Tekneek AKA Tek Nizzle Interview! (Tangled Thoughts/Kurupt/Roscoe/More)

[Lunatic]

GREAT fuckin read! Tek speaks on a lot of dope shit here..not my work

http://www.illuminati2g.webs.com/tekneekinterview.htm

Illuminati 2G chopped it up with Philly's own Tekneek aka Tek Nizzle for a exclusive interview. We talk about his experience with Tangled Thoughts and if another group album is in the works, his new mixtape and solo works on the mic and the boards, upcoming projects and much more so check it out.

For audio of the interview, click on the link below:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?kmaeymajn2x

Read Here: http://www.illuminati2g.webs.com/tekneekinterview.htm

Illuminati 2G is here with Tekneek aka Tek Nizzle what's going on?

What's up fam how we feelin?

Good, Good. Tell me a little bit about how you got your start in hip hop and some of your musical influences out there.

Basically I come from a family of musicians. So it was a gift and a curse for me, I've been doing music all my life. I really got into hip hop at age 7 when I heard Fat Boys on a Rap Masters Volume 1 tape that I got for Christmas. Between that and Kurtis Blow, UTFO, the whole sound it just blew my mind. From there I went on to really idolizing DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Naughty By Nature, I really was into hip hop really all kinds and all genres of music. But really hip hop from age 7,8 on.

Tell me about how you guys linked up and formed Tangled Thoughts. How that came together and how you linked up with Kurupt?

Ok, basically I graduated high school in 1999. In that summer I met my man Cassonova, who is like my brother from another mother. My man Epik, he is known to the world now as Deshaun Burgundy, we came up in the cyphers together and coming up on South Street out in Philly. We used to be in the cyphers all the time together. I had seen Caz a bunch of times, he was the bro with the art book. One day we was all in the cypher together, and my man Epik was like yo you need to get with Caz, and he turned to Caz and was like yo you need to get with Tek. So before we knew it, the next day we was fucking with each other heavy, over my man's crib, coming up with 3 song instantly. We had really just gotten up that day and just already clicking. Within a couple days, we formed a group. He went back to Seattle to finish college, the art institute, and that is where he was there with De. He had brought De back to Philly and we just figured we might as well do the group with the 3 of us. It was originally me and Caz but the chemistry was so perfect.

And then how did you guys end up linking up with Kurupt?

I been working with everyone from Philly for years. From Gillie Da Kid, to Pretty Ugly to Sandman from the Re-Up Gang, to Ab-Liva, to everybody. I had relationships, and basically I knew Kurupt's cousin, Jermaine. He had introduced me to Roscoe a year before, and Roscoe was promoting Philaphornia. A year goes by and I get a call and it like hey Tek it's Jermaine. I'm like what's good. He said I got Kurupt and Roscoe with me right now and they coming through the studio. It pretty much went down like that, I produced tracks with Kurupt, he instantly heard the tip I was on, and was like yeah I'm home. Pretty much I just put him up on what I was doing. At the time what I was doing was Tangled Thoughts. It just went from there. I brought him into the situation and he made it possible for us to do a album, it was real beautiful when he eventually moved to L.A., because of that whole situation.

Being from Philadelphia, I have heard Young De say it before, it was definitely difficult for you guys to get the exposure and the break that you guys needed and were looking for. Why do you feel that was the case being from Philadelphia?

Philly is a tough city man. If you get love in Philly, you can get love anywhere in the world. I pretty sure of that. I went from Philly to Cali, back to Philly. I'm back in Philly. I got a movement cracking right now with what I am doing. I felt like I love Cali, but after a few years in Cali, the grind ain't the same, people coastin, the music is different. Not downing it, I got love and alot of respect for cats that I am fucking with heavy out in the west coast period. I got love for the west coast. It's my 2nd home, truely. I had nothing but great experiences out there. Biggie said it man, Cali it's a great place to visit. I'm cool like where I am at. I am a Philly dude, I need to be around my sports teams, I need to be around Sports Talk Radio, I need to be around my squad and my homies and my crew. My real family, so you know bringing it back to Philly that is the tip I am on right now.

