Why is former D-Block member J-Hood dissing the LOX? Sheek Louch has the answers in this xxlmag.com exclusive.
Two weeks ago, in the midst of his five-borough concert tour in New York City, 50 Cent appeared on stage in the Bronx and incited controversy by bringing out former D-Block member J-Hood. For some hip-hop fans, Hood’s appearance with a known adversary of D-Block was met with disbelief. For the past five years, the young Yonkers rapper has been signed to the LOX’s imprint, D-Block Records, acting as the group’s unofficial fourth member. But earlier this month, the self-proclaimed “baby faced gangsta” asked for his release from the label after suffering numerous delays for his debut solo LP, Tales From the Hood. At first, Hood’s departure seemed innocent enough, until a YouTube video appeared on the Internet showing the 21-year-old verbally disrespecting his former LOX brethren Sheek Louch and dragging his D-Block chain on the concrete.
In the midst of the controversy, the LOX have been relatively mute. But with J-Hood personally calling out Sheek, the Wolf has decided to fire back. XXLMag.com sat down with the LOX member to discuss the origins of J-Hood’s beef with D-Block, his upcoming solo LP and the long-awaited LOX reunion.
What prompted this beef between J-Hood and D-Block?
There was never tension. He’s tight. He’s mad, like, Damn, I been with these guys for the longest [and] my album hasn’t come out yet. So he has every right to feel that way. But he’s going about it the wrong way. He’s hanging himself right now. Like [Funkmaster] Flex said the other night on [Hot 97], “Sheek used to beg me to play your records.” I think he’s just fed up, especially with his friends in his ear.
Why did Hood want to leave D-Block in the first place?
Hood spoke to Styles and said he wanted to go his own way [and] we were like, “Okay, cool.” Styles gave me the word he spoke to him and I said, “Alright, say no more.” ’Cause I been down that road, as far as wanting to leave and get off Bad Boy [Records]. I understand wanting to spread his wings and do what he gotta do. My thing is, say me and you aren’t doing business anymore. That doesn’t mean y’all gotta be enemies. Fam, you’re doing little YouTube videos, running around, jumping on stage with 50 [Cent], looking [like a] groupie. What are you doing, fam? Don’t think them boys, Yayo and them, don’t remember every last thing you said about them. They see all that. They know what’s what. You don’t even know when you’re being a puppet. It’s sad. When 50’s album [is] done, and he’s done running around and using Remy [Martin] and you…Yo, dog, you don’t get it. Why are you acting tough? I ain’t get on that with you, so why you coming at us like that? Hood, you know how we get down, fam. I really don’t get it. These New York DJs are hanging him. Flex said, “I’ll never play another Hood record, ever in my life. It doesn’t matter what label you go to, don’t send me nothing.” That’s crazy. No artist wants to hear that. Without me calling a DJ to say, “Yo, I need you to shut down Hood,” they’re calling [me]—from Cosmic Kev to Flex—[saying], “Yo, I ain’t playing nothing from him. I don’t respect his move right now.”
So there’s going to be no diss tracks toward J-Hood?
I would never rap with [Hood] lyrically. There is no way in the world you can get with me or my two partners [Styles P and Jadakiss]. I would never go to that level. I just want to spank Hood. I just want to take my belt off and give him a beating. Then, when you’re ready, say sorry. I still gotta let you off [the label], Hood. I still gotta sign the papers to let you go wherever you need to go. So who’s telling him this and advising [him] before he’s even off? I’m really just baffled. Does your manager know that you still [have to] come to us to get off?
Are you gonna release him from the label?
I would, gladly. I been in that situation, as far as holding you, saying you can’t go nowhere and all of that. We don’t get down [like that]; we cut from a whole different cloth. I spoke to Sha Money [XL]. They called up and spoke to Super Mario [D-Block general manager] and told ’em, “Yo, fam, we ain’t talking about signing no Hood. That is all a publicity stunt. I don’t got a clue what that boy is doing.” 50 even said on the radio, “He’s running around doing all that. He’s gotta see them boys in Yonkers. That’s bigger than me.” He’s dead true.
