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12/16/2006 What’s up?  I’m straight. I can’t complain.  Are you happy with how Tha Absolute Truth came out?    Actually I am. We put a lot into this.  Why that title?    Because everything I’m talking about on there is the absolute truth.  What’s one absolute truth in hip-hop?  Hip-hop is an art and people have to be an absolute truth to themselves and their music.  There’s a message in your single “Tussle.” What is that message?  When you get into an argument, you don’t have to go get your gun. You can handle it the old-fashioned way.  Are the days of punching gone?  Down in my city, there’s a lot of crime. This is definitely a city for crime. We definitely do a lot of shooting in the clubs and outside of the clubs. I’m trying to make music for everybody but I’m trying to let them know how it is. Put your gun down and handle your business the old-fashioned way.  What was your inspiration for the “Danger (Remix)”?    Erykah (Badu) was really talking about why people get at her and I was really trying to let people know what it is.  How was it working with Erykah Badu on the “Danger (Remix)”?  It was amazing. She gets into the studio and she freestyles a little bit. She was real cool and down-to-earth.  How would you compare Tha Absolute Truth to your first record, Purple Hulk?    Purple Hulk was more street-like and this one is more for everybody. You can listen to this with your mama and it can bang in the club at the same time.  How does your background in percussion affect what you look for in beats?  It helps me when I think about how I’m going to lay down my words. I know what beats and patterns I’ll sound good over.   Does your background in music make you a better rapper?  It doesn’t matter in general, but to me, I think it makes me better.  You have a degree in music. Does it ever frustrate you when people get on but know nothing about what they’re doing?    No. It actually makes it more fun to see how they do it. You can’t hate it.  What did you learn being homeless for two years after college?  I learned where I didn’t want to be. It actually increased my grind and motivation to get out there and handle my business. I learned a lot of shit.  How did you catch the ear of T-Town Music?    (CEO) George Lopez has the CD shop and I would go in there and I guess he liked my style because I didn’t sound like anybody else.  What’s Dallas like?  Dallas is one of the richest cities in the world. Dallas is a beautiful city that everybody should go see.  How are the ladies in Dallas?  Man! They’re off the chain. Everything’s big in Texas. We got some big girls in Texas.  Does Dallas have the potential to blow like Houston did?    Yeah. We have an underground. Houston has more laid-back, syrupy music and we’re more energetic. Out here, everybody goes to the clubs and we make that kind of music.  You sold 100,000 units of Purple Hulk. What’s your secret to moving that many units independently?  You can’t just be everywhere in your city, you have to be everywhere-everywhere. We hit every gas station, every mom and pop store, every carwash, we hit every place we could. That was the grind.   Can you sell 100,000 in today’s game?    I think I could. My album is the absolute truth and when people get the taste of the absolute truth, I’m pretty sure they’ll want it.  What’s more valuable, the grind or talent?    Actually, the grind. It is what it is. It’s 90% grind, 10% talent.  What’s going on with your group, Dirty South Rydaz?  Everybody’s working. Tum has his album on the way. Fat’s working on his album and Addiction’s working on his. Everybody’s grinding.  Do you consider yourself the leader of the group?    No. I would say I’m the lead right now but we’re all equal. Everybody’s holding it down.  What’s the next move for you right now?   We’re working on screenplays and so on so people can expect some underground movies from us.  Have you thought about the next Big Tuck album?    Yeah. I’m definitely ready to do another album my way. I know what I’m doing and I know where I’m going with it.  What advice do you have for independent artists?    Stay focused and do your damn thing. Don’t let nobody tell you you can’t do nothing. Stay on the grind.  What do you want to say to everybody?    Stay tuned for your boy. Go pick up Tha Absolute Truth because it is the absolute truth and stay tuned. It’s going down.

By Brian Kayser

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