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By
Sirion "The Industry Insider" Sewell
Agenda:
Friday:
Interview, & Surprise Middle School Dance Performance.
Saturday:
Meet AJ from B.E.T.’s 106 and Park.
I
would like to formally introduce you all to the hottest
young talent coming out of the Northwest. Meet Hot Rod, a
13 year-old rapper, who is coming out of Tacoma and headed
straight for the top of the charts. He is the First Place
Winner of the Apollo Kids Talent Search Competition and is
a soon-to-be artist on Bad Boy Entertainment. Sit down
and relax as I take you through a weekend I spent with up
and coming superstar, Hot Rod.
Interview:
S:
Hey Hot Rod, introduce yourself to everyone.
HR:
Hi
everybody, this is Hot Rod, also known as, Roderic Jamal
Deshawn Peters.
S:
And how
old are you?
HR:
I just
turned 13 on September 15.
S:
What grade are you in and
what school do you attend?
HR: I am in the 7th
grade and I attend N.V.
Intermediate
School.
S:
What are
your grades in school like?
HR:
I’m maintaining my 4.0
right now. I’ve been on the honor roll every year since
the 4th grade. I got my first straight “A”
report card in 2nd grade.
S:
Do you
have any brother or sisters?
HR:
I have two
sisters, a foster sister, and a half brother. Tanay, Sade,
LaKenya and Demonte.
S:
Where were you born?
HR:
I was born in Tacoma,
Washington
S:
How did
you come up with the name, Hot Rod?
HR:
At first,
I was going to be Lil’ Rod, then I thought about it and
there were too many Lil’s out there, so, I had to do
something different and I just thought about it for a
while and called myself, Hot Rod. So I stuck with it.
S:
Good
thinking, that’s cool and unique, plus it ties in with
your name. How would you describe yourself?
HR:
Trustworthy, energetic, playful and a Virgo.
S:
How would
you describe your rap style?
HR:
I don’t
really have a rapping style, I like to be versatile. I
like to do different things. I like to be able to do
stuff for everybody, like slow raps and stuff that
everybody can listen to.
S:
Tell me
about your relationship with E-Dawg.
HR:
E-Dawg, he’s like…we got
this little family joke, he calls himself my step daddy
because he always comes over to our house. Even on his
most [busy] days, he’ll come over just to play basketball
with me or something. Big Brothers United!
S:
How long
have you known E-Dawg?
HR:
I’ve known E-Dawg for about a year and some months now and
it seems like I’ve known him forever.
S:
What is
the most important advice he’s given you so far?
HR:
Mostly, and I quote, “Do
yo’ thang, Do yo’ thang.” And I just do my thing.
S:
What have
you learned from him?
HR:
“If you
want to shake the hater’s, take the elevator”. He always
says stuff like that. But I just learned that you gotta
do your own thing, don’t let nobody tell you, you cant do
it. Most of all, just make sure you have your hometown
support.
S:
How did
you get the chance to do in-studio “Roll Call” on KUBE93?
HR:
E-Dawg
just said it would be crazy to get me on the air, so he
called up Eddie Francis and said he needed a favor done
and brought me down there and I did it.
S:
How were
you and E-Dawg able to open for Lil’ Romeo and Master P?
HR:
I think E.
got to do all that through KUBE93. E-Dawg really supports
me. He’s trying to help me get somewhere. He asked me if
I wanted to do it, and I said, “Yeah!”
S:
How did you come up with
your freestyle?
HR:
Which one? The one I did
on KUBE93?
S:
Yeah
HR:
I don’t
know, it seems like it could be a spiritual thing, you
know what I’m saying? It just happens, you might just get
a feeling. It’s like a stage performance when you just
get a lot of energy and everything just happens.
Everybody has something that they can just do naturally.
S:
Do you
have a name for the freestyle you did on KUBE93?
