I recently had the chance to sit down with an unknown artist currently making some noise in the underground. Spudz is a rapper from MI currently running with Sinister Sounds Entertainment and just released his debut album “Dog Sh*t on the Timbos” 2/2/2018.
To start this off, I want to give our readers the chance to know and understand Spudz. Many of them have probably not heard of you before… so who the fuck are you???
I go by Spudz Medicated Mike, a lot of people just call me Spudz. I am currently living in Auburn Hills Michigan, that’s where I’ve lived most my life but I’ve lived in a lot of different places in Michigan. Met tons of different types of people or found myself in different scenarios and situations. I rep all of Michigan as my home I guess is what I’m saying.
That’s what’s up. Mad love out in The Mitten. Tell me about your name though. It’s unique in its own way. How’d you land on using that as your stage name?
The name Spudz came about when my grandpa passed away. He had a heart attack when I was about 14 n he used to call me Spudz as a baby/toddler. Not sure if it was cause I looked like a potato or the Budweiser beer dog from back then, maybe both, I don’t know, but yea anyways he had a heart attack n was on life support n the family decided we had to pull the plug because he would never be himself again if he lived due to the effects of it they said he’d pretty much be a vegetable so I took the name and ran with it and it stuck.
That’s a hell of a way to honor him and keep his memory alive. Now anyone that knows your music, knows you by the name he gave you. One of the dopest stories behind an artists name I’ve ever heard. While we’re on the topic of family, how’s your family respond to your music?
Family says they like my music, I never hear any of them bumping it but I never really cared if they did or didn’t. If they say they like it then it doesn’t mean to much to me because most close friends n family are always gonna say yer great even if you suck.
That’s so true, people telling you they love it because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. I personally hate that shit, but it is what it is. And I know getting that criticism can be rough sometimes too, but that comes with the territory. When you decide to go after that dream, you gotta expect to catch some hate. Tell me tho, in the very beginning, what made you pick up that mic and start writing?
Honestly I went thru diff waves as far as what made me wanna rap. I started writing short stories as a kid then at sum point DMX ann Eminem caught my eye and I was like I could do stories in rhyme form to a beat, I was horrible then lol. Then I went to a darker genre of music in my mid teens, ICP & Twiztid. I loved their creativity to do something different. Now I listen to just about everything but a lot of that inspired me to wanna rap
I love how you named 4 artists and 3 of them are from Detroit. Tell me more about those early days. How did you find it in you to fine tune your craft into what it is today?
My biggest influences back in the day besides what I’ve already mentioned is probably the people I grew up rapping with. Sik Mindz is a group with myself and 2 friends of mine Burt Blaze and Drone (RIP) we lost him in 2015. They, among others, played a big part in influencing me. Every time I wrote a rap or a punchline or anything really I was always trying to impress them n see their face when I came up with something clever or off the wall. Almost like a friendly competition between us all.
It can definitely be a competition to outdo each other, pushing each other to be the best they can be. I know it had to be painful losing a close friend that was such a big part of this with you. So if you had the chance, to collaborate with any artist alive or dead, who would it be?
I would most definitely collaborate with Drone again if I could somehow bring him back from the dead and just make one last song n talk to my friend again. We grew up together since we were 4 years old and to see him again and make one more song would be something I would hold onto and add to the memories. As far as alive artists there are to many to name off that I would love to collaborate with. I don’t have a favorite anymore because there are so many different types of styles and sounds out there it’s hard for me to pin point who I’d call a favorite. Bring them all on I’ll fucking collaborate with whoever has a dope beat lol
I like that answer. Bring your man back. I can tell your family and friends mean a lot to you. It’s so important to maintain those relationships. What I’m dying to know tho… is there a deeper name to the album title? Or is it literally about stepping in dog shit?
The name Dog Shit on the Timbos is not what people think, unless they think outside the box. Most people might think oh he’s trying to be funny with that and in a small way they’re right. The main reason fit called it that is because I feel like in life there are things that happen that that you weren’t expecting. Obstacles get thrown at you and you have to adapt to the situation. Nobody goes outside and just says ‘man I’m bout to go step in dog shit today’ but hey….it happens. Shit happens.
I gotta tell you, after listening to the album I definitely feel that. You put a lot of real life shit in this and it’s on that deeper level most people can relate to. One of my favorite tracks is “Like A Manaic”…. do you feel like a maniac right now? lol
I always feel like a maniac lol if I could do to people half the shit I think in my head, I would be in prison or gone. I love and I hate people, they drive me nuts. I have learned over the years how to adapt to whatever type of person I come in contact with lol but I’m only human. I have my limits n some people do rub me the wrong way. It is what it is
So what it is about DSOTT that is different than your past projects or mixtapes?
