IDK—the DMV rapper formerly known as Jay IDK—sounds ferocious on his new song "Baby Scale." Over the past couple of years, IDK has figured out the importance of originality and quality, and that's on full display in his new music. Things are elevated in terms of production and delivery, but he's also rapping with a passion that comes across as intensely genuine. Check out the new video for "Baby Scale" above, check out our short interview with IDK below, and look out for his IWASVERYBAD soundtrack launching with Adult Swim soon.
We were first introduced to you as Jay IDK but you dropped the Jay. What's the reasoning behind that?
When I was in jail, I came up with the name "IDK." I never intended for it to have the "Jay" included. When I got out, however, everyone started calling me Jay IDK so I just ran with it. IDK is just me going back to what I originally created and envisioned.
You landed on our radar at the beginning of 2016. What have you learned since then?
Since 2016, I learned nothing matters more than the originality and quality of your music. People gravitate to something different when it's done well. This year I'm focused on telling people my story.
It seems like a lot of the younger rappers on the rise right now are focused more on energy and charisma than technical skills. On "Baby Scale," you're demonstrating really good rapping and powerful lyrical content. Is that a conscious decision? Are you trying to push people to think more, listen closer, and take away an experience beyond just having fun?
I'm not really trying anymore. I'm just doing me and what I feel. There isn't much thought to what I do outside of me just being honest with myself.
Can you tell us a little about "Baby Scale"? What does this song mean to you, and what were you going for with the video?
"Baby Scale" is just to show people balance. I don't think there's any new rapper more versatile in the rap genre than me. The full version of "Baby Scale" is a reflection of that. The video was run and gun. I wanted to keep it simple. Part of it was shot where my mom and cousin STP were buried.
