Most rappers in today’s game fabricate stories of the street life and drug deals to up their coinage on the block. One artist who doesn’t have to make up a word is Bed-Stuy native, Illa Ghee.

From doing a six-year prison big to contributing to legendary rap group, Mobb Deep’s most classic recordings, Illa Ghee has a background that every gangster rapper wishes they could claim as their own. Through his guest appearances and being a constant on the mixtape scene Illa Ghee has carved his own name in the rap game, with or without anybody’s co-sign.

Never one to follow trends, he has come up with some of the most original concepts the circuit has ever seen. Recently, Illa Ghee had a publicized parting of ways with the M.O.B.B and is now officially a free agent. Sixshot.com caught up with the man himself to discuss the split with Mobb Deep, why Havoc doesn’t like his music, and his plans to stay in the rap game regardless of what it takes.

Sup man what's good?

I'm chillin', I stay tryna make it happen. I’m still pushing my latest joint Bullet and a Bracelet, which people could buy off my MySpace page Myspace.Com/Illa Ghee and also Itunes, Rhapsody.Com, and F.Y.E.

What was it like to see your career taking off and then getti ng locked up for 7 years?

It was 6 years and I didn't see it as a career then, I just liked to spit. I love the aspect of talking shit, and braggin’ on how and why you're the best motherfucker out here.

What was your prison experience like?

Jail sucks but you can't let yourself be broken mentally and physically. You have to utilize your time wisely but basically jail is the same everywhere, if you act weak you’re gonna get treated as such. Hold your own and cats will give it a second and third thought before they try you.

Do you feel like that set your career back a little bit?

Well if I thought of it as a career then, then yeah but I didn't so it was what it was.

How did you first get up with Mobb Deep?

We all went to school together at the H.S. Of Art and Design. I met Prodigy first in my sophomore year, he was a freshman and then I met Havoc later on. When they first got together their name was "Poetical Prophets".

When Illa attacks Primo beats was a great idea, how did you come up with that?

Well I wanted to do something different with the mixtape game. Everybody was just picking beats and spittin' over them. I wanted mines to have a theme so I picked a producer I liked in Primo and always wanted to rhyme over his beats and did the beats how I felt they should've been done. Peace to Primo, he gave me the thumbs up on that joint.

You've worked on some classic Mobb Deep projects, what were those experiences like?

To me "Hell on Earth" was ill because we were just doing us. Everybody was just letting their rhyme style go. It was smoke, drink, and lay down your verse, next song. Other projects didn't have that same feeling but we knocked them out.

You have a rare talent of being able to spit that hardcore while still being able to make hits for the radio. How are you able to do both?

First, good looking on the compliment but I feel I could do both because I know the feeling of hip-hop, and I know the business of rap. I know who I am and what direction I'm tryna go. Once you get those concepts down you should be able to finesse the two.

I recently found out you're no longer working with Mobb Deep. Can we air it out and get the whole story on what went wrong with the relationship?

Okay, this is what it is. They're scared to push new projects because of what happened with past projects such as Noyd, IM3, and Bars and Hooks, plus I was told Havoc doesn't like my music.  My thing is this, everybody is not the same and if you have a homey that is interested in getting money in the same business you're in and you're not gonna back or co sign him, why not give him a heads up on things to do or point him in a direction of people he needs to get at and such? Why have him around and act like your gonna help when you already know your not?

I'm no fuckin' groupie, I'm tryna get money and I'm tryna avoid from getting it the way I got it before which led me to get 6 years and I just don't get why they don't listen or really fuck with dudes that have been loyal to them. They stay listening to people who don't give two shits about them so therefore I wish not to be tagged with the title "Mobb Deep affiliate". I'm Illa Ghee, I'm my own man, I hold myself down and I'm from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Plus my music sounds nothing like theirs. I have my own sound, period.

How do you feel about Prodigy going away for a few years?

I feel that it’s fucked up; I wish jail on no man. So you know, rapists, child molesters, and such disgusting clowns of that nature, I feel should be tortured but that's my opinion. Prodigy is gonna find out a lot about himself. The worst part of jail is when you're stuck with nothing else but your thoughts unless you're just an extraordinary bitch ass nigga.

Bullet and a Bracelet is insane. Do you consider this your best work to date?

Appreciate the complement but nah it’s not my best. That's my "B" level music. My other joint, "Myrtle and Throop" was my "C" level. I wanted people to see growth plus I wanted people to see I'm more than just rah rah; I got drugs on the block type shit. It seems like everybody is the block hugger these days. When is dudes gonna be themselves?

How have you accomplished so much as an independent artist?

Wow, accomplished. To me I feel I'm no where near where I should be at but I keep going wit hard work, knowing where I wanna go and be plus I feel I'm nice as a motherfucker and the world needs to know it and hear it.

How useful have mixtapes been to your career?

Quite useful but I make my mixtapes like albums. Mixtapes are the new age artist development.

What is the label situation? Will you be keeping it independent?

Well I'm talking to a few independent labels but I'm gonna keep it independent until whomever cuts the biggest check.

What projects can we expect to see from you in the future?

I'm working on my new CD Godlike right now.  I'm about to put out a mixtape with D.J. Mickey Knox called When The King Comes Out and a few other things so stay tuned.

Anything you'd like to say to the fans at Sixshot.com?

Thanks for supporting my music. Wait for no one, be yourself and once again go to my myspace page (myspace.com/illa ghee) and buy Bullet and a Bracelet along with other stuff I've put out. Also, producers can send beats mp3 to (gheeilla@gmail.com), peace to all.