Ace Hood is an ideal fit to host Complex and Spotify’s new podcast, Infamous: The Story of YNW Melly, because of his proximity to YNW Melly’s world.
The 33-year-old rapper was born and raised in Florida, less than two hours from Melly’s hometown. As he explains to Complex, “I related to being in a small city and knowing that once success comes into that picture, and once success comes into that dynamic, things change. Friendships change and it just alters the dynamic of things.”
Since 2006, Ace has made some of hip-hop’s best music about hustling. Songs like “Cash Flow,” “Out Here Grindin,’” and “Overtime” have provided multiple generations with keys to success, which he’s made use of himself. He’s put on for Florida throughout his career, laying down a blueprint for the next generation of Florida artists to model after.
Now, in addition to working on a new four-part album called A Hero’s Journey, Ace Hood is telling Melly’s story on the new season of Infamous in vivid detail. Throughout the eight-episode season, Ace walks listeners through Melly’s early days in Florida, his rise to fame, and the events that led to his current legal situation where he faces charges for double murder.
“It gives you further information on who [Melly and his counterparts] were, the lifestyle that they live, what type of relationships they had,” Ace says of the podcast. “It gives you more clarity on where the case is, where it stands, where the case is going, and just gives you insight of the type of person he is and the human being that he is outside of just the case.”
Celebrating the launch of the new season of Infamous (you can stream the first five episodes on Spotify now) Ace Hood took some time to detail the podcast, the Florida rap scene, and what he’s working on now. The interview, lightly edited for clarity, is below.
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What do you remember thinking when you first heard YNW Melly’s music?
I think my first time discovering YNW Melly was hearing him on the song “Mixed Personalities.” Well, I got word about the song “Murder On My Mind,” but I think I really got a whiff of him around the time he started working with Kanye West. And when he came upon my radar, I heard about the song “Murder On My Mind,” and that it might be connected to something. I actually thought it was wild.
What elements of Melly’s story remind you of your own journey?
The dynamic between friends. Melly also grew up in a small city—he grew up in Gifford, Florida—and I grew up in Deerfield Beach, Florida. So one, I related to being in a small city and knowing that once success comes into that picture, and once success comes into that dynamic, things change. Friendships change and it just alters the dynamic of things, because you’re coming from a place of lacking. Because you’re coming from a community where you don’t know how to manage money or anything like that. So that’s one of the main things I relate to him on, is just being from a small community, and knowing what it’s like to have success. It’s a dynamic of young men who don’t know what exactly they’re doing, and trying to navigate their ways.
How would you describe the podcast for those who have yet to tune in?
Even if you had no idea who YNW Melly is or who his counterparts were, it gives you further information on who they were, the lifestyle that they live, and what type of relationships they had. I think it gives you more clarity on where the case is, where it stands, where it’s going, and it just gives you insight into the type of person he is and the human being that he is outside of just the case. You get to learn about a lot of key members in his life and it gives you a lot more context.
What led to you hosting it?
I was interested in the podcast. One, him just being a young Black man. And me being one of the guys who pioneered the scene in Broward County and just having done some great things in the music scene. I feel like young men—young Black men specifically—need guidance. They need help. I feel like they just need positive reinforcements of people that can actually carry them through. So naturally, that’s what attached me to this. And I thought it would be great to exercise me stepping into something new, as far as narrating.
What do you think of the Florida rap scene right now?
I’m excited that Florida is getting its recognition and its just due. There are a lot of talented artists in Florida. Absolutely. But I think a lot of these artists need guidance, too. I’m always invested more in people rather than the artist. And being a stand-up person.
Are there any Florida artists that you’re listening to a lot right now?
I’m listening to some of them. I like Rod Wave a lot.
You released Mr. Hood last year. I wanted to ask you what you’re working on now.
Right now I’m working on A Hero’s Journey. That’s a more complex project. It’s a four-part project and is the next phase for me musically.
I saw you tweet about getting some more live musicians involved in the project. How are you planning on incorporating them?
Yeah, I’m transitioning now. I’ve been in the game for a while and performed in so many places around the world. So I think now, we’re just all about elevating. At this particular moment, I’m just trying to get live sounds, whether that’s live trumpet sounds, live snare sounds, or whatever. I really want the live element incorporated in what I’m trying to do.
You’ve been around for a while, and you’ve accomplished so much. What are you still looking to accomplish in your career? What’s that big goal that’s driving you forward?
The big goal that’s driving me forward is just saying something, man. Above all, it’s trying to move people forward. Being intentional. At this particular point, I want to be able to shift the hearts and the minds of other people—through my actions, through my music, through demonstrating what it is that I do. I want to be able to help somebody who’s listening to my music. I just want to continue to keep growing and continue to show the world the totality of who I am—not just as an artist, but as a man, as a father, as everything that I represent.
So that’s the thing that I’m looking forward to. I’m looking forward to enlarging my fitness territory. I’m looking forward to enlarging my music territory and my relationships in the community. I’m looking forward to navigating and enlarging my business territory. These are the systems I’ve been exercising, and continuing to really just grow in all phases.
I want to show my fans totality over all. I want to show that you don’t have to be an artist—it don’t have to be viewed through one lens. And that’s what A Hero’s Journey is. It’s a representation of totality. And not just trying to box the thing in or see anything one way, but there’s endless possibilities of the thing. And I think that it’s time that we be seen as such. I just want to continue to elevate and raise the consciousness of the people who do it.
Listen to ‘Infamous: The Story of YNW Melly’ on Spotify here.
