BLOOD RAW

You know its hard to pick a cover story man. The person on the cover is going to sell the magazine. So they have to be hot, they have to have story to tell. People have to take a look at that person and think I want to read what that cat got to say or else, the cover is a bust, ya dig? So my partners and I said to our collective unit, what about that nigga BLOODRAW man, that dude just beat a FED case, he signed to JEEZYs label, he got a certified buzz in the streets, he gone blow soon, why not him? Guess what? I couldn't think of one reason not to, plus, that's my homie. So I drove what seemed like damn near out of town to the far North side of Atlanta to meet him at the crib in Alpharetta (which is like some shit on MTV), where him and a few other family members from his CTE record label are chillin. We head down to the lower level past the theater room where the pool table and bar is at, and he pops in a CD. It's his Gansta Grillz mixtape, not yet released and the shit is crazy hot. I listen to a few cuts while we throwin down some watermelon they had in the fridge, you know we some real down south niggas man. After that, we head over to the studio, a full blown out Protools room with all the bells and whistles, and we sit down and talk artist to artist, hustla to hustla, friend to friend.

CF: I'm in the building with my homeboy BLOODRAW, it's good to be here which ya man, I know you been through a lot lately, so what it do, how ya feeling homie?

BR: Oh I feel blessed man, I feel really good. When you go through things in life you really wake up and realize what your purpose is. It takes for you to go through some things, sometimes extreme and harsh things like loosing a friend, or some other event that can be painful before you realize it's time to change up ya shit. So I really believe all the things I've been through, especially when I got indicted for conspiracy, that was a wake up call for me. It was like it said to me, look this is where you could have been, but it was like a test, to see if I was ready for what I am about to become. God was testing me to see if I was ready for what he is about to allow me to be. I went through a whole year of the streets talking about them folks supposed to be picking me up, so I knew it was coming. But God had me in a peaceful state of mind that whole time, I wasn't even worried about it and I knew it was coming. I had a whole year of seeing the world with Jeezy before they came at me, we was about to go to London for like 17 dates. So I was in the passport office on January 6, and the three letters came and got a nigga. I had just been on MTV in front of 8 million viewers for New Years, and here they come to snatch a nigga life away. So I really had to believe God would see me through it, because I was knowing that I hadn't been involve with that life in a long time man, I had been on the grind with my music for years man. I was feeling like I made it out the hood through it all. I hadn't even lived in Panama City for a long ass time man, and they was coming at me like I'm trappin daily. I just had to trust in him man.

CF: That's how grimy they can be. So before you elaborate more on that, I want to tell the people how your career as an artist was on the move way before that point. To show them that you been serious about music long before they decided to come at you, which makes the whole ordeal even worse, because your success did not come over night. What people outside of the state of Florida don't know is that you have an extensive history in the underground, you was already hot before CTE entered the scene with the WELCOME TO THE GUNSHINE STATE mixtape, some singles that you had out and you were on the cover of a few other publications. Tell us bout that grind. How did you link up with Jeezy and make it all happen for yourself?

BR: Well before I got wit CTE I had the underground on smash. I dropped like two single at one time. One was a legend song called Represent which was really like a local song because I made it about my hometown Panama City, we call it the Bangin Bay, I just shouted out my homeboys on the song, all the real cats grinding from each side of town, but it caught on cause it was a real song, a song from my heart. And really that's where my music come from, my heart, things that I've seen and been through. So that was hot plus I went to Atlanta and I did a song with Pastor Troy called "My Block Burn", and while Represent was in the streets, we attacked the radio with My Block Burn&. So I started hitting every city in the state with them songs man, a strait up grind. But what I did different was I didn't separate the cities in Florida like people had been doing man. I was from a town nobody knew about. When you speak on New York, it's New York, or California and Texas, they united. But when it was Florida, it was just Miami, or only Jacksonville or Orlando. I felt like I could do big numbers just in the state like that, and I did. I was doing free shows at first, but the more my songs got hot and the name grew, I started getting paid like up to $5,000 a show before I was signed. Then Coach K with CTE heard about me while they was in the state working the Streets Is Watching project Jeezy had. I was at a TJ's Dj's conference and some labels had sent A&R's to check me out from like Assylum, Atlantic, and Warner Brothers. They wanted to see who was BLOODRAW cause he is hot down here in Florida. At the same time, Coach saw me, plus Jazzy Pha saw me, and they pulled m to the side and was like man we got to fuck which you. Jazzy was on some signing shit and Coach was on some shit like Jeezy my artist man, yall need to do something. So he got my number, then I got call from the CEO, Kinky B, and they asked me to come to Atlanta to kick it man, not even on the rap shit, just to kick it with them. I went up there, and really it was history after that, it didn't even take a week and it was done. A lot of other labels were trying to get me, but I wanted to be apart of a family, I aint want to be no nigga to just be put on label, and they not answering my calls and shit when I need them. I aint want to go through all that drama big labels bring. Plus I saw the CTE movement before it happened. I could feel Jeezy doing what he did before it happened. So it was family before it was big, it was family before business, I aint just jump on his bandwagon.

