Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump doesn't seem like a rock star. He's very humble, intelligent and witty. Relaxing in Los Angeles, he's finally gotten a well-deserved breather after a rollercoaster seven years. Fall Out Boy are bona fide superstars now. After turning alt rock upside down with 2005's multi-platinum From Under the Cork Tree (Island/Def Jam), the band became an unstoppable, pop cultural force. Further carving the Fall Out Boy empire, bassist Pete Wentz's spearheaded not one, but two companies: his record label, Decaydance and his clothing line, Clandestine Industries. In 2007, Infinity On High raised the band to arena rock status, giving many denizens of Facebook nation their first big rock show experience. That's chronicled flawlessly in the band's recently released CD/DVD set Live In Phoenix, which highlights one of the standout shows on Fall Out Boy's States-dominating arena trek last fall. However, Stump and Co. haven't stopped since their indie debut Take This to Your Grave, and the time-off is welcome, to say the least.

( We've always been honest. )

[source]

- huge thanks to nafs for the link.

How to Diversify Your Hip-Hop Track?

STUMP IT UP

Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump has been lending his talents to Lupe Fiasco and the Roots. In return, he’s amassing his very own rap sheet.

Joining the ranks of John Mayer, Adam Levine, and Chris Martin, Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump has crossed over to become hip-hop’s go-to rock dude. He produced last year’s “Little Weapon” for Lupe Fiasco, a pal from their formative days in Chicago’s music scene, and more recently sang the hook for the Roots’ “Birthday Girl,” the likely first single from their CD Rising Down (out April 29th).

“I’ve always made beats for myself, just for s---s and giggles,” Stump says, adding that he was “totally surprised” when Fiasco asked to rap over one of his creations. “I had assumed it was just me kidding myself with a laptop.” The Roots’ Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, who’s jammed with Stump at pre-Grammy bashes for the past three years, says he was won over by the self-described record nerd’s obscure music knowledge: “He and I go toe-to-toe for hours trying to out-iPod each other. Everything I think I’m up on, he outdoes me. He’s like Jack Black in High Fidelity!”

Next up, Stump is producing several rap-centric cuts for Gym Class Heroes’ fourth CD, due this summer. “I don’t think a lot of people realize that [Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy] is an emcee – that’s his first love. And I don’t think he got to shine on that last record.” Despite his confidence, the emo crooner’s also quick to keep his newfound skills in perspective. “I don’t think I could ever convincingly have been any type of hip-hop star,” Stump laughs. “But I’m definitely a hip-hop fan.” -- SVL


Transcribed from the March 21, 2008 issue of Entertainment Weekly (#983) - by the lovely untelling - huge thanks to her for taking the time and for also providing the following scan:


( Scan of the article )