You guys recorded Philly 2 Cali and released it about a year and a half ago. Which is still one of my favorite albums, I still bump it AT LEAST once or twice a week. It is really one of the best debut albums that I have heard from a group in a long, long time.

Oh man I appreciate it

No problem. You handled pretty much all the production on that album. Tell me a little bit about how that album came together.

I will tell you exactly how that album came together. You will get the behind the scenes exclusive right now. When I first met Kurupt, we linked up and knocked out like 12 songs together! We did a whole album in a matter of a few days. The chemistry was real strong. Then he went back to Cali and I was in Philly and months went by and I was just sitting on this material. Being Kurupt and Roscoe and Gail Gotti. Months go by and I am a creative dude. I was thinking of ways Tangled Thoughts could utilize these records with these 3 and really get the co sign. So I chopped up a bunch of the different verses and pieces, used them for hooks and I created new records with the records that I had done with Kurupt and Rosoce, but with Caz and De involved and myself. I created 6 or 7 of these remix records. Kurupt came back to Philly and I played it for him and he went crazy. The response was lovely, we went out to Cali and played it for Roscoe. The whole vibe was great and everybody was loving it. Kurupt turned out and told me I love it. That was a thrill for me to do my own little remix with records that nobody had heard and have him say this is phenomenal. We got to run with this, and that is really how Jump Off came together. Jump Off was the very 1st record that I did. Where I had chopped up previously material that I had cut. And pieced it together to make a masterpiece. After that, that was the blueprint. We then went back in and really did some real songs together and really rounded out the album. That was really the blueprint, we really started from that.

Yeah that album that so many hit records on it. It had Jump Off, Chedda Chasin, Product Of My Environment.

It was a really underrated album. It really slid under the radar of most Kurupt fans. At the time, J. Wells put out an album with Kurupt, and the Dogg Pound album had just dropped (Dogg Chit), Same Day Different Shit was out, it was alot of Kurupt stuff in the air. I think that made it overlooked, but hey what can you do (laughs).

It definitely has critical acclaim in the streets so I appreciate you guys putting together that album. I listen to it all the time. I know Young De is doing his solo thing right now with Audio Hustlaz a couple months back, and then doing the whole Homeland Security album with Cashis. You just recently dropped a mixtape about a month or 2 ago. I know you guys want to get into your solo work and everything, but is there any chance down the line that another Tangled Thoughts album is going to drop?

I am going to address it like this because I have heard Young De's response to this same question. I am going to put it like this, I got my solo album coming overseas with DJ ProMo. That is called What The Game's Been Missing. I got alot of features on there that is crazy. I got mixtapes right now that is crazy, I am doing one with Superstar Jay, I am talking about doing one with Big Lou of Street Sweepers. I am looking at doing some really big things. I got a deal in the works right now, that I really don't want to talk about too much but I got alot of big shit coming up. I am not really thinking about Tangled Thoughts, and I got to be honest, Tangled Thoughts is a thing...., (laughs) I seen De's response to this and I am going to answer this somewhat politically correct. For me, it's cute to say we on hiatus and you will hear new Tangled Thoughts music, but the reality of the situation is, Tangled Thoughts was a great vehicle that housed 3 great, very talented people. Unfortunately people creatively grow in different directions. I felt like Tangled Thoughts ran its course and served its purpose as a vehicle for really what we was trying to do. At the end of the day we yelling All Day Music, De is repping Audio Hustlaz, it's all family but at the end of the day it is a couple different agendas. I just got my own release for what I am riding for when it comes down to this hip hop shit. I wish De all the success in the world, I see him doing his thing and that is lovely. I am just really looking forward to the future. Am I going to rule out Tangled Thoughts? I don't know. I am not thinking about that right now.

Ok I can respect that.

By the way me and Cassanova got a mixtape coming soon that is real official on All Day Radio, mixed by my man Dj ProMo and it is called After Thoughts. So alot of stuff is going down right now, we got alot of things in the works.

