Originally from Dallas, Fat Pimp moved to Houston to attend college where he landed his big break freestyling on BET. Since then, the rapper/producer has had some major label offers on the table, but is currently pushing his music independently. Songs like “Rack Daddy” and “I’m Gettin’ Money” have made Fat Pimp in high demand, and he continues to release new material for his fans, like the mixtape he’ll be promoting All Star Weekend. Give us your background in music. How did you start rapping? I started in 9th or 10th grade. Then I went to TSU and used to host a lot of talent shows. B.E.T. came to TSU in ’04 and I won the freestyle competition. Ever since then I’ve been takin’ it serious with this music. Besides rapping, you’re also known for being a popular producer. Yeah, I actually produced all the songs I came out with the first go around, like “Rack Daddy,” “I’m Gettin Money,” and “Rollin’ Off X.” I was really known more for being a producer than a rapper, but at the end of the day, I can’t help the love I’ve got for rapping. Rappin’ is what I love, but producing pays the bills. Out of those songs you mentioned, is “Rack Daddy” your claim to fame? Yeah, I guess you could say “Rack Daddy” was the most popular song. “I’m Gettin Money” with Ray Paul was big, but it didn’t take off like it was supposed to. “Rack Daddy” was really the start of the whole D-Town boogie movement, along with Lil Wil’s “My Dougie.” What’s your perspective on the boogie movement, as far as it representing Dallas? On one hand it’s good ‘cause the attention is good for my hometown, but on the other hand it’s not good ‘cause the record labels ain’t respecting it. I just left New York and they think it’s a joke ‘cause it’s not sellin’ no records. It’s a gift and a curse. You can enjoy the music in the club, but on a national level, it’s not profitable. As far as you being with a major label, what’s going on with that step in your career? I’m kinda glad my situation last year didn’t go through with Warner Bros. Business wasn’t right at the time. I’m glad I stayed independent because it gave me a chance to build my catalog of music and develop a track record. The la-
bels are looking for an artist that’s consistent, has a fan base, and is gonna sell some records. That’s something I wouldn’t have been able to [prove] a year and a half ago. What do you have going on now as far as new records? I got a record buzzin’ on the radio right now called “Maserati.” By the time this is printed it’ll be on the Billboard charts. I sampled “Bizzy Body,” that Mouse produced. It’s a big record. It’s probably like the new “Back That Ass Up.” We just got rotation in Houston on 97.9, Louisiana jumped on it, Austin’s jumpin’ on it. Who are some other big names you’ve worked with that people might not know about? I started doing a couple songs with Mannie Fresh that’s probably gonna be on my new mixtape. He really helped me out and gave me direction. I got Slim Thugg on a new single coming out called “Like a Boss” that I produced. It’s gonna be like a DJ Khaled type of record for DJ J. Boss in Houston. So you live in Houston now? Yeah, I stay in Houston. I was going to school, but with the music going on I don’t really have time to go to school. That’s why I don’t really consider myself to be just a Dallas artist – I really consider myself to be a Texas artist. Dallas is home, but Houston is what put me on. Where do you think the Dallas sound is going in the future? If the rappers don’t learn how to be artists and not just songmakers, I don’t think Dallas is gonna stand a chance in the industry. You need to be able to create an album and a fan base. I don’t think my city has enough artists like that right now. Like Tum Tum, he’s been in the game a long time, he has a fan base. He has numbers across the board. If we don’t get enough people in my city doing that, we’re not gonna be successful. Where will you be during All Star Weekend? I’m coming home early. I’ma try to hit as many parties as possible and get my network on. Plus I got a mixtape out called Bad As I Wanna Be hosted by DJ Storm so I’ll be out pumpin’ that. //
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