Like Hov said, “Ain’t no love.” Somebody’s always got a problem with you, and every day you’ve got to wake up to more bullshit. Whether it’s the biggest name in your group leaving to pursue a solo career, other emcees shitting on your hometown, or that other guy on your label getting a better push than you, there certainly ain’t no love. Not in today’s unforgiving hip hop world, anyhow – and who knows these things better than Boyz N Da Hood?

After releasing their self-titled debut in 2005, which produced a smash hit in "Dem Boyz", the Boyz N Da Hood received several comparisons to NWA (perhaps helped by a feature from the late Eazy-E), but not much else. The album’s sales, while not poor, were underwhelming. Meanwhile, group member Young Jeezy went on to pursue one of today’s most successful solo careers in hip hop – leaving the fans and media wondering how exactly the other three Atlanta natives would fair.

Things like this amount to a great amount of pressure, and the Boyz N Da Hood are more than willing to rise to the occasion. After picking up a fourth member in Gorilla Zoe (who collaborated with label-mate Young Joc on the single "Coffee Shop"), the Atlanta group is back with their second album Back Up N Da Chevy. Outspoken and vocal, Duke and Gorilla Zoe sat down with HipHopDX – and they’ve got a lot to say. Whether it’s gripes about Bad Boy, their take on Pimp C’s tirade or why Yung Joc got a better push, the Boyz are back in action. And hey, if you’re not feelin’ them, it costs you nothin’.

Pay them no mind.

HHDX: What’s good?
Duke: What’s good is the album about to come out October 2nd, Back Up N Da Chevy, you know what I’m sayin? We got fifteen bangin’ tracks, we got in-house production from Dee Jay Dana, we got Drumma Boy on the album, we got Rick Ross on the album, you know what I’m sayin’ – honorary boy in da hood. We got, uh, Ice Cube on the album, legendary – original boy in da hood. We got somethin’ for the ladies this time, we did somethin’ with T-Pain, so that’s what’s good, man.

HHDX: Some people may not know about your newest member. Care to tell us about Gorilla Zoe?
Duke: Yeah, I’ll tell ‘em. For anyone that don’t know, that’s his name – Gorilla Zoe – he is the newest member. If you don’t know, you must be living under a rock, ‘cuz he got the hardest record in the street right now called "Hood Figga". Straight from the A, he on that [Yung] Joc record "Coffee Shop", so he gettin’ a lot of good looks right now. That’s the newest member. Continued on page 2 »