Here is the whole interview I did~
Talkin Terrain with Sean T
In the early 90's, a new figure from East Palo Alto came blazing into a virtually unknown Bay Area Rap Scene and hasn't slowed down since. With the release of his latest album, Terrain Bo$$, Sean T once again sets the standards that much higher for anyone trying to achieve recognition in the Bay Area. Sean T has come a long way from the DJ he was in 89, to making beats for virtually any artist you can think of in the Bay, spitting hot lyrics, and helping young acts establish themselves in this game. From his days on Young Gotti Records to today, CEO of Get Gone Records, Sean has shown staying power that few in the Bay Area have been able to maintain. I was recently invited to the Get Gone Records Studio to chop it up with Sean T and pick his brain.
SWB: What motivated you to do Terrain Bo$$?
Tz: Really, I wanted to show everyone out here, not just the Bay, but Nationwide, the versatility of what I can do, my style, as far as rappin and production. A lot of people know me for production, but they forget about what I did in the early 90's, when I was rappin back then. There wasn't a lot of Bay rappers, there was only a chosen few, like Short, or from Frisco, Cougnut & RBL, Mac Dre, Richie Rich, The Click, people like that. There's a whole new generation now that doesn't know Sean T as a rapper, so its like I am new to them. So that's why I came with the style of rap that I did on this album, and production. I could have just come gangtsa like I normally do, but I wanted everyone to see every little side of Sean T. That's what really inspired me to do this. And plus, I wanted to have some type of impact on the Bay. Not to make people follow me, but to give them an idea of what you really need to do to come with a well rounded album.
SWB: What's your favorite song on Terrain Bo$$?
Tz: I like the song I did for (my wife) Angie (I Choose You). That's #1, and then the song I did for my grandfather (Papa). Those two are the meaningful songs, I put them last. So after everyone hears the gangsta and party and all that, it gets into the deep stuff and family. Those two songs, and then Mo Murder. That's really the song that I play a lot.
SWB: As a producer, if you could pick anyone to produce your next album, who would it be?
Tz: I would have to say Dr. Dre. He brings out the best in every artist he fucks with. A top-notch producer, know what I mean. Ma’fuckas need to know this, producing ain’t just makin a beat. There’s a whole lotta other shit that goes with that title. Direction and guidance are two main ingredients, and that’s what I like about Dre when he produces.
SWB: You've worked with a lot of different rappers. Who was your favorite to work with?
Tz: That's really hard to say, cuz, I mean, a lot of the rappers I have worked with have been fun to work with, like The Game. Everyone's different. I have never really come across any assholes or nothin like that. I'd have to say Sandman and Papoose, those is my guys. That's why they on my label, ya know, cuz I like workin with them.
SWB: Who would you like to work with that you haven't worked with already?
Tz: I would like to work with Jay-Z. That's the biggest person I 'd want to work with. I'd really like to do production for Jay-Z. That's what I wanna do.
SWB: Who do you think is hot right now???
Tz: Right now, it's a lot of hot rappers. I think The Game is hot, I think Keak Da Sneak is hot, definitely. 40, Balance, Quinn, E-A-Ski, Yukmouth, Messy Marv. There's a lot of of people out there flowin, a lot of new talent, like Mistah FAB, The Frontline. Sandman and Papoose, them is hot cats. No one ain't heard em, yet, they ain't heard the new, transformed, Get Gone Records Sandman and Papoose, but they will soon.
SWB: What's the word on Sandman and Papoose?
Tz: Well, right now, we are about 7 or 8 songs in on both of their albums. I'm finishing them in the next month or two. I don't think anyone has ever heard Papoose. People aren't too familiar with "The Roots From The Underground"-Papoose came out with his first album in 94, him and his brother. It was a group album. So its been a long time since people heard from him, but he's been here and there, appearing on some of my stuff and other artists. Sandman has been consistent with his albums, maybe once every two years droppin stuff, plus he's done stuff with B-12, my boy KB, ya know, Bay Ridaz. They keepin him up, but now Sandman is under me, and I am trying to mold him into a different artist. Pretty soon, you'll hear it, the new Sandman. In fact, Sand, he's not even Sandman no more. He's changed his name. Be lookin out for that.
SWB: When will these albums, Sand's 'Subpeona' and Papoose's "Bad Company", be droppin?
