My influences were legends like Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Luther Vandros, Charlie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Teddy Pendergrass, Frankie Beverly, Al Green, Prince.....I am still influenced by new artists such as Muziq Soul Child, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blidge, D'Aangelo, Erika Badu and India Irie......
Al Profit Interview 2006 (With Murder Inc Online)
First off can you tell us a bit about yourself and how did you get into the game?
My whole family, moms/pops/aunts/uncles/cousins were heavy into the revolution in the sixties and seventies....My pops was from Oakland but he met my moms when he came to NY to start the Corona, NY Chapter of the Black Panther Party.....My pops was very close to Huey P. Newton.....I was named after a Revolutionary Martyr named "Alprentice Bunchy Carter".....he was assassinated in 1969.....i was born in 1970...I've been in the game for a while.....I mean.....I'm 35 years old.....I've seen hip hop from the beginning....i remember park jams in the late 70's early 80's....I'm from Queens....I was born in Corona, but i grew up in South Jamaica in the 80's....during "Reaganomics", and the beginning of crack cocaine.....allot of my close family got caught up in the Matrix called crack!......anyway....my moms used to sing in a band...... so I grew up in the studio singing.....so I've always been in game.....
How did you hook up with Black and Hoodstock?
Like I said....I'm from South side, but my girl was from "Woodhull", in Hollis.....we lived in "Rule's" building on 191st....she grew up on that block....That's how I met "Black"...Black opened a studio in the"Hood" and he needed a team...so he founded "Hoodstock"....I was there from the beginning along with everyone else....I really miss that girl.....she was my heart....I still love her..."Shout out to Stacy from Woodhull and 191, she always supported my career!"
What projects are you currently working on like a solo project and can we expect anything to be released anytime soon from Hoodstock ?
I have had a few acting gigs in the past, I just finished shooting a romantic comedy set in Manhattan. I was also briefly in the "Interpreter", with Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman.....They played me, gave me an "extra" role......but I got some bread from that role.....and it's really about the experience anyway.....Right now I am in the final stages of my mixtape called "Hard-n-B"...a collection of hard but smooth joints from Alprofit and Hoodstock...with a few guests....shout out to "TONY Sunshine" from Terror Squad....Him and "Buck Fifty" came through and blessed the track....BlackChild and Reg executive produced it....don't expect to get an R-n-B CD.....the shit is "Hard!" and "B"......Everybody is on it.....of course Black, Shan, 720, Shadow, Indi 191, Shan, Chico's Son, Caddy makes guest appearance..."The Gift" and "Te Moore" is on a skit....."GUNZ Mud", from Harlem is on it...I'm on some conscious shit with this CD....talking about the problems that we face in our communities....drugs, life, death, being a single father, child support, sex and love....as well as life lessons.... I have a song with "Rule" called "Bang! Bang! Bang!....but I don't know if of t will make the CD....because...we did it two years ago.....so a lot of the shit that "Ja" is saying is hot...be we are not dealing with those issues anymore....if you know what I mean...I am on the "Animal" soundtrack...the movie with "Ving Rhames"... It's a solo song called "Get High Wit Me" Ft. Indi 191 and Sekou 720....Ving hand picked the song....so you know I got gassed....Right now! Black is in negotiations with Ving for the soundtrack for Ving's next project called "Nat Turner", about Nat's life.....My conscious songs are what will make it a great fit....besides, I already wrote and recorded the song....It's called "Naturna" it's on the CD. Ving Rhames has been a good friend to Blackchild and Hoodstock....He's a good dude! Right now.....everybody is working on there solo projects...some key players got locked up, or either on the run....real street issues...it's like losing your running back or quarterback, right before the season...other people gotta step up.....and that is what is happening now....
You served 4 years in the United States Navy and served during Desert Storm/Desert Shield what was that like and how has it effected your life?
I had to drop out of college to start working, but working became hustling...so I joined the Navy to try to get some real at bread....It was cool until Bush Sr.invaded Kuwait...that's when got real..I was always out to sea, in the Mediterranean sea. I must have seen every Mediterranean port from "Haifa, Israel" to Spain....even "Athens, Greece"...I had a tough time adjusting to the military, but I did it! It definitely tough me toughness.....I went to Norfolk State....that school was real hood...then I got stationed in Norfolk when I was in the Navy....It was like I never left. I was enlisted but I lived the Civilian Life...nobody knew I was in the Navy.....I drove a ill car , had a condo and a motorcycle...I was doing my thing....me and a couple of other catz... but I was on the wrong route! a local nigga tried to murder me...I almost died....that's when I woke up....I think that I mostly became a man and grey up in the Navy....
