Who Shot Ya
San Francisco super-producer TomC3 is pack with his latest installment to the rap game, 'Project Polaroid'. This time around, he's teamed up with the legendary Kool Keith to hit you with some super scientifical madness. Everything is full blast android. Peep game.
TomC3 and Kool Keith
Wassup Tom, let 'em know who are you, how you got started and what you have done.
TOMC3 / producer. I got started by being fascinated by all the greats such as Ultramagnetic MC's, Rakim, the whole Juice Crew, BDP etc..I grew up listening in an era that was very innovative. The mid to late 80's! So, basically what i did was work at various odd jobs and saved up enough money to buy my first sampler. An akai s950. Thats basically how I got started. I learned the hard way, there was no internet etc to help you out with beats and samples!
Well, as for the projects that I have done so have been Dopestyle 1231 (self titled album), Kaijin (Japacronix), Nate Mezmer(Kill The Precedent), Project Polaroid(The Original Soundtrack) Bucc Rogerz feat. Kool Keith (Transmitting Live 12"). I also did a remix for Tweaker feat. Robert Smith from the Cure that hasnt come out yet.
Some people think Keith has fallen off a bit since the days of Dr. Octogon. Does this record get it back to that feel?
Well, as far as Keith falling off since the Octagon days, it's just a matter of opinion I guess. He still sells units, so there is a fanbase that steadily purchases his stuff. Judging from sales it wouldn't indicate so. But I guess people were expecting another Octagon and he hasnt given them that. So, in that sense I suppose people would assume he fell off according to that.
This album we did (Project Polaroid) does touch on that era of Keith in that he is kickin some sci-fi type stuff. But the album itself isnt based just off of that concept. It's its own thing, I would like to believe. I would say its a return for him to rappin over sample based production. But, if you were a fan of the Octagon era, then you would definitely dig this album.
Anyone who's listened to Keith's music know he's a bizzare dude. How is it working with him, do you guys get along well?
Working with Keith is fun. He has a lot of routines he needs to do before he records. i.e. go to porn shops, buy chicken wings and look at magazines for an hour or maybe go to Red Lobster. Keith really knows what he is doing when its time to record. He doesnt take many takes to get it right, he's very quick during the recording process.
We get along pretty good on a business and personal level. You just have to know his routines and you'll be fine. He's a funny dude.
Project Polaroid has collabs with Motion Man, Jihad the Ruffneck from Third Sight, and Prince Po. I know you've worked with Motion and Jihad before, but how did the track with Prince Po come together?
Well, that came about because I have always been a fan of Organized Konfusion. Prince Po was my favorite in the crew. I thought he had some of the illest lines. Especially on releasing "Hypnotical Gasses", he has some of the illest lines on the album . I basically got in contact with him through the label he was on at the time, LEX. I hit him up and he was totally down and did that verse on "Mechanical Mechanix". I told him what we were going for on that song and he just ripped it. I mentioned something about "Hypnotical Gasses" to him, and thats why he mentions Reed Richards in that verse as a reference to our conversation!!
The 12" and LP cover both have some tight artwork. Why dont people put more effort into the cover art?
Yeah, the artwork is pretty damn dope. I dont remember seeing anything like it. My brother , DIET, came up with that stuff. He has a lot of good ideas. Watch for his stuff coming out, its pretty innovative! You need to get him on CITY OF DOPE!!
Yeah, a lot of covers are pretty un-imaginative. Some dude on the cover with a gold chain in baggy clothes, or with his shirt off etc...pretty lame. You look at the top ten releases for hip hop and the covers all look the same! I seen some cool artwork in the other forms of music though.
Last summer you went around the country on tour with Keith and Guru. That must of been a crazy experience, any wild stories from the road?
