Antonio Lopez
Mourin is known to fans, critics, haters and spectators as Tito Lopez. Lopez
has used clever word play and tech savvy marketing techniques to flood Hip-Hop
sites and blogs with something refreshing since 2007. His quick wit is evident
in his flow. Tito released and
pushed his very first individual mixtape the New Print, his version of
Jay-Z’s The Blueprint.As a part of his patented revamp series, he
overhauls classic albums to his solitary style. In 2008, he came back with
three mixtapes- The Best of Tito Lopez Vol. 1, Impatiently Waiting and Me,
a reworking of Common’s classic
album Be.
A few short years later and the style
is still just as raw the only thing that has changed is the number of plays. Consistency
plus skill has proven to be a successful formula for Lopez whose fan base has
grown immensely to the point where he has a faithful audience that shows him
the love that keeps him both grounded humble.
MUSIC:Tito Lopez “Drop The Mic”Tito Lopez “The Wait Is Over Freestyle”
AllHipHop.com: Is Tito Lopez your real
name?
Tito Lopez: Sort of. My birth name is
Antonio Lopez Mouring. I’ve always been called “Tony” for short and
“Tito” has always been my nickname off that since I was a baby. So
when I was coming up with a rap name, I knew I wanted something close to home.
If I had a dope name like “Kanye West” or something, I would go with
the full birth name. I knew I was gonna be “Tito” something. Too many
“Lil’s” and “Youngs” out there so I scratched that, and
just went with my middle name for the last part. Had a nice ring to it. And it
keeps women wondering whether I’m Black, or Spanish, or BOTH! LOL
AllHipHop.com: With the music industry being as over saturated as it is, what do u feel u have to offer that’s different?Tito Lopez: Real rap. I don’t mean to be some kind of rebel, but I definitely stand alone. The majority of everything and everyone I see in the music business is fake. That’s why I’m not a fan of very many artists. There are some I respect, but not many. I’ve dealt with fake promoters, fake thugs, fake bosses, and just all around fake rappers. What you’re getting from me everytime you push the play button, is a real flesh and blood human with exceptional microphone skills.
AllHipHop.com: Do you feel as if “Real
Rap” is enough to make you a breakout artist?
Tito Lopez: That used to be good
enough. I grew up in a time when the rap game was like the NBA. You HAD to have
skills. You couldn’t just fake your way through it. Now everybody’s copying the
next man, no originality, everybody’s just clones. I’m truly a humble dude, but
I’m better than damn near everyone out, and I’m working hard to show it. I say,
“Talent doesn’t mean you deserve anything, hard work is the key.”
AllHipHop.com: How do u describe your
style?
Tito Lopez: Incredible! Lol I mean
honestly, I try not to have a style. As far as lyrically, I’m rapping about my
life. So until I die, I’ll never run out of material. Flow wise, I got so many
I can’t keep count. And I’m constantly adding to my arsenal. I sometimes call
myself “THE GAME’S COMMENTATOR”. The Hip-Hop John Madden! I say that because I’m pointing out all of the
pros and cons I see around me. If somebody takes offense to something I
say…so be it. I call ’em how I see ’em. I will say my voice plays a major
part in my sound. I’ve heard lots of people say I have a great
“rapper” voice. I’d like to be one of those guys who you know were
born to do this, as soon as you first listen. That’s what they used to say
about Snoop and Biggie. On the mic is where I’m most comfortable, so listening
to me you’ll be comfortable. Just soak it all in.
AllHipHop.com: How do u feel about to
state of the Rap game?
Tito Lopez: I feel like the game is
exactly where it needs to be. I mean I do point out that most of it is fake,
and I’m not a fan of most dudes, but that just makes it easier for me to stand
out, and I really can’t blame most of these artists because they don’t know any
better. I’m glad to see a young dude get his bread, cuz I want mine. If
anybody’s gonna blame anybody, blame the executives behind the scenes. These
artists are just like Tobacco. It takes the machine to turn them into
cigarettes that can kill you. I’m not really a complainer, so I just let my
music speak for itself. I can show you better than I can tell you. I think
people put to much on the “state of the rap game”, and don’t do s###
to change it. If you don’t like it, or you think it’s missing something, bring
it to the table. If you can’t do that, then shut the f### up about it. If you
ain’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
AllHipHop.com: Who were your biggest
musical influences growing up?
