DUB Daily

Life is a whirlwind for a 22-year-old busy buck such as Lil’ Scrappy. This young Atlanta, Georgia rapper cut his teeth in the world of rap during his early teens and was barely old enough to get into the clubs where he performed.

Always the rebel, Lil’ Scrappy had some rough times growing up. He had to attend boot camp (where he finished high school); his high school principal said it was either that or go to jail for selling narcotics. He was cocky and arrogant, but not stupid. With boot camp behind him and a better plan ahead of him, Lil’ Scrappy continued to grow his craft.

That’s not to say he didn’t still have some rough moments. There were tussles that resulted in injury, such as the one when he was hit with a bottle and ended up with stitches in his mouth. The crowd was actually throwing bottles inside the club, and Scrappy just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Luckily, reconstructive surgery and a positive attitude helped him mend quickly. During this period, rapper 50 Cent reached out to Lil’ Scrappy and, with a little guidance, helped him get through the situation.

Not too many people did this for Scrap, but 50 told him not to fret, keep his head up and not to worry about anybody but himself. Part of that healing meant getting in shape through boxing and weight training. Lil’ Scrappy’s father used to be a powerlifter, so the physicality definitely runs in the family. As far as his mom is concerned, Scrappy says she’s a “gangsta.” She’s hardcore and means what she says. Yes, she’s his mama, but she is also his advisor and lets her son know what’s up, what she doesn’t like and what he needs to do. She makes it her business to be in his business.

The Crunk Prince from ATL has been in the game two years since the success of the dual EP The King of Crunk & BME Present: Lil’ Scrappy & Trillville (Warner Bros./BME, 2004). People were hungry to find out more about the young rapper. Was he a new member of Trillville or a bona fide rapper from the South?

Eventually, he also worked with G-Unit; these days, it seems that everyone wants to work with Lil’ Scrappy. Nevertheless, he says that he’ll only work with those that he respects and sees are true to music. He won’t work with someone who’s fleeting or someone that he doesn’t see potential in their future, as well helping his own.

With Bred 2 Die Born 2 Live (BME/Reprise/Warner Bros., 2006), Lil’ Scrappy was more involved with the project. The producers granted him greater creative responsibilities, including how his music was being marketed and how his image would be seen in the media and, most important, by his fan base.

There was a lot of new stuff going on for him in Los Angeles, California, while working on the new album, such as cross-promoting the BME clique and 50 Cent’s G-Unit label. For Lil’ Scrappy, it was not a time to chill, not when his iron was hot; so, he set out to make sure his next outing would be bangin’. That meant having the best of both worlds: Lil’ Jon’s beats and 50 Cent doing the hooks and being executive producer on Scrappy’s sophomore effort.

As for those who diss him (such as other Southern rappers), Scrappy just tells it like it is, “I don’t have people write my sh*t; I just go into the recording booth and let it flow. It’s already inside of me; it’s in my heart!”

Watching him rap in person is like watching an explosion in slow motion, seeing all that energy flowing out; it just comes out of him, bigger and bigger with each flow. With that much energy, it’s no surprise that Scrap wants to get involved in other endeavors like acting and getting back to his clothing line (which has been on hold).

Lil’ Scrappy makes no bones about making more money—if there’s a will, there’s a way. Especially since he’s got his daughter’s support—she’s his inspiration and strength. There isn’t anything in the world he wouldn’t do for her, and he wants to secure her financial future while he can still do his thing, making that big money. However, he also realizes that as much as success can bring you and your crew great things, it can all be gone in a second.

“God has blessed me,” Scrappy says. “He’s given me this talent that I can use, and I will always have my daughter as my inspiration.” So what else keeps Scrappy grounded you ask? “What helps keep me normal when things are crazy are my homies; laughing and joking and sometimes arguing, but mostly having a good time with each other as we go out chasing the ladies!”

Can you just imagine what a night on the town with Lil’ Scrappy and his homies would be like?

“Let’s just say I like all kinds of women,” he says. “I appreciate them for what they are…oh, yes!”