Interviews
Capolow Interview : Announces New Project, Talks Oakland Hip-Hop Scene, and Quarantine Workflow
A rising rapper from East Oakland, CA is Capolow. The 23-year old has been a fresh representation of the Bay Area over the past couple of years. His career started off with the group, Trill Youngins. Since 2016, Capolow has been trying to push his solo career, and every year since, he has only gone upwards. With his breakout tracks like “Outta Sight”, “Drip”, and “Highway Robbery”, the MC has been an artist to watch. He worked with the likes of Kamaiyah, ALLBLACK, and P-LO, among others. The significant “AYE AYE” ad lib has taken the next step to the mainstream audience, in just a minimal amount of time. Just earlier this year, Capolow released the project Room 304, which featured artists such as Az Chike, Philthy Rich, Yungeen Ace and Guapdad 4000.
Despite an already successful 2020, Capolow is not nearly done just yet. Within just the past month, the rapper released back to back singles in “Drop That Bag” & “Down”, along with visuals for both tracks. The tracks have built anticipation for an upcoming project, that is coming sooner rather than later. On Wednesday, the Oakland native sat down to discuss this upcoming project, the workflow during quarantine, and the Bay Area in today’s music scene, among other things
Despite an already successful 2020, Capolow is not nearly done just yet. Within just the past month, the rapper released back to back singles in “Drop That Bag” & “Down”, along with visuals for both tracks. The tracks have built anticipation for an upcoming project, that is coming sooner rather than later. On Wednesday, the Oakland native sat down to discuss this upcoming project, the workflow during quarantine, and the Bay Area in today’s music scene, among other things
You dropped two tracks with two visuals in two weeks, is there a release date for this upcoming project? And a title?
“Yeah, September 25th, and the project is titled Kid Next Door.
How long have you been working on this project?
“Really since the corona virus started, so like March.”
Do you help with the directing for some of your music videos?
“Not for the last two that I dropped, the directing came from a person I work with named Adam for “Down”. Stacking Memories directed “Drop That Bag”.
Have you directed any of the previous visuals?
“F’sho f’sho, I feel like the majority of my videos, I directed. Since I’m dropping Kid Next Door, everything is getting directed by the people shooting my video.”
You have a collaboration with Luh Kel on the way, how’d that collaboration come to be?
“That’s gonna be a banger. I had met Luh Kel in New York at the Cinematic office, probably December of last year. Me and him just locked in ever since we met in the studio and shit. He was fucking with me and I was fucking with him, so that’s how that shit came about.”
Do you & Luh Kel have a collab project on the way?
“Nah not me & Luh Kel. Me & Kamaiyah actually got a collab project on the way, it should be dropping some time soon. Me & Luh Kel just did a song together.”
How has the workflow been during this whole COVID thing?
“Shit, it’s been kinda hard. Niggas got used to it, I adapted to it, you feel me? It helped me focus during the second month, the first month kinda threw me for a loop. The second month I was like ‘damn I really need to work’ then I just focused on my craft.”
Has making connections with other artists/producers easier for you bc of quarantine?
“ Half & half, I feel like a lot of people are still seeing what I’m doing, and still paying attention, tryna get me beats, and videos, and shit like that. I feel like before coronavirus more people were tapping in, because you’re able to do more shit.”
Who were some of your musical inspirations, both from Oakland & all around the country?
“ I was slapping a lot of Mac Dre, D-Lo in middle school, so that was hella years ago. To be honest I was really fucking with south rappers, like down south rappers like Baton Rouge, Louisiana type shit. I been on that vibe since middle school , high school.”
Do you feel like being from Oakland is an advantage or disadvantage in music currently?
“I ain’t gon’ lie, being in Oakland there’s a ceiling out here. You really not gonna get far. I feel like we good at branding other people’s music out her, but since you live out here Oakland is kinda small. It’s really kinda hard to get on, because motherfuckers be really riding waves. For me to be at the level I’m on, and to be from East Oakland, I’m really proud of that. It’s a blessing.”
Do you think there’s unity between the Bay Area & LA?
“Yeah, it took time though. It didn’t just happen over night. I feel like Cali really had to see other places do it, like Detroit & Atlanta. It took time, but we definitely getting there.”
What LA artists do you mess with?
“I fuck with Az Chike, Shoreline Mafia even though they ain’t a group anymore I still fuck with Fenix & OhGeesy, of course. Also, Kalan Fr Fr & all of 1Take those my dogs for real. ”
What are some things you took from your old life and applied to music?
