Interview was done in August 2009

Questions Asked By: Jonathan Hay

 

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Dubcnn Exclusive – Tan-D
By Jonathan Hay
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Dubcnn: Start off by giving us a little history about how you got started?

I began by writing stories about all the things I was going through as a kid. I remember being a about three years old and my moms pushing me in a grocery cart in the lines to get the government cheese and shit like that. I remember being cold, and having to wear used clothes whether they fit or not. I had fight everyday as a kid because my mom wanted to keep me out of the streets but street cats wanted to force my allegiance to them. I remember the Christmas my step father came into our lives like a black Santa Claus, from the time he entered my life at least I wasn’t cold or hungry anymore. So I would write stories about all of this shit. Teachers couldn’t get me to do vocabulary words but I would write a five page story when they only asked for two pages because I had all of this shit pent up that I had to release.

I got into rap around age 13 the same time I got caught up in the streets. I hooked up with some cats that hated the same dudes that I grew up fighting and hating. By time I was 14 I was sent off for truancy and being beyond my parents control. I was in a group home when I earned a scholarship to play football at U of L. I lasted about a year but I couldn’t shake my love for the streets. I guess it’s kind of messed up that the one thing my mom tried to keep from became the thing I had the most love for. Within six months of leaving school, I caught my first robbery charge. Two years after that I was in the pen for assaulting a police officer, possession of a handgun by a felon, resisting arrest and being a persistent felon. I served 18 months of a 10 year sentence. I got out about five years ago and every since then I’ve been on my grind including this rap shit.

Dubcnn: Who or what were some of your early influences?

Like I said I always liked writing stories so I was naturally attracted to the story tellers, You know the kind of rappers that could talk about shit and make you feel it like Slick Rick and Tupac. Those two are my biggest influence.


Dubcnn: How would you describe your style?

I call my style the truth because everything I say is truth. But I can deliver in different ways.

Dubcnn: What’s the name of the album, and when can we expect to hear it?

The mixtape is called Tax Free, I’ll leave the reason behind the name to your imagination and that shit is out right now on a block near you. The Cd Guerrilla Grind will drop either late fourth quarter or early first quarter 2010 and again its going to be truth with my swag on it.


Dubcnn: Who did the production for the album and what kind of features do you have on the project?

The CD was produced by my boys Mamaz Boy and J-Melody for Kyng of the Beatz production. The CD features Big V of Nappy Roots, All Star of Cash Money Records, Yung Texxus aka Mistah Green and off my Hell and Back Ent. Roster, I have McKnezi, Frost Byte and Zardi the Great.


Dubcnn: How & when did you connect with Big V of the Nappy Roots?

My manager P-Solo lives in Bowling Green [Kentucky] and had talked with [Big] V on several occasions about rapping over some of J-Melody’s beats. He approached V about my project and the rest is history. The All-Star collaboration also took place because my manager and Star have a mutual friend. I met Yung Texxus through my boy DJ Slick of Kymp Kamp DJ’s


Dubcnn: What kind of relationship do you & Big V have? Is it more of a collaboration, or is has he been more of a mentor to you?

The project started out as a simple collaboration but after he saw what I was trying to do was real, he hooked me up with a lot of good people in the game and now Big V serves as my Big Brother in the industry. He lets me know what and who to look out for in the business.


Dubcnn: What kinds of things have you learned working with a cat like Big V that has helped you progress your career, both musically & business-wise?

I learned to stay in the studio as much as possible and only deal with people who have a track record of keeping it 100. I’ve been able to shorten the learning curb businesswise because of Big V. I mean Nappy Roots has been in the game for over 10 years and they’ve been platinum, so with that kind of experience on your side you can’t lose.


Dubcnn: What’s the sound of the album, and what are you hoping to accomplish?

The mixtape and the CD will have a sound that reflects Tan-D. Every track will be a keeper. When you put in a Tan-D project, you want have to worry about the skip button because every single track will bang lyrically and sonically. As far as accomplishments, I want to put the street cats from Kentucky on the map especially my city Hoptown. I want my people to be able to eat off of this.


Dubcnn: What are some of the topics and concepts you’re talking about the album?

Life, and my life in particular. I talk about the things like getting bricks across borders to the loss of friends to the streets to obstacles to changing my life. But I also talk about the good times and I have something for the ladies especially the cut “Sex Toy.”


Dubcnn: With all the competition for the consumer’s dollar right now, what’s going to make someone want to pick a Tan-D record? What separates you from every other emcee?

My swag is what separates me. Others talk about being real, but I’m certified. Like I said before, every Tan-D track will be that banger! I only deal with the A-1 product from the streets to the studio.


Dubcnn: Any closing remarks for the readers out there?

We’re here and not going anywhere, so Hoptown stand up, Kentucky stand up - - the whole South stand up. Haters keep hating, but you won’t stop us. Tan-D is not just a movement, this is reality! A big shot out to Dubcnn and the whole West Coast! Much love to Dubcnn for showing my video a little while back, “We Hustle, We Grind.”