The 10 Question(s) Q&A Session Series: Sly Boogy
06. Aug, 2010 
0 Comments
The 26th edition of the 10 question(s) Q&A series, is with westcoast underground legend, Sly Boogy, the Inland Empire emcee is getting ready to release his highly anticipated new street album, after a break from releasing, after his label issues. Known for his razor sharp lyrics and unique style, Sly Boogz is back and sounding better than ever in 2010. As he hits the studio with producer Noah Ayala and his new group “P.B.G.” (Pitbull Gorillas) with Dirty Birdy and R&B. He talks to us exclusively about his anticipated street album, previous issues with his former label, J Records, and his thoughts on Hip Hop in 2010.
Dub MD: Sly Boogy, what’s good fam? its been a minute since our last Q&A session, and you’ve done a few things since then, for those who have been under a rock, what are some of the things you’ve done over the past few years?
Sly Boogy: What’s good man. Since the last time we spoke I put out an EP called “The Beauty of Death” and I’ve been doin a lot of work on other artists projects, and also doin shows. I’m about to shoot a video next week with a couple of chicano rap artists that I did features with and I’m also shooting a video in about couple of weeks for a song called “For U” by an artist by the name of Tweek Beatz. G. Malone, Crooked I, and K-Boy are also featured on the song. I just got out the studio working on an album with Roscoe which also has some features on it from Lil Flip, Daz, and Bizzy Bone and of course as usual I’m doing shows and shopping for another deal.
Dub MD: Coming from the Inland Empire, how does coming from there shape your attitude to the music/culture? and what do you think of the I.E. music scene right now?
Sly Boogy: Well I grew up listening to all types of music and I’ve had some formal music training in college so I think I see music from a different perspective than most people. Coming from the I.E. doesn’t really have an influence on my attitude towards music as a whole but as far as culture I think the I.E. has definitely helped me appreciate all genres of hip hop/rap music because I’ve been exposed to a lot. I’ve been able to move around with people from different backgrounds whether it was hardcore hip hop, gangsta rap, alternative hip hop or whatever the case it has definitely shaped my opinion and attitude towards music and culture. I appreciate it more if I know the meaning behind whatever the movement is. The music scene in the I.E. is not really poppin’ like it should be right now. I spoke with some people from 99.1 KGGI and they say its because every event always gets shot up and shut down. I’ve been hittin’ up clubs around the LA/OC area and I’m noticing that things are moving a little different. I don’t feel the same energy of excitement like back when the west coast was on top.
Dub MD: Do you have a new album/mixtape in the works? whats it called? and can you give us a little background on it and when we can expect to hear it?
Sly Boogy: I am workin’ on a project right now. I’m thinking of making it a street album. I don’t have a title for it yet. I’m still trying to get my hands on more beats. I have producers submitting beats all the time but its hard for me to be satisfied after working with some of the best producers in the game already. I like shit that sounds different but fits the format. And what I mean by that is when you’re in the club and the DJ is playing the familiar hits and then out of nowhere he slams in some bizarre soundin record that changes the whole atmosphere of the club and makes people stop and listen but they can’t help but dance to it because the beat is talking to them. I love records like that. I have a record produced by Noah Ayala called “Here We Go” and I love the f*ck out that record. The drums are thick and juicy and anybody that knows me knows that I’m a drum fanatic. I love drums.
I love working with producers who know how to create distinctive sounding drums and drum patterns. And I love producers who actually take the time to make unique arrangements with drop outs, bridges, and even crescendos and decrescendos (Laughs) Naw, I’m jokin but yeah I love the change ups. Now a lot of producers will now send me beats with them attempting to duplicate what Noah did and I hate that sh*t. I have people sending me beats that sound like “Its Nuthin” and “That’s My Name” or they’ll send me shit that sounds like Scott Storch because they think that’s the only type of sound I like (Laughs). I’d rather you send me what you have and let me pick what I like. I’m hoping to be finished with it some time this summer but I don’t know. I may end up releasing something else in the meantime while I finish it.
Dub MD: With this new album, what artists and producers are you connecting with this time around? and what’s your label situation like just now?
Sly Boogy: Well like I said I’m working with Noah Ayala. I’m also workin with a cat out of Canada named Ethics and I just got a new batch of beats from various producers. I plan to connect with more producers in the future but I kind of want to get a label situation poppin’ and speaking of which I am shoppin right now while I work on these other projects.
Dub MD: You created a group a good few years ago called “P.B.G.” (Pitbull Gorillas). How come its taking so long to release some new music and why did you decide to team up with your cousin Dirty Birdy and R&B?
Sly Boogy: We’ve recorded a few joints but I think its just a matter of all of us being on the same page. Me and R&B are always on the same page pretty much because he’s my right hand man. As far as Dirty Birdy its kind of hard to make any solid plans with him because he will cancel unexpectedly at the last minute or he won’t show up at all and won’t call until the day after we were supposed to meet and say that he forgot (Laughs). I think we just need a solid situation with our own personal studio so we don’t have to work around other studio schedules because right now we record out of a grip of different studios individually and we have to book time that works with everybody’s schedule and schedule sessions that don’t conflict with the already existing studio schedule.
