DON'T MISS TODAY:

Back to Artist Profiles

12/4/2008 Your new album Reality B.V. is finally out. Are you happy with the response you’ve gotten to it so far?  Yeah, from what I’m hearing, the feedback that I hear myself, I’m happy with it. I haven’t heard nothing bad yet. I’m waiting for it though. But, you know, I can’t complain and ain’t nobody complaining to me so I’m good with it.  What was your main inspiration when recording Reality B.V?  Just to get another project out there. The way that television is going, I’m a big fan of reality TV myself. It’s a play on that title and, you know, just putting something together that’s really going on for me. It gives people that look into if I had a TV show what I would be saying on it.  What’s your favorite reality show?  All of it! If it’s reality TV, I’m watching all of it, even the haircutting shows. I like seeing people get their hopes and creams crushed in front of millions of people! (laughs)  As a rapper, I’m sure you’ve seen some of your peers get their dreams crushed.  Oh, absolutely! I can definitely relate to that. I’ve had my hopes and dreams shitted on and shat on and all of that but I still pick them up, dust them off and keep going.  You’ve been really getting your name out a lot in the past few years. Are you happy with how your career is moving?  On some levels and in some respects it’s very good, but on other levels it’s back to the same. There’s been a lot of progress but my living situation hasn’t changed at all. But I believe that all good things come to those who wait. I’m waiting.  Is that one of the inspirations for your song “Backpacker”?  “Backpacker” was inspired by a lot of things people said to me. They said it was too “East Coast.” Hearing that shit enough will make you want to flip your shit up. I’m still the backpacker and there’s a dude I don’t like. He know what it is and I won’t even get into it like that. Everything that I said in there, I’ve been told. I have no problems putting it out there like that.  What’s the worst part about performing at underground venues?  The worst part, for me, is there ain’t too many girls there. It’s just dudes and shit. I’m trying to get all phases and get into some ass. But that’s a rarity right now. But the best part is that you have freedom to where you don’t really have to worry about other people’s opinions on you because they’re going to rock with you regardless. Everybody is pretty much the same.  If you could change one thing happening in underground hip-hop today, what would it be?  Wow, that’s a tough question, man. I don’t know. I would get more girls in it.  Why do you think girls avoid underground rap like that?  I don’t know. Because niggas ain’t making no money. Girls need money, stability…They’ve been taught to spread their legs for that and a lot of underground shit it not concerned with that. Most of us aren’t making it like that. That’s what I would say.  You have some left-field collabs on Reality B.V. like Kurious and A-Butta. What made you want to get guys like that on the album?  What I’m trying to do with this thing is it’s things that I dreamed about as a kid. I wanted to do stuff with them. It’s like the Bucket List. Okay, that’s done. That’s done. You know what I’m saying? I remember being in traffic to get to Jones Beach when I was 15 and looking over and Kurious was in the next car. I was like, ‘You’re Kurious Jorge?’ “Yeah.” A couple of years later, the dude’s on a track with me. To me, that’s some ill shit.  And he’s got a new album coming.  That’s real good for him, man. I’m really happy for him. When we did the song, I didn’t have any intentions of it blowing up but he’s doing well. That wasn’t even in my head. But hey, if it helps, it helps, you know?  What song are you most proud of on Reality B.V?  Me, I would have to say “Not Fun,” the one produced by Marco Polo. That joint is really dope. There’s no samples in it but it just sounds dope. It really puts my perspective on women out there pretty much. So I’m proud of that. And if it’s not that it would have to be the “Fire” joint, which is real b-boy heavy. So one of those two.  Speaking of Marco Polo, you had him, Bean One and a lot of other nice producers on there. What kind of beats were you looking for?   Just the nod and the knocks. I don’t know. That’s really tough. I just hear beats and if I like the drums I do it. I’m not saying I’m looking for this particular song right now or I want to make a girl song. Whatever the beat calls for, that’s what it’ll be.  Does Reality B.V. give fans a complete picture of who you are as an artist and what you can do?  I wouldn’t say it gives a complete picture but it’s a good introduction. There’s things that they’ll find out soon enough but I think it’s a good base and hook. I think there’s definitely enough to show them that I’m really not too different than anybody out there and we can relate to each other.  “Officer Ross” was a track you leaked making fun of Rick Ross this past summer when his correctional officer past first came to light. Did you think that song would have gotten such a negative response?  Nah. If I thought that I wouldn’t have done it. I come from a place close to his and I know what it’s like out there. There’s a lot of ignorance out there and a lot of dudes who will do something because you said something about their friend. It really wasn’t supposed to go out there like that. It could have been good in one respect but tragic in another. But I’m glad people liked it though. It’s not like people were saying that shit was wack. That was just some shit I would do. If I think something is funny then I’m going to write a song about that.  Did his camp ever reach out to you after that?  I’m not going to say his camp did but some Miami people did. That’s their champion right there and I’m right up the street. There’s already differences between where we live and they know it. It probably wasn’t the wisest thing to do but it was done.  They just didn’t think it was as funny as the rest of us did, huh?  I definitely agree with that.  Why do you think so many rappers are scared to call out what’s real and what’s fake?  I didn’t think I would be one of the only ones. I really didn’t think that. I thought everybody was going to jump on that. It’s different now, though, you know.  Why?  It’s more like now, the associations and the friendships are more important than the art. That’s my stance on that. People would rather be friends and get the benefits of “this dude’s known” and some shit like that instead of “that’s some fake shit. That’s a lie.”  Are most rappers scared to talk about how they really feel about things?  Absolutely. You need to express everything. I have no shame in expressing whatever. If I shit in my pants I’ll do a song about shitting in my pants. Whatever. Somebody will relate to that shit.  I don’t know if you’d want to shake hands with that person if they did and I hope I don’t have to hear a song about you shitting your pants.  You might!  I know you shouldn’t do it now when you’re sharing a bus with Oh No and Roc C.   Yeah, they don’t want me to shit my pants. They’d want me to pull into a rest stop.  What do you guys do all day on the bus?  Just make music. I’m driving. I’m lucky I’m driving because then I’m not sitting here doing nothing. Oh No has been making beats all the time and Roc C is making beats. Cats are staying busy.  What’s your next project going to be?  Just something unexpected. I think that’s a fantastic answer right there.

By Brian Kayser

[9] REACT TO THIS INTERVIEW