DX: Going back to what you just said, the one thing I’m looking for… it doesn’t seem like a lot of people are upset. When that Sean Bell verdict came up, I cried that day, but it didn’t elicit the kind of outrage I thought it would. What will it take for people to finally wake up?
NO: You know…this world is different than their world. Their world meaning the civil rights leaders world. Our enemies are not so obvious that when things like that happen, you automatically believe that we need to get up and do something cause we’re not having it. That doesn’t exist anymore. What we need to have happen to see a change in the conditions of the situations. We need to see that doing the right thing is a successful endeavor. If NY Oil as an artist is successful, that will change a lot. What do we do when somebody blows? Everybody wants to do the same thing. If I’m on top, selling records, getting that bread and keeping it 100… if I can pull that off I truly believe that it will inspire many others. You know how many others are switching they style up to do that pro black shit right now. One of the biggest artists in the game is, what’s his name? Nas. [Laughs] Everybody wanna be black again and thank God! I’m taking credit for that because I was the black man that without fear of repercussion said, "Y’all should all get lynched." Fuck it. I’m not saying there were never brothers doing they thing, it was somebody with a backbone that stood up and said that. That’s what people need to see, somebody to lead by example. Show my brothers what it’s like to be a man again. Show sisters what it’s like to see a real man.

DX: You mentioned Nas before and you were very critical when Nas was going to name his album Nigger. Have you had a chance to hear any of the material he released on his last mixtape [click to listen]?
NO: I haven’t been bothered.

DX: Since you haven’t heard it, is there anything that you can hear from Nas that would’ve changed your mind about him naming his album title Nigger.
NO: No, and I’ll tell you why. If I’m rhyming street shit, there’s an expectation that comes with street shit that I need to be prepared to deal with. If I was rhyming pimp shit, I couldn’t be a married man, there’d be confusion. That conflict that you have with Snoop [Dogg]. He’s married, one of these things is not real. Either the pimping ain’t real or your family life ain’t real. If I’m a hustler… look at [Young] Jeezy’s situation, look at T.I.’s situation, it’s critical. Jeezy getting implicated in that BMF (Black Mafia Family) shit, T.I. having the problems with the weapons charges. You do certain things, it’s an expectation they’re going to come for you. When you start talking that conscious shit, there’s an expectation that you [will] have the capacity and ability to articulate your position in a discussion. I named a song “Y’all Should All Get Lynched.” Do you think for one minute that you’re going to get on the phone with me and I’m not going to be prepared to answer any question you have on that matter?

DX: Right.
NO: It’s just simply this: I ain’t with it and I’m saying something. Let me ask you a question out of curiosity: do you think that son believes what he’s saying?

DX: Nas?
NO: Yeah.

DX: I’m not 100% sure if he’s doing it for attention or not, but Nas seems to have a lot of good thoughts but can’t always articulate his positions very well, and when you take a controversial stand, people are going to want to know more about it.
NO: Next time you go to YouTube, type in “Nas and Green Lantern.” Green Lantern said something to the effect of, “People are saying that Nas put that record out because he’s trying to get attention and trying to sell records,” and [Nas] replied, “I’d say that person is a wise man.”

DX: You’re re-releasing Hood Treason (under the title Hood Treason Vol. 2), what is hood treason to you?
NO: The dudes that sell drugs in our neighborhood. The dudes that prey upon their own people, our people. That’s hood treason. The dudes that will murder you in a heartbeat and run from cops. That’s hood treason. That these dudes are out here.

DX: A lot of people look to you as a source of knowledge and not simply an emcee. Sometimes I think we have to spell things out for people; what do we say to cats that think that selling drugs or crime is the only way out?
NO: Let me say this, just to make myself clear. I’m not just complaining about brothers selling drugs. I’m in the process of putting together some partnerships to do some videos that show brothers how to get work. There is not a shortage of jobs. What it is, is there ain’t nobody to work those jobs cause they aren’t qualified. But once you show these brothers what they’re supposed to do. Continued on page 4 »