Contributed by Alex Viard on 6/15/07 

Before Eminem, before D12, there was Phat Kat. He was the first rapper from the city of Detroit with a major label record deal. Playing the Guru to Jay Dee’s Primo, the MC/producer duo known as First Down released “A Day With the Homies” b/w “Front Street” 12″ on Payday Records in 1995. In addition to appearing on numerous Slum Village releases the rapper also known as Ronnie Cash has released many a Detroit classic, including the Dilla produced “Dedicated to the Suckers.”

His 2004 release Undeniable, boasted exclusive production from both the duo previously known as B.R. Gunna (Black Milk & Young R.J) and the legendary Dilla himself. Backed by a bevy of fresh beats from one of hip hop’s most legendary producers, Phat Kat steps it up a notch with his newly released Carte Blanche. As he embarks on his first national tour as a headliner, dropmagazine.com caught up with Detroit legend, Phat Kat to get his thoughts on the state of Detroit hip hop, youtube videos, and more.

Drop Magazine: First off, for people who might not be familiar with your work, who is Phat Kat and what does he bring to the hip hop scene?
Phat Kat: Phat Kat aka Ronnie Cash, one of Detriot hip hop’s founders. “Front Street.” “A Day With the Homies,” 95′ Pay Day Records. First Down, group - me and Dilla. “Dedication to the Suckers,” 2000. I done been on all the Slum Village albums, toured with Slum Village for years. Undeniable album 2004, on Barak Records - no longer with Barak, now I’m out in San Francisco under Look. 2007, Carte Blanche. Just dropped [last] Tuesday. On tour - that’s where I’m at right now.

DM: This is your first headlining tour. How does it feel to be the guy that everyone is there to see?
PK: It’s all good, it’s a part of what we do man.

DM: Who else is on that tour with you?
PK: Myself, Slum Village, DJ Design, DJ Dez. And then we got Illa J, Dilla’s little brother. We got him doin’ some joints out here too.

DM: A lot of people don’t know about Illa J. Can you catch people up to speed on him?
PK: He a lil’ protégé. Like I said that’s Dilla’s little brother. He’s on the production tip and he’s ill on the mic. We just got off the road, now’s he’s in the lab working on his album and me and him are working on some new stuff.

DM: The single, “Cold Steel,” that Dilla produced is crazy, and the video you did is even crazier. It’s hands down one of the best music videos we have seen in a long time. How did the concept of the video come about and who was involved in the creative process?
PK: When I first heard the song “Cold Steel” it just made me think about guns, you know what I’m saying. We just wanted to talk about what people do when they have guns and the effect they have on society. That was the whole concept behind the video. We just wanted to show the world the effect that guns had on Detroit.

DM: Detroit’s been goin’ through some tough economic times and its been in bad shape for minute. But you don’t always get a feel for how bad it really from listening to the music. What’s your perspective on how these problems are addressed in the city’s hip hop?
PK: Oh yeah man, I think it needs to brought to the forefront. It’s bad and we need to just raise the awareness for people to make a change. We gotta bring some dialogue up and, you know, that’s what I hope the video will do.

DM: What are your intentions for the “Cold Steel” video? Is it meant to be an internet-only video?
PK: We definitely going for all the TV and stuff like that. Next week hopefully MTV2 will pick it up and then other channels will pick it up in a minute, it just depends what’s out right now.

DM: What are your thoughts on how youtube and mySpace are now providing a new avenue for artists to get themselves out there?
PK: That is like the best thing sliced bread. It opens yourself up to the world. More people can really see what you doin’, so I think that’s the real ticket.

DM: What is on the horizon for Phat Kat?
PK: Just keep on clickin’. Helpin’ cats that’s workin’ on what they doin’. Just really trying to make good music. I just wanna stay a part of the movement, the Detroit hip hop movement, and keep putting out good music. Spread the awareness, it’s worldwide. That’s what I wanna keep doin’.

DM: Do you have anything you wanna add?
PK: I want everybody out go out there and get the Carte Blanche. Get it, listen to it, and just let people know that there’s still a choice out here. You can still hear good music. You just might have to dig a little for the good stuff more but it still out here being made.

RELATED CONTENT

• • VIDEO Phat Kat ft. Elzhi “Cold Steel” (prod. J Dilla)

  • PHAT KAT Carte Blanche

  • AUDIO Danny Brown ft. Big Herk and Phat Kat “What Up Doe”

  • Fat Ray Interview

  • PHOTOS dropmagazine.com Launch Party