CELLY CEL  (July 2007) | Interview By: Eddie Gurrola

       Dubcnn recently connected with Bay Area legend Celly Cel for an extensive interview. In this exclusive feature, Celly chops it up with us about many different aspects of the rap game. We discuss the West Coast movement he is pushing on his new mixtape “Cali Luv,” which will be available for purchase on Dubcnn. He also shares his first-hand knowledge of the benefits of being on an independent label versus a major. In addition to all of this, we discuss his new solo album “Jealousy,” which will be dropping in early 2008, and for all old school fans, Celly takes us back in time and re-visits his experiences making the classic hits “Hot Sunny Day,” “It’s Goin’ Down,” and “Game Ain’t Blind.”.


As always we have both the transcript and the audio for you to check and please feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to: eddiegurolla@dubcnn.com

 

Interview was done in July 2007.

Questions Asked By : Eddie Gurrola

Celly Cel Gave Dubcnn.com A Shoutout! Check That Here

Full Interview In Audio For Download : Here

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Dubcnn: We’re here with Celly Cel! How’s it going man?

It’s all good man. I’m just kickin’ it, getting ready for the summertime.


Dubcnn: So, you’ve got this new mixtape called “Cali Luv” dropping on July 17th. Tell us a little bit about the mixtape…

“Cali Luv” is basically [pushing] this West Coast movement, [and] trying to make [everything] one West Coast. A lot of people look at the West and they [see] the Bay and L.A. and everything in between, and everybody’s repping their own area. If you look out East, it’s just one East Coast, [and] if you look out South, it’s just one South. It’s like the West is divided. So, I wanted to do “Cali Luv” to push this unity and bring this West Coast movement closer together and show everybody that we do work together, we do network, and we are one West Coast. We’re trying to blow this up together.


Dubcnn: Yeah, it looks like you’ve got a good line-up on the mixtape of a bunch of artists not just from the Bay, but from L.A. as well. So, that was the goal, to show some West Coast unity…

Exactly! I tried to bring everybody together and show everybody that we can work together. Other people might look at that, and see this project, and say “I’m with that! I want to reach out to a different region.” [If] they’re from L.A., they might say, “I’m gonna reach out to a Bay Area artist and try to get them on this next album,” or a Bay Area artist might say, “I’m gonna reach out to L.A.” That goes for the whole West though. Daygo, Sac, Stockton, Bakersfield – the whole West! [We need to] just start reaching out to each other and make it bigger than what it is.


Dubcnn: That sounds great! So, is the mixtape going to feature original production, or is it all gonna be a “jackin’ for beats” type of tape?

No. You’ve got the jackin’ for beats [on there,] but most of the mixtape is original beats, [and] unreleased tracks from a lot of the artists. It’s gonna be a treat for the fans, because there’s a lot of the songs they haven’t heard before on there. Then you’ve got the jacks, which they love to hear too on the mixtape. So, you’ve got people rapping over the classics, plus [artists] with their unreleased material. There’s something on there for everybody.

It’s gonna be for sale on Dubcnn, and it’s gonna be for sale in stores too, so you’ll be able to find it no matter what; online or at your retail store!


Dubcnn: It sounds like a really tight mixtape! So, let’s talk about Realside Records, your label. What’s been going on with the company recently?

For Realside, we’re dropping the classics! We’re getting ready to drop “The Best Of Celly Cel Part 2” on August 28th, through Koch Records. We’re gonna put that out worldwide. It’s gonna have all the classics from the Sic Wid It days, from my run with E-40, B-Legit, and the whole Click crew. Everybody’s always asking me about the hits, saying, “Yeah, I remember this song, I remember that song!” So, I just reached out and grabbed all the hits, and put it together. We’re dropping that August 28th, so y’all go snatch that up!


Dubcnn: In tribute to the new compilation, let’s talk about your experiences recording a few of your old classics.

It’s all good!


Dubcnn: Let’s start with “Hot Sunny Day.” Can you tell us a little bit about your experience in the studio coming up with the track?

