give me extra
Almost a decade after rising from Florida’s SoundCloud underground, Ski Masks The Hunch God is a younger OG decided to up their recreation with a brand new album and tour. He is again outdoors once more.
Interview: Peter A. Berry
Editor’s observe: This story seems within the Summer season 2024 subject of XXL journal, on cabinets now.
since unloading sin metropolis mixtape Three years in the past, Ski Masks The Hunch God was as low-key as his title urged. However he stays energetic. Throughout that point, and with the discharge of a number of albums and collaborations, the Florida rapper started to ponder private losses whereas making modifications to create a extra sustainable way of life as a younger rap star. He places his coronary heart and soul into the sport. He received a brand new pet. He discovered a brand new lover. He’s engaged on new enterprise initiatives. When he isn’t within the studio, he might be discovered on the Grey Day Tour with $uicideboy$ in 2022-2023.
Born in Stokeley Goulbourne, Ski Masks first emerged from South Florida’s explosive SoundCloud underground 9 years in the past alongside his shut pal and collaborator XXXTentacion. Ski Masks’s rhymes are a collision of quirky puns and tense beats, paying homage to Busta Rhymes. Ski’s 2016 debut mixtape, Immerse your self within the arms of a designershowcased the bars and earned him a variety of early consideration.
By 2018, he had signed with Republic Data and launched Stockley, his critically acclaimed debut album that established him as an rising rap pressure. Sadly, that very same 12 months, XXXTentacion was shot and killed throughout a theft. A 12 months later, one other of Ski’s shut associates and fellow rapper Juice Wrld died of an unintended drug overdose.
Since then, Ski has been targeted on recovering from the lack of two shut associates and exploring new methods to develop. he continues the method eleventh dimension, his second album, was launched this previous June. This mission accommodates XXX’s voice memos and a brand new Juice music. Arriving six years later Stockley, the brand new file is crammed with glitchy rap, surreal rock, reggae and his traditional quirky allure. Its title is a nod to Ski Masks’s newest self-imposed creative mission, which dictates that he use totally different sounds to reclaim totally different components of himself by way of music. That is cathartic by way of complicated world-building. Or perhaps it sounds actually cool. Both method, that is ski masks 2.0.
discuss with additional giant In Might, Ski, 28, mentioned eleventh Dimension, rap teaching, his new clothes line, becoming a member of the streaming group, staying wholesome, potential AI collaborations, touring and extra on Zoom from Los Angeles.
additional giant: It’s been three years because you gave up in your final plan. sin metropolis mixtape. It is not extremely lengthy, however within the rap world, it is sort of lengthy. Why take a break?
God of ski masks collapse: Properly, actually, I simply undergo a variety of actual life shit, my associates…besides my associates dying and shit like that, coping with that stuff. My residing scenario, determining the place I need to reside.
So I made a decision to maneuver again to Florida, which is the place I’m from and the place I’m from. after i fell Sin Metropolis, I simply need to ensure the subsequent mission I drop is ideal. So, that is why I am at all times making an attempt to good the subsequent sound I am engaged on. It did not actually come collectively till late this 12 months and final 12 months. However I documented all of it. So, I even have songs from that point on my album, however I even have new songs that I’ve been recording. So, it is like a mixture of each.
I am sorry to listen to that. Glad you are doing properly.
Sure, considered one of my finest associates handed away. After which I am additionally very near Juice Wrld. [He] died. After which, along with them, I additionally had associates in my life who handed away instantly. Properly, two or three associates. It is actually loopy.
It was a loopy three or 4 years for me. So, my thought was to make music, however on the identical time, I wasn’t in the appropriate place to essentially good my craft. That is why I really feel like I am procrastinating.
What did you do to assist your self and get your self by way of that traumatic interval?
Both play video video games or go to the studio typically. Even when I am making one thing that I am planning on giving up, simply placing within the work and ensuring I get that apply.
And simply being round good associates. It was a mixture of those components that helped me get by way of these instances. I’ll keep at dwelling. I actually didn’t get out a lot.
How do you assume you’ve gotten modified over the previous three years, each musically and personally?
since i fell Sin Metropolisundoubtedly simply making an attempt to good my craft slightly bit extra and attempt to… as a result of I play totally different genres in music, I am undoubtedly making an attempt to determine these genres that I have been doing and attempt to get higher at it.
Ship extra textual content messages to relations. Keep at dwelling extra and don’t exit as a lot as earlier than. I used to exit loads. What else would I modify? Actually simply extra level-headed as a result of I was slightly bit loopy and extra… Although I am nonetheless very spontaneous, I’ve turn into calmer and gotten higher at planning issues out. Planning issues and planning issues for my profession.
So we’re making an attempt to convey the world collectively on this album that we’re engaged on. I feel every thing goes properly. We try to construct this world eleventh dimension.
What do you most need to show along with your new album?
I actually wished to show my expertise, my talent with songs, and the truth that you possibly can rap with out having to dumb it down for brand new age appreciation.
What do you do outdoors of music? Have you ever began a enterprise? while you communicate additional giant In 2018, you talked about that you simply may launch your personal line of durags.
Mainly, we’ll do that. I’ve a collaboration with Revenge. Revenge helps me notice it by way of design and manufacturing. So, this will probably be my clothes model. It is known as Fort and the primary drop is [coming soon].
