Who Is Rockie Fresh?

Rick Ross' latest signee talks Electric Highway, meeting Kanye West, working with rock bands, and more.

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Complex Original

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Rick Ross surprised everyone this past July when he made another, somewhat unexpected, addition to his Maybach Music Group roster. Rockie Fresh, the 21-year-old out of Chicago, was in talks with other labels, including Diddy’s Bad Boy, but he ended up choosing MMG as his new home. Together with current signees Meek Mill, Wale, Stalley, Gunplay, and Omarion, Fresh's cool personality and vibe fit well with the crew's aesthetic.

Rockie has been working hard since inking that deal. He's currently on the second leg of his Electric Highway tour, that will wrap up this month in Pittsburgh. While on the road, he's also found time to get in the studio and work on his upcoming mixtape, Electric Highway. In August, a leaked track "Reach For The Stars" featuring vocals by Frank Ocean hit the net, but Fresh rolled with the early preview anyway. He told us that the song won't end up on Electric Highway. Instead, the Chi-Town rapper is starting from scratch with fresh material for his fans.

What happens next for Rockie Fresh remains to be seen, but the young upstart just got some major looks on Rozay's latest mixtape, The Black Bar Mitzvah with guest appearances on tracks. With the MMG team behind his back, we wanted to find out Who Is Rockie Fresh? He told us about growing up in Chicago, recording with Patrick Stump and Good Charlotte, signing the MMG deal, and how DJ Khaled’s support has pushed him to work harder.

As told to Eric Diep (@E_Diep)

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Growing Up In Chicago

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Rockie Fresh: “It’s real regular. I’m super chill dude so I chilled in the house. Watch movies and be creative. No matter what part of the city I lived in. That was the lifestyle I chose to live. I didn’t really see a lot of stuff that was going on in Chicago that a lot of people my age did, but I knew about it. And I knew the people that was in it. But for me, that’s just wasn’t my thing and it’s still not to this day. It’s just real regular, creative life. [Laughs.]


 

“I lived all over the city but I really take credit to the South Side suburbs home in Illinois. That’s where I went to high school at and that’s where I started to become a man and form my style of music. Just gaining an appreciation for different things because the high school I went to was real diverse.


 

“I lived all over the city but I really take credit to the South Side suburbs home in Illinois. That’s where I went to high school at and that’s where I started to become a man and form my style of music. Just gaining an appreciation for different things because the high school I went to was real diverse. There was people in there that was listening to rap music. It was people that was listening to punk rock. There was people that was listening to alternative. It was just one of those things where instead of being negative to it and shunning it, I really embraced it. It turned out to work out for me so it was cool.

“I was super low-key in high school. My first two years of high school I was trying to be popular and shit. I don’t know, just being extra you know? But then as I got a little bit older—I skipped a grade too—so it was one of them things where the first two years of high school I really showed my age. That’s all young men, we all go through that phase of some goofy shit.

“But then, my junior year I started to take life more serious. I started to becoming more of a reserved person. Just real off to myself, just to try and figure out how I could not work in corporate America and still be successful. At that time, it was tough for me because all around from my friends. A lot of my close friends, they went away to these big colleges and shit like that. I really didn’t have the grades to do that kind of shit. I was always a good student but I never liked doing homework. I never liked studying.


 

I was just trying to figure out how be myself in such a way that damn near get paid for it and live conformable off it. That’s been my dream since senior year just really becoming comfortable with me.


 

”I was just trying to figure out how be myself in such a way that damn near get paid for it and live conformable off it. That’s been my dream since senior year just really becoming comfortable with me. When I graduated, I turned into somebody that I was happy with. From the way that I was dressed, to the way that I was looked at, and my class, it was cool.

”I became real with myself. I think the trained me was like, ‘Yeah, I want to go to college and be lawyer.’ Nah, that ain’t for me. It takes age and experience to be able to explain that to your loved ones. My freshman year of college, just due to the way the situation worked, me going to a junior college, the type of setup it was, it really gave me the lifestyle to be able to explain to my people why I didn’t want to be doing this.

”The thing with that is my pops did work for the Chicago Board of Trade when I was young before high school, I definitely had a good life. I wouldn’t say that I was spoiled, but I got good grades, and with that I was rewarded with things such as Jordans and stuff like that. That’s why I kind of created my own fashion sense. But what people don’t know is my dad quit the Board of Trade to start his own business. With that, he started taking some crazy hits. It was at a time where at that age I didn’t understand. I thought my father was selfish in a way.

