Homewood’s Lamar Smith doesn’t go by his “government name,” as he calls it. If you want to get technical about it, he’ll tell you he’s a Phenizy and a Frezzel if you root around both sides of his family tree.
Those who have known him since his break-dancing and robotic tick-tocker days know him simply as Tuffy.
“My brother Kedron gave me that nickname,” he said, adding that when he was into the b-boy era showing his skills in competition and showcases at the original Kingsley Association, the name stuck.
To the legion of fans who consider his 1991 reggae-inflected breakout debut “Strictly 4 De Boomin System” one of foundational pillars of Pittsburgh hip-hop, Lamar Smith is the legendary Tuffy Tuff — or Tuffy Tuf (with one F) for the purists.
“I was nicknamed again as Tuffy Tuff by the Sodapop Kid,” he said, explaining the etymology of one of the best-known names in the genre.
Still, those really in the know have been calling him Cutty Tuff since the late aughts. But the name that brings him the most satisfaction is “Mr. Ghettosoundchek” in honor of his most enduring single, “Ghettosoundchek.”
He told one interviewer that he wrote that song while in a state of flow in a few hours. Despite being born and raised in Pittsburgh, the Caribbean accent he showcases on the song was the result of many months spent in the region trying to find his own voice. He came by it honestly but doesn’t speak with that accent in everyday interactions.
But a name is secondary when you’re an old-school hip-hop luminary whose signature sound evokes an era in a town that didn’t fully embrace its hip-hop heritage until Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller came along nearly two decades later.
“I grew up in Homewood,” Tuffy Tuff said of the place he still calls home decades after he went on tour. “That’s where my grandmother lived on Inglenook Place. I lived in St. Clair Village in my earlier years and had dual hoodship,” he said with a laugh.
“I knew I wanted to be a DJ, rapper and beat-maker when I saw DJ Kool K. Kell and Ty Sky Rockin’ on stage at the Westinghouse talent show when I was in 7th grade. I was in awe.
“I educated myself about the music business and studied the likes of Russell Simmons and Chuck Sanders when it came down to the business side of things. I marketed and promoted myself before there was an internet, and I was the first local artist to press vinyl records, cassettes and the newest medium at the time — compact discs — at the same time.”
Tuffy Tuff had been a self-starter since he was 12 when he made his first beat and taught himself the intricacies of the turntable.
“I cut my first record at 19, and I was the first [local] rapper to be endorsed by a Black-owned sneaker company called Bold, founded by Fred and Tariq Khan. I was between 17 and 18 years old.”
Though he was a contemporary of Mel-Man and Sam Sneed — two local producers/rappers who contributed to the ‘90s West Coast gangsta rap sound associated with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records — he was never a part of their crew. He was self-producing his records while most local rappers were desperately trying to get signed to major labels.
“The thing about Pittsburgh music is that we are everything,” he said. “We are a gumbo of styles with our own flair and have played behind the scenes for major record companies and movies.
“Thanks to the joint contributions from all of us over the decades making our own noise helped build the foundation that produced the likes of Stevie B., Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Hardo Asco and countless others from all over the city and surrounding area.
“I played a major role behind the scenes as well,” he said, “but I declined to sign any deals that weren’t in my favor or acknowledge my history as a sound engineer, songwriter and producer.”
There’s a perception that Tuffy Tuff, who has never been on a major rap label, left Pittsburgh once “Ghettosoundchek” began charting across the country. Nothing could be further from the truth, he insists.
“I never left Pittsburgh, but my music did,” he said. “My music took me all over the world.”
Tuffy Tuff confesses to enjoying the respect shown to him by much younger artists that he encounters. He appreciates the more supportive scene they’ve created in contrast to what he experienced decades ago.
“Locally, I’d like to see full-blown record labels competing on a global level and the funds deposited into the lower income communities where it all started,” he said, adding that a great place to start would be more local music producers getting involved in the business of creating musical scores and not just relying on hip-hop. He says he’s a fan of all genres of music.
Recently, Tuffy Tuff entered into a partnership with Rostrum Records, the local label that launched Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller. Once the pandemic lifts, Tuffy will be touring with new music.
“I operate TUFF Beats LLC, a video DJ company,” he said of the enterprise that helps him pay the bills along with royalty checks. He’s also a manager and video DJ at Chuck Sanders’ Savoy Sports Bar in the Strip District. “I started my career as a DJ and have gone full circle. I’m back at it again. Sam Sneed told me a while ago: ‘Tuffy Tuf, don’t stop until the wheels fall off.”
TUFF Beats plays music videos at a live party setting. “I can accommodate any theme party, and I play all genres of music videos from old school to rock to current top hits,” he said. He charges $60 an hour for clubs and private parties. His flat rate for weddings is $400, which he considers a “gift” to the couple.
The pandemic affected that business since clubs are closed and parties aren’t happening. He has not become a livestreaming DJ like so many others. “Economically, my business is hurting,” he said. “My spirit and health is perfect and I have a positive attitude for what is about to happen in the near future.”
Part of Tuffy Tuff’s motivation is his desire to get a Grammy nomination and to appear on “Saturday Night Live” — two big aspirations he allows himself as a senior figure in Pittsburgh hip-hop history after two younger colleagues from the scene have accomplished this.
“My greatest work is obviously ‘Ghettosoundchek.’ I’ll never top that or try to outdo a classic. I’ll let that stay in its own lane,” he said. “Maybe my new project is another classic in the making. I don’t know until I let the people hear and decide for themselves.”
Tony Norman: tnorman@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1631.
First Published: February 8, 2021, 10:32 a.m.
