JIZO:
Wassap Emcee T! Thanks for accepting to do this
short interview with us. Please introduce
yourself by telling us where you from, your
ethnicity and how you came up with your stage
name: Emcee T.
EMCEE T:
No doubt! I appreciate JIZO for representing
'us' AZN / ASIAN folks. It's rare to find these
days… definitely a great look. Asian artists
need to recognize anyone who supports and fuels
the foundation ( i.e. JIZO). Now… Who am I? I am
a producer, I rap, and I hustle, yada, yada,
yada... I AM The Chinese King of the Bay. I
don't mean that in a cocky way, well actually
maybe I do; no point in frontin'. But for good
reason; I've paid my dues straight up. Ever
since 1995, I've been doing' this rap sh*t – and
all over the Bay too. I've lived in pretty much
every part of the bay… from the 510, to 925, to
707 down to the 408. Ask around, nobody has a
harder more potent hustle game than Emcee T –
from A to Z, I go hard. The stage name Emcee T
is simple: my last name starts with a T and the
Emcee represents the fact that I serve people in
a variety of ways. People who are close to me
just call me T.
JIZO:
In one word, how would you describe yourself?
EMCEE T:
UNDERESTIMATED. Through all the stages of my
life… no one, including my closest friends ever
believed I could achieve. I think a lot of
people can relate to that; being the underdog or
having people look down upon them. Matter fact,
Asians in general are always looked at as the
worst basketball player (minus Yao Ming), or
smartest geek, etc. Especially in the Bay, if
you are Asian / Chinese you are not supposed to
rap. If anyone does their homework on me, I
think I am proving people wrong… but yet and
still, I am still UNDERESTIMATED.
JIZO:
How old were you when you wrote your first
rhyme? How did it feel, and did you have any
help?
EMCEE T:
My first rhyme? That's a tricky one. Officially
I started writing in 1995 when I moved to Santa
Rosa. But I remember rapping over "Bust a Move"
by Young MC. No bullsh*t – I tell it like it is…
a JIZO exclusive! That's right; Emcee T's first
rhyme was over Young MC!!! Maybe that is why I
named myself "Emcee" T??? Hahaha. That's a
throwback for ya'll… I never had any help; just
me and my life experiences most of which came
from growing up without a dad. He died when I
was just 2 months old… So all my life, it was my
mom raising me.
JIZO: Who are some artists you've worked
with over the years, and who would
you like to collaborate with?
EMCEE T:
Recently, Ray Luv, Rappin' 4-Tay, and Calvin
Miller (producer of Huey's "Pop, Lock and Drop
It"). Google Ray Luv and Rappin' 4-Tay – they
are legends in the game who have worked with
2Pac, Mac Dre, Snoop Dogg, etc. They don't
receive the respect they deserve… However, I
grew up listening to them so I have no choice
but to put it down and represent their names to
the fullest. As far as Calvin Miller, he is all
over the airwaves and just hit 50,000 BDS spins
– so what to do but collaborate with the best?
Back in the day, I collaborated with a lot of
old school, OG Asian rappers: Bandit AP aka Davy
Flo & Kast-One aka Kast XL, etc.
JIZO: Who are some of your influences in
the game?
EMCEE T:
1990's Bay Area rappers (Too $hort, E-40 pre-hyphy,
11/5, RBL Posse, Cellski, Mac Mall, Ray Luv,
Rappin' 4-Tay, etc.) and California rappers
(Snoop Dogg "Doggystyle", Ice Cube, etc.),
period, end of story. Bay Area born and
California influenced… the C.K.O.T.B. keeps it
sunny, Cali sun shine movin'.
JIZO: What was the biggest challenge for
you at the beginning of your
career?
EMCEE T:
I consider this stage of my life, the beginning
of my rap career. One challenge is sifting
through the bullsh*t… but the biggest is
challenge is securing my financial situation.
Anybody that is freestyling or rapping for this
long, and isn't depositing checks, should quit
immediately… and some already have. That's why
this whole rap game is literally my 4 th
or 5th hustle, not my primary.
JIZO: You seem to be a multi-talented
type of person. What makes you focus
on Rapping?
EMCEE T:
Thank you, I appreciate the kind statement.
Yeah, I have two bachelor degrees and a master's
degree. On top of that, I have 3 companies
registered, where I am the President / CEO. The
reason I focus on rapping, is out of love. Love
and the fact that it is a challenge to make it;
anybody who thinks they are going to get rich
off this rapping sh*t is dreamin' up a fantasy.
Look around, even people who are commercially
successful aren't making money. So boys and
girls, get multiple hustles and grinds.
JIZO: At any point, did you feel like
giving up rap and pursuing other
dreams of yours?
EMCEE T:
You know what? No. No matter what, I'll have my
music making equipment… a pad and pen… so even
if it's on a personal, private level… I'll still
be in the music game one way or another. My
dream is to be "comfortable".
JIZO: Is there anyone in your family or
friends that keep you motivated the
whole journey through?
