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5/3/2006 What's up, Bubba? I'm doing good. I'm out here on the road getting it. The Charm has been out for about a month now. Are you happy with how it's doing? You always have to be thankful, but you always have to push for more. Are you getting the right promotion on this one? Yeah. I really can't complain about anything. They put me out in a major way and I'm real thankful. Is The Charm the record you wanted it to be when you started making it? Absolutely. I just wanted it to have balance. If I did have a regret on my second album, Deliverance, I would say it was the balance. It was critically-acclaimed, but it had a lot of radio-friendly songs. This time I wanted my album to have more of a balance. What's the hardest part about finding that balance? Making commercial records without straying too far away from who you are. How did you get the idea for Ms New Booty? I was in a strip club with Mr. Collipark and it just came. Did you have fun shooting that video? It was a blast. It was amazing. The Ying Yang Twins are the best guys in the world. We had a lot of fun. Are you surprised at the negative reactions you've gotten from certain groups for Ms. New Booty? Yeah. I think it's pretty comical. I think if you're worried about this song, you have way too much time on your hands. It's not like that's the first song if its kind. Yeah. It's crazy. Why do you think your song is targeted? I don't know. I ain't going to speculate. People do all sorts of crazy things for all sorts of crazy different reasons. You could have said a lot worse. It's pathetic. It's a loose argument. Do you even pay attention to what they're saying about the song? You have to shrug it off. People are going to talk good. People are going to talk bad. Let them talk. When they stop talking is when you have something to worry about. Are you happy with where you are in the game right now? Absolutely. I grew up idolizing Big Boi and for him to be the driving force behind my destiny right now is a great feeling. What made you want to sign with Big Boi? I've been cool with the Dungeon Family for five or six years. It was just natural. I had to go do business with the homie. What was the transition like going from Timbaland to Big Boi? The biggest difference between Timbaland and Big Boi is that Timbaland is a producer first and an artist second. Big Boi is an artist first, producer second. Timbaland was a little more hands-on where Big would just yay or nay the songs, telling me what he liked or didn't like. There are pluses and minuses to both of them. Since Timbaland was on The Charm, I'm assuming you're still cool. We're still super-cool. We obviously don't talk every day like we once did, but we're still super-cool. Was he surprised you made the switch? He saw it coming with all the problems he was having at Interscope at the time. What's the best lesson you've learned working with Timbaland? I learned a ton of stuff. One thing I learned is that at the end of the day, your voice has to be just another instrument in the music. There's no question Big Boi is different from Timbaland. What's your relationship with Big Boi? He's just one of the most flavorful, flamboyant people in the world. He plays the big brother role. He gives me advice on everything. Is being called "country" something you embrace or shy away from? I'm done harping on it. At this point, every time I open my mouth, people know I'm country. I'm not harping on it anymore. I'm proud to be where I am today and I'm proud of where I've come from. Now let's focus on the music instead of the story behind the music. Was making Ugly a gift or a curse? It was a gift. The $5-million dollars I made off that song is a gift. Does it ever bother you that some people still haven't gotten past Ugly and expect songs like that from you? That's fine. Do you get the respect you deserve when you come to the East Coast? I'd say in the last two or three years it's definitely gotten better compared to earlier in my career. The South's running this shit right now. I'm appreciative of where I'm at in the world right now, but it won't last forever. What's the best way for someone in the South who doesn't have labels, major radio, or press outlets? It's the independent grind. That's what it's always been. I think that's what allows us to sustain our movement a little longer. Everything is so independent-based. Everybody knows how to grind on their own without a major label. Do you need a major label right now? You need a major label. Major labels specialize in taking things to the next level once you provide the foundation. You definitely need a major label for the MTV's and the bigger outlets. As far as your foundation, you can't depend on a major label anymore because that's just not what they do. What advice do you have for young rappers? Be original. Be original. There's something unique about every person that's been born. There's something unique about you that no one else in the world has. Great artists have the ability to say whatever's unique about them. How do you like living in Atlanta? It's as progressive as a city as you'll find in America. It's nice to have such a wonderful, cosmopolitan place. Growing up, I lived an hour from Atlanta. Wherever you may be from, you have your big city. Atlanta was always that to me. XXL recently printed you saying the n-word. How did you feel about? It was an unfortunate situation. I have a lot of respect for the guy as a writer. I don't know how the mistake was made. I'm glad we got it cleared up. There are a lot of white people who say the word and a lot who don't. Where do you stand on the issue? I can't tell any grown man how to speak, but as far as I go, it's not something I say. When are you going to Iraq? Actually, that trip got cancelled. We were planning on it. We're going to be on tour with Juvenile for the whole month of May. Do you have any plans to get over there? Yeah. I've been over there once, but I definitely want to get back. How is it performing for the troops? It's great. You see the numbers on CNN, but you don't really feel the impact or the reality of the situation. When you get over there and you realize that for every number is a name and a face and family back home, it gives you a whole new sense of appreciation. What do you want to say to all the troops? Get your asses home, safely, in one piece. Please God. What do you have to do from here on out to make The Charm successful? The same thing I have been doing. Shaking hands and kissing babies. I'm a man of the people. I'm not Hollywood. Just from talking to you, it's obvious that you're humble. A lot of artists that don't even reach your level don't have that humility. It's not even a conscious effort. It's who I am. I don't deal with no bullshit. What's next for you? I'm trying to get another album out in 2006. How do you want the next album to sound? I got a few songs already recorded. You'll just have to wait and see. What do you want to say to everyone? Bubba loves you.

By Brian Kayser

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