I had spoke with Mellow Man Ace a couple of months back and he mentioned that you produced a track on his upcoming album. I know you are doing some production on Tha Dogg Pound's new album and taking a bigger role in Kurupt's music as a whole. What other artists work can we expect to see your production on?

Well right now, I'm doing a whole hell of alot. I'm out here working with Freeway, working with Daz right now, a project with him, Gail Gotti, I am overseeing her album. I am working with Rosoce. Roscoe is finalizing a deal with Konvict Music. I don't know if the world knows it so don't quote me. Roscoe been working on some big things and we working on some new music as we speak. I am everywhere right now. I just reached out to Cassidy so it looks like we going to do something big, so I am moving, I am really moving (laughs). I am fucking with 40 Glocc too.

Yeah I just seen the track you had with him and Busta Rhymes (On Tha Block). How did that track come about?

Shout out to 40 Glocc. I did that track for 40 over a year ago. He heard the track and he asked me to slap a hook on there, I did what it did. He hit me back a couple of months later and was like yo Busta is going to jump on there. Next thing I know Busta laid down his verse. I got a hold of the record and put my front paws down and just used 40 and Busta as motivation on that record. They the OGs so especially Busta, I am a huge fan. I would definitely want to work with him again. He is a monster at what he does. I also want to clarify too, that I co-produced..., people be hollering at me and saying yo that Dogg Pound Gangsta Grillz mixtape is banging. I'm like yeah I know, I just want to clarify I produced City Of Life on there, and I had a couple other joints. I recorded half of the joints and mixed them. They didn't give me the credit at the end of the day but I wanted to let people know that I co-produced Cheat with Daz, I co-produced Rollin In A Drop Top with Soopafly, I mixed it with Soopafly also in the studio. I am loving what I am hearing from the new Dogg Pound record, they are killing it.

Have you ever thought about putting together a compilation, something kind of like the Chronic, with your production and having a big compilation with a bunch of artists just rapping over your production? Have you ever thought about doing that?

Absolutely and actually I am going to be doing something like that. I just want to make sure that it is right. I got alot of people and alot of friends. With me, it's fucked up because alot of artists I see allhiphop and all the websites. It's like they don't want to fuck with you unless you got that feature. That hot name. I'm looking at it like hey features is cute. But it is all about me at the end of the day. I know whoever I get on the record it is all well and good, but I am baking that track. No matter who is on it. When it comes down to me making a Chronic type album, I want to make sure that it is right, because alot of people I want to reach out and work with that might surprise people. It's not like I am just saying let me get TI, let me get Jay-Z. I got some on my own list that I would like to get to do 1 compilation album with original tracks that would just be crazy. But that is the A&R side of me though.

I just think with the quality of beats and the production that you are dropping, me just being a fan I would be like man that would be cool to hear Tek's beats over Game spitting on it or Ice Cube. Just as a fan, so I always wondered that and I have a ear for beats that was one thing that made me gravitate towards Philly 2 Cali was that every beat was banging on that. So I always thought that would be a cool idea.

I was heavily influenced by west coast hip hop. Especially that Chronic 2001. I was already graduating high school when that came out. It influenced me greatly on a sonic level of what shit could sound like. I really looked up to that record so when it came down to making Philly 2 Cali, I wanted to make a masterpiece. Sonic soundscape, that is what I really wanted to paint. I really wanted to paint that picture as far as that hard, west coast sounding shit, I mean that Chronic 2001 era. I wanted to make my Chronic 2007 on that jawn. It was really all about the lyrics. The swag it was more east coast. Even though Young De is originally from the west coast. It's like when he came to Philly, he was here for a few years so when we came to Cali, we just had that east coast swag. It was really all about the music. Getting in my Dr. Dre, DJ Quik, Warren G thang. I got alot of respect for all the big homies. Even some of the new producers like Terrace Martin. I look up to these guys, they real music heads. I don't know what people think about them in the streets, but when they in the studio they get the fuck down. I just had to get in that bag musically on the production side. The reviews was good, people gave me alot of respect on the production. They said it was the closest thing they had heard to Aftermath and Dr. Dre. Me personally, that is a huge honor to be mentioned in the same breath. That's what's up. Also Damizza gave me my props. He said I got that sound and that is respect, man I appreciate that.

