HipHopGame.com has an interview with Ness. Very good read, lots of information. He was in a movie with Freeway called "What We Do". It's not out, yet. He's trying to get a new reality show off the ground with MTV. He's got a clothing line that's in department stores in Philadelphia. He says that they are shooting for a Spring 2008 release of his album, around March. On the album:
How�s your debut album Nessessary coming?
It�s coming along crazy. I got production from will.i.am, Chad West, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Doe Fat, Stevie J and the Bad Boy Hitmen. I got stuff from Yogi. I got stuff from my man Black Keyz. I got tracks from Matrax. Bink! gave me some stuff. He did �1-900 Hustler.� It�s diversified. You�re not going to hear the drug dealing and the shoot �em up, bang-bang that you hear from every other street artist that�s coming out. I�m really thinking deep. I got the jackhammer. I�m more than just an artist. I�m a father, I have a clothing line, I have other websites�I have my hands in a lot of things.
How frustrating has it been waiting for your debut album to come out?
It�s real frustrating because of course as an artist, you�re hungry and you have the talent and you want to showcase your talent. It�s really inspiring to me because it just makes you want to get out there and it makes me want to let the world know what I can do. I�ve been off for four years but a lot of that was just the politics and making sure the paperwork was straight. I had to make sure that everybody was going to keep their word and now everything is official. So now I�m ready to rock and roll. The whole staff is behind my record and Diddy is one of Ness� biggest fans. He�s really the main reason why Warner Brother gave me the deal; because he spoke so highly of me. He just has faith in my music that it can make money out here.
According to the PMP Worldwide track dump page, they are looking to release Ness' album in the first quarter of 2008. Nothing I'd hold anyone to, of course.
Nobodysmiling.com : Back to the tour with P.Diddy, what you like most about this touring?
E. Ness : It�s real hard-work man. With Diddy he�s a major artist, so his accomplishments reflect what he�s done and all the records he sold. He has a major campaign behind him and he got the key to every city. His day starts at 4:00 A.m., he does all the morning shows, visit schools and just make the people love him. He just loves the people and he�s just on the grind promoting this new album �Press Play�. I got the opportunity to be on it and he�s just making it pop-off like that. He works 24/7 around the clock and I can�t even keep up with him. By the time he gets ready for bed he might have to get up and do it all over again, so he�s lucky if he might get four hours of sleep.
Nobodysmiling.com : That just shows the music business is a hustle.
E. Ness : Yeah and that just inspires me. A lot of people can say what they want about Diddy, but we have a good relationship and our situation is cool. I would never go off the record to disrespect that man, because he gave me the opportunity to share my music with the world. I can�t speak on everybody else situation. I just know my situation of where I came from and where I�m at now. Diddy is my number one supporter and my biggest fan. Anything financial wise that needs to get done he�s all for it.
Q: Back to the tour with P.Diddy, what you like most about this touring?
E. Ness: It�s real hard-work man. With Diddy he�s a major artist, so his accomplishments reflect what he�s done and all the records he sold. He has a major campaign behind him and he got the key to every city. His day starts at 4:00 A.m., he does all the morning shows, visit schools and just make the people love him. He just loves the people and he�s just on the grind promoting this new album �Press Play�. I got the opportunity to be on it and he�s just making it pop-off like that. He works 24/7 around the clock and I can�t even keep up with him. By the time he gets ready for bed he might have to get up and do it all over again, so he�s lucky if he might get four hours of sleep.
He mentions that he is on "Diddy Rock" on Press Play. He is a credited writer on the track, so that is probably what he means.
Ness: The name of the album is called Nessessary. I got everybody production-wise from Bink, Will.I.am, Just Blaze, Kanye West, of course the Bad Boy staff, D-Dot, Tony Dofat, Stevie J, Chad West, a lot of people. ...
AllHipHop.com: Diddy said on one of the interludes of the mixtape that he kept you locked in the dungeon with no food or water to keep you hungry. He gave you a ringing endorsement, do you feel he�s 100% behind you at this point?
Ness: Um, no. I mean, you gotta understand that he has a label to run, he�s the CEO and he�s also the artist, and there�s also a lot of acts everywhere. I could say this, whenever I call him or I need anything, he would make sure it gets done. Money-wise, contractual-wise, any problem I have the door�s always open. People may be saying, �Why you still down with Bad Boy, Puff is a jerk artist or whatever,� but I�d be the first to say if you don�t handle your business, you�re gonna run into obstacles. Me and Puff got an understanding; he knows that I love the music. I can�t speak on anybody else�s situation, but I know all my paperwork is straight.
