Castellana
Interviewed by: Angela Star

Ok I'm here with Carolyn Rodriguez from the Dope House Records family.
As they say in the dirty south, Whut it Dew?
"Whut it dew bay-beh?" I'm honored to be here choppin' up game with ya Savage. Dope House and DFO have a lot of love for Indie Street Latino Magazine, you represent our way of life.

..........

Thanks! Somebodys gotta do it for us. So by the time this interview is published, the new album, “Castellana,”will already be out. When is the date and how are you feeling about the new release?
The date is Tuesday, September 18th, and it's being distributed by Select-O-Hits. I'm feeling really nervous and excited at the same time because "Castellana" is my first album and these are all new feelings for me! I also don't have any radio play yet as an independently signed artist, so it'll be interesting to see how long it takes for the mainstream to get ahold of this movement.

What is the first single off your album?
The first single is titled "The Realest" and it's a blend of hip-hop and R&B that represents the two kinds of music I grew up with. My good friend South Park Mexican actually helped me co-write it, so it turned out even more dope. I have some other club singles coming up too, so there's much more for the fans.

Where'd the name Castellana come from?
Well, I really like to play on words and make new ones, so I took the word "Castellano" which is the universal language of Spanish, and feminized it to describe me...hopefully that makes some sort of sense!

Makes alot of sense to me. Is this your official first album?
Yes, this is my first solo album with all original material. I've worked with many artists on multiple tracks for their albums, but never a project for myself before now.

How did you get your start in Dope House?
Oh, that could take up your whole magazine! Nah, but seriously, it was DFO Music Group that I first started out with in a little studio in the front part of Dope House. Their engineer and producer, Jaime "Pain" Ortiz, who is also the head of DFO, was recording a song for me that I was using for a demo to shop to record labels in 2001. That was the last song I ever paid to record there, and it filtered from there to the Dope House artists like Twin Beredaz, Juan Gotti, Low-G, Rasheed, Grimm, Powda, and eventually SPM. Arthur Coy Jr., his brother and CEO, found out I had an Accounting degree through Pain and I even worked in the Dope House office as a Royalty Accountant for a while. Oh, and then there's that brief time I managed Juan Gotti when he was between managers; it's mad crazy ill how things go in this bizness! Once I started doing all of the singing on the latest SPM release "When Devils Strike", Carlos (SPM) and Dope House exposed me to their huge fan base and it's been all love since then. I think we have some of the best and most loyal fans in the world and they represent our Latino Hip-Hop movemement that's getting stronger every day.

For the people that don’t know you yet, what artists albums have you been featured on?
Hmm, let's go ahead and start with Juan Gotti, since that was the first major record I was on. His album "John Ghetto" was released with Warner Music Latina and the song is called "Crush". After that I did some work on Quota's mixtapes, Grimm's "Suckerpunch", Rasheed's "21st Century", Juan Gotti's recent release "Razaville", and of course the South Park Mexican "When Devils Strike" album...there's much more of featured albums to come as well! I guess being a songwriter feature I get more work since I make less work for the other artist, know what I mean?

Yes I do, but atleast you love what you do. What is The DFO Music Group and your association with them?
DFO, which stands for "Down For Ours", started out as a production and engineering team led by Jaime "Pain" Ortiz for Dope House Records. DFO consisted of several Dope House members also, such as Coast and Quota of the Twin Beredaz, Juan Gotti, and Shadow Ramirez, so it was already connected from the start, ya know? I did all of the singing work for DFO's clients, and they are like family to me now; I've been with DFO for over 6 years now and we've grown since then. We now have another great producer named Slip on our team, and my boy R.O.B. has been down with DFO since the beginning.

What should your fans expect from you on this album?
Pure Carolyn dope. I'm definitely showing them more than one side of me on the album because I grew up with two languages in my household; English and Spanish. I actually learned Spanish first, so even though most of the music I listened to was in English, I figured I would give the fans a taste of both parts of my life. I've got slow jams on there, club bangers, and of course pure Hip-Hop street shit, so altogether they can expect a dope album on September 18th.

Which song on your album is your favorite and why?
My favorite for which of my many moods? Ha, ha, no really I do like them all for different times...when I'm in a crunk mood and wanna jam something with some good bass and Spanglish rap and singing, I listen to "Orale"; when I'm in a calm mood and I wanna hear a beautiful piano melody with soulful lyrics, I listen to "Fast Plane". That's about all I can think of in regards to a favorite song...I just have too many mood swings to choose one... I'm a woman, what can I say?

Haha, at least that was in pure honesty. So who are your musical influences?
I listened to a lot of R&B and Hip-Hop as I was growing up, so really just all the greats of those genres, both old and new school are an influence.My main influence is how I grew up of course--soy voz de la gente, cancion de las calles...