There’s rumors you were trying to take Hood’s D-Block chain back. Is that true?
Never would I take [J-Hood’s] chain or put my hands on [him]. You know that, fam. I love you, fam. What are you doing? We the niggas that told you not to buy that fake, 800 dollar, big ass, 600 diamond chain. I said, “Hood, you gonna have us murder somebody for taking a fake chain off you. Don’t buy that jewelry, fam. You gonna walk around, your niggas are not build like that, and you gonna have us…’cause now we gotta do something, ‘cause this nigga felt he could take your chain.” It never happened, but I’m just saying, I’m not taking your little chain. Are you stupid? I remember when you bought that costume shit. You talking about I’m gonna throw it in the crowd. Hood, you’re not hurting us if you throw some fake ass chain in the crowd that you bought for fucking 600 dollars. That shit looks like it’s worth millions, [but] if you throw it in the crowd, you’re going to play yourself when the person goes and checks the chain.
Hood is only calling you out, not Jadakiss or Styles. What is that?
[Laughs] I swear to God, I go outside and my niggas say the same thing, “Yo, Louch, this nigga, he want it with you.” I didn’t even have the talk with him. Him and Styles had the talk about going their separate ways. I don’t know why he’s calling me out. Yo, Hood, when your stepfather was touching on your body, fam, I went and ran in your house and got ’em. Me and my goons ran in and got your step-pops for you. And a list of other things, but I just want to throw that one out there to sting him a little bit. That was me. Remember, Hood? That’s big homie. And I still don’t have no beef with you, until this day. But you getting out of hand. I may have to smack you on your head a little bit and [make him] stand in the corner or something. [Laughs] After I work out every day, at least four times a week, I go eat my lunch in front of [J-Hood’s] house. I sit there, beep the horn, make my calls, chill [and] wait to see who comes in. [Laughs] Yo, Hood, did you move or something? Why are you doing all this tough guy shit for? Business-wise, I get why he’s saying, “Damn, I want off and I just want to spread my wings and do my thing.” Hood, I been there and I definitely get you on that. You feel our business relationship is exhausted and you wanna try some other stuff. People are [just] not respecting that you’re trying to get with 50 and the way you’re going about talking shit about us.
Drama aside, it’s hard to believe its been seven years since the last LOX album. What’s the status of the long-awaited reunion LP, Live, Suffer and Celebrate?
The next LOX album…ain’t nothing in ink yet, but as far as the lawyers, they’re trying to deal with Def Jam as we speak. A lot of people think the deal is done, but it ain’t done yet. It’s getting closer.
How long have you been at the roundtable with Def Jam?
Like seven or eight months. Before it was all talk that they wanted us. [Jay-Z] was like, “If I get these boys over here, it would be game over.” So Hov was trying to make that whole shit happen, as far as meeting with Ruff Ryders and Jimmy Iovine [to] try [and] smooth shit out as far as us and Interscope. Then [Def Jam] came with the offers and we sent it back. Then it was to the point of like, alright, we cool with that offer, now let’s work it out.
Realistically, when is the deal going to be finalized?
The LOX album will come [out] early next year, realistically. We got 15 [to] 20 songs already done.
Have you guys been working with some big producers?
Definitely. So far we got a couple of people: Timbaland, Pharrell, Rockwilder, will.i.am.
What can fans expect from your upcoming third solo album, Silverback Gorilla.The album is sick, fam. I just finished mixing and mastering [it]. I got my boy Avant on [the first single] “I’m So Hood.” It’s insane. I think the single is [going to be] crazy big. I got my boy Fat Joe on there and of course Styles and ’Kiss. I got my man UNK on a Southern joint with a New York edge called “Get Up Out My Way.” I got Bun B and Ice Cube on “Got A Problem.” Oh my God! That’s monstrous! I also got a song with Dipset that’s gonna shut New York City down. It’s “Dipset, D-Block” [with] me, Kiss, Jim Jones and Hell Rell.
