This is the follow-up to the interview that started this section off in the first place. Crooked speaks again, nearly a year after his original interview, with news of whats going on in the Darkroom and life, among other things. This interview took place over a couple of weeks in April of 2001:
Boomin' Words From Portsmouth: 1. Last year was a big year for you guys, how many cds did you guys release? Crooked: I can't remember off the top of my head, but defenitely over 10-12 CDs and a few other projects including a movie and a video collection. Let's see.... My solo, Duke's solo, Dyno's solo, Oso's solo, Alg's solo, "Homicide Kings," Brown Area-"Power N Numbers," "NKA," "Traficantes," and....the "BLOOD & TEARS" feature film, "CONNECTED BY HONOR" video collection, Dyno's book-"Midst Of My Confusion," "Midst Of My Confusion" CD and that's what I can remember at the moment, but I'm pretty sure there's more. I'll have to check and make sure.
BWFP: 2. What was your top cd in terms of sales last year? Crooked: Darkroom Familia-"Homicide Kings."
BWFP: 3. What has been the best selling Darkroom cd of all-time? Crooked: "From The Barrio With Love" and "Sir Dyno-Interview With A Chicano." "From The Barrio With Love" was released four different times. With various re-mixes and different songs. We released it first on our Darkroom Studios label. Then three other labels that we hooked up with re-released it. And it's always sold a lot. I'm the only one in Darkroom who has an original copy of that album. I'm also the only one in our click that has an original copy of Dyno's "Interview With A Chicano" since that album has also been re-released a few times with different versions of songs and other things.
BWFP: 4. Darkroom always seems to be constantly releasing cds. Do you guys believe that you should be dropping a new cd every few months?
Crooked: That's what we do. We are always on the hustle. Constantly. That's why we're still in the game. 'Cause we don't give up. It's taken us so long to achieve what we've accomplished and we're finally making the money that we earn instead of getting fucked by labels.
BWFP: 5. Since your departure from Dogday, has any other label approached you guys with an offer?
Crooked: We've talked with some people, but in the meantime we're happy with our situation on the underground scene, either way, I'd rather not name names at this point in time. If it happens, it happens....if it doesn't, it doesn't. Either way, we're making a living off of what we've worked hard to do.
BWFP: 6. Have there been any new members to join the Darkroom lately?
Lately? Crooked: No.
BWFP: 7. Has anyone left the DRF recently?
Crooked: Nope. Darkroom Familia is: Me (Crooked), Duke, Dyno, Oso, ALG, K.I.D, Sapo, Dub, Young D). The line up has been the same since we left dogGAY.
BWFP: 8. It has taken you guys some time now to make "Smile Now, Cry Later," Can you tell us a little something about it (plot, who is in it, etc.)?
Crooked: It's about two brothers, one trying to be good, the other is living dangerously and they make some choices that come back to bite them in the ass. There's a rap element involved in the story as well. That's the most I can say about it without ruining the movie for you. It stars: Dyno, ALG, Dub, Oso, K.I.D, Sapo, Young D, Me, Mentiroso, Skarface and a few others.
BWFP: 9. How do you and Duke come up with the plots of your movies?
Crooked: We both come up with an idea and then we sit in front of the computer and type up the script while throwing ideas and plots and characters and dialogue at each other and in the end, it all comes together. We've always been huge movie buffs. I've seen so many movies I can tell damn near every time when one movie rips off another. Me and Duke have seen some weird and obscure films. Me, Duke and Dyno are very much into films. Me and Duke were bound to end up doing films sooner or later.
BWFP: 10. What has been the most successful Darkroom movie thus far?
Crooked: "Blood & Tears." For the fact that we actually got it seen by so many people. For the fact that we were able to get it into Hollywood Video and other video rental stores across the country and that is something that dogGAY promised us every time, but couldn't do.
BWFP: 11. What is your personal favorite movie you guys have made?
