Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
never needed much help in the ring, but what if that ring he’s fighting in is
Hip-Hop?
Mayweather, who has
rechristened himself as “Money,” plans to take the leap in to the world of
Hip-Hop as a rapper, and he’s got the biggest knock-out artist in his corner,
50 Cent. In addition to ghostwriting, Mayweather says 50 Cent is a friend who
has been supportive of his stellar boxing career. He’s confident enough to spit
raps for all to judge and ballsy enough to ballroom dance in front of millions
of scrutinizing eyes – go figure.
There’s a good reason for the
one formerly known as “Pretty Boy” to assert his dominance in such a brash manner.
The Hip-Hop pugilist is generally regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in
the world with 38 wins, 24 of which ended in knock out. Before he can get to record
his rap album, he’s got to contend with another extremely confident, unbeaten
champ named Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton of Britain (43 wins, 31knockouts). He faces Hatton tonight (Dec. 8) on
pay-per-view, but Mayweather says his opponent has as much chance of winning as
Ice Man has in Hell. That’s convinced.
In Las Vegas, at 24 Hour
Fitness Gym, Floyd “Money” Mayweather rolled out his blueprint to AllHipHop.com
and unveiled his plans to work with 50 Cent, offered a listen to his new song “Yep”
and explained how he is going to fight his way into entertainment like he’s
done with boxing.
-Intro by Chuck “Jigsaw”
Creekmur
AllHipHop.com: So, Floyd you officially dropped the moniker “Pretty
Boy” and replaced it with “Money.”
Floyd Mayweather: Pretty Boy
Floyd isn’t my name any more—they keep calling me that. But my name is Floyd “Money”
Mayweather. It’s Money Mayweather, until the day I die. When you say the
Mayweather name, it’s about money. When you’re talking Mayweather, you’re
talking money.
AllHipHop.com: Recently you were
a participant in the ABC Network series “Dancing With The Stars” and got
eliminated in the fourth round, what was that experience like?
Floyd Mayweather: Well, it
had me upset at first but I got over it. It was a great experience. I wish I
could do it again, but I’m told they only let you do it once. My advisor
Leonard Ellerbe worked on that deal for over a year. It was an amazing show. I
was basically letting people from the urban communities know that it’s okay to
step outside the box and try something different. Everything isn’t always based
upon Hip-Hop and R&B. I’m not too hardcore to go on “Dancing With The Stars.”
I’m not afraid to go on network television every week and expose myself to a
different audience consisting of 20 or 30 million viewers and not have to be on
pay-per-view to do it.
AllHipHop.com: You recently had
a meeting with Barack Obama, how did that go?
Floyd Mayweather: I can’t
talk about it because it was confidential. No disrespect. I can’t discuss what
we spoke about. The HBO crew was with me filming “24/7” and they had to turn
the cameras off. But, I can say this. It was great to see a man who comes from
the same background as me doing such big things. I am encouraging voters from
the ages of 18-34 to get out there and vote.
AllHipHop.com: Speaking of
big things, you recently showed off your house on TV – pretty impressive.
Floyd Mayweather: When I
first moved to Vegas I lived on Flamingo and Cobalt Lane at the Meridian. It was a luxury apartment. I was
sitting on about half a million. When Tupac was murdered it occurred on the corner
where I lived. The crib I have now is
12,000 square feet and everything is paid for. The majority of the cars are
paid for. A couple of them we lease just to keep our credit right, but we don’t
have to. The last Maybach (62) I bought I spent 411 thousand, cash. The
McClaren I spent half million cash on. Whatever I want I go out there and buy.
I’m not a rapper who’s on an album talking about it. You got a lot of rappers that
just talk about it. But me, I really live it. Not to knock what rappers talk
about. But, I really own my own my 12,000 square-foot mansion. I really own
these cars. All of this stuff is paid for. I really got eight figures liquid
cash. I’m not far from $100 million—at all.