”I went to a grammar school where we wore uniforms. It wasn’t essential for me to like dress a certain way, but I was getting that type of stuff then. But when it went to high school where that stuff kind of matters more and that kind of got taken out of my life. I didn’t know how to handle that. Just me being young or whatever. Yeah, we definitely went further away from well off when I started going to school in the suburbs. But, it just made me humble man. You know, a learning experience.”

Learning To Rap

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Rockie Fresh: “I always used to freestyle. My homie Kells, who was with me, I used to freestyle in his crib and mimic other rappers. Just being goofy. Him and his brother Kenny they always used to tell me that, you know, it could be dope if I took it serious. It was just one of them things where I was just fooling around. I was like, ‘Man, I am actually decent at this.’

“I battled a couple of kids. Just to see how people took a liking to my lyrics, to the type of individual that I am and the style that I had. I actually believed that people could get entertained and actually learned something from it. So I just started running with it.


 

I made a lot of horrible records. I worked with a lot of people that I probably won’t work with today. I went through a whole bunch of goofy stuff and for some reason in the back of my head, I always just believed that I was going to make something out of it.


 

“I made a lot of horrible records. I worked with a lot of people that I probably won’t work with today. I went through a whole bunch of goofy stuff and for some reason in the back of my head, I always just believed that I was going to make something out of it. But it was still like, I was telling one of my homies that it really feel like since the day that [I] started rapping, I’ve been living the dream ever since. You know what I am saying? I don’t know I can’t even explain how some of this stuff even went down. It just happened.

“I grew up in a Christian household so I didn’t really listen to rap until [I was] old enough to explain it. Then I started listening to Kanye, Jay, Lupe, Common, these dudes that were basically some of the top rappers in the game. With me planting those type of seeds in my mind, it just made me think on a deeper level as a young person. Where at that time most of my friends, they were listening to way more party music and things like that, which is cool. But I never really got into that. With that being said, it was one of them things where I wanted to be different. I just started flowing.

“The stuff that was coming out was super true to me. I was rapping about sneakers and getting girls and things like that. But it was in a more storytelling kind of way. I feel like it was more of the lyrics coming from me and made me look at it in a different way. And I seen it, it was like, might as well try I ain’t got nothing else to lose I am in junior college right now. [Laughs.]


 

The stuff that was coming out was super true to me. I was rapping about sneakers and getting girls and things like that. But it was in a more storytelling kind of way. I feel like it was more of the lyrics coming from me and made me look at it in a different way.


 

“I played around and freestyled a lot, but it was on some real playful type stuff. Like tweaking. It was as far as inappropriate times. Like we’ll be in the car and a track would come on and I’ll start rapping over it just to be funny. But then my homie was like, ‘Damn, low key what you just said was cold.’ I couldn’t deny it either. I was like, ‘Low key that was. That was decent.’

“I also saw in Chicago, just being real, it was a drought of just young dudes who were super dope. And I felt like, you know what I am saying, at some point as a man, you got to take responsibility for certain stuff you have a passion about. If it’s sports, you pursue that basketball career because you really think you are going to make it to the league and change the game or whatever. For me, that’s how rap was but I was just coming from a place where it was so obvious that we needed that. Just trying to be that.”

Musical Influences

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Rockie Fresh: I am influenced by Kanye West, Common, and Lupe Fiasco by just them being comfortable. I was young as hell when they dropped their albums. I was like 7th or 8th grade. So it was one of them things where a young person at that age, you want to do something different. But sometimes, you kind of need that guideline, that picture where you can say, ‘Alright, cool. This is not only something that’s different, but something that’s different and it won.’ And because their projects won and Kanye was able to get those Grammys and those sales.


 

 I feel like me and the producers are really honing in on creating our own sound. I feel like if people give it time, it’s going to be something that’s really changing the game.


 

“Now, people are saying that College Dropout was one of the best rap albums ever. I was like, ‘Alright cool.’ This is somebody who did it the correct way. I don’t have to necessarily do it like [how] they do it. Same thing with Lupe, he’s different than Kanye. And Common is different from them two as well. Man, I just want to be myself and be so comfortable with me that it just comes out and people gotta respect it.

