E on the spot was in the Bronx and caught up with Cuban Link after thousands of requests from E2K Magazine readers, we finally had the opportunity to satisfy his fans.
Emma: What year did you begin your rapping career?
Cuban: As a hobby in school in 1986. Instead of taking notes I was writing rhymes. I still passed, but that’s when it became a love thing for me. I was into the streets and all that even though I didn’t speak English that well it was just the vibe and the culture of hip-hop that drew me in.
Emma: Who inspired you to rap?
Cuban: Juice Crew, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, KRS One, Nas and all those greats and of course later on in my life my brother Pun. He made me take my rap a little more serious cause I saw him make it. We were together; we were struggling as far as getting in the game. He always gave me inspiration that I could make it. So I had to step up to my game.
Emma: What is your opinion on Big Pun’s documentary?
Cuban: It was real, it was hard as far as most of the people that were talking, all the facts weren’t laid out there, but enough facts were laid out from the right people.
Emma: What was your most memorable time with Pun?
Cuban: Every moment we spent together. That was my dawgs. I cherished all that and there’s a lot of specific times, but he was the type of dude that just made me feel comfortable where ever we was at. When we was in a tight situation we were comfortable he knew how to get around all that. He was the type of dude if you were sad he would bring you right up and make you laugh. When it came to the streets, guns whatever he was right there. What ever I needed. He was a whole individual, he was a perfect package.
Emma: What is the name of your new label?
Cuban: CLK Entertainment. Cuban Link 24K the album 24 and I took the K basically.
Emma: Do you have any artists under that label.
Cuban: I have an R & B singer from Patterson, New Jersey his name is One Solo that’s family, Figgaraw a white dude from Brick City, Newark thugged out right there, first lady of CLK is HerimBone, she’s from Brooklyn and of course me. I got my own label now so I can call all my own shots.
Emma: Having your own label and your own artists, what would you do different that wasn’t done for you?
Cuban: I would use my best qualities. I know I could get the ladies, not saying that I’m a ladies man (everyone in the room begins to laugh at his modest answer) I’m not conceited either, but ladies tend to feel me. Last time when I came out with “ Still Telling Lies” I didn’t mean to dis the ladies, it was a real story, but even though I didn’t give the ladies so much props they was still feeling me regardless the ladies feel that song because of the realness of the song. Basically, I would definitely market myself to the ladies and to the real niggaz. The lyrics is always going to be there with me I don’t speak no gibberish I tend to talk about real shit.I would have done more marketing in places like the East Coast, the West Coast is big and Spanish based and of course my black peoples is always going to be there any way cause they know I ain’t droppin no fake Yugoslavian joints. I’m hitting the Spanish South America, Japan, whatever. Lets take it world wide. Not cheating the budget that’s not what people pay for.
Emma: Are you working on any new projects right now?
Cuban: I’m working on Chain Reaction my new album it’s going to be dropped, but we're going to put a question mark on that. Not this year, but I’m trying to get a single by this winter. Definitely next year, early next year. Times is bad with the labels and all that 9/11 hit hard. they're trying to shorten up the budget and even besides that I got a lot of player haters that don’t want to see me shine cause they know the truth will come out once I see the light. So it’s like the world is against me in a way, you know, my voice isn’t out there like it used to be. It gets me mad, but that’s what makes me stronger, so anyway this is the road I picked and I chose and I’m comfortable with that. It’s all about my ideas and what I gotta do. More things to learn and I learned a lot you know being beside Pun seeing the business side to this business. It’s 90% business 10% is just shine.
Emma: In this joint that you're about to drop now is this like a solo project or are there other Artists?
Cuban: Definitely my Artist is gonna be in Chain Reaction and definitely my solo. I ain’t gonna hit people again with 24 like I did the first one with 24 Karats with 24 songs. It took a little too long to make. But I try and give the world every side of me. The sad side, the club side, the thug side all that shit I try and put it all in one package and I guess they didn’t know how to work it. They couldn’t pick which side they wanted to bring me out to the world and of course a tribute of “Flower for the dead” for the death of Pun.
Emma: How are you going to make sure this time around you don’t get bootlegged before you make it out of the stores?
Cuban: Bootlegging wasn’t the problem. Because of bootlegging that’s probably why my name is still alive right now because of the bootlegging. Part of me feels that I got jerked you know of course because my album came out and it wasn’t from me it had to be from the power above you know. On the other hand, I fed my people. That’s what I kicked my rhyme for. Crack heads is getting money not to buy crack but by selling the CD’s in the street they getting money to buy something to eat in the street. And you know the people who can’t afford to buy the real joint they get to hear me too.
