Over the years Miami- Dade County, Florida has cranked out numerous amount of talent in the music industry. From Trick Daddy, Pitbull, Trina to Rick Ross, the 305 has yet to lets us down! With that being said, much is expected from the new rap group Carol City Cartel otherwise known as Triple C's.
The Carol City Cartel is a four man group, which consists of Rick Ross, who's most recent effort Deeper Than Rap debut at number one on the Billboard Top 200 selling roughly 150, 000 copies its first week. Gunplay, the most noticeable member of the crew with the crazy dreads, Torch, the artist representing the north, the Bronx, New York; Castle Hill Projects to be exact, and Young Breed, the newest member of Triple C's. Recently the group released the video Go and their debut album Custom Cars & Cycles is set to be released later this year via Maybach Music Group/ Def Jam.
Yo! Raps caught up with two members of Triple C's Gunplay and Torch. We spoke about their debut Custom Cars & Cycles, what sets them apart from every other rap group, and where the beef stands with 50 Cent.
How did you each first meet Rick Ross?
Torch: When I was about 16 years-old, I caught a little drug charge and my mom sent me to Miami to get me away from the bullshit. Then I ended up getting into more bullshit! That's when I met him; he kind of took me under his wing, and showed me how to do it the Dade County way. I got a New York mind state! We stand on corners and shit, they stay in houses, so it's a difference.
Gunplay: We met through a mutual friend. I was in the streets doing my thing and Ross was doing his thing. I was younger than him, so he took me under his wing. He saw my loyalty and he put me in the position to get money.
What's something about Rick Ross that we don't get to see?
Torch: You might see all of the music that he puts out, but you have no idea what type of work ethic this man has until you're personally around him. When most people are sleeping this nigga is still recording. His work ethic is unbelievable, if I told you about it you still wouldn't believe it.
Gunplay, talk about the group name Carol City Cartel, how did that name come about?
Gunplay: Well you know what a cartel is already, but instead of selling drugs we're taking it to the music now. It evolved from the streets, but now we're a music cartel.
Let's talk about Triple C's, how did you guys come together?
Torch: Basically in a nutshell, Ross is like me and Gunplay's older brother in a sense. We're all just thinking we're nice and we could rap, but nobody took the shit serious. Then it actually came into fruition, it turned into something we live by. Now we rap and we never thought it would happen.
Let's talk about the debut album, when can we expect it?
Torch: The debut, the biggest album coming in the world! It's called Custom Cars & Cycles and it's on Maybach Music Group/Def Jam. You already know this shit is going to be a fucking movie. We have so many joints right now, we have like 100 joints recorded and I'm just excited to see which ones they pick. You can't go wrong with whatever they pick.
Gunplay: Expect that in October or November sometime. We're just putting on the finishing touch right now and it's about to be a big problem.
What exactly does the album title Custom Cars & Cycle mean?
Torch: It means everything that we strived for when we were street niggas trying to come up in the game. All we wanted was the same shit that the dope boys had. We just wanted the nice ass cars, cycles, and big ass cribs. I'm from the hood and we could never see any further than that, so that was success to us. We just decided to roll with it!
What artists and producers are featured on the album?
Torch: We featured everybody in the galaxy on the album, if you got a cousin who make beats he's probably on the shit [laughs]! We got Young Jeezy on that thing, Akon, T-Pain, Yo Gotti; we got a lot of joints and a lot of people. We really didn't need anybody, but we want to fuck with the streets! I feel like in a sense we got all giants, we're strong enough lyrically to hold that shit down ourselves. We don't need any features, but this is the game.
So is this album mostly street?
Gunplay: It's mainly street, but the mainstream is going to pick it up anyway.
What was the most memorable moment of recording this album?
Gunplay: Every moment is memorable! I thank God for letting me be able to get in the booth everyday to do what I love to do and getting paid for what I love to do! So everyday is a memorable one.
The Maybach Music Group is still pretty new, so how has it been working with this company?
Gunplay: We're still trying to work out some kinks with running a label. It's a brand new label, a brand new situation, brand new lifestyle, brand new money, so you've got to have a brand new mind state.
You guys released the track Yam, what does it mean to Yam or Yamming?
Torch: Yam is anything that you get money doing. Yam could be selling drugs if that's what you do to get money. Yam could be a stripper on a pole, she's selling yams and that's how she's getting money. Like I said, yams could be anything that you want it to be.
What do you think that other rap groups are missing that Triple C's will bring to the rap game?
Gunplay: Every group shines in their own light, but what Triple C's is going to bring to the game is real good music and conceptual records.
Torch: Oh man! We're bringing the future of rap, we're bringing rap back actually. All these suck niggas (no disrespect to anyone), but niggas been pulling the wool over niggas eyes for a long time. We ain't the same as all these niggas that have been putting niggas on, and they just be terrible. Here it's four different niggas, that are different solo artists, that actually got bread together. So we know how to rap together, but apart we have our own lanes.
What do you believe each member of Triple C's brings to the group?
Gunplay: Torch brings that up north element, that Hip-Hop. I bring that old dirty bastard, that Tupac, and that I don't give a fuck I'll spit in your face element. Ross brings that Boss element.
Torch, being that you're from New York, what is it like rocking with a group from Miami? How does that up north versus down south issue affect you?
Torch: Actually it really doesn't effect me much because I'm what you would call dead ass nice! I'm a ghostwriter and I actually have six records that charted in the top ten that I've written. Gunplay might be the noticeable one, the guy with the crazy dreads, but I'm the quiet one and my style is the most noticeable if you listen.
With a name like Gunplay, people may have misconceptions of you. What is something about yourself that people may not know?
Gunplay: I like Sade! That's probably something no one knows and I love her [begins to sing smooth operator].
Switching gears, where do you think this situation stands with 50 Cent?
Gunplay: Who? It's dead! The competition is dead! There's no more competition! I don't beat a dead horse, there's nothing to even talk about anymore. It's all about Custom Cars & Cycles and Triple C's right now. We took over and that's it!
Do you feel that you we're dragged into the whole beef?
Torch: Nah I wouldn't say dragged into it! Let's say you [Isha Cole] my baby and you've got beef with a bitch and she's with her man, I might just steal that nigga just because. It's crew love and it's home team, so I don't give a fuck what it boils down too. My nigga could be dead and wrong, but if he has a problem with you; he has a problem with me. I'm going to kick ass and ask questions later!
What are your opinions of him today?
Torch: I mean listen, I'm not throwing jabs at the monkey. That's his business and don't have nothing bad to say about buddy. All that boils down to me is, if you've got beef with my man, you have beef with me. Even if you don't have beef with me and you cool with me, until you squash it with my man, you're not cool with me! I came in the game to get money, I ain't no suck ass nigga. I came in the game trying to feed my family! Anyone trying to stop that, muthafucka you've got a problem.
Let's say you guys are headed to the studio, what is one thing that is a must have for each of you?
Gunplay: The CD, I don't need nothing else! My pistol and CD that's it [laughs]!
Torch: I ain't going to lie; I got to have my liquor. Lately I slowed down on smoking the marijuana. I recorded have of the album smoked out and the other half straight clear minded!
What is one thing that you've learned so far from being in this industry?
Gunplay: You've got to be patient, you've got to stay loyal, and you've got to work hard! Grind hard, and never sleep. Keep it real with your family and put God first.
- By Isha "Ice" Cole