Crooked: "Smile Now, Cry Later." I'm very proud of this movie. We took a LONG time making it and it turned out better than I had originally thought. We'd been in production of this film since December, over four months and it's finally finished. And I think that you will notice the stepped-up production in the film. We have a lot better characters and acting and dialogue and cuts. I mean, just in the way that we edited the film that makes it so much more better than our previous films. Everything is better in this film. From the film quality to the sound to the sound effects to the blood to the violence to the music. It's definitely several notches above the last film. People don't realize how hard it is to make a film. It's not like video where all you do is point and shoot a damn video camera and if it doesn't come out, well all you do is record over your mistakes or pop in another video tape. ANYONE can shoot a home video. We use film. Film is VERY expensive and delicate. You have to KNOW about film to shoot film. You have to have the right lighting and sets and everything. And because film is so expensive and delicate, you CAN'T waste it. You HAVE to use as much of the film as you can. Film is just a beautiful thing as opposed to video which to me, will never replace film. I am a filmmaker. That is why I will never shoot anything on videotape.
BWFP: 12. Do you enjoy acting as much as rapping?
Crooked: No. I hate acting. I think I'm a terible actor. I'm a lot more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. I'm much happier just being the filmmaker than the actor. I'd rather write and direct and produce. I just love the whole filmmaking experience. I do feel that I love filmmaking more than rapping.
BWFP: 13. Since you are a big movie fan, have you seen any good movies lately?
Crooked: Yes. "Traffic" is by far the best movie of the year and one of the best films ever made. Also "Blow," but "Traffic" takes the whole prize in my eyes. That movie is an incredible piece of film. To me, that is the movie of the year. Everything about it. From the acting to the lighting to the cinematography to the editing to the story to the characters. It's just an incredible movie throughout. It's the most realistic drug movie I've ever seen. And it's a total drama. But because it's so intense, it's almost a docu-drama. It's defenitely NOT your typical bullshit "hollywood" movie with special effects and explosions. It's a total drama that is character-driven. If you wanna see a great film, then go see "Traffic." I'm counting down the days for the relase of the DVD.
BWFP: 14. Can you tell us about your newest cd, "They Fear Me" (release date, guest appearances, time it took to make, etc.)? Crooked: I've been working on it for a while now. Basically, I've had to push the release date back a while because I don't want to rush it and put out a shitty album. "They Fear Me" is still in the works but it WILL be released soon. I'm just taking my time on it because I wanna out-do EVERYTHING that I've ever been a part of. And I've been tied down with the movie since last December. But I think that all of our fans will love it and know that it was worth the wait.
BWFP: 15. What kind of artwork are you looking for to put on the cover of "They Fear Me"?
Crooked: The artwork is done actually. I shot the photos myself and Me and DYNO did the graphics for it. I think it came out better than I had planned and I'm very pleased with it. It's a dark, almost horror movie kind of cover. You'll see.
BWFP: 16. What are some other Darkroom cds you guys are working on at the moment? Crooked: We just finished DYNO's and it came out BOMB. I think it's his best one so far. We're also working on my solo and OSO's and the next DARKOOM FAMILIA album.
BWFP: 17. Is there any chance we might be seeing a Crooked and Duke group album in the future?
Crooked: Yes. Duke thought of the idea and we've been talking about it. We just have to work on the details. We already have a title, which I like. But we're gonna keep that a secret until it all comes together. Hopefully by summer we'll have something completed.
BWFP: 18. Does the DRF have plans on releasing any more books soon, perhaps the times and tribulations of Crooked?
Crooked: I don't know if I have the patience to write a book. I know that sounds funny, because I write the scripts along with DUKE, but writing a book takes a lot of time and dedication and right now we're doing a million things a minute so it's very hard to take on another project as difficult as a book. But, you never know. Maybe one day.
BWFP: 19. Re-releasing old material seems to be a new trend in today's underground market, and you guys are no exception with the release of "Enter the Darkroom," Are there any plans to release "Enter the Darkroom 2"?
Crooked: Yes. We're working on it now. It comes out soon. It's gonna have some classics and some shit that was never available on CD until now.
BWFP: 20. Will you guys ever re-release your old tapes like Player's For Life, Temporary Insanity, Barrio Love, and other out of print and hard to find tapes from the early to mid 90's?There seems to be a big demand for these from your fans.
Crooked: Anything's possible. Sooner or later, we'll probably put something together. We've actullay been discussing re-releasing some Temporary Insanity shit soon. But I don't wanna say too much until I know for certain.
