Sir Shames Raphi Worthy has been spitting.
When I first heard him rhyme at a bible college in the mid 90’s, I was like ‘GOD DAMN.’
Maybe it was GOSH DARN. I can’t call it.
I was a religious fundamentalist at the time.
When they told me, “Yeah, he’s only 16,” I burned all my notebooks.
What?
I told you I was a fundamentalist.
As a Blowedian and founding member of the Tunnel Rat click, Raphi is no stranger to cyphers and stages, beats, bars and battles. Now, with over 20 years of hip hop hustle and flow to his credit, he’s stepped into fatherhood with his W raised to the heavens.
As he should.
1. What’s your first hip hop memory?
That kinda depends cuz I have a few. Like I remember random flashes of hip-hop or aspects of hip-hop culture in pop culture itself. Like Carlton had a commercial for his book of how to breakdance.
I remember seeing Turbo in the Breakin’ movies.
Even in the B-boys in that one quick scene in Flashdance.
But as far as Hip-Hop music and like “a moment” it was my older brother bumpin’ the original 1580am KDAY.
My mom worked full time and would give him like $20 or something to watch me after school. He would still go into work though to deliver pizza but would just have me stay in the car. 🤣 He had the boomin’ system in his little tricked out GTI or Golf of whatever it was. But hearing Public Enemy, BDP, NWA, Kane, etc. on that system for the first time at such a young age, I was definitely like “woah what is this?!” and made an impression on me right away.
2. What was your parents’ relationship with hip hop? Did they think it was cool? Dangerous?
My dad died when I was like 5 so I’ve often wondered what his take would’ve been. As far as my mom, she was down! haha. She grew up in Temple City in the 40’s & 50’s. She waited tables her Jr. year of High School and saved up $10k, took her G.E.D. to leave a year early and move to New York City cuz she wanted to study dance. She booked the part of “Terasita” the iconic film ‘West Side Story’. She was a Shark of course. She also was on a show called ‘Shindig’ that was like ‘American Bandstand’ where damn near every big artist at the time performed music. The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Elvis, Supremes, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Doors, Stones, Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson, Tina Turner etc. Like THAT! One wall in our house growing up was filled with photos from those shows and her performing and/or dancing on stage with legends during their performances.
She went on to have a successful career as a Dancer and Choreographer. So she understood the Arts. Specifically having to do with music too, she understood a piece of music can grab you and make you feel something. She understood you can express yourself with or through the music. You can get lost in the a song and let IT guide your movement without thinking about it. It wasn’t just a hobby or job. That was her passion.
I know that that all must’ve helped with her relating to me and my connection to Hip-Hop culture. She listened to her two boys explain it to her. The different elements, creative aspects, positivity, voice of the voiceless and talking about social issues going on in the hood etc. She remembered how it was when Rock n Roll hit the scene, or Elvis’ dancing was so controversial. Whatever was the new “scary” thing the kids were doing that the previous generation didn’t understand or approve of. She quickly saw Hip-Hop as just the next voice/sound to come out of the next generation.
Sports was never really my thing, but Hip-Hop, dancing, djing, rapping, beatmaking etc. became my obsession. She completely “got it”. She was so down that she used to drive me, barely a teenager in Jr. High, to The Goodlife open mic in South Central on a school night ust so I could rap. Sometimes, she’d drop me off, sometimes stay in the car, sometimes even come in to watch. I actually talk about it on a song with Jurny Big (of LPG) and Playdough/Krum talking about our moms.
“…Momma was the dopest she would drive me to the Goodlifedown is South Central…and on a school nightYea I know right? She was down for the culture’I’ma make it Momma watch!’ is what I told herand dedication is what I showed her and I got older.But never could make the bread to pay back some of what I owed her.I planted seeds that’ll grow bigger than me.The impact on a life is something I wish she could see,when you’re broke and all you got is the song.They say ‘work hard enough you can do ANYthing’, but that’s wrong.Am I really an artist if I don’t draw a crowd?I guess I’ll be my son’s dad to make her proud.”
3. What’s your son’s name? What’s the significance? Did you feel some type of way about people expecting you to name your son after yourself or some other patriarch?
