T-West

That Kid West is still a youth at 18, but he's building a buzz out of his block in Jungle City to become one of the hottest MCs in Toronto currently on the come up. Doing double duty as a rapper and producer, T-West uses The Development Mixtape to focus on his growth and evolution as an MC, putting his production talents to use on only three of the 14 songs included here. His production fits nicely within the mix of radio-ready music, but it's first single “My Home,” where West teams with JD Era to give much love to their T-Dot home, that really stands out on the album. Hopefully this song is a sign of what's to come with his sophomore album in early 2007. However, it's as a rapper that T-West stands out and really shines. A street rapper with an easily accessible vocal style, West just happens to be a rapper that hustles good. From the getgo, West is not afraid to question and confront stereotypes, whether he's putting his spin on topics like clothes (“Sneakers And Fitteds” and “Doorags”), money (“Cake”) or the authorities' abuse of power (“Here's A Story”), the latter also demonstrating a knack for solid storytelling and stands out as another of the mix's highlights. Best of all, as T-West demonstrates on the title track, he knows this is just one more step in his development as a world class rapper. In other words, The Development Mixtape is a great introduction to someone whose name will be heard a lot more in the near future.
(independent, www.thatkidwest.com)
Thomas Quinlan - Exclaim! Magazine

"Try to get an education, why the hell would you do it/ didn't you know already black people are stupid/ for those of your agreeing right now, you, you, you/ let me be the first to day, none of this here true". In other words there are pure quotable lyrics throughout the entire mixtape. Intelligent rhymes that are what most would believe could only be a mellowed out conscious rappers album. "None of this here true", would be the damn truth coming out of this street album. As for the rest of this review, I shall no longer refer to “The Development” as a mixtape, but only as a street album.

I have been a fan of the first released single by T-West featuring JD Era, "My Home". With tight production by the kid himself, quality mastered track and the make you think and still enjoy lyrics that T-West delivers and Era with his fire tongue; this here is set to be a T-Dot classic. (I can't wait to see the video, head to www.thatkidwest.com to find out about that). Also the title track "The Development" is one of my favorite tracks on the play list.

I won't lie I was skeptical with the young West, even though he has been bringing heat I did not get graced with "Crack of Light" so I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect to be rockin' a personal favorite. Speaking of the last CD "Crackle of Light", he even brings back "Doorags" which is a dope track getting deep on stereotypes with many punch lines as such, "so please leave ya minds open/ get ya equipment fixed, ya stereo-type's broken". Another consciously dope track that shows his story telling abilities is "Here's A Story", you can really visualize what he's saying as he paints a picture of being treated wrong by the police and yet coming out with a positive outlook.

This is a good street album but I did feel the mixing quality was great on some songs and lacked a bit in other songs. It is only a street album, but as far as playing it on headphones it isn't poor just lesser than I hoped. I was also hoping to get a few more produced tracks than the four done by T-West himself.

By the end of the CD I was amazed that I had already listened to all 18 tracks and was dieing for more. So I flipped it back to the intro and experience it again about three more times while at the gym before going off to my favorite tracks like "Sneakers and Fitteds". I promise you that you'll enjoy and not regret the purchase. - WWW.AUDIOMAGONLINE.COM

I guess first thing's first, explain to our readers who T-West is.

T-West is T-West. I'm not a wannabe of the dude down the street, i'm not a groupie of the guy who won the battle that you saw on a DVD last night, I'm T-West. The young black male who has passion for what he does, and hustles to get it. As a rapper, I entertain. Whether it be in the most sad or humourous way. I do me.

Late last year you released Crackle Of Light, what's the response been like so far?

"Crackle Of Light" was exactly what it was named - A Crackle Of Light. The response off of that CD most definitely caught me off guard. Didn't expect it to review the attention and reviews that it did. People who got it from me a year ago are still telling me they love it. People who downloaded it yesterday are sending me e-mails telling me that they're feeling it. People who bought it bootleg (Shout Outs to Rexdale) - are telling me they want a real copy. I feel blessed man. And if they loved "Crackle Of Light" like that - imagine what the new CD is going to bring. Improved: flow, lyrics, production, and a wiser state of mind.

You did most of the production on the CD, how would you describe your sound?

