Exclusive Interview: Inside The Mind of Big K.R.I.T

Big K.R.I.T. is an artist who takes his craft very seriously; just read the below interview and his full-ass answers (as opposed to half-ass), after listening to the questions with wide-eyed anticipation. He’s coming off of an impressive performance in NYC, the praise and discussions revolving around 4Eva N A Day and preparation for his upcoming performances at SXSW. Fortunately for us, K.R.I.T. took the time out to let us know his thoughts on XXL‘s Freshman cover, his upcoming album and the importance of NYC’s reception of his music.

Two years ago you didn’t have this much love, what’s the difference this time?

I think people really see that I’m really being myself. They can see that. They see that the music is not gonna change and I’m not just trying to have a single to take off. It’s really about the music for me, at the end of the day. As far as hip-hop is concerned, it’s really not a coastal thing anymore, it’s becoming like ‘We all just wanna make good music.’ That’s why my brother, Smoke DZA – me and him can jump on the same record. It’s just the love, man. They feel the passion behind the music, man. At the end of the day, I like to say, ‘if you ain’t in the city, you in the country.’ And we in one of the most powerful countries in the world. It’s still a country.

It was funny because Jay Electronica (who he was opening the show for), the night that [I got booed] – he came out and told everybody, ‘I got booed once before and now I get love.” I’m blessed that people feel the music now.

When are you flying down to perform for SXSW?
The 14th. And we gon’ be down there. Aw man, it’s gon’ be crazy.

Can you tell me how this all came together? This is your third time in a row, performing, right?
This my third year. The first year was Smoker’s Club. The only show I had down there was Smoker’s Club. And then the second year I had nine shows. This year we got at least 5, I think 5 or 6. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Every year the crowd turns out more and it’s exciting to see so many different people from so many different places coming to see different artists and supporting independent music. That’s really what it’s about. Last year I saw a number of L.E.P. Bogus Boys posters. And you see what it did for them. They popped. So yeah, you gotta get down there and promote.

XXL Freshman Cover came out recently. Being that you were on it last year, I wanted to know if you had any opinion on this year’s cover?
I feel like it’s dope, man. I really rock with Don Trip. He had a lot of passion in “Letter To My Son.” It’s an amazing record. Future been doing his thing. Machine Gun Kelly – I had the opportunity to be on tour with him. If you ever seen him and how he feels about his music – he’s so passionate about it. And he got a song that’s doing its thing on radio. Only thing I would definitely tell them is to focus on the positive that you get from having the cover. It’s gonna put you to a point where millions of people gon’ know who you are. You gotta take advantage of that and not slow down and keep putting out content and utilize that as a stepping stone to get your album out. Promote. It’s extremely music.

You produce all of your music. As far as the album’s concerned, is it gonna be the same method?
I’m producing my whole project.

You think you’ll have a project where you might reach out?
Oh yeah! Probably the second album. DJ Tonk, 9th Wonder, DJ Premier, David Banner. And I hope to one day get a Kanye track. At least a Co-Pro, a co-produced one. And I’d like to co-produce one with J.Cole, that would be crazy.

With SXSW, I read that you created “Glass House” there. How did that happen? Did you plan to do it before or was it happenstance?
It was wild. Curren$y was the homie at the time and he had heard “Glass House” without any verses on it earlier when it was just the beat. Wiz came to the crib we rented and Curren$y was like, “Yo play that ‘Glass House’ shit.” And I played it and Wiz was like “Yeah, let’s do that and I’ma put it on Kush & Orange Juice.” I was like ‘Yeah!’ and we did that motherfucker.

Do you have any plans for this SXSW?
I don’t know, but I’m gonna bring my equipment and then we gon’ see what happened.

As far as the album is concerned, do you have any collaborations?
I can’t tell you all of ’em. Big Sant is gonna be on the album. “Money On The Floor,” featuring 8Ball & MJG & 2Chainz. There’s one particular features that I’m so blessed to have this particular artist on this album. The people gon’ find out soon. Shit, June right around the corner.

How important is it for you to have that approval of New York?
It’s hip-hop. It’s hip-hop’s Mecca. So to come and sellout and rap about country shit, real country shit. For people to fuck with it and understand it, means we definitely reached. We got through with the music. And that’s a beautiful feeling, bro. Because there was a time in my career where it was hard for people to hear my shit in my neighborhood. And when we young, we all go through it, but to be able to come from the South and represent and go everywhere else and people dig it and love it? It’s amazing. It’s amazing.