The Hip-Hop industry is changing drastically, different cities
from the East to the West are switching up there flows and adding melodies to
the track. Now there’s no doubt the subject matter could still stay hood, but
the styles are diversifying. In Miami,
one such artist is taking that leap forward and adding newer elements to his
style, but at the same time keeping that hood sort of feel incorporated within
his lyrics, the only element he’s switching up is his style and delivery. I
already told ya’ll in several interviews and articles that Miami has got that
talent, that drive, this is where artists are made and the industry knows just
where to look.

With
a hit single already on the rise and an extensive musical background, there is
no denying that this young artist already has the right path paved in front of
him and that long road doesn’t seem so long anymore. With Princess Asia taking full management control and with time
effortlessly on his side, his mindset is definitely focused and headed in the
right direction. I introduce you to the lyrically animated, Cartoon.

 

24: First off, how has
everything been so far?

Cartoon: Everything’s good,
just making this music work.

24: Can you describe your
beginnings, how it all started?

Cartoon: I started out with
a group called Young TKS and we were
running around doing a whole lot of shows. They had some things going on in
their families that they had to stop, so I went solo.

24: Define your rendition
of the name “Cartoon.”

Cartoon: Really, my Ol’
Girl gave me that name and my family, especially my cousins, started picking it
up and my Ol’ Girl stopped calling me Cartoon, but they kept calling me that. I
really don’t even know why she started calling me Cartoon. My family kept it
and I just ran with it.

24: With a unique name like
Cartoon, do you think you would ever use it as a marketing gimmick, would you
ever incorporate it into your songs?

Cartoon: I might do that in
the future, right now I’m just trying to get a buzz off in my regular rapping.

24: I’ve heard artists say
that the beat speaks to them and tells them what to write, when you hear the
beat does the same go for you?

Cartoon: It’s like,
sometimes I write before I even hear the beat, like there’s already a feel, other
times the beat is just so hot that I hear lyrics in it.

24: What thoughts fly
through your head when you do begin to write?

Cartoon: First thing I
think, I got to say something real, I got to continue from there.

24: Now let’s get into the
business side, word on the street is your signed under management with Princess
Asia of Bottom of the Map, can you
explain the history on that?

Cartoon: I mean, me and
Asia, we got the same DJ, shout out to DJ Rhymer. But she wanted to start doing her management company and what not; I
guess I was the first person she started off with. So that’s basically how that
all came about.

24: So what projects have
you worked on so far that we’ve might have heard before?

Cartoon: I mean, with the
group, I had a song called “Check Out My Swag.” That was buzzing in like the Polk
County area, that’s where we were mostly doing
our shows and my hit single, “Shawty Got Dat.” It features Jason Derulo and it’s
produced by the Fliptones.

24: What future projects do
you have in the works right now?

Cartoon: I just got the
mixtape coming and right now I’m working on some more singles, basically
putting together my album.

24: With the competition of
up and coming artists in the game today, especially in Miami, what would you say sets you aside from
those trying the same techniques with music and style?

Cartoon: Basically, everybody
out here doing the same thing, they’re trying to be like everybody else. I’m
being me, I’m gonna do my own thing, I mean, if I feel like I’m gonna sound
good singing on the song, I’m gonna sing on the song, if I wanna rap, I’m gonna
rap. I’m gonna do what I feel like is good, that I feel I wanna do, I ain’t
gonna do it because Jeezy did this or Weezy did this, I’m gonna do me, straight like that.

24: Since the rap game is
changing, what measures are you taking at hitting the market from a business
perspective?

Cartoon: Basically, we
doing every which way possible, hitting it at every angle. We are going out
doing shows, pushing flyers, radio play, we trying to get everything on point.
I’m trying to promote it as much as possible.

24: How would the fans get
in contact with you?

Cartoon: They can hit me on
http://myspace.com/itscartoon

24: Thank you for vibing
one on one with 24hourhiphop.com, do
you any last words?

Cartoon: Shout outs to God
first and foremost, DJ Rhymer, Princess
Asia. Shout outs to the whole Unda Pressure family, all the underground stations. Shout outs to Big
Chuck and the whole 24hourhiphop staff,
appreciate this. Peace.