Keak Da Sneak: Hyphy Head Honcho
Yeeeeee! From Davey D, to the Living Legends crew to Hieroglyphics to Too Short, there is no doubt that San Francisco's Bay Area had long made substantial contributions to hip-hop. Set to leave the next big mark is hyphy head honcho, Keak Da Sneak.
He of the raspiest rap has just released his first record in four years on Koch and is ready to bring his wacky, faded subculture to the forefront of the mainstream. But that's not to say that the movement hasn't already made a splash -- his single "Super Hyphy" has had unbelievable success and led to Keak's appearance on MTV's strawberry flavoured "My Super Sweet Sixteen" as a guest performer for some brat's birthday. Then came the retardedly big E-40 track (and Lil Jon-produced) "Tell Me When to Go," which brought Keak's mug onto screens across the country.
Currently promoting his new album Deified, Ballerstatus chatted with Keak from New York, who explains how he hooked it up with Prodigy and Alchemist, and why hyphy will never die.
BallerStatus.com: Where you at right now?
Keak Da Sneak: I'm in New York. It's cool, but I wouldn't live here though. There are just all these big ol' buildings that look like an easy target. It's too congested, you can't move when you wanna move out here with all that traffic.
I'm from Oakland. It's big, it's good ... well it's small, it ain't as big as New York. Everyone knows each other in Oakland.
BallerStatus.com: What have you been doing in New York? Did you hit the clubs?
Keak Da Sneak: Nah 'cause it's Wednesday. Tomorrow's Thursday.
BallerStatus.com: What there are no parties in New York during the week?
Keak Da Sneak: Well sh**, I'm hanging with the wrong people. I'ma have to get out on my own and just stroll off and go find some sh**. I don't know what's going on.
BallerStatus.com: Tell me about your new album.
Keak Da Sneak: It is Deified. It has 23 tracks, which is more than my usual. I haven't dropped an album since 2004. I've dropped a lot of albums and mixtapes, but this is the first one in a while and first on Koch.
BallerStatus.com: I heard you make three tracks a day.
Keak Da Sneak: I do, when I'm at home, yadadamean? When I'm not out of town and then on Sundays, I don't do nothing on Sundays.
BallerStatus.com: Did you have the same process for this album? Or did you feel you had to step it up a bit because it's your biggest studio release for a while?
Keak Da Sneak: Yeah, I've been working at it hard. I tried to make good music and create something for everybody, for every region. I wanted to put something out that was more appealing to everybody.
BallerStatus.com: What do you think will be the mainstream appeal to this album?
Keak Da Sneak: I am growing up. I'm saying things I wouldn't have said two years ago ... it's got to do with my era of growing up. I've learned what it's like to have something to live for; having something to lose now.
BallerStatus.com: How did you hook up with Prodigy and Alchemist?
Keak Da Sneak: I was out here in New York on "106 & Park" -- and I met Prodigy. That night I hooked up with [Bay Area mixtape king] DJ Vlad and we went to Alchemist's spot to listen to some tracks and Prodigy was there. He was on MySpace and he was talking to a chick from the Bay and he's like "Man this chick, she loves you, all she does is talk about you." And then I looked at the thing and she had a picture of me on there. But then long story short, he did his homework on me and he was like "Man your sh** is dope man."
Plus I'm a Mobb Deep fan period. So that night we did a song for him and Alchemist. Then later on, in return, he wanted to do some sh** for my album. So that goal was already rockin', I figured I better do a remix to it. He was feeling that track, so I sent it to him and got him on it.
BallerStatus.com: It must have been interesting bringing your two styles together...
Keak Da Sneak: That was some new sh** huh?
BallerStatus.com: A lot of people are trying to say that hyphy is dead. What do you have to say to those people?
Keak Da Sneak: Hyphy will never die. Maybe the movement will, but hyphy itself won't because it's a ritual. Is the movement dead? I don't know. Where I'm from, it's a way of life, it's a ritual. So I'm the only person that can explain that. I can sell you that better than I can tell you that.
BallerStatus.com: Has something else come up in your area? A new genre? An evolution?
Keak Da Sneak: Definitely there is always room for the next. It's all about who is going to open that door for them.
BallerStatus.com: What's the next big thing?
Keak Da Sneak: I'm just saying, who is to say? The streets is gonna determine that.
BallerStatus.com: So you said you've grown up a lot. Have your fashions evolved since "T-shirts, blue jeans and Nikes?"
Keak Da Sneak: (laughs) I mean, yeah they have. T-shirts, jeans and Nikes is terminology for me being on the corner, on the streets. That's like the uniform day to day in the streets. I know the camera love me, I'm an attention freak. I ain't 35, so no three-piece suits just yet, but I will grow up. Back then I probably wouldn't put on no slacks, but now I'll do that. I know how comfortable that is. I appreciate stuff now. Back then, I had no knowledge, I had a one track ladies mind.
BallerStatus.com: So do you think this release will change your life?
