Up next in 10
? Don't miss this exclusive interview on "Sway In The Morning" with Oakland's own Ovrkast, where he reveals the incredible story of how he got Drake on his track! ? Get ready for a deep dive into the mind of a rising hip-hop star as he discusses his new project "KASTGOTWINGS," his journey through the underground music scene, and his collaborations with big names like Earl Sweatshirt, MAVI, and Cardo.
Don't miss Ovrkast’s freestyle session, joined by the legendary Lupe Fiasco, in an unforgettable cypher. This episode is packed with insights into Ovrkast's unique creative process and his thoughts on the evolving music industry.
Tune in for unprecedented interviews and groundbreaking moments that define the future of hip-hop. Subscribe to Sway’s Universe for more exclusive content, and stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes action. ? #Ovrkast #Drake #SwayInTheMorning #HipHop #KASTGOTWINGS
CHAPTERS:
01:35 - Ovrkast Joins the Show
05:07 - Ovrkast's Early Music Career
08:52 - Ovrkast's New Project "KASTGOTWINGS"
11:35 - Securing the Drake Placement
19:10 - Ovrkast Collaborates with Lonr.
23:04 - Ovrkast's Aspirations for Stardom
24:34 - Mike Muse Discussion
26:47 - Fiction Crew Insights
28:04 - Ovrkast, Lupe Fiasco and Lani Light Cypher
46:20 - Why Lupe Fiasco Encourages Freestyling
47:30 - Ovrkast's Closing Thoughts
48:08 - How to Reach Lupe Fiasco
48:20 - Lupe’s Upcoming Project
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Come on, man
0:00
Get out a round of applause. I know you're not. You may not be familiar with the voice
0:04
Right, right. Not quite yet. That was on the Rap Radar freestyle he did
0:10
I've been tracking him. I've been tracking him like GPS. I'm here now
0:17
He's here now. I've been tracking him. He did a song called Reset
0:22
I believe that was what it was called, right? Yeah, Reset, yeah. With Drake. No, it was Red Button
0:27
It was Red Button? Yeah, Red Button. Drake throws his red button and the shoe fits
0:32
Okay. Yes, sir. The Reset was... That's my EP. That's your EP
0:36
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And a young man by the name of Ian Kelly put me up on him
0:41
Y'all know Ian's name. Shout out to Ian Kelly. Yeah, man. And then y'all did a project. Go play art
0:45
Go play art. And I listened to that project, and the first thing I said was
0:49
who produced it? Right? And he started giving me game, and I said, where is he from
0:56
And he said he's from Oakland. And I said, that's interesting because this is exactly the type of art and perspective that I think needs to be heard from Oakland
1:08
From this era of MCs and creatives, something different in the spirit of Ryan Coogler and all the other ones who are coming out
1:17
busting through these ceilings and these walls that we tend to box ourselves in
1:21
And he's gone on to not only produce, but also MC. Nice with his bars, too
1:27
I try to be. I see what you do. You put a lot of effort in him. I took the time and listened
1:33
Okay. All right. I want to welcome him to the show for the first time, Heather B
1:37
Give it up for the one and only Oakland Finals. Overcast! Overcast! This is crazy
1:43
What's up, bro? Yo, thank you. You here. What's up? How do I lift this
1:47
I don't know. Oh, you worry about it. It's broken. It's tricky. Forget that, Mike. I ain't got a little problem
1:52
Nah, this is mad for real. This is crazy. Yo, well, man, you look like my little brother from High Street or something, man
1:59
Tell me your story, man. I mean, I'm from East Oakland. What part
2:04
I'm from Subrany Park. That's where I was, like, really from. But then we moved around, you know, I was on 72nd for a little bit, 72nd International
2:12
You know, it's crazy over there. Then I've been on, like, on Bancroft for a while
2:16
Okay. So, like, you know, I've never lived past, like, the 70s
2:20
I've always stayed in the 70s. Yeah. DB, so Damien Lillard, Sobrani Park
2:27
He's a citizen. He's a citizen. Never been off of Bancroft, so I used to live on 86 between Bancroft. Word
2:35
And when it was still East 14th. Yeah. So in the 80s
2:39
When did you pick up on music? Man, really? It was high school
2:44
I was always kind of into music. Oakland crazy, so I was like the headphone kid
2:50
I was headphones in on the bus. I got to go home
2:54
Like my mom, they was like, where are you at? You know, I couldn't really be doing because Oakland crazy
2:58
So I was always like, I just had my headphones in. To keep you focused? That's what you mean
3:02
Yeah, focus. But also there's nothing else to do. Like, like, I don't want to, I'm not in the streets
3:07
I'm like in the music, you know? Yeah. So like, you know, I was like at a high school
3:14
I switched high school. I went to Ralph Bunch in West Oakland. And I lived in like East Oakland, like 94th. 94th
3:20
And I went to West Oakland, like Bunch, which is like literally the entire city
3:24
So I would get up at like 7 o'clock. That's downtown Oakland, right? Yeah, but it's like at the edge of West Oakland
3:30
like Town Park. Uh-huh, okay. So I'm going from 94th Avenue to Town Park every day
3:35
to go to school. And I'm just every day got my headphones in, I'm writing raps, and I'm like, you know
3:40
But at that school, I had a mentor named Mr. Holiday, and he showed me how to make beats
3:45
With what? Wow. FL Studio. Really? Yeah. So at school? Yeah. I was already into production, but he showed me how to do it
3:51
Like, he just, he's like, I had the idea of it, and then he showed me, like, all right, like, this is how you, like, chop a sample and lay drums down
3:57
And I was like, bet. And then from there, I just went crazy. That Bunch Academy, that's like an art
4:02
Is that an art school? Nah, Bunch is like a continuation school. It's like a, yeah, like
4:08
I was in trouble, like, I got, I flunked, and then I had to go there, because I
4:12
Oh, that's like Frick. No, Frick. No, Frick in middle school. But, yeah
4:16
But I, like, I was doing bad, and I went there. And I got on my music hype and then it all came together
4:23
So who was popping at that time? Yeah. Like who was inspiring you
4:28
Inspiring? I was really into the underground beat scene. So like Knowledge, Flying Lotus, J Dilla, Madlib
4:37
all these underground producers and stuff. You know, that's where my head
4:42
because like the L.A. connection, you know, like the L.A., Oakland, and like a lot of people will come up to the Bay to do shows
4:48
And I would meet them I met Pink Sifu Like in Oakland
4:52
You know Just on some like Random shit But like Yeah like
4:56
