Inside The BOX. - Q Da Kid Interview

Second chances are difficult to come by in the music industry. In a structure that seems to be increasingly more beneficial to the higher ups than the individuals with the actual talent, those who look to get established generally have a choice of either putting their careers in the hands of the machine, or choosing to push the product themselves, to the point where the major brands start looking for you. We hear plenty of stories about an artist choosing either side incorrectly (at least for them at that given time), only to find themselves even further behind than before. Q Da Kid is an individual that not only intends to break that mold, but also to show that he was never part of that systematic path to begin with. After the BK native passed through deals with Violator and TAG Records (the latter being under Jermaine Dupri himself), he has now taken his destiny into his own hands with a maelstrom of new music and remixes (with equally powerful visuals to boot), his own label movement, and an upcoming project to feed the culture well into the future…and he has no plans to stop. JukeBOX. was fortunate enough to catch up with him to talk about his past, present, and future. Read along after the jump….

JukeBOX.: Tell us your history and where you’re from.
Q Da Kid: Flatbush, Brooklyn born and raised. Basically I grew [up] in a musical family…my dad was a drummer and my uncles also played in bands. I started rapping around the age of 10 listening to dude like Rakim, [Big Daddy] Kane, Juice Crew…those were the people that influenced me over the years. I landed a group deal with Violator Records, and at the time I didn’t really know the business, so we basically got shitted on…but like they say, “you live and you learn”.

What happened between you, Gravy and Red Cafe? Can we expect a reunion track from y’all?Nothing happened, just sometimes people grow apart. The business can do that to you but personally we all cool, we just all got different dreams and roads we wanted to take, that’s all it was, but Red [Cafe], that’s my dude, we from the same hood, same block, and Gravy I haven’t seen in a while, but I’m sure he good. Yeah I would love to do a reunion track with all us, that would be dope…just to be together again like back in the days, just vibing a laughing, making that heat.

Who are some of the artists you look up to (and were inspired by), and who are some of the new and up and coming artists that you have respect and admiration for?

Like I said before, [Big Daddy] Kane, Rakim, Run DMC, the list goes on, them dudes was flowing, had content and was just being them. As of artists now, I rock with Kanye, [Jay-Z] of course, I fuck with Drake, J. Cole, Eminem, Wayne, Nas, Jada, Andre 3000. I respect them all because they can spit and they all have content to identify them, I can relate to ’em and that’s what I’m trying to do, make people relate to my story and get to know me as a person and an artist…

Growing up in BK all your life, was it hard for you to adapt to ATL?

Not really, ’cause from a young age, I was always a traveller, meaning someone that would venture out to find a better opportunity, and that’s what I did. I moved to Miami first, lived there for 4 years, in which I met [DJ] Khaled, [Rick] Ross…also that was the first place I crossed paths with [Jermaine Dupri] (JD), then I moved to Atlanta where I just found it to be not so crowded, meaning music-wise at the time it was open season, where [in] New York the industry was so crowded, so I just needed a new beginning. But trust me, I’m NEW YORK to the death, any chance I get I’m back in the HOOD (laughs).

TAG commercial featuring Q Da Kid & JD

How did you meet Jermaine Dupri and how did your deal with TAG records come to fruition?

[I] met JD a few years back in the club, [when] I was really grinding, doing remixes. It was a DJ (DJ Shakim) who was Bow Wow’s DJ also and he used to play in the hottest clubs. He used to drop all my joints in the club and got me a buzz which JD started to watch, and one night Shakim called me to the DJ Booth and I [saw] JD and he came to me like ‘what’s up, what you doin’ with yaself’, and I told he I’m grinding, trying to get on…and he took my number and called me the very next morning. The TAG deal came about out the blue when JD got the situation. I got a call like ‘this new deal with TAG, it’s gonna be a lot of marketing money and promotion, you want in?’ and I was like ‘HELL YEAH!’

Since working with Jermaine Dupri, what have you learned from him that you incorporate in your music today?

