We are steady approaching a
new year. With that comes fresh new starts, fresh new music, and fresh
faces. Emerging from Hip-Hop royalty, Diggy Simmons (son of Run and nephew of Russell) is next up to shine
from the family line up. His first Mixtape “The First Flight” was
originally slated for a “Black Friday” release date, but was released on December 2, 2009. It can be downloaded on his blog (digslifeofthejetsetter.blogspot.com).
During our brieft interview, Diggy proved to be abnormally well-spoken for a 14-year-old. Now, Diggy is ready to tell his story, and with
music and fashion as his muse, he plans on living up to his family’s
history of prominence. AllHipHop.com: People would
assume that you would use your father, or uncle to push this project,
but you didn’t…
Diggy Simmons: No. not at all
AllHipHop.com: So why not?
And which approach did you take for promotion?
Diggy: Having the internet
as such an advantage, that’s what I’m using to push this whole Mixtape.
Of course my dad or uncle could walk up to a label which is the easiest
thing to do but I feel in my heart that I can push it myself.
AllHipHop.com: A lot of people
have watched Runs House, and from the outside looking in people could
say and think “Oh he’s spoiled, he gets everything” “What can
he possibly be talking about” How do you handle statements like that?
Diggy: I handle that
with my music. I’m just talking about my life. People just think 14
year old rich kid what he is going to talk about. I’m going to show
you all that I can talk about.
AllHipHop.com: Do you feel
any pressure to be a role model for the youth? Especially coming from
a family with a strong religious background?
Diggy: Not really, I just myself
for the most part, so I’m good that way. I don’t feel any pressure;
I just feel more pressure in proving myself…just the obstacles of
being a new artist.
AllHipHop.com: What topics
and issues will you be talking about on this Mixtape?
Diggy: I have a song with Karina
Pasian called “Cold War” problems in the world, Darfur in Africa,
to the war in Iraq, recession, poverty. The truth of me done on the
Drake “Fear” beat, its about what people automatically think of
me, me being arrogant, or cocky over my parents money that not necessarily
mine…its just me telling my truth.
AllHipHop.com: So are you looking
to get signed? Or are you sticking to the independent route?
Diggy: Right now I’m just independent,
by myself using the internet. You know you have twitter, I use my blog,
and all other music blogs. Hopefully I’m seen and somebody wants to
do something major label wise.
AllHipHop.com: So why music?
Diggy: I’ve been rapping
since I was 5 then I stopped. I don’t even know why I stopped. Then
two years ago I got back into just recording normal tracks. I recorded
a song and posted it on my blog and it got crazy feed back, it wasn’t
even that lyrical it was more for fun. I love music, I love making it.
I’m almost in the studio everyday.
AllHipHop.com: Who are you
musical influences?
Diggy: Andre 3000, Q-Tip, Lupe
Fiasco, Kanye…..just lyrical people.
AllHipHop.com: Top 5 artists
you want to work with in the future?
Diggy: All of the people
I said before, it’s a lot of people, too many to name.
AllHipHop.com: What other avenues
outside of music do you plan on branching out to…if any?
Diggy: Music and fashion
are my main loves. I can remember being real young and you can ask my
mom, I didn’t let anyone pick out my clothes. I have my clothing line
coming out next year. It’s going to be diverse. I grew up on Phat
Farm and street wear, and then I would go to the Hampton’s and wear
Ralph Lauren. So it’s a mix of preppy and adding that street wear
aspect to it.
AllHipHop.com: Are you on Twitter?
Diggy: Yeah, it’s helping
me, and it’s a lot of people I can meet as an artist. I’m
not even gonna lie, if I heard Diggy Simmons was rapping for the first
time I would be like “What is this kid gonna possibly talk about”.
I’m just trying to give people just enough. I’m just trying to build
my fan base.
AllHipHop.com: So what’s
next for Diggy Simmons?
Diggy: Just doing me, getting
signed already, the clothing line popping. Just aspiring to do everything
else that comes along the way and what I love to do.
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