FAT TONY // FAT TONY // FAT TONY

!! FATTONYRAP.COM !!

2010-09-02T22:04:00.003-05:00

I'm on that Tumblr wave, fool.
Catch me posting my favorites in music, videos, and myself at yet another website.
I've been rockin' it for a while just made it official.
Plus the top has links to all my shit to make it easy for ya.
You like?!

FATTONYRAP.COM

Houston Press Music Award Showcase 2010

2010-08-09T11:55:00.005-05:00

This past Saturday, August 7th, I got it in tough on the street of Washington Ave. enjoying as much free pizza, free tacos, and free alcohol as I could handle. I also played some music. Here's proof. All photos taken by Austin Miller. http://austinmillerphoto.com/houstonpress/index.htm

Sean Padilla aka The Cocker Spaniels performed with me & Smash Bro for the set adding guitar + playing my favorite song of his "The Only Black Guy at the Indie Rock Show." Enjoy the footage! Follow Sean at http://twitter.com/seanpadilla

"LUV IT MAYNE" off RABDARGAB LP (Produced by Tom Cruz)

I also caught one of Houston's best punk bands SOMETHING FIERCE and was quite amazed by their new songs from their forthcoming third album. They're big around the nation and are heading on a European tour soon. Show them some love! http://www.facebook.com/somethingfiercehouston

Matt & Kim headlined the show and brought the house the fuck down. Couldn't believe so many kids in Houston were aware of them! Matt stuck around late signing things and shaking hands until the cops made everyone leave the premises. A true gentleman.

2010 Summer California Tour Videos + Photos

2010-08-02T18:45:00.007-05:00

This 2 week trip to California rejuvenated my lust for life. Spent 1 week in Sacramento visiting my girlfriend's Filipno family for the first time and another week traveling between L.A., Riverside, Pomona, and Moreno Valley rapping in front of people. Out in L.A. even got to see the homies Ninjasonik & Juiceboxxx playing with Theophilus London at Freak City for a wild party that included Andy Dick getting fucked up and escorted out + kids raging from midnight til 5 a.m. #LUVITMAYNE!

We spent the L.A. stay at my uncle's house as he recited tales of ye olde L.A. and sleeping with his gun at all times. We shopped a bit at The Cobra Snake's new retail shop on Hollywood blvd and hit stores on Melrose and Fairfax as much as possible. If only we had more $$$ to ball out! Chilled with Trash Talk a bit in Sacramento as they warmed up for their tour in a garage. Them boys are the best thing going in hardcore punk rock today. Don't sleep on 'em.

Also met up with the homies Speak! and Pheo, plus a new friend DJ Tony Swoops who showed me and my girlfriend Universal Studios and a mini-tour of Hollywood. Finally met VerBs in the flesh after doing a song over the internet which you're sure to hear soon! VerBs showed me nothing but love and is definitely an artist I recommend you look up and check out. Find him at http://twitter.com/verbsisthehomie + http://www.myspace.com/verbsisthehomie

See ya next summer!

RIVERSIDE, CA: "Home" from RABDARGAB starts at 2:41 in the video!

LOS ANGELES, CA: "Bad" from RABDARGAB 5:04 in the video!

This nigga was so fuckin' wired & wild.

Young man covering the Geto Boys classic "Mind Playin' Tricks.."!

Fat Tony + VerBs

Universal Studios in Bart Simpson shirt from The Cobra Shop

FAT TONY - "LIKE, HELL YEAH"

2010-07-27T14:36:00.001-05:00

HPMA 2K10: Vote FAT TONY!

2010-07-25T01:30:00.003-05:00

VOTE OR DIE! ---> http://bit.ly/bGzype <--- DIE OR VOTE!

///__Nominations__\\\\

(1) Best Underground Hip Hop

(2) Best Twitter Personality

(3) Best Song "Like Hell Yeah"

=================================

Back at it again!

Thanks to my own work and all the great support I get from good friends, family, and fans of what I do I've managed to win "Best Underground Hip Hop" two years in a row (2008 + 2009) at the locally legendary Houston Press Music Awards.

Every year I'm nominated I'm humbled by the support I continue to receive and I wanna let it be known that I'm absolutely appreciative of every bit of it!

Every year I've kept pushing this Fat Tony music my opportunities, music, and connections have grown bigger and better. I wanna continue that. I wanna keep giving y'all fun songs, fun events like BLACK CHRISTMAS, and general good times that break the boredom & bullshit we all face from time to time.

Please, please, please take a few minutes out your day and cast your vote in this year's Music Awards! I'm nominated for three awards and it would mean the world to me to win the Best Underground Hip Hop award for the third year in a row! If y'all know anything about the neighborhood I reside and was raised in then you know 3 is my favorite number.

I've got a new music video ("Like, Hell Yeah"), new album (RABDARGAB), and new mixtape (RABDARGAB: The EPreview). The music video will be out this week (might even be out by the time you read this) and the mixtape and new album will follow.

To all those that have waited on RABDARGAB... remember that patience is a virtue! The album is DONE on my end but Tom Cruz is tweaking the mastering and mixing end of things.

The album is being shopped around to give it the biggest release possible. The world at large needs to hear this, not just my good friends out here in Texas. It's all worth the wait and if you want to hear the new songs you'll always catch me performing them at a show near you. ;) Pass on the word! Sorry for the rambling but I love y'all that love what I do! Thanks for keeping me alive.

P.S.

Stay up on what I've got going on... !!

http://twitter.com/fattonyrap

http://fattonyrap.blogspot.com

who's your favorite Ramone?

2010-06-29T03:07:00.001-05:00

It goes back and forth between Joey and Dee Dee, mainly because both of them wrote most of the songs and were the most charismatic / most fucked up / most interesting members of the band. I've got books about them both.

RABDARGAB FAT TONY RABDARGAB

Jade: "Beautiful Problems" (ft. Fat Tony & Tecla)

2010-06-21T19:28:00.005-05:00

Jade<3 just released the new remix album of her 2009 EP It's My Heart, Cookie featuring the new legends in the game Tom Cruz (producer of my upcoming album RABDARGAB), Chuck Inglish (The Cool Kids), Melo-X, and more!

I'm featured on the remix of "Beautiful Problems" along with Tecla. The track was produced by Carmelli and goes hard, hard. Good for you in the club or in these streets.

You can hear more from Jade<3 at jadeismusic.bandcamp.com.

Brought to you by Jason Scott Henderson of Scott on the Rocks (SOTR): scottontherocks.com

"Teen Council" [Contemporary Arts Museum Houston]

2010-06-19T12:20:00.007-05:00

The good people over at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston commissioned me to create a song to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of their program Teen Council.

Over the years the CAMH has booked myself solo and my even my old group in high school The Low Ends for events for performing, hosting, and DJing. Totally free museum in Houston that's always getting the most interesting installations and artists. Show them support!

Shout out Fonda of Team Facelift for the production!

Shout out Jason Scott Henderson at Scott on the Rocks (SOTR) / Cornerstone!
He brought Fonda from Team Facelift in the mix for this track.
Peep Jason's work at the links below.
scottontherocks.com
wetnotdry.blogspot.com

Find out more about the CAMH and Teen Council at www.camh.org & www.camh.org/prog_teen_council.html

"Teen Council" [Fonda Mix]

Janelle Monae x Fat Tony

2010-06-14T23:59:00.006-05:00

Got Janelle Monae to sign the deck. Her show that night w/ Erykah Badu was quite live. Her band is sick and she deserves all the exposure she's gonna get this year. Fuck with her! Her producer Nate Wonder is the truth.

Houston Press: "Why Would Anyone Ever Set Out To Be A Rapper?"

2010-06-14T23:54:00.002-05:00

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2010/06/why_would_anyone_ever_set_out.php

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday (that isn't a national holiday) Rocks Off will have some of them hear discussing issues relevant to their culture.

This Week's Panel: Fat Tony, Yung Redd, Thurogood Wordsmith and Kyle Hubbard.

Not Invited: KRS-One's "Mine Is The Only Opinion That Matters" routine. Yeah, sure, he's a bonafide hip-hop legend. But that doesn't make him any less annoying.

We went to the 50 Cent show last night and, no kidding, on our way out was handed CDs by at least three different aspiring rappers. This brought to mind something of a bit of a down question.

It seems like there are an unprecedented amount of rappers trying to "break it big" these days. Yet with a few notable exceptions, record sales have been pretty abysmal these last few years. Now, for the most part, you all are fairly young with regards to the respective ages of your rap careers. So we guess the question is, Why? We listen to each of y'all's music pretty regularly, and some of you all we even openly root for, but why would you voluntarily choose to pursue something that, in all likelihood, will end in failure? We mean, what you're doing is the equivalent to trying to play "Through The Fire And Flames" on expert level on Guitar Hero with your cock (or vagina).

Fat Tony: The industry is fucked, but I don't give a fuck. I'm in it to sell records, I'm in it to sell myself as an artist and as a "brand." I'm in it to make a living off touring, licensing and royalties. I'm in it to one day move up in the industry from being just an artist and be more of a consultant/A&R/etc. role that I can fit where I can groom and shape new artists like myself.

Besides those career goals, I am ultimately in this for respect. No matter how much of a buzz an artist has or how many records they sell if they don't have respect then they aren't shit. For example, B.O.B. had a great buzz and tons of respect from the hip-hop community online and offline until he dropped his major label debut which is so far from his original mixtapes and so much a packaged pop record designed for 104.1 KRBE it's sickening. He's celebrated by some for having a number one record and two singles in the top ten, but what is that really? That doesn't guarantee longevity. Respect betters an artist's chances to remain relevant for years to come.

Look at 50 Cent. 50 Cent's debut is one of the last classic rap albums to be released in the past 10 years. Because it was so well received critically he was given a chance to shine on his latter albums even though he was a huge commercial success, something that is often shunned by nerd ass rap guys with computers and old men who claim they guard the rap gates; very poorly, might I add.

Now speaking for me personally, I believe respect has been earned locally. And with the plans I have, the team I'm working with, and the records I'll be releasing with RABDARGAB and in the future, that respect will spread. I'm known simply for two major things: working hard -- whatever y'all perceive my hard work is - probably playing shows often and traveling and making friends nationally -- and making an attempt to actually be an artist and not just put out mixtape after mixtape of monotonous material with no real focus or theme.

I will not let you down.

Murs x Fat Tony

2010-06-14T23:48:00.002-05:00

The man Murs rockin the Fat Tony "Lion" t-shirt out in Austin, TX. Fuckin' right. Gon' get his new album Fornever w/ 9th Wonder. Quality rap music reppin' the West hard!

http://mursworld.com/fornever

Angela Carter: "Love Anymore"

2010-06-08T11:29:00.006-05:00

Peep this. Angela Carter from Dallas is a sweet girl with good pop songs. My homie Tedric is a nice dude with good vision and work ethic. He put together this throwed new video for Angela’s latest single and enlisted myself, Tom Nguyen from The Ton Tons and Kyle Vento from Simple Success to simulate rocking the fuck out. I think we did a decent/dumb/silly/excellent/inspiring job. All the girls in the video are pretty hot too. Notice me getting my Blink 182 on with all the hopping and wildin’ out & in. Fun times, folks.

Somebody get this shit on 106 & Park already.

"REAL NIGGA SHIT" [Freestyle]

2010-05-27T20:34:00.004-05:00

New freestyle "REAL NIGGA SHIT"
Fat Tony + Tom Cruz + June James + Smash Bro.
Produced by Tom Cruz.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://fattonyrap.com/track/real-nigga-shit-freestyle"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Real Nigga Shit [Freestyle] by Fat Tony&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Recorded December 2009 in Houston, Texas. Tom Cruz came back to the H to kick it with his family for the holidays. Tom and I rolled out to the studio to meet up with June James, the best producer in Houston, and Smash Bro, the best hype man & all-around ride or die nigga in Houston.

Tom Cruz pulled out some of his latest beats and I picked this one out instantly. He asked what to call it and I said "real nigga shit." Turns out he had already named the beat "real nigga shit"! It was meant to be.

No paper, no pens, no practice, we all just went in off the dome. We did this in honor of everyone that appreciates raw Hip Hop and understands the importance of niggas snappin' over hot beats without worrying about song structure or what blogs will pick it up. Fucks with it!

Fat Tony on first, Tom Cruz on second, June James on third, and Smash Bro on fourth.

[Fat Tony]

Y'all niggas is dumber than school in the summer
And you motherfuckers wonder why you forever blunder
While up under my arm is your mom
And we're headed to your girl's dorm
Watching porn, that's the norm
Every time that I perform at the Forum I be scorin'
You gon' know that I be goin' in
You know that I'm gon' win, you know that I'm gon' hit
And if you snitch, in a pinch, I will get acquitted with the quickness
If you on some bitch shit, you can get bent
Cause I got a mattress full of actresses
That let me grab ass and tits and act as if they passed a spliff
That means hit, that's some rad shit, you can never half get
So to all you half-wits, you can get yo ass kicked
By a bad bitch, if you hassle with this
I will wrassle, bitch, I'll harass you
Thrash you, and I'll just pass you to Smash Bro
Asshole

[Tom Cruz]

Now as I walk into the studio, to do this with Tone
Got a phone call from one of these hoes
She said her home girl Bree, she wanna fuck with the kid
And when I heard that I just burst into tears
See in the second hand, you don't really know how this is
Cause you a separate man, desperate, and softer than
Pepper Ann and smaller than a Leprechaun
Don't worry, I didn't come to reprimand
I just came to fuck these hoes and rep my land
A coastal city where most know not to get vocal with me
Cause real niggas get postal, get me?

[June James]

Red Dunks, Black Polo, and a fitted cap
You ain't gotta ask you already know I'm strapped
It's June James, bitch, and I can make you famous
Took the top off of the coupe and now my whip is lookin' brainless
Suicide doors, so now my coupe is lookin' dangerous
I got morphine money so all transactions are painless
Nigga, cock it and aim it, leave your brains up on the pavement
They say pimpin' is dead, I'm thinking feminine enslavement
Hol' up, see I be grindin', shinin' like a skateboarder
And if you call me up I'm probably in somebody's daughter
I take order, take charge like Obama
Send the charge to ya mama, tell her *gulp* on the burner
I'm High like Learners, I get higher than the satellite
Tighter than the zip lock bag, I shake fags
I be swimmin' in the money like Scrooge McDuck
I don't give a motherfuck, I stay with a hand clutched
Cock it back and aim it, I don't give a motherfuck
June James, the lingo: young, black and gifted
John Legend? oh, sick, I'm trying to get lifted
All I do is get it, get it, and get it on
Stay protected like Teflon or Sassoon

[Smash Bro]

Awful, poppin' the cap up off of my Strongbow
Let it all flow out the bottle and down my tonsils
Hoe, ya better take ya boy Bro to McDonald's
And buy his ass a combo with Mountain Dew and fries too
Y'all know about the boy Bro, everybody knows
When he hangin' out with his click, everybody flows
High as hell, light as air
Got the girl with nicest hair and tight corsair in my cross-hair
Take her back to Smash's lair
A few light beers, we get high there
After that we act like bears, hibernate for a hundred years
Then vi-b-rate like some hummingbirds

http://fattonyrap.com/track/real-nigga-shit-freestyle

FAT TUMBLONY

2010-05-26T11:32:00.003-05:00

I'm loving this Tumblr thing. Find me over there for a while. Sorry, guys. I'll keep this blog open for my writing and press, but the tumblr will contain my real passion - tons of my embedded videos that I love. FAT TUMBLONY

WHERE IS FAT TONY?!

