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tart by introducing yourselves. Who is Da Splitta Squad? Tampa Tony: I’m a member of Da Splitta Squad and a partner in Da Splitta Records. I’m the CEO of Da Splitta and DS Apparel. It’s a movement. Lucky: I’m his partner in DS Apparel and the record label. My job consists of everything he wants to do but can’t get done because of a solo project he’s working on or because of other things he’s doing with other members within the group. I’m more on the business end, that’s what I stick to. Everybody wants to be an artist so I’m on the business end. Great Dane: I’m another member of Da Splitta Squad, partner with DS Apparel and the record label, and I’m an artist. How did the three of you meet? Lucky: Originally, we wanted Tony on a song with us. Everybody knows that he’s the man when it comes to club hits. We wanted a club song and ended up hooking up with him. He liked our work ethic and it’s been on ever since. Tony, what are you working on as far as your solo project? I heard you got a deal with Southbeat Records. Tampa Tony: The thing with Southbeat is a pretty good thing. It’s independent, like I wanted it to be. I’m a hard worker and I like to get out there and grind, so I wanted to do something with an independent instead of coming from a major label. When you come from a major, people feel like the major did everything anyway. I wanted to be the big artist from an independent label who put that label on his back and carried it. Are you looking at all these side projects as a way to further your solo career? Tampa Tony: I look at all angles – to help promote my solo career, to help the label, and to promote Da Splitta and DS Apparel.
is well-thought through. It’s not something that we put together quickly, but we’re also hoping it’ll help his album do good. Musically speaking, how does Da Splitta Squad’s sound compare to the “jukin’” dance style of music that you’re known for? Tampa Tony: It’s a variety. It’s a couple club bangers on there. We’re trying to do more ridin’ music; you can get in your car and ride to it or sit in the house and ride to it. I don’t like to make all club music. I want to give it another angle to the type of music that we can put out. What appealed to you musically about the other guys in Da Splitta Squad? What do they bring to the table? Tampa Tony: Different styles and different voices. It’s unique because nobody sounds alike, but it blends well. Everybody’s got their own lil’ personalities. Great is the laid-back gangsta, the pretty boy. Lucky: In my personal opinion, I think it’s the most innovative group since Outkast. They can switch up styles and give you a whole variety so you won’t get bored and get sick of the album. Not everything is “shoot ‘em up, kill” and “selling bricks” and what every artist is trying to go for. What records has Da Splitta Squad released so far? Tampa Tony: We put out a five song demo just to test the waters. We’re getting ready to drop the mixtape to get the buzz out. We got a lot of good records and we’re trying to get the name out there. I’m just trying to hype it up right now and we’re in negotiations with a couple labels. I’m just trying to make sure everything’s cool first before I do that.
“I’m trying to show them why I was nominated for Hustler of The Year.”
It seems like everyone has a clothing line. What makes DS Apparel different? Is it just an extension of Da Splitta to promote the name, or are you actually designing the clothes? Tampa Tony: Yeah, really want to get into designing clothes. I want to come in the game how everybody else ends up in the game. It seems like everybody ends up with shoe contracts and clothing lines, so I want to come in with all that. We cater to the smokers; the smoker’s look
What exactly is the smoker’s look? Lucky: We’re more hands-on with it than a lot of artists. A lot of major artists start a clothing line and pass it off to other people. Everything we do for DS Apparel, he might have an idea and my job is just to make sure that the actual product comes to light. We all sit down as partners and we all look at it, and if he doesn’t like something he might modify it. As an artist, he likes to wear his own products. So he’s got to make sure it looks good and represents for everybody else to wear too. We represent for the whole urban lifestyle, period, whether you’re a smoker or you like to hang out on the corner or you’re just a regular dude that goes to school. The whole clothing line and the shoe line
How have things progressed with your revolutionary smoker’s product Da Splitta as far as getting them in stores? Tampa Tony: I got a new one coming out in two weeks that’s more like a key-chain holder. It ain’t as obvious that it’s something to do with marijuana. It’s totally different. It’s like a keychain holder that has a lighter. It’s more discreet and less bulky. You ain’t got to wear it around your neck. I’m trying to come from a more business point of view. If you wear it, you won’t have to be classified as a smoker. I got a couple distribution deals I’m working on. We’re talking about a large quantity – Canada, Houston, I got two distributors there waiting on the prototype. Lucky: We’re just trying to make it more accessible to any person that wants to get it so they don’t have to order them online. It’ll be at every little gas station and corner store. Being involved in a lot of different aspects of business – clothing, music, and other types of products – which type of business do you think offers the most potential to make money? Tampa Tony: It’s all going to make money. I think it’s all going to come at one time. When you come in the game with a whole lot of stuff that you can sell and make money off of, it’s a good thing because you ain’t gonna just make money off rap. You’re gonna make money off everything as a whole. It all ties together. When I come out, it’s gonna be huge because we’ve got Da Splitta Squad, DS Apparel, and Da Splitta, so we’re capitalizing off everything. Once we come in the game we’re gonna make that real big sweep. What are you pushing as your solo single right now – is it the “Bobbahead” record? Tampa Tony: Yeah, and the second single is “High Dollar” featuring Mike Jones. It’s gonna be a banger. It was produced by T Berry, and my management team, Chase Management, they’re real strong. I really got a lot of confidence with this album. I’m looking at dropping it the beginning of next year: Juke City. How would you explain the term “Juke City” to someone who’s not from Tampa? Tampa Tony: Juke City is Tampa. Tampa’s been known to break a whole heap of dances. All we do in Tampa is dance. That’s why I renamed it Juke City. Look out for Da Splitta Squad mix CD coming soon. Call your local radio station and request “Bobbahead.” I want to show everybody why they nominated me for Hustler of the Year. Just watch out for all my upcoming projects. Anything you see Tony’s name on, it’s going to be official. Lucky: They got a shitload of fake Tampa Tony’s on Myspace, so make sure you check out the official Tampa Tony Myspace page: www.myspace.com/ theofficialtampatony