What defines a man? Is it the amount of wealth he achieves in his lifetime? Or is it the personal struggles he goes through, while still managing to attain his goals?

The definition of a man can be measured by a wide variety of things, but when your name is Dwight “Beanie Sigel” Grant, you’re a living testament to adversity, and knowing how to take the good with the bad.

By now, everyone knows about the break up of Roc-A-Fella (unless you’ve been living under a rock). But what the media wasn’t focused on was the unraveling of one of The Roc’s star artists.

From being incarcerated, to facing personal family tragedies, to brushes with death; there isn’t much that Beanie Sigel hasn’t faced in his lifetime.

While other artists rap about fantasy worlds, “Sig” has kept us in-tune with reality, and issues that effect the lives of people everyday. His brand of emotional heart-felt rhymes is only matched by the likes of Hip-Hop legend, Scarface.

Now, after a decade in the spotlight, (either good or bad) the man known as “The Broad Street Bully” seems more content on moving ahead towards the future, but he still keeps his past very close to his soul. 

What’s good Beans, it’s Serge from SixShot.

Six Shot Shooter..

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. ONG>[Laughing] So why name this the album The Solution? I know all your titles have a meaning behind it. What’s the meaning behind this one?

I named it The Solution because to me, it is the solution to a lot of the music out there. It’s real music that the people can enjoy. As for Hip-Hop, it’s cool right now, but it’s also watered down. As for lyrics and production, everything sounds the same. And this is the solution for you to be able to listen to real music. And listen to a whole album in its entirety, and just giving the consumers their money’s worth.

What was the creative process like working with Jay-Z again? Did you feel at home?

I mean yeah. You know, it’s always good to be home, and I’m real comfortable right now, know what I’m saying. So it feels real good.

All of your past albums have been successful. Did you feel any pressure to keep that consistent when you made this record?

Nah man, not really. Because I didn’t really do nothing special on none of my albums. I didn’t say things like; “ok, I’m gonna do this, and I’m gonna do that to make sure this album is right.” I just do real music, you know what I mean. I do music from my heart, and I did the same thing on this album, just the same process. But each album is different, because I show growth and elevation. Because I’m growing and I’m elevating, from me coming out with The Truth to right now, which was almost 10 years ago in the making.

10 years ago, I was 23 years old making that music. So as for as the process and everything, I just go in the studio. And I think this album is my best body of work to date, because I was able to record this album at my own merit, at my own pace, and on my own time. Then being able to close the album out, and being able to say; “I don’t have to record no more music, I’m done.” So I’m real comfortable with it.    

A lot of artists don’t wear their hearts on their sleeve as lyrically as you do. Is there any particular reason why you rap with so emotion?

Man, when I go in the booth, I cry for real and all of that. If I’m feeling it on the song, then you’re going to hear it. And to me, that’s what’s lacking in Hip-Hop right now.  That real conviction. I’m true to myself, and I’m true to my music. So when you’re true to your music, you go in there and you’re spitting songs like; "Die" and "Feel It In The Air", I feel that sh*t. And I’m going to deliver it to you from my soul, and that’s coming from the inside.

So I can’t be on there just spitting regular, you know what I’m saying. I don’t do that on purpose, that’s just how it comes out. So that’s how you hear songs like; "What Your Life Like" and "Daddy Where You Been". When I was in the booth, I was crying for real, that’s not no gimmick or nothing. That was real.      

With that said, do you ever worry that your lyrics might go over the heads of some listeners?

I mean; it’s supposed to go over their heads. Because [you] can’t stay in a baby state, as [you] grow and mature, [you’ll] be able to digest it. And that’s what’s good about my music, because I make the music that’s going to be around for while, and for people to go back to and pick up on. So somebody’s going to get it, and that’s all it takes. But with my music, I try not to do that, but sometimes I just can’t help it. Because that’s just the way I write, and that’s how it comes out. I got a few more albums to go, but for my [last] album, everything is going to broken down.       

How do you feel about Hip-Hop right now? What’s one negative thing you’re not feeling about it?

The fact that I can’t buy albums like I used to. Before when albums came out, I could get the Tribe Called Quest, and The Wu [Tang]. I could go out and get like 3 or 4 albums, but now I ain’t got that feeling no more. Because now, albums ain’t albums no more. Now it’s just about that “one single” that gets played in the club, and then the rest of the album be garbage. So it’s like; if you heard the first single, then you heard the whole album.   

So what artists are you into right now?