You had mentioned earlier that you were dropping a solo album overseas. Is there any information, or release date information that you can give about the solo project? Are you still working on it, is it done?

It's almost done. I am going to shoot a couple of videos. It's no street date yet, we looking at the 1st quarter of 09. I got to go shoot my videos, we doing something with MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) that supposed to be off the chain. We gonna set it up real major. I'm still in the stages of where I want to put together a real record and my time ain't up. My CEO ain't looking at me like yo what's going on. He is sitting there getting records every week from me like yo this shit crazy. I wanna keep that up but also I want to go a couple different directions with what I am doing. I just want it to be a classic man. You know how Jay had his Reasonable Doubt and Nas had his Illmatic, this is the first thing showcasing me not only as a producer, but as a artist to the world in a way that truely portrays me as who I am. I ain't all about the murders, shoot em up, bang bang. That is the street shit, that is what we do on these mixtapes. We murder the mic metaphorically. I want to take it in a little bit different direction and kind of let you in on who I am as a person. You can expect to see it real soon. I am not stopping you are going to hear from me constantly. I got Tek TV going, I got the mixtapes, I'm not stopping, I am going to be staying in ya face no matter what it is. In the meanwhile you can count on that, while I am getting the album right.

What are your thoughts right now on the state of hip hop. You think there is alot of good music, you think it is alot of bullshit? What are your personal thoughts on the music that is out right now?

It's not easy to say hip hop is fucked up because of the Soulja Boy's and the Pop Lock N Drop it guys. It's not easy to say that and put it on that. Last I checked hip hop is supposed to be fun and that is what it is now days. When Soulja Boy came out, I was right there on the bandwagon saying this shit is wack, it is the worst music ever. But you know what? I give Soulja Boy his respect. Just like Nelly when he came out, they cover a whole particular moment in time. Uncharted territory. You gotta give it to Soulja Boy he 17, he working hard and hustling, came up from nothing. I got nothing but respect for people that put they all into it and come up with RESULTS. Because some people work forever and they never see results. They work they whole life and know they got talent and never see the ending result. To see Soulja Boy and these other young guys doing it, that's hip hop man. That's what it is all about, and I could see my thoughts change when KRS-One opinion. Somebody like KRS stepped up and said look this young man is hip hop, fuck what everbody else got to say. I respect that. My answer to the state of the game? I love it. Because it is wide open. That is how I feel about it. Ringtone rap stuff, but hey it is what it is (laughs).

What's some albums that you are listening to at the house or in the ride that you think is great production or lyrical, just stuff that you are digging now that you like to listen to?

Well I am telling you, I am on my mixtape kick right now. I am banging the new Termanology mixtape and this cat Termanology is MURDA!

YES!!!

I love this dude. There ain't too many MC's like us left. And he is one of the last of the Mohicans. I'm loving him. I think it is called 50 Bodies. It is definitely murda, it is on datpiff.com I don't know why I am promoting another muthafuckas shit right now, but Termanology is hot. I am banging that new Jadakiss mixtape, because everybody know, every Jada mixtape is FLAMES. I'm banging the usual suspects in my deck. But when it come to albums man I got to be honest, I bang Nas' album It Was Written. I bang Big Pun his 1st album, Capital Punishment. I'm also banging, not for a cheap plug, but I actually like this shit. Killah Priest and Chief Kamachi's album Beautiful Mind.

OH YEAH!!!

I got a couple joints on there but that's not even the point. They got this joint with Planet Asia that is ridicoulous. It's super underground, but it is what the game needs. It is refreshing to hear hip hop again. I'm banging them joints right now, I'm on my hip hop kick.

One artist that I was hyped to see you work with and I have been a fan of for a long time was Gillie Da Kid on the Tangled Thoughts album. Do you have anymore plans to work with him possibly on his album or something for your album?

