Every now and then, the Editor at Chronic co-signs on a new act. Identifies that someone or group as the next best thing – a name you’ll hear about again. Twisted Black is the second act of that kind.
Born in Michigan, but now a resident of Texas, Black got serious about the rap game in the early ‘90s as a member of the duo, One Gud Cide. The group quickly achieved underground success with the album Look What The Streets Made which sold 10,000 copies in less than 30 days. Unfortunately, that streak was short lived. Just thirteen days after the release of their follow-up, Contradictions, Black was incarcerated for three years. After his release, he was eager to get back into the rap game, but music was over for his partner.
Today, Black is solo. In just two months, he’ll release his debut, The Life of Tommy Burns, featuring Scarface and BG. By then, if you haven’t heard his name, you’re sleeping.
Chronicmagazine.com: When is the album dropping?
Twisted Black: June 21st.
Chronicmagazine.com: Most of the tracks I've heard are introspective, autobiographical in nature. Does the rest of the album follow that pattern?
Twisted Black: Definitely. If you listen to my album you’ll know all about me. I tell all the secrets.
Chronicmagazine.com: I know you were in group before going solo. How long have the songs that actually made the album been in the making?
Twisted Black: All those songs are recent.
Chronicmagazine.com: You’re a veteran in the game now. You started in the early ‘90s.
Twisted Black: Yeah. That’s when I turned it up a notch to a professional level.
Chronicmagazine.com: What was it like being in a group?
Twisted Black: That was great because I never intended on being a solo artist until towards the end of my career if at all. My man and I had such good chemistry that I never even planned on it. But when I got out of the penitentiary in 2002, he hadn’t done any work. To me that was quitting, but I still wanted us to work on the album. So, I started working on my solo project and the group project. Eventually he said, ‘I don’t want to do a group project if you’re going to do a solo project’ and he quit. He was cold. He was cold with his.
Chronicmagazine.com: Why do you think he quit? Did he believe you all couldn’t make it?
Twisted Black: He just didn’t have the passion. He was a pretty intellectual dude. [Rap] was something he picked up and learned how to do. He became good at it, but he never had the passion for it.
Chronicmagazine.com: Were you always passionate about it or did going to jail strengthen it?
Twisted Black: From day one. I eat, drink and sh*t this stuff. I love music, period. I started playing piano as a squirt in Detroit when everyone else was playing football and basketball. I was in the basement playing piano and sequencing beats. I just love it. If there was no money in it, I’d still do it.
Chronicmagazine.com: Do you still see him?
Twisted Black: Yeah. We’re still good friends.
Chronicmagazine.com: You went to jail around ’98. So you had one foot in the rap game and one in the street.
Twisted Black: That’s all the time. I started going to jail at 13.
Chronicmagazine.com: Are you 100% in rap now?
Twisted Black: Yeah. I’m 100% in rap and I’m still 100% in the street too.
Chronicmagazine.com: You can’t be 100% in both. That’s real.
Twisted Black: (laughs) I’m a street cat. I am street, but for a career it’s all music. Even when I get millions of dollars, I’m going to be right here on the block kicking it with the homies.
Chronicmagazine.com: That’s how you get in trouble though. Look at people like 50. He can’t go home.
Twisted Black: Guess why he can’t go home. He was poppin’ that hot sh*t and he didn’t mean it. I’ve stood ten toes on these streets with no help – except my street family and that’s who you need out there. I’m going to do the same thing [for the rest of] my life. I’m going to be able to go home because I’m thorough. I’m a good guy. I don’t sit here and make things up or say I was this or that. I don’t go to New York and say I’m from Dallas when I’m from Fort Worth because Dallas is bigger. I just really believe if you just keep it real, you’ll always be accepted at the crib.
People have always hated. I always had cash. I wasn’t just out here thuggin. I really haven’t been in trouble since ’94. The times I went to the penitentiary since ’94 were for things I had done previously. I’m on some grown man sh*t now. I’ve got kids.
Chronicmagazine.com: What’s the music scene like in Texas?
Twisted Black: There’s no door open. There’s no real opportunities. You have to create your own avenue.
Chronicmagazine.com: Have you ever thought about moving?
Twisted Black: I thought about it, but I’ve got family. I can’t just up and [leave].
Chronicmagazine.com: You’re on an independent now. Is your idea of success to receive mainstream recognition?
Twisted Black: Definitely.
