Haastattelussa Kaliforniasta kotoisin oleva räppäri Trizz, joka on tehnyt yhteistyötä muun muassa Brotha Lynch Hungin, 2 Elevenin, Kokanen, X-Raidedin ja Knoc-Turn’alin kanssa.
- Welcome to the interview, Trizz! To start things off, how are you doing today?
I’m doing well. Thanks for having me.
- Let’s dive into your background. Can you tell us about your upbringing in California and how it shaped your perspective on life?
I’m from Norwalk, Compton, Long Beach, and the Inland Empire. My family and I jumped around a lot. I never stayed in one place for too long. My upbringing was up and down. I was the typical troublemaker, running the streets and hopping gates with my friends. Cops bringing me home after getting into stupid shit with the homies. I stayed away from gangs and stuff like that. I was around it because of family, but I never wanted the gang-banging lifestyle for myself. I hung with the skaters and taggers, although a lot of my friends did join gangs. All this shit shaped the way I express myself in music.
- What music did you listen to as a kid?
I listened to whatever my parents were listening to. My dad was a CD/vinyl collector, so I was always hearing different kinds of music. Jazz, Oldies, Hip-Hop, Funk, and even Rock were all played in my house.
- When were you first introduced to hip hop culture?
I was first introduced to Hip-Hop before I was able to walk. My mom told me my favorite song as a kid was “Hip-Hop Hooray” by Naughty By Nature. The first CD that I can remember bumping a lot at like 6 or 7 years old was “Bow Down” by Westside Connection. I had my own CD player and everything, and I would be in the backseat of the car in my car seat bumping the fuck out of that album, hahaha.
- What was the first hip hop album that had a significant impact on you as a kid?
The CD that impacted me for sure was “The Last Don” by Master P. That was the first CD that made me want to actually rap myself. That was in 1998. No Limit Records changed the game. I remember my dad bought me a No Limit chain in like the 3rd grade. I felt like the man, and that shit was real gold. I was hyped.
- At what age did you start writing your own lyrics, and when did you begin recording your music?
I started writing my own lyrics at like 9 years old and recording around the same time on this boombox with my best friend Demontrae, who lived in the same apartment building as me. We would rap over “The Chronic 2001” instrumentals. We recorded a lot of music in his bedroom with just a boombox. Sound quality was terrible, but we knew we wanted to rap, so we did what we could.
- Who were your primary influences as you developed your sound?
The West Coast and Down South influenced my sound a lot. Death Row, No Limit, Cash Money, Westside Connection, DJ Quik, Snoop, The Eastsidaz, to name a few. Also, Funk music influenced my sound. The Parliament-Funkadelic, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and shit like that really shaped my sound. I also have to credit East Coast rap artists like Method and Red, Biggie, 2Pac of course, Busta Rhymes – the list goes on.
- When did you decide to take rap seriously as a career?
I started taking rap seriously when I was 14. Recording at home, pressing up my own CDs, the whole nine. I knew this was what I was going to do.
- Your music vividly depicts life in LA. How important is authenticity in representing your roots?
Very important. I want people to know that none of what I talk about is fabricated. I’m really from this side of California, and I want to express that in the most authentic way possible.
- You’ve collaborated with notable figures like Brotha Lynch Hung. What was that experience like, given his legendary status?
Lynch discovered me on Twitter in 2011. I was super excited that I caught his attention. He took me on tour and put me on his album. That was when my career really started to pop off in the underground. Lynch changed my life.
- You’ve worked with artists across different generations, including newer talents like G Perico. How do you manage these diverse collaborations?
I’ve been able to establish and solidify myself in Southern California as one of the best in the underground, and my pen game is very respected, so most times when I reach out to work with artists, they are willing to get down with me. I’m very grateful for that because I know how hard it is trying to make it in such a treacherous industry, especially in LA.
- Reflecting on your discography, is there a particular project or collaboration that stands out as a highlight?
Yeah, “Amerikkas Most Blunted” with Chuuwee. That’s my biggest album. That album changed my life for sure. It’s considered a classic, and I’m grateful for that. Also, “Ashes N Dust” with AC3 Beats. That’s my biggest solo album.
- You’ve recently worked extensively with producer MIKE SUMMERS. How did your collaboration come about?
