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Interview
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Big Sup, Supa, or
Supa Best is a name that rings terror on the battle scene in LA,
a fearless challenger, Big Sup has battled and beaten a number
of artists in the game right now, most notable one was his
classmate at that time, Techniec from Tha Dogg Pound click, who
equally was also notorious at that time in the game. Coming out
of the West Coast Killa Beez, Black Ball'd and Committee camp,
Big Supa hails from North Long Beach, California and grew up
with the Black Knights and like most teens in his earlier days
was involved in so many things, from the rap game to the street
hustle, the street lifestyle almost got him killed as he was
shoot about 5 times around 2000. Coming out of hospital after
the shooting, Big Sup kept a low profile and got back on with
the Black Knights and on the very day the Knights recorded "Killa
Cal Lifestyle" Big Sup was in the studio with the Knights, Snoop
Dogg, 2Pac, Outlawz and more, and he promised himself and others
to take the rap game seriously. Rugged Monk asked him to spit
and he delivered and have never looked back after that as Monk
and Crisis got him initiated into Black Ball'd movement and the
Killa Bee Gang.
Big Sup has gone
to release a number of underground albums "Supa: The Long Beach
Pusha" and last years "8 Dayz A Week" which were critically
acclaimed with versatile topics and songs covering every thing
about his life, the streets, gangs, battling rhymes as well as
something for the ladies, club scene and social and political
topics. He is now currently working on a major release planned
for end of the year or early next year titled "Bigger than what
you thought" as well as other side projects, collaborations and
shows. Wu-International caught up with him early this year as
part of the West Coast Killa Beez serires to find out what makes
him thick, what it takes to be part of the Killa Beez, his
history with the Committee, Black Knights, the battle field, and
much more..... Enjoy!! |
I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-International: Peace Supa, how are you?
Big Supa:
I’m good, just been doing a lot of shows, got a show with
Suga Free on the 24th of January, had a show with Killah
Priest, KGB show at the Playboy Mansion over Christmas, its
all been really good though.
Wu-International: Please introduce yourself to the
fans?
Big Supa: I am Supa from Homicidal Committee, North
Long Beach, California, born and raised. Rep the Westcoast
Killa Beez, Homicidal Committee and Black Ball
Entertainment.
Wu-International: How did your name Big Supa come
about?
Big Supa:
My nick-name growing up was Superman, as I am super in
anything I do, but the name superman is already published
and all over the place so I just made it to Big Sup, Supa,
and Big Supa.
Wu-International: Thanks, Not much is known about the
Homicidal Committee, could you please tell us more about
your group, and how it came about?
Big Supa: HC is a large family, we all grew up
together and got into music together with Black Knights.
Knights got with the Northstar and had their break around
’98 with the Wu. We are very close with the knights,
basically like family, and we all had that sick flows, raw
spits, metaphors etc so it was only right they got us on
when the the time was right, you can compare us to like say
the Wu but on the Westcoast, know what I am saying?
Wu-International: So what's the Committee's full line
up?
Big Supa:
There are four main members of the original group right now,
I branched off as a solo artist. Knights are part of the
group, so you got the Rugged Monk, Crisis The Sharp Shooter,
Arsenal, and Arsenist and then there is me, Big Sup, I am still part of
the Committee collective though, and you got Whyte mike, Lou (Lou-U) and it
goes further to Big Ice, Fat Ice, Lil Dick, there are a lot
more of us, I can continue to go on {Laughs}
Wu-International: You said you left Committee to go
solo, any reason why?
Big Supa:
I am still part of the HC, but mostly as a contributor now,
you know how groups are, you got to share the money,
everybody has to be on time on shows, studio, but when it’s
just you, and it’s up to you to deal with your
responsibilities, as in getting to studio or shows on time
and all that.
Wu-International: So is the collective still
functioning as a group or is everyone scattered about doing
their own thing?
Big Supa:
The group's still together, we just did the playboy mansion
show on the 31st December, we rocked that mothafucka.
Wu-International:
Cool, does the group have
any materials out?
