The Eddie G Story - by Eddie G

Ever since I was a little kid, hip-hop has always put me in a world of my own.  I never liked the gritty, aggressive sound of acts like the Wu-Tang Clan.  That’s no offense to them, it’s just not my style.  But the bounce of West Coast hip-hop, and the producers like DJ Quik, Battlecat, and Warren G that created these sounds, brought such a sense of joy into my life every time I listened to music.  And the lyrics – the songs about big, crazy parties, getting all the girls, having all the money in the world, and not giving a fuck, just added to the picture.  It was like an endless celebration on wax, and it didn’t get any better for me than that.

When I started all of this almost three years ago now, I had no idea what the fuck I was getting into.  I was just a 19 year old white college kid from the suburbs.  All I knew was that I wanted to meet my favorite rapper, DJ Quik.  Rud from Dubcnn offered to send me over there to do an interview with him and I was like, “All right, fuck it!  I don’t know how to interview someone, but I have a lot of questions I’ve always wanted to ask DJ Quik, and just by getting to meet him, it’ll be a win-win for me.”  Who would have thought that I would have also met Jay Rock and K.Dot that night, and give them some of their first coverage online by conducting the world’s most unprofessional and awkward interviews.  My tape recorder didn’t work when I started interviewing Jay Rock, so I had my friend Cody write down notes while we were talking.  Yeah, it was that bad.

After that night, working in hip-hop became my entire life very quickly.  Fuck sleeping, and fuck a social life – all I did, day and night, was work.  The goal?  To bring the music I love to as many people as possible.  I started by doing a shitload of interviews, and, unbeknownst to me at the time, that was a great place to begin.  I just did it because I liked the experience of doing an interview.  I could ask the questions I always wanted to know, and I considered every piece an educational experience where I could learn about what made my favorite artists tick and become so creative and successful.  But, before I realized it, I knew almost every hip-hop artist in Southern California on a personal level, and by taking trips up to the studio, or even some of the dudes’ houses, it showed them that I really gave a fuck.

I know that’s what’s made me successful at this the whole time – whether or not I’m an award winning writer or a marketing genius, I honestly give a fuck about the music and the people involved with making it.   Also, anyone who’s met me in person knows that I’m just me.  Most people do a double take when they meet me for the first time.  “THAT WHITE BOY is Eddie G?” I’ve seriously heard that from a few people.  But come on.  If I came in on some “Malibu’s Most Wanted” shit, I wouldn’t have lasted a second.  Maybe all those old records I listened to about “keeping it real” sunk in with me, because that’s another key to succeeding in this game, for anyone interested.  Just be fucking honest, hopefully with everyone, but with yourself at a bare minimum.

Being at Dubcnn was great because I (again, without realizing it at the time) was given the opportunity to break so many records, and break so many new artists that I just felt needed to be heard.  Around that time, I also met Young De through Damizza, the latter with whom I had just conducted the most enlightening and insane interview a couple months earlier.  I ended up being brought on to “consult” for De’s “Audio Hustlaz” project he was doing with DJ Skee, Damizza, B-Real, and Kurupt, and I was suddenly thrust (no homo) into another level of the game.  Being a marketing major at SDSU, I was excited because I was finally able to apply some of my ideas and voice my opinion on how to break records and introduce De as a solo artist to the West Coast community.

The project was an amazing success, and the “radio show” that we started to promote it called “Coming Up With Young De” (which I’ll admit, was wack for the first few episodes) became what you now know as “The West Coast Grind.”  I also started working more closely with Damizza, and ended up co-writing his memoir “Guilty By Association” with him and Jeff Marshall Craig.  That experience was priceless too.  We did it like this – every day for a couple months, Damizza would call me up and he’d tell me stories about the crazy ass shit he’s done during his career.  I’d sit around in my room like a kid at the campfire, listening to crazy behind-the-scenes info on how the “Chronic 2001” album was put together, and then hang up the phone after we were done with a “WTF” look on my face. I’d tape record the conversations, and then go back later and type everything out, turning it into something equivalent to an interview you’d read on this site, but without the back and forth dialogue.  That draft would then get sent to Jeff, and he’d do his professional author thing with it and make it the final magic you’ll see when it hits stores.

