West Coast hip-hop may not be in top form but it’s easy to see that it’s on the rise once again. With Game, Cali’s most recognizable MC getting ready to drop his highly anticipated third album and a slew of independent artists finally getting some shine, it seems that it’s only a matter of time before Cali is back on top.

One group, however, seems to be leading the pack.They are a group that focuses on lyricism and with three members all delivering in their own style you can always count on originality. This group is called Custom Made.

Compared to everybody from Wu-Tang to N.W.A., Custom Made has turned their grind into a loyal following and a deal with Babygrande Records. With a buzz that is reaching all over the United States and beyond and talent to spare, C-Made just might be the next best thing in hip-hop.

Sixshot.com caught up with the California trio to discuss what they are bringing to the music industry, comparisons to other groups, and of course, West Coast hip-hop.

What's up fellas, what's good?

Scoobs: Just out here running wild, making this music, getting this paper and fucking these bitches. Original Dynasty is in stores now so we’re just pushing with this project. 

Alright, so how was Cust om Made formed?

Scoobs: Custom Made was formed during our last years of high school.  We met while going to school together and started the group after having a mutual respect for each other as emcees.  We started as friends before anything and developed into what everyone now knows as Custom Made.
 
You guys being from Cali, how do you feel about West Coast hip-hop right now?

Scoobs: To tell you the truth, right now I’m not really concerned with anything if it’s not Custom Made.  No disrespect to anyone else but right now, but Custom Made is my main priority.  The West Coast, especially LA is real healthy right now as far as hip-hop is concerned.  We have a lot of talent and right now there are a lot of cats making moves.  Don’t get it twisted, LA has spitters out here.  We have a lot of fresh talent out here bubbling right now.  Our music scene is very underexposed.  The potential is there but you have to create your own opportunities to be heard.  Not much attention is being focused on LA right now so you have to work hard to be heard.

Six: I feel like west coast hip-hop is at a standstill.  I feel west coast hip-hop has way more potential than is shown.
 
Usually in a group each member brings something different to the table. What do each of you bring to the table creatively?
 
Bluff: When being in a group of our size people tend to think that we all might spit the same way but each one of us has a different background and a different point of view than everyone else.  We each just go off our own personal experiences and spit the way we feel.  Plus we all have a different ear for music so we all move the way we move.

Are you happy being independent artists and would you go major if given the chance?
 
Six: Everybody will go major if given the chance.  If the dough is there we’re there.  We’re not on no bullshit out here looking for it.  We’re satisfied being on an indie label because its good regardless, but we’re always trying to take the movement to new levels.

Babygrande is one of the bigger independents. How do you like it over there?
 
Six: Babygrande is the shit.  Just being apart of something that’s so prolific and being with other cats that get their grind on like us is special.  Shout out to Chuck Wilson.

Scoobs: Babygrande helped us out in a lot of ways.  We’ve had the chance to work with Babygrande and Rawkus already and we’ve learned a lot from both situations.  We’re always trying to take it to the next level.  Who knows what will happen next.  Hard work pays off.  I’m just glad we’ve gotten the opportunity to get in the game and let our voice be heard.

Who are some people that have influenced you musically?
 
Bluff: Most of our influences come from family, friends and strangers we meet in the streets.  You can’t really narrow it down because our minds are so wide these days that we’re open to just about anything and everything.  From Sade to Wu-Tang to Snoop to Al Green to maybe some Pink Floyd we touch it all but the majority of our influences would have to come from people that we interact with on a daily basis.

Do you ever get compared to other groups from the West Coast?
 
Six: No.  I don’t know.  We got compared to a lot of east coast cats more than everything.  A lot of cats from the west aren’t coming on a tip like us.  We’re on some real hip-hop. C-Made stands alone.

Scoobs: We don’t get compared to other West Coast acts because we don’t sound like anyone from out here.  We have our own style that can’t be compared to anyone else coming out of LA.

You guys are real humble and down to earth. Do you feel that's a big reason why your fans are so loyal?
 
Six: Hell yeah.  If we weren’t humble and down to earth we wouldn’t have any fans.  Loyalty comes with realness and respect

Scoobs: Yea you have to stay humble.  We’re real people just like anyone else.  We’re no different from any of our fans and we want them to know that.  We have loyal fans because we keep it real with them.  Custom Made is real accessible.  We make our presence felt.  Our fans respect the grind and we show love and respect back.  It’s only right.

Were you happy with the response to your first album?
 
Six: Yes, we were happy to even do a first album.  That’s how humble we are.  Just to get all of the brothers together and just to get everyone together for the first time and come together as a collective was a blessing just to do that period.

Scoobs: There’s a lot of history behind that project.  That will forever be a Custom Made classic.  We were kids making that album and for a group of teenagers to come together and make a project so hip-hop was real special.  We were doing that shit from the heart.  That album brings back a lot of memories.  We were running wild in the streets at that time and the hip-hop thing was just coming together.  A lot of our projects are slept on but they stand the test of time.  When the time is right people will understand what we were trying to accomplish.

You're a culturally diverse group. How do people react to that?
 
Scoobs: I don’t think people really care.  Real hip-hop heads are more concerned with the music than anything.  The music speaks for itself.  It’s not about race its about the music and what it stands for.  Los Angeles is a culturally diverse city and that’s what we represent.

How would you describe your style of music?
 
Six: Raw, uncut, shit is what we do.

Scoobs: We do that raw gutter shit.  C-Made is always about keeping it real and authentic.  If it’s not real then it’s not us.  Hip-hop is all about being true to yourself and that’s what we do.  We make music the only way we know how.  We’re brining hardcore rap and reality rap back to the forefront during this era of watered down bullshit.

Your second album is coming soon. Do you think the sales decline is going to affect you financially?
 
Six: No, because we aren’t in that category that’s being bothered by the decline in sales and the economy.  C-Made is bigger than that even though we’re a small unit of dudes.  We’re in cat’s minds and hearts and not just in their cassettes and CD players.  We leave a stain on your brain.  These others cats are watered down.

Scoobs: At this point I don’t give a fuck about sales.  Fuck sales as long as the streets and the real heads respect it that’s all that matters.  We’re eating regardless whether it’s from sales, events, merchandise or endorsements.  We have our hands in a lot of different ventures.  Don’t think its all rap. 

Alright fellas tell us about everything that we could check for in the near future.

Scoobs: Street Cinema 6: The Lost Weekend is coming out in a few months.  We’re working on the Fresh Out album and we’re doing Custom Made TV.  We’re always doing a lot of show so catch us in a hood near you. 

Anything you'd like to say to your fans out there?

Six: Keep it real.  You know what that is. C-Made till I die. Sinister’s out so shit is about to get real gutter.

Scoobs: Pick up that Original Dynasty LP if you haven’t already.  It’s a new LA classic and that’s real talk.