The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to [email protected].
This Week's Rapper: real(Elliot)ness
This Week's Subject(s): Kanye and Houston rapper clothing lines
Ask A Rapper: FYI, I was totally going to pose questions to you like I thought you were Will.I.Am. Changed my mind, though.
Realness: I'm glad you did change up, Shea. Thanks. 'Cause it wouldn't have been any "Willy" type answers. Then I woulda seemed like an asshole.
AAR: Did you see the Kanye-Lohan thing? (If not, 'Ye panned her fashion line, saying it was as detrimental to celebrities doing fashion as 9/11 was to everything.) That's what I like about Kanye. He never overreacts to anything. Your thoughts?
R: I feel the whole Kanye thing is yet another stunt.
real(Elliot)ness, "Bring It To Me" real(Elliot)ness, "Bring It To Me"
AAR: Which Houston rapper do you think will be the second to try his own fashion line (Paul Wall's Paul's Expensive Taste is the first)? It has to be Z-Ro, right? I would totally by a pair of Z-Ro jeans. Or neckerchiefs.
R: Clothing lines? Ehhhh, I gotta say I don't see enough of a "brand" in anyone but Paul, with the jewelry and etc. Oh, and Bun on the sneakers. Kinda. [It's] not promoted enough.
AAR: Okay, I changed my mind: Slim Thug has to be the next Houston rapper with his own clothing line. It could be a big and tall line. Or a past-his-prime line. Ohhhh! Thugga Burn! (Sorry, Slim.) Do you concur?
R: On the Slim issue, I think he still pulls off "thug anthems," but a clothing line? Nah, lacks branding. When I try to get Houston artists booked in Japan, they ask for Bun and Pauls prices... just sayin'.
FWIW, though: Z-Ro & Trae, maybe somethingike "Guerilla Gear." I'd cop that just on the strength of them being 100 percent since I met 'em.
