WILLY NORTHPOLE: He is "Tha Connect"

By Hard Knock

Willy Northpole. Yeah you heard of him, and if you haven’t you have definitely heard him and his single “Body Marked Up” at some point during your road raged radio jammin’ commutes back and forth to work. If your a hustler well…it’s a good chance you have something by Willy Northpole on one of the many pirated projects you copped from the local bootlegger in your whip. Nonetheless, the fact is that he is here…how you going to handle it?
I recently spoke with the Arizona native about his first album “Tha Connect” IN STORES NOW, D.T.P., and his vision for the future. Here’s what he had to say.

SM: So, how did the show go last night in Denver? (July 4th)

Willy Northpole: It went good. It went real good actually. Denver always shows love.

SM: So, give the readers of S.T.I.L.L. Magazine the rundown of who Willy North pole is man?

Willy Northpole: Man, you know its Willy Norhtpole, Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam recording artist. Should be recording artists of the year…(laughs). I just want people to have a real understanding of who I am and what I represent, which is a real form of music. I’ve been doing this all my life. I’m not a cookie cut rapper that just started doing this yesterday or the beginning of 2000. This is what I been doing.

SM: You come from Phoenix, Arizona. What was it like trying to get on out there to get discovered?

Willy Northpole: Actually man, the only way to be discovered in somewhere like Phoenix, in Colorado and in a lot of these cities and states that haven’t been touched is to leave the state and get in these peoples faces. You got to leave. A lot of people say you got blow up at home…that’s not necessarily true. I blew up home. I did everything I possibly could do. I was on the radio stations. I was on the front pages of newspapers. I was on the news. I was getting keys to the city and all types of crazy sh*t, and it still wasn’t effective to the outside world. I had to step out.

SM: How did you link up with Luda and DTP?

Willy Northpole: I had a manger that lived in Atlanta and I left Phoenix. I went through a whole G- Unit movement you know…living at 50’s house to going all the way back to a 9 to 5 on the streets getting a check. I went from 50 Cents house to that trying to get a grind in. Now its like…it’s just one of those thangs man. Homie heard the music. My manager knew a guy that worked for Luda. Homeboy was a big fan of my music and shoved it in their faces. And that’s all it took was for it to get in the right hands. They flew me to L.A., we set up in Chaka Zulu’s suite in his hotel and we just grinded it out. And a n*gga just loved it and from there man we been on it.

SM: I know that Willy Northpole has to be a big deal to the Phoenix hip-hop music scene. How does it feel to know that you opened up the doors for the people in and around your hood?

Willy Northpole: It’s big man…it’s big! It feels good man! When I’m in New York…it’s like I’m a turtle without a shell…know what I’m sayin’? I’m just out there by myself. They don’t know they looking at a n*gga that’s considered a hero where I’m from. You know these dudes got to share their state… you got GA, NY, Cali…they got to share they state with other kings. Right now I got 49 other states to impress.

SM: Your album, “Tha Connect” is in stores now. Why did you choose that title for your debut album?

Willy Northpole: Nobody knows about Arizona. Nobody knows what goes on. Everybody always ask questions. Everybody want to know how is it living in the middle of a desert? I don’t live in NO DAMN desert! It’s crazy but it’s funny because I understand why they feel that way. We never had a national voice. Nobody knew about Compton until Eazy and them broke it. It was the same stuff going on, all the unreported deaths…the unreported violence. I’m from South Phoenix…I’m from Southside. Anybody can tell you that know the streets that know that side of town can tell you what it is. That’s what I represent. So me coming out of there, that’s what I get a chance to show you.

SM: So, what and who can fans expect to hear on the album, and what was your goal for your first LP?

Willy Northpole: It’s a solid project man. Back in the days n*ggas would have like 3 or 4 good songs on a album and it would go down as a good album. I’m guaranteeing that every song if you get past the negativity, the hate, and get past I’m a new artist and actually try to listen…there’s no song on my album you shouldn’t like. I like music…like I like live band sound so I like “Vegas Lights”. I like “Heaven”. I like the religion record. I definitely love “#1 Side Chick”. That’s one of my favorites on the album. Of course the song I got with Ne-Yo is crazy too…”The Life”. It’s going to be like a Reasonable Doubt. It’s going to be like Tip first album…like an Illmatic. When I get to my 2nd or 3rd album everybody is going to go back to my first.

SM: Yo, I was listening to that “Ghetto Tour Guide” today. That track is CRAZY!!! How did you come up with that concept?

Willy Northpole: You know its funny because everybody has their different favorites on the album. Anybody that understands “Ghetto Tour Guide” understands music, hip-hop story-telling, Slick Rick… and some people don’t get it. The message is deeper than the comedy. When you turn on Nancy Grace and these other news stations they can talk about octomoms but they can’t talk about what goes on in the ghetto, or what’s going on in the neighborhood. They can follow her every move but they won’t talk about anything that’s relevant. So I went out on a limb and I said okay, I’m going to make a cartoon animated video and put out “Ghetto Tour Guide” because I want your kids to watch this I want Bill O’Reilly kids to watch this. I want all the other “so-called” important people and politicians kids to watch this and say, “daddy, why is this policeman shooting this black man in this cartoon?” I want it to grab their attention. It’s actually one of Ludacris’ favorite songs on the album.

SM: I’ve been a fan since “Body Marked Up”, and since that I’ve seen you everywhere. What’s the transition been like from the streets to the limelight?

Willy Northpole: See, yall look at it from the outside looking in. I see it from the inside looking out. Right now I feel just like an local emcee sitting on my couch watching 106 & Park even though I’ve been on 106 & Park. Even though I’ve been to the B.E.T. Awards and traveled on tour with Luda and been on magazine covers and sh*t, I’m always going to set a higher standard for myself and not get comfortable with anybody that they would call famous. I might get the fringe benefits of it, the free clothes, the women and what not, but I’m still Willy. I’m still Lil’ Will recording trying to make hits.

SM: So, what are your other ventures besides rap, and what do you plan to do in the future?

Willy Northpole: I want to be a giver. I don’t want to be in a position and look up and everything gone. I do lots of work in the community. I got the award from the Mayor of Phoenix for doing work in the community. I give speeches; work with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club, give free high school shows. Those kids are the real fans.

SM: How can your fans keep up with your music and contact you?

Willy Northpole: Anybody can hit me up on my Twitter @ http://twitter.com/willynorthpole @WillyNorthpole…Willy with a “Y”. On MySpace @ myspace.com/willynorthpole. That’s really me on Myspace and Twitter so hit me up. The album “Tha Connect” In Stores Right Now! Nationwide! Go get it!!! Get that old feeling back like when you first got “The Chronic” and you ripped off the package and read the credits.

Watch Willy Northpole's Video "Hood Dreamer"

WILLY NORTHPOLE "Hood Dreamer" OFFICIAL VIDEO from Alejandro Lalinde on Vimeo.