2010-05-20T11:52:00.004-05:00

Sorry, y'all. No updates in a minute. The boy been mad busy with a multitude of things; some really great and some not so fun. But I'm back up in this bitch like whoa. I've been updating my tumblr blog which pretty much consists of songs & videos I like (not too different from the FAT TONY BLOG here haha). You can check that out at http://fattonyrap.tumblr.com/.

I've been approving all the art and stuff for my new album RABDARGAB and working on the best possible way to release it. The current issue (May 2010 - special travel issue) of Houston Modern Luxury magazine got the first review of the album!

You can check it out online at http://media.modernluxury.com/digital.php?e=HOUS on page 48. I also have a full-page feature coming in the next issue. Keep in mind that this is a magazine that doesn't fuck with rap music at all but what I've been told so it's a pretty nice honor to get a couple issues of good coverage from them.

The best ways to keep up with me are the FAT TONY TWITTER and FAT TONY FACEBOOK. Keep them bookmarked and handy for most/damn near all updates.

I've got the first single from RABDARGAB ready to go. It's entitled "Luv It Mayne" and features the album's producer Tom Cruz spittin' plus his newest artist Bo P from Georgia.

I've got a house show in Denton, TX this weekend with B L A C K I E. Peep my left sidebar events section for the address. My next Houston show is May 29 at Walter's on Washington ave. w/ L.A.X. (Austin - electro group, pretty rad) and HOSPITAL (ex-The Jonbenet singer, pretty rad electronic stuff too). Pre-sale tickets are out now and they're $7 for all ages (definitely a bargain over paying $8 at the door for 21+ and $10 for those under 21). Check out the pre-sale tickets here --> http://bit.ly/bRtxVY

LISTEN UP, YOU NEW RAP NIGGAS.

2010-05-07T10:17:00.004-05:00

Big Boi's Advice For The Next Generation of Hip Hop from DJ Smallz on Vimeo.

SOME OF THE BEST ADVICE EVER.

TOO BAD THAT NOT ENOUGH ARE LISTENING.

...except me ;)

Nominate FAT TONY for the 2010 Houston Press Music Awards!

2010-05-04T10:25:00.004-05:00

Thank you all for the support throughout this year.. From downloading songs to hitting up my shows to hitting up my blogs to hitting me directly at @fattonyrap, it is all very appreciated! I couldn't do none of this without the kinda support I get.

Since 2007, y'all have helped me gain some momentum in really getting some shine here in Houston. Not only is that support felt in Texas but it's helped get on in several other fine American cities like NYC and Atlanta, just to name a couple. Let's keep pushin'. Every vote is moving the movement as Killa Cam would say. Please nominate Fat Tony, voted winner of the 2008 and 2009 Best Underground Hip Hop awards, in these few categories in the 2010 Houston Press Music Awards! Pass it on ;)

HOUSTON PRESS MUSIC AWARDS 2K10 NOMINATIONS: http://bit.ly/d6icaG

BEST CD/LP (#7): RABDARGAB

LOCAL MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR (#12): FAT TONY

BEST UNDERGROUND HIP HOP (#34): FAT TONY

BEST TWITTER PERSONALITY (#49): FAT TONY

Support the homies and knock out these nominations too!

BEST MISC. INSTRUMENT (#17): B L A C K I E

BEST INDIE ROCK (#28): Caddywhompus

BEST HARDCORE / NOISE (#30): B L A C K I E

BEST CLUB DJ (#32): DJ Ammo (iPod Ammo) or Elroy Boogie

BEST PRODUCER (#42): June James

Thank you!

M.I.A.: "BORN FREE" Video [NSFW]

2010-04-26T10:40:00.004-05:00

(M.I.A. tracklist for upcoming LP)

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

New M.I.A. album coming June 29 in the U.S.

Somewhere, I hope the two members of Suicide are very pleased by this.

(via Pitchfork)

REVIEW // JAPANTHER: Rock 'n' Roll Ice Cream

2010-04-15T10:49:00.004-05:00

Japanther: "Rock 'n' Roll Ice Cream

Another year, another release from Japanther. They're in and out on this one with only 10 songs, two of which are the same! Since they kept it short and sweet, I'm gonna keep this review short and sweet: buy this shit if you're a fan of Japanther (first and foremost) or a fan of The Ramones, girl groups, pop music, melodies, rap music, punk rock, dance remixes, love songs, optimism, and Screwed and Chopped remixing. This album features bits of all that shit.

"What The Fuck Is The Internet?" features fellow Brooklyn dwellers Ninjasonik rapping about the message board music aficionados and geeky indie critics plaguing the internet with SAT words, condescending attitudes, and copy & paste criticism. "Get Me Home" rocks with a sample/drum beat reminiscent of the late, great DJ Screw's remix style. "Surfin' Coffin" uses words from the surf film Point Break to emphasis that "the human spirit is still alive," a statement that I am all for!

"She's the One" is the standout track for me. Every melody used in the song is a hit. The final track "Alone in the Basement" is a reprise of the song in acoustic form with only the female vocals. "$100 Dollar (Remix)" is a dance remix version of their crowd favorite "One Hundred Dollars" from the Skuffed Up My Huffy album.

For an $8.99 digital download this album is totally worth it if anything said in this review excited you a bit. Buy it here digitally or buy it here on vinyl.

Favorites: "She's the One" + "Spread So Thin" + "Not At War"

P.S.
If you're out in HOUSTON, TEXAS Japanther will be playing at Muhammadali's house on May 15. Go go go go go!

LUV IT MAYNE

2010-04-13T12:07:00.004-05:00

FAT TONY TUMBLR

2010-04-10T01:47:00.004-05:00

Been updating my Tumblr more often these days. Gonna keep it as a destination for my favorite songs past and present that can be found as YouTube links. I'll write a little about the songs and include lyrics sometimes too. So far I've got stuff from Sonic Youth, The Ronettes, Ramones, Art Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, Althea & Donna, and more. A bit of it all, mayne. Download links will be put up for certain tracks too if I've got good quality files of 'em. Get with it at the link below!

FAT TONY TUMBLR.

EVENTS: KTRU OUTDOOR SHOW 2K10

2010-04-10T01:05:00.004-05:00

'Tis goin' down this afternoon, man. Free afternoon festival at Rice University. I'm on at 6:00pm. Ghost Mountain goes on before me and Rafter goes on after me. Come get it in with me. I'll have a special CD-R release available titled "Like, Hell Yeah." $2 a disc. Let's get it.

RSVP for the KTRU Outdoor Show!

19th Annual KTRU Outdoor Show

* Rafter (San Diego, CA)
* Fat Tony [Set Time: 6:30pm]
* Ghost Mountain
* Space City Gamelan
* Wasp and Pear
* Rachel Buchman
* Office Party

FREE (All Ages)
Noon - 10:00pm
Rice University

*Bring canned goods for the Houston Food Bank!*
Sponsored by SAINT ARNOLD

Chris Rock: "Crackers"

2010-04-10T00:23:00.005-05:00

#luvitmayne

DAS RACIST: "Shut Up, Dude" (2010)

2010-04-04T12:00:00.008-05:00

Das Racist = The rap Public Image Ltd.

So, Myspace put them on the front page and describe them as "art-rap," friends of mine only know them for their corporate fast food conglomerate YouTube sensation (sample lyrics: "I'm at the Pizza Hut, I'm at the Taco Bell / I'm at the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell"), but I know them as good ass rappers with liberal university educations that currently live in Brooklyn.

From the show reviews I've found plus Das Racist's retaliation to said reviews, it sounds like they could be the new Public Image Ltd. (famous for leaving their mark on New York by inciting a riot at The Ritz by performing the way they want to and getting shit for it from "critics").

They've made smart dumb songs, they've made dumb dumb songs, they've made smart smart one liners, they've battled writers for The New Yorker who write about the decline of rap music but probably know nothing about rap music with essays and haikus, they've challenged cartoonists to a draw off, and from what I've seen they have won every single battle. In short, I fucks with it.

If you're a fan of anything a bit intellectual, minorities (particularly brown people), rap music, laughing, and Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele you will enjoy this latest release from Das Racist. It's free and presented by Mishka.

Download Das Racist: "Shut Up, Dude" right now.

Das Racist @ Wikipedia
Das Racist @ Twitter
Das Racist @ The Internet
Das Racist @ Myspace

Jovenes y Sexys: "El Reloj"

2010-03-30T14:25:00.004-05:00

Jovenes y Sexys

Just stumbled upon this song this morning. Never heard of this group and don't know much about them except they're from Mexico. Lovely tune, eh? I've listened to it several times over and over since I first heard it 30 minutes ago. Can't put it down. Would love to know more about this band. Heard they played Todd P's MtyMx festival last week in Monterrey, Mexico too.

Jóvenes y Sexys - El Reloj from Ezequiel Bertho on Vimeo.

Download the song here.

[via club fonograma]

SXSW 2010 RECAP

2010-03-23T02:53:00.012-05:00

Wednesday - My girlfriend warns me not to have "too much fun" as I hop in iPod Ammo's Expedition with Smash Bro as we venture towards Austin, TX. At this point me and Smash Bro are already a little high on marijuana. iPod Ammo is completely sober as always. During this entire trip we try to get Ammo to get smoked out and locced out to no avail. We get in and spend the night with Coughee Brotha GABO who lets us crash at his brand new house where he just so happens to have 3 spare bedrooms (fuck yeah). I get into Fader Fort and greet the homie JASON SCOTT HENDERSON and begin to wild out on Soco and Iced Tea along with the occasional Budwesier (just to keep things patriotic, ya dig). Gabo was "SXSWasted" as he put it before we even hit the Fader Fort!! DESTROYED. I roamed around town with the Nana Chill duo DAYTA and MORSY + Elroy Boogie + Elliot + other good peoples until we dug heavily into some McCormick & Schmick's happy hour food (sooo cheap sooo good if you're poor but have expensive tastes then this is the place for you). We ended up playing the show show at Red Fez w/ Nana Chill + Elroy Boogie with more of the homies NINJASONIK. Good times had by all. Ninjasonik cleared the dancefloor of girls with their rowdyness. And Telli broke a cheap ass mic which should have never been on stage in the first place. I sold three shirts. One to a lady from London, England. AY! IF YOU'RE OUT IN THE UK I WANNA COME SO LETS GET IT POPPIN, OKAY??? Also caught CUBIC ZIRCONIA at the DO IT TO IT 3 party that night after my set and before Niggasonik (or Niggersonik as they say in Boston) hit the stage. Heard of Cubic Zirconia through my nigga Lisa E. Glad to know Tiombe and Nick Hook are good peoples and not bitch ass niggas.

Thursday - This where things get blurry. I really can't remember what we did but I think it was our off day so we just walked around eating food and drinking for free and trying to get iPod Ammo high (still to no luck.) For a guy that loves to stay awake all the time you'd think he'd really enjoy drugs. This day we moved out of the homie Gabo's house and into the homegirl Denise's apartment which was surprisingly like 5 minutes from that nigga Gabo's house. Her place was rad cause there were NO ANIMALS/PETS/LIVING THINGS THAT RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE AND ANNOY ME and she bought us a lot of snacks to eat at night. Super nice girl. Love her mayne. Smash Bro showed us the brillant Hip Hop opera (in the sense of all the dialogue is rapped) titled A DAY IN THE LIFE by STICKY FINGAZ. Even the random actors and actresses who clearly don't rap on the regular were wreckin their dialogue.

Friday - We had two shows this day. One early (I think we played around 2pm) and one late (7pm). The early one was our best show of the trip cause we were the least faded. I didn't even think I was gonna make the late show, man. I was pourin up all day at the Fader Fort immediately after our show. Got to meet Jake Phelps from Thrasher magazine though which was like a teenage dream come true. I didn't stop til I got in the car and wanted to pass the fuck out. I had to take some alone time to get my mind right. I really didn't sober up til about 10 minutes before I went on stage (luckily). B L A C K I E showed up for my set which put me in good spirits. Headed to the CARNIVILLE party with the lil NYC homie Alyse and met up with Jah Jah from Ninjasonik. He introduced me to DIPLO who proceeded to ask me for some lean. Sucks I couldn't help him out. We drank it all. Snuck into the FOOL'S GOLD party later. Latched on to a VIP party and made my way in. Smoked it all the way out.

Saturday - Most fucked up day yet. Went to Carniville early (2pm) with Denise to catch Cubic Zirconia again. Met up with Billy Black, Smash Bro, and Kooley High there. Met this rad rapper dude from middle America named JUICEBOXXX. I rarely say this, but you gotta see this motherfucker live in person. He's wild. Never heard of Got waaaaayyyy drunk and ended up freaking out. Denise chipped her tooth somehow. I got afraid that cops were gonna break up the backstage antics at Carniville and bust outta there, bumping into Diplo and the Based god Lil' B before running over to Fader Fort to catch Bone Thugs w/ Smash Bro and Denise. Got ejected out of Fader Fort for being super stupid wasted and causing a scene since they let me in and not my two homies. All I remember is falling down and hearing someone say "get him out of here." Played a show later that night around midnight at Cuba Libre. Super unorganized. Damn near nobody was there but iLL Faded, Shina Rae, and Perseph One (all Houston residents) just happened to come through. Smash Bro got all the way faded and puked in potted plants inside the club and I ripped up the bathroom before playing the entire show with my pants down while Smash Bro sat on stage nearly falling asleep. Then we all went home.

See ya next year.

EVENTS: FAT TONY SXSW 2010 SHOWCASES

2010-03-15T15:13:00.017-05:00

This SXSW 2K10 is about to go the fuck down. These events are the majority of my performances over this glorious week in Austin, Texas but I've got some more up my sleeve.

Stay tuned to my Twitter and keep up with what's poppin'. Grab ya phones and follow @fattonyrap for updates!! Let's go!!

