Chatting W/ L's: Starlito (cont.)

2L's: First off, for those who are unfamilar with Starlito, fill everyone in on the man behind the name.

Lito:It's Someone Trying And Really Living It Truly Officially (acronym)

2L's: Now I say Starlito now, opposed to Allstar. What influenced the name change for you?

Lito: Obviously, Carlito's Way, but less because it's a "Gangster" movie and moreso because of the underlying theme of a man torn between where he is and where he wants to be. Plus it rhymed. I suppose it was a form of recreating and reinventing myself artistically. Some of my most recent and most inspired work (IMO) "Renaissance Gangster" w/ DJ Burn One further explains my thought process as a street savy dude trying to let my morals and good sense prevail. Aside from all that, I had been known as "All Star Cashville's Prince" on some legal shit, and I felt like I had out-grown that. Not necessarily "All Star", but that long name for a title, etc. I'm me, I always will be. I'll respond to either. "LITO" seems to be what sticks, and what people use the most. Ladies, I even heard that if you say it three times fast all your dreams will come true.

2L's: You released a good number of songs and mixtapes in 2009. What was your favorite track or mixtape that you released and what can we expect for 2010?

Lito: Around the time I quit college, again, I decided that I wanted to return to form from when I had stopped going to college the first time to pursue rap as a career (2004). I dropped four mixtapes in 9 months, had never been on the radio, and earned a record deal. I was reminded by my loyal day one type fans of the quality and consistency of my original releases. The only difference I observed was an obvious hunger that was there at 19 when it was a now or never, do or die or get locked up type of mentality I was 'trapping' myself within.
I did the same with the 3-part LOVE series (I Love You Too, I Love You Too Much w/DJ Folk, I Still Love You w/DJ Burn One). I also released Tenn-a-keyan 3 w/DJ Crisis. I approached it similarly as I did before I had a deal, a following, etc. I would have to say "I Love You Too Much:The Necessary Evils" & "I Still Love You: Live from the Back of Class" were a tie because they both had that "play me straight through" album feel. They were different tapes though. I had liked "I Love You Too Much" and it was being very well received so it was hard for me to convince myself that I should drop another tape so soon. But after a while I just stopped thinking about it so much and the "I Still Love You" tape almost recorded itself. I had no features outside of my group (Trash Bag Gang) , and I didn't work In-studio with any producers. Just me and my natural/cosmic influences.I just figured with the internet as the vessel that it has become I would just channel my energy into what I'm blessed with, musical and lyrical talent. I'll spend this spring on the Live from the Kitchen Tour w/ Yo Gotti & Waka Flocka Flame. What I created through that massive amount of work I released was a spike in my demand curve. I also had quite a few records designate themselves as potential singles, which in this day and age is your lifeline as a hip-hop artist.
Choosing a favorite track would be a little harder. I'll try choosing one off each tape. "Made it This Far" off "I Love You Too" was a song I liked. I didn't curse and I jacked a Biggie Smalls beat w/ no regard, reference to the original song. I can remember it being just me and the beat as if the beat was made at the beginning of that studio session. "I Know Now" featuring Robin Raynelle off of "I Love You Too Much", because it was so brutally, and angrily, honest. Also, because that song immediately became my mother's favorite song, which was bittersweet considering the tone. I figured if it got her attention enough to appreciate it, then I was good at my job. To be comfortable being honest is almost lost in this artform and genre. Some of the most successful and sought after hip-hop music is absent of feeling and emotion. I like the idea of going the other way. Also, I had a different hook on that song originally. Getting in the studio and taking it apart with Robin turned it into a record rather than some frustrated rap shit. Broadway did his thing on the instrumentation with the Faith Evans Sample, and moms even noticed that and called me about it. On "I Still Love You" I'm partial to "Live from the Back of Class" feat. Mike J. It had no hook and I love everything about the song. The track is bumping, the raps are a good mesh. It's got a school theme, but it's like we are rapping right outside of the classroom while smoking. Kind of tripped out I guess, but not really for someone that actually sat in the back of nearly all their classes.
I can only hope and pray that 2010 allows for me to see a return on my investments from 2009 and yesteryear. I've already released Tenn-a-keyan 3.5 (but that whole series is more beat jacking). "Renaissance Gangster" w/ DJ Burn One is an album in the sense that it's all original production from Burn One. Starlito's Way 3:Life Insurance is my Street Album and conclusion to the Starlito's Way Series.

2L's: What can we expect from the upcoming Starlito's way 3: Life Insurance Mixtape?

