memoirs of a pianist.

I'm from the place you see the stadium, you think it's humble, while up the hill it's looking like a concrete jungle. - Fat Will, "Fat Will For Mayor"

However blunt this might make me, I'm just going to come out and say it. The homie Fat Will is representing The Bronx with the exact same passion that Hip-Hop's been missing for quite sometime now. Why the bold statement? I'm going to take you back to the 70s, and sometime after that, to Bronx, NY.

The Bronx: one of the five boroughs that makes up the world-renowned "NYC." The Bronx happens to be the poorest borough, and this has gradually worsened over the decades. It's been a home to myself, my brothers, parents, and the talented artists who carried Hip-Hop, and the political issues it brought, for as long as they could. A home to the Yankee Stadium, the once Shae Stadium (now CitiField.) The Bronx, home to Hip-Hop legends such as KRS-One and Alien Ness. The place where Hip-Hop, breakdancing, DJ's, MC's, graffiti and beat-boxing truly began to spread their wings.

Regardless of the fact, The Bronx is currently referred to as the worst of the worst. I've seen my neighborhood decay in the last 18 years due to the selfishness of corporations. Buildings taken down to replace Starbucks and other "high-end" stores. People who once would never step foot into a certain neighborhood, are now there to add to the reason of it's demise. So where does Fat Will fall into all of this?


Q&A

Where exactly were you born and raised?

- I was born and raised in the South Bronx; Highbridge to be exact. You'll have a life changing experience when you spend a day here, where the only reason people know your neighborhood is The Yankee Stadium.

With Hip-Hop being our native tongue, what were some of the rappers you've looked up to over the years? When did your musical journey begin?

- Musically, besides having major influences from artists such as Big Pun, Jadakiss, Big L, and Tupac Shakur, I looked up to my cousins growing up. Every time I used to drive up to Yonkers with my father to see my family, my older cousins would always play their demo CDs in the car while we drove around. Even though I couldn't understand some of the lyrics, I always knew, from a young age, that music would occupy a part of my life.

What would you believe your best couple of bars to be?

- I dont think I have written my best bars yet. I still have a long way to go and I'm not satisfied at where I'm at with my music. I'm positive that I can take it to the next level. However, since you asked, my best bars would have to be "I'm from the place you see the stadium, you think its humble, while up the hill it's looking like a concrete jungle." This would have to be my best bar because I know the people who live around me can relate to it. Tourists that only come around my neighborhood to come to the Yankee games always think the neighborhood is calm. The NYPD always has some type of control of the area; plus, there's all types of transportation surrounding the area. Tourists just come and go but they don't understand the struggle that lies between the cracks of the streets; the struggle my neighborhood has to undergo on a daily basis.


Fat Will's Debut

Fat Will dropped his debut EP, "XIX EP," this year on March 18th. Although it was his first step through the door, it was certainly the best foot forward, indeed. Fat Will gave his fans a mere glimpse of the talents he possesses. Time is key in Hip-Hop. Some people become complacent with fame, and others strive for what they truly believe.

As mentioned before, Fat Will is getting his foot in the door. He had his first performance yesterday, August 8th. Most people don't learn how to rock the stage right until after they've become an established artist. Our native rapper, on the other hand, sits on his throne with comfort, pizzazz and character. I'll upload more videos once I receive them, but for now enjoy this treat.

If There's A Will, There's A Way

XIX EP left his fans impatiently waiting for more material from the lyrical Bronx native. His new mixtape, "If There's A Will, There's A Way," is scheduled to drop sometime in September.
If There's A Will There's A Way will be dropping later on in the year; your first full mixtape, aside from your EP. It's most certainly been a long way coming and I'm sure you've been working extremely hard on this project. How can you describe the emotions behind this mixtape? What were some of the hardest obstacles you've had to face so far?

- This wont be an EP, because it will have at least 15 songs on it, but I definitely consider this an addition to my "XIX" EP. My first trilogy of mixtapes: XIX, If There's A Will, There's A Way, and my third mixtape, which is unnamed, is dedicated to my parents. They've been my backbone throughout my life. I'm doing this set of mixtapes as a thank you for all that they've done for me.
I've been through some hectic and crazy situations. From my mother being unemployed due to the recession, and my father passing away last year, I didn't know where to head with my life at all. Something just clicked; something made me want to do music, not for me, but for them. I'd like them to know I can do whatever I put my mind to. Everything and anything I do, I'll assure them that I'm going to put no less than 110% into it.
The hardest obstacle of putting these songs together is getting the people I love and support, to reciprocate that love and support without any hesitation. I just want the people to enjoy my music as much as I enjoy working on it.

The Wrap Up

If you ask me who my top 5 freshman are, Fat Will most certainly appears in that list. The humble, Bronx native is taking a sincere approach at achieving his goals, and that's something you've got to respect. We all hustle, but no hustle is more sincere than that of a dream.
Fat Will's got the character, message, flow and voice, but most importantly, he's got a story to tell. As a fellow colleague, I'd give my consent to that story; it's one worth hearing. Stay on the lookout for more Fat Will, and his upcoming mixtape "If There's A Will, There's A Way."



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