305DJ’s: What projects are you currently working on?
C RIDE: I’m just recording for DJ’s right now as we speak. A lot of DJ’s ask me for shit everyday so I try to get that out.
305DJ’s: How are DJ’s treating you as far as playing your music being a new, up-and-coming artist?
C RIDE: They cool, I’m just trying to get the stock up so when I come with my single, when it’s time for me to sell myself, they got me. I’m just building relationships right now. They all telling me when you come with your single we got you.
305DJ’s: Has it been easier for you since hooking up with DJ IDEAL and Poppa Keith from 103.5 The Beat and having that as an outlet ?
C RIDE: That’s my family right there, they just took IDEAL’s mixshow off, so he aint on the radio every night, he’s only on the weekends but he got satellite radio. I’m trying to be there for the people who were there for me when I aint have nothing. Poppa Keith and DJ IDEAL were there so they’re family. They got me, whatever I wanna do they gonna play it all day.
305DJ’s: What’s your relationship with DirtBag ?
C RIDE: Yeah, me and Dirt, we’re business men. We trying to do this group through ASYLUM Records, basically it’s another check. It’s a joint venture with both of our companies. It’s me, him and his Gator Boys.
305DJ’s: What’s a typical day like for you, being on the grind 24/7 ?
C RIDE: It’s crazy because I’m home for 2 day’s and then gone for 2 week’s. Dre (from SUPER PRODUCERS COOL & DRE) is currently promoting his single and album, therefore I’m always on the road with him. When I do get back, I try to record as many tracks as possible before I get on the road again.
305DJ’s: What producers are you woking with for your solo project ? And who would you want to work with besides of course COOL & DRE ?
C RIDE: Right now I’m trying to holla at Shawty Red (Produced majority of Young Jeezy’s Thug Motitvation: 101). DJ TOOMP and THE RUNNERS just sent me some beats. My whole CD gonna be gangsta cause I’m f**king with that G-Shit.
305DJ’s: What made you want to rap ? Who were your influences?
C RIDE: I had a home boy name LC who used to rap and he always said let’s do this rap shit. I had got in trouble, went to Atlanta got into more trouble, came back to Miami and my home boy was still rapping, so I started rapping. I’m like damn this boy serious so he’s my influence. But I aint know how much you could get rich until I met COOL & DRE.
305DJ’s: How do you approach making your song’s, what’s your process ?
C RIDE: I let the beat tell me what to do. I’m really into music cause I make beats too, so I listen to the beat, try to find the melody and try to find the hook. The hook tells the verse what to say.
305DJ’s: What would be your ideal situation as far as a major ?
C RIDE: The machine doesn’t matter as long as the check clear.
305DJ’s: What would you say to the critic’s that think Miami only has Trick Daddy & Trina and look past the rising star’s like Rick Ross, Smitty, Brisco, Triple C’s and yourself ?
C RIDE: Only time will tell. I’m sure Houston got hated on and Atlanta got hated on before they blew-up. It’s what you go through that makes you a better city and whatever we go through we need to stick together.
305DJ’s: What should people look for next from C-RIDE ?
C RIDE: I got 2 mixtapes coming out, one with DJ RASCAL and one with Papa Smirf. It’s going to be a “Best of C-RIDE” freestyle edition with 40 songs on other ni**as beats. Then I got my DJ IDEAL mixtape, part 2, coming out. That’s all original beats by me and Dope Boys, my production team and a couple of COOL & DRE tracks.
305DJ’s: What advice would you give an up and coming artist based on your experience?
C RIDE: You got to stay humble, be your number one fan and you have to stay left field. You can’t jump in the pool with all the other rappers. You have to be true to yourself cause people buy into you more than your music.
305DJ’s: Any last words ?
C RIDE: COOL & DRE they out here working crazy. Hard shout-out to DirtBag, The Gator Boys, DJ IDEAL and Poppa Keith.
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