What’s crackin’ Tom ?
Man, I just started my own label. It’s
called Too Wild Entertainment. We’ve got a compilation out,
called “Tom Skeemask Presents : The Memphis Squad,and The
Legend of Orange Mound Slim.”
Are u from the Orange Mound Area ?
Oh yeah !
How long u been puttin’ it down in
the business ?
I’ve been rapping for 16 years, but
I’ve been in the business for about 6 years.
How many albums have u dropped ?
I’ve done 2 solo albums, 1 compilation,
2 group albums, and another solo album comin’ this year.
What’s poppin round your way ?
What’s poppin’ ? Yo Gotti,
Al Kapone : Memphis Drama 3, DJ Squeeky: Doggin The Game, Mr.
N...... I mean, pretty much a lot of people in Memphis are puttin
it down. Gangsta Boo, Three 6 Mafia, The Project Playas, Criminal
Maine, Thugsta, Yo Lynch, King JC. We all just tryin’ 2
get together, collaborate, and put out some good music.
I’ve heard Mr. LPD talk about cha.
He speaks very highly of u.
Yeah that’s my homeboy. We did a
song together called “Must Be The Pimpin’.”
I really like dude. That’s a real good dude. He’s
gettin’ ready 2 chop and screw a song for me.
A lot of folks in the country, especially
the South, have been into the Memphis rap sound for a while now.
Why do u think the industry has been overlooking the talent from
Memphis ?
Because a lot of people have come our way,
taken our sound, and capitalized on it. Not 2 say nothin’
wrong or negative about artists, but....u got people comin’
from Ohio, and not knowing their sound up there when we hear it,
we hear our sound. They might have been on the same wave length
we was on. But we don’t know. So we feel like they stole
our style. U got people comin’ from all parts of Atlanta
and New York tryin’ 2 get crunk. Well we started crunk.
We was gettin buck way back in the 80’s. We was slept on
back then cause the industry wasn’t ready for it. Now all
of a sudden, they ready for it, and they giving somebody else
the props for it. But we originated it. We started all that throwin’
elbows, and throwing fists. If u gangsta walkin’, u gettin’
crunk. If u throwin’ bows, u gettin’ buck. U feel
me ? Pushin’ folks out the way and all that, it ain’t
nothin’ new 2 us. The industry thinks we’re slow and
ain’t got nothin’ going for us in Memphis. Also, you’ve
got artists tryin’ 2 stop other artists from shining. Someone
may not like this artist or group, and they gonna try and stop
them from shining. So we gotta find another route 2 get around
them. Right now, Memphis is better than it’s ever been....
as far as artists workin’ together. But for a long time,
I mean a long time, u couldn’t get artist 2 work together
for nothin’ in this world. We weren’t doin much collaborating.
Now Memphis is starting 2 see, if we start workin’ as a
team, we can see some money. Some real money.
Have the artist not getting along bled
over into the hoods ?
Naw, as far as the neighborhoods, everybody’s
got love for each other. I’m from Orange Mound, and I’ve
got love for everybody. From Westwood to Nawf Nawf, to South Memphis,
to Germantown, & Whitehaven (or Blackhaven as they call it).
I got love for all these places, cause that’s just me. The
only people who don’t really mix and blend is Three 6 Mafia.
They don’t really mix with a lot of people in Memphis.
And why is that ?
It could be a lot of things. In my personal
opinion, I think it’s because they’re on a pedestal
right now, and if they were 2 go out and mix it with the public,
they would get mobbed. Being platinum artists, they can’t
just come hang and kick it with everybody. If u wanna meet them,
u gotta catch them at the studio. They always workin’. If
u ever hear anything about Three 6, it ain’t gonna be at
the crib or on the block, cause they in the studio workin’.
That’s always.
In the early to mid 90’s u had a
few artists leaving Memphis in order 2 try and make a name for
themselves. Are there a lot of artist around who still feel like
they have 2 do that ?
Oh yeah !
Would u ever do it ?
Sometimes I feel like I need 2 do it because
sometimes u don’t get the love u look for from your own
city. But what it be is.... U gotta have that sound that Memphis
is lookin’ for. And right now, Yo Gotti’s got that
sound. Three 6 got that sound. Gangsta Blac and Playa Fly got
that sound. And my boy Squeeky jus-s-s-t got that sound. You’ve
got 2 catch Memphis’ ear.
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