Tags and topics realted to this article include Celly Cel and Binky Mack. Rap, Hip Hop, Exclusive, Interviews, New Releases and Bay Area.

Rap News.NET's latest volunteer staff member “Seven“ introduces himself with this interview with Celly Cel about his latest album It'z Real Out Here due to hit stores February 22nd from Real Side Records. Buy the album online at Amazon.com. Visit his official site at www.cellycel.net for more on Celly Cel.

Seven: So how did you come up with the title of your latest project?
 
 As far as it being real out here, just kickin it out here on these streets man, everyday its going on out here, as far as we gotta watch everything around you. People will shake your hand one minute, then stab you in the back the next. Everything it so real out here you can’t take it at face value.
 
 Seven: You have had albums out for about 10 years now, how have you been able to stay in the business for this long?
 
 As far as connecting with the fans, its like they are riding in the car with me, and they are seeing everything I’m seeing. You can read people like that, and you can give em whatever you want to, and they really feel you. You can connect with them and have them think they are sitting right there, or the song is being sung to you or someone you know. When you connect with someone like that, they will stick with you their whole lives.
 
 Seven: How has the game changed since you started in 1994?
 
 There is a lot of people trying to get into the club, and that’s cool, but its more mainstream where everyone is trying to get on the radio. Before, whatever rappers were feelin, they was rappin and rarely anyone would get in the clubs, but now you might hear 6-8 of em at any time.
 
 Seven: Do you have any club songs in your latest CD to sell more records?
 
 I’ve always done that, as far as giving something for the ladies or something to kick it at the party too. Its not like I switched on that. There was a lot of people before that wasn’t doing that, and now they are. I always try to hit it from every angle, like something people can get their groove on to and a little something for everybody so its overall well-rounded.
 
 Seven: You got 17 tracks on this new album?
 
 I got 17 blazin hot knockin tracks, back-to-back bumpin. A little something for everybody on this album.
 
 Seven: Who’s in on the production of this album?
 
 I got down with Binky Mack who did production for Ice Cube and Mack 10. I got Sam Bostic who did a lot of work for me, E-40, The Click and C-Bo. That’s pretty much it right there.
 
 Seven: What is the theme on this album? Is there a theme that goes throughout the album?
 
 Not really, I try to make each song different. I try to give each track its own identity. I don’t want the album to get boring hearing the same thing over and over.
 
 Seven: Is it hard to stay original like that?
 
 Not really, my mind is always workin. Everything I see out there, I think about incorporating it into my next song or inspire me to start writing. A lot of people think about quick money sayin “how much money am I gonna make out of this” but I got love for the music, this is my thing, I get off on this stuff. I’m always thinking of new things to talk about.
 
 Seven: You talk about longevity, how much longer to you wanna rap or think you will be rappin?
 
 I’m thinking I’m gonna give myself 5 more records including this one, and that might be a wrap. I won’t be completely out of the action, I may put myself behind the scenes and I might get into the movie thing.
 
 Seven: Do you want to start producing movies?
 
 Nah, nah, I gonna have to get in there and do it, then pull a Master P and then put out a DVD if that’s what it takes.
 
 Seven: Have you appeared on any TV shows or in any movies?
 
 Not any movies, just MTV a few times and music videos.
 
 Seven: How did you select the people that appeared on this album? I saw you had E-40 on there, who else is on there with you?
 
 I got like you say, E-40 on there, Juvenile, WC, Federation, Jay Tee from N2Deep, and my group, the Hillside Stranglaz.
 
 Seven: How did you hook up with Federation? Those are the boys who did the tee-shirt song, right?
 
 I knew them as this group down south with the “icey” song. You are talking about a different group. Juvenile there, he’s got one of the hottest albums out now, I caught up with him, and he came out here to the Bay and kept it real.
 
 Seven: E-40, you and him go way back. Is he dropping anything new? Did you do any other collaborations?
 
 We did the one on my album, because when I left Sick Wit It, there was a lot of questions that we both got asking if there were problems between us and if we left on a bad note. We just had to clear it up and we had to get down on a song and let people know that we still together even if we aren’t on the same label. We still network, we still kick it. We family and we just wanted to clear that up while giving the fans a treat at the same time.
 
 Seven: West coast rap, do you think that fell off for a few years?
 
 I don’t think it fell off, I think its been getting ignored. All the magazines and stuff pushed us to the side by other stuff they considered “hot” and if its “hot” they gonna ride that. Labels have discounted west coast rap and said to go elsewhere. Then they go back to the east but its gonna be back on the west and they will be listening to us again. It comes to a point where you hear the same stuff over and over, people are gonna wonder what’s next. They are gonna have to come back to us because they always will play.
 
 Seven: How often do you tour on the east coast?
 
 I ain’t been to the east coast since 1996 (laughs). That’s how it is on the east coast. I’m more liked in the mid-west and in the south. Its nothing person, its how people book shows and the demand of the artist in that area.
 
 Seven: Do you think there is still conflict between the east and the west?
 
