The Lone Star state is home to some of the most influential rappers and independent labels in the country. In the last few months, two of Texas’ own have debuted in top positions on the Billboard music charts. We all know that behind every great rhyme is a great beat. These two brothers have been chairmen of the board whose beats have assisted in propelling artists like Mike Jones to become a household name, and not a mere name on a track. In addition to a solid 2005 through Mike Jones, the boys have recently lined up work with Bun-B, Twista, and Trick Daddy – so get used to ‘em. Salih and Tomar Williams of The Carnival Beats sat down with AllHipHop.com to present to our loyal readers an insider’s look into what it takes to be a success in production.

AllHipHop.com: Can you describe your beginnings in the music industry?

Tomar: We originally began as a family band in 1980’s called Sixx A.M. We used to perform on what most people know as the “Chitlin Circuit”. We played live R&B music, and we did it for either money or beer.

Salih: Then, our popularity grew and created a demand for our fans, and were invited to play on Sixth Street in Austin, TX. We played gigs all over, and then our family unit decided to part ways and pursue our personal goals.

AllHipHop.com: Being that you both have musical backgrounds, what made you choose production over another facet of the music business?

Tomar: I have always made beats and had a sincere interest in producing. Therefore, I decided to start a production company in 1993. However, it was in 1997 that I decided to take it on a professional level. I would collaborate with my brother, and then we would make it a family affair.

AllHipHop.com: How did you get started in making beats for rap artists?

Salih: Tomar always had relationships with the local artists, and felt

that there was a need for Texas artists to be taken seriously. So, we

began submitting beats, and began working with a number of local acts.

Tomar: Wreckshop Records recording artist Big Mo was the first act that made a significant impact for us. The “Bar Baby” received a lot of love in the streets and on regional radio. We then began to work with Wrekshop Records on Da Wreckshop Family Album. We enjoyed that experience very much so, and we later moved on to work with Swisha House. The album would be called,” The Day Hell Broke Loose” and we produced several tracks for a new artist named Mike Jones called “Still Tippin” and another song called “Cuttin”. “Still Tippin” was recorded in 2003, and it got a lot of love on the underground scene. The song caught the attention of Asylum, and the rest is history.

AllHipHop.com: We know Mike’s happy, but how do you feel about Mike Jones’ recent success with?

Tomar: Back in 1989, we recorded a song and one day it played on the radio. I feel the same excitement when I hear “Back Then” or “Still Tippin’,” now as when I heard my first song on the radio.

Salih: It has not completely sunk in to me since we are always working. We do not have a whole lot of time to listen to the radio or watch TV, but when I do, I take a sense of pride because it has been a long time coming.

AllHipHop.com: Music sampling has become a very controversial issue. Where do you both stand in opinion about the art of sampling?

Salih: There is a tasteful way to sample music. We try to steer clear o samples, and choose to play instruments instead. However, the producer has to respect the artist. Give respect and pay the people for what their contributions to music. One producer who does that is Kanye West. He understand the art of sampling well. He almost in a sense resurrects the artists and exposes the masses to forms of music that would not ordinarily be heard.

AllHipHop.com: How important is it for a producer to understand

publishing rights and music industry education?

Tomar: The music industry is at the end of the day is about making

revenue. It is important to understand that publishing is a producer’s bread for the future to come. Never compromise your talent so much that other people exploit your worth. It is important that the producer and artist read through contracts and agreements thoroughly, because they include loopholes that can be detrimental to their career if not careful.

Salih: Read and talk to people. We did not have the same exposure to the music industry that some of my other counterparts did. We almost fell into a deal with a guy from L.A. Who will remain nameless where he tried to take more than fifty percent of our publishing. Know what your splits are. Know that when you sample a beat, you have to wait for it to clear plus pay for the use of the song. Know what points are. Knowledge is key to surviving.

AllHipHop.com: What else can the world expect from Carnival Beats?

Salih: We recently signed a publishing deal with Universal Records back in March. We are currently working with Bun B on his next project. We look forward to working with Juvenile. Twista, Jive recording artist Dirtbag. On the R&B side, we are submitting material for Jamie Foxx’s release and UK recording artist, M.I.A.

