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When people visit Orlando they see Mickey Mouse everywhere as the city is home to Disney World. However, central Florida rapper Ham is set to introduce them to the city’s hard knock life.
Ever since he received Scarface’s album Diary, Ham knew rap music would be his way of life. Even though HAM still struggles with toeing the line between street schemes and rap dreams, he’s aware that he just can’t shake the latter.
After years of toying with the idea of compiling a body of work, HAM is finally done recording his first street album, On the HAM, Volume 1.5. According to HAM, the goal of the album is to introduce Orlando’s rap scene as a force to be reckoned with.
Hip Hop Ruckus took the time out to chop it up with Ham after a much respected cosigner dropped his music in our inbox a week or so ago. Instantly, we knew Ham would and is On da Come Up.
HHR: What’s cracking? You’re buzz is starting to pick up a little online. From what we’ve heard thus far though, there should be no reason why you won’t be someone to watch for this summer. How you are handling the success that’s happening around you?
HAM: I’m handling the success pretty well. It’s just the beginning of things, but overall I like the response. I’m just continuing to remain humble.
HHR: Orlando is a big city that is not so known for Hip-Hop. For you, how does it feel being one of the reasons why many will start looking more in dept into what the city is doing outside of theme parks?
HAM: It would be an honor to be the reason for others to look towards Orlando for hip-hop. That’s one of my goals, that is my intention. To be the one carrying the torch… to put on for the city and let em’ know we got talent here.
HHR: Who is “HAM” and how did the whole name come about?
HAM: HAM is a kid from Orlando, searching for an outlet from the struggles of life in the inner city that’s in the midst of getting caught up in the streets, hustling and doing what he has to do to survive. The name “HAM” is actually the first three letters of my last name and my initials backwards. They use to call me Hammer but some people would just shorten it and call me Ham. I like that better, so I just ran with it.
There’s been an immense amount of talent coming from Miami, past and present that those from there can see. Being that you’re a product of Orlando, who were some of your influences and artists you looked up to out of the area, or in general?
My influences in the game are names like Scarface, Eightball & MJG, Outkast, Jay-Z, etc…… the list goes on.
HHR: Similar to your predecessors, much like Eightball, Scarface, and even BIG… you have a very distinctive flow, laid back and paced. What’s your writing process and how did you sort of develop your signature flow and cadence?
HAM: Well my flow is laid back, but I switch it up every now and then. When I write, there has to be a beat that gives me that feeling that makes me want to spit some shit. There has to be something that kind of speaks to me. I come up with a subject, a concept and put some creative word play to it. Whatever type of energy, tone, or pitch I feel will make the track come alive and I use it.
HHR: Now being that you’re a rapper from Orlando, you’ve probably received your share of flack and hate from many? What’s the struggle been like to win over folks from not just the industry but from the people in your city?
HAM: I mean your gonna have people that hate, but they can’t deny good music. I make my music and put it out to my fans. It’s been a minor struggle to win people over, you just have to really put it in their face, like shove it on some Diddy shit like “Take that”.
HHR: You recently dropped a video called “I’m Eatin” that went up on our friends at AHH site. What can you tell us about your perspective in writing that song and what was the creative process in shooting the video?
HAM: Well “I’m Eatin” is actually a song I wrote about 2 years ago. I had a situation were some cats that were getting money was talking greasy on some hating jealous shit when I was chilling laying low. It was more of a reminder to let em’ know I’m still eating, For the video to that track, I took it back to the basics, back to where we use to hustle. I wanted to keep it simple. In my hustling gear black tee, camos, and some J’s. I wanted to pay tribute to my homie Ike that passed away and that was pretty much it.
HHR: Who are some rappers on your radar, up-and coming or mainstream, which you would like to work with in the future? And what else can we expect from you later this year besides your upcoming mixtape.
HAM: Some artists that are on my radar are A$AP ROCKY, Kendrick Lamar, Ricky Rozay, French Montana, etc… there’s a couple. You can expect a lot more virals from me in general to let the world get to know more about “HAM”
HHR: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? And what do you hope to accomplish when it’s all said and done for you in the game?
HAM: In the next 5 years I see myself still grinding hard. I’ll have some albums under my belt. I would have definitely made history, and worked with the people I dreamed of working with. When it’s all said and done, I wanna be known as a legend, known as a artists and a person that made a contribution to the game. - Hip-hop Ruckus Interview
Orlando’s HAM shows you that his city is more than just Disney World. - The Source Magazine
Discography
Arm & Ham Vol 1.5
Photos
Bio
The moment travelers cross over Florida state lines, Mickey Mouse is everywhere. The beloved character is on everything from monstrous billboards overlooking the turnpike to cheap gas station skullies. The city of Orlando is known for being a sort of family-friendly wonderland, miles and miles of opportunity for far-fetched dreams to come true. Tourists arrive in droves, in search of these dreams and head home after a few days but natives of Orlando are well aware of what lies beyond the Cinderella Castle, and it isn’t all parades and starry eyed visions. Rapper HAM was born and raised in the central Florida city and he can attest to the fact that there’s more to Orlando than the fairytales the tourism board suggests. HAM straddles the barrier between the hard knock life and the happy endings.
Born Michael Antonio Hamilton, rapper HAM is at a crossroads- like many young black men who grow up with little to no means of survival, he encompasses a will to fight and a yearning to succeed. “I’m just a dude from the streets who came up hustling, trying to find my way out here, and I decided to start rapping.” When HAM was just nine years old, he’d received Scarface’s critically-acclaimed album, Diary, as a Christmas gift. It was his first rap album and he gives the Houston-based artists full credit for inspiring his love for hip hop. Scarface was an unlikely mentor, considering how different Florida rap was at the time. Regardless of geographical differences, something within the passion-filled tracks of Diary, struck a chord with HAM and he decided that one day his own heart would be on wax for the world to hear. But first he would dabble in the ever-present evils in the alleys and dark corners of his hometown. "I remember standing on the corner thinking hustling was gonna be my way out" says HAM, "Until I realized that it's only a stepping stone, I have to follow my dreams".
Even though HAM still struggles with toeing the line between street schemes and rap dreams, he’s aware that he just can’t shake the latter. That first cassette tape encouraged years of HAM studying hip hop from a fan’s perspective. He noted the differences and indulged in the lyricism of everyone from Biggie and Tupac to Outkast and Eightball. His knack for recognizing and appreciating different flows and content serves as an advantage now and it resonates in his work, which he describes as “laidback, futuristic street music. "Underground" but still sort of mainstream at the same time.”
After years of toying with the idea of compiling a body of work, HAM is finally done recording his first EP, ARM & HAM, Volume 1.5. According to HAM, the EP is his introduction to the game. he feels he have's something to prove. "Orlando is a force to be reckoned with", with him manning the helm. His aspiration is to kill the trends rather than fall victim to following them. With the majority of his Orlando competition adhering to the same blueprint, HAM hopes to stand out with his ability to switch up his song subjects and sound on any given track. There’s a sense of authenticity that shines through his bars but he also offers inspiration, perspective, and relatability in his music. “I talk about my life experiences of hustling and street life in my music because that’s where I’ve been,” I'm a hustler “So it’s gonna come out and reflect in my music.” His style is to tell the street story with as much poise and confidence as the fairytale, so that maybe, in some way, the two can co-exist.
Far-fetched dreams often lead to broken hearts. Starry eyed wishes and tales of happy endings don’t always end well but HAM is adamant about making his mark on the world. “I want to reach everybody. It’s all about legacy and longevity to me. I want to be one of the greatest.”
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