Around that time, “The West Coast Grind” also became the most relevant radio show on the West Coast, even though it wasn’t on the radio.  We got people like Warren G, Xzibit, Bishop Lamont, Cypress Hill, etc, etc, on the program, broke all of the latest news and scandals (“No Country For Old Men,” anyone?) and we were also the only show (outside of DJ Skee’s “Takeover” show on Power and the Sirius shows) that actually played West Coast music.  Hey!!!! That’s a concept for ya, huh?  We also added our friend DJ Ill Will to the show as the official DJ, and Damizza offered his radio expertise to us as the executive producer.  It was a bitch and a half for me to put together every week, but at the end of every show, listening to it made it worth the 6-7 hour editing experience.

Needless to say, things were really poppin off.  I was also helping a lot of the other artists out here promote their projects through Dubcnn by running contests, timing leaks, and doing all those other promotions you see that build hype around a project, and adding that to the fact that I was still (and still am today) in school as a full time student, my plate was getting ridiculously full.  Then, when we announced the release of the “Guilty By Association” book, Mariah Carey freaked out and sent Damizza a cease and desist notice over it.  That’s awkward.  Even more awkward was the field day the press had with the news.  Suddenly, my name’s in the National Enquirer.  Wow.

I had wanted to start my own website for a while, and even though everything was great at Dubcnn and I appreciated the opportunity Rud, Nima, Jay, and the other guys had given me over there, I wanted to present West Coast hip-hop in a new way.  I just had no fucking idea how to approach the technical aspects of building a website.  One day, I was talking with LuLu from BYI, and he said, “Why don’t you just start your own blog site?  Rome just started one, and it’s really easy to set up.”  After thanking him for sparking that concept in my head, I started researching blog publishing software.  Even though Chronic Vacation looks like a fancy website, believe it or not, it’s just a Wordpress blog with some more bells and whistles.

Damizza and I talked about starting this new website together, and we were gonna add an internet radio station on it from the jump programmed by him, so it would feel like the old school Power 106 days once again.  Unfortunately, the royalty rates for running an internet radio station were outrageous, so we had to pass on that idea.  But, nonetheless, we launched Chronic Vacation last November, coupled with the release of Indef’s awesome street album “The Product.”

I felt like there was some bad blood between us and Dubcnn when we first started everything, and looking back on it now, that was stupid.  I appreciate, and I always did appreciate, everything you guys did for me, and this move wasn’t based off any negative motivation at all.  I just wanted to do my own thing, and I appreciate all the support you guys have given me since the move.

At first, Chronic Vacation didn’t take off like I had hoped.  I don’t think a lot of people got what we were trying to do. Well, either that or they didn’t feel like supporting a brand new site. Either way, the people that have stayed true to me in this industry - those real, solid people - continued to support me and this site since its inception, and for that I can’t thank you guys enough.  You know who you are.

Soon, I got too busy with Chronic Vacation and my other behind-the-scenes work with Damizza and Baby Ree that I had to stop doing “The West Coast Grind.”  Yep, that was my fault guys – don’t get mad at De or Will for that one!  I wanna give a big shout out to De for being such a great, honest friend to me this whole time, and to Will for always keeping me in the loop with what’s going on in the mainstream (LOL.)  You guys are my friends for life.

My whole thing with Chronic Vacation was that hip-hop should be presented as hip-hop.  I know that sounds like a basic concept, but if you think about it, there aren’t too many people actually doing that.  So I developed my own formula for what worked based on what I would actually want to see if I were visiting a West Coast hip-hop website.  Influenced, again, by what Damizza did with Power 106, I wanted to give Chronic Vacation the voice of a rude ass shit talker who lived and breathed West Coast hip-hop.  Luckily, that’s pretty much me anyway.

I hope you guys understand that this website was my art, and every word that was dropped on here (besides the first couple months, when I was trying to find my footing) was done strategically to convey a certain message or evoke a certain feeling in you.  I tried to bring other guys onto the staff, but it never worked out the way I wanted it to.  My philosophy was simple - personally, I was sick of seeing all this “professional” writing when I read about hip-hop online.  I wanted to see the word “fuck” five times in a post, and check out a naked pic of Eva Mendes while doing it.  Add in the backdrop of something every hip-hop fan can agree with (Chronic – either the album or the weed) and you’ve got a site you can go to that is a living, breathing embodiment of the music you came here to listen to in the first place.  Please know I’m not trying to toot my own horn here either.  I could give a fuck about recognition or approval – we’ve already got that.  Check the Alexa traffic ranking.   I’m just trying to show any of you guys reading this that you can do this too if you sit down, give it some effort, and actually think about how to succeed.

