Would you classify your sound as “South Carolina rap,” or is it unique to just you? My whole style is just a mix up of everything. It’s like a gumbo pot, from “Nasty Song” to “Don’t I Look Good.” If you listen to those two songs, you won’t even think it’s the same person rapping. I just apply myself to the track, regardless of it’s my song or [someone else’s]. If I‘m featured on something I just try to always bring life to whatever I’m doing. I really don’t have a style, I just do me. We makin’ them hits. What was it like growing up in Ridgeway, South Carolina? There was nothing really to look forward to as far as [professional] sports. Most people grow up with a team, like, if you live in Atlanta you can look at the Braves or the Falcons and want to grow up and play for them, but in South Carolina we didn’t have an NBA team, an NFL team, a baseball team, or even a hockey team. Carolina is really a country place so it was a blessing for me to be able to rap. Even though it’s real country, Carolina is all love. How old were you when you started rapping? I started rapping when I was about 8 years old, but as far as taking it seriously and trying to get paid wit’ it, I’ll say about 15. I had a song called “Will Destroy” that started me out. You’ve come a long way since then, especially with “The Nasty Song” becoming so successful on the charts. When you first made that song did you think it had commercial potential? Never! I never even thought “Nasty Song” could be a single, but that just goes to show that if the streets approve it, radio doesn’t have a choice. It’s all about creating that foundation. “The Nasty Song”’s [success] was a shocker to me just because of the content of the song, so it’s amazing, bra. Why did you shoot so many different videos for “The Nasty Song?” It seems like a new version comes out every week. The first one was just some shit out there that they had put together, but I’ve been pushing this song on an independent level for years, so I did a few of my own videos and it all just came together at the same time. I would have to say the BET one is my favorite version because its not as raunchy. The raunchy one is cool, but that’s getting a little old to me. I know you’ve got some crazy stories from the road after putting out a song like that. Most definitely, man. Night after night it’s been crazy. I had twins kiss each other in the mouth just because of “The Nasty Song.” One night, I ain’t gon’ front, I probably had about 10 or 15 girls in the room at one time, and I went through at least half of the team all because of that song. And that was early, when the song came out, so now I’m at the point where I’m passing ‘em by. [The groupies] are getting old to me, but the shit is crazy. Damn, 15 chicks? What city was getting down like that? (laughs) To be all the way real, I was in Augusta, Georgia. I was up there doing a show and it just went down. We took everybody up to the room and they just went in. It was all kinds of girls in there: military chicks, girls that ain’t know each other, grown women—they were all just going in. Being that you’re on the road so much, what cities give you the most love, besides Augusta? Definitely the whole state of North Carolina, from Charlotte to Fayetteville. The entire state as a whole shows me a lot of love. I definitely get the most love there. You’ve been signed to quite a few different labels. Can you clarify the reasons behind the moving around? Most definitely. I just want people to understand that I’ve been doing this for a long time and I come from a real independent grind. I’m not just an overnight rapper that they found on the street corner; none of that. I’ve been making my face known and proving myself to the world for a long time. I started out at 15 years old with Elektra, where I got a deal through Angie Stone. Sylvia Rhone was the first lady to give me a record deal. I got dropped from [Elektra] and went back independent. After that, a dude from Baltimore got me a deal with Capitol. Vernon Johnson signed me to a single deal when I had “Don’t I Look Good,” but about 6 months into my deal Vernon Johnson passed away from a heart attack. Through that situation, I was dropped again, so I went back to being independent. Then I came out with “The Nasty Song,” and now I’m signed to Def Jam. We here now! Okay, not to add fuel to a fire that’s already been burning, but I’ve got to ask you about the falling out between you and Charlamagne tha God.
54 // OZONE MAG
He’s been pretty vocal about his dislike for you. What’s your side of the story? I definitely want to clarify the situation. I don’t have nothing to say to him because to me it’s more personal. Me and him know more than anybody else. It’s nothing I want to address in a magazine, a record, or none of that. He know personally what he did to me, and I know what he did. To keep it all the way real, it was some fake, tricky contract, fine-print type shit that has caused me to have to give him a portion of my deal, but you know it’s nothing. Sometimes you have to take strikes in this game. But everybody already knows what type of dude Charlamagne is. You two used to be good friends, right? Of course, he used to be a friend of mine, so for him to just flip like he did— money is a powerful thang, man. It’ll make yo mama flip on you, that’s just how strong it is. When money comes into play you never know how people gon’ act, because some people ain’t seen certain money before in they life. So, you say a number to ‘em and you never know what they gon’ do in life. I’m just gon’ be the bigger man in the situation. I know what I gotta do, I gotta a whole lot on my back, and Carolina is depending on me. So I can’t push no negativity, but me and [Charlamagne] personally know that we’ve got problems till we die. So it is what it is. There’s no way for y’all to resolve the situation? No, not unless he gives me my money back and tells me he’s sorry. It would be all good then, he’d have been a man. But other than that I can’t do nothing for him. I’ll see him when I see him. What’s the situation with you and Collard Green. Are you two still cool? Most definitely. Me and Collard Green are always gonna be cool. It’s deeper than rap with me and some of these dudes. Me and Collard Green got a relationship where I could sleep on his floor while he’s in the bed. We were in the same studio working since way back. That’s still the homie, that’s always gon’ be the homie, it’s just that business separates things sometimes. I’m more focused on my business than anything right now, so I have to separate myself from some people because they aren’t on the same page I’m on. Aside from music, what other kinds of business are you involved in? I’m doing everything as a whole, just coming into being a man, finding myself as a person and just grinding. I’m trying to take control of my life. Since you had a record deal at 15 years old, what’s the main thing you wish you had known back then that you’re aware of now? Really, I just wish I was more mature back then, but at 15 you can only be so mature. I just wish I would’ve had better guidance and a more solid team around me. Everything happens for a reason though, because without all my struggles I wouldn’t be the guy I am today. What does your day-to-day life consist of? I definitely stay on the road daily, doing shows up and down the highway. I basically live on the road and in the studio. This rap life is my life now, it’s all I got, so I’m basically doing this all the time. Do you spend any time back home in South Carolina? Matter of fact, I was in South Carolina yesterday just kickin’ it, but I don’t really be in the clubs like that right now. There’s just so much tension right now, I ain’t wit’ that. For me to be the person I’m becoming right now, I’m trying to stay away from all that, but I definitely will be back. It’s definitely not a situation of me being afraid, I’m just grinding right now for us as a whole—they just don’t see it right now. It’s bigger than Lil Ru for real. Would you say that you’re a victim of the crabs-in-a-barrel syndrome that plagues a lot of artists from smaller cities? Everybody always speaks from a standpoint that they’ve never been in, that’s the thing about it. Everybody’s got a comment, but they never had a record deal, so how they gon’ tell me how to act? “Naw, you can’t tell me that. Nigga, you ain’t got nothing!” I think we need more support. What’s your sales pitch for 21 And Up? Why should people go out and support your project? The album is beautiful. I guarantee it’s one of the best albums the world gon’ hear. I should get a Grammy. It’s crazy. The album is amazing. I call it 21 And Up because it has an older swag to it, but it’s still for everybody. If you’re struggling, hustling, partying, getting nasty—no matter what you doing in life, there’s something on this album for you. My second single is called “Yeah, That’s Money” featuring Rick Ross. 21 And Up is a crazy album, believe that. It’s food for your soul for real. //