HHNLive.com writer Aaron Frank sits down with Alchemist, Stat Quo, Ca$his and Obie Trice to discuss the future of Shady Records. In this incredible feature, Eminem's young gunners touch on Dr. Dre (and why we may never see Detox), what the hell happened with Obie's latest album, Interscope's lack of southern Hip-Hop knowledge, in the case of Stat Quo why his album has been delayed so long and what 2007 and beyond holds for this emerging super crew.
AF: Alright, Ca$his, you're the most recent artist to be signed to Shady Records. You're also one of the only artist's on the label with that west coast flavor. It says on your MySpace something about being from the O.C., but let the people know exactly where you from and how you ended up getting signed?
Ca$his: I'm actually from the Southside of Chicago, so that's really what you hear when you hear me. I'm not from the O.C., but that's where I'm striving to be.
AF: I thought you were from the west coast though?
Ca$his: Oh yeah, I've been out here for a minute working with a lot of different people. So I rep the West Coast on a lot of my records.
AF: So you're already working on your debut album. How is that coming along so far?
Ca$his: It's coming along really good. Everything is going the way we planned it so far. I just recorded a joint with Alchemist that is going to just set the world on fire. Me and Obie are probably going to do something next week. I can't wait to do that. I got a lot of respect for him as an artist, but I'm just working right now.
AF: How many songs you got recorded so far?
Ca$his: I've got over 200 songs recorded so far. I'm probably going to go back and try to do 100 more. And then we're just going to pick it up from there. I'll probably do a mixtape or something before the album comes out.
AF: We'll definitely be looking forward to that. Alchemist, what up? I just reviewed No Days Off not too long ago. That album is crazy. It was more like an underground thing, so are you pleased with how it's doing?
Alchemist: That actually wasn't even an album, but I'm glad that you said that because a lot of people are listening to it like it is. That was just a mixtape, but my official first album was 1st Infantry.
AF: So what do you have going on right now?
Alchemist: Well, a lot of things have happened since that album, so I gotta hit the people with something, because I work everyday. We're in the studio making records all day. Some of the things we record I can just stash away, but some stuff I feel just has to come out now. That's why I do a lot of those mixtapes. And luckily, the last one ended up in stores. I was happy with that, because you start to get worried when you don't see people bootlegging your stuff or anything like that. Some people tell me that I need to promote my shit more, but sometimes it's cool when you can take it back to the day and bust a CD out like a pair of kicks or something. My new album is killing No Days Off though. It's going to be called Chemical Warfare.
AF: When do you think we'll see that Chemical Warfare in stores?
Alchemist: I'm just working on the finishing touches right now actually. I'm making sure the whole Shady camp is on there. And I'm rhyming a lot more on this album. You'll probably see it in stores after the first quarter in '07 though.
AF: I saw that you also got a DVD out right now too?
Alchemist: Yeah, we got the Chemistry Files DVD out right now.
AF: What's up with this Alchemist & Evidence project I've been hearing about? Can you tell us anymore about that?
Alchemist: Me and him grew up together and we've done a few songs together. But as far as doing the album, it just really didn't make sense at the time. Plus he wanted to go ahead and do his solo album, so I supported him and he went ahead and did that.
AF: I'm sure we can expect you doing a lot more production with all of the other Shady artists too right?
Alchemist: Oh yeah I'm going to be working with everybody. This is like a family for me now. I can call up Obie, Ca$his, or whoever and let them know I got a hot track for them.
AF: You work a lot with Mobb Deep. I thought Blood Money was a good album. Do you think it was definitely underrated as far as just how the critics responded to it?
Alchemist: Yeah, I agree with that. It wasn't really tried and tested. When it comes down to it, you can't really blame it on anybody though. I think it was just the whole new formula working with Interscope and G-Unit and everything. Mobb Deep are survivors though. If you study their career, they've always had that black cloud over them, but they always come through with a hot album.
AF: Album sales are really down across the board, but the downloads are going up a lot. "Second Round's On Me" was another album that I thought was seriously slept on. Obie, do you think that the censorship on your lead single messed up the promotion for the album?
