Musab: The Rejuvenation of a Pimp

HHDX: You’ve got a new album out. What can people expect from this here?
Musab: They can expect to hear some hot shit, naw mean?

HHDX: You’ve definitely got a great history in the underground rap world. What would you say are your top 3 moments in the game and why?
Musab: My top 3 moments of my career? Shit man. My first moment was when I got to play with Redman. At the time, he was like my rap idol. That was my first big show and it was in 94. Let’s see…um…That’s a good question, man because I’ve had a lot of good moments. Then, when I released Comparison in 96, when I was using the name Beyond. That was good for me because that was the first album we released on Rhymesayers. Just that record, what it did for underground rap, from coast to coast, is a major move in itself. At the time, I didn’t even know how major it was. But now I can look back on it like “Man! I was put in the right place, at the right time to have an impact on Hip-Hop.” And my third moment is right now. Joining up with Hieroglyphics and my boys over here, because now I’m rejuvenated in my career. With this new record, I’m squashing everybody man! I’m taking over rap.

HHDX: Your bio talks about the pimp game and describes you as a real life mack. Is that something you have done or that you do? How did that influence your life?
Musab: I got a statement that I say: You can only be who you are. That’s what I know. So, growing up around that, it’s basically who I am. It’s part of my DNA. So, it had to influence my music because I just write what I feel. That’s the sole reason I’m doing music is to express my emotions. It’s my personal iPod. If people can feel it, then that’s great.

HHDX: You’re Muslim, right? What kind of internal battle do you face being Muslim and being a pimp?
Musab: I deal with the same internal battle that basically every human being has because we are all created by the same God. Ain’t nobody walking around perfect. Deep down inside, all humans have this internal battle. I just happen to admit mine.

HHDX: In a statement, I read that “creative differences” caused you to split a long tenure with Rhymesayers Entertainment. What exactly were the differences that created the friction?
Musab: I would have to say, man…I mean…let’s not get things crossed. I’m still cool with the guys over there. I just seen them. We’re all good. They came down to the show we played the other night. But the fact still remains that obviously I’m the black sheep on Rhymesayers. When you take that roster of artists that are on Rhymesayers, Musab is the black sheep. Everybody I’m sure knows that. I guess they felt that they didn’t want to deal with the content. Continued on page 6 »