SRN caught up with Max Minelli for an exclusive
interview. He explains what's taking so long to
release his long anticipated album Pain
Medicine and drops game on what lyricism and
success means.
Max had so much good and deep things to say
that we had to break this interview into two
interview. He explains what's taking so long to
release his long anticipated album Pain
Medicine and drops game on what lyricism and
success means.
Max had so much good and deep things to say
that we had to break this interview into two
parts. So check out what the Baton Rouge legend had to say below.
You can read the text or listen to audio.
You can read the text or listen to audio.
Max Minelli (Part 1) - (May 2008) | Interview By: Big T
| About Southern Rap News | Advertise on SRN | Copyright 2008 All rights reserved |
SRN: Alright, just introduce yourself to everybody, let everybody know who you are
[for those] who ain’t familiar with you man.
Aiight, this Max Minelli, a.k.a. Max Pain. I’m from Baton Rouge, 225, Jigg City. Uh, I
started with a group called Concentration Camp with C-Loc, Young Bleed, and Lil
Boosie, and now I’m just doing my thing trying to come up.
SRN: Ok, ok, so uh, It’s been a lil minute since your last album came out…so uh when
can we expect something new from you and what ya got planned?
Man, my new shit The Remedy come out May 13th. That’s uh, that’s my first release on
Koch Records. I got a deal with Koch…uh that’s what took so long for my...in between
releases, I had signed a deal with them. And uh… (inaudible) once you get on them
labels, you got to get they system, you got to deal with all the politics and bullshit of
that. So I been dealing with that for the last two years. Then you know I dropped a
couple of mixtapes and underground albums since then, but The Remedy May 13th,
that’s the first thing they putting out for me, so we’ll see how that do. I think it’s my
best shit that I have done to date.
SRN: Now let me ask ya, me personally, I’m a real big fan of the music man. All your
albums man…real talk…you got straight up albums, and you got singles within a good
ass album. Do you feel that as good as your albums are, do you feel that among your
peers, who are fans…do you feel that you get your proper respect for your music?
Uh…I feel like I get my respect because people who really love my shit man, they really
love my shit and they go out they way to let me know they love my shit. You know,
even a few rappers done hit me up and you know like they feel my shit. The only
thing that I feel like is…I just don’t have that hype like you know a lot of niggas…I feel
like my music is that shit that…you know how it be that shit where you know about
something and you just want to come to niggas like, shit nigga you don’t know
nothing about this shit right here. You know what I’m saying. That’s how I feel my
music is to the people who fuck with it and they be like whenever the rest of the world
catch up to it, people who been on it gonna be like…man I been on that shit and you
late, you know what I’m saying. So with the people who feel my shit, I feel like they
show me nothing but love and respect…and that’s the reason why I still do this
shit…for them. You know what I’m saying…that’s the only thing that keeps me
motivated. You know what I’m saying.
SRN: Coming up out Baton Rouge, which has a nice popping music scene in itself but
outside of maybe Boosie and Webbie, it’s still kind of regional. Do you think that that’s
kind of a hindrance to your career maybe?
When you say regional, do you mean as far the sound or just how far it done went so
far?
SRN: Well not so much the sound, more so where you’re located.
Yeah…definitely…definitely…cuz if I was from Atlanta or you know what I’m saying, a
bigger city, I would’ve probably been…ya know…man trust me, I done been to every
label in New York and you know its like they don’t respect smaller markets, you know
what I’m saying. Which I don’t know why because I feel like people are people…and
like what makes a motherfucker in a bigger city any different than the people down
here. If I can get these people down with my movement, then what’s the difference?
You know what I’m saying…so I think it has to a certain extent. Niggas in a big city
they don’t (inaudible) so it will be hard to go there and break in they city, so you know
it’s just a bunch of different things and different ego’s and politics that a nigga got to
deal with. You know what I’m saying.
SRN: Well this something that perplexes me man. I feel that lyrically, and this just my
personal [opinion] and I shouldn’t be too personal as the interviewer, but you
definitely in my top ten and ain’t too many underground independents in my top ten.
I appreciate that man
SRN: Oh no problem man, I really think you’re that good, but they saying cats from
the south ain’t lyrical. What you got to say to that statement.