Anyway, in the last few months, the site really took off like I knew it would.  We were finally moving in the right direction and if we kept going on at this pace, we’d be one of the biggest overall hip-hop sites (not just West Coast sites) in no time.  But something just didn’t feel right for me.  I don’t know what it was, but with every project that came out, it didn’t give me the same sense of satisfaction that it used to.  I thought I just wasn’t being active enough, so I started going out and doing interviews again.  It didn’t work.  Behind-the-scenes, I started working as Damizza’s manager.  But again, I realized soon enough that I just couldn’t drag that passion and that drive out of myself that made it so easy for everything to flow in the first place.  And that wasn’t fair to him, or myself, so I resigned.

And now here we are today.  By the time you read this, the site will be closed, and I’ll be done with my work in the music industry.  Here’s the question I’ve gotten so much in the last couple weeks - “So you’re just gonna give up on your dreams and quit all of this shit?  That’s fucked up.”  That’s the hardest part to explain, but I’m gonna try to do it here.

I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish.  I met all of my favorite rappers (with the exception of Dre) and I’ve actually had the chance to play a big part in the music I’ve loved my entire life for the last three years.  It’s been nothing but a good time, one hell of a learning experience, and on top of it all, I’ve got more crazy stories to share at the age of 21 than most 80 year olds do.

After trying to figure out what caused me to “lose my drive and passion” for this, I’ve realized that everything’s still there.  I’m just ready to move on to the next phase of my life now.  And the next phase?  Remember that shit I said at the beginning about hip-hop being an endless celebration on wax and it not getting any better than that?  There is something better than that, and that’s an endless celebration in real life.  I’m done dreaming.  Now it’s time for me to go out and get the real thing.

Thank you, hip-hop, for showing me the way.

-Eddie G

Today, Warren has a new album out called “The G Files,” and if you haven’t copped it yet, get your ass to Best Buy and buy yourself a copy.  In this interview, we touch on a variety of shit, but all of you old school Death Row fans will be especially interested in what Warren has to say about the “Chronic Re-Lit” album after I read him the tracklist.

It’s been a pleasure to bring you all of these interviews over the years, and I hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as I have.  Peace!

Eddie G: I’m here kickin it with the OG Warren G.  Let’s start it off by talking about the new album “The G Files.”  What was your mindset like going into the studio to knock this album out?

Warren G: I just go in and work man, and have fun.  I don’t prepare for what I do, I just go in and go.  If the vibe is right, a good record is going to come out.  But the record came out incredible and I’ve got a lot of great people on there.  I’ve got Snoop, RBX, Raekwon, Travis Barker, Ray J, Nate Dogg - it’s a great record.  The record is something you can dance to, smoke to – it’s a soulful record, it’s not a stressful record.  That’s how I do my music too man, so that’s what the record is about!

Eddie G: That’s dope.  You’ve probably made some of the most relaxing music in hip-hop history.  What do you do in your free time to keep such a chill attitude?

Warren G: Well, this is crazy because I just did a show in Reno, and we drove to Humbolt County.  We took the 299 Highway, and that was an experience I’ve never seen before.  All the wilderness, and the crispy blue skies – it was beautiful.  I like shit like that. That’s where my cool comes from.  That’s my original name too – Sir Cool.  I like great vibes and I love beautiful things. But don’t get me wrong – I ain’t no punk.  I’m not a scrub.  I just don’t like to get involved with no drama.  If somebody’s got a problem with me, come address it.

Eddie G: Over the years, your sound as a producer has obviously changed, but at the same time, when I listen to a Warren G song, it still has that certain X-Factor that lets me know it’s your record.  What’s the key to creating that signature element as a producer?

Warren G: It’s all the soulfulness.  I like to do music that feels good.  That’s what makes me me – I don’t give people records where I talk about trying to kill somebody the whole time.  I might say something in there for a hater, but that’s not gonna be addressed throughout the song.  That’s just how it is man! *Laughs*

Eddie G: It’s obvious that you care about the fans because you’re always on the Ustream, Twitter, and all that stuff.  For all of the up-and-coming artists out there, what would be a good approach you would recommend to start building a fan base?

Warren G: Well, it’s easy today to build a fan base.  Like you said, you have a lot of marketing tools out there like Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace, and they need to take advantage and let the fans know who they are.  I might not be on Twitter 24/7, but when I do get on there, it’s me, and I give it to them real.  I think that artists should adapt to the internet, and also be out there in the field too.  The field ain’t gone!  You’ve got to show your presence out here on the streets - with mixtapes, and on the underground.  From there, the buzz gets going and success starts.

