All it takes is one. All it takes is for one individual(s) to have success in a certain field, and the floodgates will open up for others to have the same opportunities. Back in 1997, Master P hit it big with his album Ghetto D, and officially put Louisiana on the radar from a Hip-Hop standpoint.

Soon after, Cash Money Records spearheaded by Brian “Baby” Williams and his brother, Ronald “Slim” Williams took the whole entire world by storm with a string of endless hits anchored by a young rapper by the name of Dwanye Carter. Now, the revolving door is spinning once again for another native of the Bayou State.

18-year-old Hurricane Chris has put the limelight on his hometown of Shreveport Louisiana with his break out single, "A Bay Bay".

After gaining local attention, he caught the ear of Atlanta producer, Mr. Collipark who helped him secure a deal with J Records. Now as he sets fourth to release his debut album 51/50 Ratchet, he had a chance to sit down and talk about growing up in Louisiana, the Ratchet Movement, and not feeling pressure by starting off with a hit single.

What’s popping Chris?

A Bay Bay!

So how did you first get into Hip-Hop?

Well I was always a fan of music pe riod; not just Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop was just the first type of music I ever did, and what [you] know me for. I was always a fan of every type of music, since I was 10 years old. Like I was listening to Jazz, Classical, and just a lot of old school music, you know. So that’s why my music is so blessed today, because I’ve done my research. Know what I’m saying. 

Could you describe the Ratchet Movement for those that are unfamiliar with it?

The Ratchet Movement is for the people coming out of Ratchet City [Shreveport Louisiana]. It’s all about how we talk, eat, sleep, and dress. It’s our culture. Basically it’s all about you doing you, and not caring what anybody else thinks. If you go to the club, and cut up to the front of the line, that’s “Ratchet.” If you go to the club, and you partied so hard, that you wake up the with the same outfit on the next morning, that’s “Ratchet.” Walking down the street with your shirt off, that’s “Ratchet.” You know what I mean? It’s like you don’t care what nobody thinks, because you’re going to do you.

I kind of like that concept. [Laughing]

Yup that’s what it’s about. Like if you ever drunk pickle juice out of the pickle jar, that’s “Ratchet.”   

[Laughing] I see…. What do you think separates Louisiana Hip-Hop from all other regions of the country?

Well can you say that you’ve heard anybody describe their movement like that?

No. I can’t say that I have.

It’s like the music scene is totally different. Know what I’m saying? It’s just like the rest of Louisiana, but [we] got a totally different music scene and dance scene. If we can’t do [our] dance to it, and [we] can’t jam to it, then it just ain’t “Ratchet.” It’s just a certain type of way [we] move, and how [we] act. You can just tell by how [we] act, and you’ll know.  

How was it like growing up there?

I didn’t grow up in the suburbs, I grew up in a tough area, but I don’t dwell on it. Because every ‘hood has a bad side to it, and every city got bad neighborhoods. But I still keep it real in my ‘hood. I grew up in a small city in a really small part of town, where it was hard to get exposure. Because no limelight has ever shined on Shreveport before, and I was the first person to ever do it. But coming up in there was a struggle.     

Since your first single was such a big hit, do you feel any pressure to keep that momentum going?  

I don’t really feel any pressure. I feel like "A Bay Bay "just kicked the movement off. You feel me? All it did was introduce you to me, and now I’m going to hit you with everything else, and keep it going. Right now I got the "Hand Clap" out, so tell your radio stations to play that too. The album comes out on October 23rd, and it’s called 51/50.

Are the numbers “51/50” significant to you in any way?

It’s because I’m a 101% real, and the album is going to be 101% real too. Ya feel me? Because 50/50 in my city is a saying, so I just stepped it up a notch. Because I’m 101% real. Ya feel me?

I can dig it…. So what was the idea behind your song "A Bay Bay"?

That’s what we would say in the club, to my dawg Bay Bay. We keep saying his name, and then it got to a point where we just made a song about it.

Some artists say that they wouldn't want a big hit at the beginning of their career, because it’s too much added pressure. What are your thoughts on that?

The only people that would agree to that are people that don’t have any big hits. Everybody wants a big hit, that’s what you do this for! They’re a dummy! Whoever told you that hang up in their face, because they ain’t real! Who wouldn’t want to have a big hit? Call them up and ask them!

[Laughs] So how long was you out there grinding before your music finally hit the mainstream?

I had the "A Bay Bay" for about a whole year, like 12 months before anybody even discovered it on a major level. And before I even got radio play in Atlanta. So I had it for about a year.

So at that point, you were pretty much shopping it around?

Yeah, I was trying to shop it and hollering at Bay Bay in the clubs, and then I got major distribution. So now everything is all-good.