I would be a liar if I told you that my production style is completely original - but my beats do have their own unique flavour. The thing about me is that - I do sample a lot. But I also compose over a lot of my samples. That's what seperates how I flip a sample from a lot of producers out there. Sometimes - people will hear how I flipped a certain sample and be like "Where'd those strings come from? There's no bassline like that in the sample?" - you know what i'm sayin? Listen to my music and you'll understand.

What first got you started rapping?

Two things. I really have a lot to say. I analyze situations heavy, and i'm a smart kid. I understand what's going on around me - and a lot of the times, rapping is the best way for me to convey myself.

2nd, Girls loved it. Girls showed me attention when I did. Girls were doing me "favours" because I was a rapper. Can't complain about that.

Who has been your biggest influence, musically or otherwise?

Too hard to narrow it down to one inspiration. But there's a lot though. From producers like Just Blaze, to corruption in society, to the kid from my block who got straight A's on his report card, everything is an influence if you allow it to be.

Who are you currently feeling from Toronto's scene and elsewhere right now?

From Toronto - there's a lot of sick rappers, I think after the summer will be a better time for me to give an answer. Because I know a lot of people have stuff planned for the summer. But if I had to pick one right now, anybody that knows me knows that i've been recitin' Mayhem's verse from "Hood Is Here Remix" for a hot minute now - so you figure out. And I put JD Era on my single so - yea.

On a broader scale, I'm feelin' a lot of these up and comin' mixtape rappers. There's some potential - they just need the right guidance

June 1st, 2006 is shaping up to be a big day for you. What've you got in store for everyone?

June 1st is day one. Everything that you'll hear about T-West for rest of the year will be based around that Day. My New website will be launched (Designed by Ansari Designs) - My single will be officially released ("My Home" ft. JD Era) - and most important of all, it'll be my 18th birthday.

Even after that, there'll be plenty of performances, interviews, etc... I'm trying to get that retarded buzz by the end of summer. Have everybody knowin' my name.

What advice would you give to other young, aspiring artists?

No matter who you are, keep doin' you. Obviously add the lil' twist here and there to hype up yourself, but never lie too much because that's when mans will start callin' you out.

Don't mistake original as [Insert boring conscious rapper here] - Look at it more as an outlet to define you. Everybody has a different story, and we all have different thoughts - Apply those to your music, make sure the music is hot, hustle like crazy, and you have a very good chance of being labelled as something special.

Where can our readers check for T-West?

As of June 1st, my brand new website will be launched: www.thatkidwest.com

In the summertime, you can find me all over since i'll be performing from in Toronto - and all the way out to Ottawa. Just whereever something hot is being made, you'll find me there.

Also, hopefully FLOW 93.5 FM adds my single into rotation so you will most likely be able to hear me on there, as well as your other local radio stations too. Just call them and request: T-West ft. JD Era - My Home.

Anything else you'd like to add?

At this point, i'd like to thank Megacityhiphop.com for giving me the opportunity to do this interview.

Also, big thanks and shoutouts go to:

Soundresolve Studios, DBD Productions, Customatic Clothing, Street Dreams Promotions, Reka Entertainmen - WWW.MEGACITYHIPHOP.COM

Q: Let the people know who you are.
A: Wuts good Torontosfinest.ca, This is that kid - T-West the Jungle City Assassin. Check me out at: thatkidwest.com, or find me walking with that girl who you tried to chop 2 minutes ago - but she wasn't havin' it.
Q: How long have you been doing what you doing.
A: I been makin' beats and rappin' for a minute man. Probably since I was in Grade 10. And now i'm finishing my Grade 12 year of high school. Easy math.
Q: How did you get started?
A: I got a lot to say - I like to entertain people. Rapping was always something that I liked, and it was something I was interested in - so I just started rapping.
Q: What you think of hip-hop/rap today? (What makes you different?)
A: It's doing what it's always been doing. Different regions get different movements to shine, right now, it belongs to the south. Their beats are constantly hot, and their overall product sounds clean. I can't hate.
What makes me different is just my style. A lot of rappers nowadays have no identity. Since when was it cool to ride a next man? I'm different, I have my own story to tell, and I have different opinions on different issues that surround my life.
Q: What motivated you to start?
A: I look up to Dr. Dre as a producer and i know how to play piano so add that with computer software and then you have what you need to produce. Then you got to have a taste that certain people would like. It didnt hit me until i got a contract from Ronin Faction Records in California that i could do something with this. Im deciding on weither i should or should not send it.
Q: Any Last Comments or Shout Outs?
A: Just a big shoutout to everybody that is supporting me, and constantly getting my name out there. And thank you to Torontosfinest.ca for allowing me to be the featured artist.
Check me out at: www.thatkidwest.com
On my site, you can find my latest: updates, songs, beats, etc...
And if you have myspace, add me on there too. www.myspace.com/thatkidwest

