Big Sid Interview: SXSW 2010

Big Sid is a very positive rapper from San Angelo, Texas or as he calls it, Sid Angelo. On Saturday, March 20th, Big Sid is "honored" to take the stage at the Best of Texas Showcase with big names such as Slim Thug, Paul Wall and Chamillionaire. However, even if he wasn't playing, he would still be at SXSW as a music fan. Spinner recently caught up with Big Sid to talk about which shows he's looking forward to and just how cool SXSW really is.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Motivational. That's what I try to do with it, be motivational to people. I think a lot of music in these past years has been uninspiring, like not really telling people what they need to do to get in the game and do something positive with your life. I think the music industry is really missing that right now, especially the rap and hip hop game.

How did you get your start in the rap game? You've been doing this for awhile now, right?

For a while, man! I think I was like 15. My parents weren't real big on me doing the music stuff, so I had to be real sneaky. Well, my dad, he was a big listener of a lot of different music, so that's where I get a lot of the soul stuff from. He wasn't too big on the hip hop scene and stuff like that, but he knew that I always wanted to be in the music industry. He really wanted me to go to school, but I pretty much took it into my own hands. When I was 15 and 16, I was going into the studio on my own and making my own money and paying for my own studio time. I got to learn something really important to me with the music, and I find myself in the studio a lot more and more each year after that and that's where Big Sid came from. Also man, when I was younger, I was reading a lot of books -- behind the scenes stuff -- a lot of stuff that most people don't know about. I just wanted to be educated in every way for the music game and here I am now, 25 and I'm still going strong.

So, I know you like a lot of old soul stuff, but what are some of your other music influences?

OutKast, of course, Goodie Mob, the old Fugees of course, Killer Mike and also a lot of Texas rappers. The ones I'm on the show with like Paul Wall, Chamillionaire and Slim Thug. Man, it's outrageous, I listen to a wide variety of people. It just depends what it is at the time, from Kanye to Jay-Z -- stuff like that, people that really put out a message to the people. I really like stuff like that. I can't forget Common, that's another one that really is a positive influence to me. Anyone that gives a message, but I'm still a big listener of the Texas scene, because that's what I grew up on.

How did you decide to go by Big Sid? How did you get that name?

Just in high school. I started rapping saying Big Sid and stuff like that and I just stuck with it from then on. There wasn't anything that creative about it, putting the big in front of it. When people hear the name Big Sid, they think of a fat guy or something like that, and I'm really skinny.

You call your hometown Sid Angelo?

Nah, originally I'm from Lake Charles, Louisiana. I moved to Texas and I stay in Sid Angelo. I've stayed out there for like eight years and just started moving around. You know how it is when you go to a new spot and you really don't know anyone but you know what you really want to do? It just took time to really get to know the community and for them to show me love and stuff like that. First, I started throwing shows myself, and then I brought the concerts. So I was doing the rapping and I was doing promotion. Bringing the artist out there for the fans to see and it just built up my rap career at the same time. In the past probably sixteen months, I've brought The Game out here, I've brought Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Ying Yang Twins. I brought Shwayze out there. I just started loving what I was doing and I put my name on everything I do -- people know if Big Sid's name's on it, it's official and it's going to be a big event. So I'm proud to say that I'm also a pretty good promoter.

Will this be your first time at SXSW?

This is actually my second time performing. I performed two years ago on another set, but this is the one I'm really looking forward to, because when I first stepped out to SXSW, I wasn't prepared. I didn't know what was involved with SXSW. Now, SXSW is something that I look to every year. When it comes around it's something to look forward to, regardless if I'm performing or if I'm just going as a fan, because you can catch every genre and every culture over there. It's pretty good for me. Two years ago, I saw Cody Chesnutt and I remember seeing him playing stuff with The Roots. So, just to go in there and watch him play, it's something different for me. There's just different people you can see out there. Me personally, I'm not just a hip hop fan, I like music as a whole. It's an honor for me to be on SXSW.

So you're on the Best of Texas showcase. Are some of the other acts playing your friends?

Actually, Chalie Boy and his crew, I'm probably closest to them. I know Paul Wall and Chamillionaire and also I know Trae too from just throwing shows and bringing them down to San Angelo, Texas. So, it's a good bill to be on the same show with them and actually be performing. My other shows, I was just bringing them out there.

Your show is on Wednesday night. Will you be sticking around for the whole week then?

Oh yeah. Definitely. I'll get there early Wednesday and I won't leave until Sunday. I already got a set schedule of what places I want to hit. I look forward to it all.

Who are you really looking forward to this year?

Oh man, the first time I went up there, I saw this guy, Evidence, from Dilated Peoples -- he's going to be back. I want to see him and Alchemist. I wouldn't mind seeing Nas, but his [show] is on the same night as mine. Killer Mike, who is a good friend of mine, The Cool Kids, Schwayze, Redman's supposed to be out there. I'm just going to be hopping around seeing as many people as I can.


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