Nowadays, rapping about material things - such as clothes and shoes - is about as original as having T-Pain on your hook. But for Shreveport, LA artist Blitz, taking a common thing and rapping about it can open up privileged doors. The catchy single "J-Walk" - an ode to the popular Jordan shoe line - has allowed the 22-year-old to be co-signed by the hottest DJ in his city, heard across the map, and have a nationally-distributed album. Not bad for a cat who wrote the song because he didn't have anything better to write about. In this exclusive interview, the budding star talks college, Shreveport's possible rise to ATL proportions, and business relationships, including one that took a turn for the worse.

What's behind your name "Blitz"?Nothing to big to it. A long time ago, I was rappin' with my brother and 'em or whatever. My real name is Marcus. I was rappin' with them and had did an album, and they asked what I had wanted to put on the album cover, so I told them, "Marcus." They was like, "Naw, you can't put that on our album cover." So, [they were like], "Man, we gotta come up with something," and then they got together. I guess based on one of the songs-- how I came on one of the songs on the album, that's what they called me. So, I've been rockin' with it ever since.

What made you want to get into Rap, as opposed to anything else?

I'm an entertainer. I've been an entertainer all my life, so this is what I do. I've been playing basketball, been rapping. I've always been in the spotlight. That's what I do - I entertain people.

So you play ball, too?

Yep ...yep. [I played at] Southern University at Baton Rouge. I went to school for 2 1/2 years. Seen some people I never thought I'd see, met people in different places I ain't never been to. It's just a whole big experience. It helped me get focused.

So I guess that was the same time you bumped into Webbie [of Trill. Ent.]. Talk about that.

I met them boys through one of my partners of who rap or whatever. He introduced to Webbie's manager, Derrick. I had hooked up with them for a while. They started inviting me to shows. Whenever I was in Baton Rouge, I'd go holler at them. When they came [to Shreveport], we'd get together. I was going to do the lil Savage Squad thing they had going on, but the other label had come down. We ended up still keeping tight or whatever.

So the relationship's personal? It ain't just business?

Naw, naw. As a matter of fact, we ain't never did no music together.

Being from Shreveport, how'd you hook up with New York label like Hollyhood Music?

I was doing my songs, putting them on the internet, putting them on mixtapes, then a little label from New York heard the "J-Walk" song I did then hollered on MySpace [and] flew down here. We had a few meetings a little few times. He gave me the contract; I read it, and we've been rockin' ever since.

And what was his name?

His name was Steel, man.

How important are contracts?

Contracts are very important. And make sure you get an entertainment lawyer to read over your contract, 'cause if not, you will be tied up with these labels for the rest of your life, making no money. I know you can read, but get an entertainment lawyer.

You got the song "J-Walk". Let's talk about that.

Man, that's just a song that I created. I was at the house one day and felt like writing something and I didn't have nothing to write about. [I] just came from the mall with some shoes, just bought some J's [Jordans]. So, I just said, "I'm finna make a song about some Jordans." And then I wrote it, went to one studio, and laid it [and] then let my people hear it. I just did it just to make a song about some shoes; I didn't really take it serious. I took it to one of the DJ's around here, Bay Bay, and he liked it.

Explain to me the relationship between you and Bay Bay.

We Cool. He one of the DJ's that helped me get on around here. He one of the first to put my song his mixtapes. He helped break the record around here.

What's this I'm hearing about Bay Bay not wanting to work with anyone unless they come with that money?

I mean, you can't knock a man. The man wanna get his money. If the man want his money to do what he do, and he good at what he do -- you would want money, too. Just like me - I ain't finna do no free verses and make somebody else's song hot for free. You gotta respect that man's hustle.

I had to throw that one out there, 'cause I heard that from mad different people.

[Laughs] People be askin me, "How he do this for you? How he do that for you?" I say, "Man, it's just respect we got for one another. It's the relationship we got.

Do you feel that 's the problem, a lot of cats ain't earn that respect?

Yeah. People think it's an overnight thing. It's relationships you gotta build with people outside of the business so people respect you as a man and as an artist at the same time.

Rapping about J's and ice isn't anything new, especially in Shreveport. So why should a person treat you any different than the next rapper?

Because that ain't just what I do. I ain't gotta strictly just be about the club; I'm versatile. I ain't no ringtone artist. I'm a pure artist

Ringtone artists - cats who got a nice little song on the radio--

And that's it! That's all you gon' hear from 'em - that one song. That ain't what I'm doin'. That's what a lot of cats around here doing. They trying to get on with this one song and think they just hot, but that ain't what time it is. You gotta keep coming with it.

You've had some dealings in ATL. Do you see Shreveport becoming the next Atlanta?

Yeah, it's possible, 'cause you got a lot of talent down here. If everybody start workin' together, it can get done way faster. The thing about Atlanta, people ain't scared to help each other; they doing it together. But down here, people wanna hold each other back and hate on each other. That's why it ain't never gon' be nothing.