Keak Da Sneak: Definitely. I feel like I haven't been heard the way I should. I haven't had that chance yet and that I deserve it. This record will show that I'm here to stay. That I wasn't just a one hit wonder, and that it's not all based on that. Keak Da Sneak is here, get used to me.
BallerStatus.com: Why did you decide to go with Koch in the end?
Keak Da Sneak: Instead of signing to a major for three albums, I figured I would grind it out one more year, show 'em [the majors] what I can do, make my own money. That way when they come to me with some money, I can make on my own. I can tell them to "kiss my ass." I can tell them "give me some money, I can't make on my own," and then structure the deal the way I want it.
I also wanted major distribution and at the time I just felt like Koch was all I needed. I wanted some distribution on the east coast, and I've watched them work a lot of records.
BallerStatus.com: So are you going to be touring a lot in the US? Will you branch out internationally?
Keak Da Sneak: Right now I'm not sure. I've never been overseas and everyone says "Oh my God" when I tell them that.
BallerStatus.com: Have you found that the appreciation for hyphy came out of the blogger/hipster scene?
Keak Da Sneak: Yeah it really came out of that. I did notice that. I play at a lot of clubs with an art/hipster crowd these days. But I also feel like I have a lot more fans right now then before. I haven't dropped anything since 2004, but I feel like I have the biggest response right now.
BallerStatus.com: Do you think that's come out of the E-40 track "Tell Me When to Go?"
Keak Da Sneak: Well my "Super Hyphy" track was getting 1000 plays a week on the radio, that's how I got that "Super Sweet Sixteen" and that was before that E-40 album. It was 2004.
BallerStatus.com: What do you think about Obama being the first black man with a chance at the American presidency?
Keak Da Sneak: What am I supposed to think? I haven't given it too much thought. I won't believe it until it happens. And I don't believe that my vote will even count anyway.
BallerStatus.com: If you were stuck on an island with on plate of food, one album and one pair of shoes what would they be?
Keak Da Sneak: Spaghetti with links in it and cheese. Some Air Max 87s. And Copium (the last album I dropped).
BallerStatus.com: What do you have after this album?
Keak Da Sneak: I got an All N Da Doe Family album coming out in August. I'm doing a shoe it's called Keak's Sneakers, and I'm doing a hat -- a 5950 New Era Keak Da Sneak hat. I am designing them because I'm gonna have to wear them everyday. I'm cool, it's not just something you can rush together, so I've been spending a lot of time making sure it's right.
Yeeeeee! From Davey D, to the Living Legends crew to Hieroglyphics to Too Short, there is no doubt that San Francisco's Bay Area had long made substantial contributions to hip-hop. Set to leave the next big mark is hyphy head honcho, Keak Da Sneak.
He of the raspiest rap has just released his first record in four years on Koch and is ready to bring his wacky, faded subculture to the forefront of the mainstream. But that's not to say that the movement hasn't already made a splash -- his single "Super Hyphy" has had unbelievable success and led to Keak's appearance on MTV's strawberry flavoured "My Super Sweet Sixteen" as a guest performer for some brat's birthday. Then came the retardedly big E-40 track (and Lil Jon-produced) "Tell Me When to Go," which brought Keak's mug onto screens across the country.
Currently promoting his new album Deified, Ballerstatus chatted with Keak from New York, who explains how he hooked it up with Prodigy and Alchemist, and why hyphy will never die.
BallerStatus.com: Where you at right now?
Keak Da Sneak: I'm in New York. It's cool, but I wouldn't live here though. There are just all these big ol' buildings that look like an easy target. It's too congested, you can't move when you wanna move out here with all that traffic.
I'm from Oakland. It's big, it's good ... well it's small, it ain't as big as New York. Everyone knows each other in Oakland.
BallerStatus.com: What have you been doing in New York? Did you hit the clubs?
Keak Da Sneak: Nah 'cause it's Wednesday. Tomorrow's Thursday.
BallerStatus.com: What there are no parties in New York during the week?
Keak Da Sneak: Well sh**, I'm hanging with the wrong people. I'ma have to get out on my own and just stroll off and go find some sh**. I don't know what's going on.
BallerStatus.com: Tell me about your new album.
Keak Da Sneak: It is Deified. It has 23 tracks, which is more than my usual. I haven't dropped an album since 2004. I've dropped a lot of albums and mixtapes, but this is the first one in a while and first on Koch.
BallerStatus.com: I heard you make three tracks a day.
Keak Da Sneak: I do, when I'm at home, yadadamean? When I'm not out of town and then on Sundays, I don't do nothing on Sundays.
BallerStatus.com: Did you have the same process for this album? Or did you feel you had to step it up a bit because it's your biggest studio release for a while?
Keak Da Sneak: Yeah, I've been working at it hard. I tried to make good music and create something for everybody, for every region. I wanted to put something out that was more appealing to everybody.
