By La'Juanda Knight
Fashwan: It Started Out As A Dream
Imagine being a rapper from Fresno
California, barely 21 years old. Your
skills and training being piloted by one of Hip-Hop's elite and your debut
album just dropped. Lastly, you have just been given the opportunity to tour Europe
with that Hip-Hop elite. For some this may seem like a dream come true. For Fashawn it has quickly became his reality.
The same rap icons in which he placed on a pedestal have
recently embraced him, his talent and his story. For some, this would be enough
to display a pompous attitude and assume that now that you have "made
it," the hard work is over and the grandeur sense of self hood would now
accompany you. For Fashawn, what was once just a dream in
his head has become a journey that is bigger than Hip-Hop.
AllHipHop.com: How did you get involved in Hip-Hop?
Fashawn: I was born into the culture. I was told that 88
was the year that a lot of important things happened in Hip-Hop. I was always
around Hip-Hop through my whole childhood and my adolescence. It was being
played.
AllHipHop.com: What did you hear happened in '88?
Fashawn: I heard Run DMC had it popping, Rakim, Kane, all
these cats. That was the definitive year. Hip-Hop became accepted. You know
when disco came and most thought it was only going to last a couple of years? I
think that was the year where people knew it was going to be around forever.
That's what I represent.
AllHipHop.com: The album is called Boy Meets World and it drops when?
Fashawn: August 18th.
AllHipHop.com: Why did you decide to title it that?
Fashwan: I always felt like I was on a mission that the whole world should
know. I'm not just speaking to the people in my neighborhood when I write my
lyrics I'm speaking to the whole world. I really wanted to make that statement
with my album. I think its going good. I'm about to tour Europe
soon before my album drops. I think it was the perfect title. there has been
other mix tapes and albums but this album is special.
AllHipHop.com: Tell me about the tour in Europe.
Fashawn: I'm going with Evidence. I am on his album The
Layover because he took a liking to me. I have actually been living with
him for a few months. He is the first rapper who really embraced me and
took my under his wing. He is taking my on tour for the Method Man and Redman
Still High Tour.
AllHipHop.com: How did you meet him?
Fashawn: My planet Asia
connection. Planet Asia is from my town. There are a lot
or rappers where I'm from but Planet Asia decided to take me as the next one
which made Evidence pay attention to me and so on.
AllHipHop.com: How did you meet Mistah FAB?
Fashawn: I met him in a studio. He came to the Alchemist
studio. I played him some of my music. He liked it and agreed to hop on the
album.
AllHipHop.com: I heard that you might be working with DJ Premier.
Fashawn: Ah man...I will say that we will have to see. He
is the God Father. I'm not going to disrespect him or bug him. I'm just going
to wait and see where we are at and its going to be classic.
AllHipHop.com: Do you believe that your Fresno
background gives you a distinctive style versus other California
rappers?
Fashawn: Coming from where I'm from. I'm from central California
and alot of people think I'm from L.A.
but I'm from right in the middle. Growing up, I got to see both sides of that.
Both of the good and bad of California
swept through my town like a tsunami. I had friends that grew up in Compton
and Oakland but I'm from Fresno
so I think I have something more special that they don't have. Anything they go
through I can identify with them and anyone else.
AllHipHop.com: For those who do not know anything about California,
tell me what is so special about Fresno.
Fashawn: Its real simple. There is gang culture out here
and beautiful people but it is real broke out here. We survive off of whatever
we are giving. This is what helped me to be the type of artist and man I am.
You got to have that kind of hustle. I have this philosophy, If I scream loud
enough then the whole world will hear me. I think they hearing me.
AllHipHop.com: Producer Exile did all of your beats on this album.
Fashawn: Yeah he did. You know why? I like the way he
puts together an album .I think alot of people aren't hip to him. I think he is
amazing and wouldn't have chose another person. He did the perfect soundtrack
to my life.
AllHipHop.com: Is there a theme behind the album?
Fashawn: The theme behind the album is to follow your
dreams. Anything can happen. Have faith and don't let nobody stop you. That's
whole inspiration behind Boy Meets World. A simple dream in my head
to having a lot of people pay attention to me and I'm a living example of that.
I just want to give the people me.
AllHipHop.com: Anyone in particular who inspires you?
Fashawn: Rakim for his consciousness and intelligence.
People like Kool G- Rap or his flow. Nas, Snoop. Tupac, Dilated Peoples.
AllHipHop.com: Can you give me any more details about the Europe
trip?
Fashwan: I am going to be in Europe for 20
days and have 5 off days in Amsterdam.
I'm going to kick it in the studio. The other days we will be doing shows
everyday in places like Italy,
Venice .I got twenty minutes to
perform, I'm doing my own set. I also got a video with U N I called "Pulp
Fiction". It dropped recently and I want everyone to check that out as
well.
Visit Fashawn's MySpace Page at www.myspace.com/Fashawn