What’s up?
I’m doing better, man. I was sick for awhile. I was having some voice problems recently. I’m just getting my old voice back. With all the touring and climate changes, I was getting sick and it took a toll on my voice. I was scared to the point where I thought my shit wasn’t going to come back. I went to the hospital and saw a throat specialist. They gave me some stuff to take and they told me to shut the fuck up.
Sean P can’t lose his voice.
Yeah, I know, man. When you hear the mixtape, you’ll hear the voice change. I’m not going to front, I did the mixtape with a fucked up voice because I just wanted to get something out. You’ll hear the different voice changes, but don’t worry, that’s all me.
You might have to call DMC for some advice.
I don’t know. I don’t know if I should call DMC. No disrespect, but I don’t think his voice sounds too hot either. I don’t know if I would take his advice, no disrespect.
In his HipHopGame Journal, Black Milk talked about how you were going out to Detroit last week to work on the album your doing with him and Guilty Simpson. How was your trip?
It was cool. Big up to Black Milk, Guilty, Hex Murder, Trick Trick and King Gordy and everybody else out there that showed me love. They picked me up at the hotel, took me to the studio and dropped me off at the end and I did my thing.
How’s the album with Black Milk and Guilty Simpson coming?
You know what? I can’t really call it right now. The beats are banging. We laid down some good verses. Guilty was out in LA doing his Stones Throw thing, so he has to come in and lay his verses down. We have three complete songs and everything else is incomplete until Guilty gets done. We’ll see how it turns out.
How was it working with Black Milk?
Black is cool as hell. He’s about his business. He handles his handle. I can’t complain.
What are his beats bringing out of you?
One thing Black mentioned to me was he was like, ‘Yo, I know you and Guilty are kind of cut from the same cloth as far as lyrics and subject matter.’ We both talk that tough shit. We could have made an “I’ll fuck you up” album with my version and the Detroit version, but we got some concept records that might shock a few people. Black brought that out. And with Black rhyming on some of the joints, he breaks up me and Guilty’s rah-rah-rah shit.
How do you think the album will turn out?
I think it’s going to be a winner. I kind of slept on Black as a lyricist. I knew Black could rhyme. I have his album, but I kind of slept on him as a lyricist. He really goes in. He was never wack to me though. I was just thinking producer first, MC second. He’s dope at both. I was personally sleeping on him. He’s dope.
How’s your Master P mixtape coming?
It’s coming out real good. July 24 is when it drops. That’s the date. It’s cool. It’s a regular mixtape with me rhyming over instrumentals and all that. And then I have some original joints on there that were never officially released that we put on there. There’s somethin’-teen tracks on there.
What’s the concept behind the Master P title?
It’s just another nickname like P-Body and Sean P. I feel like I’m the master right now, so I called it Master P. No disrespect to the man Percy Miller. He’s dope and he’s an OG in the game. I just feel like I’m the master at what I do right now, hence the title Master P. Plus I got the old pen and pixel cover to give it that flavor!
Like the old No Limit covers?
I always liked those shits! All of those shits were extra! Those were always extra, so it was like, ‘Fuck it, let’s do something like that.’
How’s the Boot Camp Clik compilation Casualties of War coming?
It’s a bunch of songs that we never put out. That’s not the new Boot Camp album. I want to set the record straight on that. But it’s still dope. But it’s not the new Boot Camp album.
Are you working on a new Heltah Skeltah album?
Yeah. We’re working on it, but we’re just taking our time. I know people are like, ‘What’s going on?’ but fuck that. We’re not putting it out until it’s right. If it never comes out, then it means it was never right. We want to make this shit right. We’re taking our time and people are throwing us beats. There’s no rush. We’re not rushing. I know the people want it but we’re not going to disappoint them. We’re taking our time with it.
Are you happy with how your last album Jesus Price Superstar did?
No. I’m never happy with the way my albums do. But I’m not mad. I don’t think any artist is ever completely happy with how their shit does. No artist is ever going to be completely happy, but to each his own. You drop an album and then you move on. But at Duck Down, we do what we can. I’m not blaming nobody. It did what it did and I’m happy with it. There’s always room for improvement. We put that out and we move on. That’s it.
You must be happy with the response from fans and critics.
Yeah. What I just said, I’m not talking about what the people say. The reception from critics, they showed me love this time. I’m not mad at that at all. I want to say, “Thank you” to all the fans and critics who showed me love. Thank you.
Your stock as a solo artist has risen incredibly fast. Are you at all surprised by that?
Yes and no. I’m surprised. I don’t really know how to explain it, but yeah. I always knew it was good music, but I didn’t know the people were going to appreciate it like that. I’m surprised, yeah, but I’m not because I know the work I put in. It goes both ways.
