If I could tell Lil’ Jon to shut up musically, I think this is the way that I would do it. Another movement courtesy of the South and So So Def, is “snap music”. Think of it as a laid back version of its forbearer, "Crunk music," and right now – Dem Franchise Boyz are claiming the crown. With JD’s guidance, the Atlanta group has already knocked the label -- “one-hit wonders” from their repertoire.
“Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” and “I Think They Like Me (Remix)” has put DFB into the spotlight. A light that the Bankhead natives surely enjoy; Buddie, Jizzal Man, Pimpin and Parlaé definitely know that they are liked by the masses. The group sits down with HHDX.com and talks about the “lean wit it, rock wit it” dance, how “snap music” came about, and how they aim to stay on top of their game.
I’m going to get right into it. So far you guys have proven to not be a one-hit wonder group. “Oh, I Think They Like Me” [Remix] and “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” are still getting major burn. Do you think that the dance and the “snap music” craze has anything to do with y’all’s success? Or do you think that your fans can relate to you all?
DFB: It’s the music. It’s definitely the music. It’s because it’s different. The dance that we have just goes along with the snap music. We enjoy doing this. We do it for fun and the fans can really see that. When we have a performance, we just have fun with it. They can have fun with us too. It opens us up to everyone. You know… everyone loves to have a good time, so do we.
How did “snap music” come about? And for those that may not know – what is the name of the dance that you guys do in your videos?
DFB: The name of the dance is “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It”. The sound comes from using the computer program, Fruity Loops. When we first started – we did “White Tee” using that program. Right now, everyone is using the same sound that we started doing to get our music heard.
The South – Atlanta primarily – is known for its hospitality. It seems like everyone can get along down there. D4L has a song out now called, “Betcha Can’t Do It Like Me” and it seems like a diss to you guys and the things that you do. Is there any way for you and them to squash whatever differences may be between y’all groups and work together?
DFB: Who? Who? Who? I ain’t no nothing about them. Can’t even tell you about something that I don’t know no nothing about [laughs].
Well… okay, then. Moving on – Hip-Hop “purists” would say that the way that you act, the music that you make, the style that you represent – doesn’t portray Hip-Hop as it should be. The feeling is that you guys “coon” it up for the camera because that is what sells. Do you guys think that the critics are being too harsh on you? Or do you think that, by being in the music industry, that you have to give… in order to get?
DFB: Nah. Not necessarily. I mean critics are going to judge you by what they see and what they hear. We rap about stuff that we’ve actually been through. Critics just see you on television and just assume that they know all about you. We’ve been through everything that was in the CD. Everything that we did was real. That’s life. Someone anywhere is going to judge you, no matter what. If you’re doing good or doing bad, people going to take shots at you. It’s never going to stop, that’s just the way life is. You are going to always have haters. We’re just going to prove them wrong every step of the way.
I think that the music you guys make is good for the clubs. Do you think that that will be your tone throughout your career – making club anthem songs for people to dance to?
DFB: Man, we all talented. We’re all versatile. On the next album, we may deal with some Reggaeton, or any other music that comes our way that is interesting. Our skills leave the sky’s the limit. We can be and will be very successful within this game. Give us a few more years and we’ll be running the industry. You’ll have to come to us if you definitely want a hit. Aside from just us as performers, we have Franchise Productions, which is Parlaé and Pimpin’. Besides JD (Jermaine Dupri) – they did a lot of the tracks off of the album.
So then since the albums been out, what have been the ups, the downs, and the perks of y’all’s career, so far?
DFB: When we first came into the game, we didn’t have a manager. We were handling the business ourselves. That was our downside. We had to handle the day-to-day business while we were with Universal. But right now, we’re on top of our game with So So Def. We’re going to make sure that everyone associated with us is able to handle their business and stay on top of their game.
What about the perks?
DFB: Man… [laughs]. You know it’s the girls. Oh, I think they like me! [raucous laughter].
Okay, okay, okay… what is one misconception that fans and critics alike may have about Dem Franchise Boyz?
DFB: Everywhere we go we have a good response. There is no place that we’ve gone where no one isn’t liking us. We always get a good response. The fans do the dance, they listen to the songs, they enjoy themselves just like we do. This is all because. in the beginning, we proved ourselves by handling our business. We were able to grind through it all and we come out on top – shinin’ brightly.
At the risk of sounding repetitive with your music, what is to be the groups next single? Is there a video lined up?
DFB: Yep. We’re debating right now. Honestly, it’s up to the streets to decide on what the next single is. It’s either going to be “Freaky As She Wanna Be” featuring Trey Songs or “Stop Callin’ Me”. We’ve been getting a great response. On this album, man, really – we ain’t got nothing but hits. Serious, we have nothing but number one singles on this joint. Of course, we’re going to shoot a video. We’ll put it out there like we did with “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It”. But the streets are the listeners, so they can decide. They’re the ones that buy your album and make it a hit. We love them for that. We love the streets, for real.
Since you guys can’t be declared “one-hit wonders” anymore, where do you think your career will take you? Does anyone have any aspirations aside from music?
DFB: Right now, we’re focused on the music. But, in time, we want to mature our careers into acting and other areas, as well. We’re working on a clothing line called, “DFB Clothing”. It’ll be out for the public, hopefully, sometime next year. The clothes that you see us wear in all our videos, that’s us – that’s our fashion right there -- “DFB Clothing”.
So, it seems that you guys have a plan to stay on top of your game for years to come. Is there anything that you’d like to tell your fans and the readers here at HHDX.com?
