
Obie Trice’s new album is called Bottoms Up, and the Detroit MC insists he hasn’t bottomed out, he’s simply going through a rebirth. The former Shady artist’s last disc, Second Round, came out way back in 2006 – yep, he stepped off for a bit. Obie says during his hiatus he focused on raising his two daughters (13 year old Kobie and five year old Chloe) and dealing with the death of his mother.
It was back in 2008 when Obie came to career crossroads, leaving Interscope, the only recording home he’s ever known and the place he dropped the classic “Got Some Teeth,” due to business and artistic differences. Now with the independent label Ingrooves, he says he wants to give fans a refill of his music.
Writer Shaheem Reid recently got on the phone with him to talk about the new disc (which features the video “Spend The Day“) and the conversation veered off towards reconnecting with Eminem and Dr. Dre (they each help out on a pair of Bottoms Up tracks) and sharing a drink with President Obama. He even reveals a secret about his sexual interests and the album title’s alternate meaning.
Vevo: Welcome back. You have the late great MC Breed on the album. He passed away in 2008. How long did it take you put this project together?
Obie: It took me eight or nine months to make the album. The verse with MC Breed is a few years old. He was a real good friend of mine, and he shot me that verse before he died. I just wanted to put him on there. He told me a lot of stories from back in the day of when he used to roll with Tupac. I never got a chance to see Tupac in concert or meet him, but Breed used to put me up on game about how Pac was.
You and Eminem connect on “Richard.” The hook is hilarious but the bars are ferocious. What was it like going in with Em again, somebody you’ve made countless records with?
Obie: It was cool. It was real retrospective. We got it in, talked about the old days. Talked about what’s going on in each other’s lives. We joked around and we created. That’s my brother.
You also were able to secure Dr. Dre for the title track/intro.
Obie: Dre sent me the beat. I wanted to open the album with a Dre track. Dre was real receptive to that. I wanted to vent a little bit [on the track]. That feeling of the beat took me to the depths of what you hear.
“Ups and Downs” is the track that probably contains the most venting. You touch on lots of personal subjects.
Obie: Yeah. Just a lot of things that went on in my personal life: chicks lying, my man Carlos Powell just got indicted on some conspiracy shit, dudes telling on him. He’s about to do life. I talked about the marketing situation [in the business] and if you’re not targeted as something that’s popular, then they don’t go full-on like they should. I would never ever get another major record deal, never. I will definitely put music out on my own. I feel that’s the only way.
All of your albums have a drinking theme to them. What rapper can drink you under the table?
Obie: Probably Kurupt. Xzibit used to drink heavy. I don’t know if he still does. He’ll get it in with you. Proof used to get it in. That’s about it man.
If you could have a drink with President Obama, what are three questions you would ask him?
Obie: What types of books does he read? How does his wife handle him being the President, the top man in the world?. What are some of the ways he raises his two daughters and how does he handle that? I have two daughters myself.
Your daughters are keeping up with your career, but do you keep up with stuff they like? Do you know how to do the Dougie? Do you listen to Diggy Simmons?
Obie: (Laughing) Yeah. I fuck with them on that. My oldest is a real Big Sean fan. My little mama just likes hip-hop music. I joke around [and dance], but you won’t catch me on TV doing that shit.
Tell me about using your baby picture for the album cover.
Obie: My mother died from breast cancer last year. I had to go to the crib and clean out her house, get photo albums and get paper work together and all of that stuff. [My album cover photo] was the picture hanging over her bed for years. I was coming out with Bottom’s Up and I didn’t have artwork for it. I was like ‘I’m just going to use this. This is my new beginning.’ I have new album coming out on my new imprint, and this is my new birth.
You have a track on the album called “Secrets.” What’s a secret about yourself you can reveal to the fans who read this?
Obie: I’m an ass fanatic! I go crazy for a black woman, white woman or whatever. I’m ass crazy. Ass and hips! I’m socially sick with that shit. I be with my girl and turn around on her and look back at that ass. I’m bad with it. – Shaheem Reid