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SXSW Interview: Chamillionaire

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Reviewed by Chase Hoffberger, Fri., March 18, 2011

Ballroom Dancing
Photo by Sandy Carson

SXSW Interview: Chamillionaire

Austin Convention Center, Thursday, March 17

The last thing Chamillionaire did before sitting down for his interview was check his iPhone. "I can't live without my iPhone," the Houstonian said later in the hour. "If I was to leave home without my wallet and my iPhone, and I could only go back and get one, I'd grab my iPhone." It's that devotion to new technologies that's makes the Grammy-winning rapper such an interesting interview subject. He's invested in the changing tides of both the tech and music, riffing with AllHipHop.com founder Charles Creekmur about what artists can do to control their fortunes in the face of a collapsing record industry. The Universal Music refugee pointed firmly to surrounding yourself with a strong team ("My publicist would probably work for me even if I didn't pay her, because she believes in me so much") and finding an effective way to get your voice heard in a Digital Age where "every dope dealer in the country's also a rapper and has his own record label." Just remember not to spam people on Twitter, Cham was quick to note. No one out there'll listen to your demo if you stay blowing up their spot.

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