Small World Interview

• Artist: Small World
• Label: DTP/Def Jam
• Be on the lookout for: DTP's Strength In Numbers (Sept '07)
• Artist Website: Small World

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North Carolina and Hip-Hop are synonymous with two names: Petey Pablo and –to some extent– Little Brother.  Other than that, most well educated hip hop fans wouldn’t be able to name a single MC who hails from Raleigh, Charlotte or the surrounding area; that is, up until now.  Signed to Disturbing The Peace, rapper Small World is set to change the image and perception of his home state with five songs on the new DTP compilation album, “Strength In Numbers.” During an interview with DJBooth’s DJ “Z,” Small World explains where North Carolina gets its sound from, why he won’t mess with celebrity chicks and what he repeatedly did that made him apologize to his mother.

DJ Booth:  What’s goin’ on ya’ll?  It’s your boy “Z,” doin’ it real big, and joining me inside the DJ Booth is a man who likes his celebrity chicks.  The person who convinced me that, yes indeed, it is a small world after all, DTP artist Small World.  How you doin’?

Small World:  You already know what up, Z.  How’s it goin’, man?

DJ Booth:  Representin’ North Carolina – very few have made it to the national scene from your home state.  What’s gonna make the difference between you and everyone who’s tried it before you?

Small World:  Well, I actually did it.  That’s probably gonna be the biggest difference – I’m the first of my kind to come out of North Carolina and shed light on us out there.  So I’m definitely gonna put the spotlight on NC, man, and bring a lot to the table, open up the market.  That would be the difference, man – I’ll probably be the one who really, really puts it down and expands the market and lets everybody know what we got goin’ on.

DJ Booth:  You were quoted as saying North Carolina is about to “explode on the national music map.” Is that because you hail from there or is there another reason to believe that besides yourself, there’s other talent that could blossom?

Small World:  I would definitely say it’s the talent, and of course it’s me.  I actually have the mindset, the go-getter attitude, and the resources to actually do it – bein’ signed to Disturbing The Peace and being under the Def Jam umbrella, I can bring a lot of light to the situation that we’ve got goin’ on in North Carolina and just expand the market and create opportunities for the other, hundreds and hundreds of talented artists that we have in North Carolina.  And a lot of people respect North Carolina in the game and in the industry – a lot of artists respect just the North Carolina mentality and what we have goin’ on out here so it’s gonna be real, real nice.  There’s a bunch of trend-setters, I’m definitely gonna say set that trend.

DJ Booth:  Hailing from Chicago myself, the city has often been accused of failing to have a definitive sound to it’s music, and North Carolina is in the same boat.  The state is Southeast, so do you consider your sound more East Coast, more Southern, or is it a potpourri of both?

Small World:  Just as you said, it’s like a potpourri of both.  A lot of Northern influence is on North Carolina because a lot of people hail from New York City in North Carolina.  So it’s very very country and very very Southern – we have a lot of country roots in North Carolina but a lot of people from North Carolina relocate to New York and a lot of people relocated from New York to North Carolina.  It’s definitely a melting pot; we have all those styles, all those elements in the music, and it definitely reflects in the music and just our swagger and the way we carry ourself in North Carolina.

DJ Booth:  You mentioned you’re in a good place right now – you’re signed to DTP and Def Jam, so let’s talk about how you got there.  Former 106 and Park VJ Free, whom you’re very close with, was liaison between you and DTP CEO Chaka Zulu – you guys made it happen.  Where do you think you’d be right now if that connection did not happen?

Small World:  I don’t know, I honestly can’t say.  I know that we ventured out, took a trip to New York and got in contact with Free, and she got me into the situation with Disturbing The Peace.  But I really can’t say, man – I know I would’ve kept grindin’.  I had my own studio equipment, with my crew Norfclk.  We had Norfclk Entertainment thing goin’, so we were destined for greatness.  Who knows, man?  I know I would be somewhere.  I would be in some building right now, probably workin’ on my album, doin’ the same things I’m doin’ ‘cause we’re definitely dedicated.

DJ Booth:  A lot of people think that Free is just a VJ, but what is not known is that she can spit on the mic also.  On your debut album, might we see a Free feature?

Small World:  You might, man.  I’m gonna keep it real – you actually might see a Free feature.  Or you might see Free featured on a remix to one of my tracks, man, definitely.

DJ Booth:  You have five songs on the new DTP compilation album, “Strength in Numbers.” What words will be used to describe your contribution, after this album is picked up by your fans?

