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 Big Noyd

What's up Noyd?

Big Noyd:  What's popping?

Why'd you decide to title your new album Illustrious?

Big Noyd: I named the album Illustrious because we were sitting back trying to really think, "Ok, what are we trying to showcase with this album?" You may not see me on MTV or BET or worldwide but in my right I'm a star. I mean I came from nothing and created something out of my life. That alone, to be alive today and not dead or in jail - thank god and knock on wood, that itself alone is like I'm a star when it comes to that. It's like I'm not a star in rap and I don't even believe in stuff like that, but I'm a star to myself. That's why we named the album illustrious.

The album is executive produced by Lil Fame. How'd that come about? And for people who don't know, what does he do in the position of executive producer?

Big Noyd: Fame from M.O.P is a great producer. I knew him for a while but hadn't actually made music with him. We had did one joint in the studio and I just bumped into him on the humble. We did that one joint and it was crazy so we wanted to do more. We ended up doing like 8-10 songs and kept 4 of the songs. As far as him being executive producer, he helped me pick beats from other producers and he helped me come up with concepts for the songs. All around he helped me balance this album out.

That must've speed up the beat selection process a bit.

Big Noyd: It's also something that helped out in terms or stepping out of that Mobb Deep shadow. Stepping out of that time and that same ole sound, which there's nothing wrong with. I still stick to my roots but it enabled me to step out of that zone. With this new album it's going to be a lot different than my old albums. I'm bringing something new, so someone picking up the Illustrious album they don't have to worry about picking up the same old feel they may have gotten from my old material.

You openly admitted to "stepping out of that Mobb Deep shadow". Was that something you've struggled with in your career?

Big Noyd: Nah, actually I could've always done my own thing. It was a family thing. We had a lot of plans. We had Mobb Deep albums, The Prodigy solo album, then we were supposed to come out with a Noyd solo album and a Havoc solo album before the movies. That was all planned out, so it wasn't like I was stuck in Mobb Deep's shadow. It was our plan to let Mobb Deep do there thing first and from there we all come out as solo artists. It was a bigger plan and like a lot of people say, "Things don't go according to plan". It is what it is man, you know?

The single "Things Done Changed" is out right now. How's the response been and is there a video planned?

Big Noyd: Good. We just wrapped up the video last week. They're doing the editing now so we should get something back tomorrow actually. Once we get the editing back we're going to release the video sometime next week I believe.

What are the next singles or videos planned?

Big Noyd: We got "Money Talk" which is the second single off the album. So we are going to see how well the first video does and if that does well then we'll go ahead and shoot the next video for "Money Talk". We are just going to take it step by step and see how this album progresses.

Who are some of the other guests and producers you worked with?

Big Noyd: I worked with Rick Rude, I worked with Havoc, I worked with DJ Skizz, I worked with Fame as you know and I worked with Sebb. I think that's about it and I hope I'm not forgetting anybody else. Yeah, that's about it so far.

Do you plan to tour with the album?

Big Noyd: We start on the 17th. We'll probably start in Connecticut, Boston, Rhode Island and then we'll make our way back down to New York. Hit up Philly, you know, go through Philly to Maryland, D.C., Virginia and then hopefully get out to North Carolina.

You mentioned Lil Fame helped you out a lot with the beat selections. Was that the main difference in approach than with your previous albums?  

Big Noyd: Not only just pick out the beats but he helped me pick out the concepts of the songs. And the way I usually record is I get in the lab, lay my own rhymes and even when I was doing stuff with Mobb Deep they let me do my own thing when I feature with them, or even when I'm doing my own album I was always at the head of the wheel. This time I got to sit back and Fame's at the head of the wheel so he actually didn't help me pick out the beats he helped me come up with concepts. When I would write a song or a hook he would be like change that or I like that or I don't like that. So he really sat there and picked apart every piece of each song he could possibly do. He was really hands on.

What should Noyd fans expect when they cop it?

Big Noyd: This is a heat banger right here. There's a lot of energy. A lot of people ask me and I compare it to a rock and roll album. Like this album right here is definitely good for the house, it's good for the car, but this type of album you definitely want to see me perform. A lot of these songs are like performance songs. A lot of energy comes with these songs.

How'd you hook up with Koch Records?

