Artist Spotlight: T’trotta of the Merc Boyz

In this week’s artist spotlight, I had a chance to sit down with up and coming rapper T’Trotta. He is most known famously for the Merc Boyz (Big Hurt and T’trotta) smash hit “One O’clock”  and his solo single “I Feel So Good”.  T’trotta has dropped numerous of singles and mixtapes with his other half, Big Hurt. On January 1, 2011, T’trotta made his solo debut with the alias titled mixtape “Key 2 Da Streetz”.  T’trotta is expected to drop his second solo project in February entitled Campaign Musik and his album entitled “Key 2 Da Streetz - Da Lock-Up.” Check out the interview below!

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RS: Tell the people a little bit about who you are and where you from.

Trotta: Well you know Im T’trotta, also known as “Key 2 Da Streetz (K2DS)”. I am a Southern artist associated with Lil T601 and his Hustle Hard Campaign enterprise. I was born in Clarksdale, MS, then later moved to Greenwood, MS at the age of 17.

RS: Clarksdale, MS, that’s straight down 61, home of the blues and artists like Rick Ross and actor Morgan Freeman. That’s whats up. How did you earn the alias “Key 2 Da Streetz” or K2DS?

Trotta: “Key 2 Da Streetz” was a name that was given to me by a fellow Hustle Hard affiliate meaning if the streetz are on lock then, I got the key. I liked and decided to use it.

RS: What is  #CampaignMusik and Hustle Hard Campaign?

Trotta: “Campaign Musik” is the name of my second solo mixtape. I named it “Campaign Musik” because for one, it originated from the company, Hustle Hard Campaign; and two “Campaign”  is like your election, your promotion. The things you do to put you on the top. The “Hustle Hard” part speaks for itself.

RS:  When and how did you become interested in rap music?

Trotta: I was always into music and free-styling, but I recorded my first track in 2003 called “Shake Something” with da Dirty South Sluggers.  We got that song circulating around the town, the people started listening and that’s how we got started.

RS: I remember that track Shake Something, it was a southern club banger! Didn’t realize you was in the mix dawg.  What do you think it will take to put Mississippi on the Map as a competitor for hip hop artists or do you feel Mississippi is properly represented?

Trotta: No. I feel that it is not nearly enough unity in this state. I also feel that the only way for this state to compete with the “big dawgs” is to form unity.

RS: Do you think hip hop is headed in the right direction?

Trotta: No!

RS: Who are your musical influences?

Trotta: (laughs) Lil T601

RS: Let me get back to your style of music specifically. What separates your style of rap from other rappers and makes your music unique?

Trotta: Because I’m unique, and I rap about me, u feel me?! I created my own style based on me and my everyday life.

RS: If you could work with an artist right now, who would it be and why?

Trotta: I would work with anybody serious, independent or mainstream. This is what I do and if you serious, let’s get it.

RS: Tell me Trotta, where can your music be purchased or downloaded?

Trotta:  You can download my music is off www.hustlehardcampaign.com but you can find me on other sites such as datpiff, Itunes, etc.



RS: How can people interested in your music reach you? (facebook, twitter, youtube, reverbnation, websites)

Trotta:  You can follow me on twitter @T_trotta, look me up at Facebook.com/Ttrotta   Subscribe to me on youtube at  Youtube.com/mercboyz43 http://www.datpiff.com/profile/mercboyz43, http://www.hustlehardcampaign.com/, Or by email, TtrottaHHC@gmail.com

RS: Do you have any upcoming album releases, mixtapes or events coming up?

Trotta:  Yea, I got that “Campaign Musik” mixtape scheduled to drop in February and my album “Key 2 Da Streetz - Da Lock Up”  dropping late 2012.

RS: Trotta I wanna thank you for taking time out of your schedule to do this interview with me. Man, best of luck in the music game and we look forward to hearing more from you. Do you have any shoutouts u want to make?

Trotta: Yea, shoutouts out to  Hustle Hard Campaign man. Shoutouts to all the artists gringind and campaigning to be on the top. Shoutouts to the whole "Sipp" (Mississippi) my nigga! #Campaign

After 3OTs, Grizzlies lose steam to the Thunder: Series tied 2-2

Memphis - (Ron Tillery reporting) What do you call an NBA playoff game that features collapses, comebacks, clutch shots, is a credit to both teams’ will to win and doesn’t abide by anyone’s clock?
A classic.

That best describes the Grizzlies’ 133-123 triple overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal Monday night at FedExForum.

Not only is the best-of-seven series tied 2-2 but it is clearly marking the infancy of a budding rivalry, and a long, fierce fight for the right to play Dallas in the conference finals.

Everything about the nearly four-hour affair between the Griz-Thunder suggested as much.
Memphis led by 18 points in the second period. Oklahoma City stormed back and took a 10-point advantage midway in the fourth.

The Griz got a clutch, fourth-quarter 3-pointer from Mike Conley to initially extend the game. Then, rookie Greivis Vasquez connected on a miraculous long-range shot that forced even more time.
In the end, though, the Thunder had more energy and more key players on the floor in the third overtime. With the game knotted at 121, the Thunder put away the Griz with a 10-2 run that included the final eight points of the game.

Game 5 is set Wednesday in Oklahoma City if either team has enough energy left to play it.
Griz big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol each played 56-plus minutes. Randolph finished with 34 points and 16 rebounds. Gasol had 26 points and 21 boards. The Thunder offset that with Russell Westbrook’s career playoff-high 40 points and Kevin Durant’s 35-point and 13-rebound outing.

“It’s a tough loss,” Randolph said. “You’ve got to give (the Thunder) credit. They played well and hit big shots. Their two star players hit big shots toward the end of the game.”

Oklahoma City, which lost Game 3 in overtime after blowing a 16-point lead, reclaimed home-court advantage in dramatic fashion.

“This game is something people are going to be talking about for a while,” Durant said. “I'm glad I’m a part of it.”
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Now that the series is tied 2-2, we are back to square one. Although the Grizz travel to Oklahoma for game 5, I am confident this series will go through for seven games, with that game back in Okc. We need this one. BELIEVE is the team's motto, and I am doing just that.  Before I conclude, I would also like to commend the fans for an outstanding SUPPORT system for our Memphis Grizzlies. This game goes down in NBA history.

Video Premier: Nicki Minaj: Super Bass

It seems Nicki is back at it again. I am not sure this is hip-hop or Pop-Hop but whatever it is, I am sure the #teenyboppers will claim it is the best in music since Do the Stanky leg. Per Bossip, check the video below.