7 years, 4 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 16 seconds.  That’s the length of time rising rapper, Alfamega, last served in prison.  It’s a number that has significant meaning as he attempts to put the past behind him and forge ahead as the premier new artist from T.I.’s Grand Hustle company with his forthcoming release, I Am Alfamega. 

Hailing from Atlanta’s Techwood housing community, Alfamega’s story is typical of many rappers in the game.  He fell prey to the fast street life he grew up in; developed his rhyming skills while in jail, came out and eventually secured a record deal.  Yet, if there’s anything that’s sets him apart it’s his mission to help bring back storytelling to hip-hop.  You won’t find too many rhymes about bling and parties, as he prefers to offer up tales that paint pictures about life’s many ups and downs. 

Sixshot spoke with Alfamega about being asked to compromise his music, how LL Cool J influenced his life, why he had no reservations about remaining a Grand Hustle artist despite T.I.'s legal issues, the one topic he prefers not to discuss, and more. 

Sixshot.com:  When did you start rapping?

Alfamega:  I used to do it when I was younger.  I was just playing with it and I took it real serious when I went to prison.

Sixshot.com:  Before Grand Hustle and Capitol Records came along you had a deal with Universal.  So what fell through there and what did you learn from that experience?

Alfamega:  I learned never to do a lot of stuff that people want you to do if you don’t feel comfortable doing it.  Seriously though I learned more of the business side of the music and not just being an artist.  When I first came in it’s like being a freshman in college.  You get used to everything and it’s so new and you’re happy to be in college.  You're moving at a fast pace and really not paying attention to anything.

Sixshot.com:  You said you learned not to compromise yourself or your art.  What things were you being asked to compromise during that time?

Alfamega:  The crunk music was selling back then so they had me doing a lot of crunk songs, which wasn’t me.  So I did it for the simple fact that I wanted the deal.  I didn’t want to go back to prison so I did it.

Sixshot.com:  What was your conviction?

Alfamega:  Being a knucklehead. [Laughs]

Sixshot.com:  Well there are a lot of knuckleheads on the streets that don’t end up in jail.

Alfamega:  But I was a real knucklehead though.

Sixhsot.com:  So I guess you prefer not to say the charge.

Alfamega:  Convicted felon with firearms.

Sixshot.com:  What led you down that path?

Alfamega:  I was in the streets hard.  I been getting locked up off and on all my life.  I did ten years out of my life—I been in and out of systems.  That’s what I did.  I was a knuckle head.

Sixshot.com:  What in your life led you to go down the road of the street life?  Did you come from a broken home?

Alfamega:  My mom was good to us and everything.  My mom worked good jobs and provided for us.  It’s just something I chose to do.  I was in the hood and in that environment.

Sixshot.com:  So you were seduced by the street life?

Alfamega:  I wasn’t seduced.  I wouldn’t say seduced.  I can't be seduced.  I'm a man.  I can't get seduced.  It was something I chose to do.  I had a choice cause it was school or the streets and I chose to go to the streets.  I wanted the fly shoes and the fly clothes.  Back then LL [Cool J] was top of the game with "I Need Love," and all that, so I wanted to dress like LL.  So that’s how I got into it.

Sixshot.com:  It sounds like you got into the street life because of the images you saw in hip-hop and wanting to be part of that.  So with today’s music—

Alfamega:  No don’t switch what I said.

Sixshot.com:  I’m not switching it, I'm trying to clarify--

Alfamega:  Don't blame hip-hop.  [Laughs]

Sixshot.com:  I’m not blaming hip-hop, but you did say its something you wanted and you chose the wrong way to go about getting it.

Alfamega:  I used to dress back then and he was a fly dude.  So the thing was you got to be fly.

Sixshot.com:  Well, I’m sure there are a lot of children who feel the same way growing up today.  There’s an interview where you said that the Boys and Girls Club was boring because they didn’t offer children much since it was just games.  What do you think programs like those need in order to reach children before they go down a similar path as yours?

Alfamega:  I think they need more of a hands-on approach.  A lot of the clubs don’t have that approach.  It was just something that was open and you could go there.  It wasn’t like no hands-on approach as far as mentors.

Sixshot.com:  I read this is the longest that you’ve been free going on 7 years now.  So what was the hardest thing in getting used to freedom once again?

Alfamega:  It was never an adjustment.  The hardest thing for me was staying legal this time.  There’s never an adjustment unless you’re institutionalized and I was never institutionalized.  The whole time I was there I wrote a lot, stayed on the phone, and I received letters everyday.  For the whole 7 years I was locked up I received letters.  I got a letter the day before I was released.  So it helped me keep my sanity.  Actually, let me take that back because during my incarceration for 11 months I was cut off from communication from the outside.  I was placed in solitary confinement and during that time I didn’t have any phone calls, no outgoing mail, or incoming mail.

Sixshot.com:  Did that give you an opportunity to reevaluate your life and situation?

Alfamega:  Yeah.

Sixshot.com: I read that you identify as a Muslim.

Alfamega:  Yeah. [Laughs]  Where that come from?

Sixshot.com:  I’m just trying to paint a full picture of who you are.  I don’t like talking about the typical stuff in interviews.  So when did you become a Muslim and how has it influenced your life?

Alfamega:  I been Muslim all my life.  I don't like to mix religion with nothing else.  I don’t mix it with business.

Sixshot.com:  So you prefer not to talk about it?

Alfamega:  I really don't talk about it cause it’s a sensitive issue these days.  If you ask I will let you know but it’s not brought up. 

Sixshot.com:  So how did you connect with Grand Hustle?

Alfamega:  He’s from the west side of Atlanta and I'm from there.  When I had my first deal with Universal Records I had a single called “Southern Boys,” featuring me, T.I.P., Lil’ Flip, and Trina.  At the time Lil’ Flip and T.I.P. were beefing but they both did the song with me out of mutual respect for me.  So eventually we sealed our deal with Grand Hustle on a handshake.

Sixshot.com:  Were there any concerns or second thoughts when signing with T.I. knowing his current legal issues and how that may overshadow the music?

Alfamega:  I was with T.I.P. before all of this.  Why would that be an issue?  That’s my partner.

Sixshot.com:  I’m just asking if there were any concerns cause his legal issues could pose a challenge to your career. 

Alfamega:  Can't nothing stop what I do as long as I stick to what I need to do.  I’m on Capitol Records and T.I. is on Atlantic.  It won’t stop business.  He’s a business man. So legal issues or not his business must still keep progressing.  It’s like you being a writer and writing for a certain company—if something happens that’s not gonna stop you from writing, am I correct?

Sixshot.com:  You’re correct.  But if that company was facing serious legal issues I would at least be concerned about it.

Alfamega:  But you would be concerned about it if you were close to the people that owned the company.

Sixshot.com:  Yeah.  So what are you hoping people get from your music and life story?

Alfamega:  I’m trying to bring music back to what its been missing—like a lot of storytelling.  Whatever your thoughts are that’s how I’m coming.  I talk about a lot of issues: women being in prison and not just the men, and I speak on gays.   I'm like it don't matter to me.  If you’re human and you treat me cool I’m cool with you.  I speak on everything. 

For more information please visit:

www.myspace.com/alfamega