As my photographer and I were standing near the stage at 31st and Atlantic, I saw a young brother walking with another toward the boardwalk. I immediately recognized who it was and shouted "Patrick!" He glanced over to see who could have possibly shouted his name. He recognized it was me and walked over. We greeted each other with a quick, warm hug and set up to begin the interview. It was an unusual hot day for that October evening but he was ready to get down to business despite the sun blinding our sight and heating our bodies to Africa.
Flashbacks of us as kids (Peso Dolla aka Patrick Stewart and I grew up in the same neighborhood) went through my head. I am envisioning that afternoon when a group of girls and I were standing around talking after school and all of a sudden they broke out running yelling "Patrick, Patrick!" as he was walking across the street. Yes, he was quite the ladies man, even at those tender school age days. Here he is now though, obviously a man, fulfilling a passion that determines the direction his heart goes. Where there's a beat, he will follow because music has filled his destiny with much anticipation of making it to the big leagues. I gain consciousness and slip into the reality that I am about to interview a man that very much earns the name of a true musician. He doesn't make music, he lives music. It's an undying art form that he will forver chase even if it keeps running from him.
Jazzy J: Hey what's up this is your girl Jazzy J from Steel Meets Satin. We're here with Peso Dolla, a local artist from Virginia Beach representing hard. How are you doing?
Peso: I'm good. How you?
Jazzy J: I'm good. So what's good with you? Whats new? Anything you're working on?
Peso: Everything...actually I got a mixtape coming out called "Mr Go Get It Vol 1." DJ Strez is hosting the shit you know what I mean, so he pose' to have that back next week at some time. We setting up the mixtape release party 4 that. After that, Monumentals coming out, that's the album, you know. Got a lot of stuff going on. Shows are coming up; we're doing Elizabeth City State University---
Jazzy J: Are you goin to be out Howard?
Peso: (Smirking) Nah, I ain't heard nothing bout that yet. Somebody gotta let me know bout that. I'm trying to get that on everything. Yeah I gotta couple of things coming up tho. Whole lot going on...
Jazzy J: So where's your mixtape release going to be at?
Peso: I don't know. We're like debating about a lot of spots. It might be at Element, it might be at Dreams, you know what I'm saying, somewhere. We gone figure it out though, soon.
Jazzy J: Ok, so I don't know if you mind sharing who you were working with earlier or you want to keep that top secret right now (giggling).
Peso: Oh yeah yeah we just left the studio wit Amil you know what I mean from Rocafella. We doing the thing real big right now. We just tryna get a couple of big features on the album you know what I mean, like as well as the local artists. I'm reaching out to everybody, doing work with them, but I'm definately trying to step my game up and work with some real heavy hitters right now.
Jazzy J: So is there anybody else, because I know Amil's kinda underground now. I know she's trying to do her own thing after she broke off you know from Rocafella and all dat (Peso: yeah) so I know she's doing it; like I know she did a song with Nicki Minaj and a whole bunch of other people---
Peso: Yeah, she's doing a lot of stuff right now. She's out at North Carolina doing her thing right now.
Jazzy J: So what's the name of the song ya'll working on?
Peso: "Money and Cars" (Jazzy J: "Money and Cars") It's crazy right now. It's crazy, see I got this single called "Lookin 4 the Freaks" out right now. It's gettin played all up and down the east coast; Atlanta, New York, Boston, Virginia...it's goin crazy right now and I might release "Money and Cars" wit Amil next. But I got another joint up my sleeve called "Babygirl" for the ladies, you know what I'm saying---
Jazzy J: So is it a little slow, like a lil sexy, sensual?
Peso: It's sexy, but it ain't too slow. It's still a get em up in the club, you know what I mean?
Jazzy J: So is there anybody besides Amil that you've worked with that's kind of heavy right now?
Peso: Um, I haven't actually gotten in the studio with them but I have opened up for a couple of people you know what I'm saying...Mr Cheeks, Gucci...its a couple---we done did a whole lot of stuff you know what I mean...it's just too much right now.
