Big Sam

The story of Big Sam... Born and raised in the Southside of Richmond, CA (San Francisco Bay Area), Big Sam began rhyming at the age of 13 under the alias of Mack Q. Introduced into the music business by his father; Big Sam was fascinated by the process of constructing clever lyrics and even the complexity of production and mixing. "I remember getting whoopin's from my family when I was little from the s*** that I wrote and just left layin' around the house" recalls Big Sam "and all those damn nights...

Born and raised in the Southside of Richmond, CA (San Francisco Bay Area), Big Sam began rhyming at the age of 13 under the alias of Mack Q. Introduced into the music business by his father; Big Sam was fascinated by the process of constructing clever lyrics and even the complexity of production and mixing.

"I remember getting whoopin's from my family when I was little from the s*** that I wrote and just left layin' around the house" recalls Big Sam "and all those damn nights I'd sit up 'til 4 and 5 in the morning playin' around with beats and recording tracks at my pops house. That s*** was crazy for a 13 year old! But look where I am now."

After not composing lyrics that he deemed worthy to compete with the current trend in music, Big Sam decided to stop writing lyrics to focus more on the production of his beats. But as a teenager with very limited access to funds, Big Sam could not keep up with the evolution of equipment and education needed to make top quality beats, forcing Big Sam out of music altogether.

"I didn't evolve with the industry. I didn't have the new hot s*** anymore" explains Big Sam "I mean I used 2 roll through the hood, goin' to my boys' house or whatever and play my s***. They'd be like "that s*** knock" so I stayed wit' it. But as new sounds came out, my s*** stayed the same. I didn't have money like that to drop on new studio s***, I was 15! So I had to put it all down. It's crazy that I even had that 6th sense for my lyrics and production at that age to even have the feeling of somethin' not bein' hot to "industry" standards. I've always been the type of dude that wouldn't let anybody hear my music if I felt it wouldn't hold up playin' after a snoop track, or a 40 track, you know what I'm sayin'? Even at a young age when cats aint even as brutal on your stuff."

Still with music flowing through his veins at 17, Big Sam decided to dust of the rhyme book and take another shot at the business. He wrote the song that sparked the creation of "Big Sam" called "I'm From The Rich" (unreleased).

"I wasn't Mack Q no more. I wasn't the same guy. I didn't need an alias anymore. I'm big and my name is Sam so there you have it."

"The track came out of nowhere really. I was in community college at the time in a Saturday class. I was bored as hell so I decided to write somethin'. Next thing you know I had 32 bars of flow about my city. I was juiced about it, but I didn't want to ride my own hype so on my next break I called my cousin Yung Remy and spit to him. He cosigned that s*** as bein' hot so I left school and went to the house and spit it to the "Ja Rule - New York" beat. Did that s*** on my aunt's computer with the mic that came with the ps2 game "get on da mic". Pops moved so I didn't have his studio no more. S*** was so low budget it wasn't even funny (laughs). But I made a myspace [The same exact one I run now] and put it up there, it was a hood smash!"

After a few more unreleased "warm up" songs on his myspace website, Big Sam recorded and released his first mixtape "Tycooon Ent Presents... Big Sam" in early 2006. With only word of mouth and myspace promotion, the mixtape gained Big Sam a solid fan base in the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley. There was no turning back for him now.

"That mixtape is the definition of underground. I recorded the while thing on my mommas laptop in her garage when she went to sleep, with the same a** ps2 microphone (laughs). I mean my girl at the time used to come over and be braidin' her hair while she was hittin' the record and stop buttons for me. She knows I appreciated that s***. She was down for the cause, good times. I copped a 50 pack of cd's from best buy and we sat there and burned ?em all. I was on college in Sacramento at the time, so in-between classes I was out there hustlin' off my music tough! I got named "first rapper at wyotech" by the faculty. Everybody was knockin' my s***!"

After solo mixtape success, Big Sam wet on to release mixtapes with the now disbanded Mouthfull Ent. Crew titled "Worlds Finest Vol. 1" on 9/1/07 and a mixtape with childhood friend Dre White titled "Spookyville" on Halloween in 2007 both of which were received well by the fans.

"I loved worlds finest and spookyville. I mean I had always been in the studio by myself, these were the first times it was a group of us and I could feed off of other artist's vibe ad energy and them off of mine. It made the tracks mesh well."

In January of 2008, after much success on CD, Big Sam hit the stage for the 1st time at Henry's Pub in Downtown San Diego.

"It was wild. First off I was lightweight drunk (laughs) and it didn't last long. I told the DJ I could spit so he let me hit the stage and rap over the "Clipse - Grindin" beat. He told me not to swear and you know that s*** didn't fly so they cut the mic off on me. Funny s***, ill Will was wit' me. I'm sure he remembers that night, groupie love exists whether you that famous or not! (laughs)"

That summer, Big Sam imprinted his own entertainment company, Streetsoul Entertainment, accompanied with the companied 1st release and the biggest Big Sam Project to that date, "I Got Swagger".

"I wanted my own imprint. I'm an independent kind of guy. I don't need a label, I'll be the label. I coined the Streetsoul name and said forget the little stuff, its tine to build a brand you feel me? I knew I had to hit ?em hard comin' out the gates, and I feel I put my best foot forward for this one. I got the whole hood, all my peoples from Mouthfull, Yung Remy, the whole 9, everybody on there. I still get cats 'till this day givin' me props on ?I Got Swagger? from the Bay out to Diego, it's a classic, and that aint coming from me! Gives me a good feelin' though."

Big Sam has continued to build his brand and his versatility in his lyricism since then and has become quite comfortable with his delivery and flow as evident with this latest release on January 24th, 2009, "Grand Theft Auto: Rich City".

"I enjoyed making GTA more than any other CD to date. I relaxed and let the music come to me. I had fun making this one. I think you can tell that when you listen to it. And the fans still love it."

Big Sam now spends his time in the public eye promoting and molding his image and also the one of his imprint. He is also featured on several other artists' projects doing what he does best.

"I'm still in the streets, in the clubs, in the studio hustlin'. I can't stop now! I think I have the total package, and that aint on some conceited s***. I mean I have the charisma and skill to attract fans, I deliver the material that keeps fans, I speak the real and the truth, and above all else I'm a damn good business man that has handpicked a great supporting cast. Shout out 2 ill Will! Look out for me man I'm headin' to the top!"

Stay tuned... Big Sam appears to be taking his career to new heights. Show your love and support!