[click on the flyers to make them bigger]

THURSDAY :: 03.18.2010

CENTRE x DECADE

presents...

TOP NOTCH SXSW

FAT TONY & EL ROY BOOGIE (TX)

NINJASONIK (NYC) + DAYTA & MORSY (TX / NYC)

PASE ROCK + JOHNNY MOOG

21+ FREE

RED FEZ

209 W. 5th St.

9:00pm - 2:00am

FRIDAY :: 03.19.2010

CROSBY x MIZ METRO

presents...

HIP HOP HOWL

LIVE MIXTAPE SHOWCASE :: SXSW EDITION #2

FREE!

RED FEZ

209 W. 5th St.

1:00pm - 8:00pm

FRIDAY :: 03.19.2010

KNUCKLE RUMBLER x RAW WORD RECORDS

presents...

FRIDAY NIGHT AT CREEKSIDE

Creekside

606 E. 7th St.

FAT TONY: 7:15pm - 7:30pm

SATURDAY :: 03.20.2010

RED GORILLA MUSIC FEST x PLATYPUS PROMOTIONS

RAW WORD RECORDS

presents...

CUBRA LIBRE

FAT TONY + iPOD AMMO (HTX)

DAYTA & MORSY

DANCES WITH WHITE GIRLS (NYC)

SQUINCY JONES & BOBBY TRILL (HTX)

409 Colorado St.

FAT TONY: 12:00am - 1:00am

WHEN AT THE DRIVE-IN WAS GOOD: "ACROBATIC TENEMENT"

2010-03-10T11:01:00.011-06:00

Download ATDI: Acrobatic Tenement (1996)

http://www.mediafire.com/?m2zmfqwmqyg

When I was a hardcore teenager (roughly 2002 to 2006; i.e. HIGH SCHOOL) I was in love with a little defunct band from El Paso, Texas named At The Drive-In. Boy, I listened to them all the fucking time. I idolized them as if they were The Ramones or something. But as God put it best in Her best selling book The Bible; "When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things." So these days I really don't get down too much with ATDI's music except when I reminisce from time to time. But THIS album here, boy, is still a work of art. Their best album and the only one that really holds up to me to this day. Relationship of Command had about 6 really good songs too, don't get me wrong but it ain't got shit on this.

This was their full-length album. It was recorded and released in 1996 and features Omar on bass instead of fiddling at guitar effects, Cedric singing, Jim still playing guitar and singing backing vocals plus two more unknown dudes named Ryan and Adam and who handled guitar and drums respectively (in 1997 these dudes were replaced by Tony on drums and Paul on bass). The sound on this accidentally features clean guitars, high pitched singing from Cedric, super "emotional" lyrics, and some decent Fugazi influence. Some of my favorites on here are "Initiation" about a creepy guy who rapes a girl after one of their shows and "Blue Tag" which seems to be a rant against plastic surgery.

(Of course) all the former ATDI band members think is their WORST record but these are the same people who now make music in bands like THE MARS VOLTA so I can't really value their opinions anymore.

These days I'm glad I'm not spending all my time downloading ATDI live footage all day on soulseek, discussing how many drugs the band used to take on message boards, and hanging out with kids who played guitar and ripped off Mars Volta riffs. We've all gotta grow up sometime.

Enjoy this underground rock 'n' roll gem. Look up the lyrics too. You'll need them.

BONUS: ATDI Interview conducted by the good people at Buddyhead from 1999. They discuss this great album a bit and express how much they think it sucks cause they were all high and drunk when recording. Pfft. Whatever, guys. http://www.buddyhead.com/interview-with-at-the-drive-in/

EVENTS: CHARLY EAST PRESENTS... THE ARTBREAK: NO DAYS OFF EDITION [03.12.2010]

2010-03-10T01:54:00.004-06:00

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=345216608872

CHARLY EAST PRESENTS...
THE ARTBREAK: NO DAYS OFF EDITION

An evening of performances from fresh Texas talent, complimented by sounds curated by DJ iPod Ammo, and visually stimulated by the art of Charly East. Hosted by Fat Tony, two-time winner (2008 + 2009) of the Best Underground Hip Hop award in the Houston Press Music Awards. Performances by Fat Tony, Charly East, Uno y Dos (Be + Billy Black), and A.D.D. All brought together and delivered to you by Charly East. This event will be the second in Charly East's ArtBreak series.

UNO Y DOS
/////////////////////////////////
Be on Twitter: http://bit.ly/afoYuf
Billy Black on Twitter: http://bit.ly/bTq9fp

A.D.D.
/////////////////////////////////
Blog: http://bit.ly/dxLHQZ
Twitter: http://bit.ly/9bPvTH

FAT TONY
/////////////////////////////////
Blog: http://bit.ly/dvaKLt
Twitter: http://bit.ly/92yK29

CHARLY EAST
/////////////////////////////////
Blog: http://bit.ly/bMET3L
Twitter: http://bit.ly/b7rTcx

IPOD AMMO
/////////////////////////////////
Blog: http://bit.ly/bRbo7A
Twitter: http://bit.ly/9tRC4f

Raffle Prizes for you and yours!
Complimentary refreshments provided by BACARDI.

FRIDAY // MARCH 12, 2010
7:00pm - 10:00pm

The Tippng Point Store
1212 Main Street (@ Polk St.)
Houston, Texas

PUNK ROCK DRESS CODE by Ben Weasel

2010-03-07T09:56:00.005-06:00

Okay, if you know me you know I fucks with the legendary American punk rock band SCREECHING WEASEL. I fucks with them so hard I almost got their logo tattooed on my body when I was 18 (thank God I didn't cause band tattoos are 65% of the time stupid as fuck). I've enjoyed nearly every record they've released in various incarnations of the band since about 1986. First discovered them through a Blink 182 cover of their song "The Girl Next Door" about a young white suburban girl who moves to the big city and loses her fucking mind, spiraling into depression to the point of suicide. A pretty cheery song.

Ben Weasel wrote a column for Maximumrocknroll, the punk rock scene police back when people still actually cared about being punk rock, in the mid 1990's mostly talking shit about the things and people he didn't like. I agree with Ben Weasel's philosophies because he is a strong RAMONESIST and I fucks with The Ramones more than any rock 'n' band like ever. But Ben Weasel also hated Nirvana which I think is stupid stupid stupid. But hey, you win some you lose some when it comes to your idols, right?

Here is Ben Weasel's Punk Rock Dress Code reprinted without nobody's permission. I'm not sure which Maximumrocknroll issue it's from but I bet it came out around 1995. This caused a bit of controversy back in the day because just like with every alternative culture people get their skirts all soggy when somebody offers an opinion they disagree with. You stupid fucks, why'd you wanna be a punk if you didn't wanna disagree with stuff?! Enjoy and learn something. If you're one of the few people still trying to be punk in 2010, you better follow this to a T. I'm watching you.

BEN WEASEL'S PUNK ROCK DRESS CODE

YOU LOOK LIKE A DORK: In the past three months, MRR's circulation has doubled. Because of this, a lot of you yo-yo's reading this column are newcomers and probably not aware of my feelings about the current fashion trends in punk rock. Even the people who HAVE been reading my columns like good little doobies apparently haven't been taking me seriously because they're still dressing like complete and total dorks.

I suggest you pay close attention to what I'm about to tell you because it could very well change your life. Without any further hoopla, I present THE OFFICIAL PUNK ROCK DRESS CODE.

1. Baseball caps are nice, I own a total of five baseball caps myself and I often wear my Cubs cap or my USA: AMERICAN AND PROUD cap when I go out to pick up the mail or stock up on Gatorade for the weekend. But I would no more wear a ball cap to a gig than I would a fez. Ball caps have no fucking place in punk rock(though the sport of baseball itself has a very important place in punk rock - I'll get to that some other time). So from here on in, anyone who wears a ball cap to a gig is a fucking jerk.

2. Baggy shorts have no place in punk rock. Baggy shorts are a product of the hip hop scene and it's there that they should remain. Nobody wants to see your turd-crusted butt crack and your piss-stained skivvies. Nobody is impressed by that stupid goddamn chain on your wallet hanging down five feet like a pair of mittens your mother clipped to your parka. If you forget to bring this column with you to your next gig after you've clipped it neatly from these pages, just remember this: Baggy pants=DORK. NO EXCEPTIONS!(I also have strong feelings about baggy t-shirts. Baggy t-shirt wearers, however, are NOT necessarily dorks, because often times they have no choice in the matter; too may bands have succumbed to the pressure to only stock XL t-shirts in their van, thus ensuring that the well-meaning punks will end up LOOKING like dorks. FUCK any band who doesn't sell LARGE t-shirts as well as[or better yet, instead of] XL t-shirts).

3. Backpacks. Backpacks are for school or hiking trips. They are not for gigs. Punk rock shows do not generally take place in the uncharted wilderness; there is no need for a backpack. They are aesthetically unpleasing, but worse, there is no valid PRACTICAL reason for wearing a backpack to a show; anything that can't fit into the pockets of your leather jacket is most likely unnecessary anyway. Which brings me to the most important segment of the PUNK ROCK DRESSCODE: what you SHOULD wear.

First of all, and most important is if you think you're a punk and you don't own a leather jacket, you're not a punk. The whiniest of you are thinking to yourselves, WELL I DON'T CARE, I DON'T WANNA BE CLASSIFIED AS A PUNK ANYWAY. Shut up and go home. Real punks wear real leather jackets. Real punks wear real leather jackets WITHOUT stupid spikes or studs or patches or paintings or stickers or band names plastered all over them. If you're a punk, your leather jacket is adorned only by a few tastefully placed buttons on the lapels. Since we have to take climate into account, you can't be expected to wear your leather jacket EVERY time you go to a gig. But if you don't wear your leather jacket at least 65% of the time when you go out, you're no punk.

Secondly, footwear is more important than you may think. If you wear Doc Martens, you're a sucker. ANY other kind of boot is acceptable. As far as sneakers go, there is one and only one acceptable brand and that is Chuck Taylor Converse All-Star hi-tops. Now, I know you already know that, but what you don't know is that punks DO NOT wear red Converse, Christmas Converse, plaid Converse or any kind of Converse except for black. Uh, that is until recently. After communicating with Stevie of the now defunct Devil Dogs AND learning that Samiam gets paid to wear black Chuck Taylors at least 50% of their onstage time, I've come to the realization that black C.T.'s have been co-opted by the mainstream and are now utterly unacceptable. I KNOW what you are thinking. You're thinking, BUT BUT BUT, ALL SORTS OF MAINSTREAM PEOPLE WEAR LEATHER JACKETS AND YOU SAID LEATHER JACKETS ARE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THE PUNK ROCK DRESS CODE. Fuck you, I know what I said. The point is, leather jackets are not a SYMBOL of MAINSTREAM ALTERNATIVE/PUNK. Back C.T.'s ARE.

Because this is such a recent development, there will be a grace period of three months from the publication of this column during which you will not be considered a total fucking twit if spotted sporting black C.T.'s(e.d. your time is up). But after that three months, your C.T.'s should be white. No other colors, no funky laces or writing on the shoes, just plain white. Don't even try to argue about it because I've gone over every argument in my own head. There is no other way.

You already know that baggy pants are for the birds. Aside from that, there's a decent amount of leeway in the PUNK ROCK DRESS CODE as far as pants go, though you're really better off sticking with blue or black jeans(LEVI's ONLY! NO GAP, WRANGLER, TOUGHSKINS, JORDACHE, SERGIO or whatever the fuck else you might find).

And though you can wear just about any jacket during the 35% of the time when you're not sporting your nifty leather, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should a punk be seen wearing a gas station jacket. Gas station jackets are for guys with 20/20 vision who wear glasses anyway to impress the dimwitted emo chicks. The gas station jacket is the 90's version of the Nehru jacket and years from now, when you idiots look back at photos of yourselves in 1995 because your snot nosed kids asked you if you ever did anything besides selling insurance, you will cringe.

That's it. For the one dumb fucker in Hungary who's sharpening up his angry letter pencil at this very moment, lighten up. My PUNK ROCK DRESS CODE is only wishful thinking(though those of you who adhere to it will thank me later).

And lemme tell you something else about punks, punk. IF YOU DON'T THINK THE RAMONES WERE THE GREATEST BAND TO EVER WALK THE EARTH, YOU ARE NOT A PUNK, YOU ARE NOT EVEN FUCKING CLOSE. YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING IN A BAND, DOING A FANZINE, OR SHOWING YOUR SORRY FACE AT A GIG. IF YOU PLACE ANY BAND ABOVE THE RAMONES, YOU ARE AN IDIOT. I WILL BE BUYING INSURANCE FROM YOU COME JULY.

AMEN.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE E-40 SONGS

2010-03-05T09:55:00.005-06:00

Lately, I made the comment on Twitter that if you're a fan of rap music (particularly "underground rap" and independently released rap records) and you don't respect E-40 then you're a bitch. And I'm stickin' by that. This man is a pioneer and if you've been into rap long enough you've heard about him. And he got love in Texas from the legends down here like DJ Screw. One of the most unique rap styles ever and he does it flawlessly.

"im poppin in the air for nothin, nigga, for no apparent reason" LOL

captain save-a-hoe (dirty version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKmjO8K9-sE

Descendents: "Kabuki Girl" [Milo Goes to College; 1982]

2010-02-27T16:05:00.002-06:00

My favorite Descendents song.

Listen to the drums! Madness. Bill Stevenson was on to something even as a teenager. I love the lyrics too. Asian girls are great. My first girlfriend was Vietnamese. She was kinda weird too. Had a fixation with meowing like a cat. I wonder what she does now a days.

"Don't say sayonara / I wanna see you tomor-rah" Beautiful. You know, sometimes I really think this Descendents album "Milo Goes to College" might be the best punk album ever but then I remember The Ramones' "Rocket to Russia" and Bad Brains first album.

EVENTS: MAKING MOVES: ART SHOW + DANCE PARTY [02.26.2010]

2010-02-26T13:04:00.004-06:00

Event Info: http://bit.ly/baMmek

Tonight at Houston's Warehouse Live Green Room peep this month's edition of MAKING MOVES featuring an art show curated by Houston's Chanelle Frazier and J. Paul Jackson featuring the work of Houston's James Templeton (LIMB / Ex-By The End of Tonight) and Layne Bell.

Sounds brought to you by local heroes Ceeplus Bad Knives and G-Wizz plus special guest DJs Dayta (Nana Chill / Top Notch / Speakerboxx) and Angie Audio (Haters Make Us Famous).

Free as always with some of the best drink specials you'll find in Houston on a Friday night featuring $2 Lonestars + PBR & $3 Wells all night.

