The legendary Brooklyn hip-hop group, Black Moon, has never compromised and has always been both hardcore and innovative. Consisting of Buckshot and 5 FT on the mic and DJ Evil Dee on the turntables (along with Da Beatminerz production), Black Moon helped to pave the way for hardcore independent hip-hop. Originally signed to Nervous Records, Black Moon gained major exposure with their classics “Who Got The Props?”, “I Gotcha Opin (Remix)”, and “How Many MCs?”. Black Moon was the spark that ignited Boot Camp Click and Duckdown Records. Many classics followed. Smiff-N-Wessun (aka Cocoa Brovaz), OGC, and Heltah Skeltah all released classic albums. After hard contract problems with Nervous, Black Moon eventually released their 2nd album “War Zone” on Priority Records and their own label, Duckdown Records. Even though it was 5 years later, songs like “Two Turntables And A Mic” and “The Onslaught” were modern classics again. Fast-forward to 2004 and many things have changed. Duckdown Records are releasing albums by themselves. The new Black Moon album “Total Eclipse” has given true hip-hop heads fuel to rock to. Songs like “Looking Down The Barrel”, “What Would You Do?”, “Confusion”, and “Stay Real” maintain that Black Moon sound fans love. While Buckshot has always been the leader of the group, 5 FT has been loyal since day one. The only problem is that he has been in and out of jail. His gritty and hungry voice was the perfect complement to Buckshot’s smooth flow. 5 FT has collaborated with M.O.P. on the amazing “Annihilation” from the “War Zone” album as well as having a solo cut on “Total Eclipse” called “The Feva”. 5 FT comes to the stage with so much energy, people are surprised he doesn’t eat the microphone. Unfortunately, half of Black Moon is in prison right now (June 2005). 5 FT is a caged emcee with big plans. Gone but not forgotten, 5 FT is about spread his wings soon. On a hot summer day, I had a conversation with 5 FT from jail. Even though it is a half moon, the moon is still black.

T. JONES: “What goes on?”
5 FT: “Life, elevation, maintaining.”

T.JONES: “How did you end up in prison? What was the charge?”
5 FT: “I blew trial to a narcotic sale.”

T.JONES: “Where did they arrest you? What was it like?”
5 FT: “West 4th & 6 Avenue.”

T.JONES: “You claim that you are innocent. Please explain. Tell us what happened.”
5 FT: “Well, basically I was charged with a crime I did not commit. It was a case of mistaken identity. I was coming from the studio in the early morning of February 22, 2003 at 6:45. I stopped in the diner on the corner of West 4 and 6th Avenue to get a cup of coffee and a buttered roll. Now, I stayed in there for about 15 minutes. I made my order first, went around the corner to the newsstand on 3rd to get me some Tylenol. I came back for my order and then, went to use the bathroom. 10 minutes later, police ran up in the restroom, punched me in my face, and then, pulled me outside of the diner. They arrested me, making me a third party to a sale.”

T.JONES: “What is prison life like? How do you maintain? How do you survive?”
5 FT: “Prison is a concentration camp behind a wired fence where you are told what to do and when to do it. How do I maintain? I keep the focus, stay with a positive mind the same way I deal with the streets. Survive? I pray to the most high a lot. Since everybody knows me from hip-hop as a part of Black Moon, it gives me an edge, cut on the stress.”

T.JONES: “When ‘War Zone’ came out, you were also in jail. What for? What happened with charge?”
5 FT: “I was in jail for a probation violation. I did 8 months on Riker’s Island.”

T.JONES: “Is there any message you would like to say to your friends or family?”
5 FT: “Yes! Always keep the focus, stay positive and balanced and always walk with the sword of the Lord. I love you all! Pray for me and with me!”

T.JONES: “Tell us about the last Black Moon album ‘Full Eclipse’.”
5 FT: “The album ‘Total Eclipse’, if you haven’t heard it yet, it’s fire! Every single song if fire! It is the tightest material we put out in a while. 14 songs. 5 F.T., me, Buckshot and Evil Dee laid it down tight!”