I understand you are working on a mixtape with Powda? Tell us a little about that?
Well, it's called "Queenz of Dope" and it's in the final stages, so the fans will definitely love that when it comes out. We will keep you posted on it, of course, you'll be the first to know!

Fo Sho! You have worked various times with my personal favorite, El Coyote South Park Mexican. How did his production and experience in the past influence the “Castellana” album?
Well like I said earlier, he did co-writing on one of my tracks, and he's been my mentor for the past several years, so you can believe I’ve learned too many things to count by working with one of the best.

I can imagine. You got a lot of artist in the Dope House Records familia, any of them help you contribute to the album?
Oh yeah, gotta have the fam sprinkled on there baby! I really wish I coulda gotten all of them on there, but everyone is so busy and I’m happy to have my hermanos Low-G and Juan Gotti on the album, as well as Quota of the Twin Beredaz.

Did you collaborate with anybody outside of your label? If no, is there anyone that you would like to?
Not really…I’m a family-oriented artist then, huh? Hehehe—yeah, but actually, every artist and producer I collaborated with was affiliated with either Dope House, DFO, or both.

Tell me about your experiences and process recording the album?
Oh, that would take a WHOLE other interview (hehe)…well I had some things pop up beyond my control that pushed my album back a couple of times, and some frustrating nights gettin’ cabin fever with Pain or Slip after pulling an all-nighter…but mostly I had a great time, from beginning to now, feel me? Luckily I got to work with the best in the biz, who happen to be the ones I have mad musical chemistry with. I have no regrets and I would (and will) do it all over again until I get far enough to help others and focus on the future of our young jente.

Who do you think are some slept on artists that deserve more attention?
Oh, definitely any underground artists that are extremely talented and are doing their best to hustle and grind it out to the top deserve more attention—it’s too many to name, but I could think of ‘em from New York to Cali to Spain to France to Japan!

How do you feel about the Screwston (Houston) and dirty South music movement?
Oh, I think it’s powerful and it will be around for a long time. DJ Screw is a legend and SPM came up with the “Screwston” name which started a series of screwed n' chopped compilations from Dope House. Groups like S.U.C. and all screw music lovers and supporters are all over the ‘H’ boy, watch out! It’s getting stronger and stronger though.

If someone steals your car and looks through your CD case, Who are the artists they will find that you listen to?
Cd case? Yeah right, I can’t keep cd cases cuz I have cd’s EVERYwhere in the car, so if they looked through the cd’s stuffed right underneath my cd player, they’d find Mary J. Blige, Nas, me, Biggie, Twin Beredaz, Juan Gotti, oh and of course SPM…

Any shows or events in the near future?
Well, Ive been doing a car show/concert tour promoting the album since the beginning of August, and so far it’s been a blast. The fans really respond well and I’ll continue to tour hardcore until atleast mid-November. I might calm down for Christmas…you can find all of my tour dates and events on my myspace page though, (www.myspace.com/) that’s really the best way to find out. Everybody’s on the mi espacio como si fueran dope fiends (including me).

Am I invited VIP with a bottle of Don P (haha)?
Anywhere Savage, you already know how we do in the South! I’ve been to New Mexico twice on the tour so far, but whatever show you can make it to I got you playa!

Yeah thats what im talking bout. Your album is going to be in all music stores nation wide. for the credit card internet junkies,(lol) what websites can they go cop your album at?
Oh man, google it or something FOR REAL. Actually, you can order it on my myspace page (www.myspace.com/) or you can go to the many sites through my distribution channel. There's always a stash at the Dope House too...(www.dopehouserecords.com)

What is up next, both for you and Dope House?
I’m just going to continue touring for now and promoting “Castellana”, finish up the next SPM album with ‘Los and get ready for that, and only God knows what the rest of the future holds…

Anything you would like to add that i neglected to ask?
Oh, you’re pretty thorough Savage, you’re too good, you covered everything and more!

Thank You very much. Do your thing on the shoutouts Ma.
Well first I'd like to thank you, Savage, and Indie Street Latino for having me, there are so many people to shoutout so I'll name some groups, and you know who you are. The whole Dope House Records and DFO Music Group family, my parents and siblings, cousins, in-laws, baby daddys and mamas, all o' dat...my best friends on 604 Hayman, my Domino's crew, and don't let me forget the most important; Dios Almighty.

Thank you Carolyn and keep in touch with me on your progressions.
Oh fa sho', and don't be a stranger either, I'll be reading up on what Pain calls "the New Latin World Order" hehe...keep us out there in the streets Savage!

You know I got you. Just holla. So there you have it. Carolyn Rodriguez and the new album
Castellana off of Dope House records, Select O Hits distribution.
Go pick up a copy and support the Latin movement. Peace!