Kuntry Munkey: 'I Lift Weights and Get Tattoos, but I Listen to Sugarland and Katy Perry Too'

The indie artists known as Kuntry Munkey are a couple of hip hop men from Alabama. The duo consists of Rashaun Walker aka R.A.T Da Hulk and Cornelius Young aka C.Yungsta. When you listen to indie music by Kuntry Munkey, you realize that mainstream may be more popular but it's not necessarily better.

Jolie du Pre: How did the name Kuntry Munkey come about?

R.A.T. Da Hulk: Rashaun is my birth name. I was Ratman when I first started writing music. It's my childhood nickname because of my high pitched voice. Then eventually it shortened to Rat as I got older. R.A.T came about when people would ask my name, and I would reply I'm Rat, and they would say Rat as in R.A.T.! So, my name was then R.A.T.

My favorite superhero is undoubtedly The Incredible Hulk, because I always considered myself the Hulk - a nice guy until made angry. So, then I took on the title R.A.T Da Hulk. Not long after this me and a cousin of mine, Cornelius Young (C.Yungsta), who makes music with me, decided we needed a name together. One of my favorite rap quotes is "I make da monkeys go bananas." I like to act like a "monkey"and they say we "country" in Alabama. So, I spelled those two words in a country way and became Kuntry Munkey. My name will always be Rat or R.A.T to my family and friends, but the public will know me solely as R.A.T Da Hulk, and I am Kuntry Munkey.

Jolie du Pre: I've replayed "Replay" a million times. I love it! How long have you been performing?

R.A.T. Da Hulk: Thanks! It's one of my favorites, also. A lot of people like it too, actually, but not enough yet...hopefully all that will change soon. But I have been writing and performing music since I was 16 and I'm 24 now. I've gotten four of my songs played on the radio. The first one being when I was 19. I love writing music pretty much about anything. I was mostly a hard rapper, but am pretty stoked about the fusions I've made into the different genres. I lift weights and get tattoos, but I listen to Sugarland and Katy Perry too.

Jolie du Pre: You reached number 9 on MySpace. Tell us about that.

R.A.T. Da Hulk: Well that was a great thing that happened for me. I basically was promoting myself on MySpace and a friend of mine introduced me to a guy he knew that ran a promotion company. So we linked up and in a few months I was flying up the charts all the way to number 9 in the rap, pop, and hip hop genre. I was contacted by online magazines, blogs, etc. But the best of all were the record labels.

But because of my sudden burst into the limelight my page was removed from MySpace weeks later due to breaking rules, and I still don't exactly know why. But I am still in contact with the record labels. So, I'm still good to go. I'm also number 44 on Akon's Hitlab.com. So, I wasn't going to let anything stop me. I have a song on the radio now called "Leh Go." So, I'm still pushing, pushing, pushing, you know?

Jolie du Pre: Who are your musical influences?

R.A.T. Da Hulk: Wow! Where to start? The number one, period, is Young Dro. I'd be lying if I was to say that I'm not his biggest fan. I also paid close attention to Eminem, Ludacris, Common, Mos Def, Jay-Z when it came to lyrical masterminds. When it comes to writing music I mix it with, it's what I've learned from artist such as Phil Collins, Akon, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire and just many, many others. As I said earlier, I love to hear Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 - all day! I could go on for hours, but that would be boring. All I'm saying is good music is great music to me no matter who makes it or what genre it comes from. Everyday I'm influenced when I listen to the radio or when browsing the Web.

Jolie du Pre: Some artists say they are happy on the indie level. Are you, or are you ready for the big time, Eminem style?

R.A.T. Da Hulk: I'm ready! I am ready! I know I have what it takes to make people enjoy life, laugh, have a blast and remember the good times. Speaking of Eminem, to do a song with someone of his standards is something I dream about. Just maybe one day I could pull that off! I just know whoever takes the chance with me I am going to impress so much, and I can't wait until I get that chance.

Jolie du Pre: Last question, how many tattoos do you have?

R.A.T. Da Hulk: I hear this question so much and it's also my favorite, because everybody knows I loves me some tattoos. It's kinda hard to say how much, though, because some of them go together in scenes. But, if you were to take a pen and circle all of them there would be over 50, I know. I still have a lot to go through. I'm actually about to release my new song called "I'm Tatted." So, I'm looking forward to that big time!

Sources:

Akon's Hit Lab

Replay on YouTube

Leh Go on YouTube

Kuntry Munkey on Reverbnation