T.JONES: “What is your favorite song on ‘Full Eclipse’?”
5 FT: “My favorite song on ‘Full Eclipse’ is ‘The Fever’, which is my solo cut.”

T.JONES: “Lately, Da Beatminerz were not doing 100% of the Black Moon production. Why?”
5 FT: “Me and Buckshot decided to use some different formulas on this project to show other producers what we are capable of doing. However, every producer we used were students of Da Beatminerz.”

T.JONES: “How are other producers different from Da Beatminerz?”
5 FT: “They come with a different flavor and hunger for the game.”

T.JONES: “You have an alias called ‘The Fever’. Explain.”
5 FT: “The Feva is like the hot sauce and jalapeno peppers added to 5 FT, making me hot and that. In a minute, all of that is about to be proven. I’m your man on fire, an added attribute to describe my character as an artist.”

T.JONES: “What song took you the longest to do on ‘Full Eclipse’?”
5 FT: “To be honest, I cannot remember. I just know that when it was time to do this project, I stepped straight to business. No time was wasted.”

T.JONES:  “What is your opinion of Rock leaving Duckdown?”
5 FT: “I really wish that did not happen. He’s an important piece to the Duckdown and BCC family.”

T.JONES: “Are you still on a friendly level with Rock?”
5 FT: “Yeah, we’re cool.”

T.JONES: “Why weren’t you involved with Boot Camp Click’s other projects or BCC as a group?”
5 FT:  “I wasn’t around, plus I was putting together my entourage, Militant Mindz”

T.JONES: “What is your all time favorite Black Moon song?”
5 FT:  “My favorite Black Moon songs are ‘Six Feet Deep’ and ‘How Many MCs?’”

T.JONES: “Where did you get the name 5 FT? Can you explain it?”
5 FT:  “Brooklyn. I was in a clique back in the days and 1985-96 called The 5 Ft Posse, so it was like an alias that fit me.”

T.JONES: “What album do you like better? ‘Full Eclipse’ or ‘War Zone’?”
5 FT:  “Total Eclipse.”

T.JONES: “How has hip-hop changed since ‘Enta Da Stage’?”
5 FT:  “No more originality and creativity.”

T.JONES: “How did you meet Buckshot and Evil Dee and eventually for Black Moon?”
5 FT: “Evil D and I used to go to Bushwick High School. We had a group called Unique Image and I met Buckshot in Brownsville. Since we all shared the same dreams at the time, I decided it would be a good idea to bring us all together and I did. We made it happen.”

T.JONES: “What was Nervous Records like? What do you think of them now?”
5 FT: “Nervous Records was a taste of being an artist. It was a learning experience. They are finished, washed up.”

T.JONES: “Are you religious?”
5 FT: “I’m very highly spiritually aware.”

T.JONES: “What is the most realistic film about prison?”
5 FT: “‘American Me’ and ‘The Hurricane’.”

T.JONES: “What do you think of the show ‘Oz’?”
5 FT: “The show ‘Oz’ is alright but I’m not a fan of the show.”

T.JONES: “Where were you on the September 11th terrorist attack? How did you deal with it?”
5 FT: “I was in Bushwick that morning with my man Knowledge at his spot. We woke up, turned on the news and it was going down. Kept a level head and made sure my family was straight. I stayed away from Manhattan.”

T.JONES: “What do you think of the US involvement in the Middle East?”
5 FT: “It’s beyond nuclear weapons and oil. It’s more personal, as far as I can see it.”

T.JONES: “What are some major problems in hip-hop culture?”
5 FT: “I don’t really have a problem with hip-hop but originality and creativity is a plus.”

T.JONES: “If you could re-make any hip-hop song, what would it be?”
5 FT: “Don’t front, you know I got you open!”

T.JONES: “What artist would you like to collaborate with in the future?”
5 FT: “Nas, M.O.P., Beanie Sigel, Ludacris, Jay-Z, and Eminem.”

