Interview: BIG CAZ of Mo Thugs Records

The Ex LA Gang Banger who journeyed from hard-hitting street spitter to being an executive of Mo Thug Records, takes us down the road of being affiliated to one of the biggest rap groups of all time; Bone Thugs N Harmony. CAZ also touches on why he left the game as a rapper and what's next in the retirement life. XPOZ sits down with this west coast king.

Andrew Bess: What's good BIG CAZ? I see working hard pays off. How' the retirement going?

BIG CAZ: I'm good cousin just grindin' projects out and as far as retirement, I love it. Although I miss hittin' the road and hanging with all my Mo Thug/Bone thug family. But nothing compares to being with my daughters and wife and being able to enjoy beautiful Arizona (I have a few properties out here). Arizona is my second home.

Andrew Bess: So what made you retire when you were just getting more popular with Bone Thugs and Harmony?

BIG CAZ: Cousin, to be honest I've been in this game since 1998 and on the road with Bone since 2000. So that's 9 years of telling my life. [So I retired] unlike other rappers like Cube, Snoop etc. that still talk like they in the streets. When there not [in the streets]. I had nothing else to talk about, and yeah I could give you a club song but I don't club. And yeah I could give you a drug song, but only fake drug dealers talk about selling drugs. I could give you a killing song but real killers get the job done and they don't talk about it.

Andrew Bess: That's a mouthful CAZ but real talk. So why do you think other rappers with huge success keep themselves in the game?

BIG CAZ: I call it little dick syndrome and that means insecure dudes with nothing down below usually have to lie about what they have done or will do. That's why the game is such a joke [nowadays].

Andrew Bess: Do you have beef with rappers like that?

BIG CAZ: Hell no. I have beef with ex-and present gang bangers who know what BIG CAZ really stood and stands for. As for rappers I hate them badly because rappers spend too much time lying about what they've done or will do, while real thug cats are out there living it. They don't even get royalties or can sue rappers for sampling there life. That's funny a thug should be able to sue rappers for sampling their life; I hate those lying punks.

Andrew Bess: So with that said what projects are you working on?

BIG CAZ: I am running my brother Layzie Bone's label; while he's busy promoting the new bone album I have several projects dropping which include "Layzie Bone: How a thug was born", "Krayzie Bone: Thugline Boss" and GLASS the movie starring Layzie Bone, Mo Thug Soldiers, and myself.

We just signed the first act to Mo Thugs Records. They are from Arizona called ROYAL FAMILY. We just shot their new video Royal Pimp ft. MC Magic. We decided to sign them because unlike rappers these dudes are all street and hustle. Over 1,000 cats approached me to sign them, but these dudes paid there own way for distribution and they have the power to hold their own destiny.

Andrew Bess: Do you enjoy being an executive more then rapping?

BIG CAZ: Honestly, yes because I can teach other cats not to do the wrong thing in this business. I teach them to get your understanding before you get your money because 9/10 rappers lose every dime in there first year of new money.

Andrew Bess: Would you do anything different if you started rapping again?

BIG CAZ: I wouldn't rap again. But don't get it twisted; I still got the sickest 16 bars. Don't think I can't bang one out, but nah I like that I went through what I did from jail to the street stuff. All my experiences made me grind harder to not go back.

Andrew Bess: Any last words?

BIG CAZ: I wanna thank Selecto hits distribution for believing I can go out and sell records and not waste money and time. Especially my brother from another mother Wes Philips stood up for me. Also I owe props to my brother Layzie Bone for giving me the chance to run his label. Lastly I can't forget my real soldiers Hoodsta, Tone, Trouble, Thin C, Big Sloan and all the cats that grind for the Mo Thugs Family. And holla at us on myspace.com/mothugsrecords