An MC SERCHes for the next white rapper

Not since the days when the Beastie Boys, Vanilla Ice, and House of Pain were all in rotation at the same time has hip-hop had this many white MC's. Or, at least, wannabe white MC's. Thank Ego Trip's The White Rapper Show, premiering January 8 on VH1. As the big-haired half of the former trailblazing white rap group 3rd Bass, MC Serch acts as host and mentor for ten vanilla faces from around the country learning how to survive and thrive in the birthplace of hip-hop, the Boogie Down Bronx. After a series of challenges that test hip-hop knowledge and microphone skills, contestants are voted off one by one until a lone white rapper is left standing, ready to get respect. Serch tells Radar what it takes to be a playa', how he's winning his feud with Vanilla Ice, and why Jews are the new Black.

RADAR: Ego Trip's The White Rapper Show is bonkers.
MC SERCH: It is bon-kares. Yes, it is definitely bonkers.

I think the show kind of gives the white rapper an even playing field. But at the same time kind of shows why the white rapper has a difficult time in the mainstreamI saw the whole first episode of your show.
You're fresh.

I'm totally fresh! Do you think it's going to be the next Amazing Race?
I have no idea. I am not a big fan of reality TV.

What?!
But my wife thinks so. I tend to think my wife is a television expert. She picks hit shows like normal people pick underwear. And she has really good feelings about the show.

Is she feeling Emmy?
I really hope the Ego Trip guys do get an Emmy, 'cause I think their writing was just really fantastic. They deserve it.

Do you think America needs more white rappers?
I think that over the last 30 years of hip hop, you see it is increasingly more and more difficult for white rappers to get the recognition that they deserve. There's always been this stigma that there's only room in the mainstream for one white rapper at a time. Like 3rd Bass had their slot, then House of Pain had their slot, and then Eminem had his slot. I just think this kind of gives the white rapper an even playing field. But at the same time I think it kind of shows why the white rapper has a difficult time in the mainstream.

What do you think the biggest difference is between a white rapper and a black rapper?

I think white rappers, and this show is a very good indication of that, don't understand the culture. They understand that it's music, and they understand that you have to rap to a beat, and they understand the basics. I think typically white rappers feel like they don't need to know everything—that it's unique enough for them to be the white rapper.

Is that why you moved them all to the South Bronx? Did anybody try to put a cap in your ass?
No, nobody tried to bust a cap in our ass. Nobody tried to use 1985 language with us either. That neighborhood was the breeding ground for the first wave of hip-hop. I think it was important that the show be in the birthplace of hip-hop because that's where it all started.

The winner gets "100K and something money can't buy ... respect."

Yes. I don't know who respects them afterwards, but there is respect in some aspects.

Like a lot of the other reality stars? That kind of respect?
I think they're trying to get respect—actually, yes, from The Bachelor. I think that's the kind of respect they're trying to get.

Got it.
I think at the end of it, the person that wins the show is a person who deserves respect not only from us, but also from the audience because they are able to make it through. And I think those that don't respect them should try out for White Rapper 2.

Can you tell me who wins?
I will tell you who wins. A white rapper wins.

When you were coming up, how ghetto were you? Have you ever been in trouble with the 5-0?
You know what? I have actually had some run-ins with the PO-9. Yes. I actually had a run-in with the PO-9 on Monday.

What did you do?
I got into a little bit of a car chase with some dudes.

I think typically white rappers feel like they don't need to know everything—that it's unique enough for them to be the white rapperWas it Vanilla Ice?
Nah, but it was probably his manager.

So is the feud still alive?
The feud is still ongoing.

Who's winning so far?
I think I got him by three or four years of credibility.

I haven't seen him at all in a really long time. I think he's hiding from you, Serch.
That might be. I have to let that go, though. Maybe Dr. Phil can help me.

He could totally help you. How come there are so many white rappers that are Jewish?
You know what, I always feel that the connection between Jews and hip-hop and Jews and music is struggle. Jews just have a lot on their chest and like a lot of Jewish guilt they have to let go of. You know, a lot of white people think Jews are white, so that already builds this internal guilt for us because we're not white. But yet because we are in America we are deemed white people. Jews don't want to be white.

What do you want to be?
We want to be everything to all people. But we get locked in because we have this lack of melanin.

Wow.
So Jews have this built-in guilt and we like to express our guilt through artistic endeavors like teaching, sometimes accounting.

So do the Jewish kids on The White Rapper Show have a little bit of a leg up? Like, you're looking for the next Jew Tip?
You know what? That should be the next show—I think you came up with it. Ego Trip's The Jewish Rap Show.

That would rule.
That would be so hot. Like we would have them all rhyming at the synagogue.

Is there a season two?
We've got to do a talent search, no pun intended, for the next White Rapper. I mean, on my MySpace blog I get about 15,000 hits a month from white rappers saying, Hey, what about me, what about me? I'm this white rapper from Tallahassee, I'm this white rapper from Dubuque ... I want to be on the show. I hope VH1 gives us the blessing to do White Rapper 2. I think there are plenty of white rappers who feel like they missed their opportunity.

If it doesn't work out with VH1, you could just take it on the road and do your own thing.
Fresh. The White Rapper Tour. I could do clubs and have like mad obscure white rappers just get on stage and give them $10. Every night the white rapper winner gets $10, a package of Newport's, and some Puma sweats.

Is it okay if I call you a wigger, you know, since I'm white too?
Yeah, you know what? I am your wigger.

Thank you, Serch.
No, it's my pleasure