How’s your third solo album coming?
I haven’t started it yet, but it’s called Mic Tyson. I’m going to get to working on it. Even with that one, I’m going to take my time with it because it’s the last Sean P album, man. I’m trying to make sure it’s where I’m going. I want to go out with a bang.
Why is it the last Sean P album?
Because I said so.
Are you done as a solo artist after Mic Tyson?
I’m done.
Completely?
Completely. I’m done.
No more Heltah Skeltah or Boot Camp?
I’m done.
Did anything specific happen to lead you to this decision?
No. It’s time to move on. I’m done. There’s no beef, no riff and it’s nothing contractual. It’s nothing. I’m done. I had enough of this shit.
Do you want to get into other things?
I want to move on. I’m tired of this shit. “I love rap but I hate the game, matter of fact, bitch, what’s my name? P-Body.” Yeah, you heard the song. I’m fucking done.
What part of the game bothers you the most?
Everything. It’s not one thing. It’s everything. The only thing I’m happy about is my management team, Duck Down. Other than that, I don’t like nothing. I’m ready to get the fuck out of here.
When will Mic Tyson come out?
I don’t know. I don’t even have a date yet. I know after the Heltah Skeltah album is completed. I pay attention to the project I’m working on. I can’t do three albums at once because nothing gets done. I’m paying full attention to this Black Milk and Guilty Simpson shit. I’m going to knock that out. Bong. Then I’m going to finish the Heltah Skeltah album. Bong. Then I’m going to have the Mic Tyson album. Then we might do another Boot Camp album and I’m done.
You’re not going to come back like Jordan, wearing the 4-5?
You might hear me on somebody’s single or feature, but as far as another Sean Price album, I doubt it very much. I’m not no fortune teller, so who knows? But I’m pretty sure with the way I feel right now, I’m done.
If you walked away after Mic Tyson, would you be happy with the mark you left on hip-hop?
No. Not at all. But it is what it is.
Is there anything you wish you could have changed?
Of course, but I’m not Superman. I can’t reverse the fucking globe and go back in time. It is what it is. I’ve had my share of fun and I’ve had my share of disappointments. It is what it is.
Will you still tour when you’re done?
I’m going to work every album like I’m supposed to. I’m going to do my job. Don’t get it twisted. I’m not going to leave incomplete. I’m going to do what I have to do to make the album sell. But once that’s done, I’m out of here.
Has Dru Ha or Buckshot tried to talk you out of leaving the game?
Nah. They can’t, anyway. And that’s not even on no Debo shit. Dru is my manager but he’s also my friend. If he knows I don’t want to do it, he’s not going to force it.
You can’t force it anyway.
Exactly. For me to do another album after Mic Tyson, I need a better situation. I’m not dissing Duck Down, but I need more exposure, man. I kind of feel like I’ve done all I can do on this level. If me and Dru can’t get a better situation, then fuck it, man. I’m done. I can’t do it no more. This shit is fucking annoying.
There were rumors that Def Jam was interested. Did that ever pan out?
No, it didn’t. (laughs) There’s a lot of rumors going around, but don’t believe all the rumors. That’s what they are – rumors. I’m not going to lie. I did get calls from certain people at majors, but nothing panned out. I’m not mad at them, but it just didn’t work for me. I go where I want. Me and Dru know what we want and we’re not settling for nothing less. So nah, it didn’t work out.
Do you think majors are scared of you as an artist?
What’s to be scared of? I’m an artist. I go to the studio. My shit be on time. I’m not a lazy artist. I work my product and I do what I’m supposed to do. I don’t think no label is scared of me. If you want me, you want me because of the shit that I did already, so why would you ask me to do anything else? That’s the shit that bugs me out. If they like Sean P, that’s who they’re fucking with already. For them to ask me to jump out my character, why would they do that? I don’t think that’s smart.
Are you looking for the major deal now?
I’m always looking for the major deal. I never stop looking for the major deal. I’m always looking for that. My situation has to get better. I’m not the brokest rapper you know anymore. It’s not like that. It’s time to take it up a notch. I just feel that I can’t put out another record on this rinky-dink independent shit. Fuck that shit. People always talk about how they get $8 a record. I have never gotten $8 a record. That is such a fucking crock of bullshit. I’m not getting $8 a record, B. That shit is a lie. Whoever believes that is a fucking idiot. If everybody independent is getting $8 a record, then nobody would sign to a major. They’d all go get that gwop. It’s fucking bullshit, man.
When I interviewed you for Monkey Barz almost two years ago, you said that no rapper could touch you. Do you still feel that way?
