Rap Radar: Babyface Ray

you have the jet blue min King. I hear listen, man, God is good, is good. We have a lot of roots with Detroit. We obviously we worked with Paul Rosenberg. Yes, for you know, people may not know Rapperated US backstory. Paul Rosenberg um invested in us and the Rapperate are to be dealt with this guy M and them, even though we never allowed to really beat or talk to

him and them. Eminem once yes twice, I don't remember, but it was he signed my um, he signed my vinal for me and it was that was that forty five and um he was going into the room and I just kind of filowed Craig, who was security. He's like nine ft tall and eight ft wide, So I just kind of blended in and then Paul's like, beat out, what are you doing here? I was like, I got my vinyl when I'm signing and said, hey, Marshall, big fan. You know I got I got a I got detention

for having your lyrics. And he's like, oh, that's cool man. He just signed beat out, thanks for every Yeah, that's my Detroit story. That's even seeing Eminem se m is very rare, very rare. I think one time Paul they was shooting, remember in the video with Eminem with the girls of Superman video one of those things, did he have a shoot off Superman? Was like he was in

I know he shot it was in the hotels. Yeah, so Superman standard hotel they had helping a standard hotel in downtown l A. And I don't think I was even working with Paul yet, but I remember I was in an elevate case. I used to stay at that hotel, and I just randomly like their hotel. There was coming and shooting scenes and like all of a sudden, elevated doors open. It's like Paul Eminem and then all looks just bad, uncomfortable it's just like then the doors just

like dramatically closing ship. So and then another time, Anderson Cooper, he was doing something ceing then and they were covering a tour or something, and it was I was when Detroit when jay Z and Eminem were doing their shows together. So I'm roaming around. But yeah, every time I got near the backstage, Jerry and Paul just didn't really like me. Yeah we're not that's the IR and you're not not looking at it. But we know how great he is.

But he troits a great city too. We've kicked with kicked with words, vibe non in Detroit, but now we got a new sensation. Man, this guy baby face faced freight man. He's heating up. Man. It's like, you know what's so dope about artists, especially like local hometown here was like when they're doing it, you feel it nationwide. You know what I'm saying. It's not not necessarily like a local phenomenon. Yeah, I feel like everybody says this

is the hottest guy in Detroit. Like everybody to to a person like you know, like this the hottest m C in Detroit, Like okay, well, you know what's the records there prove it is there the big hit And this guy doesn't really necessarily have the big traditional hits. He just kind of built it off his his his character and what he does right. He's been a game

for a long time. I always hate it when rappers, when you go to different cities, But like, yo, I'm the hottest person in this town, you know, like besides you and your next door neighbor. Who's saying it? But everyone saying it about baby face? You know what I'm speaking the hottest man. Yes, it's December. Man, it's getting close toime. Is it time yet? Be? Because every episode these are tosts harass you. They want to know where they rank, They want to and what's the plan on

this man? Can I get a piece of the action? Well? Who's putting this out? Complex? Spotify, be beeople gonna beat these out? These brands? Who's putting it out? Courtesy of the Apple notes app, the notes the notes app, and then again for people that don't know, you don't just wake up like Christmas morning or whatever whatever they you decide.

You've been taking notes meticulously the entire year. Yes, I've been taking notes since January one, just trying to figure out who's doing what, you know what I'm saying, like listening to this man music as I can, um as many albums as possible, everything that's coming across our rap right off, no pun attended. I try to pay attention

like that, you know. So that's what it is, and I'm looking forward to the chaos that's about to ensue it because when I too as it, Drake came out of nowhere, Like Drake doesn't dance album, it's not really met with incredible reception, circles back. He drops a whole album twenty one Savage, and I'm just like, where does where is that? And beat Out's list world, Like does

that put Drake back? He's gonna make the list somewhere Savage in the list, but then he doesn't have his own music, Like it's just it just it just it just made a little more murky, right, And that's the biggest selling album of the year. I sold Kendrick No Shots, and I showed you know a lot of everybody future like it was the top selling album out of nowhere.

Drake again, like you can say, Drake put out a very disappointing album and then not right back he comes around and like steals the year, right, like you have to sell that many records? Yeah, definitely. I mean Drake is Drake. He's gonna do his numbers regardless. You know, you can fart in the record is gonna go go. But you know, we'll see where he ranks this year. He I think he will make a nice appearance. Do

you think do you did drinks? You did Drink's gonna actually do the thing that he's secretly told he was thinking about doing. I don't know, I don't know with the record and it's not the Apollo shows, but it would involve everybody, would be a very nice thing. But we'll see, we'll see. But but back to Ray Man, I'm excited. Also, we got a credit barylne Right Brolin,

