Interviews

"I didn’t choose trap, trap chose me."

The duo’s new album, 'Complicate Your Life With Violence,' is a madcap trip through the traumas of war.

Although he isn’t here in the physical, the spirit of Combat Jack is alive and well.

“This is all I have. I can’t wait for the perfect moment. I have to make every moment as perfect as possible.”

In Korea, Junoflo is considered a “gyopo.” In America, he’s an Asian. At once, he’s from everywhere and nowhere.

“It’ll never be interesting for me to get to a place where I can’t connect with other people.”

“He just loved [hip-hop] and wanted to uplift other people in it as much as he wanted to be great himself.”

"I literally mumbled, 'Got to go out and get it,' and then the light bulb went off."

“I don’t feel like I’m good enough just to be coasting along.”

“People have their own unique styles. The term genre is dying.”

“He taught me that it’s okay not to be good all the time. It’s much more important to be real with yourself.”

“When I think of music or really anything that I’m creating, I think ‘This is gonna be here forever.’”

“I just do it for myself first, and have fun with it.”

From Ghostface Killah to Lil Wayne, Cool & Dre’s Beat Break is full of insight and memories.

"I want to be somebody that will make you realize life, the quality of it, even if it takes trauma to scare you straight."

“This is the reintroduction to me as an artist.”

“When you’re in this sport, there should be intent.”

“The best thing you can give an artist or producer is a creative space to develop.”

“It’s about being villains to the normal way of doing things.”

“There’s no manufacturing anything.”

“When I really first dove into D’Angelo, he just lightened me up.”

“Lyrics are at the forefront of what I do.”

“I know that what I’m writing isn’t for somebody else to own.”

“I just feel like the project is more mine.”

"The biggest thing I’ve learned in the last couple of years is how to deal with disappointment."

“It’s only right to have that approval from where you come from.”

“A lot of people don’t know how to get out they own way. I had to get out my way to be successful.”

“It’s like doing a song with your sister.”

After years of independent grinding, the Florida rapper recently launched his own record label. Oh, and Sprite is in his DMs.

"I want people to feel seen."

“I’m just dropping music and n****s like it.”

“I try to channel everything through music.”

“Around ‘Laila’s Wisdom,’ being GRAMMY-nominated, and this album, I realized I don’t live for validation.”

“It was just amazing to sit in the room with Burna Boy for the first time.”