Check out his website: http://www.myfunkvolume.com/
His new album can be purchased here (definitely worth it): http://www.myfunkvolume.com/music.php
Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/hellohopsin
INTERVIEW
First off, I think we all wanna know one thing: Did you ever make it out to the San Diego Zoo?
Nah i didnt. Im hoping i can find a buddy to roll out there with this summer. Fuck Tomica!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself as a well off rapper who follows his own rules and moves at his own pace, hopefully i will have a million fans by then.
Do you have an ultimate plan for Funk Volume? Would you be willing to allow FV to become an imprint of a larger label, a la Shady/Aftermath?
The ultimate plan for funk volume is to be that IT label that keeps shit raw all the time. We only want full quality artist on the label who can create die hard fans. As of right now, im personally not interested in having FV becone an imprint of a larger label. i dont trust these industry people like that to do business with them.
What got you into rap and made you start rapping? What age did you start?
i started rapping at age 14 or 15. i started out doing parody of songs that i heard on the radio, kinda like some weird al type stuff. then i actually started getting pretty good at writing lyrics so i started writing real verses to instrumentals that i downloaded from napster back in the day. eventually i started making my own beats on a program called fruity loops. I use that same program today to make my beats. fruity loops is the shit!
What is your driving inspiration behind your songs? What keeps you going?
I use my personal life as my inspiration for my music. Everyone around me in my world is a potential song topic, weather it be a positive or negative song. The thing that keeps me going is the all natural drug and alcohol free mind that i was born with. I can do anything i put my mind to and i love pushing myself to the limit..then once i reach it, push myself to a more extreme limit. im never satisfied and thats what keeps me moving forward.
What advice would you give to upcoming rappers? Like, aside from the generic “Stay true to yourself and follow your dreams” spiel?
DONT DO FUCKIN DRUGS. alot of rappers say that shit but i really fuckin mean it. If you have to depend on drugs to get your skill out then thats lame. You were born with something thats far greater and more valuable than any drug...A BRAIN. Learn how to use it! Quit being a follower and do what you feel like doin. Dont sleep on your mind man. If i did drugs, I probably wouldn't be where im at right now. when you are sleeping, im up workin on a beat or some lyrics. im just giving you a taste of what real competition is..that should motivate you enough.
Are there any current mainstream rappers who you’re really feeling? Underground?
the only rapper im really feeling right now is Yelawolf. Im a die hard fan, i never though id be sayin that about any rapper in 2011 but maan, the guy is a real natural born superstar rapper. Im not ashamed to admit it. I show love when its due.
Outside of hip-hop, what can we find on Hopsin’s iPod? Any guilty pleasures? Britney Spears? Willie Nelson?
You can find a shit load of michael jackson, some lion king songs, a bunch of 80's and 90's cartoon theme songs, my songs, old school slim shady, missy elliott, outkast, i do have britney spears on there, just a couple songs. I have a zac efron song on there called "bet on it". I got some alicia keys, all american rejects, a few miley cirus songs, some swizZz and the original mighty morphine power rangers theme song! haha i love that shit
Desert Island: You can only bring 3 albums to listen to for the rest of your life, what are they and why?
Michael jacksons number ones greatest hits cd (because michael jackson is the right under jesus in my book), marshal mathers LP (because eminem is right under michael jackson in my book) and my latest album raw...yeah i said it, haha. i have to admit..im a fan of my music too, lol. its fun to just sit back and listen to the shit i come up with. I make the type of music that i like.
How’s touring going? Any good stories?
Touring is going great. traveling is boring but performing in new cities in front of new fans is amazing. There are some stories but i will tell them in one of my future albums, haha. i dont wanna kill the anticipation.
Have you ever had any crazy fan encounters?
Yes i have. some fans at my shows tend to think they are the only one who wants to talk to me. so they will literally follow me around the whole night and just but into every conversation i have with other people. im like "yo man, have some respect, i appreciate you supporting me and all, but you aint the only one in this venue who wants to meet me". so sometimes i gotta get a lil aggressive towards fans. theres ALWAYS 1 at every show, haha. and its ALWAYS the one who has the funkiest breath EVER! We are workin on getting some Funk Volume breath mints to sell at our shows along with our t shirts. haha
What would your dream collab be?
Dream collab would be with me, eminem and ludacris on the same track. oh man, Id masturbate to that shit everyday, no homo. haha
Any upcoming Hopsin releases you can hint at? *Cough*Tech N9ne/New Hopsin album*Cough*
hahaha. yeah Tech N9ne and I did a track together for his new album "all 6's and 7's". the track is sick. i wish i could give details about it but unfortunately i cant. If you want answers, you gotta reach out to tech.
What do you use to produce your beats?
I use fruity loops 3.4 its an old as version but i still manage to make it work. i dont like any version that came after that. ive been using the same version since like 11th grade.
How many sinks could a Hopsin hop if a Hopsin could hop sinks?
sinks? haha i have no idea, maybe like 20? i dont know
OK, we ARE an Eminem forum so we gotta ask, do you have a favorite song/album? Why?
my favorite eminem song would probably be cleanin out my closet and rolemodel. Oh and forgot about dre. Fav album of his is MMLP
Anything else about Hopsin we should know? (Phobias, any pets, favorite fast food, etc.)
Yes, I love pugs! i have one named bubbles and i would murk someone over her. Im an undercover hardcore lover boy..Instead of using girls for sex, id rather sit with them alone somewhere and talk till the sun comes up. so ladies, you know what to do ; ). I HATE discussing rap music with people who know i do music, find something new to talk about...talk about skateboarding or drawing or something. My favorite fast food place at the moment is subway....i get foot long wheat bread with salome and pepperoni toasted with cheese, lettuce and mustard! mmmm that shit is fuckin good!
