ROX-TV goes to Frog Island Park for filming of Gozza’s new video “Warriors” featuring DJ V1rus and filmed by Swigz Sinatra.

Welcome back to the ROX-TV website, as always we thank all the returning readers for stopping by to chop it up with us in November. I was recently invited to join the cast of the upcoming video “Warriors” by Gozza and DJ V1rus, which was being shot by the gangster with a camera, none other than the very talented Swigz Sinatra. Gozza had reached out and asked if I wanted to play a “villain” in the video and I immediately jumped on the chance.

My history with Gozza goes back a long ways, back in time to 1995 when hip hop was really starting to catch on fire. Back in the day, Gozza was rapping with a group called “Juggernaut” (B. Gasser, R. Demski, K. Ortmertl, A. Bess, D. Nelson). Juggernaut had a released a cassette single “2 Class A Cuts” and it had really taken off in my neighborhood of Winchester Village in Swartz Creek (810).

The cassette looked like a blue pack of Marlboro lights and featured two tracks on the blue cassette. Side A had a song called “Act Like You Know” and the B Side had a track called “Midnight Phantom”. They used to sell them at Issacs’s Party Store among other places in the SC and the single release took off locally. We bumped that track everyday and the rap guys and girls were happy to have some local cats putting it down.

I remember in the winter of 1995, Juggernaut put on a rap show at “Foxes by the Creek”, which was a small teen hang out type of joint. The night of the show, I managed to make it to the spot and crammed inside with at least a hundred others. The spot was packed and the Police and Fire Department showed up over “fire code” issues but they probably just wanted to see what the kids were up to. I will never forget that show. Fast forward twenty five years and I’m writing a book for Project Born “Forever in the Jects” (Dropped July 7th, 2021-Amazon and www.therealprojectborn.com).

During the course of the project, I came into contact with Gozza, who had recorded a lot of PJB’s material over the years. It was a crazy round about way back to my youth, and it was good to see the cat still contributing to the Hip Hop culture with his music and lab skills. I interviewed him for the book and he supplied a few early 1990’s fliers for the book from his private collection.

Never one to waste an opportunity, I told him that I was a fan from the early nineties and had been to the Foxes by the Creek show back in 1995. I had brought along one of three copies I owned of that single (the others remain un-opened, collectors know what’s up) and Gozza signed it for me. I stayed in contact with Gozza from that point on and would see him in the lab with Project Born from time to time. I had most recently stopped over when Gozza was putting together PJB’s playlist for the Gathering of the Juggalos 21.

We have talked a few times about doing some different projects (which I can’t talk about, at least not yet) over the course of the year. Double fast forward to September 11th, 2021 and I was in a jam. Daniel Jordan and I were putting together a show in support of his release “Dark Night of the Soul” which Daniel had recently dropped. We had some scheduling difficulties for a DJ and when we lost the first DJ for the gig, I was in a jam.

I had to find someone to DJ the event which also featured Dice, Doc Hollywood Hustle, KDT, and many more. Time was short and action was required. I decided to reach out to Gozza for a little help and the brother came through without hesitation. He said he would be down to run the tables and saved the day. I appreciated the class Gozza showed, and he did a killer job the night of the gig.

So anyways, in October…when Gozza hit me up about appearing in his new video “Warriors” featuring DJ V1rus on the tables and filmed by the diabolical Swigz Sinatra….there was no way I was turning down that type of opportunity. I asked Gozza what he needed and he asked if I wanted to play an evil “villain” in the video. That sounded dope to me and I promised to be there. Filming was going down November 7th, and I had marked my calendar.

November 7th, Frog Island Park, Ypsilanti Michigan

I met Gozza and Jozi Whalez (member of Unorthodox and Born Lethal) at his crib near Bishop. Once CWA showed up, we hit the road. We were going to meet up with Swigz and DJ V1rus to get some shots, before moving film location to the dopest named park I’ve ever been to, Frog Island Park in Ypsilanti.

I had never heard of the place before, but the name did have a certain ring to it. The name also conjured up some pretty funky images in my brain, with some small island where Frogs went to party. I’m sure that’s no what the founding fathers in town meant, but all  I could picture was a bunch of little green Froggers (old school video game ode) smoking dope and fucking with civilians.

After filming the “weapons” and “training” at DJ V1rus’ crib, we headed out. We arrived on scene and met with about fifteen actors who were ready for their parts in the video. I had never really been to a video shoot like that, although I had filmed Project Born’s set at the GOTJ21, I had never “acted” in a piece. I have no training but figured the charm and good looks would carry me (lol).

Concept for the video

I don’t want to give up to much and ruin the surprise, but I suppose I’m going to have to let the “cat out of the bag” or at least a paw or two….otherwise this article will have trouble being effective. When we all got together that morning (closer to noon) to go over the scenes, Gozza and DJ V1rus explained the vision.

With the slightest touch, it was about a dope MC and Dj battling through an apocalyptical world full of evil villains, to reclaim the golden mic and mixer. The two heroes would face countless battles and insurmountable odds in order to do so. At least that’s how I understood it.

We were walked through the vision and prepared for our parts. I was part of the evil horde and my scene, all long with two other villains would be standing in Gozza’s way as he approached a bridge on his quest. Gozza, armed with some serious num-chuks, would strike down the obstacles and keep rolling on his mission. Meanwhile the man with the camera, the amazingly talented Swigz, would be capturing the action.

Ready, Set, Action!

The scene shoots began and I watched from the edge as the action unfolded all around me. The amount of preparation was substantial and each scene was fully thought out and run through. I took pictures during the process, while onlookers in the park wondered what the fuck was going on.

I suppose rounding the corner on a walk with the family dog, and coming across a horde of people fully armed might be alarming. But once people realized that there wasn’t a ninja gang war popping off, they were generally interested.

Some took pictures, others milled around to watch the action….but everyone was in good spirits and nothing weird happened. Perhaps Frog Island see’s this type of thing more often than I supposed…..

The Frog Island Park was an ideal location for filming and offered a very unique and interesting setting for the video to play out. Although I never found the island of froggers, smoking dope on the river…I did find a small island that may have been their hang out spot at one time, it sure fit the bill.

 

I played my part in the video and had a lot of fun doing it. It boils down to a few things, but when you’re surrounded by people with good vibes, quality over quantity prevails every time. Everybody brought their “action” A game and made the process a real dope experience, I will be talking about for a long time. I’m a big fan of Swigz’ work as a camera ninja as well.

I thought his video for “Totally Insane” by Gozza featuring Project Born and DJ V1rus was crazy fresh. Check it out when you can, until the new video for “Warriors” drops.

That’s about all the time I have for this piece, thanks for reading and have a great day. I believe we all have the power to experience whatever we manifest, so keep the thoughts positive and good shit is sure to head your way. Peace…

 

Signing Off,

Mike Shepard

ROX-TV Head Writer

kidvicious810 on IG