Fat Pimp has been buzzing on the streets of Texas for the last couple of years. Now, he’s trying to broaden his Texas appeal throughout the other 50 States.
His first step: the release of Badd As I Wanna Be Vol. 2, which dropped back in October 2011. GlobalGrind sat down with Fat Pimp to talk about his name choice, his celebrity crushes and of course, his music.
Check out the exclusive interview below!
How did you come up with the name Fat Pimp?
Pretty much, it just goes back to high school. They use to call me fat. And at the time all that I rapped about was the money, the cars, the girls, the lifestyle. They gave me the name in ninth grade and it stuck with me. Where we’re from it’s accepted. People understand the culture and it’s not so much that I’m pimping women, but it’s just that lifestyle that comes with it. That’s what I was rapping about.
That’s why I was entertaining, so it stuck to me through high school, college, and when I got my first break. It’s just been a catchy name. But it’s also been a gift and a curse, because now that I’m getting to that point where I’m starting to make those nationwide records, a lot of people are not as accepting to the name. They like the Fat but when you add that Pimp to it … ’m pretty sure it’s scared a lot of people off. At that point where I’m thinking about dropping the Pimp and just keeping the Fat name. The name kind of limits you as far as you can go. I just think it be better branding to drop the Pimp name.
Tell us about Badd as I Want to Be.
Badd as I Want to Be Part Two is basically my first official mixtape to the world. I dropped three mixtapes beforehand, but Bad as I Want To Be Part Two is like my introduction to the people who never heard me. For my loyal fans this is my reinvention. I got features from Big K.R.I.T., I got another artist Killa Kyleon out of Houston. Short Dawg, it’s another cat out of Dallas named Ace Boogie, and the last person is Phillp Wade, he’s an R&B singer.
It’s like a puzzle. I got all the right pieces to it. I got a few club records on there, I got some story-telling records, a lot of riding music on there. I just feel like this is a chance for people to find and love the Fat Pimp and become a fan. I’m trying to win them over with this one, kind of warm them up for what’s in store. I feel like this is my stepping-stone.
I’m gonna keep dropping music and just keep hitting them over the head with some consistency and I think that’s what a lot of people are lacking right now, because they’ll drop a hot mixtape but you won’t hear from them in a while.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Pimp C, Biggie, Rakim, Master P, and Pac. The basics for hip-hop. Then as far as nowadays: artists like Lil Boosie. I respect his grind.
Who do you think are the top five rappers in the game right now?
In the game right now? It had to be: Em, Wayne, Ross, Kanye, T.I. Notice I didn’t say Jay-Z’s name. I can’t even put Jay-Z’s name. He already a boss. I ain’t put 50, he already a boss. But those are my top five.
Do you feel like Southern rappers get wrongfully judged?
Hell yeah. As the artist, I say yes. I remember when I had Myspace Artist of the Day and people said ‘I don’t want to hear this South sh*t.’ Out top, people was just judgmental of Southern music.
If you can collaborate with anybody right now, who would you want to collaborate with?
Boosie, Yo Gotti. I’m a real live fan of Yo Gotti and Boosie and Gucci — the old Gucci. I like Traphouse Gucci. Black Tee Gucci. I’d like to work with R&B cats like Trey Songz and Tyrese. I f*cks with Tyrese.
If you could collaborate with any pop artist, who would you want to collaborate with?
Probably somebody like Bruno Mars. I like Bruno. I like Britney Spears. And then this new chick, Jessie J. Yeah, I like her and Adele.
Have you been going around touring lately?
Man, I’ve been constantly doing shows since 2007. You gotta understand, in our region, you could tour around Texas all year long and make money.
So we been doing shows from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kansas — just around the area, since ’07, ’08. And life been good.
It’s just that now we’re at that stepping where we making this kind of money now, it’s time to elevate on the East Coast, on the Chitlin Circuit, the Carolinas, the Georgias.
If you could only take three albums to a deserted island with you, what three albums would you take?
Tupac All Eyez On Me, T.I. Trap Muzik then UGK Riden Dirty. I got to. I can’t ride in my own car now without Riden Dirty.
Do you have any celebrity crushes?
I used to have a crush on Keyshia Cole, man, but she kind of hurt me. Shout out to Boo because she’s from the H. I like Kyla Pratt, she done grew up, man.
What’s you favorite thing to do besides making music?
I would say be with a woman. I love women, so, that one-on-one time helps me get away from a lot of bullsh*t you go through, day in and day out with the entertainment industry. And only one can give you that satisfaction like that. So I’m saying one.
What do you like in a woman?
I love a pretty smile and her hair got to be on point. That’s a must. I love hair. I know this might seem weird, I like women to keep their fingernails done, toenails done. I ain’t really just into the whole body thing, I don’t like fat chicks or nothing like that. I ain’t discriminating that’s just not my cup of tea.
I’m lying. I love ’em all. I’m not going to discriminate. I don’t turn none of them down, man. Every woman got something about her that turn me on.
What about personality?
I just like women that demand more from me as a man. I like a woman that motivates her man to get up and do something and also has something going for herself. I’m not saying financially, but just goes and at least be trying to do something. And a God-fearing woman. She gotta be a Christian woman. She gotta be cool with my mama, though.
When can we expect an album from you?
I don’t think it’s going to be hard to put out the album because we’re in the studio so much. I don’t really have a date set for an album, but they can expect the next year, though. We’re going to go ahead and do it because I think it’s time to see how much the fans are rocking with me.
Is there anything else you want to let your fans know before we go?
Yeah, hit me on twitter @fat_Pimp. Log on to my website, Iamfatpimp.com and get all the new videos on there. Get every single on there.
If you want to go to iTunes you got the links for it on there. And bring me to y’all city. If you never had a Fat Pimp show, you need to book me and we’re going to turn your city out. Just like that.
