After paying his dues, Lil Rob (Roberto Flores) enjoyed his first radio hit in 2005 with Summer Nights, a SoCal love letter to lowriders, ladies and weekend barbecues. The San Diego rapper recently dropped his follow-up, 1218 Pt. II, featuring songs like Let Me Come Back and Slow It Down with Frankie J.

We caught up with Lil Rob to reminisce about his youth, the San Diego Chargers, and his love for Nike Cortez shoes.

Where in San Diego did you grow up?

I was brought up in a small neighborhood called La Colonia Eden Gardens, San Diego (North County). It was cool. I was born in 1975 and I'm the youngest of three.

What was it like?

I'd like to say I had a normal childhood: riding bikes, skateboarding, poppin' and break dancing. It wasn't the best neighborhood. It was an area known to score drugs in.

What did you remember about those days? Is it different from what you've seen in other cities?

We used to ride our bikes around the town following the sounds of sirens. That happened a lot. Finding discarded drug waste by the curb and in and around the bathrooms in the park was nothing new. La migra was always strolling through and I would see all my border brothers making a break for it. Some would get caught, while others got away. All that was just normal to us, and I don't know how its
different from anywhere else. Home is home, ya know?

What music did you listen to back then?

My pops used to sing in an oldies band back in the day and my mom would always be playing the blues at the pad. My brother used to DJ at all the local house parties, so I would pretty much listen to oldies, blues, mariachi, funk, hip-hop, electric funk, old school and freestyle. Things were really good back then in "the good ol' days." I think there's a little side in all of us that wants to go back.

What do you bump now?

Now I listen to all that and then some: pop, alternative rock, rock. There's a lot of good music out there.

You're always rocking San Diego Chargers jersey. Are you a big football fan?

I'm just reppin' my city.

Your latest album, 1218 Pt. II, features a song about Nike Cortez shoes. What do you like about them?

Yeah I wrote a song about my Cortez shoes, talking about growing up and walking in my shoes, seeing the things that I've been through. I've been sporting Cortez shoes for as long as I can remember. Before those, it used to be the game breakers. I don't know why that style of shoe has lasted so long, maybe it's because all the homeboys are sporting them.

I recently went on a retail tour and if I wasn't signing my CDs or posters I was signing Cortez shoes. I just think they look clean. A brand new pair with my Ben Davis pants or some cut offs, with my socks pulled up to my knees, is what I like.

You've been around for over 10 years. Do you think your sound style has changed since you first started?

Actually my first tape came out in 1992 and I don't know if my style has changed or evolved. I do know that I have grown up a lot through various producers, different times and the changes going on in my life.

So what's the difference between Lil Rob in 1992 and Lil Rob in 2008?

I'm not worried about the things I used to worry about back then. Now I'm worried about Uncle Sam.