Eazy. - WWW.TORONTOSFINEST.CA

Let's start at the beginning, who is T-West?
T-West is that kid that is guaranteed to make you stop and listen. My style differs from other emcees. I talk gritty, but I won't talk about killing you on every bar. I speak conscious, but not to the point where it sounds like some hippie-shit. And with all of that, I still add that element of humour, and still got that sexy. haha.

Damn, at 17 your already making moves. Are people expecting you to
succeed at such a young age?
I like that question. It really goes two ways. There's those who support me to the fullest because they see the talent and potential, and then there's those who really can't accept that fact that somebody so young poses a threat to them. So since I pose somewhat of a threat, they tend not to support. Regardless, everyday, more and more people are realizing the talent, and see'ing what I can not only do in this hip-hop game, but what I can do to uplift the black community. Up here in Toronto, we recently had a young black kid get shot at his friend's funeral. Change is needed.

When I was your age, I was worrying about who I'm going to take to
the prom, your making career decisions. How certain are you that this is
what you want to do? When did you realize this?
Haha - I still got all of that on my mind man. But your right though. I'll put it like this. I take music seriously as a career choice, but I don't think i'll fit in as the role of an artist. I'd rather be that guy behind the scenes who wil handle business and will be able to put other artist's in the spotlight. Because i'll already have the emcee background - I think my knowledge in the field will be that much deeper. Who knows, maybe i might be able to find a kid as young as me with the same message, and I could give him the opportunities that I never was able to get in music.

Now, more than ever, Hip-hop has become a grown man's game, do you
feel there's room for you when you can't even get in the club?
oh man, you have me rollin' ovver here haha. best interview i've done, hands down. You do make a good point though. I've been kicked out of so many 19+ clubs that it's not even funny anymore. But still though, as a young black man with a positive message, there's still plenty of outlets available for me to perform at. Community festivals, Youth group talent shows, etc... Those are actually the shows I prefer most. They open me to an audience that would never hear my music, and they get the community on my side. Once you have the community behind you, it's gravy from there.

You grew up in a rough part of Toronto, and to many of our readers
they might not have known such places exist above the border. Let those
on the outside know what your city is like.
Our hoods aren't like American ones - actually, our whole society IS NOT like an american one. We have to many social benefits to even get close to grasping the "Do Or Die" mentality of most American ghetto's. But still, we have our poor housing communities where the mentality of most is "The Power Of A Dollar", and dudes are willing to handle business to make that money. Whether it's robbing a man, or grasping that tool. I don't glorify this stuff though. But I can't prevent people from doing it. All I can do is hope that mans can see my grind, and realize that thuggin' ain't the only way to get out of the projects. I've lived in the same projects from the day I was born, give me 2 years and i'll probably be out of it. If I can do it, then a lot of you can to.

Being a well-rounded MC seems like a top priority to you, how does
that make you a dangerous rapper?
I'll put it like this - One day, you might hear me go bar for bar with one of your favourite punchline rappers, the next you'll see me go as deep as your favourite conscious emcee, then you might see me go make a love song that isn't cheesy, and to top it all of - I'll make a track that has you unable to press rewind because your laughing to hard. If that doesn't make me dangerous, then please inform me what does.

We hear a lot about a generation that has something to say, but the
airwaves are polluted with "empty music", what's it going to take for
someone like you to make it?
Support and money. There's a reason why that "empty music" is all over the airwaves - people are buying it. I'm not hating or anything, but a lot of it shouldn't be bought. Do I like club music? - of course T-West always parties. Do I like some of them corny love songs? - I'll be truthful and say that I do. But, I believe that there should be somewhat of a balance between "empty music" and MUSIC. When there's a balance, the young consumer market is being brainwashed, but not nearly as badly as they are now. What can society possibly expect from my generation when the present generation has already messed em up?

