Mims  (April 2009) | Interview By: Jonathan Hay

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Interview was done in April 2009

Questions Asked By: Jonathan Hay And Sabrina

 

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Dubcnn Exclusive – Mims
By: Jonathan Hay And Sabrina
www.myspace.com/jonathanhay ..........................................................................................

Dubcnn: Your second album, Guilt, hits stores on April 7, 2009. What can people expect on this album?

Mims: They can expect everything. If you like rock n’ roll. If you like reggae music. If you like hip-hop. If you like pop music. If you like R&B and soul. This album has a little bit of everything mainly because I’ve been so many places and I enjoy many different styles of music. So you can expect everything. It’s not a one-dimensional album. I feel like I’m pushing the envelope for my topics of discussion, my song titles. I think I’m pushing the envelope for other musicians to have to catch up to me when it comes to certain music. I know people are gonna criticize that line, but if you listen to my album then you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, then you just become another ignorant person who speaks without knowing.


Dubcnn: What is the reason behind the album name Guilt?

Mims: I named the album Guilt because, to me, the word “guilt” is a misunderstood word. When I told people I was naming the album Guilt, they thought I was being negative, but guilt is a natural human emotion. Regardless of what people think of me, it’s a fact that I was very successful with my last album…and when I go back to Washington Heights to check my peoples or to go see my family and people are still struggling, and I feel the guilt of that. You can’t help everybody and this is a very difficult period in America’s history; sometimes I have to reflect on what I have and give thanks without the guilt overriding me.


Dubcnn: Your mega hit song, “This is Why I’m Hot” was a staggering, record-breaking single; in retrospect, how did that even happen, from creation to its international peak?

Mims: You know what? The one thing I could say about “This is Why I’m Hot” was that when I made the record I was in a space where I was somewhat frustrated, but I was somewhat joking and having fun. I’m not sure if that’s the formula to make a hit record, but it proved itself and “This is Why I’m Hot”. When I got in the studio it was really about whatever came to mind and what came off the top of my head, and that’s what I put on that record.

As far as the grind is concerned and pushing the record, that’s where the blood, sweat and tears actually came into. That’s where the hard work was. That’s where all the right business decisions were made that I could possibly make at the time. That’s why it became the number one record in the country.


Dubcnn: As with anything that impacts pop-culture with the same magnitude as “This Is Why I’m Hot”, there will be the haters. How does some of the negativity you’ve received affect you personally?

Mims: It doesn’t the way people want it to. I would be lying if I said that hearing or seeing some of the comments people make on the internet and on the blogs doesn’t affect me, but sometimes it seems like people get off on trying to tear you down. So when I see this type of stuff, I acknowledge that it is there but I don’t let it stick with me. If I absorb your negative energy, all that is going to happen is that I am going to expel that on the next person that I come in contact with. Why should I allow you to use me as a vessel of hate? So does it affect me, yes, but only as long as it takes for me to flip the page or go to the next website.


Dubcnn: From a strictly financial standpoint, with a song of that massive success, will you receive significant royalties and income for the rest of your life?

Mims: I hope so. I hope so. I think I’ve been blessed financially over the past couple years, but I think that’s just something that depends on the state of music and it depends on hip-hop if it’s gonna be a big record. It hasn’t died yet so we’ll see how long it lasts.


Dubcnn: You’ve seen and experienced the very top of the music industry; so my question is, just how ugly, greedy and cut-throat is it really?

Mims: If you looked up the term “music industry” in the dictionary, then the words “greedy” and “cut-throat” should be right next to it. It’s no rumor that the music industry is one of the most ruthless businesses around – whether it’s in the constant payola, if that’s the right word to use, whether it’s in the violence on outside that people really don’t get to see or whether it’s just in people’s false perception of what they really think artists make financially. I just think it’s definitely all that and more, much more. I don’t know how to describe it, but I know for a fact that it is the most ruthless, cut-throat business, in my opinion, next to politics.


Dubcnn: Other than dropping your highly-anticipated album, what else does this year hold for you?

