TSS PRESENTS 15 MINUTES WITH BIG NOYD

"Fifteen Minutes With..."    By TC on January 29, 2008 at 12:49 pm

Any die hard fan of Mobb Deep clearly knows that Big Noyd’s contributions added an extra spark to their already potent material. From lacing gems like “Burn (The Learning)” and “Streets Raised Me,” his time spent with the Mobb has kept his name relevant even while being out of the spotlight. Stepping from out of the Mobb’s shadow and into his own driver’s seat, Noyd’s back on the scene with a lively new album Illustrious, which features the single “Things Done Changed.” New album, new label, new hunger. Those are the topics. Let’s start from the top of the list.

TSS: What’s good Rapper Noyd?

Big Noyd: What up homie, what’s poppin’ with you?

TSS: I’m chillin’ man, sounds like you got a busy schedule!

Big Noyd: Yeah man, they got me on the road doing a lot of work. I apologize.

TSS: It’s all good man, thanks for taking the time out.

Big Noyd: Nah man, I appreciate this son, a lot.

TSS: No problem. What’s the buzz like out there in the street?

Big Noyd: Oh it’s just the beginning, but we did a couple of shows and got a good response from the single which is “Things Done Changed” featuring my homegirl Kira and it’s produced by Lil’ Fame from M.O.P. And they’re also playing the video on BET so it’s been a good look so far. And plus a lot of people remember the kid from Mobb Deep and Queensbridge, 41st Side and all that so it’s been pretty well so far.

TSS: And speaking of “Things Done Changed,” you cover a lot of topics and go into detail in those verses. Where the influence for the words come from?

Big Noyd: Oh, that’s just the state of mind I’m in. You got a lot of people coming out right now that don’t even know their history of Hip-Hop and I just did a song to express the way I feel about where Hip-Hop has come and where’s it’s going, ya know?

TSS: Yeah, so you’re definitely not feeling the trend of big singles and weaker albums?

Big Noyd: Nah, I think that’s part of the reason why a lot people download, cuz you get an album with only two or three good songs and the rest of the album be trash. So if people put together a good album, I mean you still gonna have your downloading, but people can start appreciating all the work the artists put in to it.

TSS: No doubt. So how did Lil’ Fame get involved with the project?

Big Noyd: Oh, I knew Fame for a little minute now, but we just haven’t done any work together. And one day, I was going into the studio and he was there working on some beats, and I heard one and rhymed on it, killed it, and the song came out so good and there was real chemistry there, we wound up doing like ten songs and picked the best four out of the ten and put em’ on the album. And he also helped me pick other beats from other producers and come up with concepts, so he was real hands-on with the creation process so I gave him the executive producer credit.

TSS: That’s what’s up. How’s he differ from working with Havoc?

Big Noyd: It’s a big difference because the relationship between me and Havoc goes beyond rap so I kinda know what he’s thinking or I know where he’s going with a song. And with Fame, we had good communication and a good rapport but he works a little different because I’ll do a song and he’ll be like “I like this song but change this part here” or “make this bridge different on this part here.” Where Havoc will let me go in 100% and will make a little bit of changes but it’ll be up to me at the end of the day, but with Fame he was a little more hands-on.

TSS: Okay and the title,Illustrious, what’s behind the name? Is that like a play on the Mobb Deep song on Murda Muzik?

Big Noyd: Yeah, half and half. It definitely came from the Mobb Deep song but also we came up with the idea statistically I’m supposed to be dead and/or in jail at this point of my life where I come from. And for me to be able to do interviews with you and have my song on the radio, I’m just shining, ya know so that’s why I came up with that.

TSS: I’m feeling that. And with all this promotion creating a buzz, would you say this is the biggest album of your career?

Big Noyd: Ummm…honestly my first joint, it wasn’t even an LP, it was an EP….

TSS: Episodes Of A Hustla?

Big Noyd: Yeah, I felt I got my most recognition as an artist with that. But I am doing big things with this album, it’s a lot more push. Because I had situations, my first album I got locked, up and my second one, the label got sued so they went under. So I am getting a lot more push from the record company with this album, so thank God everything’s working out so far.

TSS: And speaking of which, you were locked up but still had a buzz and warm reception. Were you surprised from the response from the fans?

