With the curiosity surrounding Pinky-Gate, Twista has penetrated Hip-Hop’s interest and is whetting its appetite with the Traxter-produced, “Wetter.” Category F5, a verbal tempest will be fully unleashed this July. Twista is learning to harmonize the tasks of being the CEO of his imprint, Get Money Gang Ent., along with being its flagship artist. “It’s hard. I love doing it and I knew what was to expect out of it. There’s so much to do and so much competition out here…you really have to go hard and be organized and professional,” admits the undaunted lyricist.

Twista openly voices his goals saying “longevity is a thing that I want to obtain. When people ask me what’s the legacy I want to leave, that’s the one word that I would use, longevity. I look at my career, I dropped an album in ’90 or ’91, and I’m still right here with a jam.” Dedicating almost twenty years to his craft, Twista is constantly striving to improve his sound. He isn’t adverse to implementing new, respected styles that keeps his sound fresh.

Category F5 is the album and Second Chances is the mixtape that will continue to deliver the raw to the masses. In an unbridled interview with AllHipHop.com, Twista exposes everything from his ability to massacre anyone on the mic, to which artist he’d like to work with in the future.

AllHipHop.com: “Wetter” is another Twista hit. How long did it take you to complete the track from its conception to having the master on wax?

Twista: We decided that we would go back and use a lot the original sounds that we used in Adrenaline Rush to create new beats—new ideas and everything. Off of the conversation, he [Traxter] had already had a track put together, with the whole vibe going… Instead of me just banging it out in the studio, I did one of my traditional things I do, which is go back to the hotel room, [and] throughout the day I started to write the track. [I] came back the next day. That’s what I did I just took it with me. I vibed on the song real good and wrote the whole song then came back the next day and laid it. Even then, we still didn’t look at it like a big jam…We knew it was a song with that original sound, but we didn’t know that we didn’t had one like we had, until it started doing what it was doing…

AllHipHop.com: When is Category F5 being released?

Twista: On July 14th. Category F5 is a dope definition that I picked up from the encyclopedia. That’s the reason why I titled the album Category F5. The F Scale [Fujita Scale] is a scale that’s used to describe different levels of tornadoes or twisters. The range goes up to category F6, which is unconceivable. Category F5 actually has a description, it describes cars being thrown through the air as missles, at 100 MPH; it describes bark being ripped from trees; it describes houses being ripped from foundations. It’s like a real fierce, dope description of how things get tore up. At the ends it says it like an incredible phenomenon…

AllHipHop.com: Do you feel capable of ripping up the industry?

Twista: Not ripping up the industry, just killing them on the album, killing them with these lyrics and these songs like how I be doing. [I’m] able to come with hits, jams, stuff for the streets—and doing what Twista do. If you would consider that ripping up the industry then that’s what it is. I’m not really with continuing the trend of rating myself with numbers and first weeks and stuff like everybody else does; I survive no matter what my first week is. I’m still here eating off rap. I don’t be focusing on that. I focus on it on the business end; but, on the artistic end I don’t focus on it.

AllHipHop.com: Adrenaline Rush 2 didn’t meet the commercial success of some of your previous albums. Was that one of the reasons you left Atlantic Records?

Twista: I would say the industry started to take a slight change… It was hitting everybody on different levels. [The] record labels [had to think] how can we make money if people can get this music other ways, digitally and other ways now? They had to transform from just regular record labels into these multimedia companies to be able to do what they do and make money. I didn’t fit in the scheme of a new artist. A 360 deal really didn’t fit an artist who already had a fanbase or whose been grinding and has released records. A artist like me or Fat Joe, or somebody like that, it would be more easier for us to make money and to benefit [with] us doing our thing on the independent level.

With me it was a business move more so than a personal move. It wasn’t me thinking my record didn’t blow up. I knew part of the reason my record didn’t blow up was due to financial decisions that had to be made by the company. As long as we were all on good terms, and they felt that as long as I gave them what they needed, then they could let me go. I went that route. I already went the negative route and lost three or four years out of my career before. I didn’t want to take that route…

AllHipHop.com: Are you the premiere lyricist from the Chi?

Twista: I used to be, but at a certain point I started hearing these little n****s and I realized, okay—the real snappy punchlines and coming with it like the young ones like it. I feel like I might have lost a step on that level. But as far as what I’ve learned through experience, and how to put a song together, and how to work in the studio and have a good ear; I think I’m better on that level.

