Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal is one busy man. His new CD, titled “Respect,” hits stores Sept. 15, and the big guy is also putting the finishing touches on his TV directorial debut. “Cousin Skeeter” is a new comedy series for children airing this fall on Nickelodeon, and Shaq is directing and starring in an episode. He is also in the midst of a 12-city promotional tour that brings him to Chicago Tuesday through Thursday. He will coach a basketball team in a charity game against local celebrities at 2 p.m. Monday at the South Side YMCA, and he’ll mix it up from 10 p.m. to midnight Wednesday at Planet Hollywood.
Q. You’ve said that one of your biggest goals for this album is to earn the respect of your peers in the rap world. Why is earning other rappers’ respect important?
A. I want to be known as the emcee who’s good enough to play in the NBA, and in the basketball world I want to be known as the best big man in the world who can rhyme.
Q. What differences will listeners find between this CD and your first four?
A. In every field of business there’s competition. You have to keep up with the Jordans and the Puffys. You have to perfect your game, and I’ve been working on my game. The beats are still there but I’m more comfortable, more enthusiastic (on this CD). It’s positive. I guess if you had to categorize the type of rapper I am, you’d put me in the same category as Heavy D, Will Smith and L.L. Cool J.
Q. How do you find time to perfect your rap skills when your schedule is filled with so many activities?
A. During the season it’s strictly basketball. But when I’m going on long road trips I call up beats, listen to music and just ride. I might practice in the car.
Q. What caused you to change record labels?
A. I think (at the last record label) I just got left out of the loop. My last album was good too. I had a lot of heavyweights on the album, and it was nice sounding, but it just got lost in the shuffle. So, I got with A&M, got my own marketing department, now I’ve got my own street (publicity) team. I’m just kind of tired of putting (my music) in other people’s hands. There’s an old saying that if you want something done, you’ve got to do it yourself.
———-
Send inquiries to moryan@tribune.com