Yeah, I’ve known about MIKE for a long time because I was working with Brotha Lynch Hung, who was signed to Strange Music, and MIKE was their in-house producer. He produced all of Tech N9ne’s albums and every album Lynch did on Strange. We linked up recently in like 2022 when Dave Weiner reached out to me and said he wanted to work. We immediately started working on an album which came to be “BASELINE CAVI”. We dropped the sequel called “Cavi En Cursive”, exclusively available at Belowsystem.com.
- What unique qualities does MIKE SUMMERS bring to your music?
MIKE brings authenticity, an elegant sound, and experience like nobody I’ve ever worked with before. Granted, my homie AC3 Beats is also phenomenal. MIKE made me change the way I approach a beat because I knew his background and his history with all the hits he’s made. I knew I had to go hard or go home.
- West Coast hip hop has a rich history. Who are your all-time favorite West Coast rappers and producers?
Snoop, Dre, Ice Cube, W.C., Mack 10, DJ Quik, Tha Eastsidaz, Kurupt, Eazy-E, Nate Dogg, Nipsey, ScHoolboy Q, Kendrick, Ab-Soul, Suga Free, E-40, Too $hort, Evidence, Alchemist, Twisted Insane – the list is crazy, haha. I could go on and on, but they are who come to mind.
- If you could collaborate with any West Coast producer from any era, who would it be and why?
DJ Quik or Dr. Dre. I think that shit is long overdue. I would fit perfectly on their production.
- How would you define the West Coast sound, and what role do you see yourself playing in preserving it?
West Coast music is like no other. It has bounce, it’s laid back, funky, and chill. I’m preserving the sound by staying true to my roots and sound. People are going to look back 20 years from now and know that I never sold out or tried to sound like anything else. I’m authentically West Coast, and people from the West love me for it.
- How do you maintain the classic West Coast sound while exploring new styles and pushing boundaries?
I always try to get production that fits the way I ride the beat. Also, I try to make it so it’s not dated because I know a lot of people feel like our sound is out of touch with modern music. But I always get put in positions where I have to change it up a little bit and try something different to stay up to date on what the kids are feeling these days. Whenever I get collab requests in a different lane, they always ask me to just do me. When people ask me for features, they know what they are getting, so I never really have to step out of my lane.
- What are some of your all-time favorite West Coast beats, and what makes them stand out to you?
“The Chronic (Intro)” on The Chronic, “Some L.A. Niggas” on The Chronic 2001, “Why You Bullshittin” by Suga Free, “Bitch Please” by Snoop and Xzibit, “Tha Proem” by DJ Quik. I could go on, but these are some that just really blow my mind. Everything about the beats just hits for me. It’s never a dull moment on any of these joints.
- How does the current state of hip hop in Los Angeles compare to when you first started?
Everybody is just trying to sound like Drakeo The Ruler (Rest In Peace). It’s this sound that everybody is trying to imitate. The off-beat cadences, the production, the “I don’t give a fuck” mentality when approaching the beats, just no real originality. There are plenty of dope artists who aren’t following this format, and they stand out. Those are the ones that are winning, and you can tell. The people trying to imitate shit, they fall short.
- What are your thoughts on the direction hip hop is heading, both in terms of sound and culture?
It’s a lot of dope music out there, you just have to be open-minded and look for it. There are different lanes. You got the artists that are just looking for a hit song, and you got artists who take this shit seriously and actually have love for the game. Things are moving so fast that the game changes every year, but there is something for everybody, and I believe if you stick to your guns and just do what works for you, it’s possible to be successful in music. I think Hip-Hop is headed in a great direction because the authenticity is coming back. People are not falling for the gimmicks anymore. You still have the one-hit wonders of the world, but that real shit is coming back for sure.
- Do you have any plans to release music on vinyl in the future?
For sure. Right now, you can get “BASELINE CAVI” on vinyl at Belowsystem.com, as well as my album “The Basement”.
- Outside of making music, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Video games for sure. I play Xbox daily, hahaha!
- What can fans look forward to next from you? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations on the horizon?
For now, me and MIKE SUMMERS are pushing “Cavi En Cursive”, so go get that ASAP!
- Do you have any final words for your fans and our readers in Finland?
Thank you for having me, and I’m very grateful to be recognized and appreciated by the fans in Finland! Peace and love.
Haastattelu: J-P / Fileerausveitsi
Promokuva: Juho Tuominen