BWFP: 21. Do you guys ever plan on offering copies of "GUN - XIV Til Eternity" and "GUN - Cuete" to your fans, possibly as a special online deal since they were banned a few years ago and are very hard to find?
Crooked: Well, the fact of the matter is that we didn't release those albums. Those albums came out on a different label and weren't released by us at all. So, I don't know anything about them to be honest with you. I wish I could help you with that, but I can't. Sorry.
BWFP: 22. Is there any chance we will be seeing another GUN oriented album ever again? Crooked: See answer to question #21.
BWFP: 23.A lot of fans have wondered, what is the beef between DRF and Frost? And how did it all start?
Crooked: There is no beef with us and frost. We heard he dissed us in Texas. Capone was the first one to tell us about it. Well, we weren't trippin' 'cause to us, dissin' someone and not being man enough to say it to their face is some childish pussy shit. So, anyway, to make a long story short, ME, DUKE and DUB were in SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH about two summers ago promoting Darkroom at a lowrider car show. And it just so happens that frost was there performing with Baby Beesh and JT as Latino Velvet. So, DUKE and ME and DUB approached the stage as close as they would allow us and we called out frost's name because we wanted to ask him man to man, face to face, what the shit is that we're hearing about him dissing us. He came over with Beesh and JT. We confronted him and we asked if he's got beef with us, well we're here to settle shit like men. He said he never bad mouthed us and that he ain't got no beef with us and that's that. Beesh and JT were doing their best to mediate and that's it. We left having met and shook hands with Beesh and JT and they showed us some Bay love and we left with no grudges. Then later on I hear that dude's talking some more shit. But whatever, I ain't trippin'. We came at him like men and we handled it like men. We know what really happened that day and he knows what really happened that day and all the Salt Lake City homies that were there know what really happened that day and that's all that matters. I don't gotta lie to kick it.
BWFP: 24. What do you have to say about the comments that Capone made against the Darkroom in an interview that was done a while ago? Crooked: I don't have anything to say except that he knows he's full of shit and he don't want no beef with us. He already squashed shit with some e-mails and phone calls. He knows he was lying. Like I said, if you ain't man enough to say shit to someone's face, then don't bother saying anything at all.
BWFP: 25. Another topic that has many DRF fans talking about is the departure of DRF members such as Low, E-Clips,and Mr.Ace. What happened to these guys? Crooked: Maybe you can tell me. ACE went a.w.o.l., I don't know. No one has seen that guy in a LONG ass time. I wish I knew what happened with that guy. He just dissapeared off the face of the earth. Low, he said some things he knows he was wrong for saying and we chose not to work with him anymore. E-clips said and did some things that he also knows he was wrong for and we chose not to work with him anymore. Period.
BWFP: 26. What happened between Darkroom and Drew? He seemed to be a big part of Darkroom when he was around, starring in Veteranos and being on all the Darkroom cds released at that time. It comes as a big surprise that someone who was that much involved would just leave. Crooked: He wasn't a big part of anything. He came in when we were already established. We just decided to include him on TWO CDs. That is the bulk of his work with us, TWO CDs. He wasn't there in the beginning. Me, DUKE, DYNO, and DEE-ROLL started Darkroom. Only Oso is the only other one who was there in the beginning. Anyway, that guy claimed that he was gonna sign with some label in LA and we gave him our blessing and let him go, then he tried to come back with us and we didn't allow that to happen. But we had parted as friends, next thing I know he straight up BETRAYED us. He STABBED US IN THE BACK and he TURNED on us. What he did goes beyond this rap shit. What he did was a two-faced move. He BETRAYED us. We used to have love for him, but he BETRAYED us and things will never be like they were. And that is all that we have to say about that.
BWFP: 27. How do you feel about Drew signing up with Lowtown records?
Crooked: Honestly, I don't feel shit. I had no idea that he did until you just mentioned it now. I could care less. We don't pay attention to what the next man is doing. We just continue to do what we do.
