T Bo: Hu$tlin’ Is A Habit

From the rugged streets of Baton Rouge, also known as the Big Raggedy or the Red Stick, T-Bo has been grinding to make a name and a career for himself as Da Firecracker. Being in the game for over 10 years, he has not been alone as the only white rapper in Baton Rouge, but instead one of the first white rappers in Baton Rouge, before the explosion of Marshall Mathers. Under his belt is his first EP with Mike Da Hustla, “Who Dem Boys”, T-Bo & S.C.C., 504 Boyz “Ballers”, his first solo album “Firecracker”, along with a bootleg album which was leaked on the streets”, and a number of guest appearances. He now gives us T-Bo & S.C.C. are Deuce & A Quarter (225 Baton Rouge area code).

WordofSouth.com: What up man?, How you livin’?T-Bo: Chillin’ man chillin’ down in that dirty.

WordofSouth.com: How has tha rap game treated you?

T-Bo: The game has been good and bad, you know it goes both ways, it s just like any other job. At first it started out as just a hobby, then it turned into an actual job that s paying the bills. So it’s got it s ups and downs

WordofSouth.com: How did the “Deuce & A Quarter” album with S.C.C. come together?

T-Bo: Well you know I’ve been doing stuff with South Coast Coalition for a while now, about 5 years we always in the studio together. I’m always featured on their album, their always featured on my album. So we just came together and managed to make a tight ass album ya know. It s some of our best music to date.

WordofSouth.com: What’s tha word on tha chopped & screwed version of Deuce & A Quarter?

T-Bo: It is finished, we got it back. Uh it s at the plant right now getting pressed up. It s chopped n screwed by Paul Wall out of Swisha House from Houston. And it s cold then a mutha. I m just now getting into chopped n screwed a lot, so I really like it. And I m not just sayin that because it s our album, but I m really feeling it. I think the chopped n screwed fans we really feel it. Paul Wall did a good job. Definitely. WordofSouth.com: Yea I listened to Sunlight earlier and I like how he changed the beat up on your verse with What Ya Lookin At T-Bo: Yea he did a damn good job man, I ain t gonna lie I was really impressed by Paul Wall. We have a release date set on it soon, I can t really hit on it. But hopefully somewhere around December.

WordofSouth.com: Alot of people when they hear tha name T-Bo, they think the white boy that was with No Limit, not knowing that you originally started with TRU Records. After C got locked up and Master P pulled you over, were you planning on staying there or was it just something to do at tha time because P was good to you?

T-Bo: Really man it was just another stepping stone. I was with TRU Records ya know. Through and through when C in his lil bit of court trouble I really felt I wanted to stay around the camp, and I felt the best way to do that was to go do some music with P ya know. And that came about, and the opportunity presented itself, so I made a decision to do that and keep myself moving.

WordofSouth.com: How did you hook up with C-Murder in the first place?

T-Bo: Tell ya the Truth, me and my partner since we was lil’ Mike Da Hustla put an album out years back and C-Murder actually heard it. Off of that he gave me a call and we just clicked up since then. And I guess real recognize real, so we just kept fuckin’ around with this music ya know.

WordofSouth.com: Alot of people thought you were signed to No Limit which you weren’t, were you offically signed to TRU Records or was it the same situation as with No Limit?

T-Bo: Naw, I was actually officially signed to TRU Records man. We had a lot of big things planned before C’s trouble. We had a major distribution deal on the table. I was in the studio working on my album. We steady coming up with new ideas, but ya know after he got into his trouble or whatever I went over there with P, and it was pretty much just a mutual agreement. I was doing work for hire, and he come at me with a few contracts but I wasn’t really feeling them at the time, so I just kept doing my thang like I was.

WordofSouth.com: After Eminem came out with Dre it opened more doors for other white rappers, and people think that all these white rappers are just doing it because it’s a cool thing to do or that it’s just a fad to them. Even when you were part of the 504 Boyz some people just thought P was getting a white rapper because everyone needs one in their click now. You and S.C.C. have been doing it long before Em came out with Dre. I remmber once being at Club Dreams for a rap fest that Emperor Nero was throwing and whoever was on the mic shouted out “South Coast Coalition get y’alls asses on tha flo’” and you or S.C.C. wasn’t even there that night. How does that make you feel to be known as tha first ones to put it down in Baton Rouge along with Lil Witness?

T-Bo: I mean we been putting it down for so long. I’ve been doing this for years. Like you said I was actually doing things with Snoop Dogg and putting things out on my own, before Eminem dropped on Dre’s label Ya know. Just to clear that up I didn’t just drop in it just because Eminem started rapping, it’s always been one of my dreams and I just followed it and followed it. Maybe P was just trying to get a white rapper, I can’t answer for P but I know what my whole situation was with C. I was already in the game I just had to keep moving trying to get as big as I could without falling off ya know. me and S.C.C. and Lil’ Witness we’ve been holding it down for Baton Rouge for years now. People think this just a hobby to us, NO! it’s actually a job we take this very seriously. That’s where a lot of people get it fucked up. This is not a game to us, ya know. People look at white rappers, but we gotta hold it down for all white rappers. Yeah Eminem did open a lot of doors for us, BUT, at the same time he CLOSED a lot of doors for us, because he soo cold, you can’t even half step on the mic no more. Which is good because it eliminates a lot of lil’ young cats that really ain’t into it ya know.