Right now, I’m loving [Lil’] Wayne, I’m loving Weezy. And I f**k with Jeezy. But right now I’m loving Plies right now.

So does it bother you when some people portray you in a negative light?

Nah, that doesn’t get to me at all. Because it is what it is. Everybody got their own opinions, like I explained that situation and how I felt about it. I shine like a prism, know what I’m saying. So I shine in different light, to different people. So it all depends on how people carry me.   

I can dig that… I also heard you auditioned for the role of The Notorious B.I.G. for the movie Notorious.

Yeah...

How was that experience?

I mean I heard about it, and when I did, I was like; “I need to get that!” So I found out about it, and I went in and did it. When I did hear about it, I was like; “that’s what’s up!” “They’re doing a movie on BIG!” I didn’t really think about trying out. Then I heard that Sean Kingston was supposed to get the role, and then I was like; “WHAT!” No disrespect to Sean Kingston, but nah. Who else could play that role besides Sigel?  

Was there any deciding factors when you made to the decision to release your album under Roc-A-Fella, instead of Dame Dash Music Group, like your previous release?

It was just the right thing to do, all around the board. I couldn’t see myself going to another label this far into my career, know what I’m saying. I’m comfortable with being at the Roc, and being under Jay and working with Jay. So I’m good, I’m at home now.   

So what’s your current relationship with Dame Dash?

Me and Dame [Dash] are cool; I don’t got no problems with Dame.

With all the adversity you’ve faced, how have you stayed focused on music?

I look at it as life. Everybody has their trials and tribulations. If you’re the type of person that can’t deal with that type of stuff, then damn, I feel sorry for you. Anything that was a negative in my life, I always tried to turn it around in my favor, in some type of way.    

How do you think you managed to stay at the top of everyone’s list when speaking of the best MC’s in the game?

I mean, it’s because I do real music. I give you The Truth, and then I give you The Reason behind The Truth. Then I let them know what’s going to be The B. Coming of whatever it is they’re going through. And then I also give them The Solution to it.

[Laughs] I like how you put that together.

Know what I mean? I’m just being real, and I’m giving them real music, man. Like I said; I’m going to make a couple hits that you can party-out to in the club. But I also give you the real, and what’s going on today. When people buy my albums, you hear about what’s going on TODAY. So that’s why you hear life, when you listen to my music. There are a lot more unfortunate people, than there are fortunate people in the world. And that’s who I work for, the less fortunate, man.    

So with all your success, you still represent the people on the unfortunate side of things?

Of course, because that’s where I come from. I have to stay grounded for that, no matter how much money I make. Everybody might not get blessed financially, when you’re less fortunate, there’s more than just finances involved. And I think that’s why people adhere to my music. I’m talking about the kid that doesn’t have a father. That’s where you get the song; "Daddy Where You Been". Or somebody who could’ve have lost someone that was close to their life.

There’s people growing up with all those things, know what I’m saying. Like remembering the days when you had to heat up the house with the oven. Those are the less fortunate. For all the people that have their brothers or sisters in jail, and they’re doing life, know what I’m saying, that’s the less fortunate. So I definitely have to stay grounded, and represent that. I can’t do that. I can’t make those songs that shun that. That’s the past, but that past is what got you to the future. So you can’t front on that, because the future ain’t promised.          

I definitely hear what you’re saying… Speaking of the past, do you ever plan on making music with all the members of State Property again?

Of course man. When everybody is done with their solo projects that they’re doing. Like Freeway, Peedi Crakk, [Omillio] Sparks, Oschino, and the Young Guns. Right now, everybody is doing their solo projects, and doing things on their own. But after that, I would love to go back in the studio and make another State Property album. 

With all the recent success of Roc-A-Fella, is it safe to say you guys are back on top?

I mean right now everybody is doing their own thing, but the Roc will always be number one in my heart, to me. And can’t nobody ever take that from us.

How’s your current relationship with Kanye [West]?

I don’t got no problems with Kanye [West]. Me and Kanye [West] are cool.

Have you ever been comfortable being in the spotlight throughout your career?

It is what it is, you know what I mean. Anybody that’s in the streets; you always feel or think somebody’s watching you. Somebody is always watching you, so it’s all right, it’s all-good.  

So what’s next for Beanie Sigel? Do you plan on running your own label one day?

I’m definitely going to do that. I’m going to get the label, sign artists, and all of that. I’m not going to rap forever, man. I’m going to sit behind a desk.

So we’re going to see Beanie behind a desk one day?

Of Course…