Tito Lopez: The Dungeon Family first off is who influenced me the most. I
listened to EVERYTHING, but their style and tradition is something I try to
carry on today. They were just smart, revolutionary, street dudes. They weren’t
dumb thugs, and they weren’t all high and mighty. They told you about the
problem, but still made it relatable to anybody in any hood. That’s me.
Musically period, however, I grew up loving Nirvana, my Mom’s favorite rapper is Biggie so he was played non-stop. Lauryn Hilli think is the bar and standard for alot of things. I’m
real eclectic. From the biggest, grammy-winning artist, to the most underground
DJ Screw mixtape, I’ve heard it all. And i try to fit it all in there. It’s
kind of hard to fit 23 years on this Earth into EVERY verse I spit, but I’m
trying. Lol
AllHipHop.com: What role does the Internet
play in your music hustle?
Tito Lopez: It is my main hustle. I’m
about to take it to the next level and start hitting the shows and club circuit
more, but it wouldn’t make any sense to do that without a fan base. And the Internet
is how I built up my fan base. It’s the reason you’re even interviewing me
right now. Anytime a website posts my music, I’m thankful, because it’s
somebody’s first time hearing me, and I know i just made a new supporter. I’
don’t like to use the word “FAN” too much. Over the last 2 years,
I’ve just been dropping mixtape after mixtape on different websites, and the
buzz has just been growing. People are responding great. I’ve from one of the
smallest cities around, so if it wasn’t for the Internet, I wouldn’t be able to
be as visible to alot of big places. Hate it or love it, the Internet has been
around for the longest now and it’s where people are.
AllHipHop.com: What aspects of your
character set u apart from the typical rapper stereotype?
Tito Lopez: Individuality. I’m a normal
cat, with abnormal skills. EVERY…SINGLE…RAPPER that comes out now and days
is portraying this “Superthug” ass image, and everybody just runs with it.
Before a n#### even drops his debut album, he got 100 million in the bank, 18
Phantoms, f###### the baddest b######, selling the most dope, and killing other
n##### on the daily. GET REAL! And I mean that literally. It’s just not
possible for everybody to have that life, and whatever the trend is, n##### is
gon follow. After Jeezy, everbody
was a D-boy. After Wayne, everybody
wanted to be eccentric. Now that Drake is
out, everybody’s gonnawanna be romantic and s###. Just be you. And if you ain’t
good enough, sit your ass down. You weren’t meant to do this. I loved rappers
like Eminem and DMX, because they talked about how they weren’t perfect, ya dig? Everybody
got flaws. Everybody dresses up when they get a record deal wit sunglasses at
night, a rented car, fake money, etc. This s### is really just a big ass
carnival show, and it ain’t just the South, it’s EVERYWHERE! Some people say
the South is winning, but in my opinion, we ALL losing. I’m just gon spit about
my life and what I go through, and I’m gonna do it in the dopest possible way.
If you don’t wanna hear that, cut the damn song off. I don’t give a f###. Once
I get on a magazine cover, or they read this interview, or see my on T.V., then
people will wanna rock with me. It’s bandwagon s###, but hey…that’s how it
goes.AllHipHop.com: With the music industry
being as over saturated as it is, what do u feel u have to offer that’s
different?
Tito Lopez: Real rap. I don’t mean to
be some kind of rebel, but I definitely stand alone. The majority of everything
and everyone I see in the music business is fake. That’s why I’m not a fan of
very many artists. There are some I respect, but not many. I’ve dealt with fake
promoters, fake thugs, fake bosses, and just all around fake rappers. What
you’re getting from me everytime you push the play button, is a real flesh and
blood human with exceptional microphone skills.
AllHipHop.com: Do you feel as if “Real
Rap” is enough to make you a breakout artist?
Tito Lopez: That used to be good
enough. I grew up in a time when the rap game was like the NBA. You HAD to have
skills. You couldn’t just fake your way through it. Now everybody’s copying the
next man, no originality, everybody’s just clones. I’m truly a humble dude, but
I’m better than damn near everyone out, and I’m working hard to show it. I say,
“Talent doesn’t mean you deserve anything, hard work is the key.”
AllHipHop.com: How do u describe your
style?
Tito Lopez: Incredible! Lol I mean
honestly, I try not to have a style. As far as lyrically, I’m rapping about my
life. So until I die, I’ll never run out of material. Flow wise, I got so many
I can’t keep count. And I’m constantly adding to my arsenal. I sometimes call
myself “THE GAME’S COMMENTATOR”. The Hip-Hop John Madden! I say that because I’m pointing out all of the
pros and cons I see around me. If somebody takes offense to something I
say…so be it. I call ’em how I see ’em. I will say my voice plays a major
part in my sound. I’ve heard lots of people say I have a great
“rapper” voice. I’d like to be one of those guys who you know were
born to do this, as soon as you first listen. That’s what they used to say
about Snoop and Biggie. On the mic is where I’m most comfortable, so listening
to me you’ll be comfortable. Just soak it all in.
