Under Boss Radio  

Show Notes

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 8/31/2009 1:55 AM UTC

  A New Face of The West
  

  For most people, the image of Compton, California is one of drugs, death, and an overwhelming presence of gang activity.  It is often assumed that, because of the city’s reputation, anything or anyone that comes out of that region is corrupted.  Venus and Serena Williams showed the world that not all Compton natives were violent, destructive people and rap artist Toussaint is yet another one of those diamonds in the rough.  With local rap stars, both past and present, being predominately gangster rappers such as N.W.A., Dj Quik, MC Eiht, and The Game, Toussaint has found a way to break the mold of the stereotypical Compton rapper.  Born in Hollywood hospital and raised his whole life on Compton’s west side, everyone around him knew that it would be only a matter of time before he returned to his original birthplace in tinsel town.  Toussaint’s metaphorical lyrics, paired well with a strong delivery, make him the product of meshing backpack rap with street rap.  Make no mistake there are no bubblegum lyrics or trendy dances attached to his music but it is far from the norm of typical west coast gangster rap.  Toussaint prides himself in his versatile ability to both be lyrical as well as make conceptual songs, a combination that has not been too common among most rappers.  Although he has a different approach, one thing that is not different, Toussaint definitely represents his hometown to the fullest.
  
  When you are a fan of music your whole life, it’s almost natural for you to want to take part in it.  Toussaint felt this way, and learned that it may be a possibility for him in his early high school years.  He tells of discovering his talent, “I had this English teacher in high school.  Every morning for the first ten minutes she used to make us write.  I used to write poetry and read it in class.  People would tell me ‘that sounds like rap’.  My teacher used to tell me I need to do something with my talent.”  The encouragement sparked an interest to dive further into his musical talents.  He began writing raps and freestyling with friends.  He recorded one rap on the voicemail of his cell phone and that’s where people would find out just how gifted Toussaint was.  Virtually every caller would comment on his lyrical voicemail greeting, one in particular being his older brother.  The support from his older brother was all the drive he needed to begin to take rap seriously.  His first songs were recorded on a karaoke machine where he would play the instrumental in cassette deck A while recording on cassette deck B.  Before long, Toussaint was investing money into his craft, paying for studio time to record better quality music.  In 1998, Toussaint and his group at the time, “Bad Habitz”, got their first record deal with Death Row artists, OFTB’s label, Flatbroke records.  Before long the deal fell through and Toussaint and his group went back to recording.  Toussaint was invited to a studio session one night, and joined in a freestyle session.  He later found out that a few of the faces in the crowd were actually A&Rs from Marion “Suge” Knight’s Death Row Label.  Immediately after the session, they spoke with Toussaint about meeting Suge Knight.  Toussaint agreed and went to the Men’s Correctional Facility in San Luis Obispo to talk business with Suge.  It wasn’t but a few days until the paperwork was signed and Toussaint officially became a Death Row artist.  3 Years passed and Toussaint wasn’t happy with his situation.  He left the label and recorded the first installment of his Fix Ya Face Mixtapes.  In the midst of all of the disappointments the music industry handed him, on top of the harsh realities of life in Compton, Toussaint still remained determined.  The mixtape caught the attention of Eran Hayes the CEO of Underrated Entertainment and they quickly came together for a one album recording deal.  With the Underrated name backing him, he dropped Fix Ya Face Vol.2.  During this time he began working on solo projects as well as projects with the Coast Gardz where he and his partners, Killa and Cali Capone, released another six mixtapes and did shows with big name artists from E-40 to Da Brat
   
  Toussaint has recently dropped his third solo mixtape, Fix Ya Face Vol. 3.  He refers to this one as, “the dopest mixtape I’ve ever recorded.”  In addition to his mixtape he is soon to be releasing his album with Cali Capone (the duo is known as TouCali) entitled, “The Product”  Toussaint’s solo song on the album, and his first single, “So Cold (Uugaaa)” produced by Klasic is beginning to get spin on internet and independent radio as well as plays in local parties and clubs.  Be on the look out for his solo debut, “7 Years of Famine” coming to the streets and the internet soon.  Toussaint has come to put the west back on top and is not playing any games.  He is here to tell you that “Recess is over!”
  
  • Tags:
  • indatrench
  • rap
  • hip-hop
  • toussaint
  • holloween 2
  • Permalink