Medina: What’s poppin’?

SANI-G: This music. We grinding in 05.

Medina: What does your name mean?

SANI-G:  Sani is my given name, Hasani. Where I’m from any nigga that's “g’d” (gangsta disciple, growth and development) is a g.

Medina: What was your first Hip Hop experience?

SANI-G: My first Hip-Hop experience was bout '85,'86 when I was a shorty.  My older sister used to play UTFO, Run DMC, Melle Mell, and all that classic shit. I used to memorize the lines and spit it back like they did.

Medina: How old were you when you decided to pursue this?

SANI-G: I've been flowing since I was in grade school. They used to have the circles on lunch hour, freestylin’. Back when Moe Dee and LL used to go at it, but I have been recording seriously for about 2 1/2 - 3 years.

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. ass=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Medina: When I think of Gary, Indiana- I always associate it with singers. Tell me about the Hip Hop market in Indiana.

SANI-G:  Hip Hop is big in the Northwest Indiana-Chicago land area. We been along the ride for the past 20 years like everybody else. Niggaz have their groups, albums out and everything, it's just that's its always local. In the past, niggaz have not been able to get any national attention from the majors. I plan to change the game along w/ a couple other underground giants you might not heard of yet.

Medina: How difficult was it to get started?

SANI-G: I had to focus and go extremely hard just to get anybody to listen, being from where I'm from. I spit flame though, so once real niggaz got an earful it was on & poppin’, I started moving these mix tapes like a-1 dope.

Medina: How did you hook up with Rob N Hood Records?

SANI-G: Jedi is my nigga from way back. I always rapped, but when I got serious just happened to be a time when he had the mix tape game in his pocket, so it was only logical for us to hook up try and make something happen.

Medina: I read somewhere that you attended Central State- How important was that for you to accomplish?

SANI-G: Very important. For some reason niggaz look at being educated as being unimportant or being soft. NIGGAZ STUPID AS HELL. Growth and development encourages education. Better yet, it is required.  I'm a hood nigga, for real. Nothing fake, nothing phony. College cool, I went to an all black school. Central State. I'm a smart nigga. Classes were a breeze, bad bitches from around the map, parties all the time, liquor, weed. Everything you'll see on the block. Bitches fighting, niggaz fighting, stabbing, shooting. My first year in school this nigga from Florida got shot in the neck in this big ass fight. I personally have beaten the hell outta countless niggaz around the yard. niggaz was and is still GETTING MONEY. That's all I'll say on that subject. But on a positive note, it teaches you how to hustle on another level and that's real.

Medina: What is your degree in?

SANI-G: Business naturally. I need money.

Medina: Let’s get into this mix tape album- You have an impressive 29 cuts. How long did it take you to complete your project?

SANI-G: I did the project in about 3 months… about 4 or 5 tracks were songs I recorded previously for other projects.

Medina: If you had to create a definition for your rhyme style what would it be? And Why?

SANI-G: Real Rap. I haven't watched “Menace to Society” and decided to write imaginary raps. I talk about everyday shit young, black niggaz in the city have to go through, no matter if they’re hustling, working a “9 to 5”, whatever… I try to make my niggaz feel me like Pac and Big used to do.

Medina: How similar is the contents of this album to you and your life?

SANI-G: It's damn near an autobiography!  Stuff I've witnessed, stuff I've done, and stuff I still do.

Medina: You have some heavy hitters featured on your album (50, Shawnna, Young Buck and Devin) How did you hook up with them? How was it working with them?

SANI-G: Jedi hooked up the Devin and the Shawnna verses. He asked me who i wanted to do a track with. I said Devin… that's a real down south nigga I respect.  Shawna gave us a verse for this Midwest compilation Jedi did. The 50 and Buck verses are a blend from another freestyle they did.

Medina: You have a song titled “What you call real” so… what do you call real?

SANI-G: Life and it's experiences is real. My drive to be successful is real.

Medina: Is there anyone that you have not worked with that you may be interested in ? Who and why?

SANI-G: I respect so many artist in the game from; Jada to TI, to Scarface. Bun B, Ball, Jg and Buck,.....I would work with any of them.

Medina: You guys (Rob N Hood) have moved some good numbers on the underground circuit are any major labels trying to get at you?

SANI-G:  Yeah we've been in talks with several of the majors, but right now we're looking for the right distribution situation.

Medina: Would you sign with a major?

SANI-G:  Yeah, if it was the right situations for the label.

Medina: What’s next for SANI-G? Tours, concerts etc…

SANI-G: Right now I'm doing the club circuit, but if a nigga want me to do a concert tour or open up, I'm on it. I'm grinding…making these mix tapes and continuously trying to get this money. My album is due out later this year.

Medina: I wish you much continued success. Thanks for taking the time out for me.

SANI-G: Thank you.