At this point, it must be something in the water regarding Compton’s ability to cultivate successful rappers. From the legend of N.W.A to the current demigod status of Kendrick Lamar, one could soon also count AV into the fold as well. He created a small buzz locally in 2014 after dropping “Run Me My Money” before Rihanna made similar demands. AV took that momentum into last year through his Compton 2 Riches mixtape which featured guest appearances from Jay 305 and Mistah Fab. The project’s sixth track, “Money Dance” produced by The Honorable CNote turned into a regional radio hit. And to think, it all started with a two thousand dollar investment from partying.
Before performing at Compton High School, HipHopDX hangs out with AV where he’s sort of become a local celebrity himself. Tossing drive-by concerns to the wind, several cars crept by and showed respect to the rapper on numerous occasions during the interview near Wilmington Middle School. From the initial investment that kicked off his early rise and getting respect from peers to a tragic accident inspiring him to rap.
AV Explains How Getting Shot Led Him To Rap
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HipHopDX: I saw on Instagram the other day a picture you took with Game.
AV: Yeah man, that’s the big homie. He fucks with me like a muthafucka.
DX: Must feel nice to get such a big co-sign. Must feel good right?
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AV: That’s the big homie so everything is appreciated. He’s a legend and I’m trying to get to that legendary status. That’s a big move in my career. Shoutout to the big homie for always supporting me.
DX: You seemed fairly cautious as I took photos of you near the Compton Courthouse. What was journey before rap?
AV: I was out here trippin’ and hustlin’. I was trying to do anything to support my family. I was kickin’ it with the homies. We were hitting licks and all of that. None of the shit I’m proud of, but were things I had to do at the time to make it. Times are better, though. God had a plan for me so it’s all good.
DX: When did you make that decision to be a rapper full time?
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AV: I had to be in like the 9th grade. I use to write for a whole lot of people growing up. I use to give all my flows and raps away. Then, I started getting this big, big voice in high school. Everybody started telling me, I should rap what I write. I tried it one day with the homies making beats on the table and I liked the vibe it gave me. Basketball was still my first love so I juggled both. Then, I had one of those tragic moments. I hate to say it, but I got shot. Couldn’t walk for a couple of months. I started dabbling with the writing and started to chase this.
DX: Getting shot must have been a terrifying experience.
AV: Everything happened in slow motion. It was a drive by. They started shooting. I was on 124th and Compton Avenue. That’s where I grew up at. They drove by in a gray Caprice, pointed something out the window and started shooting. They see some dudes kickin’ it and I had some females with me. They shot at all of us.
DX: You were the only one hurt?
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AV: Yeah, I think they were aiming at me the way they were shooting. Everything came my way.
DX:Where do we get to the point where “Money Dance” is a local hit out here in L.A. County?
AV: It’s a real record. Just dabbling in creating a sound and voice for myself. Of course, I’m a reality rapper so I can be hard at times. I don’t dance to what the people are doing. I respect it and see the genius in what they do, but I’m just a different artist. I did “Run Me My Money” which was the start of my Money Movement. I was bringing 300 or 400 people to shows at clubs and they were giving me $100 dollars or five people free. Stuff like that just so I could push my career. With “Run Me My Money,” I rapped a whole lot of lyrics that made these people pay me what they owe me. Now that everyone is paying me what they owe me, I do the “Money Dance.” That’s my reality rap. I did “Run Me My Money” so they can pay me and know, I’m doing the “Money Dance” as I laugh to the bank.
DX: We were talking earlier about Compton going from simply a Hip Hop hub birth from violence to cultural phenomenon. Not to mention your link with nearly every rapper from out here.
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AV: You know friendly competition? Just like it use to be. Everybody is so close out here to where it’s friendly competition and it’s better for the city. That’s if we keep it positive. Right now, everybody is keeping it positive and efficient, but it’s all love. Shout out to all the people doing their thing. It’s the big homies really coming down and putting us together. We trying to shine a positive light on Compton so it’s all work. We come from the ghetto, but we’re trying to do better things for our family.
The Local Success Of “Money Dance” & Remix Features
DX: At the moment clearly you have Kendrick, but also YG, Boogie, Jay Worthy alongside yourself.
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AV: Yo, shout out to Kendrick. That’s my muthafuckin’ nigga. He really gave us a platform to speak what we speaking right now. I have the utmost respect for him and it’s all love. Shoutout to Boogie, shoutout to YG and Jay Worthy. Matter of fact, I’m about to go speak with Jay Worthy after this interview.
DX: It has to be something in the water at this point.
AV: It’s just what we got right now. It’s YG, Problem, AV, AD. I ain’t afraid to mention nobody name out here doing something. That’s how we all gotta be. Speak up on each other and keep each other strong. Right now, it’s natural because we’re in natural competition, but it’s OK to speak this business we’re trying to preach. You know right now, these cats got it.
DX: You got a few special folks about to hop on the “Money Dance” remix. I know you can’t say much.
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AV: All I can say is because I don’t want to jinx anything, I do have a remix with Bow Wow that we’re holding on to. Hopefully, we can turn that into a summer heater. I have some more top names alongside Bow Wow. Right now, I have someone real, real big hollering and we’re probably going to make that the official. We’re not even going to call it the remix, but the official version. That’s where it’s going.
