Angeles, I idolized the hometown heroes, NWA and even at an early age I would write verses attempting to mimic theirs. Thinking back, that shit is really fuckin’ funny because I grew up in the beach side community of Playa del Rey and life there was a lot different than Compton. Trust me, my hype man, Buck Ballzy lives in Compton and the best thing about visiting that fool is making it home in one piece. Anyway, the first time I actually considered rhyming seriously, was in 1995. I was locked up at Camp Scobee in Lancaster, CA (5 months not a big deal), and I spit a verse for my homie Ken42 and this dude from NBT overheard it and actually said it was dope. Because it was someone other than a friend giving me feedback, I believed him. Friends will bullshit you, ‘cause they don’t wanna hurt your feelings. Strangers could give a fuck less. By my late teens I was writing several verses a week and by my early 20’s I had my own studio equipment and was recording. The first album I dropped was back in 2000 and the shit was whack as fuck. But I just continued to do what I loved and by 2002, I was starting to spit heat. My focal point was dope punch lines. I love when I spit some shit and a mutha fucker smiles. That’s when you know you hit ‘em hard. I dropped an EP in 2004 entitled, ‘The Preface’ which was more of a promo I gave away at shows. That same year I started performing live with artists such as Sly Boogy, Guerilla Black, Tha Alkaholiks, Slick Rick and Digital Underground. I was killin’ all the ill spots in L.A. too, like House of Blues, Key Club and The Viper Room. I laid low for a few years ‘cause of family responsibilities and some small legal troubles, but here I am in 2010 back with a vengeance. The new EP, ‘Who Is Sozay’ has a strong grass roots following and nothing reflects that better than my myspace page which is over 2 million plays strong and averaging 10-15,000 plays a day. Sozay is not a person, it’s a mutha fuckin’ movement and the fans are the driving force behind it!!!

Faygoluvers: How did you come up with your stage name?

Sozay: I took the name Sozay from Kevin Spacey’s character in the film ‘The Usual Suspects’. He plays the infamous Kaiser Soze and throughout the entire film you have no idea who this mutha fucker is. They keep talking about his insatiable lust to kill and mame, but they never show the dude. Even when they show a scene with him in it, you never see his face. I just thought that shit was fuckin’ raw and I was like, you know what the whole name is fuckin’ weird, but Soze alone is kinda tight. Then I just fixed the spelling so I didn’t have to put that lame accent over the E. That was in 2003, and the rest is history. That was also the basis for my latest release, ‘Who Is Sozay’. The CD is an 8 panel digi-pak and on every page there is a picture where you can see me, but not my face. So you won’t know who that sick mutha fucker comin’ through your speakers is ‘til he’s in your town or you see the video, whichever comes first.

Faygoluvers: Who are some of your influences?

Sozay: Early on my influences were NWA, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, Kool G. Rap & D.J. Polo and Rodney O. & Joe Cooley. By the 90’s I was into The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, D.J. Quik, Canibus and Dilated Peoples. At the turn of the century I was feelin’ Psycho Realm, Jedi Mind Tricks, Jay-Z, Chino XL and Eminem. Now I’m vibin’ on Crooked- I, Papoose, La Coka Nostra oh and that dude Sozay, you heard of him? That mutha fuckers killin’ ‘em!!!

Faygoluvers: What’s your favorite Faygo flavor?

Sozay: You know what dawg? I’m keepin’ it 100 with you. I didn’t even know what the fuck Faygo was until I found out I had this interview. My boy Slick Vic out in Venice is a straight Juggalo to the heart. I called him up and asked him what the fuck Faygo was and he was like, “Man that’s what the ICP sprays on the crowd at every show homie…WHOO WHOO!!!” So with that in mind, I’d have to say my favorite flavor is the one that I don’t get sprayed with. Nah, I’m bullshittin’, but I will say this about the Juggalos and Juggalettes of the world, they are without a doubt the most loyal fans I have ever seen in my mutha fuckin’ life. I was outside a Twiztid show at Key Club in West Hollywood handin’ out free CD’s ‘cause the Juggalos are definitely fans I want behind the Sozay movement, and these mutha fuckers came out of that shit lookin’ like my worst nightmare, screamin’ “WHOO WHOO” at the top of their lungs like straight beasts dawg. Now that’s devotion to the cause and I’m all about that. Anyone who’s not can suck a fat dick!!!

Faygoluvers: Who have you worked/collaborated with in the past?

Sozay: All of my collaborations have been with artists I know on a personal level. I’ve worked with Corey F.A.M.E. from Inglewood and Buck Ballzy from Compton, both of whom are close friends of mine. I’ve also worked with Ronnie Deniro from Southside Chicago who was my hype man for 2 years when he lived out here. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with an extremely talented artist out of Leimert Park by the name of Dom Kennedy. He was a good friend of my younger cousin and I watched this kid from the time he was 16 just get better and better and he’s actually made quite a name for himself on the underground circuit. I haven’t reached out to any well-known artists to guest appear on any of my tracks but I intend to when I drop my full length LP, ‘Black September’ in Fall of 2011.

Faygoluvers: Who would you like to work with in the future?