Lyrically and being able to put together patterns and styles, I’ve got you to death. I definitely can make a song with a ill pattern or crazy style to it. But, as far as them punchlines, and how these shorties bring it; they got me feeling like they go harsh. It’s hard for me to say that just know that my man Skooda Chose is in here. Some of the lyrics that I’ve heard from him [have me thinking] I could do that s*** when I was young. But, I can’t do it no more, not like that.

AllHipHop.com: [laughs] Is there a difference between being an MC and being an entertainer?

Twista: Definitely. I would say [pauses] Rakim or Kool G Rap would be my description of an MC. Slick Rick or Doug E. Fresh or some type of flair personality would be more of an entertainer; when you got both of them it’s the best. But, it’s definitely a difference. Some people who entertain might not have great lyrics, they just might have the look and the swagger, [and with an] MC they don’t really have that flair or that desire to be out there. When you get them in the booth or in a battle or on the street they can kill somebody [lyrically].

Twista-“Birthday”

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AllHipHop.com: Overall, within Hip-Hop, has your public and has your peers recognized your contribution to the game?

Twista: To a certain extent. It’s unfortunate to say that sometimes when you’re not around, or when something bad happens, that’s when everybody looks up. They don’t recognize you for the good. Right now I would consider myself as an underrated MC. You know, you got some MC’s that get all the accolades and all the props. When it comes to the one’s who consider themselves a judges of, or one of the people who describes who is Hip-Hop or what really counts, I feel like those people who make those assumptions don’t really recognize me the way they should.

But when I walk down the street every person that I see that recognizes Twista, I feel like they will recognize it, I’m happy with that. They’ll see my face and start thinking, ‘Damn, man, you did this and you did this, man. You really pioneered that style.’ They recognize that when they see me. With every fan I walk up to it’s love. But all of the writers and some of the people, who are so called the-sources-to-see of what Hip-Hop is or what real rap is, I feel [that] they don’t.

AllHipHop.com: If you didn’t get paid for doing Hip-Hop would you still do it?

Twista: [pauses] If I didn’t get paid? Yeah, that’s the reason why I still do it because I love it. That’s the beautiful part about it. I love going in the studio and making songs. I love going on stage and performing for the people. All of the positives about being a rapper; I love it. The thing I love the most is making songs in the studio. The act of making a song, writing lyrics, coming with a style, that’s the thing that turns me on the most. So, hell yeah!

AllHipHop.com: On June 27th Rock The Bells will be in Chicago, will fans be in for a surprise performance; will you be a hometown addition?

Twista: If it happens to where I can come out for a surprise performance it’s definitely going to happen. But, just to let you know how much I am a fan of Hip-Hop, me and Trax and Toxic, my guys that produce, we already plotting about how we’re going to post up backstage.

AllHipHop.com: [laughs]

Twista: To me, this is the honest to God’s truth, this the first time where, being Twista on some clout s*** really matter to me. I’m like I’m Twista. So, I’m going to take my ass up in there under the Twista act and be like, okay, woo woo woo, and post up. But, really, inside I’m going to be like the biggest Rap fan ever; and be real happy to meet all them.

AllHipHop.com: If the situation presented itself who would you invite on your All-Star tour?

Twista: I love the Drake music right now. So, I would invite Drake on my tour so I could stand on the side of the stage and listen to his show. Maybe Andre 3000—I would even invite Cee-Lo. I would want to invite Cee-Lo under the Gnarles Barkley act. The tour wouldn’t match up good but that’s what I would be on.

AllHipHop.com: In the spirit of competition, which three MCs would you like to battle?

Twista: To be honest, I’m so past the battle days, I would be more willing to do a song with them. But just for the fun of the battle, you want to see Twista and Tech N9ne rapping fast against each other, you want to see just all of the fast rappers, really. So, I would say me against, Busta, Tech N9ne, and Ludacris, and have it on the fast lyrical tip.

Just so you know, them all my homies, I don’t want to battle none of them n***** because, whoah. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: [laughs] Let me find out Twista’s scared.

