Alfamega: Home Invasion
Whats an emcee without a story to tell? Its almost become the perfect Hip Hop recipe for artists to spit how past hard times have contributed to the artist they have become. For Alfamega, his name and story began at the end of his federal bid in 2002. During his seven years on lock, this ATLien used his time to pen over 1,700 songs, arming himself with enough lyrical ammo to come out spraying. After recording with David Banner, he signed to Universal only to get dropped. Keeping it close to home, he eventually hooked up with old friend T.I., signed with his label and became the official Grand Hustle Muscle. His stand out verse on the platinum selling T.I. vs. T.I.P. cut "Hurt" featuring Busta Rhymes only increased his visibility and made him hungry for more.
Flipping his lyrics between the personal and the party, his video and single Uh Huh has been getting plenty of play on the airwaves. With his debut I Am Alfamega finally set to drop in October, this bully-rapper is eager to make up for lost time. Take a ride with HipHopDX as this Atlanta Westside O.G. gives an introspective glimpse into the life of man who says hes just like us, a hood messiah, and so much more.
HipHopDX: What section of Atlanta are you from?
Alfamega: West side. You know thats the best side. Born and raised on the West Side. Techwood Projects. The first projects in the United States. 118 Pine Street, apartment number four. Google me. [Laughs]
DX: Once I Am Alfamega hits the streets October 14th what do you think the world is going to know about you as an artist and a man?
Alfamega: They gonna know that I am real. They gonna know that I am me. And Im just like they are.
DX: In what way?
Alfamega: Im human. I dont have anything to hide from anybody. I dig in my nose too.
DX: Whats Hip Hop missing that Alfamega is bringing?
Alfamega: Some reality. Reality and that story. Remember how Biggie and 'Pac used to do that storytelling music? Music like if it wasnt nothing but one song on the album, you think, I fucks with that song. Ya feel me? So thats what Im bringing.
DX: How was it working with T.I. and Busta Rhymes on the "Hurt" track?
Alfamega: It was lovely. It was a funny story. When I did my verse, Busta [click to read] hadnt done his verse yet. Tip [click to read] did his. So, I knew that in order to sit on a verse with Tip, I had to come hard. I didnt know who Tip was gonna put on, but I knew I had to outshine everybody that was on that track. No disrespect to either one of them, those are my brothers, but I had to stand out because no one knew who I was. I had to put my twist in it.
DX: Your sound is so aggressive. I saw a description of one of your videos on line describing you as a beast. Do you think that was accurate?
Alfamega: Umm hmm. What you think? Thats basically me. Im still a good person.
DX: I want to quote one of your lyrics. I did the totally impossible when I touched down. Like the rose that grew through the crack in the ground. With no rain no sun or love at all just my heart my dedication and some very big"?
Alfamega: ...Some very big balls, so I dont owe a nigga nathin'.
DX: What have you gone through and experienced that makes your lyrics feel so real?
Alfamega: Ive been through it. Ive been to hell and back. You are a woman. Women go through hell every day in the world. Thats why a lot of women feel [Mary J Blige]. When she sings you can feel her. People took to Tupac because they felt 'Pac. People took to Biggie because they felt Biggie. Biggie said, Heartthrob never, black and ugly as ever. That said to you as a woman, Yo, thats an ugly nigga but I like him.
DX: You had a contract years ago with Universal. How much did having that situation fall through make you grow in the music business?
Alfamega: I already had the business side. When we went into Universal, we had a joint venture. I didnt go in as a regular artist. It helped me grow and know you had to have an opinion. Dont go in just looking for the money. Have an opinion on the type of music you do in your career. Take more of a hands on approach with everything.
DX: Has being down with the Grand Hustle family been one of your biggest accomplishments?
Alfamega: Its been an accomplishment but not the biggest. My biggest accomplishment has been staying free.
DX: You mean that literally and figuratively?
Alfamega: Yes. Staying free on the streets. Not going back to prison [and] doing a lot of negative stuff I used to do. Thats an accomplishment.
DX: What got your mind there?
Alfamega: My children and the things that I went through the last bid I did. I said never again. They not going to get me like this. Im going to turn this negative into a positive. Imma make them hate they locked me up.
DX: So Hip Hop is changing your life right now.
Alfamega: Changed my life? Changed my address. Changed the school my children go to. It changed the way I look at everything. It introduced me to people from all walks of life that I never would have met doing negative stuff.
DX: Speaking of negativity, a lot of people got the Shawty Lo and T.I. situation all twisted. Why do you think Hip Hop loves a good feud?
Alfamega: Because life is a competition and it keeps the pulse of Hip Hop beating. It shows respects for its original beginnings.
DX: How much fun did you have shooting the video for Uhhuh?
Alfamega: It was hot! We filmed it in Atlanta. It was 104 degrees each day. I think I lost like 10 pounds. It was so fun because I took it back to the hood. I told them I was coming back. They couldnt believe it. No lie, I had some people told me, You like Jesus around here. I said stop talking blasphemy. They told me, I didnt get it. They never thought I would be the one.
DX: How did that make you feel?
Alfamega: It made me feel good that I know I brought a smile to their face. I gave them hope. I let them know that they can do it.
DX: Outside of being an artist, you are also a man who gives back to his community. What kinds of projects do you have going on?
Alfamega: I do cookouts. Ive paid rent. I go in the community and pay for haircuts. I put people on my street team. I dont do it for the recognition. You aint gonna read about it a lot when I do it. Some people do it for the recognition. I dont. As long as the hood knows I did it, Im cool.
