Interview: Stalley Explains the Idea Behind His New Scarface-Assisted Single "Swangin"

A new spring anthem to ride to.

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Complex Original

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After hearing from him back in December, with the release of his song "Loud Motors," Stalley jumps back into the scene with his new Scarface-assisted single "Swangin." The track, which pays homage to the classic car culture, is the first off his upcoming album. He's yet to set a name or release date for the MMG project, but it's expected later this year. We had the chance to speak to Stalley today about the launch of the new track, where the inspiration for the song came from, and how he chose Scarface for the feature. Listen and read below. 

Purchase the single on iTunes here.

Interview by Tony Markovich (@T_Marko

What's the story behind this song? 
It was just a track that came about so crazy. CP, one of the producers of the Block Beattaz, who produced the song, was playing a beat, and I was just about to leave the house, and then I was like, “yo, what’s that?” And he was like, “man, this is just somethin’ I been workin’ on.” So, I was like, “man, I gotta go, but I really want you to continue to work that out for me and when I get back, I’m gonna work on that.”

The whole time I was out that day, I was just writing the song in my head, just remembering the melody and the beat. I came back about 2-3 in the morning, and I couldn’t go to sleep. I just had to write the song. After doing so, I was like, I need Scarface on this record, because I’m a big Scarface fan, always have been. I knew he would basically complete this record.

In Ohio we are heavy into the car culture and into different things than Texas or the Bay area or New Mexico and Cali. Places like that are also in the car culture, but we all are kind of different. In the Midwest, it’s more about the muscle cars, keeping ‘em stock and as original as possible. In the south they run donks or candy paint and big rims. We do some of the same things, too, but it’s just a different definition of what swangin’ is or what bendin’ corners is, just hoppin’ out, playin’ your music loud, foolin’. I just wanted to pay homage to Houston, because I know they’re real heavy into the Cadillacs and the American muscle cars and the old-schools like we are. They kind of invented that swang, that swag, and that swangin’, so I wanted to pay homage to those guys. There wasn’t a better person to do it with than Scarface.

What was his response, when you reached out to him?
He was excited and down to do it, which I was happy about. When he heard the record, he just instantly started rapping and telling stories about how his friends and close partners passed away over this term, over this swangin’ and having those elbows, you know, the poke-outs with the big rims. He really was excited to get the message out to the youngins to let them know what the culture was and how it really came about. I feel that he did that exactly. Everything that he was telling us, he displayed in his verse. He was just letting us know that back then, you couldn’t really ride certain cars or certain rims, because people were coming to get you. There were only about two cars, the Biarritz and the El-Dog, those Cadillacs that you could really put those rims on. Now they put them on a little bit of everything, but back then, it was limited. People was tryin’ to get you for them. Those are two of the cars that were more popular for setting that whole swangin’ movement out.

What’s your take on more rappers leaning toward foreigns and high-end luxury cars like Bugattis these days?
This kind of classic car culture is important to me and my brand. I’ve had family and friends who have died over cars or would have died for their cars or would have wanted to be buried in their cars, because that’s just how important it was to them. It’s really a place where you go. Even as a kid, you might be gettin’ into trouble in the house, and your mom would be like, “c’mon, let’s go for a ride, let’s go talk.” It’s that escape. That’s why cars are so important to me.

I love muscle cars. I used to come outside and see the older guys spending hours, day and night, fixin’ up these cars, repairing these cars, putting systems in these cars, even if it was just cleanin’ these cars. People would just be wiping down their cars, even it were clean, to make sure it had that certain shine and certain glow when they rolled out. They wanted to look clean and pretty [laughs]. What’s important in the music goes hand-in-hand, because you always need that sound check in the car. I make that music for the ones that like to ride. I think I got the music that you can ride and vibe to and just think and enjoy anything. When the sun is out, it’s hot, and you have the top down, you just play that music and ride.

Are you hoping for this to be a spring or summer anthem?
Yeah, hopefully it continues to have legs. The overall response has been overwhelming. When you’re paying ode to more of the classic cars and classic sound of hip-hop, it’s kind of up in the air in this day and age. I wasn’t sure how people would take it, but people are lovin’ it.

What is the ultimate car to hear this in?
I guess you gotta say the Biarritz, the El-Dog, an Impala, or Monte Carlo. Those four right there are a good start to ride out to “Swangin” in. In the Impala, you could be out west. In the Monte, you could be in the midwest, and in the Biarritz, you could be down south. If you’re riding in New York, you could ride out in the Benz, it’ll still sound good.

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Check out the behind-the-scenes footage of the song below.

Related: Stalley's 10 Favorite Muscle Cars

Related: Stalley "Loud Motors"

Related: 25 Best Car Songs

 

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