By: Melissa Stewart

The South has yet to turn over the reign of hip hop. Music makers are doing it big in ATL and Florida by kicking up a firestorm of hits, and no one seems to be able to stop the fire from burning, even with beef brimming from the North.

When you think of music coming from Birmingham, Ala., some think they should probably stick with gospel music. Lil Haze of Birmingham Entertainment says that’s not so.

He was born Ahmad Rashad Johnson (his dad was a fan of the famous football star) and is now known as Lil Haze. But there’s so much more to him than people would assume, from a small town guy from ‘The Ham.” His music speaks volumes of who he his and where he comes from. Lil Haze is a man comfortable in his own skin, doing things his own way and expecting big results.

Believing in the mantra that everything that glitters ain’t gold, Lil Haze approaches his music the way he does life. “I don’t curse when I talk and I don’t need it in my music. You do and say other stuff so people get the point. I may drop the ‘N’ word on occasion, but that’s it.”

When you listen to his music, you don’t miss the bitches and ho’s and you forget about getting fucked up. There are no mofo’s in his debut album “Doing the Most.” But what you can find on the album is a hot joint shared with R&B heartthrob Ray J. The two produce a very sexy cut titled “Work that Body” that Lil Haze is very proud of. It’s a banger that ladies will love. And the video? Wait on it! That’s hot too!

Lil Haze also teamed up with Atlanta duo the Ying Yang Twins to pen “Whut It Iz,” a promising club hit and radio favorite. But when Lil Haze reminisces on hip hop coming up, he remembers that “Today Was a Good Day” (by Ice Cube) as the first song he ever learned.  

“Cube was one of my favorites because even though he was hard, he could be positive.” Haze also hits hard throughout “Doin the Most” without forgetting to shout out about struggle. 

“I fell in love with hip. How when I was a kid and I always knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.”

Listen to Lil Haze on http://www.myspace.com/lilhaze205.

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