Moneybagg Yo Talks Meeting Denzel Washington & New Album ‘Speak Now’
Perhaps no one in rap capitalized on the stillness brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic than Moneybagg Yo.
The CMG rapper posted 4 Hot 100 entries with the vengeful “Time Today” and the Debarge-sampling “Wockesha” powering his 2021 A Gangsta’s Pain album, which completed Bag’s transition to industrial stardom and gave him his initially No. 1 project atop the Billboard 200.
Three years later, Moneybagg returned with his fifth studio album, Speak Now, released Friday (June 14). The 32-year-old feeds his core fan base with a lot of trap flossing, designer flexes and street motivation more than thumping trap beats and hi-hats courtesy of Tay Keith, Turbo and additional.
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“I feel like I don’t got nothing else to prove,” Bag casually admits to Billboard for the duration of his go to to the Big Apple. “I got all these plaques, I got success. I’m just letting them know I really do this. Don’t play.”
The Memphis stalwart does innovate on his most recent LP as well, which finds Bag finding additional melodic testing out his vocal variety whilst teaming up with Chris Brown for the infectious “Drunk Off U” [and there’s more where that came from]. He slides across the state to Nashville for the nation-leaning “Whiskey Whiskey” featuring Morgan Wallen, a collab that was two-years-in-the-generating.
Bag’s an open book with his chiseled rhymes, delving into life experiences behind his Prada shades, like getting Denzel Washington rock his blinged-out AP watch whilst grabbing lunch at The Polo Lounge, or listing his complete wing order at J R Crickets when he’s in Atlanta.
There’s additional heat in the stash, as well — as Moneybagg Yo will provide a project sequel, fittingly titled Forever Hold Your Peace, later this year, which will cater additional toward the ladies. “I’m versatile,” he adds. “I feel like I can play in different lanes.”
Give our interview with Bag a study under, which dives into him meeting Washington, attending his initially wedding, functioning with Wallen and additional.
Billboard: What was your mindset heading into this album?
Moneybagg Yo: It was just attempting to provide a physique of operate for my day-a single fanbase who been rocking with me considering that Federal 3x— that kind of vibe. That’s kinda what I did. I also mixed it with a sequel, which is referred to as Forever Hold Your Peace. It’s gonna be the additional melodic vibes. It’s dropping a couple months right after Speak Now. I did stuff like “Drunk Off U” with Chris Brown kinda singing.
How was that kinda singing on there and experimenting with your voice additional?
Just attempting distinct stuff like I got 80 of these kind of songs ahead of even Chris [Brown] got on it. I was experimenting and playing with the craft and the talent. It came out great and I place Chris on it. I got a single referred to as “I Feel It,” and the Morgan Wallen circumstance.
How did the Morgan Wallen connection type?
He’s truly a major fan of me. We been locked in for like two or 3 years. We had the song when we initially locked in off the rip. I had it for like a year and a half, or two years, and he’s been on me about placing it out. “When that song coming out?” And all this s–t. The excellent time is now.
Coming off of <em>A Gangsta’s Pain</em>, do you really feel like you have something left to prove?
I really feel like it is actually about enjoying what I’m carrying out and expanding at the similar time. I really feel like that is it. I really feel like I do not got absolutely nothing else to prove. I got all these plaques, I got achievement. Just essentially coming off a two-year break. I’m just letting them know I actually do this. Don’t play.
You had to remind absolutely everyone a single time with that post [to Instagram] of all your plaques.
And I feel I missed some, to be truthful. It was like some s–t. It’s a blessing. All that is.
How do you really feel your music’s been in a position to resonate with a wide variety of men and women from distinct cultures and backgrounds?
Even with what you stated — like, I’m kinda singing on “Drunk Off U,” it is not forced. It’s like, “All right bet, he doesn’t sound too bad. He’s vibing on there. Can we get more of that type?”
“Gangstas Relate” with Lil Durk – speak about that record and him sending his verse back in much less than 20 minutes.
How that came about — he hit me the evening ahead of I had to turn the album in. “You in L.A. let’s do something.” I’m like, “Boom,” sent him the record. He sent back all the snowman emojis and sent that motherf–ker suitable back, like he was sitting in front of the mic or anything. It was great, even though.
What’s the quickest you have ever sent back a function?
It went so crazy. Money Mu, the “Hittin” remix. He’s from Atlanta and it produced noise. I was rushing I had someplace to be. I had my girl, Ari, she pulled up with me when we in the A. I’m like, “Take me over here to do this feature right quick.” I’m just pondering, like, “I’m getting some little money, I’ll just pull up in the joint.” I do it and leave. I didn’t know when he dropped it — I’m going in the clubs and it is going crazy. S–t’s turnt up.
As an individual who’s had hits, what tends to make a hit record to you?
