Dubcnn: We're right here with Sky Balla, how you doing man?
Man, doing wonderful, just blessed to be here, you dig?
Dubcnn: We're here to talk about your new album "Tycoon Status", so let's jump right into it. What can you tell us about the record?
The record is definitely the highly anticipated record that's gonna be the hottest record out to come out from the Bay Area, West Coast, California in years! It's gonna be monumental, gigantic, titanic, collossal, king kong and godzilla man! It's gonna be real real big, you dig?
Dubcnn: The album drops April 1st, what do you have single wise out right now?
Single wise, we got the Mobbin' All Day featuring E-40 & San Quinn produced by Cozmo, it's getting heavy spins out here in the San Francisco, Bay Area and other countys in the surrounding area. That was my hometown, regional single. My nationwide single is getting a lot of love on the internet, in the clubs, in the streets and on the radio, it's called Posted At The Bar, featuring Cassidy and Willie Hen, produced by my boy Raw Smoov.
Dubcnn: You had some pretty impressive guest spots on your last record as well, how did you establish your connections in the music industry?
Real recognize real. Niggas with money fuck with niggas with money, you know what I mean? So that's what it is man, muthafuckas respect my grind, respect my hustle and respect my story. When cats see other cats getting it how they getting it, they tend to accept cats. If you nine broke friends, you're liable to be the tenth. If you got nine rich friends you're liable to be the tenth. That's what it is.
Dubcnn: Which producers did you work with on the record?
On this album right now, my go-to guy in-house, my favorite producer is definitely Cozmo. We got Sean T on there, we got my boy Raw Smoov with a banger, my man J Money, and my man Bola.
Dubcnn: What about guest appearances?
I got Cassidy on there, Slick Pulla, Young Jeezy's artist, I got the boy E-40 on there, San Quinn, Hell Rell, Mistah FAB, Turf Talk, my boy Bleu Davinci who's locked up right now, BMF. I got the girl Tanisha Kelly on there, she's signed to Warner Brothers, R&B/Pop artist. And I got my man Mike Marshall who sung "I Got 5 On It" on the Luniz album. Shit, that's about it!
Dubcnn: There was some confusion over a song with the Game called "California Soul", it was out there with you on it and with Jay Rock on it as well. What was the deal with that?
I don't know about all that man. We had the original version, first and foremost, it was produced by Matheo. Me and Game, it was a hot record it got a lot of love in the UK, in Germany, France, Australia, and definitely all through the states. I don't even know how that came about, but I guess muthafuckas liked the sample or the song, and Jay Rock felt it and wanted to do the song too. It's all good though, I fuck with Jay Rock, that's the homie! You know how it be though, two great minds think alike, just like some producers might sample the same sample, some artists might come up with the same lines and shit. Two great minds think alike that's all I can say about that.
Dubcnn: What's your label situation right now, who's putting the record out?
Right now me and my long time childhood friend Rich Young Rell established our own independent label which is Tycoon Status Entertainment, and we got distribution through Koch. That's the plan right now.
Dubcnn: As a Bay Area rep, how do you feel about the Bay Area scene right now?
Oh the Bay Area we're on fire right now! The spotlight is on us mayne, they can try to block us, but they can only block the sun from shining for so long mayne, yaddadamean it's the soul and the mecca of the game, the slang and the home of the swagger you know? We invented swag! Right now the Bay is at its peak, it's at its pinnacle right now, we have a host of talent out here, and we're getting recognized in and out the country, nationwide and worldwide, you dig?
Dubcnn: Who are you listening to right now?
Oh come on man, the list goes on man, too many cats too name! I can give it to you raw: Messy Marv, San Quinn, E-40, Mistah FAB, Turf Talk, Too Short, The Jacka, Big Rich, Ya Boy, Clyde Carson, Balance, it's a lot of cats man! The list goes on, it's damn near too many cats to name. I fuck with everybody from the bay, everybody from the bay fucks with me, we're representing this Bay Area California movement man.