WordofSouth.com: One thing that T-Bo and S.C.C. has definitely done is help other rappers get their name out wheter they be black, white, Hispanic, Asian, or Indian with Lil’ Witness, Mookie, Lefty, and others. Do you have any plans on getting an artist under Firecracker Entertainment?

T-Bo: Well as of right now ya know, me signing someone would be pretty, pretty ignorant, because I’m still trying to get myself to that point where I feel comfortable. So why would I put someone, in the same situation that I’m in, which some people might think is great. But I’m not settling for just being a regional artist. I got it in me, ya know I wanna be the best. So maybe down the line, I got a few things up my sleeve, I’m gonna keep it on the low right now (laughs). I got some big plans for Firecracker Entertainment, but ya know what I’m sayin’ we always trying to help other people out because you know without someone helping us, we wouldn’t have got where we at right now. Ya know so up and coming artist if they serious man, and they handling they business, we definitely down to help them. But they got a lot of cats out right now they have no clue what the game is about. Ya know, I get 20, 30 calls on my cell phone a day. They talking bout sign me this, get me in the studio that, and I don’t even know these people! Ya know they think it’s a big game, a joke like we just sittin around rappin’ all the time or something. A lot of people don’t know that rappin’ is the easy part of this business, ya know. It’s after your cd is done which is hard ya know

WordofSouth.com: I remember you told me that in the studio one day that was the easy part was recording.

T-Bo: Yea that comes natural ya know it’s the business side of it that’s dirty right now. The major labels got it all, all fucked up for the small labels ya know.

WordofSouth.com: Deuce & Quarter as a group and solo has worked with a lot of artist’s from Sean Paul of YoungBloodz, Soulja Slim, Young Bleed, C-Murder, and Snoop Dogg. You also toured with 50 Cent, and I think I heard that y’all were about to do some work with Bun B. Is there anybody that you haven’t worked with that is still living, that yall want to collaborate?

T-Bo: Ahhhhhh man! they gotta a lot of people that I would love to collaborate with. Ya know first music, I’m a fan. Ya know I started off as a fan. I learned my roots about Hip-hop before I jumped into Hip-hop. Ya know I’d like to do something with Em, just cause he so talented, I guarantee he’d bring more talent out of me. Ya know I’d like to work with a lot of producers that’s out right now. Lil’ Jon, uh of course Dr. Dre ya know. One person I’m really interested in getting on my album in the future is Devin the Dude, I think he’s really over looked. He s out of Houston, Texas Rap-A-Lot. I be playin’ his music and of course ya know we gon keep it dirty south ya know so anybody from the South that’s really down to work, I’m down to work. If they ain’t bout work! DON’T call my phone!

WordofSouth.com: Yea Devin the Dude he hot.

T-Bo: Yea I always did like Devin, he laid back ya know.

WordofSouth.com: You were on a few tracks with Soulja Slim before he died and even shot a video together. Tell me about your experience with Slim.

T-Bo: It was cool man, Slim was a cool dude ya know what I’m sayin. We hung out a good bit on the video set. I actually first met him out there in California shooting a video, it was actually off of C-Murder s album it was me, him, and C-Murder. A song called “I’m Not Just” off the “CP3.COM” album. I mean it was good ya know, I mean it was actually my first video. My first time working with Slim, my first video with C, so it was great for me. As a fan and as a artist. I was growing as a artist, I was getting some experience and at the same time I was with some seasoned veterans ya know in the game, so it was real good for me.

WordofSouth.com: Who was your favorite artist or group to collaborate with?

T-Bo: Ahhh man, so far, I’d have to say it was C. I really enjoyed working with C. Ya know C was good to work with in the studio. Other than that ya know being on the 50 Cent tour was ridiculous. Ya know that took me out on a whole nother level out of the lil’ area that I was in and put me on a national level.

WordofSouth.com: Baton Rouge has had Young Bleed, C-Loc, and Beelow all go major. Why do you think none of them have really made an impact on tha game nationwide?

T-Bo: I really can’t answer that. Ya know Bleed made a decent impact on the game, but uhh, I’m not sure why it didn’t go any farther then what it did, ya know I’m not sure. I know it’s time for some up and coming artist to get a shot too. It’s really frustrating, I think BR gets over looked so much between New Orleans and Houston. We just get over looked. But I think our time is coming and when it does come it’s gonna pop, and I think they got a lot of talent here. I just hope everybody is ready to jump out there and get it ya knowWordofSouth.com: Most crunk rappers really do not focus on their lyrics to be even average as long as it’s something buck. It seems like you are trying to take your rhymes a step past average and mix it with crunk. Was that for people who say the South has no lyrics and is just crunk?

