Author Topic: Pill: Prescribed Medication (Interview) (Read 244 times)

Lunatic · « **on:** February 15, 2010, 11:38:34 AM »

http://www.wordofsouth.com/2010/02/15/pill-prescribed-medication-interview/

WordofSouth.com: We're right here on www.wordofsouth.com with non other than rising star, Pill. How are you at this time bro?

Pill: I'm doing alright man. I just wrapped up a couple other interviews. I'm enjoying the weather; it's not too cold so I don't have to wear my gloves and shit (laughs).

WordofSouth.com: (Laughs) absolutely. When you first came out, fans knew you as Gangsta Pill - tell us about the name change to just Pill.

Pill: Honestly, it was more of a joke. With Gangsta Pill, it was the emergence of Gangsta Grillz. You know how they yell "Gangsta Grillz you bastard!" I would always be like, "Gangsta Pill you bastard!" (laughs). I used it as a joke and shit so I started saying it in some of my verses with Kill [Killer Mike] and them. And then when the CD came out (I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II) which he is giving away for free right now, my name appeared on there as Gangsta Pill - I was like what the fuck is this?!? My name ain't a Gangsta Pill. It stuck and I was just like, fuck that shit. In the beginning, it was always Pill so it's not like I switched it - it was always Pill.

WordofSouth.com: Not only were you on "I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II, you were also on the Underground Atlanta CD Killer Mike just put out. What's the reasoning behind the whole Pill/medication persona you have going on?

Pill: I feel like I'm the cure for rap cancer. I feel like I'm the medicine which is also the title of my first album. I've always stuck beside that name since I was younger. It originally came from football if y'all haven't read that already. As I took my raps more seriously, I was just always like Pill - I'm the medicine. I got it tatted on my arm years ago and that's just what it is. I wanted to make sure the people understood that. Pill, I'm here to help.

WordofSouth.com: For those who haven't heard the story, run through it right quick about how the Pill name came from football.

Pill: I was playing football for Douglas high school and it was on a B-team game. The nickname for the football was the pill. I caught a few god damn touch downs and I ran back a kickoff for a touchdown, 75 yards. I caught 10 passes and had over 100 yards. They were like "damn this nigga is the pill." They started calling me Pill Pill and it got caught short to Pill. As my music progressed once again, I started calling myself the cure for rap cancer and the medicine. That's what it is.

WordofSouth.com: If Pill wasn't rapping right now, would we see him in the NFL?

Pill: Probably so. I'm so persistent with everything and I don't give up. I probably would have played college football and played my heart out until I got to the NFL.

WordofSouth.com: Speaking of persistence, how is that helped your music career?

Pill: Because I'm not a quitter. Football and my mother taught me not to quit. Never take "no" for an answer. My mother told me "can't" is not a word in your vocabulary; there is nothing that you can't do. My persistence in my music, all that comes from my football experiences and from my mother raising me properly. She always told me I was the best at what I was doing, and she taught me to always persevere through everything. She made me understand I could do anything I put my mind too. That's what I used for my music.

WordofSouth.com: Speaking of your mother, you rap about her a lot. On the "4075" mixtape, specifically on "Dropped A Mick On Me", you rhyme "I lost my mother, ain't no pain came close to that." What was that experience like and how did it change you perspective on life in general?

Pill: It changed my life completely. I stopped trapping and everything. I found my mother dead in '07 and it fucked me up. All the money that I had saved up, I just started spending it. I didn't want to trap; I didn't want to do shit. It just made me realize that the promise I gave my mother in life, I told her years ago that I was gonna' be a star - I told her I'm gonna' make it mama' and I'm gonna' get you up out of here. We were still standing in the projects when she died. I was like damn; I didn't get to do what I wanted to do. I was still trapping, selling dope and shit. I was like there is no way in the fuck I'm not gonna' make my mother proud. I feel like I'd be making her proud if I did that and it changed my life and made me look upwards as far as the big picture. It made me see that there are better things in life and everything happens for a reason. It broke my heart and I still haven't got over it. It also motivated me to keep going and to take my music more seriously.