Twista: Ah, nah it’s never that, now you trying to kick of that other—

AllHipHop.com: Let’s keep it nice; we’re not trying to start any mess. [laughs] For nearly two decades you’ve been connected to the mic. Are there any artists that you haven’t worked with that you’d like to get on a track? I think a Twista / Big Daddy Kane track would be crazy!

Twista: You snapped with Big Daddy Kane; he’s one of my top five MCs. That’s a good one. Somebody that I would just like to work with is Eminem I would definitely love to do a track with Eminem.

AllHipHop.com: To your audience, you have the last word, what would you like to say?

Twista: I would like to say, to my audience, thanks for helping me to continue my journey of longevity. [We’re] showing them how you can be a James Brown in this game, and break the whole mold of people thinking that an R&B artist or another category of artist can outlast a Hip-Hop artist. I’m trying to break that whole vibe. I feel like as long as you [are] a generally good man and a good person, if you continue to make good music, then you can do that.

I gotta say thanks to the fans for helping me to continue that journey. I gotta tell them Category F5 is the s***. I got new things on there with people like Akon and Static Major. I got classic things on there from Do Or Die and Buk from Psychodrama. I got something on there for the ladies [and] I got thug stuff for the fellas. It’s dropping July 14th, live with it. I got a couple of mixtapes coming that probably go harder than the album.

This week’s chart watch comes at a time when many people are taking time to reflect because of the losses suffered in the entertainment world.  The deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon were of course shockingly sad but it is Michael Jackson’s death that seems to have affected, well….everybody and everything.  His death strained cell phone networks, almost doubled chatter on Twitter, and consumed the news networks. 

Mike had such a monumental impact on music and it’s interesting to see how he affected so many artists.  (If you get a chance go over to the rumors page and check out Dwele’s tribute to MJ.) Without Michael we would never hear Nas’ “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” or Jay-Z’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A)”.  We would not have Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake,  most young male singing groups, most young female singing groups, etc…you get the point.  MTV would probably not be the same because Michael was an artist that reinvented the music video.  Is there a popular Jackson song you can hear without picturing the video?

So now after watching a few days worth of Michael Jackson videos, news coverage of Michael Jackson, and (sigh) the B.E.T awards/tribute to Michael Jackson it’s time to chart the albums of the week.  (I don’t know who said it but the quote of the week: “I wish B.E.T would die and Michael Jackson had to do a tribute to it”.  But I digress).

Jackson’s influence was so strong that he literally controls the charts this week, forcing everyone in the top ten to drop three spots.  He actually sets a record with this being the first time a cataloged title sold more than a current release in a week.  (Jackson actually does it three times).  Thriller, The Essential Michael Jackson, and Number Ones each sold over 100,000 copies putting them in the top three spots for this week.  (Take note that Mike passed away on the on June 25th and the sales week ends on June 28th so the bulk of his sales happened over a three day period.)  Number Ones is at number one selling 108,000 copies followed by Essential with 102,000 and Thriller with 101,000.

The Black Eyed Peas were to come in at number one but fall to four selling 85,000 copies of The E.N.D.  Michael’s death also appears to have covered that ridiculous feud between Will.I.Am and Perez Hilton which was just starting to get annoying.

The Jonas Brothers come in at the fifth spot with their fourth album Lines, Vines, and Trying Times.  They are followed by Regina Spektor who enters the charts at number six with her fifth album Far.

The Dave Matthews Band comes in at number seven with their album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King which is a tribute to one of their own fallen band members. 

Eminem’s Relapse comes in at number eight.  A few weeks ago I mentioned the diss song Mariah has out against Eminem.  Well apparently she is also filming a video for the song where she dresses up like Eminem.  Google those pictures and keep an eye out because their feud looks like it will be oddly interesting.

Dream Theater take the number nine spot followed by Ginuwine (Yes…Ginuwine) who grabs spot number ten.  Ginuwine’s sixth album, A Man’s Thought’s, helps him to enter the charts this week and hopefully his fans will help him stay for the next.

Hmmm….No Lady Gaga.  Thanks Mike.

DROPPING THIS WEEK

The genius of Michael was that he did what he wanted despite what other people thought.  I’m pretty sure more than one person in the studio raised an eyebrow when MJ said he wanted to make a pop song with a Halloweenish theme and accompanying 14 minute long music video.  Thriller, however, went on to become the highest selling album in history.  Word is Quincy Jones didn’t even expect the album to sell like it did and he produced it.

