10 Minutes With Ace Hood
HHG: How do you separate yourself from falling into the category of being just another gimmick rapper?
AH: At the end of the day, I'm in my zone regardless of whatever I maybe going through. At the end of the day, you just got to be come off as real as possible, and get everything off you chest. With people, you don't want to be too arrogant, or too far from what people can relate to. At the end of the day, I'm a young dude. I can't try to portray all this crazy stuff. I'm a real dude. That's why you never nothing too crazy from Ace Hood. At the end of the day, it's all 100. We just want to keep it real with the people, and not be to far off. At the end of the day, you just want people to be able to feel you.
HHG: A lot of people who weren't familiar with you, began taking notes after your performance on the cipher with Fab, Juelz, & Jada during the BET HipHop Awards. Do you feel a lot of people do underestimate you talent because you are so young?
AH: Maybe they do. The thing about it is that we're going to continue to go hard. The one thing that sets me apart is my hunger, my starvation, and my versatility on records nah mean? We can do whatever. We could do lyricism or whatever. The one thing about me, is that I'm not a one base artist. That's one thing about artistry in rappers. There's rappers, and then there's artists. I'm an artist. We have versatility. We do this. We could do lyricism. We could chop it up and go fast. We could swag it. We could do Dade county swag. It's however you feel it. I could do your swag if you need me to. You understand me? So at the end of the day, it's all about versatility. It's about establishing that longevity in the game.
HHG: It's funny you say that in regards to lyricism. Do you feel people, especially the New Yorkers, underestimate your talent because you are from the south?
AH: Yeah, yeah, oh definitely. It's because lyricism is big in certain parts. It's big in the New York parts, and cities like that, rather than the down south. At the end of the day man, one thing that I was always told was that if you're versatile, it's always better.Just having lyricism, lyricism, lyricism, isn't always needed to create a hit record. I've made hit records without the huge punchlines, and without this, and without that. But, we can still do it. The mixtapes, the freestyles and stuff, we do it. That's the time for that. But as far as when you're listening to music, people don't wanna hear nothing that's too crazy. They just want short, simple, and straight to the point so they could understand you.
HHG: Do you feel like the togetherness that Florida has developed asides from the Rick Ross & Trick Daddy incident will help the state remain relevant in rap?
AH: You know that brothership with me, Ross, and guys like Khalid were just all built within each other. It's like a mobb you know what I'm saying. We all have love for each other. You know anything that anyone of us may need, we're always there for one another. That's one thing about it; I could be in Switzerland and plug in the the Deeper than Rap. Ross could be in Dubai bumping that Ace Hood Ruthless. It's love you know what I'm saying. That's one thing that keeps us strong.
HHG: How much of a role has Khalid played in your career thus far?
AH: Oh man. Khalid has been big man. He really has been a great CEO man. He's been a rolemodel. Being with Khalid man, I respect him so much, just because he's a hard worker. He's actually a grinder. He built his way into Hip-Hop. He built his way. He molded himself into music rather than others you know? It's much respect and love for my brother Khalid because he has played such a big role in my life as far as my music career. He could definitely bring 210% out of Ace Hood, and not only me, but a Rick Ross. Like a whoever. Like a {Lil}Boosie. Like a {Lil} Wayne. Like a Fat Joe. He always could bring out the best of them. Khalid is that heartbeat of the whole movement. You understand me? That's why I look up to him, because at the end of the day, real recognizes real. He just a real nigga.
HHG: Do you feel people sleep on the fact that he has an eye for talent?
AH: I don't think so just because he helped build the best. He molded the best. He helped mold a Wayne. He helped mold a Ricky Ross. He helped mold anybody you could think of. He helped mold a lot of people's career that you maybe fans of. You understand me? At the end of the day, he has the respect of an Ol' G. So that's how I look at it. You feel me?
HHG: As far the XXL Freshman 10 is concerned, do you feel you haven't been receiving as much attention in comparison to a Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, etc.
AH: Nah not really. You know why? Because every city I've been in, has shown love for Ace Hood. Unless you go to one part of the world, and they ain't really heard too much of me, but other than that, nah. Of course, I know that's been a lot of Ace Hood flowing around and stuff. I don't feel no hate. Maybe in certain parts, but otherwise, I haven't been anything bad about Ace Hood.
HHG: The album is out. How are you feeling?
AH: I'm blessed man. I'm truly blessed. To have a second LP, and then try to make a third LP is a blessing. The second LP, we getting it in. It's another classic just like how Gutta was. You what I mean. All we got is hit records. We never gonna stop. We going to keep on going.
HHG: How were you able to get all these big features for the album.
AH: Through the relationships of Khalid, and through the relationships I've developed in the game. I could holla at an Akon, and be like "yo lemme get a favor", because he's so down to earth. Same thing with T-Pain. Just through the relationships that Khalid has with them, and being able to be like "Hey can you do this for Ace"? I appreciate all those things man.
HHG: I know you ready to get back to the party, but real quick, 5 years from now, where do you see yourself in the game?
AH: Man I'm going to be so rich. My brand is going to be like a Bad Boy label. We're going to be one of the biggest mobs in the game. We going to have everything on smash. I might just build another community in another island or something. Show you what We The Best is! Nah, but for real, 5 years from now, I just hope to be successful. One day, I could have artists of my own being able to buy their own million dollar cribs, and have things of their own. Have their own Bentleys, and Phantoms. I just wanna have Ace Hood bumping in every city, like a New York. I could just have an Ace Hood poster board, or an Ace Hood clothing Line. Just have a brand for myself. I just want people to see Ace Hood as the rapper, the dude with the clothing line, all while the money is counting up. That's how we gonna get it.
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