CHADLOVE (aka The PIMPTRONAUNT): One of the Most Talented, Up and Coming Italian-Jewish Rappers Arou

Stacey Pollack interviewed CHADLOVE about his music and career to date and why he believes that there are not any other Italian-Jewish rappers in the market like him.

Tell us about when and where you first got into Rap.

I used to flow to the T.V. when Yo MTV raps was on and the T.V. would get static real fast on me, so I realized it must be something I’m saying or I’m just crazy, probably the second one, and then I couldn’t really sing, "I’m not an American Idol", but I could be the next "American Rapper" since I have a good way of formulating my words together. I grew up at an upper-class high school, we played woman, drove fancy cars and rap music was the main thing Long Island kids do, so I just became involved with that. I was really into all types of music and rap wasn’t always my favorite thing.

What is your feeling about other Italian-Jewish rappers who seem to rap for a gimmick?

There are not any other Italian-Jewish rappers. People tell me that all the time. To me, rap is the most real form of expression and form of art when it comes to music, so if you’re not expressing yourself and your history through your success with music then you’re really not representing who you are. To me you can’t be an Italian-Jew aka "Pizza Bagel" rapper unless you’re speaking on topics that you and your people have gone through. I know a lot of so-called rappers that don’t even mention their history in their rap. To me they’re not reality rappers.

The difference between you and what some other rappers do is that you’re much more real about it.

Yeah, because it’s a real thing. Reality is real, the world is real, and you can’t just mock topics unless you have experienced them. I’ve made songs that make people cry; I’ve made Cantors cry with "Ghetto-Caust". I’ve also made 911 survivors cry with "Remember" and I have made people laugh with Ziggatee-Doo. I just do what’s real and what’s real to me, and what I feel the world needs to know, and what humanity in general needs to know as a whole. I am not an optimistic or pessimistic person, I’m a real live emotional human being who says what’s on his mind.

What sort of support have you had from your family with the music?

Funny you should say that! When I started they were not very supportive, they thought oh everyone’s trying to be a rapper, you’ll never make it, this and that, and then they saw these record companies offering me a few hundred thousand dollars trying to sign me, and my dad sat back and said, Wow Chad, you must be a commodity, you’re a real act, and then they started getting back on my team, and we’ve been making moves together ever since. The record industry isn’t something to play with either, it’s based on people who don’t know anything or have anything, and then the deals they give out really aren’t deals. I know artists who have gold and platinum records who don’t have any money. I could not sign to one of those major labels, I had to do it independently because they want to own everything. I make songs like "Remember" and "Ghetto-Caust" for my people and me and then they want to own it, it’s not fair.

Which of your peers would you like to collaborate with?

Actually, I’m in a class of my own right now. I am not collaborating with any rappers at this time; I didn’t get the name LOVE for just any reason. If you think you have talent, please send me a demo or an email and let’s see if we can sit down and have dinner together. My eyes and ears are always open to new talent. That’s how I got my start and the tradition should be past on from generation to generation regardless of your skin color. Although, I would love to have the opportunity to record one day with the famous Slim Shady.

Do you have plans to pursue your music career over seas?

I plan to travel the world sharing my music with any audience that is interested in what I’m doing. I’m an equal opportunity employer and I don’t judge on color or race. I do judge you on what you do as an individual in this short life span we all have. I don’t care if you’re a garbage man or a CEO of a big company. If your attitude is whacked don’t share that negative energy with me. I don’t have time for the drama.

Finally, tell us about "Ghetto-Caust"

Growing up in the United States when I was going to high school, everybody knew about the Holocaust, but you didn’t really have to have a Jewish education. When I was searching for my identity, searching for my roots in my young-twenties, I reached out to my grandma who was 83, and just passed away a few years ago. She explained to me who survived the Holocaust and who didn’t. My great uncle was shot and killed and his family was taken to the camps, and I just did as much research as possible to learn more about what exactly was going on. If you look at history this only happened about 60 years ago and we’ve been tracking history for thousands of years. It amazed me that mankind would let something like this happen. I did the research and I sat and cried several times when I wrote it. I wrote it for my people and me. People tell me it’s a fantastic song all the time and I say listen; it’s only the truth and never forget where the Ghetto originated. The Jewish people were the first Ghetto. You don’t believe me, just Google it and see what pops up.

For more information please visit http://www.chadlove.com