T.JONES: “What producer would you like to collaborate with in the future?”
5 FT: “Dr. Dre, Erick Sermon, Kanye West, and Just Blaze.”

T.JONES:  “Word association. I am going to say the name of a group, emcee, or person, and you say the first word that pops into your head. So, if I said ‘Public Enemy’, you would say ‘Bomb Squad’ or ‘Fight The Power’.

T.JONES: “Buckshot.”
5 FT: “Duckdown.”

T.JONES: “MF Doom.”
5 FT: “Underground.”

T.JONES: “Rock, formally of Heltah Skeltah.”
5 FT: “Fab 5.”

T.JONES: “50 Cent.”
5 FT: “G-Unit.”

T.JONES: “Eminem.”
5 FT: “8 Mile.”

T.JONES: “Dmx.”
5 FT: “Get At Me Dog.”

T.JONES: “Noreaga.”
5 FT: “Capone and CNN.”

T.JONES: “Del The Funky Homosapian.”
5 FT: “LA Underground.”

T.JONES: “Phife Dawg.”
5 FT: “A Tribe Called Quest.”

T.JONES: “C Rayz Walz.”
5 FT: “My man.”

T.JONES: “Kool G Rap.”
5 FT: “Wanted Dead Or Alive.”

T.JONES: “Freddie Foxxx.”
5 FT: “Bumpy Knuckles don’t play no games.”

T.JONES: “Gil-Scott Heron.”
5 FT: “The bottle.”

T.JONES: “George Bush.”
5 FT: “President thug.”

T.JONES: “When will you be getting out of prison?”
5 FT: “Soon, it’s a surprise.”

T.JONES: “What is the absolute worst thing about prison?”
5 FT: “Anything can happen to hold you back from getting out.”

T.JONES: “What is the illest thing you have seen in prison?”
5 FT: “C.O.’s put the beats on an inmate and an inmate cut another inmate bad.”

T.JONES: “Do you feel that jail and prison is glorified to some degree in hip-hop music?”
5 FT: “Too much.”

T.JONES: “When you were out on probation or parole, you obviously were not ‘allowed’ to smoke weed. Did you? Either way, how did you deal with that?”
5 FT: “I smoked weed. I drank a lot of water and cranberry juice. My P.O. didn’t stress me.”

T.JONES: “Guns have always been apart of Black Moon’s music. Do you have a favorite gun?”
5 FT: “Desert Eagle.”

T.JONES: “Will you ever do a solo album?”
5 FT: “Of course. Soon to come.”

T.JONES: “Lyrically, who have been your biggest influences?”
5 FT: “Kool G Rap, Rakim, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Jay-Z, Nas, M.O.P., and The Lox.”

T.JONES: “What advice would you give to someone who is going to jail?”
5 FT: “Keep your head up, mind your business and focus on you.”

T.JONES: “What advice would you give to someone who wants to be an emcee?”
5 FT: “Master yourself. Be versatile and have a love of music.”

T.JONES: “What is in the future for 5 FT?”
5 FT: “In the future for 5 F.T. is my company, Militant Mindz, associated with JCT Productions out of Waterbury, CT. We have a lot of things going on right now, even during my incarceration. Check for my artists M-3 from BK, Madman from Brooklyn, F.L. from Brooklyn, Smoke from Harlem, City from The Bronx, and General from Queens. My man Corry Ford from Gunhill Road in the Bronx (aka Chin Chilla 91A0126) is locked up with me. He’s part of my team. Y’all can write him and all female’s words would be appreciated.”

T.JONES: “Any final words for the people who will be reading this?”
5 FT: “Yeah, sky’s the limit. I’m a fighter for life. To all fans that support me, I love y’all! Never give up on me! I got love for y’all and that’s my promise from me to y’all! Peace, love and blessings. Todd, I truly appreciate everything you are trying to do for me. The Feva! For I walk with the sword of the Lord. Keep your eyes open for Militant Mindz and JCT Productions. When the moon turns black, this sh*t is a rap!”