BIG SEAN AFFILIATE SAYITAINTTONE IS NEXT UP FROM THE FINALLY FAMOUS CAMP. OZONE CAUGHT UP WITH THE DETROIT NEWCOMER TO FIND OUT THE MEANING BEHIND HIS UNUSUAL MONIKER AND WHY HE HATES BOTH SUPER BOWL TEAMS. Your stage name SayItAin’tTone is unique. Where did you get it from and what does it mean? Tone is my name, and the SayItAin’t part comes from me being in a group called Finally Famous with a lot of talented rappers, including Big Sean. When some people heard that I was rapping, they automatically shut it down, like, “Don’t tell me he’s rapping now. Everybody wants to be a rapper. Say it ain’t him.” They told me I couldn’t make it. But Big Sean and Early Mac would encourage me to keep it up, especially Early Mac. So I just turned a negative into a positive and made it work. How did you link up with Big Sean? Big Sean is my brother. I met him in the first class on the first day of high school back in 2002 and we’ve been good friends ever since. That’s my mans, no homo. (laughs) Were you a rapper before joining Big Sean on stage and essentially becoming his hype man? Everything started at the same time, but I always helped Big Sean come up with lines and concepts whenever he needed it. Everything is a team effort. As long as he was straight, I knew I would be too. Are you signed to G.O.O.D. Music or Big Sean’s Finally Famous imprint? I’m 100% Finally Famous. I have it tattooed on me. Finally Famous is something we all started together. I don’t have any plans to sign to G.O.O.D. Music or any other labels, but honestly, not to be cliché, but you never know what the future holds. Anything can happen. A lot of people know you from your record “My Closet,” which appeared on your mixtape SayItAin’t and Big Sean’s Finally Famous Vol. 3 hosted by Don Cannon. What was the inspiration behind that song? I come from a city known for its fashion and flashiness, from gators to minks to Cartier glasses with diamonds in them. I wanted to show people we still get down in Detroit. You can buy my single on iTunes, Sayitainttone featuring Big Sean “My Closet,” and you can
also YouTube the video and see the visuals for it on youtube.com/sayitainttone. Who are some of your musical influences? I like all types of music, but the old Cash Money, Hot Boys, No Limit, and Bone Thugs is what really got me into rap music. I listen to Motown oldies when I’m chillin’, so my influences vary. I really just love the culture. Detroit is a melting pot of all types of styles. We have everything from super hood music to underground Hip Hop. I live in Motown; we still have that soul in our city waiting for our time again. You’ll see soon! Is there East Side/West Side friction going on in Detroit? No, not at all. It’s more hood against hood if anything, but on the music scene, this is the first time we’ve started linking up and supporting each other. We never had that unity before, but it’s slowly coming together and I’m happy to see it. Since this is the Super Bowl issue, what are your thoughts on the NFL? Being from Detroit, are you a Lions fan? I always liked the Lions ever since Barry Sanders, the best running back of all time. Even though the Lions didn’t make it all the way this year I’m still proud of them. Who are you pulling for in Super Bowl XLVI? The Giants or Patriots? I actually hate both teams, but my favorite player is Ocho Cinco, so I’m going for the Pats. Let’s get my homie a ring! Will you be involved in any of the Super Bowl festivities? No, I plan on being in the studio working on my second mixtape hosted by DJ Green Lantern. I’ll watch it in the studio. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Shout outs? Of course! Off top, Free Juan! Shout out to my city, Detroit, my group Finally Famous, Dusty McFly, Dough Boyz Cashout, Via Marz, Tone Tone and all the other artists from Detroit that are doing their thing. We’re up next, baby! Shout out to OZONE for showing a real player love. // Twitter: @SayItAintTone Website: sayitaint.com
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