Defsounds

A veteran within the Dipset camp, Hell Rell has been loyal and stuck to his guns through all the turmoil in the Harlem based outfit. His first album, For the Hell of It, was released in 2007 and now he's back with his latest endeavor, Black Mask, Black Gloves. In an exclusive Defsounds interview, Rell breaks down his future plans , his thoughts on the Rick Ross situation as well as what's going on within the Diplomat's arena.

Defsounds: So, What’s good with you, what’s going on?

Hell Rell: It’s all good. I’m working. Same circus, different clowns.

Def Sounds: You just dropped your album last week.

Hell Rell: Yeah, my street mixtape album. I don’t want people to think that’s my sophomore album.

Def Sounds: I wanted to ask you about that, because there are only 12 tracks.

Hell Rell: Of course I wouldn’t cheat the people like that. At the end of the day I was trying to restructure my new deal as far as my second album.

Def Sounds: Koch, right?

Hell Rell: Yeah, and I was shopping at some majors, but shit wasn’t going right. So I pretty much to a pay cut from what I was asking for , you know Chuck couldn’t provide it, but he definitely had the outlet for me to come out this year

Def Sounds: So they distributed this album?

Hell Rell: Yeah

Def Sounds: Do you have any more album deals with Koch?

Hell Rell: No, I don’t have any contracts or ties with nobody. I’m a free agent right now.

Def Sounds: I wanted to ask you. Let’s compare “For the Hell of It” and Black Mask, Black Gloves. The first album you had a lot of collaborations from your Dipset peoples and D-Block. There was really just one on “Black Mask, Black Gloves” You had on with JR Writer right?

Hell Rell: Yeah I had one with JR Writer, you know what I mean? I pretty much just asked him for a song. I asked him to jump on something and he showed me some love. I wasn’t waiting for Cam and Jim. There was too much turmoil. That one beefing with this one, this one beefing with that one. It’s all love, but tug of war isn’t one of my favorite games

Def Sounds: You kind of picked sides with Cam’ron when it first started you said you had Cams back

Hell Rell: As far as the G-Unit situation

Def Sounds: A lot of people misinterpreted that you put Cam ahead of Jim.

Hell Rell: No that was as far as the G-unit situation. I felt that everybody asked me how I felt as far as Jim Jones and Juelz being on stage with Cam. I was just saying if he’s beefing with somebody I wouldn’t side with none of his enemies. I wasn’t taking no sides between Jim and Cam and all that. There’s too much money to be made.

Def Sounds: To be clear, you haven’t picked anybody side you still keeping for of them?

Hell Rell: I’m on Benjamin Franklin side.

Def Sounds: So what’s going on with them two?

Hell Rell: I have no idea. I texted Cam’ron like two weeks ago. I didn’t get a text back.

Def Sounds: Did he check out the album or anything?

Hell Rell: I don’t even know. Everyone caught up in their own little world. Who am I to sit and cry over spilled milk?

Def Sounds: Speaking of G-Unit, when they came out with their group album, their group effort their whole theme was aggressiveness. Nas came out his whole theme was public activist. What’s your whole theme with your album?

Hell Rell: Spokesperson for the havenots. I don’t care if I got a million dollars, billions of dollars. I’m still going to be like I don’t got it. I’m going to act like I don’t got it, because my people don’t got it as a whole. So we all rich then I’m broke.

Def Sounds: Speaking of other people. What albums have you bought this year? What albums are you listening to?

Hell Rell: I bought Lil Wayne’s album

Def Sounds: Did you like that?

Hell Rell: It’s hot

Def Sounds: Did you think he could serve the 1.5 the first week?

Hell Rell: I mean hell yeah! For the work he put in, not for that particular project. I mean some songs can go to the left, but overall he’s a dope artist and I love him.

Def Sounds: Who else to you appreciate in the industry, whose work?

Hell Rell: I like Kanye, like Jeezy.

Def Sounds: What about new comers in the scene?

Hell Rell: I like Maino.

Def Sounds: I don’t think Maino’s a new comer. He’s been around for a minute.

Def Sounds: You said this isn’t your sophomore album. It’s pretty much a preview to the solo album what’s the title of the sophomore album?

Hell Rell: I think I might name it the reinvention of Ruga, the reinvention of Ruga Rell.

Def Sounds: Do you have any dates or time you want that out there?

Hell Rell: Nah, it’s at its baby stages right now

Def Sounds: So you started working on it?

Hell Rell: I got 100 songs done, but I’m pretty much gonna pick the hottest songs when I get to about 150-160. I’m going to pick the hottest songs out of that and pretty much just run with it.

Def Sounds: Who you working with on that album, as far as producers ?