“I just like the way they pushed the envelope. They always tried to do different stuff. To be honest, I’ve been listening to less of them now that I actually gotten a fanbase and stuff like that because I really want people … like I said I want to be comfortable with me and trust myself. You know, coming up with different flow patterns and different ways to create.

"I feel like I’ve only been making music for four years as far as actually recording it. In that short time, I feel like me and the producers are really honing in on creating our own sound. I feel like if people give it time, it’s going to be something that’s really changing the game. I’m 21 now. I got a lot of stuff to learn but at the same time, I just got my deal. I got resources that can really help paint my picture in a better way that I didn’t have before.”

How Alternative Rock Influences His Music

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Rockie Fresh: “It’s just instrumentation and emotion. I like alternative rock. Real smooth stuff. On those records, a lot of times they won’t be yelling, they won’t be jumping around when they be performing or none of that. They just really trying to get their message across. With me being a chill dude, that’s how I like to get my message across. I meet a lot of people that be asking me like, ‘Why don’t I be turnt up or why I don’t be jumping around on stage crowd surfing.’ Honestly, that’s just not me. When I started making music that wasn’t the point of it to be that guy. I really wanted to relate to the people so when I perform and do things that I wanted it to be more of a connection with the music and the message versus the actual swag of the situation.


 

I really wanted to relate to the people so when I perform and do things that I wanted it to be more of a connection with the music and the message versus the actual swag of the situation.


 

“I learned that from alternative rock. When you watch the videos, they just wearing plain T-shirts and blue jeans, sitting in the crib and they working to get a message across. And even the instrumentation, I love guitars. I love live instruments and adding that to the music as well is something I gain from listening to that music.

“Fall Out Boy were able to touch rap in a way that was game-changing in a sense. The cross over records, they did a lot for that type of music. I like John Mayer a lot too. Just the way he smoothly gets his point across. He has a lot of metaphors and things like that that are real visual versus regular things that most people and rappers talk about. That’s something that I gained from him. I like Paramore. I like the emotion and the storytelling in their records. It’s just a lot about the message that I gained from listening to that kind of music that I don’t get when I listen to rap a lot of times. Moreso, the new school. I don’t get that same feeling. I want to be able to provide that for my generation so that’s why I listen to it.

“That goes with me talking about the street life as well. In the city that I am from that is just so relevant. It’s so much killing. It’s so much gangbanging going on or whatever you want to call it. With that, it would be kind of snobbish of me to ignore how real that is. I just feel like the way that I talk about it has to be, one, it’s real to my perspective of it. And two, it’s real meticulous to the point that it can actually reach to the kids that can actually help.

“That’s just one thing that I feel about alternative rock as well. They kind of pitch their message in a way that reach a certain audience. Whether it’s kids overseas that are dealing with hunger or whatever, it’s something that’s really well thought. That’s what I want to do with my sound. Anything that I am talking about, be it fashion, be it the streets, be it drugs, be it girls, I want it to be so real and so well thought that it’s like actually serving a purpose.”

Chicago’s Music Scene

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Meeting Kanye West

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Rockie Fresh: “Kanye is definitely an influence of mine. Also, it’s like for me being a hungry competitive artist, it’s also something I want to work to be better than too. Take somebody like Kobe Bryant and Jordan. Me being from Chicago, I’m always going to be a Jordan fan. Nobody is going to take that place. But at the same time, you take a player like Kobe, who has won all of these rings and stuff like that. From a competitor’s perspective you got to look it and see this is how the game is supposed to work. There’s always going to be somebody that is coming for that top spot. That’s what makes it entertaining and that’s what make people want to look into it. So with rap, I feel I’m that young dude who is really coming for that top spot. Kanye is at that spot. It’s just something that I am working to get to.


 

I will always respect Kanye and I will always respect his team because they did so much for Chicago. It’s one of them things if he ever reaches out, I’m down to work.”


 

“I met Kanye at the “Wish You Would” video. He was a super cool dude. It was a real quick thing. It was dope. It was just a real quick, ‘Congratulations.’ He was at work, you know what I am saying? Him and Ross were shooting a video. They actually gave me a cameo in the video which was super dope. I’m not one of those dudes because I am an artist myself so I know what it’s like to be at a shoot. It was just one of those things where I was honored to meet him. It was quick. And everybody went back to work.

