You want true? Carlos, is true enough.



“G’ till my after life Hillwod

        master mind  dope sells itself

             we don’t even have to advertise”

                                -South Park Mexican

         It mark’s 10 years since rapper South Park Mexican (SPM) who’s birth name is Carlos Coy has been incarcerated. Now I’ll go one-on-one into the mind of the man who built the house and, of course I mean Dope House. I remember I was attending high school when I first heard SPM. Real talk, personally I have several favorite tracks like: Jackers in My Home, SPM Diaries, Hubba Hubba, Streets on Beasts. There are so many titles it would take way to long for me to name them all. Although there certainly are mixed emotions and skeptics linking some criticism to Dope House Records; yet the indie label is still pulsating. Carlos has claimed, “The more they hate the stronger we become”. Time after time he has proven to do what he does. So what if he’s a high school dropout and had trouble as he grew up. Every artist has his or her ups and downs; maybe it’s a work ethic to keep moving forward to what is most important. I guess the point I’m trying to make is he’s defied the odds several occasions and production with Dope House Records Chief Engineer/Producer, Grammy Award winner, Jamie “Pain” Ortiz is sure to be another milestone in the labels history.

        The young Carols experienced some what of a troubled youth. He was born October 5, 1970 in Houston Texas. Carlos grew up in a broken home; former-marine father Arthur Coy Sr. and mother Norma marriage ended when he was three years old. His mother had to take the reigns as the head of the house hold and, Carlos’s sister Sylvia took primary care of him. He relocated to several elementary schools. He went to Welch Middle School where he was in a music magnet program. In 1987 he dropped out of the ninth grade while attending Milby High school at the age of sixteen. Later Carlos had gotten his GED and enrolled into San Jacinto Junior College. He hoped to get a business associate’s degree; however he had failed all of his classes. The struggling Carlos eventually sought out opportunity. In 1995 along with brother Arthur Coy Jr. founded Dope House Records and, in the same year Hillwood was released. Several more SPM albums followed (Hustle Town, Power Moves and The 3^rd Wish) including countless tracks such as: Pyramid, Strapped & Deadly, Garza West, Mexican Radio, He’s a Bird, He’s a Plane, Filthy Rich, 2 Joints and, numerous features with such artist as: Grimm and Nino (Lockjaw Click Entertainment).

         Carlos obtained the stage name South Park Mexican from growing up as a teenager in South Park; break dancing in a ghetto populated mostly by African Americans near Sunnyside and Golfcrest located in South Houston. Carlos was dealing crack cocaine but, wanted out of the dope game and, found his calling turning to rap. He first started as Christian rapper. Having no success he changed his tone and rapped about what he had came accustomed to; the rough and rugged streets. He began selling his SPM brand home made tapes out of his back pack for five dollars. Carlos used his wits and was smooth talker. He generated a “BUZZ” and managed to gain notable popularity locally in and around the Houston area. During the year of 2000 Carlos sealed a deal with Dope House Records and Universal Music Group and put out 3 albums: The Purity Album, Time Is Money and Never Change. All three albums peaked on the Billboard charts.

Carlos Coy


         In 2002 Carlos received a 45 year prison sentence for an aggravated sexual assault charge. The high profiled case drew plenty of media coverage and, is very questionable due to the fact that the jury was provided with faulty testimony and presented no physical evidence. Judge Mark Ellis slapped Carlos with some harsh remarks during closing statements, "In my 17 years on this bench I have seen a lot of sex offenders, and there is one thing they all have in common: They are all liars, and you are no exception. You've lied to this court. You've lied to your family. You've lied to your fans with your so-called positive raps when your own life wasn't right." At the conclusion of the trial Chip Lewis who was Carlos‘s attorney was asked if his client had expected such a long sentence. Chip responded by saying, “I don’t think he was expecting anything outside of the offer of probation. He maintained all along he didn’t commit this crime and as such anything but a not guilty verdict was a disappointment to him”. The same accuser’s who filed the criminal charges against Carlos took him back to court but, no money was awarded to the plaintiff’s in the civil case. Carlos Coy’s image has taken a beating however he has maintained his innocence claiming the allegations filed against him are “Bullshit” as he continues to remain positive and optimistic despite the outcome. In my own opinion, it seems as if there is alot of trickery in the judicial sysytem. I don't know how others view the justice system. This is stricly my own opinion.