Dubcnn: What's your goal with this album, where are you trying to go with it?
Shit, I'm trying to push as many units as possible, and I definitely wanna push it to the limit, just represent this whole West Coast California Bay Area movement, on a whole other level and get recognized inside of my region, outside of my region, nationwide and worldwide. Like I said I'm not signed to a major label, I don't have a major label budget, but we have our own budget and we're spending all our money on advertising and promotions ourselves. So this album, we're just getting it out there, grinding as hard as possible, and like I said, sell as many units as possible!
Dubcnn: Before we go I'd like to know who were your main influnces coming up?
My influences were the cats from my hood, Get Low Playaz, JT The Bigga Figga, San Quinn, D-Moe Tha Youngsta, Seff Tha Gaffla, RBL Posse, Hitman, Cellski, Young Swoop, E-40, Too Short, Ice T, Ice Cube, NWA, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Jay-Z, Scarface, Biggie.
Dubcnn: I believe you came from the pimping lane, how did that influence your whole rap style and the way you rap?
I'ma say it like this, I'm a product of my environment mayne, it is what it is. My lifestyle is self explanatory, I'm real before rap. We're pushing this "I'm not a rapper" movement, it's no disrepect to Hip-Hop because I am Hip-Hop, I come from Hip-Hop and I love the music. What I'm saying is I'm not a rapper, I don't live the lifestyle. I've been having money, been having whips, been having jewels, been having hoes, been having cribs and shit before the rap checks. We've been getting this money, I'm a hustler, I'm a tycoon, I'm my own boss. Before the rap i just happened to be hot with the pimping, you know what I mean? But as far as the pimping, that's just a way of life, it's another grind.
Dubcnn: Is there anything else you'd like to let everybody know?
Man, make sure you go get three copies of the album! One for the crib, one for the whip and one for when the whip gets stolen! Go cop that, Sky Balla, Tycoon Status, April 1st! Tycoon Status Ent/Koch Ent, and definitely Free Jas Corleone, Free Mac Minister and Rest In Peace to Mac Dre!
Man, doing wonderful, just blessed to be here, you dig?
Dubcnn: We're here to talk about your new album "Tycoon Status", so let's jump right into it. What can you tell us about the record?
The record is definitely the highly anticipated record that's gonna be the hottest record out to come out from the Bay Area, West Coast, California in years! It's gonna be monumental, gigantic, titanic, collossal, king kong and godzilla man! It's gonna be real real big, you dig?
Dubcnn: The album drops April 1st, what do you have single wise out right now?
Single wise, we got the Mobbin' All Day featuring E-40 & San Quinn produced by Cozmo, it's getting heavy spins out here in the San Francisco, Bay Area and other countys in the surrounding area. That was my hometown, regional single. My nationwide single is getting a lot of love on the internet, in the clubs, in the streets and on the radio, it's called Posted At The Bar, featuring Cassidy and Willie Hen, produced by my boy Raw Smoov.
Dubcnn: You had some pretty impressive guest spots on your last record as well, how did you establish your connections in the music industry?
Real recognize real. Niggas with money fuck with niggas with money, you know what I mean? So that's what it is man, muthafuckas respect my grind, respect my hustle and respect my story. When cats see other cats getting it how they getting it, they tend to accept cats. If you nine broke friends, you're liable to be the tenth. If you got nine rich friends you're liable to be the tenth. That's what it is.
Dubcnn: Which producers did you work with on the record?
On this album right now, my go-to guy in-house, my favorite producer is definitely Cozmo. We got Sean T on there, we got my boy Raw Smoov with a banger, my man J Money, and my man Bola.
Dubcnn: What about guest appearances?
I got Cassidy on there, Slick Pulla, Young Jeezy's artist, I got the boy E-40 on there, San Quinn, Hell Rell, Mistah FAB, Turf Talk, my boy Bleu Davinci who's locked up right now, BMF. I got the girl Tanisha Kelly on there, she's signed to Warner Brothers, R&B/Pop artist. And I got my man Mike Marshall who sung "I Got 5 On It" on the Luniz album. Shit, that's about it!
