Rich Boy: It's a great feeling. I'm takin' it all in and just using it to push this album to the next level. It's an album that really deserves a chance for everybody to hear it. I'm just enjoying this time right now. I'm young. I can't be in a better situation. With the recent hip hop takeover by Southern artists, some are now starting to look at it as saturation, with claims that the music is starting to sound the same.
If you're from the South, you're just going to have to reinvent the sound. So on all of my songs on the album, we just found new sounds that we ain't used to hearing coming from the South. Most of the tracks on the album are universal-Southern sound. No one will be able to restrict me because I switch up my style too much for you to just say, "Yeah, he's just a regional rapper." There are great expectations for your album.
I feel like my album is so strong. So much stronger than "Throw Some D's." I think it was kind of good we put "D's" out first, because it's not the best song on the album. I think that was the trick, to put something out that people would catch on to. Now we can come hard with the next single cause it's like we ain't give them our best yet. Watch exclusive video of Rich Boy talking about Mobile, Alabama:
You collaborated with more than a few notable names on your album from Outkast to Timbaland. How was it getting together such great talent?
A lot of people just wanted to be a part of the project. It's strange. It seemed like it was meant to be. The only person we reached out to was Snoop Dogg.
What tracks stand out most to you?
"Get to Poppin," produced by Brian Kidd, is hot. It's just a vision of the hood. I'm trying to paint a picture of where I come from. Another is called "Lost Girls." It has a reggae feel to it, like a Bob Marley type of track. It's talking bout a high level of prostitution, girls selling themselves, but it's a positive song.
Is reggae a major part of your musical influence?
Rich Boy: I love reggae music. I thought it would be great if I'd just try the track because of the feel that it gave me. And that's where I got it from, the whole reggae point of view. I just love it.
Watch exclusive video of Rich Boy talking about "Lost Girls":
In 2001, you enrolled in Tuskegee University. By 2002 you were out in pursuit of a career in music production. How hard was it to officially make this transition?
It was a real big decision, but I just love doing the music so much that I ain't never really think about it. I never really thought about the gamble I was taking.
Where did you want to go with a major in Engineering?
I wanted to design cars. I was a car freak growing up as a kid. That's all I liked was cars.
Are you into cars because of the name or does the design strike you first?
When I see a car, I mostly likely look for the design more than the name. It really don't matter the name, as long as the car got a slick look to it.
Did you ever envision yourself as a rapper or were you more focused on producing?
I was definitely focused on being a producer. Rapping was something I tried because Polow da Don pushed me to. He just kept calling me, motivating me to strive. So one day I was like cool, I'll try it. So that's when I flew to Atlanta. And we just put a demo together and I got a deal. Me and Polow used to get into it all the time because I'd want to make beats all day instead of rap. Eventually I just started falling more towards the artist way. I started writing more and just took my career to another level.
From working with and around experienced individuals, what kind of lessons are you picking up?
I've learned if you keep good product and relationship, you'll survive a long time. The best advice I got is don't burn bridges.
How are you handling being the first hip hop artist from Mobile, Alabama to signing with Interscope?
I feel kind of strange. I just really figured it out; this is something I was meant to do it. I'm comfortable now. I feel just like everybody else at the label.
What immediate goals are you looking to achieve?
If I could bring checks home and come from Mobile, Alabama, it's most definitely a big goal. That's my goal - to just bring the checks home.
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