After taking a 14 year break, Sam Sneed is back and ready to make heads ring once again!

By Angelo Blount

When you think of Death Row Records, who are the first people that come to mind? Dr.Dre, Snoop, Tupac, Suge Knight and others. But there is one name that may not come to mind. But “you better recognize” his name is Sam Sneed. If you are a true fan of hip-hop then you will know the name. He has help make hits like “Keep their heads Ringin” and “Natural Born Killaz”.

Now, after 14 long years and surviving the storm of the old Death Row records and a battle with a brain tumor in 1999, which put a halt on his career. He has recovered and ready to move on with the next chapter in his life.

Following his life setback, Sam as produced such hits as Jay-Z (“Anything”), G-Unit (I smell P***Y), Scarface (“Fuck’n with Face”) and a host of others. 

John Payne, of WIDEawake/Death Row Records, had this to say, "Sam has stayed true to the game. His production was brilliant back in the nineties; he has somehow managed to improve and take his brilliance to another level! This collection of music is completely put together by Sam and his team. Sam reached into the vault and pulled out some heat from his Death Row days and added some new fire from an arsenal of recently completed tracks. All tracks have been produced, mixed and conceptualized by SAM SNEED.

It’s no secret that he is one of the masters with that LA sound. After giving everyone else hits over the years and staying busy in the studio. Sam is ready to deliver that four course meal a lot of people have been waiting for.

The album will feature tracks like "U Better Recognize," "Lady Heroine," "Goin' Hollywood," "Drug Related" and 10 brand new tracks Sam Sneed recorded specifically for the release of album. 

ONETEN: What’s good Sam; you have been MIA for a min. Congratulations on the new album, a new lease on life. How have you been and what have you been up to?

SS: Well actually after the album was completed, I went to NY to chill out you know kick back and reflect on life.

ONETEN: Now you were originally sign to Death Row Records in the early 90’s. How did that deal originally come about?

SS: Well actually I started with the Hit Squad.

ONETEN: Ok Eric Sherman and them.

SS: Yea I actually did K Solo second album so you know from way back I always wanted to get with Dr. Dre so when we went on the Hit Squad tour when we got out to LA I was asking everybody did they know how I can get in touch with Dr. Dre so maybe like the third person in Santa Barbara, I ran into this young lady and we was actually going to McDonalds to get something to eat I said I’m really out here trying to get in touch with Dr. Dre and she said Dr. Dre I baby-sit for Dr. Dre I said you lying she said nah I really do and she wrote his number down gave it to me and to make a long story short that’s how that happen.

ONETEN: Wow ok, ok that’s what it is right there so who was some of your music influences coming up?

SS: Far as hip-hop or far as music period?

ONETEN: I mean all the way around all genres.

SS: All old 70’s music from the R&B to the Rock, pop music in the 80’s and then first hearing hip-hop that really inspired me to really want to do that.

ONETEN: Ok, now let’s get to new and up coming project, 14 years in the making. What was the inspiration behind this album?

SS: Really it’s crazy how it happen, because WIDE awake came to me and ask me did I want to put that project out and I said sure but it was just talk in the beginning so I never knew that it was going actually materialize but then they came and met with me and then that’s when I knew they was serious and then what I wanted to do is put some of the old material out that I did back then but I also wanted to include the new material that I was doing at the time so its not all the old stuff from Death Row its just like four songs from back then and then everything else is like ten other songs of brand new music. So that’s what you’ll be hearing on this project.

ONETEN: Mainly a bunch of new material.

SS: Exactly

ONETEN: In the world of hip-hop, if you are away from the game for 3 years or more means you are retired? What did it take so long for you to come back with a major release?

SS: Well, budget not having a deal that’s basically it. I couldn’t fund it with my own money and nobody really reached out like that you know so.

ONETEN: Yea, which is a shame like I said the changes in the music industry. What’s separates your album from what we are hearing today on the radio?

SS: I don’t think anything does because I think I have something for what they’re doing today and I have something for what we where doing back then so I think I got a well balanced meal.

ONETEN: Now being a veteran in the game. What’s your take on current state hip-hop?

SS: The current state, I think we’re evolving everyday so you know a lot of people I hear that they don’t agree with what’s being done now but you know I don’t agree with that I feel like you just got to keep evolving and just keep doing something that’s much better you know that’s going to attract the peoples attention.

ONETEN: Yeah I agree with you on that, Will we find any major guess features on the album?

SS: All the features are actually the people I work with

ONETEN: Right

SS: Yea so it’s nobody in the industry

ONETEN: Ok so it’s gone be more less more independent artist.

SS: Exactly

ONETEN: ok I got you, Are there any songs on the album that people should pay attention to?

SS: Well like I said earlier you know I try to give you know the listeners a full balanced meal like you know you got the street material then you have the club you know I take them to the club and then I take them thru some consciousness you know what I mean.

ONETEN: Ok

SS: So it’s well rounded so the records I would say is like “Gorilla Pimpin”, “Uncle Sammy” my life testimony called “Survivor” that’s when I beat brain cancer.

ONETEN: Now with this album, would you say, you now have more control over your work the new Death Row records, then you did with the old Death Row?

SS: No, not at all I mean it’s the same I had control over both.

ONETEN: ok, because you know dealing with the industry that’s something rare that you find.

SS: Right, nah when I was with Death Row Dre & Suge both gave me full (atomany) to do whatever I wanted to do and they trusted my judgment.

ONETEN: So from a lot of stuff that you hear in the media how was it working with Suge?

SS: Well Suge was like, that’s the crazy thing people got this you know. Suge in the beginning it was great it’s just toward the tail end that’s when it started getting crazy and a lot of times when you know somebody as young as he was getting that type of money and you know they start I guess thinking they something that they ain’t but you know it was peace in the beginning it was no drama everybody was having fun everybody was very creative at that time and it just got ugly toward the end so you know once it get like that it’s time to shake the spot.

ONETEN: Oh most defiantly because yall where making some good music over there during that time cause even during that time that’s when I was putting my foot inside the industry I was like if it’s two labels I could sign with during that time would have been Death Row or Bad Boy.

SS: Yeah during that time everybody wanted to sign with Death Row, it was a beautiful thing and it just got crazy and then you know when Dre was leaving it’s like come on everybody went there because Dre was there.

ONETEN: Yeah, cause Dre was there, so it’s like you know once the co- Captain jump ship you know it’s something wrong with that ship.

SS: Yeah.

ONETEN: Yeah so have you over doubted yourself or a career decision that you have made?

SS: Any doubts, Nah not at all I’m very confident about what I’m doing, so nah I wouldn’t say I had ant doubts.

ONETEN: What was your favorite album in 2010 and why?

SS: You would have to name the ones that came out in 2010 because I don’t think I focused anybody like that name some of the top ones and I’ll tell you.

ONETEN: lol awww man.

SS: Yea I can say I love Drakes album I ain’t gone even front

ONETEN: Oh yea very talented brother.

SS: Yeah I like Drakes album, I’m thinking He probley the only album I really even listen to all the way thru quite a couple times.

ONETEN: What else do you lined up for 2011 and beyond?

SS: Just trying to keep on being successful at what I’m doing and just taking it to the next level hoping to be able to feed families

ONETEN: Any thing else you would like to tell your fans and our readers?

SS: Basically that I love all the support and I try to give you what you want to hear.