West West! That's right today we've caught up with FMG West's own Tru Hustlas for an exclusive interview. Today we take you for a look inside the minds of two of Inglewood, California's newest young guns emerging from the Wild Wild West. With the West on their shoulders and a fresh sense of rivitalization, the Tru Hustlas have found themselves in a position to take control of the West and take their place in hip hop history.
Music In Focus: In case the fans arent aware yet how about we take this time to let the people know who the Tru Hustlas are
We are very different when it comes to this rap shit, when people hear Tru Hustlas they think of sellin' drugs right off the bat. When I feel me coming up with the name, I meant saying we are Tru Hustlas from the streets to everywhere. Life is a hustle and we are living life as that ya diggg .Rap is my new hustle and I give it 300% of my time. Real hustlas don't sleep and real niggas never die they just go away for a minute I'ma leave it at that.
Music In Focus: Now you guys are from Inglewood, California how has growing up there effected your music?
Black: Growing up in any ghetto L.A., Watts, Compton, or anywhere its hard and you go through alotta shit good and bad and i treat rap music as a book for my memories that i have in my head everything we speak is a the truth either we did it or are doing it now or will do it if pushed the wrong way real talk. Alotta niggas are fake in this world. Don't believe everything you see on TV, like killing is fun and shit; this gangsta shit is a lifestyle that niggas choose its not something you just follow because it looks cool. Niggas put on some dickies and rock some chucks and think they're gangsta, nigga that aint shit. Its niggas in the hood wit true religion jeans on and they'll fuck you up word from my nigga BO TDE. Take it from me, I put my life in my music so if you can relate to my shit then you will know what growing up in Inglewood is like.
Quake: I've seen alot growin up in Cali. I seen robberies, niggaz pimpin ho's, and all of what I say in my lyrics is what I've seen and done in these streets. None of this is fake at all. Everyday you wake up alive in Inglewood is a good day. Some people may think this is just entertainment, but what rappers say in their lyrics is what they see happening around them or situations they've been through.
Music In Focus: Coming up from southern California the place where NWA, Above the Law, South Central Cartel and the Dogg Pound found their starts whats going to really cement the Tru Hustlas in music history?
Mannnn only time can tell. I'm sure those people didn't know they were gonna be put down in history its just how the people feel about them. Their music happened to touch many people, and we are aiming for that type of success in this music business...
Music In Focus: What artists have influenced Black & Quake when it comes to rapping?
Black: When I first started rapping in 2005, i was bumpin Dr. Dre , NWA , Snoop , Game , everybody that was hot, I had em in my CD player; but now that I'm really doin this rap shit i learned for myself to really make my own music. I don't really listen to anyone else too much, so my main influence right now is myself and Quake. We make good music together; and its only gonna get better man. I'm 19, I'm young and alotta niggas wasn't at this level we are at this age you feel me.
Quake: The rappers that I'm influenced by are Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Glasses Malone, Dr. Dre, Eminen, Game, my nigga J-Black, and my nigga Young Dough comin straight outta Inglewood, and most importantly TRU HUSTLAS. Each of these artists, I've listened to have molded me into where I'm at today.
Music In Focus: What do you guys think of everyone trying to fit the stigma of a gangsta rappers mentality? Does it bother you guys that the industry has over saturated that genre?
It doesnt bother me at all. We've gotten to the point where our music is real music, our shit is not all gangsta; when the mixtape drops the world will know why Inglewood niggas should've been on the map. We've got too much talent in our city to be over looked. Shout out to my Inglewood niggas out there by the way: APollo, PERfecto, and the whole Lifeless crew, Disko producer is a beast out there. My nigga Young Dough, be on the look out for that nigga. My nigga L'z Turner I see you dawg. Man everybody, if i missed somebody don't take it to heart ya diggg, if you know you my nigga then you are.
Music In Focus: Now your labelmate Young P's project was just released, how did you guys like it and can we expect a similar formula to your project?
Black: My nigga Young P is doin his thang and he got his own style. I listened to his mixtape [Elevator Music] all the way through 3 times. My nigga's doin it out there in the ATL. He's goin far what up my nigga!!! And as for our project it will not be a similar formula, us being from the West and him being the South. I'm sure we haven't lived the same life and aren't in the same mindstate. We have big plans for this tape just watch "This is going to change niggas, this tape will show why we are going for the top. And any group in our way, MOVE or get moved word from Black - FMG nigga...
Quake: Young P is a very influential rapper for him to be hailing out of ATL and spittin fire lyrics. My nigga got serious flows, the only regret is that we couldn't do a track before his mixtape dropped but be on the lookout for future projects with my nigga Young P and Tru Hustlas. As far as our mixtape goes, we are gonna get my nigga Young P on our mixtape so be on the lookout and cop my nigga Young P's mixtape.
Music In Focus: Young P also praised you guys in his June interview, alluding that you guys have some classic material. What are some of your favorite tracks that you guys have recorded?
