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What’s been goin’ on,
Kamikaze ?
I been on the road, man. The Too Broke
To Ball record took us all over the South. The U Ain’t Hard
record was big for me. We comin’ back on the heels of that.
I’m finishing up this new record, The Franchise, which is
gone be hittin’ soon. I’m gettin’ the Mississippi
Artists and Producers Coalition up and running. I’m really
pleased with the progress that the organization has made. I’ve
been doing some columns for various news publications. I’ve
been writing a couple of scripts. Basically just trying to keep
myself busy. The worse time that you’ve got is in between
albums when u don’t have anything on the radio and u don’t
have anything circulating on the street. That’s the time
when u can make or break yourself as an artist.
Your new album is called The Franchise.
What made u go with that title ?
Man, basically because right now the success
or failure, to me, of Mississippi hip-hop from 2006 on, depends
on the success or failure of Kamikaze. Everybody has seen the
success that David Banner has had. He’s gone out there and
he’s opened a lot of doors for the state of Mississippi
and he’s brought some attention to the state. People are
turning their attention over here because they see the commotion
that he’s raised over here. Now, they’re lookin’
to see what it is. In order for us to prove that Banner is not
a fluke, somebody has got to to come out and carry that torch
and do it on the same level that he’s doin’ it. Everybody
is looking to me to be that leader and be that next person. I
call myself the franchise because right now, in the state of Mississippi,
that’s what I am. I’m not the only person here with
the state on his back. All of the artist here have the state on
their back. But everybody’s lookin’ at me to be the
leader right now. It’s the fourth quarter for Mississippi
and I’m the Michael Jordan. Mississippi needs to put the
ball in the hands of the man who’s gonna make it happen
right now. Are the cats here ready to work when I bust the door
down this year ? I’m kinda just grabbin’ my nuts on
this one, Anthony. I’m just tryin to let everyone know that
I’m ready to do it.
A lot of artists in Mississippi feel like
David Banner turned his back on them after he became a celebrity,
and that he hasn’t reached back and helped anyone. People
are gonna talk one way or the other, but what will u do to help
insure that Mississippi’s hip-hop community stays united
?
The best thing I can do Anthony is lead
by example. All I know is.... that in the last year, Me, Tony
B., Donnie Money, and Aziatikk created the M.A.P. Coalition to
squash this kind of talk. The organization is now here and accessible
for every artist in the state of Mississippi. It’s really
upsetting to hear people say that Banner turned his back on the
state. One of the controversial statements that I told u I was
gonna make is this : People need to stop blaming Banner for their
own short-comings and lack of success. Banner does not owe the
state of Mississippi anything. Personally, as an artist, he does
not owe me - Kamikaze - anything. People who feel like that need
to stop whining and be a man and get up off their ass and get
out there just like he did. It’s not his job to come back
and hold somebody’s hand and take ‘em through the
door. People with that mindset are thinking, I rap, so Banner’s
gonna come back and put ‘em on. It’s very important
that the next person that comes out of Mississippi does as well
or better than Banner has done. So these people who are saying
these things ..... They’re not ready. They’re basically
doing what we as black people have been known to do for many years,
and that’s sit around and wait for somebody to give us a
got damn handout ! And that’s not his job to do that. If
u busting yo ass and u bout your grind, people gone notice u.
U wanna go sit on the couch at 106 and Park. U wanna do this for
the wrong reason. It’s not Banner’s job. It’s
not Kamikaze’s job. It’s not Boo’s job to come
and rescue u. If I see u workin and grindin, I’m gone fuck
wit u. My success has nothing to do with Banner. And if there’s
anyone on this planet who could be mad, that would be me. And
I ain’t mad. So, to all of u.... Why the hell are u mad
? I was in a group with him. I ain’t mad at him. I haven’t
asked that man for anything. We talk everyday, and I love him
like a brother. U a grown man. Yall get up off yo ass and make
u a hot record. Make yo shit work.
Who did u work with on your new cd ?
I was blessed to be able to work with Mr.
Collipark on this record. I got a real hot radio record that might
be my first or second single. It’s called “Relax.”
I worked with Shorty Red. He did like 8 or 9 tracks on Jeezy’s
record. Carnival Beats, who did “Still Tippin” for
Mike Jones, we gone be turning out some stuff with them. I got
some hot cats outta New York - Young World - they did “The
Whistle Song” for Juelz Santana. I’ll be doing some
stuff with Drumma Boy out of Jackson, Mississippi. Of course,
Banner’s gone be on the record as well. I got the kinks
ironed out and the third times gonna be the charm. People always
say this, but this is gonna be my biggest and best record to date.
Contact : (601) 317-3079
www.kamikaze601.com
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