A few months ago, I heard about Designer Boyz…. I checked out a few of their YouTube videos and for a split second thought I was listening to an old Cash Money Millionaire record. I couldn’t believe they were from Jersey City. Generally speaking, there aren’t that many Hip Hop groups around, and to see a group of 10 guys getting along, putting egos aside and making dope music is a cool thing.

I got in touch with Sean aka Young Gizzle, who produces beats for the group to coordinate an interview… He invited me and Chris Capaci (friend and photog) over to DB Studios in an undisclosed location in JC. We talked music, listened to beats and they freestyled for us. What I loved about the Designer Boyz, is how each and everyone has their own style and brings their own flavor to the table.

They also had me listen to one of their newest tracks “Mama Rich”. This song is a banger and I was completely blown away.

Something I would like to mention, they might look a little intimidating at first but they are sweethearts, who work extremely hard; They are always in the studio working, always out there pushing themselves, trying new things. They will make it not only because they are talented, but because they are hungry.

Cash money who? De$igner Boyz, Always Designer.

What are your names? Young Gizzle, Kriminal, Fine$se, Hero, Milow da G, Harley.

(Young Gizzle) Some other members couldn’t make it but they are; Sparxx, Barlo, MBP, and Gr33zy.

Who are the Designer Boyz? (Kriminal) A group of young urban kids…designing ways for us to win and be successful.

(Young Gizzle) The world was made for people like us to fail so we designed our own way to win through this music and lifestyle. We’re also stylish and can dress but that’s not the primary meaning of “Designer” in our book.

Is that why you guys are called Designer Boyz? (Everyone) Yeah.

Where did the idea come from? (Milow da G) It came from one of our friends who is in jail right now. We where all in the studio one day just kicking it… and he came up with the name Designer boyz.

(Hero) His name is Snow… so we say “Free snow” because he is incarcerated…

How long have you known each other? (Kriminal) For years…we all went to grammar school and high school together.

How did you guys decide to form a rap group? (Kriminal) Snow was rapping, another rapper we are down with MoneyBossPrince, he was rapping and Hero was doing his thing… engineering and making beats so we started going to his studio….ideas just formed and we are here now. This was 2 years ago.

You guys have two albums right? Can you tell me a little bit more about them? (Young Gizzle) The first one we named “Everything Designer”. I’ve been making beats since I’m about 15, but I didn’t have anyone behind me to take it seriously…. I made a beat for my brother who also raps, HBK and Hitchcock, and then years later, I did a beat with everyone here on it and we decided to make a mix tape…

(Big Krimmy) The first one we did was called “Split Personality” , then it was “Super Bad”, and “No Face” that had everyone on it… all the Designer Boyz…. People loved it so we ran with it.

(Hero) We took the reaction we got from that and the feedback which was really good, so we decided to collaborate on a whole project and it blew up.

Tell me about the second mixtape. (Young Gizzle) The second one, called “Everything De$igner 2” was released August 29th of the summer that just passed .. It was another in-house produced project with all beats from myself and Hero and that’s the project that basically let everyone know that we were serious because “Everything de$igner 1” was more of an experimental project and we weren’t really serious about it yet. But the upcoming project is “De$igned 2 Win” it’s gonna come in a month or 2

How would you guys describe your style of hip hop? (Big Krimmy) We can hop in any lane that we want, we have Hero where he can do r&b and rap….

What was that song we listened to? (Hero) Mama Rich.

Really great song! Very Drake of you! (Big Krimmy) Hero is the Drake of the group. He does beats, sings, raps all of that.

Do you each have a role in your group? (Big Krimmy) I can bring anything to the table, rapping wise I can flow on anything… I bring the chorus’s and the hooks…

(Finesse) I bring a little smooth swag into it…

Well you’re “Finesse”! I feel like you are probably the ladies man in the group. (Everyone) Hahaha yeah…

He has like a perfect jaw line, look at this guy… (Everyone) Hahaha.

So what is your role in the group? (Harley) I bring the Designer swag, the wave.

