HHV Exclusive: Stuntman talks “All On the Line, Vol. 1,” D4L comeback, and new Atlanta
By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Hard to believe it has been seven years since D4L burst onto the scene. But, the crew enjoyed much success during the 2005-2006 period and again in 2007-2008. In the time since then, D4L has returned to the mixtape scene, but they have been in the spotlight in recent months. Shawty Lo captured headlines with his “All My Babies’ Mamas” reality series and Stuntman released his All On the Line, Vol. 1 mixtape.
Previously, D4L Records signed a deal that makes them a partner with G-Unit Records. With Stuntman being a longtime member of D4L, he is one of the first artists being pushed under this deal. Popular on the Atlanta hip hop scene, Stuntman hopes to branch out with his mixtape and his following work. The primary focus in hip hop, in terms of new artists, is Atlanta, as even artists from other areas have moved her to pursue their careers.
Stuntman, who is working with the Hood Rep movement, recently talked to Hip Hop Vibe about the ongoing matters of his career. The D4L Records star opened up about his new mixtape and the overall comeback with the D4L label. Recently, DJ Ransom Dollars was promoted to a higher position with the label and this was discussed, along with Stuntman’s take on the new energy surrounding hip hop in the city of Atlanta.
Read the entire interview below:
Did you have a special feeling about All On the Line, Vol. 1 when you were recording it? No, I was just in the studio vibing. I always freestyle my work, but the feeling was there. It came out amazingly.
What is different about this tape than your others? Actually, this one is more advanced. When I dropped my other ones, I was still getting my feet wet. But, I was going hard on this one, it was like a new me.
Among the guests on the project is Young Scooter, what was it like working with him? Young Scooter has been a good friend of mine for a long time and he always liked my music. DJ Swamp Izzo is his stepfather and he always told me how much of a fan he was of my work. We always collaborated with each other, so this was nothing to do it again.
How does it feel to see the star he is transforming into? It made me feel great because he deserves it. He comes from the streets just like me and I love to see fellow black men making something out of themselves. I am glad to see him working.
DJ Ransom Dollars and DJ Speechless hosted the mixtape, what is your relationship like with those guys? Oh man, they are a part of the D4L movement, they are our in-house DJs. DJ Ransom Dollars is from North Carolina and he was down here recently. I actually met DJ Speechless through DJ Ransom Dollars.
With DJ Ransom Dollars taking over as marketing director for D4L, what type of changes do you expect? Expect more from D4L, Shawty Lo will be dropping, more from me, and more from my artist, Lil’ Za Za.
Have you been in touch with Shawty Lo throughout this reality show drama? We really can’t go in-depth on the show, there is some stuff in the works, but I cannot go in-depth.
What is your opinion on his comeback? That’s my brother and he has been working hard. I just got off the phone with him a few minutes ago. He has a lot of new songs out right now and he is working, you can catch him on my “Fuck Da World” single. His comeback will be great because he stays working.
Atlanta, as a whole, has been on fire for the past two years with new artists emerging, how do you feel about that? I feel a lot of artists around here are doing well. Stay working and stay consistent, I tip my hats off to the artists doing their thing out here.
DJ Spinz coined this movement “new Atlanta,” will you be working with any of those artists? Oh yeah, I was just in the studio with Ca$h Out and Lex Luger. I hope to work with every Atlanta artist that is real and Ca$h Out is definitely one of the real ones.
For those who want to find out more about Stuntman, where can they go? Twitter is @StutnmanofD4L, check me out on Instagram, and go to YouTube and search Stuntman and the entire D4L movement and you can download my new mixtape.