Big Noyd: It’s crazy cuz I remember hearing one of my songs on Battle Of The Beats on Hot97 in New York back when they used to do that. So it was a weird feeling to be locked up and hearing your music on the radio. At the same token, there’s nothing good about being locked up but it was like “Damn…your song is going up another song” and I’m in jail. So I kept my buzz up when I got home, and my family which is Havoc & P, Infamous Mobb, Mobb Deep, Ty-Nitty, Gambino, G.O.D. they kept me alive, I rapped on all the albums so it kept me relevant, so I’m thankful for that.

TSS: Okay and you’re on Koch Records which is like the ideal label nowadays. Have they been supportive of your artistic freedom and letting you do you?

Big Noyd: So far so good, but to be honest, my album is actually coming out on my label Noyd Inc. and Koch is just the distributor. So from the cover of the album, to the features and the producers, I actually did all that myself. We got the website coming soon but you can reach me on my Myspace

TSS: Sounds good. Where you going with that? You’re like the only known act poppin’ in January…

Big Noyd: What I’m doing with Noyd Inc. is I got some producers on my team, Ric Rude and DJ Skizz, so we going to get their production shining first, cuz Fame got a project coming out, Alchemist got a project coming out, Havoc got another project coming out. So we gonna try and get their production out there before we get another artist.

TSS: Yeah, and I’ve seen in recent interviews you expressed your sympathy for the Prodigy situation. It’s pretty safe to say you’ll be ridin’ with the Mobb til’ the end huh?

Big Noyd: Oh no doubt man. Those were my brothers before rap. Our relationship don’t even have anything to do with rap, it’s just something we do together we go further than that. I just told P to hold his head, even though there’s not too much you can say to a person going through that cuz it’s a whole ‘nother world in there nah mean? But hopefully he can make a negative situation into a positive one. Hopefully he can get his health together, won’t be out in the streets drinking and stuff like that. And while he’s there, maybe write some more scripts. Because he came up with the script for the movie Murda Muzik we did. So hopefully he’ll get in some programs and get home faster than what his sentence was.

TSS: And I hear you recently went to China?

Big Noyd: Oh yeah, Me, Hav, and Alchemist came back from China like a month ago. It’s been really good just to go around the world. My passport is all stamped out (laughs). I actually need another one. And the money’s good but I’ll say the second best thing is to travel and see the world and I wouldn’t trade that for the world. The first thing is, even if it’s only one fan that comes up to me and says “Keep doing your thing not matter what, major label, indie label, no matter what, I love your style” is what really draws me to keep doing what I do. And the second thing is the traveling. I know people say I’m crazy or lying, but the money is like the last thing because Hip-Hop is in my heart. Of course but I don’t mind eating off what I’m doing but I’d still be doing it if there was no money involved man.

TSS: That’s funny you say that because that’ my next question. You’ve been rapping for so long, it’s gotta be more than a paycheck for you at this point. Would you say the music is like therapeutic?

Big Noyd: Oh definitely man, I tell people it’s therapeutic all the time. When I’m stressing or even when I’m happy, I’m in the studio. Even if I’m not working on an album, I’m in the studio. To entertain myself, I’m in the studio. I don’t even go out to clubs like I used to. Ya know, I’ve been around the world, I’ve done everything twice. Like the last spot I was in was during the tribute to Jam Master Jay besides me going to a club to promote Illustrious. And yeah, I’m grindin’, we’re not waiting another year to drop another project. Me, Hav, and Alchemist are working on Episodes Of A Hustla II cuz ya know the first one was just an EP so we looking to get that out in the next 7 months, so keep your eyes open for that one.

TSS: Good looks. And wrapping up tell the people why they should go out and cop Illustrious.

Big Noyd: Yeah you should definitely cop this is album because I’m taking Hip-Hop back to when it used to about lyrics opposed to a dance. And I don’t knock the music out right now, I still go out to the club and get my lil’ 2-Step on, I enjoy it. But far as an artist, I’ll probably never do that type of music. I’m more into the lyrics, like battling, and the hardest beats and who could come up with the best lines. So with this album Illustrious, I’m taking it back. I tell people I compare it to like a Rock album. I’m going hard like Onyx used to, jumping in the crowd, going crazy with every song I perform, wilding out, having fun wit’ it. That’s why you should cop this album. It’s definitely good for the car and the crib, but you wanna know the lyrics, so this way, when I come to your town, we gonna turn it out, we gonna rock n’ roll ya heard?

TSS: No doubt! Keep bangin’ and good lookin’ for the interview.

Big Noyd: I appreciate it man. Have a good one!!!

For more info, visit www.myspace.com/therealbignoyd and www.kochentertainment.com/big_noyd.

Illustrious in stores now. Go cop that.

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