$hamrock – “More Than A White Rapper”
February 23, 2007
Whats good with you, $ham?
Shit, just makin these moves, tryna get this money!
So— I know were a few days away from the final episode, but even thus far— without anyone knowing if you won or not- what kind of doors have opened as a result of the show?
The show has been an amazing experience. Everyday I’m getting calls from people who want shows, features, interviews. I’ve been approached with some incredible opportunities that I know would not have been offered to me without the VH1 exposure.
Do you feel you were accurately portrayed on the show?
Oh yea, that’s me. I’m A-Town born and raised. I conduct myself very respectfully and I don’t try to show out when the cameras are around. I knew that there was going to be a lot of drama on the show, so I wanted people to remember me for my ability.
Were there any moments in particular that you would have liked to have seen aired?
I got shafted a little bit because everywhere we went, we had to rap for people. And everytime we rapped, everyone always picked me and whoever else stepped up at that time. But people would pull me aside and tell the camera that I was truth everywhere we went. Well, except for Detroit, lol.
How do you feel the show depicts white hip-hop?
I thought they did a really good job because the show had kids who represent each aspect of white hip-hop. You had a kid from the burbs, kids from the hood, rock-rappers, political rappers, so i thought it was a good representation. The one thing we all had in common was being a white rapper and the unique circumstances that come with that.
I couldnt help but notice that with the show being based in New York, as well as the vast majority of the hip hop tests consisting of New York culture- did you ever feel you were at a disadvantage coming from Atlanta?
First off, being from Atlanta could never be considered a disadvantage! Now as far the show being centered in the NY culture, I knew that some challenges were going to deal with things I wasnt as familiar with. But all in all, I thought it was pretty fair considering we were in the birthplace of hip-hop.
Im assuming going into a show called The White Rapper Show, you had to go into it with a sense of humor…
(Laughter)Â Yeah pretty much. I knew that if I went in there with a chip on my shoulder, I would be in for a rough time. At times the challenges seemed to be pointless, so rather than take them seriously I just played around with it. When it came time to rap, I did my best to represent.
Now, I know a lot of folks may not know this but you graduated from UGA with a degree in Journalism. Did you ever feel the whole wigger stereotype was a hard misrepresentation to overcome?
People who don’t know me have always said this, it is nothing new. I probably got this the most while I was at UGA to be honest. In Atlanta, everybody looks and dresses like me. Talk to me for two seconds, you can see that I am not putting up a front or trying to be hard. I am Atlanta inside and out. If I grew up in Beverly Hills or Laguna Beach, maybe I’d be different.
So how long have you been rapping?
I was that kid in school who spent lunch period rapping and beating the lunch table. I’ve always been the neighborhood superstar when it came to rapping. So basically since I was like middle school.
How did you hear about the show?
I heard about it on the radio and I saw the casting on XXL. I was also contacted by VH1 because they filmed a documentary on underground hip-hop in Atlanta that I was interviewed for.
Tell us about any recording youve been doing lately. Who all are you working with?
As much as I can, I want to continue to work with the people who helped get me here, my producers Luney-Tunez-N-Yo-Area and Ribah On The Beat. I’ve recorded with other producers including PIT, G Fresh, and the Sicknotes out of Detroit. Most of the artists I’ve been working with are out of Atlanta: Eva Trill, AK of P$C, Maceo. I worked with Jon Young out of Orlando. Misfit from the show over a Heatmakerz production. Attitude out of Alabama. Willie Joe from California. I’m slated to work with a lot of folks but we’ll see how all that goes down.
Who were your biggest influences in hip-hop coming up?
Anybody and everybody from the South. Geto Boys, Three 6, Kilo, 2 Live Crew. I loved Bone, Twista. A lot of the artists who spit rapid-fire flows.
Who would you like to work with now?
Luda is the truth, he’s top. Definately, Hypnotize Camp Posse, Chamillionaire, Yo Gotti, Lloyd, Unk, One Chance, Yung Joc. A rock group out of Atlanta named Cartel.
On the episode that was filmed in Detroit, you admitted freestyling isnt your strong-point. What do you feel is your strength on tracks?
Well, I bring a lot of energy always. I feel like Im pretty versatile. If I have to tear it down with some double-time, I’ll do that. If I need to smooth it out, that’s what it is. Whatever I’m working on, I just want the song to be really strong as far the song-writing goes. My music is always very memorable.
I’m going to leave this one open ended for ya, $hamrock. Give us a quick summary on your impression of some of your competition on the show.
(Laughter) You’re trying to set me up on this one. Naw for real, I respect anybody who’s doing their thing, even if it doesn’t make sense to me. I thought that Persia was the dopest out of my competition. Misfit’s off the chain as well.
What new material can we look forward to? Any mixtapes in the works or anything?
Of course. Once the show wraps up, I have to give the streets something to get em ready. I’ve been talking to DJ Burn One and DJ Hotsauce and I think we’ll have some heat for the streets in the early spring.
Any thing else you wanna say before you go? Any shout outs??
Shoutout to IAP and all the independent artists on the grind. Check me out at myspace.com/shamrockmusic. It’s goin down in 07 in a major way.
- Interview by Kevin A. (Atypikal Entertainment)
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