Chronicmagazine.com: So, you’re not content with just the streets knowing you? You sold about 10,000 units in 30 days with your Look What The Streets Made album.
Twisted Black: I’ve always done good in the underground circuit, but my goal is to take it to mainstream and really showcase my skills and show the world that I can run with the best of them – if I’m not best, period which I am…I’m older than most of these young cats out here talking about nothing. I definitely need a parachute. I need a machine behind me.
Chronicmagazine.com: There’s a lot of older cats in the game now still claiming early thirties – i.e., Jay-Z, Master P. – so you should be okay. (laughs) How much creative control did you have on this album?
Twisted Black: All of it – 100%. I give my manager a lot of credit because he made me dig deep and pull out some of the gutter issues that I usually don’t rap about. I don’t rap about the shoot ‘em up-bang-bang stuff…The average real dude who came from it, ain’t trying to stay with it after he gets millions of dollars. They don’t want no trouble.
Chronicmagazine.com: Have you found rap is more political than you initially thought it was?
Twisted Black: It’s definitely changed into a ‘who-you-know’ game. It used to be about how good you were. You could get discovered if you were just out, but it’s all in who you know now – especially in the radio game. You could have some hot sh*t and never, ever see a spin.
Chronicmagazine.com: Is that discouraging?
Twisted Black: Yeah
Chronicmagazine.com: What’s keeping you in it?
Twisted Black: I never really gave myself a shot. Every time I got close, I ended up going to prison or something. I just want to give myself a fair shot. I felt I have a skill that can catapult me in the top 5 category, but I’ve never really had a shot. This is my first time when things were just organized, other than that I was just winging it. I was hustling every week, flying out to meet different cats, doing concerts on the weekends.
Chronicmagazine.com: How did you hook up with some of the people on your album? You worked with B.G., Scarface, Bun-B.
Twisted Black: I’ve been in the game as a low-baller for a long time so I knew cats like Face and UGK. When I say I’m a ‘get-money’ cat, I’m for real. I just hadn’t been getting money through music. I knew everyone who was crakin’ around here, but it’s time I get my recognition through music.
Chronicmagazine.com: Is there any one song that sums up the album or means the most to you?
Twisted Black: The original version of “Tru Hustla” is the epitome of me and “Walk In My Shoes.” If I listen to that song right there enough times, I’ll cry. If you just dissect the verses, listen to what I’m saying and understand them, you’ll see I’m telling you the truth.
Chronicmagazine.com: Where do you want to be a year from now?
Twisted Black: I want to be stable. I’ve never been stable. When you get money off the pavement, you never know when it’s going to be over with. I want to be able to look at my homeboys that I was out on the streets with and know they have everything they need for their families. We don’t have to be rich, but I want everyone to be cool and not worry about having to go back. Then I’ll be happy. I’ll know I did my part.
Chronicmagazine.com: Do you have anything else going on besides music?
Twisted Black: I have a day care and a record shop.
Chronicmagazine.com: Do you just fund that? I assume you’re not hands-on.
Twisted Black: I run it. It’s my building.
Chronicmagazine.com: Is it hard trying to manage that and do the music thing?
Twisted Black: No, not really. Music is primary. I lease my record store out and I just get paid weekly off of it. I’m also dropping a project before my album drops. It’s called Black Money. It’s me and two other new comers – Young Thousand and Mike Dollars. Talk about spittin’ strait gutter sh*t. It’s almost like how the Lox used to be, but with a southern swagger – but lyrical though…On “I Gotcha” with Scarface, I gave it to him. I gave him the business. These guys are on that same level. They could have stood with Scarface right beside me. It’s three of us. These n*ggas are in trouble.
Chronicmagazine.com: Are you putting that out yourself?
Twisted Black: Yeah on Scarred 4 Life Records. We have a deal on the table now that if accepted will provide distribution and pressing for my label.
Chronicmagazine.com: Are both these guys on your label?
Twisted Black: Yeah. Young Thousand, I look at as my second chance.
Chronicmagazine.com: Any last words?
Twisted Black: I challenge anyone who listens to music for lyrical content to put me up against the best and judge honestly. I guarantee you, nobody’s better. Nobody. I am the new King of the South.
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I had no idea Evil Seed quite, that's a real kick in the shins. I guess i'l never live to see another One Gud Cide album.
I didn't even know he has a new album dropping TOMORROW!!!
One Gud Cide - Contradictions
Twisted Black - Late Bloomer
