Al Great, is a Baltimore-based Hip-Hop legend. He's big in Baltimore, and when I say big he stands about 6'3'. If you want to understand what it's like to be raised by a single mother on the notoriously infamous east side of Baltimore City, ask Al Great. This young brother has been in the game for a minute. He began pursuing music professionally in 2006 when he dropped his debut album Came Here 4. Keeping up the momentum of his debut, Al Great went on to release Address The Haters, Great Expectations (Dedicated To Will); and Greatness. With a fast growing fan-base beyond the Baltimore Beltway, Al Great will release his latest CD The Heist, available on iTunes November 2009. The Heist will follow the concept of Al Great's previous albums, detailing things he's been through and survived as well as what he hopes to experience as life goes on.

We worked with Al Great on the project by recording 'What I Want.' This beat features cutting guitar licks as well as a strong vocal performance by Donell McClain. Rob Sharp engineered the session helping them bring fire to the project. We had a chance to speak with Al during the recording sessions at 3rdSide studios;

3rdSide: How do you come up with your lyrics?
Al Great: "These are true-to-heart and personal lyrics, I seek to supply the industry with the originality I feel it lacks." 
3rdSide: How do you feel about the current industry?
Al Great: "I describe the current hip-hop archetype of former drug dealer turned hip hop superstar, as being highly fabricated." 
3rdSide: If that is the case, then how do you differ from this typical fake world?
Al Great: "I present my story as a normal black man with the hope that it will be an inspiration for others to beat the odds of mediocrity and rise above their surroundings." 

In addition to being its lead artist, Al Great is co-CEO of Alevan Productions, a business he started with childhood friend and producer E-Dott. To learn more about Al Great and experience Greatness, please check out his web-pages: www.algreat.com www.myspace.com/algreat11 www.twitter.com/algreat11 www.facebook.com/algreat11 Also visit www.youtube.com/algreat11.