So, there’s quite a few Jews in hip-hop right now, most notably Drake, Peter Rosenberg, Asher Roth, my girl Jessie Maguire; can’t forget the OG Lyor Cohen. And you’re Jewish as well, right?
Yea…
What are your thoughts on how being Jewish relates to hip-hop/music?
I think that…whenever there’s a situation, like Drake succeeding, being that it’s not the norm though it’s been done before with Beastie Boys and stuff. I don’t think anybody…I mean I’m sure there’s some people that don’t like Jews. But, they might hate me anyway. Those people are not going to be into my music.
…and you’re not worried about them being fans.
Exactly! And if anything, the Jews out there would hopefully identify with people like me and Drake and root for us even harder.
Well, we’re rooting for all you guys…as long as you continue to make good music.
Yea, yea! That’s how it should be. But, the people that would not like somebody because of their religion, chances are, they’re not going to be in my crowd anyway.
Coming from Michigan, what made you decide to attend Duke University? You’re up by Michigan State and Michigan – that’s Big 10 country!
(Laughs) Yea…and I have a lot of friends and support at those two schools. It came down to me wanting a change in my life. One of the things I hated more than anything in high school was winter! I would get like totally depressed in the Winter. I really didn’t like it. So, Duke was always appealing to me. I also like Duke ‘cause of the size. It’s really a cool size. It’s like 7,000 undergrads. So, you know you go somewhere like Michigan, Michigan State, and you’re up in 30 – 40,000 range…
Yea, you’ll get lost…
Yea, exactly! And I’ve been lucky that my music has kept me in contact with all these people. So, I have some great friends that I went to high school with at Michigan and Michigan State. But, now I also have a whole ‘nother great group of friends at Duke. And like I said in that interview with Peter (Rosenberg), Duke’s been a total blessing…because at a state school, everybody’s from a different part of the country. So, before I knew it, I had fans popping up.
What’s it like when (NCAA) tournament time rolls around and it’s Duke vs. Michigan…potentially?
Well, we played Michigan twice last year! I root for Michigan all the time…unless they’re playing Duke. Duke is MY school; so I gotta go with my school when we play Michigan.
So, you’re an official Dukie?
Yea…and we whooped Michigan’s ass. We played them twice – we whooped their ass once – then the second game they upset us. So I had to turn my phone off. (Laugh)
I’m sure you were cheering for State to tear North Carolina down in the (NCAA) Finals then?
I don’t have anything against North Carolina people. I love Duke, and I have people at (the University of) North Carolina also. So shout outs to everybody that supports me from (the University of) North Carolina. But, I’m still a Dukie…
What are you majoring in…you’re going into your last year, right?
Yea…Sociology and Business!
Obviously music was something you always wanted to do since 9 years old? What was your plan B if this didn’t work?
My plan B was always going to have something to do with music. Like two years ago if you were to ask me what was going to happen I wouldn’t be able to tell you. I would’ve told you that my career was going to be in music. I wouldn’t have been able to tell you if it was going to be as a producer, a songwriter, a label executive or an artist. But, now the door kind of seems open to do all those things.
Now, up until recently you were unsigned?
Yep!
Have you signed with anyone?
I’m signed to J Records which is under Sony. There was the opportunity to do a production deal, but in the end I decided that probably wouldn’t have been the best look for me. So…
Congrats!
‘Preciate it man! I’m just getting started…ready to work.
So now that you have your deal or you going to continue working on other artists’ projects as a producer; or are you just going to focus on you as an artist?
See my whole thing with producing is, I really don’t like just e-mailing people beats and be like, “oh just do this.” I’m still old school…even though I’m 21…if somebody wants to work with me, if they want me to produce for them; I wanna chill with you for a day. Get on the same wavelength as you. Kick it. And make some sh*t with you, for you. I don’t like sending people some shit I made that I didn’t think was hot enough for me to use.
So you’re really an old soul?
You know, that’s the best way man! Really, I’ve learned so much from being in the studio with Benny Blanco who’s an amazing producer. And he’s only 21, but he has hits already. I’m working a lot with him on my project. The way that he breathes creativity with me, and if he brings somebody else into the room, he breathes creativity through all of us. And he creates such an amazing atmosphere where ideas can just float without constraint. It’s really been an eye opening experience for me, and it’s changed the way I look at making music. A real producer…like I was having this conversation with someone the other day. He was talking about some producer he was working with, and he was like “the kid’s awkward, but that’s just how producers are.” See that’s a false statement! That’s how beatmakers are.