Obie: Yeah, I think that was a big blow to all of our expectations. With "Snitch," MTV had their campaign against anything that had to do with snitching. They actually still have it going on, but they don't promote anything like that. But they looked at it like if they play that kind of thing, then kids are going to see it and not go to the authorities. That whole situation really slowed the process down though. Weeks and weeks passed by, and the album finally came out and we went and shot another video that I paid for out of my pocket. BET wasn't trying to play any of our stuff either because Eminem missed the Video Awards like three years in a row. So we all had to clean that mess up and have a conference to figure out how we could fix the problem between Shady and BET. They weren't going to play any of our stuff so we went ahead and shot the video for "Cry Now." We actually shot like three videos just to try and make up for everything. At the time though, there wasn't anything out there video wise that was like "Snitch." It was a breath of fresh air.
AF: That's what's up. You've done a lot of work with Alchemist in the past. I assume you all are going back in the studio together pretty soon, right?
Obie: Yeah, we did a lot of those songs a while back, but we try to bang out on the regular. We're trying to drop an Alchemist & Obie Trice mixtape together after The Re-Up comes out actually.
AF: Alright, I wanted to ask if you were about to have another single for this album and if so, what is going to be?
Obie: Like I said, it all depends on our budget and everything. I'll probably end up coming out of pocket and making another video myself, but the thing of it is that I want the label to really be behind me. If I spend $300,000 and shoot another video, I want it to be on the radio and I want the label to push it like that. I need the record to really be pushed on the radio, as opposed to going the underground route like we have done in the past.
AF: Alright, well I know I'm still waiting on that "Statlanta". What's the status of that album?
Stat: If it was up to me, it would've definitely already been out by now. It's really just bad timing though man. Certain circumstances just affected the scheduling. Like Obie said, we're really just trying to regroup now and make sure these types of mistakes don't happen. The Re-Up is coming though and it's really just going to be a platform for the people to hear all of us. It's giving people the chance to hear the different songs from people that the mass majority of the public don't really know about yet. Everyone is going to get to know more about me and I think we've finally got the right formula.
AF: Was there any particular reason it's been pushed back for so long or were you all just trying to get the formula right and make sure everything was tight?
Stat: Well, I'm signed to Em' and Dre. The last artist that they really put out together was 50. The situation just came about where we decided we needed to go approach this situation differently. First of all, I'm from Atlanta and they've never really had a southern artist before on Interscope. No disrespect, but their presence just ain't like that in the south. So they're learning a lot through me and trying to get shit poppin' the right way. Interscope is based in Cali and New York. Dre is in Cali, Em's in Detroit and the Shady offices are in New York. None of their offices are in the south. A lot of times they don't have the right people promoting the shit for people like me. Most of the shit that I've been doing is just stuff me and my homeboys do. We're just trying get a good base together down there and get that together before the record comes out though. Another thing is that Dre doesn't just put out records. A lot of times it's a financial thing with this shit though. It's about a dollar. When you hear this shit on the radio and see these people on TV, it's not a coincidence. People are paying for those radio spots. You literally have to have millions of dollars to dump in to your shit, because if you go to BET or MTV with $100,000, they're just going to laugh at you.
AF: So did you end up going back and recording some new material? Everybody down south is still bangin that Road to Statlanta.
Stat: Well, I've been in LA for the last three months. Well Snoop just came out, so I came out here to work with Dre. We just finished up some joints for my album and his album. Dre is about to take some time off though. So now I'm about to work with Alchemist and some other producers. I've got people like LT More sending me beats, so we still might add a couple of songs.
AF: Hey, I gotta ask. Did you just say you recorded some songs for Dre's album? What's up with that Detox?
Stat: I really have no idea. I've recorded some songs that he says he wants to use for his album. He doesn't let anything come out until it's perfect though. He has so many tracks recorded though. Sometimes we'll be talking about The Chronic and he'll start talking about all of the things that he wishes he would've changed about it. This is one of the best albums of all time and he's talking about which songs he would've taken off the album and which songs he would've added. I honestly don't know if that album will ever come out though.
Obie: I hope it does. I'm trying to hear that. You don't think the album will come out?
Stat: I don't even know. Maybe in like 2010. It would be so hard to pick the songs for that.
AF: I'm definitely trying to hear it.
Obie: I think it will come out eventually.
