Archive for the ‘interview’ Category

The Break

Less Talk, More Action, Team Get Paid

By Suga Da Brainiac Babe

Yung Rob is just one member of a local act that seems to be growing a nice following here on the East Side of Cleveland without ever doing a show.  His principles for developing their team as well as his willingness to obtain knowledge from his predecessors is the glue behind Team GP’s movement.  Taking such initiative despite diversity is a quality that every group should have.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Ok, who is GP Ent?

Yung Rob: GP ENT., Team GP is a local music group from Cleveland.  It was started in 2006.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Does GP have a meaning, and how did you get involved with the movement?

Yung Rob: GP means Get Paid.  I got involved in 2007.  The original members quit rapping after one of the members got killed.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: From what I can tell, you seem to be the most visible group member, consistently posting lings to your music and promoting your team.  What compels you to push the promotion of your team so hard?

Yung Rob: Honestly I feel that it takes hard work, motivation, and dedication to get in this music industry and I never got to rap with the original team so I feel I got something to prove.  Not just to those who see it but to Nutso, the member who was killed.  I won’t let the team die.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: That’s very admirable, is it difficult for you to take on a leadership role at such a young age?

Yung Rob: Yeah, very! (Laughing) But I know it’s going to pay off in the long run.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: No question. You’re on the right path.  Now, I was raised on Gooding Ave. and my experiences influenced a lot of my rap style and demeanor.  How has your environment influenced you?

Yung Rob: A lot I learned from seeing so much, I learned from other’s mistakes and took notes from the older people I hung around and things I experienced myself.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Same here.  Now, the first time I heard any music by your group was about a year ago when of your buddies pulled up in my mother’s driveway bumping it, he gave me a CD and I got to hear the versatility and raw talent your group has to offer.  Who’s in your group and what qualities do you think each member, including yourself, bring to your music?

Yung Rob: Ok, we got a young dude Need Rio, he brings the delivery.  He’s young with a bold, loud voice on tracks and he’s a very talented writer, not just music, but poetry.  Twin O has a laid back swag on the tracks but he good at making hype hooks for party songs. Manly C4 brings the rough hood swag to the team and me Yung (Laughing) brings versatility, delivery, and that cool swag, swag to da track.  There are more of us but I ain’t wanna take it that deep.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: What artists have influenced you in this game, and do you consider yourself comparable to any of them?

Yung Rob: Wayne, Jeezy, Wiz, Big Sean, T.I. and Ross.  They’re my favorite right now.  I feel like I’m comparable to Wiz and Big Sean because I’ve been told I sound like them a lot.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: I can see some comparison, but you also have a style that takes a life of its own.  What distinguishes you from these other artists?

Yung Rob: The fact that I stick to the topic, ride the beat different every time, and like you said, I have my own style, I let the beat guide me honestly.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: I respect that.  Have you guys done any performances yet?

Yung Rob: Nope, that’s in the works.  We’re trying to release our mix tape next month, and that’s when we’re going to start.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: What steps do you feel are necessary to get you to the next level?

Yung Rob: Our music quality has improved, so now all it takes is for us to get a break or just start doing shows and getting our faces out there more.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: I dig that.  Where can we find some of your songs?

Yung Rob: On tweet my song at this link: http://tweetmysong.com/members/YungTEAMGP/Songs.htm

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: What’s your favorite song that you have done solo, and with the group?

Yung Rob: My favorite solo is my newest one Key 2 the City.  It hasn’t been released yet.  My favorite released one would be I Mingle, and my favorite song with the team is Damn That Girl Sexy.  I think it’s underrated because of the sound quality.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Does your group have a manager or do you basically handle everything yourself?

Yung Rob: Well, we’re working on our manager situation but as for now, I run everything.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: From experience, I know how difficult that can be, but I see and respect your determination and drive.  I’m looking forward to hearing your new single.  We’re about to close out, but tell the people what you think is required of any artist trying to make it in this business.

Yung Rob: Dedication, motivation, hard work, and a strong mental because it gets hard, but it’s not easy to do it big.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Well said, it’s been a pleasure talking with you, I hope to get an exclusive interview about the drop of your group’s mix tape.

Yung Rob: Ok, we’ll see what we can do, thanks.

This is a young man of few words.  His humbleness and drive is what makes him stand out in comparison to many other group leaders in the Cleveland underground rap scene.  Using the knowledge he already has along with his dedication to his team is what will impel this group into broader horizons.  Anyone can put a group together, but respect and a consistent work ethic is what keeps a group together and progressing.  Expect to hear more from this group in the coming years.

The Break

Tino Baby and 5’6” are So Under Rated

By SUGA DA BRAINIAC BABE

The Break/www.ClevelandHipHop.net

Did you know that Hip Hop could be fun?  It seems that with the negative annotations of many of the mainstream artists these days, most up and coming artists focus on imitating the luxurious cars, guns, and, gold and platinum lifestyles that most of the mainstream artists portray but can’t actually afford.  What happened to being true to self?  Why can’t women dance anymore without being called every name but what our parent’s gave us?  These two young artists bring the essence of true hip hop back to the forefront without sounding out dated.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Your Name, Tino Baby, is more than a rap name; can you describe the meaning of this acronym?

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: That’s what’s up! So what inspired you to get involved in Hip Hop? Who are your influences?