WordofSouth.com: It's good to hear that you could take something so negative and turn into positive energy. Moving on and speaking of positive, congratulations on the Asylum deal.

Pill: Appreciate it bro.

WordofSouth.com: How did that come about?

Pill: 45 minutes after I dropped the "Trap Goin' Ham" video, they contacted me. They were trying to give me a deal back then but I wasn't interested in signing a deal yet. I wanted to keep doing what I was doing and make things bigger. I wanted to get the people hooked on Pill. I wanted the people to be more open to my music and to establish a strong foundation with my music where I can put out whatever and they will understand that it was from the heart and this is what I love. Asylum respected that. They kept going hard while all the other offers came in. no matter what offers came in; Asylum said they could do better than that.

Damn near every label in the game offered me a deal. Asylum always upped the deal or changed the terms of the deal; they did whatever they had to do to make sure they got me on the roster. I respect them for that because they went hard from day one. They were the first label to even contact me. I kept grinding, mashing, recording, doing my shows, doing my interviews and everything else to keep going hard and make people aware of who Pill is as a person and as an artist. They respected my grind and they also implemented all of the terms that I requested and all of the monetary value I felt I was worth. I respect them for that and I want to shout out Joey IE and Todd Moscowitz for that. They stayed down with me from day one.

WordofSouth.com: You showed a lot of confidence in yourself by not jumping at the first offer they put on the table. Most independents are signed as soon as that first deal comes in, they jump all over it. You understood the grind or buzz wasn't as strong as it could be; you waited it out. I like that.

Pill: I appreciate it. I just wanted the label to respect me as a business man. I wanted them to understand that I've had good money before. The money they were offering, I was like damn, I was blowing that at the mall when I was trapping. It wasn't like I hadn't seen that dollar amount before. A lot of independent artists haven't seen any money. They see that dollar amount and ho jump right on it. The first thing they think is they may not see an offer like that again, I mines will go jump on it. Me personally, I had seen that kind of money for years; I've blown it on cars, clothes and hoes. I did that, I've lived that life. I had the fast life, the money came and I spent it. I was like this little shit is nothing to me - this right here is club money, tennis shoes money and strip club money. I believed in myself and I kept grinding. I knew for a fact that I could keep making quality music so I didn't give up or give into the first offer. I think they respected that as well.

WordofSouth.com: And by not giving into the first offer, you were able to build a larger buzz. What steps did you lay out for yourself to build such a strong buzz, and to catch the attention of the majors in the first place?

Pill: I made sure I did a lot of shows and I made sure the music was available for free download. I even had some physical copies available for the free download. I made sure I was humble to the people whenever I was out there. I kicked it with whomever and hit blunts with niggas and I don't even really smoke like that. I still hit weed with niggas, drink with niggas and get fucked up. I showed them how real this shit is. People would understand that and when they would see me out, they would approach me and tell me that my shit was real. They told me they haven't heard real shit like this in a long time. They could hear it in my voice that this shit is real. I wanted the people to understand that. The real always overpowers the fake. I think people buy into a real product and enjoy real music.
I just made sure I kept it real. I implemented all of the things that were instilled to me as a youngster. You have to go after what you want in life. I made sure that I stayed down with whatever I believed in. the buzz grew larger thanks to my hard work and thanks to the hard work of my manager Derek, Chris Bone, Jazzy B, Shawn, Ryan, Maurice Garland who was behind me since day one, Rap Radar, the magazines, a lot of the blog spots like DJ Burn One's site, they showed so much love. All of those people showed me in love. I'm very appreciative of the people that gravitate towards me and understand that this is a real testimony. It wasn't something that was prescribed from prior events of stuff on TV or a story or something.

WordofSouth.com: Which of the mixtapes did you feel was stronger? "4180" or "4075"?

Pill: I think both of them were great. The first one was my introduction and it showed my versatility on all of the different tracks. The second one showed my ability to make original tracks and actually make some viable music. With "4075", that showed a lot of progression. Both of them I feel was great. And you already know the first one, you always love the most. But with me, I like both of them the most. With "4075" I showed that I could make original tracks that people actually like and grab a hold to. It showed growth. I appreciate the people actually fucking with it.