one of the champions in the in the industry. Man's female kicking ass out there like she she worked in uh A and R in the scope and helped the baby launches his career, get him where he needs to be. And now this is a this is a baby that's like he manages him. YEA, for sure, baby said baby. I'll say baby face Ray absolutely, you know she's come through the ranks. I've seen him when I used to work at Sony in the building to I think she was at Columbia. I'm not mistaken. But yeah, she's definitely

worked her way up. And now she's working with baby Face. I feel like everyone has that Obi wan kenobi in their cone, in their corner, you know what I mean, Like that's their sense, and I feel like that's what she provides the baby Face. So and he has his new album too, so I think, uh, I think having her around has definitely let him in the right direction. Absolutely, yeah, he got he got us to Detroit. Man, Yes, there

you go. Let's get into it. Man, we got read live from Detroit man, baby Face, Yeah, rapp right up podcast Ellie Wilson, what's up, baby baby? To see this, man, we had to roll a house recording studios. That's where we always can find a man. Baby Face, Ray, how are you doing, sir. I'm wonderful today. I'm blessed absolutely, thanks for bringing us down. Man's your city betting for sure. Thanks for coming of course, of course, man, we got the coffee is cozy, and we we got a secret link.

By the time of the world sees this, the album will be outbum. We was blessed for the private link. I's been fuming this new album the last twenty four hours straight Man and Mob talk about that process because you know, now you're creating with this tag of everyone's calling you the hottest rapper in Detroit, right, so that accolade has been bestowed on you. So now I want to like, what's that now? You know with that title

on you cooking up a new album? You know that title on me for shows kind of like they're putting the pressure on me to just be great. So it's like everything I'm doing is like I'm kind of overthinking it a little bit, but I'm still being myself at the same time. So it's cool, you know what I'm saying. The process of being putting the CDR, it's cool for sure. So do you found yourself overthinking and times for a song? For sure? Because it's like, man, they're gonna they're gonna

rock with it. They don't not rock with it. But I feel like me just being me, just like I'm gonna go with it because That's what I've been doing anyway. So because I think those opening tracks like the Waves on on Every Chain and the other song with Dirk Rap politics. I feel like they start the album where it doesn't sound like that the son has at all sounds like you're you're free, and yeah, yeah, that's what

MLB is. Man, just me just being me with the pressure of people saying what they're saying, you know what I'm saying. So it's just like what I'm going through right now with the sussys that I'm having, you know, or was the intention to drop two albums this year? No No Um Face came out and did incredibly well, like the feedback. I wasn't gonna, you know, put nothing else out, but you know, I'm a fan of music, and I've been listening to everybody music. I'm like, let

me put something else out there. Cap it off. They might have forget you know what I'm saying what I did at the beginning, So let me get them something at the end. So go wing into this album. Did you feel pressured to kind of match that sound for sure? Because I did. The feedback on that one was incredible, so it's like, let me get him out bad. I kind of got more raw and put a kind of more emotions in this album than I did on Face.

Me on Face, I was trying to appeal to the world because I was just not getting through the dough. And I know it was all types of people listening. So MOB is me just like being a little bit more blunt and cut, you know what I'm saying, Because while I was listening to me, it feels like there's shades of like cynicism throughout the project, Like even on the first song waves out on every chain you say, you can feel who loves you, you can feel who don't. Yeah, right, Like,

how can you even feel like that? I can you tell? I think I'm blessed with reading people energy. I'm saying, like you could tell if somebody feeling you're not feeling, you can feel it on you know what I'm saying.

I've been like that all my life. So and even like on other records like brand new bands, he said he sensed the hate from the ones you love and spill my cup, you know, sensing the hate from the ones that like I get that a lot throughout the project because when you grow into something, bro, it's like nobody never talks about the other side. They always see

the success. So you're growing up, Nobody talked about the change that happens to the environment around you, the people around you, because you're not able to do the same stuff that you was able to do before. You know, before I was doing my thing, I was able to spend more time with my loved ones and be standing right here. And now it's like I'm doing my things.

I can't do that. And sometimes people don't know how to take that, and they treat you different and they put it as if you change it when it's really there, you know what I'm saying. Because it was success. Yeah, and even with you being successful to throughout this year, you had a busy springing summer. Man, Like you just came off the tour and I saw that you said that something New York City was a goal of yours

to do that. While was that so important? And stuff like New York and New York is the macha, Like New York is the mega music. You know, you go to New York. Everything came remember and some of the top doors, you know, jay Z nas Jada Kiss, fabulous, These all artists I listened to coming up. You know what I'm saying. Be able to sell out some of New York. It's just a goal period. Even though the

crowd was kind of steal rough from me. But it was like that Roy mall like it was like it was rocking, and he was like, I couldn't tell because New York is such a tough crowd. Yeah, yeah, well shout out to New York. And it was feeling it because they don't like they don't like to give it up though. But you know, we really talk about the thing we like in New York. Cause he say, Atlanta has so much unity, right, like the artists all get along or there's so much uni. But you look at Detroit,

I feel like you guys are really unified. Like I saw something a couple of months ago. It was like you and Ice wear Vessel and baby money and you know the tides of you all, guys. Can you explain how there's so many ties with each other, Like you guys are really all emerging and all connected in some way, right, Yeah, it's crazy that we're all having our own thing. Everybody they on brand for sure. But I actually visits from my neighborhood, you know what I'm saying. Peasy from my neighborhood.

