Lush One: Drect, Dizaster, and
Hollow Da Don. These are some
of the dudes that literally got
GT started on both a behind the
scenes and in front of the camera
level.
We all started clique-ing up
through the WRCs; once the
WRCs were completely done
with, there was a huge void in
the scene. So during that time,
GT in particular the FreshCoast
was the springboard that
everyone else really took off
album. The event is like a classic
album and the crowd, filming,
editing and the host are like
the beats and production. Then
obviously, the emcees would
represent the people making
and performing the songs. So
it’s like you’re creating an entire
experience and there are levels to
it. There is a whole science to it
and a whole art that goes deeper
than just battles. You have to
take into consideration a lot of
things that most people don’t
even think about.
that all happened naturally; like,
we had no type of connection.
I’ve never had to speak to any
managers or publicists to book
anybody. It’s all done by us,
funded by us; it’s our blood,
sweat and tears.
Most people think that I just
show up the day of an event, pop
a Molly and start stumbling and
say some slick s**t on camera.
That’s not it at all!
“I don’t want people to make me out to be someone who just gets completely f***ed up and
jumps up on stage and says some slick s**t! My involvement in this culture and in KOTD Fresh
Coast is way deeper than that.” — Lush One
from. No one can deny that
from 2008-2010, the culture was
being held down by GT.
Now the game is at a much
better place, but between us and
the Canadians, we all have been
consistently thinking outside the
box and giving people original
matches. Not slacking off, not
letting our egos get the best of
us; Just being consistent and
bringing forth quality events.
Novie Blendz: I commend KOTD
as whole, especially the FreshCoast
division, for putting on dope
events. All of the cards have been
very huge and successful events.
Lush One: It’s incredible and
amazing that it reaches so many
people. The thing that people
don’t understand is the art of
an event. Say for instance you
compare battles to rap music, an
event is then comparable to an
90
Novie Blendz: That brings me
to my next question. What’s one
major thing that you would like
for people to understand about
what you guys actually put into
making these events happen?
Lush One: One thing about
us in particular, especially
the FreshCoast Division, is
that we have that Californian
independent spirit of a hustle.
Basically, our whole mind
state is that we get s**t done,
regardless. We operate without
having major budgets. The
dudes that are funding the
biggest battle events in the world
are affiliated with major labels
and have huge connections.
Everything we’ve done has been
completely organic, no punintended, and grass roots based.
It might be misleading with
people seeing Drake at events,
Raekwon and this and that. But
Novie Blendz: I can’t lie; I’ve
always assumed that every division
in KOTD was like the Bill Gates
or the Daddy Warbucks of battle
Leagues (Novie Laughs). Now in
terms of yourself, you mentioned
people assuming that you’re just
a huge druggy that hosts. What’s
one thing that you would want
people to understand about you’re
duties as a host and who you are
as a person?
Lush One: Most people see me
on footage and may think that I
am over-the-top, but they have
to keep in mind that these are
live events and my energy is
setting the pace and the overall
tone of the entire event. I have
to hold down the attention of
a large audience, including the
rappers and the staff. I have
been flown to four different
continents just to host. I hate to
be sounding like I’m sucking my
own c**k