AllHipHop.com: So how’s
everything working out with your record label, Philthy Rich Records.
Floyd Mayweather: With my record label Philthy Rich Records what
we’re trying to do is scout talent and get them deals with major labels. As far
as signing rappers to a deal—it just don’t work like that anymore. Rappers are
not loyal at all! My history goes back to the first rapper I signed, Dirt Bomb.
He was underground. He couldn’t accept the fact that labels didn’t want to take
him because his music was too underground. He just couldn’t take it. He went on
about his business and we went on about our business. We have H-Flo from Cleveland, Ohio and Baggz
Lombardi from Atlantic City,
NJ signed to us. They’re
exceptional rappers. Earl Hayes is another rapper who we spent tons of money
on. He signed with Dr. Dre and Interscope. Dr. Dre and Interscope are not good
business men, but great business men. We’re
interested in helping Chilli from TLC get her project out there. She got one
hell of a project. She’s also a close friend of mine.
AllHipHop.com: I came across
your rap video on the internet. Since when did you start rapping?
Floyd Mayweather: I don’t call it rapping. I
call it s**t talking. I got too much money to be a rapper. You saw it. It
wasn’t nothing but a freestyle on there. I was playing around. I had a Floyd
Mayweather weekend. A DJ from Atlanta
came out here. He brought his guy out here that had a camcorder. He asked me if
it was alright if he recorded some of me partying and talking for a youtube
contest. I said, ‘No problem!’ I told him I just wanted to see it first. He
agreed. The next thing you know this guy went out there and made up any type of
video that he wanted to make up and went put it up on youtube. I was highly
upset, because we got plans on shooting a real video for the song.
AllHipHop.com: Ok, so tell me about the
song?
Floyd Mayweather: It’s called “Yep,” some
people spell it “Yup.” However you wanna spell it is how you spell it. Everything
I’m taking about on the song is real. The hook goes like this, “1 to the 2, 2
to the 3, these hating ass n##### can’t f### with me. It’s like 4 to the 5, 5
to the 6, these hatin’ ass n##### all in my mix.” I’m sticking to the basic ABCs
and 123s. I’m not trying to go all outside the box. I’m talking about what’s
real and what I really got. It’s no fronting where I come from. I come from the
Southeast Side [of Grand Rapids,
Michigan].
AllHipHop.com: I know you have referred
to 50 Cent as one of your best friends. Did he have any influence on your decision
to rap or s### talk?
Floyd Mayweather: Well, I’m pretty sure he’s
going to be in the video for my single. If not that doesn’t change our
friendship. 50 Cent is an icon in the Hip-Hop world just as I am in the sport
of boxing. I look at myself as an entertainer. I don’t want to label myself as
just a fighter. Just being an A-lister and talking with 50 Cent, he’s very
intelligent and he’s one hell of a business man. 50 Cent heard my song and told
me, ‘Floyd I thought you was going to be bull shittin’ with the music. But
after hearing your song, you can really do this.’ It made me feel good. Now I’m
ready to o go out there and s### talk, trash talk or whatever they want to call
it. I’m not a rapper. I got to much money to be a rapper.
(See, Money Mayweather’s “Yep”
and continue reading below the video as the story continues.)
AllHipHop.com: So after 50
Cent said that he liked what you were doing did that boost your confidence?
Floyd Mayweather: Well, he didn’t
say it was bad, he didn’t say it was great. He just said, ‘You shocked me with
this song. He said it’s a cool song. He told me that he was going to ghost
write a couple of songs for my album. I said, ‘No problem.’ Look what he did
for Game, Lloyd Banks, the list goes on and on. Look what he did for the whole
G-Unit.
AllHipHop.com: What’s on your
playlist right now?
AllHipHop.com: Keyshia Cole.
She’s the hottest. She’s fire. And my boy from around my way, Willie The Kid,
we bumpin’ him too. He’s truly amazing. I don’t care what they say. Right now,
if I had to choose one of the hottest rappers out there, it’s gotta be Willie
The Kid. I would really love to do business with him.
