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Twista Stays Strong

By: Brett Hickman

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Chicago Rapper Brings It With New "Adrenaline Rush
Rapper Twista grew up hard in the K-Town area on the West Side of Chicago and that upbringing colors his lyrics and his music. And throughout his recorded history, Twista has detailed the street life he witnessed first-hand. Though sometimes coming off more like something from the worlds of film and television, where things are heightened or dressed up for dramatic purposes, Twista still manages to invest just enough reality in his work to excuse the occasional empty boasting or obvious posturing.

Despite its erratic quality, Twista's new album, Adrenaline Rush 2007 (referring to his major label debut from ten years ago), has more solid moments than his previous releases had. Though nothing can top his Billboard chart topper "Slow Jamz" featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx, there are moments on Adrenaline Rush 2007 that rise close to the occasion. Tunes such as the old school soul vibe on "Love Rehab" featuring the only instance this writer has liked anything R. Kelly has been involved with, "Give It Up" with Pharrell with a Miami flavored beat that feels more pop than hip-hop, the new R&B style of "Say Say" with help from Cee-Lo and Jazze Pha and the collaboration with Bone Thugs N Harmony on "Ain't No Hoes" help to erase the tired skits and some songs that come off forced or just plain false. Adrenaline Rush 2007 came out September 18th and may end up being the third album by a Chicago rapper to debut at number one (after Common's Finding Forever and Kanye West's Graduation, though neither artist still lives in Chicago as Twista does). We will see this week... As for his future, Twista may be jumping Atlantic Records' ship for either Def Jam or Roc-A-Fella (Roc's Damon Dash is rumored to be chomping at the bit to get him signed) and has plans to do albums with Speedknot Mobstaz and with Bone Thugs N Harmony.

And, even though McDonald's nixed plans for a Twista charity concert in Chicago after the fallout from Don Imus' "nappy-headed hoes" comments from earlier this summer, the former Tung Twista (born Carl Terrell Mitchell), is hardly the most vulgar rapper on the scene now. As he told me in an interview earlier this month, he often performs "clean" shows when required and was well prepared to do the same for McDonald's, even hiring on a children's choir for the event (nice job Mickey D's on spoiling the kids' star moment). Twista also does his part for local charities, including helping to raise money to support inner city schools and other organizations in the community he used to live in. These activities by rappers aren't reported enough, Twista says, and it only helps to further drive a wedge between the musicians, their fans and those that see hip-hop as nothing more than thugs with guns dealing drugs. As with any story, there isn't just one side. Here is a little bit of Twista's:

Static Multimedia: How does it feel to come out of Chicago when only now in the last several years, the city has taken on great success and attention for rap and hip-hop?

Twista: I came from the era where I was the only one. And to look up and see so many people doing their thing it's just a big change. It makes me proud of the city and the Midwest as a whole. We all sound so different, so many different styles and sounds. Chicago is finally in there now.

Do you think that sounding different is perhaps why it's taken so long for Chicago to break through?

I do. We're smack in the middle like that. On the same block you can have an east coast fan, west coast fan and a south fan. When I was comin' up I was a fan of both sides. I notice a lot of people who live on the east coast they don't know a lot of west coast or south music. And people who have never been too far from the west coast, vice versa. But in the middle you can hear it all. That's why we have so many styles and sounds.

You've worked with a lot of different people. What have been your most rewarding collaborations so far?

"Slow Jamz" with Kanye West. Definitely "Is That Yo Chick" with Jay-Z and definitely "Is This The End" with Puffy.

What in particular about those stand out for you?

Well, with "Slow Jamz" I got the opportunity to take advantage of Kanye West and his whole come up and what he's doing. I consider that the big record that got me out where I wanted to be. "Is This the End" that's the record that got me a lot of recognition on the east coast. And that's definitely the same thing with "Is That Yo Chick?" because Jay-Z took me around the whole country off of that one record. And I went around the whole county on his tour with him, comin' out and spittin' that one verse and they screamed everywhere. And then I put out my album and it was a success off of their help.

When you're on a tour like the Jay-Z one do you wish that you have more to do or are you just thankful that you're getting the recognition?

A little bit of both, but more thankful that you're getting the recognition. It's so open to do so much other work so you don't have to concentrate so hard, you just got your one verse that you come out and do. But then you got the opportunity to be in that city to make happen whatever you wanna happen. It's up to you to go to a studio or book a show to make something crackle while you're in that city with that down time. For me it was a benefit because I'm a longevity artist who's been around for awhile. For that to happen to me I could pursue a lot of things I could get into.

Was it a hard road for you or are you simply blessed it happened at all?

Man, please. It was a hard road. When it happens to you, it's like "whoo man!" Better late than never. I'd be a dummy to say I wished it happened earlier. Of course you want it to happen close to the now. But for it to happen so late, it's like a blessing because I've got so much knowledge under the belt. Everybody want to go out…not like I'm going out, but everybody want to end their career on a high note. For a person hovering the 30 area, it still hurts to say that, this has been great. Very f'ing great.