Eddie G: This “Chronic Re-Lit” album just dropped with songs from the Death Row vault.  As someone who was a part of creating that album, how do you feel about those songs from the past getting leaked out so many years later…

Warren G: I don’t even know what songs are on there.  I haven’t listened to it…

Eddie G: They said it’s a bunch of songs from the Chronic sessions back in 1992.

Warren G: Where is that at?  I need to go listen to that.  Was I on there?

Eddie G: No, but they have some Snoop stuff, and it’s all Dre productions.

Warren G: What were the names of the records?

Eddie G: They’ve got “Poor Young Dave” with Snoop…

Warren G: “Poor Young Dave?”  Huh?

Eddie G: You’ve never heard of that one?

Warren G: I mean, I’ve probably heard it, but not that name.  What else?

Eddie G: “Slippin The The West” with CPO and Kurupt…

Warren G: Nah, that don’t sound like some shit we did.  That wasn’t done when we did “The Chronic.”

Eddie G: Wow.  What about “Smoke Enough Bud” with Jewell and Snoop?

Warren G: I gotta hear it to know if it was one of the records we did.  Is “Ho Hopper” on there?  A lot of the stuff that you mentioned I don’t know nothin about.  The “Ho Hopper” was a real record we did.  That came out [online] and some people heard that.  Where’s that?

Eddie G: I don’t know.  I wish they would put that out in good quality.  *Laughs*

Warren G: There it is.

Eddie G: As someone who’s been in this game for so long now, you’ve seen hip-hop evolve first hand.  What do you think of the game as it stands now?

Warren G: It’s cool.  I think there’s a lot of artists and producers that are just trying to do it because they think they can do it.  Record companies aren’t spending a lot of money on quality music, and they just take it how it comes.  But you do have a lot of great artists that are still putting it down.  I think there’s too much bullshit, and not enough good shit!

Eddie G: I definitely agree with that!  *Laughs*  Are there any new artists out now that kind of remind you of yourself when you first started?

Warren G: Drake.  He reminds me of me.  He was that motherfucker who was solo himself, and all the bitches loved me, and they still love me.  Let me reiterate that.  All the ladies loved me, and they still love me.  I’m the Marvin Gaye, [or the] Teddy Pendergrass of the hip-hop industry.  *Laughs*

Eddie G: What can we expect to see from you next after “The G Files?”

Warren G: I mean, I’m just out in the field working man.  I’m producing, touring, and doing the things I really love doing.  I still will be rapping, but I’m gearing more into behind-the-scenes, because that’s the type of stuff that I like doing.  But right now, “The G Files” is my shit.  The “Detox” is on its way, but hey, come holler at the next best thing to the “Detox.” Warren G.  Dr. Dre.  Holla at us!

Eddie G: Is there anything else you want to let the fans know before we dip?

Warren G: I just want to let everybody out there know that it’s much love from me.  There ain’t no Hollywood bullshit – I’m a real person and a real guy.  I show respect and love to everybody because if it wasn’t for them understanding my story and riding with me, I wouldn’t be who I am.  Whatever you want to do in life – keep your head up, keep the faith, and just keep going.

For More Information, Visit:
Warren G On Twitter // WarrenGeezy.com

In other news, I’m not gonna be done with the final Chronic Vacation interview until tomorrow, so expect that, and the final send off, manana.  Peace out guys!

Eddie G: What up, I’m here with Dubb.  How’s it goin man?

Dubb: I’m doing good, just glad to be here homie.

Eddie G: In my opinion, you’re one of the most consistent up-and-coming artists out here on the West Coast, and I see you constantly dropping new freestyles and mixtapes to get your buzz up.  Now you just signed over with Ya Boy’s new label Black Card Music.  How does it feel to finally be signed and see all that hard work pay off?

Dubb: This is only the beginning.  I’ve been grinding to get on, now I have to grind to get out.  It’s all a blessing though.  Hard work pays off.

Eddie G: Your latest mixtape “I Run Rap 2″ has gotten a real good response here on Chronic Vacation.  When you go in over someone else’s beat, what’s your approach to knocking it out of the park?  Is it about topping the original verse dropped on it, is it about doing something different, or maybe a little bit of both?

Dubb: I just do me.  Even though it’s not my record, it’s my natural instinct to outdo everybody as an artist.  I’m real serious about my craft and I want people to respect my music.

