Gamble gets down with G-Unit's LabOx

The big tune was in town yesterday, June 25, and I had a lot on my mind and in my hands. First, I wanted to know who out of the selected hot Houston producers would take home the coveted title of Big Tune Champ. Then I was trying to figure out how-in-the-hell I could pull off covering the night with my digi cam and camcorder by myself with no help! It wasn’t too bad though, I still made it out good and clean (You shoulda seen my slacks!).
I also happened to catch up with Houston’s own Lab Ox who is now one of 50 Cent’s main producers. Kickin' it with this dude helped ease my tension a little more.

Me Yo, what’s the deal Lab Ox? First, I want to get to the origin of things. What made you want to start producing?
Ox Music is what I do, man, you know what I’m saying? It’s been a part of me since I’ve been knee high. It’s what I do. It’s how I eat, breath, live, sleep; it’s me.

Me So since you’re working for 50 Cent now Ox, how’s life been after you've produced the popular “Part-Time Lover” off the Brenda’s Baby mixtape?
Ox It’s been good, man, people are recognizing your work. I got big heads like 50, G-Unit, Interscope; they’re recognizing the talent, man, they’re recognizing the work. I’m just putting it in grindin’ 24/7, 52 (weeks), 365, man. It don’t stop! It feels great.

Me Yeah, but you seem like a grounded person. I see you still post on forums and things like that. Why's that? Why don’t you stray away from the fans? LOL
Ox I mean, I like to reach out to the people, man. Shout out to the Star Trak forum, man. I know ya’ll watching this right now. I just like to reach out to the people, man. You know you always gotta stay humble; stay grounded. That’s one of the first places where I had real fans and I always try to touch base back with them and see what it is. Shout out to all the people in the Star Trak forum. That’s just what it is, I got to be real, so…

Me What’s in your CD deck at the moment?
Ox I’m listening to that Mario. I definitely got that 50, definitely got that Lil’ Wayne, and a lot of ya’ll hating on that Lil’ Wayne but that Lil’ Wayne is fire! Your boy got talent. Uh, I’m listening to that Kanye, definitely. And then I’m listening to my own stuff, of course, I have to listen to my own stuff! So yeah man, look out for that. That’s what I’m listening to right now.

Me Ok, so being that you grew up around Missouri City (a town outside of Houston), do you feel like a hometown hero?
Ox For the most part…kind of, but not really. I just do me. We got a lot of talent in the city and people coming up. I just think it’s time for a new face in Houston. If I can be one of those people people want to look up to, that’s all good for me, you know. I just do this music because that’s me, 24/7. If they want to call me that man, I’ll be that, but I’m gonna do me at the end of the day.

Me So what can we expect to hear from you this Summer, Ox?
Ox Look out for that G-Unit video game, Under Sand. I got about 10 tracks on that. Look out for JoJo, Lindsay Lohan, the new Mario album and most importantly, look out for that new 50, man. Your boy got a few tracks on that too. You should be looking out for that.

Me So being that you’re a sampling artist, where do you get your sampling ideas. I know oldies radio stations play original rap samples all of the time…
Ox (Points to head) I just be hearing stuff in my head, you know what I’m saying. It’s just a combination of listening to different genres of music, getting different flavors, man.
You know sometimes you can’t always eat chocolate ice cream. You got to get that Neapolitan, you got to get the Vanilla, you got to get the Strawberry. You mix it up; you’ll be surprised what you come up with, man. I listen to country music, pop, alternative rock, emo, everything man. You get different ideas from everything. This music is life, and you got to put in those different walks of life to make that different stuff. You can’t be making the same stuff all of the time, you know. So I listen to everything man, that’s where I got my inspiration from, my sampling ideas.

Me Well, it’s been good talking to you Lab Ox, you’ve made it from Mo. City to Houston, now you’re working with 50 Cent, dude. I just want to say good luck to you. How’s the Big Tune treating you tonight, though?
Ox Big Tune is cool, got eliminated the first round, the competitors had a little more crowd favoritism, you know. The beats were still hard, I’mma still do me, you know what I’m saying. But it’s all good, I’m networking with a lot of people, it’s a lot of fun.
It’s my first time doing man, it’s a great experience.

That's what it is. If LabOx got eliminated, you know it's a tough competition. I'm surprised 50 and the Unit didn't pop in the picture and start doing this...

Yes, 50 and the crew were in town yesterday! (and that's a Star Trak forum member, LOL)

If you want to see what all went down and the end result, check back this weekend for my pics and footage from the HOUSTON big tune!

Here's the LabOx produced "Part-Time Lover" for your listening pleasure.

You know how I do,
Gamble