Hip-hop

Jasmine Kay Source: On your page I read what you wrote ” These days it’s hard out here for a rapper. Being lyrical is not enough. You have to make up the complete package. You have to look the part, act the part, and be the part. The girls have to love you and the guys have to want to be you”. with Hip Hop. But you also said that you are exactly that. I feel it too and now that i got introduced to you, what is the truth in your own words. So, with this album, what did you set out to do?

Thadd Williams: Basically with this project I wanted to give myself the proper introduction. You only get one chance to get introduced to the world, and the first impression is usually the last impression. What I wanted to do is give you insight about who I am and what I stand for. Nowadays hip hop has everyone believing that you have to act, and carry yourself a certain way. I’m here to show you that you can get that love and respect without compromising who you are as a person. A lot of these artist are totally different people when the cameras cut off. I’m going against the grain, because whether you like me or not nobody will ever be able to say that I’m not authentic.

Jasmine Kay: Hi, Thadd Willams, thanks for getting down with the truth, and we gonna get down to it, Word Up Source is here to hear you out. I got a chance to listen in to your page. And its bangin. What it is. So lets get down to it, why do you think its hard out here for a rapper?

Thadd Williams: On some levels I think that 50% of it is an internal struggle within that artist. On a personal level an artist might not want to talk about a certain subject, but feel if he or she doesn’t do that they might not get that love or respect that they want. Which results in artificial music, just like in life everybody wants to fit in with something. On another level the artist might feel pressure from a label to deliver a certain type of song just so it can get radio play. Or the label may want to put out a certain record to try boost sales. That’s why nowadays a lot of artists are taking the independent route. Those are some of the difficulties that we go through when trying to be in this business.

Jasmine Kay: What it is? I listened to the track and the organ sound is the bomb. The production is tight. And The arrangement is full on! How did that come about, damn. Shit What it is, is just that! People gonna be feelin this track for real!

Thadd Williams: I appreciate that, right now I’m working with an up and coming producer from Dayton Ohio by the name of Kayn. We have a real good chemistry when we get in the studio, I like more of the live instrument sounds. It’s always an event when me and him get to work together.

JasmineKay: Tell the people out there where you from? Where did you grow up? And where your crib at now?

Thadd Williams: I’m from Columbia SC, born and raised…better known as the Metro. Right now I’m living in Hampton VA, for a short period of time.

JasmineKay: My bad, Do you think the image of bad is cool? Do you think it sells nowadays? And how can people be hating you when you just hatin them. Arent you the same? They hating you and you hating them for getting money? How do you figure?

Thadd Williams: I think that’s not for me to say. I think that anything that you’re portraying that’s not the truth isn’t cool. It’s the same as lying to a person in they’re face. Music is a powerful tool, some people’s music gets other people through they’re day. Fans go out and spend money because they believe in that artist and they want the best product. As far as hating is concerned everybody has been a hater at one point or another, it’s just human nature. A lot of it is just jealousy, wishing that they could do what you or be in the position that you’re in. What they fail to realize is what person had to do to get to where they are at. So many of us want to take short cuts instead of grinding and working, everybody has to pay dues. In the record, “I’m saying I’m sorry for keeping on my grind. I’m sorry that you didn’t follow suite and grind like I did”.

If you listen I’m not really hating I’m kinda schooling you that you need to get on ya grind, and you won’t have to hate, but like I said hate is everywhere. Everyone has hated on someone. Me, you, the consumers, some of us just take it to another level and live off of hating instead of using it as a motivational tool. Goodie Mobb/ Outkast said it best: “Get up Get out and get Something, don’t let the days of your life pass by”.

JasmineKay: What is making hip hop commercial and not true anymore? Supply and Demand?

Thadd Williams: Hiphop it’s self isn’t commercial the artist is. When you make certain records for that overwhelming attention that is when your music becomes commercial. When you no longer yearn to be creative only stagnant in what is going on right now. With my music I try to live in the future, I try to live in the realism of the world. That’s why I can’t talk about anything I haven’t done. I can’t talk about drugs and guns, because I didn’t live that life but I lived around it, so I might be able to tell you a heart felt tale about someone I knew, but I can’t tell you about how to ship keys of coke, and poppin bottles at the club, because 9 times out of ten I was at school, work or the studio. The only thing to make HipHop true is the artists and people engulfed in it. Hiphop was meant to not have boundaries. I’m not like snap music is made out of, its something creative that came out, and got peoples attention. Supply and Demand is a major factor, you gotta give the people what they want, but if you not giving them a variety then they gonna want what is out.

JasmineKay: Dope Boy; what makes a hip hop artist Dope or just a Dope Head?

Thadd Williams: What’s makes an artist dope entails a few factors: lyrics, content, swagger, and originality. Artist aren’t challenging themselves creatively anymore. It’s just become really repetitive instead of competitive. The dope part was just a spin off, it had nothing to do with being on dope, if anything is was the opposite of selling Dope, thus the name Dope Boy.

JasmineKay: How important is it to have your own record team? What should other rappers who are starting out know about the hip hop game?

Thadd Williams: To have a good team behind you could be what makes or breaks your career. It’s just like sports one person can’t win a super bowl by themselves. As an artist you can’t be in ten different places at once, having a good team and a label that believes in you are essential. As far what other rappers need to know about the hip hop game I can’t say. I’m still learning the ropes about what this business has to offer. If I had to offer any advice I would say take your time and don’t rush anything, don’t take the first deal that you’re offered. A lot of artist end up owing more money than they make, and read educate yourself there are a lot of things to know out there. Ask questions; that doesn’t make you look stupid, it makes you look professional.

JasmineKay: What’s your plans? Next shows? Against the grain whats that about? New Tracks? Tell the people what you doing and what motivates you when you wake up? Cause its time for your wake up call, its time for your wake up call, DONT SLEEP DONT SLEEP?

Thadd Williams: The plan for 08 is to grind, grind, grind. I want to be exhausted by the end of this year. Right now we’re getting ready to perform at the Southern Entertainment Awards down in Mississippi. My first major mix tape entitled “Diamond In The Rough” should be out in February. Shortly after that I will be releasing the second installment entitled “Beginner’s Luck”. Just be on the look out for Thadd Williams, I’m a hustler’s hope and a gangster’s alternative I’m permanently inspired. If you haven’t heard of me, I’m not working hard enough.

JasmineKay Word Up Source

Check out Thadd Williams at

Thadd Williams Music where you can download some of his hottest tracks.

Info at: 5 Star District Music Group 757.256.3542- cell

JASMINE KAY WORD UP SOURCE INTERVIEW Jan 20th 2008.

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