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Tangled Thoughts - Don't Get It Twisted
Interview By: Serge Fleury
 The "Hip-Hop Group" has a very long time line. From innovators, Run DMC, to the infamous 2 Live Crew, to the soulful sounds of Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, not to mention, A Tribe Called Quest. The chemistry between MC and DJ/producer is always crucial to the acts longevity. Some groups have stood the test of time, while others have faded in the dust. One of Hip-Hop's newest trios ready to make their mark, is Tangled Thoughts.
 Consisting of Cas, De, and Tek, these newcomers from Philadelphia plan on being around for long time come. With an abundance of Rock, R&B, and Hip-Hop influences; Tangled Thoughts keeps the traditional Philly sound that people have grown accustomed to over the years. When you throw in the fact that West Coast Gangsta, Kurupt (also a Philly native) is cosigning on them, it just adds more fuel to their fire. After working with them, Young Gotti was so impressed with their talents, they came together for "Kurput Presents: Tangled Thoughts Philly 2 Cali."
Following in the footsteps of such names like The Roots, Beanie Sigel, and Cassidy; Tangled Thoughts comes right in to pick up the torch. NobodySmiling had a chance to sit down with these new draft picks, as they discussed beats, rhymes, and life.
NobodySmiling.com : So how did you first come together as a group?
Cas : Well let me give you the short version. I met De up in Seattle Washington, and we went to school out there. I did my back and forth; from Philly to Washington thing, and that's when I met Tek, one time out in Philly, and he did beats. So it only made sense, then we got together and did some tracks. Then I brought the tracks back to Washington to let De hear them, and after that we all got down together. We made a trip back to Philly so we could all record together, and we were like "this is where we need to be." That's how we all got down, like that.
NobodySmiling.com : What do you think is going to separate you from all other new acts coming out?
De: Its just the way we do things, we are all individuals. We hit the streets the way we hit the streets; and we are going to put it across to you with our perspective. I can't be the next man, I can only be me. That's how we are, we're giving you three different perspectives, for a certain topic. Judging by we do it; can't nobody do it how we do it, you know what I mean [smiles].
NobodySmiling.com : Do you guys ever bump heads when coming up with song concepts?
Cas : Nah, its mostly surprising how we come with ideas. One person might come up with a hook, and then another person with a beat. So to come up with song topics is real easy, it comes natural with us.
De: Well this is the thing right here, this is the eighth year that we've been a group. We've been making music for a long time, so our egos are well in check. We done went through all the things we needed to go through, and now its just an understanding, you know. We make so many records, when we're at the studio. Obviously Tek produces, so its like we live in the studio. We ain't the type of artists that's going to be stuck in there, and make the same kind of records, and call that "the album." We don't need to bump heads on records, because we just wax that one down, and then we are on to the next one.
NobodySmiling.com : How would you base your style, would you say it's more commercial, underground, or a bit of everything?
Tek : Uh... [laughing] I hate to pigeon hold us, by say we are either underground or commercial. But it's definitely a good mix, know what I mean. I wouldn't say it's necessarily underground, nor would I call it commercial. I think we ride the line pretty good.
NobodySmiling.com : Do you guys feel any pressure to do well because this is your first album?
Cas : Not really pressure, it's more about being anxious. We really don't let any of the pressure get to us, we just really like to do us. We're really behind the material that we are putting out, and we really feel good about it. So we are just anxious for people to hear it, because we've been getting crazy responses about it.
De: We got a lot of big homies, and a lot of powerful people on the West Coast putting a stamp on what we do. They're letting people hear it, and get down with it, know what I saying. The way that it's getting received [pauses] it ain't even out yet, and the response is good and sh*t man. We are letting the veterans guide us, and we are making the music that we feel. We ain't trying to be in anyone else's trends, we ain't trying to be behind the next mothaf***a. We just doing us, [laughing] for real.
NobodySmiling.com : What's one of the hardest adjustments you had to make as a newly signed group?
Tek : Deadlines [laughing] when you're not signed, and you have nothing coming out; you can do whatever you want. You can take years to do it, know what I mean. But when you put together that one body of material, and you have a company behind you, and they're telling you; "hey look, we need this by then, and we need that by this time" it really changes your world. You have to be on point with your sh*t, know what I mean.
De: But the best part is the money, know what I mean. [laughing]
Tangled Thoughts : [laughing collectively]
NobodySmiling.com : Yeah, I'm betting that is one of the best parts. [laughing]...I've heard some new artists say "sometimes its good not to have a hit song at first, because then it might be difficult to follow that." Would you agree with that?
Cas : Yeah, definitely understand where the artist is coming from with that statement. But right now, that really doesn't matter to us. Because our sound speaks for itself, like we're going to hit you with one; and then another, and then another. There are a lot of singles on the album already, so we aren't too nervous about that.
De: Yeah man, and also when we first came out, we already had songs go to number one. So we are already getting the radio love, and we understand what people want. So we kind of feel that, but sh*t; ain't nothing like having a smash hit on the radio [smiles]. Then going out to perform for like 20,000 people, know what I mean. [smiles]
NobodySmiling.com : Right now there are a lot of acts coming out and fans seemed to get overwhelmed with music, do you think it'll be hard to introduce yourselves to an already over populated market?
Tek : I think it's really the opposite, I think there's an opening for something new, and for a breath of fresh air. Like you said, it's over saturated, but it's a bunch of the same and it's a little repetitive. So I think we can bring something new that's different, and hasn't been there before, know what I mean.
Cas : There's definitely a lot of stuff coming out and a lot of people doing there own thing, and that's good. But we are trying to get a different vibe, and like Tek said "we are something new." We aren't just trying to give the people singles and songs, we are trying to give them something new, that's why we are doing the whole "Philly to Cali" thing, not just a song. Like back in the day, people liked artists. That's what we are trying to bring back, we are here for the longevity. We ain't here for what's hot at the time and then be out, we are in this to be in it.
NobodySmiling.com : With that said, new groups are her today and gone tomorrow. How do you intend on sticking around for a while?
De: Uh.. With mothaf***ing classic material. That's how we plan on staying around. The homies Sen Dog and B Real from Cypress Hill; they had an opportunity to come see us, and do our thing. They were like "man you wanna know something?" "every time you step in the booth, and you spit fire for the next 16 years, you'll be straight." So the key to the game is to make every record like its your last record, and like it's the only thing that people are going to hear, know what I mean. [smiles]
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