Sunni Ali Interview 2008. This interview was taken before the release of Sunni Ali's hit album "Bargaining Chip" hosted by Dj Moe1. This is another KALASOL.COM Exclusive
(Kalasol.com Staff Writer)
Sunni Ali is truly the lost treasure! admist the garbage and fake bling of todays industry, studio gansters, thugs with about as much street cred as a pre-k student the "truth" is Sunni Ali. Each line , each heart felt metaphor, each "yea" shoots straight to the heart of the listener. Sunni Ali can lift his voice to sing (saaang) but currently is sannnga' turned rapper.Don't get it twisted Sunni Ali doesn't miss a beat. Sunni is the future...his work ethic..his God given talent...and his street knowledge all combine to give the bay area something worth being proud of , something more. The"Bargaining Chip" is his best work to date. We caught up with Sunni (after several missed phone attempts...Sunni is dealing with the stress of his new release by ryding through his murda dubbs his hood (the 20's in Oakland) and rounding up the local troops, making guest apperances on all the turf spots .We talked to Sunni right before the release of this soon to be legendary album.
From the moment I spoke with Sunni Ali for the first time, I knew that this man was a cut above the rest. His voice, his fast pace, just he persona…, he blew my mind. The first thing that he said to me was that he was a singer…he didn’t second guess or stammer…he said it with confidence. This man’s voice whether talkin’, singin’ or rappin’ is extraordinary. As you will see from this interview…the boy got swagger and I know that he is goin’ to make a huge impact on this game.
Kalasol.com
How long have u been doing music?
I have been singing since I could talk. I am intimate with music. I speak to different generations of music. Although I’m 28 years old I know my parents’ genre of music. I discovered that I could make my own music when I was 14. Yeah, my potna’s father had a lot of equipment at his and we just started makin’ music. I feel music.
Kalasol.com
What artist influences u?
I would have to say that my biggest influence by far is Tupac Shakur. For awhile that was all that I listened to; Pac and Biggie. That man Tupac was diverse. He was just so raw and he had a message in every song that he made. It was like he had somethin’ for every body. He had somethin’ for yo’ mama to listen to and then he had stuff that you would never want yo’ mama to hear…you know? But he was so real. I listened to a lot of east coast rappers because of my brothers and sisters bein’ the youngest of six I kinda had to.
How will your songs impact the industry/game?
My songs will impact the industry because of regular honesty. I got the ability to be eloquent about my reality. There are a lot of bandwagon rappers in the industry right now that got gimmicks. I can say that my uniqueness is what’s gon’ make my songs impact the game. For example, comin’ up I used to always do things different. If people was wearin’ Jordans I wore brand new Sketchers. When people had gold teeth I made sure my teeth were pearly white. If somebody was wearin’ dreads I went bald. I believe that my uniqueness is what saved me and allowed God to hand pick me out of the other youngtas that was out there rappin’.
Tell me about your childhood?
I came from lovin’ household. The house was filled with love. I was naïve to true circumstance…as grew up exposed to the same world that most people are exposed to. My father suffered from addiction so that was hard to deal with but you know I dealt with it. I started grindin’ and caught my first case when 15 years old. All of brothers and sisters left house since they were older. So I grew up in the Murder Dubs and Rollin’ 20’s so my role models was thugs and killers. The influence in house was not strong enough to keep me out of game. I mean, I was an honor roll student during Jr. High School but that changed when I started hangin’.
Describe your new album…songs...style etc.
My songs got realness to them. I got something for everybody. I got stuff that yo’ mama could listen to. I got that R&B, I got that real. I got raw talent when it comes to writin’. I mean, that’s new for me but I am gifted when it comes to music. I got a certain cockiness about myself. When I changed my life I divorced rap music for a minute because I didn’t like the turn that the rap game had taken by just lettin’ anybody in. Rappers were just sayin’ anything and that was okay. I wasn’t feelin’ that. But I matured as a young man and I was able to put things in perspective and I owe to my children and myself to use my God given talent to make it. So that’s why I turned things around and just started puttin’ my all into my songs.
How long have you been working with Kalasol?
I’ve been knowing Kalasol indirectly since I was like15 or 16. My brother helped raise Kalasol on the street. Since I was the youngest they didn’t take my talent seriously. They didn’t know about my talent that’s been there since I was a ‘lil pup. For me to be getting’ down with them now is confirmation from God and I have been working with Kalasol for about 2 ½ years now. I love collabin’ with him on a business level. He has so much swagger that I can’t believe it. He exposed me to different entities in the game and showed me how to adapt to different entities. When we was growin’ up you had to be somethin’ to step up to the mic. He gamed me on so much and his work ethic is ridiculous. He be in the studio layin’ song after song. I had to take what Kalasol was doin’ and make that my reality in life. He made me realize that this is what I have to do and it’s not an option. So now I think like this, every moment that I’m not in the studio somebody else is. Now my work ethic is up to par. I gotta compete with that artist that is out there tryin’ to get there. I’m participating in my dream now. It’s more than just rap. It’s bein’ out there; sittin’ down to do interviews…you know like now (we laugh because he has put me on hold a couple of times to answer his cell, talked to people passin’ by him and just been busy durin’ our interview.)
Any political views?
Yeah, I’m biased because Barack Obama is Black. I’m voting for Barack because when I look at other candidates like McCain all I see is his military background. It’s like he would take the baton from Bush and immediately run with it therefore the country would be more militaristic. We definitely don’t need somebody whose is focused on what he’s good at and that’s war. We already out here suffering. Barack has the proper sensitivity to get grass root with American people and humble enough to take what he gets from the people and change America.
Who do you think you sound similar too that is already in the industry?
Anybody who has a gift you can see somebody has influenced them. I gotta say Tupac. He was hella raw and I just know if he wouldn’t have gotten killed he woulda put me on. I used to dream about meetin’ him and he woulda wanted to do a song with me. I was hurt when he got killed.
Who would you like to work with/do a song with?
Anybody out there makin’ strides. Luda is always makin’ big strides so the Disturbin’ the Peace Family. Yeah, Ludacris would be humble enough to work with me. I feel that. Rick Ross’ album is so stickin’. He is a Cartel boss Miami cat. I definitely see that Tupac influenced him. Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West. But if it’s one cat, I would say Rick Ross. He is hot right now.
What do you want your fan base to know about you?
I have a genuineness about me, and I’m not just a run of the mill person that doesn’t have a place in the real world. I was robbin’ and stealin’, on drugs, incarcerated and a young father. But I was able to transcend that and I’m somebody that they can reach out and touch. I want my folks to know if I’m makin’ my dreams a reality that they can too. I came from the worst scenario in life and transcended it.