Man, me personally I feel like the best rapper right now is Andre [3000], so if he ain’t
lyrical…I feel like he’ll crush any nigga out…New York or wherever…any nigga, they can’
t fuck with him to me personally. Now as far as niggas saying that niggas from the
south ain’t lyrical, I guess it all depend on what you call lyrical. Cuz just because we
don’t talk about a bunch of shit that a nigga don’t what we talking about [do] that
mean we not lyrical. But at the same time, they call niggas who really be saying a
bunch of shit I don’t really know what they talking about lyrical. You know what I’m
saying, so I’m like okay, cool. What you got to talk about? Uh… splitting neutrons and
atoms and shit to be lyrical, but don’t nobody know what the fuck that is. You got to
still relate to people. I feel like when people listen to your music, when they take that
three or four minutes out they time to give you that attention, you owe them
something that they can relate to. Something that they can feel one way or the
other…and if I’m talking about nuclear physics on a record, who wants to hear that
shit? But if I talk about a nigga pain, a nigga struggle, shit a nigga go through, the
way a nigga feel…if that makes me less lyrical then hey I’m less lyrical, but as long as I
touch a nigga heart then that’s all that matters to me.
SRN: So you been in the game for quite a time doing it independent, and as you know
the independent game done really took off, especially in the south. How do you
define your success and do you feel you’ve been successful?
That’s a good ass question. I feel like I’ve been successful cuz I’ve been eating off of
rapping for ten years and I’m straight. I ain’t got no Bentley or no fucking million dollar
mansion, but I got nice shit and my family took care of and all this come off rapping. I
feel like I’ve been successful in that way cuz I know it’s a bunch of niggas
who…especially these days… everybody think they a rapper, but the difference is a
million niggas think they rappers, but out of a million it might be only a thousand who
can say I eat, I pay bills, I take care of my family and my responsibilities off rapping.
To me that’s successful cuz that’s a blessing from God man and you can’t slap God in
the face with that one. Now at the same time, do I want to graduate to the next level
of success? Yes I do, and that’s my goal and that’s what I work hard for to keep
gradually climbing up the success ladder. As far as your question of my level of
success, I feel like I have been successful…like if I don’t go another step forward in
rapping, I feel like God blessed me. I feel like I touched somebody. A lot of people hit
me up and say that I touch them, or I helped them a certain way in they life or a
problem that they was going through…you know through a record. To me that’s what
it’s all about. That’s why I feel God put me here [inaudible]. That’s what I feel like my
responsibility is, and if I did that, then I’m successful.
[for those] who ain’t familiar with you man.
Aiight, this Max Minelli, a.k.a. Max Pain. I’m from Baton Rouge, 225, Jigg City. Uh, I
started with a group called Concentration Camp with C-Loc, Young Bleed, and Lil
Boosie, and now I’m just doing my thing trying to come up.
SRN: Ok, ok, so uh, It’s been a lil minute since your last album came out…so uh when
can we expect something new from you and what ya got planned?
Man, my new shit The Remedy come out May 13th. That’s uh, that’s my first release on
Koch Records. I got a deal with Koch…uh that’s what took so long for my...in between
releases, I had signed a deal with them. And uh… (inaudible) once you get on them
labels, you got to get they system, you got to deal with all the politics and bullshit of
that. So I been dealing with that for the last two years. Then you know I dropped a
couple of mixtapes and underground albums since then, but The Remedy May 13th,
that’s the first thing they putting out for me, so we’ll see how that do. I think it’s my
best shit that I have done to date.
SRN: Now let me ask ya, me personally, I’m a real big fan of the music man. All your
albums man…real talk…you got straight up albums, and you got singles within a good
ass album. Do you feel that as good as your albums are, do you feel that among your
peers, who are fans…do you feel that you get your proper respect for your music?
Uh…I feel like I get my respect because people who really love my shit man, they really
love my shit and they go out they way to let me know they love my shit. You know,
even a few rappers done hit me up and you know like they feel my shit. The only
thing that I feel like is…I just don’t have that hype like you know a lot of niggas…I feel
like my music is that shit that…you know how it be that shit where you know about
something and you just want to come to niggas like, shit nigga you don’t know
nothing about this shit right here. You know what I’m saying. That’s how I feel my
music is to the people who fuck with it and they be like whenever the rest of the world
catch up to it, people who been on it gonna be like…man I been on that shit and you
late, you know what I’m saying. So with the people who feel my shit, I feel like they
show me nothing but love and respect…and that’s the reason why I still do this
shit…for them. You know what I’m saying…that’s the only thing that keeps me
motivated. You know what I’m saying.
