Interview and Photos by Dom Ellis
Circa Winter '15
It’s quite ironic that Dizzy Wright didn’t shoot to the top a lot quicker being from Las Vegas (the entertainment capital of the world). Apparently people don’t go to see local rappers (who would’ve guessed). But now that he’s a full force in music, boasting intricately though out flows and a track record spanning from the late ninety’s, he has something to say. We end up reminiscing about the first time he heard Tupac, the power of a good aura, and how he’d like to shape society.
Your album The Growth Process is based off the book The First Agreements by …how did you end up picking it up?
Yea, the book just came across my path somehow one day and I got inspired by all of the agreements. So I decided I’d break ’em up and put ’em into a little project.
One of the first agreements is about your words right?
Yes, being impeccable with your words.
The author of 48 Laws of Power Robert Greene says that the true power is not in words but in our actions “Win through actions, never through argument.” You have a chill vibe about you. How do your actions and aura speak for you?
I think that the aura is a big thing because people got to feel like you’re being real with yourself. I think with being truthful and honest and being impeccable with my words it makes [my] aura easy to adapt to. I’m like the homie’s homie because I ‘m just straight up with niggas. Being real with yourself and other people just makes you a better person.
Some keywords that came up in your music are ‘listen, teach and learn’. What about you makes you want to teach people?
I like putting positive vibes into the world. I’m a student first on the learning side of things and a leader on the teaching side of things. I listen to everything that’s really the only way to know what I’m talking about. You got to be willing to listen.
You’re a project of OG’s right? Layzie Bone is your uncle and your mom was in the industry. You think that gives you extra luck?
I feel like I was being prepared for the music industry when I didn’t want to be in it. So being a product of OG’s it was instilled in me, I don’t have to flex it like some talent I had to work extremely hard to try to be. It was already installed in me to put my thoughts down on paper. I just had to develop as a person but it definitely gave me some juice young.
In your song, Train Your Mind, you talk about shaping society quietly. Tupac did it in a loud way. How will you go about it quietly and what are you shaping it up to be?
I want niggas to just be cool. We as young black men got to learn to get along and work with each other that way we can start making our own businesses. We working against each other is the only thing. Niggas will hate on you before they big you up and tell you to head in the right direction. Before they tell you to run, they’ll try to convince you that you don’t have feet even though they’re attached to you. Just shaping the world to be like that; having a voice and not being all in people face with it. I learned from Tupac.
You also said in your music that you are the brain that Tupac sparked that’ll change the world.
Yea, Pac said he might not change the world but he might spark the brain that does change the world and I’m shifting the world, at least my world for sure. But, I have an opportunity because niggas believe me. I’m not trying flex on 'em. I’m just being their homie and I’m letting them know some real shit but it’s on a track, even though most people probably don’t know me unless they’ve been to my shows. But, I remember hearing Pac say that shit. I remember what it ignited in my soul. I was like “I’m about to go give this to the world.” I just spoke it into existence because if I die and my music lives on and changes the world then Pac played a part in that.
What keeps you going?
My kids, I just recently had my son and my daughter will be 4 soon. When I knew that I was having a daughter, I went into full-fledged grind mode like “Oh word, I got to be a provider? I got to be on!” But, I really wanted to provide diapers and clothes and normal shit and still be able to do this music shit. That’s what’s kept me going.
You’ve been in the industry since ’99. What’s changed?
Shows! It was hard to get shows out of Vegas at first. Like I’ve said people don’t go to Vegas to see a local rapper at a local show. But the biggest difference is now I actually have fans. I used to go out and search for fans. I remember when my “Soul Searching” mixtape came out I made a thousand copies and gave them out for free. I didn’t want a dollar for my music I just wanted people to hear me. It was my message and I wanted people to hear it.
Now motherfuckers have heard me and they know what I stand for. So now when people see me, they show love and they’re waiting for the next thing.
Who did you enjoy working with the most on “The Growing Process” and how does this project feel compared to your past works?
I put some people together (Big K.R.I.T. and Tech N9ne) that seem like two different genres almost but I brought them together because I fit right in the middle; and only a Dizzy Wright could’ve done that. There are no samples so people are going to get a full Dizzy Wright album. Niggas really gone fuck with the collabs on this album.
Growing up in the game how important was it to learn how to network? Did you have to learn that on your own?
For sure. I had to learn that super early on. That was the hardest thing to learn and that’s where my Mom and myself bumped heads a lot. I was 10-years-old and she was trying teach me about networking, I didn’t understand and was just being a knucklehead. Its super important bro. Even me doing press and talking to people, it only adds to my thing.