Q: What does hip-hop culture mean to you?

A: Hip-Hop is wack. Everything about it is wack. Just kidding! Hip-Hop is very important. I mean, without it, I personally would not be the same person I am today. It has molded alot of aspects of my life. It is more than just a music form that you listen to, it is almost a lifestyle. That doesnt mean you have to be thugged out, like alot of stupid people think. It simply means having fun, being confident, and having a good time. I really dont know how else to explain it. It is not easy to define, but like any culture though, in order to truly understand it, you have to know its history.

Q: How do you feel about white rappers coming on to the hip-hop scene?

A: They need to pack their bags, and bounce. Kidding again. But for real, I mean, it was bound to happen someday, meaning the large numbers of white rappers trying to make it. But if you know anything about hip-hop, you see they have always been there.

The Beastie Boys were three of the founding fathers of rap. As corny as Vanilla Ice was, he was around in the early 90's, which was the biggest break through time of mainstream rap. We all know Eminem broke down huge barriers, and set an example for alot of these clowns to imitate nowadays. I hate to rant and rave, but it is sad to me that alot of these corny underground white guys think they are gonna make it big imitating Eminem and how he came up.

The reason he came up is because he was unique, and there wasnt anyone like him. That is why he made it, and that is why I will make it. All these corny white dudes trying to copy him are stupid, and it is funny to me. Back to the subject, it was inevitable that someone like Eminem would cause such a stir, but again, The Beastie Boys were, of course, White, and go back almost all the way to the roots of hip-hop. Holla.

Q: Do you think young white youth see Eminem as an icon? If yes or no, please explain?

A: Of course. I mean, so many kids in america look to rappers and hip-hop, as who they want to be. I aint gonna lie, a few years ago in 1998 or 1999 when i first saw Eminem perform at MTV Spring Break, and he performed My Name Is, and people saw him for the first time, after
it was a radio hit for some time....I was like...woah, that guy is cool. I wanna be like him. Its a natural reaction to want to be something that is hyped up to be soo cool. When all you see on MTV and BET is rap, and that is all you see, characterized as cool, than you wanna be it. So yeah, white youth def see Em as an icon. No doubt about it.

Q: What do you know about the hip-hop culture?

A: What do i know...not much. Matter fact, i dont know anything at all. Next. KIDDING ONCE AGAIN. I mean look at me, if you saw me, would you think...dude knows hip-hop...or dude doesnt know hip-hop? Alot of time, you can tell when someone is puttin on a front about something,
or they are being real.

I think we already talked about what hip-hop is...but what i know about it is most likely alot different than what someone that lives in gary. Or what they know about it from some white kid in the suburbs. Hip-Hop means diff things to different people. I know cats who hate mainstream music. They can only listen to rap like atmosphere and anything else underground that is there taste. I know people who know not a dam thing about underground hip-hop, or the history of it. All those people know is 50 cent, which to me is sad. 50 sucks, and he is a perfect example why people say hiphop is dying.

Q: What meaning do you think white middle class youth get out of rap today?

A: Most white middle class people will take different things out of hiphop. Just like anyone else. Some will use it to get drunk and party too, other will lock themselves in their room and analyze every lyric. Everyone gets out different things.

Q: Why do you think that the hip-hop culture has grown so quickly over the past few years?

A: I dont think it has grown any quicker in the last fews years at all to be quite honest. I think it has changed alot since 1999. I think 1999 marks the end of real hip hop and the beginning of something else. Kind of like evolution. It evolved into something else, what it is today. Just like evolution, it was neccesary, but might not have been the best thing. It changed to complete commercialism. People dont rap to rap...they rap to get money and be famous. In order to do that, they need to make radio songs, that girls can dance too, and people can listen to at bars.

Q: Do you think that rap has become more commercial in relation to
what it was like in the 1980s? If yes, please explain how?

A: I cant even listen to the radio anymore. It sucks. MEET ME AT THE CLUB...ITS GOIN DOWN!!!

Q: Do you think that rappers like Paul Wall and Eminem are living up to the standard of what true hip-hop is?

A: First off, I dont think we can even say Paul Wall and Eminem in the same sentence. Wall aint been around long enough yet. I like him, but he aint been around enough yet. But, Eminem has surpassed the standard of hip-hop if I do say so myself. He is one of the only rappers from the 1990's that has not sold out, and has gotten better every song he makes. It is amazing to me sometimes...matter fact it amazes me all the time.

Q: Why do you think that white you have become one of the largest consumer groups for buying rap music?

A: Who knows. Prolly because it is everywhere. I mean, there was a time many people could live without listening to hip-hop, but not anymore. It is everywhere, and that means that everyone listens to it. EVEN THE WHITE PEOPLE. haha.

Q: Do you think white rappers such as Vanilla Ice and Eminem has open doors for other white rappers to emerge?

A: All these white people questions. Hmmm....Vanilla Ice did not open any doors. The only thing he did is make it harder for white rappers to emerge after he flopped. And dont get me wrong, I aint gotta front, Ice is my boy. Back in the day that was my man, but he made it hard for people like eminem and kid rock to make it. Kid Rock was turned down at 5 major record labels for the sole reason they though he would become another "VANILLA ICE". Didnt happen, did it. But many people were scared it would from any white guy they signed.

Eminem...we all know he set the stage for myself...and also for all these geeky corny white dudes to try and make it. I aint gonna lie, without him as much as I wanted to, I would have never picked up a mic.

Q: Do you feel that white rappers have to work twice as hard to get their music heard? If yes or no, please explain.

A: No. The only reason they would have to work twice as hard now to get their music heard is to people who are stupid and judge them by the color of their skin and not by what they hear. But those people really dont matter anyway. I have plenty of them dudes hatin on me everyday. Flip em.

Q: Why did you decide to be a rapper? What people or instances stood out that made you want to be a part of the hip-hop culture?

A: You serious? This could be a 100 page paper. But, to make things simple...I would say the reason I became a "rapper", and started to make hip-hop music is cause I was inspired by 2Pac back in the day. I used to listen to music, until I heard him. Then I lived it, and breathed it. Then events unfolded...Eminem came out...and made it possible for me to be heard. Before then, I would have been just another VANILLA ICE in many people eyes.

It was a series of events that took place, not just one single instance. A few years into it, and even now i wish i never would have picked up the mic. Cause i wish i would have carried out a normal go to college and do you schoolwork life, rather than go to class come back and write rhymes and make beats all dam day. Being in class, and having your mind making beats while your trying to take notes aint the funnest thing in the world. Neither is telling your girlfriends parents what you do, and what you wanna do with yout life when you rap. I tried countless times to quit, and when i tried to lay it down a few years ago, I couldnt do it. It drove me crazy. Thats love.

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