But he was up the street easy. We used to be in a rap group together. Um Ice Wool was doing this thing. I kind of like brought them together. Um baby money. He from my cousin neighborhood. We used to us to play basketball with him, Like I've seen him coming up from the dirt dirt, you know what I'm saying. So it's crazy that we all connected like this, and that's how something he was. He was in the group with Peas and then he took he blew up.

He started making noise like a breakout star moment, and you seem like you, they were saying, you didn't really just jump at it real fast. You didn't follow that up yourself for to your minute, you know what I mean. When you're in the group and it's like the drummer, you know what, the drummer can't go so low. But Easy was the first break card artist. He was doing this thing, and it was kind of hesitant. You're looking at the group and then the world select one. It's like, okay,

he didn't want to let him go. So it took a while for me to even get on my own thing, you know what I'm saying. And I remember that was a record that we being beat out really connected with rap Radar and didn't even realize how much of it was important to your city, which was the T Grizzly

the first day out record. Yeah, that really changed the sound and kind of really validated that, Oh Detroit, that's the Detroit sound, right, It's uncompromising and that really inspired you right to me, man, what because you gotta think we was doing it for so long we thought our song would never break through. You know, T used to before he got locked up, He used to come around. We used to do music because we was team. He said. We was kind of like the popping guys. You know,

T was on the come up. But he when he got locked up and came out with the same sound that we've been trying to break through, and he broke through it. Kind of he really helped everybody. I don't nobody would never say that, but he is the one who basically like kicked the door open, saw the dug you know what I'm saying that song of the street reality raw Ratt. Before then we had you know, Sean and the Angel. Not to discredit none of them, but where we come from what we had going on. T

was the first to lay the love with it. Describe that sound fully and like, how does it represent Detroit? Because it is like the nonchalant and this to it, like the element to it when you're talking about real serious street ship. But it's like it's kind of like, you know, is there an insensitivity and the flows of of the like the craziness that's going on, or just synically, what do you think it is that the nonchalant stuff come from it being a natural thing and what's going on?

You know what I'm saying. We're speaking about it so nonchalant because it's actually, you know, this is our this is our life. So I always like to say it's reality rep you know what I'm saying. So it's just the reality of what our environment is right now, even on brand new bands. He said that a line of maybe chuckle. He said, they want the old Ray tell them stuck a dicky. How would you described the old Ray?

Old Ray was just like me trying to find myself, just like just being super like I don't know the old Ray d I mean, if you go back and listen to my projects, some of it is just like super wrong. You know what I'm saying. You might only know what I'm talking about because I'm talking about our culture.

You know what I'm saying, so, yeah, I found then o interview we did like with DJ Smalls or something, and you hadn't even grown your hair out, like young dude, just trying to figure it out, have braids, Dan for sure. One of the lead singles, Mr Knight, Oh nice guy, this guy. You know that video was really cinematic to me? What was the inspiration behind that? The song, just the video,

both both the songs. If you know me, didn't you understand exactly what I'm saying as far as like Night being being a nice guy, Like I'm just a pure Jamil and so like they ain't got no ill and wheel or vote attention and nothing I do. And sometimes people will take that, you know what I'm saying, use it. So it's like me just saying I'm out for itself

right now. The video came about because I just when I, you know, we first got he was doing running gun videos and then when I finally got a chance to have a real video with treatments and the city, it was like, I like that, you know what I'm saying, So me being cinematic was just something I wanted to do. Doing the new Jack City thing. Ladies get into the business shout out to my shout out to my man June Ain't did a great job with that, for sure,

you really stop. He really didn't know. Man, I was so reserving it like quiet back. I'm still the same way, but back they didn't even know I was smoking weed. They didn't know I even cared about the streets and none of that. I used to play basketball and just man my business for real. So my brother ended up getting locked up and they went to go see him in Chicago, and I stole this truck. I made gas back and part didn't he literally didn't know. The family

comes up a lot and being a baby brother. And know the last record you have Pops prayering on there, now this one you got Vonnie song. You know, like talking speak about Vannie song and the importance of having out on the album. My mom, yeah, she kind of was on my head about my dad being on the prayer. You know what I'm saying. You know, yeah, I'm a mama's boy, So she like, what's up? But no, I was for real though, like the I'm pretty sure you