Do you feel that age was another obstacle to overcome?

Not really. If you notice Jay-Z really didn't hit until he got in his 30s. Nas really didn't hit until he got to that 30 mark. I noticed that MCs are in their prime when they get to that 30 mark. And the same thing happened for me. So I recognized it for what it was. It lets you know where you are in your career and helps you figure out what you've done and what you should be doing next.

Adrenaline Rush 2007 was originally supposed to come out earlier this year, right?

I had extra work on it. Clear a few samples, work with a couple of producers, things like that that I felt would make the record more rounded. One day and then one day turns into two days and then two days turns into a week so you end up having it when you have it. The artistic and business compromise along with time just plays out really crazy. You just gotta do the best you can to keep it where it's at. We got moved back a couple of times but it was more because of a creative thing than anything else.

What have you done differently or experimented with on the new album?

I'm most proud of being able to take that album cover, sittin' in that chair, lookin' fly. Ten years later, little Twista still sittin' in the chair 'lookin' fly' pose. The music, you know I'm still able to spit it how I spit it. Don't feel like I lost a step. Thirdly, just havin' friends and people I can get on the album that I couldn't get when I was first starting out my career. Now I'm big Twista. So I get to have T-Pain on my album, Lil' Wayne on my album, R. Kelly and such. Just being able to come with such a different album and still be able to do this ten years later and still look fly is a blessing.

Why did you title the album Adrenaline Rush 2007?

It bridges the gap between my fans. I've been doing my thing for so long, that the kids that heard me in school when I first came out, they're parents now and their kids are listening to my music. I thought it was a good way to bridge the gap.

Is there anyone coming up on the scene, either in Chicago or nationally that you're really impressed with?

In Chicago I like Young Bird, he's got the song "Sexy Lady" out now, he's doing his thing in the right way. I like the Speedknot Mobstaz which is a group I work with a lot out of Chicago. On a national level, I love the way Kanye and 50 are doing it. I like Lil' Wayne, the way he's putting' it down.

Whose album do you buy or who do you side with, if you were told you have to, between Kanye and 50?

Oh Kanye. That's Chi-town.

But you probably buy 'em both, right?

Yeah.

That's what everybody seems to be saying.

They know what they're doing. They both know what they're doing. I'm just glad they brought the fun and competition back to hip-hop. Remember when they just battled back in the day? This is taking it back to what hip-hop was.

You had that recent fallout with McDonald's over them removing you from a concert. Now that you've had some time to reflect, what are your thoughts on it?

At that particular time it was an unfortunate incident. I definitely was going to put on a hot, clean show like I always do when I have to do clean events. Somebody got to use me in an opportunity for themselves. I haven't gotten down to the root of it yet. It's an unfortunate situation because I was going to put together a good show. I was going to get a choir involved…it was going to be hot. Hip-hop had to take a little effect from Don Imus mouthing off that day. I wish he hadn't gone to work that day. Some executives who were dealing with that thing actually know me and they know what's up. People clean it up when it's time to do positive things. Shaq (famed Miami Heat star Shaquille O'Neal), I'm pretty sure when he's in the paint, pushes everybody around going "motherfucker, motherfucker" but then he goes out into the public and plays with the kids and you put on a different persona.

Was there any heads up before the announcement or was there just the announcement?

No, there was just the announcement. They did me wrong. That's why I look at the Reverend guy who brought it to their attention and I fault him a lot for it. McDonald's still uses certain songs in their commercials by rappers.

I wouldn't rank you very high on the vulgarity scale compared to other rappers.

It's a difference between someone saying "I really do all of this stuff" and an MC coming with lyrics and he's being vulgar. Sometimes lyrics are put together in harsh ways, but meant to make the crowd say "Ooh he said the nastiest thing so that's dope." People don't understand hip-hop sometimes.

Things have gone from where you can talk about what's really happening to almost where people expect you to live that life because others have? Do you see people inventing history to try and one-up someone else in terms of street cred?

People want their stuff seem the hottest. And what's hot right now? People looove the bad guy. So people try to make their best imitation of the bad guy. He's just trying to imitate the hottest music that's out. You gotta be careful what type of image you're playing with and what you say, because the truth will come out.

Does having the ability to get yourself and your family out of the situations you grew up in give you satisfaction?

I guess it takes growing up and getting close to 40 to realize I don't wanna be in the hood. I feel blessed to take my family and take myself out of harm's way.

Do you do anything for charity or to help the area you grew up in?

We do things all the time. Usually people ask me to come out and represent for a certain cause. I definitely try to do my part. We recently helped to raise some money for some schools in Chicago. The other side that doesn't get advertised about us so-called "horrible rappers."

What do you plan on doing next, for the immediate future and down the line?

We may take it to the big screen. I may dabble around and see how crazy I can act on the camera. But besides that, I love being able to help people from the Midwest to get ahead in this music game or get a step in this music game. Whether I'm featuring on an artist's track or A&R on somebody's project, I just like being that tool to help Midwest artists jump off.