Phat Kat

interview originally published here

the Phat Kat logo and drawing of Phat Kat are courtesy of Ill Lord, the illest illustrator out.

For anyone that might not be too familiar with Phat Kat can you give us a brief introduction?

Phat Kat aka Ronnie Cash, Detroit native. One of the founders of Detroit Hip Hop, that’s who I am. Slum Village affiliate, 1st down.

Speaking of 1st down, what was it like back then?

I mean, it was a crazy time, you know. That was when Hip Hop was real competitive. We just felt like that was a great accomplishment at that time, to have something out on a label that was big in Hip Hop.

How did you actually meet Dilla? I know you guys go way back.

The whole Hip Hop scene was real small back then. We met up at this spot Maurice Malone had, this Chinese food spot called Stanleys.

Switching gears to the present, how would you describe the D sound?

I would describe the Detroit sound as like soulful, with a little techno feel and aggressive.

Do you think there’s any connection with the fact that Detroit is also the home of Motown?

Definetly, we like to chill in the Motown.

Going more towards you and your style personally, what were your influences?

As an MC? All the greats, from the Grandmaster Caz, the KRS-One’s, the Big Daddy Kane’s, all the greats. Ice Cube.

You’ve been through a lot, can you tell us about some of the things you’ve had to endure in the industry?

It’s been a real rocky road, but I wouldn’t change anything for nothing because it made me who I am today. I went from the label folding; to albums keep getting pushed back. A lot of setbacks, people passing away, you name it. There’s been a lot of shit, but it’s made me who I am today so I can’t say I would change things.

Speaking of label situations, what is it about LOOK records that made you want to give them a chance?

The cat over at LOOK, when he reached out to me and called me, the first conversation we had, I mean you can tell a lot about a person by the music thathey listen to. We just had so much in common as far as music and the views that we had on how Hip Hop is now, and we just wanted to be comfortable to put out a project to bring that raw essence that is not heard anymore in the game.

Now, I wanted to talk about the dedication to the suckers 12 inch. I’ve heard the story that you and Dilla knocked it out in one night?

Yeah we did that in a couple of hours.

That’s some crazy chemistry. How does that happen?

Well, it went from him making the beats to me dropping the songs.

Just like that, done and done?

That’s how me and Dilla always worked, we had a crazy chemistry. We would just sit there cracking jokes, you know, smoking, he got the headphones on. He’d come up with a beat in like 10 minutes, take the headphones off, the beat’s banging through the speakers. Load it up, make sure the mic’s on, show me where to press play, where to stop at, he’d press record and go upstairs, I’d lay the verse, he’d come back down like done and done. Load the next one up, he’d talk on the phone, I’d lay another song. That’s just how we worked. That’s the whole thing with creating songs, we always looked at it like you get the best quality off the first take that’s why every song…you can’t keep doing it over because you lose that feel.

I see

If you at home, getting a rhyme together and come to the studio, it should be like you speaking. You should already know the rhyme, you shouldn’t have to come in the studio with a notepad or what have you, you should already have the stuff in your head.

That’s how you like to work?

Exactly.

You got a new album, Carte Blanche, I heard the promo and the album is on point.

Thanks man, I appreciate that bro.

It seems like it’s all the D on your album, is Truth Hurts from Detroit?

Nah, she’s not. She’s the only person that’s not from Detroit on the album.

Was that a conscious decision?

Yeah. I mean a lot of people was expecting me to reach out, and by me being cool with a lot of cats that’s already big in the industry, they was expecting me to grab the big names but I didn’t want to do that I just wanted to really show the world what Detroit has to offer. Just to let people know that we got MC’s and producers is hotter than the people ya’ll are paying all these thousands of dollars for.

I’ve done interviews with other people, and gotten over and over that alot of the radio in the D doesn’t support artists in the D. Is that changing?

Nah it’s worse. Funny you should ask that because I just did an interview right before this, saying how radio is not supporting the Carte Blanche album because of the True Story Pt.2 with House Shoes, because of what we’re talking about.

What????

