While listening to Waka Flocka Flame’s music, one may begin to feel the need to bust a gun, or even bust it wide open. Please, take into consideration that the corporate rap machine is always lurking. Do not be led astray by toxic “poetic license” that’s tossed upon the public. There is a definitive difference between the character of Juanquin Malphurs, and the character he portrays as Waka Flocka Flame.
BallerStatus.com is granted access to Waka, and chatted with him for nearly 10 minutes. The rap star is surprisingly humble as he explains: his role in hip-hop; his willingness to provide opportunities; and his latest project with French Montana.
Read along to discover the true insight into man behind the rapper: Waka Flocka Flame.
BallerStatus.com: In an interview that you did with Murder Dog magazine you say that, “People don’t understand me, so they judge me, because I’m different and unique.” As it stands, has your music earned you the respect from your peers and from your public?
Waka Flocka Flame: Yes, it has. I remember when I first started, a lot of people thought I’d be a “one hit wonder.” But now, they see how I’m moving and how my music is impacting the genre. Now I get a whole different or [amount] of respect. The people that once walked by [me] are now really stopping and wanting to talk to me; it’s crazy.
BallerStatus.com: As a whole, how have your musical contributions factor into hip-hop?
Waka Flocka Flame: To give you an honest answer, I really don’t worry about it. My music will change the whole fabric of rap. Before I came out, you never heard the Lex Luger’s, the Southside’s or the kicks or the 808’s (bass drum sound). Right now, it’s just a factor. It’s a must; you gotta get a Waka Flocka, or a Brick Squad-sounding beat.
BallerStatus.com: Have you successfully created your own niche, or sub-genre of hip-hop?
Waka Flocka Flame: Yes, I can honestly say that I’ve started my own sub-genre of hip-hop. This ain’t “Crunk” music, this ain’t “gangsta” music, this ain’t “lyrical” music; it’s just our way. We’re winning right now.
BallerStatus.com: Can you look at any other artist and know that you’ve directly impacted their style, or their delivery? Have you influenced any rising artists?
Waka Flocka Flame: Honestly, how many people have I’ve given a career to? If you want to say that, how many people’s careers have [soared] after I jumped on a song with them? I ain’t got to call no names, everybody knows.
BallerStatus.com: (laughs)
Waka Flocka Flame: But, I don’t look at it like that. Do you want to know how I look at it? The God’s honest truth is that I look at it like I’m giving them an opportunity. Maybe it’s an opportunity that the next man wouldn’t have did, because they’re afraid of their [possible] impact. I just like to give different people opportunities.
BallerStatus.com: That leads perfectly into my next question. Publicly, as an artist, you’ve already contemplated retiring. As you concentrate on the duties of being a CEO, what’s your ultimate goal for your label? What are you doing to empower your artists?
Waka Flocka Flame: As a CEO, I’m having my artists drop mixtapes [around the time] when I drop [mine]. I’m trying to show them a different [business] route than the one that was presented to me. They (corporate heads at most major labels) want you to give up your royalties and all this different stuff. They just want for you to behave how they want you to act. As a CEO, I don’t do nothing but try to enhance their creativity.
BallerStatus.com: Do you put the 360 deal on any of your artists, or you don’t think like that?
Waka Flocka Flame: No, I don’t think like that. I would never put nobody on a 360 deal.
BallerStatus.com: The music of Tupac Shakur is timeless. Just like Tupac, you’ve decided to work with Suge Knight. As a businessman and as an artist, what factors motivated you to enlist his services?
Waka Flocka Flame: Suge Knight is like an OG. He always used to give me pointers. He’s been giving me game, and giving me shortcuts. I’ve been trying to build my brand for over three years. It’s like he’s giving me different pointers.
BallerStatus.com: At the end of the day, you still have control over your music and your company?
Waka Flocka Flame: Yes, of course, of course. I’m not no sell-out; money can’t buy me.
BallerStatus.com: You’ve had the opportunity to study’s hip-hop’s history. How did Suge earn your trust to go to him for advice?
