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The Intelligent Thug, The look can be deceiving. Easily moving between worlds full of pain, triumphs, contradictions and controversy, BARRY BONDZ knows his assets, and isn't afraid of using them. "Yeah, The pretty boy thing works for me it helps with the ladies but having said that, fuck it, its still money over bitches, so, it really doesn't matter." A quote from the track 3 'Broads' but a slice from BONDZ own life. "I write stories. I take real events, life situations that everyone can relate to: the girl who's man just got 25, hustlin, responsibility of feeding yourself and those under you, that's my palette: life on the streets." The color scheme may not always be bright and colorful but real, raw and gritty is the only life BONDZ knows. From the gauzy mellow vibe of Play It Easy a tribute to old school R&B made current with BONDZ lyrical linguistics or the hard hitting staccato Goodbye where he wishes death to a certain snitch, BONDZ ability to paint his world is vivid and visceral. "I came into rap at 13. It started with Game, my cousin; he'd be in the studio recording his songs. But once he gave it up and I came in and took his place. Its been over a decade of perfecting my craft, I've been raised to do this." Confidence is well deserved. Surviving the brutal streets in notorious Brick City (Newark, NJ) an area cited (along with Camden, NJ) to have had the highest violent crime rate in the state and immortalized in films like the classic NJ Drive, BONDZ has had his own share of run-ins and close encounters with the law. "I been lucky, but I play smart. I could always extricate myself by weighing my options. Its the art of war. I bring that realness to music. That's my gimmick." Skilled as an artist and businessman, BONDZ plays only to win...G.M.B