In a recent interview with HipHopDX, Terrace Martin shoots down notions of a “New West,” and explains why some Hip Hop painted such a dark picture of areas like Watts, South Central and Compton, California.
When speaking on the so called “New West” Terrace had this to say.
I don’t believe in the “New West” thing. Music comes in cycles. People say, “The West got it. Nah, the East got it.” But nobody has it technically like that, and it’s just our term is here. But we don’t have “it;” it’s just music. Nobody owns music, so what is the New West? That means there has to be an Old West. Who are the Old West? Are you saying Snoop Dogg and them are the Old West? He still runs shit. So it’s tricky, ’cause I was 14, 15, when Snoop came out. So I’m a product of that early regime, and I’m a part of the start of this new regime—if not the start. I always look when people ask me that question, just like, “I don’t know.” That’s just always a weird thing for me, because I’m really from L.A., and I really know. I’m from L.A., and I eat off of L.A.
Terrace also speaks on Kendrick‘s “Control” verse.
Shit…that “Control” verse. That was the cool, mild-mannered version of Kurupt’s “Calling Out Names.” Kurupt was a lot more personal, but it would still smash, and Kendrick smashed. It wasn’t him smashing in terms of dissing, because he wasn’t dissing New York on that. But, I mean who could out-rap him? That’s a problem. You want to try to go after a humble kid? He’s just having a little fun one time. I’ve been listening to people’s interviews about that, and I just sit back and laugh, ’cause we’re used to that.
You can read the full interview here.