HR:
I’ve never
named a freestyle before, but if I were to name it, I
would call it, “Happy” or something. Because I was on the
radio, people were hearing me and talking to me, saying,
“Oh, I just heard you on KUBE93.” So, I was just happy.
S:
Can you
give me a verse from the freestyle?
HR:
Yeah, I
remember the whole thing, so I’ll just rap it. (Excerpt)
“The exorcist couldn’t make your head spin faster/he
couldn’t take me out in a battle with ten rappers/I’m
young/But I got more vision than Lens Crafters/That’s why
these Labels is ready to bend backwards…”
S:
Yeah, that
was hot!
S:
Do you write your own
lyrics?
HR:
Yeah, most
of the time. Unless there’s somebody who just wants to
help out and also wants the opportunity to get somewhere
with their music. When they see that I’m doing stuff,
then maybe with their music, we can both go places. But
mostly, I’m just writing my own lyrics.
S:
So, when
did you first know that you wanted to become a rapper?
HR:
It
actually wasn’t that long ago. I was always into music,
you know, Michael Jackson of course. Everytime he would
come on, I would get up and start dancing. You know,
trying to get some dance moves. My sisters’ boyfriend was
always doing music and he did a song for her and I was
sitting there listening to it, then all of a sudden I got
all the verses down and I kept on rapping them, so I liked
that. Also Bow Wow kind of put some fire under my butt,
so once he started doing it, I was like, “ Man, if I want
to do this, I gotta hurry up, before I get passed up.”
S:
Do you
already have a demo put together?
HR:
Yeah, I
have a demo, with about 5 songs.
S:
What’s all
on your demo?
HR:
I have an
introduction and 5 [more] songs.
S:
How long
did the process of creating your demo take?
HR:
It was actually really
quick. We were completing 2 to 3 songs a week. Just
working real hard, trying to get stuff out there.
S:
Who did
you work with on your demo?
HR:
Kid Sensation, who used
to work with Sir-mix-a lot, Cola, two other songs I did at
the Floyd Merriwether Studio, Filthy Rich Records and I’ve
been doing some songs with E-Dawg.
S:
Tell me
about how you came to win in the Apollo Kids Competition.
HR:
In 5th grade,
when I was 11, we were trying to get a tape of one of my
performances and actually the tape had gotten eaten up
before we could send it off. So we couldn’t do that, so
we put together a little homemade videotape. I did a
little stage performance at home and they saw it and sent
us a certificate back saying, “Thanks and we appreciate
your hard work” and stuff and that I didn’t make it. I
was kind of disappointed but it was all good. On February
9, I attended a talent show with 41 other artists and took
1st Place, a trophy, and $500.00. We happened
to get that one on tape, so we sent that off and then 6
months later my mom was listening to her messages on the
phone and they told us that I was in the top 20 finals.
And now, I just found out that I won 1st Place,
$5,000, a new computer, a lifetime supply of McDonalds
food, some school supplies and a trip to New York to
perform on Apollo in January.
S:
Wow!
That’s great. Who would have thought? What do you plan to
do to wow the Apollo audience?
HR:
Just flow from the heart,
come out hyped and have fun. If I’m having fun, then
they’re having fun.
S:
Ok, that
sounds like a good plan. What can we expect to see from a
Hot Rod performance?
HR:
Energy,
hypeness, fun and an encore.
S:
How does
your family feel about you rapping?
HR:
They’re behind me 100%.
I have a lot of support from them.
S:
Tell me
about how you hooked up with Bad Boy.