More on Making Moves: http://www.reprogrammusicmultimedia.blogspot.com/

Dayta
http://www.facebook.com/dayta
http://dayta.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/_dayta_

Angie Audio
http://www.angieaudio.com/

R.I.P. to the Pimp: "THE CHRONICLES OF PIMP C" (Ozone Magazine)

2010-02-17T21:51:00.005-06:00

R.I.P. to the Pimp, mayne. One of my favorite producers and rappers to ever be birthed upon this Earth. Today I took a fond look back at The Chronicles of Pimp C, a controversial column penned by the Pimp himself in Ozone magazine.

The Chronicles were published before his untimely passing that stirred up some hot shit in the wide world of Rap, (especially in Atlanta, GA) where ATL rap radio and fans were in an uproar over Pimp C proclaiming Atlanta as NOT a member of the South because he has to change his watch to Eastern time zone when he arrives in the A (lol). Peep his interview with Atlanta radio below. He clears up all the misunderstandings and leaves you with a lot of wisdom about this Hip Hop music.

Below are image scans of the first and final Pimp C columns published in Ozone magazine. Were there any more published besides these two? I couldn't find anything through my research (read: Google searches). Holla at me if y'all find anything more about the Pimp chronicles.

Click on the images to enlarge them. Save them to your desktop. You'll want to cherish these pieces of literature for years to come.

The Tontons: "Leon"

2010-02-16T01:55:00.006-06:00

New video from Houston's The Tontons. One of best rock 'n' roll bands I know in real life.

Last year I was blessed (read: cursed) with the chance to perform with The Tonton's lead vocalist Asli Omar as members of Houston's reggae & dub legends Brains for Dinner. We rehearsed a bunch and played a couple shows, but mostly just drank Tecate and made fun of each other. I got her to sign my copy of her Hater Magazine cover. She wrote "to my biggest fan..." I can't wait to sell that shit.

Many years ago, Smash Bro was trying to set up a double date with me, Asli, and one of her friends before I ever met her ass. Shit fell through. Allegedly these girls weren't trying to fuck with us unless we shopped at Hot Topic. This ain't got shit to do with nothing, as if you didn't already know that.

Find out more about them at www.thetontons.com

Free Press Houston Summerfest 2010: THE FLAMING LIPS + FAT TONY + SLIM THUG + GIRL TALK + KID SISTER + B L A C K I E + MORE

2010-02-14T23:53:00.004-06:00

See you in June.

http://www.freepresssummerfest.com/index.html

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-14T10:54:00.008-06:00

Hip Hop ain't too big on the whole love thing, but this one nigga Murs got love songs out the ass. In my search of finding a few of my favorite love raps the first three that popped up were all L.A.'s finest. Follow him at @MURS on Twitter. He's also got a new podcast series out entitled Werd2Murs.

Murs & 9th Wonder: "Love The Way" [Sweet Lord]

Murs: Love You Like This [Living Legends - Legendary Music Vol. 1]

Murs & 9th Wonder: "Love & Appreciate" [Murray's Revenge]

Murs - "Me & This Jawn" [Murs for President]

Now for a few more of my all-time favorites...

Three 6 Mafia: "Ghetto Chick" [Da Unbreakables].

The Isley sample in this is so sick. I know they're robbin banks and shit in this song, but seriously, this feels like a love joint to me.

UGK: "Real Women" (f/ Raheem DeVaughn + Talib Kweli) [Underground Kingz]

Pimp C's singing on the last verse sounds so throwed. Couldn't even spit on this one, he had to keep it classy. Talib Kweli wrecks with a good Southern flow and Raheem holds it down on the saingin'. Super unofficial video that's NSFW too! Unless you work ar Zone D'Erotica.

Janet Jackson: "Got til It's Gone" (Ummah Jay Dee's Revenge Mix)

R.I.P. Jay Dee aka Dilla on the production. One of my favorite beats ever. Originally produced by The Ummah (Dilla, Q-Tip, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad), Dilla goes in with his own re-working of the track since Q-Tip and Ali handled the original hit song.

*BONUS*

Pick up the DJ Screw mix "Late Night Fuckin' Yo Bitch" while you're in a lovey mood today, pimpin.

DOWNLOAD LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/?qmztbmyndux

http://fattonyrap.blogspot.com/2010/02/dj-screw-chapter-16-late-night-fuckin.html

People That Shouldn't Rap.

2010-02-12T01:00:00.002-06:00

Throughout the 1990's and some of the 2000's, celebrities of all facets collectively began to not give a fuck and started releasing records to cash in on the American entertainment industry prize horse "Hip Hop." I know money is cool and all, but these people... really shouldn't have rapped. At all.

Why, nigga? I think back in high school I had a friend that actually liked this Roy Jones Jr. fella's CD. D.A.R.E. must have failed him terribly.

Joe Pesci gettin jiggy than a bitch on this one. Did he ever drop more tracks?

Fake wrestling drama turned real life beef + real sports entertainer turned fake rapper = "Be A Man." I'll never forget when this shit came out and was new, all over AllHipHop.com hahaha. Macho Man... Randy... Savage... I'm glad you promptly sat down. But I can't front though, you did go in on Hulk Hogan.

Now all these other people were just rappin' for no apparent good reason for the most part... but this dude right here... he been trying to be a rap nigga since the early 90's. He's proven he doesn't give a fuck quite well. "Kobe... nigga... tell me how my ass tastes." Then he gets the crowd to chant it? Hmm-hmm-hm. "Kobe ratted me out / that's why I'm getting a divorce." What a dick move for a fellow teammate. Smh.

This disappointed me so much as a little boy. And I didn't even like football.

Fat Tony - Love Life EP (2008)

2010-02-10T00:59:00.002-06:00

http://fattonyrap.com/album/love-life

Released March 2008 by Same Struggle Ent.

Get familiar.

*BONUS*

"LOVE LIFE" (LIVE)

MOVIE: THE SHOW (1995)

2010-02-07T12:32:00.005-06:00

Peep this before it leaves the internet forever. One of my favorite Hip Hop films, Russell Simmon's THE SHOW, is a documentary about popular rappers in the 90's and their life as artists and as touring performers. MUST WATCH!

THE SHOW: MOVIE

The Show Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Show_%281995_film%29

You got questions, I got answers.

2010-02-03T22:01:00.003-06:00

This Formspring.me shit is poppin. Only 2 days in and I've been getting some nice questions. Peep some of my favorites below:

When you get to be HUGE what will be on your rider (list of demands) for tours?

I hope that I'm blessed enough to be considered a big artist one day. On my rider I'd have:

1) 2 handles of Hennessey + plastic blue cups.
2) A economy sized box of plain Swisher Sweets.
3) A big ass TV.
4) The most current video game system with the most current NBA 2K game.
5) A big ass stereo system so me and my people can jam the fuck out.
6) A lock on the dressing room door to keep out strangers that wanna talk to me all night about their career and how "they got next" or are "about to blow up".
7) Pineapple slices and green apples.
8) 3 bottles of Simply Lemonade.
9) 3 large cheese or Magharita pizzas
10) AIR CONDITIONING

what artists influence you?

tons but my favorites are the Ramones, Jay-Z, UGK, Biggie, 2Pac, Prince, Q-Tip, Michael Jackson, The Smiths, Morrissey, Bad Brains, E-40, and Too Short.

your name is fat tony aka an italian name and you love pizza..lmao. coincidence? are you in a mafia too man?

are you the police?

Other than the dope dudes you already run with, what rap crew would you most like to run with?

if it's of all time then it'd have to be Dr. Dre's crew when he made the Chronic in 1992 or Def Jam's crew when Rick Rubin was runnin things in the mid to late 80's.

do you have any shirts i can buy?

Sure do you can get em at my merch store @ http://fattony.bigcartel.com and at my shows

who are you favorite local artists/musicians?

B L A C K I E is my favorite Houston artist. This nigga mixed Three 6 Mafia style beats, hardcore punk, rapping, and loud noises. Love it mayne. Also a fan of my dude Smash Bro (of course), Caddywhompus, Young Mammals, Devin the Dude, Bun B, Nosaprise, and Hollywood Floss.

DTF?

What does DTF mean? If it is "donuts then fries", then my answer is yes.

when do you feel your music and popularity began to take off? what were some high lighting events?

I started socializing with the right people locally in the Hip Hop and Rock 'n' Roll and DJ scenes when I was 16. These people got impressed with me being young and having some talent and having a bit of hard work in me, since I introduced myself as a show promoter with several events under his belt and a completed album with a group of some more ambitious young folks.

The first public rap performance I did outside of my school was an open mic at Warehouse Live for an event called THE BENCH which was hosted by Anthony "BBC" Craig Long. He put me on locally, and I'm always thankful to him for that.

My popularity really grew more after my old group The Low Ends disbanded and I released my first solo release w/ Same Struggle Ent. (Austin, TX based label) called the Love Life EP in March 2008.

But with all that in mind, I think performing as much as possible, traveling, and being tight is what's really helped my popularity grow since 2008.

lets go to agora and chill! yeah?!

Fuck no. The only time I ever went to Agora I got kicked out within my first 15 minutes being there. Ain't been back since. But we can chill at Empire or Brazil.

have you ever done acid?

Yep. First time I did it was with Smash Bro. It was the night I wrote "Much Accomplished" off Love Life EP and the week I first met my producer Tom Cruz. 2nd time I did it I hung at this weird scientist's warehouse with Smash Bro and Eddie T. The dude claimed he invented the hologram technology and the U.S. government stole his work. He also hung out with Timothy Leary before the Oklahoma city bombing for a night. Super weird night. My third tome trippin was in a weird house on Austin me and Smash stayed at for a night. We were surrounded by folks selling thangs, gay kids doing coke playing Rock Band all night, and a girl I used to know trying to fuck us all night.

you got a dollar I could borrow, Money Bag McGee?

Refer to Cody ChesnuTT's "Bitch, I'm Broke": http://bit.ly/OYX8K for my answer.

Ask me ask me ask me.

2010-02-02T19:04:00.004-06:00

http://www.formspring.me/fattonyrap

Just got up on this formspring thing.
Hit me up at the link above!
Peep who I like to read about at the links below!

http://www.formspring.me/noz --> Noz from Cocaine Blunts
http://formspring.me/byroncrawford --> Bol from Byron Crawford
http://www.formspring.me/younglpack --> Young L from The Pack

FAT TONY - "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" (ft. B L A C K I E) + "Invasion" (ft. Smash Bro) [Live] @ BLACK CHRISTMAS (December 2009)

2010-02-02T14:01:00.002-06:00

FAT TONY "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" (ft. B L A C K I E) + "Invasion" (ft. Smash Bro) [Live] @ BLACK CHRISTMAS (December 2009) from FAT TONY on Vimeo.

DJ Screw - Chapter 16: Late Night Fuckin' Yo Bitch (1995)

2010-02-02T12:08:00.005-06:00

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?qmztbmyndux

One of my favorite Screw mixes. All R&B and Soul, classics and 90's hits (aka the new classics). On here you'll find Kellz, Teddy P, Janet, Bobby, Keith Sweat, Jodeci, and more goin' fed. My favorites off here are "I Wanna Be Down" by Brandy and "Bump and Grind" (Remix) by R. Kelly. Peep this immediately. Make the above image larger to check the track listing.

"You can suck... dick!"

2010-02-01T01:27:00.006-06:00

Beastie Boys on Japanese TV show going fucking dumb and performing "Fight For Your Right (To Party)" while a Japanese porn star lays on a bed in front of them getting humped by their photographer Ricky Powell and getting fed ice cream by some dude.

*BONUS*

Watch the Licensed to Ill era Beastie Boys waste record label money, greet fans and lose brain cells too. The acting is impeccable.

Supreeme: 2003-2009 + Discography

2010-01-28T15:31:00.007-06:00

By now, fans of Supreeme are well aware the trio (who recently became a duo while creating their last album God Bless The Child) is over for now. "Indefinite hiatus" as we call it in the music business (remember At The Drive-In? Fugazi?). For those still unaware read up on them boys: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreeme

Atlanta's Creative Loafing has compiled a bunch of articles and interviews on the greatest rap group of the 2000's 1st decade. Including an in-depth interview with producer/rapper Shaka Girvan aka Tom Cruz and their entire discography (for the most part).

http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/god_bless_supreeme/Content?oid=1264924

I first heard of these dudes in 2005/2006 when I was still in high school promoting my old group The Low Ends. I discovered them through Murs official website as they were mentioned as a new group from the south he was affiliated with. Turns out he got them their first record deal.

Murs' site compared them to Souls of Mischief so I had to see what the fuck was up. First song I heard was "Supreeme Court" from the Church & State album. I was shocked that some underground rap music unknown to me actually sounded original (and more shocked that these niggas actual had good HOOKS - something rare to underground hip hop, in general).

I was a fan from that point on, and bought the Supremacy album soon after and downloaded every free album they posted. I even scoured Myspace and found rare shits like an early version of Gold Medallion's "Laying Around With Your Bitch," "Fear Factor," and "Back 2 School Shopping."

I'll put it this way, I liked Supreeme so much that I sought out their producer Tom Cruz and made an album with the nigga (RABDARGAB). Plus I put their music on to every friend of mine that I thought would give a damn, interviewed them for various things I used to write for, and put them on the founder of U.S. Grime B L A C K I E.

Peep their discography below. Each album is a gem. You can find me on Silver Medallion on the song "Real Life" and on God Bless The Child on the song "Twist It Up" (the album also features fellow rap nigga comrade B L A C K I E on "Another Level").

Sad to see 'em go. I can honestly say this was one the last new group of artists of any genre that I was a genuine wholehearted fan of. The other is Deerhunter. Best of luck to them all.

Supreeme: Discography

Church & State (2003):

http://www.zshare.net/download/699329783334b643

Supremacy (2006):

http://www.mediafire.com/?jmri4uvynjm

American Badass (2007):

http://www.mediafire.com/?kfjzydyzxzz

Silver Medallion (2008):

http://www.mediafire.com/?jumkmrgmyzq

Gold Medallion (2009):

http://www.mediafire.com/?djhm4jzulyz

God Bless The Child (2009):

http://www.mediafire.com/?qjynywyurtr

P.S.

Peep Negashi Armada's latest music at http://www.myspace.com/negashiarmada where he's taking this lo-fi raw rap shit to new levels of ignorance and delight + his blog What They Do Out There at http://wtdot.blogspot.com

B L A C K I E: "Spred Luv"

2010-01-28T10:33:00.005-06:00

At Fat Tony's BLACK CHRISTMAS, the best Houston show of 2009 according the Fat Tony, B L A C K I E unleashed the Spred Luv EP - his latest collection of 8 songs released exclusively on cassette tape at the event. The tape release is a limited pressing of only 100 and is available at his website along with a digital version. Lyrics for each song are also displayed on his site (thank God). Stream the full album below.

http://blackieallcapswithspaces.com/album/spred-luv

B L A C K I E describes the EP as "[AN] ALBUM ENGINEERED TO SIMULATE THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIVE CONCERT". I think he made his point clear. Peep my three favorite songs from the Spred Luv EP below ("Look At You", "I Don't Wear Sneakers", and "A Fuk War") and stream the full album at the link above me.