WordofSouth.com: Is it true those were prior addresses of yours?

Pill: Yes they were. 4180 Cant Street. I actually stayed on Cant Street. My mama had to tell me early, ain't no such thing as can't. 410 Cant Street, that's on the Westside in the projects. That was in one of the most known projects in Atlanta. I did that and I was evicted from 4180. My next address was 4075; I can't give all the details of that address because my auntie still lives in that house (laughs). Those are both real addresses that I've lived at.

WordofSouth.com: So why the decision to name the mixtapes after the addresses?

Pill: it's just my journey throughout life; I've been to so many different addresses and places and have seen so many different faces. I want to make that concrete to the people so they can understand it. This is where I used to live and this is where these ideas came about. This is where I experience the struggle that I rap about. That's why I put the addresses into play.

WordofSouth.com: That's cool. You mentioned doing a lot of original tracks on "4075" which you did, but you also rapped over a lot of classic southern beats such as OutKast "Two Dope Boys in a Cadillac" and Geto Boys "Minds Playing Tricks on me." Any specific reason behind that? Or are those just specific instrumentals you're a fan of?

Pill: Those were tracks that I really loved when they came out and I was younger. I was like damn; I would have loved to have this beat. I rapped when I was younger; in middle school I was already rapping. I've been rapping my whole life but I decided to take it seriously as I grew and hit my junior year in high school. Those were two beats that I really loved. I wanted to see if I could do those beats some justice and it came out good.

WordofSouth.com: Are there any more mixtapes coming before "The Medicine" album? Or is the LP up next?

Pill: I think I might do another tape or two. I get joy out of doing those tapes. I love giving people good music for free. I think they deserve at least another tape before I actually do "The Medicine" LP. More than likely I will give them another tape, and I want it to be larger than life. I want them to hold onto this one for a second, ride to it and learn to love it the way I love it. When they start screaming for another tape, I'll give it to them - if they start screaming for the album, I'll give them the album. It's all about what the people want.

WordofSouth.com: While you're in the mind state of giving out another tape before an album, how is "The Medicine" currently shaping up? How much percent of it do you feel is complete?

Pill: I feel like 75% of it is complete and it's shaping up pretty good. I was thinking about taking tracks off "The Refill" and putting it on there. It's shaping up pretty good though. I'm always coming up with new concepts and ideas and new ways to approach a track. I always let my day to day life lead me to better music. It's shaping up pretty good. All of these life experience and the things you go through, once you get in the studio, you get to put it to music. I just need enough time to actually reflect on things, prior events in my life for it to be all the way complete so I don't leave anything out. It's the first album and it's something that I've been waiting for my whole life, so I want it to be just right for the people and just right for me.

WordofSouth.com: How do you think the signing with a major label will shift the direction of the album?

Pill: I don't think it will really shift it like that. I believe that off the fact that they respected me creatively. I let them know that that was a very important part of the deal; that I still maintain some creative control. They understand that. It's really like a partnership. We both understand each other's direction. I don't think they will try to change my vision. It will go in the direction that I want it to go in.

WordofSouth.com: With it being more like a partnership and the control, how do you personally plan on transforming to a successful mainstream artist without alienating your core fan base?

Pill: I don't think I will alienate my core fan base for the simple fact that I stay true to me and for the simple fact that I stay true to the art form, my story and my testimony. It'll be along the same lines as "The Prescription" and as "The Refill." It'll just be more music along the same lines; I don't want to stray away from it. I don't want to be like the [Atlanta] Falcons when they went to the super bowl; they played good all year and then they tried to switch up the game plan in the super bowl and they got their ass whooped. I want to keep it the same.

WordofSouth.com: With the album about 75% done, are you able to enlist any guest appearances or producers that you're working with?

Pill: I've done some tracks with Mark Ronson, Mick Vegas, Drum Majors and a lot of different guys. I don't want to forget anybody. I worked with Mack from Ill Phonics; I just like to have a collective group of producers so I can pick from the hottest beats. I've been getting a lot of stuff recently. I'm more into dope music than I am into the name. If there is a kid in the basement who makes a dope beat, then I'll want a beat from him.