Yeah, but it’s gonna be like a black eye to them because it’s sad for the listeners. For the listeners of the city, they’re never gonna get to hear Phat Kat on the radio and I’m from Detroit. It’s sad that they won’t get to hear it.

Now you mention something in your album about the market being easier for you to crack overseas, what is it about overseas audience that makes music like yours more accepted?

Well, the game is not really corrupted yet over there. It’s still about the music, it’s always about he music over there. They don’t care about how big your chain is, or how much ice you got on or how big your crew is, it’s always been about the music at the end of the day. That’s what they appreciate over there and that’s how we’ve been able to go over there and survive and eat.

Speaking of overseas, I was just covering a show in Oslo that House Shoes, Illa Jay, Aloe and Exile did and Illa Jay spilled the beans on the 2nd down thing.

Oh yeah

I’m real curious about that because that sounds big.

Yeah man, we just decided where we left off. This the new phase, me and Dilla were 1st down, now me and Illa Jay are 2nd down.

What‘s the future looking like for you?

The purpose for this album is, I just wanna bring some balance back to the music industry, because right now it’s wack. Nobody really has a choice to listen, everyone’s walking around brainwashed, just to let some people hearing some real Hip Hop again, still being made.

Your top 5 Dilla beats?

Note: the transcribed version of the interview doesn’t do justice to how long it took Phat Kat to make up his mind about his top 5 Dilla beats. Forreal.

Wow, my top 5? Okay, the Jungle Love joint off the Shining. Wow, this is hard…ok. The Jungle Love , that’s one of them. Cold Steel has to be on there, Don’t Nobody Care About Us,

That’s three.

Wow…and the De La joint off The Grind Date, the put all things aside.

The Verbal Clap joint?

Exactly! * hums the bassline *

That one is hard, that one is hard!

I was on tour with De La in Europe man, and that’s how they come onstage. I’m in the dressing room and when I heard that I almost fucking lost it. Oh my goodness, that beat right there, wow…

I remember buying The Grind Date when it came out and hearing that, I think it was track four or something and being blown away like, yo what is this? And then turning to the credits and being like, of course.

Man, when he played that for me I was just like, you can’t be serious. Wow, that’s four right?

Yeah, one more.

Okay, and the last one, I would have to say…damn this is hard, the joint …aah, I can’t even say that. The let’s do it, the joint off Common’s Like Water For Chocolate.

You mean Dooinit?

Exactly!

Oh yeah, the one where he slowed down the Rick James sample

Exactly man!

When I heard the story about Dilla doing that beat blindfolded in that beat battle with ?uestlove, man I lost it.

Yeah man, those five right there.

Was there ever anytime when you heard a Dilla beat and were like, damn, I wish I would’ve gotten on that?

HELL YEAH. Me and Guilty just had a conversation about that, we always talk about that. There’s a couple of beats that I hear and I’m like, damn!

Do you have any plans to tour coming up?

Actually I’m doing the Carte Blanche tour starting next week on the 11th. I’ll be out from the 11th till June 2nd. From the east coast to the west coast, starting on the west coast, then we’re working our way back east.

You got Slum Village and Illa Jay on that tour with you right?

Exactly, we’re gonna have fun on that tour.

I also wanted to ask you about the unity in Detroit, because from the outside looking in it seems like a big family.

Yeah man, it’s like a big family. Whenever someone’s working on a project, we try to make sure we include everybody.

Is there anything else you want to say before we wrap this interview up?

I want everybody to just listen to the album, if you don’t like it, if you see me, I’ll give you your money back.

I don’t think that would happen too much.

I think artists should start putting money back guarantee’s on their albums.

Keep all the wack shit out?

Exactly.

Once again, Phat Kat. Thanks a lot for doing this and I wish you all the success you deserve with this new album. Thanks a lot.

I appreciate the love forreal. Peace

CARTE BLANCHE AVAILABLE NOW ON LOOK RECORDS. support GOOD shit.

Phat Kat – Dedication to the Suckers 2004

Jay Dee – Featuring Phat Kat

Phat Kat – Don’t Nobody Care About Us