Black Rob – The Unkut Interview, Volume Two

Back in 2013, I got to chat to Black Rob for ten minutes as he was on his way to the studio. This time around I tried not to repeat the same questions, but unfortunately I caught him as he was trying to catch some food. Guess some things just aren’t meant to work out, huh? Regardless, you can catch Black Rob’s new LP, Genuine Article, is out 21 April.

Robbie: Were Spoonie Gee and Doug E. Fresh a big influence on you when you were a kid?

Black Rob: Hell yeah! Parties, break-outs – the whole shit! Doug E. Fresh was definitely slamming, man. I already wanted to my thing, but it gave me some inspiration to tbe best that I could be.

What was it like growing in Harlem?

It was different, man. A lotta kids was doing what they had to do, playing around and not doing music, so I came in there doing music. I used to have the parties jumping, little freestyles and all that stuff. Hear that shit out the window. I used to be the number one guy, but I was too young to really comprehend what I was going through, cos I was just stretching out. But I was nice though! [laughs]

Did you have a crew back then?

Nah, you had to do that shit on your own. Nobody else wanted to look around for talent, everybody hated. Here I go, I found out a way to get the girls! That was my only thing, to get the girls. I went to the Bronx and my mans and them, we put together a little rhyme group. It was me, O and a kid named Godzilla. We was going at it and we got an invitation to do Sweetwaters. Sweetwaters was the little club, after work thing where people went and let it down. I got to do Sweetwaters, and I was the only one in Sweetwaters that got to really doing hip-hop. The crowd was like, ‘Yo, where’d you find this kid?’ I did my thing and stepped off the stage and everybody looking at me like, ‘Damn! That shit was nice, kid!’ I made a difference to the right people.

Was the next step to start recording demos?

Me and my crew made one demo tape. It was really a wash-up. From there I got with this kid named RP, and from there I was with Puff, so it was all over!

From there you started doing features for all the Bad Boy groups, right?

That came next, cos I was really getting good. That was when I started vibing with 112 and Faith Evans, once I got down with Bad Boy I made my mark. As I moved up the ranks i was making up shit that he couldn’t even fathom. If there was a way to be after BIG? I was after BIG.

What was your first impression of Puffy?

He was a ‘get money’ nigga, I knew that from day one. I had a problem with RP, he took my money. He wasn’t gonna tell me! I told Puff, and Puff got my money back.

How did you know Cru?

One guy grew-up with me, I didn’t know the rest of ’em. I just knew Yogi. Yogi had good beats and I used to always come to his house and make joints, so he messed around and put me on ‘Recognize’ and the other joint and the labels loved it, man.

What was the process of putting together the Life Story album?

It really wasn’t no problem, I made that album out of sheer love for the sport. I swear to god, I just came in and I spit it out. Whatever came out my mouth was on the album! That’s why there’s so many joints on there.

You’ve got a strong story-telling style. Where did that come from?

Slick Rick. He was definitely hittin’ them with the songs, man. I took hold of that, I grabbed the tapes and I was listening to it and i was like, ‘Oh shit! Where this shit came from?’ I started putting that shit on cap – cappin’ that. From there? It was no holes barred, man. [laughs]

How were you picking the beats for that album?

As long as my beats are hot and when I play it, the crowd gets turned up to it? That’s what I label. That’s what I go with.

Were you surprised how big ‘Whoa’ got?

In a way it was a sure shot but in a way it was a bang boogie. I didn’t think it was gonna sell that many records. Eventually, when they started asking me to perform it all the time? I got it. Come to find out Buckwild – he ain’t know what he was doing. He didn’t know he had that fire with him! But he took that record and me and him balled it up and we just killed it! That record is number one, classic, throughout the years. It’s still getting me money! I don’t got no complaints.

The Black Rob Report was a strong album, do you feel it got the shine it deserved?

I wasn’t there to promote it, I was in jail.

Jamal [Rob’s manager]: Black Rob introduced the world to G-Dep. Black Rob introduced the world to Petey Pablo. He has a ear for music, a lotta people don’t know that. He’s also bringing Quas Amil to the game, which is his artist. He’s going to shock the world as well.

Black Rob: The industry don’t realise that! C’mon man, I could be the biggest A&R!