Tomar: I would like to thank Manny Edwards and Shawn Sharpe, because they introduced to a new way in publishing. Carnivale Beats would like to create a movement in music. We would like to work and develop new artists and give others an opportunity to do what they want to do. We believe that everyone is entitled to an opportunity. We hope to one day become a full-fledged label.

Salih: Yes, our goal is to become a label. Carnival is a family affair.

We have our sister who is our financial and business mind, and our young brother is an A&R looking for new talent to develop.

AllHipHop.com: Many people often say that family members and friends do not mix well when it comes to business. Do you find that it is true?

Tomar: No, I strongly disagree. We come from a tight knit family, and we support one another in all that we do. If you can not trust your blood, who can you trust?

Salih: I think that working with family keeps us grounded with our feet planted firmly in the ground. And we would like to give our family to enjoy our success, especially since they contributed so much for us to be the people we are today.

AllHipHop.com: Do you have any other words of wisdom to share with our readers who aspire to have a career in production?

Tomar: Stay persistent and know that all things come in their time. The music business is one that can be very difficult for some people, because the success does not come overnight. Always remember people who have helped you along the way, don’t be one to get selective amnesia just because you are on top one day.

Salih: On that note, we would like shout out our family, Michael Watts, T-Fast, G-Dash, the whole Swishahouse family, and Mike Jones. We are grateful for all of the support. To reach us and learn about our body of work, please visit www.carnivalbeats.com.

Trick Trick, the infamous independent selling artist from Detroit is as real as they come. He was framed for murder by the Detroit Police, fought the charge and beat it, so it is not surprising how thankful he is for his ability to hit the streets and the skies to travel, all be it for business or for pleasure. His legend grew in leaps and bounds when he had a “situation”with Miami’s Trick Daddy, who reportedly didn’t appreciate their similar names.

But for Trick Trick, it is all about the music.

Being multi-talented isn’t really a rarity in today’s music industry, but being good at being multi-talented is. Rapper, producer, director, actor and father are all roles he plays pretty damn well. Trick Trick talked to AllHipHop.com about just how his role as an angel encouraged the thespian side of him, and why “There’s no place like home.”

AllHipHop.com: Being on the road, a lot of artists complain about the getting to and from venues, how do you deal with that?

Trick Trick: I’m a warrior, you know what I am saying, it’s like when I get home I am ready to get going to somewhere else.

AllHipHop.com: So do you like traveling in general?

Trick Trick: Yeah, I love traveling. Traveling is the most wonderful thing that can ever be done by a human being. I appreciate being able to get up any morning and walk anywhere, let alone be able to get in a car and drive anywhere. Driving up in the country, I couldn’t be mad at all.

AllHipHop.com: A lot of controversy surrounds the buses that get you from venue to venue, you cool with those?

Trick Trick: My bus driver is a wild and crazy guy, so I like him. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: In terms of personal travel, where’s a favorite of yours to visit?

Trick Trick: Well I like to go to family places, like going to Orlando, Florida.

AllHipHop.com: So you have children?

Trick Trick: Yeah, I got kids. I love that s**t because you have a lot of people from the hood ain’t even seen across Eight Mile, you know what I am saying, they haven’t seen where my office is located let alone be able to pick up and take their kids to Disney World or Universal Studios or anything. I just appreciate being able to do different things with different people.

AllHipHop.com: You turn your hand to everything. You also have a movie coming out with the same title as your next album, The People Versus.

Trick Trick: The movie is actually based on a true story – what I went through with the Detroit Police, I was framed for murder and it’s based on a true story, just showing how people can be framed. I was just fortunate to be set up and be an individual who knew people who had money and had money myself and be able to fight it and come out of it okay. I am a voice who can speak on it so the whole situation with the movie is what went down with me. The movie and album will be packaged together.