“Everything for real. That’s what I rap about, I rap about my life. My struggles, my losses, my wins.”
When did you realize that you could make it as a solo artist after Trill Youngins?
“I felt like right after ‘Highway Robbery’, everyone started hearing my ad libs, my ‘aye aye’s’, that just started taking off. That was the track that solidified my solo career.”
Who was the first big artist that showed love?
“Shoreline Mafia & Az Chike. The first old head was Mistah F.A.B. from Oakland.”
Are there any features on this upcoming project?
“Yessir. I had got a beat from P-Lo. I didn’t get a verse from him, but I got a beat from him, and that was amazing (laughs). I got JayDaYoungan on this motherfucka, I got Luh Kel.”
What producers are working on this?
“P-Lo probably the most known, the rest are more underdogs, but they still slapping hella hard though. The tape gonna slap regardless, you already know I’m not gonna pick no bum shit.”
What motivates you to stay consistent?
“This is my life, I’ve always had a love for making music. I really just can’t see myself not making it. Even if I’m not making it big, I still can’t see myself not making music.”
What’s Capolow’s dream collab, and what would that sound like?
I ain’t gonna lie, it would Ty Dolla $ign & Chris Brown. That sounds like a number one hit, the song of the summer.”
Capolow has another single set to drop titled, “Presidential” that is produced by P-Lo. It’s out on all streaming platforms on September 11th. This project is executive produced by Johnny Shipes & frequent collaborator Cozmo. Kid Next Door is out on September 25th.
MBNel Interview : Talk’s Stockton Origin, Blowing Up, and New EP Releasing July 17
Coming out of Stockton, California, MBNel has been a problem within the past couple of years. He has made a buzz for himself in just a short amount of time. From his collaborative projects, Yellow Tapes 1 & 2, with Long Beach’s $tupid Young. To his 2019 album Born To Win which featured artists such as Mozzy, Lil Poppa, and Teejay3k, among others. Since 2018, MBNel has released five solo full-length projects, the consistency to put out music has never been a problem. With that being said, the Stockton native has an abundance of music on the way for the rest of 2020.
MBNel took time to chop it up about his origins and musical influences, the direction of Asian’s in hip-hop, how his relationship with $tupid Young started, and his latest single “Heroic” featuring Blxst. Not only did he talk about his past music, he also spoke on what’s to come musically, which features a 6-track EP titled Child Of The Trenches EP releasing on July 17th.
Who were your musical influences growing up ?
“Growing up I was listening to Nipsey, Lil Wayne. In high school I was listening to Chicago shit, Chief Keef & Lil Herb when they came out.”
Growing up from Stockton was there any local talent you would listen to?
“I listened to more Bay Area, so Livewire, Philthy Rich, Lil Blood, and IamSu & Plo when they were coming out. Then Mozzy became an influence a little bit later on.”
Do you think with the rise of artists like yourself, $tupid Young, and Ching, more Asians will start taking hip-hop seriously as a career?
“Yeah forsure. To be honest I feel like even before us there wasn’t really any look on Asian rappers at all, so now it’s crazy to see rappers reaching out to me that I used to listen to before I even started rapping, rappers that I used to look to.”
When did you realize that this is a legitimate career for you?
Last year (laughs). Someone had hit me in LA and it was the most cash someone had threw me for my music, he threw me like 10 thousand for like a couple songs, and I was like damn foreal? This shit crazy. That’s also when I met Matt (Nel’s manager), and just a whole bunch of people, so I realized this shit’s a career now.”
How did your relationship start with $tupid young, and do you remember the first interaction you had with him?
“So it was crazy, I get a DM from Young, and this was before “Mando” came out. It was crazy, because I already knew of him when I was a kid and shit because of YouTube. He hit me and said that I was hard and he wanted to do a song, so I just said fuck it and we did a song. We did the video too, but before we shot the video, he dropped “Mando”, and that blew up, then we dropped the video (for “On Me”), and it just went up from there. It was just genuine love after that, and he knew people that I knew in Stockton.”
“Heroic” featuring Blxst just dropped, it’s the lead single for Child Of The Trenches, how did that collaboration come to be?
“I was just in the studio in LA, and he pulled up, we just had good ass vibes, and we fed off each other's energy. We actually got like five songs that we made that same day. They’re gonna be on the new projects.”
When did you start recording tracks for this new project?
“Just recently actually, just on some quarantine vibes.”
You said this is the first part of two EP’s?