heard the song and how touching it was. It was just my mom, you know, she she raised uh all boys, you know what I'm saying, and she's been working to provide a life for us. She never really got a chance to live or have fun. So that's where the inspiration came from. You just asking the questions and just saying what out saying on the record. So she knew it was for the album. She didn't know. I literally came and set her down like and just was kicking

it with it with him, Mike. She didn't even know what's going on, and then I placed it on the album played it for she like that's crazy. Wow, was there anything that she told you that you didn't know about like that? She revealed, Yeah, see, I didn't even know that she felt she felt. I didn't know that my mom actually tried to go to college and try and then she got pregnant and had to stopped going to college to provide for us. I never knew nothing of that because she never said like it wasn't a

big thing. She did what she had to do. But my brother was telling you know what I'm saying, like sometimes I might fly to them out of time. He was just telling me how much they appreciate that because she never really had a chance to do nothing of it. You know what I'm saying. So that's how that came up. You talk about your brother too on a one since day one said that, uh, he felt disrespected because you had talked about enough on the on the records to

talk about your brother. My brother, um, like I said, was the youngest of four brothers, so by time I got older to even do something, everybody about the house. But my brother Marcus was the one the last when I was in the house, when I start trying to like date girls and have sex, he was the one in camping, like for real. He let me smoke the first week with him. He was the first kind of

like guy at me, you know what I'm saying. So now that we grew up and I tried to choose the path for getting in the streets, my brother like go to work and do his regular thing, he kind of feels like he'd be left out a lot. So I had to let him know that, you know what I'm saying, like you still there a little as equal as everybody, you know what I'm saying. Just you know, he understood. He liked that lyric. Man, He was like, bro, I will never say nothing again. The whole song was

based for him. His name is a one like we called on day one. Is like you've been with me since the start. Broe family is departing. You and your parents are still together, right and you see your pops also is the reverend. Yeah, do you think that that you think that's part of the strength of what's health, the union and the discipline. You know what I'm saying, us going getting up and going to church all his son and me being respectful where where I go. That

paid a major part judge there for sure. And they talk about rap politics to my favorite rap politics. That explain me too. If you know me, Um, you know the big parties, the backstages when you got a small talk with any other rappers sometimes something people that be So I'm just you know me, I'm the guy that's doing my show and I'm right out of here, man. You know what I'm saying, going to lay down. I don't really try to be in the mix of being nobody's face if I know it ain't you know what

I'm seeing me to happen like that. You have that lyric to that said, don't let old friends tell you that you cut them off? And yeah, you know how they create the narrative that Ray is the one. You know what I'm saying, when it just can't No, I'm not saying that ain't wrong, but you know how to be like I'm just out of buses right now and I ain't got time to be doing you know what I'm saying, So we'll make you want to distance yourself from somebody. If I'm focused and locked in, I feel

you throwing me off my path. You know what I'm saying. Something as people might bring a problems with you, and I'm so much of a loving guy, like your problem might become my problem. I can't have your problems on me right now while I'm trying to lock in and focus. I don't mean I don't love you and nothing. It's just I'm on a mission right now. You can't do a side mission on g t A while you doing the man in Michigan cancel out, you know what I'm saying.

So that's what it is. But I think that's what people understand. Like you said, don't let old friends that I cut off tell you that we're enemies, like just because we're no longer, But it doesn't mean we have to be enemies though. But how do you maintain that focus throughout the years? Man? I saw that you tweeted one time that you remember telling niggas that you wanted to quit. It was over. It was a moment that you never forgot, you know. I've also read an interview

was like your a tenure overnight success. So during that time, like, how did you stay encouraged and stay focused? It was rough, bro, it was rough, like ten years ago. I'm doing music and you know, you're thinking that you're gonna do music and it's gonna pop from everybody that got on I'm talking about from Dage Low to I've seen these people going studios, you know what I'm saying, that turn turn

up and then become successful. Even from Soda. I've seen all this happening before me in front of my eyes. It was like, you see so many people get through that double before you. You know, my passionate and loving you ys with music and then it happened like that. It's kind of like frustrate you a little bit, you know, so right and so also as your tweet he said, nobody talks about how people you love change once you start to turn up. And I'm gonna address it soon

can we address its people? How can I put this? They expect so much out of you know what I'm saying, Like ten years and going, the work that I put in has now provided you know, successful lifestyle for me to do the things that I want. And then I feel like sometimes where you don't you want there, I think that what you got and what you deserve that they think they should get it as well, you know

what I'm saying. So if you don't give it to them, they started to treat you different and put some money on your name. And you know what I'm saying, And that's kind of thing ain't because the blood don't change because my work that I put in into something, you know, So it can be a hurtful thing to see people just treat you differently because what you work for, you know, you trust that a little bit. On face two, he was like he was working over time and didn't notice me.

