Cartoon: Lyrically Animated

It has been mentioned over numerous amounts of time, Miami has got the rap game on lock. Proof comes from the many artists you see multiplying by the dozen literally coming out of the woodworks as time passes. With the drive and determination that these artists possess, there is no stopping the potential and destiny that await these talented musicians.As soon as that debut single hits the radio with that appeal, it is then up to the fans to request that track frequently so the whole city gets an idea of the hook, the subject matter, and the lyrical content. Then we have an artist with a hot single on our hands.

One artist represents the elements of drive and determination, his grind is utterly impeccable. His moniker is that of his lyrical content, visually animated, that name should already be known since this will be his second time gracing our site, Cartoon is that artist. With a new management and the major backing of DJ Rhymer, he has become a major part of movement; we evidently have that potential artist on our hands that is destined to acquire that spotlight in a short time period. If you don’t already know the craft of this talented individual, you will soon enough. This is the follow up exclusive interview with the more advanced Cartoon.

24: Tell the fans what you’ve been doing lately, since the last time you spoke with 24?

Cartoon: I’ve been blowing up! There are no words for it, I mean, I can’t explain it. It’s not what it used to be. Before I was little Cartoon and now I’m like, way bigger then big out on the streets. I’m like, heavy hot on the street right now. I’m going to put it like this, I’ve been working. Working is what I do and I’ve been working so hard that people are really seeing it and say like; ‘Damn that boy Cartoon is really like, that nigga right now!’ So that’s what it is, I’ve been in the street, doing shows, radio, all that.

24: Since you say you’re not the young Cartoon anymore, would you say that your work ethic has matured?

Cartoon: Before I had a management that wasn’t really doing what it was supposed to be doing and that kind of helped me because it taught me that if my management wasn’t doing certain things then I had to do it on my own to get certain things done. Now I got a new management and everyone works well together. I can see that everything is moving now. My MySpace views are going up and everything is falling into place. I just thank God that everything that happened to me in the past is just working now!

24: The last time we talked you had a single out called ‘Shorty Got.’ From then to now, what projects have you been working on lately that we should know about or that you could shed some light on?

Cartoon: I’ve got a solo single out now featuring Asia, called ‘Shorty What’s Your Name?’ and that song is doing real good in the streets right now. My other single is called ‘Wham!’ ‘Wham!’ is like that big single in the streets right now it’s just big; DJ Rhymer, Lunch Money and I. Young Cartoon ‘Wham!’ it’s crazy in the street. You can hear that one on MySpace.

24: So now that were coming up on 2009, we’re hearing about your mixtape. What is going on with the official Cartoon mixtape.

Cartoon: Originally I wasn’t going to drop a mixtape, being that I’m on more Pop records. I’m on to more Pop records simply because, that’s where the money is at right now. I’m in this for the money, not for the beefing, not for the friends you make through rap. I’m trying to make money out of this; I’m trying to feed the daughter I have. I didn’t feel like the mixtape thing was for me. So when I got with Rhymer I saw that that’s the world I’m in. I’m heavy in the all ages world right now; the all ages world is where I am at. I don’t want to sound cocky or conceited, but it’s Iceberg who is number one in the all ages world and then it’s probably Piccalo, who is apart of all those other main artists. Now as it comes to the underground world, its Iceberg and then maybe me. There really isn’t anybody going at the all ages world. Everyone is mainly going for the strip clubs and things like that. If you feel offended by me saying that then I mean, so what! If I drop a mixtape, I’ll have a lot of Pop songs and I know some people aren’t on that. I just started grabbing these beats and then working them. We got the radio station 95.3 and I was like ‘Shit, I might as well put some music out and let people know my story.’ So I started doing these industry beats telling my story. I’m still working on an album, but I’ll still be doing the mixtape. The mixtape is called ‘The Preview’ which is a preview to the album.

24: Now that your atmosphere and work ethic have changed, would you say that your music and your lyrics have matured or is it still at the border line?

Cartoon: My lyrics have definitely elevated and there’s always room for improvement, but it’s all about work. Sometimes I go home and I sit at the computer, download beats and just write to them. I have so many lyrics at the crib, whack lyrics, and even lyrics that’s never made it. I constantly work, work, work. I work outside of work. I’m not one of those rappers where I’m constantly writing and finally when I’m done I’m happy. No, I write, write, and listen to it and if I don’t like it, I’ll erase it. I could write something on paper and then when I get to the studio, rap it out, and not like it. What do I do then, go back to the crib and re-write. I did that with two mixed tracks, ‘Official Girl’ and ‘I’m Your Baby.’ I had to tell them to re-do it because I said I’m not telling the truth, I got to tell the truth and I killed it.

