Published: Wednesday - October 31, 2007
Words by Slav Kandyba
Hot Rod (Photo: Loud Photo)
The truth is, if you were to canvas the streets and drop the name Hot Rod, you'd get a lot of "What happened to him?" It tends to be that way when you're the equivalent of the last man riding the pine for the Lakers in their post-Shaq years -- people forget about you. Factor in Rod's residency in Arizona and the fact he vanished from the public's eye almost as soon as 50 Cent announced signing him, it's easy to see why Rod was gone in a flash.
But no one ever said rap is a NASCAR race. Selling albums is still important, yes, but as Curtis Jackson has shown, a rapper can make major bread from selling vitamin-laced water. And best believe, the general's big moves are never a miss on his soldiers. While the lack of playing time has crossed the mind of this youngin, he has kept his ego in check, his work ethic in the lab up -- and his groupie game on lock. BallerStatus.com checked in with Hot Rod to see what's crackin' in AZ -- besides the asphalt.
BallerStatus.com: What up man. Are you in Arizona?
Hot Rod: I'm in AZ, straight up.
BallerStatus.com: How hot is it?
Hot Rod: It's like 400 degrees.
BallerStatus.com: (Laughing) I'm just West of you, in L.A. It's been a little cooler here. What are you working on now as far as music?
Hot Rod: The G-Unit album. I just dropped another mixtape with Big Mike; another mixtape with my actual official DJ, and a bunch of other projects. Just doing all kinds of things.
BallerStatus.com: What's your day-to-day? Take me through it.
Hot Rod: Literally, wake up, chill, listen to some beats, go to the studio, bust up some hoes, that's really about it. That's when I'm in AZ. I do a lot of recording there. When I'm in New York, 50 calls me to the G-Unit office, my management is out there in Jersey. I'm always recording, listening to beats.
BallerStatus.com: Having been on G-Unit for almost a year now, you ever feel overlooked with your project getting pushed back?
Hot Rod: Sometimes that's crossed my mind, but everyday I gotta show and prove 'cause the old days of G-Unit are pretty much over. Coming off Get Rich Or Die Tryin', everything was real easy because it was a different situation. Three or four years later, things have changed -- record sales are on the decline, you know what I mean? It's like we have to go out and prove ourselves. It's up to me at this point.
BallerStatus.com: What do you do to make ends? Are you grinding as far as ... shows?
Hot Rod: I'm doing about 2, 3 or 4 shows a month here and there, different spots. I'm in a cool financial space. We just trying to get out there and get my project popping -- hopefully.
BallerStatus.com: What's the one song you're most proud of?
Hot Rod: This one song called "That's My Sh--." It's a record I did with Polow The Don. We're considering it for the G-Unit album or my project. We shot the video for it.
BallerStatus.com: Being with 50, what lessons have you learned?
Hot Rod: Discipline... and recording. Don't get caught up in the hype. Keep it business, know what I mean? Pretty much focus and stay on point, and all the music... is vehicle to get to other things, to bigger and better situations.
BallerStatus.com: 50 has been getting a lot of accolades for his investments, especially Glaceau Vitamin Water, which Coca-Cola bought out. Are you making any investments?
Hot Rod: Yeah, definitely. There are some moves that I'm making -- not on the caliber that he's making. I'm making small investments, so I'm making money in different ways.
BallerStatus.com: Is 50 coming to you for any advice since you were a mortgage broker before he signed you?
Hot Rod: To clear that up, I was getting into that, but I was doing it for about a week before I got a call from 50. The reason that got out is because he called me while I was working. I wasn't like an official mortgage broker.
BallerStatus.com: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hot Rod: Like five years... really... I see myself in a better position than now. My aspirations are to be big. It's going to take some time. In five years, I want to have multi-platinum albums, be a household name, tour the world. I'll be 27, 28, financially set. I'll be one of the most successful hip-hop artists.
BallerStatus.com: Speaking of touring, can you share an interesting touring experience that you might've had?
Hot Rod: (pause)
BallerStatus.com: It could be funny, wild sh--.
Hot Rod: What really surprised me was after a show in Germany, when I wasn't there yet with my popularity -- I'm realistic. I'm still down to Earth, real chill, I don't expect much at this point. When I came back to the hotel and I saw like 20 girls sitting in the lobby waiting for me. I was like, "what?" I understand 50 and his crew. That sh-- was crazy. That was one of my first crazy experiences.
BallerStatus.com: In Arizona there's an up-and-coming rapper named Willy Northpole. Do you have a relationship?
Hot Rod: Yeah we cool. I basically got him a deal with DTP. I'm working with the same firm, which is Family Tree out of ATL. Willy was my hypeman, we pretty much was riding together. He was talented, but nobody was hearing his music, he was local. When he got with me, it allowed him to get his deal situation and then the management took over and closed the deal.
BallerStatus.com: That's cool. Let me switch gears to your debut album. It'll still be called The Fast Lane? Are you still recording for it?
Hot Rod: I'm going to record until I have to turn it in. There's time to record to get that hit record. I'll track that album until I'm satisfied with it. You can say it's there, but at the same time, it's not there.
BallerStatus.com: Any projection when it's gonna come out?
Hot Rod: The date is November 13, but I don't really like to answer the date question.
BallerStatus.com: This is a question about 50 and his experiences leading up to Curtis. Why do you think the buzz for Curtis wasn't there, initial singles weren't buzzing and the showdown with Kanye had to happen to heat it up?
Hot Rod: At this point, it just comes down to making quality music. A lot of the sh-- that's been coming out is ringtone rap, that's what they call it. People are making a lot of money on ringtones, they make songs to get radio play. I can go into the studio and make a ringtone record, but I feel like my career would be limited. Those rappers die out. All the kids buy the ringtones, but after that dies out, it's pretty much a wrap. To become a force, you have to create music that reflects yourself. That's why 50 comes out and sells, Kanye comes out -- although Def Jam bought a lot of those units -- they both make incredible music. They put in time and effort into the music they make. That's why people attach themselves to people like Kanye, 50, Eminem. It's music from the heart. It's not part of the bullsh--.
BallerStatus.com: As far as your creative process, do you work with A&Rs? What's your approach to your creative process?
Hot Rod: Actually I worked with an A&R for a particular record a few weeks ago. But before that, I never worked with an A&R... well, 50 was really like my A&R. We would lay down ideas at his studio. He was A&R-ing my project in the beginning, but he'd have to go out for five or six months a year, especially now. During those time,s I'd get beats from the G-Unit office or give my e-mail out. Fifty trusts my ear for beats. I'll play them for him, that's what pretty much our process is. It's not formal, like every other label.
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