12 years from now it will be 2024 and Carlos will be eligible for parole. If he does not make parole and has to serve the remainder of 35 years he will be 74 years old when he’s finally set free in the year 2047. Since the incarceration of SPM there have been two controversial albums that have been released: When Devils Strike and The Last Chair Violinist; these two albums also peaked on the Billboard charts. You can rest assured that this is not the last of South Park Mexican.

Dope House Records based in Houston Texas

Dope House Records is among one of the highest grossing independent labels releasing over 30 albums through the record company. During SPM’s career he had minimal radio airplay. Carlos suggests, “Numbers don’t lie, you’re right about that; but they also don’t determine who the best is. But since were on the subject of numbers let me say this no artist on Earth, who gets the same minimal airplay as I do, sells as much as I do.” Yet he has paved a foundation for following talent to come in the Texas Latin rap scene. It is now 2012 and the “FREE SPM” Movement continues it’s pursuit as a prophet of a legacy is in the midst of a saga. With the highly anticipated "The Son of Norma" getting ready to be unleashed Carlos Coy discusses life, ambition, family,a glimpse into what’s to come in the future and what matter’s most.

I’d like to thank you for you interest in my situation and your love for our music. These last ten years have cleared the way for me to see some interesting things, such as: Who’s a friend and who’s a foe, who was real and who was fraud, who is loyal and who is not. I’ve got a song on The SON called, "And They Said”, where I say, “Fans are my family, friends was a fantasy.” I go on to say, “Everything clear, let the saga live on, bout time I wrote a mothafuckin positive song…” All in all, life is a blessing, and I wouldn’t change a thing if I could. Even though I’ve been falsely convicted, I know I’d be dead if I hadn’t come to prison. That’s just how foolish I was living. Once I’m able to finish my first book, you’ll understand what I mean. I won’t talk too much right now because there are quite a few questions for me to answer for this ten-anniversary article. I’ll just say thank you to all those who’ve shown me incredible love and support. And, also, thanks to those who’ve hated. I’ll use the love to build a powerful engine for our movement, and use the hate for fuel.

