Published: Monday - June 5, 2006
Words by Charles "CZA" Sweet II
Big Tuck (Photo: Universal)
Growing up in the streets leaves most people unable to adjust to anything else. For most, that's all they know -- and all they want to know. Big Tuck came up in the belly of Dallas and is now ready to show the world that there IS a difference between the Dallas and Houston sound.
After dropping an uber-successful mixtape that grossed well over 100,000 units, Tuck and DSR (Dirty South Rydaz) have garnered far more than just the attention of some major labels, they've taken hold of an underground movement.
Big Tuck sat down with Ballerstatus.com to chop up game on his underground following and many other topics, dispelling the myths, half-truths and outright lies. Tuck wants to tell you why the Truth is Absolute.
Ballerstatus.com: The streets have been anxiously awaiting DSR to drop for some time. For those who aren't familiar with you, introduce yourself.
Big Tuck: Man, I'm Tuck. I'm a D-Town representer trying to put Dallas on the map like it supposed to be. Me and the whole DSR clique are really pushing hard to bring the spotlight here, man. We've been overlooked way too long. You feel me, man? Way too long.
Ballerstatus.com: I feel you on that one, dog. It seems that whenever someone thinks of Texas music, they instantly think of Houston. Houston is real big on the map right now doing they're thing to the fullest, but Dallas has a culture of it's own that needs to be expressed. That brings me to ask you this: what would you say makes Dallas different than Houston?
Big Tuck: Really, in Houston, everything is screwed and chopped. Dudes over there sip, lean and just have a real chill, mellow vibe about them. In Dallas, we're more crunk. We make faster music that'll get you fired up! We just bring that energy to a song and make you wanna get up and move, man.
Ballerstatus.com: DSR is poised to shed light on D-Town like never before. You sold a hundred thousand plus of Purple Hulk, and you're getting the attention of some major players in the game, namely Universal. How'd that come about?
Big Tuck: We was GRINDING hard, man. We were everywhere trying to get our name out. By the time Purple Hulk came out, we had already got people's head buzzin' about us. We knew someone was gonna get at us, and Universal made the kind of offer that made sense to us. So, we came to an agreement and that was that. Please believe it's goin' down, man.
Ballerstatus.com: I just saw that video for your lead-off, "Tussle" with Slim Thug. Tell us about how that came about with one of H-town's all-stars?
Big Tuck: We had been f---in' with Slim for a minute, man. We f---s with him 'cause he family, man. When we was working on the song, and we knew Slim had to be on that joint. It was right for him to wreck on. Dr. Teeth directed the video, and that's the jump-off to the album, baby. That's how it's goin' down.
Ballerstatus.com: For the most part, a lot of rappers come from the ghetto, seen the severity of the lifestyle they're forced into, and that's what fuels their rhymes. Talk a little bit about what brought you to where you are today.
Big Tuck: My life is good now 'cause I've had to re-center my life, man. Not that long ago, I was sleepin' in my car, man. It's like, I was seeing my friends do different things with their lives -- going to college and startin' families. And I was like, "Man! I gotta do better than this!" So, when I went off to (University of) Arkansas, I was determined not to fall in the traps that I'd seen others fall into.
Ballerstatus.com: Real talk, fam. Tell us about your album, Tha Absolute Truth, about to drop.
Big Tuck: Man, it's called Tha Absolute Truth and it's got my dogs Slim Thug, Bun B, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire and my girl Erykah Badu. It's got production by Play-N-Skillz, Mr. Lee and Big Tyme on there. It's the realest album of the year, man. I promise.
Ballerstatus.com: What advice do you got for those up-and-comers that's trying to get in the game?
Big Tuck: You gotta be about your business. Don't think that just because you rhyme good that it's all good. At the end of the day, it's a business, and you gotta be smart about what you do. Don't just post up on the block and expect the world to come to you. You got to hit the road if you want to get some buzz. And don't let nobody tell you that you can't do something.
Ballerstatus.com: That brings up a good question, man. This isn't a question I had meant to ask, but I think that it's important that we speak on this because I believe it's a problem that should be addressed. Why is it that you don't hear too much Dallas music on Dallas radio stations? It seems like there's no love coming from over there.
Big Tuck: Man, really, f--- them radio stations 'cause they don't play Dallas music, man. They ain't gon' play your music AT ALL unless you got a machine behind you or you paying 'em. Those PD's (Program Directors) ain't gon' do anything, unless you big as 50 or Jay. Like I said before, YOU gotta hit the road and grind for yours and make a buzz for yourself first.
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