Published: Sunday - March 26, 2006
Words by Willow
San Quinn (Photo: Don Deal Ent.)
From slang to the anti-gangbanging, the Bay Area has been a standout from the rest of its industry counterparts, even if you take the eight hour trek down the Golden State freeway to Los Angeles. San Francisco native San Quinn is noted in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most collaborations, yet he clearly holds his own even when he's playing team ball.
From the young age of 14, San Francisco Quincy, aka San Quinn, had a lot to say. He has spent a great deal of his time/life making sure his story and the story of those in the Filmore District gets told. In a humorous, but candid interview with Ballerstatus, San Quinn discusses his views on the Bay and why "goin' dumb" every now and then isn't all that bad.
Ballerstatus.com: The most standout thing about the Bay area is its support of its own, even with radio play. How have you all been so lucky?
San Quinn: More than anything, we press our own records. We are right here next to Silicon Valley, the technology capitol of the world. We have everything we need to make our music sound just as good as the rest of them. We can't wait on a major label to come in and put our music out, so we start from selling them out the trunk. It starts with sales of a 1,000 to 10,000 and before you know it, your support system has popped off and you're at a 100,000 [units sold]. Need a record label to put us out, for what?
It's the independent feeling of knowing you have to put your music out there. With the radio love, it was the DJ(s) at the stations like Big Von Johnson, Mind Motion, Scotty Fox -- they grew up here and grew up on our music. I've been doing this since I was 14 and we all about the same age. I'm an artist and they work at the radio station, so they pushed for their own. The stations got tired of praising everybody else who came to town; all they wanted was quality music. They recognized they have it right here in the town and they support their own. Don't get me wrong, we hustle. We hit them up at the clubs and I personally took constructive criticism well and made sure I made quality music.
Ballerstatus.com: Though you are a West Coast artist, the sound of the Bay...
San Quinn: (interrupts) I'm from Northern California. I am not trying to be separatist, but we ain't with the throwing up the "W's." We are from the Bay. When they make reference to themselves, they only talk about Southern California. They don't really rock with us, so there ain't no reason to be breaking our neck to be doing this, that and the third. They rep Southern California, L.A., I rep where I am from. I'm from the North.
Ballerstatus.com: How would you describe your sound and how does it fit with the signature sound of the Bay? What do you bring that is unique to San Quinn?
San Quinn: I'm just real, I just represent Frisco. We been underdogs all our lives. My family is just real, so you'll hear me talk about a variety of topics. When you see San Quinn, you see me. I am not trying to put up a front. I am "San Francisco" Quincy. I "go dumb, get hyphy," but I'm an educated nut as well. I just describe my sound as good real music. I don't talk about females in a bad way, yet sometimes in a real way. What you hear is what you see; I'll never be caught out of character.
Ballerstatus.com: Substance and originality is one thing, but the bottom line to some of this is built on the formula of a hot track, a song for the ladies and the club joint. You do acknowledge that with your music, right?
San Quinn: You are absolutely right. I agree there is a formula to this and I stick to it, but I understand the people I make music for, all of them. I write for the radio and I'll make a spiritual song because I want my momma to be able to listen to it. I write to my demographic and to the genre I'm trying to capture. If I'm talking about a breezy, it can be in good way, like she's the baddest one in the club or talking some gangsta ish, but I never stray from the topic of the song. Quality music!
Ballerstatus.com: When you write, is it always from your environment's perspective or do you find yourself in an alter ego?
San Quinn: That's wild you would say that. Some days, I'm filled with the Spirit of God and other days, the devil is working in me. I am a human, so I write from a human perspective. I have a song called [laughing] "I'ma Kick Your Ass," you know how the world be and sometimes it be like that. But really, I am just trying to get the world to sing my songs with me.
Ballerstatus.com: You've been in this business for about 14 years. As you listen to your old demos, where have you gained the most strength, whether it be in your lyrical ability or your ear for a hot track?
San Quinn: When I first started to rap, I was so eager to rap, I didn't have an ear for a hot beat. Now, I have a good support team around me, not any "yes men," but people who want to see Quinn do well. As far as my lyrical ability, I know I make better songs. My flows are tighter and I know how to make my words hit the pockets better. Instead of using a three-syllable word, I make it two and it flows just as good if not better.
Ballerstatus.com: You have Guinness Book of World Record notoriety for collaborations. Name your all-time favorite collaboration.
San Quinn: I would have to say the song I have with Keek Da Sneak and Juvenile. Juvey is a real humble guy and Keek, we have worked together before. He's a Bay area boss. It was just good to have all three of us on the record. That was real big to me.
Ballerstatus.com: What do you think it is about you that draws your fans to you?
San Quinn: I would have to say it is my voice. They haven't heard the best of me until this album. It really displays my growth. I'm like wine getting better with time. If you haven't felt San Quinn, you are really going to feel me on The Rock.
Ballerstatus.com: Journalists tend to shun the Bay because you are known for doing more compilation style records or better yet, have a lot of features. Is that what we can expect from your latest album?
San Quinn: No, I don't agree with that style either. I only have four features and I have 19 songs. I am not with that. If your album is full of features, what real effort was put into making your album? I agree with the critics about that. If you are putting out an album that is supposed to be a solo album, then put out a solo album. Don't lean on your features to sell your album because what happens when you have to go out and perform that song and that artist ain't there? When you lean on your features, they become the main attraction. That's all bad...
Ballerstatus.com: Who are you feeling in the game right now?
San Quinn: I am feeling The Product -- Willie Hen, my brother and Malice. I am really feeling 50 Cent too. I like the way he rocks the beat.
Ballerstatus.com: (quoting 50 Cent) "The top is so much better than the bottom."
San Quinn: You feel me? How you not going to like someone who is on top right now and comes from the same struggle. I love what he is doing in the game and I'm feeling those Dipset n----s too. Most importantly, I am feeling the whole Bay, the whole hyphy movement -- that's my number one pick!
Ballerstatus.com: Who are you not feeling? When you listen you say, "I can't believe this person got a deal!"
San Quinn: "Laffy Taffy," I'm in this business, so I understand the strip club sh-- they bringing in from down South. Not to contradict myself, but my son is signing it. I know you have to have something catchy for the people to sing, but on the real, that ain't me and I think it's weak as f---! I am not disrespecting those men personally, but that sh-- is weak.
Ballerstatus.com: Major backing has its pluses, but do you feel a sense of freedom being an independent artist?
San Quinn: Hell yeah [laughing]. You gettin' robbed by the record label and the n---- outside, you really wind up with nothing. No doubt I want to be on a major, I just want a good deal when I get there.
Ballerstatus.com: Give me a synopsis of the album.
San Quinn: I have really hot single blowing up right now featuring EA Ski called "Hell Yeah." I was under a lot of pressure making this album. Pressure Makes Diamonds says it all. It took me about a year to make this album. I went through the process of cleaning house, and I went through a lot. That's why I titled it The Rock: Pressure makes Diamonds. It's a diamond. It's not going to break your spirit, it's going to make you shine.
The Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds is in stores now. For more info on San Quinn, visit DoneDealEnt.com.
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