Tz: Sand will come out and then a month or two after, we'll drop Poose's. I am looking for a March or April release. I also got the Murder One Compilation. I am still looking for artists to get on that. I am like halfway done with that. I am trying to get some new talent and some of the old talent, put it all together and put out a hot formula, ya know, a hot pot of Bay Gumbo.
SWB: Would you rather work with an established artist who has hit songs under their belt, or an up-and-comer with no name
Tz: Well, everybody would like to work with an established artist, but as far as putting an impact on the game, I would like to work with someone you never heard of, cuz then I can kind of mold them into what they should be. You've kind of got leeway with a person like that. When you are working with an established artist, they got one way they wanna do it, they wanna do it their way, they don't wanna listen to everything you say, it goes in one ear and out the other, you know what I mean. As opposed to someone younger or new, who will listen to what you got to say or whatever
SWB: What do you like doing more, rappin or producing? How about between being in the studio and doing live shows?
Tz: Producing, ya know? I do really like to be behind the scenes and just watch people's reactions off what I've done, or production I've done. Its really a trip. I've never really counted, but I have done so many beats. I've done so many beats, I really can't remember, for artists in the Bay. I've probably did a beat for almost every artist in the Bay, besides the new artists that are coming up now. Producing is really a love I have.
Between the studio and live? I like both. Really, I like doin live shows. I need to do more live shows. I really have a love for that too. And I guess I gotta say rappin, too. I really don't have that feelin that I used to have, back in the day, like "I just wanna shine” and all that, ya know, to be out in the open and go from here to there and all that. But the production, I am really feelin that, a lot.
SWB: What do you think about the "New Bay" and do you consider yourself "New Bay"?
Tz: Nah, you can’t categorize me, I’m Sean T, know what I mean? International, know what I mean? The "New Bay'....I don't really think there's a "New Bay", everybody's just steppin up their game, that's been here in the Bay. I'd say there's a lot of new cats in the Bay that's doin they thing, but it would be disrespectful to say "New Bay", cuz there's cats here that's still doin it, ya know what I'm sayin, so I really don't roll with that "New Bay" thing, but ya know, I think there's a lot of new talent in the Bay. I mean, I know a lot of cats been trippin on the boards (internet message board raptalk.net) about bein disrespectful because they feel that the new cats that say they are from the "New Bay" are, like, dissin the older cats or whatever, the OGs. But a lot of them aren't even on that level, they are trying to step their game up and bring the Bay back. We have needed a change, cuz for a while, I didn't even know what was goin on. It wasn't nothin comin out, everything was mediocre. Lately, like the releases in the last month, E40, my album, Keak Da Sneak, Black C, ya know what I mean, its like top of the line stuff. Like, what we needed.
SWB: Do you think the Bay will ever get back to where it was in the 90's as far as recognition in the rap game?
Tz: I think it will. I'm thinkin, in like another year, the Bay is gonna be unstoppable. Its gonna be so much talent. There's already a lot of producers, and everything, and I've been in the game a long time, and I've been producing, but recently, I've been noticing a lot of new cats coming up that sound real good.
SWB: What advice would you give these youngstas and new-comers that are just now starting out?
Tz: They need to be humble, first of all. Be humble and be able to take constructive criticism. And if you are gonna do it, do it all the way, and not half way. And these cats need to know, just cuz you got a drum machine and a sampler, it don’t make you a producer. I think out here in the Bay, everyone needs to focus on comin up together and not just being for self. For self is what pushes us down. Everyone is always tryin to come out and compete against each other, when they should be coming up to make everyone come up, ya know what I'm sayin. That's what everybody does, like on the East Coast, Mid-west, Down South, everybody helps everybody. Out here, its like a battle, like "We tighter than you, none of ya'll can't mess with us, ya'll can't fuck with us." So, I just think it needs to be some unity goin on, then once the unity comes, we unstoppable. I’m a Baydestrian, and whether its behind the scenes or up front, I’m gonna be here representin what I love, fuckin with this music.
SWB: Earlier you mentioned message boards. How do you think the internet has affected your career?