Eddie G: There’s a new freestyle series you started with Digital Product a few weeks ago after the announcement of Black Card Music.  It must be real hard to keep up with that schedule of delivering a new track every week.  Walk us through what your recording schedule is like on an average week…

Dubb: I stay busy. I go to school, work on music with my Hoodz Finezt family, my BCM family, as well as my own records. I record everyday though, so a freestyle a week is nothing.  Me and Digital Product will [also] be doing a video to every freestyle we drop!

Eddie G: I’m assuming we’re gonna see an official debut album dropping from you real soon.  Tell us about what the fans can expect from that…

Dubb: I’m just still workin mixtapes.  We are working on the BCM album, then my album, so it’s a long process, but I’m sure my loyal fans will follow me like Twitter! *Laughs*  Twitter me @itzdubb by the way.

Eddie G: Besides the projects we just went over, what can the fans expect to see from Dubb in the near future?

Dubb: New music is gonna keep coming. Once my music career really gets poppin then I plan to branch off into acting and starting my own businesses.

Eddie G: Thanks for sitting down to talk with us here Dubb.  Is there anything else you want to say to the fans before we bounce?

Dubb: Thank you for having me.

Eddie G: What up, I’m here with Digital Product.  What’s crackin man?

Digital Product: Not much man, just welcoming the new season of Fall.  It was a hot summer for myself and the Black Card fam as well.

Eddie G: Everyone knows you as one of the more prominent DJs out here on the West Coast, and as Ya Boy’s official DJ.  How did you first get into the mixtape game?

Digital Product: I started off DJing when I was 13.  I remember a classmate of mine showing me a DMC battle from I think it was 1998 with DJ Craze and I was hooked and determined to put in work on the tables.  As I entered high school, I discovered mixtapes from either the local swap meet by DJ Rectangle or online from East Coast DJs at the time.  DJ Clue, Kay Slay, Sickamore were amongst a few [of the] more heavy tape dropping dudes.  Me and a high school buddy decided to rock our own mixtapes with blends and sold them 5 dollars a pop.  *Laughs*

From about age 16 or 17 it was heavy online networking, because I was networking with down south and New York cats before I started even meeting West Coast artists.  The grind landed me my first mixtape in 2005 with the southern DJ, DJ Folk, in Ozone Magazine as Mixtape of the Month.

Eddie G: How did your work in the game move toward meeting YB?

Digital Product: It’s funny because I was doing some behind the scenes video work on a photo shoot with Ya Boy in Malibu, and once I put the video camera down, we chopped it up. He asked if video work is all I do, and I said “no” and began to explain that I was a Producer/DJ first and foremost. I showed him my product, and he instantly made it a done deal to be down with him.  I’ve been working with the man almost 3 years now.

Eddie G: The real West Coast insiders also know you for doing graphics and video production.  I think that’s really cool, and it sets you apart from the rest.  Did you learn those skills out of necessity to promote yourself as a DJ or has that just been a hobby of yours for a while?

Digital Product: That’s also funny that you know that about me.  *Laughs*  Not too many know I did graphics. I was a self sufficient grinder since a young age.  Whether it be in graphics, production, videography, DJing – I’m into music, period.  I consider myself an entrepreneur . I am always trying to explore new lanes and expand my horizons. The best way to learn something is from trial and error.

Eddie G: Being based in Oxnard, who are you feeling out of the 805?  Have you ever thought about doing a mixtape series to showcase 805 artists?

Digital Product: I have lived in Oxnard, CA for about 12 years now.  I was born in LA , but I’m a Southern Cali boy all day! In high school I used to run a home studio for the 805 emcees. It was crazy fun! As far as name dropping, I would saw my boys Kwoda, Epsilon Project, Leadership, Astro, Cross, Scott Swoosh, and the list goes on man.  I’ve learned that the music here is very cypher and battle influenced.  If you come here to rap, be expected to get challenged!

Eddie G: Now let’s talk about the Black Card Music label that you’re a part of with Ya Boy.  What is your role in this new company?

Digital Product: I am [the] DJ/Producer for Black Card Music.  BCM was established this Summer of 09, and consists of the boss Ya Boy, his manager Mike G for Nite Vision Ent, our engineer Pete G, Cik.Money, Young B, and our newest heavy spitter on the roster, South Centralz Own Dubb.  Also, the mass amount of supports from Cali to Kuwait *Laughs* [If you] don’t believe me, check the Twitter. Everyone’s rockin a Black Card!