They didn't. I got that line from Kid Cutty too though, yeah, kid cult I don't know which man in the moon. Once so I used to listen to when I first got out of high school. Um, but my pops told me I had to go to school, get a job, you know, what I'm saying. And I used to listen to Cutty all the time. I used to give me a good spiritual show. I stole that line and put that in. So what do you think it wasn't your break? You can you attribute it to a single moment, because

the thing about you, I think it's probably good. It's like you're not just defined by one song. We've also seen people have a hit record and then can't really match that magic again, right, and defined by that Like that, it seems like what you you're not defined by one record.

I think Paperwork Party was what did paperwork? When I put paperWe party, I was like the world heard that and gravitated towards me, and then I started meeting different people and then that's from that moment, that's when I kind of like form my team and we've been shooting for the stars every since. So I save Paperwork Party. Did that feel like one of those ones when you did it? Or did you? Man? It's crazy? Uh, it was my birthday and if you know me, I don't

like to do nothing on my birthday. Didn't try the surprise party, do anything, and so I got the studio set up in my house. I told myself for my birthday, I was just gonna record, and then the theme came from a lot of guys getting out of jail and showing a paperwork. I've never been a jail and none of that, and I just was being kind of like comic cool, like man, I'm good on the paperwork talking about money, and that's how everything came about what I'm saying.

So when Paperwork Party took off, you put the boy at Jack Hollow on the remix with Puta he Hum. I had did some music with STG where I put him on Pink Teens previously and he had hit me about it, like, bro, that that song crazy, and I'm like, let's work. He was like for surely, and I sent him to record and then we put it out again and he actually put me on his tour, which was my first tour. Yeah for sure. Yeah. I went on tour with Jack Harlow first, and it was a great

learning experience because I didn't know how tour worked. I didn't know about TV tracks, I didn't know about none of that. Used to I'm not. Jack Harlow used to bring me out every night on his set with the TV tracks, which I wasn't too familiar with us to be stumbling. I had him pulling me off, he said, just to get my stuff together. So I learned a lot on tour when I'm just stage presidents, you know,

production and things of that nature. Do you explain that people made not know TV tracks because people come TV tracks? Is uh, where you don't have the words connected to the beat and you basically wrapping an acapella what Jady Kiss was saying that Jip said when they was doing the version. Yeah, so I understood when he was saying that, like, Okay, I wouldn't have caught that though if I ain't know. So now, when your performances, you don't rely on back vocals,

deepening on what song it is? Something song I got downpacked, but something I still got on me yea, So Paoper, we're parties the one that usually rings off the most when you're doing your lot. I ain't gonna when I'm being going on tour like it. Depending on where I'm meant like they like something, they might like paperwork, party might like this. So the Settlers changes depending on every What's like, what's two other essentials that have to be

on the show. Settlers real needs, don't wrap Daisy Lane Gallery, Department Gallery, Apartment Me and now the Cash Race six Miles Show. It's a few of them that you just gotta have a lot. So we're like, when it comes to your music now with this new project, are you like taking old songs out and you're putting like how you incorporating the new music into your settlers? Baby? They always tell me to put the new music on the settlers, which I always forget, like family over money when crazy

for me on my settlers. So lately I've been putting it on setilers and formally, but I just be doing all the favorites, you know whatever, whatever you don't see you get, you know, you're popping down. I'm sure you can get a lot of artists you want to get on your records and stuff, but I thought you were

very selective. So that's why when the joint with Dirt comes on, it feels like a very special and Dirk seems like super excited to be on the joint show Dirt one of the ones show been doing his thing and his kind of story is like equivalent to Miami because Dirk been doing this thing for a long time. But he kind of like just emerged on well he you know, one of the ones right now. So it's like I had to get Dirk on there. You know what I'm saying. You also got some new voices on

the project too. Yeah you gottah you gotta says a bad his name, right, you got Gmo Stacks. Why did you think they were to write voices for Gmo Stacks? You know, he's just young cat that being around. Uh, we end up just creating something that I feel like going the album when back when we was doing I Lost My Dog to the streets, were fol too dood. When he first got on Gmo Stacks was probably thirteen fourteen in the studio with you know what I'm saying.

People don't know that, but you've been around for a while, so I just you know, when the opportunity to present it was a good song, like come on just to help him, you know, big up Samuel your bass. He's been around me since start. You know, he was the first one who taught me how to engineer myself. You know what I'm saying, Like he kind of like helped me become the best me. So it's just me repaying him. Sure, also someone that really helped you out along the way?