It was pretty wild at times. I cant really mention that stuff in print because thats some private shit for certain people. But I'm sure you have heard it all befoe anyways, right? I remember being in Colorado at this bar next to the club we performed at and this girl bought me a drink. That never happens, isnt that wild! hahahah.....we had a chrysler 300 for the whole tour. It was pretty comortable. On the way to Texas we were driving late at night from New Mexico and I remember running over something on the freeway. Whatever it was, it wasn't in my sight, it seemed like it was out of nowhere. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw nothing , so I didnt stop. So we get to Texas and we stop at some place to eat. We are outside standing around and I look at the car and it looks funny, something isnt right. Upon close inspection, the side spoiler? was missing! Thats what I ran over on the freeway that night! The shit fell off!
You dont do a lot of production work outside of your own projects. Why is that? Is there anyone out there you really want to work with?
Hmmm, good question. Well, probably because I haven't really gotten out there yet. I am hoping that after this project with Keith, people will be lookin for some tracks. If not, I have a lot of projects I'm workin on anyways. Plus, I actually prefer to work on whole albums as opposed to just tracks. I like to vibe with the artist like that. Bounce ideas off each other etc. Build an album instead of just "here, here is a beat I made, rap over it".
As for working with people..hmm.. A lot of people. Maybe Sean Lennon, Dre Dog, Beck, Trent Reznor, Beastie Boys.
Ive always thought you looked like the love child of Kid (Kid and Play) and Juwon Howard. Do you get that often from people?
Youre funny, I thought I escaped that! Yeah, I used to get that a lot. Not as much lately. I used to get Juwon Howard more than Kid. It's funny when you realize it yourself. You hope no one notices, but sure enough, they got me! I used to have a hi top fade as well! I can still do the kid n play kick step mean!
What does the future hold for TomC3?
Well, lets see..There is going to be another single for Project Polaroid comin out soon with remixes from different producers , can't mention any names because it isnt final yet, but its gonna be good! ..I have an album that Motion Man and myself are working on called Ernie Drastic. Then theres the Motion Man and Del album that we are workin on right now. Also expect a collaboration with my boy the Specialist. He has some of the illest beats right now! Also doin some tracks for the upcoming Nate Mezmer album as well. Maybe another project with Keith. Thats what I got cookin right now....more to come!!
Tom & Keith at Myspace
Threshold Records
Wassup Tom, let 'em know who are you, how you got started and what you have done.
TOMC3 / producer. I got started by being fascinated by all the greats such as Ultramagnetic MC's, Rakim, the whole Juice Crew, BDP etc..I grew up listening in an era that was very innovative. The mid to late 80's! So, basically what i did was work at various odd jobs and saved up enough money to buy my first sampler. An akai s950. Thats basically how I got started. I learned the hard way, there was no internet etc to help you out with beats and samples!
Well, as for the projects that I have done so have been Dopestyle 1231 (self titled album), Kaijin (Japacronix), Nate Mezmer(Kill The Precedent), Project Polaroid(The Original Soundtrack) Bucc Rogerz feat. Kool Keith (Transmitting Live 12"). I also did a remix for Tweaker feat. Robert Smith from the Cure that hasnt come out yet.
Some people think Keith has fallen off a bit since the days of Dr. Octogon. Does this record get it back to that feel?
Well, as far as Keith falling off since the Octagon days, it's just a matter of opinion I guess. He still sells units, so there is a fanbase that steadily purchases his stuff. Judging from sales it wouldn't indicate so. But I guess people were expecting another Octagon and he hasnt given them that. So, in that sense I suppose people would assume he fell off according to that.
This album we did (Project Polaroid) does touch on that era of Keith in that he is kickin some sci-fi type stuff. But the album itself isnt based just off of that concept. It's its own thing, I would like to believe. I would say its a return for him to rappin over sample based production. But, if you were a fan of the Octagon era, then you would definitely dig this album.
Anyone who's listened to Keith's music know he's a bizzare dude. How is it working with him, do you guys get along well?
Working with Keith is fun. He has a lot of routines he needs to do before he records. i.e. go to porn shops, buy chicken wings and look at magazines for an hour or maybe go to Red Lobster. Keith really knows what he is doing when its time to record. He doesnt take many takes to get it right, he's very quick during the recording process.