That's where my head was at Like I was so into Just beats and production Like
5:00
It was so important I didn't want to hear rap no more I just wanted to hear beats And I just got like
5:04
Deep into like making beats You put out projects With just beats No yeah
5:08
I was putting out like Yo I was putting out beat tapes Just like for years Like I would just put out like Three Like
5:14
Like seven a year Like for like two years It's beat tapes Beat tapes And then, like, after a while, I just started catching steam
5:21
And I had, like, a little online following on SoundCloud just off of, like, beats
5:26
And then, like, I, like, was, like, 17 years old. I didn't know what to do with it
5:31
I'm like, I don't know what to do with this. So, like, I put out, like, a rap album in 2019
5:37
And that, like, blew up from, like, the following I had plus all the, you know, it kind of just all came together
5:42
Like, perfect storm type of shit. But how did you pitch your beats to artists
5:47
Or they just found them online? Most of them was like people finding them online, like word of mouth
5:52
It kind of just happened. I think I was so young and people love like, oh, this young, like, you know, like people
5:58
love that kind of thing. That union. Yeah. So like my name just like circulating crazy
6:04
Wow. Crazy. Yeah, I know. I'm loving this. I'm loving hearing your story
6:09
When you mentioned being sick of rap, right? And not finding anything intriguing
6:14
Yeah. What did you feel like was missing that you would contribute to by then going into the booth yourself
6:20
Man, honestly, I feel like it was like a combination of different things
6:27
Like, for me, I did like rap music, but I think, like, the artists that I did like, like, they dropped very far and few in between
6:37
Like, they didn't drop that often. So it was like, you know, I get like a Tyler album every three or two years or like a Travis Scott album every few years
6:47
And it's like, you know, like as a fan, it's like, damn. But then you got Future and everybody dropping like, you know
6:52
So it felt like the mainstream was having so much fun. But like this stuff I like, it never dropped
6:58
So I was like, dang, like, all right, I'm going to make my own stuff and I'm going to connect with people I like and we're going to make our own stuff
7:04
OK. And then like, you know, it just kind of happened. honestly like it just like I just a kid to make music yeah I bought like I got my first job working
7:14
then I bought a mic I set my closet up and made it like a little booth and stuff and like it was
7:18
all like and I like learn how to mix my vocals myself it was all like in the crib like I had
7:23
to record like quietly my mom and dad like it was eaten in the kitchen You know what I mean I cussing I like cussing I like trying to like be quiet This is interesting though because I hearing what you sharing Overcast and it like
7:37
I personally want my artists to have, like, a year or two years before they drop another
7:42
project because I want to feel like you're experiencing life. No, facts
7:46
I want to feel like you're reflecting. And I'm actually turned off a bit the more music
7:50
When they drop a lot. Yeah. Yeah. But that was something that turned you off. So what is it about, like, frequency with someone being able to produce more
8:01
Yeah, I feel like now it's kind of like, I mean, of course now, like, we have attention
8:06
smashes shorter. Yeah. But, like, I think for me as a kid, it was kind of just like, I wanted more
8:11
I just wanted, like, that wasn't enough. Like, I want to hear, you know, I just was obsessed
8:16
but like i feel like now like it kind of shows like uh like endurance like even back to like
8:26
when lil wayne and them was dropping like mixtape mixtape mixtape i did love that yeah like it kind
8:33
of shows like endurance and i think like every artist has to have like that like moment where
8:38
it's like i'm about to give y'all like five albums and then like you know step back or you
8:42
But it's a cool thing. I feel like there are a lot of artists now who do that formula of just boom, boom
8:50
Showing how prolific you are. Overcast is here. Cast got wings, huh
8:55
Facts. Cast got wings. That's the new project. Yes, sir. Me and Cardo got wings
9:00
We linked up. My manager got us linked up. Shout out to that man over there, Izana. He got us linked up
9:04
He in the corner. He's smiling. You from the town, too? I'm from Hayward
9:09
Hayward with Park. Tennessee? Tennessee? Tennessee's out of Hayward. Tennis in South Africa
9:13
You ever go to Sonata's? That's my spot, man. What? My man
9:18
What's Sonata's? That's like the best burrito you go get. You go get it in the East Bay
9:27
Overcast, what I like about you, being from Oakland, and I like people to hear your story, especially from Oakland
9:36
because we could use as much inspiration as possible in Oakland and the creative realm is just so diverse it always has been
9:44
But I'm not sure if it's always been properly represented. And to me, you represent that diversity
9:51
Thank you. You didn't, your creative process didn't steer you in the direction
9:55
of what most people would stereotypically hear coming out of Oakland. Did you do that on purpose or you just didn't land in that area
10:03
I just didn't land. I like that kind of stuff, but I feel like it was more like that kind of sound
10:10
is more like, what's the word, like in the moment. Like, you know, like a lot of those songs are made
10:19
And I don't know, it's like I was making music that was very like
10:23
let me email you this song. And, you know, like a lot of that music was like very much like in the moment
10:28
Like people go to studios, like SOB, RBE, like a lot of the people in the Bay
10:32
is like, it's like living life music. I'm not saying that mine isn't, but like a lot of that music is like, you know
10:38
I wasn't going to studios I didn't even know nobody I just kind of was to myself
10:43
So I had to use what I had And go to my own resources
10:47
So that's kind of how it happened I just had what I had The production helped bring light to your brand
10:53
How did you get with Babyface Ray? That was Empire I was just like there
11:01
I think his A&R was like Yo, pull up And I pulled up and then he was there
11:05
But also I went on tour with Mavi for the Jack Harlow tour, I DJed for him
11:10
And Babyface Regal also was on the same tour. So I met him there too. I met him again at Empire
11:18
So did Empire get you on that tour too, the Jack Harlow tour
11:22
No, that was just like, my view was on the tour, and he was like, you want to pull up
