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Interview: Anthony Hamilton (Pt. 2)

The movie, American Gangster, gave a pretty real take on the hustler lifestyle. It showed the glory, but it also showed the gritty. What was your take on the character Frank Lucas after seeing the movie?

I don't want Frank Lucas to be a superhero but, you know, let the story be told, and let people see the downside of that lifestyle as well. Even though you're very successful in this business, you also are tearing down and destroying a whole lot as well. You're successful at being financially wealthy, but you're also successful at destroying a whole generation of people. It was a good movie; it was interesting what he endured during his journey through the whole drug thing, but still, it left a lot people feeling like they wanted to be Frank Lucases, till it gave them the real at the end. It think he got off a little easier because he cooperated, but there's a lot of people who don't end up in good shoes, and do not have an attorney ended up as their best friend. It was a thing where you have to teach your kids, and point out the very important parts of the movie.

When I listen to your music I can really relate to it on that real life level. Do you feel like sometimes music, and pop culture in general, glosses over the hardship and only shows the glorified part of the hustler lifestyle?

Yeah, they do. I guess it's all about sex, money and rock n roll. Sex, drugs and rock n roll, they sell. They have to portray the sexiest part of it, or the grittiest, and sometimes they forget about the in-between. So sometimes they forget about the loss, and the love. They forget about the loss in the family,the death, and all the heartbreak that comes along with it.

I know everybody has got to eat, and nobody gets into music to be broke, but do you think that sometimes it is all about the money and not necessarily about the art?

Of course. A lot of times its about the numbers. But, they still have to realize that the average listener is not a dummy, and if they give them the product, they will definitely embrace it. Record companies need to realize that they have the power to put out what is needed. The Internet is going to do it if they don't.

No doubt about that, folks are taking it right to the streets. I know you have been an artist with a lot of integrity who has been able to stand on your own, and do what you do on your own terms, but did they ever try and shape you into something you weren't when you were just getting started?

Oh yeah. I was signed to Uptown MCA so I had the outfit, the haircut, the shades, you know. It was the "soul man" outfit back in 94, 93. It was more like a gimmick for me, and as time went on I kept trying all the gimmicks. Then I just allowed myself to be, and that's when I came up with the trucker hat, and the natural nappy head. I tried it my way.

Word, the truth has set you free, as they say. Did I hear about a fifth album coming out soon?

Yes.

When can we look for it? What is the name of it?

It will be in June, it's called The Life of a Southern Gentleman.

Hopefully being in this movie, this big Hollywood blockbuster, will put your face in front of a few more people who can go out and experience your music now.

Yeah, I've got people's noses and ears open.

—Chas Reynold
03.0.08

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