Tone Trump

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Tone Trump: I'm from the West Side of Philly, which is the hardest part of Philly. I actually started out playing basketball and got into some trouble and got kicked out of school and its like B.I.G. said, 'Either you sell rocks, rap or got a wicked jump shot.' I started getting into neighborhood battles and I got good at it and I saw that girls liked rappers so I started going hard at it more and more. I have been grinding since for the past seven years trying to make sure my part of Philly get the right look we deserve to get!

24: Describe your style or sound and what separates you from other artist that came out of Philly?

Tone Trump: A lot of artist came out of Philly and gave their perspective but I feel like when I give mines it's going to be a more well rounded perspective because a lot of people think Philly is Beanie Sigel or Black Thought, Cassidy to Fresh Prince. I'm coming with a mixture of all them dudes together and represent a Philly dude and show that we can be gangsters and smart and sit down with CEO's at these labels to hustlers on the corner. As far as my style I have been inspired from people all over the world so I try to take a little form everybody and put my twist to it and give the people something original.

24: Tell me about G-Unit Philly and how did that situation come about?

Tone Trump: Basically it was a blessing. Knox who is signed to G-Unit was pitching different ideas and gave him the go to put together G-Unit Philly which is a group which consists of myself, Mike Knox, Ivy Vega, Cotic. A lot of people compare us to State Property because were a Philly group but I think we are going to take it a step further especially judging by what's in the works as we speak from Mixtapes to DVD's and a reality show. We already the shit in Philly and now that stamp will just take us to another level.

24: I'm happy that you mentioned being this shit in your own city because I try to tell up and coming artist all the time you have to take over your block, then city, then state before you try to take over the world!

Tone Trump: Definitely, and I think Philly is one of the hardest places to take over and make a name for yourself. So by us accomplishing this alone is a big deal within itself!

24: I see that you having been putting in leg work seeing all of your mixtapes you put out so where do you get your work ethic from?

Tone Trump: I'm just hungry man, since I was a little boy my moms always kept me fly. I was wearing Versace in the 7th grade, jewelry since the 3rd Grade so I always knew that if I wanted to keep those things I had to work hard for it. I started my own staffing company when I was 20 years old and having grown men working for me where I had 50 employees total. I have been blessed to be around artist that were signed from early and I've gotten to see the ones that were lazy and where it got them and the one's that worked hard!

24: Tell me about your label Top Notch?

Tone Trump: Top Notch was a street crew we started back in the days doing crazy shit like stealing cars and a whole bunch of shit we had no business doing. The core of the crew was four of us and one got killed, one got locked up so me and my nigga decided to put a spin on it and were doing music, clothing, as well as the staffing company. Top Notch is real personal to me its tattooed on my hands, I got the "TN" chain with the logo and it represent so much. We do clothing drives in the winter and its something similar to the Roc-A-Fella sign or G-Unit which are more then music. There are people in Top Notch that don't make music and write raps, it's bigger then Tone Trump I'm just the leader of it.

24: You're signed to G-Unit as a group, so are you looking for a label as far as a solo deal?

Tone Trump: With all the money I've been spending on myself and the look I'm getting now with the G-Unit, the money has to be right or if not I will do it on my own! I got a respect for the Unit and would love to take it their but if not where going to go shopping and who ever come with the right bread we'll talk. It' s got to make a lot of sense and dollars for me to sign my name because I'm going to do it with or with out a major label!

24: I saw on your page that your looking for beats, what type of tracks are you looking for so our readers that are producers can send you something?

Tone Trump: I'm glad you mentioned that. I get about a thousand beats a day and I never tell a producer what type of beat to send. I just want that Music and once you got that Music your going to get heard.  Send them beats in and we're going to make it happen!

24: Anything you want to say to the readers?

Tone Trump: Be on look out for G-Unit Philly, the CD and DVD coming soon make sure you check me on the Myspace at www.myspace.com/tonetrump. Shout out to everybody that's locked up. Free my brother Nitti and G. Shout Out to the whole G-Unit & West Philly and Jon Lis. I got it!