How you doing man, can you start off by introducing yourself and your label to the world and tell us where you at and what you about?

J-Locc- Im doing good, and thanks for taking your time to do this interview with me. Basically I'm the CEO of Tact Out Muzic, also a artist and a Producer on my label. I started off in a 2 man group called II Sicc, but as I've learned in this business its not easy keeping a good thing together. There is a lot of people who 
hated on us and wanted to see us not as a group, but me and Moe who was the other artist have grown up and realized our mistakes, and we will be back droppin a new group album titled "Gemstone & Main 1". Gemstone is my alias I use besides J-locc. My label started up in 1996, I was ready to really get our muzic crackin, and decided to start the label, and the 1st Album would be a underground classic called "Judgement Day" which dropped in 1997. We come from a small city called Sunnyvale in the 408 area code in California, so we reppin that til death, we're the 1st cats to come from that city with a hot album.

This double CD, BART to the 91Sicness is, in my opinion a dope project, can you tell us what made you put this together?

J-Locc- well basically it had nothin else to do with it just sounding like a great idea. I had just dropped II Sicc Presents "Talez from the Sicc" and wasn't sure what I was gonna work on next, so this just came to me at the right time. Also on the Raptalk message board everyone used to bring it up occasionally bout someone on this board with connections should put an album out with all the artist from the board. And basically it was the purpose of all these cats sayin they had flows and this cats wack and ttc... I was tired of hearing about it, and so maybe me doing this album would help get their muzic heard, and some that aint so hot would finally hear from the public. And those that had flows will maybe start getting some attention. This was the 1st project that some of these people have ever been on, and for most it was the 1st project that was going nation wide!!! So there was a lot on the line for everyone. 

Putting a double CD must have been a tough Job, can you tell us how you put it together, how long It took, and what the main purpose was?

J-Locc- well basically I had the connections to do what needed to be done, and the 1st start was to post on the Siccness and Raptalk message boards askin cats to send me their muzic and I'd pick the best song of theirs and put it on the album. I had such an overwhelming response,  I had over 75 cd's of muzic from people. I had to cut a few just for the fact the sound quality just wasn't good enough, and then this was only gonna be a single cd, so I decided to make it a double, and I'd fit as many tracks on there as I could, which ended up being 44 tracks.  I don't remember when I started the idea, but I'm gonna say it has been close to 2 years I spent dealing with this project. I was meeting cats to get their songs, we also recorded a lot of new tracks at my studio. Also at the Same time Raptalk known as Bart went down, and the siccness took them aboard with a Bart forum on the Siccness.... So things were changing, and I was working on many different deals for the project, I had lots of interest on this project from many labels and distributors, but finally I decided what I was gonna do, and finally got everything done and pressed it up about a month and a half ago.

How has the Compilation been doing in terms of sales and in terms of Feedback? I see that you putting out Volume 2 very soon, What can we expect with part 2?


J-Locc- honestly about 95% of the people love this album, there really only been 3-4 people that said they didn't like any tracks, and to me I don't even count that response cuzz I know a good song when I hear one, and there's no way you could listen to this whole album, and not find a few songs you really like. But sales have been crazy, I knew this album could do good, but I have sold about 800 units in 4 weeks, and the fact its a double cd, it actually sound scans as Double, so your actually lookin at 1600 units sold so far!!! and I haven't even got them nationwide yet, this is just internet sales and through mom & pop stores and Rasputans all in the Bay. And I got some special deals going around, like you can buy 10 cd's for only $50 for those that wanna get they hustle on. As well I got a real special deal coming where you get the J-Locc "Bootlegs & Best Of" limited Edition cd for free with the purchase of the album with me over the internet. As for volume 2, I'm not even gonna concentrate on that yet, cuz it wouldn't be fair to volume 1, but I have plans in the works, and I may just do a single album this time, with just lesser known artist only, I'm not sure, but with any volume 2 or follow up album, you gotta come better than the 1st other wise it was a waste.... So I'm a make sure its better then the 1st.

I read somewhere that you were gonna organise some shows where The artists who appeared on the comp could come Perform. Has this happened and if so how did it go? If not When do you plan to make this happen?

J-Locc- yeah Actually we already did that, had flyers, and T-shirts for the events. They started earlier in 
The year basically to get more exposure for The album, and let people know the album really Is coming soon, at the same time it gave the Public a chance to see some of the talent That was going to be on the album before they Buy, and i think it went very well. We Performed in gilroy, campbell, and los banos, and i 
Still plan on hitting sacramento and frisco with a release party, but as busy as i am selling The album is more important right now.

I noticed that you produced a couple of tracks on the Comp, can you tell us what equipment you use and what in Your opinion makes a dope beat? 

J-Locc- well I run a Pro Tools system on a Mac, I make my beats with my Triton, and I have a Proteus 2000, and Roland Jv 2080 sound module. But to me to make a tight beat, that's shit just happens. I never could just sit down and be like ok, this beats find be fire right here. I've tried and it don't work, so I don't sit down and make a beat to be heated, I just sit, and let my fingers and my brain do the production, and it either comes out hot, ok, or garbage, and believe me, I got as many hot beats as I do garbage ones, I guarantee Dr.Dre or Dj Quik got some bootsy ass shit sittin in a closet somewhere or thrown away, a good producer just makes good beats on a more consistent level, but it takes a lot of practice and knowledge of the equipment and what it can do for you to make dope beats on a consistent level. I'll say this too, just cuz you a producer and you think the beat is wack or someone tells you its wack, you never know, I have had many cats buy beats off me I thought were weak as fuck, and I've made tracks that were hot where cats were like, not feelin it, so I just keep that in mind before I throw something away.

Am I right in assuming that for the style of hip hop that comes from the Bay that there is very little sampling, but mostly making beats with keyboards, moogs etc. Why do you think that is?

J-Locc- well you'd be suprised I know a lot of cats that sample, I just think with technology the way it is, sampling has lost its luster, and also not everyone knows how to do it. Me personally I have used samples in the past, but I'm very good at replaying a beat. So most times I will just redo a whole song with my sounds and flip the beat, that's what Im more interested in. But cats are still sampling out there, if you notice a lot of hits on the radio contain sampling, so there's no doubt it can be very useful in helping an artist blow up.

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