THA CHILL: VOICE OF STREETS

Let’s hop right into this latest solo project, Elephant — Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you?

ELEPHANT is just some heavy game. The world we live in is heavy wit all that goes on. Also, an ELEPHANT is an animal that never forgets, and is very family oriented…that’s what I’m all about.

How does Elephant either differ and / or compare to that of your previous bodies of work?

It’s about time. Every project I’ve dropped waz about the timing of how life has been for me. It’s a blueprint to my growth. I’m in a different space than I was then.

Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music — When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Tha Chill?

I fell in love with Hip Hop when I learned that I could do it, too. I had guys like MC REN, EAZY-E, TODDY TEE, MIXMASTER SPADE, KING T, around my way. I looked up to these legends in my city of COMPTON, and it waz my outlet to speak about what I seen and dealt within life. Once it became bizz and I learned how to make a living doin’ it, that’s when I took it very serious and kept getting better. Now, I’m just try’na have fun and thankful that I’m still goin’ and accepted.

Now you are a native of Compton, CA, correct? So growing up in ‘Hub City,’ who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

I’m influenced by not just rappers, but music in general. I’m a huge soul music fan to this day. I grew up to a lot of great stuff; like Zapp, Cameo, Maze, Al Green, etcetera…then a lot of Hip Hop from all coasts; so EPMD, KRS on down to GETO BOYS, SHY D…so I would say all that influenced me.

In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?

My sound is just dope music. Everything is Hip Hop influenced these days; from R&B to Country music. My sound is just dope vibes and soul. If I had a name for it, it would be called Contemporary Hip Hop Lol!

Where does your moniker originally derive from?

My daily vibe. However my day is going like. It can be something as simple as taking my kids to school, or a talk with the homies about something that happened around the way.

What particular string of events initially led to y’all [MC Eiht, Boom Bam DJ Mike T & DJ Slip] linking up and ultimately forming Compton’s Most Wanted?

C.M.W. was created by me and MC EIHT as young dudes. You had groups like N.W.A., EPMD or B.D.P., and we wanted to be a crew that had these big bold letters to mean something that we stood for.

What caused the group to eventually disband?

We never broke up. Just got grown Lol! Different responsibilities take place and focus becomes more important, then hang wit the homies; we all still link and do bizz for our brand – C.M.W. – but have different views on life and responsibilities. We always do things and talk on a regular…just grown up Lol!

Switching gears here…

What do you want people to get from your music?

I want people to get a good vibe from my music; something that’s timeless and not here today and gone tomorrow. A classic feel. Something they can listen to 10, 20 years from now.

On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?

I love how Hip Hop haz evolved. I just hate that the originality is taken from it, and people will never get to feel what it feels like to read the credits while they vibe to it. At the same time, Hip Hop run everything.

Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?

I have a bizz I run in Las Vegas called THE BOOMDOCZ SHOP. My wife runs a hair salon and we have vintage apparel, but music is my life…besides my kids’ sports and livin’ thru them.

You’re also currently working on MC Ren‘s (long overdue) Osiris EP, the return of 1st Generation [Kurupt, MC Eiht, Jayo Felony, Gangsta of the Comrads and King T], as well as producing for J-Dee [Da Lench Mob], Kokane & Suga Free‘s Power of the P project, in addition to lacing upcoming songs for both Coolio and Bishop Lamont — Originally launched in 2013, why has it taken so long for 1st Generation to finally materialize again? And what’s up with the first single, “Rapture?”

1st GENERATION is a group of my friends over the years, and we took so long with the project because of its power in this group. We all wanted to be here for it, and waz all going through legal trouble in 2010 when we started it. Now that we are all here, we are set to drop in 2022. As for J-DEE, that’s my big bro from Da Lench Mob to the world…but to me, a real solid dude that was taken from us due to legal trouble and got his second wind. I was blessed to be able to put him back on his square, and get him back goin’ with “PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.” COOLIO waz a no brainer. I’ve always respected my GEEZ, and wanted to do my part. He is and always will be a legend, and to be a part of his legacy is a blessing. MC REN is a big brother to me. He believed in me as a kid. He watched me grow, so when he said let’s do a project I jumped to it and made it my own…sort of like paying him back for believing in me as a kid.

Also, talk to me more about some of these other outside aforementioned endeavors and what all exactly can be expected from these high profile collabs…

Expect classicz! Not fast food music; all longevity claps, straight from the soul.

To date, what has been your greatest career achievement(s), at least thus far anyway?

I would say, of course, being one of the co-founders of C.M.W.. But my FOHEAD project and this ELEPHANT project is special to me ’cause I did it on my own from the top to the bottom, and that’s a life achievement to me. A lot of these cats got these big budgets and big teams and to do shit on ya own feels good because folks feel the focus and comin’ from prison they counted me out.

One track of yours that you think defines you and why?

The realest shit I ever wrote was a song on ELEPHANT called “GENETICS.” I wanted to figure out how to speak on my life events in a way that people could hear my story, and not be like, “WOW!! That’s some typical shit,” but heartfelt and see my growth as a man that has been thru a lot of crap. It is a biopic on my life. A testimony that I had to get off my chest…in a real way.

Lastly, what’s next for Tha Chill?

Next is just keep growing and showing that I’ll rap circles around these fools that think they runnin’ shit Lol! Just keep building my brand – BOOMDOCZ PRODUCTIONS – learning as I go, and teaching the ones that wanna know. Most important, being the best husband / father I could be.

Is there anything I left out, or just plain forgot to mention?

MY HISTORY WILL NOT BE ERASED BY GLAMOUR AND POP CULTURE. I’M NOT A BITTER OLD RAPPER, BUT A PERSON THAT BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP. IF YOU LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD SOUL CONTEMPORARY HIP HOP, FUC WIT BOOMDOCZ [IN MY SUGE VOICE LOL!]. I AM THE VOICE OF STREETS. FROM COMPTON TO PRISON, AND BACK ON MY GRIND. BE BLESSED AND KEEP YA HEAD ON THE SWIVEL…THA CHILL COMPTON’S MOST WANTED.

Any “closing” thought(s) for our readers?

FOLLOW ME ON IG: @THACHILLCMW.