Hell Rell: Right now I’m working with Arab. I’m trying to reach out to Kanye, Drumma Boy. Drumma Boy’s on fire right now. He just did that hot joint for T.I.

Def Sounds: Now that you working, you’re pretty much just music right now, but you also have a film company

Hell Rell: Yeah, Hell Vision

Def Sounds: How’s that going for you?

Hell Rell: I mean it’s going great. Actually it’s kind of like on a stand still right now, because I’m trying to get the music straight, but I got my camera crew. I got like four or five scripts so were just waiting to get the music out of the way before we jump into this.

Def Sounds: Now you’re doing a documentary type film for yourself as a debut film or is that done already?

Hell Rell: That’s done already.

Def Sounds: What else are you working on?

Hell Rell: I’m working on another film that I got called “Gun Play”. It’s like the 2008 version of “Juice”

Def Sounds: You got anybody lined up for the cast?

Hell Rell: I reached out to my boy Marlo from “The Wire” I talked to him. I reached out to a few other named actors. I just don’t want to count my eggs before they hatch.

Def Sounds: Are you putting on any other rappers for the movie, or you just sticking to professional actors?

Hell Rell: I got a couple of rappers, but I’m trying to make this more of an acting thing. I’m not just trying to get people because their known.

Def Sounds: So are you going to be behind the camera or in front of it?

Hell Rell: Both, directing and acting

Def Sounds: Have you ever acted in anything before?

Hell Rell: Yeah, we put out “Killa Season”

Def Sounds: What are some of your favorite films?

Hell Rell: All time?

Def Sounds: Let’s just say this summer and all time. What have you seen this summer?

Hell Rell: I seen ??????? , classic

Def Sounds: I thought it was alright, kind of weak. The action was good.

Hell Rell: As far as the action, the story line wasn’t all that, but the action was crazy.

Def Sounds: ?????? and what else was this summer?

Hell Rell: This summer. I really didn’t go to the movies this summer that much. I seen “Hancock” I didn’t like it. No Homo

Def Sounds: Yeah “Hancock” was like if you got a black superhero you got to be drunk.

Hell Rell: I didn’t like the way they portrayed the black superhero.

Def Sounds: They where confused, because they wanted a love story ,an action story and comedy story.

Hell Rell: Yeah they wanted too much.

Def Sounds: So what about all time?

Hell Rell: Scarface, New Jack City, Color Purple, its classic. And I’d say Spartan.

Def Sounds: Speaking of your favorites, what‘s your favorite track off of your album right now?

Hell Rell: “Realest Nigga Doin It”

Def Sounds: Every rapper or writer. I consider you a writer has an inspiration for their work. What inspired you for this particular project? You said this really isn’t your sophomore project, so did you drop it just to keep a buzz or did you drop it just to put out more music to your fans?

Hell Rell: I dropped because I felt it was needed for the times. Marvin Gaye dropped “What’s Going On” when we where at war with Vietnam, shit was all fucked up. So “Black Mask, Black Gloves” is pretty much how America is feeling right now.

Def Sounds: What’s next for you in 08? You got the films, your real sophomore album coming.

Hell Rell: I’m about to shoot a video for every song on “Black Mask, Black Gloves” It’s pretty much going to have a story line to it. Not to do it just to do it.

Def Sounds: So like concept videos?

Hell Rell: Exactly

Def Sounds: Have you recorded any of them yet?

Hell Rell: Yeah

Def Sounds: How Many?

Hell Rell: Two

Def Sounds: When are they going to hit the streets?

Hell Rell: Their about to get edited right now. I pretty much stole a scene from out of every classical gangsta movie. One of the joints I’m going to be in front of a pile of cocaine sniffin. In the background you going to see on the camera a bunch of dudes coming in the crib as I’m rhyming, so its going to be played out like that.

Def Sounds: What song is that?

Hell Rell: Oh I can’t tell you that, I can’t give away everything.

Def Sounds: Yes you can, what about your fans, you love your fans right?

Hell Rell: I love everybody, but I got to leave something for the anticipation.

Def Sounds: Are you doing it song by song?

Hell Rell: It’s going to song by song

Def Sounds: So, that’s going to be song number one then, right?

Hell Rell: We’re doing a scene out of New Jack City

Def Sounds: So you did the first two songs, that’s what you’re telling me?

Hell Rell: No, sir

Def Sounds: You said you’re doing it song by song.

Hell Rell: Yeah I’m letting you know the concepts, not alphabetical order.

Def Sounds: So what are the concepts?

Hell Rell: We got a “New Jack City” concept

Def Sounds: That’s it, so you’re doing the first two songs?

Hell Rell: No, not the first two songs

Def Sounds: You’re sure?

Hell Rell: I’m positive

Def Sounds: So those are the first two videos you’re putting out?