11:27
And I'm like, hell yeah. Damn, man, shit just falling in place for this guy, Mike
11:31
Yeah, that's kind of what I wanted to ask you about. You remind me of, I always tell myself
11:37
I want to get back to my naivete, right? Get back to how I used to be when I first started in the business and just got out of college
11:44
I didn't know the rules and you would just do things. And so it sounded like a part of your success was you didn't know the rules
11:50
You just dropped music every day or every week and you constantly did it
11:54
And look at all the opportunities come as a result of you just doing you
11:58
Now you have success. Are you in your head now and are you moderating your strategy differently
12:05
or are you still that same naive young boy who was dropping music every day
12:09
It's a mix. What do you think about it? I'm not putting me on music every day. I feel like once I got a fan base, I was like, oh, shit
12:15
I don't want to mess this up. So I didn't drop that often. But I feel like with my music, I can drop a two-minute song
12:25
and my fans will eat off that for a year. They'll just be like, man, that song you put out a year ago
12:29
I still, you know. So, like, I kind of, like, I use that to, like, be careful with what I do
12:36
Because I think, like, my type of fans aren't fans that are, like, they don't eat stuff up fast and, like, throw it and discard it
12:43
They, like, they sit with it. So, it's kind of, like, I take that to heart
12:48
And I kind of, like, want to make stuff that's, like, all right, like, can people sit with this? Or is it something people are going to listen to and, like, discard
12:54
Right. But it's harder that way. But I like it. I just look up to Kanye West and Tyler, the Creator
13:02
all these people who took time and were like, all right, let me sit and make an album. Even if it's a one song, let me sit and make a good song
13:09
so that I can have longevity. I just love catalogs. I just love that kind of thing
13:15
I love this. Overcast is here. You spell it O-V-R-K-A-S-T. Yes, sir
13:21
How did you get the Drake placement? That was, well, it's a long story
13:25
So it was like. We got time. So like I made I made beats For
13:31
First I was producing Stuff on YouTube Like just Like just making beats
13:35
And then Earl Sweatshirt Like found my stuff Shout out to Earl Sweatshirt
13:40
Layla Stineburn Was he in his room? Yeah Yeah That's when he did that
13:44
When him and Tyler Came and did it Yeah That was here bro We painted since
13:48
You know You know what Same space though And got some new backdrops
13:52
That was like What like 19 years old Yeah bro Earl man Salute to Earl Sweatshirt 100
13:58
That dude He stood on his morals And he's been Who he was 100
14:04
And evolved properly Yeah Right And Layla His manager Layla Steinberg A good friend of mine
14:10
Used to work with Pac You know Oh shit Yeah so That's all
14:14
We go back with Earl When him and Tyler Came up You're in that seat bro
14:18
What you gonna do with it though I got it I got some bars
14:21
Not right now Not right now But today Yeah today I like how he just
14:26
produced the show right you told us not now order of operations we gonna do this when it's time to
14:31
get it done no i'm talking i uh i i made oh so earl sweatshirt uh tapped in with me um and also
14:39
like mavi at the same time me and mavi were super close um and then i ended up getting a project on
14:46
earl's project i mean a beat on earl's project um and that like shot that like was my spotlight
14:50
Like, you know, the first battle I had. And from there I was kind of doing my thing And then Lil Yachty Wow He tapped in like two three years ago and was like yeah i like this song you made with earl i want something like this and i sent him i sent him like 20 beats
15:07
but i waited like a day i had like what you know find stuff and i thought i sent it too late and i
15:12
was like oh like whatever you know like uh whatever because he didn't respond and i was like whatever
15:17
and then like last year like randomly he's like yo like i'm trying to get in this this beat back
15:23
And I'm like, oh, like, woke up, like, I got you. Let up, sent it to him
15:27
And then the same day, he's like, yeah, I'll put Drake on these. And I was like, wow. It was like, it was so casual
15:32
He's like, yeah, I just put Drake on these two beats, bro. And I was like, whoa, like, it was crazy
15:38
I'm like, I'm broke as hell, like. That's what I'm thinking. I'm living with my girlfriend, like, on her bed
15:45
I'm like, she's like, what? Like, it was crazy. Like, it was wild
15:49
Like, that moment to, like, now was crazy. I was like EBT God
15:54
It was different It was really different But yeah that's how it happened
16:01
EBT God You still with your girlfriend? Yeah Shout out to her man
16:07
All that cooking she did Washing them dirty socks I know you was a dirty sock dude
16:12
Damn Sway Relax My socks is clean They are now nah nah yeah nah
16:22
she definitely saw me through a lot of like she saw you I'm like nah I'm finna get
16:26
that's fire though that you still with her that's the hook yeah right
16:31
that's the hook yeah cause that's the ones you wanna be with hell yeah exactly
16:35
he reminds you everybody's gonna come around now after the text the Drake text
16:40
when that Drake shit when that Drake shit happened she was like nah I'm like
16:44
I'm mad cause people around you look different I'm like no it's okay he's like nah I'm like this
16:48
and I was like just relax She be clocking it though That's what you do
16:52
That's who I got right here for me She's a sister though
16:58
It's a little different So y'all were together during the pandemic? Nah this was like
17:04
We got to do like 2022 So this was like This all had like
17:09
It was a journey bro Yeah but like When did Try Again come out
17:16
2020 But that got you so notoriety too Yeah, facts. It did, but it was also like, I just imagine like I'm like a kid like in my like room making music on this mic
17:29
Like I don't know what I'm doing, you know, and like blow up
17:33
And now I'm like, damn, what do I do with this? So then I'm like, it looked really polished and clean, but I was just copying what I was seeing
17:40
You know, people are like, are you signing? I'm like, no, I'm not signing. Like I had like a million streams, like two million streams like that year
17:46
and I was just like, no placements. I'm watching people get placements
17:51
I mean, playlist ads and all these good PR looks and I'm just like, I don't know what to do with this
17:57
