by Ladessa Cobb -
ladessa@seaspotmediagroup.com
I must admit my thinking was like most, when I was
reintroduced to Loon, the next star in a long line of
Sean “P.Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment label. Loon
would be to Mase what Shyne was to Biggie. But to my
pleasant dismay my homework on Loon showed differently.
With his solo debut you’ll find out Loon and Puff’s ties
go way back. Their union is simply the second generation
of a friendship that already existed.
Loon brings something to Hip-Hop that we haven’t seen in
a while: character! Yes, he too comes from not so humble
beginnings, but Loon is smooth and has mastered what it
means to move in silence. With most rappers identifying
themselves with the likes of the Gotti(s), the Capone(s)
and some of our other favorite gagsters, once again not
Loon. If you haven’t taken notice Loon also refers to
himself as “Young Marcus”.
LaDessa: In your songs you refer to yourself as
Marcus, is that your government name?
Loon: No. Marcus is Marcus Graham from Eddie
Murphy’s Boomerang.
(As we laughed I understood why he sees himself in the
smooth, well- dressed and charismatic character Murphy
played. And yes Eartha Kitt’s signature “Marcus Darling”
will be heard on the album.)
LaDessa: I read somewhere you feel some pressure
to re-establish the whole Bad Boy legacy. The pressure
you feel is it because you feel the need to bring back
the legendary energy Puff and Mase brought to hip-hip?
Loon: Not at all I am here to do my own thing! I
am all about evolution, though their energy is
legendary, so is the energy of Puff and Biggie. As an
artist you feel pressure anyway but Bad Boy is large is
stature but we are small in staff so the pressure falls
on all of our shoulders.
LaDessa: When does your album drop?
Loon: September 30th.
(With Loon’s manicured nail word play being heard all
over the radio and his ability to transform a wife
beater to a nice fitting tanky, you’d think the album
would be right around the corner. Loon is no new cat to
this game, he knows when the buzz is out you move
strategically. Loon’s album will drop during the
promotion of his film and stage ventures. Loon has a
role in “Death of a Dynasty” a Roc-A-Fella production
and
“Ball” a stage production sponsored by Nike.)
LaDessa: I am a huge E-40 fan and when I heard
him on the remix to your new single I was so happy.
Loon: I have worked with E-40 before I am on the
“Automatic” remix. He is the reason independent labels
and artists are able to get these thirty million dollars
deals.
LaDessa: Indeed he is.
LaDessa: Have you gotten to the point where you
feel like all your hard work is worth it?
Loon: No doubt it has been worth it, my hard work
enabled me to walk away from a notorious lifestyle.
LaDessa: When did you have your first Hip-Hop
experience?
Loon: My Godfather George Jackson, who passed
away in 2000, produced the movie Krush Groove.
LaDessa: What do you think it says about the
growth of Hip-Hop, when companies like Chevy need
Hip-Hop to sell their products?
Loon: Again I mention evolution. Hip-Hop has come
full circle. Though Hip-Hop comes from grime and people
used to steal electricity to have house parties.
Companies like that know we are a driving force they had
no choice but to recognize and know we are needed.
LaDessa: Kelis is not in your new video, is that
because of the problems with you and Nas?
Loon: I did not have the privilege to have Kelis
in the video because of a management situation. As far
as Nas, that all started with K-Slay; I was on the
original version of “Too Much for Me”. Nas took issue
with it and brought it to Slay. When I brought it to Nas’
attention he denied it and that is where it ended for
me. I don’t want any problems; just let me do my “I Need
a Girl” thing.
{Sidebar: Loon makes it perfectly clear that he is a
man! Anything a man says once he should be able to say
twice. Though Nas was on the radio release he sure was
not in the video and K-Slay was quoted calling Nas a
snake because of this.}
Never mind Loon being an east coast emcee, for god sake
he’s a Bad Bay artist and I hail from the west. We had
to touch on Biggie and ‘Pac.
{Sidebar: There is a saying in church that says “When
you hear the truth if you can’t say Amen, then say
ouch.} Though I wanted to be mad at his comment I
couldn’t.
Loon: I was talking with someone about ‘Pac the other
day and I take nothing away from his ability. His music
was fueled with more anger/hate than anything else. When
the public took notice he would switch to a “Dear Momma”
type sound. Biggie on the other hand was a visual tool
for those in the hood who had money. Brothas had money
but did not know how to spend it on the finer things.
Biggie is the one who taught them how to spend their
money.
Ouch! I know plenty of people who use ‘Pac as a vehicle
to get some funk jumped off. Nor did I see any of my
peers wearing Coogie until Biggie. But what made me fans
of both of them was their ability to bring you into the
stories they told like “So Many Tears” or “Somebody’s
Gotta Die.”
My interview with Loon was a very pleasant one, matter
of fact he made me feel so comfortable it was as though
I was having a conversation with a good friend. Look for
Loon’s solo debut on Bad Boy/Universal to be in stores
September 30th or keep your ears tuned to the radio you
can’t miss him.
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