WordofSouth.com: Is there anyone you would like to work with for the album that you haven't yet?

Pill: I'm more of a me rapper; I'm not too caught up in the features. Honestly, I would like to get Young Jeezy on Gucci Mane on the remix for "Trap Goin' Ham" and put that on the album.

WordofSouth.com: Is there anything that your hearing that may work out as a first single?

Pill: I'm hearing a few potential singles. It's just a matter of picking which one (laughs).

WordofSouth.com: Tell us about the balance between the conscious and deep records such as "Glass" and the trap stuff such as "Trap Goin' Ham."

Pill: I like to view things from both sides just like I viewed things through both sides. That's how I'm able to create records like that. I know when I'm doing wrong, so I want people to hear that from my point of view, and to see what I feel deep on the inside when I'm out there trapping and when I'm out there serving people that shit, and how fucked up it feels inside and at the same time, I‘m gaining some sort of value in it because of the experience, and I'm also gaining money. I was doing it because I had no other choice. I'm not doing it because it's tight or because everybody else is doing it; not because it's the new thing or a trend - I was doing it because that's my way of surviving. I wanted people to see that my way of surviving is fucked up and people really got it bad out here.

WordofSouth.com: "Glass" is a very powerful song and video. Tell us about the concept behind that record and what the video process was like.

Pill: It was catch and shoot. I had heard that beat, The Beat Chefs produced it. I heard that beat and was like damn when I heard that choir. It just seemed like a movie to me. Naturally with the video, I wanted to go to the hood and show people what it really is. It was my treatment and I took Zach Wolfe around and told him where we needed to shoot. I had to let the people see how fucked up it is out here. I wanted people to understand my point of view and I wanted to give them a visual more so than I did on the record. It was just basically me getting out with the camera crew and taking them to different places that I've trapped at and where I was raised at. It went pretty good.

WordofSouth.com: Taking it back to the beginning, when you really started coming out and caught a buzz, it was with Killer Mike or Mike Bigga and his Grind Time Rap Gang. What's your current relationship like with Mike Bigga?

Pill: We're still cool. He just hit me up yesterday. Everything is still good with us. That was a life changing experience because it gave me experience from being in the business. I was doing shows and recording at big studios with them. That was really cool and we're still brothers. He gave me a shot and I really appreciate that. Shout out to Mike Bigga for that.

WordofSouth.com: There was a story on MTV a few months back about Andre 3000 calling you and had co signed you. What was that like?

Pill: it was surreal. I had run into him randomly out and I gave him a CD. I gave him my number and told him to hit me up if he liked it; I told him I would really appreciate his feedback. I never thought he was going to call, but I said it anyway. I didn't think he would hit me up. He hit me up and he was quoting lines off the mixtape. He was telling me it was dope and the shit was jamming. I was like oh shit, it tripped me out a little bit. I want to shout out him for that, showing love. From day one, he was always around when I first started recording. For him to actually hit me up and tell me my shit is dope, it meant a lot to me.

WordofSouth.com: Especially someone like him who holds the type of weight and stature that he does. Now with the label situation in place and the album being worked on, is there a potential chance that we might see a Pill and Andre 3000 collaboration?

Pill: Hopefully. I spoke with him about it. I might have to contact him when I get into the final stages of the album and see what he would fit on. Hopefully I can get a verse from him. We spoke about it. He told me he was down with it. He already said it was a go once everything was in place. I just have to get in contact with him and let him know when it's time to go.

WordofSouth.com: With the position that your in, what type of advice would you give up and coming independent artists that might be reading this?

Pill: Stay true to your brand and believe in yourself. Don't let anything stop you. There is no such word as "can't." Don't take no for an answer and put God first.

WordofSouth.com: Thanks for your time Pill - you're on www.wordofsouth.com. We wish you the best of luck, we love the music. Do you have any last words before I let you go?

Pill: Rest in Peace to my Mother. Free my homeboy Lil Metro, free my little partner Lil Dion and free my homeboy Deron. I appreciate y'all for reaching out to me and showing the love.

- INTERVIEW BY: Justin Melo