The third time is definitely The Charm for Bubba Sparxxx. After the ups and downs and some label moves, he's back with that new south Hip Hop. With his latest release, the LaGrange, Georgia native is addressing his critics and tries to find a lane that pleases him and the fans. Besides having to shake off some haters and doubters here and there… Life is grand for the rapper born Warren Anderson Mathis. After parting ways with Interscope Records by way of Timbaland's Beat Club label. Bubba is now signed to Big Boi's Purple Ribbon Records… So what happen with Beat Club anyway, what was the deal with Deliverance and will it work this time around? Bubba thinks so and answers all the questions and even speaks on the white rapper bullshit. He's paid his dues so you should just show some gratitude to the country boy this time around. After all it's still Bubba's moment. MahoganyGirl.com chops it up with Mr. Sparxxx as he opens up about past and present situations and personal loss.
MahoganyGirl: What's Up Bubba? You've been away for a minute. It's been a long journey for you but
welcome back.
Bubba Sparks: Thank you. I appreciate that… Yeah it's been a journey but everything in life is a journey with some ups and downs.
I'm still here though and it's good now.
MG: Glad to hear that. Before we talk about the new album I wanted to find out how you got your
start. How did your first record deal come about?
BS: I started independently in Athens, Georgia. I'm from LaGrange, Georgia and my best friend got a scholarship to go to school in Athens. I was back home and I couldn't really find any good job prospects in LaGrange. I started drifting a little bit…Going off onto the illegal route getting into all kinds of things. My friend called me up and asked me to come and stay with him for a while. He had an apartment that the school was paying for so I went up there. While I was up there I started getting into music and I recorded an independent cd. The cd started creating a little buzz and in the process I met Bobby Stamps, who is my manager now. The cd kept getting buzz and some people up at Interscope heard it and let Timbaland hear it and that was it.
MG: LaGrange huh… What you know about Chuck town?
BS: [Laughs] Chuck town. Charleston… That's one of my favorite places.
MG: Good answer. Your first album Dark Days, Bright Nights put you on the map and went gold.
But Deliverance seemed to be a blessing and a curse. It was different and some people liked it and some didn't. How do you
feel about the comparisons between your new album The Charm and Deliverance?
BS: I'm proud of that album. We tried a different sound and now a lot of critics are on me about the direction of my new album. I
don't care what they say I'm rapping my ass off and I'm thorough. I'll never make another album where I commit to a style like
that. I'm not making another Deliverance. This is a job… I have a family to think about and I have to have some balance.
MG: Do you feel like Interscope dropped the ball on the project?
BS: No. They just didn't know what to do with it. It was a different type of sound. Some people thought it was too rap and some
thought it was too rock. Personally, I think that situation created a problem between Interscope and Beat Club. After that,
Timbaland decided to step away from the situation. So, I thought it was best that I step too.
MG: Okay. I was wondering what happen with that label situation. That was my next question. How did
you connect with Big Boi's label, Purple Ribbon?
BS: People don't know but I've been a member of the Dungeon Family for over five years. Rico Wade is like a brother to me. He
introduced me to Big a few years ago. He was always in my corner and a supporter of my career. He was going through a transition
around the time I was leaving Interscope. Him and Dre 3000 had a label situation together… Remember Aquemini Records…
MG: Yeah…
BS: Dre was on some - I don't really have a passion for this label anymore - type thing. So, Big was like - cool, I'ma take it
and change the name and create a new situation… I ran into him around that time and it was perfect timing.
MG: That was a blessing.
BS: Yeah. It was a tremedous blessing.
MG: Do you have kids Bubba?
BS: No, I don't have any kids. Me and my girlfriend just had a miscarriage.
MG: I'm sorry about your loss. Are you doing alright?
BS: Yeah. It was tough but we're doing alright. For whatever reason it wasn't in God's plans but we're going to try again. Life
is about loss sometime.
MG: It is. Much blessings to you and your family. Tell me about The Charm...Why did you
choose that title?
BS: It's my fifth year and my third album. The Charm is a lot deeper than what people will think. I've learned so much
about the game. I've made mistakes and I've developed an understanding of the type of things I should be doing. What kinds of
records my fans want for me. I'm cracking the code this time around.
MG: How did it feel to go back to the lab with Timbaland?
BS: It was cool. He's like a brother to me. He's showed me so much in this game. I want to do something with him on all my
projects.
MG: When the Beat Club situation died did people think there was beef with you and Tim?
BS: Yeah. People want so badly to pit me against Timbaland but we just keep it moving.
MG: Speaking of drama. Do you ever feel like the media or just people in general put white rappers
against each other?
BS: I'm glad you asked me that. In the new Rolling Stone I think it's absolutely absurd the way they tried to pit me
against Paul Wall.. It's absurd. I got it right here. It says…
[Reads Rolling Stone review comparing him to Paul Wall]
MG: Dam. Pasty faced emcees [Laughs]
BS: [Laughs] See that's what I'm talking about right there. They keep bringing up Deliverance but that was one album. I'm
not gonna keep creating that sound. That was one sound and one moment in time. Me and Timbaland knew we wouldn't create that
sound again. It's time for me to reinvent myself. And right there they try to pit me against P Dubb but that's my homie and it's
not gonna happen.
MG: I'm still tripping off the pasty faced emcees shit. [Laughs] I'm curious about your other
skills… You cook?
BS: [Laughs] Yeah. I can cook.
MG: [Laughs] On the real how's your turkey wing game?
BS: [Laughs] I can do it. It's nothing. I can cook it up.
MG: [Laughs] What's your favorite meal to cook?
BS: Poppy seed chicken.
MG: Poppy seed chicken… I'm sorry Bubba but I have no idea what you're talking about. [Laughs]
BS: [Laughs] It's a dish my mom use to make for me.
MG: I got love for chicken so I'm a do the research on that. On a final note…I'm planning to open
the MahoganyGirl Claremont Lounge. You down to be an investor?
BS: [Laughs] Yeah. I'm wit it. Let's do it.
