Although many of us dream to be in the limelight, only a select few can consider themselves fit to survive in the entertainment industry. Aside from the executive advisors, critics, after parties, and paparazzi, it takes tough skin to break into Hollywood and an even tougher spirit to last in it. Too many times has the world seen the rise and fall of the "Next Big Thing" have its dreams crushed due to a premature birth into stardom. Aspiring entertainers approach with caution, this business turns boys into men - weeding out the imposters in the process.

California-bred emcee Shwayze has no such fear of failure. Shwayze, along with music producer Cisco Adler, has made his name a familiar one in the music industry. In the summer of 2008, the entertainment world got its first dose of Shwayze and Cisco on MTV's reality show Buzzin, which featured the two entertainers making and performing their music while living the rock star life. Fans fell in love with hits such as Corona and Lime and the title track Buzzin while watching the series.

The anticipated release of Shwayze's self-titled album in August of 2008 served as an introduction of Malibu's lyrical son into the music scene. Since then, fans from all over have been able to catch him and producer Cisco performing on tour in addition to being spotted all over Hollywood media.

Now approaching the end of the 2009 year, Shwayze has prepared to take the next step into a promising musical career. While many rockers decide to party hard after the release of a successful project, this talented emcee has remained in the studio preparing the release of his sophomore effort. While cruising the streets of California, Shwayze decided to pull off and catch up with Yo! Raps about his upcoming release. He also gave his thoughts on touring, producer and labelmate Cisco, and his plan to avoid the infamous sophomore slump.

So just to get things started, how has the entertainment industry been treating you?

It's pretty good man I love it. I always wanted to be in this industry so it's a dream come true man. Really good.

I hear you and Cisco are on tour at the moment. How is it turning out for you two?

We actually just finished the tour. We are off for like a week, and then we hop on another tour in like the beginning of November.

Wow you guys are going to be busy [laughs]. I guess that's a good thing right? All business is good business in a sense...

Yea man [laughs]. That's the thing man - there's the part where you make records, then you have to go and perform those tracks on tour and stuff, you know? Then you go back and do the cycle all over again. So it's definitely a good feeling to be able to go through the music making cycle again for a second run.

So what is it like being on the road - traveling to different venues and performing for your fans?

It's one of the best feelings in the world, you know? It's like - I've had a million jobs. I worked at the movie theatre, grocery store, Starbucks, construction, all of it [laughs]. But the whole time you work at jobs like these you are wishing you were doing what you love which for me was music. Acting as well. Even during those jobs I was always writing music and just staying busy man. And with touring, it's our job to go to different cities and perform our tracks to fans and new listeners. So it's definitely something I enjoy doing.

I can imagine it takes a lot of energy to perform day in and day out. How do you keep the tempo up at each show?

The fans bring a lot of energy out of you. When you can walk into a room and your fans are screaming and they're hyped, it naturally just gets you excited - adrenaline is pumping and you don't think about anything else. The main thing on tour is to stay healthy. It's hard on tour to avoid sickness - all there is to eat is at the truck stops and drive through, we're not really taking vitamins. This last tour there was like nine of us on the bus. And when one person gets sick it is really tough because we are in small quarters.

I see...Well that makes sense.

You know what; really the important thing is to stay healthy during the day because at night you start drinking [laughs].

Ah yes! The drinks...[laughs]

You know, at night it's like Patron time! Before every tour it's like, "I'm not going to drink." Then, the next thing you know...shot time! But it happens man. You already know it's kind of part of the job to party with fans and clubbers and all. It's definitely crazy because it's like right after the album drops, you know, Let It Beat on November 3rd - we go right back on tour for like 2-3 months man. So you know you have to pace yourself with the drinking and partying. Like the old school guys - they used to come in, do a set, pack up, and go home. They were professional. I mean, it's not a necessity to drink and party but you know it will always be around you, especially on tour. But it's like I'm 24 so fuck it I'll have a little fun...[laughs]

Definitely. It gives fans a chance to see you guys party off stage. Speaking of such, fans got a chance to see you and Cisco on MTV's Buzzin. Do you think the show helped the fans connect with you and your music?

Definitely. I think it gave fans a set of faces and personalities to match with the music they heard. And really, it was like a blessing in disguise. We only got four episodes to actually air on MTV. Then, we ended up getting moved to MTV2. After the fourth episode, our album came out and we were already on the Warped Tour. We really got a bunch of fans to follow us because we still kind of have that independant flavor to us, you know? So a lot of people watched the show, and then followed our music along with it. The show also gave people a peek into the life so to speak. It was all truth. Our music was like that too. We talk about things we know man. Everyday isn't about clubs and money and cars. I think fans are able to relate to us and that's what makes it a beautiful thing.