Is Big Sean? Yeah? I read that. You said you're his He was one of your biggest motivations. And you met while you were in high school. No, hey you no you got while you were in high school you met Big Sean at the time. No, No, I said that. Yeah, he saying, not a Big Shan for show. Just meeting him and knowing the road? Did he having the things he's doing when I met him and the stuff that he was saying to me, It's like, can't of helped

me stay ground? They didn't keep going? You know what I'm saying, Like he tell me you got it, bro, and you're gonna be you know what I'm saying. So that hearing that from Shan, it's just like, damn, you gotta keep going. Another person you're corner too, is your and A and A. I guess you could call a utility n Baryl Line. She was on the luxe version

of Face as well and Big the States. Can you talk about her contributions and how she's helped you on the way a lot, bro, Like the structure that she has provided for me, Like I can't go over look, you know what I'm saying, because, like I said, I've been rapping, I've been doing music and have a creative idea. I just didn't know how to get him out of

the world, you know what I'm saying. So by her being on my side and you be able to shoot out certain ideas of her to make it happen for me, it's like we go hand in hand because it's like we're working together to make everything work, you know what I'm saying. Shot the bear a line for sure. Absolutely, So that's like disagreements even if like what songs may make the album and things like she'd be on my head about that, you know what, some songs she'd be right,

sometimes she'd be wrong, sometimes I'll be wrong right. Just back and forth, speaking to back and forth. Bit what you're doing real life situations. You know what I was in the student of my Homeboys is home and the girl went answering the phone, and you know what it is like when they answer, she could be sleep literally, But it's like the things the wonders in your mind. So I had to make in the man's mind that, Yeah, I had to make a song for when your girl

ain't answering. Ain't always a good. I don't care how much money you get. It ain't always good. You might not ask the phone for you one night, you know what I'm saying, So any anyone else songs at a base of real life situations. Masterpiece is just me talking about you know what I'm saying, a real life you know, just real life masterpieces. One of the ones um famous famous you talk about you're losing money for the first time that real life. Yeah, zero dollars going out at zero.

You know what I'm saying. What happened just elves like doing trying to take risk, to do other things and just taking els. I remember stuff like that, you know what I'm saying. But you feel empowered now? And what comes up a lot in this album is how you staying independent for NOWE like these labels holing at you, but like, you know your situation now with you guys the empire seeming like you said, you're you're content with the way the business moving now, so there's no need

to partner with a major label. No. I just remember when when out, when I didn't have nothing going on, and who gave me comtunity to have something which was guys, you know what I'm saying, So I really take that to heart because he didn't have to do what he did from you know what I'm saying. So, yeah, but you're having a lot of offers and people saying they want to do this now. But it's like, guys, he

ain't deeing me wrong. So why what you know what I'm saying, So shout out the empire and guys need a team of the whole team alre everybody over there because they like family for really everybody. How much they empowered their artists, right, Like yeah, you speak about that, like it seems like they not only they'll give you kind of a backing almost of a major at the same time, but then you can see your money every month and in a way, that's like you feel more

like your partners right for sure? For sure for sure. And that's something that he always stressed it to him, like I don't want you to look at it as I'm your boss, Like we're partners, bro, We're working together, like you know what I'm saying. So he always stressed and I appreciate him for that. How did you get right with the business in hip hop? Because you know you've been in the game for so long, but a

lot of people, you know, go through the peaks and valleys. Boy, I was lost in the sauce, like literally, you know, teen years ago we were selling real hard copy CD. When the streaming came about, I'm like, this is fairy tale. You know, you can't take my CD and put it on nothing. I'm getting paid. So when they started happening, um my homeboy, Pootie, shout out the Pooty, Um the family. He took my first project and put in had me

like sub labeling Empire. They had a counter already, so he just uploaded the tape was like uploaded and then that's when I first started getting my first monthly streaming checks like that. Once I learned how to do that, and it's like certain other stuff business why I started coming about that. I started learning, right, did you go like south By Southwest? Did you do that? So I never did. I just did it for the first but like trying to emerge as a bigger I never did it.

You also made that Freshman cover of the Freshman, so you know that's another staple of just being on the Freshman covers, just like approval of you, hear not? You know what I'm saying, but like everybody coming up doing that thing, you want to be on there for sure, even though I said what I said, I know I said, don't put me on there, but it's like you still gotta be on there, so you check it off for a lot of boxes. Man, Yeah, New York Show, you

did excel with the freshman coover. What else is on the horizon? Before I started doing festivals, I wanted to do festivals. I've been overseas. I think you didn't rolling loud right, you're rolling loud wireless. They made in America, made in America for show, and it's just small stuff that's writing down I want to do. I think I heard the lyric you say you wanted to gran me too? Yeah? Who don't want to gran me? For Shure? I thought I was gonna get nominated this year, so they went

out today Manure shout out. Everybody got nominated. With all the success, can you remember the last time someone actually if you're straight? Though? My mom always asked me that when I'd be saying stuff like that, I'd be you know, just being. But you know, people definitely check on my inner circle of family and friends. They always make sure i'm straighter. Yeah, checking out. You also speak a lot about spilling the cup. The cup, man, the cup is

it's gonna be be concerned about it. I've been dream it for so long, so I had to so long. People seeing me with it, they'd be like, man, put the cup now. That's why I had to put to spill on my cup record on there, just to let them know that I understand that having the cup is not healthy and all of that. Which record are you most proud of this album? I'm really just proud of the project. Just a different emotions that I'm giving. You know, I don't get no favorite song that I'm super proud of.

