Detroit Keeps Winning: Big Tone Interview

Can’t talk about the album (The Art of Ink) without first diving into the significance that tattoo art holds for you.  What do tattoos mean to you and why did you want to devote the title and content of your album to that artform?
First off, let me say that by no means am I claiming to be THE die hard, uncut, tattoo head. I think a lot of people are getting that twisted. The concept for the album derives from one set of songs, and one tattoo design. I was working on this album and designing a tattoo at the same time…and realized that they share some striking similarities. They both allow me to express alot that’s going on with me right now, and I sort of subconsciously approached creating them with those things in mind. I have 3 tattoos, and one on the way…just got that call from Tom Renshaw this week, and I’m officially off of the waiting list. This new one is the one that plays into the album…it’s also the logo of the record, the Angel on the CD.

Besides writing and performing on the microphone on this album, you also self-produced the entire project.  Is there one over the other that you find you connect with more?  Is one more difficult than the other?  What made you decide to self-produce it? 
Actually for me it’s a package deal. I’ve been rhyming since I was like 10, so my timeline as an emcee dates further back. But ever since I’ve been recording in the studio, I’ve been messing around with beats. I took piano and drum lessons as a child. I started studio recording in high school. So for me it’s just apart of the process. Most of the music that I’ve released to date has been self-produced. Earcandy, The Wasted Youth EP, The Partycrasher 12”, The Drought LP, and The Art Of Ink. People seem to have recognized me as an emcee moreso than a producer, but it goes hand in hand. I’ll be venturing deeper into the production world in the near future.

When you sat down to start working on this project, where did you focus your attentions first, the production end or the writing side? 
I just started one song at a time. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I don’t do a bunch of beats and then start writing a bunch of songs. I just do one session at a time. It starts by just listening to records. Like…really just listening. I just lean back in the chair and listen to a couple of albums. That’s what helps me get in a good creative space. Eventually I’ll stumble across something, and just start playing around with it. Once I got a solid skeleton of the track looping on the machine, a song starts to develop. It all kind of happens together. I’ll even ping-pong back and forth between writing and working on the beat. Sounds kinda skitzo, probably, but that’s how it works.

How much has your life changed since your debut album, The Drought in 2005, and how have those experiences influenced the content of your latest?
I’m almost four years older, so a lot of it is just natural growth. I’m definitely a different person than I was then. Spiritually, I’m working more. I’ve experienced so much more in that department. I’ve learned a lot about what I want and don’t want out of this whole music thing. Relationships and friendships, and my approach to them are different. Releasing The Drought opened a lot of doors for me, when prior to that, I had never left Detroit for music purposes. Alot is different, but I’m still a work in progress.

Out of the talented guest artists you have on The Art of Ink, were there any who you sought out specifically to get on your album?  How did those hookups come about?
Nah, I just know some dope people. They’re all people I consider Fam, and also some of the people who inspire me the most. I’ve known Ta’raach and Guilty the longest, out of everyone on the abum, being that we’ve been apart of the Detroit music scene forever. I knew Blu and Breeze personally, before I knew them musically. It wasn’t until after we connected that I became familiar with their music. LaNiece is my like my sister. L’Renee is family. Monica Blaire is family. I’m just fortunate to know folks that are dope at what they do. 

I read a little bit about your Mojoe Music System.  Can you explain a little more about what this program is and what brought it about? 
Mojoe is just the outlet that I’m setting up for my immediate family to utilize artistically. There’re a lot of incredible ideas around me. Bringing those ideas together is what Mojoe Music System is about. So whatever it is we like, we’ll be releasing some music for it. The Art Of Ink, is an example…there’s various art projects that are going to be apart of The Art Of Ink idea. Paintings. Photgraphy. A book. It’s fun. Art that’s relevant to what we like and what we’re into. The albums are the soundtrack for that. That’s what Mojoe is.

How has being from Detroit, the city that seems on fire lately in regards to producing quality hip-hop, influenced and helped develop your music and talents to what they are today? 
I couldn’t imagine doing music and not being from Detroit. Not just hip-hop either. Music, period.

Lastly… Do you have any advice for me, being I’m a little nervous about my first tattoo that I’m planning on getting within the next month? 
If you’re nervous about the pain, don’t even trip…it’ll pass. If you’re nervous about committing to having a tattoo, then you might want to wait until you’ve found something you’d be content growing with. Just as a great album has the ability to remain relevant even when the times change, so does a great tattoo.
I want to thank y’all for taking the time out to connect with me. The support means a lot. And the fact that you chose to research my previous work means everything. Holla anytime!