Published: Friday - June 22, 2007
Words by Claudio E. Cabrera
G.R.I.T. Boys (Photo: Fear Factor Music)
We all know about the sizzurp, the swangas and the "elbows" pokin' out the side of the lac. But, one thing we don't know about Houston is it's "Ghetto Reality." We know about the culture, but what about those who work everyday jobs and raise their kids and even those on welfare? No one has exposed us to that side of the fence until the G.R.I.T. Boys arrived. The three man click from the land of Yao and McGrady got the city talking. After selling close to 6,000 mixtapes, Scooby, Poppy and Unique got picked up by TVT Records and are already making people out in H-Town feel the same way they did about UGK and the Geto Boys when they dropped. Selling 6,000 mixtapes is a major accomplishment, but the trio will tell you that pales in comparison to the numbers they'll be pulling with their TVT debut.
Ballerstatus.com: So if I were to go to Houston right now and stop by some of the hoods, if I ask them whose the next big thing to come out of the city will they say the G.R.I.T. Boys?
Unique: We will definitely be one of the first names to come out they mouths.
Ballerstatus.com: How did it get to that point?
Poppy: Just been grinding. We put of nine mixtapes and two DVDs. Staying in the streets and going on the road as much as possible. Hard work pays off.
Ballerstatus.com: What's the ghetto reality in Texas and what makes you the people to portray it?
Unique: Everyday living man. We represent the dudes that got jobs, at the bank, welfare office, everything man. Across the board. Not just the swangas and the candy. That's not all there is to life.
Ballerstatus.com: For people looking at it from the outside, they'd think by your name that you're talking about guns, etc. But you guys are focusing on all aspects. Not just street life, but working class life.
Poppy: We talking about our lives. We never had to sell crack and we never had to. It can't be glorified because that's not all that's going on in the neighborhood.
Ballerstatus.com: How did you guys link up?
Unique: We all went to school together at the same time. Separate grades, but we heard about each other.
Ballerstatus.com: Who was the most popular?
Unique: (laughing) Probably Poppy because he was older and was in a group with Yung Redd and Lil Flip grinding. Me and Scooby were on the karaoke scene rapping to ourselves.
Ballerstatus.com: Was rap always it for you guys?
Poppy: We both wanted to play ball and when it fizzled out, it hurt man. Everything happens for a reason.
Unique: I had hoop dreams man. Could've been with T-Mac and Yao.
Ballerstatus.com: What makes this group work? What do each of you bring to the table that makes you click as a unit?
Poppy: Knowing each other before music really helps us. We developed a friendship way before all this and fully understand each other.
Ballerstatus.com: Down South acts are known for selling their CDs hand to hand. How many independent CDs did you sell down there?
Unique: We sold a lot of our stuff at shows and clubs. Some of our mixtapes went into stores. One of our mixtapes with Paul Wall and Yung Redd sold about 6,000 mixtapes.
Ballerstatus.com: You've appeared on many CDs out there from Hawk to Paul Wall and numerous DJs. What do you think attracts people to collaborate with you guys?
Unique: Just our creativity and the way we hit things head first. The music being put out right now is repetitive. We aren't duplicating, but creating. Being original.
Ballerstatus.com: Your first single is called "Fresh." What is each of your definitions of "fresh?"
Poppy: It's about being sharp. Your appearance, business and attitude. You just gotta be on your note. The song is mostly about being fly, but really about being you.
Unique: To me, it's just like when you a kid and breaking in that new toy. It's fresh, it's new. The song is a club record. Kind of out of our boundaries, but we showed people we can do it.
Ballerstatus.com: What do you think of the recent attacks on hip-hop?
Poppy: I don't understand why they want to censor it. This is its own culture and we grew up in it. They didn't and they still want to make the rules in regards to our music. What about other genres of music where acts talk reckless too?
Unique: Who better to point fingers at? Most hip-hop artists are not educated and been in jail and it's easy for these educated media critics to take their shots.
Ballerstatus.com: What do you think about Nas' "Hip-Hop is Dead?" Also, do you think the South gets respect?
Poppy: Why are people going to say it's dead because it migrated and moved from separate regions. They trying to down talk us 'cause we not doing the same music up top. We doing it our own way with our own style.
Ballerstatus.com: Why do you think the South is doing it at such a high level, and MCs in the East and West are not?
Unique: It's just not their time right now. Everyone has their time. In reality, people in the South support and buy records. People out here will buy independent albums, mixtapes, and albums. Up top and out West, people are interested in iPods and stuff and don't really support.
Ballerstatus.com: How is it now being under a major, when you were used to having to do stuff for yourself?
Poppy: It's definitely different. We make sure to rely on those people who are supposed to do they job, but we don't slack. We still on the grind. Don't think we're sleeping.
Ballerstatus.com: Did you guys get attention from other labels?
Unique: We did get a lot of attention, but we heard from TVT before anybody. Universal and some other labels talked to us, but TVT offered the best deal.
Ballerstatus.com: What was it like when you heard your first song on the radio?
Poppy: (laughing) Aww man, we just called up everybody. Once people saw the video, everyone stopped me in the streets like, "Don't I know you from somewhere." It's crazy man, but I love it.
Ballerstatus.com: Tell me about the LP.
Poppy: It's a classic album and I'm not just saying that. From the concepts to the production, we spent a lot of time and put in hard work. The public will be pleased. We got DJ Cosmo, The Specialists and others producing on the LP. Keke, Hawk, Mac Boney, Dizzie Rascal, Paul Wall, Tum Tum, Trey Songz and Bun B are all on the LP. We bringing it back to the old UGK and Geto Boys time.
Ballerstatus.com: Are you guys worried about rap's current sales landscape?
Poppy: Good music still sells. We on an independent, so we don't have to sell a mil to make a mil. Our goal is platinum no matter what. That means way more cash (laughing).
Ballerstatus.com: Is rap the end all be all or do you want to venture into other things?
Unique: Rap is it for now, but we do want to expand. G.R.I.T. Boys is a movement, so we want to expand. We could get a team of lawyers and call them the G.R.I.T. Boys.
Poppy: Where I could put my money on a legal level and make money, I'm going that route. Whether it's owning a McDonald's or a house. We all about growing and helping our people.
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