Interview: Tree Speaks on his New Mixtape by BFM

Tree-Trouble by chicagohiphopblog

Tree-Gettin heard 2011 by chicagohiphopblog

I recently bumped into the homie Tree. We ended chopping it up about everything from his old hood, Cabrini Greens, his new mixtape,"the 3rd floor 2.0", and his thoughts in general. After I listened to the 2 tracks he gave me he told me to, "wait til I hear his new shit". I replied, "If it sound anything like this shit, Fuck just getting heard, nigga you gone own da summer!"

BFM: So I know you reppin them Cabrini Green Housing Projects, I just saw on the news the bout to build a Target right there now. Were there any emotions for you when them buildings came down?

TREE: Yeah, its always a tear jerker seeing "The land" being destroyed and people being displaced. but for the most part its really sentimental seeing nothing but bricks on the ground, fenced in and having all these memories come back like for example seeing my old building and actual apartment 911 n sedgwick #304 where i grew up being tore down in live action hit me with feelings but for the most part they've been tearing down the projects for over 10 years so it was widely expected and i run into my peoples alil the time out south out west every where we are everywhere and i guess you can tell by the spike in crime on the south side of chicago all last summer lol yeah were definetly out here!!!


BFM: So from climbing out of the jects, to you and Project Mayhem conquering the rap scene being the Source's Unsigned Hype in 2007. How did that feel?

TREE: Well that whole source and unsigned hype shit came about a year before i did. but it has defintely helped Project Mayhem with its notoriety and acclaim which I'm sure they'll agree and they my family so in that respect it helped me too. now i came into the picture with that "Just Chill" video and song where we went in the booth with producer tye hill and killed. i remember getting to the studio late and Paypa and Lennon had already laid their verses and were coming up with a hook and big Ish lo was still writing and i came in and wrote the verse in like 20 or 30 minutes layin it down last and Marc Dame nodding his head at me like yea thats it... then the video hit and people i never met began coming up to me on the street in the parties and shit and would be like dam this tree, what up fam, man im feeling that shit, man u I'll as shit!!! lol


BFM: So the new mix-tape is called, "the 3rd floor 2.0". Explain to the Chi the concept behind this new project.

TREE: Well i decided to go with the "the 3rd floor 2.0" just the other night because my initial mix tape was called "the 3rd Floor" i finished and released that last summer and since i had all this extra material left over and also with the suggestion of Lennon (ceo of Project Mayhem) he laid on me about a year or so ago i decided it was fitting because its not a album. There's not gonna be alot of money spent on it as far as promotion. its for the fans of mine who enjoy my music posts every week on different sites and i just decided to put it on a single playlist for the most part i released a lot of songs "Trouble, FEAR NOBODY, Chicago Nights, and my thang" features with people namely Mic Luter, Phil g, dj mano, my click Gutter City Ent. and as always my brothers in the game Project Mayhem.


BFM: The 1 song that definitely stood out to me was "Trouble". On this dope track were you speaking from your perspective or 3rd person? how did you come up with the concept?

TREE: On the song Trouble i definetly started out in third person ya know pretty much praising this legendary ganster and killa but real nigga that we all know and see in our own neighborhoods and camps who i obviously was cool or close to who gave me the game and warnings early which later transcends to me in the 2nd verse where i illustrate how i get down because of his teachings and rules>> but that song definitely took a life of its own. the chorus mainly. i usually just start writing and after the 1st verse i come up with the hook> and i remember wanting listeners to have and get that awww factor or did u hear that??? look on their faces when they heard it and i think it absolutely did that


BFM: Where do you see yourself in this game in 5 years from now?

TREE: 1 year from now i see me opening up all the shows that come through Chicago at least and being a city wide name and favorite.
2 years from now i see me touring getting show money with a deal somewhere cozy where i can do me and that's all they asking from me.
3 years from now i see me as the man> that's enough time for me to spread like a virus because the fans decide who's next lol... not them!
4 years from now we getting awards and shit notoriety publishing and licensing lol.
5 years from now i really kick the door in. I'm gone turn Chicago into the new Atlanta the even newer New York under Gutter City Ent. Umbrella the city and really find that untapped talent out here and be the chi town Barry Gordy!


BFM: So what's next on the agenda for Tree, Mayhem Music, & Gutta City Ent?

TREE: Man we making music over here... and not just music but hit music. Undeniably so. Mayhem music getting ready to drop that "Middle of the Map" with everybody whose somebody in Chicago i produced a lot of good material for that project im in the studio with Mic Luter on a weekly Phil G, my nigga Tone Skeet coming out with a project that i produced entirely over a period of 6 or 7 years but its sounding like we winning all the way with it. im on this "puttin street back in street wear mix-tape" with furious style clothing and Vic Lloyd from "LEADERS"clothing I'm all out in Miami wit my mans Ro Gizz from Gizz Ent and @Nemsis305 working on this album called "the Union 4" the last 1 was big - and u know we over here working I'm always willing and eager to work with cats on new shit especially those Chicago niggas who i respect and heard as well. Don't forget to go get that 1st 3rd floor.


BFM: Where can we download the new mix-tape and where can we see you performing the songs live?

TREE: Well u can always follow me @MCTREEG where u get the new music first with links and updates on shows and events but u can get that "3rd Floor " mix-tape right here: reverbnation.com/guttercitytree and download here Stay tuned for that 2.0 its gone be nasty!!


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