At first glance you wouldn’t suspect that this calm, cool, quiet guy was a rapper with catchy hooks, aggressive stage performances and one of the sickest word play rappers in the game today. Fatigue, a Ft. Lauderdale, Brooklyn representer has his mind set and is focused on one thing and one thing only, success. Recently he won the BET freestyle Fridays competition which has landed him a deal with Koch records, who have released records for Twista, BG, 8 Ball and MJG, Ray J, AZ, Boyz II Men and many others. With this accomplishment under his belt, his slick freestyle skills, his demeanor both on and off the stage, Fatigue is shaping up to be the Next Big Thing in Hip-Hop. Nine5Four The Magazine was able to catch up with this rising star and get a few answers from him. Here is what he had to say about BET, his performances and where he is going in the rap game.

So Fatigue, tell us what city are you currently reppin?

I’m repping Brooklyn and Ft. Lauderdale because I was born in Brooklyn and lived for a lil bit, but I also grew up down here. So I can’t forget neither.

How did you get the name Fatigue?

The name Fatigue came from me being the result of hard work. Everything I do I work hard at it. Hard work brings success. So I am Fatigue which is Success which is the result of hard work. Fatigue is the result of hard work.

 

Every young person in my family meaning my boy cousins, uncles, and brother were all involved in Hip Hop, so it was basically a genetic trait. We grew up on Hip Hop, it runs in the family.

Name some of the big accomplishments in your career thus far?

Well the one most important big accomplishment that I recently did, was winning BET’s 106 & Park Freestyle Friday Competition. That accomplishment now got me signed to Koch Records.

What is it like being on BET in front of all the cameras and people?

It’s a lot of pressure but its something you gotta get used to. It’s like a growing process and the opening door in stardom. It’s a great feeling having people know who you are and people saying that I inspire them.

When you’re on TV is your freestyles pre-written or off top?

My raps were written just because I had to be careful about what I say, and when I freestyle I tend to be vulgar and profane.

What do you think makes you different than the others in the game?

What makes me different is because I do not follow trends, most MC when they see a new thing they tend to adapt it for instance the auto-tunes program that T-Pain brought back, now every rapper and even R&B singers are jumping on it. I make music that pleases me first then I please my audience. Basically I keep it real with no one but me first.

What projects are you currently working?

The current move that we are working on right now is getting the single ready that we are going to release nationally thru Koch Records. We have so much other things in the works that I can’t talk about because I don’t want to jinx it, but definitely I believe that we are the future.

Who are some of your influences in the game?

My influences would be artist like Fabolous, Common, Jay-Z, Scarface, and even Timbo. There are so many others that I can’t even stop the list there. But I just listen to the music and study the mindset of every artist in the game and wonder how I can perfect what the are doing, reinvent what they already did, or create my own with pointers taken from them, but I am influences by everyone whether negative or positive.

What is your motivation? What is pushing you to keep going?

My motivation is my fans, friends, and family. They keep me going for the fact that I wanna make a difference in their lives, and I feel that just being successful and real I can do that. Also the game is wack right now, I don’t feel there is a variety of Hip hop out, just one type of style, and whether it be dope boy music, club tracks, or song solely based on money and hoes, I feel there should be a variety of everything. So my motivation is just to change the game. I can’t live to see Hip Hop like this; I feel it is my responsibility.

Where do you see yourself a year from this point?

I see my self getting ready to go on a world tour and I see myself as the new big thing.

Why do you rap besides getting money?

I rap because I feel like this is something I’m best at. Most people say for the love, which is another reason, but for me I feel there is really nothing else in life that I can do. I gave up everything to do this.

Do you feel you bring a positive message in your music?

I feel I show both sides, positive and negative. Reason being is because life is not all positive so to keep it real neither can my raps be. I am going to be in the position to influence many millions of people old and young. It is a responsibility to keep it real. I’m like the red pill in the Matrix. Or better yet the purple pill a mixture of both red and blue pill.

Describe a typical day in the studio with fatigue.

A typical day in the studio with Fatigue would be very serious and a very creative mood. I have no time for BS when I am trying to make history, therefore I need everyone that I am working with to be on their A game at ALL TIMES. That where the title “No Time For Sleep” (name of my album) comes from.

You’ve come a long way since you started. What was your first stage performance like? How did you feel?

It was nerve wrecking, you know presenting new material to an audience that never saw you but it’ll pass and you’ll get over the nervousness. But to be honest I can’t remember all details.

Do you have any advice to share concerning performing live and being front of the camera? Any hints?

Just let your confidence be at the same level you think your music is. Let the real you show through no matter how different it is, because fans don’t want anyone that’s like everyone else, they want something different. Never fold under pressure.

Are you getting that fanfare now that you’ve been on TV for a while?

I am getting tons of emails, myspace messages, and voice messages that I had to hire someone to respond to everyone for me. The funny thing is I don’t even have a single out yet, lol.

If you could work with anyone in the Music Industry who would it be with and why?

It would be Timbaland because he is creative and he ain’t gonna put his name on nothing that isn’t a hit. That’s the attitude I’m looking for.

Thanks for allowing us to interview you. Do you have any last words and shout outs?

Last words are thanks for the support from everyone, and buy my music when it drops, always stay loyal to those that keep it real with you and Haters eat a dick and die.

Shouts out to my fam, my street team, 954 magazine (Nine5FourMagazine), Greg Streets from v-103 in ATL, 99 Jamz, DJ Entice, DJ Epps, Papa Keith, Power 96, Hot-97, DJ Envy, Just Blaze, DJ Drama, Clark Kent, Pete Rock, DJ Amazin, Kenia Santana, Dariline Baerga, everyone at Koch records, Terrence Clayton at BET, 106 & Park and everyone who supported.