Slick 17-year-old rapper Lil' Zane stopped by to talk about his new film, "Finding Forrester," and his new album, "Young World: The Future." See what he said below. Scroll down to read the full transcript...
AOLiveMC15: Welcome to AOL Live, Lil' Zane!
Lil' Zane: Wazzup everybody!?!?!? This is Lil Zane, and I'm just checkin' in to let everybody know that I have an album in stores now. The name of the album is Young World: The Future"! Also, I'll take whatever questions y'all have... talk to me now.
AOLiveMC15: Well, it's great having you with us tonight. Here's our first question:
Question: Was it difficult getting your first CD out?
Lil' Zane: It took a of hard work and time, but I kept my head up, kept good people around me, and it finally happened.
Question: Hi, Lil' Zane. What is your next video?
Lil' Zane: My next video is Number 7 on my album. It's a song called, "None 2nite," and it's Number 7 on the album. We're shooting a video this Thursday and Friday in LA.
Question: Hey, where did you get your singing name from?
Lil' Zane: My name come from a writer named Zane Gray. My grandmother named me after that writer, and my fathers name is also Big Zane. P.S.: That's my REAL name, too!
Question: Would you choose between music and movies if you had to? Which one?
Lil' Zane: If I had a choice between music and movies, I would probably choose music, because I'm able to be more creative, and I love to see people rap my rhymes. I love rockin' the crowd. Music is my first love.
Question: Do you remember the first time you performed in front of a large audience? What was that like?
Lil' Zane: The first time I performed in front of a large audience was for a lot of record companies in Atlanta. And I was so shy and so nervous, but somehow I managed to do it.
Question: Acting-wise, what kind of roles would you like to do?
Lil' Zane: I would like to do roles that portray somebody smart-wise and book-wise. Someone that can be serious and also funny. And I also like playing teenager roles, because I'm a teenager. The type of movies I would like to act in would be comedies, mysteries, dramas and MAYBE a horror film.
Question: Do you have any younger siblings, and if so, what are their names?
Lil' Zane: Yes, I have two younger brothers, one is Donald, and Mike. Also a younger sister named Angela. And I live with my mom, off and on.
Question: Do you enjoy touring? And after months on the road, do you get tired of it?
Lil' Zane: I love touring, and I love being on the road, because you get to meet people and see new things. But I hate flying WITH A PASSION! I don't like the fact that your life depends on one pilot, but hey, you gotta be where you gotta be! You feel me???
Question: What's your primary inspiration for your music?
Lil' Zane: My primary inspiration in music is what I go through every day. What I see. What I hear. And what I witness other people go through. And also, another inspiration is the feeling of seeing people happy.
Question: What was Sean Connery like to work with?
Lil' Zane: Sean Connery is the kewlest. That's the original James Bond, ya know?!?! I'm kinda like him in a way! Rough but smoooooooth. And nobody can beat me! Just like nobody can beat Sean Connery.
Question: Could you explain a little bit about your new film, "Finding Forester"?
Lil' Zane: The movie is about a novelist that befriends a young teenager and helps him to get into a prep school, after coming out of a public school that was mainly black, in the Bronx, New York. The movie shows his trials and tribulations of having to go from the ghetto to the suburb, and how he has to fit in. But what I want to know is, who has questions about the album? That's my MAIN focus for today!
Question: Who were some of your idols when you were growing up?
Lil' Zane: My idols growing up were my manager, K. Wales, my mom and my pop. And also, if you're talking about the artists, EZE, LL and Tupac.
Question: What's your favorite song on your album?
Lil' Zane: My favorite song on the album is probably... "What Must I Do" or "None 2nite."
Question: What is behind the title "Young World: The Future"?
Lil' Zane: I came up with "Young World: The Future" because we're in a new millennium and I'm under 21, and because young people are taking over the world. Young people are becoming young entrepreneurs. We're babies having babies. There are a lot of rich young kids now, than there was back in the day, and also because I think that the world is ours... WE ARE THE WORLD!
Question: Are you touring to promote the album, and where can I get tour dates?
Lil' Zane: Right now I am touring to promote the album, "Young World: The Future." For tour dates, look on my Web site, www.lilzane.com, or write me at 3079 East Shadowlawn, Atlanta, GA, 30305. We will be to a ghetto near [you] soon, so request my records! Call your local radio stations.
Question: What do you think of the Internet as the future of how music is released?
Lil' Zane: I think that people like Napster are taking away from artists like myself because we spend a year to two years in the studio recording our albums to make money for our families and for ourselves, and then they give it away to people... taking out of our families' mouths. Now is that fair?!?!?
Question: Are you entirely happy with the final product ("Young World"), or do you feel you still have time to grow as a musician?
Lil' Zane: I'm young, so I will always grow, as far a mature-wise, music-wise and physical-wise. But I think that "Young World: The Future" is definitely one of my best albums to come, because it touches every subject, life, and also because I spent a lot of time on it to make myself happy.
AOLiveMC15: We have time for one final question for Lil' Zane tonight:
Question: Have you fully come to terms with your fame, and are you at all uncomfortable with it?
Lil' Zane: I plan to be bigger in the future! But, yes I have [become] a little more popular in the past year or two. But the only thing about famous is, you have to please everybody, but I'm only one person. Though I appreciate when [people] get the music and like it, and also when people spend their hard-earned money... but thanks.
AOLiveMC15: Lil' Zane, thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us tonight in AOL Live. Any closing comments?
Lil' Zane: I just want to thank everybody for tappin' in to AOL and bein' a fan of Lil' Zane. I want to tell everyone that I have an album out there now... "Young World: The Future." I think it's a great CD, you'll enjoy it, and look for me in your town real soon. Much love.
AOLiveMC15: Thanks again -- we enjoyed it. And thanks to our audience for all their questions. Good night!
Copyright 2000 America Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Portions of this transcript may be edited by AOL to correct spelling, punctuation and/or remove any material that violates AOL's Terms of Service.