Eddie G: Industry experts keep saying that DJs and internet bloggers are the new A&Rs of the music industry, and I agree with that.  Being one of the first West Coast cats in this new wave to make that jump from DJ to taking a label position, what are you aiming to bring differently to the music industry through Black Card Music?

Digital Product: We are the wave of the future in a sense.  We can smell talent. We see the thriving hungry artist from a street level that high-paid record label A&Rs might not see. The thing about us is that we are about making power moves - moves that are going to be beneficial to the name Black Card Music. I, myself, am expanding my mind with personally working with hot new aspiring singers, emcees, producers - you name it. We are the new generation and face for music. To leave our notch in the belt of hip-hop, we must hit hard enough to make an indentation.

Eddie G: I’m sure you’ve got a big list of new mixtapes coming out in the near future too.  Break it down for the fans and let them know what you’ve got dropping soon…

Digital Product: If I name title names, y’all will hold me to that, and we all know how swamped shit can get! But as of recently, the DJ crew I am in, The Cartel, is dropping a mixtape/DVD with Drake entitled “Digital Drizzy.”  [I’m] also pushing an instrumental series out there for the emcees and my West Coast series “The Kings of Cali,” holding my natives down!

Eddie G: Thanks for sittin down for this feature playa!  Is there anything else you want to leave the fans with?

Digital Product: All aspiring artists, it doesn’t matter your color, look, shape or size is, no dream is too small.  Every artist you see and want to emulate on TV came from the bottom. This music shit is not for everyone! Do not get me wrong. But if you have the heart, dedication, and stomach for it - because you will be told the honest truth about your music - anyone can leave their mark in the music industry.  P.S. - Black Card Music bitch! *Laughs*

For More Information, Visit:
Digital Product On Twitter // Digital Product On Myspace

Eddie G: What up, I’m here kickin it with September 7th.  How are you doin dude?

September 7th: I’m very well, great health, good spirits, can’t complain.  Praise to the most high…

Eddie G: You know, I’m curious to hear about how you first got into the mixtape game.  I remember posting up one of your first remixes back in the Dubcnn days, and you really exploded onto the scene right after that.  How did you get into all of this?

September 7th: I co-managed a mom & pop music store near UNLV.  I made sure to always have a mass variety of mixtapes available for people. I eventually was contacted by the Cali Untouchables and we conducted business from then on. We always talked about the current music game & I sent in my personal mixes over to them and it was a wrap from there. My variety tapes & Makaveli blends won them over!

Eddie G: Mixtape DJs are a dime a dozen these days.  It seems like any idiot with Cool Edit and access to Photoshop thinks we want to hear their mixes.  How do you go about branding yourself so that when the public sees one of your mixtapes or hears your name, they know you’re an authority out here on the West Coast?

September 7th: I just stick to the original formula that motivated me to make pause tapes way back in 94 - When I feel it… I reveal it! The real can tell the difference between something put together that’s heartfelt or something that is slapped together. For the record, I don’t own Cool Edit Pro, and I may have Serato, but I own a bunch of vinyl! I put my heart out there in everything that I do and the fans respect that.  They make sure to let me know and I thank them.

Eddie G: Let’s talk about navigating through the music industry now.  I know how difficult it is to put a mixtape together, or to get artists to drop a verse for you.  Since the fans really only see the final product that they download or pick up in the streets, why don’t you walk them through that whole process so they can really see how much time you put into these mixtapes?

September 7th: Patience, lots of e-mails, phone calls, listening sessions, change ups, scheduling meetings, sit-in studio time, etc.  If you want the best outcome for the project you wanna put out, then it’s gonna take a lot of hands-on time & work.

Eddie G: Being based in Las Vegas must be awesome.  All the artists are out there constantly, and it’s a perfect network hub for a DJ.  But are there any local Vegas artists you work with that we might not have heard of?

September 7th: I would encourage anyone outside of Nevada to take a listen to Samson, Dulamite, Sedrew Price, Mr. Finley (Def Jam,) and LV’s newest resident from Brooklyn, his name is Main. He set off some memorable freestyles at the recent DJ Whoo Kid/KRSP clothing party out here in Vegas.

Eddie G: Nice!  Now let’s talk about Western Hospitality.  That’s been like your bread and butter series.  Volume 14 drops September 7th, which is also your birthday, and the 13th anniversary of Pac’s death.  What do you have in store for us this time?

