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Rediroc
Philly Rap: I want to start out with, what age did you first begin your rap career?
Rediroc: Um, damn it has been a long time; Ive been rapping since I could talk (laughs). Ive just always been into music, so probably since I was ten.
PR: Who were some of your influences when you were young?
RR: Aw man, all of the greats. Big Daddy Kane and Rakim. I really liked to tune into rap and really understand what was going on, so I would definitely be listening to Big and Nas.
PR: What part of Philly are you from?
RR: Uptown.
PR: What high school did you go to?
RR: I actually had a little situation with high school; I dont really want to talk about that (laughs).
RR: Thats alright, I just wanted to know if you were a known rapper there.
RR: I mean, I was, but I wasnt going hard.
PR: Well, Ill switch it up a little bit and talk about your career. The first time I ever heard you was with Ape Gangs Money on Top of Money. What year was that, and how did that mixtape come about?
RR: Damn, that was like 06-07. That was just something we were doing, we had dropped a couple of mixtapes before, but that mixtape right there was like our regression right there because we were going through so much in just everyday life. It actually took a little minute to put that out, so you see what Im saying.
PR: I know what you mean.
RR: Yeah, there was so much going on. Niggas were getting booked, they had a couple cases, and that was kind of our get back CD, to let everyone know that we were still doing it. That was basically to separate us from everybody else. It was that grown man music.
PR: For the people who dont know what you and Ape Gang are about, or what All Pro Entertainment is about, why dont you tell our followers how the whole movement began.
RR: The movement started in mid 99. My homie, the CEO of All Pro Entertainment, he had wanted me to rap on his karaoke. He had a little stereo with a karaoke in his crib (laughs). He wanted to tape it so he could ride around listening to it. So, I told him we could just go to the studio. So, we had gone up there and recorded, and the rest is history. We became All Pro Management at first (a lot of people dont know that). That was the original, and then we switched it over to APE, and thats what it has been since.
PR: To me, you are the new movement in the city. Does it feel good to have lots of people showing love to Ape Gang?
RR: I mean, you gotta enjoy it. I have people running up to me, saying they enjoy my music and thats great, but you gotta stay humble. Im starting to notice some of these dudes in the city who have a little name and act like their in fucking Hollywood.
PR: (laughs)
RR: I still remain humble, you know?
PR: Yeah, you dont want to get too big, too fast.
RR: Exactly, like most of them didnt even get anywhere yet. Theyre probably still in their fucking moms house (laughs).
PR: Is Ape Gang known in other places besides Philadelphia?
RR: Yeah, I had someone hit me up on Twitter, and they were from Australia. He was asking if I could send him an Ape Gang hoodie. That kind of blew my mind, but at the same time it was a reality check because we were on the next level. We got people hitting us from Australia, New York, Florida, Atlanta, and all over. We appreciate everyone showing love.
PR: My favorite song by you is The Beat Go Hard off Taking the Trash Out mixtape. What inspired that song?
RR: Basically, that song came from my man Conway. I had run into him at Batcave Studios, thats where I record. We exchanged numbers and all that, and one day we got together and he had played a beat for me. Then, it just went from there. I heard the beat and made the hook right there in front of him.
PR: Thats nice, since its such a good song.
RR: Yeah, like when you hear a beat, you gotta go hard on it. Im not one of those people who go around saying I trap all day, Im really not a rapper. We as Ape Gang, we do what we do, but were also fans of rap too. So, Im not going to sit here and tell you that I hustle all day and I really dont fuck around with rap, because I fuck with rap. I enjoy rap music.
PR: Thats good, a lot of rappers have their mind set on making themselves big, and thats it.
RR: Well, take it from me. Youre always going to need another nigga to help you out.
PR: I want to talk about your solo effort Green Paper and Purple Smoke. Thats hosted by DJ Amir, correct?
RR: Yeah, DJ Amir, thats my fucking man, I just got off the phone with him.
PR: Do you work with him a lot?
RR: Yeah, I told him I wanted to work with him on Green Paper, Purple Smoke and its funny because hes heard of me, but when we met each other, we became friends off the bat without him really even listening to me. I sent him a CD and he called me and said Damn, youre really hot. Lets get it. G.P.P.S. really wasnt supposed to be a CD.
PR: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.
