In life, no matter what you do, everything always ends up being a competition. You may not think about it, but regardless of whatever you do, you’re always competing against someone else, and reality shows have become the pinnacle when it comes to separating the triumphant from those who have fallen short of their goals.

It doesn’t matter what television station you turn to, because most likely they’re all going to have a show on there that pits people against one another. But what the public hasn’t seen, is a reality show that’s strictly based on the Internet, lucky for reality show junkies, Loud Records has already staked their claim in that department.

A few months ago, the record company that once harbored groundbreaking Hip-Hop acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, The Beatnuts, and M.O.P., hosted an online reality contest with unsigned artists where they had to complete various tasks in order to fatten their bank accounts by making them $100,000.00 richer and obtaining that ever-elusive record contract.

When the smoke cleared, an MC from Los Angeles named Tha Crow claimed the hard-fought victory. Before he initially won the entire contest, he placed first in his bracket of the SRC/Loud.com 'Search For Hip-Hop’s Next Superstar', which earned him $25,000.00 payday. Now with a record deal securely in place, respect from his peers, and a 6-figure num ber guaranteed to show up when he gets his monthly bank statement in the mail, the man who represents the Sunshine State is ready to make his dream a reality.              

SixShot.com: Where are you from?

Tha Crow: I’m from LA…

SixShot.com: How was it like growing up there?

Tha Crow: It was hard growing up as a kid man, because you’d see a lot of stuff you’re not supposed to see. My parents tried to blind me from some stuff, but I saw a lot of things out there man. It’s really hard living.

SixShot.com: When did you first get into Hip-Hop?

Tha Crow: I actually got into it like back in the old days. My uncles were straight Hip-Hop heads, so they were into the Fat Boys, Slick Rick, The Beastie Boys, and all of that. Basically all the sh*t that was running New York before N.W.A. got it popping out here. I grew up in a world of rap, just from them doing their thing, and when it came to the West Coast, I started venturing out on my own. Then when I got to Jr. High, they’d beat on the lunchroom tables and people would be rapping and sh*t. I was just amazed how people could just freestyle like that off the head and say some sick sh*t. And from there, I fell in love with Hip-Hop.

SixShot.com: So what made you decide to try out for the Loud Competition?

Tha Crow: This is gonna be some cold sh*t when I tell you this: I was actually at the studio working on one of my projects, and while I was there, I ran into my business partner. Then when I saw him, he was like, “Yo dawg, don’t be mad at me, don’t be mad at me.” [Laughs] So I was like, “Why would I be mad at you for?” Then he told me that he entered me into a rap battle contest. So when he said “battle,” I was like, “Come on man, all that battling sh*t is old!” To be battling another n*gga in the street, that sh*t is old, and you’re not going to get anywhere with that sh*t.

So I was a little upset at that, but he said that it was something totally different, and he told me to go to the web page and check it out and look at all the producers that I’m going to be getting beats from. So from there, I was thought it was fly, because it was basically like putting up your own demo. So if it weren’t for him, I would’ve never entered the contest.      

SixShot.com: Were you ever at ease during the competition, or were you always nervous?

Tha Crow: Nah, I’m hustler. I had a 9-5 [job], but I don’t like working for people, so I’m really not a “9-5 guy.” So whatever I have to do to get my grind right, I’ll do that. All you have to do is take the same work ethic that you have on the street, and put it into the [music] business. So I was on some; “No sleep until I get sh*t right, and go for the gusto.” I was just going hard and going for broke. So for me every task was nothing really. It was all about out hustling the next man.  

SixShot.com: When somebody completed a task before you, did ever you think to yourself like, “DAMN!” [Laughs]

Tha Crow: Yeah, that was one thing that I was thinking about. It’s like having the best product on the block, and the next n*gga around the corner got that good sh*t, and you sitting back with a bag of dirt. You’re going to be like, “Damn, I wonder how much this mothaf*cka on the corner made today, cause people been bumping this n*gga all day!” That how it goes down, because I know every other contestant on the last challenge was thinking that too. Whenever the judges gave somebody their props, you would feel like that. I just had to push harder, so basically LOUD.com had me on steroids for the whole competition.  

SixShot.com: So what exactly did you win?

Tha Crow: I got a record deal and $100,000.00…

SixShot.com: You already won $25,000.00 prior to the $100,000.00. So is all of it going towards your music, or did you spoil yourself a little?

Tha Crow: The first time I won the $25,000.00 was when I was in the finals. I was the first person to win the 25 Grand and then be put in the finals and win the 100 Grand.

SixShot.com: Your luck has been looking up lately then huh? [Laughs]

Tha Crow: Yeah, pretty much… [Laughs] When they gave me the 25 Grand—that was last year. They gave it to me up at the radio station. People like DJ Quik and Felli Fel were up there too. It was a beautiful night that night, because everybody was there that night. They gave me the money right there, but I had to still keep grinding, you know what I mean? Even though I made it to the finals, I couldn’t just sit back and not do anything. I had to keep grinding, keep putting in work, keep putting up YouTubes, promoting, and everything else. What Steve Rifkind and LOUD.com did was actually teach you on how to run a business, and let you know it’s a 24/7 hustle and that you really don’t have any time to sleep. 

SixShot.com: Aren’t worried about just being labeled as a “reality show rapper”?

Tha Crow: Nah, because the streets chose me… The amount of work that LOUD.com had us put in, they made us go to the clubs, they made you go and sell your songs on iTunes, they made you go and build your own street team, and made you pass out your own flyers. So the streets chose me. I have no problem with somebody coming up with a f*cked-up opinion or something that one of these burned-out rappers might say. I’m a ‘hood n*gga for sure, and if you come see me, you’re going to see me for what I am. I’m all about my business, and I’m the real deal, for sure.