AllHipHop.com: How do u feel about to
state of the Rap game?
Tito Lopez: I feel like the game is
exactly where it needs to be. I mean I do point out that most of it is fake,
and I’m not a fan of most dudes, but that just makes it easier for me to stand
out, and I really can’t blame most of these artists because they don’t know any
better. I’m glad to see a young dude get his bread, cuz I want mine. If
anybody’s gonna blame anybody, blame the executives behind the scenes. These
artists are just like Tobacco. It takes the machine to turn them into
cigarettes that can kill you. I’m not really a complainer, so I just let my
music speak for itself. I can show you better than I can tell you. I think
people put to much on the “state of the rap game”, and don’t do s###
to change it. If you don’t like it, or you think it’s missing something, bring
it to the table. If you can’t do that, then shut the f### up about it. If you
ain’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
AllHipHop.com: Who were your biggest
musical influences growing up?
Tito Lopez: The Dungeon Family first off is who influenced me the most. I
listened to EVERYTHING, but their style and tradition is something I try to
carry on today. They were just smart, revolutionary, street dudes. They weren’t
dumb thugs, and they weren’t all high and mighty. They told you about the
problem, but still made it relatable to anybody in any hood. That’s me.
Musically period, however, I grew up loving Nirvana, my Mom’s favorite rapper is Biggie so he was played non-stop. Lauryn Hilli think is the bar and standard for alot of things. I’m
real eclectic. From the biggest, grammy-winning artist, to the most underground
DJ Screw mixtape, I’ve heard it all. And i try to fit it all in there. It’s
kind of hard to fit 23 years on this Earth into EVERY verse I spit, but I’m
trying. Lol.
AllHipHop.com: What role does the Internet
play in your music hustle?
Tito Lopez: It is my main hustle. I’m
about to take it to the next level and start hitting the shows and club circuit
more, but it wouldn’t make any sense to do that without a fan base. And the Internet
is how I built up my fan base. It’s the reason you’re even interviewing me
right now. Anytime a website posts my music, I’m thankful, because it’s
somebody’s first time hearing me, and I know i just made a new supporter. I’
don’t like to use the word “FAN” too much. Over the last 2 years,
I’ve just been dropping mixtape after mixtape on different websites, and the
buzz has just been growing. People are responding great. I’ve from one of the
smallest cities around, so if it wasn’t for the Internet, I wouldn’t be able to
be as visible to a lot of big places. Hate it or love it, the Internet has been
around for the longest now and it’s where people are.
AllHipHop.com: What aspects of your
character set u apart from the typical rapper stereotype?
Tito Lopez: Individuality. I’m a normal
cat, with abnormal skills. EVERY…SINGLE…RAPPER that comes out now and days
is portraying this “Superthug” ass image, and everybody just runs with it.
Before a n#### even drops his debut album, he got 100 million in the bank, 18
Phantoms, f###### the baddest b######, selling the most dope, and killing other
n##### on the daily. GET REAL! And I mean that literally. It’s just not
possible for everybody to have that life, and whatever the trend is, n##### is
gon follow. After Jeezy, everbody
was a D-boy. After Wayne, everybody
wanted to be eccentric. Now that Drake is
out, everybody’s gonnawanna be romantic and s###. Just be you. And if you ain’t
good enough, sit your ass down. You weren’t meant to do this. I loved rappers
like Eminem and DMX, because they talked about how they weren’t perfect, ya dig? Everybody
got flaws. Everybody dresses up when they get a record deal wit sunglasses at
night, a rented car, fake money, etc. This s### is really just a big ass
carnival show, and it ain’t just the South, it’s EVERYWHERE! Some people say
the South is winning, but in my opinion, we ALL losing. I’m just gon spit about
my life and what I go through, and I’m gonna do it in the dopest possible way.
If you don’t wanna hear that, cut the damn song off. I don’t give a f###. Once
I get on a magazine cover, or they read this interview, or see my on T.V., then
people will wanna rock with me. It’s bandwagon s###, but hey…that’s how it
goes.
Visit Tito Lopez athttp://www.myspace.com/therealtitolopez
