Rio - As one of the first artist to Dolphin’s of Hollywood 05 Records, Rio has been delivering music to the streets of Oakland for years. A highly respected MC. Rio has taken the rapp industry by storm in 2006 with his smash hit “I like it like that”. Rio is not only a solo artist but he’s a member of the hottest new rapp group call Enemy of the State(EOS), and their album will drop sometime around of 06. Rio was recently interviewed and this is what he had to say:

RIO: “I’m just a hustler, you know? I want to see Russell Simmons money. I want to see hundreds of millions.” There are born hustlers. Folks that do what it takes to survive on the streets. Folks who might try to get ahead a little bit by using what they got, and maybe what others got, to get by. Then there’s Rio, a hustler’s hustler.

Times got hard on East Oakland’s Rio, and he took refuge in the streets. He hustled to pay tuition, hustled in school, was stabbed, shot at, hit by a car … but there was always music. “It was the way I passed the time while I was on the street. It was my diary. I could write a song in, like, 15 minutes; just accessing my mental rolodex.”

Always into music, Rio has even been in the studio with MC Hammer and protegés of E-40. But economics was the college grad’s major, and it’s the way he lives life. Though it’s been tough, he’s gotten by and prospered. “Only a fake person would tell you they want to be in the ghetto.” In a flow, Rio spit “I’m Marty McFly, I’m ahead of my time …” So true. EOS album is guaranteed to be the hottest album of 06′. Cope it!

Smoove - As a member of Enemy of the State, the hottest new proup to of the west coast, Smoove has gotten a lot of attention as lyricist and performer. Although still part of the hugely successful group, which features J-Dee and Rio. Smoove will soon enter the studio to begin work on his debut solo album coming to you from Dolphin’s of Hollywood 05 Records.

Smoove was recently interviewed and this is what he had to say:

SMOOVE: “If I need to make somebody dance, I’ll make em dance. If I need to kill somebody, I’ll kill ‘em.” You know how people name others THE OPPOSITE of what they are? Like calling a fat person Tiny or Slim? Well, that’s not the case for Smoove.

Ice Cube. Dr. Dre. Pretty much the whole West Coast have influenced his musical development. The young man raised in Compton and Downey has drawn comparisons to Snoop Dogg and Fabolous for his laid back attitude. “My style is just real. Versatile. It’s something that you can just bob your head to, even if you don’t feel it.”

Smoove likes to get reactions from the people, especially the ones telling him his “stuff is hot.” But he also knows that’s just part of what makes EOS stand out.

“That’s what make us real hot, everyone has a different type of flow. You’re definitely going to like something we do, put it like that.”

J-Dee - J-Dee was the first artist to sign with Dolphin’s of Hollywood 05 Records, but he was the last member added to Enemy of the State(EOS). After DOH interviewed several 100 different rappers for that last spot in EOS they decided to look in house, and J-Dee was the perfect fit for the group therefore putting his solo album on hold. His sound was what the group was missing.

J-Dee was recently interviewed and this is what he had to say:

J Dee: “I’m into the lyrical side … Not as much into the beat. I’m interested in what they’re saying with the delivery.”Before Motown, there was Dolphin’s of Hollywood; one of the first black-owned labels in the country. There was also a radio show and a record store that became part of the musical fabric of L.A. in the 40s and 50s.

Third generation, they’re bringing it back. J Dee’s grandfather, John Dolphin, was the founder. It’s long since gone under, but this MC/producer from Los Angeles is helping to revive it from the business and artistic ends.

Influenced by artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-ONE and N.W.A., Jay D is looking to put his mark on the company’s first release.

“With my style, I’m talking about something. If it’s about hanging out with your boys, I’m talking about exactly why. I’m sayin’ this is what’s cool about it.” And the business side?

“What the people want is the next hottest thing. The marketing’s easy when you got hot shit.”

Enemy of the State (EOS):

They’re everywhere. Every block. Every city. From Compton to the very heart of New York. You might see them hustling in the street or ballin’ in the clubs or just plain ol’ chillin’ on the block. But it’s when they put it down musically that the rest of the world gets an up close and personal view of what it’s like to be a Enemy of the State(EOS).

Comprised of RIO, Smoove, and J. DEE, Enemy of the State is a collaboration of three of the realist, hottest rappers to ever come from Cali. These west coast ambassadors convey the realities of their ‘hood in a way that is so authentic, so undeniably real, that it commands a level of respect from the streets and the industry alike.

When it comes to rap skills, few can hold a candle to these boys. “Every one of us has a diffenent style,” J Dee offers. “We’re not just some dudes from Cali out here hoopin’ and hollerin’ on records, doing the ganasta stuff. We really have skillz. Each one of us got our own sound. Each one of us got our own flow pattern and all of us real niggas that just came together .We got some shit that you can just ride to, some shit where you ’bout to go do something crazy, and some shit you might wanna go to the club and get your ball on. Our chemistry is just crazy.”

Once the members were put in place, the group started recording. “By the time we finished 15 of the hottest songs were created. To be continued…