DFB: The album, “On Top of Our Game”, is in stores right now [laughs]. Vote the video to the number one spot on any countdown. If they want those snap music beats, then you can hit Parlaé and Pimpin’ up at franchisepimpin@hotmail.com and franchiseparlae@hotmail.com. Be on the lookout for the next single.
“Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” and “I Think They Like Me (Remix)” has put DFB into the spotlight. A light that the Bankhead natives surely enjoy; Buddie, Jizzal Man, Pimpin and Parlaé definitely know that they are liked by the masses. The group sits down with HHDX.com and talks about the “lean wit it, rock wit it” dance, how “snap music” came about, and how they aim to stay on top of their game.
I’m going to get right into it. So far you guys have proven to not be a one-hit wonder group. “Oh, I Think They Like Me” [Remix] and “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” are still getting major burn. Do you think that the dance and the “snap music” craze has anything to do with y’all’s success? Or do you think that your fans can relate to you all?
DFB: It’s the music. It’s definitely the music. It’s because it’s different. The dance that we have just goes along with the snap music. We enjoy doing this. We do it for fun and the fans can really see that. When we have a performance, we just have fun with it. They can have fun with us too. It opens us up to everyone. You know… everyone loves to have a good time, so do we.
How did “snap music” come about? And for those that may not know – what is the name of the dance that you guys do in your videos?
DFB: The name of the dance is “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It”. The sound comes from using the computer program, Fruity Loops. When we first started – we did “White Tee” using that program. Right now, everyone is using the same sound that we started doing to get our music heard.
The South – Atlanta primarily – is known for its hospitality. It seems like everyone can get along down there. D4L has a song out now called, “Betcha Can’t Do It Like Me” and it seems like a diss to you guys and the things that you do. Is there any way for you and them to squash whatever differences may be between y’all groups and work together?
DFB: Who? Who? Who? I ain’t no nothing about them. Can’t even tell you about something that I don’t know no nothing about [laughs].
Well… okay, then. Moving on – Hip-Hop “purists” would say that the way that you act, the music that you make, the style that you represent – doesn’t portray Hip-Hop as it should be. The feeling is that you guys “coon” it up for the camera because that is what sells. Do you guys think that the critics are being too harsh on you? Or do you think that, by being in the music industry, that you have to give… in order to get?
DFB: Nah. Not necessarily. I mean critics are going to judge you by what they see and what they hear. We rap about stuff that we’ve actually been through. Critics just see you on television and just assume that they know all about you. We’ve been through everything that was in the CD. Everything that we did was real. That’s life. Someone anywhere is going to judge you, no matter what. If you’re doing good or doing bad, people going to take shots at you. It’s never going to stop, that’s just the way life is. You are going to always have haters. We’re just going to prove them wrong every step of the way.
I think that the music you guys make is good for the clubs. Do you think that that will be your tone throughout your career – making club anthem songs for people to dance to?
DFB: Man, we all talented. We’re all versatile. On the next album, we may deal with some Reggaeton, or any other music that comes our way that is interesting. Our skills leave the sky’s the limit. We can be and will be very successful within this game. Give us a few more years and we’ll be running the industry. You’ll have to come to us if you definitely want a hit. Aside from just us as performers, we have Franchise Productions, which is Parlaé and Pimpin’. Besides JD (Jermaine Dupri) – they did a lot of the tracks off of the album.
So then since the albums been out, what have been the ups, the downs, and the perks of y’all’s career, so far?
DFB: When we first came into the game, we didn’t have a manager. We were handling the business ourselves. That was our downside. We had to handle the day-to-day business while we were with Universal. But right now, we’re on top of our game with So So Def. We’re going to make sure that everyone associated with us is able to handle their business and stay on top of their game.
What about the perks?
DFB: Man… [laughs]. You know it’s the girls. Oh, I think they like me! [raucous laughter].
Okay, okay, okay… what is one misconception that fans and critics alike may have about Dem Franchise Boyz?
DFB: Everywhere we go we have a good response. There is no place that we’ve gone where no one isn’t liking us. We always get a good response. The fans do the dance, they listen to the songs, they enjoy themselves just like we do. This is all because. in the beginning, we proved ourselves by handling our business. We were able to grind through it all and we come out on top – shinin’ brightly.
At the risk of sounding repetitive with your music, what is to be the groups next single? Is there a video lined up?
DFB: Yep. We’re debating right now. Honestly, it’s up to the streets to decide on what the next single is. It’s either going to be “Freaky As She Wanna Be” featuring Trey Songs or “Stop Callin’ Me”. We’ve been getting a great response. On this album, man, really – we ain’t got nothing but hits. Serious, we have nothing but number one singles on this joint. Of course, we’re going to shoot a video. We’ll put it out there like we did with “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It”. But the streets are the listeners, so they can decide. They’re the ones that buy your album and make it a hit. We love them for that. We love the streets, for real.
Since you guys can’t be declared “one-hit wonders” anymore, where do you think your career will take you? Does anyone have any aspirations aside from music?
DFB: Right now, we’re focused on the music. But, in time, we want to mature our careers into acting and other areas, as well. We’re working on a clothing line called, “DFB Clothing”. It’ll be out for the public, hopefully, sometime next year. The clothes that you see us wear in all our videos, that’s us – that’s our fashion right there -- “DFB Clothing”.
So, it seems that you guys have a plan to stay on top of your game for years to come. Is there anything that you’d like to tell your fans and the readers here at HHDX.com?
DFB: The album, “On Top of Our Game”, is in stores right now [laughs]. Vote the video to the number one spot on any countdown. If they want those snap music beats, then you can hit Parlaé and Pimpin’ up at franchisepimpin@hotmail.com and franchiseparlae@hotmail.com. Be on the lookout for the next single.
