Published: Wednesday - May 5, 2004
Words by William Hernandez
Thirstin Howl The 3rd (Photo: BallerStatus (file))
Thirstin Howl III has been paying dues for years now. Since his independent release of his first album, Skillionaire, back in 1998. His hard work ethic has enabled him to keep constantly releasing new material. He's also worked with the independent labels releasing singles with them, like the now defunct Rawkus and Game Records.
This year, he released his new album entitled Skillitary, which features guest appearances from Dana Dane, AG and Sadat X. As he promotes the new album, prepares the release of a Spanish hip-hop and other releases, BallerStatus caught up with down in Miami to find out more about all his new release. Here is what he had to say...
BallerStatus.com: Talk to me about the new album Skillitary?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: It's the continuation of everything I've been doing. Straight skills, with the game locked right now.
BallerStatus.com: On the album you got Dana Dane, Sadat X, AG. Why did you choose to get these MCs on the album?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: Because they are all legends. They are not people that are following what is the current trend in the music. They are not following nobody else's criteria, they set standards. They inspired me coming up to be a rapper, so I wanted to work with people that were going to make me hype, when I recorded with them.
BallerStatus.com: Who handle's the production duties on the album besides yourself?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: Anger Bangers is my team, we did the whole album. Anger Bangers is E Boogie, Ronnie Raygun, and Thirstin Howl III. I also got production by PF Cuttin, Will Tell, DJ Rondevu and Domingo.
BallerStatus.com: How did you get together with PF Cuttin from Blazhy Blah?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: PF Cuttin was selling beats and he gave me a beat cd one time and I picked the track "Polorican." After I worked with PF Cuttin, I did a release with Game Records. It was a maxi single, PF Cuttin produced one song. He helped me with the whole project. After that, he became my DJ. We just started working, we did The Serial Skilla, and we're still working together.
BallerSatus.net: What else can we expect from you this year?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd:Skillitary just dropped, the "Overload" DVD is about to come out. I got the brand new Spanish album. I'm out here in Miami filming Spanish videos. The album is called La Cura O De La Calle En La Carcel. You can expect a new Rack Lo album and the Lo Life movie and the Alaskan Fisherman album.
BallerStatus.com: Why did you decide to do a Spanish album?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: I did Spanish songs on all my albums. A lot of motherf---ers were scared to rhyme in Spanish on their songs. I just decided that the market hasn't been conquered, that's why I'm doing it.
BallerStatus.com: Do you plan to do anymore collaborations with any other artists?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: I just did another album, that I'm going to wait called The Skilling Fields. I already did collabos with Ol' Dirty Bastard. I got a Heltah Skeltah song on my album. I got Special Ed and Ed O.G. on the same song with me. Hot features on this project. Once I finish up these projects, Chino XL, Cannibus, and myself will be forming a group to terrorize with real hip-hop.
BallerStatus.com: How did you get Special Ed an Ed O.G. on one track?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: I knew Special Ed before rapping, from Brooklyn Flatbush. I'm always out in Boston, so I got a lot of love for Ed O.G. I asked him to do it and we did it.
BallerStatus.com: A lot of people don't know, you where on the rap Olympics team. With Eminem and a couple of other emcee's. How was the experience?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: Wendy Day from the Rap Coalition put us together. She choose Emimen, Juice from Chicago, Qwest the Mad Lad, Wordsworth and myself. Only because she knew all of us and she liked to put people together and make it happen.
BallerStatus.com: I heard you worked with Mos Def. How did that come about?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: Mos Def is mad talented, he's a genius in his own manner. Just through the underground circuit, there was a lot of people trying to make noise. I did a lot of Rawkus stuff, which, you know, Mos Def was on the label, as well as Talib Kweli. They extended me their hands and showed me love. I got a lot of respect for them brothers.
BallerStatus.com: Tell me a little bit about your company Skillionaire Enterprises, and why you decided to go independent?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: I had no choice. The labels weren't trying to sign us. A lot of people didn't have an understanding of our music. But, we just did it ourselves and gave it to the people. We got their feedback, that's what matters. Not what the motherf---in' labels think or what they were looking for. They're always looking for the n---- that sounds like somebody else. I ain't trying to sound like nobody. I'm doing me.
BallerStatus.com: If you have the opportunity to go to a major label. Would you do it?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: Of course, but it's going to be on a level that I'm going to be in control of anything I do. Like how I've been doing it so far. And I'm not changing for nobody.
BallerStatus.com: What advice to give to up and coming artists?
Thirstin Howl The 3rd: Don't let nobody tell you your music is good or bad. There is a audience for everything. Find your audience and cater to them, f--- the world. As long as you're focused and you're willing to do the work. Don't worry about what everybody else has to say. Because there is a lot of corny motherf---ers, that's blown. The reason they're successful is because they work hard. If you do the work it pays off regardless.
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