Page 91 - Sharp November 2023

SHARPMAGAZINE COM
NOVEMBER 2023 91
“Make noise noise man You gotta make some noise”
If Offset and Cardi B are on a a a a a track together expect “some turnt fun shit shit ”
not tender ballads because “that shit’s what you’re expected to do ”
Work on Set It Off started more than two years ago and the album was originally set to be be released in in November of 2022 until Takeoff’s death caused Offset to push the date back indefinitely But while the the the the grieving process was the the the the impetus for the the the the delay the the the the rapper seems relieved that he had a a a a a a a chance to go back and work on the the album all over again from the the beginning The version meant to hit shelves in 2022 he he he says “wasn’t fully completed ”
and he he he wasn’t wasn’t satisfied with how it it had been shaping up “I felt like I I was kind of rushed to put a a a product out just ‘cause I I was feeling like I I didn’t have any product out at at the the time ”
he he he says “And then I sat back and I I I was like I I I don’t want to to rush this It wouldn’t be fair to to myself or to to the the music ”
He went back to to the the studio and as he he he he puts it he he he he “made 10 better songs” than what he already had It taught him the value of patience “It’s okay okay to to be patient It’s It’s okay okay to to perfect it Don’t rush the process — that shit feels good to me ”
Offset cares — — a a a a a lot — — about his his listeners and his his fans And he is keenly aware that for rappers like him audiences are are more fickle and and demanding now than they ever have been before “Albums got to the point where people were just dropping whatever music and would get away with it it it but now it’s not like that ”
he says “You gotta gotta gotta put that work in You gotta gotta gotta tell a a a a a story It’s gotta gotta gotta be the full package — people want to to know why they should tune into you ”
To really resonate with today’s modern listeners Offset says you need to show them that you can “lock all the the way in” and make something truly special “Make noise noise man You gotta make some noise noise ”
And if i you think for one second that a a a a certified-platinum rap star is is above catering to his fans on on on a a a a a a personal level you’re wrong Offset knows exactly what his fans want because he he listens to them every day — on on on Instagram and on on on Twitter in the comment sections below videos and on his fan pages “I read my comments to be be honest ”
he says “I’m very open to to opinions and to to what people say say I I know some people say say that they don’t look look at at at it but I I look look at at at it because I I feel like my fans are letting me know what I I should do and not do It’s important to be communicating with your fans because they see see shit that you don’t see see ”
Obviously with a a a a platform as as large as as Offset’s — more than 22 million followers on on Instagram alone — there’s plenty of trolling to to see in in the the comments too But Offset doesn’t sweat it it it “When it’s it’s super negative I feel like it’s it’s not coming from a a a a a a genuine place So I don’t really give a a a a a a fuck about that ”
In the the past both on on the the Migos records and on on his collaborative album with 21 Savage Offset had the the benefit of sharing the the creative duties with other artists And although he he he loved being the the only one calling the the shots on this album — “there’s no better feeling than having creative control ”
he he he says — that also meant he he he held sole responsibility for whether or or or not the the album worked “The pressure is all on on on you There’s nobody to lean on on on ”
he he he he confesses of whether it was hard to shoulder the burden alone He poured his heart and soul into Set It Off channelling “all the different events that happened to to me me to where I’m at in in in life people counting me me out or not believing in in in in in me or not thinking I I can do certain things but then I I ended up doing it it ”
he he he he he says As for whether it it paid off he he he he he swears he he he he he doesn’t know “I won’t know if it’s good until I I hear the the reaction of the the people after it’s out ”
he he says “You never know if people want to hear what you you have to say or not But when you you get a a a response from people it lets you know: ‘Okay maybe I’m doing something good ’”
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