HR:
As you would know, since
you hung out with him, P. Diddy came down to Seattle,
August 19 and he was down at The Catwalk. We actually had
a plan. We were just gonna go down there and try to meet
Diddy. My mom called down there and found out that he was
there so we were gonna go down there and my mom was going
to pay money to get into the club so she could try to get
in there and talk to him. But once we got down there,
this guy named Billy who worked there said he was going to
get us in there but it didn’t work out that way. When
Puff came, he had to leave right away. So he just came
and left. Billy told us about Tinker, the dude we hooked
up with, he said he was staying at the “W” Hotel. So, we
were going down there, or at least I thought we were, and
it’s like 3 O’clock in the morning and my mom was on the
freeway and then all of a sudden I’m seeing, “Tacoma-28
miles” and I said, “Mom, were going home, huh?” and she
said, “Yeah, I cant be staying out here all late.” And I
was like, “ We gotta go back, turn around,
turn
around.” I was almost about to cry. So then she turned
around, went back, and we just waited at the hotel. I was
scared, I didn’t know what to do, so I just went up there
and I was waiting and all of a sudden these Astro Vans
pulled up. I turned around and Tinker was standing right
there. And I’ll never forget it ‘cause he said, “Hey,
shorty, what are you doin’ out here so late?” And I was
like, “I’m looking for you.” And he said, “What are you
lookin’ for me for?” He told me to get my mom from out of
the car and to bring her into the hotel. So we went back
and I told him who I was and I noticed that he had my demo
in his hand that someone had given him. So, that’s pretty
much it and it took off from there.
S:
Have you
started to see a change in people around you, because you
might become a star?
HR:
There’s a
lot of change. I cant say that there’s more negative than
positive. I see a lot of change from people my age around
me. Some people don’t like me because they see I’m doing
stuff, some people want to do music and they see that I’m
getting places and they don’t like that. And some people
around me are just…I don’t know man, it gets hard
sometimes.
S:
A year
from now, where do you see yourself?
HR:
A year
from now, I see myself on tour, definitely 106&Pk., gotta
be on 106&Pk, that’s pretty much it. Tour Bus.
S:
Do you
have any plans of releasing a single or C.D.?
HR:
Probably
pretty soon. I mean, if I’m trying to tour by this
summer, I gotta have something out.
S:
What do
you think about all the kid rappers?
HR:
I got
respect for all of them. They’re doing their thing,
everybody’s succeeding, everybody’s selling records. I
ain’t heard on none of them not selling records.
S:
What do
you think you’ll bring to the rap game?
HR:
Excitement, some heat, and competition.
S:
What other
aspects of the entertainment industry would you like to
get into?
HR:
Well, I
just got signed to “ME Modeling”, so I want to do
modeling, I really like acting and drama.
S:
That’s
cool, expand your horizons.
S:
Who’s C.D.
are you bumpin’ in your C.D. player?
HR:
Definitely “Nellyville”:
“Rock The Mic Remix”, and I know its track 17, but I don’t
know the name. That’s pretty much it.
S:
Where have
your performed in the past?
HR:
Ethnic
Fest, Soul Fest, school talent shows, my very first one
was in the 4th grade, and my biggest one was
definitely Safeco.
S:
Are there
any places where we can catch you perform?
HR:
I actually have a
surprise performance tonight. It’s a school dance, I’m
going to that tonight. And this thing that’ s happening
with Bad Boy, they’re talking about, they want me to tour
by this summer. Hopefully that works out. I’ll inform
everybody, if I’m doing something.
S:
What type
of music do you like?
HR:
Rap
definitely. I like going back to that old school, like,
Atomic Dog, Ohio Players, that 70’s stuff. R&B, that
Usher-type music. Church music, gospel music, all of that
stuff.
S:
Who is
your favorite music artist?
HR:
There’s so many people
who are doing it out there. if I could put it into
sections, out of the kids, it would have to be: Bow Wow
because he came out and did his thing, even after Kris
Kross, it didn’t matter to him. It’s hard because Romeo
did the same thing. Bow Wow was out there, he didn’t
worry about what people had to say, he just came out and
did his thing. But pretty much everybody out there doing
their thing. It’s kind of hard to just pick one. But you
know, Puff Daddy, he’s my favorite right now.
S:
What
artists would like to work with?