AF: Are you all going to do any shows or touring to promote The Re-Up?
Stat: Yeah, they we're talking about doing a Shady Tour with all of us maybe.
AF: Well I hope that works out and we'll be looking forward to the album.
AF: Alright, Ca$his, you're the most recent artist to be signed to Shady Records. You're also one of the only artist's on the label with that west coast flavor. It says on your MySpace something about being from the O.C., but let the people know exactly where you from and how you ended up getting signed?
Ca$his: I'm actually from the Southside of Chicago, so that's really what you hear when you hear me. I'm not from the O.C., but that's where I'm striving to be.
AF: I thought you were from the west coast though?
Ca$his: Oh yeah, I've been out here for a minute working with a lot of different people. So I rep the West Coast on a lot of my records.
AF: So you're already working on your debut album. How is that coming along so far?
Ca$his: It's coming along really good. Everything is going the way we planned it so far. I just recorded a joint with Alchemist that is going to just set the world on fire. Me and Obie are probably going to do something next week. I can't wait to do that. I got a lot of respect for him as an artist, but I'm just working right now.
AF: How many songs you got recorded so far?
Ca$his: I've got over 200 songs recorded so far. I'm probably going to go back and try to do 100 more. And then we're just going to pick it up from there. I'll probably do a mixtape or something before the album comes out.
AF: We'll definitely be looking forward to that. Alchemist, what up? I just reviewed No Days Off not too long ago. That album is crazy. It was more like an underground thing, so are you pleased with how it's doing?
Alchemist: That actually wasn't even an album, but I'm glad that you said that because a lot of people are listening to it like it is. That was just a mixtape, but my official first album was 1st Infantry.
AF: So what do you have going on right now?
Alchemist: Well, a lot of things have happened since that album, so I gotta hit the people with something, because I work everyday. We're in the studio making records all day. Some of the things we record I can just stash away, but some stuff I feel just has to come out now. That's why I do a lot of those mixtapes. And luckily, the last one ended up in stores. I was happy with that, because you start to get worried when you don't see people bootlegging your stuff or anything like that. Some people tell me that I need to promote my shit more, but sometimes it's cool when you can take it back to the day and bust a CD out like a pair of kicks or something. My new album is killing No Days Off though. It's going to be called Chemical Warfare.
AF: When do you think we'll see that Chemical Warfare in stores?
Alchemist: I'm just working on the finishing touches right now actually. I'm making sure the whole Shady camp is on there. And I'm rhyming a lot more on this album. You'll probably see it in stores after the first quarter in '07 though.
AF: I saw that you also got a DVD out right now too?
Alchemist: Yeah, we got the Chemistry Files DVD out right now.
AF: What's up with this Alchemist & Evidence project I've been hearing about? Can you tell us anymore about that?
Alchemist: Me and him grew up together and we've done a few songs together. But as far as doing the album, it just really didn't make sense at the time. Plus he wanted to go ahead and do his solo album, so I supported him and he went ahead and did that.
AF: I'm sure we can expect you doing a lot more production with all of the other Shady artists too right?
Alchemist: Oh yeah I'm going to be working with everybody. This is like a family for me now. I can call up Obie, Ca$his, or whoever and let them know I got a hot track for them.
AF: You work a lot with Mobb Deep. I thought Blood Money was a good album. Do you think it was definitely underrated as far as just how the critics responded to it?
Alchemist: Yeah, I agree with that. It wasn't really tried and tested. When it comes down to it, you can't really blame it on anybody though. I think it was just the whole new formula working with Interscope and G-Unit and everything. Mobb Deep are survivors though. If you study their career, they've always had that black cloud over them, but they always come through with a hot album.
AF: Album sales are really down across the board, but the downloads are going up a lot. "Second Round's On Me" was another album that I thought was seriously slept on. Obie, do you think that the censorship on your lead single messed up the promotion for the album?