I learned from him that if you sleep, you lose, gotta stay consistant and go hard, ’cause it’s always someone trying to get in the position you in but I learned a lot on my own from just being smart and learning the business for myself, ’cause even the lawyers are shady. So you gotta know your way in the game or you will be thrown to the back and forgotten quick…

What are some surprises that you’ve come across since you’ve been in the industry?

Surprises (laughs)….the industry is a surprise itself ’cause everyday you learn something new, so you gotta keep both eyes open, and like [The Notorious] B.I.G. said, [“got lawyers watchin lawyers so I won’t go broke“], ’cause any given chance, they will try to fuck you. Being in the industry, you get to learn who is fake and who is real. A lot of execs in this biz is fake as hell and only kick it with you ’cause you hot at the time, but once you don’t do good or your album flops, shit, they quick to turn their back and don’t answer the phone (laughs)…so you gotta come in the same way they think: they don’t give a damn about you, so why give a damn about them. Do your job and make them work, sometimes, being too friendly can hurt you in the game. Trust me, I’ve been there. Are you still signed to TAG? If not, what were the reasons for leaving that situation (and what is your current situation now)?Naw, I’m not, but me and TAG still have a good relationship. As far as Def Jam, I just felt like that was bullshitting and I felt like when [Chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group] LA Reid and JD got into they feud, it put a strain on my deal, especially when JD left…I was still stuck on the label, so they fell back on the project, I say because of issues with Jermaine. I really felt like both LA and JD could’ve handled the situation better, but egos is a motherfucker. They cared about [themselves] and didn’t give a damn about my career, my future, or my family, ’cause if I don’t eat, my family don’t eat. My current situation is doing me, period…that’s all I can say. I’m cool with JD, but as far as business, I haven’t seen no contract sent my way from him, so Q is signed to Q right now. I don’t expect no one to believe in me, anyway… What projects will you be doing in the future?I’m currently working on this EP, I Am Him Part 2, I got a reality show in the works and I got a film that was sent to me [that] I’m going over, so hopefully that goes through ’cause I wanna venture into other avenues and doing bigger things, not just in music, but in film, TV, investing, etc., just making life comfortable for me and my family… What types of movies do you want to do? Action, drama, romance…?All of them as long as they breaking me off that movie money (laughs). Q Da Kid – The Moment. Directed by Thesay West. Are there any special guest appearances on I Am Him Part 2?Let me see…well I got Dondria on there, Avery Storm, I got a joint with Bobby V [also known as Bobby Valentino], working on this joint with Shyne and I got this new artist that’s real dope, Nick Hagelin, on there, he sings and plays the guitar and he got a unique sound. I’m still working on it ’cause I want everything to be perfect, I want it to be CLASSIC. Q Da Kid x Dondria – It Was All A Dream. Directed by Thesay West. What albums are bumping in your car/iPod right now?Hmmm…right now I’m bumpin’ [Rick] Ross’ album (CLASSICAL), I just got off listening to Drake’s album, but I be on that classic shit like Biggie [Smalls’] album, PAC’s album, [Jay-Z]’s album, all the classics. I try to listen and see what made them classics, ’cause I wanna make historical music…I call it ‘Madison Square Garden’ music, ’cause when you can sell out the Garden, that means you music is monumenal…you got hits… What is your favorite Hip-Hop album of all time?My favorite Hip-Hop album of all time gotta be [The Notorious B.I.G.’s] Life After Death. B.I.G. really went in depth on that shit, he painted a picture in every song…that nigga was like Picasso (laughs). Life After Death is a classic. What’s your favorite track on the album?My favorite track had to be ‘My Downfall’ featuring DMC, wowww he broke it down so vivid, how people can be so hateful and all they wish you is negative shit. When he said, [“you wanna see me locked up, shot up, Moms crotched up over the casket…y’all know who killed im filled him“]…(laughs) that’s how haters think, they will smile in your face, but in the back of the mind they rather see you dead or in jail or fucked up broke like them…

Do you feel Hip-Hop is dead? If so, do you feel any upcoming artist can bring it back to life?

