What’s the definition of real hip-hop? Is it music that can make everybody dance in the club? Is it a song that you can bump in your car radio while cruising down the ave? It’s a question that has been asked and debated about since hip-hop’s birth. Will we ever find an answer? Absolutely not. But one rapper who embodies hip-hop in its purest form is Boston’s own Big Shug.

Not having many advantages such as being from Boston, a place that has never had a breakthrough hip-hop act or not being embraced by major record labels has never stopped Shug from putting out classic material. An underground legend, Shug has worked with a who’s who of MC’s and has even worked with the iconic DJ Premier.

He has released material that would make even the most die-hard hip-hop purist proud. He travels the U.S. and overseas touring. People know who Big Shug is. Sixshot.Com caught up with Shug to discuss our newest president, Boston hip-hop, and working with DJ Premier.

Sixshot.Com: Shug I’m going to start by asking you how you felt about the election and Obama being out next president.

Big Shug: I’m going to give you the obvious answer man. That shit was incredible. It’s amazing that we got to live long enough to see a lot of things happen. First we had a black governor in Boston, Mass, which was great. Bos ton won the World Series and now we got a black president so it’s like everything is crazy, you know what I’m sayin’? (Laughs) It’s a great time and if you believe you could achieve. Obama is bringing a lot of hope to a lot of people and a lot of children. I believe he’s going to do a lot of good in office so this is a beautiful thing man.

Sixshot.Com: Boston has this tight knit hip-hop community and you guys aren’t putting out the stuff we’re hearing on the radio. You guys are making that grimy, 90’s sounding hip-hop. Why would you say Boston is like a hotbed for that raw hip-hop right now?

Big Shug: What it is is that a lot of things are coming to the forefront now you know? I think I’m really like a catalyst for that because when I do my projects I always make sure that I incorporate artists and producers from Boston on there. One key in this business to having that notoriety, that nationwide buzz or whatever whether you have good music or not is just being focused, you know what I’m saying? Of course you need good music and I wouldn’t ever put out anything wack but focus is big man. If you can focus and sidestep all the bullshit then you can really start to break through and that’s what is happening for us right now. It’s a good opportunity for dudes like Termenalolgy, myself, Singapore, and other producers and artists to get heard.

Sixshot.Com: Why do you think Boston has been slept on for so long though?

Big Shug: Number one is that people on the forefront never stepped back to help anybody else from here. There was a lot of resistance to hip-hop over here. I think even the government and politicians didn’t want it over here. A lot of people are sticking to it though so as they stick to it we’re able to pass by a lot of the bullshit that goes on. That’s where it is right now.

Sixshot.Com: In your opinion, do you ever think we’ll see a multi platinum, mainstream artist come out of Boston?

Big Shug: Rap wise?

Sixshot.Com: Yeah.

Big Shug: I don’t know about that because I could name a whole lot of cities that have a hot scene but the artists aren’t really going to get that chance. If you had a Boston cat that was copycatting and rhyming through the machine and doing all the things these people do then it could happen but I feel like we’re more at the core of hip-hop over here. Boston is real grass roots man. I mean we’re not even that far from New York. Look at a dude like Nelly. He did his thing and then after him it was pretty much a wrap. We ain’t see too many new cats from there break through to the mainstream. I’m not going to say it can’t happen because it could and anything is possible but I wouldn’t say it’s something that’s going to happen soon given the fact of how the business is right now.

Sixshot.Com: After working with Premier is it hard to work with other producers given his abilities?

Big Shug: Nah not really because all your beats can’t be Prewmier beats you know? You need that diversity in your music. Even when top rappers used Premier it wasn’t all about Premier. It was two or three tracks. I might get other beats and run it by him and a lot of times he’s feeling it. On my projects I get beats from everywhere and so long as it’s hot then I’m good to go. I wouldn’t say I’m spoiled with it because I know what I’m looking for when I’m picking my beats. I put all my projects together and I know that I need that balance on my stuff. There’s no singing and no voice boxes or nothing like that. That’s why I have no problem working with other producers when they bring me that real hip-hop sound.

Sixshot.Com: It seems like we’re at a point where being an indie artist can actually be beneficial to the artist. Do you enjoy being an indie artist and all the freedom that comes with it?

Big Shug: It’s good but I would definitely like to be in a situation where I had more money because I could use that push. If my projects got that push then I would be good. That push is the only thing stopping me from being a platinum artist. I get royalties from songs that get played all over the world and I got a video on the net that millions of people viewed and that’s independent so if I had that money behind me then it would be even bigger. It is what it is man. I never really complain about nothin’ and I just keep my cool wit mines. It would be nice to have more money behind what I’m doin’.

Sixshot.Com: If you were in a major situation what would you do differently?

Big Shug: Nothing. It would all be a money thing. It wouldn’t be a situation where I’ll drop something and people would hear it a year later. It would drop and more people would get it. I go a lot of places man; a lot of towns and people know me. I’ll go into a jazz club in Boston and the jazz fans will know who I am. I’ll be in the suburbs buying sneakers and shopping or whatever and there will be people that know me out there. If I were major the shit would be ridiculous. There are two sides to the coin though because I’m always on tour and I see these bands that ain’t major that sell out these little venues and they are always touring and constantly making money.

Sixshot.Com: Would you say there’s a big difference between performing overseas and performing here?

Big Shug: Yeah but it depends. Overseas they just go with the music and like they really love it. If they like it they like it and that’s why a dude like me does so well over there. There are top rappers here who don’t do as well over there as I do. It’s a connection with the music. They’re more appreciative.

Sixshot.Com: All right Shug give us the rundown, what do you have coming up?

Big Shug: The album been out for a minute. It’s that real hip-hop. I got them raw raps. I got them storytelling raps on there. It’s the whole package, you know? I got Freddie Foxxx on there. I got Termanaology and Billy Danze coming through on there. The Singapore Kane album is coming out. My son Little Shug is doing his thing as well. I’m cookin’ up the stew man and just keepin’ it going.

Sixshot.Com: Anything you’d like to say to the fans out there?

Big Shug: Cop the album and thank you for all the love and support that I get. Support hip-hop. Support that real hip-hop. If you like that pop stuff on the radio. If you like that backpacking it doesn’t matter just support hip-hop.