Interview with Lil Wyno of Low Down and Minority Militia

Interview with Lil Wyno of Low Down and Minority Militia

This is the the sixth interview that Boomin' Words From Portsmouth has conducted. For this one, we got in touch with Lil Wyno of Low Down and Minority Militia and thanks go out to Never for setting us up. This interview took place over the course of a few days in April of 2001:

  • Boomin' Words From Portsmouth: 1. How old are you?
    Lil Wyno: 27, 2-11-74.

  • BWFP: 2. When did you start rapping?
    Lil Wyno: Around tha summer of 1989.

  • BWFP: 3. What were you doing before you hooked up with Lowdown?
    Lil Wyno: Well you know, dis ‘n’ dat, until I found somethin in this world that I was good at.

  • BWFP: 4. How/when did you come in contact with lowdown?
    Lil Wyno: I came into contact wit Low Down 2 wayz, my homie Big Vic and my homie Kracc. They both helped me in their own way meet up wit Never One, C.E.O. of Low Town Records, before I knew it I got down wit them on their 2nd Low Down Album, “The Next Episode”, in which I brought my homie Big Wyno a chance of a lifetime and as you can see, the rest is history.

  • BWFP: 5. You mention 2Pac a lot. Is he one of your biggest influences?
    Lil Wyno: Man Cuzz….2Pac to me was like more than just an influence, I mean here is a lil skinny azz locced nigga, dat nobody understood, but loved his music, shit, me, myself, I got every fuccin thang and what bothers me da most is that niggaz like Gay Z, Nas, Mobb Deep, Chino XL, Puffy’s fag boy family, etc., are livin still and talkin shit, so any and every time I get a chance, I feel that I’m supposed to ride for Pac, and if you heard of Lil Wyno, you know I do just that!

  • BWFP: 6. Who were your other influences?
    Lil Wyno: Well 2Pac forever, Brotha Lynch Hung, C-Bo, Richie Rich, N.W.A., Dogg Pound, The Click, Rodney O and Joe Cooley and who ever else made me feel locced.

  • BWFP: 7. Do you feel that there is anyone putting West Coast back on the map since the death of 2pac?
    Lil Wyno: Ya know somethin, I can’t speak for everyone who is supposed to be puttin West Coast on the map, but as for Low Down and the whole Minority Militia Army, we accepted that challenge whether underground, nationwide or worldwide, we’re gonna ride to the end.

  • BWFP: 8. Who do you feel is the most gifted rapper in the whole Lowdown crew?
    Lil Wyno: I really feel like Never One is the most gifted rapper in Low Down because for one he’s a talented Rap artist wit a family, 2 kidz, he also handles all Low Down shit, droppin beats, records all albums, rain or shine, musically inclined, shit, I could go on and on bout Nev cuzz he basically enhanced the bizz for me to understand now and I’m humbly greatful for that.

  • BWFP: 9. Are Baby Wyno and Big Wyno your brothers?
    Lil Wyno: Baby Wyno and Big Wyno are not my real brotherz, but we are Alcoholic Brotherz, and we will continue to be until our next generation of Wyno’s pick up where we left off.

  • BWFP: 10. With all the different producers you have worked with, which one do you think fits your style the most?
    Lil Wyno: That’s easy, Never, although I’ve worked with a lot of niggaz, to me my style is so original if I had to I’d make any situation work cuzz I’m a hungry azz rap artist that’s West Coast Bound.

  • BWFP: 11. What do you enjoy more, working alone or with a group?
    Lil Wyno: Well you probably won’t believe me but I like both cuzz both help me to become more talented in the rap game, which is why everytime you hear me solo or group, I sound betta and betta, cuzz it don’t matter, just as long as I never give up on a jam and accept everything that is asked of me to the “T”.

  • BWFP: 12. Do you find it hard to come up with new lyrics since you have appeared on so many different songs?
    Lil Wyno: Hell naw, I mean I get writer’s block for an hour or two, but never had a problem wit new material, I guess It’s cuzz I’m just so fuccin hungry, in my head I feel it’s on me how my rap career ends up, que no?

  • BWFP: 13. In a lot of your lyrics, you mention East Coast rappers. Why do you dislike the East Coast so much?
    Lil Wyno: I listen to a lot of rapperz and what they say, basically, wit the exception of a few who I can count on my hands all other East Coast Rap and Rappers can “Eat a Dicc and Die”, lyrically...and as I’ve said before, If people like dat type of shit, well move your ass over there and see 4 yourself how much love da West Coast’s got. Like the old sayin goes, It’s a shitty place to visit, so why live there?

  • BWFP: 14. How were the sales of your first cd, "Step Into My World"?
    Lil Wyno: There’s not a lot I can say about the sales of my first album cuzz I played everything by ear and trust, but I think b-cuzz of that album and others, Lil Wyno is now becomin a household name.

  • BWFP: 15. How much imput did you have in terms of beats on your newest cd?
    Lil Wyno: I had input on “Everythang” wit my newest album, “Back With A Vengeance”, from the beats to the cover, the order of my songz, and with the help of Never One A.K.A. Eleven Toez and Dog Day Records, my 2 cents became a reality, I can’t wait until we do it again……(hint..hint..)