I'm going to speak on Gillie. I got alot of love for Gillie. I submitted joints for his album that he is working on with Koch. Through management or whatever it just has not gotten done. Gillie is my man, but you know he is running around saying that he is the King Of Philly, pissing off alot of people. He is the self proclaimed king out here, being on the phone with you live and direct from Philly, I am around the sickest things, I am around everybody and the overall consensus here is this man has gotten a little full of himself. I am going to go on record and say that this is my man, I got alot of love for Gillie. I plan on working with him again in the future. Sometimes muhfuckas say they busy and don't pick up they phone and when they call you back they hit you with bullshit. It's just politics man. When Gillie gets with me and we cross paths, I'm sure we will get it in again. Right now we don't know where Gillie at. He somewhere in the studio somewhere (laughs).

Another Philly MC that I would love to see you guys go bar for bar, back and forth is Black Thought from The Roots. Have you ever thought about working with him?

Oh I love Thought, and shout out to my man Rock Bottom, he is down with the Roots. I had the opportunity to meet Dice Raw a few months ago. We kicked it for a minute. He heard some beats and he was definitely fucking with the vibe and I have always been a Roots fan. I love Black Thought, to me he is one of the dopest mcs of all time. He is easily top 10 dead or alive of all time. If Black Thought ain't number 9 or 10 it is almost biased. He is definitely one of the top 10 dead or alive. Would I like to work with Black Thought? HELLL YEAH, I'M FROM PHILLY. If I can say this and it gets printed, and it get back to a muhfucka, I want a muhfucka to know. I'M TRYIING TO REACH OUT TO BLACK THOUGHT. I'd love to have Black Thought on my album and I'd love to give him some tracks for his album. And I put that out there. I love Thought.

Yeah we need to make that happen then if at all possible. Because I think that joint would be crazy.

If somebody read this or listen to it or whatever, definitely holla at me, I would love to work with Black Thought.

What's the best way a MC possibly I don't know if you are shopping around your beats or anything like that, looking for some production and has some cheddar to break off with you, what's the best way that they can contact you about that?

On business, I ain't one of these fake hollywood dudes. You can holla at me direct. I have always been a dude that you can get at me on myspace, I am gonna holla back. They can get at me on www.myspace.com/tekneek215. Very easy. You can check out All Day Media, any way you want to, because we about to do this real big. I don't care if you leave a comment on youtube on Tek TV, let me know what you trying to do, holla at me.

Well that is all the questions from me, appreciate the interview. It's a real honor. I have been a fan ever since I first heard your music. You and De and Caz and the whole crew. It's a honor and I appreciate you taking the time. Is there any last words or shoutouts that you want to get out there to the people?

Yeah I just want to let everybody know what is coming soon. I got 2 mixtapes coming, they are going to be on hiphopgame. Tune in to www.hiphopgame.com because every 2 weeks or so you are going to see a new Tek TV. With special guests and studio footage. Just shout out to all the artists that I am fucking with right now, shout out to Gail Gotti, shout out to AK, N.U.G., his mixtape coming. Shout out to Face Money, Freeway, we going on tour next month. That is real big, we going overseas. So shout out to all my peoples, and you about to see me doing it real big. We about to send out a press release with some really big news real soon. Thank you for the interview man, any time I get the opportunity to speak my mind, I am appreciative of that.

Not a problem man, we definitely going to have to do it again. Appreciate you getting down for the interview.

No problem man, anytime.

[Paul]

props lun!!!

really liking his productions right now

[Lunatic]

props lun!!!

really liking his productions right now

don't prop me, not my work..just keep visiting I2G and tell your friends about it..this site is killing it right now..

and yes Tek has some great production..

[Paul]

props lun!!!

really liking his productions right now

don't prop me, not my work..just keep visiting I2G and tell your friends about it..this site is killing it right now..

and yes Tek has some great production..

no problem, proping you 4 bringing the interview and website to my attention then

[Lunatic]

props lun!!!

really liking his productions right now

don't prop me, not my work..just keep visiting I2G and tell your friends about it..this site is killing it right now..

and yes Tek has some great production..

no problem, proping you 4 bringing the interview and website to my attention then

all love!