Small World:  I would say, “big,” definitely, ‘cause I’m on five joints on the album – it’s like half of the album.  And I’m killin’ everything on the album, everything in sight.  My style is different, the voice is different, I’m flippin’ the flow all over the place – I’m definitely bringin’ a whole new wave and a whole new style to the hip hop game.  So I think people are gonna latch onto that, man.

DJ Booth:  You’re featured on the new single, it’s the standout from the album, “Celebrity Chicks,” with Chingy and Steph Jones.  What kind of girls get you mesmerized faster, Small World, those in the limelight or those that are average, they’re run of the mill?

Small World:  It just depends, man.  I like a girl with a lot of swagger.  I like a girl that glows without even trying; you know what I’m saying?  So if a girl can just walk into a room and get everybody’s attention without sayin’ one word, that’s what I’m attracted to.  I don’t like a girl that tries to be in the spotlight all the time – if the spotlight just shines on her naturally, that’s pretty much what I like, that’s what attracts Small World.

DJ Booth:  I could not agree more.  Your ideal woman matches up with mine almost identically.  Most men like to be the breadwinner of the family, put the food on the table – figuratively of course, not literally.  If you married a quote unquote “celebrity chick,” would you have a problem if she had more commas in her bank account?

Small World:  Definitely not, ‘cause that’s only a perk for me! [laughter] The more she can bring to the table, the better, man.  I definitely can respect the woman that gets out there and grinds and is on her hustle.  Feed me!

DJ Booth:  Exactly – hey, two incomes is better than one.

Small World:  Exactly, exactly. 

DJ Booth:  I wanna know about a little history – I read in your bio, it states that you were a “wild child” growing up.  What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done, legal or illegal, that you’d like to share with me?

Small World:  Man, I can’t put myself on blast like that, but I will say, shout-out to my mama – I love you, mom, but I used to take her car all the time.  I would take my mama’s car all the time!  I was probably like, between the ages of fourteen [and] seventeen. “Love you mom, appreciate it, thank you for not killing me, I’m still here.”

DJ Booth:  What kind of car?

Small World:  She had the Rodeo, when it was popular, an Isuzu Rodeo – she had a cherry-red one.  I would always take that.  And I knew how to drive a stick, too.  I’m a country boy so you gotta learn how to drive.  So that’s why my drivin’ records kinda screwed up right now, from me gettin’ pulled, and doing young and wild stuff with the colored mans. 

DJ Booth:  Well, I’m sure you already take care of her nicely, but if she listens to this interview she might call you up and ask for some gas money to make up for all those times.

Small World:  I know, right? [laughter] But I did put a healthy amount of gas in the car.  I did my share.  I would always put it right back to where it was so she would never know that I went somewhere.

DJ Booth:  [laughter] You had your bases covered, sounds like it.

Small World:  Had it covered, man, had it covered.

DJ Booth:  Small World, besides the overall industry in terms of record sales being slightly down, trends indicate that the national housing market is in the dumps, too – everywhere except for North Carolina.  So if I was looking to move to your home state, pretend for a second you are a real estate agent.  Sell me on the property – how are you gonna get me over there?

Small World:  Space, space, space.  All the space you need.  All the loud music you want, all the space you need, green grass, the air is wonderful, houses are new, a lot of new developments, lotta new jobs – everything.  North Carolina’s definitely gonna be the next state on the rise with Raleigh, Charlotte, surrounding areas, anything.

DJ Booth:  You sold me.  That’s it – I’m gonna come out.  You sold me, you got me.  Give everybody a website or a Myspace page, so they can find out more about Small World and what you have comin’ up…

Small World:  Oh definitely, man.  Holla at your boy on the Myspace joint, myspace.com/smallworldpremiere.  Be on the lookout for, “World Premiere,” the album – I innovated a lot of stuff out there in North Carolina.  I set trends all my life, so you’ll definitely get an authentic perspective from someone who really laid the blueprint down.  Ask somebody.  Call somebody from North Carolina that has family out there, ask them who’s it!

DJ Booth:  See, we’re good – I don’t need to make any phone call.  I’m on the phone with you right now, so I know it – it’s proof in the pudding.  I wish you nothing but the best of luck, DTP compilation album, “Strength in Numbers,” droppin’ very soon, and into the future much success.

Small World:  Appreciate you, brother.  Have a good day, man.