Todd G recently joined the Eastside Records stable and released his album Bail Money. He has toured with Coolio and 40 Thieves. He was also responsible for putting together the Northwest Game compilation which dropped in 2001. He has more friends in jail than on the streets. He has spent much of his time in jail or parole. So what’s rap got to do with it? Let’s find out.

How are you feeling at this point?

I’m feeling good, we just got back from the beginning leg of the Northcoast Rain Tour and we’ve been killin ’em on the road.

First let me congratulate you on this album, it bumps beginning to end. Can you tell us how you got involved, and who influenced you in this rap game?

Yeah, good lookin. My influences have been many. I started rappin in the fifth grade in 1984 so it’s been a long road.

I read that you used to pimp prostitutes, do you still do this and can you tell us what the worst part about living this kind of life?

Yeah, that’s how Todd G gets down. There is no fiction on Bail Money, period.

Can you tell us how you hooked up with Bullet @ Eastside Records? And what was it about Eastside that motivated you to roll with them?

I hooked up with Bullet through a friend of mine, Cool Nutz, who is one of the more prolific and known rappers out here in our region. I was putting together my 2001 Compilation, Northwest Game and Nutz asked if I would add a Bullet song to the record. From there we became friends and developed a working business relationship. I joined Eastside because Bullet and I are both very like-minded and it was apparent that we were going to be the future of Northwest rap music.

I see that you also have your hand in a bit of producing, can you perhaps tell us what you use to produce? And what kind of beats do you feel the most?

I use Tritons mainly, but I can work with whatever.

How would you describe your style?

My style is TODD G. I just do me. There really isn’t a contrived image because what you hear is what you get when it comes to me.

If somebody were to meet you the first time what kind of impression do you think they would have of you?

I am very east to get along with. Although I have more friends in the pen than on the streets. I can also do well dealing with square cats and business folk.

What was it like growing up for you?

Growing up was hard, as I’m sure it is for most young cats in the game. I spent years incarcerated and even more on parole. But let me be perfectly clear about this one point: I came from the Game NOT the hood. I know more about hustlin’ and breakin hoes than I do about shit like getting food stamps or a 9 to 5. I’ve stayed papered up, period.

What was it like working on this album, like what is Bullet like in the studio, or working with Bosko? Which tracks took the longest and shortest to record?

The album was cool. Bosko is a genius. Bullet and I work real well together, we can knock out multiple songs in a day cuz that’s how we get down. The fastest song I recorded was Life Goes On, which I wrote produced and recorded in 2 hours start to finish. I wrote that song so fast I didn’t even know the words rhymed until I was finished penning it and sat back to look at it. The longest song was One Love, because I produced it at my boyz, then took the track to Bullets and laid down Arjays hook, then Bullet wrote and recorded his part, then I took the song back to my house and finished it off with my verse, then I took it to my boyz house to mix the next day! It was easy, just time consuming in travel.

Do you battle other MC’s on stage?

Yeah, sometimes. I used to get down like that when I was a kid, but now dayz were doing this shit on a whole ‘nother level. Ill still chop it though if we got the time, or if that’s the vibe of the show.

Which artists would you like to collaborate with?

Justin Timberlake. You think I’m playin? Hell no. That cat’s got heat for real, fuck what ya heard. Suga Free will be a future feature as well.

Are there any plans for a video, and if so which track would you choose to do?

Yeah, we’ve been working on Bullet’s video for “When The Rain Falls” but after it’s done we will begin work on the new TODD G hook up.

Are we gonna see a Todd G DVD out soon? That would be interesting to check out.

Yeah, shit that could work.

Have you ever had embarrassing moments in this game?

I’m going to put it to you like this, I drank excessively for 27 + years, so yeah, I’ve been too drunk to rap at the majority of my shows until this past year. I’ve got videos that I could name “What Not To Do” – when it comes to stumbling around drunk slurring belligerent raps on stages.

What is the best shit that ever happened to you in your life?

That’s a tough one, Id have to say going out on tour with Coolio and the 40 Thieves in 1998 was one of the best experiences in my life. I learned a lot about the rap game from some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry, and it was good to experience the fans jocking our whole entourage. That was real big, free shit and what not at the malls and restaurants. 

What are your favorite tracks on the album?

The 1st 5 songs are my favorite. However, I like a lot of the later songs, its just that the second half of the album is older material, that’s just real.

Is your next album gonna come out on Eastside?

Yes.

Any plans of touring?

We are currently on tour right now. We just did Boise Idaho, Salt Lake City Utah, and Walla Walla Washington this month and Friday we will be in Moscow. Shit is crackin for real here at Eastside.

If people want to learn about Todd G where can they go?

www.Eastsideriderz.com or www.mp3.com/toddg would be the two best on-line sources.

Thanks man for talking to us down here in Africa, any last words?

Yeah, my last words are, “If these ladies knew better, they’d do better…and I’m trying to knock an African broad out there so could yall put in a word for your player partner TODD G?” Good lookin out.

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