S. Samuel
With the New York rap scene getting new life in the form of rap newcomers like Dipset affiliate Vado and A$AP Rocky, SOHH recently hit up fellow Harlem emcee Smoke DZA for his take on the Big Apple's hip-hop state of mind.
While known for his collaborative efforts with New Orleans’ Curren$y and Mississippi’s Big K.R.I.T., Smoke said his home will always rest in the Empire State.
“I never get this question and it’s funny because you asked this because all of my friends are from the South,” Smoke told SOHH when asked about his thoughts on the state of New York hip-hop. “This is my backyard, New York City, and a lot of people may get it misconstrued and see me rolling with my N.O. n*ggas, from New Orleans, or see me with Big K.R.I.T. and think I’m from Mississippi but in real life I’m from Harlem and those are my brothers. We all have to influence each other but when it comes to New York City, it’s a fresh batch of air coming out that n*ggas aren’t talking about it enough.” (SOHH)
Smoke also went on to name drop a few New York City rhyme spitters who should be on everyone’s radar.
“You got A$AP Rocky, another kid straight from my hood, where he’s amazing and a lot of people really hadn’t heard what he has to offer and bring to the table yet. He’s starting to really get it going on now. I’m happy for Rocky because he’s about to do something that a lot of people didn’t see coming. That’s one. You got [Flushing, Queens’] Action Bronson. He’s classic New York. You got to really listen to this guy. He can really rap. You got Vado. There’s a lot of people coming out from New York City that’s coming up. It’s the new wave of New York and I’m excited to be amongst the elite. I do feel like I’m one of the hottest kids in New York City. I’m about to show and prove.” (SOHH)
Earlier this month, A$AP Rocky hit up SOHH to discuss signing a record deal worth to $3 million to Polo Grounds/RCA Records.
“People tend to make a big deal out of everything. I’m gonna be perfectly honest: I been ‘hearing’ that I’m pretty big. I can go on Twitter and stuff and see that I’m pretty big, but truthfully, I don’t know how big I really am yet. You know? Because it’s happening to me, I can’t really see it like everyone else does. But [being big] is not the most important thing to me at this moment, so I don’t stress that. I’d a dope feeling, but I don’t know if I’m bigger than I was a week ago.” (SOHH)
Over the summer, The LOX’s Jadakiss named a few mainstream rap acts he felt are keeping the Big Apple scene popping.
“I feel New York is doing d*mn good,” Kiss said in an interview. “You still got me here, [Styles P], Sheek Louch, [Fabolous], Uncle Murda, Maino, Joell Ortiz, Nas, [Jay-Z], you know. New cats, Fred the Godson, we good. We’ll be all right. Don’t worry about New York at all. We’re gonna be around. When the trumpets blow, we’re still gonna be here. For real.” (“Femme Fatale Mixshow”)
Check out some recent Smoke DZA footage below:
