The OG Big Tray Deee was able to connect with us for this exclusive interview. Topics include his new books, Long Beach State of Mind the mixtape and albm, the title of his debut album, and more. We will be releasing two parts to this interview. One part focusing on his music and books and the other on miscellaneous topics from what books he recommends to different quotes and lessons that have stuck with him since an early age and more. Read the full interview after the jump and stay tuned for part 2 of the interview.
SDC Kid: What's up everybody? This is SDC Kid and I'm here with the O.G. Big Tray Deee. You might know him from Tha Eastsidaz and the 19th Street Compilation with Big C-Style. Basically, we were lucky to have him come through and bless us with this interview despite his current situation and give the fans an update before his big day comes next year and he's back on the streets. So without further ado, let's get right into it, what's up O.G. how you doin'?
Tray Deee: Aye what's up SDC Kid how you doin' homie?
SK: I'm good, bro. First and foremost, I wanted to give my respects on behalf of Mitchy (Slick) and Lil Spank from Wrongkind they wanted me to tell you, "what's up?"
TD: Oh yea say, "right back at 'em," they know what's up.
SK: Ok basically, bro, I know you got these new books out so why don't you talk about the books a little bit and if it's a book you wrote or something you contributed to or what exactly happened with those projects.
TD: It's a tag team of books that we released last year. The first one is called "Streetz Gon' Cry" that's g-o-n "Streetz Gon Cry". It's released on Lenoir Publications and it was co-written by myself and a brother named Anthony Barrow outta L.A. How that came about, he had began a book and he wanted me to edit it for him. After we got through like 3 or 4 chapters of being edited, he liked the input that I placed and he said, "You know man, you might as well help me finish this book and it'll just be a joint venture between us," and in the process, we founded Ave Money Publishing, which is our own publishing company. That's what my second novel, which I released a couple of months ago "Los Angeles Tymez - Urban Tales", came out on was from my own publishing company, which is Ave Money Publishing and that contains three short stories which is "Streetz Gon' Cry: The Beginning which Anthony Barrow wrote, to bring you up to speed about the first novel, and my story is "Unforeseen" about three female strippers comin' up in L.A. and J-Dee Cooper, formerly of Ice Cube's rap group "Da Lench Mob", he wrote the third story and it's called "Never Saw Me Comin'" and it's just giving you the go-along of what happens in the community and, you know, people steppin up outta jail and gotta readjust and re-adapt to make it happen and it's real entertaining, you know, that's I'm trying to do I'm trying to form a west coast literary company to be a powerhouse player in the game like Triple Crown and other publications like that. I wanna say much respect to everybody who done dropped somethin' on the urban tip and then made this a big business just like hip-hop is so shout out to all y'all.
SK: That's wassup, and as far as the second novel how did that come about? That's "Los Angeles Tymez" right?
TD: Yeah, that's "Los Angeles Tymez - Urban Tales". We decided to collaborate before we drop "Streetz Gon' Cry Part 2" because it is a sequel and initially J-Dee, who is the one who introduced me to Anthony Barrow to one another when I was gon' edit the book, he was supposed to be a part of our company but he wound up signing a deal with Ghetto Heat, which is another publication house, so he had already contributed that story, "Never Saw Me Comin", to Ave Money which we were on the verge of puttin' together so we just decided that we wouldn't let the story go to waste 'cause it was a good story and everybody just told a lil' short tale and then we put it together and put it out there and like I said it's real entertaining and if you ain't knowin' about the inner workings of L.A. and the surrounding counties and how it go down out here, you know with the hustlin' and bangin' and strippin' and all that, it paints a pretty vivid picture.
SK: And where can people pick that up at if they want a copy?
TD: Oh it's in all your major book retailers: amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, a few mom & pop stores throughout the county. All those mom & pop stores I wanna thank y'all for supportin' us and givin' us some action to generate some interest as well as some revenue.
SK: Ok now on the music tip, I know you got the new single out what's it called? Carried by Six?
TD: Uh, "Rather Be Judged" but that's the hook, "I'd rather be judged by 12 in a box", and "12 in a box" meaning a jury, "than a rival with a grudge and 12 in his glock." So that's just talkin' about gettin' down first as opposed to bein' a victim. We just threw that out on SoundCloud just to give people a general idea of the gangsta shyt we still producing and still comin' with and that's my lil' homie B.I.G. Petey on there with me. It's really his song which he just decided to feature me on but everybody say it's my song since I got the name or whatever but the lil' homie ain't no joke he got heat rocks y'all gon' be able to see on the mixtape which is "Long Beach State of Mind Vol. 1" that should be out towards the end of August and "Long Beach State of Mind: The Album" will soon follow. "Long Beach State of Mind" the mixtape we gon' be givin' away for free we just gon' put it out there and let y'all get a dose that's all remakes. "Long Beach State of Mind: The Album" is all original tracks you got Crooked I on there, Soopafly, I'm trying to secure Techniec right now, Indian Blue, Nino P, J.J. 88, myself, B.I.G. Petey, you know it's a few acts. It's "Long Beach State of Mind" because it's all Long Beach artists that's featured on each project. So yeah, we just decided to get together and give y'all somethin' from the perspective of Long Beach, mainly.
