Sixshot: When you came out with your first solo project you made a tremendous impact on the west. Now how do you feel about being signed to Cash Money Records in the south?

TQ: Ah man its lovely they showed me southern hospitality. They opened up their homes, their cars and their lives. If I had to be anywhere outside of the west coast it would be right here.

Sixshot: Tell us about your new project that is in the works.

TQ: The name of the new project is Gemini, it should be out July 16 and it’s hot to death. It’s a little bit different from my other alums in that it is a little more traditional R&B. Its a lot more sangn' on it and I wanted to shake the rapper label that many people have put on me; cause I'm not a rapper by a long shot.

Sixshot: You say you are not a rapper yet you posses the lyrical ability that most R&B cats don't have. How do you try to incorporate this ability into your songs and make yourself stand out above just being an R&B singer?

TQ: I think that it’s the lyrics that really make me sound like a rapper. But you know if it were up to me I would just do what I do best and that's me. What I am is a serious rap fan who sings and I think it comes across natural when I’m just being myself natural. But at the same time I'm an R&B cat, that's the kind of music I do, R &B, and for whatever reason they decide think you are something else. Therefore its important that you know who you are and who you are gonna portray. So with this album I just tried to make sure that at the end of the day everybody knows that I can sing my ass off.

Sixshot: Are there any individuals who you would like to do a collaboration with but did not get the opportunity to do so?

TQ: Dr. Dre, its been a long time coming but I know its gonna happen

Sixshot: Your last albums primarily hit a target audience of males. Do you have more ballads on this album to capture a female fan base, which is characteristic of most R&B singers?

TQ: Yeah, a lot of the songs on the album are ballads and are geared more towards the women than the men. But at the same time I didn't want to alienate the fans that bought my shit the first time around who expect some gangsta shit. The way the album is set up I start with 2 or 3 songs on the block hustl'n, then we move to the love making music for the ladies for about 6 or 7 songs, then at the end of it we go to 2 or 3 more joints where we are back on the corner hustln'. I think it really represents the Gemini aspect in having a different vibe than my first album. It also represents where I'm coming from, what I'm doing now, and what I’m going back to.

Sixshot: What impact did your first single 'Westside Till I Die' have on your career in terms of exposing you to the world?

TQ: That was a big song around the world, it really gravitated me. I think they took their own meaning to it. All the song was trynna say is that there is no place like home. Somebody from down south or from Africa could have made the song and plugged their own hood. It was my testament at the time and it gained me a whole lot of respect because of the no holds bared doesn’t give a fuck attitude that I had at the time. Its kinda cocky coming with something like that representing your area that tough on an R&B record as your first record.  A lot of people would think that they would ruin their record career by doing that, but I had a plan. I had something to say and I said it like I meant it and I didn't care if they accepted it or not. Like it or not they respected it.

 Sixshot: Your style has been compared to Nelly’s in that people both consider you guys “sing song rappers.” Did the success of his album and the lack of success of your album disappoint or affect you in any way?

TQ:  No case I knew what it was about. The reason why my record did not sell that well was because I was with the wrong record company. My record was not the strength of the record company that I was with, but part of that was on me cause I had an extensive shopping process before I even signed the deal. But I went to Epic cause they offer me the most money, I made a mistake cause I didn't do my research. I can almost guarantee that if my record would have came out on another label like Def Jam or Universal it would have did big numbers because they specialize in selling that type of record where as Epic is a more pop or rock oriented label. That's really what it was about and I understood that so it didn't really bother me cause I made the decision to go there in the first place. It was a mistake.

Sixshot: Do you fear that you will be labeled as a hook man like Nate Dogg and people will feel that you cannot hold your own for an entire album?

TQ: A lot of people say that, but that's the kinda stuff that motivates me. A spark like that just elevates our work ethic to go into the studio and put out the best possible album. I think a lot of people are gonna be shocked by this album and if you can get them with shock you got'em forever.

Sixshot: How did the deal come about to acquire you from Epic?

TQ: Me, Baby, and Slim actually talked about the move three years before it happened around when my first record dropped. The record was hot out here, but it was also hot in New Orleans and I didn't know. They came to LA and Baby was on the radio and was like we looking for TQ. I didn't hear it but people I knew did and everybody started to hit me up. So we met and sat down to discuss how they were feeling my music. This helped to establish a relationship. From then on I kept them updated on my situation.

Sixshot: Where you surprised at the fact that your record did so well overseas?

TQ: Yeah it surprised me first and foremost cause the first song I did was about my neighborhood and I did not expect people to accept it as much as they did. Especially in places like Germany where they can't speak a lick of English, but can quote all the words to Westside till I die. It just blew my mind.

Sixshot: How do you write your songs, do you first hear the beat then write to it or vice-versa?

TQ: It always happens differently, sometimes I already have the melody and other times I just go by what Fresh lays down.

Sixshot: Cash Money is a label that is involved in many aspects of entertainment, for example movies. Will we see TQ in any movies?

TQ: Yeah, I have a role in Baller Block’n II.

Sixshot: When are we going to see you on tour?

TQ: Right now the focus is on dropping the new album. But after Cash Money drops the next couple of albums and put the best foot forward you will see everybody in the family come together to make that hot blockbuster tour, with the big explosions and all the bells and whistles. As far as myself, I’m taking it back. I got a six-piece band and a microphone.

Sixshot: Can you tell us why you chose to have a six-piece band?

TQ: I’ve been performing with a band ever since I started singing. I feel that that’s the way R&B and soul should be performed. Live music plays such a big part in great songs and in the songs on this album. On the album its a lot of live bass and guitar, it has a real good vibe to it, so no to perform with a live band would be a mistake.

Sixshot: Will you make another appearance on the Up in Smoke Tour?

TQ: I would love to, because that was definitely my most memorable experience and probably the highlight of my career so far in respect to the fans being out there and supporting. But at the same time I am a part of the Cash Money family now, so it Cash Money first. I know that the Up in Smoke Tour is synonymous with the west coast now and I really should be involved, but we’ll see how it goes. If my family needs me its gonna be no question as to where I’ll be, but if my family feels that it will be a good thing and Dre is down with it, Hell Yeah.

Sixshot: We have seen you do a lot of collaborations with male artists, are we going to see you do any duets with some female artist?

TQ: I want Mary J. Bliege, that’s who I have my eyes on, that’s who I want to do a song with. I think she encompasses the essence of ghetto soul and we would make a good song together.

Sixshot: Did you feel pressure from Epic on your first album to expand your self and start dancing because you were an R&B singer; because we saw several artists like Tyrese start off dancing?

TQ: Yeah I think that was what Epic wanted me to do, but I don’t fuck with dancing that ain’t my style.

Sixshot: Thanks for the interview