Interview with Tomc3: 14/6/06 Ultrakeith.net: What are you up to at the moment? Hows life going? Tomc: Right now, I am just working on music. Thats my routine, I usually work on tracks all day. Either listening to records or working on tracks. Other than that, life is going pretty good. Having fun doin this music thing! Ultrakeith.net: Project Polaroid is dope, The production and lyrics realy complement each other, you have made a instant calssic!. Tomc: Thanks for the compliments. I am glad you dig it and feel that way about it. I hope others feel the same. I like it very much, I dont know about it being a classic, but I like it a lot. Ultrakeith.net: How did Project Polaroid and the concept come about? Tomc: Hmm, well, going into it I kind of wanted to have a soundtrack vibe. Thats why the cover looks the way it does. So, with that in mind, I just constructed tracks with that feel and vibe. I had that image of the album cover in my mind when I made those tracks. I didnt have a title for it, Keith came up with that name towards the end . And somehow, it all worked. At least thats what I would like to think. Ultrakeith.net: How was it working with keith? Got any funny/good stories? Tomc: Working with Keith is great. He works fast. He can get like 3 or 4 songs done in a day if he is into it. A professional in the studio. Funny Keith stories...hmm.... Keith and myself were on Broadway in San Francisco looking at porn, as usual. The clerk behind the counter was this girl, and she was actually cute. She was lookin at Keith the whole time. Finally she says to him , " are you Kool Keith?", and Keith responds, "No, I'm not. A lot of people say I look like him . But I like his music though.". HAHA..the girl thought he was lying and kept asking, but to his credit, he kept denying it. It was pretty funny to me because most people would capitalize on something like that. Keith laughed about it afterwards. Then we went and ate at Brandy Ho's Chinese restaurant. Ultrakeith.net: What else have you done besides Dopestyle 1231 and Project Polaroid? Tomc: Besides those two...okay, well I did an album with a Japanese Hip Hop act called "Kaijin" and the album is titled "Japacronix". That is only available in Japan and it features guests Motion Man and Jihad the Ruffneck. I did an album with this Bay Area artist by the name of "Nate Mezmer". I did the song on Bucc Rogerz album, "Transmitting Live" which featured Kool Keith. I did a remix for this Chris Vrenna project called "Tweaker" the song featured Robert Smith of the Cure. That hasnt come out, and I dont know if it will. BUT I HAVE IT!! Thats about it for now. I'm just getting started! Ultrakeith.net: You hooked up with Kurt then Keith, So tell me how/when you hooked up with Kurt? Tomc: Lets see, I hooked up with Kurt around 2000 I believe. Maybe 1999? I met him through MC Dopestyle. Dopestyle and I went to the same High School and we were in the same crews and what not. Whats funny is, I had a demo I was working on around 1992 or 1993 , and at that time Dopestyle was working with Kurt on a project. I gave Dopestyle that demo to give to Kurt because I wanted to get down as well. Well, Kurt heard the demo and pretty much dissed it. I still remember the phone call like it was yesterday! Kurt said "well....the beats are allllllriiiiighhhttt...." haha..and he said "the MC sounds like the Rappin Duke".. So, I didnt hook up with him then, but 8 years later he put out one of the projects that I did beats on. Kurts criticism made me get my stuff together. At that time I thought I was dope, Kurt put me in my place and told me straight up what I needed to hear. Ultrakeith.net: Your working on a new album with Motion Man "Ernie Ddrastic". Can u tell me a bit about the album, what tracks have u done allready? Tomc: Well, the album is still in its developmental stage. We are still sorting song ideas. We have a direction we are going in, so in that sense we know what we are going to do. When I work, its a total collaborative effort. I work choruses and bridges etc.. around what the vocals do. So we sit down and discuss what directions we are going. when is it expected to be released? release date, I would say late 2006 or early 2007. We cant have them collide with the "Pablitos Way" release. Ultrakeith.net: Will it be on Threshold? Tomc: Maybe, we havnt discussed any label dealings yet. Ultrakeith.net: You also have another new album in the works with Del & Motion, Tell me about that, is there a title for it yet? Tomc: Well, its basically just going to be a nice listen. I know you hate hearing basic descriptions like that. But, I dont like to give away too much. That way, you are anticipating it more, I hope!! hah.. As for a title, not yet. Ultrakeith.net: When can that be expected to be released? Tomc: Hmm...good question. I would have to say that would be in 2007. That would be my guess. Del has the "1th hour" out this year and Motion has "Pablitos Way". So probably after those albums make their run. Ultrakeith.net: The track "Humoungus" is dope! what other tracks have been recorded? Tomc: Thanks! That track wasnt even finished. I hadnt worked the chorus yet or put in any breaks. It was just the main section looped. You can expect the album to more or less sound like that track throughout the whole thing. We have another track called "Cuttin the Jungle" which , in my opinion is better than that one! Ultrakeith.net: I heard you are doing a collaboration with the Specialist, what can u tell me about that? Tomc: Well, we are kinda into the same stuff, as far as hobbies. We both like to read and check out new pieces of recording gear. So, we just got to talking about doin some kind of production thing. It's just going to be some Lo-Fi analog thing. He is an analog nut! He has an analog tape recorder at his home studio, so we are probably gonna use that. He is on the MPC 3000 and I'm on the MPC 60 MK2, so its gonna be a combination of those two worlds! Its gonna be on some instrumental beat stuff. Not extravagant like DJ Shadow, but you know, some beat stuff. It should be pretty cool. Ultrakeith.net: How did u get into beat making/producing ? Tomc: I got into beatmaking through DJ'ing. We had a crew called "Radikal Advocates"haha ,funny right!!..I know its a wack name. But it was with Dopestyle, myself and another DJ named 14k. This was back in High School. It was just a natural progression at that time. Usually the DJ's made