Who is L-Cizzle?” I asked the Seattle South-end native. “I’m the hottest rapper [in the Seattle area] 20 years old and younger” replied a confident, almost cocky L-Cizzle. Currently residing in Tacoma, the young 20 year-old is no rookie to the streets or to this “rap game”. “I been getting it in like that letter after M since I was 15”, says L-Cizzle about his rap career. A natural at rhyming, I learned very quickly that the young slick-talking L-Cizzle would often assemble creative and funny punch line like rhymes in our conversation.

            L-Cizzle’s latest project is a street mix-tape called The New Money Mix-tape, presented by Fam Squad ENT. “The name of the mix-tape is called New Money because I had dropped a previous mix-tape but everything did not work out with the cats I was dropping it with. So I dropped this mix-tape because everything I’m getting from there on was New Money”, says L-Cizzle. Highlighted with some dope features from artist like The Skeem Team Clicc, Blocc Repp and Nipsey Hustle among others. The 21-track mix-tape is most definitely something west-coast music fans should put to their ear to knock.

             If you haven’t heard of L-Cizzle, it may not be long before you do. “I’m over 7,000 copies sold in the streets from Tacoma to Spanaway to Pullman to Seattle”, says L-Cizzle. Currently an independent artist, he released this mix-tape independently under the Fam Squad ENT company on February 1^st. A little more than two months later, he expressed to me his has some major labels already looking at him, and may be looking at signing a deal with Universal, if everything goes according to plan.

            During the interview, I wondered if he ever takes a break. I could feel his high-octane energy coming through the phone. He even said that he sells 50 copies of his mix-tape in his sleep, which I found to be funny, but showed me his work ethic and how hard he’s been going at his grind. Something I can respect. He says he’s already in the works on his album, which will be titled, Playtime is Over. “Playtime is Over is going to consist of 17 hot tracks… people can look for that sometime later this year, late 2010” says L-Cizzle.

             Musically, L-Cizzle says his music facades cockiness. “It’s takeover music”, says L-Cizzle. A lot of that attitude he says comes from his biggest musical influence, the late Tupac Shakur. Other musical influences include another late, great rapper, Big L. Along with old school artists like The Jackson 5, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder. “Music, [I] appreciate it”, says L-Cizzle. In his mix-tape you can find samples of classics made by the likes of The Jackson 5 and The Isley Brothers, among others.

            Besides the new album, you can catch L-Cizzle live in the Northwest area. His next show, scheduled for April 25^th will be opening up for the Ying Yang Twins at the Bull Market in Tacoma. Check out brownpapertickets.com for more information on that show. Also, if you are interested in picking up the mix-tape, or want to check out L-Cizzle online make sure you check out his myspace and hit him up at www.myspace.com/lcizzle1.