M hm okay. And he also said, if you go back on this knowledge, you have more than before. You know. They always asked like would you rather go back with this knowledge or take them money? Right now? If I can go back and redo something stuff that I did, I definitely do it for shore, Like where are some things you change? Um? Just me just how wild I was and loosely just like giving my energy to certain people that I knew wasn't you got a can of

northm sign. So I'm to the point where was like, somebody show me who they is, I believe you know what I'm saying. So you're not that cat that misses the Yeah, just being naive and like no he ain't like that or she ain't like there. You know, I call it out seeing nothing. How do you probably have advanced out of that sort the street things? Yeah, you had that record, uh he said? Street niggas with your idols you know skis still around or had the contact

faded away some of them. You know, I feel like me being raised by guys in the streets that was doing their thing. At the level they was doing. It was kind of like being in the music industry with top rappers because they they paral little kind of They rocked the same watches, they deal with, the same women,

dry the same car, they lifestyle the same. So I don't really be too punk when I see big rappers, which I hate that because I feel like I've been around so long, like I've been We've been flying to Miami and doing like crazy, you know what I'm saying. It was like I've been here before. I ain't really I'm past that, you know what I'm saying. So and plus bad bit just get allowances. Yeah for sure, sure

you got to reward the bad bitches for show. Got to But out of any any artists that you want to work with, still that you would be honest if they did reach out didn't want to collaborate with I ain't gonna lot of Baby King reached out to me. Man shot the Baby King because it's a great artist. I definitely want to work with Baby King. I say this them now every interview. UM, for real. Williams is one of my favorite producers. We're gonna make that happen.

We got off the show. Um and really whoever whoever doing music that's nice. You know what I'm saying, I'm ready to collab with. I feel like there's a Larry June and baby Face rate collaborate album in the future. And they've been saying it a lot. Bro. We had so much great success in these last few months with us doing music. We might get that song. You know. That's my label mate and Larry Juna fly guy too.

I told him that when I seen him, like you the inspiration for a lot because you've got so much going on you. You know, you get them guys that rub it in your face ling, not like they're just doing this thing and Coast and did a sound class for Red Bull too right, Yeah that was late. Well, how did you feel about the jay Z guy man putting you on the playlist? Man? That was crazy? At first I thought it was fake, like that Jay playing

like how does where y'all get there from? But after people can't hit me up like Jeezy, I'm like, hold on, no, that's crazy because you know old was old. No people be trying the front because he ain't still doing this thing. But how was over? I then't came up on a lot of hold you Actually, A Lord's my favorite song, you know what I'm saying. When I'm going through something, I always put a latur on it, just right and

just no kick. It come from Detroit, Like who are some of your influence that you let grew up listening to? Oh yeah, I gotta say the underground culture before we came about the Rock bottoms Um, the Street Lords, Lodge Boys, mc nichols and now you know what I'm saying, they kind of was the first to create the reality wrapped the Dope Boys rap, you know what I'm saying, So

shout out to the show. Even though boys cash out, they kind of like molded the team, he said, way because they was the only young group of guys that was doing their thing. You know what I'm saying. It was from the West. But that's how we became team, he said. You know when it was on Twitter pound team iPhone, we didn't even have a name. You just put the music out. What was the East Side guys? And he was like that team? He sad, And that's

how that came about. But it initially came from us listening to a lot of dough boys, you know what I'm saying. So, but going back to for because I'm thinking about the US talk about the sound, like do you have a vision of you and for kind of taking that sound in a different direction, like what do you think it would sound like? Oh? No, man, I just know his beats, his you know his uh what he gives to how you made this song? You know the visuals and all of that is just a movie

all in all. So I just always wanted to do one of them. You know, I feel like a colaid with him was like it comes with the full package. You know. Do you feel like you've you've elevated their career, like obviously you learned how to rap, become a good rapper, and now it's like you're looking at the structure of Like I'm a strong songwriter, Like I'm putting a whole thing together. I'm working. I'm working to get stronger on it, you know what I'm saying, just understanding how to create