AllHipHop.com: I agree. Willie The Kid is
a great rapper. There appears to be quite a bit of talent in your hometown, Grand Rapids, Michigan,
these days.
Floyd Mayweather: That’s the best kept
secret for talent. It’s a city that’s slept on. If someone’s looking for
rappers, that’s a city that’s slept on! If there’s 20 of them on the block, 19
of them rap and the other one will make a beat.
AllHipHop.com: I already know. The murder
rate and crime rate in Grand Rapids
is also unbelievable.
Floyd Mayweather: I feel bad that a lot of
kids call my city Gun Ru, because they say the gun rules the city. I like to
call it G Rap because I say the Gs like to rap. We’re going to try and get my
city back on the parallel path. We got the Floyd Mayweather Foundation trying
to give back to the city, so we can keep everything like it’s supposed to be.
We’re trying to preach to the kids about being positive and not negative, and not
killing anyone that looks like you, talk to people in a respectful manner, and
just get along. We feed battered woman and children and we give to people that
are less fortunate.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve talked
about living seven-deep in a one bedroom apartment for a period of time as a
kid, when you’re sitting in your pool or in your house do you ever reflect on
the times you were a disadvantaged youth?
Floyd Mayweather: All the
time. My friends keep me grounded. I don’t really change up. I try to keep
positive friends around. It feels more comfortable when I have friends around
that come from the same background that I come from, ‘cause they can relate to
me better. They can understand the struggle. That makes them want to go out
there and strive harder and be on a mission and be a go getter. Life isn’t all
about materialistic things.
AllHipHop.com: When you went
to England
for the press conference with Hatton it appeared that you were facing possibly
one of the toughest, most irate crowds ever. Do you think that was one of the
most challenging crowds you’ve had to confront?
Floyd Mayweather: You have to
realize a crowd can’t get in there in fight for a fighter. A fighter must go out there and execute the
game plan that he’s taught and that’s told to him.
AllHipHop.com: So when Ricky
Hatton makes fun of your participation in “Dancing With The Stars,” do his
taunts aggravate you or make you want to get at him even harder?
Floyd Mayweather: Nah, not at
all. He’s entitled to say what he wants to. I’m not worried about him saying me
being on “Dancing With The Stars” was weak. It’s just that I’m versatile and
he’s not. He’s just one-dimensional. I’m an entertainer. I’m able to do movies.
I’m able to box. I’m able to play basketball; I’m able to play football. When
you say Ricky Hatton, he only labeled as a boxer. Who is Ricky Hatton? He’s
just a boxer. That’s it! I can make millions outside the box. I’m a chameleon.
I can adapt to any environment. Something Ricky Hatton can’t do.
AllHipHop.com: Not too long
ago you felt like you weren’t given the credit that you deserved as a fighter.
Do you still feel the same way?
Floyd Mayweather: I’m six
time world champion in five different weight classes. What’s done in the dark
has to come to the light. Great talent has to show. That’s why they can’t deny.
AllHipHop.com: Most of the
so-called experts seem to vote in your favor regarding the upcoming fight with Hatton.
In the past there’s usually been tons of speculation about you winning. Now
there appears to be no doubt, what so ever, that you’re going to take it. How
do you feel about that?
Floyd Mayweather: Because I
don’t just talk the talk, I walk the walk. Being involved with the sport for 20
years, dedicating myself to the sport, it’s truly amazing to do the things that
I’ve done and dominate that sport of boxing. I’m going to continue to do me and
just be me and respect every competitor involved in the sport—you can’t deny God
given talent. Ricky Hatton is considered the best fighter in England. I’m
the best fighter in world. He says he’s going to beat me, but that’s what the
last 38 guys have said and you see what happened to them. He should be lucky
that I’m even giving him this opportunity.