West Geronimo Henley! That’s how WEST COAST MC I am!! That’s the significance. jk…but sorta not lol. I’ve been throwing up W’s in photos and wearing some kind Cali/LA/WestCoast hat or short for as long as I can remember. When my wife and I were thinking about names, I threw out “Just straight up WEST” half joking. She paused and started saying it out loud. “West Henley” and I looked at her like “that IS a strong name” I think we may have already decided on the middle name or at least had it between Geronimo and one or two others.
Once we started saying it all together, we looked at each other like “We may have just decided on the name.” Just another reason I knew I married my soulmate when she agreed to name our boy WEST.
My brother has two daughters so when we found out we were having a boy, that was kind of a relief that at least his last name would carry on. No outside pressure was felt one way or the other tho. I joke with my son now when he sees old pics of me throwing up dubs like “See man I loved you even before you existed. I was reppin’ for you long before you even born”
4. Do you have any songs that address the issue of fatherhood?
Now that you mention it, I don’t have any full on “Hey son, I’m your father and this song is for you” like Will Smith or Xzibit. I do however mention fatherhood or having a child several times with just a line or two. Growing up without a father was huge part of my life and childhood so I mention that multiple times too.
Actually there was a song I did for a compilation where I wrote it like a story. I’m the main character talking about how its crucial trying to make money and pay bills. Me & “my lady” are wanting to do good but I start selling drugs to make ends meet and “doing what we gotta do to feed our baby…” It was all made up tho cuz at the time I don’t remember if we were even engaged but we certainly hadn’t gotten pregnant or were even thinking about it.
5. Do you have any songs that mention your son?
The most direct part in a verse about my son is definitely from a song called “Battle Scars” with Abstract Rude and Joaquin Daniels for the ‘Keep The Feel Ent. #NU2B (Next Up To Bat) Label Sampler’. The end of my verse goes…
“It’s more corrupt than it’s ever been listen.Can’t trust no Politician but I aint trippin’I’m still instilling a sense of hope into my seed.Young West Geronimo go succeed in anything you wanna do or be.In every single opportunity,better you than me.Your daddy was a lightning rod I wish I brought more unity.
6. Who’s your son’s favorite hip hop artist?
Probably me lol. He already has a broad musical taste. So he’s not listing to any genre all the time. But he gets a little hyped when he hears my voice come on during a song. He tends to tell people he meets at school or camp that “My daddy is Shames Worthy….He raps” lmao.
7. How do you teach your son about creativity?
Sheeeeeiiiiiit nowdays he teaches me! Just like his daddy, he didn’t take to sports right away but was artistic and creative like before he could really talk. He started scribbling and drawing very early. As he continues to grow (6 years old, 1st grade) he’s always creating something. He draws, paints, builds structures, sculpts, dances, sings and improvises his own melodies and songs, invents things (concepts and ideas at least) he makes jewelry at his mom’s mom’s house etc. He’s always making something. Dude’s prolific.
8. Which song of yours does your kid enjoy the most?
As a general rule, he usually likes anything where I’m rapping fast, whether that’s like a chopper where I’m flowing in double time on my Goodlife/Blowed mode. Or just really fast straight forward like one of my Bboy jams. But other than that, he for SURE loves “The Anthem”. The sample, drums, chorus, bars he always gets excited and starts bobbing his head and mouthing along to it whenever it comes on.
9. Big Daddy Kane or Ol Dirty Bastard?
Big Daddy Kane easy! Always been a fan since “RAW” and “Smooth Operator”….and actually I’ve never been much of a Wu fan. (quickly ducks) So yea Kane all day.
10. Who’s your favorite TV dad?
It’s kinda weird to say now, but prolly would have to be Cliff Huxtable. He was successful, in love and faithful to his wife, would play around and have fun and had a good sense of humor…and would give some bars of knowledge. But yea that’s Dr. Cliff Huxtable…not Bill Cosby.
Connect with Big Game Shame here and check out his most recent project, Yeezys, a short film he shot and edited here.
And check out my other Hip Hop Pops interviews with Apakalips, Propaganda, Judah 1, Red Cloud and Elias.