"MY SHADOW"

Boss Hoggins— What is up man, how are you doing today?

Mihhail Zigadlo— I’m good, just moving around a lot, working on a few different things at once. How about you?

I’m interviewing a future GOAT. Something I’ve been wondering—how much money did you have on your first money spread?

Honestly, like a hundred bucks. It was leftover cash from a strip club. I don’t really walk around with stacks like that—it’s not my thing.

Staying humble. What were you doing at the strip club?

It was like 5 a.m. at The Body Shop in LA. I wasn’t even there for that—I was eating broccoli cheddar soup and crackers. LA is weird like that.

What do you usually do in LA?

I like wandering. There’s this old porn theater on Western that plays DVDs from another era—it feels frozen in time. Sometimes I’ll just walk around after and think. LA gives you space to disappear a little.

Are you going to make it?

Not sure, only time will tell.

Do you think you could jerk off while driving?

I have in a Waymo.

Are your parents divorced, and has that affected your music?

My parents aren’t divorced. A lot of my friends’ parents are, though. I had a pretty stable upbringing.

Where are you from?

I’m from this random place called Estonia. 

Aren’t Estonians Black?

No, black people don’t come here because they deserve better.

Growing up, I was the only white kid in my class. For someone trying to do what you’re doing, what advice would you give?

Bury the hatch and run, embrace your work even if it sucks.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

I wake up everyday to build shit. My dream is to build a town in Estonia.

You’re like Noah building the ark. In your ‘Posted’ music video, there’s a spinning car door—did you build that?

Yeah, it took about two months to build the car. Then my friend crashed it twice on the same road in under three weeks, so it doesn’t exist anymore. We put office chair wheels on the door so it could spin—very DIY.

What kind of rapper did you want to be starting out?

I wanted to be the biggest small rapper possible. I once did a listening party for two fans at a gas station. Independence means having a job and still believing in your work.

You also run Racer Worldwide. Any advice for someone starting a brand?

You have to know why you’re doing it. Clothes aren’t just products—they’re signals. If there’s no meaning, people feel that.

I’m trying to sell stickers at my university. How do I make a brand that is like VLONE, but only sell stickers?

Maybe we can collaborate.

Any new music coming soon?

I have a single called Dream Blunt that just came out. I like it, even though my mom and my girlfriend don’t.

What’s next for Mihhail after the smoke and fire?

More structure. Bigger ideas. Less noise. I’m trying to build something that lasts longer than a moment.