I keep saying this and I’m going to say it again. Something is happening in the West Coast. The pot is on the stove. The water is warming up and it’s getting ready to boil over. Artists like Jay Rock, Tyga, G. Malone, Crooked I and more are slowly building a West Coast syndicate that has enough talent to take over the game and return Cali to it’s most prosperous level in years, maybe even as successful as the days of the Chronic.
One of the latest artists to step into the mix is South Central’s own Nipsey Hussle. Signed to Jon Shapiro’s Cinematic Music Group, Nipsey is a street tested MC with enough swagger to appeal to audiences in any part of the world. His songwriting abilities are compared to that of 50 Cent. His swag is compared to that of Snoop Dogg but don’t get it twisted, Nipsey is his own artist.
Cali’s hip-hop poster boy The Game calls Nipsey the hottest artist coming out of Cali. While it may seem like a lot for a new artist to handle Nipsey Hussle welcomes the challenges that lie ahead of him. Sixshot.com caught up with the Cali spitter to discuss working with The Game, getting love from Power 106, and his plans for his career.
Sixshot.Com: All right Nipsey I know you grew up in Cali. Give us a little backgro und. What was life like for you growing up?
Nipsey Hussle: Um, you know I grew up on 60th street on the West Side, South Central. That’s the Crenshaw and Slauson. My life was better than some and worse than others. I’m not gonna give you the usual young niggas in the hood sad story, you feel me? I grew up in the hood you know and I was held down by a gang called the Rolling 60’s. Growing up in that territory had a big influence on me. I experienced a lot of shit as a young nigga. I seen a lot of shit so for better or worse my shit was just hood.
Sixshot.Com: Now through all this at what point did you get into hip-hop?
Nipsey Hussle: Man I been on this shit since day one. I’m not the nigga to say that I’m not a rapper. I’m most definitely a rapper and I been pursuing this shit since day one, you feel me? I would be in school spittin’. I was supposed to be doing schoolwork but I was writing rhymes, spittin’ in the hallways. You know how that goes. I could honestly say I been doin’ this shit since I was about seven.
Sixshot.Com: I spoke to The Game a few months back and he said you were hands down the hottest cat coming out of the West Coast. How do you feel to get a co-sign like that?
Nipsey Hussle: That’s incredible and I appreciate that because his word and what he thinks mean a lot. It’s a hell of a compliment. It is what it is.
Sixshot.Com: You guys also worked together. What was that experience like for you?
Nipsey Hussle: Game is crazy with his shit man. I been a game fan for a minute and the way he works I crazy. We got in the booth and we knocked out some shit in like fifteen minutes, you know? It was real cool. From the first day Game and me met it was all love my nigga. We met and we clicked you know? We got in the studio because I’m always in the studio and we was just vibin’ off each other shit and we came out with some hot shit man, you feel me?
Sixshot.Com: How did you end up getting your deal with Jon Shapiro and Cinematic?
Nipsey Hussle: Basically I was just grindin’ hard and puttin’ crazy shit out in the street. Shapiro heard some shit and we started talking. It was the same kinda situation I had with Game where we just clicked quick from jump, you feel me? He heard another joint on Myspace and I got flown out to New York. After that it was on and poppin’ you know?
Sixshot.Com: So your buzz was already poppin in the streets?
Nipsey Hussle: Yeah well you know I was putting that shit out in the street so a nigga had a little buzz going. I had a couple records out as well that was poppin’ out here on Power 106 so I was getting’ some love like that, you feel me? Jon and me got up to do the paperwork and he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse so we got it done.
Sixshot.Com: Was it a big transition going from the streets to head first into the industry?
Nipsey Hussle: Oh yeah this is real different. The streets is the streets and the industry is something else. You gotta learn how to navigate through it so I’m just soaking everything up as I go along. I’m learning a lot because this is a whole different thing for me, you know?
Sixshot.Com: Your songwriting abilities are compared to some of the most talented dudes out there like 50 and Snoop. Where did that talent come from?
