It’s been a long time coming for Mr. Cheeks, the lead MC of the once vitalizing Queens Hip Hop group Lost Boyz. He made solo waves outside of the group being featured on Lil Kim’s 2003 platinum single, “The Jump Off” and his biggest hit-to-date “Lights, Camera, Action,” and fully realizes the definition of the word “veteran.” Being the nephew to the late spoken word performer and musician Gil Scott-Heron, music was all he knew.
After a 10-year solo hiatus, he recently returned to the rap arena single titled “What’s Wrong With You,” which addresses what happened to the Lost Boyz as well as his casting his name on the ballot of vet rappers who oppose this new wave of mumble rap.
Yes, Terrance Kelly, now 45-years-young, has been in the ultimate grind mode lately. Aside from making new records and keeping the legacy of the Lost Boyz alive, he has taken on new business ventures such as partaking as a brand ambassador for the alcohol Vodkila Vodka and creating his own clothing line for the females.
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HipHopDX recently caught up with the South Jamaica Queens native to address his take on the current state of Hip Hop and what keeps him going. He also touches on how he deals with the loss of fellow LB member Freaky Tah, who was murdered at Cheeks’ own birthday party in Queens, New York, 17 years ago. Not only was Tah his personal hypeman, he was the energy of the group.
It’s The Jump Off!: Lil Kim sampled the Lost Boyz’ 1995 classic “Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz” in 2003 to push her own career forward.
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HipHopDX: Where do you feel Lost Boyz legacy fits in Hip Hop history?
Mr. Cheeks: [Lost Boyz] play a big part in Hip Hop history. We got a nice lil’ part in the game. When my bro [Freaky Tah] was here… we were a statement in the game. A lot of niggas is wearing dreads and gold pieces from Lost Boyz. I’m still performing records from the 90s like “Renee” and “Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz.” I think we did a good job. Still got timeless music. Still perform in the new millennium.
DX: Are you guys more forgotten than you would like to be?
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Mr. Cheeks: Oh, indeed. They know they need to put us up on that [VH1] Hip Hop Honors and those nominated shows, whatever’s going on. It is what it is. I’m glad we know this stuff. 2017 is when we about to on with my family … more of a statement than before. Now, I’m full circle with my clothing brand, liquor, new records. It’s a brand new start for me and I feel good about it.
DX: Why the 10-year hiatus from recording? It’s so easy to release albums and mixtapes with the Internet.
Mr. Cheeks: I dunno, maybe just the right situations or whatever. I got records out, it’s just not mainstream as everyone else’s. I’m doing the independent situation. I got albums on iTunes, records out, videos out, I’m doing tours. I’m on Steve Marley’s new album The Fruit of Life. I wrote “Pleasure and Pain” featuring Busta Rhymes.
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I’m doing things, but you might not hear me ‘cause I fly under the radar. But I’m not mad at that. I kind of like that. The kid’s still working, putting it in. You might not hear the new “flava” [Craig Mack voice] I’m doing over here.
DX: Have you ever struggled with having someone fill the void for Freaky Tah to keep the LB’s going?
Mr. Cheeks: I mean yeah, one of the most incredible voices in the game. It’s definitely hard to adapt to it that. I’ll just be rocking solo. My man behind me giving me that power boost. They dig my music, so they dig what’s going on. I was devastated. I never thought someone would take that like they did. That was on my birthday. We have a memorial for him every year. It affects me. I miss all my dudes I came in with. All my childhood friends, we became stagnant as we got older. I’m out here by myself but still got my family holding me down. I’m still making music and making sure Freaky’s name still heard and blasted.
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DX: Being a veteran in the game, you’ve seen a lot of artists come and go. How do you cope with the losses?
Mr. Cheeks: Aw man, just gotta, gotta live. Can’t worry about what’s gonna happen … just gotta live. I lost lot of niggas…. From Freaky to Guru. I just lost another dude, my uncle Gil Scott-Heron. It’s definitely a sad situation, but you can’t draw on it, ‘cause you gotta live. I got a granddaughter. It’s just what it is. Life. Nobody wishes death upon anybody. It’s just the way it is. The way He made it. When you here, you gotta make your statement and do what you do. Right now.
DX: What do you think about the current state of Hip Hop?