AllHipHop.com: It appears you are quite the thespian…

Trick Trick: Yeah I love it. I acted when I was young, plays at school and stuff. I toured with a play when I was like six or seven years old where I played an angel. It toured all over the country. Actually my Mother and Father were in the play so it was like they needed an angel for the final scene and they got me to do it. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: So where do you find the time to do everything, you are an artist, a producer, you are a Father, you act, and I mean there are only so many hours in a day.

Trick Trick: Everyday is a work day outside of Sunday; all of my offices are in one building. My film studio is down the hall from my recording studio. When I go into work everyone is already in working, so it’s just a matter of scheduling. You know like from the 15-18th you’ll be filming, then from the 20th to the 30th you will be recording with such and such. It’s all down to scheduling. Then once I get a break I grab the kids and get on a plane.

AllHipHop.com: So you are not afraid of flying?

Trick Trick: No, not really. I’m mot afraid to fly at all because if there was to be a terrorist on my plane he’s going to wish he wasn’t there. I’ll whoop his mothaf**klng ass. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: Some people only drive, you know what I mean, they hate flying.

Trick Trick: No any means of traveling is good for me. Just being able to move around from one place to another, I’ve been in jail for along time, so freedom is priceless. However we gonna get there we gonna go.

AllHipHop.com: Is it hard being out on the road, away from your family?

Trick Trick: It can be. I miss them but we talk so much on the phone, its okay.

AllHipHop.com: What about the kids?

Trick Trick: Now, I really miss them. I talk to them like five or six times a day. They call me up “Daddy, what you doing? You being careful?” My baby brother is my DJ; he is out here with me. My older brother, my older sister, my Mother, my Father, my Uncle, my sister, my girl we all e-mail each other back and forth , e-mail jokes, e-cards, all kinds of s**t. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: Back to the movies, if you were going to go and watch a movie, what would you go and watch?

Trick Trick: I like comedy and I like action movies and then if I can get a movie that has both action and comedy like Bad Boys with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence that’s a great movie, because you got the action and they funny as hell.

AllHipHop.com: Is that your favorite movie then, Bad Boys?

Trick Trick: No actually my fave movie is The Godfather trilogy. I got that in the back of the bus right now. My sister and girlfriend bought me it so it goes with me wherever I go. It’s either that or The Wizard of Oz. Believe it or not, The Wizard of Oz is some funny s**t. I be back there on the bus watching that cracking up and the boys be in the front laughing at me “What the hells wrong with him?” they’ll be saying. “He’s laughing so don’t bother him.” It’s the lion that makes me laugh and the dog Toto. I like the Wizard a lot too, when he is saying, “Go home.”

AllHipHop.com: You got too extremes right there.

Trick Trick: Well you can’t be mean and gangsta all the time you know, I like to laugh.

AllHipHop.com: So if your girl wanted to go to watch a chick flick would you take her?

Trick Trick: One of those girly movies? I can’t do it. It only turns into an argument. The only thing about them is they end in marriage so then we have to fight on the way home. Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutchner, I went to see that movie thinking it would be a Bernie Mac type of movie, it ended up being a girly movie and it p##### me off. We argued the whole way home about marriage.

AllHipHop.com: When is the album dropping?

Trick Trick: Right now we are in a bit of a war between labels. Yeah there is a lot of interest from a lot of labels right now.

AllHipHop.com: What are you looking for? Distribution?

Trick Trick: No, actually 50/50. I’m bringing a lot to the table.

AllHipHop.com: Independently you have moved close to two million units which is pretty impressive.

Trick Trick: Yeah if I could take this project and do it independently I would. Financially, I can afford to do it, but Jimmy Iovine will not release any of the tracks Eminem and I did together, it’s just corporate bulls**t and I just got to deal with it.