Dub MD: Where do you get the inspiration to write the type of material you do? what is the writing process like when it comes to working on your projects? and why do you think mc’s that keep integrity in their music, never make a real mark on soundscan?
Sly Boogy: I get inspiration from everything around me and anything that I’m exposed to. Hangin out with certain people inspires me. I can hang out with R&B or the homie Rob Money or any of the other homies and go home and write because they gave me that energy. When I get feedback from people who hit me up and tell me that they understand what I do, that inspires me. People will hit me up and tell me how my music has impacted their life and whether its in a big way or a small way it inspires me. So usually when I write I’ll listen to the beat in the car while I’m drivin’ and the lyrics will start coming to me. I don’t like to sit in one spot and write I like to move around. So if you ever work with me in the studio you’ll notice that I’m always getting up and walkin around. I may even leave in my car and come back (Laughs) just because it keeps my energy level high. I don’t like workin in studios that have a lot of people I don’t know just hangin around. I’ve seen studios get raided on some home invasion shit just because there was just too much unnecessary traffic.
I wouldn’t say that all artists who keep integrity in their music never soundscan because there are some who do like Kanye West for example. But then you have to consider that he has a great label behind him. If he didn’t have great people behind him he wouldn’t be where he is today. A lot of artists who do keep integrity and don’t soundscan just may not have the resources behind them. There are artists who don’t keep integrity and soundscan because they have creatively brilliant people behind them working at the record label and in management. I was hoping for that at J Records. I would have liked to have been able to work more closely with the staff and let them guide me instead of Sway and Tech because that’s not what Sway and Tech specialize in. I had a meeting with the product manager at J Records and she brought a marketing plan with her to the meeting. It was a promo campaign all neatly organized and outlined on paper. That meeting was the very first time I had seen anything like that. Sway and Tech NEVER sat down with me with any type of documented plan so I was always confused as to what was goin on and what was gonna happen next. But when I used to get itineraries and calendars from the label it was easier for me to function because I knew what I had to do and when. And even if the plan did change from day to day at least I knew what was cominh up in the near future. I work way better when I have it on paper. I’ll tell you what, it’s way better than unexpectedly getting a call out the blue at 8am while you’re still in your pajamas sayin that you need to hurry up, pack your luggage and catch a cab to the airport because your flight for Miami leaves at 10am (Laughs) how in the hell are things supposed to function smoothly when sh*t is disorganized like this?!! So I’m sayin this to say that some of the artists who do keep integrity and don’t soundscan may be lacking the right people to guide their careers.
Dub MD: How does this new project differ from your previous releases, and how do you think you’ve changed as an artist since you released them CD’s back in 2003/06?
Sly Boogy: Well the project I’m workin on right now has some up tempo songs at 120 BPM’s which is way different from what I’ve done in the past. I’m now more open to tryin new styles of music. The up tempo song would fit the format of whats being played in the clubs right now. I call it glow stick music (Laughs) because its that raver type of sh*t that people who like to do ecstasy and wave around glow sticks dance to. The name of the song is called “All Around The World” and its basically talking about a experience that you have on Green Aliens which is a type of ecstasy.
Dub MD: What do you think is your most defining and unique characteristic that sets you apart from every other emcee out there? and how would you describe your style to those who still haven’t heard your music?
Sly Boogy: I think what sets me apart is my ability to create songs and maintain the lyrical integrity that people like to hear. I think I’m one of the few who can do it. Another thing is I can write and sing hooks. A lot of artists can’t write hooks but they are great at writing verses. Another thing that I think might set me apart is that I’m from a region of the west coast that is relatively new to the world. I would describe my style as universal alternative street hip hop mood music. And the reason why I say that is because I think that I have global appeal and I have the ability to make street music that sounds unique and sets a mood every time you hear it.
Dub MD: You’ve performed on stages all over the U.S. for years now, If I’m coming to a Sly Boogy show. What am I going to experience, that I won’t experience from just listening to your material on CD?
Sly Boogy: I’ve changed my show format just recently and it will probably change again to incorporate more variety. What you will see is the visual presentation of what you hear with a lot of animated movement with crowd participation. My man R&B is always on stage with me so he brings that extra energy to the performance which only enhances the whole experience. I work with different DJs so I’m lookin for a permanent DJ that is creative when it comes to turntablism because that just enhances the show that much more. And other than that its just a fun and exciting experience.
Dub MD: What is on tap for Sly Boogy for 2010 and beyond? do you have anything to say to the fans? anything you wanna get off your chest? any shout outs?
Sly Boogy: For 2010 and beyond you will definitely see more from me. After the J situation I slowed down because that was an impactful turning point in my life that I’m still recovering from it. I now have the youtube channel up at youtube/slyboogy909 and also the myspace and twitter which is myspace.com/slyboogy7 and twitter.com/slyboogy7. So if you want to keep updated on what I’m doin independently you can go to those sites. I’m also in the process of reconstructing my website. I’m very picky when it comes to stuff like that so it takes me a little more time. I like working with visually creative people who are passionate about the art and that’s kind of hard to find so I’m takin my time so that I know I have the right team of people working with me. And like I said I’m also shoppin so God willing I’ll be able to find a label with a good staff.
loading...
ConvoTrack