T-Bo: Well ya know I think the South, we get stereo typed a lot for not being lyrical. I think it’s a bunch of bullshit. Myself ya know I’m just growing lyrically, I’m constantly in the studio, I’m constantly writing, ya know. I think Baton Rouge is just, we got a mix of a bunch of styles. I’m not just a crunk rapper, I’m not just laid back. My new album coming I think is just a diversity for everybody and I’m still not catering for no radio, I’m going back to the streets with it, but still can be lyrical at the same time.WordofSouth.com: You mentioned something about your new album tell me more about that.

T-Bo: I got a few projects coming from Firecracker Entertainment. I got some older material, well it’s not too old. It’s some material that didn’t get released. Some songs I recorded over by C-Murder, some songs I recorded in my own studio. Just some material that I never put out. I got a cd it’s called Before No Limit and the release date on that is actually November 9th, so yall go to the stores and pick that up. It’s a little bit older material, it’s not the brand new album, but I think some people will definitly be pleased. Soon after that the chopped -n- screwed version of the Deuce & A Quarter album will be out. Y’all go pick that up the chopped n screwed fans. Big up to Texas and Paul Wall. Soon following that I’ll have my new album called “The Firework Show.” It’s gonna be about 14 tracks, I got about 12 finished so far and I promise you, nobody is gonna be disappointed this time, you got my word on it. I would give you your money back guaranteed, but yall couldn’t catch up with me because I’m always moving

WordofSouth.com: Other than you and the click, who are some people out today that you are feeling doing it big in the game or at least trying to?

T-Bo: I can really speak for people around our area ya know out in Baton Rouge. Ya know we got Max Minelli which is probably the most lyrical person out here to me. Ya know which I’m a fan of Max, he’s also my boy, but he’s really talented, I think he’s got some big stuff that’s gonna happen for him. Ya know you gotta give it up to Lil’ Boosie and Weebie with Trill Entertainment. Right now Lil Boosie is probably the hottest thing out of BR that’s got any noise going on in the South. I’m sure he’s got some major deals on the table ya know. Big up to them for doing they thang. Ya know we got South Coast, they gon do their’s, we got Lil’ Witness that’s a positive, we gon ‘ keep it right. We got some up coming artist like Mookie for example. A lot of people haven’t heard of Mookie and when they do they gon definitely see some different stuff from Baton Rouge. They gon’ see some real lyrical thangs they never heard. Ya know other than that, I really keep it simple, I don’t listen too much no more, they gotta really be doing it for me to listen to it, because a lot of people don’t take it serious no more.

WordofSouth.com: What’s the word on this T-Bo & Crazy album that I’ve been hearing about for a little while? Y’all trying to be a two man 504 Boyz?

T-Bo: Yea, I mean we been talking about it. It’s in discussion right now man. Actually we sat down at the table and talked about it the other day. It’s definitely something that will come. I’m not positive on when the release date will be. We got so much other stuff coming out right now that we haven’t had time to get in the studio and really sit down and come up with anything. I guarantee that when we do, it’s gonna be some straight street, some hard ass shit. I guarantee that everybody is gonna feel it.

WordofSouth.com: If C-Murder were to get out on his re-trial, would you go back with him, or do you prefer being on your own.

T-Bo: Ya know I’d definitely do some stuff with C, and we’d probably do some joint ventures. TRU Records/Firecracker Entertainment. Ya know what I’m sayin and support him and ya know help him in any way we could because me and him we never had no falling out. So I just wish him the best with his court stuff first and we’ll do the music after that. Ya know he got a family out here. He gotta take care of his personal business before we can get to music. And ya know anything he needs, I got him on it

WordofSouth.com: So far what is your biggest accomplishment that you have achieved with rap?

T-Bo: Truthfully just still being in it. Still having fans after all the time that I’ve put in. A lot of people don’t know how long I have been in it because I haven’t been on a major level like talking about. But just to be blessed when people still wanted to hear my music and people telling me how much better my music has got since the album before this, and the album before that. That’s what it’s about to me. It’s not all about the money, of course it’s nice to get a check but when you at concerts and fans cheering for you, and you know it’s sincere it ain t no bullshit ya know.

WordofSouth.com: Thanx for the time Bo, appreciate it very much anything you want to add before we cut this here.

T-Bo: Naw man. Just yall stay up on Firecracker Entertainment, go pick up the Deuce & AQuarter album, The Firecracker Underground in stores now. Baton Rouge Mix Cd in Stores now. Trunk Music, from South Coast Coalition in stores now. Third World Vol. 1 Vol. 2 in stores now. Be on the lookout for all the up and coming projects from T-Bo, and South Coast Coalition, and Lil’ Witness and thanks Word of South for doing this here.

– INTERVIEW BY: KJ Armour