Remain Rooted, Keep it Nappy

You've heard the song, you've seen the video, but I bet you're still wondering who Nappy Roots are? First things first, they aren't your typical hip-hop act who have a hit single and then fall off. The six-man crew out of Kentucky has been putting in work since the mid '90s. Their first major label release, Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz, is on the verge of platinum status, and their first single "Aww Naw" sat at number one for multiple weeks. Right before embarking on tour with Jay-Z, Nappy Roots' Skinny DeVille took some time to drop some game for all you cats still scratching your heads.

First off, why don't you break down how Nappy Roots got started for all the tardy cats.
Basically, we all got hooked up at Western Kentucky, at school in Bowling Green, Kentucky where my man Big V was originally from. Really it was a story of education you know, looking for the higher learning path, getting high while we were learning, freestyling at the ciphers and the parties and all that. That was '93 through '97, locking it down in '97 with the six-man crew now known as Nappy Roots.

I heard you guys started off first with a clothing line. How did that all go down?
Actually we started off with a music store that really gave us the financial support we needed. We started off selling our shirts there, and that's where people first saw the Nappy Roots, before the CD dropped. That right there was so successful that it really gave us the money to purchase the mass amounts of CDs. Really, that was the hottest thing out at the time, the Nappy Roots shirts - we had all the fraternity colors and whatnot, and basically everyone representing, you know?

Doing things independent from the start, what do you think you gained from that?
Aww man, we gained a lot from that. I mean, instead of being on the outside looking in, we was in the inside looking out. We knew how the market works first-hand, we weren't up there on a major label just rapping. Really it was seeing what the people wanted first-hand. See they were coming in and buying the music, and not just our CD, everyone's CD. As an independent record store it's not like you're trying to sell just your CD, you're trying to sell everything, so either way I get paid. From there it was like seeing what people like, or what they don't like; why they don't like that, and just taking little notes or whatever. Then we just soak all that up, give the people what they want to hear, and still stay true to Nappy Roots.

Is there a place where people can get all the original, underground CDs?
Yeah, man. Check out NappyRoots.biz. You can get the first two underground CDs, the original shirts for the colleges. Also check out deeprooted.com, and you can download some of the older material.

Yeah, your music isn't really like a lot of popular rap out right now, you know, straying away from the materialistic, flossy lifestyle. Why do you think the masses are quicker to jump on that bullshit over music with a positive and more creative meaning?
Well there is all kinds of ways you can break down and answer that. People are starting to gravitate to the reality of things. They know that everybody can't be rich, and everybody can't be a star. And really, it comes down to people accepting themselves for who they are, and they can relate to us more than they can to the folks who run around talking about they have this or they ride that. 'Cause you know what? I don't. I can't relate to that 'cause I don't know what a Bentley feels like. I can't say that I got all that 'cause where I'm from you get your card pulled quick. Who are we trying to fool? Nobody. We just staying true to who we are.

I read a quote where you said, "we glamorize being ourselves," and I think you nailed it right there.
It's easier to do that than to try to live up to something you're not. On top of that I can't afford it.

Now that you guys have got your feet wet in the industry, do you see a lot of cats whose whole image is a front?
Man, I've never looked on the back of someone's neck to see if their necklace is real. I don't know though, some cats, you expect them to be the same as they are on records, but whatever. But Cash Money, they're real, they got all that shit. P-Diddy, he got the real shit. I don't think there are too many fake ones out there right now. They all got out, and the true ones are standing out.

So what are your influences, both musically and through life?
Man, my dad used to play some Stevie Wonder, and I still love that shit. Old school, '70s, early '80s, all that. Lately it's just been this Nappy Roots thing, just vibing, and inspiring me to do big things. And really life in itself is an influence. Lessons learned everyday, either through struggle or something you lost and you try to get it back. Being on the road brings you something new each day, you know?

As a country, we're heading into some unpredictable times. What are your ideas or concerns about what's going on?
Man, I just hope the whole world don't go down. I don't know, it's just crazy - everything is on thin ice. It seems like war is inevitable at this point. You just gotta make your money, 'cause there is gonna be a time when everything stops, and you gotta live off of what you stacked for the winter and hope it's not a nuclear winter.

Do you think that hip-hop can be used as a tool through this whole thing?
Man, I think it's bigger than hip-hop. I think music itself is gonna be one of the things that bonds, and will cool down the hysteria. Right now hip-hop is probably the number one avenue to get the point across if it's done in the right way. A lot of artists are blind and don't want to accept that things are changing. They're just trying to live that lifestyle, ya know, ball out and not take care of their family. Those are the ones who are gonna be in trouble. It comes down to what you say, and how you say it. Words can influence the world, and you gotta be responsible for what you say.

What's your philosophy of being an MC? I mean, do you see it as a job, or do you see yourself as a role model?
Man, it's turned into a job. At first, it was for the love of music, putting shit down, hearing your voice on tape. Really it's been a dream come true, so I have no complaints for all the bullshit we gotta endure. Music always drove me to explore and experience more in life. But like I said, I am responsible for what I say and really that just comes naturally. Not many people can be in the place I'm in, so it's a blessing.

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