ELADIO: Been past like 6 months from the last interview. How did your life changed since then?
BIG SKEEM: Man, alot. When I did "By any means necessary" I kinda rushed it because i had already done my main 3 singles "Smash Off", "It's Easy", and "Whats that sound" almost a year prior before I even thought of doin a solo mixtape. I had originally wanted to shop my 3 track demo and that was it. But I had so much material I wanted to release I just threw a few freestyles in the mix and put my original joints together and relased the mixtape. But since then I feel i have done one of the best unsigned artist mixtapes the game has heard in years. I notice i get alot more recognition than what i did 2 years ago. I can reach out to a certain producer or artist and be able to work with them without having to pay an arm and a leg. Unlike my first time around. I've got on a ton of mixtapes, comcast music choice, a few magazine mentions, and a very strong internet presence.
(E) Speakin' with Big Skeem the "human been" do you have a normal life?
(B.S.) :Yup, I aint gon front i work a 9-5, got a girl, takin a few business classes in college. Not feelin it at all so we'll see if I stick to it or not lol...but I figure I gotta get money one way or another. Stopped hustlin back in 05" and havent regret it since. I've seen alot of my team hit with time for that shit. And I aint talkin a year or 2. They facin anywhere from 3 years to life. Some servin now as we speak. Shit aint a joke fam, u gotta decide at one point or another whats worth the risk and what isnt. But yea u could say i have pretty normal life.
(E) :Still speakin' with Big Skeem the human been you think you're ready for the "billboard" life?
(B.S.) :Definitely, I been workin for it almost all my life. Ever since I realized in 7th grade that I wanted to be a rapper.
(E) :Sometime many peoples love mixtapes more them the albums.What do you think about that?
(B.S.) :I think it has a lot to do with labels and the people in them offices not letting artists be who they are. Most artists have no control over what goes on their retail relase and in alot of cases the labels dont always know whats hot. A mixtape is pretty much the artists chance to record and relase whatever they like, so your basically getting to see and hear that artist for who they really are without being censored. Prime example, I think alot of 50 Cents work on the mixtapes is much more potent then his retail relases. Dont get me wrong "Get rich or die tryin" is a fuckin classic. But after that u could see other people in higher positions had alot to do with what did and didnt make it to his albums. In their eyes its the
"Record business", business of selling records so I just dont think they pay enough attention to the streets as much as they should in learning what the fans want to hear.
(E) :Speakin' about mixtapes,your street album called certified is ready.What do you expect from this album?
(B.S.) :I expect alot more credit in this rap game than what i have received in the past and i hope to see some great situations come out of it. Hopefully i can secure some sort of deal off this project.
(E) :First you worked with Peedi Crakk (on By any means necessary),now (on Certified) with Freeway.Are you tryin' to prepare us for the next album and a featuring with Jay-z :)?
(B.S.) :Thats something i really would love to see happen someday. Jay is definitely a legend in not just hip hop but music in general. Who knows. It could happen
someday, I just gotta keep grindin.
(E) :How did this featuring (with Freeway) was borned?
(B.S.) :Basically that feature was somethin done before me. Free's manager had given my dude some verses he had recorded but didnt ever see himself using in the future so since my mans had given him money frequently for shows and features he gave him that track and told him to put whoever on it he felt could really do it justice at the same time push it to the mixtapes and the dj's. Free and his people eventually heard it and the feedback was great.
(E) :The cover was made again by Miami Kaos.Is your idea there or they do all the job?
(B.S.) :Kaos did all that. I had no input on that one. Dude is a genius when it comes to his art work and creating somethin unique for a artist.
(E) :What is your opinion about Bush and what's your opinion about Obama.
(B.S.) :I really think Bush affected this country in a major way. Financially the whole economy is down and everyone is feeling the effects of it. I can't say he did anything positive for us. As far as Obama i really dont pay much attention to politics but I think if he means what he says and really wants to make a positive change and try to bring this war to a end than im all for him.
(E) :What about America?Is it how you wanna be?
(B.S.) :The USA is still a great place to live but times are just hard right now and I think the president whoever that may be in the upcoming months needs to listen to the people and follow more of what we say and feel and really try to help get this country back to what it used to be.
(E) :Here in Italy the mafia is still alive. In America are alot of gangsta rappers speakin about drugs,guns and killing peoples. What is your opinion about those gangsta rappers?
(B.S.) :I think if it's genuinely part of their life whether past or present all their doing is speaking the truth. I just dont like when rappers that didnt experience them things try to speak on them topics. At times I think some artists O.D. on that shit when thats all they ever talk about which I think is wack cuz if you are a true artists you need to be able to make songs that appeal to everyone. My tape ("Certified") has a lil bit of everything, street shit, club shit, ladies tracks, reflection tracks. I try to keep everyone happy.
(E) :How is the life in Lancaster?
(B.S.) :To keep it 100 with you it's pretty normal. It's a small city with alot of hate and bullshit. I guess thats how it is in most cities but I think because its so small everybody's out for self and they hate on everyone who's not with them. What can i say it's home but if u wanna make it here in music, film or whatever you definitely gotta focus on the bigger markets close by like Ny, Philly, Nj, even Baltimore.
(E) :Here in Europe,in countries like France,Germany,Italy,Romania and Poland,the hip-hop movement is really active.You think that they can compete with the american rappers?
(B.S.) :Oh yea, I think they could do very well for the simple fact that people in them regions arent afraid to admit they're fans first and they support the culture, not just their mans or their artist. Majority of the people in the states wanna be rappers but dont want to admit that they are fans of a certain artist at the same time I guess cuz they feel that it makes them look soft or like a groupie so in return they wont suppor him/her.
(E) :What do you know about Europe?do you know any European rapper?
(B.S.) :I dont know much. Can't think of any artists off hand. Who's buzzin?
(E) :Let's turn to you and your career.You have on video yet.Are you gonna drop one for this album?
(B.S.) :Speaking of that. I'm shootin my 1st video August 2nd with my dude Gadget in Philly for "Certified" and another track I havent decided on yet., he does alot of videos for artists on Team Afficial and ex-Infamous Mobb artist Illa Gee. I"ll make sure u get it when its all finished.
(E) :Got a message for the peps that's reading this?
(B.S.) :I appreciate everything that has happened over the last year or 2. I couldnt do it without yall. Shout out to my dude Dj herk, Geolani Grandz, and all the artists and producers that helped me put together "Certified". Big shout to Eladio!!!!! My overseas promotion is lookin real crazy right about now!!!! Get at me www.myspace.com/bigskeempa
