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already going crazy. We’re at a point like ‘damn, what’s next?’ We got this big ass record. If you get a worldwide hit, the second record is either gonna make or break you. For ‘Fall’ to come second and be bigger than ‘If,’ we never even imagined that. Be- cause we’re chillin’ making a record. It wasn’t ‘oh, we gotta make a hit! We did it with ‘If’, we gotta do it with ‘Fall’ again.’ It wasn’t like that. We go in the studio and vibe, and that one came out.
How easy it is for you to make hit records, though?
I mean, it’s amazing. Over the time, I’ve perfected my craft and understood the rules of hit-making. I’m very good at arranging songs, I’m very good at that. I know how to arrange songs, I know how to make hits. Not only for me, but for other people, too. If any artist brings me their album, I can tell them, ‘Yo this one’s gonna be big, that one’s gonna be big.’ I literally never miss.
Do you A&R all your own music too?
Yes, I do. I also got people around. I got friends, family that be in the studio with me. They say, ‘Yo, this, that one!’ People around you to tell you too, when you see everyone reacting to the song.
A Better Time hit 100 million streams in three days. How was it recording this project at home? I know you haven’t recorded an album at home since 2011/2012.
We were in a pandemic—obviously Corona hit. There were
no plans to drop the album because I was on tour. I was still touring off of A Good Time album, then Corona hit. I went back to the studio because there’s nothing else to do. Everybody was at home focused, so we went back to the studio, and started recording a lot. Before you know, we had 50 songs. Yo, we gotta put this out. That’s how that album came—a quarantine album I call it.
How was it A Better Time? What did that mean for people during the pandemic?
Really because we was having a good time on tour and every- thing, I said ‘Yo, A Better Time!’ It was weird because we weren’t in a better time at that time. It was Corona, but it was something to look forward to. A Better Time is coming, that’s why I called it a better time. Right now things are starting to open up, and it’s looking like we’re about to go back on the road.
How excited are you? Have you performed?
I’m excited man! I’m excited. That’s one part of the job I love: performing, touring. Things are opening up bit by bit, so we gon’ see.
You sell out arenas—what’s your favorite song to perform in a set?
I like performing all my songs, but I like performing this one song I got called ‘Dami Duro.’ It’s one of my first records. The energy in that song, it wakes up the crowd every time. That song is damn near nine years old, and it’s still going crazy.
You have crazy features—how was it collaborating with Nicki Minaj on ‘Holy Ground’?
Crazy man! I never met her before too. It’s crazy, I DM’d her and she replied like, ‘Yo, let’s do it!’ I sent the song and she sent it back. We couldn’t meet because I was in Nigeria and she was
on the way to LA, then she had a child. I appreciate her for that verse. People love it, I love it. I’m sure we’ll do some more work.
Is that how typically your features and collaborations go? You hit them up and they’re down?
That’s one example, but that’s not how I met a lot of other people. Either I met them through people or like Nas, I met Nas by the bathroom. Chopped it up by the bathroom in LA, in the
studio. He’s in another room, I was in another room. I had to go use the bathroom and I saw him.
How was it working with such a legendary hip-hop artist?
It’s crazy. That’s not my generation of rap music, but, of course,
I know he’s a legend. My older brother, I remember, when he used to drop me off in school, he was always playing Nas. Always played Nas. He was excited when I told him, ‘Yo bro, I got a song with Nas.’ He said, ‘Yo that’s crazy!’
How did the Lil Baby record come about?
Just being from Atlanta and being out there. He actually came
to Nigeria for a show—we had linked up then. We’re chillin’ in the studio, smoking weed, regular shit. Drinking and having fun. It’s always a vibe over there. When I’m making music, I don’t want to go there forced like, ‘Yo we gotta record today! We gotta make a hit today.’ Let’s get into the studio and vibe. Sometimes we’ll be in the studio and don’t record nothing, just vibing. It happens.
Three things you need in the studio at all times?
Really the studio is it. Sometimes I don’t want to drink, I want to record. Sometimes I need to drink, it depends. I don’t think there’s anything that’s 100% necessary for me to record. As long as the music’s there and the equipment’s there, we’re good.
Do you do freestyle or do you write? What’s your recording process like?
It depends on different songs, depends on what it is. Sometimes I have the beat prior, sometimes you do it there. Sometimes I have my producer write down an idea and I finish it up. It all depends.
What does it mean to have your baby on the cover art for A Better Time?
It’s crazy, my first son. All my covers, I want it to be legendary. Even when he’s 30 or 50 years old, he can always look back and see that.
How’s fatherhood?
It’s crazy! It’s amazing, the best thing in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve got two daughters and a son: a 3-year old, a 5-year old and a one-year-old.
Do they know that daddy’s a superstar?
My oldest daughter knows. My second daughter kind of knows, she’s 3. But my son don’t know nothing. [laughs]
How was it acting as yourself in Coming 2 America?
That was crazy, an amazing experience. I didn’t believe it. Honestly, I didn’t believe I was gonna be in that movie until I watched it. It was surreal, I’m like, ‘No way, this is crazy.’ It hap- pened so fast. Had a meeting, you’re on set tomorrow type shit. I remember going to the set being next to my manager like, ‘You sure this is for Coming 2 America?’ I’m on set, I look behind, and I see Eddie Murphy. What?! This ain’t real! [laughs]
What were the conversations like?
They were happy I was there. ‘What you mean?! I’m happy I’m here!’ It was amazing to see the respect they gave to the African artists—they don’t treat us no different anymore. The same re- spect you give to Justin Bieber, you give to Davido. That’s amaz- ing to see. These days, ‘Yo bro, you’re huge!’ I love hearing that.
What keeps you humble in those moments?
When you see people like Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Drake, what they have achieved, they still manage to humble themselves and be regular. I was with Drake the other day in
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