By J.R. Taylor

We always thought our first skinterview with an Oscar winner would be Meryl Streep--but we're perfectly happy to be talking to Isaac Hayes. He's a proper musical legend as a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and his early work with songwriting partner David Porter includes plenty of soul classics ("Hold On, I'm Coming," "Soul Man") that most people think emerged from primordial ooze. And, of course, Hayes took home an Oscar for Best Song with the immortal "Theme from Shaft."

The movie biz was quick to jump on Hayes's commanding presence, beginning with his amazing turn as the titular bounty hunter of Truck Turner (1974). He would keep showing up for memorable turns in Escape from New York (1981) and I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka (1988). Hayes's filmography made a real upturn in the '90s, though. His (recently vacated) role as Chef on Comedy Central's South Park began an unlikely comeback that's brought him to the multiplex in Reindeer Games (2000) and the critically acclaimed Hustle & Flow (2005). There was also, naturally, a cameo in the remake of Shaft (2000).

Ultimate Isaac Hayes: Can You Dig It is a two-disc compilation that crams in plenty of tunes from Hayes's vital years on the Stax label. It's worth owning just to hear the title theme to Tough Guys (1974). The music is also a reminder of why Hayes's work still turns up in recent productions such as Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004). An added DVD further attests to the man's star power. Hayes has returned to his Memphis roots as the city's top-rated DJ on WRBO, and that's where he's calling from as Mr. Skin tries to touch upon just a few highlights of an amazing career.

When you recently performed in Atlantic City, we noticed that you didn't assume your audience was familiar with South Park. You said, "Hello, children--y'all hip to that?"
I think you're supposed to do that, to keep your fans up to date. They're old friends. They're part of my success, but you can't expect the press to keep them up to date. It makes for good communication, to let them know exactly what's happening.

Then we saw you being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year, and you joked about how the honorary Oscar was next--and you told us you were going for the real one.
I love acting, and it still matters a lot to me. You know, when I started acting, I found out that when you're not in Hollywood, you miss out a lot. So there I was living in Atlanta for fourteen years, and London for a year, and New York for five years. I move around a lot and never became married to the idea of Hollywood, so maybe that was a detriment.

But you were right there in Memphis when they came to film Hustle & Flow.
Exactly. Craig Brewer, he's a young director, and he did a great job with that. [Hustle & Flow producer] John Singleton is a good friend of mine too. I ran into Spike Lee when I was back in New York recently, and he was complimenting me on the film.

A lot of us are also excited about seeing you in Return to Sleepaway Camp.
I hope they call me. I'd make it.

Actually, you already have. It was shot a few years ago, but it hasn't come out yet.
Let me think about that. Oh, boy, I've done so many films lately. I don't know anything about--oh, we filmed it up in Connecticut, or somewhere around there. We stayed in this lodge, and it was a real camp. It was surreal around there. That was a while ago. I should get one of my assistants to call and see what's happening with that.

Until then, we'll keep watching you in Truck Turner--which has one of the great nude scenes of all time.
It does? I'm going to have to think about that. Oh, yes! Annik Borel jumps up after I've jumped on her, and then she runs off, and those boobs are flailing around (Picture: 1)! She stabs my partner Jerry right after that.

You've forgotten about making Sleepaway Camp, but you still remember the name of your partner in Truck Turner.
That was a hell of a scene!

There were just a lucky few of us who got to see the 1990 ABC pilot of Hammer, Slammer, & Slade, which would've been a great spin-off from I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka.
I think they missed out with that one. It would've been huge. Eriq La Salle was in that, before he went on to ER.

There's some great old footage of you on the new DVD, but it'll always be hard to top that appearance on the Oscars back in '72. That's one of the great glam-rock events of all time.
You're right. I couldn't tell how it looked at the time, but I saw it later on in 16mm. That was awesome, with me riding out on that piano sticking out on that hand. They just pushed me down a corridor with all that smoke, and it took me straight to the stage.

Stax is now owned by the Concorde Music Group, who have a reputation for paying the original artists a real royalty rate on reissued music.
There you go. That's it. Those guys are awesome. Things are going great now, and I'm making some money again.

The radio business must be treating you well. You're the king of Memphis.
It's been busy as hell. Everybody's tuning in to my evening show. I'm playing a lot of love songs, and some old school. New York was a good break for me. I did a morning show there for five years, and it became a high-rated show there. If I could make it in New York, I could make it anywhere. For two years, I was phoning in a show that ran in Memphis. People thought I was live in the studio.

When I was living in Atlanta, I'd always see you live at our local Kroger, buying groceries at 3 a.m.
That's where people find me now! I've moved back to Memphis, but I'm still taping the show. I'll be in the supermarket, and they'll say, "Hey, I just heard you on the radio a minute ago! How do you do that?"