So I'm like, you know, but it's going up. All I know is that I have to interact with my fans and stuff
18:04
But it was a lot to maintain. I didn't know. Would you say that was the key, interacting
18:09
Because there are so many people who upload a song on, say, SoundCloud on any platform
18:15
You know what I'm saying? and do it continuously with repetition, but don't end up with the same results as you
18:21
Can you be specific with what you felt like really created the audience
18:26
It was pandemic, so my album dropped at the right time. Everybody was inside, and it was like, what are we going to do
18:33
Play this album. And the album is very angsty, teenage music. So a lot of people was locking in
18:39
They were like, I feel the same way as you, bro. But I made a Discord. and Discord
18:45
was like Discord was where like all the people who ed with me
18:49
were like were funneling in and like I was like I was on like
18:53
voice chats with them like we playing like Call of Duty together like
18:57
that's fire I'm texting them that's fire yeah so like they really
19:01
like they grew up behind with me and then it kind of like it just solidified
19:05
who was already there man Overcast let me let Lonnie Light get into the 22 year old
19:11
Fellow artists Fellow artists here Peace Y'all need to get together Do some work
19:16
Nah, facts I wanted to talk on A little bit of history
19:20
You know, that I That I saw you with It's good to see your progression now
19:24
Thank you, bro With a Drake track You know, linking with these different artists
19:28
I actually I saw you perform A beat set About two Almost three years ago
19:34
At a venue called Loudmouth Brooklyn Yeah And in the crowd You know
19:39
It was probably about like 25, 30 people out there You know what I'm saying
19:43
But everybody knew who you were And like your production on YouTube
19:48
It kind of made you like a giant In an underground scene So I wanted to ask
19:53
Are there any artists that you want to collaborate with Or that you want to shout out
19:58
Coming from the underground right now You know what's crazy I just hit up
20:01
Both artists who are in Jersey right now Wiseboy Jeremy And Soulchild Yeah
20:09
I'm trying to She's from Jersey Okay yeah Wiseboard Jeremy and Soulchild
20:13
I just hit them up like Yo I'm trying to do like Cause I love Blackstar I'm trying to be y'all's Blackstar
20:17
I'm trying to make like You know I just always wanted Wanted to find two really good MCs
20:22
And just produce an album for them I just love that kind of You know Yeah So those are two fire like
20:26
You know Artists that are out here That I with Kalani's from Jersey too
20:31
If you want Word That's true Jersey Jersey Cardle Talk about Cardle Man
20:38
Man, Cardo is a really, man, Cardo is like a GOAT, like an actual GOAT
20:43
People just say GOAT, but he actually is greatest of all time. Like, he has produced, like, from the Wiz Khalifa era to the new Playboy Cardi stuff
20:52
Like, as a producer, I don't think I've seen, other than maybe like Kanye West
20:55
like, that sort of, like, transformation or just that sort of, like, it lasting that long
21:03
You know, like, that's super crazy to me. he's like he has a young spirit
21:08
you know like you meet him and talk to him he's like he's like older but he like
21:12
has a young guy spirit and he's mad cool he also understands
21:16
like how the he understands like underground mainstream like you know how that relates
21:22
you know cause he's like he made God's plan bro yeah yeah we play that
21:27
weekly yeah that's our go to God's plan goosebumps, discardo So many
21:35
Like Cardo is like A secret Like silent He called it Like silent assassin
21:38
You never really know What's with Cardo But he did it But it's like
21:42
That's like my goal Like even if I You know As I stop rapping
21:47
I want to still be like Making beats And doing stuff Like in the culture
21:51
You know I love this man Overcast is here man He's from Oakland Hey
21:55
You know what it is Torch Town business You know what this is Torch town business Torch
22:01
Come on You know, I'm just letting everybody know, man. I got his back
22:06
I'm his shooter right now. Right? Cool, man. LaRusso's been doing extremely well
22:11
Thanks. He's a part of that new era, that new way of thinking about being creative and proprietorship
22:18
Have you guys collaborated at all? Not yet, but I'd be fine
22:22
Right? Yeah. I know he got the pergola. That right Yeah But are you noticing what he doing Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah Facts He like yeah it like interesting He just like is working the algorithm crazy like in a way that like makes sense
22:37
Like you can't not see LaRusso. Yeah. Which is cool because it's like, I don't think we've seen that kind of like just like artist
22:45
to fan relationship. I don't, not even like just debate like period in a while
22:50
I don't think I've seen like, I mean, of course, you know, people like artists
22:55
do like meet and greets and stuff and whatever. Like the way his like people
22:59
like his fans like rock with him is like crazy. They really like that, man
23:03
And it's cool. Yeah. You know what I'm wondering overcast? Like how much do you want
23:08
What level of superstardom do you crave? Because I know you also have spoken so much about loving the underground
23:15
and finding that intersection. And we're seeing a lot of artists that don't want the level of attention
23:22
that once was desired. They want to have a little bit more normalcy
23:27
What is it for you? I feel like for me, like the artist that I look up to the most in regards to that is like Tyler
23:34
Tyler, the creative. Round of applause for that man. I mean, that's a big level of like fame, but I don't necessarily want like fame more than like respect
23:46
Like I want people to like, oh yeah, Overcast. Like, I know, you know, like, even if it's not like I'm on every single video and thing all the time
23:54
But, like, I would, you know, want people to know, oh, yeah, I know that is like, you know, he's dope and still be able to do stuff and move around
24:02
And I feel like that's like my goal. But I mean, I feel like whatever happens, happens
24:07
Like if I get a superstar song, I'll run with it for a little bit and see what it does
24:12
But I'm not like that ain't my goal. I feel like it's tunnel vision when you get to that
24:16
When your only focus is like, all right, let me see. Also, fans kind of get tired of that
24:23
They're like, all right, bro, hang it up. We see you trying to get your ninth hit or your sixth hit
24:28
