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How did you guys hook up? Starang: We lived around the same way and went to the same high school. At that time we were both solo and doing different things. Roc (from Heltah Skeltah) was my man but we never hung together. I got my name because I had a reputation for fighting. I use to 'starangle' people and put them to sleep. How and when did you form the Originoo Gunn Clappaz? Louieville Sluggah: At first there were four OGC but there was a bad vibe with the fourth member. He was doing his own thing and he had to make money and things were moving too slow. So he went on to other things. So the three [of us] started doing demos at Tony Moore's crib (the producer of Blah) and we were making jams every week. One day, we decided to make a jam together. Then we came together with Heltah Skeltah and did the Fab 5 thing. We played it for the Duck Down Posse and it was on. Explain yourselves as individuals and what each of you bring to the group. Top Dog: I bring forth the rain and the storm because I have no style. I just rain, sometimes it's a drizzle and other times I can storm. Starang: I'm thunder. When you hear my voice. I'm the Rah in your ass! When you think of a storm, you have lightening and rain and I'm the thunder. If you listen to each OGC member you can determine which one is which easily. Sluggah: My words and my flow is sharp. Zigginí and Zagginí. Like a flash of light, OGC vibe together culturing a storm. With the rap game being so competitive, did you make any adjustment so that you could be different? Dog: We just talk to the Hip Hop heads. We didn't want to take from the realness of our flava just so we could go platinum. I don't think we have to cross over, I just think we have to stay true to ourselves. To what or to whom do you focus your lyrics? Starang: We focus on the way we live and the stuff we've been through. It could be the biggest bullshit and even little argument you had or whatever. Just shit we've been through. Do you consider yourselves friends, colleagues, businessmen or all of the above? Dog: I consider myself a soldier. I listen to my brethren and to the people on the street. I put it all in perspective and come up with an understanding for myself. Then I ask my colleagues to see if they agree or disagree and finally I come to a conclusion. That makes me a soldier. As a businessman, it's constant elevation, you can't know everything. Are there other variables (Socio-Political issues) outside of your daily routine that inspired to write lyrics? All: Society, Politics, and Government Starang: The New World Order Sluggah: If you look around you at all that happening around us, you'll see it's not about partying. Now ain't the time to party. You have to know your business side. We're revolutionaries. We are concerned with things like the government cutting back programs in the community. People are concerned with why they have to pay more taxes and why their paycheck is getting cut. They just go along with the program without wondering why. Starang: I'm inspired by The Black Panthers. We are here for a cause. That's why the whole Boot Camp hooked up. Starang already told me how he got his name, how did you two come up with yours? Sluggah: It ain't no superhero name. The baseball bat represents the tree of life, man, the wood. Dog: Everybody knows that a dog is man's best friend and dog is the lowest form of God, I'm bringing that to a different light. Shorties think I'm called Top Dog for a different reason. I'm definitely not on that level. Dog spelled backwards is God. Let's talk on an Afrocentric level, how do you view women and do you usually refer to black men as niggaz? Starang: Sometimes you can't help but slip and say 'my nigga' But it's a mood thing. When you speaking on a positive level it's 'my brother'. When you're on the street, I'll be like 'Yo, what up nigga?'. People use terms nigga and bitch too. People use it in different places. Everybody is not a bitch/nigga. But there are people that act like it. I like to see a lot of black brothers and sisters unite. In the nineties, you see a lot of Black brothers and sisters getting paid. Is there something either now or in the near future that the group will establish in the music? Starang: I wish we could do something to make an impact on people through our music but that is a duty for the most high. We just want to do our part to make it easier for the next man. How did you come up with the term Originoo Gunn Clappaz? Starang: OGC represents all the people that have to do to get what they have to. It could be a mother taking care of their kids or a drug dealer taking care of their kids. Let's talk about your relationship with the Duck Down Clik? Sluggah: Everybody knew each other, the only one we didn't know at first was Drew Ha. After Drew showed himself to be family, it was all good. We're all on this journey together. After the bumps and bruises that Drew went through with Black Moon and Smif and Wessun, heíll make sure we won't go down that same path. What motivates you to create songs? Starang: The energy that I get when I'm around my peers helps me to create. Let's talk about the album. Starang: The album is called The Storm. The cuts on the album talk about everything. I would like you to comment on how you feel about the industry right now. Starang: There should be more concerts. Back in the day, there were mad concerts. Sluggah: It seems like the country is trying to shut down Hip Hop. There is limited video and TV coverage and even the radio stations are trying to eliminate Hip Hop. Dog: Heads need to come clean. Walk the walk; talk the talk. We need to have a purpose. What goes into a OGC show? Sluggah: We give them a live show and do the unexpected. Starang: We psyche ourselves up for a show like a basketball game in the dressing room getting amped. In the near future, what will be the focus of the group? Dog: A lot of Boot Camp Clik-related projects. Mad production from OGC. Let's talk about production. Sluggah: Buckshot, Steele from Smif &Wessun. The Beatminerz and E-Swift. Do you represent both east and west coast? Dog: We don't think of it like that. Hip Hop is universal. Rappers limit themselves claiming one area. People love Hip Hop in Japan and London. Hip Hop is worldwide. Sluggah: There are lots of west coast rappers that think the same as we do. I think that the whole issue is like a sitcom and a front done by actors of Hip Hop making conflict. Starang: I like fat beats and rhymes regardless where they're from. Any guest artists on the album? Dog: Sadat X, Original Crooks, and Black from the Wild Cowboys. My man Bad Vibes and The Representatives.
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