Lito: A delay. Not from the record label/corporate end. But because I like "Renaissance Gangster" so much and that's alotta of original music back to back. I have been pushing for March 13th, which is ironically my mother's birthday. I've been finished since before I finished "I Still Love You" (released 12.22), but times change, and my temprement surrounding all this changes even more frequently. Maybe not a huge delay, but just til I get tired of people inquiring about it, which might be til March 30th or perhaps the Tuesday after Easter Sunday.
Completely unrelated, but I gave up eating other rapper's beats for Lent along with a few other things. No beat jacking til Easter, so maybe I'll do one Easter, put it out that Monday, then release the Album that Tuesday. This is the first time I mentioned any of this about a date change.
Content-wise, I just want to showcase the growth since "Starlito's Way 2" (2CD) which won me some awards and was extremely well received. It had some heavy and auto-biographical content. I was reaching and stepped into a space that at the time I hadn't with my music. The intro-spective. I had lived, gotten myself into my unfair share of trouble, and had surrounded myself with some energy that had me uncertain of the future. Some of that music was recorded not knowing if I'd survive. I think it was well received because it is part of the human condition that we really never if there will be a tomorrow. If I sounded angry, I was. If I sounded hurt, I was. If I sounded lost, etc. I actually was. Not just making those records, or making random records about feelings.
This time, I had upgraded my studio and had the luxury of recording at the crib. Because of that, I had done sooooo much music in between the time of Part 2 and the time that I decided to start on Part 3. I just sifted through everything and try to offer what an album would sound like if I had full creative control. Labels water down, and even if not intentionally, influence the recordings of artist. I say this having submitted probably 100 songs that have never been released. I know I lost some bangers in the process, because they've either become outdated or I just forgot about them. I ain't with that. I rap too well, and since I bought the equipment to be able to do it whenever I got the time, I figure this is the way I should do it. (laughs) Starlito's Way.
2L's: You've recently been speaking of the Trashbag Gang. What members does this consist of and where did you all get the name?

Lito: Right Now it's Mike J, Red Dot, and myself. Those are my two of my real-life every day homeboys. Mike started releasing music shortly after I did, and Red just kind of dove in to this rap thing head first after he got into some trouble. He going hard though. He rapping like he trying to get out of the streets, which i'd assume is why any street-cat would pursue the rap game. The name comes from having excess baggage (laughs). Naw, but seriously it's street content. That's where our bond starts and so it makes sense within the music. They making it fun for me again, and we've been working consistently. Whatever opportunities my ventures offer, tour included, I plan on using it as a launching pad for the group and my label (Grind Hard).

2L's: I'm sure everyone wants to know if you are still affiliated with Cashmoney Records. Are you still in touch with everyone? And can we expect any future work with them?

Lito: I hadn't really thought about it. I saw all those guys while I was at Yo Gotti's "Women Lie, Men Lie" video shoot. I guess you'd have to ask them.

2L's: Congradulations on making the cover of the February edition of Concrete Magazine! That had to be a good feeling for you right?

Lito: Sure. It was about the fourth time I had been on there. 2nd time by myself. The other two times alongside Yo Gotti. Being recognized is generally pretty cool. I guess even more when it was brought to my attention that increase in there ads and pages from other issues (laughs). I don't mean to keep laughing. I ain't trying to provoke no other kind of backlash, just restating what was brought to my attention (laughs). Concrete tries to give artist from Nashville a look that they might not otherwise be able to offer themselves, and I think that's good. I was partial to this one because I was smiling on the cover. I had a hard time smiling for a long time. Either because I was dwelling on what wasn't or because I couldn't find much to smile about. My fans have reminded me that neither of those frames of mind were where I was supposed to be.

2L's: Can you give any insight on who you're looking to work with in the near future and what's next for Starlito?

Lito: Perpetual Motion and forward progress. "Renaissance Gangster", "Starlito's Way 3", TRASH BAG GANG project, the tour w/ Yo and a label tape w/ I.E. (Gotti, Zed Zilla, Don Trip). My Clothing Brand and Label, Grind Hard. I got two singles in the streets that I'm behind, "Alright" & "I Go Ham"

2L's: What motivates you as an artist and what advice could you give to other artists looking to start a rap career?

Lito: This may seem cold, but my advise for someone looking to start a rap career is DON'T. I'm the same guy that suggests that you let know one crush your dreams, but I just wouldn't advise anyone to get into this cut-throat game. The business structure is fading, and I think there is less room to establish a career. I'm motivated as an artist by life and all it's influences whether good, bad, happy, or sad.

2L's: What seperates Starlito from other rappers in the South?

Lito:I think I'm extremely witty. An honest wit that comes from my interactions and experience. I guess that makes it genuine. I'm not trying to make anyone else less significant or genuine by saying that, but sometimes I listen to my music as if it's not me. I am my biggest critic and favorite rapper. I kind of take pride in being smart too. I think there are some other smart artists that hide it in their artistry. That's fair if they're doing in favor of marketing or getting a desired sound, but I'm just trying to put it all together. I want to be what I display.
2L's: How can we listen to your music and keep up with Starlito?
WWW.GRINDHARDONLINE.COM
TWITTER.COM/LITO615
MYSPACE.COM/STARLITOGRINDHARD

2L's: Ok, now I always ask those who I interview about my site. Just for fun, what do you think about the 2Lsonacloud site?

Lito: I think it's a cool site. For the fashion conscious hip-hop head its got a cool edge that offers enough to provoke new trends. It's cool to see someone give a look to what they prefer. Most blogs offer that, but it's not just a music thing, and it's not just a shoe thing, not just a clothing thing, etc. Plus it describes the weed head state that a certain portion of my music embodies. Just playing, sort of.(laughs)