Str8HipHip

SHH: Where are you from?

Thadd Williams: Columbia SC, born and raised better known as the Metro.

SHH: How was it growing up in South Carolina?

Thadd Williams: Growing up in Carolina you had your good, bad, and ugly all at the same time man. It's not the safest place, but then again it's not the toughest place. From a street perspective is like every place got a ghetto but from a music perspective South Carolina doesn't have an identity yet because no one has broke the mold yet.

SHH: How did seeing your mother's struggle to raise you effect you as you became a man?

Thadd Williams: My mother is my rock man, not just her, but my family in general. Even now when I see the position that she and most of the family is in it pushes me to grind harder with this music. She took care of me coming up, now is my chance to repay her ten fold.

SHH: What's the hip hop scene like in your area?

Thadd Williams: The hip hop scene definitely has a lot of talent. A lot of versatile guys like Hue Hef, Collardgreen, Conquest, and Metro Slim just to name a few. Everybody's grinding folk; trying to be the first one to put the state on the map, so finally we can have a little direction out here.

SHH: When did you feel you wanted to start a career in music?

Thadd Williams: Man I've been doing music from as far back as can remember. I start rapping at the age of 10. I was probably 16 or 17 when it truly hit me that I had the talent to make an impact not only in my state, but in this industry period.

SHH: What artists influence your music if any?

Thadd Williams: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was my very first influence simply because their style and delivery was unlike anything that I had ever been accustomed to. Tupac and Biggie influenced me not only, because of their music, but more of the type of figures that they were in hip hop. They were top dogs; as I got a little older guys like Jay-Z, Nas, UGK and Outkast were very influential, because my thought process was mature enough to understand what they were talking about. As for today guys like Eminem, Ludacris, Common, and T.I, are some of the artist that have influenced me.

SHH: How would you describe your style/sound to the people?

Thadd Williams: First and foremost I want people to understand is that I am a southern lyricist. My style is very versatile. One song I may dumb it down to get a point across, the next song I might get intellectual. I might tell a story, or I might just tell you to have a good time. I do whatever that specific track is telling me. I'm a chameleon I blend in with the beat; I try to push my creative limits.

SHH: What are you working on right now?

Thadd Williams: At the end of the month I'm going down to the Southern Entertainment Awards to perform down in Mississippi. Right now we are gearing up for my first major mix tape entitled, Diamond In The Rough. That will be dropping early February, and right after that I will be releasing the second installment entitled, Beginner's Luck. By the end of ‘08 you will have at least 5 more mixtapes from me. I'm predicting early ‘09 for the release of my first album, Against the Grain.

SHH:  Are you currently getting any radio play?

Thadd Williams: Yeah, the single “Riding Hard” is currently getting play on satellite radio.  Shout out to DJ Mikey Knox & Benny Brown.  We aren’t really concerned with radio right now.  It seems every DJ out has an artist already so if you not already co-signed or the DJ’s home boy you not getting the love right now. but it’s cool you can’t deny real music.  We are aiming for the streets, we making hot music point blank.

 

SHH: What's your outlook for 2008 (What are your goals for the year)?

Thadd Williams: If everything goes as planned 2008 is shaping up to be a very busy year. I was just telling my people that by the end of the year I want to be exhausted. The goal for ‘08 is to do everything possible to get my name out there, to promote, and prove that I am next in line. The biggest goal overall is to make everybody believers in the Thadd Williams movement.

SHH: What producers are you working with?

Thadd Williams: I'm currently working with my in house producer Kayn from Dayton, Ohio. The boy got some heat... I work with various producers from all over the country. As long as they provide that sound for me I'm open to working with any producer.

SHH: Who would you like to work with in the future mainstream or underground?

Thadd Williams: In the future, I would like to work with some of the names that I've mentioned earlier. Most of all I would like to work with the future of hip hop. Guys who are considered to be next like myself are who I look forward to collaborating with. Guys like my boy Kayn from Dayton, and this new kid from Brooklyn by the name of Rush Hour. I'm eager to be a part of the New School and bring this music back to where it needs to be.

SHH: What do you feel separates you from the next artist trying to make it in rap?

Thadd Williams: My approach to the game puts me in a whole other lane by it's self. I'm Thadd Williams, never did a bid, and never sold drugs. I represent that everyday dude that's wants something better out of life. I'm a hustler's hope and a gangster's alternative. I stay permanently inspired.

SHH: If not music what would you be doing?

Thadd Williams: I think I would still be around it, maybe promoting, managing, A&R, etc… It's in me, I breathe, eat and sleep this man. The finish product will show you that.

SHH: Lenny S gave you props on HipHopGame in DEMOlition Derby. What did that mean to you?

Thadd Williams: That meant a lot. To be recognized by somebody of his caliber and somebody like that, who’s been around the business for a long time, to have him give you props, that’s just a great feeling? It’s just like if I’m a ballplayer and Larry Bird or Magic Johnson saw one of my games and said, ‘Good game.’ It lets me know that I’m on the right path and to keep grinding because success is right around the corner.

SHH: How many mixtapes have you been featured on?

Thadd Williams: Man!!! I’ve been featured on Dj Mick Boogies Riding High 15 with Eight Ball MJG; I’ve done Dj Furious Styles with Swizz Beatz, and Nas.  Plus I dropped a little warm up project called Souths #1 Draft.

SHH: You’re coming into this game without any co-signs. Does that make it harder or is it better for you?

Thadd Williams: It’s kind of funny. I like it that way. I like going to a show and people are sitting there with blank faces because they don’t know if I’m going to be wack, and then when the beat drops, I give it my all, make sure they show respect at the end. True enough, I don’t have any co-signs yet, but it’s going to make it that much sweeter when we attain the type of success that we want. You can’t keep a good dude down for too long. Talent is talent and good music is good music. I’ll ride the bench for right now, but when the coach calls my number to put me in the game, best believe I’m going hard.

SHH: Where can people check out some of your music?

Thadd Williams: People can come here to str8hiphop.com. You can checkout my new myspace page at www.myspace.com/thaddwilliamsmusik. Vote for the kid on www.slipnsliderecords.net/ondagrind, www.Hoodhype.com and check out my first mixtape "South's #1 Draft Pick" on datpiff.com. Hit me up and show some support.

SHH: Is there anyone you want to thank before we wrap up ?

Thadd Williams: Ay what up It It It's Thadd Williams!!! I want to give a shout out to South Carolina, the whole South, DJ Mickey Knox, Prince Ice, B-Lord, Duncan Hines (The Carolina Promoter), and all the radio stations that spin my music. Last but not least everybody who supports and believes. I'm coming let's get it for the '08.

CHECK OUT THADD WILLIAMS ON STR8HIPHOP.COM @ http://www.str8hiphop.com/user/51903