Big thanks to Poetry Feen for doing his thing!
I had a great time chillin’, and speaking with you!
Hope to feature you on here again soon.

Big Q

216thetakeover.com: How did you first get into the music business?

Big Q: How I first started into my career was making underground tapes, and doing talent shows back in early 2000.

216thetakeover.com: What’s your main motivation for being an artist?

Big Q: It would have to be, I wanted to be heard. I grew up listening to good artists, and good music. I just had a hunger to have my music heard by the masses of people, and to be a part of the hip-hop industry that I grew to love. So, I just felt that I wanted to make my mark in it. Either rapping, or djing, just some how, some way.

216thetakeover.com: So how are you going to leave your mark?

Big Q: I’m going to leave my mark by making quality music. Making music that people want, as well as what people need. I try to be creative, and do what I feel. I don’t try to be worried about what other people think, I just make music that is relivent, you know what I mean? Just bring it back to how it used to be with the creativity, and quality. I just want to bring the quality back into the game.

216thetakeover.com: So how do you plan to reach people? Are you going to use a hip-hop, rap, or gangsta style?

Big Q: Everyone says their music is from the streets but, my music is inspired by what I’ve been through in my life. As well as by people I’ve grown up with, things I’ve seen, and just being black living in America. Everybody has a story to tell, and I want to tell mine. I grew up loving, and respecting hip-hop, even though it has transformed. I have so many different styles of expression. I can come with hood material, club material, and even thought provoking poetry. I have so many swags, and I’m not going to limit myself so, to be honest I can’t really answer that question.

Click to download

216thetakeover.com: How has the success been with the “Boyz From Tha O” mixtapes?

Big Q: The success has been pretty cool. I reach out to as many artist as I can in Ohio, that’s making noise. That also display a certain type of creativity, and display effort, and work hard to get their name known, and their music heard. Unfortunately the support in Ohio for one, and others material is kind of difficult to do. Like a lot of artist who may have some type of buzz, they get a little beside their self, and don’t want to reach out to someone who is trying to represent Ohio like no other, like there is no other mixtape in Ohio’s history really reppin’. Like I’m not charging nobody, I put my money, time, and effort into creating a solid project for the whole world to here, that’s straight from Ohio, by Ohio. I’m going to keep doing it every year, but it’s kind of difficult to reach out to people. Everybody’s on their own thing, but it’s going. As long as Ohio keep making some quality music, then their will always be a voice from the O Franchise.

216thetakeover.com: Are you signed to a label, or are you independent?

Big Q: I’m independent, I have my own label called “Hood Boy Music Entertainment”, “HBM Entertainment”.  That’s what I’m doing, it’s just me. I got a lot of music on deck, I got crazy songs in the stash, I got my new single called “Supa Fresh”. I’m getting club spins in Louisiana, Charlot, North Carolina, and Atlanta, that’s doing a few numbers for me.

216thetakeover.com: So, is their any artist in particular that you’d like to work?

Big Q: I’d like to work with a lot of artist, got respect for lots of artists. Me, and Black Jackk, one of the biggest artist in Cincinnati. We did a mixtape called “Stupid Swagg“. 15,000 listen, and over 2000 downloads, so that was a big project for me, and him. I’d like to work with Showtime, out of Cincinnati, Young Ray, and Chip Tha Ripper out of Cleveland. Probably will do something with Cuntry up in Toledo, really just any body that’s out their on the grind.

216thetakeover.com: What’s your opinion on the current state of the ‘music business’, and piracy?

Big Q: It’s definitely in a horrible state right now. It’s so easy to get material that’s distributed online. The bootleggers are heavy! I think it’s time for the industry to create some type of way to counter act, the piracy of downloaded music.

216thetakeover.com: Also how do you feel about the economy crashing?

Big Q: The economy is done! The dollar is done, it’s a wrap. Honestly, thinking about that get a nigga depressed. What we need to do is think about how we are going to survive this. Us, as Americans have had it so good, for so long, when people find out the economy is crashing they don’t know what that means. People are going to have to start thinking about how their going to get food, gas, and just do this, and that. That’s one of those things people don’t want to think about. It’s definitely all bad, people are just going to have to find out how to survive the hard way, like never before.