“He hasn’t followed up yet [after we met.] But you know his manager is a big supporter of what we do that’s my big homie. Shout out to Don C. Also shout out to Virgil. Those guys keep in contact with us. At least we know that they know what is going on. I will always respect Kanye and I will always respect his team because they did so much for Chicago. It’s one of them things if he ever reaches out, I’m down to work.”

DJ Khaled’s Support

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Rockie Fresh: “I met him at the “Take It To The Head” video shoot. He showed me a lot of love then but after the deal went down, he treats me like a little brother now. Khaled is the big homie. Me and him are definitely gonna be doing a lot of work soon too. It’s dope man.


 

Ross is always way cooler than people would expect. People know that Ross is a cool dude. He really knows it’s about this MMG thing. Just making sure we all good. But then to see someone like Khaled who has the same type of attitude, it’s comforting


 

“It just more so that he is showing appreciation for the stuff that I have already done. He said that he really likes the Driving 88 mixtape. He’s proud of me being a part of MMG. He lets me know that me and him are definitely [gonna] be doing a lot of work. One thing that you touched on too is the way he does put people together on certain records. I feel like he deserves a lot more credit for that type of stuff. There’s a lot of records that he made that are classic man. He’s dope. He deserves way more credit so shout out to Khaled.

“It’s just his positive attitude. He’s a super hyped dude. He embraced me so much in a real gangster sense you know what I am saying? It was a confident thing. It just made [me] understand we gonna be alright in this situation.

“Ross is always way cooler than people would expect. People know that Ross is a cool dude. He really knows it’s about this MMG thing. Just making sure we all good. But then to see someone like Khaled who has the same type of attitude, it’s comforting.”

Recording With Patrick Stump and Good Charlotte

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Rockie Fresh: “Diddy’s respect for it was crazy. That actually helped me out as an artist just to see someone at that caliber really break down my project to me. He did. And of course, my big homies Patrick Stump and Good Charlotte. Those dudes, they had a big role in kind of crafting it and they didn’t really know. I was just out working with them a lot in L.A. and just a lot of the quality that I was around. It was a lot different than from what I was around in Chicago. It just gave me a higher quality thought process when it came to making music.

“Yeah, so all of those dudes. When it was finished, whether it was like Good Charlotte and Patrick who heard it right when it was done or Ross and Diddy who heard it four-five months later. The response to it was real consistent. And everybody understood that I am trying to do something different while still being myself. The fact that I got that point across gave me a lot of momentum going into Electric Highway and really crafted that. And not really switching my sound up.


 

These dudes they’ve experienced the top of the industry and they are all happy. They got their love lives, they got their kids. It's a positive look in the music industry that a lot of young people don’t get.


 

“I mean because I’ve been rapping for such a short amount of time, it’s me testing my endurance and my actual natural talent in a situation. When I first recorded with them, it was a real organic thing. But also, the songs that I made I went straight off the top and knocked out a bunch of records with them. It was something where it was going to be like, ‘Man, this kid naturally has it.’ Or it’s one of them things where it’s like, ‘You need to take more time with this.’ So it was [me] testing my natural ability when I worked with them. And the response from them, they were blown away. ‘You came up with quality stuff from just naturally rapping in front of a mic.’

“With that also the conversation they gave me too. These dudes they’ve experienced the top of the industry and they are all happy. They got their love lives, they got their kids. It's a positive look in the music industry that a lot of young people don’t get. We are always told, ‘Nah, this is a bad situation.’ But with them and even with Ross, just their positive attitudes, it helps me be more confident and real with the music. You see the real relief from it. And how happy they are as men. It’s dope.”

The Making of Driving 88

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The Reception of Driving 88

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Rockie Fresh: “I just put out Driving 88 and I was like, ‘Man, this did decent. At least I’ll be able to do some shows off of it. Couple of more people respect me.’ I fell after listening to it more and more, ‘Man, this could actually be something classic.’ I’m kind of salty that this didn’t get the appreciation that may it should have. Then XXL gave it a four out of five stars. So I was like, ‘Ok, that’s decent. I’m with that. Shout out to XXL.’ And then, more of the offers started coming in. ‘Alright, cool. These are decent situations.’