Sozay: Like I said before, I’d like to definitely reach out to some well-known artists for my upcoming full length release, ‘Black September’. I have a couple ideas of who I’m going to reach out to. Papoose and Crooked-I are definitely artists I’d like to work with. They’re both unbelievable lyricists and I think they would complement my style immensely. Of course Chino XL and Canibus would be sick as fuck to work with. I have a few other ideas for some ridiculous shit, but I’m keepin’ that under wraps until it comes to fruition. But I promise you that when the public finds out what it is, it’s gonna turn the game on it’s fuckin’ head!!!

Faygoluvers: Who have you shared the stage with or headlined for?

Sozay: Shit, I’ve performed with a lot of artists. I played with Slick Rick, Digital Underground, Tha Alkaholiks, Guerilla Black, Sly Boogy and Black Sheep just to name a few. I’d have to say that out of everyone I’ve performed with, the Digital Underground show at House of Blues (Sunset) was the dopest. That shit was off the fuckin’ chain!!! The place was filled to capacity. The crowd went bananas when I took the stage and showed me so much love it was a fuckin’ hardcore adrenaline rush. I was standing on the security barriers between the stage and the crowd and was just killin’ that shit!!! Not to mention I grew up listenin’ to Shock-G and the rest of Digital Underground. Performing with such an iconic group was fuckin’ sick!!! We were loungin’ backstage and all of ‘em were down to earth. It was a fuckin’ dope night!!! Definitely one for the Sozay scrap book.

Faygoluvers: What makes you unique from other artists?

Sozay: I’d have to say my punchlines. I put a lot of thought into all of ‘em. I want the listener to have to play that shit back 3 maybe even 4 times to fully comprehend what I said. It’s also important for me that I deliver each verse according to the emotion of the beat. If it’s a grimy beat, then my flow should be raw and aggressive to match the composition of the music. Or if it’s a slow melodic beat, then my flow should be low and smooth. It’s very important to rhyme with the same vibe of the music. If you don’t, the song will sound like shit. Period.

Faygoluvers: What do you have planned for the future? Any CDs, mixtapes, merch, or music videos coming out?

Sozay: Well, my newest release, ‘Who Is Sozay’ just dropped on December 7th. That’s available to purchase at CD Baby or you can download it at iTunes, Amazon MP3, Napster and Rhapsody. I’ve filmed one video so far for the second single, “Last Call” which was originally going to be released as the first single. However, after heavy rotation in California, Nevada and Arizona there was an overwhelming request by fans and D.J.’s alike, that the first single off the album should be “High Hopes” instead. So if that’s what the people want, that’s what the people are going to get. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it a million more times if I have to. Sozay is not a person, Sozay is a movement and the driving force behind that movement is the fans. They ask and I respond accordingly. It’s a partnership. 50/50 straight the fuck up!!! I’m currently looking at directors for the “High Hopes” video and should have it completed and released by February 2011. Other than that, I am working on the full length double album, ‘Black September’ which is due out later this year. Trust me when I say, that that album will be a game changer!!!

Faygoluvers: When and where are your next few shows?

• January 15th: Sozay, 91 Krew, Cook Book & Uno Mas and Definite @ Mr. T’s in Highland Park, CA
• January 30th: Sozay, 91 Krew, Precise Individuals, The Crux, Cook Book & Uno Mas and Definite @Club Good Hurt in West Los Angeles, CA
• February 3rd: Sozay, Yelawolf and Special Guests @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, CA
• February 5th: Sozay, Cory Pak, AOL, Matto, 91 Krew, Cook Book & Uno Mas, Precise Individuals, The Crux and Definite @ Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara, CA
• March 12th: Sozay, 91 Krew, Precise Individuals, The Crux, Cook Book and Uno Mas and Definite @ Blue Café in Long Beach, CA

Faygoluvers: Shout outs?

Sozay: First and foremost let me shout out the Juggalo Nation. The Sozay movement is in full mutha fuckin’ effect and needs soldiers like you in the trenches!!! Big ups to the illest D.J. in the West, my homeboy Damage killin’ it on the 1’s and 2’s. I’d like to say what up to my boys Corey F.A.M.E. and Buck Ballzy. Can’t forget the 91 Krew, Cook Book & Uno Mas and Definite. These dudes are my partners in rhyme and come through every fuckin’ show with energy and good vibes that make each one a success. Shouts go out to my producers Ed Faris and Filip Filipi and of course to my homies 2Shae from WAI, BGN79 from War 42 Productions and Site1 of Site1 Photography. What up to Daniel Garate and Cody Bell. Sendin’ all my love to my children, ma dukes and all my friends and family. Gotta shout out D.J. Desie and Arlo of Altered State Music. Gotta say what up to Hie5, and my sponsors Union Electric Tattoo and Mrs. 5 Clothing. Definitely gotta thank my higher power for the blessings I get on the daily. Last but not least, let me shout out my manager, the hustle with the muscle, Ryan Hagen. I’m grateful to all of you. The movement continues mutha fucker!!!

Websites:
SozayOne.com
Sozay @ Myspace
Sozay @ Facebook
Sozay @ Twitter
Sozay @ Youtube
Sozay @ ReverbNation
Sozay @ iLike.com