Find more of B L A C K I E at:

http://twitter.com/b_l_a_c_k_i_e

http://blackieallcapswithspaces.com

http://www.myspace.com/blackieblackieblackie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_L_A_C_K_I_E

Making Moves: Art Show + Dance Party // Friday 01.29.2010 (Houston)

2010-01-27T23:26:00.009-06:00

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=262146186248

If you're out in Houston, Texas this Friday come through the Warehouse Live Green Room and peep a throwed new residency - MAKING MOVES.

With a show curated by Houston based art community members Chanelle Frazier and Jonathan Paul Jackson, plus sounds selected by Ceeplus Bad Knives and G-Wizz spinnin' Rock 'n' Roll, Mutant Disco, 80's, Retro, Indie, & Alt. Club Classics you're sure to have a better time than crying in your beer at home missing Conan. Plus you've got special guest DJ Johnny Moon (Modern Touch) and a special appearance by yours truly (*spoiler alert*), Fat Motherfuckin' Tony & iPod Ammo to get it on 'n' poppin'.

The art show curated by Chanelle Frazier and Jonathan Paul Jackson features work from Emilee.M.Ausmus, Joshua Robert (ex-By The End of Tonight) and special guest: Domokos from Future Blondes.

The show is FREE and goes from 10:00pm - 2:00am. Let's git it.

Pharrell Williams (The Neptunes // N.E.R.D.) Keynote Speech @ MIDEM

2010-01-27T15:36:00.004-06:00

Pharrell Keynote at MIDEM 2010 from thecashmerethinker on Vimeo.

Sit tight and peep Pharrell Williams, one of my personal inspirations, speak knowledge about about his time in the industry (recently acknowledged by Billboard Magazine along with his partner Chad Hugo as the Producers of the Decade) and his future plans. If you're a fan of his work or a new artist looking for sound advice then peep this 40 minute video! It'll be worth your time.

Supreeme: "God Bless The Child" // 3 New Fat Tony Songs

2010-01-26T13:21:00.006-06:00

http://www.mediafire.com/?qjynywyurtr

First Supreeme break up, now every day I wake up... somebody got a problem with Tone.

Download the last album by one of the last rap groups of the 2000s that mattered. Tom Cruz feels that this alongside their 2005 album Church & State is their best work ever. These niggas are the 3 best rappers (and one the best producer) I know outside of Texas and I am still as much of a fan as I was hearing their Church & State album back in 2006 as I am now as an artist blessed with a few chances to work with them ("I'm On Fire" from SMKA Vol. 1 + "Real Life" from Supreeme's Silver Medallion). I'm on a song entitled "Twist It Up". Something that I'm about to get into riiiight about now.

New Fat Tony on Myspace.com/FatTonyRap

3 new songs posted: "Home" from RABDARGAB + "Twist It Up" from Supreeme's God Bless The Child + "In Your Room" (ft. Lisa E.) HOSPITAL Remix. LUV IT MAYNE.

http://www.myspace.com/fattonyrap

In Your Room (HOSPITAL Remix)

2010-01-19T19:25:00.001-06:00

Remix of "In Your Room" (featuring Lisa E.) - originally produced by DJ Balagan out of Baltimore, this new mix comes courtesy of Houston's HOSPITAL (Ex-The Jonbenet). Peep the remix and the original below it!

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://fattonyrap.com/track/in-your-room-hospital-remix"&amp;amp;gt;In Your Room (HOSPITAL Remix) by Fat Tony&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://fattonyrap.com/track/in-your-room-f-lisa-e"&amp;amp;gt;In Your Room (f/ Lisa E.) by Fat Tony&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Apostle of Hustle (Houston Press: Dusti Rhodes - January 2010)

2010-01-17T19:10:00.004-06:00

http://www.houstonpress.com/2010-01-14/music/apostle-of-hustle/1

Houston Press
Apostle of Hustle

Fat Tony attempts to embrace hip-hop's material pleasures while keeping his music pure.

by Dusti Rhodes

Fat Tony has seen the light.

"It's about money, it's about hoes and it's about being respected and being really cool and really, really fly," says the 21-year-old rapper born Anthony Obi. "That is it. That's what rapping is about."

This isn't exactly a groundbreaking revelation, but it's a common obstacle for up-and-coming rappers struggling to find their own voice and style.

"A lot of times people get into the hip-hop thing and focus too much on what is real hip-hop and what is fake, and what is commercial and what is underground," Tony says.

"As I got older and I rapped more and I got better, I realized all that is complete bullshit — none of that matters," he adds. "All that matters is getting this money, being fly and making good music. That's what it was when that shit started, and that's what it will be when it ends."

Fat Tony's answer, then, is to surrender to the vices...but focus on the music.

"Once I got into the real shit of rap I discovered, 'Okay, this is what I need to tap into myself to really bring out my true character,'" he says.

Thus was born the Fat Tony who didn't give a fuck about shit.

"I went from being myself and wanting to appease a mass group of people to being myself and wanting to appease a mass group of people without giving a fuck or giving in or wording things differently to fit somebody's ear," he says.

On "Home," the only single thus far released from Obi's forthcoming full-length, RABDARGAB, he raps about a night of bar-hopping through his preferred hot spots Mango's and the Mink. These places might be unfamiliar to fans who have seen Obi sharing the stage with bigwigs like Devin the Dude, but Obi makes it known he goes for the "right" reasons.

Money: "Got an occupation making hot shit blazing."

Hoes: "I am at Mango's hanging with some dang hoes."

Respect: "Nigga back up, you fucking my mack up."

Being cool: "Looking muy guapo, stunting in my mustard-colored poncho."

But Obi simply uses these as talking points. "Home" isn't about being fly in da club, it's about an identity crisis. Obi is surrounded by familiarity, but still stands outside of it. He describes those Mango's hoes as "23 but act 16 years old." He's an outsider wondering if he should be participating in the life around him, or if he already is — or if he already is, if it's believable.

"On the daily basis I am raiding spaces that belong to racists," he raps. "Making funny faces in places I have no place in."

Obi's music all comes back to struggle to accept the hip-hop trinity of money, hoes and clothes, where such claims catch up with his barely legal experience (which is not a slight). "Home" and other RABDARGAB songs depict the youthful battle to admit that being bad isn't necessarily wrong, and being good isn't always preferable.

"He is an art-tist" says Shaka Girvan, the producer responsible for most of the beats on RABDARGAB. "An artist [is someone] who can see the world through their eyes and then show it back to you and you want to look."

Girvan is a self-admitted hater of project-seeking MCs. This is why it was surprising for the Atlanta producer, known to hip-hop heads for his work in Supreeme, to give Obi a ring after receiving his demo (along with countless others) while on tour.

"In my scene, in Atlanta, all these young kids, and some older ones too, wanted to work with me, and I haven't worked with nobody because I didn't think anybody was worth working with," he says. "With me and Tony — you ever see The Fox and the Hound? Sometimes it just clicks like that."

It clicked, but took awhile to stick. Girvan and Obi have been working on the album since 2007. The pair fleshed out tracks together in Atlanta and Houston, where Girvan's family lives a block over from Obi's mother's house — where he still lives — in the Third Ward.

"Frenchy's is responsible for about two inches of my growth — I've chilled on Scott; I've done it all," laughs the producer.

However, the pair found they worked best apart.

"It allows him to be at home and do what he has to do without me being behind his back, and it allows me to be over here doing what I do without the artist being on my back," says Girvan. "I hate when I'm making a track and the artist is in the room like, 'Could you raise that, what is that called, the tambourine?'

"But really the influence is, I hear what he's saying," Girvan adds. "He hears what I'm doing and I hear what he's doing."

Whatever they were hearing, it comes together in a way that shows a focus lacking in Obi's past. His earlier songs were impressive and definitely crowd-pleasing, but seem scatterbrained when held up next to the mixes on RABDARGAB, which draw upon multiple genres.

Girvan plays on Obi's preference for diverse mixes, but slows them down to accentuate the rapper's organic delivery. Obi's lyrical phrases are strung together as he inhales; every breath is packed with words that must be delivered before the last ounce of air leaves his lungs.

Fans will (finally) be able to hear RABDARGAB in its entirety in...wait for it...

"I want to put the album out around my birthday [March 24]," Tony says. "But I want to put it out a week before SXSW, so I have something to bring."

Whatever potential fans he misses there, he's hoping to catch via the album's namesake. RABDARGAB is an acronym for a former HISD initiative to get elementary-school students to read, as in "Read a book. Do a report. Get a buck."

"There's going to be a special few people that are my age especially and from Houston that went to public school, watched cartoons, that know what it is and will probably like me anyway and they'll buy the album," Tony hopes.

Obi admits even educational references can be turned into hip-hop intentions.

"It's goes back to h-u-s-t-l-e, a hustle."

BLACK CHRISTMAS

2009-12-07T23:44:00.000-06:00

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FAT TONY PRESENTS... BLACK CHRISTMAS
Saturday December 26 // Doors @ 8:00pm // Show @ 9:00pm

FAT TONY (Houston) // http://www.myspace.com/fattonyrap
B L A C K I E (Chemical City) // http://www.myspace.com/blackieblackieblackie
CADDYWHOMPUS (New Orleans / Houston) // http://www.myspace.com/caddywhompusband
SPEAK! (L.A.) // http://www.myspace.com/octopusluck

$5 (Suggested Donation)
ALL AGES

Mango's Cafe
403 Westheimer

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

* $5.00 SUGGESTED DONATION FOR ENTRY PLEASE! THANK YOU! *
* $0.00 IF YOU REALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT! *
* ALL AGES ARE WELCOME! *

* HOSTED BY YOU(GENIOUS) THE MISFIT OF CHRISTMAS! *

* DJ IPOD AMMO ALL NIGHT BEFORE & BETWEEN SETS! *

* NEW TAPE RELEASE FROM B L A C K I E AT THIS SHOW! *

* SPEAK IS FROM L.A. & HAS NEVER PLAYED IN TEXAS SO TREAT HIM LIKE A HUMAN BEING! *

You(genious) The Misfit of R&B: Houston's Finest Entertainer

2009-11-18T12:33:00.002-06:00

You(genious) is a motherfucker. Entertainer /slash/ engineer /slash/ poet /backslash/ host /slash/ enigma, etc. Basically he does a lot of shit (winning awards for them too). More than I'm even allowed mention. A staple in the Houston Music & Arts scene (read: Montrose), You(genious) has lived up to his moniker “The Misfit of R&B” in every instance he's been on a stage. A tireless performer who gives his all and takes great pride in doing so. You(genious) recently released his debut album Lust, Love & Time: The Death Of A Man – featuring thought provoking hits for the family such as “Sex on a Spoon” and “Is Your Mind Right?” The cover also features You(genious), the misfit himself, bare chested laying across a treasure chest. Romantically comically absurdly dead serious? All that shit and more. Fuck with this dude.

You(genious) on his music video for “Sex on a Spoon.”

Basically, it's a concept that I've had for a few years for this song; women getting pulled in through my music and getting tossed into my own private dimension. We constructed a sensuous atmosphere and just had a cocktail party in a bed. With me as the facilitator.

Do you usually throw these kinds of bed parties?

Well, I'm not going to discuss things like that, but usually it's not ten women at a time... just two.

What does the title “sex on a spoon” mean to you?

That's the beauty of songwriting – you can interpret it anyway you want to. That's a question people have asked me throughout the years and I tell them to interpret it as whatever you want your own “sex on a spoon” to be.

What about when the fans' interpretations stray too far from your original intent? Do you think you have any power over the fans' interpretations?

Ultimately, I can't control whatever the listener thinks. For example, people see my shows and sometimes believe I'm a player. Never in my music do I even talk about being with various women. It's usually about just one woman. But they're going to feel however they want to feel about me. Some people will judge me because of my size, or that I'm White and performing R&B and rapping on certain songs too. I'm not worried about it, man.

What kind of positive and negative judgements have you come across in your career?

First, I'll get the negative out the way. One time a guy called me after getting a hold of my demo and congratulated me on doing some original work, but thought I was Black. He wanted to work with me on music. I let him know I was white and he then felt working together wouldn't be for the best. We pretty much ended the conversation because I was White. Pretty negative. The positive is in the audience reception to my shows. The shows are positive as hell. After I perform I see people walking around smiling, buying more drinks, having fun with my lollipops. I'm here to make the people have a good time. I'm here to be an entertainer.

What is it about your live shows that gets the crowd that way?

It's just a gift, man. Put a microphone in my hand and I'll start talking shit. If you're an entertainer then you know what I'm talking about. The attention from the crowd and the adrenaline rush are great.

To be an entertainer it takes a great desire for attention, sometimes even an intense desire for it. Do you think this desire for attention fuels one's art and performance?

Absolutely. We want to be in the spotlight. We crave it and love it. It's like a drug. It feels good to move people and be a part of something. It's a hunger.

I've heard you've worked the restaurant industry for a while now too. What's your favorite food?

Shit, it depends on what day it is.

What have been some of your best and worst experiences as a waiter?

The worst is just how people dismiss you. As if you're invisible and nothing more than hired help rather than a person. Especially in fine dining restaurants. I like to work restaurants where I can show my personality. My personality makes me money. People actually come in and request You(genious) in the restaurants. I work at a place now where I can shine. I'm a whole different character in the restaurant.

There's always a devision between artist and real life personality. How much of your real life enters your art and vice versa?

My music is 100% reflective of my life. Back in the days, I was just having fun and saying off the wall things... just playing around. Now I'm more super serious. Love, sex, relationships, etc. My songs are 100% me. I just want to bring it to the stage in some gators and entertain the shit out of you.

Is dating a big influence on your music?

Big influence. Anytime I come in contact with someone significant to me I put them in my music.

Are you dating anyone now?

Nah, I actually just got out of a relationship that didn't end too well.

What happened?

She was disloyal to me. She wanted to stay together but I had to let her make it.

Charge her to the game.

To the game, baby. I've been in love before. I'll be in love again.

What's your album title – Lust, Love & Time: The Death Of A Man – reflect upon?

It's about everything you deal with in relationships. It's about where to designate your time and affection and how it ends up. When things go sour it can crush you. When intense relationships end it can feel like the death of the life you've been so used to for months.

What do you want people to get out of your album?