EMCEE T: My mom. She always told me (and
still tells me); everything I was doing wasn't
good enough. That type of criticism and talk
hurts, but fuels me to do better. Anyone reading
this: you will learn that the only person that
truly has your back is either your mom or dad,
or both.
JIZO: What are currently working on? Any
future album release?
EMCEE
T: My debut, official album, UNDERESTIMATED.
It's going to be my jewel… something real
serious. Not sure when it's dropping… but you
can keep in touch and find out by visiting
www.myspace.com/emceet
on a regular basis. Ha, just jiving.
JIZO: Is there any other personal
talents you have, aside from the others
everyone else knows about?
EMCEE
T: I can cook. My favorite is brown rice
with chicken and basil… and my favorite place to
shop is Trader Joes… damn JIZO, getting' super
exclusive information on Emcee T?!?!
JIZO: Do you have any good advice for
younger Asian American rappers?
EMCEE
T: First thing first, finish high school,
Finish College, get a masters. Whatever you do,
do it well. Go full force, don't stop… If this
rapping thing if meant for you, it will fall in
place. No matter what, have back-up plans…
JIZO: What is your description of a
"perfect day"?
EMCEE
T: My "ideal" day would be 72 degree weather
while driving with some stunna shadez over the
Bay Bridge with the sunroof down, fresh air
blowin' and 2Pac's "All Eyez On Me" bumpin' in
the CD changer. My perfect day? I'll let you
know when I experience it.
JIZO: Thanks for everything Emcee T and
take care brotha!
EMCEE
T: I appreciate the luv and I promise, yes
promise anyone who supports me, I'll represent
hard for you. If you message me on
www.myspace.com/emceet
I WILL hit you back… no matter how big, or
small, white or black, cute or ugly, etc. I
upload videos weekly @
www.youtube.com/emceetvids
so you can 'meet' me there anytime. JIZO & the
JIZO staff, keep it real ya'll – you are doin'
major thangs. And as I always say, Peace & Bay
Luv. –t aka Emcee T.
Emcee T the C.K.O.T.B.
------------------------------------
Direct E-mail -
info@emceet.com
Booking E-mail -
booking@emceet.com
Official Website -
www.emceet.com
MySpace Site -
www.myspace.com/emceet
SoundClick -
www.soundclick.com/emceetdotcom
Wiggle-Out Music Video Website -
www.wiggle-out.com
Pushin The Bay -
www.pushinthebay.com
ZTY BEATS -
www.z-t-y.com
Tz Studio -
www.tstudio.biz
BIOGRAPHY::
Emcee
T a.k.a. the Chinese King of the Bay (C.K.O.T.B.),
is the first note-worthy Asian /
Chinese-American producer & rapper to make a
mark in the Bay Area rap game. Born in East
Oakland, raised in Santa Rosa, and educated in
Hayward & San Jose, T has been writing lyrics
(and holding it down for Asian Americans) all
over the San Francisco 'yay area' since 1995.
His first commercial project available to the
public (at Tower, Amoeba, and Rasputin Records)
was Hard Headed: The Mixtape CD, released in
October of 2005. It had the sole purpose of
promoting not only himself, but his entourage of
Bay Area talent. With no promotion whatsoever, a
single run of 2,500 units sold out.
T's love for the Bay Area elevated to a new
level with Emcee T's rap / hip-hop concert "Pushin'
The Bay" - a showcase displaying independent
artists funded solely by Emcee T. In fact, every
move T makes comes out his own pocket; half CEO,
half renaissance man, 100% C.K.O.T.B.
Emcee T's television show "Pushin' The Bay"
appears on television screens in the Bay Area
every 1st and 3rd Monday of every month @
8:30-9pm on Channel 26.
T acknowledges that the Bay is all about the 'Hyphy
Movement', "The Bay is doing it way big right
now and I love that. I'll be real - hyphy and
anythang bay-originated gets respect from me...
but that's not what I grew up on." Growing up, T
took a particular ear to Bay Area rappers during
its 'Mobb Music' era; artists including Too $hort,
RBL Posse, E-40, 11/5, Spice 1, 4-Tay, and Ray
Luv.
"Early 90's bay music is what fueled me to start
doing what I do best, so I pay dues where they
are due - I won't change," says T.
Emcee T will however, adapt with the new Bay
'sound' while adding his own unique twist... in
a way that only T can bring it. Emcee T is
currently in the studio adding the finishing
touches to his debut album, "UNDERESTIMATED".
The album is self-produced, mixed, and mastered
at his studio, T'z Studio - with the exception
of a few exclusive tracks.
Bay Area legends and rap pioneers, Ray Luv &
multi-platinum selling artist Rappin' 4-Tay are
featured on the album along with other Bay Area
rap superstars, so keep your ears to the street
and eyes on Emcee T.
Emcee T's first single is "Wiggle Out" featuring
East Oakland's Block Promotaz - the single was
released earlier this year with the music video
debuting in Summer.
UNDERESTIMATED the Album is slated for release
in late 2007.
