Omar Gooding has lived many lives in leisure. To some, he’s the child from Nickelodeon and Good Man. To others, he’s the actor from Child Boy and seemingly numerous roles throughout TV and movie. However what many don’t know is Gooding has been an MC lengthy earlier than Hollywood fame ever known as.

Lately, his pen and delight collided with Harlem legend Cam’ron, sparking one of the vital sudden rap dust-ups of the yr. What started with a slip of the tongue—Cam calling him “Omar Gooding Jr.”—spiraled right into a string of diss data, a viral “prank” that left Gooding livid and a fourth response monitor that has the rap world taking him very significantly. In an unique with AllHipHop, Omar opens up about defending his brother Cuba Gooding Jr. from Nas, why he doesn’t write out of anger, the small print behind the prank and why Half 4 is the one.

The Q&A has been edited for readability and move. For the total, unedited dialog watch the video

AllHipHop: Omar, first off, the way you feeling? You’ve had the web buzzing.

Omar Gooding: I’m good, bro. Glad to speak to you. I do know I bought individuals shaking proper now, some laughing, some speaking, however it’s cool. I’m constructed for this.

AllHipHop: I’m glad to speak to you, man. To begin with, you’re not from New York Metropolis, however your brother was once in any respect our events again within the day hanging out.

Omar Gooding: That’s humorous too as a result of he was scorching at me a pair days in the past. He was like, “Cease pandering to ignorance.” And I used to be like, initially, what the f##okay does pandering imply? Second of all, make me # whenever you making an attempt to evangelise to your little brother. Like, knock it the sh## off. I’m doing what I do.

I don’t assume I’ve responded or written out of anger in a very long time. Sarcastically, I’ma offer you one thing I wasn’t planning on saying. The one time I ever wrote a rhyme out of anger was after I was making an attempt to defend my massive brother when Nas put his identify in a music. (Editor’s Word: On “These Are Our Heroes,” Nas condemned Tiger Woods, Taye Diggs and Cuba Gooding Jr.)

AllHipHop: Inform me extra.

Omar Gooding: Yeah, the one time I ever rapped out of anger was defending my massive brother. When Nas stated, “You promote out like Cuba Gooding Jr.,” I misplaced it. I used to be in Dr. Dre’s studio with Focus, Chino XL, a bunch of MCs. They threw on a beat, and I went final like I at all times do. I went straight at Nas. Everyone was like, “What are you doing?” However that’s my brother. I used to be heated. Focus simply shook his head and stated, “Nas ain’t gonna reply.” And naturally, he didn’t. However that was the one time.

AllHipHop: Lately you discovered your self in one other scenario — the so-called prank with Cam. Stroll us by what occurred.

Omar Gooding: Man, look. I used to be booked for one scene, $2,500, flown firstclass, simple work. The unique script had me licking a sneaker. I stated, “I’m not licking no f##kin’ shoe.” They revised it to push-ups and leaping jacks. I stated, “No jacks, however I’ll do push-ups.” Took my shirt off, had a tank prime, did like 100 push-ups in numerous takes. That’s it. Nothing loopy.

Subsequent factor I do know, this footage pops up on-line with filters and Cam’ron’s clowning. At first, I laughed, however then I used to be like, “Wait — this dude crossed the road.” What individuals don’t understand is that wasn’t some random casting. I bought known as by someone I knew, who was tied to Cam. He orchestrated it. That’s why I stated, you’ll be able to’t fall for the favors recreation in Hollywood.

AllHipHop: You made some reference to some doable legalities, however don’t…

Omar Gooding: I don’t need that man’s cash. I bought my very own path, my very own legacy. However whenever you cross strains and play with my identify, I’m gonna reply. Interval.

AllHipHop: And that response got here within the type of the “Repair Your Mouth” sequence.

Omar Gooding: Proper. The primary one was gentle — a warning shot. The second was sharper. I believed it was over. Then Cam talked about me once more on his present, slipped in jokes about me doing barbershops and bowling alleys. I laughed, gave him props as a result of it was humorous, however then I needed to prepare dinner once more. That’s after I dropped Half 4.

AllHipHop: Half 4 feels just like the one which had individuals actually tuning in.

Omar Gooding: Yeah, that was the take a look at. He dropped the prank, individuals have been clowning me, my telephone blowing up. I stated, “Alright, chest out, abdomen in. Time to reply.” We recorded Half 4 in actual time. No ghostwriters, no ready two weeks, none of that. Simply me and my DJ arranging it, switching beats, making it surgical. While you hear us laughing on the finish, that was reside within the sales space. That’s Hip-Hop to me. Actual pen work. Replay worth.

AllHipHop: You stated New Yorkers weren’t rocking with you, however the individuals I spoke to from New York instructed me to let you know hold the strain up. They stated Cam don’t actually need smoke.

Omar Gooding: That bothered me. My mother and pop have been born in Harlem. My father’s buried there. I did a comedy present in Harlem in the course of this entire factor. So it ain’t East vs. West. Don’t get it twisted. I really like New York.

AllHipHop: Let’s discuss MC stuff. Some have questioned if Cam freestyles.

Omar Gooding: Look, freestyle means various things now. To me, it at all times meant off the highest of your head. Once I was youthful, I’d hit Energy 106 with Massive Boy, simply spitting reside, no prep. I bear in mind one time he caught me off guard and I froze. Subsequent time, I confirmed up freestyling from 5 a.m. until we walked within the studio. That’s me. I come from that period the place freestyling meant uncooked bars proper then and there. Cam’s a lyricist, however let’s not act like the whole lot is straight off the dome.

AllHipHop: Past this, you’re juggling comedy, appearing, and music. What does all this imply for Omar Gooding proper now?

Omar Gooding: Truthfully, it’s publicity. Cellphone ringing extra, bookings up 30 to 40 %. Folks reaching out for all types of alternatives. And yeah, some are clowning, however that simply means they’re watching. On the finish of the day, I’m grateful. I’m doing stand-up, I’m doing music, I’m appearing. I’m not boxed in. And I’ll give Cam this: with out him, possibly individuals wouldn’t know simply how critical I’m with this MC factor. So in a means, I thank him.

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