This project is different in the sense that I have actually put time and my own personal life into songs on it. In the past I made songs to just make a song. This time it was a goal to finish something and put it all together and not stop until it was done. I’m usually not so organized but I was pushed. Burt Blaze pushed me, Sinister Sounds had my back throughout the process and I needed that. It’s like if your a boxer or a cage fighter u have coaches n they push u to strive to be better. Same thing
It’s always good to have people in your corner to keep you motivated. You mentioned “making songs just to make a song”, if not just making music to keep busy, what are you setting out to do when you start writing or recording?
My objective has changed over the years. I used to focus on punchlines and wordplay and so much technical bullshit like that. I found myself having a hard time always trying to make music like that. I’ve learned to focus on making good music. If it’s real then people will like it, if it’s catchy or funny then people will like it. I still lace my punchlines and wordplay in, but now I’m focused more on the finished song as a whole.
That’s whats up, you know music is an art and if you’re only ever focused on the technicalities you won’t leave room for who you are to shine through. A lot of independent artists are starting their own labels instead of striving to get noticed by a major and signed. Which would you choose?
Why not do both? Lol if you get signed then build your own shit on the side, as long as u don’t get caught up in some fucked up contract. Maybe we build Sinister Sounds upa dn take it to the top. You can never really tell what the future holds.
No doubt. A lot of artists have used their time on bigger labels to create a buzz for when they start their own. Gotta be open and flexible in the industry because it’s always changing and insanely competitive. That being said, as tough as breaking into music can be, how do you stay motivated to keep doing it?
I will probably always do music til the day I die. It’s no longer just this hobby or some crazy super star dream. Fuck all that. When it comes down to it this is something I’ll always do because it’s like therapy to me. If I’m mad, angry, sad or whatever the mood. Music helps me not kill people haha. If I sit down and write about whatever’s going on in my life then I feel like I got some weight off my chest. I could even be in a good ass mood and write a dope song. That’s motivation enough for me. It’s a way of clearing my head.
So it sounds like you’ve been at this a while, from your perspective how has the industry changed since you first started?
Shit when I first started word of mouth was the only way you got your music around. I think social media had just started buzzing a little bit but for me passing out CDs was how u did it. Social media is this wider platform and if you know how to use it then it will help in a major way. Not gonna lie though, I still like the good old fashion way where you pass CDs out hand to hand. I think it connects a person to the music, instead of some vague entity online. But times change and artists have to adapt. Out with the old and in with the new, I’m still throwing CDs though. lol
Kinda like your song Old School “Imma keep it old school, rollin with the old school” lol, but with all the resources artists have available to them now that didn’t exist a few years ago, do you think it’s a better time to be coming up?
I’m not sure to be honest. Part of me says ya know shit might of been easier in the past if I had the knowledge I have now and went back. Which, by the way, time travel will be invented by 2028 LMAO. On the other hand it’s a lot more ways to do things in this time to make life easier. I’m torn on by the question lol. So I guess it’s best to just live in the present and keep on keepin on.
That’s true, live for the now. A lot of purist artists have reverted to retro equipment to give an authentic old school sound to the music. DO you feel that technology is helping or hurting the industry?
In the industry the technology has absolutely got way better. These beats are crazy now with all these different instruments, producing, mixing and mastering is off the chain. Promoting is even easier…..but what bothers me is it seems rappers have got lazier with the lyrics. There are a lot of super dope artists out here still but a lot of lazy ones too. “Lil” whoever out there acting like the lyrics don’t matter. It’s just some bullshit on a sick beat and no real emotion or meaning to the song. As I said, times change. There are so many artists out now you just got to look for what you like.
I definitely feel that. Those “Lil” rappers wouldn’t be shit without computers and auto tune. Let one of them try and drop something on a four track and see how fucked up it gets LMAO. That’s about all I got, it was definitely real as fuck kicking it with you. I like to end these on a lighter note, so as a joke… boxers or briefs?
Damn… boxers fosho! I can’t have my package just all confined n shit. I gotta have mine free like free Willy. Maybe when I’m 60 or 70 years old tho I might need them briefs so shit ain’t swinging to low down to my knees lmao
hahaha
I hope you all enjoyed getting to know Spudz as much as I did. His album “Dog Sh*t on the Timbos” is available now at:
http://sinistersounds.bandcamp.com/album/dog-sh-t-on-the-timbos
Keep with everything Sinister Sounds Entertainment is doing at:
http://www.facebook.com/sinistersoundsent
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