Joy, happiness. A connection with me. Letting them know I feel the exact same way they do at times.

What's the home of You(genious) looking like lately?

I got leis up in the crib right now, just gotta fluff them. All these little personal touches and shit I do at shows, ladies, I be doing this at the crib too. I fluff two hundred leis so you can look fly. I'm a Picasso fan so I have a bunch of his pieces and other traditional art, but recently I've changed the art in my home to street art. Now my home features Houston artists like Give Up and original work from Robert Hodge and A.C. Evans. The Give Up deserved more than just a regular ol' frame, so I went to an abandoned house and picked up some rotten window frames. Cleaned it up and now use it to display the Give Up poster. I hung the window on the wall and it looks crazy.

Hm... From the window to the wall?

Uh huh.

Till the sweat drips down my balls.

Till all y'all bitches crawl.

Aw, skeet skeet, motherfucker.

Not too much skeet in this interview, Tone, please.

Aw, skeet skeet, gotdamn.

Find more on You(genious) The Misfit of R&B and his latest release Lust, Love & Time: The Death Of A Man at the links listed below.

http://www.thelovemachine.org
http://www.twitter.com/yougenious
http://www.facebook.com/yougenious
http://www.myspace.com/yougenious

Fat Tony Interviews 4 Thirty for Envy Magazine. Hopes to get a real job as a writer. Still poor.

2009-09-04T16:11:00.004-05:00

Old ass thing I wrote and never got around to posting. The following is an interview with 4 Thirty, a new Houston/New Orleans based rap group I never heard of before and haven't heard of since. They were nice guys. Really into the whole hit making thing. I wonder if this group is still around. I know it's been just a few months, but this rap shit moves pretty fast (look at Yung Berg).

http://envymags.com/2009/06/what-time-is-it-4thirty/

I wish 'em all the best.

-------------------------------------------------------------

New rapper exposure is at an all time high. From the west, to the south, to the east (and even up north with Toronto, Canada’s child actor turned rapper/singer Drake) new artists are emerging almost every month through blogs, press, and iTunes releases. Every act that can garner some buzz is now getting their 15 seconds of fame, each being praised at a distance until they’ve truly proven their staying power in Hip Hop. 4 Thirty are the latest emerging new rap act looking to slam their sword into stone and plant their flag of dominance in the wide world of pop music.

Promoting heavily through internet networking (over 4 million Myspace fans & over 60,000 YouTube hits), 4 Thirty have found themselves to have a bit of a hit on their hands with their current single “This is the Life.” The song featuring TJ Boyce has recently entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #97 and sure to be on the rise. 4Thirty consists of three young individuals, emcee brothers Rah (21) and Pro (23) who hail from New Orleans, and producer Chris Styles (20) hailing from Texas. The group first began creating together during their school daze at TSU and haven’t slowed down ever since then. - Fat Tony

What are y’all’s individual influences, musical and otherwise?

Rah: We grew up off groups like N.W.A., the Geto Boys, Run-D.M.C.

Pro: Hot Boys! Hot Boys, of course. The old No Limit, Master P, Soulja Slim, all the New Orleans greats. We’re just fans of music all around.

How long have you been creating music as a group?

Rah: It’s been an 8 year grind, man. For 8 years we’ve been going hard in the paint.

Pro: 8 years [as a group] but we’ve really been doing this all our lives.

Rah: We’re right there at home plate, just waiting for the pitch to go over the mound so we can knock it out the park!

There’s a lot of talk about “auto-tune” ever since T-Pain first made his mark in the industry. There have been lots of people using auto-tune making some pretty good, and there’s also been a lot of artists making garbage with it. Now there’s a debate within the music scene concerning the legitimacy of auto-tune. Some even want to discredit it completely as not being an instrument. How do you guys feel about auto-tune? The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Rah: I don’t hate on any method someone utilizes to create their music and interpret what they want to express. It’s all artistry. It’s just like mixing colors in painting. Everyone has a right to turn red into burgundy.

Pro: It is what it is. It’s all music. Whatever you want to do, that’s what’s up.

Rah: And far as T-Pain goes, he’s not a pioneer of that. That style goes back to Roger Troutman (Zapp & Roger) and Larry Blackman (Cameo). They’ve been doing that for years. There’s nothing new under the sun.

Pro: T-Pain just upgraded it. And big ups to him for all his success.

After listening to your songs, I sense the group’s style fits in pretty well with the contemporary sound for popular rap music. How do y’all feel about the current styles? Are y’all influenced by it or are y’all going against the grain?

Rah: We’re not influenced by it… A lot of cats defeat themselves by trying to be against something. My thing is, if you can’t beat it why not join it? Because we can do whatever style, honestly. If the game wants this now, then we can give it to them. If the audience wanted something different, we’d give them that as well. We’re sort of like Busta Rhymes or R. Kelly, artists that can adapt with time.

Pro: We’re focused on whatever the game calls for. Once we get in the door, they’ll 4Thirty in our own lane. We’re like a race horse with the blinders on our eyes, we can’t see nothing but our own lane. Really and truly, we look at the game and see what works and create our own lane by being chameleons. Adapting to whatever the situation calls.

Certainly, a lot of great artists adapt with the times. It’s good to see 4 Thirty working in the same vein. Congratulations on “This is the Life” gaining presence on the Billboard charts. How important is chart placement in the grand scheme of the group’s success?

Rah: I put no limitations to 4Thirty. We’re just thankful for everyone that appreciates the music.

Pro: Success as a whole is what it’s about. We’re just doing music, man. We’re here to feed the streets with good, quality music. That’s all that matters.

How long has the 4Thirty debut album, “A Day in the Life,” been in the works?

Rah: It’s been in the works since we began breathing. It’s been completely influenced by the lives we lead, and the lives we dream to lead. It’s about where we come from to where we want to go.

Pro: Can’t be said any better than that. A day in the life of 4Thirty.

Do y’all perform a lot as well?

Rah: Our last show was in, I think… Houston?

Pro: Nah! It was in Rochester, NY with Lil’ Wayne.

Rah: We stopped playing shows for a while to focus back on finishing the album. It’s 90% done now and we’re getting it ready for an early July release.

That’s what’s up. Best of luck with it all. How have your hometowns received your music? Have they always been supportive or has it been an up hill battle?

Pro: It’s all love! It’s all home love. They feel it. They’re just waiting for the rest of the world to feel it so they can represent for 4Thirty even harder.

Rah: They’ve been loving it, now we’re just trying to make it spread as wide as it can go.

4thirtymusic.com

Fat Tony Goes to the Ghostface Killah + Method Man & Redman Concert. Avoids expensive beer. Enjoys good rapping and girls "shaking that ass".

2009-08-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

Hip Hop shows are like punk rock shows and trips to the dentist; best in small doses rather than long sessions. It's not too uncommon to find myself yawning over unfamiliar songs and never ending beats, even if the artist on stage was the one I got out of bed for that afternoon. It sure takes some talent to rock a crowd for an hour or more, but the great Ghost Deini and Method Man & Redman stepped up to the challenge last night at Houston's House of Blues.

Meth & Red are currently touring in support of their new album Blackout! 2 while Ghostface is touring behind his greatest hits release and gearing up to release his next album The Wizard of Poetry. Ghostface was first to rock, opening the show (surprisingly) on time as scheduled. He graced the stage in a large red tall tee swaying from side to side as he danced, weaving and bobbing all around to match his loudmouth rollercoaster-esque flows. He began his set by running through his 90's classics and some current records, occasionally pausing to complain about the crowd's lack of energy, addressing the audience as his “battery” that keeps his live show on point. There were plenty of hardcore Wu-Tang Clan and Ghostface fans waving their hands and cooperating with every call & response chant, but I got to admit, the crowd was pretty much staying posted up like a mailbox in typical Houston, Texas concert going fashion.

Things took a turn for the crunker side of life in the middle of his set when Ghost began performing songs off his critical breakthrough album Supreme Clientele, which got the crowd behind him 100%. Beginning with “Mighty Healthy” (famous for the beloved lyric, “you goddamn right I fuck fans”) he ran through all of Supreme Clientele's hits, even bringing up some female fans to the stage as he instructed them to “shake that ass” to the sing-along favorite “Cherzchez LaGhost.” He took time to pause his set to speak on contemporary popular rap music, emphasizing that “today's music... is fucking garbage” and new rap records just don't inspire him like they once did. And of course, as any performing pop artist worth a damn has done since June 25, Ghost brought out the kid in everyone as he danced to some of America's most classic songs during a short tribute to Michael Jackson. His DJ played a medley of MJ's most notable songs as Ghost called for the crowd to give it up for the King of Pop. Ghostface's hype man kept him going, engaging in much Hip Hop call & response emceeing and aiding Ghost in finishing off rhymes on many songs. Ghostface finished the set with his radio hit “Back Like That” and exited the stage making room for the modern day Cheech and Chong, Method Man & Redman.

Meth & Red entered the stage backed by 2 DJ's, Wu-Tang Clan affiliate producer/DJ Allah Mathematics and former Das EFX mix master DJ Dice, and a backdrop displaying the cover of their latest release Blackout! 2. The duo came out swinging with full energy and a crate of water bottles, most of which were used to wet the crowd throughout the show. Running through their latest records together as well as their 2000 era solo joints, the duo jumped, hopped, and skipped all around with Redman looking the most animated while Method Man rhymed in his usual calmly crunk manner. When performing “City Lights”, a song from their latest album featuring a Pimp C vocal sample from UGK's “Diamonds & Wood” for the chorus, the duo showed their love for Houston and Houston surely showed their love back. Their chemistry was evident and strong throughout their marijuana friendly set, emphasized by their synchronized dancing and tag-team antics.

Mid-set, Redman paused the music to declare his love for their “new shit” but insisted on bringing the show's tone back to his favorite era – the 1990's. Beginning with Redman's “Time 4 Sum Akshun,” they ran through all their golden age era classics including the duo's “How High” from the soundtrack to Russell Simmon's 1995 film The Show and Method Man's theme song from Wu-Tang's 1993 debut Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). As the crowd shouted along with him (“M-E-T-H-O-D... Man!”), Method Man stage dived into the audience, surfing through the crowd as completed his verse. Iggy Pop would be proud. Meth & Red paused their set once again to pass things over to DJ Dice and Allah Mathematics as they paid homage to the late, great Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.C. The two displayed excellent precision and technical mastery that left the crowd wowed. They moved back on forth on the same two turntables perfectly in sync with the record as they did back spins, under hand scratches, and all kinds of maneuvers that deserve their own funny names. DJ Dice even operated the fader with his mouth at one point! Finally, Houston's crowd was quiet no more, keeping active on their feet for the rest of the show.

With both acts playing for a bit over an hour I expected to be passed out on the luxury rug in the House of Blues by 10:00pm, but I just couldn't resist the enthusiasm displayed on stage. Ghostface, Method Man, and Redman are each legends in the world of Hip Hop and this show proved why they will keep their respect. 'Til next time, guys. Wu-Tang Clan (and Redman) are nothing to fuck with.

Fat Tony talks to Joe Mathlete.

2009-08-12T13:48:00.000-05:00

A conversation with Fat Tony

Joe Mathlete at 12:54pm on August 12, 2009

After seeing him battle with weak PAs and crackly speakers at the last several shows I've caught, it was outstanding to see Fat Tony onstage at the Free Press Summer Fest in technicolor widescreen with a sound system that could do justice to his bass and beats. He and sideman Smash Bro put on a powerhouse of a set that only reinforced my opinion that Fat Tony is one of the greatest musicians and most gifted performers this city has (and as a side note, maybe it’s just my nerd showing but the also-supremely-talented Smash Bro has the best name of any emcee in town).

I caught up with Fat Tony to ask him a few questions later that evening at an after party. What was intended to be a few minutes of chatter about the day’s events turned into a freewheeling conversation that touched on everything from arbitrary Houston pride to music journalism to what mind-tickling substances go best with his music to indie-rock and Insane Clown Posse to a nonexistent Fat Tony / B L A C K I E rivalry that promoters and festival organizers seem to want to cultivate.

JM: Bear with me, I’m kind of new at this.

FAT TONY: (referring to my Dictaphone) Yeah, I’ve never fucked with that shit. One time I was interviewing a band and I put a microphone up to the speaker phone, recorded it on my computer, but I always wanted to get one of these little tape recorders. They’re so convenient, you can just take down your thoughts and shit.

JM: They’re totally worth it. Sixteen bucks.

FAT TONY: For real? I didn’t know they still sell those. HEY SOPHIE!

(A number of people walk up, including several members of local reggae band Brains for Dinner. Everyone chats for awhile about Tony’s set, Super Mario Bros and the afterparty at Mango’s. Tony recommends they forgo the $10 cover charge and go drinking next door at Avant Garden. They depart, telling him “we should jam soon!” and we pick things back up.)

JM: So the sound at your set, we were talking about that earlier.

FAT TONY: Oh, the sound was phenomenal. Whoever they hired for it did it perfectly. Set up was like ten minutes, right? And I was so scared that, oh, they’re going to fuck up, they’re not going to have shit. They had everything, it was totally coordinated, total communication with each other.

JM: The bass was killer.

FAT TONY: My friends came to see me on ‘shrooms today, they said the bass was really, REALLY hitting them.

JM: Can’t get a better endorsement than that. Today they had your set slotted up against B L A C K I E’s on the other stage.

FAT TONY: Yeah, you know, people always do that shit. I think it’s dumb, I think they want to do it because -- I don’t know. Maybe it’s easy, or it’s accidental, or maybe they think it’ll stir up drama or whatever.

JM: Do you think it’s conscious?

FAT TONY: Man, for it to happen three times in a row at something like this? Then, when me and him say we want to play the same set, play a versus set, I saw a press release for this one show, they were saying it’s “tumultuous” and a “tension-filled battle”… It’s not a battle, it’s just us playing together because y’all won’t let us play after each other. If y’all would let us play separate sets at different times, that’d be great. We’ve done that before and it works.

Even though we’ve got sort of different sounds, the same kind of people, for the most part, fuck with us. I might have a little more of a hip-hop or like a pop audience and he might have more of a noise or hardcore/metal audience, but I think it’d be good to show both of us to all of that, whether they like it or not. And a good number of people in the crowd that are a fan of either of us will stay for both of us. And most importantly fans hate (the scheduling conflicts), they say “man, I only get to see some of you, then some of him." It sucks.

(A few sleepy-eyed guys have walked up, some bearded, some not. They don't seem to actually have a joint, but they definitely don't seem to not have a joint, if you know what I mean. I have no idea who they were so let’s just say it was the Wild Moccasins. Tony asks them if they came to Summer Fest but they said they were low on cash.)