I agree. It is important to build a lasting relationship with your fans.

Yeah man, exactly.

While the show aired, fans fell in love with songs like Corona and Lime and Buzzin. Where did the inspiration for these popular singles come from?

They all came at different times of course. Let me say this, Cisco is a beast in the studio man, honestly. He is always in the studio; in fact I bet fifty bucks he's in there right now!

Fifty Bucks [laughs]?

Yea man you can have it if I'm lying [laughs]. He is always working man - it's expected man because he's a Virgo. Virgo's are perfectionists.

I know! I am a Virgo myself. We are very hard workers [laughs].

Exactly, so you already know I'm speaking truth. He is just a genius with words and music flowing man. Corona and Lime was supposed to be Will.I.Am's record. Will was looking for something with that mellow tone. Cisco sent it to him with just the hook and beat. And Will must have never gotten back to him on it - I was the first person to hear it before he sent it out so I was like, "No, don't send it to him! Please let me rap on this one!" [Laughs]. It was like I wanted him to give it to Will because that would have been a big deal. But since he didn't call back in time, I jumped on the beat. Buzzin was like the third song Cisco and I did. The hook was actually a verse from another one of his original songs. So we switched it up and added new verses to it and now it's history. So it's really crazy how things work when making music.

What about your newer track titled Get You Home?

I wanted to try to do something different. I mean, it has the real hardcore rock chorus but me rapping as well you know? It's like, we are trying new things but we don't want to change up who we are and what type of music we put out. We just started in this industry so why change?

It seems like you and Cisco really feed off one another when making music. Do you feel that is an important trait to have in the relationship between musician and producer?

Yea man. Before I worked with Cisco, I had never worked with a producer before. I was in a band throughout high school and that was about it. But when I made my first track with Cisco, he was really helping me to bring something special to his tracks. Giving me advice on the delivery of my verses etc. It's all about the flow of ideas. He'd give an idea then I'd bounce back. We would go back and forth - it definitely helps to have that type of energy in the studio because it makes you want to get better.

So we are in the later part of the year and you mentioned the new album Let It Beat. Can you give Yo! Raps some insight about the new project?

Yea man. The album has elements from hip hop, classic rock, alternative, everything. We have features with Rico; Roy Bittan is on a track called Heart and Soul which is about the industry being hard on entertainers. We got Livin It Up with Snoop Dogg so that's really cool. The Snoop track is about the haters man. It's like, "Why you hating because we living it up," you know [laughs]. We have Tabi Bonney on this album too. He's our boy from D.C. You should know about him!

I'm definitely looking forward to hearing some D.C. style from Tabi on the album!

Yea man most definitely [laughs]. We really wanted to bring different themes to the album and show the fans that we can do it again. Whenever you are new to the industry people will try to make your first project be your best and last. But we are here to prove that there are no sophomore slumps with us man. We are going to continue to give our fans the music they have supported.

You and Cisco have really worked hard to bark back at the critics it seems.

Yea but in a way, even if we did actually care what critics thought, you still have to work to do better than you did the first time. It's like in one game you may score ten points; the next game you want to score 15, you know? That's what Cisco and I tried to do. This album is really concentrating on the music rather than simply introducing myself and Cisco. The album is called Let It Beat - this came from music's past influences. Like Let It Be from the Beatles and Let It Bleed from the Rolling Stones. We wanted to present ourselves as striving to be classical acts like those.

Shwayze, are there any other projects fans can look forward to from Swayze and Cisco?

Actually we are working on a movie right now. I can't tell you too much other than it's a buddy comedy and it's titled Get Jack's Tickets. Other than that we are in the studio as always and Cisco just signed Chris Young to his label Put In A Beat Records. And of course our tour!

Well, do you have any advice towards the dreamer or the individual who wants to break into the industry?

Do what is truly in your heart. You can't get discouraged because things will get tough, but those are tests. If it is really your passion you will know it. Things will work out for you if you really want them to. Just put the time in and ignore those who are against you. It's like you'll have people who say they hate your music; then it blows up and they're like, "Aw man it's awesome." So stay true to your passion and keep at it. That's the best thing I can say.

Any shout outs Swayze?

Yea shout out to Chris Young, Kayzlie Collins, Cisco, Tabi, and really everybody out there who supports our music.

- By Jovan Bland