September 7th: Well, I originally planned for just a single disc release this year but so much music came in at the last minute I had to resort to doing another double CD.  I thank all the artists & producers that put it down for the “Western Hospitality 14″ project! And of course I couldn’t drop this one without some Makaveli on there this time.  R.I.P. to the Don of hip-hop.

Eddie G: You’ve got a laundry list of solo mixtapes coming out in the near future too.  Mistah FAB, Quiz, El Prez, and so many more.  What’s your approach when working with an artist on a mixtape?  Do you let them do their thing and then pick the best tracks they submit, or are you participating in the studio sessions and throwing in your creative input?

September 7th: I definitely aspire to be more involved in the studio sessions with certain artists, specifically Mistah FAB, that’s a one of a kind brotha right there. But I usually sort through the tracks they send & pick the ones I’m feeling. If they’re still in the production stage then I help with what the vision of the project can be & then listen to them create the sound that matches the vision. Shouts out to Mistah FAB,  El Prez & Quiz!

Eddie G: What’s next for the September 7th brand?  Are you planning on branching out past the mixtape game?

September 7th: Yes.  I have aspirations that I’m going to school and preparing for. The Western Hospitality series will continue and grow into a bigger entity as long as the artist community [out] West supports the brand. I have a variety of things in the works that will hopefully break ground between Spring & Summer 2010.

Eddie G: I’m glad we got to chop it up dude.  Do you have any more news for the fans before we go?

September 7th: First I gotta thank Chronic Vacation for reaching out.  You guys have always kept it thorough with me since Day One.  I also humbly ask for the people to check www.prayforhideo.com and make a donation in support of my homie DJ Hideo’s fight against cancer, and leave a comment of positive energy.

There’s more on the way!  Just follow me at twitter.com/september7th and stay up to date with all the future & current events & news that involve September 7th & the Cali Untouchables movement. Thanks Eddie!

Eddie G: We’re gonna sit down and blaze one up with Rikanatti right now.  What’s goin on mang?

Rikanatti: Everything is going on.  I got so much shit crackin off I can hardly find time to finish everything, but that’s the way I like it!  I’d rather have too much work than too little.  Ca$his and I are taking Bogish Brand to the next level.  We got a couple offers on the table right now, but we will be releasing the “Euthanasia” album on Bogish Brand/(Major Label) this year.

The album is done, it’s just being mixed and mastered.  I’m pretty sure I did 8 joints on there, maybe more - I gotta look at the tracklisting.  I think I’m more proud of this project than Ca$his is!  The album is incredible.  From the production to the word play, every song is dope.  This album is what the fans have been waiting for.  We got Jake One, Komplex, myself, and a host of incredible producers on there.  The album is West Coast, but everyone is gonna enjoy it.

[Eddie’s note: Peep our exclusive early review of “Euthanasia” BY CLICKING HERE]

Eddie G: A lot of people are still playing the hell out of the “Homeland Security” with Ca$his and Young De that you executive produced with Damizza.  Are people coming up to you in the club talking about their favorite tracks?

Rikanatti: Yeah, it’s crazy.  I got fans all over the world askin me about “Homeland Security.”  It’s crazy because none of us expected the response we got.  Even the haters gave it up for this project.  We’re workin on “Homeland Part 2.”  As soon as Young De gets off tour, we’re goin into the lab.  The people loved “In God’s Hands,” “Clear The Area,” and “Never Enough.”  Everywhere I go, they askin about those records.  I knew it was poppin when they played it in the strip club.  That’s crazy!  They on the pole to gangsta shit!

Eddie G: Then you guys have “The Art Of Dying” album that’s dropping on Shady Records later this year.  Tell us about what the people can expect from that…

Rikanatti: “The Art of Dying” is ridiculous.  Ca$his is going back into the lab with Em to finish it up.  The album has been pushed back a couple times but that’s just because there’s a chain of command on Shady.  When Em wants to drop an album, he’s gonna drop.  He’s earned that, and he’s one of the greatest entertainers of all time.  Same with 50.

Ca$his is playing his position. It has nothing to do with his music.  They love his music because it’s quality.  That’s why we’re dropping indie albums and mixtapes to keep the fans happy, plus you always gotta keep it pushing.  The Shady album is gonna do big numbers.  Be excited about it.

Eddie G: I’m sure you’ve had the chance to sit down and soak up some game from Eminem in the studio.  What have you picked up from him?

