Big Lou Interview "The Spanish Frank White"

Big Lou AKA “The Spanish Frank White,” represents out of one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, Camden, NJ. A true product of the hood, Big Lou flipped money earned on the street into studio time, an independent album (which sold over 3500 units), & live shows. The energy that Big Lou brings at his performances caught the attention of DJ Kay Slay & helped him get put down with The StreetSweepers. The underground buzz that Big Lou has generated also earned him several Underground Music Awards, including “Best Artist,” “Best Lyricist,” “Most Original Artist,” and others, all while being unsigned. Coming up in a city stuck in between Philly & NYC, Big Lou’s reputation on the east coast is heavy, but this may be an introduction for some of you outside the tri-state area & definitely for those outside of the US, so lets get right into it with a video by man, Big Lou, called “Crack Head.” This shit will definitely open your eyes & the video is necessary to complement the lyrics.

That shit was dope, right? Big Lou definitely took a step back from his normal hard-hitting lyrics to pen that very personal track & I ain’t mad at ‘em – I love concept records. He definitely showed he has more versatility on a track than a lot of artists out right now, but being talented & being Latino, comes with some baggage, too. All Latino artists are compared against the talent and memory of Big Pun & while it’s a beautiful thing to be compared, it’s also important to let each rapper rest on their own talent & Big Lou definitely has that. That talent has also caught the eye of Fat Joe, who fired off at Big Lou that he was a “Big Pun clone,” which just perpetuates the bullshit Latino artists already have to go through on the come-up. I didn't think it was true, but I do think Joe needs to embrace fellow Latino artists and get back to hip-hop. Instead of posting Big Lou’s reply diss track @ Fat Joe, “Elephant’s Nightmare,” I’m just gonna keep it moving, and let you peep this next track, called “From Now Til Then Remix” - joint is FIRE!

DJ Rhude Ft. Big Lou, Jadakiss, Crooked I & Prod. by Alchemist

The Streetsweeper connection is a good look for Big Lou, so we can definitely expect him to continue to put in work and grind out those mixtapes, freestyles and definitely more and more tracks. I reached out to Big Lou a few weeks back & he showed me mad love, so y’all be sure to peep the following interview & show love back. He spoke on a lot of important topics and stuff that are definitely better coming from him, then me, so peep this last track while you read the interview, then be sure to add ‘em on Myspace here. Also, check out the countless freestyles & videos on youtube & definitely follow along with the dude as he continues to come up. Peace, SAV*ONE.

Big Lou Ft. Busta Rhymes & Papoose – The Last Lyricists

1. Whats's good, Big Lou? How are you holdin' it down out there?

Everything is good. I got camden on my back and I'm trying to put the world on that motherfucker (LOL).

2. Your story truly IS about coming up & making it, so what can you share with the readers about being raised in the streets and finding your way into the music industry?

I never really made it. I'm grindin harder now since I got my foot in the door. God really knows I work hard. The job is unfinished. I have to constantly work on the promotions. This is a funny business. If you stop working hard the industry and the fans move on to the next nigga real quick. But thats what the streets teach you. If you don't work hard you stay behind. The music business treats you the same way as the streets. You have to hustle your way up to be a boss.

3. You were recently credited with a few underground hip-hop awards, how does it feel to be embraced like that & know people are showing you love?

A few? I broke every record. I'm the only artist in the history of the Underground Music Awards that has won 4 times and been nominate 6 times. The funny shit is that I was the only unsigned artist that was nominated in every category. The fans picked the winners. Thats why the awards mean something to me cause the fans sent a message that real hip hop still runs through their veins.

4. You can't walk down an avenue in NYC without seeing a mixtape being sold with you featured on it - which DJs have you been working with so far & can we expect more of the same in the future?

I've been working with a lot of up and coming DJ's like DJ Nut, My man DJ Rhude which we're working on some exclusive shit for upcoming mixtapes. I just recently connected with Big Mike. He will be getting some exclusives from me soon. I've touched base with Tony Touch. He saw me kill a show I was doing with Slay and he wanted to do something. I've been in touch with a lot of up and coming dudes and the funny shit is that there's more DJ's that are putting songs on their mixtapes out of love than niggaz that I'm actually working with. I appreciate the love so since it's like that, here's my Myspace and you got my e-mail, so get at me I got some joints for you too.

5. You truly DID make the song cry on the track, "Crack Heads" - what is it like to put out a concept record like that, which is obviously very personal? Who produced that track?

My man E-Dubb produced that track. The track came from the heart. I have 2 brothers that was crackheads and just living through the pain I seen my mother going through and the obstacles as a family we went through; I just put that pain in the music and it wound up affecting a lot of people that went thru the same shit I went thru at home. And to go deeper not to be judgmental to crackheads if you out there every night, hustling, stripping, fucking with prostitutes, gambling then you a crackhead too. Niggaz that pass judgment is probably just as guilty or worse than a crackhead. There people out there not taking care of their families and doing all kinds of fucked up shit.

6. For the readers not in the tri-state area or not familiar with it, can you speak on the beef with Fat Joe, and the diss track, "Elephant's Nightmare"? Hip-hop was based on battle rapping and competition, is that all this is and will it remain on wax?

Hip hop is based on battles and competition, but when you got a nigga saying he gonna wire my jaw its personal. Why he said that about me I dont know. The shit is he better play his lane and i'll play mine. The shit is if he came my way cause I'm a liver emcee than him then prove it on wax. If you talking wreckless and saying you're gonna wire my jaw then its personal. He should embrace up and coming latino rappers instead of feeling threatened by us.

7. Latinos are always considered a very proud group of people, so naturally you are proud to represent your heritage, but who do you feel shares the spotlight with you in that regard?

Yo, I think every Latin artist grindin out there to make it deserves respect. The odds are already against you and we all get stereo typed. Everytime one of us comes out they immediately compare us to Pun. Pun is a Legend and one of the greatest to ever do it. While it's not fair to Pun or the artist being compared to him, it's still an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence with him.

8. Are you basically out there alone or do you have a group, or individual artists you are hoping to bring along with you on the come-up?

I have a couple of Lions traveling with me but they understand how we rollin. They understand how we do things. They can do them if they want, but they understand that patience is a virtue. They have to understand I'm building a dynasty myself and if they're patient their time to shine will come.

9. What can we expect from Big Lou in the second half of 2008 and into 2009? Are there label negotiations in the works?

There's definitely label negotiations and you will be hearing a lot of noise in the next year. You can always expect more from Big Lou cause I always expect more from myself. Mixtapes, DVD's. Collaborations, radio appearances, guest spot on albums, magazine interviews, Independent Film, all that is coming.

10. This is your chance to say whatever you feel to the readers, me, the music industry - its all you, fam - what would you like to share in closing? I wanna thank you for taking the time out of your day - I know you put in work and your grind is well-respected, so we will continue to hold you down. Peace

Shout out to you SAV*ONE. I definately know you a nigga on your grind. My friends & Family. To all my fans in camden NJ. Big Homie Kay Slay and my Streetsweepers Family. All the producers, artists, and publications that supported Big Lou from Day one.