BWFP: 28. Is it safe to say that Darkroom and Lowdown will not be working together anytime in the future? Last year on Homicide Kingz, Never and Lil Wyno both appeared on a track called "Still Darkroom," What has happened since then that has strained the relationship between DRF and Lowdown? Crooked: It's as much a mystery to me as it is to you. I have nothing bad to say about that group. We wish them the best of luck. We hope that dogGAY treats them better than they treated us. We hope that wyno goes gold and platinum with dogGAY. It's really unfortunate that wyno only got $1250 from Federal, damn, that's $50 more dollars than I got from dogGAY for the VETERANOS soundtrack. It's a damn shame that they choose to believe the two blood-sucking sheisters at dogGAY than to believe their supposed homies. I know that wyno's upset and thinks that dogGAY broke us off all sorts of money for our albums and movies, but if that were the case, then why would we leave them? He's not the only one who got fucked over for money from those projects. We ALL got fucked. So Darkroom chose to leave because we don't like getting fucked by anyone other than our ladies. I wish that people would look at the big picture and realize that the two sheisters at dogGAY are two of the biggest low life thieves to ever walk the earth. Their track record speaks for itself. You just have to open your eyes and look. EVERY artist has left them. EVERY artist. Even 11/5, one of their first groups and big sellers, left them recently. What does that show you? Not that I feel the need that I have to explain myself, 'cause I don't. I couldn't give a fuck what anyone thinks. I know the truth and dogGAY knows the truth. Period. So, like I said, we wish them the best of luck. Seriously. We hope that they go on to make millions with dogGAY. We'll just continue to do what we do until we can't do it no more.
BWFP: 29. Is there any thing else you would like to say to your fans?
Crooked: Yeah. Don't believe everything you hear. If you hear shit and you wanna know the TRUTH, ask us. When you spread rumors that you hear, you're only helping the hatred. You're only fueling the fire and that's just as bad as hating. We've been in this game for 12 plus years. A lot of motherfuckers have ridden our coattails to get where they're at and that's cool, we don't need to name names 'cause everyone knows who those people are. So people can go ahead and keep claiming how tight they are or how much we blew up because of them, but the bottom line is that WE made US. And WE made ALL those other people. They know it and it eats them up inside. We know this from the shit that comes out of their mouths. The greatest compliment is to talk about someone, you feel me? So much love to all rappers out there, even the haters. We hope all you fools blow the fuck up. All we care about is feeding our kids, paying our bills and taking care of our true homeboys. Don't hate a motherfucker because he's succeeded where you have failed. And don't ever question how real the Darkroom is or anybody up in it. DUKE has been locked up in over 10 different jails since he was 18 till 22. The last time he was in was in 94' and he vowed never to go back. My homeboy Dyno is facing LIFE right now on FEDERAL charges as most of you might know by now since it's been all over the news and newspapers. There's other people who claim to be real when the craziest shit they've done is write graffiti in L.A. or shoplift at Wal-Mart. You got fools that are with fat 300 pound dopefiends that claim to be pimps. You got fools that have been married for years and claiming to be macks. But it's all good though. There's a lot of rappers out there that believe what Murder Dog magazine says about them and they actually believe that they're killers. Or they actually believe that they're gonna go gold or platinum. But that's cool though, we hope they do. Like I said, as long as we take care of our familia, that's all that matters to us. We hope that everybody blows up, even the "real" rappers. Much love to BOOMIN' WORDS for the support and check us out on the web: www.darkroomfamilia.com
"SMILE NOW, CRY LATER" soundtrack out now and "SMILE NOW, CRY LATER" FEATURE FILM out VERY SOON. "DYNO-THROUGH MY EYES (GANGS, DRUGS & MURDER)" out soon. "DUKE-A GIFT BEFORE I'M GONE" out now, "CROOKED-THEY FEAR ME" and "OSO-THE HATED ONE" and "ALG-TILL DEATH DO US PART" out soon. DARKROOM FAMILIA-"MEN OF HONOR" out summer 2001. Go to THE WHEREHOUSE to pick up Darkroom Familia music. Thanks for the support to all TRUE Darkroom fans. Thanks for sticking with us through all of the bullshit. We do this music shit for you. Much love to ALL of Northern Cali. From The Bay Area to the Valley. FUCK dogGAY records. Don't support thieves. Their sheistyness will be their downfall. My final words are: You should believe your homeboys before believing some devils that you just met. A rumor is just a rumor. Unless you've seen shit with your own fucking eyes.