Relax. Just create. Yeah, just make music, bro. Stop trying to do all that
24:34
Mike Muse. Yeah, I think this is a master class on new artistry and how to break into the music business
24:42
respectfully you're almost an artist that operates as an influencer that has an impact on your art
24:49
because this is what influencers do who are good at being influencers but engaging in your audience
24:55
and having that audience engagement the way that you just said discord the way you play call the
25:00
duty the different dynamics of things that you played with yeah is i think i hope new artists
25:06
who are listening to this would go back on sway's youtube and listen to this interview because you
25:10
have taught individuals on how uh to break into the music as an artist but i do want to ask you
25:16
a question about though how do you stay current in terms of keeping your music fresh right like
25:25
do you read is about travel experience like how how do you create and what do you draw upon
25:30
i feel like uh it's kind of like a thing of like having different influences
25:38
I feel like originality is having different influences Not just making one kind of thing over and over
25:45
Even if you're like I feel like if you work at any craft
25:50
And you get good at it At that point you can kind of just mess around And I think fans love when an artist is good
25:56
And they start experimenting And it's like oh damn You know I think like
26:00
Even like with Kendrick on like Damn When he did the Butterfly album
26:06
It's like he got to a certain point where he was so good that, like, he could mess around
26:11
and it would still sound good. So I think that's, like, the goal at least
26:15
I think every artist should, like, at least do that one time, you know. And I also, I love, like, polarization
26:20
Like, I love finding, like, opposite things and mixing them because it's just, like, I don't know
26:25
That's, like, my kind of, like, style. You get ideas from, like, movies, from other genres
26:30
Yeah, I would say, like, movies. Yeah, like, I'm very visual. So, like, when I was younger, I would kind of, like
26:38
I would, like, see photos and make beats off, like, what that photo would feel like, you know? Wow
26:42
So I'm very, like, visual. I got to, like, see what it looks like, you know
26:48
Pete Rock. Go. Low Fiction. Low Fiction was the crew you was with, right
26:56
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Low Fiction. Shout out to them. What was the Pete? Wasn't there a Pete Rock connection to y'all at all
27:00
It might have been. I'm not sure. It might have been, though. Okay. I mean, I feel like it was so many
27:06
it was like a bunch of producers and a bunch of rappers okay and i feel like it was like you know
27:11
i'm not i'm not 100 sure on that but okay there was definitely like a lot of us in there so
27:15
somebody probably so low fiction was just a collective of people from the town or from
27:20
oakland yeah yeah uh it was just it was yo so what it was was like we were all on 15th and
27:26
webster at this gallery called naming gallery uh-huh and it was just like we would all come
27:30
there to just like make beats and make music it was like it was literally our escape from like
27:35
You know, everything. We would come there and make music and, like, hang out and have fun and stuff
27:40
And then one day we just kind of formed a group. And, you know, we were all young
27:45
So, like, you know how groups go when you're young. You were still young. We were younger
27:49
Okay, I'm young. We were all young. We were younger. But we were younger
27:53
And so, you know how groups go. And, like, you know, it's like, I don't know. But it was fun
28:00
And we just kind of, like, all sharpened our tools and, like, got better. and then like did our thing
28:06
Here it is. And here we are, man. Overcast is on Sway in the Morning
28:09
with Heather B and Tracy G. Yeah. I'm here. And he about to
28:14
I'm about to wrap. You about to take a trip into the Valley of the Hyenas. Hyenas. But hold up
28:19
I want to do something different. Wait, what did you say? I'm going to make it sound scary. Yeah, I'm glad you scared
28:25
I'm not scared. That's what I want to do. We got a legend on the other side of that door
28:31
I want to see if he'll come inside and witness this rap
28:35
Oh, shit. Oh, my. You better really put me on the spot. Bring him in. Bring him in
28:39
Let's see if he'll do this, man. I'm talking about one of the most iconic MCs
28:43
to ever pick up the pad and the pen. I just met this man outside. The one and only Lupe Fiasco is outside
28:49
Who are you saying? Lupe Fiasco. Lupe is here, man. Lupe is here
28:55
Yo, this is one of the greatest MCs of all time right here
29:01
Overcast. This man teaches emceeing. I know, bro. This man teaches emceeing
29:08
You know, this is a juggernaut right here. This is, I hope he'll be kind enough
29:14
I just wanted to bring, first of all, good to see you, brother. What's up, sir? As always
29:18
Now, he done destroyed this mic. He done did legendary moments that people to this day approach me with
29:25
That's crazy. This is a wild moment. Yeah. But I thought being the, you know, aficionado that he is, he could witness your verse
29:32
Okay. Oh, wow. You're setting him up for failure. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
29:37
That's crazy. I'm not about to fail my bro. No, no. I'm setting him. We're going to find out what he made of
29:45
That's so wild. Hip hop. You know what? I got to stop
29:48
I'm okay. Nah, you're good. No, no, no. We'll stop. Okay, come on
29:53
I'm sorry, Overcast. I didn't mean it like that. What'd you mean? No, I'm just playing
29:57
I didn't mean it. But you know he's been on every stage. Who knows what it is
30:00
Look at him. He worries for you. Yeah. It was endearment. Even if I don't do good, I don't care because I'm here
30:06
No, no, no. Care. Don't do that. Don't go the other way. Like, care
30:10
Why is that important? You care. Just care all the way. And the care is going to push you, too
30:14
All right, bet. All right, so we kicking ridden as a freestyling. What you doing
30:18
This is a ridden. Okay. Okay. You going to spit it, too? You going to freestyle? Okay
30:22
I don't know what I'm going to do. Oh, my gosh. They just brought this in here. Yo, shit
30:26
I was listening to Overcast in the lobby. Oh, . I was listening to his music in the lobby
30:30
Okay, cool. Okay, Overcast, you going to go first. I didn't even know whoosh
30:34
That implies that I'm going second. I may not go. We'll see what happens
30:39