Mims: Other than dropping my album -- hopefully that will pass anybody’s imagination -- I think what the year has entailed for me is really, God-willing, first and foremost, I go out there and start touring and just start reachin’ out to my different fans around the world because you can’t be everywhere at one time. Most times when you’re promoting an album, you do it solely from the United States. You may go overseas a little bit, but I think that I’ve learned enough to know that I have a very broad international fan base and I want to make sure that I nurture my career outside of the U.S. So hopefully, for me, it’ll be in touring, going around the country making sure people see me performing everywhere.


Dubcnn: Do you think “Move If You Wanna” will repeat the same success as your break-out single?

Mims: I hope so, but to be honest, I don’t compare the two records. I think that “Move [If You Wanna]” is what it is and I think “This is Why I’m Hot” was what it was. There’s no way you can compare the two records. They don’t sound the same. They’re not the same style. They weren’t produced by the same producer and they didn’t come out at the same time.

My main focus right now is the album Guilt coming in stores April 7th and my main focus is making sure people see me in a different light other than “This is Why I’m Hot”, other than “Like This”. This is a new album, new situation, new music.


Dubcnn: What was it like making the video for “Move If You Wanna”?

Mims: The “Move [If You Wanna]” video was actually very fun because, if you watch the video, you’ll notice there’s a lot of effects and trickery. Even when I read the treatment I didn’t know how certain things were gonna be pulled off, like the constant motion and me just moving throughout the screen. So when I got there the day of video shoot, I stayed interested from beginning to end on how they were gonna make certain things happen and I think that’s what kept it fun for me.

It’s also, to me, one of the most interesting hip-hop videos in a long time because it excludes the typical flashiness. It excludes that whole gaudy atmosphere. It takes away from the Lamborghinis and the thick gold chains with diamonds and the half-naked women and it just adds a lot more – to me it adds a lot more interest from a consumer standpoint.


Dubcnn: How much pressure did you have, if any, while creating this new album to create another chart-topping single?

Mims: You know what? I would have a lot of pressure on me if indeed society wasn’t the way it is right now. I think there’s so much more to focus on right now than whether or not I could come back and defeat “This is Why I’m Hot” and it’s chart topping ability.

I think my main focus, like I said, is just to get good music into the world. You gotta remember we’re dealing at a time where finances are limited. So my main focus is trying to sell an album at a time where people aren’t spending money and that’s the hardest thing that I’m gonna have to do this time around.

It’s not about the number one position on the charts -- which would be nice, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not about that. It’s just really about being there for my fans during these hard times.


Dubcnn: You recently debuted “Bread N Butta”, the second single from Guilt featuring Notorious B.I.G. (tell us more)…

Mims: Okay, well first and foremost, the second single from Guilt is not “Bread and Butter”. “Bread and Butter” was a record that leaked out and obviously gained some notoriety in the world of hip-hop, which I’m not mad at. So its place as far as Mims is concerned, I’m not too sure of right now, but I know it serves its purpose. It’s showing people a different side of me and that’s what “Bread and Butter” is there for. So I hope that answered the question.


Dubcnn: In this song, you rap “I came at n-ggas calmly, now I'm on some n-gga s--t, try to touch my scrilla get you lit like a cigarette.” For someone who came in so calmly, what was it exactly that caused you to cross that line?

Mims: Because I don’t think people expect that from me. I think that, in life, I was always told to be respectful and keep your head high as far as, like, your goals; be positive. But everybody has a cracking point. And when you got a million people saying certain things about you that aren’t true and everybody thinks that you’re just this pushover person; these people don’t know you. Most of the people who do know me know that I smile, I’m very friendly, but don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. I’m not a weak individual. I was raised in the street. That’s where I came from so I can get gully when needed, but I also know that that is not a way that you need to be on a daily basis. I know how to turn that off for the greater good of MIMs and maintain and think positive. So it’s just a comment I put in the record for those who constantly try to throw jabs at me, who are thinking that I’m just the kindest, sweetest MC. Like I say, don’t confuse that for weakness.