Hell Rell: No those are just the first two we got done already. Their going to be put out as a collector’s item and its going to be put out all together. You just can’t get one video.

Def Sounds: You can’t just drop them all at the same time

Hell Rell: Yeah I am.

Def Sounds: You’re going to drop 12 videos at the same time?

Hell Rell: Exactly

Def Sounds: So you’re going to make a movie actually?

Hell Rell: Yeah, a movie but short film you know; all videos.

Def Sounds: When can we check the first one?

Hell Rell: Ah man, I just told you. They’re all going to drop together, but I’m going to put out a trailer though. I’m putting out a trailer. Like a snippet. Look out for the trailer.

Def Sounds: What’s the time frame! Give me a time frame! Like maybe a month?

Hell Rell: Look out for the trailer around September, early September, the actual DVD by Christmas time. It will be a stoking stuffer

Def Sounds: A hood stocking stuffer. Man I was really trying to get that out of you, no homo.

Def Sounds: So you got the videos lined up for this. Are you getting any guest appearances or cameos for them or just you?

Hell Rell: Just me, all Ruga

Def Sounds: What’s going on with Dipset, are you guys doing your own thing. Are you still a movement, a family, what’s going on with that situation?

Hell Rell: All I know is we where the hottest group in the streets who didn’t have a major label buzz and um Hell Rell Top Gunners .

Def Sounds: Who do you still keep in touch with?

Hell Rell: I mean Duke Da God; I talk to him here and there every day. JR Writer’s one phone call away, but you know he do what he do. I speak to him hear and there. You know when we see each other we speak, but nobody like reaches out. Everybody’s in their own little world. You know what I mean? AT the end of the day which is cool, but I got to do what I got to do to be successful. If I sit around and be like Jim Jones and Cam’ron are going to make me the next biggest nigga in hip hop; I’d be a fool.

Def Sounds: Speaking of hearsay, let’s rewind it back to an earlier interview when you first got out of jail. You said you didn’t want to live that lifestyle anymore, you didn’t want to be a part of it anymore and you wanted to use your music so kids’ don’t follow it. Pretty much use your music to show kids to live the good life, but if you go back and look at the content of your albums that kind of negates what you said in that interview.

Hell Rell: There’s a parental advisory sticker on every project that I put in stores. That means the parents must advise the child.

Def Sounds: You know kids are going to listen to your music.

Hell Rell: I know that. It’s parental advisory man. At the end of the day, I don’t promote violence. I don’t advocate it, so at the end of the day if a kid gets a negative thought from my music, then I don’t see how. I can’t make anybody go out there and kill somebody.

Def Sounds: So what happen with you influencing children or people of a younger age through your music to steer away from the lifestyle you speak of?

Hell Rell: I give them an option, because I give them something to shoot for man. We all know if you put ten people in this room only probably only one person would get a deal, but it gives them a goal. You know what I’m saying? That’s why the lottery is so successful, because it gives you the thought that you might just win

Def Sounds: So you’re telling me you put out, I’m not speaking for myself. I’m speaking generally. You put out a song with negative content to influence a child not to do it?

Hell Rell: What do you mean?

Def Sounds: I’m asking you. You put it out and there’s a parental advisory sticker on it, so you’re saying if a teenager listens to your music and he gets influenced and does something stupid it’s not your fault, because of the parental advisory sticker, but your saying from your music you should influence the kid into something positive instead of something negative.

Hell Rell: Of course.

Def Sounds: How does that work?

Hell Rell: Because, at the end of the day we all know its entertainment. We’re not living in a society where kids got a bag over their head. They really can’t believe that I’m out there killing somebody and shooting people up and shit.

Def Sounds: They believed Rick Ross was on the highway with a trunk full of yayo

Hell Rell: Yeah, Rick Ross is a liar. I have two jail numbers 02R2050 and 97R9173. You can to the departmentofcorrections.com and look up everything that I rap about. (laughs) You understand what I’m saying, so at the end of the day I’m not advocating it. I’m showing you what I went through and I’m a success story. I went from shit to sugar. And you to can do the same thing if you follow in the footsteps of Ruga.

Def Sounds: Fair enough, so your working with Arab music and Royale. Those are two relatively new producers

Hell Rell: Royale, who’s that?

Def Sounds: So you’re not working with them? So let’s talk about Arab. You’re working with him on this project and your forthcoming project.

Hell Rell: Yeah, I might have a beat from him on my forthcoming project.

Def Sounds: So what producers are you looking to get some music from on the upcoming project?

Hell Rell: I pretty much want to work with whoever wants to work with me. I don’t have a distinct sound.

Def Sounds: Well who do you like as far as production value goes now a days?