Tino Baby : I actually had a LOT of different things that inspired me to get in the game. I first tapped into my talents at about age 11-12 while singing along to the radio, making parodies of songs like “Ms. Jackson” By OutKast. (I can’t remember what I did to it but it was good enough to keep me interested.) And my influences are like every “mainstream” artist that was between 1990 and 2004… Ludacris, Eminem, 50 Cent, OutKast, DMX… Hell even R&B artists affect my HIP-HOP approach.

(5’6” Joins the Discussion)

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Ok guys, I have fallen in love with your hit single, The Break Up Song, can you tell me the inspiration behind that creative piece?

Tino: Hmm… Inspiration… WELL I’ve had plenty instances where I would want to “court” a pretty lady, and she would bring up her boyfriend… And to myself I’d say, it would all be better for us BOTH if she just left him for me!

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: How did the collaboration between Tino Baby and 5’6 come about?

Tino: I was in a group called CTF back in 2005, and 5’6″ was in session with us (back in the day when he was going by 5’5″ due to his height, if you weren’t aware) and after our session was over he had some ideas and we just ran from there to get to where we are now.

5’6: We’ve been friends for almost 10 years and we’ve been doing music together for about 5 of those years.  It was just kinda natural.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Well let me say that you guys have a great chemistry and are two of the hardest working, talented young artists I have heard in quite a while. So 5’6 if that is your real height, (Laughing) what made you decide to use your height as part of your stage name?

5’6: (Laughing) Its actually not, I’ve grown since then, but I decided on 5’6″ when I was in high school.  I used to wear Dickies and Timbs all the time and one of my friends had called me 5’5″ thug, so I grew another inch (at that time) and just went with it. I was 5’6″ thug.  Eventually I dropped the thug and picked up “is it really” after hearing somebody say it in a song.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Going back to the influences you mentioned earlier Tino, I depicted a slight comparison between you guys’ single The Break-Up Song and that of the talents of Andre 3000, E-Stilez has eluded to this as well during a chat we had.  What do you guys think of this?

Tino: To The Andre 3000 comparisons, I’d agree totally, but we didn’t notice it until after the song was done! Call it a coincidence, ya know?

5’6”: Honestly, when we found the beat we weren’t even thinking like that.  It was more of an “It         would be hilarious if we did this song on this” kind of thing.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: That’s amazing, and I cracked up when I first heard this song.  I was very impressed by the creativity and forwardness of the lyrics.  So 5’6, who are some of your influences in the industry and how have they impacted your approach to the rap game?

5’6: T.I. because of his hustle, Chamillionaire and Ludacris because of their wordplay, and 50 because of his attitude.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: I see that you two have a few of the same influences, very intelligent selections.

Where do you see your movement going in the next year or two?

Tino: Forward. I’m not sure how far but I have no setbacks in my agenda and I got plans in place in case a setback presents itself to us.

5’6: Well….we’re at the bottom right now in my opinion.  So there’s only one way it can go…TO THE TOP!!! But honestly, I see our names becoming a brand in household, whether it’s just in the local scene or it gets really big and goes worldwide.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Solid answers. You guys definitely have my support. I’m aware that Tino does solo projects as well, I enjoyed the work you did on the No Holds Barred Mix-tape. 5’6, do you have any solo projects and tell me where your music can be located.

Tino: Thank you!

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: You’re welcome

5’6”: I do, but not really enough to put out a CD.  I’d rather work with my people so that we all get on.  But you can find us on twitter (twitter.com/sooounderated), facebook (facebook.com/tinobaby56), and reverbnation (reverbnation.com/tinobaby56), and oh yeah, be on the lookout for the group that Tino and I are also in…Band Camp(facebook.com/campbandz), reverbnation.com/campbandz, and twitter.com/campbandz.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: This has been an enjoyable interview, any advice for the many crybabies that say Cleveland is full of haters and that’s why they’re not being heard?

Tino: In my opinion, Cleveland isn’t full of haters, just a bunch of cliquey people who won’t associate themselves with you if you’re not from an area that they want to recognize… And on another note, maybe you’re not being heard because you’re not networking with the right channels… I mean

5’6”: I have some advice, stop crying and do you.   Somebody is gonna like you and listen to you.  I mean hey…can’t impress everybody.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Solid!!! I couldn’t have said it better myself. You hear that people, get your mind right and your game face on. Check out Tino Baby & 5’6”s single “The Break Up Song” on Rebel Army Radio at http://www.rar.t83.net Cleveland’s number one station for local Hip Hop.

Thank you innovative young men for the interview, I’ll be in touch.  By the way, do you guys have any shows coming up?

5’6”: Actually, yes.  We’re performing at this year’s rebel army radio awards!!!  And it’s been a pleasure.

Suga Da Brainiac Babe: Excellent, I’ll see you guys there. Congratulations on your accomplishments and keep doing you, you’re quite an example for Cleveland Artists.

These two artists are influenced by the artists of the 90’s, the artists that influenced me when I was around their age.  Can Hip Hop return to its original essence?  No, it’s supposed to grow, but applying the same enthusiasm, originality, and creativity as our predecessors used can move this culture into an era reminiscent to Hip Hop’s explosive beginning. Tino Baby and 5’6” are off to a great start and with skills like theirs, they won’t be so under rated for long.

(This interview is the official property of Unbreakable Records and www.ClevelandHipHop.net)