You have been compared to Nate Dogg with your ability to rap and sing hooks almost perfectly. Do you feel you have a similar style to Nate Dogg, and will We hear u doing more Big hooks in the future, big hooks as in all thoose big big tracks Nate Dogg's been apart of?
It's been an honor when I have been compared to Nate....he is where I am tryna get.....he started this Hard-n-B shit.....so I say good looking.....
When you write your rhymes, what do you draw on for inspiration and ideas?
When I write...I always write from my personal inspiration...things that I have drawn from my personal life....unless...the hook is already written....
Amazen Grace recently told us that Tha Stock split into two separate groups can you explain the split who's still in in the group and who has left to form the other "Hoodstock"?
"Maze" is my man.....I think what Maze is talking about is what I said earlier...about real street issues....one or two catz got locked up and or jumped bail.....so at this point....we're just tryna recover from from loss of some key individuals....
With happend with Fatal & Hoodstock as far as everybody understood he was as good as a founding member of the group?
We fuck with Fatal.....he is family...Fatal and "Ja" are real tight....Fatal was fucking with Rule an Gotti on some other shit....Hoodstock linked of with Fatal because of Shadow....Shadow and Fatal are from the same hood in Newark, NJ...."The Bricks"....that is the Fatal & Hoodstock
Has the group had any other names, previous to Hoodstock, Woodstock has been mentioned to name one and if so why the change to Hoodstock?
We are affiliated with other groups like Pov City, Woodhull Bullies and of course The Inc...but we dont have any other name.....
In your opinion why do you think Hoodstock has never signed a deal with The Inc after all Blackchild is one of the original members of the label?
Well in actually Sekou 720 has a production deal with The Inc....he produced "The Inc is Back" on Blood in my eye.....but I that when Hoodstock came along, Gotti had bigger fish to fry....Gotti always show us love....were in every video, every tour, every show, He financed some our studio...and indi label..."Indastretzs"...Chris and IG always took care of us...as did the rest of the staff at the INC.....Shout out to "Gutta"....big Hoodstock supporter...and BJ..
We first heard of Hoodstock in 2003 on Black Child's A Warriors Words and Ja Rule's Blood In My Eye is there any plans for you or other Hoodstock to appear on upcoming Inc/Mpire releases ?
That is always the plan.....but right now we are just doing our own thing....We got songs with Young Merce, The Gift, LLoyd....those are our people
How big a role does Reggie play in running the label where would Hoodstock be now if he wasn't involved?
There would not be Hoodstock without Reg....we call him "Go Hard".....but he makes things happen....Black does too "of course"....but Black is an artist and Reg is more in managemnent.....
Hoodstock has always been close with Fat Joe's Terror Squad there was even talk of a mix tape in the works, what is the situation between both groups today and what is like two big groups working together in the studio?
It's crazy.....Just natural chemestry....Hoodstock and "TS" have a couple of songs together....TONY Sunshine is real hood....dont let that RnB shit get you twisted...Tony is real!....Buck fifty spits fire.....Hoodstock definately fucks with "TS"....at the time when nobody was fucking with us because of that other dude.....Terror Squad showed us love....
What's your thoughts on the south running things at the moment and every rapper from the east claiming he is in the King of NY and they will bring the east back so who do you think can bring the east back ?
I am feeling all them dudes from the south....T.I., Rick Ross, Young Joc, I fuck with all them dudes....I think that hip hop is changing....and we just have to roll with the punches.....The east coast has never left....its just the south's time to shine.....
Do you have any plans to work with artists outside of Hoodstock and can expect to see you on any other artist's upcoming releases?
Like I said.....I have just been tryna get my CD done.....I have been working with local queens artists...up and comming artists....like my man....Indeed Allah......and Unothadox....also young producers like Chrome.....he hid joints for Dip Set.....and older cats in the game like Ruler Divine....he did the Onyx projects and also the Lost boys shit...and I cant forget my man Kumasi from the Krucial Keys camp, we got some shit working
What artist out there are you feeling at the moment anyone you would like to work with in the future be it artist or producer?
Right now....I am listening to this cat named Rahiem Devaughn.....he is neo soul.....under the radar....but he is ill.....he is in the CD player......besides him you know i got Mary J's new shit, and NEO's new shit is ill...as far as rap.....ghost face new shit....Common has always been a favorite......But honestly....I would love to work with anybody that wants to work with me.....and anybody that is for the up lift meant of our people through positive music.
Finally Al thanks for taking time out to answer some questions do you have any message for the Inc/Hoodstock fans out there ?
I appreciate the support from you and all our fans.....support my new CD Hard-n-B...it's the beginning of a new genre.....you could hear some of my new shit on MYSPACE.......Alprofit Delete Comment
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