OK guys #1 I dont know if this has been posted so lock it up if necessary. #2 I got this from another site where "General Manangers are real" so I dont think the link will work. Take it for what its worth but it was an interesting read. Hi Everyone,does some of you remember me? Now i work for the biggest hiphop website in china www.hiphop.cn Last week i interview Ron Ron via mail. I think it worth the read Enjoy!! Hiphop.cn:Whats up Ron Artest, welcome to Hiphop.cn,the biggest hiphop website in China. Whats your reaction when you first heard that there are million of hiphop listeners in China? Ron: I knew that the Chinese culture was receptive to Hip Hop culture. Hip hop is almost like a religion. It's an expression of mainly pain and suffering. I think rap is more of a job, and hip hop is more about expression. Hip hop has been heavily watered down and knocked off course by the big money makers. There are many artists who are scared to make music for themselves and they cater to the boss with grey hair or light skin who never ever been caught in a cross fire, or been racially profiled, or cut in the face, or been face to face with multiple crack heads. The hip hop I'm accustomed to is Rakim. Rakim should be able to say what's hip hop and what's not. And give the other good music a different genre. Hip hop is also influenced by God, meaning artists like Run DMC and positive hip hop. I think gangster rap is a fake. I think it should be labeled pain music. Hiphop.cn: Okay,since you join the Rockets, there will be a lot of chinese fans watching you, so which do you perfer? All these chinese fans vote for u and make you a All-star again this upcoming season or All of them buy your new rap mixtape? Ron:: I'd rather them help people in poverty than buy my mixtape, or find ways to improve corruption than waste time voting for me to b an All Star. Hiphop.cn: Tell us about your upcoming mixtape with DJ Drama, we know Drama has been doing mixtape with some big name like 50 Cent and Ludacris. So what can we expect from this release? Ron: The mixtape is a free album. Download it for free. We r the best rap group out that no one knows about. Hiphop.cn:Whats your thoughts on current Hiphop industry? Why it's so hard to sell music? Ron: It is not hard to sell music. I think people who buy music are not stupid. When 50 put out "Curtis" he tried to fool people and his fans wanted that real 50. Same with Nas and "Nastradomus" and Jay with the "One" album he had that was unsuccessful. The A&R these days are not that good, with the exception of a few. People don't want to hear lies, they want pure hearted music. Hiphop.cn: So who's your favioute rapper? I have seen your pic with Queens rapper like Mobb Deep on internet,did you ever collaborate with them? Ron: My favorite music is old school and Queensbridge music. My favorite rapper is Shady, but only his first two albums. The best rapper from Queens is Tragedy. He is in jail Hiphop.cn: When will be a another studio album like <My World>coming out? Will you try to collaborate with Texas rapper like Chamillionaire,Paul Wall and Lil Flip since your move here? Ron: I want to do an album with all Houston rappers but I don't have a label deal. Ill see if I can get it worked out. Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Big Pokey and Mike Jones are good people. Hiphop.cn: From what I know, you like rap just as your like basketball. So when you retired, will you be a full-time rapper, or maybe run a record label? Ron: When I retire I will get my kids' albums ready. They already have one album done. I will always record, it's fun. Hiphop.cn: Have you ever listen to Chinese hiphop? Now you join rockets,is there a possibility for you to work with chinese artist and producers? Ron: I would love to do an entire album with a Chinese producer but I don't know anyone and don't have distribution. Hiphop.cn: Okay,lets get back to basketball,whats the chance of winning it all for rockets this year? Ron: Rockets have the best chance to win it all. Hiphop.cn: Which postion need upgraded now for rockets?Point guard or Backup center? Ron: We have all we need!! Hiphop.cn: In offence, you need the ball in your hand to make play, but in rockets, the ball is always in Rafer and T-Mac's hand, so how do you adjust? Ron:As long as we play team ball it doesn't matter! Hiphop.cn: So you don't mind being a backup? Ron:I think I am the best defender so I can contain pretty effectively. Hiphop.cn: Many rockets players like Scola,Battier,Francis,Hayes all got the shoes deal from Chinese Shoe company. What do you think about that? Do you hope to get one too?LOL Ron: I don't think people would want my shoes... Maybe we should do a blog to see if people want me to come out with my own shoe? Hiphop.cn:Thank Ron Artest for doing this interview, what else you wanna say to Chinese hiphop fans and basketball fans? Ron:Let's make the world better, not worse!!
