Purple City: Independent
from Cam’ron
It may appear as if Cam’ron was the first Harlem cat to make pink and purple hot. But the truth is, the “purple” movement is the brainchild of Shiest Bub, who recently signed his own crew, Purple City with Baby Grande.
Along with producer Agallah and Dip affiliate Un Kasa, Purple City is dropping a best-of mixtape, The Road To The Riches on March 22. HHDX sat down with “The Emperor” Shiest Bub to find out how Cam stole his style, when his novelty shop is opening and what’s so special about Harlem.
What is Purple City?
Purple City started off with myself being part of the Diplomat movement. That was a way for me to identify myself. I started doing mixtapes. I met Un Kasa. He was with the Diplomats. Purple City started off as a training camp for artists in the streets, in the hood that wasn’t getting their chance to come out. I used it as an outlet for artists that didn’t have industry ties to come out. Because since the industry is based where it’s like if you don’t have an industry backing, it’s almost impossible to get on. My contribution to the Diplomats was I would start working with new artists helping them get their stuff together and breaking them on mixtapes along with Diplomat artists. And then once I got to around my third mixtape… I had used some of Agallah’s beats. He was a friend of mine. I didn’t know he was into the music serious like that. When I did my homework, I said, why don’t you work with us? That’s how we pressed on. I got a studio for us to work out of and we made seven mixtapes.
How’s the chemistry with you three working together?
Basically, we all have the same goal. My whole being in the industry was brand new. Due to my fashion, Me wearing purple. Having a purple chinchilla. It was extra with me. People gravitated to that. We all had the same idea for being successful. We’re not a group. We’re a crew. We’re from New York, That’s how we move in New York. It’s way larger than the three of us. Agallah does the production. I organize it. Un Kasa puts his young generation on it. That’s how we keep it moving.
How did you hook up with Baby Grande?
Chuck Wilson read about us in Fader. People have the misconception that Purple City is Cam’ron. But in reality, Sheist Bub owns Purple City. I am the Purple Master. That’s what I do. It’s not to say anything about stealing or jacking. I’m grateful to Cam for adapting to the purple and poppin off with it because it helped my transition into the industry. It’s been documented through our mixtapes that we started the Purple Movement. Cam and the Diplomats supported us from day one. They got the money. That’s what Harlem is about. Hustling whatever the product is. They hustled and now I’m hustling it. He got it from me.
Talk about your Baby Grande debut release, The Road To The Riches.
The first mixtape we’re putting out shows the transition from the streets to the industry. That’s what so many artists that are trapped up in the hood have difficulty doing. Without having a name artist to carry them. We have features from Jim Jones and Juelz. That’s it. It’s not like they’re carrying the whole album. They have a 16 each.
What do you rap about in your songs?
Regular shit that everyone goes through. I’m not even trying to rap like that. I’m more like a Master P, Baby, even Puff Daddy rapping. When you compare me you have to compare me to those dudes. I’m not talking on a money level. I’m just talking about the position I play in Purple City. I’m probably going to have a lot of fans because the shit I do talk about is real. It’s hard for me to lie. Whatever you put out there comes back to you. I’m just going to put out what it is, keep my reputation what it is. I’m a hustler, not a gangster.
How do you pick the producers you work with?
Scram Jones is a friend of the family. That’s automatic. He’s in the same situation as us. A new producer, new artist. But he’s been doing this for years. I know him personally for 10 years. With the other producers, it’s a sound I’m looking for. I’m looking for the real old school sound.
Did you work with the Heatmakerz?
They’re all in the family. They’re already established. I’m trying to help other producers also.
Were Cam and Jim Jones mentors to you?
I watched and learned. And I also was a part of that. That whole purple thing. That’s what I brought. That’s what Cam saw in me. He tried to show me, Sheist you have to maximize. People say, Cam stole your style. I tell them, Cam, he is the representative for Harlem as far as the industry is concerned. He’s just emulating what’s popping in the streets. It just so happens that Purple City is what’s popping in the streets. Now we’re making the transition.
Do you have any other business ventures in the works?
You couldn’t be a member of Purple City unless you were able to branch out. I have a fashion line. I don’t want to reveal the name yet. It’s going to be hot. I’m planning on opening at shop, Purple City Novelty Store. That’s going to be all the gimmicks I have. Fashion and gimmicks mostly. We’re hustlers also. We have to stay on top of the hustle, have new ideas.
With Mase, Cam and the Diplomats, do you think Harlem is hot again?
My whole thing with Harlem is that it seems like the industry has broken the boroughs down into stereotypes. Brooklyn are these hard killer dudes. Bronx niggas is some gangsta niggas. Queens niggas is lady lovers. Harlem is some fly gimmicky… The only thing I can respect about New York is that it’s the fashion mecca. So of course, I have to represent that because Harlem is one of the biggest hoods in Manhattan.
You seem to be very aware that this is the music BUSINESS.
I’ve heard about people who got robbed and jerked. But it always seemed like they had their hands out. Like you come from nothing and so you get a lil something and then once you spend it all you feel jerked. You need to invest your money into yourself. So no matter what happens at the end of the day you know you got yourself. That’s why I put out 10 mixtapes already. Regardless if you don’t give me a deal, I’m going to keep putting out my shit and sell units. Because that’s what it is. It’s about procedure. And I know procedure.
How do you feel about hip-hop music today?
I feel like it’s missing Purple City. Once these people hear what we’re doing, they’re going to say, that’s what I want to do. Why don’t they have the balls to do that… Half of these people are looking for hand outs. They’re so quick to sell out. Purple City did far from sell out. The trials and tribulations that we went through. No one even expected us to last this long. We’re still here.
