Illuminati 2G

7/1/07: D-Marc back with another interview and this time Texas 12 Guage took time to do a interview with me. In the interview they talk about their new EP, the internet and its effect on the industry, Music Freedom and much more to check it out.

D: How did you guys all meet up and become a group?

TX12G: Texas 12 Guage came together in early 2007. Foxxx already knew Mike Dollar Sign, who was already making beats and D.J.ing in San Antonio. Big G was a long time friend of Foxxx and was recruited into the group. Killa the Kidd was brought in to produce the album. He was the producer of the legendary group, Big House Click (BHC) back in 1997.

D: Who are your musical influences?

TX12G: We usually influence ourselves. Start with a simple concept and hook and start laying down the tracks. It’s almost like magic.

D: We see and here alot about the music scene in Houston, but what is going on with the scene in San Antonio?

TX12G: The honest truth of the music scene in San Antonio is that we need to support each other a little bit more. If someone does good graphics and you know someone that need graphics, that should be a love connection. If you know someone that does great mastering and you know someone that needs mastering, hook them up. You never know how a few referrals could help what you are doing. We have a lot of people that want help in doing the things that they are trying to do, but they never ask the simple question…”How can I help you?”. The question is usually….”Can you help me with…?” (Rapping on our CD is not helping us. Helping us promote our gigs does.)

D: You guys dropped your EP, Get Crunk With It, on Music Freedom a while back. How has the feedback been?

TX12G: The feedback has been great. Music Freedom is a great was to host and sell your music as well a get together a fan club or stuff like that. We have sold plenty of downloads and quickly got great national exposure. Our hats are off to MF.

D: What is your opinion on the role the internet plays with music. Promotion, bootlegging, everything.

TX12G: The internet is like the Holy Grail for underground and upperground artist. It allow countless pages of information, recording tips, mastering tip, promotion etc., Just google what you need and a few clicks, your learning. Bootlegging is like the plus/minus effect. Its is a plus for new groups to make mixed CDs and slide there track on the mixed CD and expose their materials. It enables groups to distribute the music on inexpensive CDRs. The minus is that some of the tactics are not legal and the artist that needs to get paid usually does not.

D: EP's used to be dropped by the regular by rappers back in the day and now they are making a comeback. What made you guys decide on a EP first?

TX12G: We decided on an EP release because we had a very strong buzz starting to brew up, so we had to satisfy the market. It was time to get that money. 

D: Any deals with any majors in the works for you guys?

TX12G: Right now, we don’t have a major deal in stone. We are currently looking for in store national distribution with an indie distributor. The album will consist of track from many different producers. The artists really have something to say. Its like an old school flavor geared up for the new era.

D: You guys rap in English and Spanish. Do you guys decide before the track to do it or do you just let the beat take you there?

TX12G: We just let the beat take us there. If the lyrics sound fresh in Spanish, we do that. Most of our songs have different versions so we could get the most of the idea.

D: Any tour dates planned?

TX12G: We have an upcoming show at The Venue, 800 Lexington Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212 on July 27. We are also going to sponsor an Adult/youth basketball tournament in the near future.

D: Well that is all from me. Any last words or shoutouts?

TX12G: We would like to thank you guys for taking the time to do this interview. We would like to say R.I.P. to 13 aka Michael Singelton. We would also like to say “Howdee” to all our friends and fans, especially the ones on Myspace and Music Freedom, Dream Digital/E.L.P. and Eternal Life Productions. To all the artists that put their money where their mouth is and wont give up on this rap business, keep on doing it. You cannot make it if you don’t believe in yourselves. Stop believing someone will help you with only lyrics to offer. Ask not “What can rap do for me?”, ask “What can I do for rap?”…TX12G.

Texas 12 Guage EP, Get Crunk With It, is out now and can be purchased at their Music Freedom site, http://www.musicfreedom.com/texas12guage/. For more info on show dates and group info, hit up their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/texas12guagetx12g