We’ll do away with my figurine. After which for my merchandise clothes model, we will certainly do durag as properly. It has been a very long time. I might have taken benefit of that.
What are your priorities in life in addition to your clothes line and making music?
Actually simply staying at dwelling and making an attempt to get my… I have been making an attempt to repair up my home and reside with my pets. I’ve two cats and a canine. I simply received a hamster. Apart from that, simply making an attempt to determine how I will get began with the streaming stuff I need to do. As a result of I need to begin reside streaming as quickly as doable, in all probability someday after the album is launched.
So, attempt to determine this out. I purchased this massive gaming chair. I feel that is an AG gaming chair. Its title is Scorpion. It is additional giant. It has a big hanging display. Like this massive machine. There’s a therapeutic massage chair inside. That is loopy. I will begin reside streaming. So, yeah, simply making an attempt to essentially convey all of it collectively and get every thing organized.
You talked about streaming. Who’s your favourite anchor?
It is undoubtedly doable that it is Kai [Cenat] and your present anger.
What video games can maintain you in your toes?
I play apex legend, particular assault, League of Legends, darkness and darkness, ring of fireplace. I play a variety of video games. I can say that there is no such thing as a particular one which can be utilized [more] Than the opposite one as a result of I get pleasure from switching video games as an alternative of losing interest with one. So, it is at all times a distinct mixture.
What would the music world be lacking with out Juice Wrld and XXXTentacion?
Numerous good music. They make a variety of good music. There’s a variety of totally different sounds as a result of they’re at all times experimenting with sound. So, it is actually lacking out on a complete technology of music that was simply the 2 of them or Lil Peep or one thing like that. However these folks have disappeared. We missed generational music, so it is going to at all times be a loophole.
Some persons are nonetheless there, like Trippie Redd and me. However issues will probably be very totally different. I really feel like in the event that they have been nonetheless right here the sound can be totally different now. The sounds of the underground. How folks view music creation. I feel issues can be very totally different.
This synthetic intelligence factor is fairly loopy. Have you ever listened to Juice and XXX AI’s songs on the Web? It is like having an AI XXXTentacion “lucid dream”.
I have not heard of “Lucid Dreaming” but, however now that you simply point out it I will undoubtedly give it a hear. That is humorous. I have not seen that one but. too loopy.
It sounds such as you’re extra amused by the concept than upset like some persons are.
It is definitely extra fascinating than disturbing. As a result of they’ve handed. So will probably be fascinating to see the way it sounds. I am truly not too against it [or] As loopy as some artists are towards it. This isn’t one thing to earn cash on. It is simply one thing for the followers to get pleasure from.
So, I feel everybody ought to relax and take a step again. Some folks, who’re artists, actually struggle for them like they know them.
It raises some fascinating mental questions. Will you utilize AI for brand new collaborations with Juice and XXX?
It is determined by whether or not persons are open to it. If folks have been extra open to it and extra prepared to not be offended about it, actually, so, yeah.
Who do you assume received the current Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle?
They’re all excellent artists. I undoubtedly really feel like Kendrick dropped higher songs through the beef. Subsequently, it is arduous to learn this struggle as a result of Kendrick retains taking place. I feel Kendrick will win for certain.
Do any veteran artists offer you recommendation?
Younger Thug. Thug and I have been within the studio one night time. He would have a variety of strippers there and he would give me musical recommendation and play. After I lived in New York, it was undoubtedly Busta Rhymes. He would come to my studio, take heed to my songs and provides me some recommendation. We might simply drink loads collectively.
Now that you’re an OG, what recommendation do you give to younger artists?
I met him when NLE Choppa was simply beginning out, and I met him when Child Santana was simply beginning out. So, undoubtedly simply inform them it isn’t going to be straightforward. Take your time, particularly when touring, as touring might be tiring. It’s going to make you not need to go to in any respect.
take it straightforward. Simply take note of folks. Pay attention to the folks you’re employed with and be cautious. Do not be gullible. Watch out while you’re within the music business and it’ll get you far.
Six years in the past, you tweeted about your well being and the way you suffered from “fats boy illness.” How did you deal with it?
I have not had surgical procedure but. Yeah, it is gynecomastia or one thing like that. I nonetheless need to have surgical procedure. However yeah, I’ve at all times been wholesome. I have been figuring out. So, it didn’t actually have an effect on my previous scenario that a lot. However I nonetheless have to complete it and stuff like that.
When your profession is over, what would you most prefer to be identified for?
I suppose simply maintain placing within the work. At all times create totally different lanes. By no means copy something, simply create one thing totally different.
What does success appear like to you in 2024 and past?
So long as the album does properly and the excursions promote out, end these excursions and begin one other mission. Simply getting folks to return again and work together once more. It was undoubtedly successful for me.
Learn New Life journal’s unique interview with Ski Masks The Hunch God, on newsstands now. Along with interviews with the 2024 freshman class and producer Southside, there are conversations with sexyy pink, ski masks theslump god, mustard, rubirose, ken carson, ghostfacekillah, lolabrooke, and extra, plus a glance again on the XXL freshman class of 2023 All of the whereas, how podcasters and streamers play a giant function in rap beefs and dives into the continued scams and fraud plaguing hip-hop. The difficulty is on sale right here together with some freshman exclusives.
