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'Block' party with a purpose!
He's a star maker, risk taker... he's Russell "Block" Spencer, Bad Boy South President
Known to many and following a select few, Russell "Block" Spencer often creates his own way - stepping outside
of the box, taking chances and venturing into unknown territory. Block was hand-chosen by Sean "Diddy" Combs to
preside over Bad Boy South. His resume includes running Eight Ball Records, a productive tenure at Noontime and serving as
personal manager to producer Jazze Pha. He has worked with some the hottest artists and producers, including Tupac, Dr. Dre,
Suge Knight, Ciara and Boyz N Da Hood.
Bad Boy South is home to the crunk group Boyz N Da Hood. Often referred to as the "NWA of the South," members
Lil Wayne (just announced that he is replacing Jeezy), Jody Breeze, Duke and Big Gee create music they feel reflects the streets
of Atlanta - poetically raw and gritty lyrics laced over bass heavy beats. The group's first single, "Dem Boyz,"
was certified gold and and the popular video featured Bad Boy President Sean "Diddy" Combs.
"I wanted to work with Boyz N Da Hood because of the man behind them, Block," Combs says. "Block is real.
I like having real people around me. I heard the guys and instantly I liked the grind the rawness that I heard. I made it
my mission to find Block, and when I finally got him to sit down and talk business, I knew that I was on to something big"
"Boyz N Da Hood," the album, features production by Jazze Pha, Frank Nitti and DJ Toomp, plus the creative direction
of Bad Boy South President Block.
"I have lived what my rappers rhyme about," the enigmatic Block says. "I grew up in the streets and I'm
still a friend to the 'hood. The music business is similar to being
On Tupac: He would grind, work all the time. He didn't care about girls. He didn't put p___y first. First come first... that
was the business. His songs were totally honest. He didn't care about the club. He lived in the studio.
in the streets because I take advantage of opportunities and set my own standards."
Block was ushered into manhood while growing up in Atlanta's East Lake Meadows housing projects in the '80s. While this
"boy from the 'hood" wears his moniker proudly, he also wears a little known hat that is filled with compassion
for the community. Mentored by one of the greatest civil rights leaders, Hosea Williams, Block is a silent pillar in the community.
He has created community-based initiatives that include providing haircuts and computers for young people. Additionally, he
worked to create a Block By Block partnership between Bad Boy South and his own Block Entertainment to provide housing for
evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Block is a maverick, determined to make a difference in his community as well as continue to put his stamp on the music
industry. He talks candidly with Starpoynt about his business philosophies and the mentors who inspired him, including the
late Tupac Shakur.
Star - What do you think are the key elements to a good track?
Block - The beat and the hook... you have to have that 100 percent. Once you get the beat, the hook will tell you what
to do, whether it's a laid back track or it's crunk. But... you never know what a hit is until you put it out.
Star - Now... let me ask the question like this - what are the key elements to a commercially successful song?
Block - The machine at the record label... you can have a good record, but if the right people aren't around you, it doesn't
matter. People need to learn to do their research and hire the peeps who are going to get the job done. It's nice to take
care of your homies, but it they can't help you sell records, it's not going to matter.
Star - What do you look for in an artist?
Block - A concept... I look for what kind of concept they bring to the table. For example, Kanye West has a good concept
from how
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he dresses to how he puts his music together. You have to have a movement these days, not just a hit record. When I look at
an artist, I ask "Where are you trying to go, who are you trying to be?" The artist has to grind... he has to be
ready to work.
Star - You have wore a variety of hats… what do you think your role is as head of Bad Boy South?
Block - My role... I'm the boss over there. I have total control. I've proved I can put a record together and walk it
all the way through. I can put together an artist and a record.
Star - How big is your staff?
Block - I have a lot of entities... with Block, I have Rico Brooks and my attorney. I came in the game co-managing Tupac
and the Outlawz. I've done A&R for Noontime. I've been in the game a long time. I'm just laid back.
Star - What’s your vision for Bad Boy South?
Block - To make it into a movement again.
Star - Second career choice?
Block - I'd be like a social worker or something, but real estate is where you get the money, so I'd have to be into that.
Star - Coming up, who were your musical influences?
Block - NWA, Easy E, Scar Face, Ice Cube, Public Enemy.
Star - Who do you like to listen to now?
Block - Boyz N Tha Hood, Tupac, Biggie, a compiliation of the tracks I'm about to put out, probably by March 2006
Star - What inspires you?
Block - Lot of things... I came from the 'hood. My kids inspire me. They keep me going.
Star - Working with Hosea Williams, you certainly must have gotten an earful about your responsibility to society... let's
talk about that for a minute in terms of the material you put out. What's your take on lyrics that are vulgar or that are
derogatory to women or even that many people could argue perpetuate the stereotype of "people from the 'hood?"
Block - Hosea stayed right down from the street from me. He would be out in the neighborhood. He used to tell us to do
something with our money and be positive with the projection of where we're going. I lived that... I look as the urban hip
hoppers as the Urban CNN - we have to talk about what we see and what we go through. I use the "n" word everyday
because it's a way of life. Young Jeezy, T.I., Boyz N Tha Hood - we are the broadcasters from the hood. One word to sum that
up is respect - it's personal - the "n" word. Everybody loves a bad boy. Me siting here using it and if one of my
white partners uses it, I'm gonna stop him. That's just the way it is.
Star - Favorite person you have worked with?
Block - Tupac - he would grind, work all the time. He didn't care about girls. He didn't put p___y first. First come first,
and that was the business. His songs were totally honest... he didn't care about the club. He lived in the studio. He was
a grinder and that's what made him the best. No one could outwork that dude, and I been out here grinding.
Star - What can we expect from Block in the future?
Block - A lot. You will always here about a movement. Block will be a movement... he will always be around. I look at
myself as being a movement like the Motown movement... I have a clothing line with Boyz N The Hood... it'll be called Wifie
Material for the females. You'll be able to find it in urban style stores in April 2006. I'm also working on a film with Ice
Cube called "Down By Law" - like the movie Boyz N The Hood... it's sort of a continuation. Down By Law was a gang.
We gonna back it up.
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