Mr. Phat: The Man Behind the Melodies

Trey Holiday sat down with the enigmatic Mr. Phat, the producer behind the iconic "Cupid Shuffle" and a long-time collaborator with Cupid. The conversation delved into Mr. Phat's journey in music, his creative process, and his unwavering commitment to authenticity.

Mr. Phat shared that his connection with Cupid dates back to their middle school days in Lafayette, Louisiana. They crossed paths frequently through after-school activities in their shared neighborhood. Their professional collaboration began when Mr. Phat became an intern at a local record label in Lafayette, where Cupid was signed. He recalled, "I was the kid getting off the bus after school and going sit underneath the engineer and learning about the ins and outs of recording and mixing, mastering." When Cupid embarked on his solo career, he naturally tapped into their existing connection, and the rest, as Mr. Phat put it, "has been history."

One of the highlights of the interview was Mr. Phat's discussion of producing "Cupid Shuffle," a track that instantly gets everyone on the dance floor. He explained that the song was their way of spotlighting the unique culture of their area, specifically drawing from the popular local genre called Zydeco music. Mr. Phat described it as their "spin on a Zydeco record," a younger version of the sound they grew up with. He emphasized their shared vision to represent their generation by infusing their own creativity into existing cultural elements.

Mr. Phat strongly believes in staying true to one's artistic roots, a philosophy he attributes to their experience with the industrialized side of the music business. While not entirely "anti-record label," he stressed the importance of maintaining a "genuine aspect in your creativity." For him, music must speak to who he is, so that "20 years down the line, you don't want to say you just made records just because that's what the rest of the world is doing. You want to have your own lean carb. You want to have your own category."

As an engineer, rapper, and producer, Mr. Phat is deeply hands-on in his creative process, even down to "vocal inflections." He sees himself as "that nerdy technical guy that says, 'Okay, what if we change this, this, that, I put the puzzle pieces together, and then we make the world dance.'"

He expressed immense gratitude to Cupid for keeping him, and the rest of the core crew, close as their careers soared. Many in the industry often leave their original teams behind once major labels get involved, but Cupid ensured his core team remained. This loyalty meant Mr. Phat received the call to join Cupid on the road, a moment he likened to the scene in the movie 8 Mile, where he walked out of his warehouse job without looking back. This deep connection extends to their performances, where Mr. Phat DJs on stage, playing the very music they produce in the studio.

Beyond production, Mr. Phat's musical journey began as a rapper. He transitioned into production out of a need for beats and his innate musical talent, inherited from his father, a gospel musician and choir director. He produced for his own rap groups and always served as the engineer.

Mr. Phat also shared details about his solo rap projects, particularly his album Genius, and his first rap album, The Frequency. He described his music as "grown man hip-hop," focusing on relatable themes like "loving my wife, raising my kids, getting my money, traveling on the road, seeing the world." He believes there's a refreshing need for this kind of music for older generations who may not resonate with current mainstream sounds.

Fans can find Mr. Phat on all social media platforms at @MRPHAT. His albums Genius and The Frequency are available on all streaming platforms.

The conversation with Mr. Phat was a compelling look into the heart of a dedicated artist who, alongside his long-time friend and collaborator Cupid, continues to make the world dance while staying true to their roots.