Who You Should Hear: TomCee Interview

This Interview has been long awaited and anticipated on both ends! Been following the homie for awhile now. Making his first appearance on the IAHHM platform, we got the homie Tom Cee coming from out San Diego! A natural soul man, this guy has a good spirit and is very serious about his artistry and making it in the music industry. We had a chance to catch up with the homie so we had a little Q&A to discuss topics such as; Drake, Kanye West, Top Producers in the game, top singers in the game, ways to market your music, sponsorship/distribution deals and much more! Also attached is the official music video for “SHINZO”. Read the full Q&A TomCee Interview below and stream TomCee's music via Spotify, Apple Music or any streaming platform!

TomCee Interview

WHERE DOES DRAKE RANK IN YOUR BEST OVERALL RAPPER LIST?

I would say.. At number one, it’s hard to put someone new above Tupac and Biggie, but I’m pretty sure he’s got what they need for the history books.

FAVORITE HIP HOP GROUP OF ALL TIME? 

Bone Thugs n Harmony, 100%

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START BEING INTERSTED IN SPIRITUALITY?

Around 17, that was about the same time that my grandmother and brother passed away within a week of each other. I knew something else was at play.

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU PURSUING YOUR GOALS?

They were definitely sketched out at first, sort-of worried about what my pen would be like, and whether I would try to blame having a spotty childhood on them or not. Ultimately they came around though, and my Mom is one of my biggest supporters. Shout out to my parents!

WHAT PLATFORM ARE YOU USING TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS?

Instagram and Apple Music,

I use a few different social media and streaming platforms, but I owe most of my organic growth progress to those two.

WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON KANYE WEST? 

I love the dude, I think he’s bat-sh*t crazy, but it takes some of that to be a half-decent artist these days.

HOW MANY ARTISTS or FREELANCERS HAVE YOU COLLABORATED WITH LOCALLY? 

About 10-15 in total, I’ve got a few of the local homies on on my last project QMHV. & I Also hit the studio with a few local greats on my Demo tape “Tom Cee- Volume 1.5ive”

HOW SERIOUS ARE YOU ABOUT MAKING A LIVING FROM YOUR PASSION ? ARE YOU A STUDENT OF YOUR CRAFT?

I’m definitely a student of the industry and very serious about the business side, I always having to take a step back and tell myself “dont be a try-hard.”

At the end of the day, though, that’s what it takes to get a business off the ground. I’m cool with that.

WHAT IS LACKING IN HIP HOP MUSIC OR MUSIC IN GENERAL THAT YOU THINK CAN CHANGE? 

Interestingly enough, I think hip hop isn’t lacking anywhere, but needs some simplicity. I love the new age of music and style, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss some of the music out of the early 2000’s.

IN ORDER, RANK YOUR TOP 5 PRODUCERS IN THE GAME RIGHT NOW? 

If we’re on the single-beat making side of it:

Afgnml,

Foolie Surfin’,

Kanye West,

Scott Storch, &

Moka Only

More on the full album production side:

40

Boi 1da

Metro Boomin

Ronnie King &

Dr Dre

FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2019?

It would be a tie between Revenge of the Dreamers III and KIRK. Kanye’s new album hit a little different too.

IN ORDER, RANK YOUR TOP 5 RAPPERS IN THE GAME

Drake

Kanye West

Meek Mill

J. Cole

Kendrick Lamar

TOP 5 R&B Artists?

T-Pain

Chris Brown

Bruno Mars

Pharrell

Mike Posner (I’ll take the heat if you consider him Pop)

TOP 5 SINGERS OF ALL TIME?

Rihanna

Taylor Swift

Beyoncé

Michael Bublé

Lady Gaga

DO YOU THINK THE STREAMING ERA IS HURTING OR BENEFITING ARTISTS THESE DAYS? 

It’s a benefit for sure, I m not very good with first time interactions, so I’m glad there’s a lane for dudes like me to drop music in. I wouldn’t get far selling CD’s at the corner mart.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE TO ASPIRING ARTISTS FROM YOUR AREA?

Don’t listen to too many of our peers, no one in our area has seen true commercial success yet.

Where are you from ? 

To make it simple: North County, San Diego. I was born and raised in Escondido, moved to Oceanside in my formative years, and moved between Vista and Oceanside ever since.

-Do you work on this project alone or is there a team involved?

When I was learning how to Mix and Master I would work alone exclusively, just so I wouldn’t have a loose or false opinion in my ear. But on just about anything else, it’s safe to say I have a team involved. I write my own lyrics, too.

-what is your dream job?

Honestly I’m already working my dream job. I have a studio in my apartment and I engineer, write, and produce for my friends trying to make it big! I would love to move to a outside building in the future, and of course upgrade everything 10 times over, but I already have the tools to maintain professional work.

-If you were offered a perfect distribution/sponsorship from every major company in america which company would suit you and your brand the most? 

I would love to work with Interscope, I really like how they project the artist image over the label image.

-What is your favorite movie? Favorite actor? 

 The Wolf of Wall Street, it really captures what it’s like to sell your soul, and what it would be like to live in the 80s-90s era it takes place in. Favorite actor would be Quentin Tarantino, he’s been a part of so many classics, and wears so many hats in the industry that I couldn’t help but to admire him.

-Tell me some of your biggest and/or most enjoyable moments so far? 

My biggest moments would definitely be working with some local legends and the love I’ve been shown so far. Opening up for Dezzy Hollow with my boy Stvtic Steve (I just had his ad libs but still), working in Emerson Windys studio, and being a degree of separation from Mitchy Slick. Mostly though, seeing my music stream worldwide blows my mind everyday.

-Name 3 things that make you unique as an artist? 

My background ; I grew up in California, but my parents raised me to be as southern minded as possible. Fixing cars n sh*t, working with heavy equipment, and drinking Coors light. While my surroundings had me engulfed in hip hop and art culture. My accents get wild.

I worked really hard for this, started at age 13 once I could understand it was going to take hard work and dedication, then never stopped working at it. I made beats on the Macs at our school when we were done for the day, wrote songs to YouTube beats in my car or on the bus, and worked up to building my studio day job by day job.

I’m emotionally realistic, not everyone can be ok. Some stories end sadly. Beauty lies in the fact a certain event is over, in my opinion.

-Where do you see yourself going with this? What are your big plans?

I have an undeniable urge for commercial success and big label support, but I also wanna drop a song on SoundCloud out of no where for the fans once in a while. On an independent level it’s important for me to find the balance between the two, and start promoting on a larger level until I can garnish some more label attention. I’d like to say we’ve all been offered a shitty deal before, but Man, the ones that throw me a bone were born in a Escondido storm drain.

-Any projects in the works?

Yeah, I got a new track on the way called 76whoah (feat. Afgnml), should be available after 12 am on the 17th of January, 2020. First drop of the new decade, lesgooooo!

-Whats the best way to get in 

contact with you if we need work done?

On my website liltomcee.com there’s a subscription box and contact information for any booking agencies, or promoters that need to get in touch!

@therealtomcee on Instagram is available as well, and hosts an email link and DM’s available for anyone trynna drop me a line!

Thank you for the interview, I had a lot of fun!

Tom Cee ️