Interview with TS.streetz – Music, Movies, and Hip Hop In Columbia, South Carolina

Start from the beginning. Tell the people who you are, where you’re from, and what style of music you create.

Well its TS.streetz. I am from Columbia, SC. I am a hip hop/rap artist.

What is the scene like your in your area?

The scene here in Columbia is honestly a tight one. I mean, we have a huge talent pool to choose from down here,but from what I see and hear if your not in the good graces of the right people you are just another artist stuck in that pool of talent. So a big trend with Carolina artists is moving away from here to get more exposure. So I just choose to keep to myself.

How did growing up without being allowed to listen to rap music affect your relationship with the genre?

Honestly not being able to listen to rap helped me because I wasn’t trying to mimic someone else. I was forced to have “closed ears” so I didn’t know what people wanted to hear or what they wanted artists to talk about.

I only knew that I could rhyme words and there was alot of different ways to do it. I think when I started to listen to rap it really took me back because I started hearing what was hot, I really lost my self trying to get people to listen by rapping/freestyling about what they wanted to hear for awhile.

When did you decide you wanted to walk down this path known as music? What motivates you and inspires you to keep going?

I knew I wanted to do music at a young age and I started battling over rap forums on the internet. Then I began recording at my home studio. I started doing freestyles and remixes and realized that people do appreciate underground hip hop and rap.

Honestly, now, what inspires me and motivates me is a realistic approach in music and the freedom. I stopped rapping after 07 and just played with the idea last year. Now I’m pretty serious about it but I refuse to do what’s HOT I just wanna make the music I want to make. I’ve out grown the stage of doing what everyone else is doing, I love the fact that I can do what I wanna do and say what I want to say musically and my few fans that I have are loyal and real fans of My Music they’ll understand and appreciate that.

What other artists and/or producers are you currently working with?

Im pretty much open to work with anyone!

Producers:

Tennessee’s very on prollematic – Soundcloud | Facebook
4-5 productions

Artists:

And I got some other people I am trying to reach out too, hopefully I can get the opportunity to work with them.

How much has the Internet and Social Media helped you get your music to fans? Does it help you connect with new ones?

Mane it helps, alot. But it has its advantages and disadvantages. Like in 07 I was huge on soundclick. Wayne dropped fireman,I dropped a freestyle the next day got a bunch of plays then soundclick deleted it. Like alot of sites are cracking down on these remixes and freestyles now so it definitely helps sometimes.

For me, blogging worked the best, because if you type in tsstreetz in anything your going to find ME and only me on every site that I have. That’s how alot of producers find me. Plus it forces me to keep recording music,staying relevant to my fans and it also forces me to actually bring more visuals (videos and photoshoots) to my fans so everyone can see that I’m on top of my game.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

Bruh, I can’t even speculate anything in five years. I can say for me this year the goal is to have 500 loyal fans,do more movies,more videos,more interviews and shows. I’m trying to be on stage at the next Middle Tennessee Hip Hop festival or show. But my main goal for me is to sit down and complete a finished project, establish myself as a writer and to get paid for my craft honestly. I just wanna see my hard work make a profit.

Goal noted. Where do you think the rap game will be in 5 years?

You know… I hear everyone say hip hop is dead and I laugh because it’s funny how fans and artists don’t realize how the game has “evolved”.

I was rapping back when real artist freestyled and rapped about what was going on around them and about the day to day struggles. Major artists did the same back then and now the game has evolved to where the indie and underground artists are gaining a huge fanbase and push because that’s what people want to hear. They are moving major label units thanks to the internet, social media and music PR.

So from now till 5 years down the road hip hop is being based around indie and underground artists.

What’s the name of your album? Where can people find you?

Im working on brand new material as we speak, but I don’t have a name for it. I started the “anti gravity mixtape” which is a jacking of beats type project but i recently decided to just put all the freestyles out and just let my fans take the songs they like and vibe to it.

You can find me at

And now here.

Any last words or shout outs?

Yea first I’d like to thank Middle Tennessee Music for taking the time out to play my music and interview me. Im looking forward to working with yall in the future.

To my fans I appreciate yall listening and supporting me! check out the movie Money, Power and Fame that im in also!

S/o to Middle Tennessee Music, my fans and everyone that works with me on this music thang. I apprecieate it ya’ll! FWM!!!

Money, Power, Fame (full movie)

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