-by Andy McKeand

Western Tink remains a low key and mysterious individual, even after interviewing him; however, based on the limited interaction between us, I have the impression that he’s pretty chill, funny, and down-to-earth. I often enjoy his tumblr, which displays his multi-tasking abilities as a legitimate rapper, aspiring photographer and humble storyteller.  He’s a honest dude with a relatable but rare tell.  Hard to Keel Vol. 1 and especially Hater Fader (both of which you can download/listen here) flew under a lot of radars and being that No Jumper helped bring exposer to Beautiful Lou last year, now is a better time than never to get to know Lou’s go-to rapper, Tink; on the heels of the up-coming and highly anticipated Mobbin No Sobbin LP.

No Jumper: First things first, introduce yourself to us.

Western Tink: I’m WESTERN TINK of MOBBIN NO SOBBIN.

NJ: How long have you been rapping?

WT: I been doing music for a little minute but I just started putting out music for people outside the homies to hear ’bout a year ago.

NJ: You’re originally from the Inland Empire but now in Austin, correct?

WT: Sir, yes, sir. Shout out to the whole family that made the move.

NJ: But you still got love for Cali, though?

WT: Always…

NJ: Your music definitely has a Cali flavor present, however, it also incorporates the Texas-trill sound into it, creating a wholesome, organic feeling, which is completely original.  Was it intentional to make a hybrid of West Coast rap and chopped and screwed, or…?

WT: Forshodat. I been out here for a little minute… My intentions with the music was and is to just do me to the maximum.  I kinda in the big scheme of things wanted to show people another side of Texas… And of course show people how I do it.  Lou is behind the screw influenced beats… He really embodied the sound I was looking for, so when me and him met it was like perfecto.

NJ: Cool. Exactly how did you meet Lou? How did his presence tie into the recording process behind Hard to Keel, when you were nearly homeless?

WT: I met Lou through the homie on twitter… He was like he really liked my work and he was like, “man, you in Texas and you don’t know Beautiful Lou?”  I checked him out and hit him up.  The rest is history.  I met Lou like at the middle of Hard to Keel.  We kinda clicked so well… Nobody was fuckin’ with him like that, so we was on some team up shit.  Soon as I heard that man’s shit, I was like, “oh, this nigga go hard!”

NJ: [laughs] That’s awesome that it’s working out well between you guys.  Both of you are obviously still hungry, though.  How often are you guys working together now?

WT: Yea… Whenever we get loose.  We still trying to twerk this Mobbin No Sobbin project and some other little shit we trying to line up… But yeah, that’s the homie.  Shout out to that boy Lou and the homie Glazeeed.

NJ: I first became familiar of your rapping on The Tape Hiss Hooligan. How’s working with Logan (.L.W.H.) and Green Ova Undergrounds? How did that relationship begin?

WT: Oh yeah though, L’s the homie, forsho’, and hella talented.  I met him a little after Lou. Green Ova is really kinda the reason I really started going hard with this… All my homies were like “man, you rap too slow, fool.” Shout out to Squadda, Mondre, and the homie Shady; the whole G.O. Fam.  They were like “man, yo shit cool; keep goin’” and they were showing love me love so I just kept going… Squadda sent a nigga beats and all that.  I’m a always fuck with my Green Ova niggas; me and Lou.

NJ: Word. They seem like a very based collective of support on all levels.  Okay, so before we wrap this up, I must ask what’s up with the Billy Idol, dog?  You post a lot of random music on facebook.  Where does this come from?

WT: When I was little sometimes we would live somewhere where they didn’t have B.E.T. So all I could watch was vh1, public access, and MTV, which only had like Yo! MTV Raps… So I used to watch a lot of new wave and rock shit, like early punk rock-Elvis Costello… I used to not tell people but the older I got I realized like shit, that shit was part of me… I fuck with any music that is from the heart.  That’s one thing that crosses all color lines. All economic boundaries. All that… The common factor that everyone has… We all have a heart.

NJ: Would you say that non-hip hop/rap music played a more vital role in influencing your music than hip hop/rap did?

WT: Hip hop is like a tool I use to express myself, but yeah I might — would say non-hip hop influences me more… Maybe because hip hop is just a small piece of music like you got so many other genres, feel me?

NJ: Yeah, I get that. A lot, actually. Anyhow, time for plugs: I know Mobbin No Sobbin is on deck, when can we expect its release and what else is in store for Western Tink in 2012; performance at SxSW?

WT: Forshodat… We got the Mobbin No Sobbin album coming in late April, early May.  Before then we might be dropping a little EP.  I got the Chillin Like a Civilian mini-mixtape.  And yeah we gonna be performing at SxSW, forsho’… Man,  just look out for us, we trying to stay active as possible.  Shout to my fam, homies, the whole Mobbin No Sobbin, the whole world.  Thank you to everyone for the support… And big shout to the homies at No Jumper.