24: Now you’re working with DJ Rhymer and he’s working on a whole project on his own. What projects are you working on with Rhymer right now?

Cartoon: Rhymer and I are working on a few projects, but that ‘Wham!’ project is the main one we are working on. Rhymer and I are more than just music, we’re an unstoppable force. We wake up everyday working. If it’s not the radio stations then it’s the internet. Rhymer and I are like a one, two punch right now. It’s deeper than rap, the whole industry thing is deeper than rap.

24: You talked about your prior management and also about Princess Asia who was formally of the group Bottom of the Map. She said that she was pushing you hard, but now you mentioned that you’re working harder with your present management. Can you explain why you’re working harder with this management than that of Princess Asia?

Cartoon: Asia and I were working, but Asia had her own things going on at the same time. She couldn’t put her all into me and I couldn’t really stand that. I’m on a level where I’m like, ‘Work, work, work, up early and if you’re not on that same thing then I can’t really deal with you.’ I got to keep it moving. Asia’s doing her thing, but on a management level I couldn’t really do it. I respect her as an artist to the fullest though.

24: Who would you say is your official management now?

Cartoon: I’m not really signed to anybody, but I will say that DJ Rhymer is like my official manager. You can’t do anything without hollering at Rhymer or G-Money. G-Money, Breaking Bread Entertainment, DJ Rhymer and the whole movement is what makes me move.

24: So when you do get signed, what would you like to include in your debut album?

Cartoon: I’m a fun person. I like making people move and dance. I’m into the sticking and jooking, but I also want my music to be played in a wider range. I don’t want to just hear my music played in Coco’s, Diamonds or Take One. I want to be able to walk into the most corporate of places and hear my music, but at the same time still go to Coco’s and hear it over there. I’m not trying to make jook records and then all you hear is jook, jook, jook and then when I go into Macys all I hear is ‘I’m not loving you, like I wanted to,’ you know. I’m trying to be on that; I want to get widespread. I want to be hearing my music on Y-100 and Power 96. I don’t want to just limit my stuff to 99 Jamz. I love the hood, but I’m not trying to just make hood records all day. That’s not what is going to get you payed. There is a lot of proof out there that the hood records aren’t selling like that.

24: So when the production budget comes around, what producers would you like to work with that you know can lay down a beat that can instantly become a hit or that you feel you can relate to instrumental wise?

Cartoon:I like the Neptunes; they make big records that are different. I like the Runners and Cool & Dre, but their real good for the hood records. I would say the best people I could work with right now would be the House of Bangers. The House of Bangers is totally different than anything that’s going on right now. Shout outs to them. There making a lot of hit records that a lot of people don’t know about. They’re so low key that they got hits out right now that are just so different.

24: What quality sets you aside from every other artist trying to make it in the game right now?

Cartoon: I’m just totally different. I hear a lot of other regular artists saying that, ‘Oh I’m the next to blow,’ but I’m not worried about that. I mean I really work hard and I hear a lot of other local artists whispering hate stuff, but I’m not going to get into all of that. I don’t compare myself to nobody. I work and I can’t stress that enough. I’m never going to be cocky, but I am just into grinding hard. That’s what makes me so different from other artists. Other artists claim their grinding and their not; I see so many depending on their managers. I go myself to the clubs and actually work. They call me Cartoon because I do any and everything. Sometimes I’ll straight take over and play my own records and I’ll have people vibin’ and jamming. Other artist start working then ya’ll can quit hating. Straight up!

24: If you had one word that could describe your craft, what would it be?

Cartoon: I would say the word is unique. I’m not the same as what y’all used to. My voice is just different. I’m not scared to make them records where by I’ll make your girl buy them. If your girl likes it, chances are you’re going to like it as well and when you hate it, because your girl likes it that just makes me look good.

24: How do the fans go about contacting you?

Cartoon: www.YoungCartoon.com, www.myspace.com/toon305 or e-mail me at youngcartoon@gmail.com.

24: Do you have any last words for your present or future fans?

Cartoon: Shout out to everybody. Shout outs to my promotions team, the haters, all the local artists that are doing it or are trying to do it, but don’t have the money to do it. I feel y’all, just holler at me or Rhymer. We don’t only go in on our music, we play everybody’s music, we’re on a wider range. Shout outs to 24HourHipHop.com, you can call me anytime you want. There you go. On the recode, just like that.