Afro Man, what’s goin’ on ? What’s been up with
ya since your first album ?
A whole lot man. When I first
started recording, all I had was talent. Now I think I have more
talent and a better business mind. I’ve got my own label
now. I wanted more control. U know what I’m sayin’
? U get with these major labels, and u got this dude tellin’
u how 2 be u. When all he’s gotta do is check record sales.
But yeah, all I wanted 2 do was rap, get drunk, get high. Now
I’ve got a double cd out. I done gave my life 2 God. Know
what I’m sayin ? I still go out there and perform for my
crowd. U know ? I got saved, but they haven’t. I gotta keep
doin’ my hits. Tina Turner can’t stop doin’
“What’s Love (Got To Do With It).” U know what
I’m sayin’ ? That’s what the fans wanna hear.
So was Universal tryin’
2 make u sound like someone else ?
They had me doin’ stuff
that wasn’t Afro Man.
Who’s distributing your
music now ? My album comes out April 20th, and I’ve got
this bidding going on between 2 distributors.
How did u get your big break in
this business. I’ve heard different stories.
Dude, I been rappin’ since
the 6th grade. Each step brought me closer. It’s funny.
It seems like it came all at once, but it’s been a long
trail. It’s like a paycheck that’s been held back
for a long time. U finally get it, and it looks fat, but it’s
really not. Know what I’m sayin ? When I wrote “Because
I Got High,” it blew up kinda fast. Like, I’m from
L.A. man. My stuff didn’t start selling until I moved 2
Mississippi. When I came 2 Mississippi, it took off. It’s
crazy. I knew people always talked about marijuana, but nobody
talked about the effects of it. I think I had the first song that
spoke about the effects of it. People who smoked weed were like....Yeah
that’s what happens. Not everybody. Some people can smoke
a joint and fly an airplane. But I can’t.
I heard that your stuff took off
after u hit the college circuit. Is that true ? Yeah, that’s
right. Yeah, the party crowd. Get hype. Get drunk. U know. Right
now, the urban crowd is more into Lil Jon and The Eastside Boys.
I play live music. Real instruments on stage. The college crowd
loves that.
U play an instrument ?
Yeah, the guitar.
O.K. We all know that u kinda
kicked things off for Mississippi. As far as national notoriety.
U had on your Mississippi State and Ole Miss t-shirts. No other
black artist from Mississippi has had that kind of attention until
David Banner. What’s your take on Banner’s success
?
I got a lot of love for him. He’s
more of a crunk rapper. We have very different styles. I think
he’s cut out for the majors. I think he’ll be alright,
man.
Are your roots here in Mississippi
? I’m from L.A., but I use 2 visit every summer. One year
I stayed out here and went 2 Jeff Davis Elementary ( in Hattiesburg).
Since my dollars and record sales support came from Mississippi,
I claimed it. U know what I’m sayin ? My California mentality
is still there. I’m just gone go ahead and tell the truth.
I moved here. The earth sits still sometimes. So u gotta move
around 2 make it happen. I tell everyone I’m from Mississippi.
I don’t erase the past. I’m just adding 2 it.
What do the numbers (sales) look
like on your first album ?
Right now it’s at 830 something
thousand. It’s about 200,000 sales away from being platinum.
That’s damn good. How did
Universal get at u ?
Actually, I was on a label called
T-Bone. So Universal got with them. We flew up 2 New York and
made it happen.
So “Because I Got High”
was gettin a lot of spins before u signed with Universal ?
Yeah ! The song was outta control.
It was on Napster - underground. I had people asking me for an
autograph before I was even big. And I was broke. I’d be
standing outside the gas stations, and people would buy me something
2 eat, and I’d sign autographs.
What kinda sound does your new
album have ?
Awh man. It’s crazy. I’ve
been goin’ thru a lot the past few years. I got a song called
“Cheers.” Remember the song, “I’m Going
Back To Cali” (by LL Cool J) ? I’ve got a song called
“I’m Leaving Cali.” I got a song with E-40.
I got a lot of party tracks.
Are there any other well known
artists featured on the album ?
Nawh man. I kinda wanted 2 let
everybody know that this is my album. Know what I’m sayin
? When I go buy an album, I wanna hear that artist and not a bunch
of people that I’m tryin 2 avoid.
Are u doin’ any touring
right now ?
Yeah, I’ve been doin’
some touring down South. That’s where the bread and butter
is. Everyone else just experiments with me. So I ain’t gone
do my people wrong by going somewhere dancing for some folks that
I ain’t really feelin’. U know what I’m sayin
?
How long do u see yourself doin’
this ? Is there an age that u plan 2 stop ?
Man I’m a rapper. I play
guitar on stage. I’m like a rapping B.B. King. And I play
really good. Not 2 be bragging on myself or anything. If they
push me on stage in a wheel chair, I’m gone have my guitar.
Singing Colt 45. U know ? I’m gone do it til they pull the
plug on me.
I don’t know of many rappers
who play the guitar. Just u and Wyclef. Man if u ever get a chance,
u gotta come out 2 one of my shows. It’s a lot of white
people there, but don’t worry about it. (Laughing) I’m
black. I’ll be there with u.
Did u do all of the production
on your first album ? Yeah! I wrote the lyrics. And the music
was mine. I don’t do samples. But I did have an Interpolation
on there. U know, my version of a song. This new album has quit
a few interpolations on it. I produced this album, as well.
Do u stay in touch with other
artists that u met along the way ?
Man, the cat that I like is E-40.
He and I stay in touch. He’s independent. That’s what
I wanted 2 do. But at the time, I wasn’t able 2 do it cause
I had 2 put some food on the table. But naw, as far as the industry,
other rappers are competition...and it gets real snooty. So why
go thru that ? I like the old school cats. Like : Too Short, &
Big Daddy Kane. These new rappers, I don’t like their persona.
I don’t like what they talk about. I’m not a real
hand shaker.
Describe your new album. Awh man
! Gumbo, consistent, and a mixture of all the people I’ve
ever listened 2.
For Booking Contact : Jim Thompson
(601) 307-5686
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