Emma: What’s with the ScarFace movie part II?
Cuban: I can’t really talk too much about that cause it’s like disclosure, it’s like a business side so I can’t talk about that.
Emma: But is it true that you're coming out in the movie ScarFaceII?
Cuban: It’s true, it’s true. It’s definitely the idea and it’s going to be crazy. Brian Depalmer is involved with it since I wrote the script it’s going to be not just Cuban Link playing Tony’s son, It’s going to be some business side to that too. You know how the politics be, they take your credits after wards and act like it’s theirs. I’m trying to fight for that to stay here. I wrote the screenplay.
Emma: If you were a super hero what super hero would you be and what super powers would you have?
Cuban: Superman! (Everyone in the room bursts out laughing) Hell yeah he’s the man of steel, Cuban–Man. The power to the greater truth to life, see niggaz with X-ray vision and the world too.
Emma: Do you have any sayings or favorite quotes that you live by?
Cuban: "Only survivors are wisest," that was Pun’s shit and it still is. “It’s not about whose the livest, it’s the one who survives that’s the wisest.” Definitely one of my favorite quotes and I definitely live by that. Just like regular people sometimes this life is like a chess game there’s a lot of struggles you just gotta think before you move basically.
Emma: What suggestions would you give to the young up an coming rappers and groups coming out into the industry?
Cuban: Just be your self. You want longevity that’s what Cuban is about, longevity. I don’t want to do just one album and skate out. I definitely want to be a part of this Hip-Hop world forever. I want my name to go down as a legend when I do go out. You just got to have a strong foundation with your crew. You definitely need your crew to be strong you can’t make a foundation with yourself. You got to get around people who care about you and don’t want shit from you, don’t want what you want because then that becomes a conflict, then jealousy will get involved. Just people that are around for your best interest, to see you get up there and when they see you get up there they smile with pride not smile because of jealousy. A sincere smile. It’s hard to find those kind of people. That’s your main goal finding yourself some real people that’s gonna have your back.
Emma: How do you try to give back to your community?
Cuban: With my bootlegged CD (every one laughs) I talk to kids in schools, I went to Rikers Island and did a show. I try to spread a positive word. I’m an official spokesperson for “The Source Youth Foundation” and “Alive and Free Records” (it’s a part of the Source Magazine) The president and VP is Ed De Jesus and Derrick. It tends to the kids and makes sure they stay in school, stay alive and free and don't go to jail and make sure they don’t make decisions that are going to threaten their freedom and that there is a solution. I don’t want our young generation to follow the negative part. I try to tell the kids to stay in school, stay away from drugs and keep them thinking positive. My slogan is “Infinite Drama” I wrote a single called “Excuse me father” and is performed by CLK artist ONE SOLO, Co-produced by Domingo and myself. I had started writing this song when I had been cut in the face and finished it on Sept 11, 2001, GOD had his hand on my shoulder so it is a very deep song.
Emma: If this world were yours and everything in it how would you make it different for your son to grow up in?
Cuban: Definitely pile up his bank account cause I grew up poor. No doubt my family grew up poor. I know I’m a part of that struggle Welfare and the whole shit. Definitely stack up his bank account so he could know what he gotta do in advance. Give him a head start, so when he gets to his dream he could back his dream up with that money.
Emma: Are you still doing shows?
Cuban: Oh hell yeah my name is still out there in the streets, promoters is still checking me. Unless you calling me for money, nothing funny, I don’t want to talk about nothing else unless it’s an interview for a Magazine that Emma put together. You could contact Emma she will poli the situation and then get at me.
Emma: Are there any shouts outs?
Cuban: Basically I just want them to know that Cuban is good; Cuban is here and ain’t going nowhere still reppin the Bronx. My mind is straight, I’m focused I’ma take it to a place where I was suppose to been took it. The aim is still the same, to the top won’t stop til I get there til we holding a Grammy or something for Pun. Bring one back home for the family, the real family. Basically let me clear up the rumors. I know a lot of rumors happened, just don’t believe the other side because they're lies. They're just running my name through the ground it’s nothing like that at all. Those who know me know how real I be. Bullshit rumors with the wifey that’s not even in my Ten Commandments. You have to understand that part. It happened because bitch a** niggaz met a real nigga for once, basically clear up the rumors. CLK clothing coming soon.
Emma: Any famous last words?
Cuban: CLK coming soon new error the other side of terror.
Emma: How many tattoos do you have?
Cuban: 12 on my right arm and 1 of GOD on my left.
Emma: Why do you have just GOD on your left?
Cuban: Because God stands alone.
