Since hip-hop started there have always been stories of artists not exactly telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Some have even gotten caught in bold lies. That’s why it’s always refreshing when an artist comes into the game with no gimmicks, no tricks, just raw skill and honesty.

The latest MC to fit that mold is Cali native Topic. He doesn’t claim to be anything he’s not. He doesn’t glorify a gangster existence. All he does is rap and rap well. It’s no wonder that after years on the grind he was scooped up by Steve Rifkind and SRC Records. It’s time for a little honesty in the game and Topic is going to be the one to give it to the fans. Sixshot.Com caught up with the west coast MC to discuss the state of west Coast hip-hop, signing to SRC, and what he plans to accomplish in hip-hop.

Sixshot.com: What's good man?

Topic: Everything is everything fam. I’m just focusing, grindin’, and getting ready for this year, that’s all. 
 
Sixshot.com: What was life like for you growing up in L.A?

Topic: I grew up in L.A only for a small period of time actually. My mother moved me away from the foul shit that my older brothers were getting into. I’m from West Covina, California which is about 30 minutes East of L.A off the I10 freeway. Life for me there was amazing because it shaped me to be who I am today and I think my well rounded attitude gives me a major advantage over a lot of people in the music industry. 
 
Sixshot.com: I definitely feel that. So how did you get into hip-hop?

Topic: I got into hip-hop during the summer of eighth grade heading into high school. I just loved the idea of creating my own music from scratch. Once I got a taste of it I couldn’t let it go, it was like love at first sight. We used to bust at lunch at Nogales High School so it all started there for me. 
 
Sixshot.com: At what point did you know this was going to be your career?

Topic: I knew right off the bat that this was for me. As soon as I started rhyming I fell in love with music and never looked back. I always knew I would make a career out of this. 
 
Sixshot.com:  Tell us about Boss Life World.

Topic: Boss-Life World Inc. is my company. I consider it to be like a platform for me to be able to do other things. I’m responsible for a lot of the day to day stuff. As soon as I solidify my position in hip-hop and reach the status that I want to reach I’m going to be launching a host of business ventures through the company like artists, producers, clothing lines, the list just goes on. In essence I would just say that the company is me, Topic but Topic the business man. 
 
Sixshot.com: You've worked with WC who is a West Coast legend, what was the experience like?

Topic: I mean the experience was okay. At that point in the game I didn’t really get much done during the period of time we were working. We only did a few songs and by that point in time I was real familiar with the recording process anyway. We didn’t get too much further than that so I really didn’t get the chance to learn much from that experience. 
 
Sixshot.com: You've worked with JR Rotem and Cool and Dre. How is it working with such amazing producers?

Topic: Well I think that JR Rotem is real dope and he is going to be around for years to come for real. His manager Zach Katz and I are real cool so that how me and him hooked up. Cool and Dre are amazing also but in a different way, you now? I feel like when they produce a track it’s like a movie almost and it’s like really animated. Dre does hooks and their beat arrangement is very theatrical. I enjoyed working with both of them. 
 
Sixshot.com: How did you get signed to SRC?

Topic: I actually got signed to SRC off of one record that I did called “Hard On Me” that was produced by Neff-U. My man Big Chuck took the record to Steve Rifkind and when he heard it he decided to take a meeting with me. From that point on the rest is history. I’m real fortunate that I was given this opportunity. 
 
Sixshot.com: Do you feel the West can get back to its past level of success?

Topic: I’m the type of person who thinks anything is possible but I don’t feel but I don’t think that the artists over here are taking the proper steps to make sure that happens. The most instrumental key for us to get to that point again is the music in my opinion. I don’t think it’s the street credibility like most artists do. The reason why the West isn’t on top right now is because we are not producing enough high quality music like we used to and have It coming from all different artists. That’s why I feel the South is winning because they have T.I, Luda, Jeezy, Outkast, etc. so good music is coming from a lot of different artists. Stars are being made in the South and you can’t deny it because the numbers don’t lie. If the new artists on the West Coast would focus more on making good, quality music as opposed to worrying about their stats in the streets then we could rise up again I believe and be on top again. This is Topic’s opinion and let that be known. 
 
Sixshot.com: In your opinion who else is bringing the West back?

Topic: When I say that I’m bringing the West back I can only speak for myself. I say that because I feel like with me as opposed to a lot of the other artists a star is being birthed through my music. I see myself having longevity in this game and that’s why I feel like I can bring the west back. One hot mixtape or a nice street buzz doesn’t mean you’re bringing the West back. It means that you’re poppin’ on the streets of the west coast but to bring it back for real you have to get it poppin’ nationally as well. I’m trying to put a W on the world like Snoop, Cube, Dre, Game but I gotta do it without being affiliated with that N.W.A. tree that they all fall under.  
 
Sixshot.com: Being a diverse artist, who were some of your musical influences growing up?

Topic: My influences were people like Pac, Scarface, Cube, Fugees, OutKast, Goodie Mob, Marvin Gaye, Death Row, 50 Cent, and The Game. There’s so many to be honest with you. I like different artists for different reasons. I love Pac for his sincerity in his music. I love 50 because of his hustle that he displays in his music. I love Goodie Mob because of their lyrical ability and they’re just so soulful. I could go on and on about this all day.
 
Sixshot.com: You worked with Kay Slay on the Coast Guard, just out of curiosity, why did you pick an East Coast DJ?

Topic: Well the title and the movement has a lot to do with that. It’s titled the Coast Guard and in terms of music that means I’m guarding the coast but I didn’t want people to just get stuck on the West coast thing. I think it was a good move to add a DJ like Kay Slay because I’m not making music just for the west Coast. I like to think that regardless where you’re from that I make good music in general and you can enjoy it.
 
Sixshot.com: Start of a Legacy was also hot; did you get a good response?

Topic: I got a decent response. You have to keep in mind that it was a solo project so I paid for and put together the entire project on my own. From start to finish I did it all on my own. Due to finances I could only press up five thousand copies so I could only expect so much, you feel me? It definitely got a few good looks but nothing like the Coast Guard got.
 
Sixshot.com: What are you bringing to the game that it doesn't already have?

Topic: Well I can’t really say honestly that I’m brining something that it doesn’t have. That would be a lie but what I can definitely say is that I’m bringing something to the game that it needs more of in my opinion, I’m bringing good and honest music from a real artist. My music matches what I did in the streets. If you look closely nowadays a lot of cats don’t match up. A lot of times these aren’t really who they say they are. I am the truth because I’m truthful. I’m not the biggest dope dealer but I’m most definitely a hustler. I’m not the baddest gangster on the planet but I am a street nigga. I’m willing to share my life as well as my strength and weaknesses through my music so that makes me honest, not just real. The game is missing real artists. Everything is built on imaging now and they want to turn you into the last successful artist that came before you and that shit is just wack. 
 
Sixshot.com: What projects can we expect to see from you in the future?

Topic: Okay I would like to first and foremost let this be known. If you check the time period that the Coast Guard came out you’ll see that me and DJ Skee did some real revolutionary shit. We were some of he first cats to release a street album which means original songs and original beats with a mixtape format because you got the DJ hosting. I have another street album coming out called “American Hustler: This Is My Life”. My single “Swagger” with Akon is poppin. My debut album should also be coming out and depending on the scheduling with that I might release an EP called “Herem” which is going to be strictly for the ladies.  You can always expect to hear that quality music from Topic. 
 
Sixshot.com: Anything you'd like to say to the fans at Sixshot.Com?

Topic: I‘d just like to thank all my fans for all the love and support. I’d like to thank Sixshot.Com for the interview and everybody should keep their ears open for new music from Topic.