Ask A Rapper Some Rappers: What Do Houston's ATW MCs Know About Hockey?

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(s): Church and Montana of ATW

This Week's Subject(s): Hockey; stereotypes; Soulja Boy's career

Ask Some Rappers: Well, let's begin with something near and dear to most any rapper's heart: Olympic Hockey. How about Canada, eh? We're very disappointed that they beat Team USA. We mean, we couldn't name anyone on the USA team, but still. They had on red, white and blue emblems on their jersey, so Go America. Right?

Church: I don't watch hockey at all, but go USA, right. Get the fuck outta here.

Montana: Go America, most def. Funny how one of the NHL's biggest stars (Sidney Crosby) was the one to put the nail in the coffin on the U.S. team. The kid is nice.

ASR: Why does anybody choose to be a rapper anymore? It's like, there seems to be very, very little money in it. You get maybe one or two people a year that really take off, but that's it. Might your time would be better served trying to learn how to juggle? That's a skill with some real earning potential.

C: I think people try to rap just 'cause, but more importantly for the fame not for the love. But that's wack. I blame the Internet.

M: The infamous "Would you be doing this even if you never got paid for it?" question. Definitely. Me and Church have been rapping together since high school for fun. I freestyle every time I get in my car and [am] riding down the freeway. I come up with songs in the shower washing my hair. This is just how we are and we would love to share it with the world.

ASR: Mind, there will always be "Houston rappers," but there has been a definite surge these last two or so years by local rappers that are actively straying from the Houston rapper stereotype. You guys are a prime example. Did the 2005 explosion of Houston rap sway the arch of ATW's sound one way or the other, or was the boom just some shit that happened in the past that didn't reach you all creatively?

M: Honestly, the stereotype thing didn't sway our style one way or another. We were always different, it's just that now people are starting to recognize the flow. I figure it's all for the better, because right now the time is right and a lot of other artists are coming around so that Houston can make a resurgence in the game. This time we are completely reinvented and I feel we will be at the forefront of the next stage of rap's evolution.

ASR: Have you ever used the phrase "I done came through" in any of your songs?

C: Hell naw!

M [laughs]: Yes, but it was specifically as a parody on the obvious.

ASR: Have you ever choreographed a dance to Lil' Keke's "Bounce and Turn"?

M: Sorry, never really had dancing feet.

ASR: Starting now, we always end this segment with a hypothetical question. How about this. You get to choose between one of the following: You can either have Soulja Boy's career and money and discography and place in rapper lore, or you can never, ever be more than a blip on the local rap radar. Which is it?

C: I'll take neither for 500.

M: Show me the money. No, I'm kidding. Life is about creating memories. Although the money is nice, people are ultimately gonna remember you for what you do and what you represent and I just can't go out like that.

Follow ATW on Twitter at @atwmusic and see them online at atwuniverse.com.