BallerStatus.com: What do you think will be the mainstream appeal to this album?
Keak Da Sneak: I am growing up. I'm saying things I wouldn't have said two years ago ... it's got to do with my era of growing up. I've learned what it's like to have something to live for; having something to lose now.
BallerStatus.com: How did you hook up with Prodigy and Alchemist?
Keak Da Sneak: I was out here in New York on "106 & Park" -- and I met Prodigy. That night I hooked up with [Bay Area mixtape king] DJ Vlad and we went to Alchemist's spot to listen to some tracks and Prodigy was there. He was on MySpace and he was talking to a chick from the Bay and he's like "Man this chick, she loves you, all she does is talk about you." And then I looked at the thing and she had a picture of me on there. But then long story short, he did his homework on me and he was like "Man your sh** is dope man."
Plus I'm a Mobb Deep fan period. So that night we did a song for him and Alchemist. Then later on, in return, he wanted to do some sh** for my album. So that goal was already rockin', I figured I better do a remix to it. He was feeling that track, so I sent it to him and got him on it.
BallerStatus.com: It must have been interesting bringing your two styles together...
Keak Da Sneak: That was some new sh** huh?
BallerStatus.com: A lot of people are trying to say that hyphy is dead. What do you have to say to those people?
Keak Da Sneak: Hyphy will never die. Maybe the movement will, but hyphy itself won't because it's a ritual. Is the movement dead? I don't know. Where I'm from, it's a way of life, it's a ritual. So I'm the only person that can explain that. I can sell you that better than I can tell you that.
BallerStatus.com: Has something else come up in your area? A new genre? An evolution?
Keak Da Sneak: Definitely there is always room for the next. It's all about who is going to open that door for them.
BallerStatus.com: What's the next big thing?
Keak Da Sneak: I'm just saying, who is to say? The streets is gonna determine that.
BallerStatus.com: So you said you've grown up a lot. Have your fashions evolved since "T-shirts, blue jeans and Nikes?"
Keak Da Sneak: (laughs) I mean, yeah they have. T-shirts, jeans and Nikes is terminology for me being on the corner, on the streets. That's like the uniform day to day in the streets. I know the camera love me, I'm an attention freak. I ain't 35, so no three-piece suits just yet, but I will grow up. Back then I probably wouldn't put on no slacks, but now I'll do that. I know how comfortable that is. I appreciate stuff now. Back then, I had no knowledge, I had a one track ladies mind.
BallerStatus.com: So do you think this release will change your life?
Keak Da Sneak: Definitely. I feel like I haven't been heard the way I should. I haven't had that chance yet and that I deserve it. This record will show that I'm here to stay. That I wasn't just a one hit wonder, and that it's not all based on that. Keak Da Sneak is here, get used to me.
BallerStatus.com: Why did you decide to go with Koch in the end?
Keak Da Sneak: Instead of signing to a major for three albums, I figured I would grind it out one more year, show 'em [the majors] what I can do, make my own money. That way when they come to me with some money, I can make on my own. I can tell them to "kiss my ass." I can tell them "give me some money, I can't make on my own," and then structure the deal the way I want it.
I also wanted major distribution and at the time I just felt like Koch was all I needed. I wanted some distribution on the east coast, and I've watched them work a lot of records.
BallerStatus.com: So are you going to be touring a lot in the US? Will you branch out internationally?
Keak Da Sneak: Right now I'm not sure. I've never been overseas and everyone says "Oh my God" when I tell them that.
BallerStatus.com: Have you found that the appreciation for hyphy came out of the blogger/hipster scene?
Keak Da Sneak: Yeah it really came out of that. I did notice that. I play at a lot of clubs with an art/hipster crowd these days. But I also feel like I have a lot more fans right now then before. I haven't dropped anything since 2004, but I feel like I have the biggest response right now.
BallerStatus.com: Do you think that's come out of the E-40 track "Tell Me When to Go?"
Keak Da Sneak: Well my "Super Hyphy" track was getting 1000 plays a week on the radio, that's how I got that "Super Sweet Sixteen" and that was before that E-40 album. It was 2004.
BallerStatus.com: What do you think about Obama being the first black man with a chance at the American presidency?
Keak Da Sneak: What am I supposed to think? I haven't given it too much thought. I won't believe it until it happens. And I don't believe that my vote will even count anyway.
BallerStatus.com: If you were stuck on an island with on plate of food, one album and one pair of shoes what would they be?
Keak Da Sneak: Spaghetti with links in it and cheese. Some Air Max 87s. And Copium (the last album I dropped).
BallerStatus.com: What do you have after this album?
Keak Da Sneak: I got an All N Da Doe Family album coming out in August. I'm doing a shoe it's called Keak's Sneakers, and I'm doing a hat -- a 5950 New Era Keak Da Sneak hat. I am designing them because I'm gonna have to wear them everyday. I'm cool, it's not just something you can rush together, so I've been spending a lot of time making sure it's right.