Pioneer, icon, trendsetter. Any of these words can be used to describe one of Hip-Hop’s official first lady’s, MC Lyte. These day’s however, she’s feeling another title, author. As she ventures in to yet another medium to get her message to the masses, Lyte uses a tool that she has come to master-words. As an acclaimed MC and an accomplished actress, Lyte, has been “Cha Cha Cha’ing” her way through Hip-Hop for over a decade and now she is manifesting her handle on the vernacular buy way of self- publishing. The female mc known for being “Lyte as a Rock” is sharing her thoughts and feelings by way of her book, Just My Take-A Book of Poetry and Words of Inspiration. Easily one of the first women to flex their lyrical skills to contend with men in their own arena while holding it down for the ladies, Lyte understands the power behinds words as well as the power behind her celebrity so being consistent with her passion for uplifting the youth, she developed this book as a tool to help younger folks in a different manner.

AllHipHop.com: What made you want to do a poetry book?

MC Lyte: I don’t really look at it as a poetry book I think because the title has poetry and words of wisdom that people may think that, but I may have maybe three or four things in there that may be relatable to what poetry usually is like some type of rhythm to it but the rest of the book is words of inspiration.

AllHipHop.com: I read a review that made me want to read it because it spoke of you as a mc vs. you giving words of inspiration. It was a good review in that it said it was a good tool for youth who need the inspiration but if hip-hop fans were expecting the usual lyrical brevity of Lyte the MC then that’s not what this book is about, would you say that’s a fair assessment?

MC Lyte: Yeah, well I guess that makes sense, I think it’s a different take on what I have to give and to offer people and this is why I really don’t count it as poetry because not much of the stuff has a rhythm or words that rhyme or things that you usually look for as far as poetry goes, but with this that’s exactly right I just wanted to be able to touch the lives of youth in a different way than we’re used to seeing rappers do.

AllHipHop.com: It’s very necessary, what prompted it?

MC Lyte: Well someone had given me a book and said create somewhat of a journal type book and for some reason I had not written in it at all and I had it for about a year maybe longer and one day I just woke up and started writing in it and I said I’m gonna write every morning until I don’t anymore and I think I wrote for about seventy something days.

AllHipHop.com: What types of issue did you touch on that are important for young people to understand?

MC Lyte: Honesty, integrity, secrets, success being motivated just things that they ought to know. Things that can help them get ahead in life just a little bit more through someone else helping them out.

AllHipHop.com: I was having a conversation with someone in the industry about women in the industry and the issues that they deal with and his basic feeling was that it’s virtually impossible for a female to get on without compromising themselves in some capacity, how do you feel about that and is that something you had to deal with in your career and if so how did you deal with it?

MC Lyte: having to deal with progression in a way that was negative is that what you mean?

AllHipHop.com: Yes.

MC Lyte: I don’t know I guess I had a great beginning with the first priority family. It was all about the talent it was all about what I wanted to put forth in the music it was all about me staying true to who I really was and I guess because I had that foundation I was able to set the standard for what was acceptable to me or for me?

AllHipHop.com: Are we going to learn anything about MC Lyte in the book that we don’t already know?

MC Lyte: Oh absolutely not. [laughs] not this book, the most you’ll learn is that I care and anyone who knows MC Lyte already knows that, that I care about the youth and I feel that that’s been pretty explanatory in many of my songs and the lyrics that I put forth so for me mc Lyte caring isn’t anything new. I am doing a memoir which will at that point go into a whole other world of who I am but for this book I just wanted to be able to help so people and to also help myself cause in sharing it’s also therapy.

AllHipHop.com: Yeah, they say we usually teach what we need to learn.

MC Lyte: Absolutely.

AllHipHop.com: Over the years you’ve gone from B-Girl to glamour girl…

MC Lyte: [Laughs] I have? I’m still a B-Girl.

AllHipHop.com: Yes, but you’re a glamorous B-Girl now and your one of the few who can do classy sexy not slutty sexy?

MC Lyte: Well absolutely that way doesn’t speak to me or for me.

AllHipHop.com: Do you feel like women who play the other side of the coin hurt female images in hip-hop or is it just self-expression?

MC Lyte: No, I think they should be allowed to do whatever but I also think that record labels and anyone who has anything to say as far as advertising and marketing should also show the other side of the coin.

AllHipHop.com: Was it your transition to television that made you a glamour girl or just maturing?

