Life, love and loyalty are principles highly regarded amongst men. You prove your worth and trudge through the mud with men, you no longer are looked at as an individual – you are family… you are a brother. The family crest of Chaka Zulu and Ludacris is one that the whole world knows as Disturbing Tha Peace, but a College Park, Georgia duo is looking to strengthen their own individual branch.
Tity Boi and Dolla are collectively known as Playaz Circle [aka The Duffle Bag Boyz]. After pooling resources to put out their independent album United We Stand, United We Fall the group lucked up by linking up with friend – Ludacris – after Tity Boi was shot and Dolla was incarcerated. They bounced back by putting in work and their hard efforts have resulted in the booming single, "Duffle Bag Boy" with Lil Wayne.
Ever present in the streets and motivated by progress, the tandem speaks with HipHopDX as they talk about the revitalized interest in rap, how they can move past being labeled “trap” rappers and how Playaz Circle can supply the demands of the people.
HipHopDX: Rap, right now is kind on an upswing. The 50/Kanye thing got people hype for music. How do artist follow up with that?
PC: Even with them coming out and all, our song was climbing the charts. So, we know that we’re here to stay in the game. Shouts out to 50 Cent and Kanye, but we’re the duffle bag boys. We’re filling up our own lane, man. The new joint that we have coming out is full of nothing, but our album is full of anthems. We want to have everyone listen to what we have to say.
DX: Hustling is definitely an art. So, in this business – what are a few key things to know when trying to hustle to build a name for yourself that can apply to anything that you’re doing – not just rapping?
PC: Basically communication, man. That’s the key. You got to let people know what you want and what you want to do. Another part is that you have to be consistent. You have to stay on the grind. You can’t go at it part time. What people don’t realize is that this is a business. We’re from the streets and it gets interesting because we’re used to moving how we want to move. But… we enjoy doing this [making music]. You can check us out at Myspace.com/PlayazCircle to see how much we love this shit.
DX: Ludacris gave you guys an opportunity to really shine due to y’all’s hard work. But, really… how does it feel to know that everyone wants to be a rapper?
PC: It’s been that way for the longest. We’re family and we’re students of Hip Hop. Everybody knows that we’ve been down with Ludacris and DTP. We had our first deal with Universal, but that was cool. When we finally linked up with Def Jam, it went more smoothly. You have to stay down on your grind and stay focused, especially, if you want to be a rapper. Rap has open up so many doors for so many people. It’s feeding a lot of families. A lot of people want to be the star, but you don’t have to be the star. Right now, the climate is that you don’t even have to be an artist, you can be a producer or executive, too. I wouldn’t tell anyone not to be it [a rapper], but if you really want it – go after it.
DX: With so many trying to do that – how can Playaz Circle supply the people’s demands?
PC: There has been a lack of consistent albums. We wanted to bring that feeling back. Right now, everything seems to be aimed at pop music.
DX: "Duffle Bag Boy" is definitely an anthem. For me the line where Wayne says, “…and I ain’t never ran from a nigga and I damn sure ain’t ‘bout to pick today to start runnin’,” is the lick. What is it in a man’s heart to where he’s not going to allow another man to get over on him?
PC: It’s just a motivational song. It is what it is. It’s not about what it takes, but the song is powerful. It’s an inspirational song to run out and get money.
DX: Y’all come from the streets, but a growing consensus is that that only works for so long. As artists – how do you plan to go past street anthems and hood stories?
PC: We’ve been doing so long that we’ve been messing with other sounds. We know what direction that we want to be in to solidify. We have to start because that’s where we come from .The blueprint is out there and we’ve studied the game, it’s not a hard formula to master.
DX: What’s the next single you guys are dropping?:
PC: "Number One Trap Pick." It was going to be on the mixtape, but we had a lot of creative control with this album. The office [Chaka Zulu and Ludacris] heard it and thought that it was a great follow-up to the first single. It grabs our core audience.
DX: In the bio, Dolla, you say that “…nobody has ever done what we do and nobody can do what we do.” If you’re successful in that regards – how will you continue to stay ahead of your competition?
Dolla: We be ourselves, we’re not trying to be anybody else. You can’t imitate us. God only made one of us. We’re going to keep being ourselves. Whether we’re successful or not, people don’t understand that it’s not about money. We love to create and paint them pictures. We’re going to stay down for our family and do that. We’re going to be successful. I’d like to shout out all of our fans, too.
DX: What would be the song that best describes both of your personalities and why?
PC: "Duffle Bag Boys." It’s because you can believe it with us. A lot of songs detail our past and you can hear where we’re going. A lot of our songs are just pictures that we’re trying to paint.
DX: Rappers have always provided us news from the streets. But there are a few cautionary tales that would help those still in the street rethink their actions. Do you think that’s because the artist doesn’t care and wants to spit their shit? Or do the record labels have a say in what gets put on the album’s final sequence?
Dolla: The record label always has something to say. The great thing about being with DTP is that T.B. and I have great creative control. There is a change happening with radio, now, and I think that they have to play what the streets want. The doors are going to be open for the streets for a long time.
DX: With y’all’s album on the way, a hot single and a co-sign by one of the industry’s giants – what’s next for Playaz Circle? PC:
The album -- Supply & Demand drops on October 30th. We’d say go out and cop two or three copies. [Laughs] Right now, we’re prioritizing, so that means you can go out and get the ringtone – which won’t hurt, a bit. We’re both really excited that this project is coming out. We’ve put our whole hearts into it – from the layout to the verses, it’s been us from the jump.
