Tatiana R. Johnson is back with her Culture Shock column. This time she speaks with rising star, Lil B...
It’s not typical to hear a male rapper refer to himself as a ‘Pretty Bitch’ or influence others to say, “Hoes on my d**k cuz I look like Jesus.” By coincidence, this interview was scheduled the same day that millions saw Lil’ B get in a minor altercation. What was supposed to be an interview with fans ended in what you can see on YouTube. But the self-proclaimed hip-hop rebel has no problem bouncing back and also speaks on million dollar deals, collaborations with Kid Cudi, Travis Barker and major business with Soulja Boy. Not to mention having artists like Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane doing his dance. Lil’ B is on to something and explains how the ‘Cooking’ craze came about...
The Wrap Up: I was supposed to interview you some time ago. The next day I see you doing a video blog on an altercation that took place, so what exactly happened?
Lil’ B: It was a minor altercation dealing with some haters. But you know everybody has that thing right before they get a little big, someone always tries to come in and do some stuff but you get a chance to learn and it just makes you go harder. Millions of people have seen it, so it is what it is.
TWU: Now that millions have seen it on the internet, how are you handling the situation?
Lil’ B: I’m just moving on and it’s a blessing that I’m alive and I’m in a position to be talking to you and MTV UK, so I’m really not mad. But my guards are up and it just taught me don’t trust anybody. I’m glad that I got woke up, because it just shows that everybody is not good and made me more business wise and more on my game. It’s a small situation and everything happens for a reason, so I forgive, but I won’t forget.
TWU: I hear the calmness in your voice and can tell you’re bouncing back. So what have you been doing since then?
Lil’ B: Really, after that I didn’t record. I really just wanted to get my head right and figure out a few things and just enjoy life. But I just recorded a track called ‘The Pretty Bitch is Back’ after what happened to me. This track is just letting everyone know I’m back in the game. I also recorded a rare album, produced and composed by me called ‘Roses Exodus’ and it is an album with seven tracks on it and can only be found in a few places like www.basedworld.com.
TWU: Describe a typical day for Lil’ B…
Lil’ B: I’m really picky about what I do in the morning, because that’s when your brain is the most sensitive, so I have to really make sure that whatever I’m doing, I’m feeding something and taking in something positive. I wake up and straight to the computer to listen to music, check out music blogs and watch different artists. I’m just a media sponge taking it all in.
TWU: There are so many artists out of the West Coast, but how do you feel your music differs from others?
Lil’ B: My music is the closest thing to an emotion. A lot of artists just rap or they just kind of write everything. I study the greats. My best songs written are from the heart. It’s more than a voice on a track. Everything to me makes a difference you know? From the quality, to how I record it.
TWU: Everyone knows that you’re a part of the group The Pack, but I see you’re working solo now. Are you still working as a member of The Pack?
Lil’ B: Of course, we have a new album coming out called, ‘Wolfpack Party’. It’s definitely a good album and I’m still rocking with The Pack. I’m just branching out doing my solo thing and making sure that people understand that I’m a force to be reckoned with by myself and the group collectively. We’re all beasts.
TWU: Speaking of groups and others, there’s been a lot of talk about you collaborating with Soulja Boy. How did the hook-up with SOD Money Gang come about?
Lil’ B: I was pretty much dropping videos on WorldStarHipHop. I put out a video called ‘Respect My Mind’ and Soulja Boy quoted one of my lines on Twitter and put my name on it. I was like, ‘Wow that’s big!’ Because I’ve always supported Soulja Boy and what he does and we just talked from there and just been rocking. We have big things coming up in 2010, million-dollar deals.
TWU: You have a lot that you’ve accomplished at such a young age. Your book, ‘Takin’ Over by Imposing the Positive,’ how did that come about?
Lil’ B: It’s me in my purest form. I’m an artist and there are multiple sides of me and I’m forever evolving. As much craziness as I may say, I really show the positive side and how I am off the microphone. So if anything, before I die, people can say I put out something that was true to my heart and real for the people. It’s just my life experiences and making negative situations into positive and just out of love for the people who listen and my love for rapping. This book is only the beginning.
TWU: One of the first things that are very unique about you is your fan base. There are so many MySpace fan pages of your music…
Lil’ B: It’s just dedication, giving the truth and my emotions in my music and being as honest as I can to the people who respect me and it continued to grow. Shouts to Brandon McCartney, he just kept going for him and I started doing more. I think Twitter really exposed it even more. I have155 MySpace pages with five songs minimum each page.
TWU: Before we go any further how did the ‘Cooking’ dance begin?
Lil’ B: The cooking dance really came about from Chopper, he probably doesn’t even know, but he had one video and did this little dance. Dude look like he was doing something so I just did my little version of what he was doing and I just started going crazy with. Respect to Chopper. Its amazing, crazy videos daily of people ‘Cooking,’ it’s fun and great everybody is having fun.
TWU: It’s a must that we talk about the lyrics. How did you feel about the attention you got after the 'Hoes on my d**k cuz I look like Jesus' lyric?
Lil’ B: I was pleased with the attention I got. A lot of people were disturbed by me saying that, but I’m a rebel and that’s my role in hip-hop, to get under the people’s skin. Everybody in hip-hop seems like a republican and scared to be different. I’m glad I’m doing what I’m doing because I stick out and nobody in the hip-hop industry has done what I’ve done.
TWU: Tell us about your recent projects ‘I’m Thraxx’ and ‘6Kiss’. They’re a bit different from one another...
Lil’ B: The ‘I’m Thraxx’ was my first mixtape and very real, straight from the heart, same with ‘6Kiss’. They’re both classic mixtapes for anyone who loves artists in their truest form. ‘6Kiss’ was originated by me meaning getting money and women.
TWU: So what do you have coming up next?
Lil’ B: The third instalment I have coming up is ‘The Black Ken’ and then I have one of the best albums to ever come out in hip-hop history. I know that’s a big statement, but it’s produced by me, Based God and executive produced by Dior Pain and it’s called ‘Rain In England’. This album is going to be the most revolutionary and lyrical album to ever come out in hip-hop history. I worked with Travis Barker and Kid Cudi as well. It was cool and my mainstream album will be out this summer.
TWU: Is there anything else you want to tell the fans?
Lil’ B: Shouts to MTV UK and thank you everybody that’s been holding me down, thanks.
Stay up to date with Lil B on Twitter - www.twitter.com/LilBTheBasedGod
Words: Tatiana R. Johnson
Online editing: Joseph 'JP' Patterson