MC Lyte: Yeah, that’s what it is just getting older and growing and trying new things and styles of fashion but it all still being very much a part of who I am so I don’t really feel uncomfortable and stepping out into something to different.

AllHipHop.com:-So the book is available now what’s next?

MC Lyte: Well, its available at officialmclyte.com and several independent book stores and possibly in the works of having it in the major chains but I have to decide if I want to lose such a big part of my earnings

AllHipHop.com: You’re self-published right?

MC Lyte: Yes I was learning as I went.

AllHipHop.com: Is it much different from the music industry?

MC Lyte: Yeah, because as a publisher of music my company is with a bigger publisher so I’m still being taken care of in a sense. With self-publishing this book it’s pretty much all on me the editing, the printing, the illustration and all the different parts.

AllHipHop.com : So what’s in your immediate future?

MC Lyte: Well, I’m working on a new album I have six songs done and I’m courting a couple of rappers to get on it, not too many though just two, then hopefully we can secure some type of deal. Then there’s the acting, Half & Half starts shooting again in August and I’m also opening a boutique in the valley where we’ll have new and used clothing, a little something for everyone. I’m just trying to keep myself busy.

The last time AllHipHop.com featured Slim Thug, Already Platinum seemed like a political campaign from a president – questionable. Already, Slim Thug has affirmed what Mike Jones showed early, and what Paul Wall is likely to punctuate – that Houston is beastly in the ’05 Rap Game.

It hasn’t been since Lil’ Flip’s commercial boom in 2002 that Houston turned so many heads. Lil’ Flip’s comments certainly don’t appear to be turning Slim Thug. Read AllHipHop.com’s post-album follow-up feature to discuss Already Platinum, the elbow-room quarrel in Houston, and how Dubya ain’t the only Texan with a gun rack. If you’re Slim Thug, the Rap game must look like Duck Hunt.

AllHipHop.com: One thing you have been credited for prior to working with a major label was your independence. Since the album has dropped, do you still feel positively about moving to a major label?

Slim Thug: Yeah, working with the majors is definitely the best way to be if you are trying to be in this Rap business and you got your numbers right, as far as your business, and what they are supposed to pay you. Now, the money s**t, if you want to be independent, you got to have that hustle, if you want to be a successful independent. As far as me, I am cool with my situation right now, I’m cool.

AllHipHop.com: Recently, there has been a burst of artists out of H-town, with any city, Atlanta, New York, Houston, etc; everyone is going for that shot to be the king of their respective city. Do you find that same thing about Houston? We certainly sensed such from “I Ain’t Heard of That”…

Slim Thug: It has been competitive with Houston, man. Like a lot of people in Houston don’t even stick together and get in to it over the same ole s**t. Motherf**kers trying to be the baddest motherf**ker in the city. It really does not matter to me as long as what I do is a factor, it don’t really matter to me. Rap is just a competitive thing, everybody is competitive and everybody wants to be number one, be the king, all that s**t, you know what I’m sayin’.

AllHipHop.com: As far as the friendly competition out there, do you have any guys that you compete with in a friendly manner?

Slim Thug: We don’t compete, I got my n***as I f**k with like: Mike Jones and Paul Wall. We don’t compete or no s**t like that.

AllHipHop.com: Is there any competition between yourself and Lil’ Flip?

Slim Thug: No there ain’t no competition, not on my end? Some n***as, they feel like

that to the point where they wanna be the king and all that there to the point where they be speaking on s**t, getting out of line with it. I said that about Flip on that song because on the [song] with Z-Ro, [he said]“n***as think they made it before they album dropped” or whatever; that s**t was big in the streets, everybody was like he talking about Slim, because the name of my album is Already Platinum. I felt like he shot that slug right there, but I was chillin’ though, I left that alone. His group, Squad Up, they got on a mix cd and shot some slugs, they said my name on the s**t. It wasn’t no guessing since they said my name, so, when I heard that record, I just responded, lettin’ n***as know, “N***a, I don’t give a f**k what you talking about, it’s whatever.” It ain’t no competition, I really ain’t in no competition with nobody.

AllHipHop.com: “The Interview,” is a perplexing record, can you comment on it more?

