In part four of Noah Callahan-Bever’s interview with Pusha T from Jamaica, King Push speaks on his legacy in Hip Hop and admits that he believes his name should be among the elites in the industry. The G.O.O.D. Music rapper also points out that he feels listeners are finally starting to embrace his greatness and says his upcoming My Name Is My Name LP will cement his status in the game.
Compton native Kendrick Lamar sits down with HYPETRAK in Hong Kong for his first ever interview in Asia. Kendrick does heads overseas for the Beats By Dre Asia tour and opens up on what he thinks about music being able to take him so far and around the world. K. Dot also shares his thoughts on touring with Dr. Dre and what it means to him for his major label debut Good Kid m.A.A.d. City to reach platinum status. Take a look at Lamar give insight behind what TDE means and much more in the visual below.
50 Cent sits down with HOT 97’s Funk Fex and gives his initial reaction to Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse which has been the topic of conversation in the music industry since it surfaced. Always one for a scathing diss record, 50 Cent co-signs the Compton rapper’s desire for competition and says it’s necessary and a part of Hip Hop. Fif also discusses Kidd Kidd’s upcoming project and speaks on the current status of G-Unit.
Caroline D’amore invites The Wailers lead singer Elan Atias onto Hearbeatz Radio for a one-on-one interview live on the air. Atias tackles what it likes to fill Bob Marley’s shoes and gives insight behind how he found himself in his current position after a chance run-in with guitarist Al Anderson. The singer also touches on the public’s misconception that he’s one of Bob Marley’s sons, transitioning as an artist between different genres of music and what it was like collaborating with Snoop Lion on his recent Reincarnated LP. Before heading out, Atias stresses to listeners and D’amore that it’s important to remember to remain creative and fearless in whatever you do.
Danny Brown kicks it with Esteban from Fuse at Rock The Bells and gives a candid interview on a number of different topics. The bruiser keeps things fun and lighthearted as he gives his take on Rock The Bells music festival and speaks on his unexpected performance for Ab-Soul’s set during day one. Brown also speaks on Hologram performances from rap legends, Freddie Gibbs murdering him on a track off his upcoming OLD LP, his girlfriend painting his album’s artwork and admits he doesn’t want Miley Cyrus to know he is after being asked if he thinks the former Disney star stole his style of sticking out his tongue. With a new tour on the horizon with Action Bronson, Danny Brown reassures fans they’re in for a good show.
A$AP Ferg sits down with JAY Z’s Life+Times for the latest episode of DECODED. The A$AP Mob member breaks down for the cameras the creative direction behind his smooth and hard-hitting “Hood Pope” track featured on Ferg’s new Trap Lord album. Hear what the young rapper has to say on his motivation to spread his sermon to the hood.
Juicy J and Pusha T sit down for a candid interview on SKEE Live with DJ Skee on AXS TV. Take a look as the artists give their take on Hip Hop’s new controversial verse which has stirred up a lot of attention after the Compton MC proclaimed himself the “King of New York” and lyrically set his sights on a handful of rappers.
Stalley, Rockie Fresh, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Omarion and DJ Scream sit down for a lengthy interview with Hot 97. The label collectively discusses Self Made Vol. 3, Dreamcashers 3 and Stalley gets the opportunity to talk Honest Cowboy and shares his desire for commercial recognition. Ross also speaks on their recording process in the studio while Meek gets into details on his battling roots and downplays the back and forth currently going on between him and Kendrick Lamar by reassuring fans its all in good fun.
“I’ve come full circle in the music game,” said Rodriguez. “I went from just being a full on producer, to writing songs, to now performing songs so, that’s who Tito Rodriguez is at the moment.”
With a modest attitude and honest demeanor, Rodriguez is the type of individual who sees the brighter side of things and goes out of his way to help wherever he can. He stresses he prefers to contemplate over positive thoughts and credits his outlook on life from his experiences endured during his humble beginnings.
“In the past I got to produce for a bunch of acts out in Long Beach, most of the long beach rap crowd, rap circle,” said Rodriguez.
