S:Not everybody can handle the spotlight! J: True! If I keep my head on straight, who cares what other people say or think!
S: Is your head on straight, buddy? J: Completely. I am aware that everything is the same – but it’s not. I just want to be the dude next door.
S: And acting? What’s your approach? J: I completely step into the role. When you take on a role, there’s no formula. You just have to keep working hard until you perfect the characterization. You gotta make people care.
S:Who taught you that? J: Cats like Will Smith. Don’t leave anything to chance. Prepare!
S: Aſter winning the Oscar, did people treat you differently? J: Yes, and I called them out on it. I’ve learned to do what I call “Kill the beast.” Kill the beast before it makes you what you can become.
S: Which media do you like best: radio, TV, film, or music? J: Wow… that’s kind of hard, because they’re all connected. Right now I’m on my music grind. I was in the studio last night working on this great record. It’s going to change the game as far as music is con- cerned!
S:“Blame it on the Alcohol” was a collaboration with T-Pain. He’s a crazy creative soul, but also has so much fun in the studio.How do ya’ll go back and fourth? J: It’s amazing watching T-Pain enjoy his success and see a person who’s still fun loving. Because you know, sometimes people will get a record out, but they are rockin’ jewelry and shades and have nine bodyguards that you have to talk to just to get through to them. But to watch him work is great and he’s a genius.
S:You had the chance to collab with Fort Myers’ very own Plies. Give us the inside scoop. J: You know, what got me about Plies is that you have this view of him being a rugged, hardcore, thug gangster type cat. But when I got on the phone with him, man, the dude was just articulate. It tripped me out because I was on the phone like, “Yo, what’s up man!” He was like, “First of all, I want to go over the particulars of the video…” [laugh- ing] I was like wow! Now I can see Plies is successful because he’s a very smart cat. When you saw Jamie Foxx and Plies doing a collab, it was like out of nowhere. But I really respect his craft and what he’s accomplished an artist... and also how he came off in that phone call!
S: Speaking of expression... everything you touch has soul. You ooze it. In elementary school, were you already such an expres- sionist that your future in entertainment was obvious? J: Oh yeah... in third or fourth grade, the teachers would give me time to tell jokes on Fridays. My grandparents watched Johnny Carson at night and the only TV was in my room so I’d stay up and watch it with them. There were always a lot of comedians on the show telling jokes and I’d take their lines and retell them at school. I knew then already that I was destined to perform in front of somebody doing something.
S: So just like your career, you were a clown first. J: Yeah, exactly. I was clowning throughout my whole elementary time and then when I got to about 7th or 8th grade, I turned music up full blast and tried to combine the two. So now it’s like I’m living out my childhood.
S: How did you attackThe Soloist? J: As an actor, you just have to become the character. Like with the whole Ray Charles thing - it’s the same. Find out who the character is and really get into their skin.
S: Given your roles in acclaimed films like Ray and The Soloist, plus your amazing music career, will you ever be a clown again? J: Of course, I’ll never lose that! That’s why I have the radio station and I’m able to do that 24/7. If I lose my comedy, I think I’ll lose me. I don’t know if you’re like me here Scrappy, but when I watch some of my favorite comedians and they stop being funny and are like, “I’m artistic now,” you be like, “Naw, still I want what made me drawn to you in the first place.” So I try to never lose that.
S:What do you dream of doing tomorrow? J: I want to get more involved with making more people have fun, and doing stuff for others. Not necessarily politically, cause I don’t know if I can take people prying in my personal life. I hooked up with this guy Fred Nessery, and we have this website called
www.IWantPeace.com. Now, he’s a billionaire who set aside $100 million. Every person who signs up gets $1 donated to their charity. So things like that.
S: Ultimately, what gives you real satisfaction? J: A sense of accomplishment. I love to plant a creative seed and watch it grow into an idea that the whole world can enjoy. In that mo- ment, I think, “Wow, I did that!”
S:What do you want for your career? J: I want to maintain the integrity of my work while having fun. It’s gotta be fun!
S:And you’re having fun! J: You know it! It’s incredible! And one sentence always crosses my mind: “And the Oscar goes to…” Whenever I go back to that moment, I know everything is cool!
S: One time for my man! Jamie Foxx rockin’ the box! Thanks for the time, my brother. J: Enjoyed it, Scrappy! For real!
Scrappy, Southwest Florida’s highest rated DJ, can be heard every afternoon from 3-6pm on 105.5 The Beat.
Pulse Magazine SWFL | 31
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