HR:
I’d like
to work with anybody who has something to bring to the
table. Definitely Michael Jackson, that’d be something
crazy. All the kids out there, like, Bow Wow, Romeo.
Definitely P. Diddy, you know, gotta do the Bad Boy stuff!
S:
Who do you
like better Romeo or Bow Wow?
HR:
Oh, dang, that’s a cold
question! I don’t know them personally, so I cant say
nothing about them personally. As far as music, they have
different styles. Bow’s getting’ older, he’s got that
rough, adult style, that old style. But Romeo, he’s like
my age, 13, so you know, were still kids.
S:
What is
your plan to make it in the music industry?
HR:
First of all, stick with
Bad Boy. Well, I’ve been getting kind of far, so far, so
I’ll just stick to what I’ve been doing now, which is to
keep on writing and to find more places to showcase what
I’m doing. Keep getting the hometown behind me.
S:
Are you
single?
HR:
Oh man! Am I single? I
am single. Yes I am single. I cant be getting’ wrapped
up in girls. I already have school, then I’m trying to
concentrate on football, basketball season is about to
come up, and then I got rapping. So, I ain’t got time for
girls right now.
S:
Do you
have a crush on anyone in the entertainment industry?
HR:
Ah, man.
This might take a lot of thinking because there are a lot
of people out there. A lot of them. Definitely Jane,
definitely J.Lo, I gotta throw some models in there like
Nia Long, Adrienne and Naturi from 3LW and Amerie.
S:
What are
your hobbies?
HR:
I like
going to the High School football games, all the homies
are down there. Last night I went to a late night lock-in
bowling party, so that was fun. It went from 12:am to
7:am, stuff like that. Go to the movies, dances, play
video games, stuff like that.
S:
What are your favorite
sports?
HR:
Basketball, Football, Baseball, and video
games.
S:
Did you
grow up in the church?
HR:
Yeah, my
mom is a pastor. I’ve been in the church ever since I was
little. I play the drums at church.
S:
What other talents do you
have?
HR:
Football,
basketball, drums, back flips with no hands,
skateboarding, bike tricks, and video games, sometimes.
S:
Do you
have any plans on going to college?
HR:
Oh,
definitely. I gotta play college ball, college foot ball
and college basketball. And then just get through
college. Once I’m done with this rapping thing, I gotta
have something to fall back on, so I can get a nice job.
S:
Is there
any specific college that you would like to attend?
HR:
There’s plenty. For
basketball: Duke,
Georgia. For football: Stanford, definitely W.S.U, gotta
represent for Wazzu, the hometown.
S:
Do you
think you’re prepared to handle all objectives that come
before you?
HR:
I think
so. It’s gonna take a lot of hard work. And a lot of
sleep.
S:
Which is
what you’re not gonna get.
HR:
Yeah, but
I’m ready.
S:
What do you plan to do to
remain humble and to stay grounded?
HR:
For one, stick with my
mom, ‘cause she’s gonna make sure I’m grounded. Just keep
callin’ back to the hometown, to the homies. Stick with
people who have positive influences around me.
S:
Tell me
about your most embarrassing moment.
HR:
Dang! I remember, once I
got whooped in front of all the homies. It was a long
time ago, though, back in the kid days. Like the 4th
grade. I’m straight though.
S:
Is this your first
interview?
HR:
Yep, it’s
my very first one.
S:
Are you
nervous?
HR:
No, not anymore. I was
at the beginning because you were hitting me with all
these big time people you’ve interviewed.
S:
How long
have you been growing your hair out?
HR:
It’s been
about a year.
S:
What
really gets on your nerves?
HR:
Something
that really gets on my nerves would have to be, people
that just like to criticize you for no reason. I just
don’t like them.
S:
What’s
your favorite color?
HR:
It’s gotta
be red. Because red is hot. You know, “Red Hot.”
S:
What’s
your favorite movie?