Tity Boi and Dolla are collectively known as Playaz Circle [aka The Duffle Bag Boyz]. After pooling resources to put out their independent album United We Stand, United We Fall the group lucked up by linking up with friend – Ludacris – after Tity Boi was shot and Dolla was incarcerated. They bounced back by putting in work and their hard efforts have resulted in the booming single, "Duffle Bag Boy" with Lil Wayne.
Ever present in the streets and motivated by progress, the tandem speaks with HipHopDX as they talk about the revitalized interest in rap, how they can move past being labeled “trap” rappers and how Playaz Circle can supply the demands of the people.
HipHopDX: Rap, right now is kind on an upswing. The 50/Kanye thing got people hype for music. How do artist follow up with that?
PC: Even with them coming out and all, our song was climbing the charts. So, we know that we’re here to stay in the game. Shouts out to 50 Cent and Kanye, but we’re the duffle bag boys. We’re filling up our own lane, man. The new joint that we have coming out is full of nothing, but our album is full of anthems. We want to have everyone listen to what we have to say.
DX: Hustling is definitely an art. So, in this business – what are a few key things to know when trying to hustle to build a name for yourself that can apply to anything that you’re doing – not just rapping?
PC: Basically communication, man. That’s the key. You got to let people know what you want and what you want to do. Another part is that you have to be consistent. You have to stay on the grind. You can’t go at it part time. What people don’t realize is that this is a business. We’re from the streets and it gets interesting because we’re used to moving how we want to move. But… we enjoy doing this [making music]. You can check us out at Myspace.com/PlayazCircle to see how much we love this shit.
DX: Ludacris gave you guys an opportunity to really shine due to y’all’s hard work. But, really… how does it feel to know that everyone wants to be a rapper?
PC: It’s been that way for the longest. We’re family and we’re students of Hip Hop. Everybody knows that we’ve been down with Ludacris and DTP. We had our first deal with Universal, but that was cool. When we finally linked up with Def Jam, it went more smoothly. You have to stay down on your grind and stay focused, especially, if you want to be a rapper. Rap has open up so many doors for so many people. It’s feeding a lot of families. A lot of people want to be the star, but you don’t have to be the star. Right now, the climate is that you don’t even have to be an artist, you can be a producer or executive, too. I wouldn’t tell anyone not to be it [a rapper], but if you really want it – go after it.
DX: With so many trying to do that – how can Playaz Circle supply the people’s demands?
PC: There has been a lack of consistent albums. We wanted to bring that feeling back. Right now, everything seems to be aimed at pop music.
DX: "Duffle Bag Boy" is definitely an anthem. For me the line where Wayne says, “…and I ain’t never ran from a nigga and I damn sure ain’t ‘bout to pick today to start runnin’,” is the lick. What is it in a man’s heart to where he’s not going to allow another man to get over on him?
PC: It’s just a motivational song. It is what it is. It’s not about what it takes, but the song is powerful. It’s an inspirational song to run out and get money.
DX: Y’all come from the streets, but a growing consensus is that that only works for so long. As artists – how do you plan to go past street anthems and hood stories?
PC: We’ve been doing so long that we’ve been messing with other sounds. We know what direction that we want to be in to solidify. We have to start because that’s where we come from .The blueprint is out there and we’ve studied the game, it’s not a hard formula to master.
DX: What’s the next single you guys are dropping?:
PC: "Number One Trap Pick." It was going to be on the mixtape, but we had a lot of creative control with this album. The office [Chaka Zulu and Ludacris] heard it and thought that it was a great follow-up to the first single. It grabs our core audience.
DX: In the bio, Dolla, you say that “…nobody has ever done what we do and nobody can do what we do.” If you’re successful in that regards – how will you continue to stay ahead of your competition?
Dolla: We be ourselves, we’re not trying to be anybody else. You can’t imitate us. God only made one of us. We’re going to keep being ourselves. Whether we’re successful or not, people don’t understand that it’s not about money. We love to create and paint them pictures. We’re going to stay down for our family and do that. We’re going to be successful. I’d like to shout out all of our fans, too.
DX: What would be the song that best describes both of your personalities and why?
PC: "Duffle Bag Boys." It’s because you can believe it with us. A lot of songs detail our past and you can hear where we’re going. A lot of our songs are just pictures that we’re trying to paint.
DX: Rappers have always provided us news from the streets. But there are a few cautionary tales that would help those still in the street rethink their actions. Do you think that’s because the artist doesn’t care and wants to spit their shit? Or do the record labels have a say in what gets put on the album’s final sequence?
Dolla: The record label always has something to say. The great thing about being with DTP is that T.B. and I have great creative control. There is a change happening with radio, now, and I think that they have to play what the streets want. The doors are going to be open for the streets for a long time.
DX: With y’all’s album on the way, a hot single and a co-sign by one of the industry’s giants – what’s next for Playaz Circle? PC:
The album -- Supply & Demand drops on October 30th. We’d say go out and cop two or three copies. [Laughs] Right now, we’re prioritizing, so that means you can go out and get the ringtone – which won’t hurt, a bit. We’re both really excited that this project is coming out. We’ve put our whole hearts into it – from the layout to the verses, it’s been us from the jump.
