E40 Presents Big Rich

Interview Big Rich
by Anilast aka Stuart de la Rosa
(KSMT 102.3 & 102.7 Breckenridge, CO)

Tell me all about this E-40 movement that’s happening and all the hype over this hyphy thing

BR: What’s going on is this Hyphy movement is just getting the national spot light but it’s been going on for a long time now. It’s a sub-culture of Hip Hop, like crunk. It’s our style, it’s what we are and we finally got a brand that describes our style. Out here (west coast) it’s the way we dress, the way we talk to the way we walk, the way we dance, how we rap; we have our own wardrobe, it’s a movement for sho’. It’s defiantly catching on across a few markets across America and we are trying to make sure it stays there. We had our chance in ‘94 and in ’95. A lot of artists in the Bay area were getting record deals and we kind of fumbled it, and now we don’t want to lose it moment again.

Regarding the Hyphy movement, let me get this straight, they drive cars and have parties anywhere?

BR: Anywhere! They set up a side shows in any intersection in the world. A bunch of cars spinning out, doing hitting donuts, it’s a crazy culture. It’s like controlled chaos, it’s chaotic, but it’s still under control cause no one’s really trying to hurt anybody.

Aren’t there legalities issues if you’re setting up parties on intersections?

BR: They shut the sh*t down, out here we’re not even allowed to say the word sideshow on the radio. If we do have the word sideshow in it, we have to edit it. The sh*t’s illegal if you out doing donuts in the intersection and some gets killed or someone gets ran over, that’s why they banned it.

All that sh*t gets edited out here. We made the hyphy language, the word purple. There‘s clubs out here that won’t let you in if you have gold teeth and dred locks. Even if it’s a brother’s culture he still won’t be able to get into the club, cause it’s associated with the hyphy movement.

What is it that sets you apart as an artist?

BR: My sh*t is not really the hyphy sell; it’s really not my sound. My music is more street orientated. It’s about regular, every day situations. I still support the movement so within that I try to bring an alternative to it. If you don’t feel like partying too much to high active music, my sh*t is more on everyday life.

What’s you’re new album about?

BR: It‘s my story, a lot of dudes glorify the streets to sell records but I still live here I am still from there. My whole family is there, no 9-5 jobs, there was a lot of drug dealers, a lot of hustlers and pimps. That’s what I was brought up in but I found rap and that was my outlet. Instead of going down that road, I chose this road. It’s slowly paying off for me, but it’s street talk.

So if you had to sum up your alum in one sentence what would it be?

BR: My story.

E40 Presents: “Block Tested, Hood Approved” is in stores now and available on Koch Records. Visit Big Rich’s site www.myspace.com/bigrich

Thanks to Sean Cliff (Koch Records)