West-coast emcee DUBB has been in the game for a minute and just keeps on making more and more of an impact on the Hip-Hop scene with his strong and up-lifting messages in his music. He recently sat down with us over at InFlexWeTrust.com to speak on a bunch of different things. DUBB clarified the confusion about him signing to The Game’s Blood Money label along with recently entering fatherhood, where his name came from, his top 5 dead or alive list, the love he gets from his West Coast fans compared to the East Coast fans and much, much more. Click below to check out the full interview with IFWT x DUBB!
IFWT: I know that you’re from South Central, Los Angeles which is the home of some of the most legendary emcees in the game. What inspired you to get involved with the music scene?
DUBB: Well, the things I was going through in my childhood I was just like writing my thoughts down. I didn’t really talk to too many people about what I was going through because I knew that the other kids couldn’t relate. I just started writing it down and it just transformed into rap form. From there on out, I started rapping.
IFWT: From what I hear, South Central is a pretty rough area. What was your childhood like growing up?
DUBB: To speak from my family personally, we just were house to house. We had little to no stability growing up. I look towards music for that reason because I couldn’t really talk to the kids about being homeless or staying in cars and motels. I just talked to my notepad.
IFWT: What inspired you to become a rapper?
DUBB: My childhood played a big part in it. When I was younger, I played ball. My boy Lo Pro, his cousin had a studio and one day he was like, “F*ck it, let’s hit the studio up.” I went that first weekend and in that same weekend, I quit basketball and started rapping. I was 16 at the time. Around 19, I was like, “You know what, I want to do this professionally.” Ever since then, I just started chasing it.
IFWT: Who were some of the main artists that inspired you?
DUBB: Tupac, Jadakiss, Nas, Eminem, Usher. I also love oldies. My pops was an Earth, Wind & Fire fan so I listened to them a lot, too.
IFWT: Where did your name come from?
DUBB: When I first started rapping, my name was Q-Dub. I didn’t like it so I dropped the Q, & then I added the another B. When people were asking me, I was saying a bunch of dumb sh*t like “doubling my money” or some sh*t like that because it didn’t have any real meaning. Then I was like, let me make a meaning behind this and make it something I stand for as an acronym. I kept trying and it kept coming out wack but then I slipped on it one day.
It was “Determined, Unique, Beyond, Belief.”
IFWT: Being that you’re from the West Coast, we know how East Coast vs. West Coast has their rivalry with one another. Explain the difference between your fans out on the West compared to your East Coast fans.
DUBB: I love my city. I’m from LA; I’m from South Central. But I feel like I get love in my city but a lot of people in LA wait until you blow up before they start showing love. In NYC, everyone supports you if you feel like you’re dope. I get so much love from all the big publications. The first day I was out here in NYC, I did more than I did in a whole week in LA from my promo run. Also, you guys have a lot over us when it comes to getting interviews.
IFWT: You’ve had a lot of popular industry people co-signing you including The Game. How did you guys end up linking up?
DUBB: We did a couple of records in 2006. One of those tracks was me, him, Kendrick and a couple other people. We just kept a tight relationship. My boy Gino from Watts actually hooked us up. He died though in a car crash unfortunately. I fell out of contact with him for a couple of years from 2007 until 2014 when we linked back up.
IFWT: A big misconception is that you were signed to The Game’s Blood Money label. Clarify that situation for us.
DUBB: What happened was he kept asking me who I was signed to when we got back in contact and I was like “nobody.” He kept saying, “Man, sign to me. Sign to me.” I told him I really f*cked with him but I wanted to just build and do my own brand. He said it would be easier to do if I was f*cking with him so I told him we’d talk about it but we never ended up talking about it. Then, one morning I woke up and it was just, “Congrats, congrats” all on my text messages. I was confused because I had no idea what happened. Basically, [The Game] said he signed me on Power 106. I went along with the co-sign for awhile because I was already on his album, but I was never signed to him. As time went on, I let people know I was never signed to him to begin with so it’s no point for people to think that. It’s no beef between us; we are perfectly fine. I just wanted to let the people know the truth. I’m still independent and doing everything with my team.
IFWT: What’s the process of you getting a deal. Are you looking or are you content with being independent for the time being?
DUBB: Really, I’m just trying to take it however it comes to me. I’m just going to work hard and put out the best music possible. If a major label is talking the right situation then I’m down for it but if it comes independent and I’m still able to sell out shows and go on tour and sell my merch, then what’s the point?
IFWT: If you could collab with anyone in the world, who would it be?
DUBB: I would have to go with Eminem.
IFWT: Top 5 dead or alive?
DUBB: Pac, Nas, Eminem, Andre 3000 and Jadakiss.
IFWT: Describe your sound in 3 words.
DUBB: Honest, passionate & unique.
IFWT: What makes you unique?
DUBB: I do what I want to do. Most people in the world do what they need validation on. If I think it’s dope, then I’m rocking with it. The LA market is ratchet. My sound is completely different from that, which is a perfect example of how I’m unique from the rest of the West Coast music scene.
IFWT: One of my favorite songs you have is “Q’s Lyric.” I know you just became a father to a beautiful baby girl. What’s fatherhood like?
DUBB: It’s the best thing ever to me. I wanted a boy but when I found out I was having a girl, I kind of put my head down. We were in the ultra sound room and I was like “damn.” When we had her, I was actually happy I had a girl because it slowed me down. It made me want to become a better man. I don’t think it would have had the same effect if it was a boy.
IFWT: Tell us something surprising that nobody knows about you.
DUBB: I’m actually very funny. People look at my Instagram and they listen to my music and think I’m a super serious person but I’m actually very comical. I kind of unleashed that in my interview with Jack Thriller on ThisIs50. We were talking crazy to each other.
IFWT: What’s currently on your playlist.
DUBB: Myself. I listen to oldies but as of lately, it’s just been my project. Honestly, I don’t listen to nobody period unless it’s those top 5 rappers I named or like Usher or some R&B/oldies. I feel like new rap doesn’t have a message or any type of substance. No diss to nobody but it kind of pollutes my soul and my thoughts. I f*ck with Cole, too, because he spits real sh*t and is honest with his lyrics, but I can’t listen to dance and turn up music. Not my thing. I don’t club or drink or smoke so if I ever get big to that point, I rather skip the clubs and go straight to the stadiums and arenas.
IFWT: If you could play one song of yours to win someone over as a fan, what would it be?
DUBB: Right now, I would play “Middle American” because I feel like you can relate on either side. The song is about poverty. Say I’m way richer than you and you’re poor; the average person that’s rich is going to look down on you because you have less money than them. In the song, I’m speaking like we’re all equal. Everybody’s life is at the same value. Also, “Out The Mud” is another good one to check out.
IFWT: What other upcoming projects do you have in the works right now?
DUBB: I just put my Perfect Timing mixtape out on April 21st, my birthday (available on Datpiff for download.) I’m going to ride this out for a minute, but I been in the studio heavy and have some group projects coming out, too. I was also thinking about doing something with Emilio Rojas and Dave East. I also want to put another project out in about 8 months to give this one some time to marinate.