CF: So now you moving, and your name is getting bigger on a national level. The streets got their first taste of you with your new family on Jeezy's Gangsta Grillz mixtape "Cant Ban The Snowman&" with DJ Drama. I think that is when more people outside the homestate started hearing ya name more and realizing that you with CTE. The industry heads knew, but the streets are the last to hear, cause they get that info from the music. I tried to warn these niggas, but now they see for themselves. So I would see you around man, it was always all good, you wouls always show me love dog. Shit was popin for ya and I was glad ya dig. I mean this my homie, and he making it, he out of the streets, he in a position to make a power move, and then this bullshit. How could you have been so far removed from the streets, for years literally, but all of the sudden now, at this point when you doing so much good, how does it come back to that case. I mean, what the fuck?

BR: Well the thing is this, that's why they say be careful who you call your friends your watch you affiliations, ya feel me? Plus another thing is, the federal government can go back 5 years in your history for evidence for a case. So they said they had been investigating me since 2000. So they do they homework before they come for you. And it's like, you can be my homeboy ya dig, and you can be grinding, slanging or whatever, but I don't have to do it. See to them, birds of a feather flock together, so yeah we hung tight, we kicked it, these was supposed to be my niggas, so yeah I'm with them. But that don't mean that I'm doing what they doing. And also, when you doing something positive, it's almost like nobody want to see you succeed unless they love you. So when the authorities already know you from the past, when you was a known drug dealer in the past, and you used to that, but you done made it out the streets, they don't want to see that happen. I can't say I know anybody I grew up with or know from my city in the league, or in the NBA or some shit, my city aint on that level, we don't have that. So it's like, here go a dude from the streets, from the hood that I saw every day buying cars and jewelry, balling and shit back in the day from the game, he done made it legit. Now he gone try and come back and help his homeboys get out the shit. They aint trying to let that happen. So people tried to use my success in rap to say I was the supplier. And it looks good for they case, cause it all fit into a perfect picture for conspiracy if you tell it to the jury right. So they used it to they advantage, it would make they average person say he guilty. The fed is so powerfull, they’ll scare you into believing guilty when you know you aint. So unless you got a strong spirit and heart, then you'll to be in trouble. Can't no one bring you out of that but God man, I'm telling ya. The first thing a nigga gone tell you when you go inside the fed system is "man gone ahead and tell them crackas what they want to know from you man, you can't beat em, them niggas don’t care nothing about you, save yaself". But for me, it was like how could you tell a nigga that shit? They just want to justify they cooperation with the government. God gone have to give me my time, I wasn't raised like that. If I did it, then I'm going to wear it. I couldn't look my son in the face knowing I was a snitch man, I can't live like that.

CF: So what exactly was the charge?

BR: Conspiracy to distribute 5 kilos of cocain.

CF: So were they after you to snitch on someone else, someone bigger, or was it that you was the kingpin? Or maybe was it the fact that you was who you was, a dope boy gone strait, and you probably gone make millions from rap one day? I mean you had 10 muthafuckas on the stand against you man. And we aint forgot about the two that was supposed to talk, but just didn't get the chance.

BR: You know first of all, it's a sad thing but most dudes can't even afford a federal lawyer to fight them folks man. That in itself is a disadvantage, a fucking public defender, shit that game already over, aint no way in hell you gone see them like that. Plus, over half of those lawyers are going to tell you to cooperate. So it's like a catch 22, the fed is a business man, it's not meant to rehabilitate. They gone get money all ways, even when you in there, cause they got everything a mall got in there that you gone get. So if you don't have the right people in your corner, the right type of money, and faith, it's over. The whole system is going to be full of snitches at some point. But to the question, yeah it was all of those things man. It was that I made it, yeah they wanted me to tell on someone else, but I had representation of the rip, so I aint want to talk to them crackas off the rip. I'm a child of God man, can't nothing happen to me unless he let it. So the whole time I was incarcerated I was in a peaceful state of mind, I never had a restless night. I never seen so many niggas getting money, but get popped and want to bring his homeboy down.

CF: So what kind of evidence did that have besides the snitches?

BR: Oh that had more than enough man, that is why I know it was out of my hands. They had hotel and rental car receipts, they had the 5 kilos, they didn't get it from me, but that aint what it takes for conspiracy, that is possession, it's a big difference. But they had all the visual shit they needed to make a jury convict me. I mean plus everybody knew me, 10 cats took the stand on me. But like I said and I'm gone say again, a higher power instilled in the jurors the sight to see past that. He showed them that this a child who came from nothing. Yeah he used to do all of those things they say that I did, but he changed his life. He showed them the person I am today, and that's what counts. He showed them how hard I worked to do something different. There were jurors that was crying in the courtroom my nigga, it was unreal.

