Big Noyd: Returning with the Illustrious Flow

 

January 23^rd, 2008 / Streetrichmagazine.com

Written by Abdul Al-Nakhli (abdul.al-nakhli@streetrichmagazine.com)

Introduction -

    
        He got his first taste of glory in hip-hop when he dropped numerous breathtaking verses on Mobb Deep's early releases, redefining the, "realness" factor in the game. Since that period of his life, he's been slowly building his buzz once again, with his climactic release, "Illustrious," available in stores right now. The album marks a milestone in his career as his first release on his new label, Noyd Inc., and also his first release period in a few years. Ask me, this is the perfect time for an album this classic to be released in 2008's rebuilding year. Ask Noyd, and he'd tell you his album is creating the movement for Noyd Inc. to become a new empire. Either way, the result should end the same for Big Noyd. . . greatness.

-

If you're a fan of hip-hop, you should know Big Noyd. As a matter of fact, you shouldn't have to read a sentence in this feature, and still know the impact he's made into the rap game, and the classics he's delivered. A copy of, "Episodes of A Hustla," should be on your CD rack right next to any of the Biggie, Jay-Z, and Mobb Deep albums. His roots and lyrical flare are integrated into the deep roots that hip-hop has grown and molded from. And why shouldn't they! His first displays of his lyricism came on Mobb Deep's early catalogs. Remember the line, "Yo, it's the r-a-double-p-e-r n-o-y-d, niggas can't f*** with me!" on Mobb Deep's 2nd album? That was Noyd! Remember those days, keep them fresh in your mind, because Big Noyd is set to bring them back with his newest album, "Illustrious."


In order to release a jaw-dropping album, you have to have a three-fold approach. The first approach, lyrics and production. With this album serving as Noyd's sixth, and his debut on Koch Records and his newly founded label, Noyd. Inc., Big Noyd ensures that his old school and new fans alike will enjoy his new swagger as he goes from an MC to a veteran. One listen to this new album by Noyd, and it's noticeable there is a new style and grittiness apparent in both his lyrical ability, and also his production, thanks to his executive producer of the album, Lil' Fame of M.O.P.


"Having him (Lil' Fame) executive produce by album is a gift beyond words, he's a legend in hip-hop, and I didn't realize he was such a great producer until I got to hear some beats he was making, and one of them was just so raw I had to get on it, and he heard it, and after that we both decided that we should link up some more for this album," Noyd states.

Along with productng seven of the album's tracks, Fame aligned with Noyd to choose what productions would match Noyd's style on this album, including the lead single, "Things Done Changed," featuring the soulful Kira.

"That single is basically my way of rekindling the sound that I've developed, and try to push lyricism back into the airwaves, and Kira's voice will literally blow you away on this track."


First fold is covered, now time for the second and the third, the message and future. For a hip-hop album to impact fans, like myself, there has to be something on the album that motivates us in a positive direction. That feeling of, "today can be a good day," and, "everything is going to be okay." Noyd's album will have more than enough moments with Illustrious, which was a goal of his from jumpstreet.


"I wanted to make an album that had something for everyone, and I know that a lot of MC's say that, but they sometimes fall short of that. Myself, I've been doing this for so long that I believe that this album delivers on that, and I'm not too focused on record sales, I'm just focusing on making good music that I think definitely needs to be heard and brought back into hip-hop."


Staying in that mindset, Noyd also wants to use his new album to plant the seed for his new record label, Noyd Inc., and his artists that will come through his label.


"I want to build Noyd Inc. to be its own entity, and continue to deliver what I feel the streets and hip-hop needs to hear. I want Noyd to be like Sony or Koch, and this album will definitely lay the foundation for that."


As a fan of hip-hop, I was definitely in line to purchase Big Noyd's new album. If you're as much of a fan as I am, run, fly, drive, or teleport and pick up your copy of his new album right now. Hip-Hop is alive once again!

 

DIRECT LINK: http://www.streetrichmagazine.com/streetrich2_139.htm

http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2008/01/18/19154429.aspx

By Rowan Pruitt

He was born and reared in a borough of Hip-Hop elitists, purists, and pioneers. He brokered his first deal to the tune of $300,000 off the strength of a now classic verse ["Give Up The Goods"] from Mobb Deeps seminal The Infamous. His debut album (really an EP), aptly titled, Episodes of a Hustla landed on the streets during a time when the creativity of your music held far more precedence than a catchy chorus or corporate appeal.