“Yeah the first part is dropping July 17th with six songs, I don’t have a date ready for part two yet, but that EP will have another six songs. All of this is leading up to the studio album.”
How far along are you in the process of making this studio album, and when can we expect that?
“I’m only a couple songs in, it’s still in the works. I’m trying to make it more of a coherent project, then just a bunch of songs. I’m trying to release the album hopefully by the winter, or just before the year ends”
Do you have a wishlist of artists you want to work with?
“Oh yeah, definitely. Polo (G) for sure, he’s one of my favorites right now. We might have one with 42 Dugg, I also got one with Fenix from Shoreline.”
A track on this upcoming EP that stood out was “Dividends” which has a Redbone sample, do you come up with the ideas for the samples?
“The track was produced by a guy from Stockton, he goes by Poodah, he sent me a bunch of beats and that one just stood out because it’s hard. On other tracks though, I definitely get my inspiration from Lil Wayne, I’ve just been a fan of that kind of sound. I got a couple more songs on the album that have that pop sound. “
Do you think you benefited at all from this CoronaVirus situation?
“Forsure. Staying at home, and just peace of mind, and just writing, and hitting the studio doing nothing but working. Also just saving money, and investing in myself, and not going out, and all that. It helped me stay focused.”
Child Of The Trenches EP releases on July 17. A follow-up EP is on the way, so stay tuned for a release date for that.
MBNel took time to chop it up about his origins and musical influences, the direction of Asian’s in hip-hop, how his relationship with $tupid Young started, and his latest single “Heroic” featuring Blxst. Not only did he talk about his past music, he also spoke on what’s to come musically, which features a 6-track EP titled Child Of The Trenches EP releasing on July 17th.
Who were your musical influences growing up ?
“Growing up I was listening to Nipsey, Lil Wayne. In high school I was listening to Chicago shit, Chief Keef & Lil Herb when they came out.”
Growing up from Stockton was there any local talent you would listen to?
“I listened to more Bay Area, so Livewire, Philthy Rich, Lil Blood, and IamSu & Plo when they were coming out. Then Mozzy became an influence a little bit later on.”
Do you think with the rise of artists like yourself, $tupid Young, and Ching, more Asians will start taking hip-hop seriously as a career?
“Yeah forsure. To be honest I feel like even before us there wasn’t really any look on Asian rappers at all, so now it’s crazy to see rappers reaching out to me that I used to listen to before I even started rapping, rappers that I used to look to.”
When did you realize that this is a legitimate career for you?
Last year (laughs). Someone had hit me in LA and it was the most cash someone had threw me for my music, he threw me like 10 thousand for like a couple songs, and I was like damn foreal? This shit crazy. That’s also when I met Matt (Nel’s manager), and just a whole bunch of people, so I realized this shit’s a career now.”
How did your relationship start with $tupid young, and do you remember the first interaction you had with him?
“So it was crazy, I get a DM from Young, and this was before “Mando” came out. It was crazy, because I already knew of him when I was a kid and shit because of YouTube. He hit me and said that I was hard and he wanted to do a song, so I just said fuck it and we did a song. We did the video too, but before we shot the video, he dropped “Mando”, and that blew up, then we dropped the video (for “On Me”), and it just went up from there. It was just genuine love after that, and he knew people that I knew in Stockton.”
“Heroic” featuring Blxst just dropped, it’s the lead single for Child Of The Trenches, how did that collaboration come to be?
“I was just in the studio in LA, and he pulled up, we just had good ass vibes, and we fed off each other's energy. We actually got like five songs that we made that same day. They’re gonna be on the new projects.”
When did you start recording tracks for this new project?
“Just recently actually, just on some quarantine vibes.”
You said this is the first part of two EP’s?
“Yeah the first part is dropping July 17th with six songs, I don’t have a date ready for part two yet, but that EP will have another six songs. All of this is leading up to the studio album.”
How far along are you in the process of making this studio album, and when can we expect that?
“I’m only a couple songs in, it’s still in the works. I’m trying to make it more of a coherent project, then just a bunch of songs. I’m trying to release the album hopefully by the winter, or just before the year ends”
Do you have a wishlist of artists you want to work with?
“Oh yeah, definitely. Polo (G) for sure, he’s one of my favorites right now. We might have one with 42 Dugg, I also got one with Fenix from Shoreline.”
A track on this upcoming EP that stood out was “Dividends” which has a Redbone sample, do you come up with the ideas for the samples?