Yeah, it was hot back then. When we made that song man, it was hot! So that was the motivation. We were all kickin’ it at the studio, getting everybody down there how we used to do it - gettin’ our drink on, smoke on, or whatever. Then we just sat back, relaxed and did our thing, and it just popped up – [to] just make a song about how we were kickin’ it right now. Me and the whole Sic Wid It family was down there, and it just all came together. It was beautiful. The song was so self explanatory that when we did the video it all just went hand in hand. The song basically gave you the whole visual, so it was easy to do the video to it. It all just worked out.


Dubcnn: Yeah, that was a great track! So, how about “It’s Goin’ Down”? Did you think that was going to be such a big hit when you were recording it at first?

Man, I had no idea it was going to be like that! Actually, it was the last song I recorded for my album. I had done the whole “Killa Kali” album, and I said, “I want to do one more.” It ended up being “It’s Goin’ Down,” and it turned into the biggest hit I ever made!


Dubcnn: That’s crazy! Another one I wanted to speak on was “Game Ain’t Blind” from the “Deep Conversation” album.

*Laughs* Yeah, that song was dedicated to the people on the sideline - basically the haters. They see you doing your thing with these breezies and what not, and they get to hating, talking about how they can get them ‘cause you’ve got them. Basically, they’re just hating, so I let ‘em know. It don’t matter if you’re hollering at us, or if you know somebody who is hollering at us – there’s so many that you can’t keep it up! You know what I’m sayin’? There’s so many different flavors, so many nationalities, you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to keep up with it. You might be doing a little something, but you ain’t doin’ it on this level! I’ve seen everything. So, the game ain’t blind because I see it, but I ain’t trippin’ on it.


Dubcnn: So, you used to be on a major label, with Sic Wid It/Jive, but now you’re putting out your own stuff independently. Even though I’m sure it’s a lot more responsibility for you, do you prefer the independent label route over a major label situation?

Yeah, the thing about it is, you’re basically trading your fame for the money. Everybody wants to be on the majors, I ain’t gonna lie to you, [because] you get exposure – you get the videos, you get the radio. So basically, you’re getting the fame, but the dollar amount ain’t the same. At the end of the day, you’ve got to sell so many records just to see a little piece of change.

As far as doing it independently, you are the record company, so of course the dollar amount is going to be way greater. In the end, you don’t have to sell as many records, but you’ll see way more money than you’ll see selling that same amount of records on a major. Basically, the trade-off is “the money or the fame.” That’s what you’ve got to ask yourself.


Dubcnn: Obviously you’re choosing the money right now, and I think that’s the right move!

Exactly! It’s also not just the money, but [it’s also] being in control of everything. As far as the majors [operate,] you can say, “OK, I want my album to drop in February.” The majors will call you back and say “You know what? We’re not going to be able to make that street date. We’re gonna push it back to the summertime.” You’re not in control. Or, [they’ll] say, “This song right here is too violent, or it’s too this, or too that. We’re gonna pull it from the album.”

Once you’re doing it yourself, you pick your street date, you pick your material, and you control everything. That’s another big advantage to doing it independently.


Dubcnn: Definitely. So, do you have a new album you’re working on as well?

Yeah! I’m working on an album called “Jealousy.” I’ll be dropping it in early 2008. [The concept is] self explanatory. It’s like, a lot of people in the game want to get in, or they’re in and they just feel that they can’t get where you’re at. Instead of being focused on their music, they’re more into the competition part of it, worrying about if their shit is tighter than your shit, and if they’re harder than you, as opposed to going in and doing their own thing, and being the best that they could be.

[There’s] just people around the world [like that,] period. It could be your homeboys, it could be females around you, [and] it could be your family. There’s just people out there that sit on the sidelines and look at you sideways! They’re jealous of you, you know what I’m sayin’? It ain’t just got to be about music [either,] it could be anything. There’s a lot of jealousy out there, and I know everybody experiences it. So, I just felt like it was something I could speak on, and everybody could relate to, [which is why] I came up with that title.


Dubcnn: That sounds like a cool album. How far deep are you into the recording of the it?

I’ve got a few tracks done. I’m taking my time with it. I’ve got a lot of people lined up that I want to work with, that I’ve talked to about working on it. You know, I’m writing and putting some stuff together. But, it’s going to come together real nicely. I think people are really gonna like this one. They’re gonna feel it. It’s gonna be one of them ones man, definitely.