Okay, well. Now, he set me up. He set me up for fifth
30:43
I might not have it today. You might not have it? I might be rusty today. But here's the thing
30:47
You're Lupe. Yeah, whatever you say. Stop stalling. Play the beats. You ready
30:53
I like this. I've been a bad kid in my past life
31:26
Mad lines written down Looking in my dad's eyes Baptized faintly Mad times thinking what I can't be
31:31
Or what I can't become I know the saying goes You gon' get it how it comes So I want that rose gold
31:35
Waitin' pretty for my mom Sittin' by the pond Ponderin' how different I've become
31:40
And honestly, that honest part to me Is pretty stunned They like, pull up I might slide right by then
31:44
Cause I've been silent And took my devices Advice is shut up
31:48
You couldn't inspire me to write shit Pull up and the mic get put up
31:52
I might get a foot up on you. My leg wasn't working. Leg wasn't working. So I stood up stomping
31:56
I shook up conscience. I took up confidence. A push-up. Pull out post
32:00
Hook up prompt me. I'm hooked on phonic. I'm hooked on chronic. I'm a promise of what's to come
32:05
I touched my tongue. I bled. Bled. Cut my thumb. My cup gon' run it over
32:09
If only I was sober. If only I was told that a man take land when he older
32:15
I done known something. Yeah. Yeah. Overcast! Yeah! Ooh! With a thong song, blown song
32:23
Amazing. Dynamite. That's a higher type, bro. That's a highlight for a higher life
32:27
If you ain't seen it, then you don't know what you striking like. Because you might strike gold, or you might strike diamonds
32:32
or you might strike raps when I write my rhymes in. Y'all know I might be hieroglyphics, but I'm pyro
32:37
That means so fire, terrific, so specific in my details. I see shells
32:43
When I see whales, that means I'm on the beach and the shore like that. Because I'm short like that, and you just short like that
32:48
And you ain't tall like that Because you small like that Because you round like that
32:52
But you don't ball like that Because you ain't all like that Well, I'm everything I say I am
32:56
Like a superstar I don't know who you are But let's get it If we gon' get it, we commit it
33:00
Produced by Eminem and Sirius X And on the digit I get digits and I kick my specific lyrics
33:05
And it's too extensive for you to forget it Hey, what's up? What's up
33:10
Hold on, keep going, hold on Hold on Oh, shit That was so good Huh
33:15
What's the next beat? Throw another beat off I like that. Overcast said, what's the next beat
33:20
Are we doing this one? Yeah. Come on. Yeah, yeah. You from the town. You got to go around this side
33:24
Oh, that's easy, easy, easy. That's easy. I do this thing. I'm straight, straight. He's so greedy
33:29
I'm straight. You know what I'm saying? Oh, shit, he's going. I'm bleeding. I'm unbelievable. You just might bleed
33:33
I'm just like Jesus. You don't know the procedure. I'm too prestigious. No procedure. Everybody want to know what's up with me
33:38
He just do his thing. He done dope. He in Oakland. He is open. City of Oakland
33:42
California. Everybody know a song We gon' flip and rock and wreck and hit it from the backside
33:47
Everybody know what's up when I go attack I attack my beats and I attack them to the floor
33:54
And I move like I do that shit Cause they know I'm from the go That's that C-H-I-C-I-B
33:59
From that B-I-I-C-I-B And I do what my shit flexing when I feel
34:04
Feed my goons and feed my hyenas We do the steenas My demeanors just to clean up
34:09
I'm like at the cleaners demeanors They say all this fear and love is where I
34:12
Don't know what they mean. They keep falling for it. Know it's more than what they say it's sin
34:17
I might got it for them. Not important if they can't believe. I might slide on top the entire night
34:22
I know they hate to see it. They was carrying shit. outside with a mop and he trying to get scary with it
34:27
Air in the whip. I went inside. I was hiding inside of a barrier quick. I come from the area
34:31
Sway. I come from the area. Barely equipped for the nonsense. s wanting to play with your conscience
34:36
Can I say to your face when you're launching? , it's a missile. Hey, wait. I can't even sit down
34:40
I'm on the move. Sway in the morning. I come on the side and I hop on the side of the booth
34:44
Wait. The booth. Wait. No true. Rule. We just do it like we do
34:49
Say the truth. I got proof. Feel like trade the truth in Texas That my day though See I flip up on these s Then they say no What do I to say so I flip flop on these beats like I a treat Like I a genus Like I some more vows But I not I in the trenches
35:03
What you know about my interests? Ain't no difference. See, I got interest. I'm growing on myself
35:08
I don't sell. I don't PayPal. Keep my shit in cash. , better stay down on the fast
35:13
Then I do it moving in that Ferrari. Down the streets, I'm having blasts
35:17
Having coke, cocaine, flipping flex, getting checks. Everybody know what's up. I tell you, hold it again, I'm dressed under spine
35:24
Stripper, slipper, slipping through the slide When I flex on these beats, and they know I'm from the shot
35:29
Ay, ay, good at the shot It's from the front of town, know it's going down
35:34
Round and around, rock and roll we for these s, though I'm coming through, I'm from the coast
35:39
Yeah, I'm from the west, wait, now I'm from the west West, ay, from the west side, just like me
35:45
But I'm from from that city, and you know we do this shit for free That's no written, no forgetting, because I'm just spitting
35:51
It's not remember. It's not memory. It's all it's energy. That shit go timber with the truth. Energy
35:57
Wait, when I rap, this shit get in and me. Then I'm in. s wanna get on top of me
36:02
That is not styling. He's a rapper, G. I'm a rapper, rapper
36:08
Hey, give me some old school shit. this shit. Okay, okay, all right, all right, all right, all right
36:13
We all in. Shit just bop. That just bop. That just all bop
36:18
I was happy on the one too. I'm loving this. That shit just popped
36:22
it man You feel the rap? Why not? By the way Lupe got a new album
36:33
It's all Samurai It's out today It's out already The Samurai tour starts tomorrow
36:40
In Brooklyn We're going to Hartford after that We're going to Philly after that
36:46
Boston after that You can go to LupeFiasco.com Slash shows We're on tour for the next like
36:51
couple months. Come see your boy around the country. The project is incredible
36:55
Inspired by Amy Winehouse. Yes, and very much so. Rest in peace
36:59
Rest in peace, Amy Winehouse. And this project is you wrote it through what you would believe
