Big Teeze 

Going "OFF AIR!"

As soon as I walked into the “booth” of HOT 93.9 KIKI, the place was buzz’n with change.  The DJ’s, PD’s and MD’s were working on some new state of the art “stuff” and the only thing I could hear was Big Teeze laughing it up.  While everybody was tensely watching the change go down, it seemed to be that Teeze was working it like an X-Box paddle and had it under control.

If you know Big Teeze or have heard him on his show on KIKI 93.9, you know he’s loaded with true energy.  With a great sense of humor and an urgency to represent Hawaii and the Hip Hop movement, Teeze is on a mission.

But way before the public gleaming of his personality on radio, Big Teeze set some “first time” bench marks in the mainstream Hip Hop music biz.   I’ll roll back the tape a bit to bring it all up to speed.

After a “less than polished” youth, Big Teeze and a few of his Boyz started free-flown rap act Back 2 Basix.  After bringing it on to the rest of the islands, they were approached by promoter Matt Young after a local mall performance.  Before you know it, they were opening for Cypress Hill and House Of Pain. 

After readjusting to the rush of the fast lane, they changed their name to Herban Joint.  The act went through some more changes and it rounded it off to Teeze and Smax.  The next step was recording their first CD “Burrn’n Up Da Joint” which happened in Los Angeles .  That particular CD is the first to earn the dubious “Parental Advisory” sticker on a local artist.  Soon after, Herban Joint could be seen opening for such acts as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Naughty By Nature, N 2 Deep, Cypress Hill, Da Dawg Pound, and House of Pain.  

The next shift in gears came a few years later when Teeze hooked up with Derrick Rahming of Afro-Rican to form the group Hi-Town Dj’s.  This was the move that launched Big Teeze into the Big Top of Hip Hop.  Rolling up with a Billboard Top 10 hit called Ding A Ling, Teeze once again was the first Hawaiian to make a global impact in the Hip Hop market.  Running on the success of Ding-a-Ling, the Hi Town gang hit the road for a world tour that included “pass’n joints” with other monster acts like Wu Tang, Ice Tea, LL Cool, Puff Daddy and so forth.  But all the way through the ride, he was repp’n Waianae to the bone.  

After running hot on the Hi-Town gig, it was back to da boyz in Waianae and a new Hip Hop regime was born in Hawaii .  Realizing the talent he had in his backyard, he decided to make an investment in his future by taking on the roll of producer and mentor to local rap artists and opening his own label called Outsider Records.  He built his own studio and started to work with local Hip Hop acts.  One of the first to fly was super hot female artist BJ who ended up signing a major deal.  Then soon after, Teeze took on producing Kutmaster Spaz for his first CD release.  

Soon after the release of Spaz, he met Doug Farrar and artist Spookahuna to bring into focus and new breed of Music Biz to Hawaii .  As those wheels were turning, an “out of left field” opportunity came up when he was asked to DJ for radio station KIKI.  “I thought the guy was nuts.  I didn’t take it seriously at first and actually blew off the guy because I was tracking new stuff.  It wasn't something   was going for at the time. You know, I was doing da ting brah” said Teeze.  But as soon as Teeze realized that the gig was all good, he got on it and was a natural.  His infectious laugh and energy was a full-on tilt for the station as well as for Teeze.  

But not to leave his first love behind, Teeze still pumped up the volume and the making of Tiki Entertainment was on its way.  After another shift in the gig, Teeze hooked up with Spookahuna and a new entity was on its feet.  

Tiki Entertainment is not some backyard production crew.  They have a strong stable of artists that have direction and solid promotional plans.  But as Teeze is about representing Hawaii and Waianae, he helps bring up local artists before venturing out and releasing his own CD.  

But now is Big Teeze time.  Teeze has rolled out with a new killer CD called "Off Air" which is going to be self distributed by Tiki.  Offering 20 tracks and getting “real” support from radio, Teeze is getting pumped for upcoming shows around the state and focusing on Japan .  The radio play of Teeze might seem like it a given, but not so.  On the outer islands, Teeze is getting strong love, but here in Oahu , it’s going to be a tuff fight.  But that is only pure politics and Teeze even smugs and shrugs if off and understands the deal and that it's just biz.  

But Teeze and the gang at Tiki Entertainment are also real progressive and innovative thinkers.  Their website is real solid and the offer about 15 free tracks from various artists on the label (www.titkentertainment.com).   But even more appealing was the fact that he pre-released his CD to The West Side and allowed them to burn their own CD’s and started a real fire with the buzz.  Nuts?  NO WAY……….very smart.  Do you think the shows will sell out?  Take a guess.  

Throughout my interview with Teeze in his booth, what was truly apparent was the love he has for Hawaii and his people and total support for Hawaii's Hip Hop talent.  He speaks his mind and has no problem with going up on people with his opinions.  Most of which are not self righteous but always looking out for others and give opportunities instead of taking them.  For Teeze, I think he knows that he has a strong impact amongst his audience but it’s not apparent on the outside.  In a very cool way, Teeze has a “King Of Comedy” vibe about him that lights up any room in the house.  Tie that in with real life and passion for his music, and you have a long term artist that will end up doing more for those around him than for himself.  Teeze is endlessly in the hype of the club scene and can be caught holding court every weekend some where in the state.   

The prize in the box with Teeze is that no matter what the scenario is, he's back’n it up with truth and honor for 96792!