by SCOTT C

In 1991, Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs’ debut LP, Life of a Kid in the Ghetto, secured the Boston MC a firm spot in hip hop history, close to a half-million in album sales and a number-one slot on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. In 2006, Ed is still repping Boston and ripping mics with his new group, Special Teamz. The Mirror spoke to Ed from his hometown of Boston, MA.

Mirror: When did you first realize that you could make all of this happen independently?

Ed O.G.: I guess it was around 1996, when we put out this six-song EP on Solid Records, which was our own label at the time. We sold over 13,000 copies of just vinyl, so that’s when I knew it could be done.

M: Do you actively pursue collaborations with up-and-coming producers, or do you have your own way of hooking up the hot beats?

EO: Nah, I don’t look for any producers. Most of the time, I just get CDs and take it from there, but I do like to get beats from my favourites, like Pete Rock, Primo and others.

M: What are some of the things that you still strive to achieve as a hip hop artist?

EO: Really just making good music and touring. I love travelling, so when I put a new record out, I get really amped to go on the road and support it.

M: What’s your guilty pleasure, as far as current rap goes? And how do you feel about all the Southern influence all of a sudden?

EO: Some of it is good, but most of it is wack with a capital W! And I hate the radio, so I don’t listen to it at all.

M: How do you fit into the Boston scene now? And how have things changed since you were coming up?

ED: Shit in the Boston scene is dope right now. You’ve got new artists like 4 Peace, Term, Dre Robinson, Slaine, Special Teamz, Akro, Mr. Lif, Edan, Insight, Jaysaun—and I’m not naming so many more, but that’s just a few that are out here, getting it. And I’m loving it cause the scene has grown so much since I started, and soon one of these artists will do some real big things in hip hop.

M: What’s the most exciting bill you’ve ever performed on, as a hip hop fan?

EO: There’s not one that I can really put my finger on and say, but this August I performed at BB King’s in New York with CL Smooth, Poor Righteous Teachers, Brand Nubian, Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, Beatnuts, Talib Kweli and the Roots, and it was crazy! So for this year, that would have to be the one, but only for this year.

M: What’s the skinny on Special Teamz?

EO: Well we just got our deal together with this label called W.P.E./Universal, so the album will be out in the first quarter of 2007. The group is me, Jaysaun and Slaine, with all of us from totally different parts of the city. Roxbury, Dorchester and South Boston are coming together to make something bigger than each individual. Plus, I’m this black legend, Jaysaun is mixed, half black, half Jewish, and Slaine is an Irish Boy from Southie, so the mix is something that you wouldn’t normally see in a group. On top of that, we are all nice as hell on the mic, so come out to the show and see what it’s really about.

With Sean Price, Cali Agents, Earatik Statik, Northern Lights and DJ Fiend at Foufounes Électriques on
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 9 p.m., $12

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