SMACKOLA: I am now in this bracket of - If I do deal with a female it's weird because some of them will date me because they think I am just party, party (there was a time I was doing that). Then others will be like, lets go on this trip for New Years and I have to calculate in my head "Um that sounds good (laughing), but that's the same amount of money it's going to take to push my next project."
BLAQUELINE: Enlighten me on the Smackola presentation, the grandiose entrance.
SMACKOLA: That came from being a kid watching Star Wars, Michael Jackson and George Clinton. But I always knew I wanted to put on a show that was like a Hip Hop opera. It's my alter ego. Besides, I knew no one else would do that.
BLAQUELINE: When I was at one of your shows I looked around at the crowd and noticed a lot of women. Have you ever done something in relation to your music to get a woman?
SMACKOLA: Oh yeah (laughing). I remember doing a show and a hot ass chic was there and I'm talking to her, but she didn't know who I was. My music was playing in the background, so I told my boy "Watch a rock star at work." I started flirting with her, but she was not paying attention to me. Then right when my queue came on to hit the stage; I looked at her and she was like "Whaaat!' I knew right then I had her. I finished my set, left the stage and walked right past her.
BLAQUELINE: What started to set you aside from people, where you kind of thought I can't be here anymore, I'm too big for it?
SMACKOLA: I wouldn't necessarily say I was too big for it, but I definitely knew it was a different class level. I feel like where I am now, I still like to do shows. I can do a show with Korn and come back and do a local show.
BLAQUELINE: Who are the Dirty Wormz?
SMACKOLA: The original members are myself an DJ Crash. But the band is the best of the best. The bass player and guitar player have been around from day one.
We moved in the direction of emotion and I learned more about the sensitive side of Thomas Chapman.
BLAQUELINE: What can bring emotion out in you? If you were not as strong as you are what could make you cry?
SMACKOLA: Sometimes when I just think about the journey. There were days that I didn't know how I was going to get the lights turned back on. I didn't know how I was going to get food. For years I ate Ramen Noodles so much that I got acid reflux. There was a lot of hearbreak, girlfriends. But I would tell girls its hard to date me because of this lifestyle. But I cry everyday. I listen to a song called "When the Morning Comes" a song I wrote for my mom.
BLAQUELINE: Why is it so hard for people to acknowledge emotion?
SMACKOLA: I think because people are already trying to act like someone they are not. People always think that because I am part of the Dirty Wormz I am this hard person. But I am actually a funny guy. If my fans knew I cooked dinner, they would be like "What?"
BLAQUELINE: Do you care about what people think about you?
SMACKOLA: I used to, but now that I am older, I don't.
FACT: While in the military, Smackola learned that he had a son. But not wanting to give up music nor time with his son, he tried to figure out how to balance music life and fatherhood. Tragically, before the balance could be planned out, his son passed away. This not only gave Smackola the drive and determination to go full-force with his music....but the memory of his son still drives him today.
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