Dubcnn: There was some confusion over a song with the Game called "California Soul", it was out there with you on it and with Jay Rock on it as well. What was the deal with that?
I don't know about all that man. We had the original version, first and foremost, it was produced by Matheo. Me and Game, it was a hot record it got a lot of love in the UK, in Germany, France, Australia, and definitely all through the states. I don't even know how that came about, but I guess muthafuckas liked the sample or the song, and Jay Rock felt it and wanted to do the song too. It's all good though, I fuck with Jay Rock, that's the homie! You know how it be though, two great minds think alike, just like some producers might sample the same sample, some artists might come up with the same lines and shit. Two great minds think alike that's all I can say about that.
Dubcnn: What's your label situation right now, who's putting the record out?
Right now me and my long time childhood friend Rich Young Rell established our own independent label which is Tycoon Status Entertainment, and we got distribution through Koch. That's the plan right now.
Dubcnn: As a Bay Area rep, how do you feel about the Bay Area scene right now?
Oh the Bay Area we're on fire right now! The spotlight is on us mayne, they can try to block us, but they can only block the sun from shining for so long mayne, yaddadamean it's the soul and the mecca of the game, the slang and the home of the swagger you know? We invented swag! Right now the Bay is at its peak, it's at its pinnacle right now, we have a host of talent out here, and we're getting recognized in and out the country, nationwide and worldwide, you dig?
Dubcnn: Who are you listening to right now?
Oh come on man, the list goes on man, too many cats too name! I can give it to you raw: Messy Marv, San Quinn, E-40, Mistah FAB, Turf Talk, Too Short, The Jacka, Big Rich, Ya Boy, Clyde Carson, Balance, it's a lot of cats man! The list goes on, it's damn near too many cats to name. I fuck with everybody from the bay, everybody from the bay fucks with me, we're representing this Bay Area California movement man.
Dubcnn: What's your goal with this album, where are you trying to go with it?
Shit, I'm trying to push as many units as possible, and I definitely wanna push it to the limit, just represent this whole West Coast California Bay Area movement, on a whole other level and get recognized inside of my region, outside of my region, nationwide and worldwide. Like I said I'm not signed to a major label, I don't have a major label budget, but we have our own budget and we're spending all our money on advertising and promotions ourselves. So this album, we're just getting it out there, grinding as hard as possible, and like I said, sell as many units as possible!
Dubcnn: Before we go I'd like to know who were your main influnces coming up?
My influences were the cats from my hood, Get Low Playaz, JT The Bigga Figga, San Quinn, D-Moe Tha Youngsta, Seff Tha Gaffla, RBL Posse, Hitman, Cellski, Young Swoop, E-40, Too Short, Ice T, Ice Cube, NWA, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Jay-Z, Scarface, Biggie.
Dubcnn: I believe you came from the pimping lane, how did that influence your whole rap style and the way you rap?
I'ma say it like this, I'm a product of my environment mayne, it is what it is. My lifestyle is self explanatory, I'm real before rap. We're pushing this "I'm not a rapper" movement, it's no disrepect to Hip-Hop because I am Hip-Hop, I come from Hip-Hop and I love the music. What I'm saying is I'm not a rapper, I don't live the lifestyle. I've been having money, been having whips, been having jewels, been having hoes, been having cribs and shit before the rap checks. We've been getting this money, I'm a hustler, I'm a tycoon, I'm my own boss. Before the rap i just happened to be hot with the pimping, you know what I mean? But as far as the pimping, that's just a way of life, it's another grind.
Dubcnn: Is there anything else you'd like to let everybody know?
Man, make sure you go get three copies of the album! One for the crib, one for the whip and one for when the whip gets stolen! Go cop that, Sky Balla, Tycoon Status, April 1st! Tycoon Status Ent/Koch Ent, and definitely Free Jas Corleone, Free Mac Minister and Rest In Peace to Mac Dre!