Due to personal reasons, after his 1996 debut Big Noyd waited seven years to release another album. Since his resurgence in 2003, Noyd has toured the world and released four well received LP's. As a constant mainstay on Mobb Deep tracks, Noyd has managed to stay afloat in a finicky industry thanks to a mixture of street knowledge, gritty wordplay, and a love for his craft. With a reinvigorated passion for the game and the release of his new album Illustrious, slated for January 22nd release, Rapper Noyd sat down with AllHipHop.com to discuss the new album, the kids, and his new situation with Koch Records.


AllHipHop.com: So how did you come up with the title for the album?

Big Noyd: Illustrious. It's something to the meaning of a shining star. You know I'm a star in my own right. I don't sell millions of records, you don't see me on BET, MTV, or no stuff like that, but just making it from where I come from, statistically I'm supposed to be dead or in jail at this point. So in my own right I'm a star. I'm not just going to be an artist no more. From this point you're going to have Noyd Inc. which is my label. That's who I put out my last album with and it was distributed by Caroline (Records). I'm going to be even stronger hopefully with the push from Koch. You know I'll become more of a business man than just an artist.

AllHipHop.com: M.O.P.'s Lil' Fame is Executive Producing the album. How did that come about?

Big Noyd: No doubt. Fame is the man. What's crazy is I've known him for a while but I've never done any music with him before. I happened to go to a studio out in Brooklyn and he was in the back working on some beats. I heard one of the beats and I'm like damn that's some crack. He was like what you doing? I'm like nothing. He was like lets get on it lets do it. I did that one joint... and that's how real Hip Hop comes about you know, you don't plan it. We did that one song and it came out so crazy he was like what you doing tomorrow? I was like I'm here. He was like come on let's do it. I've been going back and forth there every other day doing like ten songs. We picked like the best four out of the ten. And he was like let's continue. Fame was like are you working with any other producers? I was like yeah. He said do you mind if I check out the beats. I said yeah no doubt. And I didn't even know fame did beats. All them hot joints he did for M.O.P., I thought Preem (DJ Premier) did em'. Come to find out he did em', I was going crazy. Seeing him in their on the MPC going hard. Digging through crates. I'm like, "Wow, damn this boy is nice." So when he asked to let him sit in and listen to some of the beats that I was going to pick. I was like definitely so that's how that whole thing begun.

AllHipHop.com: So Fame did the first single, "Things Done Changed."

Big Noyd: Yeah.

AllHipHop.com: That's a real soulful track. Does the whole album have that soulful feel?

Big Noyd: You got like two or three joints on the album like that. You've got "Things Done Changed," we also got "We Gotta Get It Right," which is featuring 40 Glocc from L.A. That one right there is more about, no matter how you look at it, we've got kids looking up to us. You know, I'm not just going to cross over because I'm still struggling. I've still got that struggle in my heart. And with the same token I've got a nine year old daughter. So at one point you've got to really realize that we do have kids listening to us so we've got to get it right. I've got a couple of joints on the album that's like that. All the other joints is still that struggle, that shoot em up bang bang on the block. And hopefully one day we can all survive from that. There's a lot of energy with this album. Like, a lot of theses songs, not that it's not good for the cars, for the whips, and for the house, but you really want to see me perform these songs because there's a lot of energy. It's like performance type songs.

AllHipHop.com: So besides Lil' Fame and 40 Glocc who else can we expect to hear from on the album?

Big Noyd: I've got Joell Ortiz on there. That boy spits so ill. I've got Rick Rude producing. I've got DJ Skiz. And it's not like I really wanted to keep Mobb Deep out of the loop on this album. There's some joints I wanted them on. There was some legal difficulties with G-Unit and Koch Records and stuff like that. And at same time I didn't want the same ol' what people expected that Mobb Deep was going to be all over with the Queensbridge sound. Not that I didn't want it. It worked out well because they're not really on this album. So my next project maybe I can go back to my homies and the sound that we all know and love, and add it to the new flavor of Rick Rude and Fame from M.O.P. and mix it up with the next project. I kept them out of the loop just to show the world I can stand on my own two as well.

AllHipHop.com: So can we expect any videos any time soon?

Big Noyd: We shot a video for "Things Done changed," we just got the first edit back yesterday. I loved it, the video came out great, I love the colors, it's a real clean video. I just need to add a little more drama. So there's a few things we've got to take out and a few things we've got to add, so hopefully we'll have the video up by next week.




AllHipHop.com: So we've seen both Alchemist and Prodigy put out albums on Koch. Did their dealings with the label influence you to go with Koch?