FAT TONY: I feel you… Everybody’s broke as hell. When I asked (from the stage) who had money everybody was quiet, but when I said “who’s broke as hell?” everybody cheered.

(laughter)

FAT TONY: Man, you guys missed it. At one point I said “if you’ve got someone who’s fucking with you, and they’re here, turn to them and say ‘fuck you!’” All these kids were yelling at each other. I think I saw this one kid yell at his dad.

JM: I guess I should wrap up. Any parting words to “the kids?”

FAT TONY: To “the kids?”

JM: Or to the grownups. Yeah, what would you say to someone who’s fifty years old and lived in Houston their whole life… This is the first time Houston’s ever had something like this, if folks came down just to check it out and they see this massive human wave there in the park.

FAT TONY: Well, I think people definitely shouldn’t feel obligated to go to shit just out of “Houston Pride” or all that other bullshit. People should go because there are actually good bands playing that they want to see and they want to have a good time. If you’re going out to support, that’s cool but that’s not really what up, you know? What’s really going to make shit tight is having shit people want to see, rather than stuff they’re forced to see because it’s the only game in town.

JM: Do you think it was worth it today?

FAT TONY: Man… I feel like it was worth it on my end, I played and it was fun, I got to chill, I didn’t get too much of a hassle, I got to smoke, I didn’t get fucked with. But I heard people having two hour waits in the line and all that shit. And all it needs is more people hired – there was a staff there, just put more people by the lines.

JM: Who do you want to see next time?

FAT TONY: I’d like to see Jay Reatard play, I’d like to see Love Field play, I’d like to see Supreeme play. I don’t know, I don’t like too many bands, but those are the bands I’d like to see live.

(we digress for awhile and talk about Sean Kingston, who I would LOVE to see at an outdoor festival, and Insane Clown Posse, who I would at least be extremely curious to see live)

FAT TONY: God, I would love to open up for ICP. They have so many fucking fans. It’s goofy and shit but I’ve been hearing about them since I was like twelve, people take that shit super seriously and they do that shit for real. Since I was a kid, they just (snaps fingers a few times) always put out albums, always put out albums, and the underground magazines like Murder Dog will cover them. Shit. You know who I would really love to see play next year? Deerhunter.

JM: Man, I really love Deerhunter.

http://www.29-95.com/music/story/conversation-fat-tony

FAT TONY gettin' it in over seas with Japan's DJ SLY

2009-07-25T11:10:00.000-05:00

FAT TONY just got it in over seas and appears on Japan's #1 Hip Hop artist DJ SLY's latest album entitled "Beyond It".

The song is "Killin' Time" featuring KAORU. The album features classic beats re imagined and the shit is all FAT TONY approved.

Cop the Japanese only album release at his upcoming shows!
Limited copies in stock.

Download FAT TONY's contribution @ http://www.fattonyrap.com

DJ SLY: http://www.myspace.com/djslyhiphop
FAT TONY: http://www.twitter.com/fattonyrap

FAT TONY. 2007-2009.

2009-07-20T02:19:00.000-05:00

Download link for
THE CREATION OF FAT TONY (2007-2009):

includes 2 new songs off debut album RABDARGAB
+ an updated mix of the unreleased song "In Your Room":

http://www.divshare.com/download/7948405-0b0

take this shit & run with it!!! pass it on to your friend's ipod.
get 'em familiar.
enjoy.

- fat tony

JULY 9 SHOW REVIEW // LSTN + DWNLD FREE TONY SONGS // NEXT HOUSTON SHOWS

2009-07-13T10:57:00.000-05:00

Reviewing shows can be tricky if you're not familiar with the band or their songs or what their shows can typically be like. But this motherfucker Blaze was brave enough to take on writing about her first (& hopefully not her last) FAT TONY show. In my not so humble opinion, myself, my MacBook, and Smash Bro wrecked that hoe and had folks going bonkers. Or at least less sane than usual. She got some song titles mixed up ("Invaders" & "I Feel Nice" = "Invasion" & "Love Life") but was dead on 'bout pretty much er'thang else. Thanks, Blaze.

Check out Blaze's review of ya boy: http://blazethestreetreporter.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/fat-tony-live-mangos-featuring-smash-bro

"Tony’s interactions with the crowd, the sharing of personal and life experiences, and even “backing dat azz up” on an unsuspecting lady helped earn rapport, but over instrumentals his personal and life experiences had earned him a connection to the crowd—the crowd he now controlled."

"...Fat Tony is the truth!! Similar to an Italian Bambino, Tony murders each and every performance as if it were his last. Whether rockin’ a crowd of 5 or 500, he moves with the energy of a pill poppin’ raver, but spits with the lyrics of wizard."

There's this new shit online called bln.kr and I don't know too much about it but I'm on that shit. It's just for twittter users to show off their music for FREE FREE FREE. So if you're not a dummy come download a few free Fat Tony songs and hear 2 new songs from my upcoming LP - "RABDARGAB" (the album where "read a book, do a report, get a buck" becomes "roll a blunt, drink a red stripe, get a bitch" - classy, eh?). Git 'er done at http://bln.kr/-fattonyrap/

NEXT HOUSTON TEXAS SHOWS:

FAT TONY + THE TONTONS + LITTLE JOE WASHINGTON + GIANT PRINCESS
JULY 25 @ CAROLINE COLLECTIVE (EARLY SHOW - 6PM)

F A T T O N Y vs. B L A C K I E
JULY 31 @ FITZGERALD'S

FAT TONY + BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE + OCTUPUS PROJECT + MORE!
AUGUST 8 (DAY 1) @ ELEANOR TINSLEY PARK (STAGE 1 - 3:00PM)

Houston Press Music Awards 2K9: VOTE FAT TONY! "Best Underground Hip Hop"

2009-07-04T11:47:00.000-05:00

another year, another ballot. many rad new bands emerged this year and hopefully you paid attention to some of them. pick out your favorites and lend 'em a few minutes of your life.

i won last year's best underground hip hop award (ask Bun B) thanks to the support of pretty girls, black people, stoners, teenagers, and people with taste in general. im totally honored to be nominated again.

please vote for me, FAT TONY aka FAT TONY OBIDIYAH GEOFFEREY (MOTHERFUCKING) JONES aka FAT TONY TONI TONE aka MR. LIVE AT THE KAPPA as the aggravatingly hot, consistently rich city of HOUSTON's best "underground" Hip Hop artist. you will be greatly appreciated for such actions. as always, i love you all. do the right thing. thank you thank you thank you.

the awards showcase will be held in downtown houston on sunday, july 26. i play ROCBAR (in the complex of verizon wireless, hard rock cafe, etc.) at 8:00pm [which is the same time as BLACKIE & The Tontons sets - ain't that some weak ass shit?]. holla back.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

*VOTE FAT TONY 4 BEST UNDERGROUND HIP HOP....*
*IT'S REALLY THE COOL THING TO DO.....*
*ASK JESUS - HE WILL CO-SIGN FOR YA BOY....*

Interview with Ryan Grimes of Love Field: White Lies Black Sheep Juneteenth 2009 Houston Screening.

2009-06-04T03:16:00.000-05:00

White Lies Black Sheep is the second film from James Spooner, the mulatto punk rock documentarian behind 2003's Afro Punk, and will soon be shown in Houston on June 19th (better known as Juneteenth to us Texans; how appropriate) at the indiehouston.org house (1816 Calumet in Third Ward). The film tells the tale of A.J., a Black club promoter running rampant in the early 2000's era New York indie rock scene, and the tensions he faces amongst his peers. Soon as he begins to discover more about his own heritage, embracing it fully, he finds out his new interests aren't so accepted by his friends and co-workers who begin to think he's becoming “too black.” Self questioning, tight pants, unemotional sex with an average looking stranger, and lots of drinking ensue. A must see for all those who have shared A.J.'s dilemma and all those curious about the only Black guy at the indie rock show.

Organized by local chainsaw pop rap artist Fat Tony, the film screening will also feature performances by himself, the founder of U.S. Grime B L A C K I E, the soulful bedroom pop sounds of Austin's The Cocker Spaniels, and new Houstonian by way of D.C. Love Field.

Love Field is a solo project by Ryan Grimes, formerly of Cutlery and Downtown Singapore, which combines the lush sounds of ambience and electronics, with all the guitarmanship, whispers that shake buildings, and beautifully woeful bellowing of post-hardcore rock 'n' roll. Set your phasers on dream pop, Houston. Leave the kill mode for the next jerk off. Ryan sat down with me for a few a moments and graciously took some questions about the film, Love Field, Afro Punk, and the Houston scene.

How did you first get involved with WLBS? Tell us a little about the film.

White Lies/Black Sheep is a “documentary” about a young black party/concert promoter in the New York punk scene and his journey to essentially find himself. He feels betrayed by his desire to enjoy the scene when he starts to realize that not everything around him is clear cut and black and white. I first got involved with the film when James Spooner asked my old band Cutlery to do the score. We had been playing Afro Punk shows and the annual festival for a few years and we grew to be friends. Our music fit the overall feel of the movie and it was just natural for us to work on it with him.

What's your background with film? Have you composed for films prior to WLBS?

My experience in film amounts to that of simply having a Netflix account. I had never scored a film before and neither had Branden [Funkhouser, Cutlery guitarist and producer] but we just at down and remixed our songs and came up with new material for the film after watching it probably around 45 or 50 times. One of the other guys in the band Chris Marrow had a background in television production so that helped.

Have you performed as a solo artist or in bands outside of composing?

Yeah, I before Cutlery I was in a band called Downtown Singapore which was also a blast. Right now I’m writing and performing under the name Love Field.

Were there any outside influences that inspired the sounds presented in WLBS? Were you aiming for a particular tone for the film?

Yeah, we were always a cinematic, like, almost epic sounding kind of band. Everybody knows about teen angst and heart break but a lot of the stuff I was writing at the time mirrored the main character’s dealings with punk scenes and being black and feeling at home yet still detached.

What's the importance of WLBS as social commentary? Do you feel Houston's indie audience will appreciate it?

I think any community can appreciate the film. I’m from Washington D.C. and, like, it’s weird how seemingly the rest of the country really overlooks Houston and what this city has to contribute to art, punk rock, etc. Houston is home to some of the coolest, most innovative bands and artists I’ve ever heard so there’s defenitly a place for this film. A culture and audience for it. But the thing is, I hope not just the Montrose/Poison Girl crowd checks out the movie. Ideally, I’d like to see 3rd ward come out to experience a kind of scene that’s, in theory, open to all people.

How connected are you to the Afro Punk movement? What does it's growth and expansion mean to you?

Um, I suppose I’m just connected to it through the shows I was able to play and the film. But I guess like, on a deeper level I’m connected to it in the sense that it means the world to me. You know. I’m incredibly proud of the movement that James and Matthew [Morgan, Afro Punk producer] have built from the ground up. From Brooklyn to Chicago to L.A., there’s an afropunk crowd and now Houston is going to be a part of it. Actually, I shouldn’t say that – in all honesty any city or town with two black kids blasting Bad Brains from a car stereo like it’s Jay-Z has an afropunk scene.

Musically, what are you presently preparing? Do you have any projects in the works?

Yeah, I’ve only played a handful of shows under the Love Field moniker, so I’m working on expanding that to a full band. Some friends of mine are interested so we’ll see. Doing the solo act is tough for me because I’m used to having like, at least four other people on stage with me but it’s been fun. The songs are pretty cool thus far, so I’m excited about it.

Would you consider during any future film work?

Oh, of course. It was so much fun and a lot of things we didn’t get to try because of our budget and everything so yeah. I’d love to give it another go. Any chance to create something is a good one right? I think so, especially if the project fits.

I'm a Spike Lee fan and I've always taken note of the soundtracks associated with his movies. They've always been powerful and totally intertwined with the themes presented in his films, such as Public Enemy's socio-rap-noise-bomb "Fight the Power" as the theme of Do The Right Thing; or the bellowing horns that portrayed the lustful indecisiveness of a jazz musician in Mo' Better Blues.

With WLBS being a film quite rooted in depictions of Black social commentary, are there any films along the line of WLBS' content that inspired your work on the score?

Certainly, yeah. You’re 100% right about Spike Lee’s careful protection of the score and soundtracks to his films. Like he seems like a really meticulous type dude so I suppose you could say that we just wanted to be as sure as possible that everything fit, especially with the last scene in the movie.

Do you see any similarities between your experiences and the character A.J. from WLBS? Might you have friends that relate to it?

Of course, of course. Everything from dating and relationships with women both white and of color to getting stared at because of how you’re dressed on the train to being told that I “speak so well”. It’s all there you know. And yeah, the vast majority of my friends are black or a member of another minority group so they’ve spoken to me about similar situations they’ve had that are also represented in the film. Honestly, I even think that white kids will see things in this movie they can identify with and learn from. Though I’m not going to lie – if you’ve ever touched a black person’s hair with out at least asking first – things might get a little awkward for you during the screening. [laughs]

Have you come across any artists or bands here in Houston that embody the Afro Punk aesthetic or experience?

That’s easy, yeah. The TonTons come to mind first. Those kids are easy people to hang out with and love making just, like some of the most bad ass, heart felt rock and roll out there. B L A C K I E is another artist that’s got it down. I was riding around with Matthew Morgan before the afropunk SXSW show with Big Boi and had B L A C K I E’s record in my car and Matthew was like, “who is this?! I love it!!”. I’m pretty sure B L A C K I E will be playing at this years AP festival in Brooklyn as a result. And Fat Tony embodies it too. He’s probably the best EmCee I’ve heard here in Houston – easily. You wouldn’t think Tony would be like, “afropunk” or whatever since his show is for sure hip-hop through and through but he gets it. Like, his hustle is totally DIY you know? He transcends like the whole notion that the rest of the country has about Houston hip-hop as being only UGK and nothing else which is cool. I feel like it would have been real easy for him to just rip off Bun B, one of the people I know Tony looks up to, but he didn’t which is rad. Plus, I know for a fact that next to his UGK, records are a stack of My Bloody Valentine and Ramones CDs.

How did you get involved with the organizer, Fat Tony, of the Juneteenth showing of WLBS at the indiehouston.org house? Did he approach you? Did you approach him?

I’ve known Tony for a while – first online like most black punk kids meet each other. There was this Livejournal community called negroclash where I’ve met a ton of cool people. When I moved here to Houston he came to see the first Love Field show at Notsuoh and told me he and Chanelle were trying to bring WLBS to the H and I told him I’d love to help and be a part of it.

Fat Tony interviews Devin the Dude (March 2009)

2009-03-29T09:45:00.000-05:00

“Man, I'm so high, who am I? / Oh yeah... Devin”

Devin is much more than an artist just tryin' ta live, he's a legend hailing from our lovely lone star state. The New York Times refers to him as “a brilliant oddball with a spaced-out flow”; but we know him best as The Dude. No matter what records are selling, no matter what is trendy, and definitely no matter what the critics are salivating over this week, Devin has a strong fan base worldwide that's dedicated to jammin' his latest and and proclaiming he's the greatest.