Rikanatti: I’ve learned to be original, to be bold, and to take time with your music.  I have made easily over 500 records with vocals on them and at least 1,000 instrumentals.  But I have only fully produced 100 songs or so.  Production is more than just makin a beat – it’s makin the song right.  I try to be a perfectionist, but at the same time I don’t overproduce records.  That’s just as bad as under-producing them.  It’s a thin line.  At the end of the day, I learned there is only one rule in music, and that’s that there are no rules.  Creativity is endless.

Eddie G: We posted up “The Suicide Note” album that you produced entirely for Tarek and Luss [Download It Here For Free.]  Tell the fans about how that project came together and what that album meant to you…

Rikanatti: Tarek and Luss are a group I’ve been grooming for a while now.  It started off as a relationship [where] they were just buying tons of beats and I didn’t have much involvement.  But it grew into a friendship, and then I started to invest my time into them.  “The Suicide Note” was the test to see if they were serious about music.  I did not give them one track for free, and they still completed the whole project.

Now, it’s a different story.  Now, I send them tracks for free!  The new material they have is crazy.  No track on “The Suicide Note” can compare to the new music we’ve done.  I’m tellin you…they are a controversial group.  They are going to get signed and do well.  We have a new song called “Back 2 School” about school shootings.

Eddie G: Wow!  I heard one of your tracks the other day that Los jumped on, and when he told me you did the beat I could hear that right away.

Rikanatti: How did the joint sound?  I still ain’t heard it.  Damizza told me about it but I ain’t heard it.  Tell them to send it over!  *Laughs*

Eddie G: Yeah, the track is crazy!  I’ll send it to you.  But how would you describe your sound to the people?

Rikanatti: I have really come into my own sound.  I don’t label my sound anymore.  I’m more into technique and pushing the line right now.  I try to stay ahead of the trends, then I let people catch up.  For instance, I just made a beat last night that has no snare drum in it.  I used the kick as the snare, and I used a low piano sound in place of the kick.  If you’re not a producer, you might not understand that, but I’m doing everything they say you shouldn’t.

I make beats that aren’t just 16-bar verses and 8-bar choruses.  I do 7-bar loops and I don’t quantitize.  The reason why is because you can’t duplicate that sound.  I’ll chop a sample into 30 parts for an 8-bar loop.  I just never limit myself and I make music that I enjoy.  I stopped concerning myself with trying to sell tracks, and I just focused on making quality material that I like.  If niggaz feel it and wanna buy it, cool.  If not, I still like it.  I do music for the love, and if God blesses me with bread to go with it, I’m happy.  I make beats that force the artist to use different patterns.  It’s for their own good, even if they don’t realize it yet.  That’s the only way the music advances.

Eddie G: I’m curious to know who you’ve been in the studio working with lately.  What can we expect to see dropping with a “Produced by Rikanatti” tag on it soon?

Rikanatti: I’ve been workin with a lot artists.  Of course, Ca$his and Tarek & Luss, but I’m also workin on Young De’s new solo album.  I just did joints with Balance, Focus, K-Boy, Taje, Roccett, Eddie Kane, Carlito Rossi, Chamillionaire, Wiz Khalifa, Willie The Kid, and J McCoy. I also did a gang of records with Mitchy Slick and some of his artists.  I know I left some artists off - shout out if I forgot to mention you!

Me and Ca$his also just started a new company called BBG International.  We have a music publishing royalty collections company that can collect worldwide.  That’s huge!  A lot of artists got money overseas and in the USA, with no way to collect it.  So that’s where we come in. We did a deal with Jack Russell Music Group and it’s going well.  So all you artists out there, get at me if you wanna get money.  We’re giving pub deals with advances.  How you like that?  We can find money where the big companies can’t.  You can believe me or not, but we’re getting money over here.

Eddie G: Thanks for stopping by the site Rik!  Is there anything else you want to say to the fans?

Rikanatti: I almost forgot.  Be on the lookout for the “Crown Me” mixtape.  Ca$his and I linked up with DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar for the tape.  Shit is gonna be classic.  17 original songs!  Also be on the lookout for J McCoy’s new single “818.”  I produced that track with Basix and we just did the video for it.  It’s insane!  It’s an action video, and it’s gonna make a major impact.

I wanna tell all my fans thanks for the support.  Get at me on the Twitter! [Twitter.com/Rikanatti] I’m always looking to work with more artists.  I would love to do joints with my West Coast partners like Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock, G Malone, and Bishop.  I’m not from LA, but let’s work!  I’m extending myself on a public forum.  So if we never work together, it’s not because of me.

West Coast, let’s work together!  Thanks Eddie, you da man!

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