Curren$y is tip-toeing round varied luxurious sports activities automobiles, steadily main me over to one thing essential within the distance. He’s rocking a mischievous smile that jogs my memory of a Nineteen Nineties child who simply spent their hard-earned pocket cash on water pistols on the native Toys “R” Us.
Within the shadow of a grandiose Tony Montana-esque mansion inside an unique gated group, the cult New Orleans-raised rapper talks me by means of the intricate zigs and zags of a winding racing observe that’s utterly taken over the entrance backyard. It’s been custom-made for radio-controlled toy truck battles. It even contains a ramp that jumps throughout a flower mattress: a canny shortcut that would have been lifted straight out of the retro racing sport, Micro Machines 64.
“I tore up my fucking garden for this shit bro!” the 44-year-old (born Shante Scott Franklin, often known as Spitta Andretti) beams with apparent pleasure. “The mud observe is vast sufficient for 2 vehicles… me and my associates do time trials till the solar goes down! I bought a 1982 Tremendous Goose bicycle within the kitchen, too.” He continues: “I bought a Sega Dreamcast… however it appears to be like ass on my TV, so I don’t actually play it that a lot. It’s all these little issues that hold me grounded — I’m actually only a huge child.”
This carefree philosophy goes a protracted method to explaining why Curren$y is without doubt one of the most influential unbiased rappers of his era, somebody whose immaculately stoned, self-motivational raps repeatedly amass thousands and thousands of streams. Rapping in a thick, unhurried New Orleans drawl, the place phrases circulate out haltingly like syrup dripping onto sizzling pancakes, Curren$y is that uncommon emcee who makes the great life – really – sound attainable.
He by no means condescends the listener together with his effortlessly fly, stream-of-consciousness bars, even whereas flexing about audacious spending sprees on issues like cigarette boats, workplace chairs (“Drone Footage”), and sterling silver serving trays. On a paranoid but triumphant new music, “Drop Zone” – a spotlight from the brand new album By no means Catch Us, which was produced fully by pal and yacht rap innovator Harry Fraud – Curren$y references this pure capacity to encourage on a regular basis folks: “I can flip a clean piece of paper to a complete different crib/ Flip a clean piece of paper to a completely stocked fridge.”
This successful mentality is a key motive why the artist has been in a position to obtain main label success on his personal phrases [Empire is one distributor for Curren$y’s Jet Life Records label] and construct a dedicated fan base that can all the time put money into no matter Spitta is doing, whether or not that’s vinyl drops, excursions, or pushing a weed pressure referred to as Andretti OG. Why wouldn’t they? Curren$y is their life coach, in spite of everything.
“Sure, I’m balling, however I’m not placing it in your face per say [with my raps],” the artist explains of his trademark sauntering circulate and relatable songwriting capacity. “I’m saying: that is the place I’m, and that is what you have to do to get right here! I can’t invite you… as they received’t allow you to in! However if you happen to do xyz you’ll obtain your credentials, and I’ll then see you for a toast on the bar. I suppose it’s generally known as accountable balling. I really feel like what’s the purpose in making thousands and thousands of {dollars} if you happen to can’t present others the best way to get there, too? If you’re sitting within the huge seat, you’re supposed to assist all people round you.”
At this level Curren$y is passionately barking out continuous gems like a preacher drunk on God. If he requested me to put money into one thing business-related, I’d most likely say sure with out hesitating. He continues: “I can present you the best way to take a notepad that prices 59 cents and switch it into 10 mixtapes… after which earn sufficient thousands and thousands to maneuver your mother into the mansion subsequent door!:
“I’m watching the 1989 playoffs remaining between the Lakers and the Pistons proper now. Pat Riley is three inches away from every participant’s face, asking them, ‘How badly would you like this?’ That’s my function in hip hop tradition. I’m the one you come to for a smoke and a pep discuss.”
It’s been a protracted street to this perch inside the trade. Having clocked within the hours as a younger artist amongst legendary labels like Money Cash and No Restrict Information, Curren$y studied how pioneering executives like Birdman and Grasp P approached enterprise akin to internal metropolis gangs flooding native drug markets. That is one thing the rapper referenced on his personal music “Financial institution Assertion,” rapping out the life mantra: “It appears to be like like we’re slanging dope, however we’re slanging data.”
This core philosophy is why Curren$y repeatedly places out 10+ initiatives in a yr prefer it’s no biggie; a blueprint that’s impressed equally prolific friends like Boldy James, Roc Marciano, Westside Gunn, 03 Greedo, Your Outdated Droog, Chris Crack, Larry June, and a bunch of others I’m most likely forgetting about.
Leaving main labels and going it alone throughout the 2010s is what actually lit the (bong) flames of Curren$y’s upward solo profession trajectory, permitting him to point out extra of his placid persona on wax (notably alongside shut pal, collaborator, and Cheech to his Chong, Wiz Khalifa) and unleash the traditional Pilot Discuss mixtape sequence. A whole lot of his greatest songs (see “Airborne Aquarium” or the Alchemist-produced “Whale Watching”) have beats that sound like these weirdly chill synth harmonies littered throughout the gloopy underwater ranges on 16-bit online game classics like Ecco The Dolphin and Sonic The Hedgehog 3.
This comparability is welcomed with actual love. “Do you keep in mind Wave Race on the Nintendo 64?” Curren$y asks me. I nod enthusiastically, immediately reminded of its blocky sunshine that regarded like SunnyD orange juice. It was one thing my thoughts was blown by as a child. “That orange fucking sundown, bro? I need my music to really feel as chill as that! It must be such as you’re searching on the ocean from a jet ski and fascinated with life. Somebody as soon as instructed me they thought my music was just like the lure Legend Of Zelda and that shit was the best praise on this planet.”
