As the undisputed Godfather of Bay Area hip-hop, Too $hort has earned the hip-hop community’s undying respect and admiration. Too $hort’s legendary status is backed up by an incredible track record that spans over twenty years and sixteen albums, ten of which earned gold and/or platinum status.

Born Todd Shaw in Los Angeles, CA the Bay Area rapper spent his formative years learning to navigate survival in the mean streets of LA.

Now he is about to release his new album ” Blow the Whistle” and Sixshot.com had an opportunity to ask him some question.

Sixshot.com: Let me know about your upcoming album Blow the Whistle?
Too $hort: The album is my 16th solo album. The bulk of the album was produced by Lil Jon and Jazze Pha, who where booth making several hit records in the last years. I also have a big record on there that was produced by will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, it features Snoop Dogg the Black Eyed Pease and me on the same song. I also got a duet with David Banner on the album. Basically just the Lil Jon and Jazze Pha aspect is letting everybody know that the album is seriously, you know, it’s going to be a good album.

Sixshot.com: How was i t to work with Lil Jon and Jazze Pha?
Too $hort: Lil Jon pretty much started of working with me, I was like one of the first rappers he did anything with. All he’s early songs were with me. He has been on every of my albums ever since he started his solo thing. This is the first time I had him work on the entire album.

It’s cool, me and Lil Jon are quick in the studio, we don’t have to do much talking, he pretty much knows how to produce me.

Sixshot.com: Did you all work together on the tracks or how did that work?
Too $hort: First I worked with Jazze on the first half of the album and then I waited for Lil Jon, his schedule was pretty busy last year that’s why I had to wait for a while. Lil Jon was all over the world last year, like he didn’t get one day off, ever. I finally slowed him down and we seat together and did about 10 songs. Of the 10 songs there is like 6 on the album, there are some really good songs that for various reasons did not make in on the album. They will come out sooner or later…I am sure.

Sixshot.com: When did you discover that “biiiiiiiiioooootch” is your favorite word?
Too $hort: I discovered it probably around 1982. I was in high school. You know how you get Snoop Dog and other guys saying “biiiiiiiiioooootch”? It’s because they grew up as little kids listening to Too $hort. When someone asked Snoop Dog he said that he grew up listening to Too $hort and when they pushed him for the first time in front of a microphone as a solo artist, they turned on the mic and the first word that came out of Snoop’s mouth was “biiiiiiiiioooootch”.

I think anybody that is listening to Too $hort could answer that question for you, what’s Too $hort’s favorite word? “biiiiiiiiioooootch”.

In the recent years dozens and dozens of rappers and comedians, singers, sitcoms are using the word. I have been hearing people saying “biiiiiiiiioooootch” on talk shows, everywhere….

Sixshot.com: How do you think your music changed since your first album dropped in 1986?
Too $hort: Actually I am from that 1970 funk area with Funkadeli and Dr. Funkenstein. If you are listening to the first Too $hort album that went national “Born to Mack”, if you listen to the second, the third and then you skip all the way to the last two or tree albums I made, if you tune my voice out and just listen to the music; It hasn’t changed one bit. It is the same sound.

Sixshot.com: How do you think the Hip-Hop Game has change since then?
Too $hort: As far as being a rapper, I am trying to adjust my rap style to the beats. Fresh and current, and you know, this new album that I am releasing right now, one thing that you can say about the music is that it’s a little faster then what I usually do.

Sixshot.com: That is probably the Lil Jon influence….

Too $hort: Yes, that would be the Lil Jon influence, speed it up a bit. You know, I pretty much keep it on cruise control. I am not really evolving fast, there where very, very, very slow changes in my style over the years and the Too $hort approach to making music.

Sixshot.com: Who do you want to do a collaboration with next?
Too $hort: First In line, I am looking for Missy Elliott. I have been looking for her. I haven’t been able to slow her down yet enough. I am also trying to get together with OutKast.

Sixshot.com: Freddy B. is your homie from the early days. When you where 14 you basically started your career with him. Do you still hang out or work with Freddy B?
Too $hort: Yeah, Freddy B. is my homie for life. The only reason I ended up being a solo artist, was because when we came out of high school he went straight to jail. When he came out of jail, I remember, we wanted to work together again but then he went back to jail. When he got out the second time, I was a platinum artist and we where too far apart to get back together. He is always showing up at big parties or events that I am doing in the Bay Area. We show each other love and I broth him back in the studio a few times. He has been on a couple of my albums.

Sixshot.com: What happened to the record label Dangerous Music, that you founded 1986?
Too $hort: Over the years I have renamed my company three times.  From Dangerous Music it went to Short Records and now it’s called Up All Night Music.

Sixshot.com: What are your thoughts on the young cats in the Bay with the whole “Hyphy Movement”?
Too $hort: I think that it’s an exciting thing, very energetic; it’s all about the dance floor and dancing.

I am concerned with the business factor of it. It’s all fun and games, they are partying and dancing the streets. If you want to get a record deal or you want to set up some units to get some money, you got to go to work. I am just out there trying to motivate the gangsters and tell them that it’s all about the hustle. They got a good thing going everybody is interested in the movement, but you got to make some money from it.

I am watching the guys in Atlanta, they invented the Crunck, they make money out of it, they capitalize on it, and they are not letting it get away. I want the Hyphy to be the same way.

Sixshot.com: How long do you plan to stay in the game?
Too $hort: Until somebody like you calls me and says “can you pleas stop rapping”.

Sixshot.com: The World Cup is going on right now, do you have a favorite team?
Too $hort: I would say that I like to see Brazil win because they have so many pretty women; it’s just a nice thing to see them celebrate. I am more interested in their fans.

*Disclaimer: Exclusive Too $hort interview and text was conducted by SixShot.com.  No part of this interview may be duplicated without written permission from SixShot.com.  The interview content or text layout may not be altered in any shape or form.