Hell Rell: There really aren’t too many new producers out there with names. The only producers I see are like Timbaland, Kanye, Swizz Beatz.

Def Sounds: Do you want to work with Kanye?

Hell Rell: Nah, I don’t want anything from Kanye. He doesn’t fit my sound. I love Kanye beats, but you know? I like the young dudes, I want the youth man.

Def Sounds: Who are some up and coming producers that you know of that you want to work with?

Hell Rell: I’m looking for up and coming producers. I don’t know of any.

Def Sounds: Do you have a contact or something?

Hell Rell: Just RugaRell@gmail , rugarell@gmail get them to me man. I’m always looking for high heat. I have an allegiance to the hotness. He has no face he has no social status, you understand what I’m saying? He could be a bum in a cardboard box with an MPC. If it’s crack give it to me.

Def Sounds: How does this album compare, we know it’s shorter and we know it’s more of the times. How else does it compare to your first album?

Hell Rell: You can’t compare it to my first album.

Def Sounds: For the people that didn’t hear it is a different sound?

Hell Rell: It’s an evolution. At the end of the day it’s like the process of a caterpillar growing into a butterfly. Evolution, I’m growing I’m mad changing.

Def Sounds: What can they expect from it? It dropped on the 22nd (July) for the fans that haven’t picked it up. What can they expect if they already picked up your first one? Can they expect the same music or can they expect something different? Give us something to look forward to basically.

Hell Rell: I pretty much go in to the depth of my life. I’m pretty sure you want to know who I am, where I’m from. Did I have siblings? Things of that nature, so I pretty much talk about shit that’s going on in my life. I also spoke on my marriage. In a song I talk about how I had to sit my girl down and tell her I’m seeing other females. I’m like you probably don’t approve of it, but I tell her to shut the fuck up and be happy that you’re apart of my life.

Def Sounds: Where half way through the year, are we getting anymore albums from you

Hell Rell: No, where going to get seven mixtapes though. I have a trilogy that’s about to come out.

Def Sounds: What DJ’s?

Hell Rell: I pretty much didn’t holla at the DJ’s yet, but you know I got the music.

Def Sounds: So you have three mixtapes coming out, when’s that dropping?

Hell Rell: Once I politic with the DJ’s. I’m trying to see who I want to work with

Def Sounds: What are you aiming for? You have the videos dropping in December before the album and you have three mixtapes dropping before or after the videos?

Hell Rell: Nah, the mixtapes are going to come out before the videos. That’s just something to throw back and get some Christmas money.

Def Sounds: So what videos are dropping again?

Hell Rell: Ahhh! Wait and see!

Def Sounds: You only gave us two movies though. You said your dropping 12 so you got to give us some more details about that project.

Hell Rell: It’s a lot of movies man

Def Sounds: Well your dropping 12 videos, that’s a lot of videos.

Hell Rell: Well where doing the New Jack scene

Def Sounds: The Scarface and New Jack, what else are you doing?

Hell Rell: Ah man, I can’t.

Def Sounds: I don’t even want to know what song. I don’t even want to know that anymore.

Hell Rell: We can’t reveal too much man

Def Sounds: You gave me two out of twelve, statistically that’s nothing.

Hell Rell: We’re going to do the Sugar Hill joint. We’re going to do the king of New York joint. We’re going to do the scene when they try to get me on the train and I throw them a stack and tell them meet me at the Trump Plaza for the job.

Def Sounds: Are you doing anything with heat? That was a real good movie.

Hell Rell: Nah that was Jim Jones concept. If you really look at “Ballin” he got that from Heat. When he was coming out of the bank with loads of money in his hand.

Def Sounds: Not that part. The epic scene where he’s standing across from Al Pachino.

Hell Rell: That’s so fly. I would love to do that. Thanks a lot. I might use that one.

Def Sounds: That’s the most epic scene, you got to do it.

Hell Rell: You’re absolutely right. See I can act, so I got to find a cop that can really play that scene like there’s a flip side.

Def Sounds: Look at Yayo. He’s trying to act

Hell Rell: Yayo, I don’t know I might have to holler at Snoop from The Wire

Def Sounds: Snoop from the Wire don’t talk

Hell Rell: Snoop talks, she got gangsta shit with her.

Def Sounds: She like what up youngin’ and shoots him in the head.

Hell Rell: (laughs) Nah, but it’s going to be more in depth.

Def Sounds: Since we have to wrap up, what’s the next single to this album?

Hell Rell: “Think of the Problem” I’m about to shoot a video for that. That’s going to be a good one

Def Sounds: For the fans, to get at you. What to you have to tell them?

Hell Rell: Myspace.com/hellrell that’s poppin’, rugarell.com, rugarell@gmail, Hellskitchen@gmail, we’re poppin’.