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Styles P - Duality
Interview by: Quinton Hatfield
 The streets have the most respect for the LOX. Through-out the years the LOX continued to give hip-hop that raw and uncut hardcore sound that the hood loved. The group has been in the game for over a decade and even to this day LOX are still regarded as one of the industry’s most critically acclaim groups. If you ever take a listen to the classic street album “We Are the Streets” you know exactly what I’m talking about. There were times though when Styles P, Jadakiss and Sheek Louch all went on to drop their solo efforts which still received much love in the streets, making them hungrier. Styles P on his solo grind is something to check for. First he gave you “A Gangster & A Gentleman”, which was classic street music then “Time is Money” which many felt he slipped a little bit. Now for round three he releases “Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman”.
It’s been about a year since “Time is Money” was released on Interscope. Now Styles P comes back out on Koch records and while many continue to downgrade it calling it an “Artists Graveyard” in Styles P opinion it’s the best thing to happen to him. Now getting down with Styles P to find some answers Q The Question gets with the Ghost to see what’s been really good with him. Q and Styles talk about his consistency in the industry staying relevant, working with LOX aside from going solo, and why he’s a super gangster and extraordinary gentleman.
 Nobodysmiling.com : Styles P talk about this new album and what you're going to do for the game right now?
Styles P : The new album “Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman” drops December 4th. It’s real sick, mad sick lyrics, I put a lot of soul into it, a lot of hard work, a lot of effort, and what I’m bringing to the game is real hip-hop. It’s real hip-hop, no bullshit, nothing watered down, no gimmicks, nothing but just the truth.
Nobodysmiling.com : Tell me how did you come up with that title, that’s kind of interesting right there?
Styles P : That’s what I am, if you followed me you know my first solo debut was called “A Gangster And A Gentleman”, my second one was “Time is Money”, being that this is my third one I wanted to be self-descriptive again. I’ve kept it as the first one, but I thought that I’ve advanced a lot more, I grew up a lot more, I’ve been through a lot of things, and I achieved a certain status in the hood so I made it “Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman”.
Nobodysmiling.com : Your first album “Gangster & Gentleman" was hard, the second album “Time is Money” was good, so how did you put your thoughts together for this project?
Styles P : This one I just put my thoughts together just by being real hungry and I felt slighted with what happen with the second one... I just felt I had to come back out quick, if you noticed it’s been a years time. I just got to work real quick and was just real passionate about it. I’m letting the game know that I really care about the work I put out and I’m real passionate about spitting that street shit.
Nobodysmiling.com : Everybody knows you do your thing with the Lox with Jadakiss and Sheek Louch, putting out some of the best music ever. What’s the hardest thing about putting a solo project together aside from a group?
Styles P : In a group it’s less work on your half. In a group you just hand in one verse on the song and that’s it. On a solo you gotta make sure you pick out a good topic and nail it with whatever topic you got for three verses and hit home the whole time.
Nobodysmiling.com : Do you like working with a group more or doing solo?
Styles P : It’s like 50/50, sometimes I like working with the group better. Right now I would like to work with the group better, because we haven’t worked together to do a project in a long time. I would definitely be more excited with the group work right now. I also love working solo, because you get to express yourself. When you're doing a group project you all have a goal that’s in common and you give a little of yourself all towards one common goal, whatever that song is. When it’s a solo song it’s you, it’s your idea, your thoughts, it’s everything that your working on, but it’s 50/50.
Nobodysmiling.com : Will the streets ever get another LOX album, because were waiting for that?
Styles P : Yeah, we are working on that right now. We got a lot of joints done. We tryna knock about 50 more. We got to sit-down and figure out were we want to bring it and exactly who we want to bring it to.
Nobodysmiling.com : Can you speak on the rumors with the LOX signing to Def Jam?
Styles P : The Lox is not signed to Def Jam just Jadakiss is signed to Def Jam. We just making the music and then when we feel.. when we done and we want to go somewhere doing some negotiations getting the best deal for us then we gonna go from there.
Nobodysmiling.com : That’s understandable. Styles P you’re a veteran in the game and in this industry a lot of rappers come and go. What you think it was that kept you in the game so long continuing to feed the streets?
Styles P : Hard work, the streets knowing I’m street and just appreciating that. I never tried to be anything other than I was, I’ve always put in my work, mad free work. Mad free mixtapes, I try to feed my fans and I love my art.
Nobodysmiling.com : Being a veteran in the game can you tell me why have a lot of one-hit wonders...?