a good song. Like sometimes I get a student and do ten songs, but that's just ten song I'm learning. Sometimes you gotta go back and revisit them. What I'm saying, you might have to ask somebody right here or take something next. I had a conversation with baby Face and he was saying that like he'd be revisiting songs and doing certain things to just create it and make it better. Yeah, baby Face, you know baby Face, So the world's collode baby baby Face Show, and he knew about my music

and all that, so shout the baby Face man. How did you guys link? We had something going on. We were supposed to be asking me some question. I guess it was. I don't know, but we had a conversation with Show and he was giving me a lot of games. How did you get how did you get the name baby face? Ray Man? My grandma, my grandma's calling me baby ray and then when I got old enough to go on casinos the clubs, they will give me a hard real hard time. So it's like I'm trying to gable. Man.

I actually sit in the song myself, like baby Face ray and then it stuck. Mm hmm. What's your favorite baby a song? I got so much music out bro um right now, it's master piece. I ain't on in front and it ain't even know check, but I've been feeling master piece because it feels so real, you know what I'm saying. So face, yeah, I ain't even gonna frown. I had to get up on a lot of it with whipp A people. But he did a lot of songs right now. I told him, Tevin Campbell, can we talk?

Definitely one of my favorite ones, and he wrote this, so it was like probably that one for sure. Yeah. And with this album and compared to the other ones, I know you said that you freestyle a lot of them, write something. Was that the same approach going into this? Some songs I did, some songs are then, you know what I'm saying. I try to when I'm going through something this when I make music like I could be

having a bad day. Carter engineer. You know what I'm saying, Let's get it out like a like a like a diary book. You know what I'm saying. That's how a viney song that A one since day one came up because these real life emotions that's coming at me. So I'm like, and you know me, I'm super like to myself and chilling. I gotta get it out some way, So put it through the IC. So the music is that your pops that said that to you early don't

like the back in you. Let you get. The music is their outlet you don't like to talk, so that everything comes out in your music. Yeah, for sure, that's what I do. They're gonna get your pops on any more projects in the future. I don't know. He might know the prayer, they might be something we gotta go with, you know what I'm saying. My dad, my dad one

of them guys. Prayer, They real prayer, like you might get up five thirty in the morning stumbling the room and here on his hands and knees, you know what I'm saying. So I don't know, we might keep that going for sure. Does he listen to your music too? Yeah? He randomly hit me like, man, it's all right here Craig, because you know he knows he'd be knowing like he knows his sons, so he'd be like, Bro, you're crazy for even just putting that into that, you know what

I'm saying. So that's awesome. And other brothers make music too. My brother Marcus, Yeah, he used to wrap the show believeing that's the ray to hold down. The family got to hold it down. So what that's whether future I'm gonna come out and they're gonna crass these up. Be that list man, all this stuff like beat come on up. I don't forget about me, I forget about you. Let me go to the back catalog to everything with Wavy Baby, you know what I mean, checking wall out, you know

what I'm saying. But for sure I wonna be that. Turning up the Face project is so tough because I love the way, you know, it's like songs within the songs and the beach changes and things like that, and like, I was really a big fan that I don't know what to expect, but you know, I walked away, you know, happy, thank you appreciate that. What features before the end of the year, You're gonna put a deluxe of this one out or a tour anything. Don't know. We're working on

all that now, so you know, put it together. Trying to the deluxe. Last time for Face came about one night, you know, I was Yeah, we was at my brother apartment and not just recording some songs Bear and I was actually sleeping out of the room and woke up. That's how she even get one. She woke up like, bro, why are you rapping like that? Why are you rapping like you ain't got nothing? You know what I'm like, you gotta say that, you gotta sit on the whistle.

We don't just get the feedback for the new CD and Sia go. I feel like you're a type of artists. You know. Some people just keep things in the computer. You put it all out right. No, man, I got so much music. You don't make no sense. The album I got right now in places together, y'all heard. It's probably songs that my team probably been here and they'd be like, I don't know why he ain't put this

on there. I wrapped so much, you know what I'm saying. Okay, it's gonna keep you, keep you going to the top of the game. Man, sure hopefully appreciate that. Man. Absolutely, make sure everybody goes streams m ob. Yeah, what's the acronym for? Is it money of pitches? Is it? Initially when you're young, you come on us that, but we you know, we're on a different time and Man of business laying over bullshit and just staying focused with the life is hitting you. Just you know, keep going on

your paths. I'm gonna stay focused, man, Thank you, appreciate rad m ob and stores. Man, go get that absolutely. Rap Rate of Podcasts. Rap Rador is an interval present to you no production from hyper House, produced by Laura Wasser, hosts and producers Elliott Wilson and Brian b dot Miller Hermidtival Presents executive producers Alan Coy and Jay Kleinberg, Executive

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