‘The Squeeze’ with Tayyib Ali

Philadelphia artist Tayyib Ali has been on his grind for a minute now.  But if you ask him, he might say that 2014 is his best year yet.  After years of putting in the ground work, Tayyib Ali signed his first deal this past summer with Steve Rifkind, music mogul who founded Wu-Tang Clan, Akon, Asher Roth, and David Banner.  Whether the Philly rapper, that started honing his rap skills at the tender age of 10, achieves the legendary status like Wu-Tang or hold multiple chart topping spots like Akon is unknown.  One thing is for sure, Tayyib is on his way to something big under Rifkind’s guidance.  Now that his last independent mixtape before he starts releasing music under his new label is out, we talked to Tayyib a little about his new mixtape.

What’s going on?

Just enjoying the release of my new project Keystone State of Mind 3! Smoking; just landed from Oregon, had a show with Odd Future out there. Now I’m back working on new music.

With the year coming to a close, how has the year treated you?

This year has been one of the most influential years of my life. I signed my first deal in May, I traveled across Europe, and I made a series of new music that I am comfortable with, not saying I wasn’t comfortable with the earlier sounds. I love it.

Explain the meaning behind “Keystone State Of Mind.” What are some of the major factors that inspired this new tape?

Some of the major factors are the struggle, pushing positivity, the streets, long road trips from Philly to Pittsburgh, or even from Philly to Los Angeles. The Keystone State of Mind was inspired by growing up in Pennsylvania as a kid. I vividly remember trying to come up with a name for my mixtape, & the old PA license plates immediately popped into my head. Pennsylvania license plates always said “The Keystone State” on it. I’ve spent time all over my state and witnessed so many other artist do it and become embraced by their city so I figured, why not do something that makes my whole state see what I’m doing. I just wanted to make something to embody that.

Tayyib Ali

What areas would you say that you progressed the most in since Keystone State Of Mind 2?

On Keystone 2 I was still a kid in Philly with nothing. I recorded that whole mix tape in North Philly’s most rugged area. With this new mixtape, I recorded some of it in Copenhagen, DK. Even some in Penthouses in NYC. Its a different sound but the same Tayyib. It was well more thought out and I had the luxury on this one. I think I progressed a lot in song writing, and I think the overall sound is there now. My music matches my personally and the life that I’m living in that current state. I make music for the people who listen.

What do you want fans to take away from your new mix tape?

I just want the people to know me fully. I want them to take away the urge to work hard and make whatever their dreams are come true. Its definitely possible. I also want them to take away all the things that I’m saying and listen, maybe a select few will get introduced to some of the clothes i talk about, or feel inspired.

How much weed do you need to have in the studio with you at all times?

HA! That’s where the song “In My Pocket” came about. I was spending time in Christiania. Everyone knows that you can get unlimited weed there. One of the only Hippy Communities in the world. But I always have at least some grams.

Tayyib Ali

I’ve noticed that Visionary Music Group is not involved with this release. What’s the relationship like and are you still signed with them? What’s the next step for Tayyib Ali?

I was the first artist signed to Visionary. I basically made that label in the beginning. Our relationship is cool. But I just signed a deal in may with Steve Rifkind and Russell Simmons new label All Def Music this past summer. As for myself, I have an EP dropping under my new label “All Def Digital” this upcoming May, as well as gearing up to release some visual content. I’m always working on music.

 

Make sure you stream/download Tayyib Ali’s new mixtape, Keystone State of Mind 3.

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