At this time in this generation, I really feel like it is effect. It’s gotta have effect. Everyone can drop records, just since who you is — but if you analyzing the game men and women who are extremely profitable, you have been seeing records come out from these artists and they ain’t been ugh [snaps]. You got the additional upcoming artists [hitting] [claps]. It’s just gotta be an general great record.
On “Tryna Make Sure,” did you say that Pharrell sent you a Louis Vuitton bag?
I was saying, like, generating a contact and shouting him out. I was like, “Ay, send me the bag at Louis.” I was going in the Louis retailers and s–t all the sizes be so skinny and tiny. They match for him. So I’m like, “Send me the bag at Louis!”
I saw you and Quavo step in to support recruit this higher college quarterback, Antwann Hill Jr., to [the University of] Memphis. That’s quite cool.
Quavo truly hit me — like, it is official, “My boy about to come through the city. I need you to take care of him.” I’m not a major fan of football — basketball is my preference — but I told Quavo I got him. I went back up with him. It was kinda like how we locked in with Ja [Morant]. We produced him really feel great and at dwelling in the town.
Were you at a wedding final week with Quavo?
Two or 3 days ago, with the Gumbos. The couple got married so I popped out. It was an encounter. I had in no way been to no wedding. The ceremony was boring, but right after the ceremony it was [cool].
They attempt to give you a mic?
They ain’t do that, but they gave Quavo the mic, even though. He grabbed it and just performed. It was crazy.
That was your initially wedding? That’s crazy. Did you bring a date?
Nah, she was truly sick at the property. It was like [one] plus God damn 5 or six with us. It was a vibe even though.
I was listening to a 2Pac interview and wanted to get your thoughts on this quote: “In this country, as a Black man, you have five years where you can exhibit maximum strength. Once you turn 30, it’s like they take the heart and soul out of a man.”
I really feel like when you turning 30 and get in your 30s, this is when your eyes open. You actually see life for what it is, and you get started moving and distinct. You nearly want how I’m pondering at 30 when I was 25 or what ever. All that comes with timing. I’m just moving much better and pondering clearer. I see s–t for what it is. I been dealing with so a lot crazy a– s–t. I was just listening to Pac.
What’s your preferred Pac song or album?
All Eyez on Me. What’s the [song] he got with Scarface? “Smile.” That’s the a single I have to listen to to hold me going.
What sort of business enterprise ventures do we have going on?
Yeah, we got a tequila liquor we’re gonna get started pushing. I got a water we’re hunting for distribution for suitable now. This is my clothes line I got on suitable now. It’s truly referred to as Lof. This is in Japanese. Doing a higher-finish style brand. I’m attempting to expand that. I got a restaurant in Memphis referred to as Cache 42. It’s a lounge with an upscale side to it. I got a strip club in Miami that I’m 50/50 with a companion. Taboo Miami by G5ive. Just advertising and marketing and branding the club, I truly committed a song to a single of the tracks on this album, referred to as “Taboo Miami.” I got a tiny anything going.
Do you have any guidance for younger artists when it comes to dealing with labels?
I inform them to remain independent as extended as they can. You gon’ get to a specific level exactly where you are gonna need to have some support. Everybody wants somebody. If your dreams and aspirations exactly where you want to be up there, you are gonna have to align with somebody to go to that. We can only go so far. Second, what ever you are carrying out and what ever your craft is, force it on the planet. Everybody do not get it when you initially place anything out. No shade, appear at some of the artists that is out nowadays. To be truthful, they’re not lyrically talented. It’s additional dumb-downed music that is taking more than the planet. Just do not feel as well tough. Force it on ’em, they gon’ get it. It’s gotta be ear-candy.
We’ve noticed a lot additional men and women in hip-hop focusing on their overall health, and I really feel like you have been portion of that.
Yeah, s–t, I worked out final evening and this morning. My bro stated, “You coming like an athlete or something. Damn, slow down.” I just want to appear great in my garments. I want to attempt to produce additional possibilities. Get on some of these magazines. I need to have to be on the cover of Billboard with the shirt off with the Louis scarf. That’s the kind of timing I’m on. I want to really feel great anyway.
Before you go, how did you hyperlink up with Denzel Washington?
I was with my PR consuming at the Polo Lounge chopping it. I was wrapping up a meeting with her, and he was sitting to my suitable and hunting. I’m like, “I want to go over and say something to him.” He just sitting there hunting. Poker face. When I was paying for the tab, I stood up, he told me to come right here. I went more than there, he got to sweet-speaking. His son was a major fan. We got to speaking. S–t turned from a “what’s up” to “sit down and have lunch.”
We actually had lunch. He was telling me about the motion pictures. Training Day. He was like, “With me, you gotta know how to be Shakespeare, and you gotta know how to be the man in Training Day. You gotta know how to do both of them. That’s what made me different. That’s why I’m at the caliber I’m at. I know how to really do this.” I felt him, and we wrapped it up with a image. I was like, “Yo, put on a watch!” He was hunting like, “Man, you shining.” I was like, “Put the watch on!”
