Interview in Clout #9 | Click here to purchase this issue!

So what’s new with The Ranjahzs? What have y’all been doing lately?
WAIS: We had been grinding mastering our craft. After our situation we wrote for some people and produced for some people and built our own studio. And you know, just been sittin back watching these clowns in the game.

Who have y’all wrote and produced for?
W: Well, most of the things I did were ghost written so I’m not at liberty to divulge that info (laughs). As far as productions Runna and Haph did something on the Exit Would soundtrack; Haph also did something for KTU and Memphis Bleek.

Weren’t you signed to Jay-Z’s The Carter Faculty Label at one time?
Yeah we were signed over there at one time but that situation had bad management and the rest is history.

Are y’all still cool with Jay-Z?
Of course, that’s my man. He was like a big brother to us in the game. When we met Jay-Z we was like 16, so we basically was just you know, absorbing game; watching how the machine was being built.

With the decline in record sales and increase in downloading and bootlegging, are y’all worried about putting an album out during this hip hop recession?
HAPH: I got mixed feelings about this shit you know. I would love to put an album but I’m worried because the game changed and until we find a way to corner the market with digital sales as well as increasing the CD sales bought from the stores, we gonna keep seeing a decline in sales – it’s a hip-hop depression. It doesn’t mean I’m worried about us because our music is gonna impact and make a mark regardless. W: No I’m not worried about the sales because as artist and business men, we can adjust and cre­ate new solutions to keep record sales in high digits. That’s just another hustle in the game and when we get the formula we charging for it (laughs).

Who would you sign to now if given the chance?
H: It don’t matter who we sign to, when we do sign we’re gonna make an impact. We’re only gonna sign with whoever has a clinic that lets us perform surgery the way we know how. And if not, we’ll open our own.

We know you’re a producer Haph; who have you done work for?
Memphis Bleek album, Ranjahz tracks with Raekwon, Anthony Hamilton…nothing else worth mentioning, but my sole interest for The Ranjahz is shopping beats. A homie put a bug in my ear and told me to go hard on myself and The Ranjahz.

How do you think hip-hop can win again?
Country or rock is actually winning right now. Niggas is trying to make a hit record instead of going in the studio making good music. Instead of originality, niggas is trying to follow each other and do what other niggas are doing. Niggas don’t know how to create good music and pioneer their own sound. W: Niggas is weak!

Is indie better than major?
It’s a catch 22. Indie is better than major because you earn more on your sales and you got more control over your record. The majors are going to put more marketing and promotions behind you because they wanna push hard to get a good return.

What producer are y’all working with?
H: If you hot then it works. W: But right now what’s separating us from other cats is we got D-Dot.

Who do y’all respect in the game right now?
H: Fuck y’all niggas. I’m working with my dogs. W: What people don’t understand is a lot of artists want to work with us because they respect our craft. They knew who we were and wanted to work with­ us, so we respect the artist that shows us love when we were coming into the game. The one thing we never had a problem with is niggas not respecting our craft or us. Niggas know what The Ranjahz can do and how we move. We on the luxury speed boat and D-Dot is the captain, so it’s good to have him and DJ Re­­roc. We got plans laid out for expansi­on. In closing the reason cats are moving units is because niggas ain’t real musicians. Niggas is making that microwave music instead of getting in the booth composing a record. We been doing that and we ain’t scared to go with a new producer or a new type of style or anything. We been in the game but we’re new everyday. We evolve like the game does and everything else that’s not the same. And we ain’t come here to be a group, we’re here to be rap’s new super group. Fuck that microwave music. We cheffin it up until they cut the gas off.

For more information on the Ranjahz and to listen to a few of their tracks, visit www.myspace.com/theranjahz.