June 10th, 2010
I am Late!!!! I told myself the night before that I would not be late for this face to face interview, and I am leaving my house at 10:15 am and the meeting is 45 minutes away in the lovely city of Oakland at 10:30 am. Just as I am about to break the law and give a ring to my interviewee he texts me, “ I am running late, Sorry.” Whew! For once the heat is off me, well the heat isn’t really on him either, I mean , IT’S HIS 22ND BIRTHDAY!
Oakland’s famous Merritt Bakery is quite busy at 11:00 am this thursday and as he approaches I’m actually quite shocked at how shy Star aka Frank is.
Frank: I’m moving up!
Me: So tell me a little about yourself!
Frank: Well, my name is Frank and I’m 22 as of today. I’m an artist, as a lot of people say. Actually I rap, I produce, I like to write songs for people also. That is like one thing I’ve been trying to get my name out there for, I just like being in the studio.
Me: When did you get started?
Frank: I would say in high school...
Me: So like, what, three, four years ago? (chuckles)
Frank: (Laughs) Naw! I’m
an OG out here, probably like five years ago. Basically I was supposed to play football one year, I didn’t play because I didn’t go to any of the weight training. Then I went to go get a jersey, I thought I was still going to get one, they said I couldn’t get one! I was mad, I was crying right, (points and looks at the camera) don’t tell nobody I was crying! Then I went to my spanish class and thats where I wrote my first rap. Then I got with the group The Diligentz....
Me: Tell me about The Diligentz
Frank: (The group consists of ) Jay Anthony, Pranksta the Kidd, Damey and myself. We became a pretty big group through
out the whole bay area, northern California and southern California even out of state. I get hits from people who know about the music, its crazy. Its weird sometimes, especially back in the early parts, people would just walk up to you, and I was working at the mall at Hilltop Sears, and people were just coming up to me and chasing me and my boy. It was crazy for a minute!
Me: For the group what would you say was the biggest stand out hit?
Frank: “The Punk rock remix,” of course! It was trendy, everybody was fresh, we brought a new style out. Everybody was fly, a lot of people didn’t like it at first but they ended up jumping on with it anyway, when they seen how fresh it was. That was probably our biggest hit then I’d say after that “Stroke ya body” song with the Aaliyah sample, that Jay Ant produced, then the “Bopular” song. Those are probably the three biggest hits. We still preform those to this day.
Me: What brought about “808’s and Love Make?”
Frank: I was producing one night at home and I made a slow beat, I used different sounds that I hadn’t used before, kind of a smooth vibe. I recorded “808 Slap,” thats the second song on the album, and I was playing it for my friend Ni
ck Maples and he gave me the idea “you should do an album called ‘808’s and Love Make’!” It is a parody of Kanye West’s “808’s and Heartbreak.”
Me: What is the best song on that album to you and what was your favorite song to make?
Frank: That’s hard! My favorite song to listen to is “Movie Stars” and my favorite song to make would have to be “ Boom Boom Room.”
Me: That’s the ultimate stripper song! I remember when I first heard it, Poke (Dj Slowpoke) put it on a mix, it was the first song on the mix. I remember hitting him like “I need that song, who’s song is that?”
Frank: Poke, thats my mans right there!
Me: What do you have coming up?
Frank: I have this new album that I’m trying to push right now called “Aka Frank.” I still go by Star, but Frank is me, so “Aka Frank” is showing more of my personality aside from being in the group. Just want to make a name for myself.
Me: What’s the difference between “808’s and Love make” and “Aka Frank?”
Frank: “808’s and Love make” is more R&B, I would say R&Clap. I am rapping way more on “Aka.”
Me: What could we look forward to on “Aka,” any features and such?
Frank: Oh yea! Production by Jay Ant, Su and more...
Me: Where are you trying to take it?