Big Supa:
Well we got things out,
me personally I got 2 songs off the movie score “The Last
Score” premiered in Europe, The committee have features on a
number of coming projects, one’s on a movie soundtrack I
have forgotten the name of it featuring Black Knight on the
song. We are looking to drop a Committee album once the time
is right, we will be on the Black Knight’s album “All Skillz,
No Luck”. We got a lot of shit around, it’s all good, and I
got 2 albums under my belt.
Wu-International: 2 albums?
Big Supa:
Yes, I dropped “8 Dayz A Week” last year, and the year
before that I had “Supa the Long Beach Pusha” which is also
a nick I go by. All underground releases and I am working on
a mainstream album I am looking to drop this year called
“Bigger than what you thought”.
Wu-International: Were these albums received well by
the fans or on the streets and more importantly how can the
fans especially especially those in Europe and other parts
of US get hold of it?
Big Supa:
The albums are really
popping out here on the underground, fans out in Cali can
get it on the streets, others can hit me up on MySpace with
their address, or store and how many they want and I will
send it to them, I got a PayPal account too.
Wu-International: You also mentioned featuring on the
Black Knights “All Skillz, No Luck” album, do you know when
it’s coming out?
Big Supa:
Well they keep pushing it
back, there is very little I can say about the album right
now so as not to spill the beans, but they got hot songs on
the album, they got RZA, WC, Killa Beez, they got hot heat
coming for the streets, the album is going do real good, and
they are coming with a real positive message too for the
youths.
Wu-International: So how has it been then as a solo
artists away from HC?
Big Supa:
it's been good, see I just did a 157 shows last year, and so
far this year I have done 3 shows and its just early January
still {Laughs} shows with Wu members, Killah Priest, Jayo
Felony, Bubba Spaxxx, Markus Houston, Suga Free, Ja Rule….
Basically a whole bunch of people.
Wu-International: Show’s a great way of getting your
name out there.
Big Supa:
Exactly, its going to be a good year, they are going to love
Big Supa, they are loving me right now. I got videos on
YouTube I want fans to check out, "Big Supa Westcoast Killa
Beez, check out Calizonia part 1-3", I got all kind of stuff
in there, I also had a video that was on there that was
bumping in Europe, Asia and it was being used in Cuba, I
ended up taking that off of YouTube as people were using it
without authorization.
Wu-International: Cool stuff, so you are signed under
Black Ball Entertainment?
Big Supa:
Yes, I am a lil’ beast and we are all workaholic; I am the
hardest working artist on that label though.
Wu-International: Who else is on that label with you?
Big Supa:
We got Black Knights, The
Committee, Indovizuals, Stone Mecca, The first lady of Black
Ball, Lou-U and basically that’s it.
Wu-International: Thanks, so apart from being the
hardest working bee in the label, how do you stand out from
the rest member of the group?
Big Supa:
Ok, well me, I am like the party animal, I got the sick
flows, lyrically I write my own songs, know what I am sayin?
I know what the kids want, what the ladies like, and what
the clubs like, I am coming from every angle. I make you
rewind the song like ”what the hell did he just say?” like
“did he just say that?” I am not afraid to take it to the
limit, you feel me?
As far as battling go within or out the camp, lets just say
at Rock the Bells show 3 years ago, I battled like 500 – 600
MCs and eat them all up.
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Wu-International:
That’s crazy, so is battling your strongest point?
Big Supa: I’m an artist, period! I’m a song writer, I
write about love, eating emcees alive, that club
bangers that makes you want to shake your ass too,
then I got that raw ‘n uncut, everything for
everybody really, you feel me?
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Wu-International: Alright, so how does it
feel being part of hip-hop’s royal family and
possibly the most influential and respected family
in the game?
Big Supa:
I love it, I love
being part of that history, part of that tree that’s
my Westcoast Killa Beez, my squad, my family, Black
ball, We are going to be the next thing, bigger than
Cash Money {Laughs}, we definitely got what it takes
Wu-International: Do you build with Beez over the
Westcoast occasionally?
Big Supa:
Killah Priest’s my man,
we kick it with The Abbott, RZA be with us all the time out
here doing shows, GZA the Genius, that’s my nigga. We
connect with the rest too, I mean we are all one unit,
everyone under that wing, just like I wont let anyone
disrespect Black Ball, I wont let anyone disrespect the Wu.
