Duck Down head cheese speaks with DJBoothTV for an exclusive interview to discuss the current state, and evolution, of east coast hip-hop.
]]> http://www.hiphopsite.com/2011/09/27/dru-ha-speaks-on-the-state-of-ny-hip-hop/feed/ 0 http://www.hiphopsite.com/2011/09/16/dru-ha-marathon-training-pt-1-2-w-sean-price-dallas-penn-video/ http://www.hiphopsite.com/2011/09/16/dru-ha-marathon-training-pt-1-2-w-sean-price-dallas-penn-video/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:50:35 +0000 http://www.hiphopsite.com/?p=38343 [cont.]]]>

In Part 1 of the two part training series, Dru Ha readies himself for 2011′s ING: New York City Marathon on November 6th. In this clip, Dru explains why he is running, about “Run 2 Remember” NYC Alzheimers Association chapter team, and his experience training with celebrity trainer Mark Jenkins.

In Part 2 Dru’s trainer is busy and he gets help from 2 alternate coaches. Plus words to live by; “I’m from Brownsville Dude. Don’t eva say nipple protection.”

Duck Down Records has made a resurgence in the last few years led by flagship members Buckshot and Sean Price. In the midst of this, other B.C.C. compatriots have seemingly disappeared. Dru Ha, CEO of Duck Down recently addressed the status of Starang Wondah of O.G.C./ Fab Five fame. A portion of Dru’s statement appears below.

Starang Wondah from OGC’s, Fab 5 and BCC has always been a fan favorite. I frequently get questions from the public about where he’s been and what he’s been up to. As few may know, Starang has been serving an 18-month prison sentence in upstate PA for illegal drug possession. So, more importantly than when he will be releasing new music is when he will be released. While I won’t dive into the specifics of his case, Starang maintains his innocence and looks forward to appealing the charges when he comes home in mid August. At his request, we’ve managed to keep the situation under the radar for sometime. However, as he’s nearing the end of his sentence he’s agreed to let everyone know he’s doing ok.

I’ve always liked Starang. Not only as an artist, with his witty word play, clever punch lines and easy going flow, but equally for his friendship. Over the years we’ve spent countless nights in the studio, at hotels, or on tour busses having intense Madden battles, talking sports and girls, cracking jokes and just hanging out. For that, I genuinely have missed him and despite where I was headed, I was looking forward to my visit.

Starang has a verse in Boot Camp Clik’s song “Here We Come” which candidly states “Dru Ha is my favorite White Boy…” While it’s a line he borrowed from 50 referencing EM, I’ve always felt the words were sincere from him. It never was black and white for Starang. He knows and accepts my background (suburbs of NY, White Plains) as I do his (Brownsville, Brooklyn). Aside from a visit to Rikers Island juvenile ward for a BCC jailhouse sponsored performance, my experience with jails and jail visits has been limited. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

My visit was pre-cleared with the prison for 9AM Sunday morning, so I decided to head out on Saturday afternoon and make a night out of it. I drove west on route 80 for the 2.5-hour trip from NYC to just outside Hunlock Creek, PA. While driving and listening to rough mixes of Pete Rock and Smif N Wessun’s Monumental album, I took in the beauty of the landscape and found myself actually enjoying the ride. My mind drifted to Starang and how he must have felt when he was bussed to the facility. I would later learn that his transfer from county jail to state prison was in the midst of a winter blizzard. He was uncertain of where he was going or if they would even make it safely, quite a nerve-racking experience. The thought alone made me value my simple car ride to see him.

The full statement can be found here. Shoutout to Hurricane Starang.