Street: What brings you to Philadelphia? Had you known anything about Penn? Nappy Roots: I don’t know the college. Is that Drexel? I was in the barbershop and my barbershop is called Philly’s Barbershop. It’s in Atlanta. So when those folks from the frat [Beta] called us up I was like, oh, Philly.
Street: Has your song “Ballin’ on a Budget” taken on any new meanings in this economy? NR: It still means buy the drinks you drink, but not to excess. Watch how you conduct yourselves when you have a good time — have fun, but live within your means.
Street: Can you explain the “y’all done up and done it” part of your hit single “Awnaw?” NR: Imagine a solid gold Hummer on 26" triple gold Daytons, and a guy opens the door and you see that the interior is crushed velvet with a Burberry steering wheel. And go ahead and throw a party ball in there, too. You see that guy and say “Aw, he done up and done it!”
Street: What’s different about the Pursuit of Nappyness tour from the stuff you’ve done before? NR: As MCs and writers we’ve become a lot sharper over the years, branching out into a new rural America feel — not just that down South style. As artists we always have to reinvent ourselves. We’re not college kids no more. As an artist it’s important to show growth, to go against the grain. We do what we do and it doesn’t resemble anyone else.
Street: It’s a catchy title. What does it mean for you? NR: It symbolizes what we all go for in life. It’s like, from the frame of reference of Will Smith in the movie… tryin' to get a slice of the pie. Keep it Nappy. We have a message to our movement, and if we can leave shows with that then we’re doing what we do.
Street: What would you say the message to your movement is? NR: You don’t need a necklace to make you seem cool; you don’t have to rob the bank to make you fly. We speak to the common man — we’re no different. We have issues and kids and we’re humans. Educate yourselves not just through high school, but try to take that next step. Because if you don’t, someone will try to sell you a rock, and you’ll think that rock is something else. For example, everyone wants to be a rapper because they think rappers make a lot of money, but the game is oversaturated with people who want to be rappers. If more people knew this, they’d all want to be lawyers. If you were educated about over-population you might not have so many babies. We’re not really speaking on birth control, but you know, wear a condom.
Street: You guys met at Western Kentucky University. Have you ever been to the Kentucky Derby? NR: For awhile they didn't allow black folks to partake in the races. We'd have cookouts and be with family, but for a while it was very segregated. The race is only like a minute or two, but it's really about everything else after that. Cruising, Patron and cook-outs.
Street: What were you guys like in college? NR: Well, we weren’t in a frat or nothing but Scales was a hooper, so we rolled with the basketball team. We didn’t alienate ourselves on the yard or anything. At the parties we would be the guys rapping, but [Nappy] didn’t happen all at once.
Beta Theta Pi Presents: Nappy Roots When: Tonight, 10 p.m. Where: Club Roxxy 939 N. Delaware Ave. Tickets: $20 Proceeds will benefit the Ian L. Cali Fund for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (F.O.P.) Research. F.O.P. is a rare, disabling genetic condition. It causes bone to form in muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues, eventually forming a second skeleton that imprisons the body. Jason Cali, a senior in Beta Theta Pi, is organizing the event in honor of his brother Ian, who suffers from the disease.