Along with producer Agallah and Dip affiliate Un Kasa, Purple City is dropping a best-of mixtape, The Road To The Riches on March 22. HHDX sat down with “The Emperor” Shiest Bub to find out how Cam stole his style, when his novelty shop is opening and what’s so special about Harlem.
What is Purple City?
Purple City started off with myself being part of the Diplomat movement. That was a way for me to identify myself. I started doing mixtapes. I met Un Kasa. He was with the Diplomats. Purple City started off as a training camp for artists in the streets, in the hood that wasn’t getting their chance to come out. I used it as an outlet for artists that didn’t have industry ties to come out. Because since the industry is based where it’s like if you don’t have an industry backing, it’s almost impossible to get on. My contribution to the Diplomats was I would start working with new artists helping them get their stuff together and breaking them on mixtapes along with Diplomat artists. And then once I got to around my third mixtape… I had used some of Agallah’s beats. He was a friend of mine. I didn’t know he was into the music serious like that. When I did my homework, I said, why don’t you work with us? That’s how we pressed on. I got a studio for us to work out of and we made seven mixtapes.
How’s the chemistry with you three working together?
Basically, we all have the same goal. My whole being in the industry was brand new. Due to my fashion, Me wearing purple. Having a purple chinchilla. It was extra with me. People gravitated to that. We all had the same idea for being successful. We’re not a group. We’re a crew. We’re from New York, That’s how we move in New York. It’s way larger than the three of us. Agallah does the production. I organize it. Un Kasa puts his young generation on it. That’s how we keep it moving.
How did you hook up with Baby Grande?
Chuck Wilson read about us in Fader. People have the misconception that Purple City is Cam’ron. But in reality, Sheist Bub owns Purple City. I am the Purple Master. That’s what I do. It’s not to say anything about stealing or jacking. I’m grateful to Cam for adapting to the purple and poppin off with it because it helped my transition into the industry. It’s been documented through our mixtapes that we started the Purple Movement. Cam and the Diplomats supported us from day one. They got the money. That’s what Harlem is about. Hustling whatever the product is. They hustled and now I’m hustling it. He got it from me.
Talk about your Baby Grande debut release, The Road To The Riches.
The first mixtape we’re putting out shows the transition from the streets to the industry. That’s what so many artists that are trapped up in the hood have difficulty doing. Without having a name artist to carry them. We have features from Jim Jones and Juelz. That’s it. It’s not like they’re carrying the whole album. They have a 16 each.
What do you rap about in your songs?
Regular shit that everyone goes through. I’m not even trying to rap like that. I’m more like a Master P, Baby, even Puff Daddy rapping. When you compare me you have to compare me to those dudes. I’m not talking on a money level. I’m just talking about the position I play in Purple City. I’m probably going to have a lot of fans because the shit I do talk about is real. It’s hard for me to lie. Whatever you put out there comes back to you. I’m just going to put out what it is, keep my reputation what it is. I’m a hustler, not a gangster.
How do you pick the producers you work with?
Scram Jones is a friend of the family. That’s automatic. He’s in the same situation as us. A new producer, new artist. But he’s been doing this for years. I know him personally for 10 years. With the other producers, it’s a sound I’m looking for. I’m looking for the real old school sound.
Did you work with the Heatmakerz?
They’re all in the family. They’re already established. I’m trying to help other producers also.
Were Cam and Jim Jones mentors to you?
I watched and learned. And I also was a part of that. That whole purple thing. That’s what I brought. That’s what Cam saw in me. He tried to show me, Sheist you have to maximize. People say, Cam stole your style. I tell them, Cam, he is the representative for Harlem as far as the industry is concerned. He’s just emulating what’s popping in the streets. It just so happens that Purple City is what’s popping in the streets. Now we’re making the transition.
Do you have any other business ventures in the works?
You couldn’t be a member of Purple City unless you were able to branch out. I have a fashion line. I don’t want to reveal the name yet. It’s going to be hot. I’m planning on opening at shop, Purple City Novelty Store. That’s going to be all the gimmicks I have. Fashion and gimmicks mostly. We’re hustlers also. We have to stay on top of the hustle, have new ideas.
With Mase, Cam and the Diplomats, do you think Harlem is hot again?
My whole thing with Harlem is that it seems like the industry has broken the boroughs down into stereotypes. Brooklyn are these hard killer dudes. Bronx niggas is some gangsta niggas. Queens niggas is lady lovers. Harlem is some fly gimmicky… The only thing I can respect about New York is that it’s the fashion mecca. So of course, I have to represent that because Harlem is one of the biggest hoods in Manhattan.
You seem to be very aware that this is the music BUSINESS.
I’ve heard about people who got robbed and jerked. But it always seemed like they had their hands out. Like you come from nothing and so you get a lil something and then once you spend it all you feel jerked. You need to invest your money into yourself. So no matter what happens at the end of the day you know you got yourself. That’s why I put out 10 mixtapes already. Regardless if you don’t give me a deal, I’m going to keep putting out my shit and sell units. Because that’s what it is. It’s about procedure. And I know procedure.
How do you feel about hip-hop music today?
I feel like it’s missing Purple City. Once these people hear what we’re doing, they’re going to say, that’s what I want to do. Why don’t they have the balls to do that… Half of these people are looking for hand outs. They’re so quick to sell out. Purple City did far from sell out. The trials and tribulations that we went through. No one even expected us to last this long. We’re still here.
