Haastattelussa Under Da Influence -räppiduosta tuttu San Francisco -veteraani Bigg Quint.
- What’s up, Bigg Quint? How are you?
I’m good. Chilling, hanging like wet laundry.
- So let’s start at the beginning. Where did you grow up?
Frisco. Hunter’s Point, Sunnydale, DoubleRock.
- How did you get into rapping?
I went to a Run D.M.C. concert in Frisco, rapping at the Civic back in the day, and once I saw them rock the crowd with “Rock Box,” I knew I wanted to be in the business. I didn’t start rapping until after high school.
- When did you start making music?
Had to be around ’92-’93. It wasn’t anything like today, when 9 out of 10 people you know have a verse or a song. I knew a few rappers, like Fly Mar and 4-1-So-Sick Ass Rell (Rest In Peace).
- When you start writing, do you begin with words or music?
It all depends on my mood. I can hear a beat and start writing, or I can be in the middle of a grocery store and start writing. I keep a pen and pad with me at all times. I’m OG; I don’t use my phone. I still use a pen and pad to this day.
- So much discussion of rap centers around flow: what does good flow mean to you?
Stay on beat and ride that beat like there’s no end. Stay in pocket, rhyming every word or every other word. Main-O from 11/5 always said, “Stay mad at yo mic and drop bomb after bomb.”
- What rappers are you feeling the most right now? And what rappers are you not feeling?
First off, I’m still a fan of good music, and being from Frisco, I gotta give it up to Yung Lott, Footz The Beast, Icey-Run It Up, Hawkie Turf, and my nephews T-Monee and T-9ina who are going hard, along with a few more who are making some slaps. If you haven’t heard of them, you have to check them out.
- How did you meet Dig?
I met Derrick in school. We started hanging out, hustling, getting drunk and high, and became best friends—brothers from another mother, feel me?
- How did you guys decide on U.D.I. as a name?
One day, we were sitting in front of Digg’s house on Thomas, just doing what we do, and came up with it. Digg said “Under The Influence,” and I said “UDI”—we changed it to the hood talk. Digg was already writing for Kev (ChillBlack) and had a few songs he recorded. Cold World was in the studio recording, and Marv and Kev (LaidBlack Productions) had the studio at Kev’s house, and the rest is history.
- What’s your most memorable moment in the studio with Dig?
So many—I don’t even know where to start. From completing our first song to being in the studio doing Cold World albums, 11/5 albums, Pho Balo albums, and the Unexpected album with Big Mack and Charlie Manhattan. So many memories; one that sticks out is when he was recording “Brotha Luv.” I remember when he came out of the booth, and I said, “Nigga, your penmanship is ridiculous.” We laughed and said, “On to the next one.”
- What is the story behind Kill-A-Hoe? When did Kill-A-Hoe start, and who were the founding members?
KILL-A-HOE! FUCK THAT BITCH! ’92. 4-SO-SICK said in a verse, “Just last week I had to Kill-A-Hoe on Front Street.” We started calling OG Kevy Kev (Peanut) Kill-A-Hoe, and it just stuck for the whole clique. Kill-A-Hoe was born right on Revere St. in the Flatlands of Hunter’s Point. The founding members are Cold World, 11/5, UDI, and T.C.
- You guys visited Finland a number of years ago. What were your impressions of our country then?
We brought in the New Year of 2007 in Helsinki, Finland. We loved the experience, for sure, and will never forget Helsinki. Special shoutouts to Apartment 3 and DNA for bringing us to a beautiful place to meet some good people. Joro, Ali, and Tommy (3rd Rail) made sure we were straight the whole trip. From the time we got off the plane until it was time to leave, UDI, Triple 6 Danny, and E-Sic of Cold World Hustlers had a ball out there. We left one of the clubs at about 5 in the morning or something like that and walked the streets, signing a few autographs. We had a great time out there, for sure!
- How would you rate Finnish girls on a scale of 1-10?
Very friendly.
- Do you have an all-time favorite gangster movie?
Scarface, for sure. All the Godfathers, Menace To Society, Boyz N The Hood, and Once Upon A Time In America.
- What are you working on currently?
I just dropped three albums in one month: “The 5th Element,” “Came Too Far To Turn Back,” and “Premeditated,” all available now on all digital platforms. I’m working on “Walking Pharmacy” and “The Last Call.” I also just dropped a single called “Keep It Gangsta” featuring B-Style. Additionally, I have a few artists on all three albums who are dropping theirs soon. Jody Jo (Often Restless) and B-Style have so many albums coming, including “Bag Talk,” which will be out in a few weeks.
- Do you have any last words to share with the people?
I want to thank y’all for the support over the years—foreal, foreal—and thank you, KILL-A-HOE FROM FINLAND, FOR THIS INTERVIEW! K-A-H, U.D.I. 4EVER! Here are the links to get Bigg Quint’s albums on iTunes. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LOVE AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, FINLAND!
Haastattelu: J-P / Fileerausveitsi
