HHW caught up with actor-turned-rapper Rick Gonzalez (who performs under the stage name Realm Reality) at an NYC listening session for his free album, In The Grind We Trust …
HHW: First off, congrats on the deal with Prodigy. Can you tell us how that whole thing came together?
Realm: I’ve always been a fan of P and we just always stayed in contact. Doing the rounds, doing music and whatnot. When he got locked away I stayed in contact with him and wrote to him. I gave him my mixtape, The Invisible Man while he was in jail. He heard it. I had a particular song that I really wanted him on and so when he was out, when he came out and visited Los Angeles, I said, “[Prodigy] you know I got this perfect song for us, can you get Hav on it too?” Ultimately, Havoc couldn’t jump on the record. We ended up doing it and the response was so organic. I’ve never seen him react that way before … he had this look in his eye like “This sh– is crazy.” And it just led me to this moment right here.
Was there any hesitation being a rapper signed to another rapper?
No, no no … because being signed to P was like, legendary. It was such an amazing blessing. You know he’s such a humble person and just so knowledgeable in the game that is made complete sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-dItL2Di6c&w=420&h=340
What is the tougher industry to break into – hip hop or Hollywood?
They’re both difficult in their own way. Acting … there’s so much more politics. I always say when it came to music – the difference between me and an unknown person was the question they asked the unknown person was “Is the music good?” And the question they asked me was “Can you rap?” You see what I’m saying, that’s it right there. Like, I’m starting at -5. The unknown rapper is starting at 0. So I gotta prove I rap, then the music gotta be good, then I gotta be better than your favorite rapper – And I am.
You were in Lady Gaga’s 2011 music video for her single “Judas.” On the music tip, would you ever consider teaming up with Gaga for a possible record?
No, that was just a one-time thing. She asked me to do it and that was surreal, I did it, shouts to her – that was a good look.
What is your favorite part of the recording process?
Just hearing it back. Once you have everything put together and you hear it back for the first time, and you turned the lights down and you just listen to what you did – that’s the gratification. Actually, even when you take the song … I put it on my iPod the moment it’s unmixed, I’ll just have a rough on the iPod That’ll be my driving music for the next few weeks and I’ll just sit on it and see how I can improve on it. I like those moments.
Read more in the next issue of HHW!
Twitter @J_Bachelor
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