The only thing R&B about me is the fact that I can’t rap—I sing.  I listened to hip-hop growing up and the majority of it was N.W.A.  When it came down to R&B it wasn’t really the R&B of my time, it was the music of my mother and father’s time like Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway.  So I think it’s a mix between hardcore hip-hop and old school R&B, but more on the rap side.

Many of your lyrics talk about life in the ghetto and things of that nature.  I read that your upbringing wasn’t a typical thug story at all.  So what was it about the thug or ghetto lifestyle you identified with so strongly?

I did have hard working parents.  I wasn’t in a single parent household.  I wasn’t living in the projects, but the bottom line is that it was Compton, California.  So regardless of what was happening inside the household, when you step out that was part of your life.  All my friends, cousins, and family members are gang members so naturally everybody had my back.  I never had any one after me.  Those people around me kept me from going off the deep end.

Being that you grew up around a family with many gang members did you fantasize about joining that lifestyle?

Oh yeah, constantly.  It’s like I was around it so much and influenced by the older guys around me.  Bu tthey told me that that life wasn’t for me.  They said, “You can hang with us and do a hustle on the side,” but as far as wearing flags they didn’t let me do it.  Naturally in my neighborhood that’s what everybody wanted to be.  That’s what it was all about.  Our heroes were Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre.  So while they were out on tour talking about it we were there living it everyday.  So life imitates art.

With that said, do you think there’s a greater responsibility for art to put out a different message since it’s so impressionable for young people?

No.  I think that we have responsibility as artists to tell that story just the way that it happened.

You recorded with Cash Money an album entitled Gemini that has never been released.  What led to the fallout?

Basically, I did a three year deal with Cash Money.  They had twelve months to release an album after it was competed.  I completed it during the first year I was there and a year went by and they didn’t drop it.  I stayed another year out of loyalty.  At the end of the third year I just felt like I gave you an extra year to put it out and you ain’t did it yet, so it’s time for me to move on.

Why do you think they slept on you?

Baby always wanted to be an artist and he told me that when I first came.  When his album came out and didn’t do as well as he thought it would do—everything Cash Money had to be attached to Baby.  None of us signed at the time would get our shot and if so it would be a very limited shot.  So it is what it is.  He was the boss, it was his company, and none of the rest of the artists could do anything.  We’re in there doing his album for him and not working on our own. 

Me and [Mannie] Fresh took a week off to do my record.  [Mannie] Fresh had a big hand in me moving over there.  He really wanted an R&B artist if for no other reason than to show his stuff.  That cat is a real musician.  So me coming over allowed him to spread his wings and show what he can do.  He was like “Let’s drop TQ, let’s drop TQ,” and Baby just didn’t want to hear it.  So finally when we did do a single, “One Reason,” Baby ended up taking [Lil’] Wayne off and getting on it himself.  That kind of killed my spirit.

Do you feel that Baby was playing a game of politics and favoritism?

To a certain extent.  I signed to Cash Money after I was a vet.  I had been through ups and downs with record companies so my paper work was right.  I don’t have the same issues with Baby that everybody else has.  Baby don’t owe me a dime.  When I left he had to pay me money.  So my issue was the fact that you wanted three years of my artistic time.  Outside of that I was there and I wrote so many songs for them and I got checks.  So I was able to work and a lot, but on the artist side it leaves a bad taste in my mouth because my fans wanted music from me.

Has he ever apologized to you?

No, he ain’t the kind of person that’s gonna apologize, and it’s not necessary.  What’s done is done.  Every three months I get a publishing check so I really can’t complain too bad.

Do you still talk to that clique now?

Oh yeah.  I’m in touch with everybody.  Baby’s the only one that I don’t have no contact with.  I got love for these cats.  We spent a lot of time together and had a lot good and bad experiences.  They always gonna be my n*****.

Why have you chosen to remain an independent artist?

I’ve done my research and I’ve created enough of a fanbase around the world.  So if I get the lion share of each unit I can make a living and be successful.  I don’t need a major.

You’ve recently branched out into acting as well with four upcoming films.  Which project are you most excited about?

That’s a good question.  I would have to say Oblivious.  I’m excited about the character that I play and I’m excited about the vision for the movie.  One thing about the movie game is that you’re an actor and that’s all the control you have. It’s basically about the director and the editor to make that film do what it’s supposed to do.

It’s not like music where I’m responsible for it from beginning to end.  So I can’t say that I’m so excited about any of them.  I really want people to see that I can act, so I guess I’m excited about all of them then.

You’ve been through many ups and downs.  What was the most difficult challenge for you and how did you persevere?

The lowest point was when I first started out.  I was with a group called Coming of Age, and it was a situation where everything we were doing was to the contrary of what I wanted to do. I think that’s one of the worst things an artist can go through is not having freedom and being themselves.

I think from the business side as an entrepreneur, I put out an independent record right before I left Cash Money.  I did it all by myself.  So many people started hitting me ‘cause they couldn’t find the record—they wanted to buy it and couldn’t find it.  I never want that to happen again.

How is this album a step forward for you?

I think, Paradise,  is musically at a place where I’ve always tried to get to—when you can walk in the studio and do a song, and be completely confident that it will come out the way you want it.  So now there’s no doubt in my mind that I'm a veteran at that.  I think when people listen to this album they’re gonna think the same thing, especially my peers.  I wanna hear what the people in this business got to say about this record.  The fans that have been with me from the beginning—they can gauge your progress.

Any closing words?

I just want to say that, “Paradise,” my single was produced by Static Major who died recently.  So I just want to say rest in peace and I pray for his family.