The out-there MC is living life after Timbaland

Big SeanYo Gotti

"Even when Nas said hip hop is dead, the music lived on through dude making that statement. It lived through death."­
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Terry "Izza Kizza" Davis, 27, says he can handle the heat. After all, when you were personally signed by legendary producer Timbaland to be the featured MC on his Mosley Music imprint, there can be no shortage of confidence. Izza has since split with Timbo's label over creative differences, but he has the super-producer's blessing and maybe some beats. And with an elastic rhyme flow that's as lyrical as it is left field, Valdosta, Ga.'s own Izza is out to become the next Southern spitter. With two impressive mixtapes, Kizzaland and The Wizard of Iz, already out to the masses, the ambitious rhymer is working on tracks for his as-yet-untitled debut, due out this October. Here's Izza.

VIBE: How did you deal with the pressure of being Timbaland's new go-to MC?

Izza Kizza:
I hooked up with Tim in early '08. It's a heavy responsibility and exciting at the same time. You always want to be attached to somebody like him. It's like, "Damn, this dude is a hip hop phenomenon and a huge inspiration." A lot of what him and Missy were putting together was great. And not just with Missy; Tim is a great producer all the way around when you think back and look at the Ginuwines, the Aaliyahs, and now to the Justin Timberlakes. Just being in dude's presence has been great.

Tim really hasn't had that one MC, outside of Missy, whom people really connected to. Are you up to the task?

Yeah. I think that people recognize true talent. They can understand when somebody is creative and working their heart out. I put my heart into the music. I think it's a real dope thing for people to just be like, "Dude got it...he's the next whatever, whatever." Especially these days, when everything is all over the place. You got music coming from all directions. I'm trying to do music that's going to play forever and ever. I'm just doing me.

Your last mixtape, Kizzaland, reminded a lot of people of that free-spirited Dungeon Family sound. Is that the direction you were going for?

I don't like to categorize myself with "I'm this kind of rapper." I describe my style as unpredictable. I like to do hot music-hot lyrics over hot beats. I'm going to let the people decide for themselves who they think I am. You'll hear me doing a record like "They're Everywhere," and then I'll come back and do a harder record like "Throw It Up" with David Banner. I'm happy with the mixtape game. Artists really have the chance to express themselves. To me the album is almost separate these days. That's where you show that you can connect with different people on a commercial level. On the mixtapes, you get to do whatever you want.

Tell us about your new mixtape.

My mixtape is called Wizard of Iz. We jacking The Wiz and bringing some 'hood swag to it. I've been working with a lot of up and coming producers. I have joints with established artists like David Banner; I got a joint with Lil Wayne and Birdman that's ill. I'm working on a joint right now with Missy. She still one of my favorites. And I got a joint with Twista. But for my label album, I kind of just want it to be for people to get to know me. It's going to be mostly me all over it. I want people to see Izza Kizza. I want this album to show people that I can stand alone.

Do you have a favorite producer at the moment?

I have to start with Timbaland. You really don't even have to explain that pick. The man has a track record of ridiculous hits. I also have to say my man Koolade is one of the most incredible producers I have ever heard. And he's from Croatia. He does a lot of my records, like "They're Everywhere." He's one of the dudes that's so true to hip hop that he's not wrapped up in what everybody else is doing. It ain't all about a check with him. He's so dope.

Which song can you listen to every day and never get sick of it?

That has to be an OutKast's "Morris Brown." I can listen to that song all day [laughs].

What would you change about hip hop?

I don't think nothing is wrong with hip hop right now. It's the same how it was back in the days. People change musically. Overall, we have changed from using 45s to tapes to CDs and now the MP3. The music game itself is about change. A lot of people complain about this and that, like, for instance, Soulja Boy. But we had artists in the past doing dance songs since people were dancing to the twist. Even when Nas said hip hop is dead, the music lived on through dude making that statement. It lived through death. Every inch of hip hop, we need it to keep it alive. I love that you can be who you are in hip hop. The Internet has been a blessing and a curse. But one thing I will say is I wish the labels would stop jerking the artist. Let the hustlers hustle.

source : http://m.vibe.com