HR:
I don’t
know, it depends on what kind of mood I’m in. Shame. Low
Down Dirty Shame, that’s the movie right there. Little
Giants, the football movie, I like that movie. But now
that I think about it, my favorite movie is probably, The
3 Ninjas.
S:
What’s your favorite TV
show?
HR:
I don’t
know. When I’m not watching sports, I like…Ok, I have a
favorite t.v. show for each station, so that makes it kind
of hard to answer the question. But I would say, my
favorite TV show is Jaime Foxx.
S:
What’s
your favorite food?
HR:
My favorite dessert is
sweet potato pie. My favorite food can be different at
times, sometimes I like shrimp and sometimes I like other
things. I don’t really have one.
S:
What’s
your favorite candy?
HR:
It’s gotta
be licorice.
S:
Red or
Black?
HR:
Red!
S:
What’s
your favorite cereal?
HR:
Frosted Flakes and
sometimes Lucky Charms.
S:
If you could give a shout
out to anyone who would it be?
HR:
My number
1 fan, my MOM, she supports me, my dog Tinker, E-Dawg, all
the homies, Narrows View, U.P., everybody in the (253),
and everyone who has supported me, KUBE93.
S:
What would
you like to let the world know?
HR:
I’m
coming. I’m energetic, I’m bringing the competition and
I’m just trying to do my thing. So look out.
Performance
The party kicked off in the cafeteria of
Curtis
High School in Tacoma at 7:pm. There, gathered,
approximately 150 students ready to release the prior
school day tension and get their groove on. While in the
middle of dancing, the DJ announced that they would be
having a surprise performance from schoolmate, Hot Rod.
The kids went absolutely crazy. As soon as he stepped
foot on stage, he was the center of attention. All the
girls were clamoring around him to get a peek of the
soon-to-be superstar. The way he took hold of the stage,
was reminiscent of a young Michael Jackson or a new age
Bow Wow. The young teen captivated the audience. It was
as if he’d been here before. After a wild reception from
the audience and them being left wanting more, Hot Rod was
forced to do what his fans wanted him to, an encore
performance. This was a weird and new experience for all
involved because immediately following his set, Hot Rod
was surrounded and hounded by fans forcefully requesting
autographs on paper and body parts. During his show it
even got so bad, that the kids were falling all over the
floor just to be closer to Hot Rod.
There’s something about Hot Rod that’s
magnetic. From the first sighting of him you’re simply
drawn to his personality, charm and the star like
qualities that he exemplifies. What else can I say but,
kid do yo’ thang.
Day
2
In an attempt to meet AJ from 106&Pk, we
all gathered our things, jumped in the Jeep 4x4 and headed
over to the Young Men’s Dept. in The Bon Marché at
Southcenter. Since no one was in line, I introduced
myself to AJ and told him about Hot Rod. After I
instructed, Rod to spit for AJ, he then busted into wicked
freestyle rhymes. AJ was taken back by Rod’s impressive
skills at such a young age. He then commanded DJ Red
Alert to cut the music, find the instrumental and to get
Hot Rod a microphone. As Hot Rod began his crazy
freestyle again, he took control of the store and brought
what was once an empty, low-spirited autograph signing, at
The Bon, to a live concert hall and grandiose performance
stage. In two seconds, he brought the store, alive and to
its feet. Upon completion, he was greeted with cheers,
applause and accolades, from the audience and onlookers.
Hot Rod represented and did his thing. Not to mention, his
rap was heard by the thousands who were tuned into
KUBE93. Global exposure has just begun.
Hot
Rod is:
-Ahead of his time
-Beyond his years
-Educated
-Funny
-A good kid
-Destined for stardom
-And has a bright and luring personality.
*For
other stories on E-Dawg & Hot Rod, check out, “In The
Outfield with Lil’ Romeo” along with pictures from the
event in the “Music” and “Flix” sections of Seaspot.com.
Special
Thanks To: Hot Rod, Tangee Mead, and AJ
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