Ant Diddley Dog - A.Doulos Q & A

I was first introduced to Ant Diddley Dog, now known as A,Doulos on Too Short's album Get in Where You Fit In. He and his partner Rappin Ron (RIP), also known as Bad-N-Fluenz, were both featured on the title track. They appeared on several other albums such as Ant Banks' Big Badass, Goldy's In the Land of Funk among others. Finally, they would put out their only album self-titled Bad N Fluenz. 

Unfortunately, Rappin Ron was taken before his time. The groups album would become a West Coast classic that featured both of their raw talents on the mic. Since then, Ant has changed his name to A. Doulos and his faith has taken center stage. Though the content of his music has changed, his talent on the mic has not. 

I was very grateful that he decided to speak with me. I also want to give a big thanks to his manager Marcus for helping make this happen. 

This was conducted 9/2014

DPG = ME
AD = A.Doulos

DPG: Who were some of your favorite artists growing up?

AD: I used to listen to a lot of the Easy Coast rappers back in the day. I was attracted to the lyricism of rap. So Kool Moe Dee, Grand Daddy I.U., those were the guys I listened to. I liked the local rappers, too. Of course Too $hort and 2Pac had an influence. But I was really enamored with the art of rhyme schemes, word play, cadence and cleverness.

DPG: Where exactly are you from?

AD: I was born and raised in East Oakland.

DPG: When did you discover that you were really good at writing songs?

AD: I don’t know that I ever had that realization, or that moment where it hit me. Admittedly, I still don’t see what others see in my writing. I knew how people reacted to me they thought it was good. I knew when we were in the studio and I would spit, they would go crazy like I said something ridiculous. But, really, I just write. I’m not special to me. It’s not bad to me. It’s just writing. It’s my passion. I’m more impressed by some other people I hear and their talent. But as for myself, I always feel like I can be better.

AD: Even now when I write raps, people get all excited. I feel like it’s kind of average. Not because I feel I’m so exceptional. But that’s just the craft for me, and never-ending dance of trying to top myself. At the end of the day, I’m mostly just thankful for this ability God has blessed me with and the passion he has given me. I just enjoy being able to use it for good. I’m so glad to be able to rap about something worthwhile, the songs to me are good just because of that.

DPG: The first time I was introduced to you and Rappin Ron was on Too Short’s Get in Where you Fit in album. How did you guys connect with Too Short?

AD: He’s from 89^th Street – which is not that far from where I grew up (98^th). We also went to Castlemont High School together. I’d seen him up there but we ran in two different crowds. One day my cousin brought him over so I could hear him rap. I remembered his face, but I didn’t know him. He brought this song called “8-9” and I listened to it. I thought it was hecka weak.

But we kicked it another day and I heard him rap more. That’s when I could see he was tight.”

DPG: The Dangerous Crew had lot of talented people associated with it. There of course was Too Short, Ant Banks, Spice-1, Goldy, Bad N Fluenz, Father Dom, FM Blue, and a few others. Do you feel that the Dangerous Crew had a big influence on Bay Area rap or rap music in general?

AD: Honestly, I think the Dangerous Crew was pioneering in a sense. I mean, we had people from different backgrounds, different age levels, different neighborhoods, coming together for the sake of music. And that was during a time where usually such mixing would lead to animosity. We had rappers. We had real musicians, people who had mastery of instruments. We had beat makers. We had singers.

AD: The Dangerous Crew set that standard in the Bay. We weren’t all people who kicked it together. We weren’t family already and decided to do music. We were a collective of strangers who bonded over gangsta rap – at a time when beefin’ and feuding among artists was commonplace. Somehow though, many of us were on some violent, ghetto, hood-type thinking — we managed to be a team. And we were good.

Now that I have the Spirit of God in me, and understand his call for unity and peace, I see the difficulty of what we pulled off. But by the grace of God.”

DPG: I remember on the title track Get in Where you Fit in from Too Short's album, you guys went hard on Poohman. Did Too Short ask you to specifically jump on that song?

AD: The things I wrote about, the things I rapped about, are no longer a source of pride for me. I appreciate the friendships I had. I appreciate the craft, because in many ways it saved me from jail or from a premature death. It gave me a focus. It was a talent that gave me worth at the time. But the topics, the content, the things I promoted, it’s more embarrassing for me than anything. I certainly don’t want to relive the times I hurt someone else.

DPG: You also were featured on Askari X’s Message to the Black Man album. He is another favorite artist of mine. The song was 3Strikes and feature a lot of heavy hitters such as you guys, Seagram, and 3X Krazy. That being said, is there an artist that you would have really like a chance to work with? How about a producer?