Breaking down the ties between rap and gaming even additional, he says, “Bear in mind, we didn’t develop up with cash, so these video video games had been our all the things! That was our trip. Our function fashions. Like fuck, I legit wished to be Ecco the Dolphin! Rap and video video games are the identical factor to me.” I be aware how a few of Pi’erre Bourne’s greatest beats sound like they’re referencing the rating for Donkey Kong Nation. “Precisely!” Curren$y barks again.
Curren$y raps over these woozy lo-fi concoctions like he simply awakened after a 12-hour sleep in a Californian King; ripping a morning ice bong in a bath that has a birds-eye view of tropical waters. To paraphrase Frankie Beverly and Maze, this well-adjusted particular person is aware of precisely the best way to channel the groove of these golden occasions of the day if you’re most relaxed.
“I’d be obliged if you happen to stepped exterior” Curren$y as soon as rapped on “Step Outdoors”, sounding like a French Lord graciously difficult a love rival to a duel with a flintlock gun. At a time the place we’re surrounded by political leaders all too able to crash out, this unphased, hammock-bound aura is sort of a balm for the soul; a calmer reply to all of the chaos. Being an grownup simply isn’t a lot enjoyable proper now, so listening to a rapper intent on retaining his harmless internal little one alive is an attractive choice.
“We had been speaking concerning the toy vehicles earlier,” Curren$y remembers. “I consider the best way you keep sane on this trade is by retaining that little child within you alive. That’s a should. Somebody has to carry the torch throughout these darkish ass occasions, so it’d as effectively be me, proper?” To have fun the discharge of By no means Catch Us, I spoke at size to Curren$y in a dialog the place no topic (dying, Soulja Slim, crying as a person) was off the desk. The following dialog has been flippantly edited for readability.
There’s this line in your new music, “True Lies”, the place you examine life in 2025 to a “Sunday breeze.” Is that basically how you are feeling proper now?
CURREN$Y: Yeah, completely. As a result of with regards to releasing new initiatives, quite a lot of rappers have to sit down and plan throughout limitless conferences. However I can get up tomorrow and resolve to shoot a music video, which will probably be launched the identical night. I may even movie one thing for a music that’s 10 years outdated. I’ve pure management and creative freedom. I’ve confirmed you don’t must cross over [into the mainstream] to achieve success! I’ve proven you possibly can maintain your self and attain these profession heights with out leaping over the hurdles and placing on a fucking costume.
These different rappers must sacrifice one thing to get to the highest, proper? So, after they see me over right here chilling, it’s a bizarre factor typically. Bear in mind, I noticed lots of people on the prime stage. I watched No Restrict rake in thousands and thousands! I watched Money Cash do it too! Now, it’s my flip. I’ve seen the place the velocity bumps are. I’ve seen the street map from two or three totally different vantage factors; so I really feel I’ve bought this sorted, you recognize?
This all feels a great distance out of your childhood within the Magnolia Initiatives. I keep in mind on “So Straightforward” if you rapped about how your “entire world froze” when one in every of your folks referred to as Derek was murdered at simply 12-years-old. Would you say there was quite a lot of hope in your childhood?
CURREN$Y: I nonetheless have survivor’s guilt, for certain. You already know, Derek didn’t even get to change into an adolescent! He doesn’t know concerning the thrill of turning 20. None of it. However my dawg was to date forward of the remainder of us, that he form of designed his personal demise. Rising up I keep in mind my mothers would all the time inform me: “So and so’s son simply died”. However regardless that dying was in shut proximity, I by no means thought it could hit us immediately.
Derek getting murdered at 12 really occurred on the primary day of seventh grade. I bought residence and watched it introduced stay on the information. Truthfully, I’m simply fortunate to have the momma I’ve! She is the form of mother or father who, if her son mentioned he wished to be a dinosaur, she would make you consider it was potential. Due to that, I all the time knew I may make it out [the hood] and go do one thing higher. After I noticed Jermaine Dupri on MTV Cribs, I knew that the rap life-style was what I wished, so I went out and made it occur!
Certainly one of your entries into the music trade was being signed to No Restrict Information and dealing with the legendary Soulja Slim. I really like your underrated collaboration, “Motherfuck You,” the place you speak about you and C-Murda sneaking weapons into the Grammys. What did that interval educate you about life?
CURREN$Y: That something can occur on this metropolis of New Orleans! It doesn’t matter what you do or how a lot you assist others, as a result of there’s all the time going to be any person who’s jealous and doesn’t like how you progress. When Slim died it slowed quite a lot of motherfuckers down; it ruined lots of people’s profession trajectories! We had by no means seen somebody begin a report label and get distribution so shortly like that. It felt actually merciless to his household and associates, as a result of he was destined to be the King! I keep in mind being at his home proper after he bought murdered. The police had been nonetheless taping that shit up! It was like: “Rattling. What are we alleged to do now?”
It all the time surprises me once I discover out a random motherfucker is upset with me, to be sincere! I’m actually simply sitting at my home, racing toy vehicles and enjoying NBA Jam. How did my title even come up? It’s like some niggas will get up, step on a nail, they usually then go blame it on Curren$y. All these experiences taught me to maneuver correctly! There’s nothing you are able to do to alter the hate, so that you simply must construct your fucking partitions up, hold the weed lit, and hold your eyes open.
