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by Minister of Information JR Valrey
Con B is a name that is very well known in Bay Area Hip Hop circles: First, he rhymes, he rents out his studio to other artists, he does video production, and he manages artists, among other things. He is the embodiment of what it means to be a Black hustling entrepreneur in today’s arena of independent Hip Hop.
Although he should be championed for all of that, what broke the mold recently was his new song empowering Black women. In the Drill Music Era, where 2Pac has been gone for over 25 years, appreciating the women whom we all have come out of has become a lost art. So when an artist is courageous enough to break out of the mental matrix that society has most of us trapped in, it deserves to be saluted.
Check out Con B in his own words and his song “Black Queen” that has recently been released to all platforms.
JR Valrey: You recently wrote a dope song dedicated to Black women called “Black Queen.” How did you come up with the concept, and why now?
Con B: I came up with the concept from wanting to remake a 2pac song about giving women their flowers, because today’s music is all about disrespecting them, plus my mom has cancer and can leave any day, so it was dedicated to her. That’s who stars in the music video.
JR Valrey: For those that are just hearing about you, how would you describe your sound?
Con B: I call my sound real music because I’m gonna hit you from every angle, and it’s mostly stories if you listen.
JR Valrey: You quoted a Pac lyric in the song; then you ended the “Black Queen” video with a quote from 2Pac. What does Pac mean to Hip Hop and to the struggle in your opinion?
Con B: He means a lot to the culture, the Bay Area and music scene. So I thought it would be dope to twist his lyrics to today’s music and keep his legacy lit.
JR Valrey: How did you get into video production? Who are some of the people that you have made videos for?
Con B: Well, I got into video production through my lil brother. He was good at it, and I wanted to do music, but his head was still in the streets. So I built a team. I would go film, he would edit, and that’s how we became a team. I shot videos for JStalin, Lil Blood, Fredo Bang, Stevie Joe, Lil Goofy. I even did the West Oakland anthem, one of my best to date, as far as unity.
JR Valrey: What made you open your own studio to be rented out? How long have you been doing that?
Con B: I have always owned a studio. First it was in my garage with just a laptop and speakers; then it went on the side of my bed. So I would say I have always had a studio. It was all about going bigger, and now it’s been about 10 years of me having one.
JR Valrey: Musically, what have you been working on?
Con B: I just dropped “East Oakland Diddy” Part 1 and Part 2 just dropped Oct. 9, 2022.
I’m also managing a lot of artists, and helping them with their future, and I’m looking forward to doing more events for the kids.
JR Valrey: Where do you see yourself as an artist in the next five years?
Con B: As an artist, in the next five years I see myself with one of the biggest hits around, trying to sign a bunch of the youth, helping most get out the hood, or just even showing them there’s more to life than just the streets. Basically I see myself using my platform to help build the city, if that makes sense.
JR Valrey: Where did you get the name Con B from?
Con B: My boy Ron B passed. He was a good friend and got killed by the police. So they used to call me Conrad, Con or Con B, and I stuck with Con B ever since he’s been gone.
JR Valrey: How can people keep up with you online?
Con B: You can find me and keep up with me on Instagram, Twitter, Snap @conb11500, Facebook (ConB), subscribe to my youtube, Con B, and thank y’all for having me. Go get that new album “East Oakland Diddy 2,” out now!
JR Valrey, journalist, author, filmmaker and founder of Black New World Media, heads the SF Bay View’s Oakland Bureau. He can be reached at blockreportradio@gmail.com or on Facebook. Visit www.BlackNewWorldMedia.com to read more.
