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Posted by Robert
Rap News Network
4/27/2004 3:44:32 PM
Tags and topics realted to this article include Master P.
There's his new three-disc CD, "Good Side/Bad Side," (it includes a full-length feature DVD, too) that went gold its first week out. There's his recent stint as captain and starting swingman with the Las Vegas Rattlers of the ABA, "Romeo," his Nickelodeon TV show with his son Lil' Romeo and a few upcoming movies.
The rapper, producer, actor, athlete, and entrepreneur also did his best to squash those recent rumors about his financial instability that started spreading once he pulled the plug on his No Limits record label. No need to worry or hate. It appears that Lil' Romeo's pop has enough bank to keep himself in platinum caps for a long, long time.
1. How long did you work on your new CD, and what's it all about?
Master P: I've been working on the new CD for about a year and it's about real life, it's about reality, it's about everything people in the community are going through right now. It's about me. I think everybody has a good and bad side. If I can go through what I've been through and do a television show with my son and then be a boy from the hood making records for the people I make records for, that's reality.
The thing about this album is that some records right now are like going to buy fast food. This is like getting some home-cooked food from your moms. I've got songs on here that are going to really speak to you. This here is going back to being real and not just being hard-core without a message. There are a lot of other songs out there that just have a hook.
2. A lot of other rappers have been critical of what's going on in rap and hip hop. (They're) saying that the music no longer has a message. What's more important to you, the message or the beat?
I think my thing is I grew up in the ghetto, and I was able to get a second chance. That's what I'm trying to tell kids. You can come from the hood, you can be street, but you have to educate yourself. You've got to make a better reality if you want to be a rapper. Most of the kids in hip hop right now have kids. Like me being young and having a child at a young age means that I'm growing up with my son now. I'm still trying to teach him, and I'm still learning at the same time.
When I represent, I represent hoods all across the world: Chicago, Texas, New Orleans, L.A. and New York. I want to make music for everybody because we're all going through this. I have a brother who is locked up in prison right now who has made millions of dollars. I'm trying to open those doors to show kids you have to get focused. The music has to go back to being focused. That's what TuPac was good for, having lyrics that everybody can relate to. It's not just about the beat and stuff that people can party to all the time. I'm going to give them that party music. I've sold 75 million records and still was able to keep it real on the streets because I have nothing to hide.
Are you at all concerned about the negative perception some people have of rap and hip hop artists?
You know, I'm really not concerned at all. I think rap and hip hop is just like rock n' roll and R&B. I think you've got good people and bad people in everything you do. If you start making a big deal of it, then it's a problem. It's like in life. We've got bad doctors and lawyers. We've got bad priests! We don't target every priest and say he's bad. You have to go to church and you have to go see some doctors. Some people have to be good.
3. How do you balance being your son's co-star and father?
You know how I'm able to balance? I come from the ghetto and we've never had nothing. Everybody where I come from always wanted to do better and make sure their kids had a better life. That's all I'm doing. It's really fun because when you have your family with you, the love rules out. You're not running out on each other or conniving against each other or trying to be better than each other.
I think the Man has blessed me with this because this is the best thing you could have. You've got your son, and he can also be your best friend. To be honest with you, I come from the streets and my son saved my life because he made me want to do better so I could be around and see him grow.
How do you keep the fame from going to his head?
Well right now, to be honest with you, we can always ride by the projects and say that's where we used to live at. I think that's what keeps him grounded. Also, he knows that education is a must. He knows he has to believe in the Man up above. We're not doing this on our own. The Man has blessed us with a talent.
4. You played basketball for the Las Vegas Rattlers this season. How was the competition in the ABA?
Oh man, it's great. I've been averaging 22 points per game.
5. What's your best attribute as a baller. What do you do best?
Just like with my music, I can out-think a lot of people, you know what I'm saying? You need a person in the game with you who can think. And I can shoot the ball real well. You've got to be strong in something, so me shooting the ball and then having good court awareness is what I do. And then I think I bring the team together. When I'm on the court, I'm a leader.
6. If you had a choice between a Grammy and an NBA championship ring, which would you choose at this point?
Oh, I'll take that NBA championship ring.
7. What was it like playing for Kobe Bryant's dad (Joe "Jellybean" Bryant), especially with everything that Kobe is going through?
You know what that really lets me know that if you stay focused you can deal with anything. I mean, dealing with Kobe's dad, he's just so sincere about helping us get to the next level, helping us get to the NBA because he's been there. I mean I think it's a blessing because you see all the stuff he has to deal with and can still come to work and coach a team and win.
8. There was talk about the Denver Nuggets offering you a 10-day (contract) last month. If some team next season picked you up for the entire season would you totally give up your TV show and the music?
Well, see the good thing about it is that this summer I'm shooting all the episodes of the show. Hopefully, I'll get an opportunity ... I really want to play with the Charlotte Bobcats. If I get a guaranteed job for a year, this is something that I've really worked hard for with all these exercises and staying in shape, I'd definitely give it a year. That's the good thing about owning your own businesses and having all these great people around you who can run the show. I think we definitely have a great team and it will be a part of history if I can get into the NBA coming from where I came from.
9. Would you ever want to own a team?
I think down the line when I get playing out of my system, I definitely want to be a team owner.
10. That would take some major cash. There are some folks going around saying that you're going broke. What's up with that?
Yeah? Well, I still live in a mansion and I've got every car, and I still get what I want. You know what I'm saying (laughs)? Broke was when I lived in the projects. People have to realize that business is business. Yeah, I shut down No Limits because it made good business sense. But Master P never filed for bankruptcy and No Limits never filed for bankruptcy (he now has New No Limits with Koch Records).
I think people are getting caught up with the first thing they hear because the media is not going to tell the whole story. I mean that's like when Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy. I think only black people start rumors, you know what I'm saying? When Donald Trump did that do you think a white person said "Oh Donald Trump's broke." No, because they understand what's going on. How can Master P be broke? We've got our own television show, we've got our own clothing company, our own jewelry company. So what if one thing doesn't work?
I think our people, anytime they hear anything negative about Master P, Jay-Z, Puffy, we're going to be quick to stereotype instead of looking at the big picture. I think we bring each other down. I don't live like that though. I live to see other black folks being successful. I think that's the key to my success.
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