DX: If you werent an emcee, what would you be doing?
Alfamega: From what I know now what about music, with the business, Id be managing somebody that was an emcee.
DX: What did you want to be before you got into the business?
Alfamega: I cant tell you that. We got to be politically correct.
Flipping his lyrics between the personal and the party, his video and single Uh Huh has been getting plenty of play on the airwaves. With his debut I Am Alfamega finally set to drop in October, this bully-rapper is eager to make up for lost time. Take a ride with HipHopDX as this Atlanta Westside O.G. gives an introspective glimpse into the life of man who says hes just like us, a hood messiah, and so much more.
HipHopDX: What section of Atlanta are you from?
Alfamega: West side. You know thats the best side. Born and raised on the West Side. Techwood Projects. The first projects in the United States. 118 Pine Street, apartment number four. Google me. [Laughs]
DX: Once I Am Alfamega hits the streets October 14th what do you think the world is going to know about you as an artist and a man?
Alfamega: They gonna know that I am real. They gonna know that I am me. And Im just like they are.
DX: In what way?
Alfamega: Im human. I dont have anything to hide from anybody. I dig in my nose too.
DX: Whats Hip Hop missing that Alfamega is bringing?
Alfamega: Some reality. Reality and that story. Remember how Biggie and 'Pac used to do that storytelling music? Music like if it wasnt nothing but one song on the album, you think, I fucks with that song. Ya feel me? So thats what Im bringing.
DX: How was it working with T.I. and Busta Rhymes on the "Hurt" track?
Alfamega: It was lovely. It was a funny story. When I did my verse, Busta [click to read] hadnt done his verse yet. Tip [click to read] did his. So, I knew that in order to sit on a verse with Tip, I had to come hard. I didnt know who Tip was gonna put on, but I knew I had to outshine everybody that was on that track. No disrespect to either one of them, those are my brothers, but I had to stand out because no one knew who I was. I had to put my twist in it.
DX: Your sound is so aggressive. I saw a description of one of your videos on line describing you as a beast. Do you think that was accurate?
Alfamega: Umm hmm. What you think? Thats basically me. Im still a good person.
DX: I want to quote one of your lyrics. I did the totally impossible when I touched down. Like the rose that grew through the crack in the ground. With no rain no sun or love at all just my heart my dedication and some very big"?
Alfamega: ...Some very big balls, so I dont owe a nigga nathin'.
DX: What have you gone through and experienced that makes your lyrics feel so real?
Alfamega: Ive been through it. Ive been to hell and back. You are a woman. Women go through hell every day in the world. Thats why a lot of women feel [Mary J Blige]. When she sings you can feel her. People took to Tupac because they felt 'Pac. People took to Biggie because they felt Biggie. Biggie said, Heartthrob never, black and ugly as ever. That said to you as a woman, Yo, thats an ugly nigga but I like him.
DX: You had a contract years ago with Universal. How much did having that situation fall through make you grow in the music business?
Alfamega: I already had the business side. When we went into Universal, we had a joint venture. I didnt go in as a regular artist. It helped me grow and know you had to have an opinion. Dont go in just looking for the money. Have an opinion on the type of music you do in your career. Take more of a hands on approach with everything.
DX: Has being down with the Grand Hustle family been one of your biggest accomplishments?
Alfamega: Its been an accomplishment but not the biggest. My biggest accomplishment has been staying free.
DX: You mean that literally and figuratively?
Alfamega: Yes. Staying free on the streets. Not going back to prison [and] doing a lot of negative stuff I used to do. Thats an accomplishment.
DX: What got your mind there?
Alfamega: My children and the things that I went through the last bid I did. I said never again. They not going to get me like this. Im going to turn this negative into a positive. Imma make them hate they locked me up.
DX: So Hip Hop is changing your life right now.
Alfamega: Changed my life? Changed my address. Changed the school my children go to. It changed the way I look at everything. It introduced me to people from all walks of life that I never would have met doing negative stuff.
DX: Speaking of negativity, a lot of people got the Shawty Lo and T.I. situation all twisted. Why do you think Hip Hop loves a good feud?
Alfamega: Because life is a competition and it keeps the pulse of Hip Hop beating. It shows respects for its original beginnings.
DX: How much fun did you have shooting the video for Uhhuh?
Alfamega: It was hot! We filmed it in Atlanta. It was 104 degrees each day. I think I lost like 10 pounds. It was so fun because I took it back to the hood. I told them I was coming back. They couldnt believe it. No lie, I had some people told me, You like Jesus around here. I said stop talking blasphemy. They told me, I didnt get it. They never thought I would be the one.
DX: How did that make you feel?
Alfamega: It made me feel good that I know I brought a smile to their face. I gave them hope. I let them know that they can do it.
DX: Outside of being an artist, you are also a man who gives back to his community. What kinds of projects do you have going on?
Alfamega: I do cookouts. Ive paid rent. I go in the community and pay for haircuts. I put people on my street team. I dont do it for the recognition. You aint gonna read about it a lot when I do it. Some people do it for the recognition. I dont. As long as the hood knows I did it, Im cool.
DX: If you werent an emcee, what would you be doing?
Alfamega: From what I know now what about music, with the business, Id be managing somebody that was an emcee.
DX: What did you want to be before you got into the business?
Alfamega: I cant tell you that. We got to be politically correct.
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