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Saturday - August 5, 2006

— by William E. Ketchum III

Landing a role as a protégé of a big name artist can be a difficult task. But if you've got two of rap's biggest superstars behind you after splitting half of one compilation album, then making a good impression isn't that hard. Within the span of two years, Lil' Scrappy has upgraded his situation from "good" to "better."

In 2004, he was holding down half of the Lil' Jon-helmed compilation disc The King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Lil' Scrappy and Trillville with highlights like "Head Bussa" and "Bootleg." But now, he's prepping a proper solo debut as the subject of a joint venture between Jon's BME and 50 Cent's G-Unit. In an interview with BallerStatus, Scrappy talks about flying solo, hooking up with 50 and co., and the impending case he has with Orlando, Florida police.

BallerStatus.net: What have you been up to since the last album?

Lil' Scrappy: Grindin', working on the album. It's actually my first debut album, we've got a couple of singles out the box: "Money In The Bank," "Gangsta, Gangsta," "Lord Have Mercy," "Like Me," and a lot of stuff. And of course you know, I'm dealing now with BME/G-Unit. Lil' Jon and 50 Cent are executive producers on my new album. I've got Young Buck on "Money In The Bank," which is the new single. I've got Olivia, 50 of course, Lil' Jon, Faebo from D4L, Bo Hagon from BME clique, and I've got Jeezy up on there. It's a big win, it's going down. I've just been out here working, man.

BallerStatus.net: How did you hook up with G-Unit and 50?

Lil' Scrappy: The South is small, and I have gangsta affiliations, so I'm just connected worldwide. I got my connection with Buck, he told me to come to the video shoot, I came through. 50 was there, everybody was showing me hella love, because we were always be at shows together, so it was nothing but love. And then, we ended up having the same manager. So, I got hurt one day and 50 called me, nobody called me but the dude. After that [I signed with them].

BallerStatus.net: What is it like working with 50, and how is it different from working with Lil' Jon?

Lil' Scrappy: 50 is consistent, so it's constant work with him. Jon is a producer, so he's got his modes. He might be in this mode this day, and he'll be in that mode that day. They're both workers, so it's basically the same.

BallerStatus.net: The last album was with Trillville...

Lil' Scrappy: Yeah, that's why I say the last album was like a compilation; this album is like my first album.

BallerStatus.net: How difficult was it to switch to solo recording from a compilation?

Lil' Scrappy: Last album, I had six songs to myself, and I was actually on two or three of their songs. So, it's nothing. I just did six more songs to make it an album. Still, it's like everything's on me now. I've got to do it. If something f---s up, I can't be like, "Oh sh--, that's because they were on there." (laughs) If something f---s up, it's on me. And if I win, it's on me.

BallerStatus.net: Do you like it better that way?

Lil' Scrappy: Yeah, I like it that way.

BallerStatus.net: With your last album, a lot of people labeled you as a "crunk" artist. But with this album, you're with G-Unit, and they're different.

Lil' Scrappy: Well, they've got crunk elements -- Yayo and Buck. Yayo is like New York crunk, he's crazy as hell. But, I'm more of a whole-world type dude. I can do the hip-hop thang, and do the crunk thang. Aren't too many dudes out there that can do that. They can either do crunk, or they can be hip-hop.

BallerStatus.net: Do you think that the whole crunk labeling of you leads to misconceptions or misrepresentations?

Lil' Scrappy: The people who don't understand, they're either going to want to understand, and I'ma make them understand; and if they don't want to understand, then, sh--, ain't no need for me to cotdamn be in their face no way. I put it in a simple form that they can understand it. I say, "Look, this is how it is, blah blah blah." If you can't understand that, then something's wrong with you. I come in there and do a little song and sh--, and it be different. Motherf---ers be like, "Damn, I thought he was going to come straight crunk." But naw, it's whatever you want. I'm the dope man this year.

BallerStatus.net: A while ago, you were suing Orlando police for their actions during your performance at a local high school. What's the word on that?

Lil' Scrappy: We haven't even started yet, fam. It takes forever to do that sh--. But, I'ma keep drilling it, I want their badge (laughs).

BallerStatus.net: What do you think that incident shows about rap music and police relations?

Lil' Scrappy: I just think black or white police...some of them be cool, and some of them really be cool, but have an attitude problem. But, I give them all the same attitude: f--- 'em. If my mama was a goddamn police officer, I probably wouldn't hang around her neither.

BallerStatus.net: Recently, on the "Smack DVD," you were vocal in giving T.I. the "King of the South" title. What made you do that?

Lil' Scrappy: I just feel like if none of these older n----s is out here looking at him like, "N---- you ain't sh--"...nobody's saying that. They say their little sh-- behind closed doors, but they don't say nothing in public about that man. So, that must mean he's the king of the south. Don't nobody say sh-- to me when I talkin' about I'm the "Prince of the South," and I don't really give a f--- about none of the sh--, but it's just something to talk about. At the end of the day, it's just another title. N----, I'm Scrappy, all day. And that's the only title I really need.

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