Jazzy J: So how is Mr Cheeks doing? I haven't heard from him in a minute.
Peso: He's still doing his thing. We was just in the spot wit Petely Pablo last nigt; he's still doing his thing. People you havent heard from in a minute, they still on the low doing they thing--
Jazzy J: So they went kinda underground right now (Peso: Yeah)...are they tryning to come back up?
Peso: Of course! Everybody trying to come up! You tryning to come up right (smiling)? (Jazzy J: laughing) I'm trying to come up! Everybody tryning to come up!
Jazzy J: Is there anybody local you would like to work with?
Peso: Um...I've been doing this for a minute out here so I worked with everybody. Like shout out Dought Gotcha, One Man Gate Set, M. Watts, B. Michelle, like everybody you know what I'm saying? Ony person I haven't really worked with is Big Steve, you know what I mean? I've been hearing alot about him; I'm feeling his music, you know what I'm saying...I'm reaching out to him now; let's do sumething my G, you know what I mean, get it popping.
Jazzy J: This is a local blog to represent VA and the talent we got here and it's our time to shine because everybody always keep saying Atlanta this, Atlanta that, (Peso: Yeah) but I feel like VA is coming up too(Peso: Exactly) so you know what I'm saying, I want to put this out there---
Peso: Everybody know about VA. You starting to hear VA in a lot of they songs, they shouting it out. You know what I mean, they come out here; they know what time it is. We go out there and show them what time it is, you know what I'm saying?
Jazzy J: You've been all up and down the East Coast, so what is like your most memorable moment, like show wise? Where, what happened---
Peso: I would say, when we opened up for Memphis Bleek and Mr Cheeks at Elizabeth City State like two years ago. That was my first experience as like people loving me all crazy, you know what I'm saying? They was actually loving the stuff we was doing. We was rocking out, taking pictures, grabbing and all of that crazy stuff. That was my first time experiencing something like dat. Elizabeth State University is the shit (Jazzy J: You was loving that experience?) Yeah, yeah, yeah it was a different feeling.
Jazzy J: Ok, so is there like a ritual you have before you go on stage, you know is there something like that you do---
Peso: Nah not really just say a prayer, you know what I'm saying and leave it in His hands.
Jazzy J: So have you ever had anything that was embarrasing on stage?
Peso: (Thinking then laughs) Oh yeah, yeah this was like when I was somewhat of an amateur. I had like a cord mic and I'm walking around stage and I step on the cord and the mic slips out my hand---
Jazzy J: So what did you do to clean that up?
Peso: Grabbed that muthafucka up and keep rocking.
Jazzy J: So I have a couple questions here; it's kind of like a game. (Peso: Come on let's do it.) It's called this or that. Aight, so are u single or taken?
Peso: I'm taken right now.
Jazzy J: You like chicken or steak?
Peso: Chicken---
Jazzy J: (laughing) You like fried chicken?
Peso: (Smiling) I like all kinds of chicken. (Jazzy J: All kinds of chicken?)Yeah all kinds of chicken, I don't like dark meat though.
Jazzy J: Ok comedy or horror?
Peso: Comedy, I like to laugh.
Jazzy J: Brains or beauty?
Peso: Um, I'ma say brains. (Jazzy J: Brains?) Yeah you gotta you know what I mean, know how`to talk. You gotta be something; you can't be beautiful and a dumbass.
Jazzy J: So do you have a certain type of woman?
Peso: Not really, I just like sexy---
Jazzy J: Sexy? What's sexy?
Peso: Sexy can be a whole lot of things, you know what I'm saying? Sexy, can be like your brains can be sexy; how you talk to me; our conversation can be sexy you know what I mean? Sexy can be a lot of things-- to me anyway. I don't have like a certain standard, preference, or nothing like that. I'm like if you sexy, then you sexy to me.
Jazzy J: Because I know from my experiences with alot of guys, they're like "I like light skin girls"----
Peso: Yeah, see that's not like the case with me. It is what it is with me. If you sexy, I like you, you know what I mean? If you smart, I like you. You got good conversation, it's whatever. You can kick it.