He's a man known for sticking to his guns, keeping his traditional Swisher-friendly persona wrapped up in wine, weed, and women raps. Plus a wide range of quite positive and (often) hilarious songs that keep his albums highly praised. He's also pretty well known for his hooks. "Fuck Faces" is my favorite but Devin also has recorded classics such as "Ain't that a Bitch," "Baby Phat," and much more. He has blessed artists from De La Soul to Dr. Dre to UGK with his signature vocal stylings, and has kept even the most fair weather rap fan singing along to "I just wanna fuuuccckk YOU.”

Although he's in travel mode presently, Devin found time to answer a few questions of mine. He'll be performing Saturday, March 28 at Free Press Houston's Westheimer Block Party. Catch Devin during the night show at La Strada performing with Pictureplane, Houston's own Fat Tony

Even as some things stay the same, we're all aware the only constant is change. In your eyes, how has your persona developed and changed over your career ever since the Odd Squad days?

It hasn't changed much at all, but just getting a chance to grow is part of the game. In growing with it you develop other styles because of certain situations. When I started having kids, man, I toned down the specifics of some songs once I knew they were listening too. But more than anything [myself and the Coughee Brothaz] try to have the most fun as possible in the studio. I keep the fun being part of my persona.

Where may this persona be heading next? Got any ideas for how you'd want to switch it up?

I work with whatever is there at the time, man. It depends on what direction the music takes me. It could be the melody, the atmosphere, it's a number of things that construct my writing in the studio.

Outside of this lone star state, where do you feel best received by audiences? What are some cities worldwide you've constantly got little kids saying "who is that man, mama? On stage with a brew in his hand, mama?"

Haha! Man, it's hard to say. But the first cities that come to mind are Seattle, D.C., Denver, certain cities even surprise me, man. I had no idea people in these places were up on my music. California is always pretty cool. Even Boston gave the Coughee Brothaz a really, really good response on tour. It's been a blessing to meet people that really enjoy what you do.

It's definitely a blessing to have a career that's been working for so long. I'd suspect the internet of getting you out to places where they would have never heard you.

Yeah, fa sho, man. It's a lovely thing. All this technology is crazy!

Rappers are getting their sing-song on left and right these days. Kanye West released '808's & Heartbreak', Lil' Wayne's rock album, Lupe Fiasco getting his faux British accent down pat with his new band 'Japanese Cartoon', and T-Pain has been a 'Rappa Ternt Sanga'. You sing very well, Mr. Dude. Would you ever release an all singing album?

You know what... I was thinking of something like that but it might not be your normal record. I want to call it “The Perfect Genitalman” but I'm not sure if that one's gonna work [laughter ensues from The Dude and myself]. I don't know, man... I don't want to take it too far, it'd have to be for fun. I kinda like what I'm doing. If I can incorporate new styles into what I'm doing, I'd like to do that rather than release an album only for singing. Hell, Zeldar might come out with an album! But for now, I'm chillin'.

You've got quite the discography, Mr. Dude. What records of yours are your favorites? Which songs would you want people to remember alongside your legacy?

My songs are like my kids, man! Haha, gotta love 'em all the same. But some do have more meaning to me than others. One of those is a song called “Right Now” off the To Tha X-Treme [2004] album. Tried to get it on the Just Tryin' Ta Live [2002] album but couldn't get the sample cleared, so we had to re-play every piece of the music over again for its release. With the help of Mike Dean and Bryan Conner, plus a lot of patience we were able to make it work.

As a big fan, "Doobie Ashtray" first comes to mind. Two Texans [DJ Premier & Devin] coming together to make a cry out for lost weed so touching that I'd consider it being played at my first son's christening (even if it is, uh, a little out of place).

That's my second favorite right there! Appreciate cha, man. Hahaha.

What brand of cigarillos are the top choice for you?

The regular cigarillo Swisher Sweet. Non-flavored, ya know, less toxins. There's a new blunt called Cyclone that you should watch out for. It comes with a tip already and no tobacco in it. Just open it, stuff it, and fire it up! Got a wood tip for some of them and a paper tip for others.

What has been your most consistent and biggest inspiration over the years?

My family. My mom especially, man, because since I first started she's been interested in what's going on with my music. Growing up I hardly ever cussed around her, so when she first started hearing my music as I was getting out of high school I got a little worried haha. Like, “oh, ma, what she gonna think about this!” When I first started coming out with records and tapes she would listen, and even though I was kinda raw back then too she accepted it. Always hoped and prayed for the best for me. That really inspired me to keep doing my thing.

Thank you so much for the interview, Dude. Just got one more question... how's the lacville '79 holding up? Last I heard it was in the shop.

[Begins singing his dialogue like an Elvis movie] Oooh-yeeeeaaahhh! Man, well you know what, the mechanic told me [the lacville '79 would be ready] two weeks from now. And every time he tells me two weeks, it's like another two months! But right now, I believe it'll be out in a month from now. You'll be seeing Pearly Mae again.

http://www.myspace.com/devinthedude

Dee Rail Interview Jan 2009 - Published in Free Press Houston 100th issue.

2009-02-13T11:57:00.000-06:00

"Cats love to steal my shit, I call 'em turd burglars."

Born April 2nd, 1985 was Dee Rail, a Houston based Hip Hop artist with a heart of (black) gold (more along the lines of the Texas tea variety than Care Bear-esque); a man passionate about good times, good wine, good music, and good pine. On his records he sings of introspective insights, pain & pleasure, night time escapades, and smashing the shit out of any rapper he deems to be lacking in the talent department. A member of Devin the Dude's Coughee Brothaz crew, Dee Rail assembles all-American stoner wit, boyish charm and lung wrenching inner city blues into a Martini-like shaken not stirred collage of rap-croons. Think of him as a local brewery loving Sinatra... a smoked out Sammy in his prime. His laid back nature puts him right in those Rat Pack ranks attitude wise. Wait 'til Vegas gets a load of this guy. According to Dee Rail's current Myspace.com page, he "puts the FUN back in FUCKIN"). Perhaps his fans can attest to that sentiment. Give him the time, the stickiest of the ickiest inspirations, plus a bountiful taco truck and you just might have Hip Hop's personification of Wayne's World dosed in H-Town reverence.

When did your interest in music begin?

Ever since a nigga first heard some music I gravitated toward it. Been making songs ever since I figured out what I was doing. When I was 11, I made my first personal mix tape called "Yo Mama." It was a mix of my favorite songs from the nightly top 5 at 9:00pm on 97.9 The Boxx and 104.1, plus snippets from various sounds I liked. Had some Rocky Horror Picture Show and Twilight Zone samples thrown in there too with me announcing over everything on the tape.

What motivates your creations?

Big blunts, bad bitches brew (the Miles Davis album and secreting vaginas), as well as beautiful bangin' beats. Man, really... the idea that one day all this work will be worth my efforts motivates me more than anything. Knowing that possibly Hip Hop fans years down the line will continue to jam the Dee Rail is all I need.

In this wide world of rap we've seen a plethora of persona's, styles, and rap manifestos emerge over the years. What do you feel your role in Hip Hop music today is? What does Dee Rail deliver that we've been missing? Who are you out here to represent?

I used to want to completely change the game. You know, be the one to knock all these wack artists out of the top spots, but truly I just wanna be me. I think I'm the shit and there are definitely others that share the same sentiment. What sets me apart from the rest? I fuck with the hoes like socks fuck with toes. Plus I have a gigantic penis. But that's besides the point. Basically, I represent myself. I'm rappin' for me at this point. My music has been 10 or 12 years in the making now, man. Even if I didn't want to do music as a living, it'd still be a driving force inside me to create. I'm blessed with this lyricism.

What artists would you cite as your main influences? What are your favorite records?

My biggest influences are Sublime, Al Green, Nas, Devin the Dude, Outkast, BlackStar (Mos Def & Talib Kweli), and Donell Jones. My favorite records are Voodoo by D' Angelo, "Just Tryin' ta Live" by Devin, "40 oz to Freedom" by Sublime, Nas' "I Am," Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue," and the OG Ron C "Fuck Action" mix CDs volumes 16 to 22. In high school I was into those Fuck Action mixtapes like crazy! You'd hear all kinda slow cuts by Tyreese and R. Kelly on them slowed the hell down and chopped to death. I don't know what it is about R&B songs slowed the hell down but, boy, it sure gets the panties wet.

Tell me about your fall/winter 2008 tour with Devin the Dude & The Coughee Brothaz. What experiences left the biggest mark on you? How did you first connect with Devin and his group?

The parts I can actually remember were unforgettable. Rockin' Emo's outside stage was a lifetime achievement. It has always been a dream for me to perform to a full house there and we definitely did the damn thing. Devin first introduced me to the Brothaz. I met him at a Big Daddy Kane concert in Feb. 2007 at Warehouse Live [in Houston, TX]. I called him a week after I did my first NY show in April, and we linked up at the Coughee Pot [Devin the Dude's recording studio]. We got together and went through a gang of each other's songs and familiarized ourselves with one another's music. Eventually this led to us wrecking the track "HIGHWAY" off his latest album [Landing Gear, released fall 2008].

What record releases do you have in store for 2009?

Chronic & Rails Part 2.
The Dee RaiL and Coach collaborative album (untitled thus far).
Plus a project with German production genius Dr. Jango that is also untitled at the moment.

Three individual albums with different vibes to them all.

Outside of the Coughee Brothaz, do you have any affiliations and alliances?

I fucks with Tha Coughee Brothaz, Fat Tony and iLL Faded. Shout out to Tony, Coache Johnson, and Domino!

What are your ultimate goals for 2009?

I want to be recognized as the artist that I am. I'm remarkable to a lot of people across this nation, and I wanna expand upon that. I plan to make a bigger dent in the local scene and perform on choice occasions including the My Bloody Bunny Camp valentine's day party this February 14th. Right now I'm completing the W-Tour '09 which is something I would prefer to talk about in person with whomever is interested. I also want to collaborate with as many producers, artists, writers, directors, screen play adapters, smart people, weed heads, students, and teachers as possible.

When engaged in blunt consumption, what brands do you prefer and why?

My personal favorite... the Vanilla flavored Dutch Master cigarillos. If you can get a fresh one, the taste is unrivaled by any every day corner store bottom bin variety cigar.
We both know eras and trends come & go. Do you have any predictions for where rap music is headed musically or visually?

Nope. I want it to go the same direction I'm going but we will see what VIACOM has to say about that.

You sing like Lou Rawls angel drenched in ale & clouds of grape flavored smoke. Have you ever considered releasing a full album featuring your singing instead of rap vocals?

I've been working on my SINGING vocal recording techniques daily lately and I feel like me creating that album is not so far from now.

Any closing remarks?

You Kick ASS for organizing this interview. I want to say wuzzzzzzupppp to my momma and my nigga Fat Tony. Thanks.

Find out more about Dee Rail @ http://www.myspace.com/deerailmusic
- Anthony Obi 01.22.2009

HELP: Looking for house parties / DIY shows / anythang for AUSTIN TX march 18th to 22nd!!

2009-02-09T14:17:00.001-06:00

Help!
AUSTIN TEXAS - MARCH 18th thru 22nd

Remember back in the good ol' days (approximately 1979 to 2002/2003 (r.i.p. diy?)) when you'd really dig a band and write them letters while anxiously awaiting for them to write back & send free shit? You might have even showed their bad handwriting off to your pals. Totally pre-Myspace.

Remember when you liked a band sooooo much you'd help them book shows in your area? Perhaps guide them to your local college radio station? Maybe even feed them or give them a space to sleep on for the night? Sometimes you'd even give them drugs or alcohol (if they weren't straight edge or recovering rehab vets). Sometimes you nice music loving women of the world would snuggle with said musicians in the comfort of your home.

well... I NEVER FORGOT THAT SHIT!!!!! & i really hope you haven't either.... cuz i sure do need you.

this year of 2009, austin texas will be flooded with FAT TONY, SUPREEME, B L A C K I E, NO FACE, THE HOTELS, and THE INSTANT MESSENGERS. We're coming through with our own P.A. equipments and a live ass entertaining show thats damn near all we got in this world.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE (let me get what i want this time, morrissey) hit me up if you would like to book FAT TONY or any of my tight ass friends for gigs this March. We're all down to play damn near anywhere with electrical outlets and living bodies that wanna rock out (preferably with their cocks tucked inside... please, shit..).

hit me up at: yeahobi@gmail.com AND/OR yeahobi@tmail.com if you can offer any assitance!!

i love you all. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

adios,
fat tony.

p.s.
im looking for southern U.S. and west coast shows in APRIL & MAY + east coast shows in JULY & AUGUST. holla at me in advance about those if you're interested!!!! thank you.

FAT TONY - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fat-Tony/9656164815

SUPREEME - http://www.supreeme.com

B L A C K I E - http://www.myspace.com/blackieblackieblackie

THE HOTELS - http://grapetreeatlanta.com/hotels/

THE INSTANT MESSENGERS - http://www.myspace.com/instantmessengers

NO FACE - http://www.myspace.com/nofaceatlanta

M Y B L O O D Y B U N N Y C A M P Valentine'sDay(&Nite).

2009-02-01T01:59:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I totally get it, guy..
A tad random?
Kinda gnarly?
Tight as fuck?
Baffling?

Bitch, it's a holiday celebration (of the Hallmark gift shop variety).
BUNNY CAMP II: My Bloody Bunny Camp.

The 1st one we threw summer 2k8 was such a debauchery ridden joy we had to do it again (we being YouGenious the Misift, Dee Rail, and me) for the couples and single lovers/drunks. It's a new location this time 'round off Washington ave. It's time for change ya dig?!?!? Hope to see you there.

DJs:
iPod Ammo
Young $quaddy (of Don't Fight It!)

Celebrity Bartender:
CORNBREADD (MTV and Tha Fucking Transmissions)

FREE
21+

The Usual
5519 Allen st.
Houston, Texas

VALENTINE'S NIGHT // 02.14.2009

4:33. Love it, mayne.

2009-01-22T02:40:00.000-06:00

Come on, America. I'm excited for this newly discovered unity. I'm all for everyone jumping into the same recession decorated bed of Bush-free living. Yay for new America (godwilling).

In other news, American White women ages 18 to 34 may be experiencing Obama fever. More on this later.

Words of wisdom.

2009-01-15T15:44:00.000-06:00

2009. Stay on your grind.

red's a good color on me.

2008-07-24T12:18:00.000-05:00