Bloggers get no bigger than Perez Hilton (born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.), the founder and writer of celebrity gossip blog, Perezhilton.com. Since his site started in 2005, Perez Hilton has been the thorn in the sides of A-listers, and in doing so, has become a celebrity himself. But Perez’s star power is attempting to crossover with his daily gossip segment, “Perez Hilton Update”, on the morning shows of two of the biggest hip hop stations in the country: New York City’s Hot 97 FM (WQHT) and Los Angeles’s Power 106 FM (KPWR).
Both stations are known for their hip hop celebrity coverage, but with Perez now on five days a week, listeners are apt to hear Perez dish the latest dirt on Britney Spears before they hear about who Lil Wayne is dating.
Curious to know how well versed Perez is on matters of hip hop and R&B gossip, VIBE.com talked to Perez to get his take on some of the biggest names and controversies. Here’s what he had to say.
Your site is not known for covering the kinds of things Hot 97 and Power 106 cover, do you feel any pressure to know more about the celebrities who matter to their demographic?
Well, that’s the great thing, that if not everyone in that demographic that listens to those shows reads my website then it’s a great way for me to get new readers. And vice versa. I think it’s an exciting opportunity all around for everyone involved and I’m not really going to change anything I do. Love me, or, hate me, but you’ll be listening to me! (giggles).
Justin Timberlake is a real artist. Do you see Usher writing and producing for other people? No!
No! I think they can see through that. I’m not going to try to be anyone other than who I am. And I like hip hop, I like good hip hop.
Okay then, whom are you bumping right now?
I’d definitely say Kanye, for sure. I’m still a fan of Jill Scott. I like Snoop as well. I love all of the female rappers.
Like who?
The Eves and the Foxy Browns and the Remy Mas, Lil Kim and Trina and even Riskay, that rapper that I’ve been mentioning so much about who’s got that one song, “Smell Yo’ Dick”
Who would win in a fight between Lil Kim and Foxy Brown?
I’d have to say Foxy Brown because she has more experience beating up people. She’s
also allegedly partly deaf, so she’s got less to lose (giggles).
What about Foxy Brown and Naomi Campbell ‘cause both of them have…
Oh! I’d still have to say Foxy.
Yeah, Foxy's been to jail too.
Naomi just had to do community service.
Good point. Are you afraid of pissing any rappers off if you dish some dirt on them?
What don’t you get about Soulja Boy?
He’s one of those manufactured acts who are just a product of his label and he doesn’t even really own his stuff. Does he even write his own rhymes?
I don’t know. I think he does.
I want to get into the hip hop game then! I want to release a song.
Who would you collaborate with?
I would collaborate with Kanye West, for sure. I think he’s at the top of his game right now.
More so than Lil Wayne?
I don’t really know his stuff, but all these people keep on saying is he is the best rapper out there. I don’t know his music. I also like Pitbull, representing the M.I.A!
You’re from Miami too, what about Rick Ross?
Rick Ross, that sounds familiar, isn’t he from Atlanta?
Rick Ross is from Miami.
Oh, good for him. I don’t really know Rick Ross.
What about T.I.?
I don’t really know his stuff.
Can you give me three rappers whose names start with the word “young”?
Young Buck, Young Berg, Young Jeezy?
Correct. That’s impressive.
Young MC? There you go, the fourth one.
Even more impressive. Which singer wants some “love in the club” these days?
Oh, that’s Usher.
What do you think of Usher? Better than Justin Timberlake?
Hell no! No way! Justin Timberlake is a real artist. Do you see Usher writing and producing for other people? No!
What do you think of syrup in hip hop?
That’s a rapper?
No, it’s cough syrup. Some rappers drink it to get high.
Like, drinking a lot of it?
They drink more than they should.
I don’t know just take codeine! I think that’s kind of silly. I don’t even like drinking beer, but that’s just me. I’m pretty much a vodka drinker.
I wanted to get your take on one more so-called hip hop issue and that’s homosexuality. From homophobia to whispers of some popular rappers being in the closet, as a gay public figure, what’s your take on this?
I’ve come face to face with gay rappers. There’s so many, especially lesbians. There seems to be a lot more lesbians in the game and I hate that they’re all closet. Like, that’s such bullshit to me. Especially with people like, you just know are lesbians. Why not just come out? It’s not like it’s going to hurt your career.
Some say it would.
No! Come on! If Missy Elliot came out tomorrow everybody would be like, “What took you so long?” If Da Brat came out tomorrow it would be like, “Duh!”
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Comments
1.
SAxlerod says:
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Perez will add some different credibility to the 2 hip hop stations. Some will luv him, some will hate. I like his business model. He's not stupid and he's so right about Ursher not being about to write and produce for other artists. Black folks used to be so universally talented. What happened?
May 9, 2008 at 11:37 pm
2.
crazyjoe says:
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Oh, have heard of his name for long. But didn’t know himself. He did a great job in this. I know his affairs are warmly discussed at the dating club blackmatching.com. Many girls love it very much.
May 8, 2008 at 8:06 pm