100 BARS MAGAZINE 010 JUN/JULY 2014 | Page 36

Kannon, they used to be in my room chopping it up before all the Facebook groups and s**t had even been started. And for the most part, yes, the controversy is definitely good for the sport. Without the s**t talking and all of that, there wouldn’t be battle rap... Eve: You ever thought of trying to get signed to Smack when you got back into battling? Lee Hustle: It doesn’t really matter where I battle at; I’ll battle anywhere. I’m not really trying to be signed to anybody. I feel like if there ain’t major bread involved, n***as shouldn’t sign their life away. Eve: Well, what would your contract look like? Lee Hustle: If I was to get a contract, I would get some bread up front. This is battle rap and there‘s a lot of battle rappers out there getting “raped.” They look real good from the outside looking in, but when it comes to the business end, these n***as are getting pennies. [Battlers] put whole lot of time into crafting their bars and they put that material together for a real small amount of money. So it doesn’t make any sense to get into a contract, you know what I’m saying? Eve: So do you think you get paid what you feel your worth to battle? Lee Hustle: Yeah. I handle my business like: if you shoot my 36 some bread, I’ll take care of the travel. I’m saying, I don’t ask for [$1, 000], because my value ain’t up there yet, but I deserve a little something for traveling and these rounds I’m giving them. Eve: Something I just ran across I have to ask; were you thinner? Lee Hustle: (Lee laughs) Yeah. I was. Eve: How did that battle get to 8.2 million views? I personally think it got that high because it said “Blood vs. Blood”. Lee Hustle: I got a lot of backlash for the battle. That’s why I don’t even claim it, but [battlers] know. I’ve got the most viewed battle in battle rap. Listen, I don’t even care about that battle because it said “Blood vs. Blood”, it doesn’t say “Lee Hustle vs. Gladiator”. Eve: 8.2 views is impressive and I’m still wondering why you don’t jump at the chance at getting with a “Top Tier” league. Lee Hustle: I don’t really get along with those guys over there and a lot of the battle rap community want me blackballed for this s**t, because I’m not a “yes man”. People can’t censor me. The fact that I don’t kiss ass, I talk what I feel and don’t be on t ]