37:05
to be her perspective? Or how would you explain it? Yes, there's a documentary that she did
37:11
a documentary about her that was done a few years ago. And there's a scene in there where she leaves
37:20
a voicemail for Salaam Remy. And then the voicemail, she's, you know
37:23
she's talking and she says like, yo, I keep coming up with all these like
37:27
battle raps. Really, really neat, beautifully alliterated little battle raps. You know, like
37:32
Wu-Tang shit. She's like, I don't know what to do with it, but if you want to battle, you know, come
37:35
through. And I'm sitting there watching it and I was like, yo, what if Amy Winehouse
37:39
was a battle rap? Yeah, that's crazy. Like, what would that sound like? What would it feel like? What would it be like? So I was
37:43
like, that's an album. Let's do it. That's incredible, by the way, man
37:47
Check it out, y'all. And you teamed up with Who to Do It though. Soundtrack. Soundtrack. So Soundtrack
37:52
has done the last couple albums all the way through you know for various reasons that we
37:58
can kind of get into but yeah Soundtrack did the whole project I did at the crib you know
38:01
in my living room during the pandemic I think little pieces yeah. You did
38:06
this during the pandemic. Yeah. So much creativity came out of that pandemic. Thanks. The project is awesome
38:12
I listened to it three times already and I haven't got my fill and that's what I
38:17
And it's short too. And it's short. That's right. Eight songs, I guess. So it's an incredible project
38:22
Thank you. Lupe is here, man. 888-742-3345. Yo, listen, let me say this
38:27
Thank you. For what? Thank you. For a thousand reasons. Okay. But thank you because, in my opinion, we all have a role to play in this
38:39
I remember Lupe was overcast. You know, I remember when Lupe was new to the scene
38:44
Yeah. Right? And now he's one of the juggernauts, most respected MCs that ever come out of the culture and always done it his way
38:52
Facts. Being with 30 Tigers and having problems with the industry, so he decided to walk out on his own and do it his way, similar to you
39:01
But Lupe ain't got to sit here in a cipher with young MCs that he just met today
39:07
That's good. But to me, that's a bridge that the culture needs
39:11
You need the Lupe's to talk to the Overcast and the Lonnie Lights. Me to talk to you
39:15
We need to have Those bridges What you pull up for Why he pull up
39:19
You don't even like That's my You know my I was like
39:24
10 years old At the crib And you know Music Choice Yes
39:27
Music Choice Kick Push came on I was a little kid I was just like Man this shit going crazy
39:31
Oh thank you That was my first intro Thank you Kick Push
39:35
Little overcast Little me Little me I tried I couldn't escape I tried to escape
39:41
I couldn't do it Yeah me neither Okay There we go I skate a little bit
39:47
Yeah me at a skate park I busted my ass On MTV Surely did You remember that Shit Trying to skate Busted my ass on MTV Surely did Ha ha ha ha ha Shit trying to skate Busted my ass Whatever DB
39:59
No, you that came through. Ha ha ha ha. Yo, what the ? I got that
40:03
Superstar laughs. Y'all right, I like that. Yo, DB, drop a beat on him
40:07
Oh, shit. Damn. Can I spit something? I spit all day. I am rap
40:13
Oh, he finna do something. Lonnie, lie. Okay, go on, Lonnie. Yo, this is Freestyle
40:18
No, it's not written. I ask God, yo, can I be forgiven
40:22
I'm with Lupe Fiasco, about to cause a fiasco. We're overcast, changing the weather
40:27
Me, my s, yo, we trying to bring this shit together. It's coming off the mind, yo, we bring it all together
40:32
Look, black man is God, but black man, you need a job. Cause every day is work, yo, we learn that from the gun
40:37
Boy, I got that fire shot, tickle, bum, bum, jump. Gun, no, no, no, lyrics, I bust from the gun
40:42
That's the next style I got. They don't know about. I keep flowing like it's coming out of spout
40:47
Look, look, I said it's coming out my, uh, uh, I said it's coming out my, look, look
40:53
Lupe, what you got for the mic? You gonna toss it to me? You gonna toss it to me
40:57
You gonna toss it to me awkwardly across the street with the old ladies, old babies, no
41:02
lady, ay, ay, I'm so wavy, no navy, that mean I'm in the waves though, how I save those
41:08
slave those, uh, I keep my cage closed, they can't lock it, not a bird when I tweet, what
41:13
happens when this dreams deferred do it explode or do it move or do it merge i never know i'm kind
41:19
of like a nerd but they think that i'm a geek but i'm also street but i'm so unique you can't match
41:24
that habitat that i came from you ain't bust shots from the same gun as name one my name rung in the
41:30
streets just like bells do in philadelphia i'm here i'm trying to tell you i mail you these bombs
41:35
like i'm the una and you already know i do my sooners uh but then i chop it up with the fards
41:40
I'm way too hard. I pray to God and I swear to God at the same time
41:44
I'm not a God, but I spit with the same lines. The same time and the same crimes just make mine
41:49
This ain't mine. Sometimes you mess up. That's just a bless up. Sometimes you gotta confess up, confess up
41:54
But not confess to the Lord or the law, but confess and keep it to yourself. Secrets where they are
41:59
We stars and we a bar. We barbarian bars and bombard these s with the bars of ours
42:04
They can't rock with us, sock with us, lock with us. s think they hopping us, but they ain't topping us
42:09
I want to say one thing to you, and this is the truth. Before I got in the booth, I was a youth
42:15
And I remember that day. Wake Up Show, Tech and Sway. And who was on that
42:22
I would yell, Chino XL, IT. A great, a great, a great, a great legend and an inter
42:30
This was the line that sent me off of the top and made me want to be a rapper
42:34
I remember he said, you can be a star if you got thrown by Chinese ninjas
42:39
It injured my, my wackness. Made me get back to the rap shit
42:44
Get back into my bag and start scribbling. And start dribbling these lyrics like balls around the court
42:50
Michael Jordan, y'all, Michael Jordan, y'all. Might dunk the ball, might, might jump up and scrunk
42:54
No, I'm not a skunk at all. That don't stink, it's just ink. That means it's incorporated
42:59
I'm sure to hate it, sort of hate it. But I'm going to pass the mic and blast to Overcast so he can rap at last and kind of fast
43:06
It's kind of cloudy outside. You know the word. Not kind of slow. When I leave here, , I gots to go home
43:12
