WITH THE HELP OF DJ BLACK, INDIANAPOLIS RAPPER PACMAN HAS BEEN BUILDING A BUZZ WITH HIS RECORD “TOP OFF.” AS HE FIGHTS A PENDING COURT CASE, HE HOPES HIS PAST WON’T DERAIL HIS FUTURE. How did you get started in the rap game? I’ve been rapping since my younger days. I was like 8 or 9, just working on my craft. I really started taking it seriously when I was about 17. I put out my first actual CD in 2007, when I as 22. The people around me in my environment were really feeling my swag with the music, so I noticed I had the potential to keep growing in the music business. That’s when I got really serious about it, and I’ve been doing albums and mixtapes ever since. How did you link up with DJ Black? I knew him through a childhood friend that was DJing with him under his label Dragged Up Entertainment. He introduced me to DJ Black, back before I put out my first album. He kind of inspired me to keep going and he’s been backing me. He told me to keep working and stay in the streets with the music. Right now you have “Top Off” with 2 Chainz, Juicy J, and Gorilla Zoe. I see you’re paying tribute to syrup like a lot of Houston and Memphis rappers have done. Is that becoming an Indianapolis favorite as well? We kinda took heed to what they were all doing. I figured all these guys talk about it just like I do, so the record might turn out to be something big. And it did. I don’t really want to stay on that topic, you know, letting my crowd think it’s okay to use that type of drug. But at the same time, I know it’s being used every day on a daily basis all throughout the world. So I just stuck on that topic because I know a lot of people are doing it, not just in the Midwest or the South, but all over. You’re in the middle of a legal situation, right? Can you talk about the details? I can only say so much, because I’m fighting a case right now from some poor choices I made in life. I’m trying to redeem myself and just better myself on a daily basis and stick to the music without being involved in gang activity or substance abuse and all that. I’m really trying to get myself together. It seems like people want to see rappers go to jail; it gives you that street credibility. Yeah, that’s what sells right now. People don’t always want to see positivity. If Gucci Mane beats a murder case, he’s that dude, you know, somebody the youth are looking up to. It’s overwhelming because there are so many
teens out here growing up without father figures or with mothers that aren’t really catching on to what’s said in the music. I try not to use so much negativity to reach my crowd. Some people do love to see rappers incarcerated. They feel like it makes you realer than when you were out here. I’m still trying to understand that. What are you planning to release music-wise in 2012? I’m working on The Come Up 2.5 right now. It might be out in the spring just depending on the outcome of this case. Everything is kind of on hold right now because I don’t know if I’m going to have to do time. If I get probation I can still be out here pushing my music. But right now, it’s making me go harder just because this case is pending. I don’t know what God has in store for me so all I can do is pray and take it one day at a time. What are some of the hot spots in Indianapolis to visit during Super Bowl weekend? My barbershop, The Next Level, is on 21st & Franklin; that’s a real nice spot. Kids get haircuts for $5, and with the economy so slow, that means a lot to people. One of my favorite restaurants in Indianapolis is BBQ Heaven. You know black folks love BBQ chicken and soul food places like Country Kitchen, on 19th & Collins. I eat that every day, whenever I can. Who are you working with for your upcoming project? Project Pat with Three 6 Mafia. We have a couple tracks we’ve done together. I’m working with Mike Will, who is a producer in Atlanta. He did “Tupac’s Back.” I actually had owned that beat but I was humble enough to bless Rick Ross with the track so he could open doors for me, so now I’m getting blessed by him. I always like opening doors for other people too, not just thinking about yourself. Aside from being humble and willing to work with people, what do you think are the keys to success in the music business? Dedication, determination, and just the drive to achieve goals. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You’ve gotta always have new creative ideas every single day. What can you do to be different from the next person? You don’t wanna be just like the next man. You want to stand out. Every day I just say a prayer and ask what I can do to become a better person. // Twitter: @PaperchaseEnt Facebook: Pacman Naptown Email: PacstarTheTrackstar@gmail.com
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