Styles P : I think the one-time thing is moving in this day and age with downloads and all that. I think it’s interesting with hip-hop being so big and being able to make so much money off of it. With ring-tones and all that kind of shit. I think that’s the reason you come with that in this day and age. You don’t really have to be that lyrically talented or socially talented or none of that shit nowadays. If you make the right thing at the right time you will be alright.
Nobodysmiling.com : You were on Interscope, so how does it feels to be on a different label such as Koch?
Styles P : It’s fuckin great and it just feels great to me. You know you in control of your own shit and do what you gotta do. Being on a constant grind keeping your head above water staying a-float. It’s a beautiful thing for me, because I just like to be somewhere where I’m special, treated right, and shit like that. Just to be in control of my own situation and my own destiny having my life in my own hands is wonderful to me.
Nobodysmiling.com : Would you say being with Koch right now is one of the best things you did in the industry the whole time?
Styles P : Definitely so, no doubt.
Nobodysmiling.com : Back to the album, do you feel as though this is your best work?
Styles P : Yes, it is my best work.
Nobodysmiling.com : How about the features who'd you get up with?
Styles P : I got my man Ghostface on there, Sheek and Kiss of course, my young boy new to D-Block Raw Buck. I got Beanie Sigel, Ray J, Black Thought, Akon, Swizz. Producers I got Pete Rock, Green Lantern, Dame Grease, my man Vinny Idol, Hi-Tek, Poobs.
Nobodysmiling.com : What was it like being in the studio working with a legend like Pete Rock?
Styles P : I’ve known Pete Rock for a long time and I worked with him before so the love was all gravy and all hip-hop.
Nobodysmiling.com : Talk about the song ya’ll did together?
Styles P : The song we did together was a LOX song that’s on my album and it’s called “Gangster, Gangster”.
Nobodysmiling.com : What was the experience like working with somebody like Ghostface?
Styles P : All the people I mentioned they people I fuck with that I know and speak to. I had admiration for these dudes, I respect their work so I just happened to reach out. I fucks with them and I felt it was the right shit. It was all love all the way around the board, it’s like that with all the people on there. I did it out of love and respect loving they work.
Nobodysmiling.com : Being a dude that’s known in the streets how you feel about a lot of studio gangstas in the game right now?
Styles P : It’s part of the shit, I don’t get mad I think it’s corny sometimes. I ain’t mad at them, do what you got to do, but stop portraying to be something you not. That’s never cool.
Nobodysmiling.com : What you think it is that makes the streets respect somebody like you?
Styles P : I think they know my history, they know my passion, in the streets they see me there, no security. Whether it’s hood, not hood, anybody’s hood I carry myself a certain way.
Nobodysmiling.com : Styles, can you say some days you’re a gangster some days you’re a gentleman?
Styles P : Nah... I can say everyday I’m a gangster and everyday I’m a gentleman.
Nobodysmiling.com : Alright I see you have the best of both worlds.
Styles P : Yeah, when I say I’m a super gangster and extraordinary gentleman that’s in one. That’s in a nutshell, I’m a gangsta because I’m an honorable dude I respect my team. I try to do the right things.
Nobodysmiling.com : To you what is the toughest thing about the music business?
Styles P : Staying strong and being able to put up with a little bullshit I believe is the toughest thing in this industry. Keeping your head on your shoulders and being able to deal with the snakes.
Nobodysmiling.com : What you think hip-hop will remember most about Styles P and what he brought to the game?
Styles P : My lyrics, the way I move and how I keep it street. My hard work ethic and how much shit I put out. Mixtape shit, album shit, other people album shit, just being around a long time and keeping it hot.
Nobodysmiling.com : Speaking on the mixtapes you got a hot ass mixtape out with Big Mike called “The Phantom Menace”. How did you come up with that title?
Styles P : I’m the phantom, I’m the menace [laughs] and I’m that Jedi Knight dude with two Jedi Knight swords. I’m the phantom menace I’m no joke man. I do my mixtape thing and try to zone out taking it somewhere where most people don’t. The last one was just “The Phantom”. If you followed my other ones it was “Ghost in a Shell”, “Ghost Stories”, “Ghost and the Machine”. So you know I’m just metamorphous'in taking it to other stages and other places, just new heights.
Nobodysmiling.com: Final question, why should fans continue to support Styles P and final messages for fans of Nobodysmiling.com?
Styles P : Yeah, because I’m the motherfuckin truth and I’m real hip-hop. I’m genuine and not a two dollar bill, I’m the real thing all way around the board. You should support me if you want to support the real thing.
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