Big Noyd: Yes and No. I actually did a joint with Bob Perry. I believe he's an A&R up here at Koch. He had his own label Landspeed which dropped Cormega and the 50 Cent album. I put an album out through them also. So with him working up here at Koch that's what really plugged me in but it definitely helped to know that my homies are over here and they're comfortable. So the transition was good because Koch knows me but they also know Alchemist and Prodigy. So they know what to do with my type of music. So it kind of works it self out.

AllHipHop.com: You've been on practically every other offering from the Mobb camp except Blood Money. What was the reason for behind that?

Big Noyd: A lot of people don't understand that before the Mobb Deep/G-Unit situation, Mobb Deep was in the hole. They put out an album with Jive, so when the head of the stake is cut off it leaves everything else out of place and that's what Mobb Deep is, Havoc and Prodigy they the head of the clique. So when they was going through their struggles imagine what we, the people in the camp, was going through. At that time everybody was doing the solo thing so when we all get something we can bring it all back to the table. At that time 50, as a business man, was like I'm not going to put Infamous Mobb or Big Noyd flooded on a G-Unit album because if this album go platinum or double platinum, which I'm guessing they were expecting, and now Noyd go get a situation on the strength of G-Unit…he's not signed to me underneath no papers. That's just business and I respect that. The love with me and Mobb Deep is never going to change. Havoc mother and my mother is like sisters. Our relationship goes too deep before rap.

AllHipHop.com: So a lot of people are hating on some of the stuff coming from the south, but I read an interview the other day where you said as long as everyone's getting their money then...

Big Noyd: I don't knock it man. To be honest I enjoy it. When I'm in my car man, if I'm not waking up going straight to the studio or listening to some beats in the whip, I'm R&B. So I don't really even listen to down south or even New York Hip-Hop. Unless I'm going to the club because that's what they play in the clubs. The women like it so I love it. And my daughter she's nine now, she's sees the videos the dances, so to see her enjoy it, I enjoy it. It may not be anything you'll catch me doing. Not to say I won't work with a south artist. I would definitely work with a Southern artist, but like dancing in the videos that's just not me.

AllHipHop.com: So for someone that doesn't know Big Noyd and Big Noyd's music what can they expect?

Big Noyd: Google the name and check my track record. I'm not just one of these artists that's jumping out on the scene right now because everyone is doing it. I've paid my dues. And if you like real Hip-Hop you can tell I helped pioneers. Maybe not in the sense where Mobb Deep carried the load but I definitely played my part and played my position and did my job and what I was expected to do. I put my heart into it. And that's one thing I want them to know. I'm young at heart because of music. It helps me grow. So for me to lay something down on a track and people enjoy it, it makes me feel so much better. The money's always good but for me to see somebody appreciate my music it means a lot more to me than the money. I love Hip-Hop and I don't want it to go anywhere.

AllHipHop.com: Are you doing anything for Prodigy before he goes away?

Big Noyd: We just trying to do a whole bunch of music and videos with him. Ain't too much fun you can have with your brother when you know he's going for that long. How we make fun out of it is all of us making music and making videos and making that fun.

AllHipHop.com: So what's a typical studio session like for you?

Big Noyd: I like when the studios crowded. I bring five of my homies. The producer, if I don't know him, he bring five of his homies. We conversating, somebody mention something street or something that happened at a club, at The Tunnel back in the day. Then the stories start flowing and I'll pick out little things from those conversations. We kicking our war stories, vibing, like we family. When you get people all in the same room that all love the same thing you see how well we get along from Rap music. If we see each other in the streets we ice grilling each other and its problems but if we meeting in the studio it's all love. That's why Hip-Hop can't go anwhere. We need it to keep us together.


Mobb Deep f/ Big Noyd "Give Up The Goods (Just Step)"


Mobb Deep f/ Big Noyd "The Learning (Burn)"


Big Noyd "Shoot Em Up (Bang Bang)"

http://www.hhnlive.com/features/more/401

llustrious: Big Noyd
Posted: 01/20/2008 by: Maxine V

While not his first introduction to the rap scene, on the Q-Tip produced, "Give up the Goods (Just Step)" from Mobb Deep's classic album "The Infamous," Big Noyd had Mobb fans everywhere breaking rewind buttons with his first line, "Yo, it's the r-a-double-p-e-r n-o-y-d, niggas can't fuck with me!"

HHNLive.com writer Maxine Ve sits down with Big Noyd. Maxine and Noyd discuss his up-coming album, Prodigy's jail bid, the state of Hip-Hop, performing in China and much more.

Noyd on his live shows: "To be honest, you wanna see me perform, I'm like a rock star..."

---

Maxine Ve: What up Noyd? How you been?

