Originally born in Houston, Texas, Fat Pimp is a Dallas-based producer/rapper who was given his artist name in high school from a classmate. Fat Pimp's interest for music primarily began as a producer, but extended to his daily lunchtime freestyles. While attending college at Texas Southern University, Fat Pimp began to sharpen and develop his skills. This is where he produced his first hit, "Rack Daddy," which got its exposure via YouTube, then followed up with his club oriented hit "Roll Me Up." Fat Pimp's singles have been getting the attention of club DJs and radio stations ranging from Dallas all the way to Alaska.
When did you fall in love with hip-hop and why?
I fell in love with hip-hop around 1994 when I got my Snoop Dogg Doggystyle CD. Hip-hop took over my life in 1996 when UGK dropped Ridin Dirty. It let me know that n-ggas from the same state you from can make it and be successful.
Who or what made you decide to pick up the mic and start performing?
Pimp C is the person who made me want get in the studio and start rapping and producing, but the crazy thing is I didn't want to perform until after I seen David Banner perform at TSU my freshman year. The energy that he brought on the performance was one of a kind.
SXSW seems to be a predominately indie band oriented. As a hip-hop artist what do you hope to gain from your time there?
Every year that I've been down here, it's been a networking experience from clothing lines, to DJs, to the artist that you been trying' to work with. It's understood that this week is all about having fun and meeting people. No label BS, just artists working.
With record sales on the decline in this digital era, how important are tours now? Merch?
Tours is where the majority of my income comes from. Once you get the hot single or hot mixtape, you gotta hit the road and get out your market and perform your fans. One thing I learned from Odd Future was the importance of haven' good merchandise at your shows to add more money on top of your show money. That's why its so easy to being independent these days because the product you can control yourself, i.e. T-shirts, towels, beanies and albums.
How have you been navigating the social media waters, what have you done that has been fan favorites?
I started this new thing called #fatpimpfridays where each week I release an unheard track for the fans who can't wait for my mixtapes. And I recently started a day in the life with Fat Pimp VLog Series. The fans demand so much more from you than anybody else so using Twitter and Facebook to make yourself open to them is helping.
Since 1986 when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame started inducting bands out of 279 performers who have been inducted, and with Public Enemy being inducted in 2013, only 3 other hip hop/rapper acts have been inducted. As an artist that falls into this category, how does this make an impact on you?
To me that's bullshit. You telling me that only 2% of rap artist are good enough? That shit makes me wanna grind harder and have that 2% on my mind when I'm in the booth or on stage. It really shows that they don't give two shits 'bout us rappers.
There is kind of a revolving door of rappers/emcees these days, what sets you apart from the pack and how will you attain longevity in such a fickle and oversaturated market?
I just try not to give a damn 'bout that. I'm a pioneer in the city of Dallas and Houston. I make my music from my heart and for what my fans enjoy, that alone separates me from 50% of the new artists that come out. When you are original you always last longer in any genre of music you do. People respect the real. I look at the artists in Dallas who came out in 2007 when I first hit the Billboards until right now and it's only a handful of us still standing.
By Paul Cortez for RAPstation.com
Fat Pimp - ON THE ROAD TO AUSTIN
Originally born in Houston, Texas, Fat Pimp is a Dallas-based producer/rapper who was given his artist name in high school from a classmate. Fat Pimp's interest for music primarily began as a producer, but extended to his daily lunchtime freestyles. While attending college at Texas Southern University, Fat Pimp began to sharpen and develop his skills. This is where he produced his first hit, "Rack Daddy," which got its exposure via YouTube, then followed up with his club oriented hit "Roll Me Up." Fat Pimp's singles have been getting the attention of club DJs and radio stations ranging from Dallas all the way to Alaska.
When did you fall in love with hip-hop and why?
I fell in love with hip-hop around 1994 when I got my Snoop Dogg Doggystyle CD. Hip-hop took over my life in 1996 when UGK dropped Ridin Dirty. It let me know that n-ggas from the same state you from can make it and be successful.
Who or what made you decide to pick up the mic and start performing?
Pimp C is the person who made me want get in the studio and start rapping and producing, but the crazy thing is I didn't want to perform until after I seen David Banner perform at TSU my freshman year. The energy that he brought on the performance was one of a kind.
SXSW seems to be a predominately indie band oriented. As a hip-hop artist what do you hope to gain from your time there?
Every year that I've been down here, it's been a networking experience from clothing lines, to DJs, to the artist that you been trying' to work with. It's understood that this week is all about having fun and meeting people. No label BS, just artists working.
With record sales on the decline in this digital era, how important are tours now? Merch?
Tours is where the majority of my income comes from. Once you get the hot single or hot mixtape, you gotta hit the road and get out your market and perform your fans. One thing I learned from Odd Future was the importance of haven' good merchandise at your shows to add more money on top of your show money. That's why its so easy to being independent these days because the product you can control yourself, i.e. T-shirts, towels, beanies and albums.
How have you been navigating the social media waters, what have you done that has been fan favorites?
I started this new thing called #fatpimpfridays where each week I release an unheard track for the fans who can't wait for my mixtapes. And I recently started a day in the life with Fat Pimp VLog Series. The fans demand so much more from you than anybody else so using Twitter and Facebook to make yourself open to them is helping.
Since 1986 when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame started inducting bands out of 279 performers who have been inducted, and with Public Enemy being inducted in 2013, only 3 other hip hop/rapper acts have been inducted. As an artist that falls into this category, how does this make an impact on you?
To me that's bullshit. You telling me that only 2% of rap artist are good enough? That shit makes me wanna grind harder and have that 2% on my mind when I'm in the booth or on stage. It really shows that they don't give two shits 'bout us rappers.
There is kind of a revolving door of rappers/emcees these days, what sets you apart from the pack and how will you attain longevity in such a fickle and oversaturated market?
I just try not to give a damn 'bout that. I'm a pioneer in the city of Dallas and Houston. I make my music from my heart and for what my fans enjoy, that alone separates me from 50% of the new artists that come out. When you are original you always last longer in any genre of music you do. People respect the real. I look at the artists in Dallas who came out in 2007 when I first hit the Billboards until right now and it's only a handful of us still standing.
By Paul Cortez for RAPstation.com