Tz: Ah, the internet, man! If we had the net back in 92, 93, I'd probably be a multi-millionaire or somethin. The internet helps the game out a lot. Without the internet, I don't even know what the Bay would be like-
Talkin Terrain with Sean T
In the early 90's, a new figure from East Palo Alto came blazing into a virtually unknown Bay Area Rap Scene and hasn't slowed down since. With the release of his latest album, Terrain Bo$$, Sean T once again sets the standards that much higher for anyone trying to achieve recognition in the Bay Area. Sean T has come a long way from the DJ he was in 89, to making beats for virtually any artist you can think of in the Bay, spitting hot lyrics, and helping young acts establish themselves in this game. From his days on Young Gotti Records to today, CEO of Get Gone Records, Sean has shown staying power that few in the Bay Area have been able to maintain. I was recently invited to the Get Gone Records Studio to chop it up with Sean T and pick his brain.
SWB: What motivated you to do Terrain Bo$$?
Tz: Really, I wanted to show everyone out here, not just the Bay, but Nationwide, the versatility of what I can do, my style, as far as rappin and production. A lot of people know me for production, but they forget about what I did in the early 90's, when I was rappin back then. There wasn't a lot of Bay rappers, there was only a chosen few, like Short, or from Frisco, Cougnut & RBL, Mac Dre, Richie Rich, The Click, people like that. There's a whole new generation now that doesn't know Sean T as a rapper, so its like I am new to them. So that's why I came with the style of rap that I did on this album, and production. I could have just come gangtsa like I normally do, but I wanted everyone to see every little side of Sean T. That's what really inspired me to do this. And plus, I wanted to have some type of impact on the Bay. Not to make people follow me, but to give them an idea of what you really need to do to come with a well rounded album.
SWB: What's your favorite song on Terrain Bo$$?
Tz: I like the song I did for (my wife) Angie (I Choose You). That's #1, and then the song I did for my grandfather (Papa). Those two are the meaningful songs, I put them last. So after everyone hears the gangsta and party and all that, it gets into the deep stuff and family. Those two songs, and then Mo Murder. That's really the song that I play a lot.
SWB: As a producer, if you could pick anyone to produce your next album, who would it be?
Tz: I would have to say Dr. Dre. He brings out the best in every artist he fucks with. A top-notch producer, know what I mean. Ma’fuckas need to know this, producing ain’t just makin a beat. There’s a whole lotta other shit that goes with that title. Direction and guidance are two main ingredients, and that’s what I like about Dre when he produces.
SWB: You've worked with a lot of different rappers. Who was your favorite to work with?
Tz: That's really hard to say, cuz, I mean, a lot of the rappers I have worked with have been fun to work with, like The Game. Everyone's different. I have never really come across any assholes or nothin like that. I'd have to say Sandman and Papoose, those is my guys. That's why they on my label, ya know, cuz I like workin with them.
SWB: Who would you like to work with that you haven't worked with already?
Tz: I would like to work with Jay-Z. That's the biggest person I 'd want to work with. I'd really like to do production for Jay-Z. That's what I wanna do.
SWB: Who do you think is hot right now???
Tz: Right now, it's a lot of hot rappers. I think The Game is hot, I think Keak Da Sneak is hot, definitely. 40, Balance, Quinn, E-A-Ski, Yukmouth, Messy Marv. There's a lot of of people out there flowin, a lot of new talent, like Mistah FAB, The Frontline. Sandman and Papoose, them is hot cats. No one ain't heard em, yet, they ain't heard the new, transformed, Get Gone Records Sandman and Papoose, but they will soon.
SWB: What's the word on Sandman and Papoose?
Tz: Well, right now, we are about 7 or 8 songs in on both of their albums. I'm finishing them in the next month or two. I don't think anyone has ever heard Papoose. People aren't too familiar with "The Roots From The Underground"-Papoose came out with his first album in 94, him and his brother. It was a group album. So its been a long time since people heard from him, but he's been here and there, appearing on some of my stuff and other artists. Sandman has been consistent with his albums, maybe once every two years droppin stuff, plus he's done stuff with B-12, my boy KB, ya know, Bay Ridaz. They keepin him up, but now Sandman is under me, and I am trying to mold him into a different artist. Pretty soon, you'll hear it, the new Sandman. In fact, Sand, he's not even Sandman no more. He's changed his name. Be lookin out for that.
SWB: When will these albums, Sand's 'Subpeona' and Papoose's "Bad Company", be droppin?