Frank: I had a show in Houston during March Madness, and I wasn’t able to preform because it was too poppin, but I had a “Get it Back Fam” EP pressed up and I had put my boy’s number on them, we passed out all my cd’s out there and he’s been getting alot of calls for me. So eventually yes I would like to get out of the bay, not move from the bay but get my music heard all over.
During this time the food has arrived and as we are chatting and setting up our plates I notice that Frank has a certain look on his face. I remember receiving a “Happy Easter” text from him with him in his Sunday best. And it dawns on me that he wants to bless the food before we eat.
Me: You look like you want to say a prayer right now?
Frank: Yea (laughs).
He bows his head as I do mine and he says quickly “God is good God is great Thank you for this food Amen!”
Awwwwwww!!!!!
Me: What do you think you learned from the madness of The Diligentz that will help you on the solo career tip?
Frank: Got to be prepared at all times. Got to keep it trill, always got to keep it trill with yourself. I learned how to market myself, our first cover was so eye catching that it taught me that you have to be different.
Me: Who do you look up to musically?
Frank: I would have to say my group members, we are always competing with each other, if we are all on the same song we want to be the best person on the song. My mom influneced me period. Industry wise I would say Ludacris, Eminem,Lil Wayne producers Dre, Polow ....
Me: What song or artists would be in your catalog that would surprise me?
Frank: 3 doors down that Superman joint, Marron 5 I just listen to so much music.
Me: How do you feel about producing?
Frank: There are so many different sounds out there, and trying to put all the sounds together and make a beat can be nerve-racking. Also you don’t want all your beats to sound the same as well.
Me: Who have you produced for?
Frank: Erk tha Jerk, SU, Jay Ant, Kryptonite and a lot of people in the Bay area. I also have a lot of people doing mixtapes with me as well.
Me: Which one do enjoy the most, Rapping, singing or producing?
Frank: Producing is one of my favorites right now, I’ve been in band since I was in the 4th grade I can read music and everything.
Me: Your a band nerd?
Frank: Oh for sure! 10th Grade I was in honor band! In the 8th grade I played trumpet then 9th grade I played baritone. I still know how to play, you don’t lose it. But I think thats why it was such a natural progression to the producing end. Hearing all the different melodies and sounds from band and how they came together, its easy for me to put sounds together by just pushing it out on the keyboard.
Frank: With rapping I feel like I need to live a bit more since I can only talk about what I know. I want to do more traveling...
Me: What is your strongest attribute?
Frank: My confidence, not cocky but to make it in this business you need to have confidence in yourself.
Me: What’s your weakness?
Frank: Doing more stuff like this, interviews and being more social.
Me: Who do you think is going to be the next to blow besides yourself?
Frank: Young Bari
Me: Are you single?
Frank: Very single!
Me: You sure?
Frank: Its been about a year now!
Me: What do you think are the qualities and characteristics that a Bombshell would have?
Frank: Huh? (Laughs) She has to be intelligent, of course, she has to be funny. You can’t be a bombshell if you can’t make me laugh, we have to laugh together. You also can’t be a bombshell just sitting at home, she has to know how to detonate and get it popping. Has to be outgoing, of course she has to be pretty, nice size and shape. With a name like bombshell it has to be more personality, like if I came across someone with the name bombshell I would think “oh, she’s probably hella cool.”
Me: Who is your ultimate Bombshell? I know she’s older cause you like older women.
Frank: I would have to say You and Alicia keys.....
Me: Stop it Stop it! So me and the pregnant Alicia keys
Frank: Not the pregnant one the one from the video with Mos Def. Those are my Bombshells.
Me: Well I’m honored.
Frank thank you for being my first interview and artist spotlight!! Your very talented and a pleasure to be around!
Everyone be on the look out for the new EP “Aka Frank” coming out July 2010.
Here is some ear candy to hold you over:
808s http://www.datpiff.com/Star_of_Diligentz_808s_Love_Make.m83288.html
http://tinyurl.com/getitbackfam