Hip Hop artists should take a page out of Jackson’s book when it comes to creating music.  Don’t get me wrong, Michael was definitely focused on the business of music his approach was different.  He created good music with the belief that people would listen to it, like it, and buy it.  He did not however create music for the sole purpose of selling.  He did not copy what was popular and reproduce it to move units.  Hopefully, more artists can learn from Michael Jackson’s work ethic and produce music of which they can truly be proud.  Hopefully the artists dropping this week are already doing it.

First up we have Ace Hood who is dropping his second album, Ruthless.  The Florida rapper just released his debut album, Gutta, last year and I for one don’t remember a song off it.  The album was apparently solid enough to move 100,000 units and grant Ace a shot at a second album.  Ruthless features Rick Ross, Akon, Ludacris, Jazmine Sullivan, and others.  If you like the sound coming out of DJ Khaled’s camp then this one shouldn’t disappoint. 

Next we have an artist that had a feud with KRS-One back in 1987.  (They’ve made up since then).  Blaq Poet releases his third studio album, Tha Blaqprint, with most of the production being done by DJ Premier.  The album also features N.O.R.E and Lil Fame of M.O.P so it’s sure to have that east coast sound. 

Since we are on the east coast let’s look at an artist that has been building a pretty sizable buzz in the underground community.  Maino drops his highly anticipated album If Tomorrow Comes and many of his fans can now breathe a sigh of relief.  The album features T-Pain, B.G., and Swizz Beatz plus production by some heavy hitters like Just Blaze.  I don’t think I have to tell many people to pick this one up.

Next up is an MC out of San Francisco by the name of Kaz-Well.  His debut album Fish Outta Water is produced by DJ Scotty Doo, Rhythm Defense, and Da Evangelist.  The Asian American MC says he’s highly influenced by artists like Nas, Radiohead, and Curtis Mayfield so hopefully it makes for a good debut cd.

Now we have Jorge Alvarez a.k.a Kurious who’s dropping his second album II.  Kurious hasn’t dropped an album since his 1994 debut A Constipated Monkey but has, since then, been feature on various singles by MF Doom and MF Grimm.  His sophomore album, II, is being released by Amalgam Digital (who also recently released A Constipated Monkey: Demo Sessions) and will feature MF Doom, MC Serch, and Max B.

Now in the “Best Of” categories we have The Best Of Messy Marv, Playlist: The Very Best of Sir Mix-A-Lot, Playlist: The Very Best of TLC, and Playlist: The Very Best of Wu-Tang Clan.  If you’re a fan of these artists then pick up one of the four albums.  Also, the Wu-Tang Clan is releasing Chamber Music with all new music.  I haven’t heard much about this one (which is surprising because it’s a Wu-Tang album) so if someone out there has heard it let the rest of us know how it is.

Getting back to new releases one half of Kidz in the Hall drops his debut album.  Naledge’s Chicago Picasso features Rhymefest, Mickey Facts, and others with production by Sa-Ra and Double-O.  This is a lot of material that Naledge had recorded on his own and wanted to release to the public.  Fans of Kidz in the Hall should like this one.

Los Angeles MC and one-half of Psyco Realm, Sick Jacken, releases his third solo album, Stray Bullets.  The album features guest appearances by B Real, Planet Asia, DJ Muggs and Immortal Technique to name a few. 

Tash, one of the members of the Alkoholiks is releasing his second solo album, Control Freak.  It’s been ten years since Tash released Rap Life, his well reviewed debut cd, and hopefully this one will be received with as much acclaim.  The album features Khujo (who also has and album coming out down below), Kokane, and Knoc-Turn’al plus the Alkoholiks.  Those looking for west coast music should look no further than this one or the disc by Sick Jacken.

Last up we have a duo between one of the members of Goodie Mob and an eclectic producer who come together and create a mash-up of music that is hard to categorize.  Gnarls—Wait…not Gnarls?  They’re called Willie Isz?  Jneiro Jarel does the production and vocals and Khujo raps on their Debut cd, Georgiavania, which is said to be somewhat like the Cee-Lo and Dangermouse duo.  This might be interesting so give it a listen. 

All right, that was the week.  A lot of these albums are selling for less then ten bucks so there is no excuse.  Hit the store or itunes and support some of your favorites.