There was a time in D.C., just a few short years back, when the most prominent MC on the Chocolate City’s rap scene WASN’T named Wale. To be exact, his name is Tabi Bonney, and his ultra-lyrical, Go-Go-inspired tracks helped lay a path for other, errrr, ummm, “locals” to follow. Tabi isn’t bitter about the other successes coming out of his ‘hood right now, though. The former educator, who now records under a famous Roc-A-Fella founder, is all about the music and the touring right now. And along with fellow artists like Murs and a long-missing Nicole Wray, he’s making thoughtful, musically-laced raps while building a strong fan base across the country. If you don’t know Tabi yet, get acquainted via AllHipHop.com’s exclusive interview with one of “The District’s” quiet but golden spitters: AllHipHop.com: I know you’re from D.C. by way of West Africa where your family has roots, so I wanted to ask you first about D.C. It’s such a melting pot for so many cultures, and I think there is a really great musical tradition there. So, do you have any musical influences that came independent of your African roots, like from D.C.? Tabi Bonney: Yeah, I mean, absolutely. I think that’s what Go-Go music is like, really hook happy and strong on percussion, so I think that’s why I lean more towards a lot of bridges. I think I’m a good hook writer, too. AllHipHop.com: Well, people might be surprised to hear about your educational background, which is really impressive. You have a master’s degree. I was just thinking, I’ve met a few, good, intelligent rappers this year who have actually completed college. J. Cole comes to mind, and Dee-1 out of New Orleans. So I wanted to ask you, do you think those degrees lend something extra to your lyrics and to your style? Tabi Bonney: For me, I think, not per se to my lyrics, but more so towards the discipline and patience, you know, being in the industry and going after your dreams. AllHipHop.com: Right. Tabi Bonney: That’s what I think has given me the persistence and discipline to just buckle down and be in this line of work. As far as lyrics, I wouldn’t say so because all the stuff I studied was really scientific. AllHipHop.com: That’s right, you have a Master’s in Biology. So you’re going to be walking around for the rest of your life with all of this Biology in your head! Do you think you’ll ever do something with that? Tabi Bonney: I don’t personally think so. I think if I had to do it again, I would go more into other sciences as far as dealing with, say, the solar system or even just new technology of science that’s not biology and stuff. AllHipHop.com: OK, that’s interesting! Well, Dee-1, who I mentioned earlier, is also a former teacher like you, and he said his students, before he left the classroom, his students knew he rapped. So did your students realize that you were a rapper back then, and did you see any opportunities to use Hip-Hop in your classroom? Tabi Bonney: Yeah, they actually found out that I rapped and actually did a write-up on me in the school paper. They just came at me to battle me! [laughter] I don’t know. It was just weird because my age from them wasn’t that different. I was maybe three years older than most of my students, because I taught as soon as I graduated college. And then, I was in an inner city school so I had some 19- and 20-year-olds in the classroom. AllHipHop.com: Wow, that must have been interesting. Tabi Bonney: It was! AllHipHop.com: I was looking back and thinking about you, and there are some people out there who might say, out of the D.C. region, you were the bigger rapper at one point, and I’m sure there’s always comparisons to Wale. Do you kind of feel like you built the foundation, and then he just sort of catapulted off it? What are your feelings about that? Tabi Bonney: I feel like I definitely laid the groundwork because there is still nothing to this day, there hasn’t been another rapper outside of D.C., that has gotten as much radio play as I did, not even being signed. So the thing is, I am extremely excited and happy for Wale, because I think it opens up the door for everybody. And the thing with me is like, I just feel like everybody has their own journey, like I’m completely happy with my own journey and not taking the major label route as of yet because I got those offers during that time. But I just knew it wasn’t right for me, because they thought my song was a dance song. AllHipHop.com: Right. Tabi Bonney: So, I could have very well done that and my career could have been over, you know what I mean? AllHipHop.com: Yeah, absolutely. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK6lkzlf9dI&w=420&h=315] Tabi Bonney: So I still feel like I’m just getting started honestly. Just being around Dame Dash and soaking up so much knowledge from him and also looking at the journey and the long haul, because I just really plan on being a multi-millionaire on the road. I’m not one of these guys that’s just in it for the fame and then that’s it. You catch me a year or two later, and I’m broke. AllHipHop.com: Right, so you love the performance angle. Well, that’s great to hear. Your album, The Summer Years, I know you had Ski Beatz as an executive producer and you just mentioned Dame Dash. So I want to hear about how you hooked up with Dame, and then I want you to tell me…I think your sound is somewhat different now from before and does that have anything to do with the people you’re working with now? Tabi Bonney: Yeah, I think so. I feel that this is one of my best albums […]