The "Push It Remix" that we did was recorded before the West heard the [Rick Ross] "Push It" song on the radio and that was some classic shit for the mixtape. There's a track called "Listen" on the tape which is really gonna talk to the people and to know where we're comin from.
Music In Focus: There have been references to you guys being a young West Coast version of M.O.P. in relation to your grimey tell it how it is street style, but you've also been compared to The Fixxers (Quik & AMG) with your lyrical swagger. Whats it like being a position now where you can get your music out there for the world to hear?
Ummmmm for that we have to say, we will soon be compared to no one . We will soon be known as the Best Group coming out of our city. The position we are in now is a great one, FMG is the squad and I'm feelin good about the work we do with Focus. We're ready for the world to love us, they cant help but love the real.
Music In Focus: You guys have been indie for a while, grindin in the streets and caught the ear of Focus from FMG, how did that play out?
Focus has a great work ethic and i respect him on a high level. Before we hooked up, we did a couple songs over his beats. We kinda fell into the camp. He asked us if we would be apart of FMG and it was a wrap. No plastic wit that one now its "FMG or DIE niggas".
Music In Focus: Tell us a little bit about the debut project, whats the album titled and can you shed some light on some of the features or producers?
The name of the mixtape is "Dusk Til' Dawn" because thats how you gotta hustle, night til the morning. Keep the money flowin' like a river. As far as features, right now i can tell u well have a few up & coming West coast artists like my nigga Young Dough straight outta Inglewood C.A. ,Captain Apollo (Lifeless Crew), my nigga Dubb and Lo Pro (Hood's Finest), Bo (Top Dawg ENT), McClain outta Lynwood, L'z Turner from Inglewood, Blizz (Clockwork), Tyga & Gata (G.E.D Inc), Young P and Rob O to name a few. Production wise we've got, Focus , Young Braze , Smiitty , Disko, Lano & Rah and the rest are industry beats; so you know the mixtape is gonna be fire. Niggas aint ready for what's about to put their careers on pause.
Music In Focus: Have you guys begun on the project, and if so have you selected a single?
Yeah we started work on the tape but we haven't chosen a single.
Music In Focus: Around what time frame are you guys looking to drop the project?
August
Music In Focus: Black, tell us how do you feel about the state of the West Coast when it comes to the rap game?
Black: I feel the West Coast is here to stay. Period. People say we fell off; nigga, we was just takin' a break to hit a Blunt and came back to blow the kush in niggas faces.
Music In Focus: Quake, looking back on the past year to now and everything the Hustlas have been through, what would you say is your goal for this project?
Quake: Well my goal is we're coming for the rap game. Period. To let everyone know who the Tru Hustlas are and where we fit in in this music industry. I feel like we're more than ready to step into this rap game, and me and Black are ready for aby obstacle that steps in our path to greatness.
Music In Focus: Now your project is slated to also be the second release on FMG, with the success of Young P's debut whats it like now that youre going to be representing the West?
We're gonna hold it down. "We're ready for war." FMG
Music In Focus: What can we expect from the Tru Hustlas in the future, as far as guest appearances and projects?
You can expect the game to change and our name is going no where. As far as appearances, you'll just have to wait for that.
Music In Focus: Are there any plans for solo projects from you guys or is it strictly Tru Hustlas time?
Ummmm not anytime soon. We dont really have plans for solo projects at this time. Right now it's strictly Tru Hustlas my nigga.
Music In Focus: How do you feel you've progressed as a duo in the past year and into your FMG position?
Black: Alot. I think just 07' alone we've have stepped the bar up, and it's high as a plane right now ya diggg. Niggas gonna be mad but who cares. FMG is here and we movin' in, gettin the bed set up. Got the pillows on the cold side, ready to relax because we're here to stay.
Quake: I feel that we've found our swagger in the studio. And now that I've noticed that we have the same work ethic, we don't quit at anything; we just keep getting better. I feel that we haven't even reached the superior level we're supposed to be in but we're getting there. And once we get there it's curtains.
Music In Focus: Anybody you guys would like to send a shout out to?
God, our family, the whole Inglewood City, Young Dough , Focus and the whole FMG family, Rah, where you at my nigga we still gotta give it up to you man. Mann everybody that ever helped us with anything, mann good lookin' and we do it for yall.
Music In Focus: Well we wish you guys the best of luck and we'll probably chop it up with you guys again before the project is released, any final words for the fans?
Thanks for all those that have been here since day one and to all our new fans we thank you for all the love and support.
TRU HUSTLAS "DUSK TIL DAWN" VOL 1 2007 FMG
There you have it straight from the Hustlas themselves. Be on the lookout for Dusk Til' Down and make sure if you havent already done it check out the Tru Hustlas on their myspace page: Tru Hustlas Myspace and be on the look out for future interviews with the Tru Hustlas and other FMG artists.