Tz: Sand will come out and then a month or two after, we'll drop Poose's. I am looking for a March or April release. I also got the Murder One Compilation. I am still looking for artists to get on that. I am like halfway done with that. I am trying to get some new talent and some of the old talent, put it all together and put out a hot formula, ya know, a hot pot of Bay Gumbo.
SWB: Would you rather work with an established artist who has hit songs under their belt, or an up-and-comer with no name
Tz: Well, everybody would like to work with an established artist, but as far as putting an impact on the game, I would like to work with someone you never heard of, cuz then I can kind of mold them into what they should be. You've kind of got leeway with a person like that. When you are working with an established artist, they got one way they wanna do it, they wanna do it their way, they don't wanna listen to everything you say, it goes in one ear and out the other, you know what I mean. As opposed to someone younger or new, who will listen to what you got to say or whatever
SWB: What do you like doing more, rappin or producing? How about between being in the studio and doing live shows?
Tz: Producing, ya know? I do really like to be behind the scenes and just watch people's reactions off what I've done, or production I've done. Its really a trip. I've never really counted, but I have done so many beats. I've done so many beats, I really can't remember, for artists in the Bay. I've probably did a beat for almost every artist in the Bay, besides the new artists that are coming up now. Producing is really a love I have.
Between the studio and live? I like both. Really, I like doin live shows. I need to do more live shows. I really have a love for that too. And I guess I gotta say rappin, too. I really don't have that feelin that I used to have, back in the day, like "I just wanna shine” and all that, ya know, to be out in the open and go from here to there and all that. But the production, I am really feelin that, a lot.
SWB: What do you think about the "New Bay" and do you consider yourself "New Bay"?
Tz: Nah, you can’t categorize me, I’m Sean T, know what I mean? International, know what I mean? The "New Bay'....I don't really think there's a "New Bay", everybody's just steppin up their game, that's been here in the Bay. I'd say there's a lot of new cats in the Bay that's doin they thing, but it would be disrespectful to say "New Bay", cuz there's cats here that's still doin it, ya know what I'm sayin, so I really don't roll with that "New Bay" thing, but ya know, I think there's a lot of new talent in the Bay. I mean, I know a lot of cats been trippin on the boards (internet message board raptalk.net) about bein disrespectful because they feel that the new cats that say they are from the "New Bay" are, like, dissin the older cats or whatever, the OGs. But a lot of them aren't even on that level, they are trying to step their game up and bring the Bay back. We have needed a change, cuz for a while, I didn't even know what was goin on. It wasn't nothin comin out, everything was mediocre. Lately, like the releases in the last month, E40, my album, Keak Da Sneak, Black C, ya know what I mean, its like top of the line stuff. Like, what we needed.
SWB: Do you think the Bay will ever get back to where it was in the 90's as far as recognition in the rap game?
Tz: I think it will. I'm thinkin, in like another year, the Bay is gonna be unstoppable. Its gonna be so much talent. There's already a lot of producers, and everything, and I've been in the game a long time, and I've been producing, but recently, I've been noticing a lot of new cats coming up that sound real good.
SWB: What advice would you give these youngstas and new-comers that are just now starting out?
Tz: They need to be humble, first of all. Be humble and be able to take constructive criticism. And if you are gonna do it, do it all the way, and not half way. And these cats need to know, just cuz you got a drum machine and a sampler, it don’t make you a producer. I think out here in the Bay, everyone needs to focus on comin up together and not just being for self. For self is what pushes us down. Everyone is always tryin to come out and compete against each other, when they should be coming up to make everyone come up, ya know what I'm sayin. That's what everybody does, like on the East Coast, Mid-west, Down South, everybody helps everybody. Out here, its like a battle, like "We tighter than you, none of ya'll can't mess with us, ya'll can't fuck with us." So, I just think it needs to be some unity goin on, then once the unity comes, we unstoppable. I’m a Baydestrian, and whether its behind the scenes or up front, I’m gonna be here representin what I love, fuckin with this music.
SWB: Earlier you mentioned message boards. How do you think the internet has affected your career?
Tz: Ah, the internet, man! If we had the net back in 92, 93, I'd probably be a multi-millionaire or somethin. The internet helps the game out a lot. Without the internet, I don't even know what the Bay would be like-