Big Noyd: I'm good, I'm good.

MV: You've been in the game for a minute now, what are the highlights of your music career leading up to the release of Illustrious?

BN: Wow. A lot, a lot. People know me from Mobb Deep. You know, Burn, [Mobb Deep's Infamy] people recognize me. The money is good, real good but the highlight for me is the fans. Knowing the fans appreciate the music, they recite the lyrics. I'm just getting back from China about three weeks ago with Hav and Al [Alchemist].

MV: What was China like?

BN: I was impressed with China, man. At first I thought they wouldn't know English, but the culture, the Hip Hop scene is…serious. I felt like they appreciate the music a lot more. You know, in the U.S. we spoiled. There is so much more good exposure to the music out here so I feel like they appreciate the outlet more.

MV: So Jan 22nd the album drops. Why did you choose Illustrious for a title?

BN: Just the way I came up you know and where I'm at now. I feel like a shining star. I mean, I don't have $100 million or nothing, but where I'm from, I could have been dead or in jail. Having people interested in the music, I'm a star in my life.

MV: So you're living your life like it's golden? Haha.

BN: Haha, yeah! Exactly! Exactly!

MV: Which track do you think the fans will connect with the most and why?

BN: It's a lotta joints on there that people will feel, you know, about getting money. I mean, if you're older and not on your grind then you'll never be but, if you young it's time to stack that green. People is buying cars, and homes, with the war and everything, [we] don't know what we headed for. The single that's out now, "Things Done Changed" just talking about the changes in Hip Hop. The progression from two turn tables, you know. From gold chains to diamonds, from Adidas to Nike boots. And, you know, with technology now, young kids is starting websites and labels, so just the progression in Hip Hop. It's a couple joints on there, you know, the whips and the cribs. To be honest, you wanna see me perform, I'm like a rock star, I like crowd participation so it's joints the people can feel and rock to.

MV: From Jay Rush to Joell Ortiz, Illustrious has a number of features. What led to these collaborations?

BN: Well Lil Fame of MOP produced the album so that's 75 percent of the change right there. I wanted to give the fans something different than the Mobb sound, that QB sound, which, it's nothing wrong with it, I'm Mobb, QB all day. This album I wanted to do something different. Joell, he's so nice with it right now, I was like, "you gotta jump on the album!" And Jay, man a soon as I heard his voice I said, I need him on the album. A lot of people don't know, but I listen to a lot of R&B. When I'm in my car or my house, you know, my down time, R&B. I'm into that. It's a lot of dance music coming out of the South right now but I don't got a problem with it. You know, whoever is making noise in Hip Hop, we all eating…I like it.

MV: Oh so you be cranking that [Soulja Boy]?

BN: Ha! Yeah! You might catch me in the club when that Soulja Boy track is on haha.

MV: Yeah, Soulja Boy is trying to be serious.

BN: Yeah, myself as an artist, I mean I don't see myself making that kind of music but I do enjoy it.

MV: What makes Illustrious stand apart from your other works like [mixtape] Stick up Kid or On the Grind?

BN: This is my fourth album and before I was kinda in the shadow of Mobb, you know, before I had to do it this way or do it that way, the Mobb way, which, again, it's nothing wrong with it but this time it's all about Noyd. My type of music, you know.

MV: So you had more creative control?

BN: Yeah, more solo ideas. I mean I'm a good rapper, don't get me wrong, I'm no Nas, not a lyricist where everything is deep with meaning. My rhymes are something you can relate to. To be honest, I'm a performer, I tears it down! I'm a hype person anyway; I'm ready to jump in the crowd! I'm standing up talking to you right now, I got ants in my pants, I gets it poppin, for real!

MV: I can dig it. So what are our thoughts on the current state of Hip Hop?

BN: You know, it's unfortunate with the sales and the bootleggers, a lot of people is saying Hip Hop is dead because there's so much access to making bullshit music. People think it's easy. They go in the garage or the bedroom like, "I can do that now…" and it's not that easy. You got a million people making bullshit music without the heart. There's so much more than three verses, a hook and a beat. It's flows, riding the beat, making music worth buying. With Illustrious, we went in! Fame was like, "I don't like the verse, or I don't like that hook." We put it together like a puzzle, we keeping Hip Hop alive, 100 percent.

MV: You maintain a strong affiliation with Mobb Deep. Obviously you are aware of Prodigy's situation. Give the readers a little insight into what the energy is like in the fam. How's everybody feeling?