Slim Thug: That’s just what it is, this here is prior to all the “Still Tippin” s**t a lot of people did not listen to Houston Rap, they did not really respect the Screwed-up s**t. I always kept it like that and did that type of s**t. When I first got with the Neptunes, I was still doing my H-Town s**t on those types of records. Motherf**kers got to speaking that s**t, like it ain’t going to do nothing or whatever. It’s just a lot of n***as, everybody going to talk. I was talking to Houston right there: DJ’s, people in the streets who think they know every f**king thing, just trying to predict what people do and all that there. I just be like man, get off my d*ck.

AllHipHop.com: “This is My Life,” is another gem of Already Platinum…

Slim Thug: Pharrell made the track, and when he made the track I was just feeling it, it was some real gangsta s**t, Pharrell kind of got at me on that song right there, he was like man, I want you to do some s**t like that “Bout It.” The beat kind of like “Bout It,” how I am rappin on there, it’s kind of off beat, Pharrell told me to rap offbeat, to give it that type of feel. I hate it got on bootleg, I think it kind of took away some of the impact. If this album would of came out and ain’t s**t been heard, it would have been bigger than what it is.

AllHipHop.com: Just counting songs, seems like more that almost a fourth of the songs was out before the release date, how do you feel about that?

Slim Thug: I was so anxious to get Already Platinum, to get pass that. For one the bootleg was out, everybody think they had the album. Still motherf**kers ain’t bought the album because they think they got the album or whatever, they like I got them songs. My first week, I think if the bootlegs wasn’t out I would have did even bigger numbers. I was ready to get pass this album, so people would know it’s a whole new thing. I still don’t feel like I have seen my full potential, like what I would have really did, because the bootleg being out there, because the singles that I pushed was off the bootleg. I’m ready to get to the next one.

AllHipHop.com: Not trying to compare, but coming out of Houston and getting a major deal like Flip, you do feel like people may turn on you the way people kind of turned on Flip this year? Do you feel like you are about to experience a whole lot more animosity directed at you now that you have dropped Already Platinum, an album on a major record label.

Slim Thug: Hell yeah, you ain’t know? That’s what the whole Flip thing is about; it’s already in effect right now. There have been other dudes talking down, that’s just a n***er mentality, see someone else getting it; get mad and hate, instead of getting on they grind—hatin’. It’s not just rappin’ if you on the corner and you got the most money; you got the most licks, getting the most money, you going to get hated on. It just comes with the territory. When you successful you got to have a hard-heart man. Motherf**kers is always quick to say n***as that got something, changed. Most times it be the people that saying that a n***a changed is the ones that changed. Just ‘cause I got a Phantom, I can’t play with motherf**ker no more, I can’t joke about nobody care no more or they going be like this n***a on some more s**t. It’s really the people who you was around they expect you to change, you can’t play with them in certain ways no more, that is how I feel about it.

AllHipHop.com: Everybody is involved with the whole paper chase, the Rap game…what do you consider going to far the paper, as far as being a rapper, selling out for money?

Slim Thug: I can’t call that one, s**t. Me, personally, if it ain’t real to me I can’t do it. I don’t talk about s**t I don’t do, I ain’t fin to say I’m driving nothing if I ain’t driving it, I don’t have a big imagination. As far as other rappers who do make up a lot of s**t, I don’t know what they would call selling out.

AllHipHop.com: You talk a lot about different guns on your CD, are you an avid gun owner?

Slim Thug: Man, I own a gang of guns; this ain’t no little s**t I am saying to hype myself up. I like guns; I got a DVD that is going to show some of my guns.

AllHipHop.com: So, what’s your favorite out of your arsenal?

Slim Thug: I got an FN; it is a pistol that hold 21 shots, the bullet look like baby AK bullets, got the piercing. Man, they like 1200 [dollars], they trying to stop them from getting sold. It’s serious! I got AKs, pumps, Mac 10’s; I got this Raging Bull too. I don’t go to the range a lot. Only time I really shoot my s**t is in the backyard on some New Years s**t.