  • BWFP: 16. How did you guys choose what songs to put on the new Lowdown Classics cd?
    Lil Wyno: Well, we all had a little somethin to say, and when it was all over it was all up to Nev, and as you can see he did one hell of a job puttin all our inputs together.

  • BWFP: 17. Considering that you work with both Black and Brown artists, what makes up the majority of your fan base, black or brown?
    Lil Wyno: Shit, I don’t give a fucc what color they are, as long as I make them locced, male or female, a fan base don’t mean shit unless my sales suddenly take a drastic plunge, which hopefully won’t happen for a very long time. Basically, I let my music speak for itself.

  • BWFP: 18. How do you feel about people all over the world listening to your music?
    Lil Wyno: It feels fuccin Ghettoriffic, especially when the fan mail from places all over are showin love, shit they don’t have to waste a stamp, paper or their time, but they do, and to me that means the people are checkin our shit out and writin to let us know where they at and that they’re feelin us.

  • BWFP: 19. Working with predominately Norte rappers, do you claim Norte?
    Lil Wyno: Well speakin predominately, I’m a Crip wit the utt-most respect for my Norte folks, makin an alliance, which, as you know is what I bang, and if you don’t...C4 Everywhere I go, North Side til I die, Shotgun Gangsta Crip my ENE and that’s no lie.

  • BWFP: 20. We have heard that you left Federal Records. Did you leave under bad circumstances? How has that changed your aspect in the rap game?
    Lil Wyno: Considering the fact that I only got paid $1250 for my first album, it was definitely a learning experience, that will NEVER happen again. I took a chance, and failed, which is the only thing next to goin to jail that I really fuccin hate the most. But my aspect of the game is betta than ever now. I never was “Federal Records” it was strictly an album deal that went sour. Now its all about Low Down and Low Town, fucc tryin to help other labels get off the ground. Family comes 1st and Forever.

  • BWFP: 21. Is there any beef between you and Dub?
    Lil Wyno: Naw, not beef, but betrayal, trust, lies and secrecy is just a few choice wordz I’d have to say when it comes to “Michael Rinks” A.K.A. “Dub”, which could never lead to violence, but is somethin I refuse to stay silent about, que no?

  • BWFP: 22. How much input did you have when performing on the "Penitentiary Chances" and "Veteranos" soundtrack?
    Lil Wyno: Not a God damn thang, becuzz we never had a choice for getting on the soundtracks, they’d just call, give us our “Mission” and we, Low Down that is, helped them make a lot of scrilla, none of which we ever seen.

  • BWFP: 23. How was your experience working with Darkroom on their feature films?
    Lil Wyno: Well, I wouldn’t call it an experience exactly, considerin Federal Records and Darkroom are like the same if you compare. All I can say is I am not an actor, I rap, and that’s my trade, livin in reality instead of makin or even being involved wit shit like that.

  • BWFP: 24. What is your take on the Dogday/DRF split?
    Lil Wyno: My take on the Dogday/DRF split is like this...There’s no reason to play the role anymore, the shit has hit the fan and DRF is now Canned and for those of you who don’t like it, Fucc off and Die, Low Down is the reason they blew up, so now Low Town Records is getting the props we so deserve….There I said it!

  • BWFP: 25. Since you just released a cd, do you plan to take some time off, or are you going to go back to the studio and work on another cd right away?
    Lil Wyno: Time off? What the fucc does that mean? Shit, when I do take time off I am done for good, so for now I try to stay busy, writin constantly so I don’t lose a step, and yes its not fully in the works yet, but Low Town Records will be the home of my 3rd Album.

  • BWFP: 26. Do you share Never's sentiments towards the Merced Police Department?
    Lil Wyno: Hell sharin ain’t even close to what I feel bout the Merced po-po’s, they’ve been on my azz since birth cuzz I killed tha doctor who pulled me outta the party in my momma’s gut. Ha Ha. I really do hate them bitches wit a badge though, No matter what!

  • BWFP: 27. What are you hobbies?
    Lil Wyno: If I had any hobbies they would have to be rappin, smokin weed, drinkin and fuckin and ridin on the East and makin Pac smile for my actionz - Dead or Alive.

  • BWFP: 28. What do you think are the top five cds of all time?
    Lil Wyno: That’s a hard one….I would have to say my all time top 5 CD’s would be: 2pacalypse, Gas Chamber - C-Bo, 24 Deep - Brotha Lynch Hung, What’s My Name - Snoop, Comin Up & Atcha - Low Down, and anything by anybody associated wit Low Town, except DRF.

  • BWFP: 29. Any last words for your fans?
    Lil Wyno: I would like to say much love to all my fans, but for those thinkin I’m a scrap, you were wrong, for those who think I care about the “Split”, you’re wrong too, and if ever you think or feel I don’t come real, you probably haven’t heard everythang I’ve been on, so as a Wyno I say this: “There’s No Fear, just Beer in a Bucket so Fucc It, C-4 For Life, Scrap Killin and Willin, Cuzz….What’s up to all my ENE’z puttin it down on the sewer and representin this mighty Norte to the fullest and I will S.G.C. Yo Azz Locc……5000 C’s

    - LIL WYNO -

    Thank you very much to Lil Wyno for this interview with Boomin' Words From Portsmouth.

    Now check out the Low Down/Low Town Reviews in the Darkroom Familia (which will soon be split) page right here on Boomin'.

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