What was the inspiration behind the founding of Tru Publishing?

My inspiration came from my love for books and my love for reading.  I know that me being who I am, maybe I can reach out to some of the homeis that really don’t pick up a book or are really not interested in reading.  They can pick up their first novel and be like this is soemtign I love to do.  So I really want to spread literacy.  At the same time Tru Publishign is a big goal because the first step was writing my novel, and the second step was actually publishing it on my own.

A couple of years ago you were charged with second-degree murder and in 2006 that judgment was overturned and you were released to await a new trial.  Did that experience impact your vision for this company?

It definitely did.  You’re sitting all that time, and I like to work 24/7 to at least generate some type of income as far as building my income toward something that really can be an impact in the future.  Coming from all the novels that I did read I just felt like this was the perfect situation for me.  Now that I’m home I’m gonna push it even more and more to get it to where I want it to be.

What are you hoping to bring different to the publishing world?

I just want them to get something different out of each novel.  I don’t want each book to be about the same thing.  I want them to know that when they pick up a Tru Publishing publication that they will get something on a whole other level, and something different than what’s already out there.  It will be quality work from each author.

The first release is Jacki-O’s Grown and Gangsta.  How did you hook up with Jacki-O for this project?

Well it’s a lot of people that reached out and was like, “You’re inspiring me to get into this novel game because there’s a lot that I have to say and a lot I want to put out there.”  So I said, “Okay you have to be real serious with it and put a manuscript together.  Maybe I can do something for you.”  We met doing a song for my album and after that I told her to put the manuscript together.  I really enjoyed it and all we had to do was edit it here and there.

Being that this is the first release for the company it means that you’re trusting this book to represent the company to the fullest.  Why did you choose this as the first release?

The book is a strong read.  I really had a vivid picture of the characters.  One of the guys was Inch and he was a short guy, and African-American with a chip on his shoulder.  I know that there’s one Inch in every family and every hood with a Napoleonic complex.  He’s real rugged and wants to get tough with everybody within striking distance.  It’s just something that everybody can relate to no matter who they are or what place they’re from—it’s the power of friendship, and it was real strong in this book.  It was a really good read and it was really articulate.  So it’s definitely ground breaking for Tru Publishing.

As of now the company’s main focus is on urban fiction.  There’s controversy about urban fiction as sometimes glorifying the hood.  Plus these books aren’t often taken seriously in the mainstream literary world.  How do those views and challenges affect your company?

We’re trying to change that because when you pick up Jacki-O’s new novel and read it—if she wasn’t to tell you that those characters are Black you wouldn’t even notice.  It’s like a 90210 in the hood.  So if it wasn't for us telling you their nationality and telling you about the areas that they live in you wouldn’t know if they were African-American, Caucasian, or any other race.  That’s just the level that they are and that’s the great quality of authors that we’re gonna produce.

So you’re hoping to bring more respect to the world of urban fiction?

I definitely want to do that.  I’m very, very selective of each novel.  I give 125% with picking out each novel and making sure that it’s to the level and capacity that I wanna produce under Tru Publishing.

Aside from hand to hand sales which seems to work best in a genre where word of mouth is key, the internet has increased the amount of authors and publishers with the ability to reach out to readers.  How does Tru Publishingn aim to respond to this trend?

We plan on taking advantage of every aspect.  I sold books on MySpace.  I sold books with Pink Panther and we actually sell books on the corners of hotspots in New York, [New] Jersey, New Orleans, and Texas.  I mean just any type of way that we’re gonna sell them we sell them.  I’m also doing music so we will definitely be promoting the different books that will be coming out at the same time that we’re promoting our music.  So we got one step ahead of the other guys ‘cause I’m already out there with Tru Records.  We have a voice already in the community.   

Are you still turning your own novel, Death around the Corner into a film?

Definitely, definitely, we have some bids on the table.  Actually, Vibe Street Lit is taking care of that.  I had a conference with those guys but if they take too long I’m gonna shoot it down here myself in New Orleans.  I’m gonna give them a couple more months to get it together, but definitely there will be a movie.

In addition to Tru Publishing you have Tru Records.  As someone who helped lay the foundation for independent label success along with your brother. Master P, how do you plan to establish this company in today’s crumbling record industry?

I’m definitely gonna make it succeed because I have a real strong fan base.  What we’ve done with Tru Records is branded it so that anytime someone will see something coming from Tru Records they know it’s gonna be real good material and real quality material.  It won’t really veer from what C-Murder normally does in his music.

So we’re already established as far as in the streets and with corporate markets.  So that’s why we got a great deal with Asylum Records.  That’s the last step so it’s official right now.

What’s gonna be the first release from Tru Records?

It’s actually gonna be my album called Screamin’ 4 Vengeance. 

What can we expect from that album?  It sounds really aggressive.  [Laughs]

[Laughs]  It’s very, very aggressive.  I’m punching all the punches that I need to punch.  There’s a lot going on in hip-hop right now where people feel like they have to watch their language or watch the words that they speak.  I’m not saying that it’s gonna be a vulgar album, but it’s gonna be a free expression album of the feelings that I have.  It’s just gonna be a real record.  

That seems to be the opposite approach of Master P who wants to keep the lyrics clean.  Have you guys had a talk about your different approaches and the state of hip-hop?

No, because he knows how I am.  He knows that I’m a man that likes to stand on my own two feet and hold my own thought.  Since he’s evolved into this person and doing the things that he wants to do that’s fine and dandy.  It’s not me feeling negative or positive about it it’s just me feeling like that’s something that he wants to do.  He has to respect the way that I want to do and run my company and produce my music.  Basically, at the end of the day music is an expression of us and the moods that we have.  If we want to evolve later on in life then give us that chance and opportunity to make that decision ourselves.

What’s the status of your relationship with him now?  Are you two close or do you not communicate as much?

We don’t communicate as much.  I mean he’s on the road all the time in California.  I’m way out here in New Orleans.  But at the end of the day we’re brothers, you know?
 
You were also on the song, “Do Your Time,” with Pimp C and Beans from  Ludacris’ Release Therapy album.  Were you and Pimp C close?  How are you handling his recent passing?

Oh we real close.  I mean when Pimp C came home I was still in my situation.  The first thing he did was reach out to my family and my people that’s close to me out here in New Orleans.  He basically said anything that I needed he was there for me—whatever it took financially, music wise, or business wise.  I can never forget that.  So when he passed it was a real blow to me.  I wasn’t able to make the funeral but I spoke with his mom, his kids, and his wife.  I also did a tribute song for him to celebrate the time that he was here.  I mailed it to his family and I did what I could do.

What do you think of the current music industry crisis?

I think what’s popping off right now where you can really get more money is with the independent market.  But it’s gonna be harder unless you really have a branded label or branded name as far as one of your artists.  So it’s like who you know right now, but you gotta pay your dues.  To go with these major labels you’re not gonna get all of your money.  It’s a declining music sale rate going on this year and the past couple of years.  So you gotta kind of adapt.  That’s why a lot of the other guys are doing clothing lines and doing movies soundtracks.  That’s why I picked up the books and started writing to generate money on some other avenues.  You gotta roll with the times, ya heard me? 

Any further expansions we can expect?

We’re doing a lot.  I got a tennis shoe that’s gonna come out with my album, and it’s called Tru Legend.  It’s gonna be a real hot tennis shoe so definitely be looking for that.  My new artist the Cutt Boyz will be dropping.  Basically that’s what we’re gonna be doing; giving them the hot music and trying to switch the game up.

For more information please visit:
http://www.trupublishing.com/
http://www.truconversations.com
http://www.myspace.com/cmurder