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
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
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
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,
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
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
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 “
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
Def Sounds: Are you doing anything with heat? That was a
real good movie.
Def Sounds: Not that part. The epic scene where he’s
standing across from Al Pachino.
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
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?
COMMENTS
It's sad that I'm the first person to comment on this shit. Either I just happened to be the only one to catch this shit... or sadly...no one else gave a fuck about Hell Rell. Lol.
Defsounds... we gotta start interviewing other artists...
~Be Eazy!
NAH WIZ IM WITH YOU ONE HUNDRED. I FUCKS WITH HELL. NO HOMO. TO THIS DAY THIS IS THE ONE ARTIST'S ALBUM I WOULD NEVER BREAK BUD UP ON. MAN HELL STAY BRINGING THAT STREET HEAT. TO ME HELL WAS THE NUGGA TO FUCK WITH OUTTA THE WHOLE DIPSET. THIS NUGGA KEEPS IT GUTTA AND GANGSTA. AND THIS COULD BE THE FIST NUGGA FROM DIPSET TO BLOW UP REAL BIG IF HE JUST STAY LOYAL TO HIS FANS AND KEEP FEEDING US THAT STREET SHIT. HELL KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND KEEP SPITTIN. WE FUCKS WITH YOU IN THE N.O.
yea hell rells always been pretty straight n at least we all kno he aint a fake ass gangsta. he jus needs to get his name out there a lil more maybe get a few big name producers... but i like the concept of shootin all those videos as scenes from gangsta movies. he a creative guy. i didnt understand the kanye shit either tho. n jokesta fix all the fucking typos it took me like an hour to read this cuz i kep havin to go back like what does this mean??
Hell Rell is decent, but this interview was longer than the bible. And what was up with that "????????" part when he was talkin about his favorite movie this summer?
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.
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.
What....?????
LOL! I caught that too........ I couldn't picture him over no Kanye tracks anyway..... Only cats like neo da matrix or heatmakerz. Something like that......
Hahaha!! yeah that was wierd.
hell rell's always been one of my favorite diplomats, him and JR make good music together
i copped "For The Hell Of It" and it was a good album i might have to grab that street mixtape now. not a bad interview jokesta
Ya i know right...no sense
it wasn't horrible he spoke the truth, hell rell a cool dude
Yo ehype get Rell's dck out ya mouth you homo @$$ nigga. real talk. Earn ya stripes before you holla, lil nigga
He a cool dude and at but musically...... what stands out about him??? What,"Call the cops"??? f**k outta here. LOL
Yo i hope Dipset gets there shit 2gether they were the best frm 2002-2006
Big ups to Ruger
thanks for the interview defsounds
my nigga hell rell on the grind keep it up my nig !!!!
Hell Rell on of tha most under rated PERIOD!!!
i didn't even know hell rell was that calm and laid back...that shit surprised me because when you watch his youtube video's or listen to a dipset album/mixtape, he's strictly hardbody but big ups to ruger rell because he spits lava
co-sign...I thought that nigga was gonna snap or say soome off the wall shit. I guess you can't judge nobody till you actually listen to them talk. Rell the truth doe me and my older brother stay listenin to him.
hell rell best thing in dipset IMO
rell one of da realest in the game fuck anybody who dont like it
good that Ruga doin his thing but Koch is a muthafucka I aint even know this joint was out
scratch that I think it was babygrande
I cant even pay attention to his music, because he's so ugly
I agree..I loved this interview but Hell rell is by far one of the top ten ugliest niggas on earth, next to
1.Rick Moranis(the dad from "honey i shrunk the kids")
2.Gilbert Godfried
3.the real "beetlejuice"
4.1996 P.Diddy
5.Mase when he was younger
6. I love New York
7.Sam Cassell and Neyo in a tie at 7!
8.Birdman and Flava Flav
9.Hell Rell
10. Lindsay Lohan sitting passenger in a car that Kanye West is driving during a bukkake rain shower by the resurrected corpse of John Holmes.
HAHAHA WIZ101...I THINK UR RIGHT THAT NOE ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS NIGGA HAHA N PLUS AFTER ALL THE DIPSET BULLSHIT HAPPENING..MOST PPLE DONT EVEN PAY ATTENTION KUZ THEY SHIT IZ ALL FUCKED UP N THIS SHIT BEEN ON HERE FOR A MIN N ONLY GOT ALIL BIT OF COMMENTZ LOL FUCK IT THO!!!
HELL RELL U TIGHT BUT U HAVE NO SHINE!NEED BETER PROMOTION OR SUMTHIN...KEEP GRINDIN RUGA RELL!!
BLACK WALLSTREET BITCH!!!
Thats a cool idea bout how he wants to the videos. Other than that......
Hell Rell's Favorite Rapper...The Phantom..He Has The Same Style As The LOX...He Ok..But i would Rather Listen To The Originals Do It...And Hell Rell Is No Where Near The Hardest Rapper Out..He Aint Even #234Or 5
dis dude has one of the biggest noses i evea seen in my life!
LMAO At Memphis Bleek As Your Screen Picture
I GOT TIME FOR HELL RELL. HE'S GOT SOME RAW PUNCH LINES WHEN HE'S READY AND HE'S REAL! ALL HE WANTS IS HIS SHIT TO BLOW BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU DO GET SOME POLITICS WITH DJ'S PLAYING YOUR SHIT!
you niggas are hatin Rell is one of the dopest rappers out now!
i fux wit hell rell. he the only nigga in dipset wit any skillz.
mr. Ruga Ruga is one Hell of a rapper.!
respect.
i know he down witt Writer, but still. writer go waaaaay harder than mr. ruga ruga..
DIPSET, DIPSET, DIPSET, DIPSET
man rellis hard but he got to step his wait up. he aint even on cam level and hes coming out with a album MAN.look rell is hard in the streets not at rapping.but at the end of the day i got to give it to him ((HE MAKING MONEY!!!)).
My Dearest One!Greetings to you, I hope this mail will find you well & healthy and Ihope we can established a relationship since we are meeting here for the first time,I have gone through a profile that speaks good of you on this site: I was impressed when i saw your profile and decide to communicate with you. It is my desire to know you,also i have very inportant thing to tell you,
pls kindly contact me with this email id(ester_rwanda2008@yahoo.com)so that i can tell you more about me and also send my picture to you,thanks and waiting to here from you.
ester.
FUCK CAM ALBUM GON DROP NOV AND JUELZ ANT GON BE ON IT....
WOWWWW
dat nigga hell rell droped diset he in big cat records now
Damn nigaz stl rave abt dickset...Damn nigaz dat cru died in 03...Juelz tried bringin it bk,,bt it gav hm sole atention,nt da whole cru...Jim jones dropd dat WE FLY HIGH BOOORRRIN,only 2 fail 2 go gold,certified wood...Den get murderd by jay on da beat...Fuk dipset
Rell do b spittin tho! ''Heard It Wuz A Price On My Head, So I Bought Myself.'' Mufuccas sleep on Writer 2. ''U Niggas Is Slackin, Even Tho U Got On Jeans.'' Cam 2, I f*cks w/tha whole dipset tho, had major talent, jus need BETTER BEATS!!!
Hey remy loc, shut up you piece of sh!t. You're an idiot. But dat interview was f#cking boring. F#ck remy loc!
I FUCKS WIT HELL RELL HEAVY,BUT AS FOR THE COMMENT A CHOSEN FEW MADE, I DIDN'T THINK I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICE THAT SHIT ABOUT KANYE WEST.