Styles: What’s new in Problem’s world these days?

Problem: Right now I just got out of my deal with Universal Republic. We had to part ways. There is no love lost; I just have to do my thing. I linked up with a promo-type company called We Can Fly that Kevin Black has going on. I’m trying to link Derange Entertainment with that.

Styles: What happened to your deal with Universal Republic?

Problem: It just wasn’t the place for me. There is nothing wrong with it, but just for the type of artist that I am – it just wasn’t right. I didn’t want to wait and sit around to see what was going to happen, so I got my lawyers on it.

Styles: How long had that been going on?

Problem: Since November of last year.

Styles: So what was that whole experience like for you? What did you learn from it?

Problem: I learned that once you get on a label, that’s when the real hustle begins. Some people think that you can stop for a moment and breathe or pump the brakes for a minute but that isn’t the case at all. You have to work twice as hard. Right now labels aren’t really pushing artists – they are pushing songs. That’s why we are trapped in the type of music era that we are in right now because people don’t like the artists anymore – they just like the songs. You aren’t buying the artists music. You are just buying the beat and the raps. That isn’t how this shit is supposed to work. You are supposed to be selling somebody. To me, they couldn’t sell me. If you aren’t selling me, then I ain’t fucking with it.

Styles: I know you said there is no love lost, but during that whole ordeal was there any fighting or bickering?

Problem: Naw. They are a great company and for what they do, they do it well. I just needed a little more. I still talk to the people there. We are all still good. I told them that they are going to see me at the top.

Styles: So are you officially off? Or is the process still going on?

Problem: No, I am off.

Styles: As of when?

Problem: As of 3 weeks ago. And the next day I had a meeting with Def Jam. I’ve been talking to a few other people already. I’m enjoying right now what’s going on. I’m going to really push my record the right way, the one that everybody knows, the one that I’m most known for in my city – I’m Fucked Up. It’s the biggest club record in the city still after a year and a half. Jim Jones heard the joint and had to jump on it. Snoop Dogg always wanted to get a verse on the remix but he was just too busy at the time for the one that I dropped with Quik. Now he’s like, “This is it. Time is now!” He really loves what I’m doing and my whole get-down. Everything is working right now. The shit came out banging. The video is going to be a remake of the Gin & Juice and he [Snoop] is going to play the Ricky Harris character. It’s going to be crazy.     

Styles: So you and Universal Republic just couldn’t make it work?

Problem: Its different strokes for different folks. They’ve got Kevin Rudolph over there and he’s a great artist and has a great song. They really pushed the hell out of that record and they did a good job. It’s a hit song. The problem is that people know the song well but they don’t really know who sings the song! It isn’t just them – it’s labels period! They just want to push the record. You know why we all love Pac and Biggie, because we were able to know them first. We knew their lives. You felt like you weren’t just buying their music – you were buying them. We don’t have that anymore and that’s where it’s lost. That’s why I feel like for me to be in entertainment, I want people to fuck with me!  I mean, if you don’t want to fuck with me, then why would you want to fuck with my music? I want people to fuck with me. I’m a cool nigga too. Why wouldn’t you want to fuck with that?

Styles: Despite all of that are you still going to deal with the labels?

Problem: Yes but knowing what I know now, I won’t mess with the labels in the same way as before. Just because I go lay back in bed doesn’t mean that I won’t put a condom on this time. There are just certain things that you learn. Especially in this game, you are not really respected if you don’t have a machine behind you. Me being a newer artist from Southern California where the market isn’t really where it’s happening, you can’t be independent  - you have to have that machine behind you. Within the time that I was on the label, I think I have learned fast. I am not an idiot. I am not just going to sit there and keep looking around. If you see something in life that you want, you have to go get it.

Styles: It seems like the industry is getting tougher to deal with by the day.

Problem: It is and you just have to get smarter. It is easier for you to be heard today anyway. You don’t need a label to be heard but you do need a label to get your shit out there.

Styles: It is easier to get heard and there are some guys that seem to be on every hip-hop site now, but I am not really seeing that translate in to successful stardom – at least not yet.

Problem: Let me tell you, right now I am so anti-Internet and that’s probably where I differ from everybody. I mean, I am going to be on it because that’s what you have to do but I am anti-Internet right now because it’s not personal anymore. Somebody can say something about you and the next day I say something back – and then YOU say something back. The thing is with rap and beefs; you are supposed to have people anticipating the record. You got these artists saying “Fuck You” and the other one replying right back, “Fuck you bitch!” I’m like “What the fuck is this?” I’m not in to that. I feel that if I’m on the Internet all day then what the fuck am I doing? It’s good that you can get on the net and touch your fans but you are also taking away from yourself when you get caught up in that weirdo shit. I’ll read some blogs but I’m not going to do that. You can’t just be getting “me” everyday.

Styles: So you want to maintain a certain amount of space?

Problem: Exactly. Let’s put some star quality back in to this shit. Let me tell you why Snoop was the man for so long. You couldn’t catch him anywhere, but you would see him on TV and hear him on the radio. People started saying Snoop fell off when he started putting out a gang of projects. When you make yourself that accessible it kind of takes away from what you are really trying to do. You are just doing what everybody else is doing. There are a lot of people that drop freestyles every other day and that’s dope if that works for them – that’s just not my thing. I want people to be like, “That new Problem is coming in like a month and a half.”

Styles: It is hard to anticipate something when you hear a new leak from that project every other day.

Problem: What did I tell you when we first got on the phone? I was planning this big thing for the re-release of my “Fucked Up” remix with Snoop & Jim – and somebody leaked the fucking record! I go to talk about it and people already have it in their cars. That’s why I’m anti this fucking net shit! But you have to deal with it.

Styles: What’s funny is that there are some sites that never even released the original single but because it now has Jim Jones and Snoop Dogg on it, they are fucking with it. That’s crazy because the original is just as hot as the remix.

Problem: It is crazy how the Internet works and let me tell you something about that record and why those guys are on it. They are on that record because they heard that song in the clubs that they go to. You can’t deny something that is dope. I feel like my record didn’t get a chance because it never spread to certain avenues. I never got a push outside of California. So if I have to call up some of the homies to get it poppin’, that’s what I’m going to do. But that doesn’t mean that I am done with the original single that only features myself – trust me.

Styles: Let’s talk about your next project – The Asshole Mixtape. What’s up with that name?

Problem: I’ve been told that I’m an asshole for so long and it’s been said behind my back many times. Fuck it, I’m going to embrace it. I’ll call it The Asshole because I keep shitting on everybody.

Styles: Are you an asshole for real though?

Problem: Of course I am on this mic. Hell yeah! I’m shittin’ every time! Even when I’m not being lyrical I’m still shittin’ on niggas. There’s a lot of dope niggas out here and I love em’ but at the same time I don’t give a fuck. I’m going at anybody and everybody. I’m letting it be known that I want to be California’s representative for the next 5 to 10 years. If anybody has a problem with me saying that, they shouldn’t because they should all be saying the same thing. I want to be California’s representative for the next 5 to 10 years and I’m shittin’ on anybody that thinks differently. I’m talking about musically, lyrically – strictly music. Don’t have some tough-guy-nigga response blogging  and all that shit. I’m not talking about none of that. I am talking about music. I want to be the best.

Styles: When is that project coming out?

Problem: We are just getting everything finished. I’m going to have the Derange family on it and some exclusive joints. It’s mostly the regular squad that I roll with. DJ Quik is going to be on there. It’s crazy but there’s only going to be like 14 records.

Styles: Any other names on there besides Quik that you can tell us about?

Problem: Naw, it doesn’t really matter because it’s my show. This is my show. I want to give everybody a warning because it’s going to get real hot and ugly. My album is done and I’m so fucking excited about that.

Styles: Universal Republic let you take the album with you?

Problem: Yeah. I worked everything out. They still own a piece of my single.     

Styles: The current “Wherever You Like” single?

Problem: No the “I’m Fucked Up” single. Diddy might fuck with me on the Wherever You Like single though. He says that he loves that record.

Styles: When did you talk to Diddy?

Problem: I was actually at his house back in January. I sit back and go over it all and it’s like, “Wow. These important people are inviting me to an event, then I must be good at what I do.” I feel that I can really be the one right now. I’m having fun. Terrace Martin is doing the exact same thing and we are on some takeover type of shit.

Styles: You wrote on Snoop’s last album. Who are you writing for now?

Problem: Diddy said he might let me do some stuff for him. Snoop doesn’t want anybody to write for him on the new “Malice in Wonderland” album. Trust me, he’s on one right now. I’m basically going to be over there just so I can be over there – so I can get some of that shit and learn how to be a star just like him. He said that he’s going to fuck with me on my album and that when I’m down to my last two, to bring it over there to him to let me know where I’m at. He said that I’m a song or two away from having a classic. I’ve heard that kind of stuff from some reputable people. I’m talking about songs – not just a bunch of raps or just a bunch of fucking freestyles. I’m talking about an original record to where you know who Jason Martin is.

Styles: You brought up star quality earlier. It seems like we don’t have enough “stars” in rap. What does it take to be one in your opinion?

Problem: The stars are the first people to realize who they are. Rappers all mimic somebody but the star is the person that finds their own way on how they are going to be. They become a star because everybody else is trying to be someone else. I’m thinking of starting a non-profit organization for kids called “I Want To Be Like Me” because I’m tired of everybody wanting to be someone else. Look in the mirror and be like, “I like being me.” The first person that likes being them is the nigga that always wins. To me, I like the way that I am. I don’t feel like I am trying to be anybody else. I feel like I have my own unique style. If people don’t like it then I don’t give a fuck – and that’s part of it all. Not being cocky but you’ve got to like being yourself. You’ve got to say, “Damn! I’m good at what I do.” There is nothing wrong with that. There are some people out here on my side that “got it.” They’ve got it.

It’s my turn to ask you a question.

Styles: Go ahead.

Problem: Why is it such a battle to get on all of these rap sites? I can get mentions from Quik, Snoop, Kurupt and others in interviews on their sites – but if I leak some shit myself then I don’t see it up there? I don’t have a problem with it but at the same time I do.

Styles: I totally understand. It’s a weird business.

Problem: And that’s probably the reason why I became – well - I’m not really a net person anyway.  But I know that it’s an important tool. I bet I am all over the net today though with that Fucked Up remix (laughs).

Styles: I’ve seen people get really put on once a machine, a big company or a real influential person gets behind them. Sites can get in the habit of following what others are doing instead of being ground-breakers themselves.

Problem: In real life that’s actually how it is anyway.

Styles: I also feel that the whole art of taking chances on people has gone away or has decreased in this business.

Problem: There is no chance taking. They want you to already bring the hit over to them. The thing I always hear from the label people is “What are his radio numbers?” The artist isn’t there to give you radio numbers. They are just supposed to give you music! The artists now have to get the music done, get the image right, and get 400 to 500 spins a week before the label person lifts a finger to do something. What the fuck? That makes no sense at all to me!    

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written by jpistle, March 23, 2009

yea an yall be hatin on guys from other turfs too. My people released an classic album through west coast mafia records and none of you web sites ever helped me pay from advertising. Just lame business.

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