Obie: Yeah, I think that was a big blow to all of our expectations. With "Snitch," MTV had their campaign against anything that had to do with snitching. They actually still have it going on, but they don't promote anything like that. But they looked at it like if they play that kind of thing, then kids are going to see it and not go to the authorities. That whole situation really slowed the process down though. Weeks and weeks passed by, and the album finally came out and we went and shot another video that I paid for out of my pocket. BET wasn't trying to play any of our stuff either because Eminem missed the Video Awards like three years in a row. So we all had to clean that mess up and have a conference to figure out how we could fix the problem between Shady and BET. They weren't going to play any of our stuff so we went ahead and shot the video for "Cry Now." We actually shot like three videos just to try and make up for everything. At the time though, there wasn't anything out there video wise that was like "Snitch." It was a breath of fresh air.
AF: That's what's up. You've done a lot of work with Alchemist in the past. I assume you all are going back in the studio together pretty soon, right?
Obie: Yeah, we did a lot of those songs a while back, but we try to bang out on the regular. We're trying to drop an Alchemist & Obie Trice mixtape together after The Re-Up comes out actually.
AF: Alright, I wanted to ask if you were about to have another single for this album and if so, what is going to be?
Obie: Like I said, it all depends on our budget and everything. I'll probably end up coming out of pocket and making another video myself, but the thing of it is that I want the label to really be behind me. If I spend $300,000 and shoot another video, I want it to be on the radio and I want the label to push it like that. I need the record to really be pushed on the radio, as opposed to going the underground route like we have done in the past.
AF: Alright, well I know I'm still waiting on that "Statlanta". What's the status of that album?
Stat: If it was up to me, it would've definitely already been out by now. It's really just bad timing though man. Certain circumstances just affected the scheduling. Like Obie said, we're really just trying to regroup now and make sure these types of mistakes don't happen. The Re-Up is coming though and it's really just going to be a platform for the people to hear all of us. It's giving people the chance to hear the different songs from people that the mass majority of the public don't really know about yet. Everyone is going to get to know more about me and I think we've finally got the right formula.
AF: Was there any particular reason it's been pushed back for so long or were you all just trying to get the formula right and make sure everything was tight?
Stat: Well, I'm signed to Em' and Dre. The last artist that they really put out together was 50. The situation just came about where we decided we needed to go approach this situation differently. First of all, I'm from Atlanta and they've never really had a southern artist before on Interscope. No disrespect, but their presence just ain't like that in the south. So they're learning a lot through me and trying to get shit poppin' the right way. Interscope is based in Cali and New York. Dre is in Cali, Em's in Detroit and the Shady offices are in New York. None of their offices are in the south. A lot of times they don't have the right people promoting the shit for people like me. Most of the shit that I've been doing is just stuff me and my homeboys do. We're just trying get a good base together down there and get that together before the record comes out though. Another thing is that Dre doesn't just put out records. A lot of times it's a financial thing with this shit though. It's about a dollar. When you hear this shit on the radio and see these people on TV, it's not a coincidence. People are paying for those radio spots. You literally have to have millions of dollars to dump in to your shit, because if you go to BET or MTV with $100,000, they're just going to laugh at you.
AF: So did you end up going back and recording some new material? Everybody down south is still bangin that Road to Statlanta.
Stat: Well, I've been in LA for the last three months. Well Snoop just came out, so I came out here to work with Dre. We just finished up some joints for my album and his album. Dre is about to take some time off though. So now I'm about to work with Alchemist and some other producers. I've got people like LT More sending me beats, so we still might add a couple of songs.
AF: Hey, I gotta ask. Did you just say you recorded some songs for Dre's album? What's up with that Detox?
Stat: I really have no idea. I've recorded some songs that he says he wants to use for his album. He doesn't let anything come out until it's perfect though. He has so many tracks recorded though. Sometimes we'll be talking about The Chronic and he'll start talking about all of the things that he wishes he would've changed about it. This is one of the best albums of all time and he's talking about which songs he would've taken off the album and which songs he would've added. I honestly don't know if that album will ever come out though.
Obie: I hope it does. I'm trying to hear that. You don't think the album will come out?
Stat: I don't even know. Maybe in like 2010. It would be so hard to pick the songs for that.
AF: I'm definitely trying to hear it.
Obie: I think it will come out eventually.
AF: Are you all going to do any shows or touring to promote The Re-Up?
Stat: Yeah, they we're talking about doing a Shady Tour with all of us maybe.
AF: Well I hope that works out and we'll be looking forward to the album.