the tracks. So, myself and 14k made the beats. Then me and 14k branched off and made our own group, NSP. Which was the demo that Kurt dissed! Ultrakeith.net: what other sorta music do u make? Tomc: Umm...I would like to think I make good music! haha..I dont like to classify genres or whatever. I just say its good or bad. So, I would probably say good music, but thats all opinion anyways, right!? Ultrakeith.net: What was your first record you bought?, Tomc: My first record I bought was AC/DC "Back in Black". I remember that to this day. I bought it at Woolworths. They used to stock records back in the day. I still have the piece of vinyl in my collection! Ultrakeith.net: What sort of music did you grow up listening to? Tomc: I was fortunate to have grown up with parents that dug good music. I was exposed to stuff like Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and all that Motown stuff since I was like 5 or 6 years old. I loved that stuff and still do to this day. But I enjoyed everything. My parents listened to a wide variety of stuff, so I was lucky in that sense. During my early teens I listened to - Suicidal Tendencies, Slayer, Exodus, DRI, COC, agent orange.. and at the same time I got into - Melle Mel ( I loved that song "step off") RUN DMC, Ultramagnetic, BDP, all the Juice Crew stuff! Ultrakeith.net: What music are you listening to now?, What sort of music do you listen to? Tomc: Lets see, what am I listening to now...Hmm, I been listenin to my own beats a lot lately. Not to be on my own tip, but just because I am going through them while I work on various projects. Trying to figure out what works for what. Other peoples joints..Jel's new album, Gnarls Barkley, Tool, System of a Down, J dilla Donuts, 3rd bass Derelics of Dialect( a slept on classic!). I like all music, it just has to be good!!! Ultrakeith.net: Your originally from and grew up in San Francisco, did u ever get into much trouble growing up? Any Graff? (graffiti) Tomc: Yeah I was born in San Francisco, which is North Bay. But I grew up on the Peninsula before I moved back here. And, yes, I did bomb. I got caught a few times. But it wasnt big punishment back then like it is now. I just had to do community service. Which was basically cleaning bathroom walls and stuff like that. But other than that, I was not really a trouble maker. I didnt get into trouble or anything that would send me to jail. The only time I got busted and actually went to jail was for some dumb shit. My friend was throwing away some Game of Death Nunchaku's , so I wanted em so I took em. But being the fool that I am, I put em in my jacket and forgot that they were there. Well, later that night we went out and got drunk and stole shoe polish to go bombing. These cops got a call because we were bombing the mini bus as it would pull up to the stop. So, out of nowhere like 10 cop cars surround us, search us and find Nunchaku on me! So I got in trouble for having a concealed weapon and having Nunchaku (which are illegal). But the case , luckily, got dropped because the officer forgot to read me my rights when he arrested me!! Ultrakeith.net: Hahaha, What did you used to write? Tomc: I used to write MORE ONE, and also TDOG. My brother still writes under the moniker DIET HTK. Have you seen that bay area graf documentary "piece by piece"? He's in that one. Ultrakeith.net: Whats your favourite track you have made and why? Tomc: My favorite track, I would have to say "Space 8000". I always liked Keith doin the Sci Fi big word stuff the best and on that track I think he nailed it!! Ultrakeith.net: Has all the pp vinyl sold? Tomc: I believe the 12" is sold out, as well as the LP. I have a few copies, but I am holding onto those. Ultrakeith.net: You toured with Keith and Guru last year what was that like, did u do the djing? what was the deal, what can u tell me about that tour? Tomc: Yes I did DJ for Keith on that tour. It was basically just a small west coast tour that covered down to Texas and up to Montana. It was pretty cool, some nights were bigger than others. The show in Santa Fe New Mexico was probably the best. It was sold out and KRS and Blackalicious among others were there. We rocked it!! Ultrakeith.net: Do u like listening to keith albums/ u got a favourite? Tomc: Yeah, it's always fun to listen to Keith albums. My favorite..thats a tough one. I like DR.DOOOM a lot. But I guess I would have to go with the classic "Critical Beatdown". But Keith as a solo artist, I would say DR.DOOOM. Ultrakeith.net: What do you think of Hip Hop today? Tomc: Good and bad. It's like a love /hate relationship. I think whats being fed on TV and on radio is pretty bland and unoriginal and uninspired. Everybody is treading the same topic material using the same producers who all sound the same. They are all using the same banks from the same keyboards. Song topics are all about something that is totally degrading to themselves and degrading to a whole race of people. I think its an embarrassment. These so called "artists" have become slaves to money. And, as a result , people are doing some sukka ass uncle tom shit. Nobody on that level, with the exception of a few, are doing anything meaningful. It's sad that people are being force fed this garbage. It's a shame . Ultrakeith.net: Ever tried rappen/singing? Tomc: I tried rappin. I'm not good at all. I have a acetate that I pressed and was gonna release with my rappin on it, but pulled the plug at the last second. So you are all lucky that didnt come out!! haha..I sing in the shower and in the car like everyone else. Everyone seems to think I suck though. But I like it. I might sing on the next record! hah.. Ultrakeith.net: What direction is your music going to go in? Tomc: I dont know. I guess wherever it takes me. I am always open to work with all different types of artists as long as its true. I just like to stay creative and involve myself with creative projects and artists. So wherever that may lead. Ultrakeith.net: Whats planned for the future? Tomc: The future.....hmm...expect some solid releases from myself. Continue building my studio and record collection! Ultrakeith.net: Anything you want to say to your fans? Tomc: I hope I made a few fans!! I would like to thank those that like the music and support my efforts. I enjoy talking to you all and I hope you will all continue to support projects that I work on in the future. Thanks for the time I appreciate it!!