Its all one love, know what I am sayin?
Wu-International: Asked everyone else this question
but also wanted your view on it, what does it take to be
part of the Westcoast Killa Beez?
Big Supa: well its all skills, no luck, you feel me?
You got to do your research, study, Mathematics, know what
I’m sayin? There is nobody weak in the cipher, you got to
have what it takes, lyrically and more so nobody out there
can trample over you, be strong with roots on the ground.
Wu-International: We have been trying to interview
some of the women in the KBG for a while especially as they
are underrepresented within your camp?
Big Supa: As far as the squad goes, we got Poison Ivy
from Indovizuals, we got our girls from Stone Mecca, they
got way too many talents in Stone Mecca, then we got The
First Lady of Black Ball, and she’s like real vicious and
vocal on the lyrical level. Its really not about males and
females, it’s about who got talents and skills to take it to
that other level and perform under pressure.
Wu-International: Someone else we have also been
trying to get hold of for this interview is The Holocaust (Warcloud)
Big Supa: Well yeah I bump into Holocaust every now
and then, but I mostly run with Rugged Monk, Crisis, the
current Black Knights right now, know what I am sayin?
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, Let’s
talk more about you, how did you fall into your respective
craft?
Big Supa:
I have been rapping since I was in elementary , I used to go
by my real name which was Marky, and growing up in the 80’s
I put the D as the last of my name like Marky D {Laughs}.
As a youth growing up I used to be in freestyles circles
sharpening up my skills.
I was always involved with hip-hop but what really got me
focused was when I went to a party and battled Techniec and
ate him up.
Wu-International: Techniec from the Dogg Pound?
Big Supa:
Yes, Techniec from Tha
Dogg Pound set, I battled and beat him around ’96 or 97,
somewhere in between, we were both in the same school.
Wu-International: That's heavy, I always thought
Techniec and Crooked I were monsters as far as battle raps
go, anyway let’s get back to your released albums,why have
you called your second album "8 Dayz a week"?
Big Supa:
Because we do so much in a week and we need an extra day
{Laughs}
Wu-International: Please tell us more?
Big Supa: I have my boy Rugged Monk and Eternal on
there, Relik did some of the hot beats, I had LA Parle, he
came through with his soul, he got that Marvin Gaye/Ron
Isley flow, then I got my boy Triple B, out in O.C,
Caucasian cat with oil voice like Jon B. Album did good, the
2 joints used on “The Score” soundtrack was taken from this
album also.
Wu-International: and your first album?
Big Supa:
Oh yeah, "Supa The Long Beach Pusha" was more raw,
lyrically, and gangster, it was my introduction to the game,
and I didn’t come with a picture like the 2nd album where
you have a picture of me by the Benz standing next to the
door, this had a picture of a brick wall, pit-bull face, a
dude hiding behind the building with police looking for him,
a bag full of money, a mic and a dynamite stick. It was all
illustrated by my boy Hybred. This album was breaking me out
of that battle rap stage, so I came sick with it, battle
raps, gangster raps and maybe a song for the ladies on
there, but it was more focused on the fellas and a point of
view of where I came from, North Long Beach, where I grew up
from, the crime, drug selling, hustling, the gang banging
and so on.
Wu-International: We don’t have any of this albums
listed on our site, please send us full track lists and
album cover so we can update our site when you have the
time?
Big Supa:
No doubt
Wu-International: You done songs yet with just you
and The RZA?
Big Supa:
Unfortunately I have not
done that yet. Hopefully soon.
Wu-International: Ok, anyone else you might be
interested in working with?
Big Supa:
I like to collaborate with R. Kelly, probably Young Jeezy,
Akon, Jay-Z maybe.
Wu-International: So you said you are currently
working on another album?
Big Supa:
Yes, it’s called “Bigger than what you thought” I plan on
dropping that a little bit before summer. Got some hot songs
already for this project, got Jayo Felony, Lil’ Half Dead
from Tha Dogg Pound, Killah Priest , The Knights and Black
Ball fam up there too.
Wu-International: who would you say were your
influences growing up in the game?