 

I never expected people like Ross and Diddy to reach out just because I didn’t think it would get to their ears.


 

“I never expected people like Ross and Diddy to reach out just because I didn’t think it would get to their ears. I just had a different type of appeal that was a gift, but it was just something that they weren’t going to see at the height that they [are] at. So when they started taking interest to it, I was like, ‘Alright, it’s game time.’ This is what it's meant to be and I gotta make the best out of the situation and really make it something classic.”

“With that, thinking about all that stuff as far as taking meetings with these guys. It was, ‘Alright, where do I go next musically?’ How do they take Driving 88? When I heard them break it down without me even asking, then it was like, ‘Wow, ok. I see what I did.’ At that point, I was so in the zone that I didn’t even really realize what I was doing. Then when they said, ‘Oh, yeah, when you sampled sub track. Sample Skrillex and put in Project Pat in the same sample.’ ‘Or when you did X ... you really pushed the envelope.’ And I was like, ‘Man, that’s crazy. I did’ [Laughs.]

“It made me even have to backpedal with Electric Highway more and look at the records that I recorded for it. And see like, ‘Man, is this really a progression of Driving 88?’ Or is just me trying to be an impressive rapper. Now that I look back on it, it’s helping me make Electric Highway a lot doper because I really did set a sound and a vibe with Driving 88 that people would want to hear on a higher level.”

His Favorite Movie, Back To The Future

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Rockie Fresh: “It’s actually more of an young adult obsession thing. When I was a child, I don’t even understand the movie like I do now. That’s how Driving 88 came about. That was legit a prime example of being creative and just trying to be progressive. Really getting doubted for it. Being looking at as crazy, but at the same time, they made it happen in that movie. A lot of the speech and the movie clips reached me in a different way, especially since I smoke and stuff.”

“So I was seeing it like, ‘Man, this movie is low key deeper than people see it.’ Even with the speed of it being 88, that’s such a random number to get to the number. It’s fast but at the same time, it ain’t pedal to the metal. 160 type shit. It was one of those things where I felt like it related to me. I’m 21, I’ve done a lot. There’s still more for me to go. I feel like I am at a different speed. 88 is that speed.


 

That’s how Driving 88 came about. That was legit a prime example of being creative and just trying to be progressive. Really getting doubted for it. Being looking at as crazy, but at the same time, they made it happen in that movie


 

“I want to keep the theme going. Back To The Future had three parts. Driving 88 was one of the first time with me using the time [of 88]. We are going to make the DeLorean better throughout the process. We are going to pull out some different types of DeLoreans. Different types of settings as far as from the last project. But I wanted it to be a movie type of feel musically and visually so that fans can be consistent with. Really grow with it and see the progression while staying true to what they fell in love with.

"It’s just the introduction. Even on the second one, stylistically, they took it to a whole another level. That’s when they introduced the Nike Mags. The flying and stuff like that. That’s what this next project is. I didn’t want to name it Driving 88 II because it’s just not creative. It’s the progression, it’s the next level, it’s the flyer version. We did decent off the block office sales of the first one, now we putting resources back into the next one and make some next level stuff.

"It’s a struggle for me to get through the third one, honestly. But, I still just me being a diehard fan of the series, I still man it out. I be so off the loud on the third one, I don’t really remember much of it."

Working On Electric Highway

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Rockie Fresh: “I want to wash out the old records in a way. It’s a difference between working to get a deal and actually getting a good deal. And then really like making the decision whether you just gonna ride that wave of having a good deal or if you are really gonna tell a story of how you got to it. I couldn’t tell my story of how I got to it because I didn’t get there. I was just rapping.

“That’s the thing too. I’m glad it happened this way because I think it would have gotten repetitive if all my music was like ,’Aw yeah, I’m trying to make it.’ People kind of get tired of that. I feel like everything is moving forward and it’s a start of the reflective part. It’s happened so soon that it’s going to be more short-term stuff versus on album it’s going to be all the way back to where it's the actual making of the album. On this, man, I actually did something that was the goal. Whatever people think about that, I achieved something in my life by getting a deal at 21 years old with Maybach.