Big Noyd: Actually a friend had a company called Landspeed. Now he's an A&R on Koch now so I had a relationship with him already. We weren't really shopping and I bumped into him on the humble one day while he was working on the Prodigy album "Return of the Mac". He was like, "Yo what's up? What you doing right now?" I was like you know I'm at the studio. I let him hear a few songs and he was open so we talked about a new album and we took it from there.

You've had bad label experiences in the past, what do you expect out of a label before you sign a contract? Has Koch delivered on what you've wanted thus far?

Big Noyd: What I expect is what they promise up front. A guaranteed video, a guaranteed promo tour, guarantee to connect to other producers I can't get to myself, some in-house production. At this point Koch has definitely been on point so far, I can give them that. There's always more that you want from a label but it's a business for them, for me it's my life. But for them its a business so we have to come to agreements at times and meet in the middle. If it was up to me I would have them spending millions of dollars and that's just not good for them. At this point we've been able to compromise a lot so it's been pretty good.

Do you have your own label at the moment?

Big Noyd: Yeah, actually I have Noyd Inc. This album is coming out Noyd Inc/Koch. I got Koch distribution but I got my own studio and my own label. So it's like a 50/50 with Koch right now.

Do you have any artists on Noyd Inc.?

Big Noyd: Not right now. What I'm trying to do before I work with other artists is work with producers. I'm trying to get their beats to other artists at this point. Once I get to the point I'm in a situation that my album is coming out and I'm good and established, I'm definitely looking into getting some other artist.

Mobb Deep doesn't appear on your new album? And why did you not have an appearance on their last album after showing up on all their previous work?

Big Noyd: It was just a different scenario at the time. When they hooked up with 50 Cent I was actually out of town doing my own thing getting my own connects. The reason they're not on my album is I wanted to give the fans something completely different, like a whole Noyd project. Like I was saying, it wasn't like I was in Mobb Deeps' shadow, but being so affiliated with them they expected it all the time. I know they expected it this time, so I wanted to fuck their heads up and show them how ill I can be as a solo artist.

Prodigy is currently serving a prison sentence. Have you given him any advice and do you feel like prison time helped you grow as a person by giving you time to reflect?

Big Noyd: Yeah, definitely man. I mean it all depends how you approach the situation. You get in there and it's another world. Anything can happen and anything goes. It can be really on you, how you carry yourself in that environment. You definitely can gain something good out of it. No one wishes anyone jail, but like I'm saying for health reasons P wont be smoking or doing certain things, he can get his proper rest and if he picks up a couple of books and reads them more than he has on the streets, he can gain more knowledge and definitely come out a better person.

You starred in Mobb Deep's Murda Muzik film; do you have ambitions of getting more acting roles in the future?

Big Noyd: Hopefully man if the opportunity presents itself. I would definitely love to do more acting. That was a great experience for me. I played a character not too far from real life so maybe if something pops up I would love to do another character that's completely not me, something I would never do. I don't care what it is you know? Just something that's not me like me playing a white man or something. [Laughs] Just something that's not me, you know?

[Laughs] What's your opinion on the state of Hip Hop right now? Are you a fan of the music being made in the industry?

Big Noyd: I mean the music coming out is definitely completely different than the music I make, but I do enjoy it. I mean there's stuff you won't catch me doing as an artist but I go to the clubs and I enjoy some of that new music that's getting out. I'm not knocking it at all.

You said that your appearance on The Infamous was enough to get you a major label contract? Has that motivated you to come your hardest on everything after that since you know what one appearance can do for your career?

Big Noyd: Not really, when I go to the studio I go hard period. It wasn't planned it wasn't like I did this verse and got a deal from it. It was just me being me, so that's why I just stay the way I am. I don't look at it like, "Yeah let me go hard and my career will be better". I'm going to go hard regardless; I'm always going to give all I got. At the end of the day what really got me a major deal was me being me, so that's what I continue to do.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Big Noyd: The album comes out January 22nd. Illustrious, go cop that and for those fans that don't know Noyd. I'm straight from Queens Bridge to the death, no matter what me and Mobb Deep is together for life no matter what you heard. Mobb Deep those are my brothers. Havoc and P, I love them to death and it's the same with them I already know. So I don't want the world to get it twisted just because they are not on my album it don't mean nothing. We're Queens Bridge to the death and this new album right here, after you cop the album look out for the shows because you're definitely going to want to see me perform.


Drew & Andy