The Hip Hop culture can be found in many places influencing many people. Racine, Wisconsin is one of those places and Washington Wizard All Star forward Caron Butler is one of those people. Growing up in Racine was anything but easy for Caron Butler but amid all the success, Butler has not forgotten where he came from. Butler is a pillar in his community; so much so that June 8th has been named Caron Butler day in his hometown. As the 2009-2010 season continues, expectations are higher then ever for the Wizards. AllHipHop.com got a chance to discuss growing up in Racine, Hip Hop music and the upcoming season with Butler. This is how it went down:

Harold: From the time you entered the league with Miami, then with the Lakers and now with the Wizards, your stats have improved each year. What did you do this off-season that was different from any other off season?

Caron Butler: I think just mostly working on my strength and agility. You know this is the first season in which I come into with no injuries. I always come into the season with little knicks and knacks. For the most part I was completely healthy at the end of last season. I was just more prepared, so I went right into my summer training healthy.

H: So you started as soon as your season ended?

Caron Butler: Yes, obviously our season ended really early last year, we were done the second week of April. I took three weeks off and got right back at it.

H: So when you were growing up, were there any players that you looked up to that did not make it to the NBA?

CB: There were a lot of neighborhood guys, growing up, that I looked up to. They were older guys in the hood that ended up getting into other things but as basketball players, they were unbelievable. But there was nobody really of any significant notoriety.

H: What was your first introduction to Hip-Hop?

CB: My first introduction to Hip Hop was Run DMC and LL Cool J. I went to a concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Bradley Center when I was younger and had a chance to see LL live. At the time he was beefing with Kool Moe Dee so it was crazy. Just seeing that, from that point on I was a hip hop head all the way thru. Some of my favorite artists are Tupac, Biggie and Jay-Z; I’m still young so you know Lil Wayne is also one of my favorites. There are a lot of dudes out there that I really like.

H: I casually listened to hip hop myself early on, but once I heard Ready to Die, I was hooked.

CB: Hip Hop you know is the voice of the community, it really is.

H: Who would say is your favorite rapper?

CB: My favorite rapper, living, Jay-Z definitely.

H: Word is coach Flip Saunders gave the team I-Pods with something real interesting on it, what is that all about?

CB: At the beginning of training camp, coach gave us I-Pods; the I-Purchase and the opportunity to download a lot of music. He gave us this other thing, that I have never seen done with all the plays. Coach’s play book is rather heavy and very thick, we have over a 1000 plays. There is a lot of detail to it, he actually has people running thru the plays so you are not looking at a sketch. It is actual people running thru the plays, which is something I had never seen before.

H: So you are actually looking at players on the I-POD?

CB: Yeah it is crazy.

H: Let's say you are getting ready for Game 7 of the NBA Finals, which you guys may very well get to, what song would you warm up to?

CB: Right now I would go old school with the man Mystical and then take it to We Run This Town with Jay, and go out and make it happen.

H: You mentioned the concert in Milwaukee Wisconsin when you were growing up, now what was the best hip hop performance you have seen live?

CB: Best performance I ever seen live was Jay-Z in the Staples Center. I think it was a beautiful thing because that was at the time when him and Kells (R. Kelly) fell out and everybody was wondering where the tour would go, what was happening and tickets were already purchased. Jay-Z turned the tour to Jay-z and friends and he came down with Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, Mary J. Blige, Redman, Method Man, bought DMX back to the stage, Ja Rule, the whole Roc was there Beanie Seagal, Memphis Bleek and the energy kept building and building. Kid Capri was DJ-ing, it was just crazy.

H: Jay-z does know how to bring the energy. You can’t blame him for dropping Kells either.

CB: Yeah definitely, but the concert was so good because there was never a drop off, it kept getting better and better and better.

H: If you were to compare your game to any rappers style who would it be?

CB: I would say Kanye West.

H: Kanye West, why?

CB: Yeah definitely. I’m different, obviously I’m consistent, and my numbers don’t lie. I will put my numbers against anybody in the league over the last couple of years, I’m doing something in the league only LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are doing. Dropping 20, 7 and 4, the numbers don’t lie.

H: Going back to your work ethic, you get better every year, who do you credit the most for your work ethic?

CB: Honestly man, I have truly been blessed to be in situations too play alongside Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and Gilbert Arenas. When you play with tremendous athletes, great players and great minds, you take something from all of them and apply it to your own routine and your own workouts and that is what I have done. But I got the most from Kobe and seeing the way he prepares for games and stuff like that and applying it to my own routine and here I am, playing great basketball.

H: Kobe Bryant is a great player, he is my 2nd favorite right after Caron Butler.

CB: (Laughing) Thanks man I appreciate it.

H: There are high expectations for the Wizards this season, if you guys remain healthy how far do you think you can go?

CB: Championship!!!!!!! I mean it is realistic and safe to say with our core guys back, you know our closer Gilbert Arenas being healthy, Brandon Haywood back healthy, DeShawn Stevenson our defensive stopper on the perimeter healthy and the development of our young guys. Also the new additions of Mike Miller, Randy Foye and Fabrico Oberto, somebody who has been in the playoff battles and won a championship, I think we are ready for war.

H: This is definitely the best team you guys have had in a few years. Probably the best in the Wizards Organizations history.

CB: This is the most talented team we had since I been here and I been here for 5 years now. I’m anxious to get the season going.

H: I think Boston and Orlando present the biggest challenges, would you agree with that?

CB: Definitely, with the additions of Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels along with a healthy KG and development of their younger guys, they are going to be tough to handle. But we think we can beat anybody on a giving night, we present a lot of match up problems.

H: The Cavs added Shaq but for some reason I’m just not really seeing that working out.

CB: Shaq is honestly one of the greatest players of all time and I feel like you just have to adapt to the situation and share that stage with LeBron and just make some beautiful music, but I’m just pushing and pulling for the Wizards.

H: Speaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers, how do you feel about Mike Miller wearing Lebron's shoes?

CB: You know LeBron is my man off the court so you know it is all good. Of course we prefer him to wear something else but if he goes out there and shoots the way he has the last couple of years wearing those shoes then so be it.

H: What player talks the most trash during games?

CB: I would have to say Kevin Garnett, but it is to himself. Kevin Garnett is one of those dudes you love to watch because he is always hyping himself up. He talks to himself more then anything.

H: Is there a coach out there that talks a lot of trash.

CB: A coach, not really, none of them jump out.

H: Who would you say is the most overrated player in the league?

CB: The most overrated; I don’t know, I know a lot of underrated players.

H: Well who would say is the most underrated player?

CB: A lot of guys, you know myself, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson you know guys that get it done on a night to night basis but get overlooked. Like I said though numbers don’t lie, they get it done night after night.

H: If you could use 1 word to describe new head coach Flip Saunders what would it be?

CB: Genius!

H: Genius?

CB: Yeah, I think he is an offensive genius, because some of his philosophies, the plays and the way his mind works with the offensive schemes.

H: He definitely opens things up, I thought he got a raw deal in Detroit.

CB: Yeah, that is the nature of the beast, people get tough breaks sometimes.

For part II of the Caron Butler Interview click here.