 

I’ve been working with the same people. A few of the Maybach producers like Beat Billionaire and guys like that. They have been sending me records that are super dope. They are part of the family so I’m going to definitely be working with them


 

“I’m not gonna used that to stunt. I am going to use that as guidelines for other people to go reach whatever dream they want to reach to. I feel like if I talk about it in the right way, I could do that. I wouldn’t be able to discuss it in the correct way if I didn’t actually do the deal. Now, that I actually have it and I see what’s going on, I can really go back a little bit and tell the story.

“I’ve been working with the same people. A few of the Maybach producers like Beat Billionaire and guys like that. They have been sending me records that are super dope. They are part of the family so I’m going to definitely be working with them. But outside of that, I’ve really been in with my own people. The producers who helped me get to this point because they understand my sound and they are all so young. Same way I am getting better as an artist, is the same way they getting better as producers. And they have also had their own dreams and aspirations as far as having resources.

“Before we were unsigned. We just really couldn’t pull the strings to do anything. We are all being young and hungry and I think it makes for a real dope working environment. Something that is real progressive and I like to keep it that way. However, I would like to work with some big producers such as a Kanye, a Pharrell, or a Just Blaze. Timbaland. Right now, I am using what I got and I trust what I have around me and I am going to use that to make a classic.”

Signing With Maybach Music

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Rockie Fresh: “Spliff TV showed Rick Ross the “Into The Future” video. That’s how it started. It’s crazy. Just even with that video I am so hard on myself, I be looking at that stuff and I be getting disappointed. ‘Man, I don’t like the way that looks. I don’t think I look cool in this shot.’ But when I heard the way Ross respected the video, I was like, ‘Alright, maybe I need to trust myself a little bit more.’ When you young like this and working in these type of conditions, it makes you really have to think things through.

“Now, I do that less. There has to be a point in a man’s life where you have to trust yourself and the decisions you make. So I am getting to that point. Just prior to that, I was really second guessing a lot that I did. Just because the way the progression was going I just didn’t know if it was on track to where I really wanted to go. That video was a huge step for me, even if it didn’t get the views that I wanted, it got into the right hands So it was cool.


 

When I heard the way Ross respected the ["Into The Future"] video, I was like, ‘Alright, maybe I need to trust myself a little bit more.’ When you young like this and working in these type of conditions, it makes you really have to think things through


 

“His first reaction was like, ‘My little nigga Rocky, what’s good?’ I was like, ‘Man, this is already going to be cool.’ Then he was like, ‘What was your motivation?’ I told him and he was like, ‘Man, that’s the same way for me.’ I was like, ‘Alright, that’s dope.’ So we are already relating. Then we started talking about music. He started telling me records he like off Driving 88. It was one of things where he was like, ‘You know, you are a fly little dude. I see your videos. I see you with the kicks all that. So, tomorrow, you are going shopping with the boss.’ I was like, ‘Alright. Cool.’

“He took me to Flight Club the next day. We went to the “Take It To The Head” video shoot that night. He introduced me to Lil Wayne, Birdman, Busta Rhymes. It was one of them moments where it was like, ‘Man, this is too much.’ I honestly didn’t think he was gonna sign me because he made a comment, ‘There’s a lot of people that are gonna try and sign you. You got to learn how to navigate through the business.’ When he told me that I was like, ‘Aw, man. Ross just flew me out here just to kick it.’ Which was cool because I got to meet the artists I dreamed about. It was just one of them things where I didn’t know how real it was.

“Then, Diddy came along too and he’s, you know, that’s Diddy. It’s one of them things whatever he say, whenever he want to talk to you, you definitely got to give it a shot. I did the meetings with Diddy. I actually went to both of his houses. His house in LA and his house in New York. It was super personal. It was real smooth. It was a tough decision. But, my heart just lead me to the direction of MMG. I’m super happy about that.

“It wasn’t like the vibe at Bad Boy felt bad either. It was just a connection that it had time to get that way. I had met Diddy a little bit after Ross. It was just one of those things where it was like, ‘Man, you know, this is dope too.’ It was tough, but MMG just felt right. I saw what Meek and Wale were able to do off of their situation. And Stalley, the fact that Rick Ross lets him be himself. Even with the addition to Omarion, just him being able to see how that’s been official despite being criticized for that. Him just riding with his guys. Gunplay, who has been around forever, he’s becoming his own movement now. I was like, ‘Man, this is like some new Roc-A-Fella type stuff.’ This is the new dream team and I want to be a part of it.”

The Future

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