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Tuesday, 14 January 2003
Tacoma's finest, Mr. D.O.G. speaks to us about his labels upcoming albums, his life and hip hop.

How are things?

Things are going fine. Staying busy so I can't complain. Just anxious once again as we near the release of another project.

So are you still dropping the Big Squeeze project? If so, who is all on it?

Yeah, that is the Senator is the album I was talking about. It will be out on February 4th. The single, "On top of the Game" by yours truly should start hitting the airwaves by the 21st of this month. And it is a crowd mover. As far as who is on it, it features Ballin Ass Dame, Cool Nutz, Mac & AK, Mr. D.O.G., Mac Money, Azarel, Shaolin, Homocyd, Playboy Bleek, and a few more.

How far is your album coming along and what guests are appearing on there? 

Man it's deep! On it, I'm taking in all the criticism, addressing it, trying new things, repeating what the people have come to love from me and wrapping it up all in one bundle. I could release it right now but I'm trying to do something that noone has ever done in the NW and I'll elaborate on it as my release date nears. So far it features Yukmouth, Ras Kass, Cool Nutz, Mac Money, Maniac Lok, Shaolin, Playa Shane, and some of my young proteges for the next decade of Bow Wow artists. It also features production from Bosko, Big Squeeze, Torry Ward, Funk Daddy, Big Ice (of Norway), Johnathon C., and Eugenius. I'm also trying to top it off with Devin, Tela, and my partna, A.K. Love from Denver.

Somebody, I think it was Big Squeeze was simulating doggy style with a dancer in your music video. How did that happen? And where did you shoot that music video? What was it like shooting it?

The video was fun shooting. I know I had a ball! We shot it all over. Parts of it were in Tacoma, WA other parts were in Dallas, TX and then other parts were from a boat cruise in Seattle, WA. It was just like our music, coming from the ground up. We had no real directors, and all the luxurious things that come with the major videos. We just put it together on a shoe string budget and word of mouth but it turned out nice.

Since you are pretty famous what was the weirdest thing a fan has done? Like have you received a pair of panties from a female fan in the post?

Naw, never received any panties in the mail but I've signed plenty of breast before. I've actually had a show in Oregon where there was literally a line of females waiting for me to sign their breasts, but the weirdest thing that happened to me would be when I did this show in Olympia. This particular female was so determined to go home with me that she jumped on the back of my Suburban (on the bumper) as I was leaving and was gonna try to ride back to Tacoma with me like that.

Do you have new music videos coming out?

As of right now, we don't. I want to be able to present my next video on a far higher level. Something that can really compete with all these major videos. To do that, it's gonna take alot more cash than I can afford to spend on JUST a video. But if it takes too long to accomplish that, most likely I will put out another on a slightly higher level than "Take It Off." 

What is the worst thing anybody has said to you about your music?

The worst thing anybody has said is that I sound like E-40 and that I'm basically riding the Bay style of music to make a name for myself. This also came from a person that was mad at me so I don't know if they purposely tried to touch some sensitive spot for me, which they didn't. And that's not really that bad. Most people seem to like my music so I don't get very many insults. And to be compared to E-40 to me is a good thing.

What for you has been the best thing that has happened to you with regards to your music?

Currently I would have to say that winning the Mayor's award and being flown to Sydney, Australia to do a show are about a tie in that department. To have someone send for me 19 hours on a plane away to do a show in front of hundreds of folks that have never seen me get down live is something I will never forget but winnning the Mayor's award was equally pleasing because many labels and radio station wanted to ignore or deny all the hard work we've been putting in here at Bow Wow. To see someone of power tell them we are the #1 label in the region was like putting it in stone so you couldn't ignore it anymore. 

You won the mayor's award. How did that happen? Tell us how you first heard about it.

Again, putting in alot of hardwork. Every year KUBE 93 has a NW music award ceremony the day before Summer Jam. It was brought to my attention as well as all the other nominees via email to send in our Artist Profiles to the Mayor's office for review. When it got down to the final three labels, KUBE did a live interview with Bow Wow, Noc On Wood, and Ocean Records to determine who the winner was gonna be. And the next thing I know, I'm at the ceremony receiving the award.

I hear that you are re-releasing Wet. Tell us about that.

Yeah, I sold out of the original stock again and was gonna just re-press them when a few of my folks began to ask me how come I never put out this song and that song. Then, I went to my message board and alot of my loyal fans were asking about songs they heard rumors about but never heard. Plus, being that I don't do work with any of the companies that originally helped make WET (the graphic designers, duplication company, mastering, etc), I figured why not give it a face lift? So I'm adding a new cover, having it remastered, and adding several songs that didn't originally make the album as well as leaving the classic titles. I personally think it's a good idea and that people will want to grab this joint. I'm always getting asked about the original so I know they will want this.

I must say that "Tales Of A G" by your artist Mac Money is probably one of my fave's for 2002. It's an underground classic. In addition I also think that Ghetto Politics is an underground classic. To have people bump that side 2 side with e.g. a C-Bo album what does that feel like? 

It feels damn good! It's a sign that people do like your music and that you aren't just out here trying to live a dream that won't come true. I'm use to it now but none the less, I still appreciate the fact that folks like my music.

Like do you ever get situations when you standing somewhere and then somebody drives past bumping a Bow Wow cd. How does that make you feel?

Yeah, all the time. Again it makes me feel rewarded for the hard work I continue to put in. It feels the best though when people are bumping it in a city that I'm visiting for the first time. That is more truthful than anything. They don't know me as a person, still haven't seen me get down on stage, yet they not only picked up my CD out the local record store but they bumping it faithfully.

How did you celebrate the New Years?

I brought it in with my family. I usually hit 3 or 4 different functions and end it with a hangover but I wanted to do something different this year. Something more meaningful to myself. And family worked out great.





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