Celly Cel

Seit er 1994 mit “Heat 4 Yo Azz” auf Sick-Wid It Records debütierte, ist er einer der ganz Großen an der kalifornischen Westküste. Trotz eines vollen Terminkalenders (das neue Album “It’z Real Out Here” muss promotet werden) nahm sich Celly Cel für ugrap.de die Zeit, seine europäischen Fans auf den neusten Stand der Dinge zu bringen. Vielen Dank an Sören Strenge (Kingpin) für die Vermittlung.

How does your life in “Killa Kali” look like in 2005? Are you content with the situation?

Life is good. Just being alive and healthy. I know too many people that are dead or in prison. Life is good.

Which one of your albums do you consider as the most important one relating to your career?

“Killa Kali”, because that’s the one with the classic song “It’s Going Down”. You can go to Germany, Japan, France, Switzerland and sing that song and people will remember it. It doesn’t get any better than that, ya feel me!

For which reason did you break up with Sick Wid It?

I always wanted to run my own record label. E-40 and B-Legit said ‘Go ahead and do your thing’. Now I’m C.E.O./President of Realside Records. We are still good friends to this day.

In what way was Sick Wid It different from other succesful labels in its golden times? What was special about it?

We were all family and good friends that grew up together. We all wanted to see each other do good in music or whatever their dreams may be. For every other label it was just business as usual. That’s the difference.

You could be heard on “Umbrella” recently – will you re-sign on the label?

Who knows? Kurupt went back to Death Row, Mase went back to Bay Boy. Anything Is Possible.

Have you ever thought about doing another album with Spice 1?

Hell yeah, me and Spice 1 are doin’ an album right now called ‘Spice 1 And Celly Cel – Criminalz Part 2″.

Collabo albums seem to work out good right now – which rappers would you like to do an album with?

Me and Spice 1 are doin’ an album now. I want to do one with Daz Dillinger. I wish I could bring 2 Pac back and do one with him. That would shut down the whole rap industry…

What else are you actually working at right now?

I just released my first DVD called “Rap Life Behind The Scenes” and 2006 will be a big year for Realside Records. My Group album “Hillside Stranglaz” will be comin’ out and I’m a member of the group. My “Wild West Compilation” featuring The Game, Daz, E-40, Suga Free, Too Short, MC Eiht, Bad Azz, Keak Da Sneak, Hillside Stranglaz and more will be comin’ out. My new solo album “Slaps, Straps And Basebal Hats” featuring The Game, Lil Flip, Keak Da Sneak and more will be comin’ out, my DVD called “Eye Candy” featuring sexy women from all over the US droppin’ it like it’s hot will be comin’ out. My new artists D.C., Money Grip and Lil Percy will be droppin’ solo albums, my DVD “Videos And Mo” featuring all my videos and the new Hillside Stranglaz video will be comin’ out, my “Bay Boyz” Compilation featuring all the hottest rappers in the Bay Area will be comin’ out. 2006 will be the official year of Realside Records, ya feel me!!!

You already mentioned him and if I got it right, you knew Pac in person. What you’re your memories about him and what’s your opinion about the way his family commercializes his legacy?

Yeah, I knew 2 Pac. I rapped about my best memory of him on “It’z Real Out Here”, Track #2, “Thugged Out”. It was when we were kickin’ it at a Spice 1 video and he walked up to me and gave me a hug and said ‘Man, I heard yo shit, I had to find Mike Mosley and get some beats like yours’. When a legend tells you they listen to your music and they want some beats like yours, it blows you away… I will never ever forget that day. I’m glad his family publicizes his legacy. He was one of the greatest entertainers of all times. I say entertainer because he did more than just rap. He was an actor and a political activist. Everyone should know about the late great Tupac Shakur. He should never be forgotten!

The westcoast blossoms out these days – but what’s up with Studio Ton?

I heard he’s still doin’ his thing.

What’s your opinion about the Hyphy-Movement?

It’s more of a Bay Area thing. I don’t think people outside of the Bay would understand it. Really it’s all about havin’ fun, jumpin’ around and actin’ a fool. Goin’ dumb like we say in the Bay. It’s all good with me.

How did you get in the work of a producer?

I always wanted to put people out. E-40 and B-Legit gave an opportunity, so I feel it’s my job to give other people an opportunity like they gave me. I see people lost, stuck in the streets with no way out. E-40 and B-Legit gave me a way out and I want to give other people a way out, too. That’s why I produce and not just rap, feel me!

How would you describe the characeristic of your beats?

Versatile. I never want any of my beats to sound the same. I want them to have their own identity. I want people to put my CD in turn, turn it up loud and say ….AAAYYY …THAT’S THE SHIT!

If you could turn back the clock to change one important decision you made in your career – what would you do better, spoken from today’s sight?

Nothing. I’m from a small city called Vallejo in California. Before I picked up a microphone nobody gave a fuck about me. Nobody knew who I was outside of my city. Now I’m doin’ interviews in Germany, Japan, France, gettin’ emails and fan mail from all over the world telling me how they love my music. God is good. I wouldn’t change a thing!!

Time to drop some shoutouts…

First of all I want to give a shoutout to Sören Strenge ‘Tha Kingpin’ for hookin’ up this interview. I want to say much love and respect to all the fans in Germany that support Celly Cel’s music. I want to tell the people reading this interview that never heard a Celly Cel CD before – what are you waiting for? Everything I say is real. I speak the truth, I tell it like it is in everyday life in the streets. I’m one of the realsest rappers to ever touch a microphone. If you never heard my shit, you need to wake yo ass up and listen to some of this ‘Real Shit’. 2 Pac used to listen to Celly Cel, that should speak for itself. Much love to everybody in Germany and everybody reading this interview. Keep loggin’ on to www.ugrap.de because they keepin’ it real gangsta, ya feel me! Check out my website www.cellycel.net. for info on upcoming albums!