BN: Honestly there's only one way to feel. You can't get over it, we just take advantage of the time while he's here and enjoy it. We just doing as much as we can, we got a cameraman and filmed a video for every song on his album, you know. We just go out more, taking pictures, just trying to keep him positive. I've never been up North before, I did like seven months on Rikers and that's like another world but P's a strong dude, a lot of people go in and not make it out. But there's a positive side to every situation, you know, by him having Sickle Cell, his health will get better, you know, he'll get the proper rest and not be drinking and smoking and a lot of stuff he do in the streets. And P's a smart dude, he can pick up more books and you know, come out better. Anytime a person is in this situation, it hurts.

MV: On a lighter note, what motivates Noyd to keep making music?

BN: Like I said in the beginning, the money is good but it's the fans, really. I come from a hole in the wall and I made something out of nothing. To be honest, everything is competition to me. I listen to the radio and hear a new 50 Cent song and I'm like, " that's crazy!" Then I wanna top it. I go in the studio and I'm like, I gotta kill that song!. It keeps me on my toes. I'm making music for everywhere, not just NY. When the fans recite my words or they say, "my brother went through that" or "I did my whole bid listening to nothing but you.." that's what motivates me the most.

MV: What is the production like on Illustrious? Who did you work with?

BN: Fame did like four joints, DJ Skiz from NYU radio, a variety you know. We wanted the fans to not expect the norm. Ric Rude is my connect. My goal is to get the business up, I'm starting my label Noyd Inc so he got a couple joints on the album, I'm bringing him into the fold. You know a lot of people, once they found out I wasn't on [Mobb album] Blood Money, was like, what's going on? I mean, there's no problems, we go beyond rap, we like brothers but with G-Unit they wanted to get established before taking it to the group. Unfortunately with the album sales it didn't work out that way but, we like brothers.

MV: Do you feel like you're coming out stronger and better with this release?

BN: Yeah, like as a person. My head is in the clouds, the way I can connect with the fans, obviously I want to be much larger than I am but when I think of where I could have been, I'm happy with life.

MV: So Illustrious dropping Jan 22nd.

BN: Yes, yes definitely!

MV: What else would you like to add?

BN: I appreciate the fans who stuck with me through the years. If you spend money on Noyd, you will definitely get your money's worth, I keep it rockin! And I checks my Myspace! www.myspace.com/rappernoyd

contact dan@clockwork-music.com for BIG NOYD booking

YO THE SHOW IN SPRINGFIELD MASS (CROCADILE ROCK) WAS OFF THE HOOK THE SHOW CONSISTED OF JADAKISS SHEEK LOUCH AND BIG NOYD NEEDLESS TO SAY THE HOUSE WAS PACKED , AND THERE WAS A SENSE OF ANTICIPATION IN THE AIR FOR NOYDS ARRIVAL AND ONCE THE GOD REACHED THERE YOU CAN SEE EASILY THAT THE FANS WERE RELIEVED NOYD HIT THE STAGE AROUND 12:15AM AND WHEN YOU HEARD "Q.B. IS IN THE MUTHA FUK'N BUILDING!!!!!" THE CROWD WENT NUTS.

D.J. SKIZZ WAS HANDLEING HIS BIZ ON THE ONES AND TWOS YOU COULD BARELY HEAR NOYDS INTRO MUSIC THE CROWD WAS YELLING SO MUCH AND THEN BOOM NOYD HIST THE STAGE ALONG WITH RICK RUDE AND THE REST OF THE TEAM

HE DID ALL THE HITS FROM BURN , QUEENS AND AIR IT OUT THE PERFORMANCE WAS DEFINATELY FIRE I EMPLOY EVERYONE TO PEEP A BIG NOYD SHOW.

THE CROWD WAS RIDEING WITH SUN AND HE IS ALSO TAPE'N A DVD WHILE HE IS ON THE ROAD SO DONT BE SURPRISED TO SEE ALL YA FRIENDS ON THE DVD FROM HIS SHOWS, EVEN JADAKISS FELT HIS SHOW WHICH MADE HIM TURN IT UP AND HE WAS SHOUTING NOYD OUT DURING HIS SHOW WHEN HE DISSED G UNIT USE'N ONE OF NOYDS SONGS AIR IT OUT "NO DISRESPECT TO MY NIGGA NOYD BUT FUCK G UNIT!!!!!!!"

" WE LOVE YOU NOYD!!!" JADA YELLED......

SHOUT OUT TO HOODPROMO AND BIG DOUGH ENT. AND THE STAFF OF CROCKROCK ALLENTOWN PA AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF ALLENTOWN PA. WE LOVE YOU!!!

P.E.A.C.E.