Lethal Cartel Records CEO K-OS is a true renaissance man. He handles the management, promotion, and even graphic design. Based out of East St.Louis, you can catch the Cartel all over the map. With worldwide aspirations for his label, he's already assembled a national roster of artists in G-SLICCK from Chicago Illinois, ILL BLEED from Madison Illinois and C ZAR from Bronx NY. On top of this he's an artist who in his decade plus in the game has earned a world wide distribution deal with KOCH ENTERTAINMENT. His upcoming album "SKIES DA LIMIT" is set to be released soon. K-OS took time out of his busy schedule to speak with us.Tell us about your next project?
The next project is SKIES DA LIMIT with features from George Clinton, Charlie Wilson, Murda Mook, G-Slicck and many others.
On your label Lethal Cartel you have artists from all over the map, how do you plan to coordinate your movement Nationwide?
First push a company song “Aint Nothing You Can Do With Us,” with each artist's single attached to it. This is a world wide movement.
"Nothing You Can Do With Us"
Do you think there's a misconception of St. Louis artists as sounding like Nelly and Chingy?
When Nelly came out every rapper wanted to be his clone, but as an artist I had my own style. No one in my area sounds like those guys. I'm from East St. Louis & there's a big difference.
K-OS "I Know You Looking"
Tell us in depth about your song with George Clinton.
I met George Clinton through a man named Ricky Outlaw in 1998, while doing a show on Venice beach. They where old school friends, so later while in the studio after a show in St. Louis, George heard a song I was laying down. He said you’re a talented young man ,then asked me could he put some funk on that! of course I said yeah so we came up with the song FUNKY PLAYGROUND.
As the CEO you focus on all business aspects, from hiring an on staff publicist to dealing with filing taxes. How does that effect your career as an artist?
It’s a lot of heavy weight dealing with running any company. It cuts off your social life, and separates you from those who don’t grind. You lose a lot of friends who don’t see the same vision you see, and gain a lot of pretends who sit and wait while you work, so they can grab the shine. Its 90% biz ,and 10% music with me. Monthly goals have to be met.
Street Life
You do your own graphics? What software do you prefer?
Yes I do my own graphics for shows, cd covers, posters, and billboards. I work with Photoshop 7.0 and Quark Express.
Would you rather be on the cover of Ozone or Don Diva?
I would rather be in Ozone. Not knocking Don Diva because I read them both.
Where can we find you online?
Thank you, anything you'd like to leave the people with?
Yes, first thank my family and for all future artists of hip hop, please make sure you have a strong team of go gettas who don’t take no for an answer. Like my publicist Cece Vance, we don’t sleep. Take it step by step, no short cuts. Make sure everything is copy written, with trademarks and have radio versions to all your songs. Thank you for this interview, can't wait to do it again. AIN'T NOTHING YOU CAN DO WITH US
