Tom P - Pretty Cool White Boy

No longer up and coming, Tom P has made a name for himself across the south. The eastsider discusses his work on the 808 Experiment Vol. 2, his ideal collaborations, and just how cool he really is.....through many laughs of course.

Miss Solow Dolow: I'm from Stone Mountain. What was growing up in Decatur like for you?
Tom P: Growing up in Decatur has been a great experience for me. You get to experience a very diverse group of people here. One day, I may be kicking it with a bunch of rich kids swerving around in an SUV, then the next night I might be hanging out in the dope spot, I was basically cool with everybody. I grew up off of Candler road and went to Decatur High which is right next to some project housing, and also only a minute from Decatur Square, everyone went to school there and for the most part all got along and partied together. I have always thought that was a unique experience that has really helped me a grow as a person and an artist as well.

MSD: How do you go from "the kid who raps and is actually good at it" to "the kid who raps and is fucking good at it"?
TP: Practice. A friend of mine wrote that in my MySpace biography. I guess when I first started rapping, like anyone, it still needed work. However, back then in our little world I was like the only guy anybody knew who was actually trying to rap, so I think everybody just supported it because it was original and I was their friend. But like I said, I was friends with everybody. By college I was selling out shows, and gaining more attention outside of the area plus getting gigs with national artists. Also, rap started getting more popular and a lot of other kids started trying to take a stab at it. But at that point I already had about 5 years of practice on them, and it showed. So I think everyone who had been supporting me took a second look like "Wow, he's not just our friend Tom trying to rap, he is actually is really fucking good at this" [laughs]

MSD: You've done several shows regionally. Who are some of your favorite artists to perform with?
TP: My favorite artist right now is Bobby Ray. Getting to do a show with him, meeting him and chopping it up was a great experience. I am proud to say that I know such a talented musician who is on his way to the top right now. I enjoy a lot of the local cats as well; Lyric Jones, The Canz, Grip, A. Leon, and FKI.

MSD: Your song on the 808 mixtape is one of the stronger tracks. How do you feel about that?
TP: I appreciate that. I aimed to do something that would stand out and knew it would be difficult with so many great artists on the same tape. I am a huge fan of everyone. I did not want to make a flashy song, instead I wanted to make an honest song. Like when you see me I may be up on stage but the next day I am waiting tables. Let the audience know that music is not easy. There are rappers out here focused on money and trends, some who even have money to buy their way in. They can afford the clothes, Patron, etc. While many others like myself are really out here grinding. Which I believe pays off. See, people can have the image and swagger, etc. but then no one cares or comes to their shows. I have always just offered good music and the truth, and I have typically bring hundreds and even thousands of people out to my concerts. Real recognizes real. The SMKA guys and I came up with the idea of the puppets as a metaphor for those who downplay that hustle and might judge me on my swagger instead of my musical abilities and the dues I have paid. What is funny is the song has almost generated two opposite opinions, people who absolutely love it, say it’s the best song on the album, and people who hate it. I take both as an achievement because when people can feel so strongly on something one way or the other that means it really stood out. Plus I can kind of laugh because the people who hate it, or do not get it, are probably the puppets.

MSD: What Atlanta artists would you like to collaborate with?
TP: Outkast, Goodie Mob, Young bloodz, and TI. I am actually about to be doing a lot of feature songs w/ some pretty big local and national acts... so stay tuned!

MSD: How is the underground scene in Atlanta?
TP: There are like 20 million people trying to be rappers[laughs]. I have never considered myself an "underground rapper." At one time that word just meant an artist who had not been signed yet. Now people seem to think it defines a certain sound of music. Like, people out here will strive to have an "underground" sound. I might have a song with a message, I might do a party song, but my music is always a representation of my real life experiences. Also, I will never slack on the lyrics or try to fit some pre-categorized idea of how hip hop should sound... I am tough to pin point, however I am getting pretty popular, and I think that has put me in an interesting position in the "underground scene." I think some of the "underground" rappers in Atlanta like to label me as a "mainstream" rapper, which I do not get.. I am not making snappy dance songs or singing in auto tune.. While the more "mainstream" cats consider me underground because my shit is "too lyrical". So I have come to the conclusion that a lot of people don't know what the fuck they are talking about. Luckily, I feel embraced by many of the artists in Atlanta.

MSD: Are you familiar with the rest of the bill for the Athens Show?
TP: Lyric is my home girl. I do not know the others personally, but look forward to chopping it up with them.

MSD: What can we expect on Marth 30th? (MY BDAY!)
TP: Haha, happy birthday! Well, I am currently working on my second independent album. Set to drop June 25th with a large summer concert in the works and early Itunes release. I will be doing some new stuff off of that and performing a lot of my classic material as well, probably getting wasted by the end of the night and making a fool of myself.

MSD: Why don't you like MySpace?
TP: [laughs] I mainly put that on there because I always forget to check it and people catch feelings like I am ignoring them. I would rather them hit me on Facebook or go to my web page. It does not seem like a very helpful tool anymore. Everyone on there is just another person trying to promote themselves and there is no shame in putting ads all over other peoples shit. It seems like a fake representation of how popular a group is. If you have time you can literally sit around all day and friend people until you have 20 million friends, it means nothing. I don't know it just seems dated to me.

MSD: You’re a pretty cool white boy......
TP: I'd like to think so...[laughs]