Rasputin has for a long time been the center of the Bay Area's rap scene, and we still sell the most local rap around. Over the last couple of years, though, our rap buyer Saeed has been making a name for himself not only as the guy who says what Rasputin's carries or doesn't carry in the rap game, but as a rapper named Balance. Starting with Watch Out Now (vols 1 & 2) and now The Bay Area Mixtape King, as well as a song on Baby Jaymes' CD, word is steadily growing about Balance. As his homies Frontline go national with the re-release of their album Who R You?, Balance seems like he's about to blow up as well.

Manifesto: Who's on the mix tape?

Balance: I got Frontline, E-A-Ski, Chameleonaire, a rapper from Houston, Casual, Planet Asia, and other local dudes.

Manifesto: How come it takes you so long to put the shit out?

Balance: I wanted it to be as good as possible. I think on the real, it's hot.

Manifesto: When can we expect the actual album?

Balance: August?

Manifesto: August, 2007?

Balance: (laughs) No, this year! I'm talking with Interscope and Sony, but I hate A&R! They're really scared about their job! If they sign it and it doesn't sell, it's bad. If they bring it to the head dude, and he passes, then it's bad. They're really scared about taking chances, especially in the Bay Area. The Bay Area is starting to warm up, but it's not hot. Like, if I was from Houston, I'd have a better chance of him walking it in.

Manifesto: Why not do the Too Short thing?

Balance: That's what I'm doing. I'd rather do it independently first, just to prove to them that my idea of how I should be is right. People are already hearing my music and contacting me, I don’t always have to go after them. I'm already making a name.

Manifesto: Do you do live stuff?

Balance: I've been doing more shows lately, cause I'm on a record with Baby Jaymes and it's getting played on the radio. I'm probably doing about four or five shows a month. One or two songs.

Manifesto: It seems like there's kind of scene that you're a part of. I always think that if you're part of say, Eminem's camp then you hate all these other people, but the Bay seems more like people support each other and respect each other.

Balance: That's true. But people still have beefs. A lot of people were offended by our New Bay thing. Like by saying New Bay, that they were old or something. So I had to go talk to people about that. Some people were really mad about the shit.