 I think there’s a little beef in all of us. If anyone talks about it, they are always know who they with. It isn’t escalated at the mainstream level like Biggie and Pac, but people of power at the TV and radio stations who manage the playlists make sure the people that matter the most are there.
 
 Seven: Do you think the west coast can make it in their playlist?
 
 Its almost impossible man. The funny thing about it is, if you go down south, you got people on the radio, who you don’t even who it is. They support local talent, who do it independently, who run out of “mom & pop shops,” who hear it on the radio and say that’s cool and decide to sell their products. Then you come to the west coast and you don’t hear none of that. That’s the support for local artists here, and that’s crazy.
 
 Seven: Do you have any favorite songs on this album?
 
 I like em all, but one that stands out to me is “Keep It Real” cuz that touches on my cousins murder which happened during that record and my father passing away which also happened during this record. I incorporate them into my songs.
 
 Seven: Which single are they currently playing on the radio?
 
 Let me backtrack on what I said about the radio, we actually did get some play with the song with Juvenile out here in the Bay Area. We got a big vibe with E-40 especially in the Bay Area because they gave me a pass in that area—so let me retract that.
 
 Seven: Coming from the Bay Area, does it bother you they won’t give you airplay?
 
 Yeah, it does. Because of the simple fact that people look at us and get the misconception that because they hear someone all over the radio, that he must be one of the best rappers in the industry. Then another rapper ain’t got on the radio, so he must be weak. This dude get his video played every day, this other dude ain’t never get played. He tight, and he weak. They gotta understand this is business man, big business, if you got certain major labels behind you, they got radio, they got video no matter who you are. You could be the fakest rapper out there to touch the mic and you will get on MTV and BET all day, and you gonna be on every radio station from here to New York. It all depends on who you got backing you. A lot of fans don’t understand that, they don’t know. They think because he good, he got on the radio, no. The reason he got on the radio is because he got a major label behind him with all these advertising dollars. That’s what they don’t understand, and that frustrates me, because it isn’t because he’s that good, it’s the people you workin with.
 
 The ones who do understand it though, its all good. Because they will come up to you and tell you, “you need to be on the tv every day,” and “you need to be on the radio everyday,” and I love that. That’s what keeps me going, the people who approach you on the street and let you know that. Hit the web site up ( www.cellycel.net ) and let me know that, because I appreciate that.
 
 Seven: Out of the Top 10 songs on many playlists, how many are good?
 
 Haha, you put me in the spotlight. Uhh, about 10%. Yeah, I won’t say no names, but its them people that shouldn’t have record deals.
 
 Seven: I think the rap game is in a horrible situation. Where do you see rap music going now?
 
 Like you said, we in a bad place right now. I went into the record store and came out with Makaveli. I was really trying to reach and try something new, but I couldn’t. I got what I knew I was gonna feel. My boy Pac, I came out with Pac. Since its currently so bad, it can only get better.
 
 Seven: If you had 6 discs in your car’s CD changer, what would they be?
 
 I got E-40 in there, I got Makaveli like I told you before. Of course I got me in there. I got C-Bo in there and Yukmouth and that’s about it.
 
 Seven: You said you think the game will get better. Do you think in the next 2-3 years its gonna be hard for MC’s who can actually rap to make a living?
 
 I say no, because its turning around where I think people are gonna buy a lot more independent stuff. People are gonna stop buying just what they hear on the radio, I think they are gonna buy underground. I think the industry is gonna have a good next couple of years.
 
 Seven: Is there anything you want to tell your fans?
 
 Man, I put 110% into this album, in everything I do, everything I write, all my own lyrics. I ain’t got no lyrics writer, everything is straight from me, from my brain. I’m putting it work. Tryin to make sure ya’ll appreciate it and get your moneys worth. Make sure ya’ll cop the album February 22nd featuring Juvenile, E-40, Federation, WC, Jay Tee from N2Deep, my group the Hillside Stranglaz and cop that from the store, DON’T BURN IT, DON’T BURN IT, cop the album and its gonna be worth your money. It’s a classic, ya’ll will feel me when you get that.
 
 Also, hit up my site www.cellycel.net and send an email. I check my email and get back to people, so get at me. Show me love, I’ll show love back, its all good over here.
 
 Seven: About those bootleg copies, how much does that dip into your profits?
 
 Yeah, yeah, its terrible because you got people that might have been doing say $100,000 and now its like $40,000 to $50,000 and its not because the fans fell off the face of the earth. Its because they burned it and its hitting deep in our pockets and I try to stress that every time I speak. Its not because we are trying to be greedy with our money, its something we sit up here stress over, we went through all these things, going back and forth to the studio and coming up with things to say and try to make sure the fans will appreciate it and its all out the window if someone burns for nothing. You put out a lot of work for nothing. You put a lot of effort for nothing. We put our work in and we want to be compensated instead of cheated out of that.
 
 Seven: If you saw a bootlegger with your stuff on the street, what would you do?
 
 Man, I probably be equipped man (laughs). I can’t let a man steal from me. That’s taking food out my daughters mouth.

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By Seven