By: Todd “DG” Davis
Rapindustry.com

South Central Cartel ain’t just a crew—they’re a powerhouse, a force of nature born from the gritty streets of L.A.. For over three decades, they’ve been grindin’ nonstop, stayin’ true when the industry flooded with fakes and sellouts. Big Prodeje lays it all out—straight fire, real talk—about their legendary legacy, the battle to keep West Coast dominance alive, and what it takes to stay true when the game’s try’na break you. This is street-level truth; raw and unfiltered—no cap, just pure adrenaline and realness.

South Central Cartel has a legendary status in West Coast hip-hop. How does it feel to return to your roots with this latest single “On The Grind?”

It feels great. It feels familiar and comfortable. We wanted to salute our legacy and show love to all of the SCC members who aren’t in the group anymore. At the same time, we’re letting our fans know we will maintain our style, sound, and energy moving forward. 

The track has a smooth G-Funk vibe—what inspired this classic sound for your comeback? 

I just wanted to keep it South Central Cartel. It’s inspired by us. We just did what we usually do. 

Growing up in South Central L.A., how have those experiences shaped the themes and lyrics in your new music? 

Our real-life experiences are the foundation of everything we do. Growing up in South Central is what shaped and molded us. That’s what we represent, so the music is based on that. 

Reminiscing about L.A. life, what are some of your most vivid memories that still influence your music today? 

Running around the ‘hood, watching the homies do what they did, and wanting to be a part of that—the hustling, the money, the cars. There were some cool dudes in my area, and I soaked all that up. 

How has the landscape of West Coast hip-hop changed since SCC first started, and how does your new music fit into that evolution? 

Well, obviously, the music has evolved. For some years, I tried to incorporate some of that into our style, but I decided our job was to continue doing what we’re known for. I think that’s our role—being a legacy act and giving our fans the best of what we do. 

Your debut project, South Central Madness, came out in 1991—looking back, how do you think that project influenced the scene at the time? 

What we did was represent South Central loud and proud, with our chest out. At that time, nobody was doing it like us. It was all about Compton, and then Long Beach came with it. We stood on ten toes for South Central. That first album established that vibe, and it influenced a lot of artists. 

The ’94 LP N Gatz We Truss gained a lot of attention and helped elevate your profile. What was the creative vision behind that record? 

The mindset behind N Gatz We Truss was to elevate the G, elevate the gangsta stories. To put more of ourselves into it—talk about our lives in the streets of South Central. That’s what we did. I’ve got another gang story to tell—peep it! What more can I say? 

Signing with Def Jam in the nineties was a major milestone. How did that deal impact your career and your approach to making music? 

What Def Jam did was give us a bigger platform. Just being on the label elevated us. 

Despite not achieving massive mainstream success, you’ve maintained a dedicated cult following. How does that loyal fan-base influence what you do today? 

That’s exactly who we do it for today. Even though we didn’t reach the level we feel we should have, we’ve still traveled the world doing our classics. When I look at the gold plaques on my wall, I’m satisfied. 

 

 

You’ve been in the game for a long time—what keeps you motivated to keep making music and staying true to your sound? 

Yeah, it’s been a good run. The only answer I have is that I love making music—period! I’ve always been a versatile producer, so I make a good living doing what I do. 

The upcoming EP and album are highly anticipated. Can you share what fans can expect from this new body of work? 

The EP is just to motivate our fans for the album. It’s titled The West Kept Secret. It features a few unreleased remixes and some new joints. N Gatz We Truss isn’t on streaming sites anymore, so I’m doing my own versions of some of those songs and releasing them slowly. Some of those are on the EP. 

With Havocc no longer part of SCC, how has your vision or approach to the group’s legacy evolved? 

I’m just staying the course. I’m the one who created our sound originally, so I’m just sticking to that lane musically. But, I want our fans to know that certain members are no longer involved with the group. At this point, it’s me, Young Prodeje, and LV—who’s always able to be involved. Havocc is on the new album, but he’s no longer doing shows, and Havoc is doing his own thing. 

Big Prodeje, you’ve been a staple in the group. How do you see SCC’s role in shaping West Coast hip-hop moving forward? 

At this point, I think it’s important for us to uphold the legacy of West Coast hip-hop and keep its history intact. It’s crazy how some artists from out here get overlooked or forgotten. I want people to remember SCC. I’m focusing on the legacy and reminding everyone that we made South Central L.A. proud in the ’90s. 

What’s the significance of the title “On The Grind,” and how does it reflect your mindset at this stage in your career? 

It’s perfect for today. We’re still on the grind—we never left. But now, it’s with a different purpose. We won’t be swept under the rug. Hell no!

The West Coast scene is known for its storytelling and street narratives. How do you stay authentic while evolving your sound? 

Just stay focused on what we do. We’ve always done it our way. We’ll stay the course. Somewhere out there, people want to hear this real shit. We’ll tweak it to stay current, but we won’t completely rewrite or recreate the formula. 

How important is it for SCC to stay connected with your fan-base and the new generation of hip-hop listeners? 

The goal is to involve our grown fan-base while attracting new fans along the way. That’s very important. 

Are there any collaborations or features you’re excited about on the upcoming EP or album? 

It’s just us. We’ve decided to focus on ourselves. We do have a few of the homies on the album, but I’m very excited about these new projects. 

What message do you want your fans to take away from this new era of SCC’s music? 

We’re still here. We’re still strong. We will never falter. We stand on SCC business for life. 

Can you share any memorable stories or moments from your extensive career that stand out to you? 

Stay tuned—I’ll be doing some live storytelling streams soon. 

What do you see as South Central Cartel’s legacy, and how do you want to be remembered in hip-hop history? 

To me, it was about coming into the game on our own strength—no co-sign, no crew helping us. We were South Central’s own—grimy and strong. Standing on that, representing that. South Central had our backs. I want to be remembered as real dudes—truly from the trenches, with love for our section. Every inch of it. Whatever ‘hood it was, it was all love. We are the South Central Cartel. Trust and believe that. — Big Prodeje / HG Entertainment