24: Introduce
yourself to the readers and let everyone know where you’re repping and how long
how you been rapping for?
Rain: What up yall, this Rain repping Fayetteville, North
Carolina. I’ve been making music since I was about 9 years old. I got over 10
years into this craft. I'm not one of these guys that look at it as just
another hustle.
in the game except are from North Carolina so is that something you really want
to take advantage of and open the doors for more artists to come through?
Rain: Yeah, that's the plan. I mean Florida, Georgia, Texas,
New York, Cali, they all came in the game and made a mark. I love listening to
all kinds of music but none of it represents where IM from to the fullest. I
know the people in my city would love to hear our story from someone who really
lived it and someone they know personally.
24: You were recently
in XXL "Show & Prove" section and you’re not signed to a major as
yet and The Source Magazine so tell me how big was that for you seeing yourself
in 2 creditable magazines like XXL & The Source?
Rain: It was a dream come true. The Unsigned Hype (in The
Source Magazine) was big because so many artists came from that. For example
Biggie, DMX, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, and that's just to name a few. So for
me to be looked at in my prime in the same light as they were is amazing. The
XXL Magazine feature was big for me too. I was the only artist in that section
that was unsigned. Everyone else had records on radio and videos on TV.
24: What can the
people expect when they are listening to your music what are you bringing to
the table?
Rain: The truth. The realness. Music nowadays is all about
the ups. With me you can hear the balance, the ups and the downs. You can hear
real emotion not just someone trying to be slick and fancy all the time. I have
real shit to talk about.
24: I know that you
are working on a new project with DJ Cannon so tell me more about that and any
thing other else your cooking up for the near future?
Rain: Don Cannon and I did two mixtapes together. “Highly
UnAnticipated” and “Highly UnAnticipated Reloaded”. I'm still pushing that its
classic music. All original music and it have no time span to it, which means
it will never sound old. Its one of the few projects that came out in the past
5 years that you can listen to in the next 10 years. I'm also working on an
album with The Heatmakerz. Shout out to Rsonist and Thrilla. This album is
going to be 100 percent real. No deadline, no blatant radio attempts, no
bullshit. Straight Crack Music.
24: Who are some of
your musical influences coming up?
Rain: I was a fan of Nas storytelling capability. I felt
like he was so descriptive. Biggie found a way to tell the same stories and not
be so complex but still make it sound creative. Those guys were the best at the
shit in my opinion. Andre 3000 is another guy who paints serious pictures. I
grew up listening to everyone though. Jay-Z, Mobb Deep, Scarface, Snoop
everyone. These niggaz basically raised me.
24: You were recently
on www. ThisIs50. Com and BET "Spit Yo Game" so tell me how did that
come about?
Rain: I did Sirius Satellite Radio with my man Gabie and
Nelson, the Gomez Bros. Show, the last time I went to NY. They invited me to do
THISIS50.com. I went there and knocked it out. I got a chance to talk to 50
Cent. He's a real down to earth dude. The way he thinks and his marketing
strategies are unreal. At that point I understood why he is on the level he is
on. The BET "Spit Your Game" came about through my management. He got
link up with someone at BET and let him hear some of my music and it was a go.
24: Your grind work
shows with The Source, XXL, and ThisIs50.com, BET, Smack DVD, under your belt
to name a few but I wanted to know what else do you feel separates you from
other new artist and why should a label A&R sign Rain over someone else?
Rain: An A&R can't sign Rain. I want to talk to the
boss. That's where my mind is right now because 99% of the A&R's I already
sat down with either had no control over the situation or was to blind to see
the fortune. They should be fired because they are fucking up the money. That's
what separates me from these other artist my business mindset. I'm just being
patient until the right opportunity comes around.
24: What's the best
way for people to hear more music or find out more about Rain?
Rain: www.myspace.com/rain910 everything is up there. Music,
videos, interviews, so go and do your research.
24: Any last words?
Rain: Shouts to 24hourhiphop, big up First In Flight
Entertainment. We riding, FUCK THE WORLD!!
