Patreon Supporters received access to this interview on September 27th, 2024.

Thank you to Alim for allowing me to have this conversation with him! If you haven’t already read my review of his latest album, Stayed Up Late & Ate a Rattlesnake, be sure to check that out as well. Peace!

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First of all, thank you so much for the support you have shown me since we first started following each other. The first album I listened to by you was Running Out of Shit to Rap About, which came out in 2023. Just to get a sense of how deep into your career you are, how much music had you released before that one came out, and what year did you start using your real name as your stage name?

Peace Nick. This journey been long and steady. I’ve been recording music since early 2000s… 2010 was the first year I put my music out to the public. Like 3 mixtapes on Datpiff, just rapping over the most rare instrumentals I could find. I been going by Alim the entire time with my releases; I couldn’t commit to any other moniker more meaningful than the name my parents gave me.

Your website, runningoutofshittorapabout.com, has a really nice design and layout. Who helped you build it?

Hey, thanks man. That’s all me. Built myself.

I noticed that on Gruesome George—the opening song on your 2023 release—you say, “stayed up late and ate a rattlesnake,” which of course ended up being the title to the follow up album. Did you have that project planned out as you were creating ROOSTRA, or did that idea come after?

I came up with that phrase as a teenager funny enough—I’m always reminding people that. It’s my retort to “early bird gets the worm.” However, I didn’t know I was gonna name my project that until mid-way recording the songs for it. I believe it was the “Kaput II” beat that sent me.

I really love the way Gruesome George ends with these lines…

Why don’t I glorify violence when I’m rhyming?
‘Cause it’s too many real people outside that’s dyin’
Real funerals, real baby cryin’
Real empty rooms
So fuck bein’ a babbling buffoon
Rap goon goof nigga usin’ autotune

It’s clear to me that you are aware of a lot of trends in music, and actively try to avoid doing the same things as everyone else. As someone who has always been a little disgusted by conformity, I think that’s my favorite quality about you as a rapper—the willingness to take risks. You go on to acknowledge how you “vowed to never bite” after hearing Casual’s music, which is fire. I think you’re the first rapper I’ve listened to whose entire catalogue is physical only. What are some of the challenges when marketing physical-only media, and how have you overcome them?

Being original and true to myself is something I take pride in. I remember as a small child the first time I heard someone call someone else a copycat, I was shocked. Like, “Oh shit, you can’t do that?” [That] stuck with me. Everybody does it, but I mean we all pull from an inspiration of some sort. I guess it’s a way to do it and not, to me at least… The biggest challenge with only doing physicals would be gaining trust. For me, people have to trust without a hit single, notable feature, etc., that the product I am selling is just as wonderful quality without those things. Developing trust is the biggest challenge. Overcoming that is still pending, still have more work to do.

Until I became an adult I had this misconception that everyone who raps wanted to be the most popular and well known artist in the genre. I believed every rapper was trying to be the “GOAT,” or the face of Hip Hop, like Jay-Z. Since your music is exclusive to physical formats, it was evident that you aren’t making music for clout. What would you say is your main goal when sharing your art with others?

Same, it took years of walking in delusion and arrogance until I ran into reality: ain’t no best rapper. That’s for Hip-Hop Twitter. That’s for podcasts. That’s for the barbershops and salons. I myself got like a top 267 list of rappers and it changes everyday. As far as it pertains to myself as a rapper, nah, I make music that I enjoy. That approach that my art—my rhymes—are the best is just not in me. I can’t make that decision. My main goal is to show anyone out there reading this that they should fux wit me because good rap is where you find it.

What initially sparked my interest in your music was that clip of Myke C-Town praising your work. I wouldn’t even have this blog if I wasn’t inspired by him and the rest of the Dead End Hip Hop crew, so this conversation is definitely happening due to his influence on multiple levels. Who are some of your other favorite personalities in the field of Hip Hop discussion and commentary?

That’s so dope. DEHH are the bros. Myke is great—they just do this natural thing, talking about the music, and it’s genuine. Reminds me of my friends and myself: true audio consumers. I like your stuff for the same reason. Reading your reviews, you not skimming and that’s all I want from Hip-Hop commentary. Focus on the music and nothing else.

We initially connected over our speculation of whether or not Big Ghost Ltd. is cosplaying as a black person. I think it’d be pretty funny if we talked about that for a second. What is your overall perspective on Big Ghost as a blogger and then Big Ghost as a producer?

HA! Big Ghost had me in the first quarter. I was like, “Ghostface is hilarious.” 2nd quarter, it’s like, “nah, that’s somebody using Ghostface lingo.” 3rd quarter, I’m seeing he is a producer. “It’s the same guy?” 4th quarter, it’s like, “oh;” complete realization, game over… This dude got away with something that would get you fried today. I mean, those old blogs were wild. I’m not a fan. He is aware.

ROOSTRA has some really nice production from some producers that I’ve enjoyed in the past such as Jlvsn, Sadhugold, Messiah Musik, and more. The following album, Stayed Up Late & Ate a Rattlesnake, was fully produced by an artist named JSON. What can you tell me about him?

Man, thanks. Those dudes are heavyweights to me. I love their talent, and it so happened JSON followed Messiah, and thats how he caught wind of me and reached out to send me beats. I remember putting him off for like a week just ’cause I have so many beats as is—I wasn’t shopping. But he followed up looking for feedback, so I made time to peep the beats and was mind blown! JSON is 20 years old, from Texas, and told me he’s been making beats since he was 8, and last year was his goal to push and promote his stuff. I’m so happy he did that; I truly think he’s nice as any producer you can name. He’s my producer. I want everybody to tap into his production. That’s actually a goal too: I want JSON to get heavy placements. Some beats he sends me are so strong, I send back like, “Bro, hold this. Save this for *insert legendary world renowned rapper.*” Seriously, he really got incredible beats, and needs to be heard. He can save so many rappers.

Before we wrap up, I want to say thank you again for the music. What can fans expect next from FUX and Alim as an MC in the future?

Thanks to you Nick, peace to you and Focus Hip Hop. Up next for FUX will be limited T-shirts, beanies, hoodies, and jackets for men & women [in] 2025. I’m about to release another album with JSON titled “Titties” before the year’s out. Projects with beats from Foule Monk, Sadhugold, and Messiah Musik gonna follow into the new year. Everything will be on the website: RunningOutOfShitToRapAbout.com.