Hip Hop Carolinas

I recently did an interview with T Da Wizard, seasoned producer out of South Carolina who’s responsible for one of the biggest hits last year, “Boots On The Ground”. He talked about the hit record, the struggling Carolina music scene, and he addresses the disagreement between him and 803 Fresh and his team.

How long have you been producing?

I been producing in multiple genres for about 20 years.

What would you say was your first hit?

My 1st Big Regional Hit Was Lil Brod ” Do You Mind Then Ypc Nae “Ain’t Gotta Lie” Both kinda had a impact on the state but ill have to go with “Do You Mind” that was the 1st track I produced regionally

As a producer from South Carolina, what have been the biggest challenges getting recognition?

As being a producer in South Carolina we tend to get over look a lot its not enough avenues for us here like it is in bigger cities which is why some producers leave and work in other states and some artist don’t know the business when it comes to producers splits, etc.

You produced one of the biggest records of the year. Did you think “Boots On The Ground” would be as big as it was?

Yes I knew its was going to be something special when I started working on the track which I made in 15 min and sent it to fresh… It came together really fast and it wasn’t forced its like it was meant to happen

A few months ago, you called out 803 Fresh and his team for lack of recognition for the success of the song. Why did you feel that way and was the issue resolved?

I felt that way because I was working here in South Carolina for many years and this was my 1st national hit plus we made it here in South Carolina in a genre where its never been done before and that meant something to me it meant something to everybody that believed in me that was waiting for me to win and I finally got that big hit to get push the side like I was a nobody that hurts I never wanted to be in the spotlight I just wanted to be recognized for my work and what I contributed to the song…As far as 803 Fresh his team and I did have a sit down to resolve our differences everything is ok now and were still working with new music coming soon.

Southern soul or “country soul” as some call it, has quickly gained popularity. Give us some background on South Carolina’s ties to southern soul.

South Carolina has a long history in Southern Soul & Blues.. Going all the way back to Marvin Sease,James Brown & Roy C Hammonds they paved the way for the sound that it is now blended in with Quartet & R&B… Then you have the new wave of artist like King George,Meme Yahsal, 803FRESH, Nelson Curry,Amous Clark, Joe Nice… With us over here in South Carolina we kind of made it our own with feel good party vibes laid back type music

Name some fellow South Carolina artists or producers that you admire.

I admire everybody from artist to producer thats making good music as long as it sounds good im supporting them

What do you have coming up?

Right now im currently focus on my Artist Under My Brickhouse Label thats debuting next year as well as pushing the sound of Southern Soul to new levels

Congratulations on all of the success with “Boots On The Ground”. Overall, how does it feel to be apart of history?

It feels great something that ive work hard for my whole life to see something that I did in a small room touch the whole world is a beautiful feeling. Great Things Start In Small Rooms.