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At
the conclusion of my interview with
Todd Shaw, known to the world as Too
$hort, my first reaction was “WOW”.
Not because I didn’t expect our
conversation to be thought-provoking
or fascinating. It was due to the
fact that I was blown away by his
true depth, “real” perspective and
heat-felt compassion for our youth.
He is the truth in the phrase, “You
can’t judge a book by its cover”. He
is not short on being articulate,
grounded, business savvy, candid and
genuinely bona fide. True to who he
is, where he’s from and what he
believes in for the future of young
people. I walked away from our
conversation with a new level of
appreciation for him as a man and
most of all a renewed sense of hope
that our youth do have real “OG’s
beyond the media walls to look to
for inspiration.” |
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Not
your typical definition of an OG (Original Gangsta), but an Original
Guy with character and personality that can impact a multitude of
kids in the most positive way and in truth—despite what you might
think or have heard. It is my pleasure to bring to Center Stage Too
$hort. Be encouraged and enjoy!! .:read more: |
Ingrid:
How is the rap game to you today compared to when you started?
Too $hort: I think it’s a lot
easier to make a lot of money a lot faster. Artists are getting
larger endorsements now. If your name gets hot you can attach your
name to other business ventures. Very recently the labels have
backed down on signing artists because the industry has slowed up.
Back in the day, it was for the fun of the industry and the love of
the art of music. No one was requiring hip hop artists to make it
hot fast and money fast. Many artists today are not in it for the
love of the art they are in it for the material things it can bring.
Many are in it looking for the quick dollar.
Ingrid: Who is “Too Short”
today?
Too Short: I am official. I’m
everybody’s uncle…the OG in the game. I am running around still in
the same frame of mind when I was young starting out. Since I feel
like I am having a “real” conversation with you, I will be “real”.
I’ve never been married or engaged, but I have had serious
relationships. Not the kids, the house, white picket fence and the
pool. I don’t have a double life of prancing around in the video
with the ladies and go home to the wife. I do party, go to strip
clubs and fly around the world with beautiful women. I live what
many crown the rappers lifestyle. I am not really into getting the
material things, the Rolls, Bentleys and all that. I don’t have a
fleet of cars or motorcycles. I am not inviting MTV cribs to my
house to show them how I live. I am not married to the material
things. I don’t care what you think to try and confirm my life to
what others think it should or shouldn’t be.
Ingrid: What is one
thing in you’ve experienced that changed you and inspires
you to help impact others especially our youth?
Too $hort: Well I have
had a couple of times in my life where I have received a lot
of money. I have also taken a few loses. The day my $100,000
Rolls-Royce rolled of the back of a truck and was totaled,
was actually at a point that I received the most money I
ever received and the worst luck. I know it was God teaching
me the important things in life. None of the bad things
happened because of me if was because of those I had around
me. I took it in stride. |
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| You win some
you lose some. That philosophy has allowed me to function
more peacefully. I just make sure my loved ones are in a
more comfortable position. I care more about showing
interest in talented people. I try to make others and I stay
afloat. I get more satisfaction out of helping others verses
acquiring all the material things—trying to prove something
to the world from a superficial perspective. You learn that
when 5, 10 or 15 years go by, the people in your life that
you helped succeed can/will go further than you. Everyone
isn’t a lost cause or a champion. You helping someone else
can come back to help you. It can be anything small or lest
it’s a good investment. |
Ingrid:
What do you dream about doing next?
Too $hort: I am kicking it in
gear right now. I have a lot of things going on politically and in
the streets. We are still struggling to maintain in the Bay Area to
compete on a national level. I have been concentrating my time in my
hometown area, Atlanta, etc. I have kept my ties to home really
close. What the youth are experiencing today is far more violent.
There are some really stressful things happening in Oakland,
California—more then when even I came up. Oakland in the early 90’s
was plagued by crack cocaine. In 2006-2007, kids are dealing with
far more than what the early 90’s crack cocaine wars produced. Today
its social issues, no family support. Kids are being given adult
responsibilities. The tolerance level that would make someone
respond violently is so low. I am in the trenches. I had a meeting
with Oakland police to see how rappers can help to reduce violence.
Is there a way I and other fellow rappers can help to save a few
lives? That’s what I am focused on now.
Ingrid: Tell me about your
upcoming new projects for the remainder of 2007 (music projects,
Short Records, etc.)?
Too $hort: Right now the mission
is we are dropping a few compilation albums. In 2008 we are going to
drop a couple new artists out of the Bay Area. They are extremely
popular. The album is coming out in Oct. They appear to have a real
good chance to hit the national arena hard in a good way. I will
keep you up on that for your readers.
Ingrid: What is one thing about
you that people wouldn’t know about until now?
Too $hort: Everybody is always
trying to figure me out due to the vocabulary and subject matter of
my music. But what most fail to realize is that the biggest records
I ever had were positive and clean. Most thought “dirty Too Short”.
For some reason, I have been labeled Too Short the dirty rapper. You
don’t realize I teach music to middle school aged kids. The media
don’t promote that about me and others like me. I can play virtually
any instrument. I was in the studio for the first time in the early
80’s working with artist like Rick James and Larry Graham. I was
being mentored by really great people—icons in the industry. Classic
songs I made, I actually made the beats. I play the guitar,
drums…there are a lot of things that I do and can do. Many rappers
are musicians and engineers. I have had a very calculated
career—hiring the right people. My shit has always been clear. I’ve
always done the music clear if you truly listen to my music. My
tracks have always had crystal clear sounds. They don’t realize the
details that go into stuff that sounds to the average ear basic.
Ingrid: What/who is your
inspiration today?
Too
$hort: The younger generation. I was raised on people in
the community, your next door neighbors, aunts and uncles. In my day
you were disciplined by your elders. When it comes to responsible
people in the community, back in the day even the gangsters and drug
dealers would lead young guys like me back in the right direction.
Today, you don’t see that as much. We had a support system in the
hood. The millionaire drug dealer would still give back to the
community. Today that is virtually unheard of. The prison system is
an operation to warehouse blacks and Hispanics. It’s today’s modern
day form of slavery. You have to know the truth in order to get
yourself together.
Ingrid: You have a blank sheet
of paper to express yourself “free style”. What would you say to the
world so we can feel the real essence of you?
Too $hort: From day one, Too
Short was my character not a representation of me. It is my alter
ego to share with others. It was created as a character. I’ve never
once tried to overshadow it with the true art form. I never put on a
show when people needed for me to be real. I’ve been given this
platform to play this charade 24/7, but I won’t do that. I won’t
fall into the cycle where life imitates art verses the art imitating
life. I was a player before I was a rapper. I believe in giving
people what they really want and need.
Too $hort can’t stay away from the music, life and
business that has made him famous—literally. If you haven’t added
his latest CDs to your collection, Blow the Whistle, is in stores
now featuring Pimp C, David Banner, Snoop Dogg, Will.i.am, Jazze Pha,
Rick Ross, Bun-B and more. You can also pick up Pimpin’
Incorporated. We want Center Stage readers to show $hort Dog some
love!
Along with his label, $hort Records, Too $hort is back in the
drivers seat. However, I think this ride has scenery that as he
strategically continues to choose his route, will inspire, empower
and uplift the youth on new levels, and light their path for
generations to come. Stay up on Too $hort and his game at
http://www.tooshortworld.com/.
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