SRN: Coming up out Baton Rouge, which has a nice popping music scene in itself but
outside of maybe Boosie and Webbie, it’s still kind of regional. Do you think that that’s
kind of a hindrance to your career maybe?
When you say regional, do you mean as far the sound or just how far it done went so
far?
SRN: Well not so much the sound, more so where you’re located.
Yeah…definitely…definitely…cuz if I was from Atlanta or you know what I’m saying, a
bigger city, I would’ve probably been…ya know…man trust me, I done been to every
label in New York and you know its like they don’t respect smaller markets, you know
what I’m saying. Which I don’t know why because I feel like people are people…and
like what makes a motherfucker in a bigger city any different than the people down
here. If I can get these people down with my movement, then what’s the difference?
You know what I’m saying…so I think it has to a certain extent. Niggas in a big city
they don’t (inaudible) so it will be hard to go there and break in they city, so you know
it’s just a bunch of different things and different ego’s and politics that a nigga got to
deal with. You know what I’m saying.
SRN: Well this something that perplexes me man. I feel that lyrically, and this just my
personal [opinion] and I shouldn’t be too personal as the interviewer, but you
definitely in my top ten and ain’t too many underground independents in my top ten.
I appreciate that man
SRN: Oh no problem man, I really think you’re that good, but they saying cats from
the south ain’t lyrical. What you got to say to that statement.
Man, me personally I feel like the best rapper right now is Andre [3000], so if he ain’t
lyrical…I feel like he’ll crush any nigga out…New York or wherever…any nigga, they can’
t fuck with him to me personally. Now as far as niggas saying that niggas from the
south ain’t lyrical, I guess it all depend on what you call lyrical. Cuz just because we
don’t talk about a bunch of shit that a nigga don’t what we talking about [do] that
mean we not lyrical. But at the same time, they call niggas who really be saying a
bunch of shit I don’t really know what they talking about lyrical. You know what I’m
saying, so I’m like okay, cool. What you got to talk about? Uh… splitting neutrons and
atoms and shit to be lyrical, but don’t nobody know what the fuck that is. You got to
still relate to people. I feel like when people listen to your music, when they take that
three or four minutes out they time to give you that attention, you owe them
something that they can relate to. Something that they can feel one way or the
other…and if I’m talking about nuclear physics on a record, who wants to hear that
shit? But if I talk about a nigga pain, a nigga struggle, shit a nigga go through, the
way a nigga feel…if that makes me less lyrical then hey I’m less lyrical, but as long as I
touch a nigga heart then that’s all that matters to me.
SRN: So you been in the game for quite a time doing it independent, and as you know
the independent game done really took off, especially in the south. How do you
define your success and do you feel you’ve been successful?
That’s a good ass question. I feel like I’ve been successful cuz I’ve been eating off of
rapping for ten years and I’m straight. I ain’t got no Bentley or no fucking million dollar
mansion, but I got nice shit and my family took care of and all this come off rapping. I
feel like I’ve been successful in that way cuz I know it’s a bunch of niggas
who…especially these days… everybody think they a rapper, but the difference is a
million niggas think they rappers, but out of a million it might be only a thousand who
can say I eat, I pay bills, I take care of my family and my responsibilities off rapping.
To me that’s successful cuz that’s a blessing from God man and you can’t slap God in
the face with that one. Now at the same time, do I want to graduate to the next level
of success? Yes I do, and that’s my goal and that’s what I work hard for to keep
gradually climbing up the success ladder. As far as your question of my level of
success, I feel like I have been successful…like if I don’t go another step forward in
rapping, I feel like God blessed me. I feel like I touched somebody. A lot of people hit
me up and say that I touch them, or I helped them a certain way in they life or a
problem that they was going through…you know through a record. To me that’s what
it’s all about. That’s why I feel God put me here [inaudible]. That’s what I feel like my
responsibility is, and if I did that, then I’m successful.