[Dre-Day]

i'm not surprised that he's influenced by 2001 as you can easily hear it in his sound.

Have you ever thought about putting together a compilation, something kind of like the Chronic, with your production and having a big compilation with a bunch of artists just rapping over your production? Have you ever thought about doing that?

Absolutely and actually I am going to be doing something like that. I just want to make sure that it is right. I got alot of people and alot of friends. With me, it's fucked up because alot of artists I see allhiphop and all the websites. It's like they don't want to fuck with you unless you got that feature. That hot name. I'm looking at it like hey features is cute. But it is all about me at the end of the day. I know whoever I get on the record it is all well and good, but I am baking that track. No matter who is on it. When it comes down to me making a Chronic type album, I want to make sure that it is right, because alot of people I want to reach out and work with that might surprise people. It's not like I am just saying let me get TI, let me get Jay-Z. I got some on my own list that I would like to get to do 1 compilation album with original tracks that would just be crazy. But that is the A&R side of me though.

yeah he should do a compilation with a lot of features, cause he's a lot better off with producing than with rapping.

[D-Nice]

Dre u don't like Tek's raps? Dude got some heat on that mic.

[D-Nice]

But sad 2 hear there will probably not be another TH album. Them cats had crazy chemistry on their 1st album.

[Dre-Day]

Dre u don't like Tek's raps? Dude got some heat on that mic.

sure his delivery is on point, but overall he ain't all that IMO.
maybe i'm a bit more critical, due to being annoyed by his voice.

anyway, i think the other former members of the group are better 
so yeah it's sad that the group fell apart so quickly 

[sniperuk]

Dre u don't like Tek's raps? Dude got some heat on that mic.

sure his delivery is on point, but overall he ain't all that IMO.
maybe i'm a bit more critical, due to being annoyed by his voice.

anyway, i think the other former members of the group are better 
so yeah it's sad that the group fell apart so quickly 
what did u think of 'down with the pound'

[Dre-Day]

Dre u don't like Tek's raps? Dude got some heat on that mic.

sure his delivery is on point, but overall he ain't all that IMO.
maybe i'm a bit more critical, due to being annoyed by his voice.

anyway, i think the other former members of the group are better 
so yeah it's sad that the group fell apart so quickly 

what did u think of 'down with the pound'

where's that track featured on?

[sniperuk]

Dre u don't like Tek's raps? Dude got some heat on that mic.

sure his delivery is on point, but overall he ain't all that IMO.
maybe i'm a bit more critical, due to being annoyed by his voice.

anyway, i think the other former members of the group are better 
so yeah it's sad that the group fell apart so quickly 

what did u think of 'down with the pound'

where's that track featured on?

nothing, it was leaked by dubcnn on the site not on any tapes but he does a jackin 4 beats over dpg instrumentals.

[D-Nice]

Dre u don't like Tek's raps? Dude got some heat on that mic.

sure his delivery is on point, but overall he ain't all that IMO.
maybe i'm a bit more critical, due to being annoyed by his voice.

anyway, i think the other former members of the group are better 
so yeah it's sad that the group fell apart so quickly 

what did u think of 'down with the pound'

where's that track featured on?

nothing, it was leaked by dubcnn on the site not on any tapes but he does a jackin 4 beats over dpg instrumentals.

Yeah that song was insane lyrically.

[Dre-Day]

Dre u don't like Tek's raps? Dude got some heat on that mic.

sure his delivery is on point, but overall he ain't all that IMO.
maybe i'm a bit more critical, due to being annoyed by his voice.

anyway, i think the other former members of the group are better 
so yeah it's sad that the group fell apart so quickly 

what did u think of 'down with the pound'

where's that track featured on?

nothing, it was leaked by dubcnn on the site not on any tapes but he does a jackin 4 beats over dpg instrumentals.

Yeah that song was insane lyrically.

edit: i just listened to it and i admit that the freestyle is quite good