Still, it would be Rodriguez’s decision to start a band with a unique sound that would take his career in a different direction after meeting lead vocalist Mike Brophy sometime in the early 2000s. The duo randomly found themselves crossing paths after being introduced by a mutual friend.
“That’s how I met him, I was introduced to him by a mutual friend who owed me money and I was just trying to get my money back and he brought Brophy over,” Rodriguez explains with a smile on his face. With the band’s stage name still undecided, Rodriguez recalls suggesting his ideas by stating, “I said what about The Pricks?” “He was like you know what, perfect, you’re a prick I’m a prick, that’s it.” After recruiting keyboard player Chris Medina and catching the attention of KROQ’s Kat Corbett, The Pricks would go on to win 2006’s “Battle Of The Bands” contest and play venues throughout Hollywood.
However, in 2012, Rodriguez reveals the group decided to collectively disband after eight years together with each member now focusing on their individual careers. Though he’s optimistic The Pricks will eventually find their way back to the studio, Rodriguez makes it clear he’s proud of what the band has been able to accomplish but is ready to step up to the microphone and deliver his upcoming The Message LP.
“I’m doing music with messages, I just didn’t want to make music just to make music, I really wanted to give the people, really my family more than anybody, I want to make my mom proud you know, and I want my daughter and my son proud, my family,” Rodriguez continued. “There’s no cuss words, I’m giving nothing but good messages, good vibes, I’m trying to inspire the people…trying to get people something they can relate to in time of need, or they’re sad or they’re depressed, give them some kind of hope through music, it’s just some words of encouragement.”
“I got to do it by myself…I really got to go deep in my mind and think outside of the normal,” said Rodriguez. “I think what happens when you record with other people you’re trying to please them so you get lost on what you’re really trying to do. The process has been more of, I’m getting to do what I want, no one is influencing me, there’s no opinions, I really enjoyed the process, this has probably been the most fun thing I’ve done…it’s a blessing in disguise.”
With his new music video for “Angel” currently in the works, Rodriguez shares the concept behind the visual which finds the artist hitting the streets of his hometown and giving back.
“I got Diamond Supply, I got them to donate thousands of dollars worth of product…I got Stance socks, I got Br4ss Underwear…I got Frito-Lay, I got Sara Lee bread, Monster Energy Drink…and I got to go back to my community, my neighborhood…all of Long Beach…and gave it all away to less fortunate families and the homeless.”
Beyond the beats and rhymes, Rodriguez keeps the spirit of the group alive and stays busy with his new clothing line named after The Pricks. The evolution of the brand and its significance is something he stresses the importance of.
“The brand surpassed the band by miles I could say, we managed to do tons of skateboards, we did some surf boards, we’ve done shirts, hats, accessories, you name it,” Rodriguez continued. “As far as you making money, unless you’re a Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift, somebody who’s got that kind of momentum and that kind of steam and that kind of machine behind them, you’re not going to see no money from your music unless you’re independent and you sell 80,000 copies or something and it’s all going to you. That’s the part that people got to learn how to master first…branding what you got if you want to be successful in the game.”
“I got artists from all over the world, I have art in my studio from everywhere, ready to hang up and ready to go, that’s the best thing about it, when you put out good vibes, good vibes come back, we pride ourselves on being standup guys,” explains Rodriguez. “You know they say you reap what you sow? It’s definitely true and you know that’s a testament of us being that kind of people that people want to help us.”
Mass Appeal drops off part two of Noah Callahan-Bever’s interview in Jamaica with rapper Pusha T. To catch you up to speed in case you missed part one, Pusha T was out in Jamaica to film his music video for “Blocka” when Noah on behalf of Complex reached out to the G.O.O.D. Music rapper for an intimate interview. In part two, Pusha points out the music he enjoys listening to is a lot different than the music he releases to his fans and shares insight behind why he chooses to collaborate with different artists such as Future. The Clipse member goes on to open up on his relationship with his brother Malice and shares a story of a run-in with police which got the rapper to thinking to that his street past always finds a way to come back and haunt him from time to time.
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