Artist: Agallah
Interviewer: Christina Allah

The Don Bishop Agallah is back again. This time he returns with his debut LP, You Already Know, in hand. You can expect the gruffy voiced "Piff King" to transport vibrant lyrics and spellbinding flows in his first non-mixtape extravaganza. SoundSlam sat down with Agallah to get insight on what makes him, and his album so dope. Peep this EXCLUSIVE interview.

Soundslam:How did you come up with the name Agallah?

Agallah: Well I formerly go by the name of 8-0ff the Assassin but I wasn't happy with that name so my peeps would just call me Ag, short for Aguilar (my last name). Then it dawned on me that I should change my name to...something more original and familiar.

SoundSlam: We hear you speaking of Propane Piff a lot? What exactly is it?

Agallah: Well propane is a gas, and piff is that good morpheus . When you mix the two you get propane piff, ya dig? That's my swag my realm right there.

SoundSlam: What part of NY are you from?

Agallah: I'm from Brownsville , Brooklyn NYC.

SoundSlam: How was it growing up there?

Agallah: It was basically rough. [There were] shootouts and robberies all the time. I'm lucky to be here most of my friends didn't make it out of the hood (r.i.p.).

SoundSlam: Reading your bio, it seems like you had a lot of tragedy early on, what happened?

Agallah: I was having bad luck I guess. Sometimes you look at life like, 'why am I being dealt this bad hand?' But I guess it was me being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The bullet (that hit me) wasn't intended for me, but I got hit so therefore I know what it's like to be shot. [I'm] not braggin' bout it or nothing. My moms, she was my heart. We just started to get close when she got murdered and that's a stain... I can't get out.

SoundSlam: How did that influence your music and your outlook on life?

Agallah: Well, I just went hard. Started spazing, not givin' a f**k about nothing and going hard. See, I was gonna be left for dead early so I was prepared. I wasn't expecting nothing from nobody. I worked for everything I got. Nothing was handed to me by Shiest or anyone for that matter. I am the only reason why I am standing here doin' this interview with you. Not Purple City or any other crew for that matter.

SoundSlam: Did you hustle before the rap game?

Agallah: Well I dibbled and dabbled throughout life. When times got hard I did what I had to do , not proud of it but a n**** gots to survive the best way he know how.

SoundSlam: What made you switch to rapping?

Agallah: Well I always had a love for rap since I was a child. I knew one day it would be time for me to get real serious with it and go in. Now I'm here with my debut LP, but I want to show people more. There will be another LP in... November called Brad Piff.SoundSlam: How has the rap game been to you? Good?

Agallah: Well, good and bad. The bad part is I watch so many non-deserving dudes get in the game and destroy it. The good part is I finally get my shine to do the damn thing. That's the only good part for me right now honestly.

SoundSlam: To those who don't know, how's the struggle of trying to make it in the rap game?

Agallah: Not easy. Be prepared to sacrifice a lot... That's real talk.

SoundSlam: Is being from NYC an advantage in rap?

Agallah: Well, if you from NY, it's like you automatically know how to rap. I guess it's in our DNA nameen?

SoundSlam: How'd you hook up with DipSet?

Agallah: Well, my man Rich from Cypress told Jim Jones about me early. Then later on, Dee Dub introduced me to Shiest, and then we formed Purple City later. Jim Jones liked this song I had called "Gangsta," and wanted it on Dipset Vol. 5, and the rest was history.

SoundSlam: Have you produced for anyone else?

Agallah: Big Pun, Kool G Rap, Dead Prez, Remy Ma, EPMD, Busta Rhymes, Mobb Deep, Onyx, Tony Touch, Royce Da 5'9, Nappy Roots, Run D.M.C and a lot more.

SoundSlam: What's a day like in your life?

Agallagh: Straight grindin', no games, just getting' this money.

SoundSlam: You have a different style from other New York rappers. How do you describe it?Agallah: Very highly advanced flows. I'm versatile and fluent. I spit that raw. What New York has been missing for a while, no disrespect to Papooses, or Saigons, but New York is mines. Real talk.

SoundSlam: Who were your influences in the rap game?

Agallah: Myself and the streets. I was raised on plays as the sound-scape for my music. No rappers influenced me.

SoundSlam: Tell us about the album You Already Know.

Agallah: It's a masterpiece. My first LP, it's definitely a classic if I say so myself.

SoundSlam: What's the first single?

Agallah: Well the first single we drop for clubs is called "Club Hoppin" produced by me. We have shot a video for "New York Ryder Music" produced by DJ Premier.

SoundSlam: How'd you hook up with Premier and Alchemist?

Agallah: Well, they are my friends first and foremost. The relationships I have with them is real. Not some "get a beat from me" and all that type s**t.

SoundSlam: What about Kool G. Rap?

Agallah: G Rap, we have mutual friends. He grew up with my best friend, Caviar, and from there we just made it happen nameen? Real n***as do real things. Respect G Rap.

SoundSlam: What are the hot tracks on the album?

Agallah: The whole LP is flames. Go cop it trust me.

SoundSlam: Tell us about your producer Sheist Bubz?

Agallah: He is not my producer, but rather he is the executive producer, which means he approves of me using the logo and stuff. He isn't on my album, but I'm sure Purple City fans will appreciate my LP.

SoundSlam: What are the grimiest tracks on the album?

Agallah: "On The Ave" by Alchemist, the "Intro," "NY Ryder Music," "Can U Dig That," and "Artificial Love," are some considered to be the hardest joints. (You) be the judge on August 22.

SoundSlam: Any more mixtapes coming up?

Agallah: Home Of The Haze Part 2 coming. Propane Piff 2, and many more beats from Ag as well.

SoundSlam: Any collabos?

Agallah: Yeah real soon. I keep that as a surprise.

SoundSlam: What was your first mixtape appearance?

Agallah: "Ill Style Live in 95" performing "Ghetto Girl," my first single.

SoundSlam: Any shows coming up?

Agallah: Go to www.myspace.com/agallahdonbishop for updates on shows.

SoundSlam: How do you feel about the south getting more love than the east right now?

Agallah: I don't feel nothing. Do y'all? But when NY start coming around again, don't hate or I'ma see you.

SoundSlam: Who are your favorite artists?

Agallah: Well, I have too many. My boy Ike Eyes is fire right now, and Caviar Dreams, and Dead Prez, I love the messages they push.

SoundSlam: Anyone you wanna shout out to?

Agallah: All my people on lockdown and out in the world, do y'all. Stay up! One love from ya boy The Don Bishop. Peace. Get that LP August 22nd. It's not a game!