Field Mob: Why Southern Acts are Scared

Can’t stop us can’t stop the mob/
Can’t stop Boondox can’t stop Kalage/

These are the words that were spit on “Can’t Stop Us,” the second track on the debut album from Albany Georgia’s newest Hip-Hop duo Field Mob. The album, 613: Ashy To Classy was probably one of the most slept on joints of the year 2001.(IS IT 2000, as stated above, or 2001???) The album also had bangers like “Dear In Your Chevy,” “Da Dirty,” “Project Dreamz” and “Dimez” [Jazzy B’s]. Now with their label still behind them, Boondox Blax AKA Darion Crawford and Kalage AKA Shawn Jackson have returned with their latest entry, From The Roota To The Toota. About the title, these two crazy energized cats say, “We just being country because other artists from the South are scared to really be countrified.” The phrase comes from an old Southern expression, which refers to all the parts of a pig that one eats. Kalage says, “We just doing what we do, we as country as they come, from the pig ears to the pig feet we just being ourselves. We got a variety of music on this album.” Field Mob is being compared to Hip-Hop greats, like Outkast, EPMD, UGK and 8Ball & MJG. The reason for this is because of the classic Hip-Hop feel of their debut. All of this fame does not come without a price though. Field says, “We realize it’s not about who’s the best lyricist. It’s about promotion and we want people to know that we did our job on the first album, but coming out of Albany Georgia we didn’t get the promotion we wanted. We want better promotion. So the fact that the last album didn’t do to well wasn’t our fault. We did about 200,000 and we thankful for that.”

Boondox and Kalage, also known as Field Boy Smoke and Fleetwood Mac, claim to have started the whole Dirty South fusion of music. They plan to remain the same no matter what happens in their lives. Only time will tell if they live up to their own expectations as well as the expectations of others.

Now according to Field Mob, Albany is a spot where people see their share of hard times. “Albany is like a metropolitan area, but it’s rural at the same time. And by it being like that, it’s slow but it’s fast at the same time. It’s like running a treadmill. You’re running, but at the same time you’re not going nowhere either. There really ain’t no jobs in Albany for young blacks.” So what are the plans for the Mob to get to where they want to be? “We just wanna take Georgia to another level.” They talk about buying Moms a Benz wagon and a house. Yet they realize that they are infants in the game and at this time they are going through puberty. They also know that this is just a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

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Field Mob came together in their teens at Monroe High School. They frequently battled during the freestyle sessions held during their lunch period. They spat at each other for four weeks straight, scoring victories over each other. They finally realized that they were fighting a losing battle by going against one another and eventually formed Field Mob. They then released the track “Project Dreamz,” which caught the attention of MCA records. Shortly thereafter they scribbled on the dotted line and released their classic debut. They have been heralded by some of Hip-Hop’s most trusted published bibles a one of the hottest duos to break ground in a long time.

So, are the Field planning other adventures in this wide-open industry? “If it comes our way who wouldn’t wanna do other things? We got a sitcom that we are working on now and we also got a cartoon.” That would be crazy! A cartoon about the life and adventures of two country cats like Boondox and Kalage is sure to set the world on fire.

The debut of 613: Ashy To Classy gave them credibility amongst industry insiders and since then, they have been sought out by several artists to appear on various projects. They appear on Trick Daddy’s latest release Thug Holiday and Big Boi from Outkast also asked them to shine on his upcoming solo project. The even did their thing on Greg Street’s compilation release 6 O’clock. When asked how they want to be remembered, the boys from the field collectively respond, “They were real.” In addition to that they say, “We were ourselves and we didn’t come wit gimmicks and they took Georgia to another level.”

The new album is definitely Hip-Hop on another level. It features Trick Daddy, Cee-Lo from Goodie MOB and production by the ridiculous Jazze Pha. Earth Tone and their long time producer Ole E and newcomer Willie Cool also bless us with some gems on this one. Keep ya eyes peeled for these cats, for the birth is now and future success is sure to come from their journey.