CF: So I heard some people was supposed to testify, but didn’t, and some of the ones that did was really some of you closest dogs. I heard people got pointed out of the crowd that was down with you. What about all that?

BR: Oh yeah it went down in there. It was a lot of speculation going on, but it was 10 dudes that took the stand and 2 more on the indictment that didn't have to take the stand, but was in a position to, they was there. I don't really want to go into all of the name calling man cause I don't have to. The people and the streets already know who they are. I mean I just didn't understand how a nigga say they ya dog, say that they love you but then do that shit. And what's worse, how can you plea out to life for your testimony my nigga, and nothing is promised to you.

CF: So the cats that testified against you plead out to life, so they still got a life sentence, but they still testified?

BR: Yeah, they still gone do life, so what was the point. It was two other dudes on my indictment with me and maybe they'll have some luck with them. Even if they cop out, the may still get time cut of their sentence.

So it was all bout having faith and trust in the creator. It was all foul, but I had to believe. And you know I had to believe that way man because even beyond the lawyers and the money, it was him. I say that because my lawyer, Cliff Davis, is one of the best in the country and he don't believe in cooperation with the government period. But before the jury came back with the deliberation, he looked at me and asked me "are you sure you want to roll with this outcome?" as if to say, well they aint came back yet we still have one last chance to plea, I was just like man I put it in God's hand. See that was God showing me that he was just a human, even he had doubts. So that just let me know it wasn't just the lawyers getting me through this. So he rubbed the bible I had sitting in front of me, and the jury came back not guilty. So it was meant to be. My music is going touch a lot of people life, that is my purpose, he made sure it came to pass.

CF: Deep, that's deep homie. I know how you feel man, I been there. So on to the future man, the new Gangsta Grillz is about to drop, what's on it, what's it about?

BF: The name is Indictment Papers and I am just getting some things off my chest with it you know. But it is really like an album, an album appetizer really. By the time the magazine and this interview come out , it is going to be hot in the streets, it's going to be ugly. It was well put together. I got the family on there you know, Jeezy, Slick Pulla and I got Sean J from Field Mobb and Bun B on it. I got production from Justice League, Drama Boy, Midnight Black, Old E, and my producer Twenty. So it is gonna be crazy.

CF: So when is the actual album projected to be released?

BR: Well I'm working on it right now, and I'll have of course Jeezy and Slick on that also, plus I am gonna work with Lyfe Jennings, and I got Trick Daddy and Rick Ross on a classic with Jeezy on the hook called Chevy Boys, I'm working with Cee Lo right now, and alos Jazzy Pha. So the album will be called True Testimony, the street gospel the true story of my life.

CF: So what's good with the label man, BRE, that is what got you here, is it still in effect?

BR: Oh for sho, I'm not just an artist I'm a business man, so I have to make the right decisions. I have an artist, my first artist is named Gator, I got plans for him. So since I am in a position to be released on a major label, I'm going to show and prove that I am a powerful artist and then whatever else I put on the table for BRE is going to be a go. I already have a label deal promised through CTE/ Def Jam for BRE, but I hove to show and prove first.

CF: So before I go, what do you feel about how hip hop is progressing, especially in the home state of Florida, is it getting better for artist coming out of there to you, are you blazing a new trail?

BR:I still feel like the game aint respecting Florida as a whole man. But because the light was shinned on Miami a little bit, cats is getting more hungry and realizing they have to come outside the state more to make it happen. But we still on some selfish shit down there. You have a rise and a downfall, and we still not as good as we can or should be, cause we have to help each other out. It has to be a domino effect, it case just be one nigga shining. We only had Trick shining for years, but you have to welcome new cats with open arms, help him out and give them some game. If you the only one at the top, you can look at that like you on top, but you kicking niggas down to stay up there. So I rep the whole state so it doesn't seem like one city is where it's at: the whole state got niggas grinding. I aint saying I'm going put all the underground niggas on my album, but I can give them game and show them other things to move them along faster.

CF: Well that's how you feel about Florida, but what about the game in general?

BR: Well its like this, my lane is a lane that aint been covered in a long time. I come from my hear and put it all on the line. Most of these rap niggas trying to be too hard or ballin too much. It's like the R&B cats the only ones who pour they heart out on a track these days, and that's how they wining right now. People want to know what you went through to get these blessings, because it aint all good with them right now. So I could talk about the cars clothes and ho's, but what would people learn from that?

CF: That's the bizness man, so holla at ya people before ya leave.

BR: What's up to my CTE family, Kinky B., Jeezy, Slick Pulla, my management C.Wakely, Big Amp, GTP Fam Big Cee Jay, J.Holla, Tweenty Productions, my artist Gator, my homie Luke, Bad Ass, Scrap Loc, Carbon One Five, Clemenza, Big Dank Diesle the Don, the whole state if Florida, The Bangin Bay, you man BLIZM and this movement you got, all my fans and friends who supprort me as an artist and a person.

Interview By: BLIZM