Twista is one of Chicago’s most respected rap figures, but he was hardly a household name elsewhere until his fortunes changed recently thanks to “Slow Jamz,” the infectious single from his long-awaited album “Kamikaze.”
Buoyed by a surprisingly soulful appearance from funnyman Jamie Foxx (and Kanye West), the song soared into the Top 10.
Is it ironic that Twista–who once held a world record for the fastest rap–has blown up with a ballad? We caught up with the nimble-tongued hip-hopper during a recent promotional blitz to ask how his life has changed since “Jamz” took over the nation’s earwaves.
Twista has “no free time whatsoever,” he says with a laugh. “We’ve been runnin’ around like crazy, bouncin’ around from city to city. It’s the best kind of busy in the world; I’m straight happy.”
Were you shocked by the instant success of “Slow Jamz?”
I mean, I always wanted it, but what I’m shocked about is that this far into my career, it finally happened. It almost seemed like it was never gonna happen, so when it finally did, I was kinda shocked–and happy at the same time. I’m just gonna ride the wave out, man.
How did you hook up with Jamie Foxx?
He was workin’ on music with Kanye West in the studio in L.A. He heard the song, and he felt it–he started just really vibin’ to it and everything. It’s pretty much just a blessing. We all came together and made it happen.
It looked like you guys had a good time on the video set.
Yeah, you hit it on the bull’s eye. Jamie’s a fool. He basically kept the whole place live the whole time he was there.
“Adrenaline Rush” is considered your classic album. How do you think “Kamikaze” compares?
It’s a lot like “Adrenaline Rush,” because I wanted to give the fans what they expected. But at the same time, I wanted to show people that I could do things with a slow flow too. Everybody thinks that the only way I rap is fast, so I switched it up a little more on the album.
Why did it take so long for “Kamikaze” to be released?
Really just me growing as a person and gettin’ more business orientated and just gettin’ my thing tight. It was a lotta rough bumps in the beginning–I was smoothing my life out as well as my contractual agreements and stuff like that.
Do you think there’s a Chicago rap sound?
Definitely; I think it changes, though. We’re in the middle, so we got the advantage of being able to listen to the West Coast, the East Coast and the South. I think it’s starting to get respect, with guys like Eminem and Nelly, and with guys like me who put the whole Midwest thing on the forefront. ‘Cause that’s all I talk about, the Midwest.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Curt Wagner (cwwagner@tribune.com)