AD: I did want to work with Scarface. Of, course 2Pac. Everybody wanted to work with Dr. Dre.

Scarface heard our stuff. He knew who we were. He was on KMEL one time and said he bumped Bad-N-Fluenz.

DPG: Ant Banks is another person that I think is really talented both behind the boards and on the mic. What was it like working with him?

AD: Ant Banks was a genius. Straight up! He understood music, and not just hip-hop, but music. He understood the genre. He understood our audience. He understood us as artists. And he had a cheat code or something. He just heard things and manipulated sounds at a level you just don’t see.

DPG: I have to ask you about an infamous battle rap that supposedly took place at a Summer Jam in the 90s. You may know what I’m referring to. It was between Bad N Fluenz and the Luniz. The only accounts I can recall are form stories I read online that said Rappin Ron stole the show. I am a big fan of the Luniz as well. Can you shed any light on what happened that day? Did the whole situation get blown out of proportion?

AD: From what I remember, it was at Dangerous music. The Luniz were up there. Ron was there. I don’t know where I was. I was doing whatever. People were in there debating. Luniz was tighter. Bad-N-Fluenz is tighter. Yada Yada. By the time I got up there, it was over. Ron single-handedly dismantled them dudes.

DP: Can you tell me how you became move involved in your faith?

AD: After Ron’s tragic death, I was shaken up. I had survived so many near-death experiences, been in so many situations that could have gone south, I knew my life needed to change. I began a journey that eventually led my to Jesus. It wasn't overnight. It took some soul searching, some diligence, some studying, some experiences, some tough decisions. But his call to me was too strong to ignore. I surrendered my life to him and it’s been on ever since.”

DPG: You also changed your name to A. Doulos. Is this a lifestyle change that you made years ago after Rappin Ron passed?

AD: Doulos is a Greek word found in the Bible that means servant. It epitomizes me. I am a servant, or A. Doulos. I serve my wife. I serve my children. I serve my friends and family. I serve my brothers and sisters in Christ. I serve my audience and fan base. And it is all under the umbrella of serving Christ Jesus my Lord. I have done a lot of things. I have partaken in a lot of spoils of life. Most of my life to this point has been about serving myself. I want to be found serving others now.”

DPG: Are you happy with how your rap career turned out?

AD: I’m less concerned about my rap career than I am my life and my faith. Whatever the Lord does with this music thing, that’s fine with me. But I’m more concerned with pleasing him. I’m more concerned with carrying out his will. I’m more concerned about being a good steward over all He’s blessed me with. I have daughters who need a father. I have sons who need to know how to be a man. I have a wife who has placed her heart in my hands. I have a desire to help people live more fruitful and more productive lives, especially those caught up in the lifestyle I once formerly inhabited. I just want people who know me to be able to say their lives are better because I was in it. If that’s through rap, because God gives me a platform, so be it. If that’s in the vineyard, serving others and showing them there is a better way, so be it.

AD: I have a song out called Send Me. It’s about the decision I made to dedicate myself and my talents to the Lord. Because of the things I have done, the kind of person I was, I didn’t feel worthy to be an ambassador for the Lord. I always figured someone better than me should be in that role of preaching the word, rapping about Christ, ministering to people, and sharing his love. But he has grown me in such a way that I am ready to do whatever He has in store. He’s done a great work molding me and shaping me from what I used to be. So I am committed to letting him now use me for his purpose. Lord I’m ready, send me. But with that, I don’t determine where he sends me. I don’t determine what he will have me to do. So I can’t be mad if he doesn’t make me a big-time rapper. I will be equally happy if he makes me a mere guidance counselor at a middle school, or a humble barber who dispenses wisdom with a crispy fade, or a mentor to young rappers who have a passion for the craft but don’t want to partake in the negativity found in mainstream hip-hop. Whatever the Lord has in store for me, that’s what I want for my life.

DPG: Is there anything else you’d like to say or promote?

AD: Check out Kerusso Music. It’s the new label I started. KerussoMusic.com. I’ve put out a mixtape — The New Ant Diddley — you can download free. My single “Send Me” is on there. One of my artists, Teech, has a free mixtape on there. We’re producing high-quality music but laced with the peace and love and wisdom of the Lord. Come join the movement!

Follow A.Doulos on Twitter @A1Doulos

Follow A.Doulos on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamKerusso

DPG = I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure listening to your music through the years. I thank you for your time and I look forward to more new music from you.

AD = Thank you. Grace and peace.

Please leave comments on my blog or on Twitter @dpgmarine
Check out my other blog posts and subscribe if you'd like.

More Q & A sessions to come!

Thanks for reading!

dpgmarine