Like EPMD Freekey Zekey is keeping it business. The President of Diplomat Records is free after serving a three year sentence in North Carolina. The time proved to be a life changing experience for the rapper born Ezekiel Jiles. The true School of Hard Knocks as he put it. Giving way to new chapters in his life. So what's the deal? Let's just say Zekey is hustlin' hard extra these days. He's on a mission to make up for lost times. Making plans for his newest venture Dipset South...and preparing a solo debut via his deal with Diplomat Records / Asylum. The album is appropriately titled Book Of Ezekiel. Fans would say this is long overdue. Known for bringing comedy and his signature dances to the Dipset movement. Freekey Zekey's album will deliver more than laughs and his signature skits... He has a lot to say about the future and the troubles of his past. Don't sleep this album will offer some laughs but Zekey says he's coming straight lyrical with this one. Did his time away prove to be helpful to his career? What's the deal with Dipset South? MahoganyGirl talks to Freekey Zekey about business, beefs and his infamous disappearing acts. It's more than music doggie.

MahoganyGirl: What's Up Zekey...How are you doing?
Freekey Zekey: I'm doing excellent...I'm free.

MG: When did you get home?
FZ: I came home on November 20th 2006...8:01...and 42 seconds.

MG: [Laughs] I'm glad your home. I want get right into it... What did you experience in North Carolina?
FZ: It's something that's unexplainable but I'ma do my best. You got 6'4..250 pound 18 year olds running around with nothing to do but slam niggaz on they necks. If you're not official. I just want to say I still got my neck. I just want to put that in there...

MG: Cool. I'm glad your neck is still in tact.
FZ: I did have to slap some faces to get order. Just to be real and all the way honest with you. Other than that there was nothing but love down there. Dipset is poppin' hard body down in the south. They love us.

MG: How did doing time change you?
FZ: I matured a lot. I was one of those street dudes that reacted first and thought about it way later. Most of the time I don't give a fuck was on my mind. What this taught me was to really fall back and check a situation out and be patient. Cause in jail you're with 800 to 1000 people. All kinds of people with different attitudes and personalities. You have to learn how to maneuver through everybody without getting your head chopped off. Going through that builds your maturity up and your patience. When you look at its like...I can't and I won't be involved no jail activities when I get out...

MG: In the past, Cam'ron has referred to you as somewhat of the M.I.A. member of the Dipset... What was going on with you back then?
FZ: When I was in jail people was like... Dam Zeke what you doing.. Niggaz is poppin.. Niggaz is millionaires. What you doing running up and down the highway selling drugs. You should be chillin. I was the type of dude to have $100,000 and still hit the I-95. I was wilding out. I was crashin' Benz's and leavin' em...Doin all kinds of shit. What people don't know is that this was an old case. This was a case from 1999. This was when things was glittering for us but wasn't gold. It was suppose to be bubbling but we signed a bs deal with Sony.

MG: Was this also back in the Ma$e days?....[Laughs]
FZ: You think you slick...[Laughs]

MG: I'm playing... You don't have to answer that... [Laughs]
FZ: But it was though...[Laughs] It aint even like that ma. You can ask me whatever you want. It's ya boy right here. Love is love.

MG: Cool...You're coming home to a lovely situation.. Your label Dipset South and a solo deal...Can you talk about it?
FZ: I want to clarify the whole situation. When I signed a multi-million dollar deal with Asylum... It wasn't to be on Dipset South...I'm Diplomat Records Asylum right now. As far as my entity... It's going to be Dipset South. When I was in jail I was thinking of different plans to make millions. In the south they just love you. Southern hospitality is real. I mean they just love you. I saw the vision I wanted to fulfill. And It's not called Dipset South cause I want a southern artist. That's just where it's based.

MG: I've heard you on various skits on Dipset albums...You bring the comedy to the movement.. How did this come about?
FZ: When I was running around crazy on that I-95 going hard body. Killa would call me and be like - Fam just get on something to keep yourself legit. One of my joints that blow out the water was "Hey Ma"... I wrote "Hey Ma".

MG: Word? I just had a flash back... Did you do "On Fire Tonite"?
FZ: You already know it.

MG: Hilarious.. What can people expect from your solo debut?
FZ: It's straight lyrical on some other shit. Like I said...I matured a whole lot when I was down for those three years. So, I put my pain and emotions into it. It's going to be real funny and real serious.

MG: In addition to comedy you bring some crazy dances to the table.. I peeped you in the "Oh Boy" video doggie... What'cha you got for us?
FZ: I got some shit!!! You think the snap is in...Wait till they get aload of Freek. I got some ankle to the ear.. Some nose to the thigh..

MG: [Laughs] This should be interesting... Since you said I can ask you anything... I want to talk about the Jim Jones and Jay Z situation. How do you feel about it?
FZ: I love that shit!!! Cause on the real the dude was trying to take food out our mouth. People really don't understand that it was really suppose to pop off in 2002. When we signed to the Roc we was all excited doing cartwheels, back flips and high fives. Cause when you was on Roc-a-Fella you was about to blast off. What happen was there wasn't no love. Honestly I don't understand why the dude is like that... It wasn't about the money cause Cam was platinum. So you know he was getting that money. So it was a situation that was personal.. I really don't know... So when Jim got at him that was a flame that had been roasting for years. So finally we unleased the dragon on him.

MG: I want to talk more about the music... What do you say to people who may not take you seriously as a rapper?
FZ: Just take your ass to the store and cop it. You'll see what's going on.. It's the unknown and people fear the unknown. They doubt it cause they don't know about it... That's what Diplomat has been about since the beginning of time... No one gave us our credibility. Still till this day they don't give us ours. So far we done rolled over half the industry because no one gave us a chance. That's what kept up on our grind. Now everybody is successful. I don't give a fuck what nobody think.

MG: I feel you... I peeped your latest press photos.. You kinda got a GQ pose jumpin off... [See the above photo]
FZ: I'ma keep it real.. I mean I'm just a gorgeous gangsta...

MG: [Laughs] Gorgeous gangsta huh?
FZ: I mean you see the picture.. It is what it is...

MG: [Laughs] I see it. You are a trip...Do you have any hobbies or interest outside of music?
FZ: My big thing is real estate. Me and Cam got a few houses in Ohio. I just bought some acres in North Carolina. I feel they owe me about 22 million after taxes for the time I was locked up. I want to build some houses on that land. My real real goal is to build a big building to house aids people. Cause that shit is a epidemic. Please everybody wear at least 80 rubbers.

MG: True. Well, I must say this was a lovely interview. Do you have any last words for my MahoganyGirl's?
FZ: [Trails off] MahoganyGirl.com.....

MG: That's me.
FZ: You my new baby mamma..You'a pimp...You know how to make people like you... I like that... MahoganyGirl.com..

MG: [Laughs] So what are the benefits of this situation?
FZ: I'ma buy the pampers.. See, I'm already spending.

MG: [Laughs] Hilarious...

Feelin' Freekey?
Visit Freekey Zekey Online @
www.myspace.com/freekeyzekey

- [ LS ] -