Jazzy J: So an interesting conversation with a woman when you initially meet her is something that engages you?
Peso: Yeah, exactly, exactly.
Jazzy J: Um, Biggie or Tupac.
Peso: (Steps back) Wooooooooo!!! Thta's a tough one but I'ma say Pac. (Jazzy J: Pac? Why?) Because he was the realest nigga ever to do it! Like he put his heart and soul, and love, and everything into his music. Biggie nice, that's my dude, don't get it twisted but I like Pac's passion. I like the passion about him.
Jazzy J: So do you kinda believe the conspiracy theories about this Illuminati stuff with him?
Peso: Of course! He was a smart dude. He was into a lot of stuff we didn't know about. Yeah, I really do believe that. You can tell in his music! He talked about a whole bunch of government stuff.
Jazzy: Ok Jay Z or Nas?
Peso: Ahhhh, Jigga! That's my dude! That's my favorite.
Jazzy J: Ok we're goin to bring it to VA. Who would you rock with more, Trey Songz or Chris Brown?
Peso: Trey...(Jazzy J: Trey?) Trigga...
Jazzy J: Would you ever do a song with him?
Peso: Yeah
Jazzy J: How about Chris?
Peso: Chris, I would do something with him too, I like him too...but Trey on his grown man a little bit.
Jazzy J: Ok I'm going to bring some fashion into this. Christian Dior or Versace?
Peso: Versace...I started to wear the Versace shades...
Jazzy J: Versace is my favortite. Louis Vuitton or Fendi?
Peso: Louis V...I would have to go with that.
Jazzy J: Are you an agressor or your patient?
Peso: I'm patient actually, I mean it depends on the situation (Laughs) you know what I'm saying? But for the most part I'm patient. I've learned how to be patient over the years.
Jazzy J: Are you outgoing or a homebody?
Peso: Being that this is my occupation, I'm outgoing but I would rather be at home. I like doing the Red Box, you know on some chill shit. I'm a chill nigga forreal.
Jazzy J: Ok, last one. Alicia Keys or Halle Berry?
Peso: MMMMM...mmm....mmmm...(laughs) I'ma say Alicia...yeah cuz...I'ma say Alicia. (laughs) She the shit right now...
Jazzy J: Here are the last set of questions...If I had to change careers, I would be...
Peso: If I had to change careers, I would own a club. I would be a promoter or something. I like the night life. I've thrown a couple parties and liked the outcome of that.
Jazzy J: Well how do you feel about alot of the clubs that we have around here that comes up and then all of a sudden dies? What do you think alot of these clubs are doing wrong for them to go under or change names, or management?
Peso: Yeah Ima say all the clubs that be getting closed down be all the hood spots. Everything that be classy don't be having all that bullshit going on. So it be the clubs that hood gets shot up, fights every week and all that shit; those are the ones that get shut down and they need to correct that shit.
Jazzy J: So what would you do differently in your club?
Peso: It will be a real classy look. You're not coming in without heels on, no rags, Jordans, none of that shit you know what I'm saying?
Jazzy J: If I had to stop making music...
Peso: (Pause) If I had to stop making music, I would die. I would die yo. Its my life right now. I love this shit. Every since I was ye' tall.
Jazzy J: Before I end this, so what was your inspiration, or how did you know you had talent? When did you realize your talent?
Peso: When my homeboy started telling me I go hard. It would just be him in the studio and I would come through, lay it down, kick it with them or whateva and bullshit on the track and murder that shit.
Jazzy J: So you freestyle?
Peso: I mainly freestyle, it's like a written freestyle. I write in my head sometimes like I can just hear a beat and go in. Not something I do all the time but you know...
Jazzy J: Is there anything you want to say to your fans before I end this?
Peso: Shout out to everybody supporting me, I love ya'll. Shout out to my haters, I need ya'll too. You know what I'm saying, I appreciate ya'll for fucking wit me, ya'll niggas know the difference. So ya'll niggas keep riding wit your boy. Grind City all day.
~Jazzy J~
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