Business keeps Lil Wayne above the fray

LOS ANGELES With a clothing line and a powerhouse group of artists under his umbrella, Lil Wayne claims hes trying to stay above the fray.

The rapper says theres no beef between himself and Pusha T, despite back-and-forth diss songs released in recent weeks.

But in an interview at a Los Angeles Macys department store to promote his skateboarding-inspired Trukfit clothing line, Lil Wayne told The Associated Press he doesnt plan to escalate the Pusha T conflict. Hes got business and fashion on his mind.

Q. Do you consider yourself the most stylish rapper out there? How has your style evolved?

A. I do not consider myself the most stylish rapper out there. Id say if I had to consider someone the most stylish rapper out there, I would definitely say that would be a Kanye West or a Andre 3000. ... Yes it (my style) has evolved because I was one of the guys that would geek chic it every now and then. ... Now Im just more into whatever works for me. I think thats just age.

Q. What do you bring to skateboarding and why do you like it?

A. Skating has so many styles. Once you pick up a skateboard, youll find out that its not a hobby, its not a sport, its a lifestyle. Theres so many styles to it that people enjoy that I bring a new one. ... I love a challenge. ... Its fun as hell to fall and to not get something and then to finally land it. Thats like pursuing a girl that said no a hundred times and she finally say yeah. Thats what it feels like every single time.

Q. How did you start a clothing line?

A. It was brought to me by my friends and peers. They was like, Dude, you dress your own way and people follow that. You probably should have your own clothing line.

Q. You also have a soda endorsement deal but dont come across as a businessman like some of your peers. Do you deliberately keep it separated from your public persona?

A. When it comes to me, myself, Im very free-spirited, so thats what you see, and thats what you get you as in the public eye. But when it comes down to business, I believe that business shouldnt be done in the publics eye anyway. And I believe that business shouldnt be handled in the magazines anyway. Business should be handled in the room amongst the people youre doing business with. And thats how I handle my business. And once I come out of that room, Im back to being who I am. And thats why I dont come off as the businessman or nothing, but at the end of the day you can always say: ... This guys stock keeps rising and there is no driving force behind it but him.

Q. Are your business ambitions greater than your music ambitions?

A. I can honestly say my music is always going to be greater than my business side. Because Im naturally a musician. And I dont have to get paid, I dont even have to have businesses. I will still do music. So that will always be my greater thing. ... Business is business. And music is life.

Q. This is presidential campaign season. Do you plan to get political at all?Do you plan to go out and encourage kids to vote?

A. I do. ... And that comes from age, and that comes from my vacation on Rikers Island (the New York City jail where Wayne did time). Now that I know how important voting and elections and all that is....But everybody know that life is going to be life regardless of who is president.