216thetakeover.com: Any words of encouragement for the youth?

Big Q: Just stay positive. Everything that you see on TV, or hear listening to the radio ain’t what life is supposed to be. Just to keep it real, read a book! Read a book, and get some knowledge. Stay in school, just do the right thing. The streets ain’t all good out here.

216thetakeover.com: Whats next up?

Big Q: I got a couple of mixtapes coming out called “Welcome to Cap City”, Columbus’s first city wide mixtape. I’m gonna go head, and rep for my peoples in the 614. My solo mixtape “Supa Fresh” is coming out, with a special guest DJ, everyone knows who he is, but I’m not going to say nothing right now, I’m just going to keep that on the low. I’m taken over in 09, taken over. Be on the look out for “Boyz From Tha O 3″. Doing a big move with my mans DJ Dre, the number 1 streets DJ in Cincinnati. I’m on the “We Run The City 3” hosted by J.kown, it’s fire, go get that.

216thetakeover.com: Thanks again Big Q, anything else to say?

Big Q: Just be on the look out for Big Q! and hit up my, myspace page.

Fly Boy Using an MPC

A 17 year old aspiring producer, born in Caracas, Venezuela; raised in  Miami, Florida. A senior in high school, with big plans for the future, meet Fly Boy!

216thetakeover.com: Hey, how’s it going?

Fly Boy: I’m good, thanks for giving me this interview.

216thetakeover.com: No doubt, your beats are hot.

Fly Boy: Thanks for listening, and checking them out.

216thetakeover.com: How did you start creating beats?

Fly Boy: I started off with Fruity Loops (FL Studio), and some samples I found.

216thetakeover.com: Who, or what was the influence for inspiring you to download FL’s?

Fly Boy: I’ve been listening to rap, and hip-hop for around 8, or 9 years now. I like the culture, and some of the producers in the game inspire me to succeed in this industry.

216thetakeover.com: Who are some of your favorite producers?

Fly Boy: My top two are Timbaland, and Scott Storch. I like every including “The Runners”, Drumma Boy, Young Yonny, Dr. Dre, Kayne West, Dre & Cool, among many others.

216thetakeover.com: Are you familiar with Cleveland’s own “The Kick Drums”, or “JP”?

Fly Boy: I think I’ve heard of them, not sure.

216thetakeover.com: Then get famailiar! lol.

216thetakeover.com: What do you bring as a producer to the music table, that’s missing?

Fly Boy: I bring my own style when making my beats. Every producer has their own way, and their own style when doing their productions. I just bring me, and what I’m about.

216thetakeover.com: With the current state of the industry, do you feel it’s hard to get recognized?

Fly Boy: Yes, because you have to hustle! You have to grind! Still not everyone gets get recognized, or gets a record, or even gets noticed. That’s why you have to be on top of your game!

216thetakeover.com: Do you feel you, yourself, are grindin’ hard enough?

Fly Boy: To be honest no, I am handling to many things at once. I am still in school, focusing on keeping my grades up, and just doing good in general. While at the same time making beats, and perfecting my craft. For now I have to keep them equally balanced, and not let one get more of me then the other.

216thetakeover.com: Very respectable, what grade are you in? Plans for college?

Fly Boy: I’m a senior in high school. As for college I plan to major in business marketing, and promotions, with a minor in music.

216thetakeover.com: Wish you the best of luck! Do you actually play any instruments?

Fly Boy: Thank you so much. Right now I am learning to play the keyboard.

216thetakeover.com: How’s that going?

Fly Boy: So far it’s going good, taking by time, learning step by step.

216thetakeover.com: Anything you’d like to say to other aspiring producers?

Fly Boy: You know, just stay on your grind, and do you. Work hard, because work pays off.

216thetakeover.com: Alright, I want to thank you for taking the time to speak with me.

Fly Boy: Thank you for granting me this interview, I really appreciate it.

Go check out Fly Boy on myspace, and show some love; buy a beat!