It’s not dead, music is basically just expanding, i think, and people just like to hear something new, so you, as an artist, just have to be creative and know how to reinvent yourself and start trends. Instead of following leaders, keep a following…and followers just get lost in the crowd. I feel I can make a big impact if given the right situation and the right team…but niggas like [Fabolous] still make good music, [Rick] Ross, [Lil’] Wayne, Drake, Wale, etc…but watch out, ’cause I’ma keep bangin’ y’all in the head with video and music, so the industry won’t have no other choice but to be a part of my movement.

You came up on the mixtape circuit, so would you say the mixtape industry is better or worse nowadays? I personally miss the days when DJs like DJ Clue, Whoo Kid & Kay Slay would drop a mixtape every week.It’s surely different, but i say it’s for the better, ’cause before, it was more of a mixture of songs now dudes is throwing out damn albums and profiting from it, and you get a better chance to showcase to the audience that you can make music, but i miss hearing Clue scream on the joint all the sound effects, They really made some dope ass mixtapes back in the days, I cant front.

I have to agree with you–some of these mixtapes could be albums. Have you had a chance to listen to Wale’s newest mixtape [More About Nothing]?
I didn’t get a chance yet to hear, but i heard it was dope. Wale got a movement and i like that he is in his own lane repping his music, the D.C. sound, but he put a twist on it…but i give props when its due, homie does his thing…I’ma check it out ASAP.

Do you still have a relationship with Kay Slay or Whoo Kid?I mean yeah, haven’t seen either in a minute, I had a interview with Slay a few months back and a lot of people don’t know that Whoo Kid was our DJ when i was in the group with Red Cafe and Gravy, but after he got HOLLYWOOD I ain’t been seeing him (laughs). What is your most memorable live performance in your career?MAN, it’s gotta be the show I had in L.A like a year ago, the energy was just so crazy and the crowd was going nuts…that show made me say to myself, this is what its all about, this is why i love HIP-HOP. I saw your performance at the opening Nuggets game, how did that come about?I had a show on MTV for a day during the VMA’s 2 years ago and the owner of the Nuggets said his daughter was watching it and fell in love with the song “ON A MISSION” and he said he reached out to the house dj and told him find me that kid i want him to perform for us but instead not only did i perform they made the song they HOME OPENER theme song it was a blessing that all i can say. Q Da Kid performance at the 2008 Denver Nuggets home opener
What’s a typical day in Q Da Kid’s life?I just try to stay on top of my business…coming up with new ideas, writing, being a father to my daughter, and just being real is apart of my day also. I try to stay as humble as i can be and stay productive… What’s your opinion of the 360 deal that most labels are giving new artists?Truthfully, it’s some bullshit to me but these labels are tryna cover they ass since sales ain’t been right these past years, so labels wanna make sure they at least make a profit somehow. That’s why I think the best route these days is going independant, make your own mark, start your own business, capitalize off yourself, brand your name, round up a team, find you a dope producer & get your self a THESHAY WEST (laughs) and go hard ’til these labels come knocking on your door…then the ball is in your park. Make them PAY… If you could give an upcoming artist some advice before they sign that deal, what would it be?Learn the business, know where each dollar is being spent from your budget, keep track cause all that shit gotta be recouped…and they don’t give a damn, the more money you spend the more in debt, you gotta be smart, try to spend the least you can so you can see a profit at the end of the day and save your money, rap aint promised, so stack and invest. The key is grinding and going hard, believe in yourself ’cause no one will go hard for you like you would. go hard for your self eventually you will see it pay off.

Be sure to check out Q Da Kid’s blog:

http://www.qdakidmusic.ning.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/QDAKID
Request his newest single ‘It Was All A Dream’ featuring Dondria on your local stations.