Big Tigga | Interview (2003)

T M H (Josiah): What is it like working at your new radio station Power 105.1 in New York?
Tigger: It’s cool you know what I’m saying. Power 105.1 is only a year old in New York and we are getting our feet together, our structure and our foundation. We are about to bring the heat to the street. We are just offering New Yorkers a real viable, different sound then what they’ve been used to. A little bit different format and focus then what’s been in New York. We just give them another option to hear their favorite music.

T M H (Josiah): And has it been a huge transition between working in D.C. and working in New York?
Tigger: I mean not really; radio is radio most places. I’m from New York, I’m from the Bronx so it’s like being home and D.C. is my second home. It’s just a little different taste in music sometimes and the people are a little different so it’s just a little change. It’s not that big of a deal.

T M H (Josiah): Can you tell me how it was working with R.Kelly on the song “Snake”?
Tigger: I got a call from R.Kelly and he was like I got this song that I want you to be on. I flew to Chicago and he played the beat and I was like “you’re kidding.” He was like yeah Tig go head and do your thing. Layed it down in one night and we just vibed on it for a minute. I’m very happy with the song and the song is just crazy.

T M H (Josiah): Yeah it’s a hot song.
Tigger: We are getting a lot of love on the song and a lot of spins on the radio. So, hopefully they’ll make it the next single and you’ll see me running around the video whilin’ out.

T M H (Josiah): Can we say that this is the first official song that you are on?
Tigger: I had a song on Too Short’s album. I had little skits and things on other people’s album like Redman and O.G.C. But this song right now is absolutely the biggest song. It’s being more recognized. I got a lot of love on the West Coast with the Too Short song. It was me Too Short, the Eastsiders and Cocaine. It was on his “Chase The Cat” album and actually that joint was kind of hot.

T M H (Josiah): Yeah I didn’t get a chance to hear that
Tigger: It was an underground West Coast jump off, but it was hot.

T M H (Josiah): Can you get more in depth with your recording career and the jump off with that?
Tigger: I’m looking to put my album out sometime in the near future. The album is tentatively titled “Tiggernometry.” We are in negotiations with four or five labels right now trying to shop around and find the best situation for me. The R.Kelly song is absolutely helping me. I know I’m going to have a song with Kells; I’m going to have a song with Ginuwine, Lil’ Mo, Fat Joe, Ludacris. I got some heat coming!

T M H (Josiah): Word on the street has it that you have signed with Swizz Beatz and his new label at J Records? Is this true?
Tigger: Yeah, he’s got Full Surface at J Records. Swizz and I have had really great discussions. It might happen but as of right now, Tigger’s not signed anywhere.

T M H (Josiah): Oh so basically he jumped the gun with the news a little too fast?
Tigger: Well I wouldn’t say it was Swizz. It might have been somebody in his office because Swizz and I are really good people and I don’t think Swizz would have did that. But it only takes one mistake along the line to really get the ball to start rolling.

T M H (Josiah): Is there any particular label that you would want to be down with?
Tigger: I just want to be with the label that’s going to offer me the best promotion, the best deal monetarily and the best control over what I want to do. I definitely don’t want to be in a situation where I can’t have input into what I’m doing and how I want things go. Just whatever is the best overall situation is for me.

T M H (Josiah): So you are doing your thing at BET holding it down with Rap City, what else do you have lined up?
Tigger: I have a syndicated radio show called “Big Tigger Live in the Den Countdown” that can be heard. We’ve already signed up 30 cities, with 6 of them being in the top ten markets in the country. I started doing another show in Miami. I do middays 10am-3pm on 105.3, The Beat in Miami that comes on Mon-Fri.

T M H (Josiah): Do you fly down all the time to Miami?
Tigger: It’s back and forth. Sometimes I satellite in New York, sometimes I satellite in Miami. That’s a great balance for me.

T M H (Josiah): Definitely.
T M H (Josiah): I remember before you came to New York to do radio, you and Star from Hot 97 got into a little beef. What was that all about?
Tigger: Actually, that was just Star doing what he does, and he was hating on BET. And one time Star and I had a heated discussion on the radio, but ever since him and I have squashed it. He’s come up to me and said, “yo I really appreciate what you do.” But that’s what I do, I heal people.

T M H (Josiah): What is Tigger playing in his car right now?
Tigger: Tigger is still playing my Rapheel Sadiq album. I’m playing Vivian Green, Fabolous, Lil’Kim, the Roots, and of course 50 cent.

T M H (Josiah): Even though the subject is kind of old, do you have any comments towards the Benzino vs. Eminem beef?
Tigger: I think Benzino made some good points, and Eminem made some great points. I think everybody is basically entitled to his or her own opinion. It’s America and you are allowed to say what you want to say. If you have an opinion and you have an outlet to voice your opinion, you can do what you want to do. Somehow along the way you disliking or not agreeing with somebody makes you a hater or that you are hating on them. Just because I don’t like somebody that doesn’t make me a hater. It’s my opinion. If you don’t like a song or somebody’s style and music, it doesn’t make you a hater necessarily that just means you don’t like it. Somebody’s who is a hater just hates for no reason.

T M H (Josiah): Do you have any take on the divas that are struggling for sales right now, for example Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston?
Tigger: Not really, but I just think that good music is good music. 50 proved that. He wasn’t a really big artist. He’s hungry; he went after the streets and generated a following for himself. He’s multi-platinum now and the bottom line is if you make good music and there’s a buzz about you, you are going to sell. Not to take anything away from any of the bigger artist, but some of them due to their success may not be as hungry. 50 was like I ain’t got nothing else to do. This is what God put me here to do, and after getting shot 9 times I’m still here. So I definitely respect him and I respect artists for their input in the music game. But good music is going to sell. R.Kelly amongst his problems still sold 1 million albums in three weeks. And I mean his album is bananas!!

T M H (Josiah): Yeah, definitely. Chocolate Factory is a classic hands down.
Tigger: People are trying not to admit it, but people are really listening to the R.Kelly album.

T M H (Josiah): So is there anything else we can look out for concerning Tigger?
Tigger (Josiah): My foundation, which is a charitable foundation, is called the Street Corner Foundation. We’re raising money to help prevent HIV and AIDS through education. We also want to generate some literacy and self-esteem programs in the hood. I grew up in the Bronx and I know what it’s like to grow up with nothing to do. Any help you can give to a young person is a great benefit. This is my second year doing the Big Tigger Celebrity Classic. It’s going to be in Washington, D.C. June 27-29th. There is a basketball game, a sports clinic; there is a panel for sports, and different well-known music people. Oh, and of course there is partying. If anyone wants more information they can go to www.bigtigweekend.com.

T M H (Josiah): If you had to re-locate to a stranded island and take any three females with you, whom would you pick?
Tigger: Lil’ Kim, Serena Williams and Gabrielle Union.

T M H (Josiah): Along with those three women, if you were to pair each one with a CD, which three CD’s would you also take along?
Tigger: The Chocolate Factory, The Best of Sade and the Best of Prince.

T M H (Josiah): Do you have any last words for your fans?
Tigger: To anybody who’s ever supported me I just want to thank you for your support. I’m really clear on the fact that without them I wouldn’t be here. Part of the reason that I’m trying to give back to my community is because of the fans. That’s mostly what my foundation is about. I just want the fans to continue to support me and show me L-O-V-E.