Big Supa:
I grew up on the X-Clan, Geto Boyz, Ice Cube, NWA, Snoop,
Dogg Pound, Ice T, Dre, Easy E, Rakim, Prince Rakeem, KRS-One,
my biggest influence have to be 2Pac and Biggie though.
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Wu-International: What’s Big Supa’s creative process
like, how do you approach a song?
Big Supa: I start off with getting my blow
{Laugh} I got to get zoned out, you fee me? Once I am in the
zone then I am good to go, I usually work late night hours
or early in the morning, I need beats too, I got my boy
Whyte mike from H.C. who makes a lot of the beats for us
also gets me started, matter of fact he made a lot of hot
beats for my first album and this current one I am working
on. He’s beats are like that of Dr. Dre.
Wu-International:
The Westcoast is always battling for recognition from its
Eastcoast counterparts, how would you say you differ from
the West to the East? |
Big Supa:
There’s not really a
difference, the rap game is not just how you sound, if you
can move the crowd physically or lyrically then you done
your job. We don’t rock skinny jeans over here though
{Laughs} we taking it back to the era where it’s like music
for the soul, you feel me?
Wu-International: Can you please tell us more about
the show you all had at the playboy mansion over the New
Year celebration?
Big Supa:
{Laughs} it was off the
chain, they were a lot of hot girls on there. it was a
lifelong experience, what tripped me out though and made me
feel good about the whole Black Ball, Westcoast Killa Beez
movement was that we were there with established artists
like Bubba Sparxxx, Ja Rule etc and out of all the groups,
we had the whole playboy mansion, Halloween party focused
and jumping, we rocked it and after we got off stage and
everybody was shook, so when it was time for Bubba and later
Ja to perform the crowd were not into it half the time as we
rocked it the hardest. The rest couldn’t match up {Laughs}
Wu-International: That’s crazy; you should
bring that vibe down to Europe and other parts of the
states.
Big Supa:
Whenever you know, if anyone can set it up, get us out in
Europe or wherever you want us and babe, I am out there. I
am looking to hit Europe this year though especially as last
year was rough for me and I need that break.
Wu-International: Rough year as with the shows?
Big Supa:
Nah, I meant like 2008, I
lost like 4 family members around the same time, my close
aunty and uncle, grand aunt and I also lost a baby too.
There was Nate Dogg who I am related to, he went through his
little problems but he is recovering.
Wu-International: Sorry to hear that, speaking of
losses, how close were you to Doc Doom?
Big Supa:
Oh yeah, Doc Doom rest in peace, that’s my boy right there,
to me he was the hottest on the m.i.c, ever! He was the
hardest on there. The haters that did it are not going to
have a good look, know what I’m sayin? I went to my boy’s
funeral and all that and it hurt me a lot. I represent Doom
every day, the Wu shirt I had on in the picture of my 2nd
album has rest in peace Doc Doom in the middle.
Wu-International: A great loss indeed,
Ok, so rounding up, any last words for the fans, shout outs?
Big Supa: I
like to thank God for giving me this responsibility to do
what I like, like to thank Wu-International for the
opportunity to talk to the fans and for those in the game,
all that hard work you are throwing out there you have to
believe in it to make it work. For the fans in Europe, I got
this phrase I use called “crackle bubble” it means it’s
popping, it’s all good, a celebration, everybody is cool, so
crackle bubble to the fans {Laughs}. That same phrase
“crackle” can also mean female {Laughs} so when I say this
is my crackle right here I mean this is my girl, the music
is my girl. Crackle Bubble!!!
Wu-International: How do the fans get hold of you?
Big Supa:
They can get hold of me on MySpace but also if they request
for my number please also pass it on.
Catch up with Big Supa
http://www.myspace.com/longbeachpusher
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#3 [Northstar] -
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#4 [Indovizualz] -
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#5 [Dexter Wiggle] -
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#6 [Stone Mecca] -
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#7 [The Committee] -
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#9 [Big Supa] - The Long Beach Pusha Interview
#10 [Yellow Jackets] - Wu-Tang's Yellow Jackets
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#11 [Christ Bearer] -
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BIG SUPA