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MVRemix: Word association time. I am going to say a name of an artist or group and you say the first word that pops in your mind. So, if I said ‘Chuck D’, you may say ‘revolutionary’. Ok?
Baatin: Ok.
MVRemix: Lacks.
Baatin: Future.
MVRemix: Eminem.
Baatin: Controversy.
MVRemix: King Gordy.
Baatin: Rowdy.
MVRemix: Jay-Z
Baatin: Hip-hop philosopher.
MVRemix: Puff Daddy.
Baatin: A made man. (laughs).
MVRemix: Jay Dee.
Baatin: The sh*t.
MVRemix: T3.
Baatin: My friend…forever. But as far as rap, he’s lyrical. There’s a word for him but I can’t think of it right now.
MVRemix: Phife Dawg.
Baatin: Brilliant.
MVRemix: Gil Scott Heron.
Baatin: Phenomenal.
MVRemix: George Bush.
Baatin: He held it down for a while, man.
MVRemix: When recording, do you go into the studio with pre-written lyrics, ideas, and themes or do you just let it flow in a spontaneous manner after you hear the beat?
Baatin: I have to listen to the track first because the track determines which direction I am going to go in lyrically. Back in the day, it would be different. I would come to the session with a pad that had already written lyrics on it. Now, I have to feel the vibe of the track. The beat makes the atmosphere for the lyrics. First the beat, then the lyrics.
MVRemix: Would you go back to Slum Village?
Baatin: Oh, yeah. Absolutely.
MVRemix: What are the chances of you getting back together with Slum Village?
Baatin: Well, they have to come to me now because I went to them and gave them my apologies for what happened. I felt that I should have been apologized to also.
MVRemix: How did Slum Village react when you were in the hospital?
Baatin: Nobody even came to see me. I lost everything. Nobody called me.
MVRemix: Overall, how do you feel now?
Baatin: I’m actually happier now than I was when I was in the group. That’s pretty f*cked up.
MVRemix: Are you still getting publishing money for the past Slum Village songs?
Baatin: That is what is going to come back to me once I finish these 4 songs. I have publishing owed to me. They really screwed me around, man. It was for no apparent reason at all. I guess they felt it was an opportunity because they thought ‘here is a guy who doesn’t really know too much about the business’. That’s the whole thing. I didn’t have any support. I didn’t have anyone who had my back to say ‘You people aren’t doing it right’. Everyone was on each other’s side. ‘Well, my business is tight.’ When the tables were turned, why didn’t my motherf*cking man T3 give a sh*t? To sum it up, I experienced my verse of ‘Tainted’. The sh*t manifested into my life.
MVRemix: What other projects are you working on?
Baatin: I’m doing a movie as well. Be on the look out for a movie. It’s like The Last Supper. It used the concept of The Last Supper. It is the hip-hop version of The Last Supper. I’m writing and directing it. I don’t know if I’m going to act in it. I want to find someone to play my role as Titus. That’s my name. There was a movie called ‘Titus’ already, right?
MVRemix: Yes, ‘Titus’ stars Anthony Hopkins and it’s actually a play by William Shakespeare. It’s actually Shakespeare’s most bloodiest and most violent play.
Baatin: Okay. I’m coming with my version of Titus because that’s who I am.
MVRemix: DWhat do you want on your epitaph (your gravestone)?
Baatin: I want to be cremated. I probably want my ashes in an urn and have my son, my children, keep them. My children will decide what to do with them.
MVRemix: Do you have any last words for the people who will be reading this?
Baatin: Be on the lookout for something totally different from what I gave to Slum Village. I’m sorry that things worked out this way with me leaving and me being terminated by the group. I can’t give up. I have something else to give the world. Be on the lookout for my new sh*t, Baatin The Slumlord. I will have endless projects after that. Also, look out for the future Slum Village album. It’s not all over. I know that we are gonna get back together in a couple of years down the line and laugh about this sh*t. I feel good now. I loved this interview. I’m feeling good these days but after this interview, I feel excellent. Some sh*t is clearing off my chest. I have to say that this is one of the greatest interviews I ever had. I appreciate you and the fans. Thank you, peace!
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Slum Village - Fantastic Volume II review by Philip Oliver
Slum Village - Dirty District review by Todd E. Jones
Slum Village - Trinity review by Todd E. Jones
Elzhi (Slum Village) 2002 Interview by Todd E. Jones
Baatin (Slum Village) 2003 Interview by Todd E. Jones
Elzhi (Slum Village) 2004 Interview by Hugo Lunny
Elzhi (Slum Village) 2004 Interview by Hugo Lunny
Slum Village - Detroit Deli review by Brainiac
Slum Village - Detroit Deli review by NewJeruPoet
Dwele 2003 Interview by Todd E. Jones
Dwele 2005 Interview by Hugo Lunny
Elzhi (Slum Village) 2005 Interview by James Johnson
Black Milk 2007 Interview by Todd E. Jones
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