We get along pretty good on a business and personal level. You just have to know his routines and you'll be fine. He's a funny dude.
Project Polaroid has collabs with Motion Man, Jihad the Ruffneck from Third Sight, and Prince Po. I know you've worked with Motion and Jihad before, but how did the track with Prince Po come together?
Well, that came about because I have always been a fan of Organized Konfusion. Prince Po was my favorite in the crew. I thought he had some of the illest lines. Especially on releasing "Hypnotical Gasses", he has some of the illest lines on the album . I basically got in contact with him through the label he was on at the time, LEX. I hit him up and he was totally down and did that verse on "Mechanical Mechanix". I told him what we were going for on that song and he just ripped it. I mentioned something about "Hypnotical Gasses" to him, and thats why he mentions Reed Richards in that verse as a reference to our conversation!!
The 12" and LP cover both have some tight artwork. Why dont people put more effort into the cover art?
Yeah, the artwork is pretty damn dope. I dont remember seeing anything like it. My brother , DIET, came up with that stuff. He has a lot of good ideas. Watch for his stuff coming out, its pretty innovative! You need to get him on CITY OF DOPE!!
Yeah, a lot of covers are pretty un-imaginative. Some dude on the cover with a gold chain in baggy clothes, or with his shirt off etc...pretty lame. You look at the top ten releases for hip hop and the covers all look the same! I seen some cool artwork in the other forms of music though.
Last summer you went around the country on tour with Keith and Guru. That must of been a crazy experience, any wild stories from the road?
It was pretty wild at times. I cant really mention that stuff in print because thats some private shit for certain people. But I'm sure you have heard it all befoe anyways, right? I remember being in Colorado at this bar next to the club we performed at and this girl bought me a drink. That never happens, isnt that wild! hahahah.....we had a chrysler 300 for the whole tour. It was pretty comortable. On the way to Texas we were driving late at night from New Mexico and I remember running over something on the freeway. Whatever it was, it wasn't in my sight, it seemed like it was out of nowhere. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw nothing , so I didnt stop. So we get to Texas and we stop at some place to eat. We are outside standing around and I look at the car and it looks funny, something isnt right. Upon close inspection, the side spoiler? was missing! Thats what I ran over on the freeway that night! The shit fell off!
You dont do a lot of production work outside of your own projects. Why is that? Is there anyone out there you really want to work with?
Hmmm, good question. Well, probably because I haven't really gotten out there yet. I am hoping that after this project with Keith, people will be lookin for some tracks. If not, I have a lot of projects I'm workin on anyways. Plus, I actually prefer to work on whole albums as opposed to just tracks. I like to vibe with the artist like that. Bounce ideas off each other etc. Build an album instead of just "here, here is a beat I made, rap over it".
As for working with people..hmm.. A lot of people. Maybe Sean Lennon, Dre Dog, Beck, Trent Reznor, Beastie Boys.
Ive always thought you looked like the love child of Kid (Kid and Play) and Juwon Howard. Do you get that often from people?
Youre funny, I thought I escaped that! Yeah, I used to get that a lot. Not as much lately. I used to get Juwon Howard more than Kid. It's funny when you realize it yourself. You hope no one notices, but sure enough, they got me! I used to have a hi top fade as well! I can still do the kid n play kick step mean!
What does the future hold for TomC3?
Well, lets see..There is going to be another single for Project Polaroid comin out soon with remixes from different producers , can't mention any names because it isnt final yet, but its gonna be good! ..I have an album that Motion Man and myself are working on called Ernie Drastic. Then theres the Motion Man and Del album that we are workin on right now. Also expect a collaboration with my boy the Specialist. He has some of the illest beats right now! Also doin some tracks for the upcoming Nate Mezmer album as well. Maybe another project with Keith. Thats what I got cookin right now....more to come!!
Tom & Keith at Myspace
Threshold Records
posted by Mike T at 12:20 PM
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