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Mr. Cheeks: Cats making music nowadays, they making music I don’t really get into. If it ain’t my thing, I won’t listen to it. If it’s garbage, I will never know ‘cause I won’t hear it. There’s a lot of fuckery going on. The “SKRT” and curses and shit, how do YOU feel about it? It’s crazy. Ay man.
DX: How does it compare to Hip Hop back in your day?
Mr. Cheeks: Don’t compare in any way. I seen a Hip Hop show last week, the [BET] Hip Hop Awards. Nigga came on the stage with a poodle. We used to come on the stage with pitbulls. It’s definitely changed. Niggas wearing burettes and shit. See what it is. Bananas. The ones that still putting out good music … it’s good to hear Beanie Sigel put out his music right now. That’s Hip Hop. Always feeling that wave, the second wave, this the illest wave he ever wrote.
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Same circus, different clowns.
DX: What is your hatred for mumble rap and do you feel like you’re on the wrong side of history with this argument?
Mr. Cheeks: I never said I was attacking the mumble rap, that just came up in an article. That wasn’t my intention. That’s not what I said. I was just giving niggas the business on the mic. I ain’t really got no problem. I just do what I do. I’m just out here banging out the official Golden Era Hip Hop. That era when it taught you something … when you wanted to be a rapper.
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“Now it’s like, there’s too many rappers. Some make sense, some don’t. Some want you to pop Molly, some want you to go to school.”
All my words gonna be clear that’s what I’m saying. Crispy. Let it go. That’s what it is, baby.
DX: You recently became a shareholder for Vodkila Vodka. Tell us about that.
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Mr. Cheeks: I’m a brand ambassador, promoting this new drink. You know, a little piece of the company. Vodkila is the first of its kind — tequila and vodka mixed. The first blend. It took three years to come out with it. It’s here now. Spread the word. It’s a good drink. It’s comfortable. We got one straight, one watermelon. I’m just getting involved in different businesses, different ventures.
DX: Are you a consumer yourself?
Mr. Cheeks: Of course. I drink it, every now and then. I’m not a strong drinker anymore. There are some businesses I run now, so I can’t really be that guy I was 15 to 20 years ago. If you need some bottles, I’ll send you some down. Have a taste test.
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DX: You also have a female denim line called Cheeks. Tell us about that.
Mr. Cheeks: Yes. it’s just a clothing line for the ladies. Cheeks denim. You got cheeks, don’t you? Goddamn. So let me make some Cheeks jeans and see what it does. I’m getting a good response from them right now. Sold out jeans and T-shirts for the last two weeks. I sell them at my club and parties.
I just opened a club in Queens now, my own little spot. I throwing parties upstairs, downstairs. It’s right in my hood. When I was younger, I used to perform in this spot, now I own this shit.
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DX: How was your recent experience going on tour with Nas and Stephen and Damian Marley?
Mr. Cheeks: You know I love my cousins. Every time I’m with them, it’s fun. Every time we’re together, we’re doing something productive. Making good music. Travelling. It’s just what it is. You know what bugs me out? When people don’t hear about Marley. They’re royalty. They got mad situations. Producers, artists, musicians. Proud family. I love them. I’m a ghetto youth, tatted up with that. That’s my team.
Ghetto Love: Relive the Lost Boyz’ biggest hit, which was also featured on the Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood soundtrack.
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DX: What’s your best memory from a tour?
Mr. Cheeks: Aw man … being the first rapper in Africa. Nigeria. First rappers out there. That’s one of my best incredible things, besides doing the American Music Awards with P. Diddy. Everything I do nowadays is just poppin’.
DX: What did you do with your first advance?
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Mr. Cheeks: I dunno. I did a lot of shit. Got the crib, the car, the weed. We never really understand advances. We just got it. Never had plans to buy big cribs and cars. Just get back in the studio and make music. Buy more trees then make music in the studio. Money’s just there. Just putting money into houses and businesses.
DX: What motivates you to keep making music?
Mr. Cheeks: It’s just in me, baby. In my blood. I always wanted to make music, since Michael Jackson when I was little. Ever since I was making it: good music, good beats, traps. It was a daily routine. Niggas making the best music around me. That’s how I feel about it. I just put out shit.
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DX: After all this time, I always wondered, did you actually see Lil Kim make that Sprite can disappear in person?
Mr. Cheeks: Nah, I ain’t see her do that in person. I wanna see her do it in person. But I never seen it. It’s just on the record.
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