MIRRORS

I wanted to talk about the group you started with your friends, The Katalogue? How did that idea spark?

If you must know, my homie AJ Radico, who's a part of it. It's like an unspoken collective for real.  But he just had a song where one of the bars was like, "You with the catalog, then show me your some shit.” But then the homie was like, "That'd be a fire name for the catalogue, whatever you want to call it." And I was like, "All right, yeah, that's really it." That's how I got the name, at least.

I feel like everybody probably already has talked about this with you, but when you got the cosign from Tyler— the first time, especially— what went through your mind? 

I was deadass just like “I'm up!” Literally.

Did you see him on tour?

I think this was before I saw him. I met him the day his album was announced, and he had already done a show. I didn't even know he was dropping the album. He kind of just dropped the album. I went and saw him live for the last album, Chromakopia. I was scared, bro. He was performing too good. It was scary.

That's funny. He's a character. I like how he can play into any character. He was just in a movie, and he's like, “I don't act,” but I feel like all his performances are like he's acting.

He's acting the whole time. Didn't he use to act in Loiter Squad? I mean, it doesn't really count…

I feel like he was mostly trolling in Loiter Squad. 

Not to go off topic, but have you seen that movie with Djon in it?

One Battle After Another.

Such a good movie.

So with Tyler shouting you out, do you feel like that was the push to keep going?

Even without it, I was going to keep going. But it definitely motivated me for sure, or at least if not motivated me, showed me that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

I like how he compared you to Max B, and I feel like his flow is very laid-back, melodic, kind of singsongy a little bit. And another publication compared you to Blood Orange, Pharrell, and Steve Lacy. But would you agree with any of these? Would you say that your sound is similar, especially to Max B’s, because you’re both from Harlem? 

Why not, right? I'm definitely a huge Dev Hynes fan, though. I only really have one song I feel like that really represents Max B, cause it's intentionally representing him, “Edward 40 Handz.” It's directly inspired, and he shouted that song out.

Are you 21 or 22?

22.

You're so young.

Getting old.

You're in such a cool spot creatively. You're kind of like a sponge to absorb so much art that has come before you, which is cool, because there's so much out now. Who are the artists that you look to the most for inspiration, not just sonically, but also, worth work ethic and wise words to live by that you've heard?

It would be Andre 3000, Kanye West.  You know who's been really inspirational? SahBabii. He is lowkey my favorite artist, not gonna lie. 

What's the best advice you've ever received so far about making music? 

I received so much good advice. I feel like maybe one of the most helpful things that I remember is when it comes to music, just don't get attached to numbers and shit, and just make music for yourself. Just do it with a passion, and whatever is supposed to happen is going to follow is probably the best advice I received, and what I'm sturdy on.

When did you start taking music seriously? 

In 2021. I dropped a song with my homie Opraah called “Pupils,” and it just deadass blew up, and I was like, "Okay, let's go." 

Throughout the creation of Liim Laselle Loves You, I love that you had your friends collaborate with you. New York is such a mecca for artists. How was growing up in a place like New York? How does that shape you as an artist?

I feel like any New Yorker could tell you—it depends on where you grow up in New York— but I feel like growing up where I grew up in New York, the biggest thing I took from it, and that helps me as an artist, is not giving a fuck about what anyone thinks. New Yorkers do not give a fuck. We all got toughened up crazy growing up, feel me, just taking that to the chin whenever it is whatever it is wherever you are type shi. That's what stands out about New York artists is that we're just us. 

How would you describe your sound and creative process when it comes to making music, and in general, with your album, especially? 

The way I would describe my sound is just like it's been really difficult, honestly, to pinpoint one word or phrase, but I feel like my music is just like an embodiment of my experience as a person.  It doesn't really follow any specific genre or any specific guidelines every time. Sometimes, it might be hip-hop, sometimes it might be R&B, sometimes it might be whatever the fuck.  

What was the writing process like? 

Funny. No song on this album was challenging to make, and I hardly sat down and wrote a song. It was kind of all just hop on the mic and just say whatever I was feeling at the time. It was really simple to make that album, but it felt real like super right. 

What was your mindset while you were making it? What were you feeling? What were you thinking?

I was in the pitfalls of life. I was going through it crazy making that album. I was doing bad, but I felt like that's why it was so easy to make that album.  It was a huge outlet. 

Have you been writing music lately?

Recently, I have been honestly, but through the recording of the last album, I just kind of would hear a beat and just go at it. But I don't know, the past few weeks, days, I've been writing a lot more and just trying to get that skill back. 

I'm always curious about that process, because there aren't actually any rules with writing music. How I first learned about you was really through skating and modeling with Supreme, and I feel like your skate vids would surface on my social media and give kind of Illegal Civ vibes. But how has making those videos kind of informed the way you shoot music videos?

I feel like, in a way, some of my favorite things about skate videos growing up are not the skating part, but showing where these niggas are from and how they're having fun and shit. I don't know, it gives you a little bit of introspectivity into the skater life, and what they're doing, and it's lit. I feel like I try to embody that in the videos, too, because I'm not trying to create something that doesn't already exist. I'm trying to show y'all what's going on in my life.

Whether it be an artist, a producer, or a director, who's on your bucket list to collaborate with?

I mean, as of right now, I just want to work with Nourished by Time, which is going to happen. And then I'm just waiting for the new people to pop out. And Tame Impala, honestly. 

What would you say is your overall dream as an artist? 

I really just want to make a masterpiece. 

When in your life would you want to do that?

If it happens—10 years from now, 20 years from now—I just want to keep creating until I create a masterpiece that I'm like, “I can lay to rest.” That's really it.

What’s your advice to all the young artists out there like you?

Don't do drugs. And this might be a hot take, but most of the least passionate artists I know are the least hard on themselves and are too content with what they make. I want to say, don't be content with what you make until it’s for real. Just make sure that you're still being a baby, like you're still learning. You're not like, "Yeah, I got it," because a lot of the people I've worked with who are, I don't really vibe with their shit, because I don't have to. They're just too content with what they're doing, and it's just the same thing over and over again. That's a horrible cycle to be trapped in as an artist, and especially if you don't know. So, I feel like always question yourself and don't be too content, but don't be hard on yourself either. 

Just don't have a big head. 

Exactly. I'm sturdy.