More than a year after dropping off Chipper Jones Vol. 2, rising Long Beach rapper (and new 1017 Brick Squad Records signee) Joey Fatts returned with Chipper Jones Vol. 3. The new mixtape contains contributions from producers like Cardo, DJ Dahi, ID Labs, Eli Myles, J Lbs, and more, with guest appearances from Waka Flocka Flame, Vince Staples, A$AP Rocky, and Aston Matthews.
With all of this being said, we recently had a chance to sit down and chop it up with him and one thing can be said for sure. He’s a humble individual who has encountered real struggle and has persevered through it all. Peep the interview below.
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The Source: This month marked the release of Chipper Jones EP: Vol. 3. Where did the name of the series originate from and what was the decision behind continuing the imprint?
Joey Fatts: where I’m from when people get shot and killed we say “he got chipped”. So I decided to run with the name Chipper Jones because I wanted to make a concept type mixtape that described my summer days of 05/06, where most days nigg*s was getting chipped. It was also catchy because I knew Chipper Jones was a player for the Atlanta Braves and was going to retire soon so it just was perfect. My idea was to follow up with Hall of Fame after Volume 3, which I already announced in like late 2012.
The Source: CJ3 is your first release under Waka’s growing 36BRICKHOUSE movement – describe what it’s like working with/under Waka’s brand. Any significant differences from your prior work?
Joey Fatts: When I first met Waka I was already done with Chipper Jones Vol. 3. I was just trying to get the proper roll out and business etiquette for myself being an independent artist in a game ran by the majors. And Waka blessed me with knowledge and made me believe in myself like I never did. When he heard Volume 3 he lost his mind. I’m grateful to have a big brother/mentor/boss like him.
The Source: In mentioning your deal with 36BRICKHOUSE, discuss how that initially came about.
Joey Fatts: Man I can’t even tell you. Waka and the team do they homework. I never knew they were watching me. Milan Ackerman is one of my managers now. He just hit me on the DM on Twitter and said he wanted to meet and manage me under 36BRICKHOUSE.
The Source: Your interviews with Sway In The Morning/Ebro In The Morning were eye opening, especially the reveal of your genuine personality. What made you the person you are today?
Joey Fatts: I just seen a lot man. Been through everything you can think of. I just got a crib like 4 months ago. I been homeless for 5 and a half years prior to this. Not like sleeping house to house homeless. I’m talking ’bout nowhere to go. Sleeping in cars. Walking the streets until daylight homeless. I just always knew there was more to life. I always wanted more. I never felt bad about my situation. It was temporary and I knew that because I had the hustle. My brothers and my pop taught me the streets well and how to make it out the mud so I knew I was going to become something. I just didn’t know what. Now God blessed me with this. Crazy.
The Source: Talk about your joint project with 9th Wonder.
Joey Fatts: Man, me and 9th working. No set date or name yet, but it will be on iTunes. 9th is like an uncle to me. The experience is crazy. Can’t wait to bang out the rest of these tracks and release them.
The Source: As an artist, producer, and video director (an incredible skill set to have), which poison are you most drawn to longterm moving forward?
Joey Fatts: All 3 man. I can manage because this is my life now. I work first and live second. So I usually have time for everything. I don’t go out or anything so I just be working. I don’t even eat until I get in the groove of the music when I wake up in the morning. It’s crazy but tight. I actually like it. It keeps the stress low.
The Source: Biggest influences on your artistry?
Joey Fatts: My mom man, honestly. She been struggling her whole life and still strong. I gotta get it for her. Show her how it feel to kick them feet up.
The Source: You’re a Crip, something you’ve openly discussed and identified with both in interviews and in your music. What has the dynamic been between you and Waka Flocka, who has obviously ID’d himself to be a blood?
Joey Fatts: Before the gang banging you gotta have morals as men. We both grown as men, dawg. We’re tryna feed our families. Colors ain’t a factor when it comes to providing. And even when it comes to the street shit, Waka gave me shit off his back. My crip ass gon’ boot up when it’s war time for that blood nigg* any day. It’s called loyalty. And he good in Long Beach, which is an all crip city.
The Source: After CJ3 releases, what’s next?
Joey Fatts: Everything man. A beat tape with visuals behind it on my Fly-Lo shit. The 9th Project. Cutthroat album with me, Aston Matthews, and Vince Staples. Then my album.
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On the real, big shoutout to Joey Fatts. We’re pulling for him. If you need to grab Vol. 2 head here, otherwise stream and/or download Chipper Jones Vol. 3 and let us know what you think of the effort.
– Scott Randell (@iamscottrandell)
