Boobie Soprano is the youngest member of the Hoo’ Bangin’ family and with a mentor and cousin like Mack 10 you know he’s already set to carry the West Coast torch. Label mate Glasses Malone hails him as the “Hip-Hop Messiah”. Originally a producer and songwriter Soprano just wants people to hear his music and connect him with as an artist. After attending Mack 10’s video shoot for Foe Life at the age of 12 he mastered his craft, perfected his flow and now its his time to shine.

First of all, let’s start off with your name. You have a few previous names such as YG Dollarsign and Deviossi Soprano and now Boobie Soprano, why the changes and how did you come to stick with Boobie Soprano?

Well, my family always called me Boobie my entire life. All my other names are just my different egos and personalities I guess. It depends on how the music makes me feel. I ended up sticking with Boobie Soprano because, to my family I'll always be Boobie and to Mack10 I will always be Soprano (that's the name he gave me). So I just put it together.

You’ve been affiliated with the music industry for a while, producing and song writing, what urged you to become a recording artist?

I just enjoy making music. It is fun making records for other people but I want to be heard as well. So I started putting out mixtapes for the city in 2002.

Mack 10 is your mentor and older cousin. What valuable lessons have you learned from such a veteran rapper?

What I learned from Mack10 is making music is a job not a hobby and one hit record can change your whole life.

Besides Mack 10, what artists or producers do you look up to and why?

I look up to all artist and producers before me especially musicians. I like producers that can actually play live instruments, now that's talent.

You’ve been featured on Westside Connection’s Terrorist Threat album, what other artists have you worked with?

Working with Westside Connection I got to work with super producer Fred Wreck that was cool. I also worked with the late great Nate Dogg and many more.

Currently, you are signed to Mack 10’s Hoo Bangin’ Records and just released your new mixtape Read My Lips, explain the concept?

Read My Lips is basically an alarm clock for the West Coast like wake the f*ck up! Gangsta rap is alive, Hip-Hop is alive, good music is alive. I was tired of how the west coast was being represented; we are looking good right now though.

What do you think Boobie Soprano brings to the West Coast rap scene?

I think I bring a breath of fresh air to the rap game, something new, some diversity, some new lingo, a new sound and a new vibe a new type of music. 2Gd Music soul music from the heart, turned up music, get money music and smoke out music the list goes on and on.

Glasses Malone calls you the new generation’s Too Short, how would you describe your own style?

I would describe my style as crazy! You could never guess what I'm about to say. I want the listener to say did you hear what he said? Real talk.

You’re also the CEO of Green Division/2Gd Music, what are your aspirations for this label?

The Green Division production is my production team 2GdHBM. We write all types of music and shop records to artist all over the world. My main goal is to continue to pump out good music and sell records.

Are you working on any projects with Green Division/2Gd Music right now?

Yes, right now were working on the music for Mack10’s new project, Return Of The Chicken Hawk, and a few more projects are in the works.

What would you consider your biggest accomplishments in your career so far?

So far my biggest accomplishment would be the Testimony record with Mack10. That record made his greatest hits album and that inspired me and also gave me the confidence to really turn up.

Can you tell us something about your album Boobie Trap?

The one thing I can tell you about my album the Boobie Trap is that there’s something for everybody on there. My album is my world and we all go through the same things just in different ways but if you relate to me or feel me in anyway shape or form you’re in the Boobie Trap.

What did you think about the Tupac hologram at Coachella?

I think it’s 2012 and anything is possible. Now, I want to see all the other late greats on stage as well.

Where would you like to see Boobie Soprano 5 years from now?

5 years from now I would like to be running Hoo Bangin’ to tell the truth. I got some good ideas and business ventures that could be good moves with the right execution.

Where can people find out more about you online?

You can find me everywhere at www.facebook.com/greendivisionmusic,

www.facebook.com/boobiesoprano, www.youtube.com/ygdollas, www.twitter.com/@daboobietrap, and www.hoobangin.net.

- By Jai Boo