DX: How do we lead into a new project since “Money Dance” was on your last project?
AV: Right, “Money Dance” is on my last mixtape, but I can say when I get the feature and turn it into a big thing. We’re going to lead to a second single and head toward the album.
DX: Where are you at musically at the moment?
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AV: You know what’s crazy? I’m a guy from Compton. We done did the shooting. We done did the trappin’. We done got shot at. We done did all the things. I’m Mr. “Run Me My Money” to “Money Dance.” It’s so big. It’s not always about money and violence. I’m happy right now. I come from a hard place and I got a lot of things to say as I go meet this world. Dealing with the artists I’ve been dealing with and learning the music business along with being in the studio, I’m open. I see it all and just say it in my music. I’ve always been able to rap what I see. So, the more I see, who knows where Compton AV can go.
DX: I remember you saying you grew up listening to a lot of DJ Quik. What are you listening to now?
AV: Yeah man, I grew up listening to stuff like N.W.A of course, but my favorite was DJ Quik. I love his tone, what he stands for and how he approaches the game. I love all the rappers that come from here. For the new age, I liked the Meek Mill / Drake thing that’s going on. Drake is coming down letting folks know he’s no one to play with but, Meek is a savage and plays the game a different way. He’s in them streets. I’m loving everything right now sound wise. I’m building myself as well. I can rap on some of those Southern beats. I got a deep voice and heavy tone with some melodies. I’m just here to compete.
DX: It’s easy to say the success of “Run Me My Money” was a breakout moment but was there a moment you could pinpoint?
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AV: When the phones started ringing. You grow up as an artist. My management was stick to singles since I got with them. They were like, you need a single AV. And I was telling them I had one. You’re an artist coming up from Compton and you think you have one. My whole hood bouncing to this, it’s a single. Nah, it’s a bigger world out there. When I wrote “Money Dance,” I chose money because everybody was dancing. I chose money, dancing and family. It’s about what means something to you. People need money, people need family. I used “Run Me My Money” as a concept to draw people toward me. Then I put a twist in it because I’m not a dancer. If I do any dance, it’s going to be the “Money Dance.” Dancing and money are fun. I put it together so a little kid could sing it or an older OG can sing it as well. Everybody want that money.
Flipping Money Into Steady Show Revenue
DX: I know you’re doing a boatload of shows out here. What’s the average, say, per month?
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AV: Most definitely, two or three shows a week. Probably around 15 or 20 a month. Everywhere out here. We’ve do shows in Palm Springs, the whole base of L.A., Compton of course, Pamona, the whole Inland Empire, San Bernardino, The High Desert and Bakersfield. I got Vegas in love with AV and Arizona. Shout out to all the markets that support me.
DX: Building a fanbase like that takes time. How exactly did you go about doing that?
AV: Let me tell you how I did it. $2,000 in my sock. I was telling myself, I don’t want to get a job so get up, find a warehouse and throw a party. Don’t perform at the first party, just get a crowd and let them enjoy. By the second or third party, then you need to get on stage and play one song. Not two songs and get the crowd upset. Get up there and push the music through the performances. We built a platform to get people to the parties which is LMKR which stands for Loyalty, Music, Knowledge and Respect or Label Me Crack Radio back in the day. Those are three entities that became one. Label Me Bomb which is my female promotional camp and Crack Stars which was the battle rap side we did and X-Rated which was all the homies. We put them all together and started throwing parties together. That’s how we built a platform to push this music. It worked.
DX: Where’d you have the warehouse party at?
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AV: This hole-in-the-wall spot in Long Beach. My homie was like the owner would rent it out for $1,500. I had the $2,000 so I put in about $200 in promotions and gave the promoters like $20 or $30 a piece because I didn’t want them to feel like they were working for nothing. I gave the DJ like $300 to come rock out. Shout out to DJ Vision and DJ Wiz Kid from Compton. Them dudes really need recognition for the things they do for the West Coast. I wish those dudes the best.
DX: How far did you flip that money?
AV: I got racks off that. I moved around Compton and then to Hawthorne because of a shooting in the alley. My granny had a stroke so we had to move her. I bought cars with that. I made some money off that. Attention artists, if you know a building where you can do some things that are positive, invite some girls because they’ll spread the word. Get you a nice DJ and throw a party. Gather all your money. I forced my way into Hollywood. They wouldn’t have me do shows out there, but the promoters needed me. They use to be like we’ll offer you a bottle and $300 if you bring 400 people to our club. If it looks good to the people, I’ll take that so people can leave and talk about it.
DX: That’s pretty smart man. Where’d you get that business acuteness from?
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AV: I paid attention in school of course and just watching. I’ve been a fan of these artists. Even before the N.W.A movie came out, I use to be that guy on YouTube learning. When YouTube first came out, I had to be one of the first people on YouTube. I was YouTube-ing everything. It taught me that business is trials and tribulations. Everything in business will be a success if you stay strong. I’m at a point in my career where nobody can stop me. I don’t have to get the biggest deal of my life because I’m OK with the records I’m making. If I can get that phone to ring, travel and do shows, I can make anybody in the building feel what I’m talking about. And, I’m fine with that.
