Father MC in Studio

By Vikki Hankins |

Early on Father MC has made us jump to the dance floor and ‘do that dance, do that dance…and work it out’ on his hit ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’ and continues to hold the crowd with a much more mature look and a new style of music. Interesting enough some of his new sounds will blend in with the music that so many have come to love today but he has no intentions of leaving out those that love that ole’ school feel – versatile indeed.“We have a (collection) of joints; I just made records, according to how I felt the day I was in the studio. I want to take it to ole’ school, I miss that ole’ school feel and I just leveled the album out – then I would say to some of my guys (in the studio), now let’s go chase these young boys, let’s go get them.”

Though he was considered R&B he makes it clear that he misses the “Tupac’s” and the “Biggie’s” and the form of rap. “Even though I was considered R&B, I was spittin’ (rap) but in my own way.”  In the 1990’s he became an overnight success with hits like, I’ll Do For You, in which Mary J. Blige was back up and on other hits that included the likes of the group Jodeci.

Early on he knew he wanted music in his life and as a career, “I didn’t want to just be the rapper with a Benz in the projects and it be cool; I wanted it to be a household name. So RJ, Andre Harrell, Steve Lucas and Sean (Puffy) Combs…said, ‘We are going to make you a star; we’re going to make you a sex symbol and we feel that this is what it is…and they said (this is) the difference in you having a Benz in the projects or you having a Bentley and a mansion, and of course I went for the mansion and the Bentley; my train of thought of the industry just started changing from then on,” said Father.

During his career, he has been presented as a ladies man, but makes it clear, “I respect women – everybody go through it with women but I just respect them.” His fondness for his mother is quite apparent as he further shares his admiration, “My mother is a strong woman; they say, ‘I’m a mama’s boy’ and I am, but there’s nothing wrong with that – I love it.”

As for the youthful appearance he’s maintained, “I don’t do anything; I don’t go to the gym; I just chill… I like banana pudding (laughs). I really just chill; I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink, I’m not curious to see what the ‘in’ thing is to do. I don’t believe in plastic surgery, but that’s to each its own.”

An interesting fact is how he came to have his name (Father), “I was in Jr. High School and it was cool to be like a 5 per centers; everyone would call me ‘Father’ – that was a 5% name. Then my Home Economics teacher called me Father in front of all the 5 per centers, and I was like, ‘oh god, here we go’ (chuckle) …it was like a little crazy thing. The next thing you know they were like beeping everybody up about it and it just stuck with me and it’s been with me ever since.”

There was a period when Father MC was absent from the scene and chose to take a look at the industry and its changes. “I took off time to pay attention to the game; to see if this is what I wanted to do. It was cool, just seeing the new talent and giving the young cats like Little Wayne and them, respect.”

Now he’s stepping back onto this scene, “This time the best thing about is….is that I’m in control of my destiny,” and regarding his tours in 2013, “Come to a concert and I’ll show you what ‘it’ do.”