Rockin' Everywhere: Catching up with Bubba Sparxxx

There are two types of Bubba Sparxxx fans. On one side of the spectrum are the hardcore fans. They're usually hip-hop lovers who appreciate his role in pioneering the sub-genre of country rap with his debut gold album, "Dark Days, Bright Nights."

On the other end are fans of his Billboard Top 10 dance anthem, "Ms. New Booty." If you were even anywhere near a radio in 2005, chances are you remember the unavoidable Yin Yang Twins collaboration that made him something of a household name.

While the hit was propelling him into the spotlight, his personal struggles with opiate addiction were simultaneously forcing him into seclusion, and for nearly seven years, the Lagrange, Ga. native dropped out of the music industry altogether. He went to therapy and moved to a farm while he overcame his personal issues and gained a new perspective on life.

Now, back touring and in love with music again, Sparxxx is supporting "Made on McCosh Hill," the second album since his return as he prepares to release another LP early next year, and he says he couldn't be more grateful to be making music again.

Sparxxx plays at the Cabana Inn this Saturday, and these days, the notoriously candid musician says he doesn't care which end of the spectrum his fans are from, as long as they come to the show.

"They're all paying — I'll take them all," he says with a laugh. "They're both a part of who I am. I just want people to come to the show and have a good time."

You took a pretty long hiatus from the music industry, and then you released two albums right in a row. Tell me about the newest, "Made on McCosh Mill Road."

Between 2006 and 2013, I didn't release any albums. I took a couple years away from music industry, but I've got the urge to proliferate right now. This album is a tribute to the road I grew up on, and also the culture that it embodies.

After such a long hiatus, how were you able to release two albums, back to back, so quickly?

Part of it lent itself to the fact that I owed my previous label an album. I had to give them another one, so that's why I could do it so quickly. My next album will be on Average Joe's Entertainment in February, so it's a great opportunity for me to get a bunch of music out in a hurry. And I needed to; it's been years — a lot of people starving. In my time off, I did a lot of soul searching, and I reached a point where I was good with myself. I gained a different perspective on life. I went through a period where I didn’t love music anymore, but it was always embedded deep inside of me.

What's the subject matter like on "Made on McCosh Mill Road?" How does it compare to 2013's "Pain Management?"

It's much lighter; it's kind of like the country version of "The Charm." It's very light subject matter. It's upbeat and fun. There's not a lot of moodiness to it. There's only one song that's really reflective. I delved deep into everything personal with "Pain Management"and I explained to people what my personal experience was like on songs like "Splinter." I definitely wanted to just shake that energy off.

You mentioned the culture of McCosh Mill Road — how would you describe that?

McCosh Mill Road is in a unique situation, because it goes through three counties and two states, and there's only one way in and one way out. So it's always been synonymous with partying and being wild, because it's hard for police to enforce the law there. I wanted the album to capture the essence of that road. McCosh Mill, to me, is synonymous with people mudding and partying and bonfires. It's an ode to that spirit.

How has your experience with addiction influenced you as a musician?

It gives me a lot of gratitude. I could very easily be dead. I wake up with gratitude in my heart, and I have a good life. So that carries over into the musical side of it. Like I said before, music was a chore for me for a while. Now, I feel blessed to be making music.

How did you fall back in love with music?

It was just an itch that I had to scratch. It would wake me out of my sleep some nights. A lyric idea or a song would pop into my head and literally wake me up. It took me about a year to knock the dust off, though. But after that, I was firing on all cylinders.

How has living in Nashville influenced your writing?

Nashville hasn’t really changed me. Maybe I'm trying to change Nashville. Instead of sitting down with a guitar and writing, people in the industry are writing to tracks now. Everything is track and loop based. Who ever would've thought you'd see that day for country music? So I want to bring more of that influence here. It's my goal to have a No. 1 country album in the next year.

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Let's do some fill-in-the-blank questions. My best ideas come to me when ___ .

When I'm driving. That's when I do most of my writing. I think I've written just about every song that way.

If I weren't a musician, I'd be ___ . 

A high school football coach. That was actually my plan. Football was my fist love in life. Way more so than music — not even close. In rural Georgia, where I grew up, it's religion. I'd be a history teacher and a football coach.

I never get sick of listening to ____ .

"ATLiens" by Outkast. I did an album with Big Boi, and that’s my homie to this day. It was super cool. We already had a cool relationship leading up to that point. Anytime you can collaborate with your heroes is amazing. We butted heads a lot, but it was a super cool experience.

What would the story of your life be called?

The Victorious Loser. That's pretty self explanatory.

Tell me about your most memorable performance.

Playing Saturday Night Live in 2001. Derek Jeter was the host, and the musical guests were me and Shakira. It was one of my first experiences performing with a live band, and Derek Jeter and I formed relationship that we have to this day.

What's surprised you most about your career?

The fact that I have one (laughs). No, honestly, nothing has really surprised me, but there was a time when I was kind of mobbed in Times Square by a bunch of people who recognized me, and that was kind of a shocking and revealing moment. I never imagined I would reach that kind of level.

IF YOU GO:

Bubba Sparxxx — takes place at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Cabana Inn. $20 at the door.