Rapdirt.com caught up with Mims for a Q&A as the Manhattan rapper prepares to release his second album ‘Guilt’ on April 7th.

Q: So with ‘Guilt’ I’m hearing you are reflecting on your success in the face of the brutal economy and how this is a common sentiment in the game right now, but what are the tangible effects in how you’re writing? How do you not sound tone deaf to what’s going on right now without depressing everybody?

A: Because I think that it’s not about, one, the album ‘Guilt’ is not just about the economy. It’s a understanding of where the economy sits and that means that I’m not gonna be overly braggadocios in my music, but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna give you records that take it there and have an up tempo sound.

I don’t wanna depress anybody. I wanna make a album that makes people happy, but I also want them to know I’m aware of the times because gonna have people that wanna hear about what’s going’ on and then you’re gonna have some people that wanna just get lost in the music. I give you something’ on the album for everybody.

Q: Break down how ‘Guilt’ compares to ‘Music Is My Savior’. Is there a track or tracks that if people weren’t told beforehand, they’d would be shocked it’s coming from Mims?

A: ‘Guilt’ and ‘Music is My Savior’ don’t compare. The only way they are similar is that the artist is Mims. As far as records are concerned that you’ll be shocked. I think that people who thought so little of me from a record like ‘This is Why I’m Hot’ that for me to come back and surpass them with any music that I do right now is gonna be a wow factor; any record.

Q: You’re not one to wear shiny rocks with perceived value like some others in the game, so maybe the benefit of the economy tanking will be to clear the decks of the stereotype of rap’s focus on flaunting wealth?

A: You know, I’d say this. There’s a time and a place for everything. There’s nothing’ wrong with somebody shining’. I just don’t think now’s the time and I also believe that that doesn’t make you a man ’cause you can put $100,000 around your neck. It doesn’t make you anybody. It makes you a lot more shinier than the next person.

So for me, who really cares about that? That doesn’t determine anything other than – honestly to me, other than the fact that that person was probably stupid for hanging’ a house on their neck when they could probably put that money somewhere better.

Not to say that I’m not interested in jewelry, but I think there’s an extreme. I think when you start talking’ about 100,000 and some of these people aren’t millionaires. Some of these people aren’t even rich and they’re putting’ that stuff around their neck, they’re stupid.
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