I'm on the phone with my mama like, damn, mom, I was on Suede just now
43:16
Lupe was there. It was all fun. She said, boy, you the one, not the two or the three
43:24
I mean, wait, come see me in 3D on the TV. I don't need a CD
43:28
I need a cell phone. Wait, go to hell home And come back with your flow all right
43:33
Wait, I'm finna I'm finna float hard night I'm finna go all right
43:38
I'm finna sneeze, cough, whatever I don't know I don't really be freestyling
43:44
Yes you do It's a treasure too That's how you measure you
43:51
It's a pleasure to be around the youth To hear him kick rhymes inside of this booth
43:56
Sometimes you gotta break a tooth when you spitting so hard like that
44:01
It ain't got to be too complex. It just needs to stay in context. You know what I'm saying
44:06
And it's a compress. That's compression that means you squeeze it out. Just like a Uzi bullet when it's ringing out
44:12
That's that wheel and deal. Sometimes you got to keep it so damn true
44:17
Don't do it how they want it. Do it how it feel. So, I said I get on the mic, yo
44:23
This is how I feel. I spit something, yo. Something that's real. It's coming off the top
44:28
It's coming off the mind. It's coming from Ja. Yo, you know it's so divine. So I serve the most high
44:34
I keep a gym star. We be in the city where the danger never fall
44:37
I hail King Selassie. We do it like a chore. I'm going to get the money buzzing
44:41
I'm going to feed the poor. Don't let me get it. Because I going to give it to my people Because you know it true and living inside of me G Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh he doing he doing today mathematics Uh addict back at it
44:56
Just like in crack addict, trying to tag it. That's a task force trying to wrap it off
45:00
trying to slack it off, but we ain't never slacking off. We going back it off. If you see us coming through your city and your sector
45:05
get yourself a protector. Maybe something for your chest, maybe a vest, uh
45:09
maybe some type of helmet. Cause we going to be hell bent. I'm flipping s over and robbing s and rapping and clapping and breaking down
45:15
We gon' do this shit in every single town I'm on tour and it's pure and you come out, there's no manure
45:21
We gon' keep it polished, acknowledge this knowledge that I'm dropping like a college
45:24
And that's true, cause I really teach at schools, it's what I do
45:28
That's like my side job, side hustle, I tussle any bars, anybody wanna go from theirs
45:32
Know how we are, we scar the bar and we move around And we do the things that break up the town
45:38
and we break them down and we build them up cause ain't no things
45:42
if you not gon' construct what's the point if it's just gon' be a whole lot of poison
45:46
bring a whole lot of noise in that's just boy shit we just man shit
45:50
we extensive with this lyrical offensive blended splendid y'all Lupe that is hip hop thanks
46:06
you s They're trying to convince you that it's not That's Lupe Fiasco
46:14
One of the greatest of our time Lupe, I'm giving you that
46:18
I'm giving you that And you know I done seen them all Lupe
46:22
And I respect you so much for having this cypher With these young men like that
46:27
They got better in the cypher They rose in the cypher My students at
46:34
Shout out to all my students at MIT They got a freestyle
46:37
every class. As soon as you come into class for 15 minutes, just go to cypher
46:42
Really? And they just go. And they just go back and forth. I hit them with lines
46:46
throw things out. Everybody in the class has freestyle. Why do you do that? Because I want them
46:50
to get the full range of the craft. So the improvisation, I want them to be able
46:57
to write. I want them to be able to perform. What I want them to feel some of the other
47:01
ancillary things that you get from using your, like letting your mind
47:06
just flow. instead of trying to kind of be super predictive or be super kind of constrained or controlled or prepared
47:14
Like there's things that you learn when you're unprepared, you know, to become lessons that are like valuable in other spaces
47:19
But yeah, but also I want to see them like up, you know, like it's good to up
47:24
Ain't no wrong with that, you know, to kind of like make a mistake and then figure out how to like adjust and repair on the fly
47:30
And so for me, freestyling is that. It's a tool for advancement and development, for sure. Wow Thanks Overcast
47:39
I'm super proud of you Yeah thank you Come on man You just had a wake up show moment
47:44
That was fun Congratulations to you man That was like Yo this Overcast
47:50
And a lot of the was like No And now we
47:53
Full circle We in this freestyle Yeah but you gotta pay your dues I got
47:57
You know I get it I do that too People run up to me I do the same shit too
48:01
I listen to his music Music's nice It's nice Thank you Might be a collabo
48:06
Overcast, man. How can they reach you, brother? Yo, O-V-R-K-A-S-T on everything. And the period, though
48:13
Don't forget the period. Oh, the period, too. O-V-R-K-S-T, period. K-A-S-T. K-A-S-T, period
48:19
Period. And the new project is called Cass Got Wings. Hey, man, I keep saying I'm really proud of you
48:25
You're a fine representative of where we come from, man. Keep going. You will always have
48:29
my support. Hold on, hold on. Peep the hoodie, too. I peeped the hoodie. I thought you brought me one. No, my bad
48:33
My bad Let me see Streaming service What does that say? So this is my promo
48:38
For this whole tape right here Okay This is the numbers The streaming service numbers
48:42
For most of the streaming services You know So y'all know that We don't get paid that much
48:46
So go buy some Merch Go buy some merch Yeah Buy some merch
48:50
Or just stream a lot So we can get paid on Yeah You don't got a platform
48:54
They can just go direct to you? Yeah What is that? Overcast.co
48:58
I sell drum kits too So you know Okay Yeah promote that You're gonna get more from that
49:02
Than the streaming service Ask Lupe, he'll tell you I make all my money off weed
49:08
That's it You got a strand type of thing? No, no, no, no, no
49:16
Okay, okay I would buy that though if you had a strand Okay
49:21
No, no, no, no Lonnie Like, thank you man Can you get back to the phones if you don't mind
49:26
My money, Lonnie Like Lonnie, get out of here Get out of here
49:31
You got your 15 minutes of fame? Get back to them phones
49:35
True, true. Lonnie Light in your area. Y'all want to talk with Lupe
49:39
It's 888-742-3345. Here's Samurai
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