Tunnel Imaginative and prescient
After a brief break, Key Glock’s shifting forward together with his solo profession whereas ensuring the Paper Route Empire identify lives on without end.
Interview: Robby Seabrook III
Editor’s Be aware: This story will seem within the Spring 2023 challenge of XXL Journal, on stands now.
Even with a number of gold and platinum plaques, greater than 140 million streams and a rising celeb profile, Key Glock remains to be identified for being low-key. In a world the place rappers are continually within the public eye, the 25-year-old Memphis native, born Markeyvius Cathey, has been extra centered on making music and touring than being within the highlight. Regardless of that, Glock nonetheless has followers all around the world.
A detailed take heed to his newest album, Glockoma 2 (the sequel to 2018’s Glockoma) launched this previous February, reveals glimpses into what’s on the thoughts of the largely guarded MC. Good reminiscences of his late cousin, Younger Dolph, and disdain towards anybody who slights Key Glock are closely included, however there’s additionally anger over Dolph’s homicide. Dolph proudly repped Memphis as a largely impartial artist who constructed his personal profitable label, Paper Route Empire. Glock signed to the label in 2017, after 5 years of rapping and a yr after releasing his debut mixtape, Complete Lotta Errthang. Since then, he has dropped 5 albums, two mixtapes and collabo LPs Dum and Dummer and Dum and Dummer 2 with Dolph.
When Younger Dolph was killed on Nov. 17, 2021, the world was knocked off its axis for Key Glock. And regardless of his heartbreaking loss, Glock had his most profitable yr in his profession together with his mixtape Yellow Tape 2 touchdown at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart. He additionally racked up two gold plaques for songs “Since 6ix” and “Gang S**t No Lame S**t,” plus a platinum plaque for “Russian Cream.” Reeling from Dolph’s demise, Glock took a five-month break from rapping, releasing just one tune, his 2022 heartfelt tribute to his cousin, which appeared on the report “Proud” off PRE’s Lengthy Dwell Dolph compilation. Upon Glock’s return to music, the rapper put out the Yellow Tape 2 deluxe album after which dropped the PRE5L EP final November adopted by Glockoma 2. Now, Key Glock is fueled to hold on the legacy of PRE, following in Dolph’s footsteps.
Nestled right into a convention room at Empire Distribution’s Manhattan workplace on a March afternoon (Empire distributes PRE’s music), Key Glock comes off unfastened and engaged. Decked out in a purple Louis Vuitton wool sweater and inexperienced corduroy pants, together with his CutThroat chain gleaming beneath the fluorescent lights, the artist is recent as at all times. Most of PRE’s roster is current, together with Dolph’s enterprise accomplice Daddyo, rappers Kenny Muney, Snupe Bandz and sought-after producer BandPlay. With Glockoma 2 serving as hushed background music, Glock is measured and trustworthy as he discusses his accountability to push the PRE identify ahead, not getting the respect he deserves as a rapper, the true cause he by no means has options on his tasks and extra.
XXL: Whenever you first began rapping, what did you need out of your rap profession?
Key Glock: It began off as for enjoyable. It was the individuals round me that made me notice I must take it severely.
What had been the individuals round you saying about your music on the time?
I used to be simply getting numerous constructive suggestions. Wasn’t nothing unfavourable being stated about my music. It simply went to my head and I ran with it.
When did you begin to really feel profitable along with your rap profession?
After I recorded my first monitor. It was known as “Actin.” I did it, I believe my eleventh grade or twelfth grade yr. I put it out on YouTube and that’s how it began.
You could have numerous followers and your accolades present that you just’ve made an impression, however how do you are feeling about your profession? What do you consider your place?
I’m doin’ aight. Nah, for actual, I do know it’s approach way more that’s gotta be executed. I simply gotta do it.
What do you are feeling that you just haven’t executed that you just really feel it is advisable do?
Nothing ’trigger I don’t remorse nothing proper now. All the things occurs for a cause.
Through the years, your pure ability as a rapper has continued to enhance. What do you assume has modified about you that made this potential?
I’ma be trustworthy. I’m simply getting richer and wiser. I’m simply rising up. I be taught new issues and do new issues on daily basis. It’s simply a part of my way of life. I simply put it within the rap.
Did you are feeling within the earlier days, since you weren’t on the degree of fame and success you might be at now, that your circumstances had been holding you again?
Nah, not likely. I at all times knew I used to be him. I already knew I used to be the one. All the things simply takes time. And course.
How did you keep affected person, particularly contemplating how rapidly different rappers had been blowing up on the time you had been in 2017?
I wasn’t doing the s**t that they was doing. My deal ain’t arrange the way in which they deal arrange, and I understand how to save cash.
As a rapper who isn’t actually out and on the scene usually, you’ve nonetheless turn out to be a preferred act. What made you such a low-key individual?
I’m actually a ghost. You gotta catch me. You ain’t finna see me or run into me nowhere. I don’t do an excessive amount of shifting round until it’s value it. I wasn’t at all times like that. It’s simply that over time, I been by loads and I get to studying a lot, then I notice that I don’t need to do sure issues no extra.
Memphis rap goes by a renaissance, however you had been developing earlier than that and have maintained relevance by it. The place do you assume you match into the image of your hometown’s scene?
I don’t slot in. I really like all people, however I don’t slot in. I received my very own Memphis.
You’ve stayed in your individual world, however individuals have by no means taken offense to it.
They take offense, however they’ll by no means say nothing. I simply s**t on ’em, hold s**ttin’ on ’em.