"Make spanish girls to J'Lo, White girls to Brittney/ So why you black kids are imitatin' 50?"

- T-West - Doorags

You have been known to step your - WWW.YORAPS.COM

Tell us a bit about yourself. Give us a short bio, where you are from,
what you are about, etc.

This is your boy T-West. The 17 year old phenomenon straight outta Jungle City (Toronto, ON). Haha - A short bio? I guess you could say that i'm that kid who's about something special. Through vivid lyrics, I'm able to convey emotions that a lot of cats don't start showing in their music until their early thirties. But - while doing all of that, i'm still able to make you laugh, still able to make you sit at the edge of your seat until i'm finished telling a story, AND - im still able to go bar for bar with your favourite punchline rapper.


What interests you about emceeing? What does it mean to you and what do
you get out of it?

A lot of things about emcee'ing interest me. Every day you ask me this question, I bet i'll give you a different answer. So today, since I was battling earlier, i'm going to say the power. When your on that microphone, your in control. Your the loudest dude in the room, and everybody is clutched on your everyword (If your nice with it). That's an adrenaline rush for me. Your no bigger than everybody around you, but when your on that mic, if your good, your invincible!


Your album Crackle Of Light was released late last year, how has the
reception been so far?

Incredible man. And i'm not one of those dudes that is going to tell you "oh yo, it's so hot, best thing ever made". Nah, i'mma be real with you, Mans are loving the CD, i'm very happy with my debut, but if I had to rate it on my own, I would tell you 8-8.5/10. That's how I rate it, and that's how every real man has told me they felt about it. The bigger mans on the block have given me that number, the youts in the schools have given me that number, 50 year old Jazz fans have given me that number. It's great music accompanied by great lyrics.


What motivates and inspires your music? What do you like to write and rap
about most?

Everything is motivation if you allow it to be. The craziest things can motivate me at times. Some days, i'll see a kid swearing at their moms, and I won't get inspired to write. While other days, I might just be sitting around bored as hell, and some amazing concept might pop into my head. But regardless, what motivates me most is just what's around me. There's a purpose for everything, so there's reason to write about it.

For concepts though, Whatever relates to me, I like to rap about. That's how I work. That's why a lot of the topics i'll touch are like: Black unity, sexual intercourse, self-glorification, etc...


You're only 17, what obstacles does that give you and what advantages do
you have?

It's the best and worst thing in the world. A lot of guys really don't take my business seriously because I'm so young. It's like, my grind is better than some older dudes, but because i'm still a yout, they'll look the other direction. I can't blame them though, because i'd probably do the same. But on the other hand - it's excellent in terms of promotion and marketing. Everybody wants to know about young talent, because they can compare them to previous greats in their field. That's why guys like Crosby and LeBron get so much attention. So dudes will be like "yo, check out this kid T-West, he's 17 and is making beats and rappin - and it actually sounds good", and through word of mouth, my name gets out there.


Tell us about some of the music you have recorded so far and who you have
worked with.

My first CD was really just me showing the world that "hey, look at me, i'm here, I can compete with the best of you, start taking me seriously". More of my collaborations will be shown on the second CD. I don't like to give out TOO much information, but look out for: St. Laz from Pottersfield on a track, Look out for Minus P on a track, like...this 2nd CD will have a lot more collaberations. Even now - Catch me on the newest DJ Watsman/Kanye West Comic Book Mixtape. All about movements.

What are your views on getting signed by a major label as opposed to
distribution by independent labels or other venues such as the web? In the
future, what role do you see the Internet having in giving power back to
the artists? What approach would you personally take?

I would only sign a major deal if I was desperate. Especially at a young age, i'm not really a big fan of being taken into somebody else's hands and then molded into the image that they want me to become. Unless I really trusted who I was working with, then it could work. Like if Kanye was my mentor or something, i'd sign that deal. But i'm not about becoming Bow Wow's hype man or something, save that for the next man.

I want creative control - I wanna be able to sit there and pick my beats, and the label has enough faith in me to let me put out that product. Just give me a distribution deal and i'll be happy. Actually - forget that even. Somebody just give me a grant and let me spend the money freely. I'l - WWW.LIVEMICSOCIETY.COM