If time is the ultimate factor that decides who is a survivor in the music industry then Twista can proudly claim victory.  In hip-hop veterans are few and far between.  In our fast-food, give it to me now while it’s hot culture, rappers come and go with the switch of a ringtone.  However with nearly twenty years of experience in the game, Twista continues to forge ahead into the future of hip-hop. 

The Chicago bred rapper recently released his album Adrenaline Rush 2007 which marks ten years since the hit album Adrenaline Rush. 

From his 2004 hit single, "Slow Jamz" to his numerous attention-grabbing featured appearances—Twista continues to create music that makes you feel good while also boggling your mind with his speed racer delivery.

Twista recently slowed down to speak with Sixshot about why low record sales don’t affect him, how he ended his beef with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Treach of Naughty by Nature, his faith, and he addresses rumors of being a gang member, getting kicked off the McDonald’s tour, and why he hasn’t spoken with Kanye West since the unfortunate passing of Dr. Donda West.

With almost twenty years experience in the game how does it feel to still be going?

It feels good and I attribute that to being a true artist.  Some artists come in and they do what they do because they enjoy music.  Some are in it to make money and they really don’t have it in their heart.  I feel like I bring true lyricism and true artistry to the game so I that’s the reason why I’m still around.  It feels good.

Do you consider this album to be part of your evolution in music?

Well more so than an evolution this album is a true to the roots album.  I look at this Adrenaline Rush 2007 album as the closing of that whole Adrenaline Rush chapter.  Now watch how I take it to different heights with all of the stuff I have learned from music.  So Adrenaline Rush 2007 is more so to show you that ten years later, I still can do what I’ve been doing that made you love me.

Your album sales for this album were lower than your previous album.  As an artist concerned with the content and business aspect of your music how much do the low sales impact your artistry?

You gotta watch it.  But when I look and see it happen to so many artists after me, I’m like this is a trend.  If you look at their recent albums the sales are low and it happened to me real hard with this album.  But I’m a little lucky because of how I survive and because people still wanna hear Twista.  I feel like my flow is f****** exciting!  So there’s no way that I’m gonna be an artist that’s gonna turn out to be a failure or not around due to some record sales.  I never paid attention to Soundscan from the beginning.  With the next album it’s a whole new situation and I guarantee that it won’t happen again. 

Earlier this year there was some controversy surrounding your performance as part of a McDonald’s sponsored tour.  McDonald’s eventually decided to drop you from your scheduled performance because they thought your lyrics were “offensive.”  What are your thoughts on that whole experience?

It upset me because I really wanted to do a show for the kids.  I don’t feel like they did their homework as far as how I get down during my performances.  If it’s a nightclub I’m gonna give you the best of Twista in its rawest form.  But I do clean shows when I’m doing something for the public where I know kids and families are involved.  I feel like they missed out on a good opportunity to see what show I was going to do.  So it kind of made me upset.  But at the same time I am a hardcore artist with these lyrics and it is what it is.

Being that McDonald’s dropped you during one of the peaks of a big media debate about hip-hop content, do you think they tried to make an example out of you?

Yeah, they definitely Barry Bonds’ me.  [Laughs] They’re coming at so many people and so many people are starting to be made an example out of, but we just gotta keep our head up and do what we do.  I been a chameleon for all these years so I know how to adapt to my surroundings and still get mine off.  So I gotta roll with it.

Has the whole experience with McDonald’s and the hip-hop content debate made you think twice about the content of your lyrics?  Have you looked at your lyrics to see if there is perhaps something you are saying that is inappropriate?

No, and the reason I say no is because I didn’t make my music for that platform or just to do that one show.  I definitely have songs that I do that are more family-friendly like "Hope". But I make feel-good music.  If you wanna stomp, throw your hands up, move your shoulders, be crunk, whatever you wanna do—I make the music to make you feel-good.  That’s why I called the album Adrenaline Rush 2007 because it’s like, “Whoooooooo, damn he’s saying some raw shit!”  I feel like people who don’t fully understand the culture won’t understand that we said “I got a hundred b****** in the room,” just because it’s some ill s*** to say.  They don’t understand that so I make my music for people that love the culture. 

Is it true that you and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are set to record an album together?

Yes, we definitely got to get down.  We’ve been working on separate things, but now that 2008 is coming up we gotta get in real hard so we can finish that project.  I know the people want to hear it and I got tracks picked out.  They got tracks picked out.  So when we get in at the top of 2008 it’s gonna be crucial.