Faithfully,

Carlos Coy

SPM has cooked up some of the most addictive music


Q. You have inspired many people from all types of walks of life then and now. Including me. I read, when your career was taking off before each show, you would give a speech about the virtues of staying in school and staying away from drugs, keeping out of gangs and getting a job. You talked about the glories of families and responsible parenthood. I’ve heard those type of messages on your albums as well. What could you say to the younger generations who are just now catching on to the music you have put out?
A. I would say, “You deserve the very best in life, but only you can give yourself the best. Only you can study hard, listen in class, do your homework each night. Only you can say ‘no’ when so-called friends want you to do something stupid like drink alcohol, or smoke weed, or beat someone up, or steal, or etc. There will be many situations where you find yourself having to make a decision on whether to do something stupid or not. The hell with what people always think, always choose what’s right. We’re all old enough to know right from wrong. I don’t need to tell you that skipping school, or joining gangs, or making fun of someone is wrong. The greatest thing a person can do in this life is be kind. Our heart is a simple mechanism, and it’s really the secret to life. It pumps happiness into kind people, and pumps sadness into mean people. But some of us have lived such painful lives, that all we know how to do is be mean. That’s why I give you this understanding. Knowledge is power. If you know eating a certain berry will destroy your life, you won’t eat it. Well I’ve talked about two berries, being kind and being mean. Eat the right one, so that you’ll have a beautiful life.”
Q. Who comes to visit it you?
A. My mom, dad, wife, kids, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather (before he died), my bestfriend, Dope House employees, I’m only allowed to have ten people on my visiting list, and I can change my list every six months. So I make slight changes whenever I need to talk to someone that’s not already on my list.
Q. There’s been talk about a new album called The Son of Norma. Do you have any comments about that?
A. That’s funny you ask that, because just two days ago I got a letter from Pain Ortiz (Head Engineer at Dope House Records) and he informed me that the final set of instructions concerning The SON have been completed. That means the music part of the album is done. All seventeen songs have been mixed and mastered. Now, all that’s left is deciding the artwork. For example, what will the cover be? What will the insert artwork be? Are we doing anything special, like a free t-shirt offer, or putting a Dope House sticker inside, etc? Whatever we’re going to do, we need to get it done quick because people have waited long enough.
Q. I’ve heard there have been several complications with the album. Can you clear the air on that?
A. There’s just a lot of work that has to be done before an album is ready to be pressed. If I were out there, I could get it done in weeks. But it’s more difficult being in prison, and weeks can take years, which was the case. But I’m glad we’re done. This will be the first album that will be released of which I didn’t get a chance to hear its final version. But I don’t care, I trust Pain and the staff at Digital Services, and I say, “Let it Roll.”
Q. As you may know over the last 10 years there have been several rumors circulating about you stating you are dying from dieses and you have been killed. Obviously you’re not dead. How is your health?
A. I’ve heard about the one where I was killed, but not the one about dying from dieases. It must be a slow moving dieses because I been in this motherfucker ten years and I still don’t feel nothing. But I just did 800 push-ups with my homeboy, Wizard, last night. So I’m fine. No diseases thank God, and last I checked, I’m still warm.
It has been documented you’re imprisoned with some of the most dangerous men. Has there ever been a period since you have been incarcerated you feared for your personal safety?
A. Right now, I’m in High Security Segregation, where they put the most dangerous confirmed gang members, and other inmates who are threats to the security of prison. But all they want from me is a signed picture for their kids, or friends, or other family members. I get nothing but love and respect, not only here, but in every prison I’ve been to. I’ve passed through over ten prisons, and lived in four of them. But these guys are well-connected, and they know more than you can imagine. And the word has spread about my trial, and how I got railroaded. They know all the crooked shit DA’s do when they really want someone behind bars.
Q. As your life takes sharp turns do you feel you have any reason to believe you fear for your life?
A. Definitely. If I’m not careful, the same way many men have died I will die too. My enemies are ice cream, nachos, chili bean burritos, Snickers w/almonds, Salsa Verde chips really all the chips.(We got like fifteen different kinds in commissary.) My good friend, Boy, died in 2010. He was my age. He just fell out in the shower. He was dead by the time they put him on the stretcher. Heart attack. I’m scared to death of it. But, obviously not too scared. I ate, like, six homemade enchiladas earlier, while listening to the football game.
Q. Can you comment on the future of Dope House records and any future SPM projects?
A. Our future is extremely bright. The SON (Son of Norma) will be (or is) the greatest rap album I’ve ever heard. I didn’t get to hear the mastered version, but I rapped that motherfucker, and no body on Earth can fuck with it. I know that sounds super boastful and braggy, but what do you want me to say? A lie? It’s straight crack. The only album that can fuck with it, is “Visionary” which will be the next SPM album after The SON. I’ll be getting out of High Security soon, and I’ll be back working with all our musical family: Lucky, Bash, Sheedy, Low, Grimm, Pimp, Powda, Coast, Quota, Gotti, Carolyn. I’ll be blessing all their projects. It’s crazy bright. All I do is thank God.
Q. What is the difference between Carlos Coy on the brink of stardom and the Carlos Coy as of today?
A. If you know me, you would know that I wasn’t on the brink of stardom. I was on the brink of death. I was fucked up every waking moment, and at war with a lot of pussy-ass niggaz. My brand new limousine had just got shot 31 times by some punk-ass hoes. I was at the point of no return because that’s just who I was. I didn’t know how to handle fame, and my story would have ended like Screw’s, or Elvis’s, or Kurt’s, or Michael’s. I was the poorest man in the world, and all the bitch-ass haters were stupid enough to want my life. That’s why I say, never admire people with money or fame. That shit is the last thing that will bring you happiness. Today, I’m a man who knows I’ve been given a second chance. I’m happy as hell, and just loving the gift God has given me. I’m excited about my writing, not only songs, but books. I’m just doing so much planning for The SON, I haven’t been able to finish other projects. But I will, and I think I’ll do good.
Q. At this point in your life what matters most to you?
A. God first. Then my kids and family. I’m sure most of us feel the same way. Aside from that, my passion has always been to help people. I so wish I had the answers too alleviate the social cancers of the world. I wish I could tell something to that abusive husband, that-self destructive kid, that drama prone girl, that dope dealing man that would make them understand what true happiness is. Everybody thinks money makes you rich, so they’ll do all kinds of shady shit to get it. The people that want, so badly, to be rich, are the ones who are unhappy and think money will make them happy. It’s fake happiness. The most valuable things on earth are beautiful relationships, but it takes work to build them. It takes lot of forgiveness, humbleness, kindness, patience to have these true treasures. So, many people just don’t have those traits so they do anything to get money so they can buy fake relationships. Go to the strip clubs and have a bunch of hoes that don’t give a fuck about you, but love your money. Have friends that love to spend time with you because you got money. All this shit ends in cruel fashion. It’s better to work on being honest, dependable, kind, thoughtful, considerate, so you can have beautiful people around you because you’re a good person. That’s what being rich is. That’s what I wish I could give the world.