Legendz

If I was a betting man, I would have to put my money on one place, and that place is the West Coast. While it remains to be seen it they can ever go back to The Chronic level of success, we are at least about to get a good showing.

The West has an all-star roster and one of the starters is most definitely, Compton native, Problem. Freshly signed to Universal Republic, where one of his label mates is Amy Winehouse, Problem has been just that for a while now.

Starting as a producer, Problem decided to switch it up and test his skills as an MC. He passed with flying colors as he sold 13,000 copies of hi mixtape Second Round Knockout and has become one of hip-hops most promising young stars on the rise.

Problem has worked with the likes of Pharrell, Teddy Riley, and of course, Big Snoop Dogg. Sixshot.com caught up with Problem to discuss his new deal, being a part of the new West Coast movement, and what he’s bringing to the table musically.

What’s good man?

Ah, I’m good man, what’s the word?

Same old, bro. A lot of people are looking at you as one of the new faces of the West Coast, how does that feel?

Yeah man, I’m really excited about that, I’m real happy.

What do you fee l you’re going to do for West Coast hip-hop?

I’m gonna bring a whole new face to this shit. We got the crib look, blood look, the Bay look, and I’m gonna bring that whole other look.

You started as a producer, why did you decide to make the switch?

Because when you’re on stage you get all the bitches. (Laughs) That’s what was poppin’ for me at the time, I was tryna fuck some hos. You could say you made the beat but they don’t give a fuck about that, they want that nigga on stage. I always has a thing for rapping but that’s really what the reason was, to tell you the truth.

Was it a hard transition from producer to rapper?

Nah not really because I hadn’t been doing music that long, you know? I always wanted to be dope; you know what I’m saying? I wanted respect as an MC and the artists we had at the company weren’t really moving anyway so on my downtime I was just figuring out how to get in it.

Your first mixtape, Second Round Knockout did real well, were you happy with the response?

Yeah, yeah, I was but I wasn’t because we was workin’ hard as a motherfucker. It did what it was supposed to do; I mean we sold 13,000 of them so it most definitely did what it was supposed to do. I was surprised though that the streets were fuckin’ with it like that.

Yeah, those are good numbers, did you put a lot into the marketing?

Not really man, we just went out every single day and pushed it hand to hand, all over L.A.

I know you wrote for some people as well, how did you get into that?

That really just happened over the last year and a half. My boy Terrace Martin brought me to do some writing for him and I ended up on The Big Squeeze project and from then on a lot of doors started opening up to a lot of other different things.

So tell us man, what’s it like working with Snoop?

It’s amazing, I learned a lot from him in terms of really just making records. I got a lot of game from him. I learned a lot from Snoop, Quik, and Teddy Riley, Shit, I learned a lot from everybody that was in there, Pharrell and Soopafly. It was a lot of fun in there.

Do you think the West Coast can reach its past level of success?

Why couldn’t it? I mean everything happens for a reason. Different things happen, different scenes happen, everybody gets their run. We got a lot of albums dropping from the West this year. We got Game, Snoop, Ice Cube, E-40, there’s a lot of things coming out. We just need the West Coast to support the West Coast and it’ll crack.

The West Coast has the squad to do it. You got yourself, G.Malone, Bishop Lamont, The Jacka, and Crooked I. How do you feel about this new school of West Coast MC’s?

I love it because it’s a variety of music that’s comin’ out of the West Coast. For a while it might have felt a little stagnant but not anymore. Everybody just gotta step it up, keep rolling, trying different things, trying to take it there through their music and we’re gonna be alright.

I was talking to Nik Bean recently and he told me you recently got signed.

Yeah, Universal Republic.

How did the deal come about?

I had a record, “I’m Toe Up” out that was doing well and running through L.A. They heard the record and reached out to me. I talked to like four different people in 15 minutes, they flew me out, it’s done and now we crackin’. I'm in the studio right now. They’re gonna let me fly, they’re not really trying to tame me.

Your label doesn’t have a lot of hip-hop acts right?

Um, yes and no, there’s a few. They got Amy Winehouse, The Shop Boyz, and acts like that so it gave me a real big lane. It’s great, it’s like I got my own department, just for the boy. Everybody is real helpful over here. A lot of artists here are shocked at how much this company is behind me.

Were there a lot of labels trying to get at you?

Yeah, I been taking meetings all of 2007. This was the best situation for me.

Why was it the best?

It was a feeling and when I was there the whole company was in the room for my meeting. To me, that was big because they could have just sent in the people I needed to speak to. They like my vision, they understood my vision, and I just liked it. I didn’t even wanna go look nowhere else.

So your label got signed also?

Yeah, Derang Entertainment is involved as well. We got a lot of things coming, you gotta be on the watch, and you gotta keep your eyes open.

Your debut album is coming, people are looking forward to it, what should we expect?

You’re gonna hear dope music on that album, you’re gonna hear good music. I’m not gonna tell everybody where I’m gonna go but it’s gonna be great. You will be taken everywhere on this album. You wont be able to call me the political rapper, the party rapper, or the dope dealer rapper. I’m hitting every angle and that’s what you’re gonna get.

As a new artist, are you concerned with the fact that CD sales are down?

I’m more excited because I’m gonna send people back to the store. Everybody is talking about it’s a big downfall and all that but fuck it, I’m gonna save it, this is my shot. I’m aligned with the right people out here; they know what’s up. I’m ready, shit, let’s go. We tryna get the promo tours up, I got The Streets Is Mine mixtape with Nik Bean coming out, I got the Kill Squad. Trust me, you will see there is gonna be a problem for a long motherfucking time.

Anything you wanna say to the fans at Sixshot.Com?

Just get ready, buckle up those motherfucking seatbelts. I’m smilin’ man, can you type that my teeth are showing? (Laughs) It’s crazy right now, I’m working right now as we speak, you ready baby?

You know I’m ready!

Shit, they gotta get ready then, let’s go. (Laughs)