December 06, 2005 @ 11:00 pm

Tango Redd - Running for Office

by: Elle Castro

At the age of 19, this ATL lyricist is approaching the game as if it were a political campaign. Although young, Tango is by no means new to the music industry. Tango has been rocking the mic for over 10 years, and he’s now ready to give the rest of the world a taste of the heat he’s bringing. In an exclusive interview with VIBE.com writer, Elle Castro, Tango Redd discusses his debut project The Campaign, why So-So Def’s JD was an obstacle in his journey, and why he considers his music speaks a universal language. Vibe.com: You first started your career at a very early age. Who and/or what influenced and motivated you? When did you fall in love with music? Tango Redd: I started off at the age of 8. By the age of 10 I knew that was what I definitely wanted to do so I just stuck with it. My step dad had his own little studio and he’d take me with him, and he would let me [jump] on the mic. They kinda pushed me to keep going, and I’m here now – I’m 19. I was influenced by people like LL Cool J, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z—you know all of the head honchos. Those are the rappers that I saw really doing their thing, and just knew I had to be there. What’s the significance behind your name? T.R.: I had the name Tango ever since I was 13, and I put Redd on it ‘cause that’s what I’m trying to bring to the game. When you think of Red, you think of something that’s hot, like fire. I got my gold dreadlocks, you know which is different. Everybody has to make their own mark in the industry. left Did you face any setbacks while trying to land a deal? T.R.: It was a hard journey, at first I was with Virgin Records and when JD came over to Virgin a lot of things changed around and they dropped my project. So Warner Bros. they were looking for that challenge and scooped me up. Did you work with any mentionable producers and/or do you have any collaborations on the album? T.R.: The album is entitled The Campaign; it comes out in the first quarter of ’06. It’s so well rounded. It’s amazing. I got a chance to work with so many great producers and it’s got quite a bit of features on it. It features everyone from Jody Breeze (from Boyz N Da Hood), Sleepy Brown , Three 6 Mafia, David Banner and Bone Crusher. So you know there’s a lot of heat on the album. Basically, I’m looking for it to be the album of the year. I worked with our in house production team-- Cream Team Music, DJ Tone, Three 6 Mafia, David Banner, DJ Smurf and Mr. DJ. My first single off my album is "Let’s Cheat" with Lloyd. It’s about feeling free and getting away from your problems. Your music is described as having a “southern feel with a universal appeal.” What is the message that your music is delivering? T.R.: My music has a universal appeal. No matter where you’re from, you still feel the same when you listen to it. I don’t try to follow in nobody’s footsteps. I try to set my own trends and make my own mark in this industry—brand my name, Tango Redd. I’m from the South, that’s where I was born and raised so my southern slang is always going to be here, that’s how I talk. But what I mean by universal is that everyone, no matter North, South, East or West is going to get the same thing out of my music. As opposed to people just feeling it in the South or Midwest more, everyone is going to get the same message out of every last song. Basically, my music is letting everybody know that I’m here, and that I ain’t going no where. The album is entitled The Campaign because I’m campaigning to be number one, to have the album of the year. Read more vibe.com online exclusives.

Article tags: Let's Cheat, Tango Redd, Tango Redd Feat. Lloyd, Tango Redd's Let's Cheat, Tango Redd, The Campaign The Campaign