DORROUGH - Ozone Magazine

Originally from Dallas, Fat Pimp
moved to Houston to attend college
where he landed his big break
freestyling on BET. Since then, the
rapper/producer has had some
major label offers on the table,
but is currently pushing his music
independently. Songs like “Rack
Daddy” and “I’m Gettin’ Money”
have made Fat Pimp in high demand,
and he continues to release
new material for his fans, like the
mixtape he’ll be promoting All
Star Weekend.
Give us your background in music. How did
you start rapping
I started in 9th or 10th grade. Then I went to
TSU and used to host a lot of talent shows.
B.E.T. came to TSU in ’04 and I won the freestyle
competition. Ever since then I’ve been
takin’ it serious with this music.
Besides rapping, you’re also known for being
a popular producer.
Yeah, I actually produced all the songs I came
out with the first go around, like “Rack Daddy,”
“I’m Gettin Money,” and “Rollin’ Off X.” I was
really known more for being a producer than
a rapper, but at the end of the day, I can’t help
the love I’ve got for rapping. Rappin’ is what I
love, but producing pays the bills.
Out of those songs you mentioned, is “Rack
Daddy” your claim to fame
Yeah, I guess you could say “Rack Daddy” was
the most popular song. “I’m Gettin Money”
with Ray Paul was big, but it didn’t take off like
it was supposed to. “Rack Daddy” was really
the start of the whole D-Town boogie movement,
along with Lil Wil’s “My Dougie.”
What’s your perspective on the boogie movement,
as far as it representing Dallas
On one hand it’s good ‘cause the attention
is good for my hometown, but on the other
hand it’s not good ‘cause the record labels ain’t
respecting it. I just left New York and they think
it’s a joke ‘cause it’s not sellin’ no records. It’s a
gift and a curse. You can enjoy the music in the
club, but on a national level, it’s not profitable.
As far as you being with a major label, what’s
going on with that step in your career
I’m kinda glad my situation last year didn’t go
through with Warner Bros. Business wasn’t
right at the time. I’m glad I stayed independent
because it gave me a chance to build my catalog
of music and develop a track record. The labels
are looking for an artist that’s consistent,
has a fan base, and is gonna sell some records.
That’s something I wouldn’t have been able to
[prove] a year and a half ago.
What do you have going on now as far as
new records
I got a record buzzin’ on the radio right now
called “Maserati.” By the time this is printed it’ll
be on the Billboard charts. I sampled “Bizzy
Body,” that Mouse produced. It’s a big record.
It’s probably like the new “Back That Ass Up.”
We just got rotation in Houston on 97.9, Louisiana
jumped on it, Austin’s jumpin’ on it.
Who are some other big names you’ve
worked with that people might not know
about
I started doing a couple songs with Mannie
Fresh that’s probably gonna be on my new
mixtape. He really helped me out and gave
me direction. I got Slim Thugg on a new
single coming out called “Like a Boss” that I
produced. It’s gonna be like a DJ Khaled type
of record for DJ J. Boss in Houston.
So you live in Houston now
Yeah, I stay in Houston. I was going to school,
but with the music going on I don’t really have
time to go to school. That’s why I don’t really
consider myself to be just a Dallas artist – I really
consider myself to be a Texas artist. Dallas
is home, but Houston is what put me on.
Where do you think the Dallas sound is going
in the future
If the rappers don’t learn how to be artists
and not just songmakers, I don’t think Dallas
is gonna stand a chance in the industry. You
need to be able to create an album and a fan
base. I don’t think my city has enough artists
like that right now. Like Tum Tum, he’s been
in the game a long time, he has a fan base. He
has numbers across the board. If we don’t get
enough people in my city doing that, we’re
not gonna be successful.
Where will you be during All Star Weekend
I’m coming home early. I’ma try to hit as many
parties as possible and get my network on.
Plus I got a mixtape out called Bad As I Wanna
Be hosted by DJ Storm so I’ll be out pumpin’
that. //
OZONE MAG // 31