LAUNCH:
Do you think your rhymes are nasty?
TOO $HORT:
Nasty, yes, but offensive, no. Nasty stories sells records, and if I was talking about everyday stuff, you wouldn't be interviewing me now.
LAUNCH:
Do you think that your fanbase is mainly comprised of men or women?
TOO $HORT:
You may not believe it, but my fans are mostly women. I'm the first one to tell you that I respect a businesswoman who can get down in the bed, but I'll talk about a woman who's not doing right by me in a minute. Women like to hear me cursing and talking about folks who need to get talked about--that's why they buy my records and come out to my concerts.
LAUNCH:
How do you feel about teenagers listening to your music? Nowadays it's the kids who buy the most music...
TOO $HORT:
From day one, I've dealt with a tiny amount of guilt when it comes to the kids, because they try to mimic what they hear on tape. I know when I was coming up I listened to all my mom and dad's Richard Pryor records and I knew every curse word there was. I'd get outside with my friends, and I must have only been five years old, but I'd be cursing like a grown-up.
LAUNCH:
Are there songs on your album that young people--or square people--can listen to without being offended?
TOO $HORT:
Yeah. You can't just make 15 raw songs without giving the kids something to grow or learn from. I try to slip educational messages in between the nasty stuff. They need to know that the street life ain't the only way to go. "Still Strugglin'," "Good Life," and "Divide And Conquer" ain't that bad. And "Tell The Feds" talks about confronting the feds who are thinking that we're sellin' cocaine, but in fact, we're just selling rap music to the people.
LAUNCH:
Seeing that you talk a lot about bitches and ho's, tell me: What is Too $hort's ideal woman like?
TOO $HORT:
I like to laugh, go out and mingle, but I've been cursed with this playerism. My fantasy is to find an ideal mate now [that] I'm getting older. Sure, I'd like to find a woman to call my wife. I'm lookin' hard, too.
LAUNCH:
Has a girlfriend ever given you the boot?
TOO $HORT:
Yeah. I was in the fourth grade and this girl set me up. She had it all prearranged that she would break up with me and start going out with one of my best friends. She was going to give me one of her ugly-assed girlfriends as a replacement. I got dissed, but that kind of stuff ain't happening to me anymore. I'm more aware of how women try to play men and I'm gonna do the breaking up from now on.
