P-Duble

From his early days on the streets of Pike Street, Indianapolis, rapper Lil' Pookie has been on a mission to change people's perspectives of the Midwest hip-hop scene. When his first album, Bootshakles 4 da' Shorties which came out on Indianapolis based Little E Records back in 1995, didn't sell, the self-professed "ROG (Re-born Original Gangsta') could have easily done what many aspiring rappers do and pack it in, but he didn't. Instead, he decided to go for broke on his own, forming Pike Street Music and getting busy on the mixtape circuit, dropping three before 1999. With the consistent influence of his parents and his church community, P-Duble; born Keith Rae Scarlett in Evansville, Indiana and moved to the Shelbyville area of Indianapolis whenhe was one year of age, eventually became deeply rooted in the gangsta' lifestyle, specifically with the Folks Nation and in the decade of the 90's when the gang-wars between the Chicago-based "Folks" and "Peoples" occupied almost every municipality east of the Mississippi River, Lil' Pookie; as he was coined, would rise higher and higher in the rank eventually reaching the status of a Lieutenant in the Indianapolis-based Folks set "Balsam/Tre' Nickle." However, as he grew older he felt the pull of the Lord and began to realize the life he was living was leading him nowhere. After the drive-by shooting death of whom he claims was his best-friend before meeting his wife and the "blessing from God [as he calls it]" of meeting his wife, Lil' Pookie fought hard and sought a way out of the lifestyle he had become so accustomed too. College was the immediate answer, but after three semesters, he found himself dismissed for poor academics and disciplinary issues...so back to the streets it was...at least for a few months. After sitting-out a semester, he transferred to Greenville College in Southern Illinois and enrolled in their "Contemporary Christian Music" program, with a curriculum which would allow him access to the school's top-notch recording studio where he began to perfect his craft and begin using his rap skills that he had developed on the streets of Indianapolis for the Lord. Unfortunately, the Christian music world didn't seem ready for the "harshness" and "realness" of his lyrics and after his 1999 underground release, Birth Uv a G didn't create much street buzz or credibility in the Christian music community, P-duble [he had shortened his name from "Lil' Pookie" as he grew and matured] stepped out of the studio and focused on finishing his undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as spending time with his family; wife Jodie, son Brayden and daughter RaeAnne. All the while, he was still writing and putting his thoughts and experiences down on paper and still felt the calling to minister to today's youth through the medium of Christian Hip-Hop. Before the end of the year 2005, he decided it was time to step-back into the ring and put the previous 6 years of silence away. So, he did...and dropped his first project in 7 years in August of 2006; titled No One, which instantly hit almost every major-market east of the Mississippi River and had moved more than 10,000 units by the turn of the year. Since then, he has been hard at work promoting his newest release; My Album About Me, which hit the streets in the early part of 2007. This project has taken-off more than the last-one did, especially with production from the Toledo, Ohio; Quite Stankable crew and help from the Columbus, Ohio; Stay Beat Camp...featuring guest appearances from Ty Wills, Noel, T-Huzzie and Akron, Ohio native; Freeze. He's 32 years-old and has been in and out of the game longer than many of today's youngsters have even been alive. Nevertheless, his past, his redemption, his family, education and even his time-off have allowed the Lord to groom P-Duble into a servant and pure vessel that He can use for His works.

P-Duble didn't have to watch Martin Scorcese's "The Departed" to learn about crooked detectives. In his native Indianapolis, he experienced them first-hand. "They tried to charge me with a shooting once without any evidence," P-dub says while sitting in his Columbus, Ohio home with his eight-year old son on his lap and his seven-year old daughter crawling on his back. "My name was always in the newspaper saying 'reputed Folks gang leader.' I'm like, gang-leader? Ya'll can say that...that'll get me killed." P-Duble had his share of rough times growing-up. Inside his home, he'd seal his windows shut to prevent break-ins. Outside he encountered racism because of his caucasian background. But reality of his surroundings hit hard when he was in school. "Probably my closest friend, before I met my wife, was gunned down in a gang-related drive-by...they were retaliating for something we had done prior. This is when I realized that the path I was goin' was nowhere but death. I had always grown-up and been around the church, but it wasn't until that happened that I actually opened myself up and allowed the Lord to enter my heart. If I was never deep in that lifestyle and now educated, married and with kids and such, I never would write lyrics like [I do]. Those lyrics, combined with a rapid-fire delivery, have drawn the attention of producers such as Ty Wills, Kaulipepper Klik, Alliance of Light and Luppy. Through his music, Dub touches on various topics including his experience on the streets, relationship with his wife, bad experiences with record-labels, etc... "It took me 12 years to finish college," Dub says. "My wife stood-by me through it all and the Lord never left my side; no matter how bad things got or how many times I turned on Him. He and my family are the world to me and if I keep this rap jive goin', I'm gonna' do all I can to set things straight." For P-Duble, even Scorcese couldn't top that.

I don't know...there's not any real show type of promotion goin' on right now. If something opens-up, then of course, I'm game...but, the days of show-searching and show-hopping every weekend are done...I've got a family now and need to be there and support them before anything else. The Lord will open up any doors for live stuff when He sees fit to do so...I do have to say it would be exciting and fun to get back on stage again...itïs been a long time:)

JC, Old-school, b-boys, Gospel Gangstaz, GRITS, C-Loc, Down South Gangstaz, Crooked Letters, David Banner, DJ's...

Bible, pen, paper, two turntablesand a microphone -smile/wink-

THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT P-DUBLE: Has a Master's Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education (sports medicine) and is currently pursuing his Doctorate. He has coached soccer at all-levels; youth, club, high-school and college. He was once one of the top guards in the state of Indiana, averaging 28.6 p.p.g and 5.7 a.p.g. He has lived in Indiana, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, New Hampshire and Ohio; including the cities of Indianapolis; St. Louis; San Antonio; Richmond, Virginia; Boston and Columbus, Ohio. Has a severe phobia of spiders. Loves apples, peach-rings and Shasta soda.