New York extreme

>> Duck Down Records CEO Buckshot’s
hometown pride holds up

MANIFESTATION OF A BLESSING: Boot Camp Clik

by SCOTT C

On my first trip to Toronto’s TRAXX Records on Yonge Street in 1992, I had a two-part mission. One, get a copy of Wu-Tang Clan’s “Protect Ya Neck,” and two, a copy of Black Moon’s “Who Got the Props.” By the release of their LP Enta da Stage in 1993, Buckshot Shorty, 5ft and DJ Evil Dee had already cemented their Brooklyn-based crew, destined for legendary hip hop status. Buckshot spearheaded the formation of Duck Down Records with partner Dru-Ha in 1994, signing Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C., the foundation of the Boot Camp Clik. Fifteen years later, Buck is still at it, even signing legends KRS-One and Diamond D to Duck Down in recent months. The Mirror phoned Buckshot at his home in NewYork.

Mirror: How did you originally come to join Black Moon in 1992?

Buckshot: I was always a hustler, and I don’t like to use the word “hustler” because people always think of crack, coke, weed, heroin—but I never did none of that. That never was my steelo. I was more of a hustler in the sense that I would sell you anything, like earrings, oils, perishable items or a box of soap if it tripled my profits. It was 5ft, the third member of Black Moon, that threw me a lifeboat when mine was sinking, and he brought me into Black Moon on some love. It wasn’t about money at all, and he wanted me to bring my vibe into his group.

M: It’s interesting that he’s the one that pulled you in, but you’ve taken the driver’s seat in the evolution of Duck Down and BCC in the years that followed. How did you become the man in charge?

B: In the very beginning, I didn’t prefer that position at all. I guess it’s just my natural instinct to step up and voice my opinion. It just worked out that every suggestion that I would make would lead us to a pot of gold. We are a manifestation of a blessing. I can’t put it in a way where people will really understand, but what we do and who we are is so natural, it’s hard to describe sometimes.

M: Black Moon and BCC have always had that quintessential New York flavour at the end of the day. Do you still feel a responsibility to represent New York in 2007?

B: Yes, I do! We live in a city that is the foundation of hip hop, and I’m not mad at everybody else for doing what they do, but New York ain’t no joke! I’m not trying to say that New York is number one, I’m not trying to say that we’re gonna rule it again, I’m just tellin’ you that a nigga from New York is not a joke! Whether it’s a punk or a gully dude, people from New York do not play games. I am New York to the extreme, so I have to represent. Look, I want hip hop to know that we did it before with “Who Got the Props,” at a time when it was impossible for New York to have its own because the West Coast was mashin’! We held NY on a pedestal for a minute without a major label, and we’ll do it again.

Boot Camp Clik (Buckshot, Sean Price,
Heltah Skeltah and Smif-N-Wessun) are
at Saints Showbar tonight, Thursday,
Nov. 22, 9 p.m., $14.50