As artists grow with age in Hip Hop and begin too find the niche that keeps them completely happy and grounded, we as fans begin to hear the consistency within the music from these artists. Mack 10 is no different. After a decade in the industry Mack 10 has been through a world of different obstacles along with various business endeavors, several movies, and a few Hip Hop beefs as well. At the end of the day Mack 10 still has a successful career in music and film and still has his own successful record company to boot. So basically, Mack is still Hoo Bangin’ and I would assume he will be Hoo Bangin’ for life.

I got the chance to talk with the Inglewood, California rider about his relationship with his Westside Connection homies, his new album Hustla’s Handbook and his latest film. Mack seemed very at ease and confident

Mack’s newest release, Hustla’s Handbook, drags us to the rugged streets of Inglewood, California where hood cats push the flyest whips, street pharmacists run the area, scandalous hoodrats and thugged out chicks play the game of getting paper by any means.

“If you want to hear about hustlin’ and the streets, then this is the record to buy. It’s a handbook of stuff that people love to hear from me. A Mack 10 fan is not interested in anything other than what he’s been hearing for a decade from me…” Mack says about the new album. “I did it well on Hustla’s Handbook and I think I did it in a rough type of way because my fans always want me to keep it so gangster. I wanted to regain the form of some of my earlier stuff, I was in a good frame of mind and I wasn’t under any pressure doing the record. I had a lot of fun doing this record, more than any record I’ve ever done.”

Indeed Mack is destined to keep giving his fans that real gangster shit but does he in any way feel obligated to the youth who listen to his gritty stories? Does he offer them a way out? “Well if you want chocolate cake and you go to the store to buy some cake you don’t buy pound cake, that’s why I keep giving the streets what they ask for. I’m gonna always give the streets what they ask for but I’m gonna also give the streets what they need.” Mack laments… “As far as giving back through an organization, I haven’t had the time to set up a foundation but I’m always gonna give back to the hood.” 10 years is a long time not to set up an organization for the hood but I guess Mack knows his roots and feels he’s doing the best he can. Continued on page 2 »