What should we expect from your debut?
This is letting everyone know that I’ve arrived. My songs are all across the board, I try to make a lot of different songs that I feel are a reflection of me. I named the album “Self Explanatory” because I wanted to explain myself and let people get a better feel of who I am, what I feel about hip-hop, and what my role is in hip-hop. The basic theme of the album is just me breaking myself down in a lot of different ways. I feel that every song represents my interpretation of Southern hip-hop.
How did you hook up with Ludacris and Disturbing Tha Peace?
Actually, I’ve been cool with Cris since high school. We became friends long before we thought of the name Disturbing Tha Peace. A mutual friend introduced us when we were 18 or 19, and we had a common interest in rapping and trying to get in the game. We just became friends and decided it might be easier to obtan our goals if we all work together.
You’re on the road now. What are you promoting?
I’m out here promoting the release of my album and I’m on Ludacris’ “Chicken & Beer Tour” with Chingy, David Banner, and in some cities, Knoc-Turn’al. I have my own set within Chingy’s set and of course I come out several times during Ludacris’ set.
Do you think people are ready for your solo joint?
Definitely. It’s been a blessing. I’ve been blessed that people were ready for me to be a solo artist after “Move Bitch.” People have been asking me every day when my album’s coming out because that record was so huge, and I was the only unfamiliar artist featured on that track. That’s why it took me so long to do my solo album, because I didn’t want to lose the following I was building. I wanted to take the time to make the best possible album so nobody would be disappointed. I feel like I’ve done that.
Do you feel pressure being the first artist from DTP to release a solo album?
Chingy was the first outside of Ludacris to release a solo album from DTP. I feel pressure, but it’s good pressure. I’m one of those people that works well under pressure. I want to be able to set realistic goals and exceed them. I feel pressure, but it’s more like excitement. Of course, I’m a little nervous. You’re always nervous because when you work on something and put your heart into it, you want people to love it the way you love it. I’m anxious, if anything.
Southern hip-hop is hot right now.
When you’re from the South – I’m born and raised in Alabama – I’ve been there from the time when they weren’t trying to hear anything from us, weren’t playing any records by us. We had no videos on BET or MTV. We were just considered country, backwards, and two years behind, for the most part. So for us to basically be dominating the charts with songs that sound like stuff we’ve been doing for ten years, and even hearing other cities try to imitate us, I feel my role is to just continue that and broaden the idea of what Southern hip-hop is and just continue on with that movement.
Would you say that you’ve learned a lot from Ludacris?
We learned together. We came into this game together. One of the things we learned is that doing it yourself is the best way to go, and to be patient and take your time. Stay true to what you do. If you are you, that makes you original because nobody’s gonna do what you do, the way you do it or the way you see it. The biggest thing we learned is to be original, take your time, and learn as much about the business as you can.
What would you like to be doing in two or three years?
Not just in two or three years, but for as long as I can I hope I’m still doing hip-hop because I love it. I love the music. I love doing it. I think I’ve got the best job in the world. In two or three years, I hope to be releasing another album. I hope the first one is successful. I tried out for a couple movie roles, too. Hopefully, I’ll be acting. Who knows? The biggest thing for me is to try and stay positive, make the best possible music I can, and keep praying.
Being on the road so much and being in this shady business, how do you stay positive?
Because I’m doing what I love. There are a lot of other people out there that are less fortunate that would kill to be in my position. I do maybe thirty minutes of work a night and get paid what some people make in a year. And that’s a blessing. A lot of people strive every day to do the one thing they love, and maybe they do it and don’t get paid for it. I’m getting paid well to do something I’d do for free.
- Jessica Koslow (Photo: Raandu Avion)
