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. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com.
This Week’s Rapper: Zavey
This Week’s Prompt: Were you given the ability, which six deceased music figures would you bring back to life?
Zavey: I choose Tupac, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, DJ Screw, Pimp C and Dolla.
‘Pac because he is the greatest of all-time and my biggest inspiration. I got so many questions to ask him.
MJ because I feel like the media lied to us about how he died. I wanna hear from him what happened.
Bob Marley because I wanna have a smoke session with him.
DJ Screw because he an H-Town legend; he laid the foundation for Houston hip-hop.
Pimp C because he was too real… correction, “too trill.” That’s what’s missing in the game right.
Dolla because I was a fan of music before he died and he was a great young artist that didn’t even get to reach his prime.
AAR: So what are the couple of questions you want to ask Tupac? Why he thought it was cool to wear a white bandanna tied in the front on his head?
Z: I wanna know everything about the rap game that he knew so I can get an idea of what I’m getting myself into.
AAR: Regarding Michael Jackson’s death, what do you mean “the media lied”?
Z: The media is full of shit. I don’t believe he died like they say he did. I feel like that was just a cover-up.
AAR: Who is Dolla? We’ve never even heard of him.
Z: Dolla was an underground artist from Atlanta signed under Akon. He was killed a couple of years ago. Look up The Miseducation of Dolla.
AAR: A Zavey playlist: List the best song from each of the artists that you mentioned.
Z: ‘Pac, “Death Around the Corner”; MJ, “Billie Jean”; Bob Marley, “Jammin'”; Every DJ Screw mix I’ve heard; Pimp C (UGK), “Wood Wheel”; Dolla, “Closer To My Dreams Freestyle.”
Follow Zavey on Twitter at @ImZavey.
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This article appears in Feb 9-15, 2012.