Waka Flocka Flame: How can anybody gain my trust? How can you gain my trust? You can be a woman that does this, that, and the third, and do a lot of negative stuff. But when, I meet you I’ll form my own perception of you. I don’t care what you did before me. I’m just worried about our conversation and the skills that you have as person. So, that’s how I look at things with everybody.
BallerStatus.com: In addition to you being an artist, and the CEO of Brick Squad Monopoly, you’re also half of the duo of Ferrari Boyz. How would you describe the group dynamic between you and Gucci Mane?
Waka Flocka Flame: It’s just magic; we’re not competitive. I could never see myself competing with Gucci. It’s always been about rolling the dice with a person. One is the competitive side, we don’t do that. But, making music together comes naturally. It’s easy, just like counting from one to three.
BallerStatus.com: When your personal schedules don’t always coincide, how do you factor in patience when you’re working with another group member?
Waka Flocka Flame: You can’t control another man’s actions, but you can control your own patience. You have to handle the business and keep the personal side out of the business. Business is business. Personal relationships are just that, personal issues. How I move and how the next person moves [may be] totally different. If somebody moves slower than I move, I’m not going to pull them; I’m not going to force them. I’ll focus that time on me being a solo artist. I continue to make my music. When they’re ready, I’ll step back there.
BallerStatus.com: That shows a lot of maturity. What caused you to distance yourself from Lil Cap and Kebo Gotti?
Waka Flocka Flame: Honestly, and I’m giving you the God’s honest truth, I never signed neither one of them to Brick Squad Monopoly. I looked at them as friends from my neighborhood. So in that sense, they probably feel like they deserve too much. To me, [giving someone] opportunities is better than [giving them] money. So, I give you an opportunity, but putting you on two different Billboard [charted] songs. At the end of the day, people got their own opinions. They feel like they’re entitled to more than what I already did. So, I couldn’t do nothing more but be a man and move on. I got a life. I got family to feed. I got a career to feed. I can’t worry about what two people who got their opinions.
BallerStatus.com: Do you still interact with them on a personal level?
Waka Flocka Flame: No, they’re really not like a factor in my life right now. They’re really like beef and I don’t eat red meat. Think about it; they don’t even cross my mind.
BallerStatus.com: Do you want on Gucci’s trials and tribulations?
Waka Flocka Flame: No, I really don’t want to comment on that.
BallerStatus.com: Earlier in Gucci’s career, he let the world know how icy he is. What’s up with the Ferrari Boyz going to Alaska?
Waka Flocka Flame: Alaska? They need to hurry up and call the booking company and I will be on my way. You know, it’ll be even colder when we get there.
BallerStatus.com: Brrrrrrrrr! You can show me better than you can tell me.
Waka Flocka Flame: You know I light stuff up. I don’t like to talk about it.
BallerStatus.com: Yeah, I’ve been to a couple of your shows. Tell me about your project with French Montana — the Lock Out mixtape.
Waka Flocka Flame: To me, French Montana is the new guy for our generation, up north (New York). That’s the impression I got when I first ever met him. Before I even rapped, I liked French Montana. On a personal level, I’ve always liked him. Then when I started rapping, I gained a lot of stardom, so I thought French Montana would be a person that I could hook-up with. He’s a person that will take an opportunity and run with it. That’s how he got to where he’s at. He made something out of nothing, so I respect him. French Montana is family.
Lock Out dropped on November 9th. It has all original beats from my producer, 808 Mafia Brick Squad, Southside.[French Montana] has his own producer and we just made all original songs from the beginning.
BallerStatus.com: On a side note, I want to know if you’ve ever worked with Big K.R.I.T., as far as getting a verse or production from him?
Waka Flocka Flame: No, I’ve never worked with K.R.I.T., but he’s hard as hell. I’m supposed to be running into him. I like his stuff.
BallerStatus.com: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the public and your supporters?
Waka Flocka Flame: Y’all need to keep supporting my mixtapes. Lebron Flocka James is major right now. Thank you all for everything.