Yep. Yep. Yeah, I feel like that. When I mean you can’t touch me, I mean in my lane. I don’t think I’m the nicest rapper out there, but what I do, nobody can do. And if you try to do what I do, you’ll sound like shit. This is my lane right here. I’m the master of this shit. Yeah, I can’t be touched, man. Especially when I’m in my groove, I’m untouchable.
You always have creative album titles. How do you come up with the titles?
It’s how I feel at the time. With Monkey Barz, I was back in the streets, trying to come up. I was really gorillain’ out here in these streets, so that’s where Monkey Barz came from. And then hip-hop needed saving. I didn’t say I was the ultimate savior, but I felt that Jesus Price Superstar was a good title. Everybody said they needed the real hip-hop back and all that, so I went with that title.
And right now, I just feel like fucking shit up right now. That’s why I got this new title, Mic Tyson, because I’m going to fuck you up, man, lyrically and physically. I even got a personal trainer now. I’m working out and all that. I’m on a diet and all that. Word up. I’m trying to be in my top form physically and lyrically. When you see the title, M-I-C Tyson, know what that means. It means that I’m going to fuck you up, lyrically or physically, however you want it. I go where I feel and I like to have a title for my album before I start.
Recently, Sean Paul of the Youngbloodz announced he was changing his name to Sean P. What did you think when you first heard that?
You know how many motherfuckers were telling me to go get him? I’m like, ‘Man, fuck all that shit. I don’t give a fuck what that dude calls himself. That doesn’t stop what I have going on.’ They think if I diss him, I’ll turn more people on to my music. People think that if I diss homie, then more people are going to want to fuck with me. I’m not with that.
Do you see Sean Paul changing his name to Sean P as disrespect?
At first I did. I think I still kind of feel that way. I can be honest with my feelings. But I don’t think dude knows who I am. I’m under his radar if he doesn’t know. But if he does know and is like, ‘Fuck it anyway,’ then he did disrespect me.
Would you record a diss track to him?
I’m not the person to make diss raps. I’m not with that. I’d like to talk to him. I don’t want to jump out the window and start disrespecting him and then he doesn’t know what’s going on. That’s not the answer either. I would like to talk to him and then we can take it from there. On some man to man shit, let’s have a talk, like, ‘Do you know who I am?’ And we can take it to wherever it has to go. We can leave it alone, go at each other, put the gloves on and go a couple of rounds, whatever has to happen. But I would like to talk to him as a man.
It would be good to clear that up.
Yeah, it would be good to clear that up. I’m not trying to jump out the window. My friends are like, ‘Get him! Get him, son! Get him!’ (laughs) I’m like, ‘Get who? Get the fuck out of here.’ I don’t like beef rap. Back in the day, beef rap was cool. KRS and Marley Marl kept it on wax. I’m not talking about Sean Paul, but the majority of rappers are bitch-type. They talk about doing this, that and the third. I’m not like that. I would like to talk to him as a man first. How that discussion goes will tell me how we’ll take it from there.
Are we going to see a Rustee Juxx album in 2007?
Actually, his album is coming out early next year. He just dropped a little something called “Vic Flair.” It’s getting a nice little pick up. It’s real nice. Definitely look out for that. The name of the album is Indestructible.
How are you helping Indestructible?
I’m the executive-producer along with Dru Ha and Buckshot. I brought him into the Duck Down family so it’s only right that I oversee that project. I can’t just bring him in and be like, ‘All right, see you later.’ I’m definitely overseeing that project for sure.
What advice would you offer to up-and-coming artists?
Good luck. Good luck, homie. Work on your craft and if you’re that good, your music will speak for itself. Don’t get caught up in all the bullshit that’s going on in the game. You don’t have to be a part of that. A lot of people think you should diss people to get on now. Come on.
What are your plans for the summer?
I got the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. I’m doing that on the 23rd. I have a free show in Brooklyn for the people. I forgot what date that is but I’m doing that. I have the Rock the Bells show with Wu-Tang at Randall’s Island. I’m there. Then I have some tours lined up. Me, Black and Guilty are going to go overseas in the fall. I’m working on my music, just getting it right.
What do you want to say to everybody?
I just want to tell the people, ‘Thank for the support.’ Look out for me, Black and Guilty’s album. Look out for the new Heltah Skeltah and definitely look out for the last Sean P album Mic Tyson. M-I-C Tyson. Whoever supported me, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. And if you never supported me, maybe you’ll like this next one. It’s okay. I’m not even tripping off that.
And Sean P from the Youngbloodz, get at me. Call me, brother. Tell you manager to call my manager and we’ll talk. I just want to talk. There’s no crazy shit. Not yet. (laughs) Contrary to popular belief, I can hold a conversation. I’m not a savage. I can talk. And if the conversation is good, then it is what it is. But if you’re crazy, then we’ll both get crazy. I’m not trying to start nothing, but just get at a nigga. That’s all.
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