Can I Get A 'What, What'?
In the world of hip hop and beats, there is no greater hype man than Fatman Scoop. The larger-than-life figure is almost ubiquitous on the urban landscape, lending his booming vocals to countless chart toppers. Now Scoop is headed across the Pacific for the Winterbeatz 2010 tour.
You’re known for being one of the best hype men in the business; but how does Fatman Scoop hype himself up prior to going on stage?
Really nothing! Before I go on, I pray at the hotel and meditate. Silence or spa music; total calm to get my body, mind and spirit into what I’m doing and ask to have a good show. Really! Am I too zen for you now?
Have you ever pumped yourself up so much, you’ve gone into a state of hyperventilation?
Never, I repeat NEVER! I do the hyping, people hyperventilate.
What excites you the most about being onstage?
The feeling of the people, the ENERGY! To know you control the hearts and minds of so many. It’s the most addictive thing in the world! I get high off that. I don’t take drugs or alcohol, but I do get high on a capacity crowd!
You have your own sex and relationship show/ podcast on Man and Wife TV that you host with your wife Shanda; is the show equal parts seriousness and lightheartedness?
That’s what makes it work! She's the ‘serious’, I’m the ‘lighthearted’. The mantra of the show is ‘anything about sex and relationships is open for discussion’, so we hit pretty much everything!
It’s well known that your stage name derives from your appearance in the Fugees ‘Killing Me Softly’ clip as a cinema work serving popcorn and ice-cream, where Lauryn Hill would shout ‘scoop, scoop, fatman scoop!’ Does it bring back fond memories those early years?
Wikipedia is CRAZY! Somebody put that up there and now EVERYONE believes it. I was Fatman Scoop since my days of being a rapper! I got the name from my uncle Jack (RIP); the name scoop from eating so much ice-cream! The fatman was just a given because of my weight!
You have one of the most distinctive voices in the industry; have you always had such a loud, booming tone? Or have you had to work on it over the years?
Nah, I was born with it! I didn’t even know it was there or how to use it until I was confronted with finding a way to put my brother through college. That’s what started me making the songs; if that wouldn’t have happened, I would have been the loudest man you never heard about!
Fatman Scoop circa 2010; what does the future hold for you - are you looking to branch out into other areas of the entertainment, reality TV industry?
Yes. I do. I am working another show for TV where we will be giving more advice, and helping and improving peoples lives in the process.
Right now, as you sit down to respond to this interview, do you have a $100 bill on you? And if so, are you willing to put your hands up?
I have about $65 on me - at this point, I use credit cards more than cash.
Over the years, what has been the most surreal moment in your entertaining life?
I was at the video shoot for ‘21 Questions’ 50 invited me. There was a corner that was really dark and no one could see in there. A voice kept saying: ‘Fatman Scoop/ Crooklyn Clan’. I was like: ‘who is this?’ Out of the darkness came Dr Dre. I didn’t know him at the time; I was like ‘wow, he knows me?’ Surreal.
If you could endorse any product in the world, what are you getting behind? And what would your slogan be?
Heinz Ketchup or NY Supreme Pizza or Pappas Pizza. My slogan: ‘I could eat this all day’.
Being a native New Yorker are you a Yankees or The Mets fan?
Yankees! I’m a REAL Yankees fan. From Chris Chambliss, Craig Nettles, Mickey Rivers, Thurman Munson days. Google those names and you'll see how long I been down.
While we're on the subject of the American sport, LeBron James is arguably the most sought after free agent in the history of the NBA; if you had the opportunity to sell the Knicks to James, what are you saying to him to get him to New York?
Nothing. I WANT HIM HERE! But I wouldn’t make a fool of myself to get him here. Only one I’m getting on my knees like that and asking for is Jesus, and he ain’t a ball player (He's too old).
Lastly, can I get a ‘what what’?
Of course you can! Look for it at the tour! Fatman Scoopâ„¢ The Undisputed Voice Of The Club. Period.
Fatman Scoop touches down in Australia for the WinterBeatz 2010 tour, alongside Ne-Yo, T-Pain and Phinesse, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre Saturday July 24.