Nipsey Hussle: I mean honestly I think it come from hard work and doing it so much. You know how they say that practice makes perfect. When I hear a beat a whole bunch of shit goes through my mind. And the main thing I’m thinking about is how I could approach it so it grabs the most amount of people. There are a lot of artists who can spit a verse but they can’t write a song or they write a song that’s trash, it’s disposable, you feel me? My goal is to make the exact opposite of that. I’m trying to make music that lasts. You gotta make sure your content is right. I’m trying to do it like Tupac so that’s what I mean when I talk about content in the music.
Sixshot.Com: How do you feel about the music coming from the West Coast right now?
Nipsey Hussle: I’m lovin’ it my nigga. I feel like this is a fresh start for us, you feel me? I feel like we got a chance to just do what we gotta do and make more history.
Sixshot.Com: Who are some newer artists you’re feeling that are coming out of the West Coast?
Nipsey Hussle: Man there’s too many niggas out here to name that’s really doing their thing man. We got a lot of talent out here for real man. I’m supporting any nigga out here who’s doing him, making good music, and keepin’ it real in the music, you feel me? We got some major talent about to pop and I love to see it. It’s a beautiful thing.
Sixshot.Com: A lot of successful artists from the West came into the game with that Dre or Snoop co-sign. Do you think that coming into the game without that puts you in a different category?
Nipsey Hussle: I mean it’s a little different but I got my own movement my nigga. I think both of them cats are incredible but I’m doing my thing. I hope I get to work with them in the future. I’m just looking forward to having a successful career, you know?
Sixshot.Com: Do you feel like you are going to bring a lot of attention back to the West Coast?
Nipsey Hussle: I think I’m definitely gonna bring attention back to the West but not even just the West but hip-hop in general. I feel like I’m about to do some real big things that are gonna made a serious impact on this game.
Sixshot.Com: Who are some of the artists that have influenced you musically?
Nipsey Hussle: Tupac, Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie. There’s a few cats that I listen to and get inspired by my nigga.
Sixshot.Com: All right man so tell us what you have coming up that we can check for.
Nipsey Hussle: I’m hitting the mixtapes hard. We got some songs in rotation on the radio. My company is up and runnin’, All Money In, No Money Out. We makin’ some big moves my nigga.
Sixshot.Com: Anything you’d like to say to all the fans out there?
Nipsey Hussle: Much love to Sixshot.com for reaching out. Ya’ll can check me out at www.myspace.com/nipseyhussle I wanna thank everybody for all that support they’re showing right now. Peace my nigga.
One of the latest artists to step into the mix is South Central’s own Nipsey Hussle. Signed to Jon Shapiro’s Cinematic Music Group, Nipsey is a street tested MC with enough swagger to appeal to audiences in any part of the world. His songwriting abilities are compared to that of 50 Cent. His swag is compared to that of Snoop Dogg but don’t get it twisted, Nipsey is his own artist.
Cali’s hip-hop poster boy The Game calls Nipsey the hottest artist coming out of Cali. While it may seem like a lot for a new artist to handle Nipsey Hussle welcomes the challenges that lie ahead of him. Sixshot.com caught up with the Cali spitter to discuss working with The Game, getting love from Power 106, and his plans for his career.
Sixshot.Com: All right Nipsey I know you grew up in Cali. Give us a little backgro und. What was life like for you growing up?
Nipsey Hussle: Um, you know I grew up on 60th street on the West Side, South Central. That’s the Crenshaw and Slauson. My life was better than some and worse than others. I’m not gonna give you the usual young niggas in the hood sad story, you feel me? I grew up in the hood you know and I was held down by a gang called the Rolling 60’s. Growing up in that territory had a big influence on me. I experienced a lot of shit as a young nigga. I seen a lot of shit so for better or worse my shit was just hood.
Sixshot.Com: Now through all this at what point did you get into hip-hop?
Nipsey Hussle: Man I been on this shit since day one. I’m not the nigga to say that I’m not a rapper. I’m most definitely a rapper and I been pursuing this shit since day one, you feel me? I would be in school spittin’. I was supposed to be doing schoolwork but I was writing rhymes, spittin’ in the hallways. You know how that goes. I could honestly say I been doin’ this shit since I was about seven.
Sixshot.Com: I spoke to The Game a few months back and he said you were hands down the hottest cat coming out of the West Coast. How do you feel to get a co-sign like that?