(Kriminal) Like a Tsunami Baby.  Harley brings the party.. He’s the cool swagged out guy in the group….Most fashionable …

Young Gizzle, you seem like you keep this group together… I’m a man of many hats. I’m the producer but I’m one of the main people that people come to when it comes to the group… like if you want something done or want to know something, come to me… I just try to motivate everyone and keep everyone focused…keep things organized.

What about you? (Milow da G) I bring the gangster into the music.

(Kriminal) Trap music basically…. young thug shit.

I can do the crip walk. (Big Krimmy) Let me see!

Haha, ok! Put a beat on. (Young Gizzle) I am going to throw some Snoop on. Next Episode…

(Everyone) Oh snap! Go Chicpea!

So if you ever need dancers in your video hit me up haha. We will for sure!

It must be tough working in a group. How do you guys manage it? (Hero) We go at it every once in a while but everyone stays in their lane, we just know how to work together.

What are your hip hop influences? (Milow da G) I like Young Jeezy. (Kriminal) Meek Mill, 50 Cent. (Young Gizzle) Kanye as a producer, and for our movement I look to Dipset, G Unit, Wu Tang and The old Cash Money…

When did you guys start rapping? (Milow da G) I used to play around, freestyle… then one day I was in the studio with them and we just listened to the beat and dropped a beat and that’s how it started…

(Kriminal) We all started just for fun and then started taking it seriously…. When I was 14/15 I used to record on my MAC with no microphone, under a blanket! Shit was real.

(Harley) I never thought I would be rapping!

(Kriminal) It was like magic.

What’s your creative process? (Hero) It comes from the beat, we talk about our life. Whatever comes to our mind. What makes us good is that his beats (Gizzle) are different from mine so we change it up and keep things different and fresh.

Future plans? (Milow da G) Take over the world, we want to be everywhere. We want our music to be played in Europe…. all over the world, not just in the U.S.

(Young Gizzle) We are trying to tour more, working on a mixtape “Design to win”

(Kriminal) Will drop around March, April.

(Finesse) Trying to make a short film also.

(Young Gizzle) Just get our proper respect from everyone .. And get the acknowledgement .. We don’t wanna be overlooked anymore or have anyone turn a blind eye… We are making a lot of noise coming out of this city and we just want to keep the ball rolling by expanding…

You guys have a good attitude, good energy. (Kriminal) One thing we are going to do differently then some rappers who’ve made it is support our city…. We are going to represent Jersey City to the fullest.

(Young Gizzle) Certain people should come back and do things for their city.

(Krimmy) We are Jersey City. If we make it we will buy homes in here. We aren’t leaving.

Do you have a favorite hangout spot? (Everyone) Here in the Studio!

Favorite place to eat? (Krimmy) We like Humz…There is a place called “Ambassador Chicken” we like to eat there… they sell “Crack Chicken”

Crack Chicken?! (Everyone) Hahaha.

Chris lets go. (Krimmy) Once you go, you can’t stop.

Any bars? (Kriminal) We come to the studio and drop bars.

I love that you guys really represent Jersey City and proud of where you are from. Are all your videos shot here? We have over 20 videos and most of them were shot in jersey city .. With the exception of 2 or 3 which were shot in North Carolina

Do you guys have shows in Jersey City? (Finesse) We do a lot of parties. We just did our own concert “DB Concert” it was over in Orange. That was a big success.

Anything else you want people to know about you? (Young Gizzle) Don’t be afraid to reach out, show love. We are friendly actually.  Also we try to make the movement interesting from the outside looking in…I want people to dig into us and find out more. Unless you are a f-k boy. We don’t like them.

Haha I don’t like them either! (Milow da G) There was a guy once that saw his girl with one of our t-shirts and he assumed she was messing with us… and he beat on her.

That’s awful. Dude’s who hit chicks are f- boys. That is so awful.

Guys who beat woman…. (Kriminal) Well, I beat on woman in the good way haha. I will beat it up… (Everyone) Haha.

Haha that’s ok!! I am cool with that. (Harley) oh you like that?

Wait, are you hitting on me?! haha. (Harley) Well is it working?

Haha. Uh oh. I think I need to end this interview. Thanks guys! 

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