From: officialflagrant
The artist’s music career began at a very young age, influenced by his family and deeply rooted in his life experiences. His musical style is characterized by a unique fluidity and confidence, blending various genres and lyrical approaches.
Early Beginnings and Family Influence
The artist has been rapping since he was about four years old [00:45:37]. His father, who he considers “God” and an “animal,” always wanted him to be a rapper and believed in him more than he believed in himself [01:25:52], [01:37:48]. His father would battle rap with his uncles on his mother’s side of the family [00:47:41], and his Uncle Moe and cousin Homer were also rappers [00:47:55], [00:48:11]. He would join them in the studio, rapping as a child [00:48:18]. His first song was written about his mother after she passed away [01:25:19].
He would rap battle grown men, with his father encouraging him [01:48:14]. This early exposure to music, combined with his family’s confidence in him, shaped his innate musicality [00:47:25].
Musical Style and Approach
The artist possesses a “musical fluency” and an “instinct for musicality” [00:46:00], [00:47:25]. He can rap comfortably in various ways, not strictly adhering to a single cadence [00:46:58]. He describes his process:
“Sometimes I don’t know like I know what it needs to be to get them to move in a way yeah but I don’t know the words that are there just yet I have the premise of what I want to talk about” [01:02:08]
He views the words as secondary to the music, rhythm, and sound, stating that the “words on top will make you go this delicious crazy” [01:03:00]. He frequently uses old lyrics written when he was in eighth grade, which he now delivers “better” [00:48:54]. He also notes ideas for lyrics in his phone, based on observations from his daily life [00:49:35].
He doesn’t limit himself to one genre, exploring country songs and other styles beyond traditional rap [01:06:21]. He sees himself “unlocking new characters every day” [01:06:48] in his music.
Musical Influences
His influences span various genres and artists:
- Hip-Hop:
- Big L: He became a fan after being introduced to Big L’s “98 Freestyle” in eighth grade [00:50:20], [00:50:44]. He even incorporates some of Big L’s bars into his own music [00:51:14].
- Nas: Credited for being the first to introduce him to storytelling through rap, particularly with his song “Rewind” [00:51:30].
- Biggie and Scarface: Mentioned as great storytellers [00:51:41], [00:51:48].
- Hopsin: A significant influence, with the artist having used some of his bars [00:50:07].
- Zero: Described as ahead of his time for combining singing with rap, having crazy wordplay, being fast, and telling good stories [00:55:40], [01:12:35].
- Kodak: The artist connects with Kodak’s “fluency” and understanding of music where “everything else is secondary” [00:58:44].
- Jelly Roll: Identified by the interviewer as an artist with similar authenticity and personality [00:57:38].
- Rock/Blues:
- The Eagles [00:52:15]
- Rage Against the Machine [00:52:16]
- Metallica [00:52:17]
- Green Day (“21 Guns”) [00:52:23]
- The Offspring [00:52:29]
- Stevie Ray Vaughan: A major influence on his singing style [00:59:40]. He dreams of singing with him and aims to perform “Troubadour” on an acoustic guitar at a rodeo [02:02:07], [02:02:10].
- Muddy Waters and The Howlin’ Wolf: Influenced by their singing styles after watching “Cadillac Records” [00:59:53].
- Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana: Cited as artists whose lyrics don’t always make sense but result in “cool tracks” [02:29:10].
Production and Collaborations
He works with in-house producer TV Robbie and buddy Skills for beats [01:03:38], [01:03:42]. He acknowledges the importance of networking and collaborating with other talented producers like Oliver, who produced “Cowboy Killer” and “Brianna” [01:04:16], [01:04:25], [01:04:29]. Oliver creates all his own instruments [01:00:31].
He prefers organic collaborations, avoiding reaching out directly to artists on social media [01:14:41], [01:14:52]. He considers Russ an inspiration for his work ethic, noting Russ’s blueprint of releasing a song a week [01:12:24], [01:13:30].
Evolution and Identity in Music
Initially, he tried to emulate other rappers, wearing jeans and Jordans [01:34:18], [01:34:22]. However, he eventually embraced his authentic self, opting for his cowboy hat and boots, which coincided with his rise in popularity [01:34:30], [01:34:36]. This shift to authenticity resonated deeply with his audience [01:34:51].
He doesn’t wear chains or expensive jewelry, believing his music speaks for itself [01:33:10], [01:33:16]. He feels his cowboy hat and boots are his “chain” [01:33:39]. His unique appearance often leads to initial surprise from people who then become fans after hearing his music [01:33:50], [01:33:54].
He plans to start streaming video games on Twitch [02:01:50]. His next single will likely be a collaboration with Maxwell, featuring luchadors [02:02:23].