“The track was produced by a guy from Stockton, he goes by Poodah, he sent me a bunch of beats and that one just stood out because it’s hard. On other tracks though, I definitely get my inspiration from Lil Wayne, I’ve just been a fan of that kind of sound. I got a couple more songs on the album that have that pop sound. “
Do you think you benefited at all from this CoronaVirus situation?
“Forsure. Staying at home, and just peace of mind, and just writing, and hitting the studio doing nothing but working. Also just saving money, and investing in myself, and not going out, and all that. It helped me stay focused.”
Child Of The Trenches EP releases on July 17. A follow-up EP is on the way, so stay tuned for a release date for that.
Kwe The Artist : From D-1 Athlete To Rising Artist (Interview)
Cover art for his latest single, “In My Head”. Out now on all streaming platforms
Kwe (pronounced Quay) the Artist took time to chop it up with me via Instagram direct message to discuss his past, what his influences are, and what’s to come in the future. The 25-year old artist is from Tampa, Florida and that’s where he resides today. Prior to making music, Kwe was playing football at Arizona State University. He played defensive line for the Sun Devils for three seasons. At the end of his time at the school, he found a new passion, music. Kwe even dropped out of his masters to pursue a career in music, and if that’s not dedication, then I don’t know what is. Personally, I learned about Kwe the Artist from Manny Wilkins, former ASU starting quarterback, who now plays for the Green Bay Packers in the NFL. “When I would send out tracks, Manny would get them first, that’s fam, they would blast that shit in the weightroom & locker room.” Wilkins (who raps under the name “5ive”) and Kwe even have a track together titled, “Vibe”, which is a slow jam that can be heard on all streaming platforms. The connections Kwe has made at ASU has ended up having his music played in multiple NFL locker rooms.
Kwe’s musical influences coming up included Young Thug, Drake, Lil Wayne, and Future among others. He also said his father was a big Bob Marley fan, and that Marley’s music was ingrained into Kwe. Some of the artists in his playlists now consist of Don Toliver, Kodak Black, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Anderson Paak. When it comes to his own music, Kwe has plans on releasing a new project sometime this month that will be titled Stû. If you didn’t know, Kwe is also a producer. He says he handled a little chunk of the production on his debut project, Fetus, which was released back in 2018. “This upincoming tape will have multiple production takes with a tight knit few , Xjaybeats (TX) , Dsando (TX), and WoodyTaylor (London)”. The last question I asked was “What’s your dream collaboration?”. Kwe then answered with “Man good question, prolly Mike Dean or like Charlie Wilson. ''
Kwe the Artist is original, and as cliche as that sounds, it’s the truth. Does Kwe sound like the rest of these artists right now coming out of Florida? No, he doesn’t. My first reaction from listening to Kwe the Artist was that he sounds like a mixture of PARTYNEXTDOOR and Don Toliver. Right now that’s a damn good combination to have. His melodic flow on Houston trap beats is what makes Kwe a special artist. His last two singles titled “In My Head” & “Wasabi” are must-adds for any hip-hop fan. Stream Kwe the Artist’s music on all platforms, and be ready to hear Kwe’s name a lot real soon.
Kwe’s musical influences coming up included Young Thug, Drake, Lil Wayne, and Future among others. He also said his father was a big Bob Marley fan, and that Marley’s music was ingrained into Kwe. Some of the artists in his playlists now consist of Don Toliver, Kodak Black, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Anderson Paak. When it comes to his own music, Kwe has plans on releasing a new project sometime this month that will be titled Stû. If you didn’t know, Kwe is also a producer. He says he handled a little chunk of the production on his debut project, Fetus, which was released back in 2018. “This upincoming tape will have multiple production takes with a tight knit few , Xjaybeats (TX) , Dsando (TX), and WoodyTaylor (London)”. The last question I asked was “What’s your dream collaboration?”. Kwe then answered with “Man good question, prolly Mike Dean or like Charlie Wilson. ''
Kwe the Artist is original, and as cliche as that sounds, it’s the truth. Does Kwe sound like the rest of these artists right now coming out of Florida? No, he doesn’t. My first reaction from listening to Kwe the Artist was that he sounds like a mixture of PARTYNEXTDOOR and Don Toliver. Right now that’s a damn good combination to have. His melodic flow on Houston trap beats is what makes Kwe a special artist. His last two singles titled “In My Head” & “Wasabi” are must-adds for any hip-hop fan. Stream Kwe the Artist’s music on all platforms, and be ready to hear Kwe’s name a lot real soon.