You’ve been with PRE because the early days, and positively a part of the rationale the label grew to become fashionable. What do you see as your obligations now as their marquee artist?
My job is simply to make it possible for the model stays alive, stays standing tall, like bro’ll [Young Dolph] need it. All the things else don’t actually matter to me so long as I be certain this model is right here to remain, without end.
Outdoors of the music, is there one thing else you’ve been doing or must do to maintain pushing PRE ahead?
It ain’t simply me. You bought Kenny [Muney], you bought [Jay] Fizzle, you bought BandPlay. Glock ain’t the one one which gon’ be certain it keep related. It’s all people job. This what all people’s on. I don’t have a look at nothing like a one-man factor. Except it’s a Glock tape.
Two constants on Glockoma 2 are the methods you retain Dolph’s identify alive and the urgency within the music. The place does the extra centered vitality within the music come from?
I used to be mad. I used to be mad making most of these songs, so, that’s the place that vitality got here from.
Whenever you completed these songs, and now they’re on Glockoma 2, did it really feel cathartic or do you continue to have that mad vitality?
Nah, I nonetheless received work to do. This the appetizer.
So, there’s extra music coming?
Hell yeah. Lots of it.
In your tune “Ratchet,” you say, “S**ttin’ on the business, can’t crop me out the image.” Do you are feeling just like the business and rap media retains you out of sure conversations?
Yeah, they do it. They struggle, nevertheless it don’t get to me. That’s what they don’t perceive. That s**t made me stronger. It actually do one thing to me to know that muthaf**kas secretly take heed to you and such as you, however don’t wanna like acknowledge you. Gotsta be since then. doing one thing proper. That’s how I have a look at it.
You’re very identified for not having options in your tasks, however you’ve been featured on different artists’ songs like Megan Thee Stallion’s “Ungrateful” and Younger Nudy’s “Pot Roast.” Why do you favor to do options for different rappers, however not have them do this for you?
After I was open to doing stuff like that, muthaf**kas was steppin’ on my foot, giving me the chilly shoulder, and like that’s one other cause why I don’t simply f**ok with individuals within the business. That s**t confirmed me actual early after I jumped within the sport. And I simply saved that chip on my shoulder ever since then.
What a part of your profession do you are feeling such as you had been getting the chilly shoulder?
Yeah, it was early on. It take me to undergo one thing one time to be taught. If I’m going by it once more, and it’s the identical end result, it’s my fault.
Overlaying the options you’ve executed during the last couple of years, is there something that stands out for you?
Actually all of ’em, as a result of if I don’t simply genuinely mess with you, I’m
not even gon’ get in your monitor.
Would you ever do one other collab album?
Oh, that’s over. I don’t know who gon’ get that outta me. BandPlay! Paper Route! Everyone else, it is a wrap.
The Glockoma 2 Tour is happening now. Fellow Memphis rapper some months, for positive. Huge Scarr was initially on the tour earlier than his current passing. How did you two begin to construct with one another?
It wasn’t even no music. Simply rising up in South Memphis, simply watching one another develop up, being locked in.
“Ambition For Money,” out of your 2021 venture, Yellow Tape 2, was licensed platinum this previous February. What did that imply to you?
Earlier than I even put it out, me and Dolph had been going back-and-forth about that tune and one other one, about which one I needed to be the one. I used to be like, “Bruh, I take heed to you each time. We gon’ go together with my recommendation this time.” I used to be like, “Bruh, I don’t know what it’s. I simply really feel one thing about this tune. It ain’t no regular entice Glock tune.” And shortly as we all know it, that muthaf**ka simply received to shootin’ up by itself.
How do you wanna be seen as an individual and as an artist?
I ain’t gon’ lie, I don’t even care about that. I ain’t even tryna be humorous. I swear to God. At this level, I swear to God, I don’t give a f**ok what they assume. Of us gon’ hate both approach. You gon’ need to take care of that.
Was there ever a degree the place you thought-about not rapping in any respect anymore?
Yeah. Finish of 2021, I used to be like, “F**ok this s**t.” However the identical s**t that made me say, “F**ok this s**t,” is similar cause why I continued to go onerous. [I didn’t rap for] 5 months. I ain’t soar straight into it. It took some months, for positive.
How lengthy do you assume you’re gonna rap?
I received about seven extra years left. [Age] 32.
Why 32?
I’m tryna be a dad round that point. I’m tryna be chillin’, enjoyable with my cash. I ain’t tryna be on stage rapping.
It’s strenuous.
I believe I been executed had sufficient enjoyable by the point seven years come. I ain’t notice artists, on the common, they’ll tour like as soon as each year-and-a-half or each two years. I executed had rattling close to three excursions in a year-and-a-half. I’m drained!
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Check out extra interviews in XXL journal’s spring 2023 challenge, together with the duvet story with Lil Durk, conversations with Coi Leray, Joyner Lucas, Fridayy, Lola Brooke, Luh Tyler, Destroy Lonely, DJ Drama, Blxst, Curren$y, Finesse2tymes, Vic Mensa, Toosii and actor Tyler Lepley, plus a have a look at how famed hip-hop legal professional Bradford Cohen helps shoppers like Drake and Kodak Black beat their instances, veteran photographer Johnny Nuñez tells the behind-the-scenes tales of 10 of his iconic hip-hop photographs, six rappers from six completely different eras—Melle Mel, MC Shan, RZA, Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B and Cordae—focus on the change in hip-hop over 50 years and a deep dive into town of Memphis turning into a breeding floor for brand spanking new rap expertise.
See Pictures From Lil Durk’s XXL Journal Spring 2023 Cowl Story
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