Dubcnn: In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, you said that life is about two choices: to either do your best in life and make your mom proud or get sucked into that other lifestyle – also adding, “It’s not about the money, the cars, the chains. You can be hot in a hooptie or with a dollar in your pocket with the right attitude.” Some may say that some of your latest lyrics are contradictory; do you still stand firm on that belief?

Mims: Well, one, somebody would have to point out my latest lyrics to show me where I’m contradicting myself. I won’t’ deny it. Everybody contradicts themselves at some point in life ‘cause it’s impossible not to. I think, for me, I’m very open about the things that I contradict myself on and I’m open with it in my music. My mind goes from, at some point being the most humble positive individual in the planet, to having a different outlook on life and saying to myself, “man, I’m gonna hustle by any means, and I’m gonna get it.”

So for me, I think that everybody contradicts themselves. I don’t wanna say it like that, but I don’t think that that matters. I think that you can take certain songs for what they are. I’m only human. So one song I’m gonna say I like peanut butter. The other song I’m gonna say I like jelly. That’s just what it is. I’m a human being and we all go through it. So when people scrutinize artists for making certain decisions or saying certain things in their song, recognize the fact that an artist is merely a human first and that means that, there will be many things that people could tear apart and say, “Man, didn’t he say that?” or “Didn’t he say this?” Well, who doesn’t say that in life? Who doesn’t act like that?

As far as the first comment is concerned and Ryan Seacrest is concerned, it is true. In life you have two decisions. Either you’re gonna do what’s right or you’re not, and that’s simply what it is. It doesn’t get any more black and white for people. Either I’m gonna go out there and be as positive as I can and live the good life by being positive, or I’m gonna be the biggest murderer on the planet earth. It’s up to me to decide what I wanna do and suffer the consequences as opposed to that.


Dubcnn: On your first album, you mainly stayed loyal to those producers who were loyal to you during your upcoming, rather than going with big-named producers; so how does your second album [Guilt] differ from your first album in that aspect?

Mims: It doesn’t. I’m still loyal to the same individuals that have pretty much jump-started my career, such as the Blackout Movement, and I respect what they’ve done for me. That’s why they’re actually featured on my second album on multiple records, but I also believe that music is about giving other people opportunities. So I also reached out to some brand new producers called The Intern and worked with them on this project, simply to give them the opportunity to get their name out there as well as to give me a different sound.

I credit Khalichat, who’s also a brand new producer. I also accredit Jim Johnson, who is the producer who did “Lollipop” for Lil’ Wayne. I got a record with him called “Rock and Rollin’”, which is, to me, one of the most demented records on my album, but also one of the most interesting records on my album.


Dubcnn: You never knew your father and, tragically, lost your mother at the age of thirteen. Has there been anyone in your life who has played the role of a second father or mother to you?

Mims: I think many people. A lot of people stepped up to the plate; my grandmother, for one. Nobody could ever replace what my mother was to me, but my grandmother did a great job of making sure that I knew that there was people out there that loved me – my grandmother, my aunt, my uncle, my brother. There’s many people that have been around me that have been able to make sure that I feel loved in this world and I get good advice when I need it.


Dubcnn: Just before she passed away, your mom bought you the turntables that served as your inspiration to absorb yourself completely into music. Describe your relationship with music the next several months after she passed away…

Mims: At that point, it just became an emotional outlet for me. I don’t know what it was that gravitated me towards those turntables and kept me out of the street -- maybe I give the credit to God and maybe just His will. But I know whatever it was; it was the right decision for me. So with that being said, I don’t know why I did that. Naturally, it’s just something that I’ve always been able to do; take the positive out of certain situations. I take the negative out of certain things and turn it into a positive.

I learned that was the key to survival and, as long as I continue to do that, I’ve been okay on my own, too. So I don’t think I’ll ever stop being positive or taking negative situations and turning them positive.


Dubcnn: You seem to be all about staying connected with the people – so who is the one person in your life who holds you down and keeps you humble?

Mims: My family. I can’t’ give one person that role, but I think my family’s done a great job because when I’m around them I’m not worried about being Mims. I’m always Shawn. I’m always the person that they raised.



Guilt is hitting stores on April 7th and check MIMs out online at http://www.myspace.com/mimsfanclub