Dubcnn: Who are you looking to get on there for the guest appearances?

I’m gonna keep that under [wraps] for right now and surprise them! There’s gonna be a few names on there, [but] I ain’t gonna do too much because I don’t want to make it like a compilation. It’s gonna be a nice album though, I’m tellin’ you. It’s one of them heaters, and it’s gonna be worldwide. This ain’t no regional album. Everybody [is] gonna be able to feel it. There’s gonna be something on there for everybody.


Dubcnn: Yeah, so you’ve got the distribution deal going with Koch now?

Yeah, I’ve got something going with Koch. I’m not exclusive though. It’s something I’m doing right now, but I’m controlling my own destiny, so I don’t know where I’m gonna take this album to. I’m still what you would call a “free agent” right now. I’m freelancing, enjoying my freedom, and whatever the best situation is for me at the time, that’s where I’m gonna put it out.


Dubcnn: The Bay has been very active in the past couple years, and it’s a beautiful thing. Since you were around for all of this, why do you think everything has shifted sound-wise from the classic, funky-type Bay sound toward the Hyphy movement?

I mean, it’s [the] times. Times change. It’s funny because the Hyphy movement has been here. They’ve been doing donuts in the Bay, they’ve been hanging out car windows, and acting a fool in the streets and shutting down intersections and doing their thing. We’ve been doing that. But hyphy is just the new name for it, and everybody’s behind it because that’s what we’ve been doing.

As far as the music itself, it just changes because people wanted to make it more up-tempo, so people can get their groove on to it. Basically, it’s more party music right now. As far as the classics [sound,] you know, [it’s] a little more mob’d out. [It’s] sit back with your brews and weed and ride-type music. Now, it’s more like party, go crazy, go dumb-type music. I think you’ve still got to do all of it. I don’t think you should just do it one way. You’ve got to cater to everybody, not just one region, and have something for everybody.

That’s what separates me from a lot of people, because I give them everything. I give them something for the ladies, [and] something for the homies. I [also] give them something they can think about like men - you know, real life situations, real street shit, real hood shit. I give them things from a lot of different angles, and that’s why I think I’m still here, [and] still able to do it.


Dubcnn: OK! There’s a new generation of guys out in the Bay now, so do you see yourself as a mentor to some of these young guys? Have you been helping them out?

I haven’t been hands on with anybody except my group The Hillside Stranglaz. If somebody were to reach out to me, then I’d give them the game. I’d tell them what I think they should do, what the best route [is,] and what the easiest way to do it [is,] as far as not spending all your money up and all that. But, there’s people that have come up to me and told me that they’ve been listening to me since day one, [that] they love my music, and [that] I’m one of the reasons that they’re in the game right now. So, I do get my props. You know, if they do holler at me, then I’m gonna give them the game. So, yeah, it’s all good.


Dubcnn: That’s awesome. So, should we be looking out for any guest appearances from you in the near future, or any other projects?

Nothing concrete right now. I’ve talked to a few people, but it’s nothing. You will see me pop up here and there on different peoples’ projects. You will see Celly Cel projects coming out here and there. I’m gonna stay in the mix, and be right there doing my thing, keeping my name ringing in the streets.


Dubcnn: Is there anything else you want to say to the fans, and everybody on Dubcnn?

Yeah! Much love to everybody that logs on to Dubcnn, and gets the info on the whole West Coast. We’re pushing this West Coast movement. We’re with this 110 percent man, [so] y’all stay with us, and stay supporting us. Stay with the movement man - stay alive, [and] stay sucker free. Keep real, keep it “300,” like the movie. Don’t get out here and be no fool with it. Be smart about it.

For all you youngsters out there, be smart man! Life is short. Don’t be out there on no dumb shit and get caught up doing nothing stupid, because in the end you’re gonna find out it ain’t nobody but you. Don’t nobody got your back like you do man, so don’t throw your life away on no dumb shit! Be real, be smart, get your money man, and fuck the bullshit! One love to Dubcnn.