Nipsey Hussle: That’s incredible and I appreciate that because his word and what he thinks mean a lot. It’s a hell of a compliment. It is what it is.
Sixshot.Com: You guys also worked together. What was that experience like for you?
Nipsey Hussle: Game is crazy with his shit man. I been a game fan for a minute and the way he works I crazy. We got in the booth and we knocked out some shit in like fifteen minutes, you know? It was real cool. From the first day Game and me met it was all love my nigga. We met and we clicked you know? We got in the studio because I’m always in the studio and we was just vibin’ off each other shit and we came out with some hot shit man, you feel me?
Sixshot.Com: How did you end up getting your deal with Jon Shapiro and Cinematic?
Nipsey Hussle: Basically I was just grindin’ hard and puttin’ crazy shit out in the street. Shapiro heard some shit and we started talking. It was the same kinda situation I had with Game where we just clicked quick from jump, you feel me? He heard another joint on Myspace and I got flown out to New York. After that it was on and poppin’ you know?
Sixshot.Com: So your buzz was already poppin in the streets?
Nipsey Hussle: Yeah well you know I was putting that shit out in the street so a nigga had a little buzz going. I had a couple records out as well that was poppin’ out here on Power 106 so I was getting’ some love like that, you feel me? Jon and me got up to do the paperwork and he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse so we got it done.
Sixshot.Com: Was it a big transition going from the streets to head first into the industry?
Nipsey Hussle: Oh yeah this is real different. The streets is the streets and the industry is something else. You gotta learn how to navigate through it so I’m just soaking everything up as I go along. I’m learning a lot because this is a whole different thing for me, you know?
Sixshot.Com: Your songwriting abilities are compared to some of the most talented dudes out there like 50 and Snoop. Where did that talent come from?
Nipsey Hussle: I mean honestly I think it come from hard work and doing it so much. You know how they say that practice makes perfect. When I hear a beat a whole bunch of shit goes through my mind. And the main thing I’m thinking about is how I could approach it so it grabs the most amount of people. There are a lot of artists who can spit a verse but they can’t write a song or they write a song that’s trash, it’s disposable, you feel me? My goal is to make the exact opposite of that. I’m trying to make music that lasts. You gotta make sure your content is right. I’m trying to do it like Tupac so that’s what I mean when I talk about content in the music.
Sixshot.Com: How do you feel about the music coming from the West Coast right now?
Nipsey Hussle: I’m lovin’ it my nigga. I feel like this is a fresh start for us, you feel me? I feel like we got a chance to just do what we gotta do and make more history.
Sixshot.Com: Who are some newer artists you’re feeling that are coming out of the West Coast?
Nipsey Hussle: Man there’s too many niggas out here to name that’s really doing their thing man. We got a lot of talent out here for real man. I’m supporting any nigga out here who’s doing him, making good music, and keepin’ it real in the music, you feel me? We got some major talent about to pop and I love to see it. It’s a beautiful thing.
Sixshot.Com: A lot of successful artists from the West came into the game with that Dre or Snoop co-sign. Do you think that coming into the game without that puts you in a different category?
Nipsey Hussle: I mean it’s a little different but I got my own movement my nigga. I think both of them cats are incredible but I’m doing my thing. I hope I get to work with them in the future. I’m just looking forward to having a successful career, you know?
Sixshot.Com: Do you feel like you are going to bring a lot of attention back to the West Coast?
Nipsey Hussle: I think I’m definitely gonna bring attention back to the West but not even just the West but hip-hop in general. I feel like I’m about to do some real big things that are gonna made a serious impact on this game.
Sixshot.Com: Who are some of the artists that have influenced you musically?
Nipsey Hussle: Tupac, Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie. There’s a few cats that I listen to and get inspired by my nigga.
Sixshot.Com: All right man so tell us what you have coming up that we can check for.
Nipsey Hussle: I’m hitting the mixtapes hard. We got some songs in rotation on the radio. My company is up and runnin’, All Money In, No Money Out. We makin’ some big moves my nigga.
Sixshot.Com: Anything you’d like to say to all the fans out there?
Nipsey Hussle: Much love to Sixshot.com for reaching out. Ya’ll can check me out at www.myspace.com/nipseyhussle I wanna thank everybody for all that support they’re showing right now. Peace my nigga.
