Klump: America's White Nightmare

Klump, or Killa Klump as he is known via his street mixtapes, is no stranger to struggle. The Bay Area rapper has been through a lot in his short lifetime. At the age of 15, he caught a drug related case that landed him a 2 1/2 year sentence as a youth. But, after trying to escape from various juvenile dentition centers in Cali, Klump was shipped away to serve his time in Western Samoa, until he was released at the age of 18.

Upon release, Klump -- who always had a love for music since being a kid because of his family's choice of work (his father was a musician who also tried his luck in the music industry) -- came out a changed man. Instead of heading directly back the block, he chose a different path -- hip-hop.

Now, with his debut album, American's Nightmare, on it's way, Klump is focused on creating a body of work that will withstand the test of time. Instead of creating a hit single to put him into the who's who category of hip-hop, Klump says he's more concerned with putting out something credible to concrete his position as an artist, even if it became a slept-on gem.

In a conversation with BallerStatus, Klump talks about his past, some of the struggles he's endured, and why you should look past his white skin and pay attention to the music. After all, real recognizes real.

BallerStatus.com: Tell us a little about where you're from, how you got into hip-hop and about coming up in the industry?

Klump: My dad did music back before I was born, so he was always traveling when I was younger. First off, I'd like to say, this sh-- runs in my blood. Music is a big part of both my mom's and pop's side; it's always been big in my family -- moms would be home playin' records and pops would be on the piano, singing...you know what I mean? It's always around me.

Around 11 or 12 is when I really started rapping. I was in my boy's garage with a stereo. We plugged in a little karaoke mic and started recording over other motherf---ers' beats. But, I was in and out of jail when I was younger, so it kind of stopped my path into rap. I went and did a little 2 1/2 year stretch and I got out when I was 18, and that's really when I figured out that I really needed to do something. I was either gonna stay in the street, doing what I do, going in and out of jail, or turn to music. So, I picked music.

BallerStatus.com: So, where did you go from there?

Klump: From there, I started going into the studio. I would get on tracks, collab with people and started networking with people. Little by little, sh-- started falling into place. I mean, I always knew I had talent, but it was really up to me, as far as if I was gonna keep at it and really take it seriously. I started just going hard at this, and taking steps forward.

BallerStatus.com: You're from the Bay right?

Klump: Yea, I'm from Eastside South San Francisco, Cyprus Block, the most hated. California, Bay Area, you know?

BallerStatus.com: You mentioned that your father was in music. I understand he wrote for some big artists in his time. Talk about him a little and how he influenced you musically, growing up.

Klump: Like I said, music is big in my family. I can remember that my father used to be a big alcoholic too, so there was a lot of fighting in my house. But, at the end of the day, I remember being in my room, late night -- while my parents were fighting -- and no matter what my father was going through, he'd get on that piano and play. The sh-- was beautiful. And I'd sit in my room, pissed off at him because he was stirring sh-- up in the family, but he always had talent, which I did notice. He'd always do that.

When my brother was born, he took him on tour. But, his career never really took off the way he wanted, and with his second kid here, he didn't want to have two kids on tour. So, from there, he pretty much gave it up.

But, my father wrote all his own music, played all his own instruments, so just watching him and seeing the love he had for it, it just turned something on inside of me. Maybe it was just because I loved the music too...I dunno. Growing up [music] was just on me like that. That's what I was into -- music.

BallerStatus.com: So, what are the things you love most about music?

Klump: I just got a real love for music; I really love what I do. I love being in the studio, love all the hard work, love writing, love listening back and I love mixing. I just have a love for music in general. This is what I do and this is what I love. This is just my road. Even if I don't make it as an artist, I'm still gonna be doing something in music...I produce too. I'm never gonna stop doing it.

BallerStatus.com: You're a white dude, so are you worried about the stigma that comes along with being a white rapper?

Klump: Man, I'm not really worried. I'm not trying to be nothing I ain't. I know damn well there will be problems because I am white, but then again, there's pros and cons to anything. I think real recognizes real. I'm not that dude that grew up in a million dollar house with my parents being rich...hell nah. We've always struggled to get by. I'm from the hood, I kick it with the Mexican mob over on my side, you know? I been in these streets; I grew up on the block. I f---in' with my dudes in and out of jail, so it ain't really sh--. Motherf---ers can't really tell me nothing, as far as my street cred. It's right there.

I mean, I'm not gonna say nothing that's not me. Anything I talk about on my album, that's me, that's sh-- I seen and sh-- I've been through personally. I've been caught cases, I served my time. I've been locked up everywhere as a juvenile. They shipped me to Western Samoa, another country to serve my time, you know what I mean? I grew up in that motherf---er.

Really, I don't worry about it. Real recognizes real. I'm the type of motherf---er who can sense if you are being real or not. And if you are being fake, you get your card pulled. I ain't gonna talk about nothing I ain't been through, so you can't say nothing.

BallerStatus.com: When I heard your track you got out with Styles P called "Go Hard," I didn't even know you were white. And when I learned that, I was thought, "Well, you can't deny him 'cause he's kinda ill no matter what color he is."

Klump: Yea, that's how I want it to be. As long as you're being real with yourself, that's all you need to do. I mean, I ain't no kid from the suburbs, talking about I lived a bad life or nothing like that. I ain't from the projects either though 'cause we were lucky enough to get our grandmother's house when she passed, but it's still on the block. I have my mother and father, so I have a lot of stuff I'm blessed to have. I just put myself through a lot of dumb sh-- [when I was younger] that I didn't need to do. I don't glorify that sh--, but it's made me who I am.

BallerStatus.com: You have your debut album, America's Nightmare, dropping July 17th. Tell us about it?

Klump: I got Scarface on there, Styles P, Spliff Star, J-Bo from the YoungBloodz, Layzie Bone, Noble from The Outlawz, Yukmouth...and every person is someone I f---ed with. So, I'm just proud of how we're putting together this album. It's not like I got verses from these dudes to just get them on my album, it's people I f--- with. I'm on their albums too. It's just a trip. I'm still listening to it and being like, "It's almost too good to be true." It's bananas.

I'm blessed to have these guys hear my stuff and wanna get down on it. I'm been in the studio just working really hard on this album, making sure it's top notch.

BallerStatus.com: So, what should people expect from the music?

Klump: Every beat that I have for this album, in a way, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, so I kept 'em. When people hear the album, I want any hair on their body to the ceiling man. I want the album to give you that feeling. I want it to be indescribable almost. That's what I'm trying to do with this sh--. But really, I can't explain it; you'll just have to get the album when it come out to hear it. I couldn't even tell you one certain song that would describe the whole album 'cause every song is different. The feel of the album is just a good feeling.

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