From ’Bad Boy’ to Citizen Master P
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MasterP | News | From ’Bad Boy’ to Citizen Master P
From ’Bad Boy’ to Citizen Master P
Created:
07.28.08
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"Basketball saved my life. It inspired me to make it out of my environment. I'm not ashamed of my past. Without it, I can't do what I do."
— Percy Miller, aka Master P
Master P – Master Plan – Percy Miller – P. Miller.
The man who answers to all of these names will be in Memphis June 7 with his rapper son, Lil' Romeo, to conduct The P. Miller Basketball Camp for kids ages 7-15.
"This is not like going to a basketball court, but about educating kids," said Master P – rapper, producer and founder and CEO of P. Miller Enterprises, an entertainment and financial conglomerate.
"Memphis has been a big supporter of mine and it's my obligation to give back to these kids in the community."
For some, such words are hard to associate with a performer whose lyrics made him synonymous with the genre called gangster rap. For Master P, the change has been both necessary and natural.
"You gotta make a change especially for the kids," he said during a special interview with the Tri-State Defender. "And I want to show that hip-hop can change."
Master P. said it's important to expose children to a positive environment and give them something to take to the next level in life.
"A lot of parents have bought my music," he said, "and I want to give something to help their kids."
The camp and the game
The P. Miller Basketball Camp is designed to build "strong minds through vision, structure and awareness in a fun-filled environment."
Following the basketball camp, Master P. will participate in a celebrity basketball game.
"I feel what Master P. is doing for the city of Memphis is astronomical, because he looked at the problem from outside and decided to come into our city to save our kids," says LaDell Beamon, founder of the Memphis-based Heal The Hood Foundation.
Beamon said the millionaire rapper used his own money and resources to come to Memphis and conduct the basketball camp and celebrity game.
"Most of the time when we contact celebrities to help fight the ills of society, it's always money attached," said Beamon.
Percy Townes, Memphis spokesperson for Master P, said the rap mogul is very much aware of Memphis' challenges with crime and gang activity.
"We are passionate about what we're doing," said Townes. "This is not a fluke. We want to do our part to help these kids."
The transition
Master P's music once was peppered with profanity, guns and a heavy dose of the word "*****." At the time, "No Limit Soldiers II" was his expression of life in the 'hood and the road to riches.
"Music is what I was exposed to (in the ghetto), but I had to grow up," said Master P., the father of seven children.
"If I can do it all over again, I can take the negative words out of my music. When you first get into the music business, you do what you know the community is used to."
People go through stages in life, he said.
"As an adult growing up, I said maybe I can't change what I've done, but I can now make a difference. Where I'm at, I can be the inspiration, because I can use my past."
A lot of his fans are parents who now have children and they appreciate his change, said Master P.
"People are dying and they want out of that lifestyle. Who in their right mind want to get shot, go to jail and be caged?"
Jennean Farmer, 27, a sales assistant for Clear Channel Radio, said she loved the music Master P put out "back in the day."
"As you get older you realize the things you listen to and how it affects you as a teenager," she said.
"What I've heard (from the new Master P), I enjoy. . .The fact that he's putting out positive influences lets children know there are positive options."
The new Master P.
Cleaning up his lyrics is just part of the transition from "bad boy" to citizen Master P. He now counts among his responsibilities promoting education and financial literacy and helping underprivileged children "build dreams."
In New Orleans, Chicago and Los Angeles, Master P. has developed the P. Miller Youth Center with a gymnasium and library.
The hard life in New Orleans' Calliope Projects was the launch pad that catapulted the rapper.
Master P. said the new artists who sign with his label, Take A Stand Records, "must be clean."
He funds a scholarship that is available to high school students who submit a one-page essay that addresses the question, "Why is it important for hip-hop artists to clean up their lyrics?"
Master P. has also written a book titled "Guaranteed Success: When You Never Give Up" and has created a kids movie character for children called Gee Gee The Magical Giraffe. He also is developing videos and movies as well under the auspices of Take A Stand Films.
"I'm getting a lot into family entertainment to express family values," he said.