I know that in the past you released some diss tracks against Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.  So how did you bury the hatchet with the group?

Well it happened two ways.  One of the ways was that me and Layzie have a mutual friend from the Midwest.  He was like, “What?!  Man, I gotta jump in and get ya’ll together on a track.”  So he got me and Layzie in the studio and me and we buried the hatchet on all of that early back then.  Then we got together for the "Spit Your Game" video with Swizz Beatz.  Once we did that video, we just chopped it up real good and said, “Let’s go ahead and do this group thing.”I was like, “Ya’ll be missing one member sometimes so let me jump in that spot.” So it’s like [being] an honorary member of Bone [Thugs-n-Harmony] for a minute.  So we’re gonna do a super album and drop something.

Have you also buried the hatchet with Treach of Naughty by Nature who once said your style was all show and no content?

Damn I ain’t know he said all that!  [Laughs]  But we saw each other when we took that big picture with all the rappers for XXL.  I ran into Treach right there and we talked and everything.  He just had his daughter and I congratulated him.  So we definitely chopped it up.  Back then me, Bone, Treach, and a lot of us rappers that had that fast style wanted to be first ones or the ones to own that style.  We had no idea that it would blow up and be as big as it is to where you got so many other rappers doing it now.

In some of your early work there are various praises of Islam and you were said to be a Muslim at the time.  Do you still identify as such?

Yeah, but by being a person who is of peace.  I don’t follow every practice on a day-to-day basis.  I feel like I’ve elevated to another level when it comes to religion, my understanding of life, and the spiritual being.  But as far as being a Muslim by heart, yes—I’m one who is of peace on that level.  But I’m on another level when it comes to my beliefs as far as religion, God, and science.

How do you describe that level?

I would describe it as a logical bridge between science and religion that makes sense for the common sense person.

I read a rumor that you are or once were a 4 Corner Hustler from K-Town in West Chicago?  Any truth to that?

No.  [Laughs]  That’s funny right there.  You’re definitely gonna hear a lot of those rumors because of the company that I kept coming up as an artist.  So you’ll definitely hear that but it ain’t true.  But I got people around me that are [members]. 

Some years ago when Damon Dash was with Roc-A-Fella had decided to make you an honorary member.  Do you still feel as if you’re an honorary member despite the recent changes and past conflicts?

Yeah definitely.  The reason I say that is because if any of the artists that’s on Roc-A-Fella gave me a call to do anything then I’m gonna be there for them.  We did a whole tour together.  So when you do a tour together with somebody for a whole month you definitely get to know people.  So I still consider myself an honorary member.

Is it true that you’ll be leaving Atlantic Records for a deal with Def Jam?

Damn, I ain’t heard that one.  Who knows though?  The world may never know.  I haven’t heard that one.  I can’t even lie.  So that’s what’s in the air, huh?!   [Laughs]

So you’ll be with Atlantic for the next album?

I don’t know.

You’re close to the Kanye West camp.  So have you been in-touch with him following the unfortunate passing of his mother?

I haven’t spoken with him personally since then.  I did get to make the funeral. I sent flowers and my sympathy and condolences.  But we haven’t sat down and really chopped it up.  Plus I like to give the person that initial space because that type of thing scares me a little.  I gotta be comfortable [with] myself to be around the person.  So when the time is right we’ll get together and talk.

What led to the formation of your own label, Get Money Gang?

I just wanted to get back into that whole field.  I had got away from it for a minute because I didn’t like the way certain business was going.  I just focused on my career for a minute.  But I wanted to get back to it because I had so many people around me that were trying to get on and do their thing.  I was like, “Okay let’s go ahead and do this Get Money Gang thing.”  We wanted to make a way for some of the guys that’s about to come out that I feel are real hot to represent the city to the fullest.

What’s up next for Twista and the Get Money Gang?

We got the single "Money to Blow", and it’s blowing up in Chicago.  So that’s one of the first things we got coming.  You’re gonna hear my man Scooter, coming out of Chicago.  I feel like these guys that say they’re coming with these lyrics are gonna have to step it up when they hear Scooter. 

Since I’m inspired by the album title tell us what gives you an adrenaline rush?

A fatty.  When I say fatty that could be a blunt or an ass.