Mekhi Phifer: The Hustler
Q: Well, obviously, because around the time you landed Clockers, you also won a nationwide rap contest.
A: I recorded one song called "I Think I'm Losin' It," which never came out. We flew out to Los Angeles, went to Warner Bros. I performed that one song in front of Benny Medina [who guided the careers of Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez] and he said, "OK, you got a record deal." I only had that one song, so we had to go back into the studio, and then I got Clockers.
Q: Why did you stop rapping?
A: My passions shifted. I didn't feel like being on a tour bus, running around with entourages, constantly having to be on stage, in hotels, doing radio promotions at 6 in the morning. I didn't have that sort of energy. I didn't feel that. I liked what was going on with the movie and television world. I think if you do it right, there's a lot more money to make, a lot less stress and headache.
Q: A lot of your on-screen relationships have been interracial--Jessica Alba in Honey, Julia Stiles in O, Ming-Na on ER. Have you dated interracially in real life?
A: I've dated interracially a lot. I grew up in Harlem, so I've dated Latins, Dominican, Guyanese, Cuban, black, white...I got de-virginized by a Puerto Rican. I'm like the United Colors of Benetton. [Laughs] I believe whoever's right for whoever. Who the hell can judge that?
Q: You say you're "happily divorced" [from actress Malinda Williams]. Are you dating now?
A: Yes, I am dating, yes. Yeah, I am, man. [Laughs]
Q: One woman in particular?
A: No, not really. I do have someone I am focusing on more than others, but I'm not ready to get married or anything like that. That's not going to be for a couple of years. I'm not ready to focus all my attention on another person like that, unless it's my son. Listen, man, I'm a soccer dad at heart. I want five kids and I want to get married. I want to coach Little League.
Q: Finally, what does your tattoo say?
A: It says R.I.S.E. Harlem. R.I.S.E. stands for Robbin' Is So Easy, but not in the sense you think. It's like, you can be successful and it can all be taken away from you. Stay focused because you can get robbed so easy.
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