Grafh: Get AutoGrafhed

By Mark Williams-Washington

Peep the latest Shine interview below to find out what Grafh, an artist in partnership with Dame Dash, brings to the rap game, and why he wants his fans to get at him personally...

Shine: So what’s good fam?

Grafh: Everything is good right now fam. A n*gga just traveling the country making good music. Enjoying life. Enjoying this music sh*t for what it's worth.

Shine: Can you explain what your music is about for those who haven't heard of you?

Grafh: I do a lot of reality rapping. I'm a realist, a lot of my music is introspective. I'm a real n*gga so you definitely going to be able to feel it. I make music for the kind of man who ain't really happy. I don't know too many people that's happy. I had a lot of f*cked up experiences and I share them through these words. I use my music as a vehicle to express emotion. I'm a real person and I got to express that. Actually I make sure you see why I think what I think. I'm not a dumb ass like some of these other n*ggas. I actually read.::::Laughs::::

Shine: :::Laughs::: You were saying that your music is very emotional. Is it all about pain? Do you do any party sh*t?

Grafh: Nah, of course I give you everything. The music is for the world man. That's not what rapping is about. Someone would be cheating themselves and would be lying if they said they only do that. You can't be mad 24/7. You have to go home and be with your moms, your kids, and your friends. You going to chill, you going to smile...that's corny. You know what I'm saying. A n*gga who did that would not be able to keep it real with the public. He would have something to hide. He probably fake.

I'm a real G. I already know who I am as a person. I could smile...I don't give a f*ck what nobody think about me. I'm a real G and I already know that. And I express myself the way I do so I can make the public relate, and give them something they can relate to...

Shine: Since you mentioned you was traveling, do you have any collabo's with any west coast artists?

Grafh: I ain't come to the west side in a minute. The last time I was over there I was there with Mailman and Nephew. I made a record called "I Don't Care" over there in Cali. We did a little street video. It was on the Entourage show on HBO. It's a lot of n*ggas over there that I would like to get with. Anybody that's talented. It's a lot of n*ggas over there that I would like to get with...

Shine: How did The Preview album do for Sure Shot Records?

Grafh: The Preview did alright. They only printed up like 20,000 copies...the sh*t sold in like a f*cken week and a half. It was some music that wasn't cleared on there. He was scared to sell that sh*t. They only mess with you when you sell like a hundred thousand or some sh*t. So he only did like 20,000 of them sh*ts.

It sold so fast that I don't even promote it no more because a n*gga don't know where to go get it at. It ain't in stores no more, but it did good for what it was. It's bootlegs everywhere. Ya'll can get that. I'm going to re-release the DVD. I feel like it was a mixtape and that sh*t don't make no sense. That's what it is though, but it did well for what it was.

Shine: Did the Rocafella situation affect you at all?

Grafh: Nah, it didn't affect me. I was f*cken with Dame, I wasn't actually signed to the Roc. I got a partnership with Dame. So I actually kept it that way so wherever he took his business dealings I would follow.

Shine: You were a finance major in college, has that helped you in your business activities?

Grafh: Of course. I'm the president of Blackhand. I bring much to the company with the particular ideas and things that get sparked up on. Business is number one. You have to remember that this is a business so nobody else don't capitalize off you and you be losing out. But definitely business is number one right now.

Shine: When can we expect the official album?

Grafh: Around the second quarter.

Shine: What's Black Hand Entertainment?

Grafh: Black Hand is the label. We been moving as an independent label for the last 10 years. We put out a project called "Black Gangsta." On that we had Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, and 50 Cent on an independent album. It sold about 100,000 worldwide, so we been on our grind with that. We been moving that way all the time, so with or without a major that's the way we operate.

So now we got an ill-ass partnership with Dame Dash and we got a lot of power behind us right now. That's what it is right now. I'm the first artist as well as the president. Black Hand started in the prison system all over the country. It's nothing sweet about this. It was started by a bunch of OG n*ggas who I happen to be fortunate enough to grow up around.

They grew so strong in numbers that no matter what jail you went to, there was someone in there. If you was family you was cool but if you was an enemy they would have whooped your ass. We do it all...photography, conceptual design. I write hits for some of your favorite rappers. It's nothing. That's what we do.

Shine: Is there anything you want people to know about you?

Grafh: I'm a real n*gga, I'm very tangible...I'm for the people and I stand for something. I represent reality and real life. It's so real that I got a site on myspace.com where they can contact me anytime they want to get at me. Holla at me, I talk to anybody that reaches me. It's myspace.com/grafhblackhand. Also hit me up on my regular site. Enjoy the music. I got stuff that you can relate to. At the end of the day I want to be remembered for something great man.

Shine: Is there anything we should be checking for right now?

Grafh: Yeah, check the mixtape called Classic. It's hosted by Dame Dash and Kay Slay. You can check for that.

Shine: Any last words or shout outs?

Grafh: Shout to my whole fam man, that's about it.