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Lizzie Grubman and Styles P

Styles P is a Rap Juggernaut. He also likes to correct my questions.

Where are you from?

Yonkers, NY. I was born in Queens but I moved to Yonkers when I was 7, so Yonkers, New York.

What artist made you want to rhyme?

Rap, period but um…Kool G Rap, Rakim, KRS, Chuck D, Ultramagnetic, Jungle Brothers, Chill Rob G, Stetasonic.

How did you come up with your rhyme style?

I think I just came with it. It’s just natural. I think my style is “my style.” My style is just rhyming. I just rhyme and try to play with words.

While you were hoping to get on did you ever think you’d go through half the shit you’ve been through as an artist?

Nah, not at all.

Did your experience in the industry have anything to do with how you came up with the concept “a gangster and a gentleman?”

With Gangster and a Gentlemen I was giving you me–who I was. My first album I decided to let you know who and what I was, so that’s how I came up with Gangster and a Gentleman.

It’s been ten years since the world was introduced to you, is this Supa Gangsta, Extraordinary Gentleman the kind of album you’d be expecting to drop ten years later?

Nah. This album I wouldn’t have thought about dropping, even as I was dropping it. I wasn’t imagining it would sound how it would sound.

Would you do an album with Hell Rell and put it out on KOCH?

A whole album? I wouldn’t do a whole album with Hell Rell. I like Hell Rell but I wouldn’t do a whole album with him unless he had a lot of paper for me.

Considering you’ve released albums in 3 and 4 year spans, how do you feel about that versus dropping albums yearly?

I’ll show you. I dropped last year and I’m dropping this year again. I’m independent. I feel it’s beautiful.

What else can we expect from you?

Watch out for my DVD Gangster Chronicles. I’m interviewing all the people you want to see interviewed, but getting it from my point of view, Styles P–I’m the interviewer.

Photos from the “Blow Your Mind” video shoot.

Watch the “Blow Your Mind” Video.

Styles P is one of the top ten best rappers alive, but I never gave him a chance until, “Super Gangster,” (SG) and it’s clear I’ve been missing out. D-Block never grew on me, but I always respected them because they were never on some bullshit, and were above average rappers. What I never really liked about them was their production. What I call the “D-Block Sound” you hear on the 5th track, “In it to Win it,” featuring Bully. This sound used to bore me but here it makes my old view seem stupid, because I found myself liking other tracks in the same vein, like “Got My Eyes On You.” Plus, Bully has one of the more memorable guest appearances, despite a list that includes Max B, Akon, The Alchemist, Ghostface, Raw Buck and Beanie Sigel. Conversely, Ray J’s singing on “Let’s Go” is annoying; he sounds like a woman, but I doubt you’ll skip that track. It’s too damn catchy. Another successful route SG takes is with the tracklist, which is extremely well arranged. The album begins energetically and ends very strongly. The last song, “Cause I’m Black” featuring Black Thought, is a perfect example of how to make an exit while saying something. If you’ve been sleeping on Styles like I have, it’s time to wake up.

Buy Super Gangster

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