SK: Cool, now as far as the album is that gonna be out towards the end of the year or are you lookin' at 2014?
TD: Mmm nah, I'ma really try to get that out maybe within like the following 60 days after we drop the mixtape. Right now, we're in the process of mixing the last couple of songs before we go to mastering and the album is pretty much done but we wanna present the mixtape first and let the people know what they got comin' on a lyrical tip so you'll already know from the mixtape what people are deliverin' as far as the lyrical content and concepts so it's comin'...it's comin' and it's hard too.
SK: I'm sure what all your day 1 fans are wonderin' is Tray Deee gon' come out and do the same kinda G shyt he was doin' before he went in or are you thinking of experimenting with different kinda avenues? So what kinda music can fans expect to hear from you?
TD: Well, you know, it's Mandela, which is my word for mandatory, you know it's Mandela that I stay true to myself and that I stay true to my fan base 'cause that's what got me to the point I am now as far as my recognition in the industry and all the achievements that I was able to accomplish so I'ma always give the G's somethin' to ride to 'cause it seems like in this day and age, really, that's a form that's bein' neglected and everybody's goin' in different directions trying to keep up with trends and that emo rap with everybody puttin' they heart on they sleeve and talkin' about personal situations with families and all that which ain't nothin wrong with, but at the same time it's a lane for that gangsta shyt that's really not bein' administered so whenever I come out here I'ma speak my truth and that's what I'ma always do. I'm gangsta. I was raised a gangsta that's what I identify and I associate with so that's what I'm always kin to so y'all ain't gotta worry about me driftin' off...that's me.
SK: That's cool, I'm sure everybody appreciates that, too.
TD: That's right.
SK: Now with the solo album, I know you were talkin' about that comin' out next year. What can people expect as far as production and guest features or is there someone you'd like to have on there? What's in the making for that?
TD: Well, you know, I'ma pretty much just check the temperature when I touch down. I already got a a lot of good songs written that I plan to use. But at the same time, rap speaks for the day and I don't wanna put nothin' out there that's not really relevant to the time. So I'ma get out and scout the horizon and figure what's destined for me and then I'ma go in and hit the studio and I'ma use the songs that I specifically crafted to speak of who I am and where I come from. But then, I'ma respect the game and whoever out there swingin' with a likemind as me...I plan on affordin' them the opportunity to get down. I already have the vision in mind of how I wanna lay it out, but at the same time shyt next year...that's months away so, you know, a lot can change in that time so I don't wanna just stamp nothin' in stone right now I'ma just take my time with it and deliver it when it's time for it.
SK: Do you have any working titles for it or is that still in the process of being made, too?
TD: Nah, I'm just gon' state who I am "Triple O.G." I don't do too much fanfare and gimmicks and all that I just keep it rugged and raw. People that like that, feel that, and ride off that...they all gon' return to what I put out there, you know, for the genuine article.
SK: Are you planning on pursuing other outlets outside of music or is publishing and bookwriting good for you for now?
TD: Well...quite naturally the progression in music is to go from the artist side to the business side so I ain't gon' be actually gettin' in the studio and goin' hard for TOO long, you know, I still got a lil' bit in me, though, once I gather a team, which I'm in the process of doin' right now, I'ma step back and let them get they exposure and let them do what they do 'cause I'm not a person that feel like I gotta be in the spotlight to be relevant. As long as I'm able to produce good music, whether it's for me or those around me, then I'm doin' my job so that's pretty much where I'm at. I wanna get to a position and a point where I can drop some features here and there and say what I need to say but let everybody else on my team shine and maybe put out me a good novel or two every year and venture on to that side.
SK: Is there anything else you wanna say as far as the music scene goes before we go to the next segment?
TD: Mmm..not really I've been in these ol' obdurate joints for the last...damn near 10 years, 9 and a half years and I really ain't been tuned into the radio and gettin' a feel of what's really poppin' out there on the commercial tip because, you know, I never really did follow commercial trends, you know, we just happened to be commercialized based on who we was messin' with at the time which was Snoop Dogg, or Snoop Lion I believe he calls himself now, and that put us in the commercial sphere. But the music that I've been hearin' that's been comin' out, man, it's like I ain't really heard nothin' on the West, man, that's really like knockin' no doors down. But, I like that Kendrick Lamar kid...I heard Jay Rock he's pretty much doin' his thing and I'm speakin' as far as new art ists out there. So...I wanna just take it back to our essence and how we get down and be the voice that speaks for the people that live the lifestyle that we known for out here on the West. So, no more of this trying to follow everybody else, you know, sound like these other regions and all that...yeah, man, have y'all fun man 'cause y'all got about another 9 or 10 more months left then it's done.
