RESPECT. Interview: Levi Carter Finds Himself at Home with Roc Nation

Meet Levi Carter, the newest signee to Roc Nation. Photo Credit: Marcel White/Roc Nation

Levi Carter, the newest signee to Roc Nation, finds himself right at home with some of the label’s biggest acts such as J.Cole and Rihanna. Most artists would be intimidated being peers with these seasoned music vets, but not Levi. In fact, Levi plans to dominate the rap game in under three short years. Nothing is impossible when head honcho Jay-Z backs up your talent.

Hailing from the mecca of hip-hop, the 22-year-old Bronx native (by-the-way of Virginia) claims it feels good to be surrounded by greatness.

Levi’s time in Virginia stems from his middle and high school years, which he claims were his most troublesome. Quickly realizing progress wouldn’t be made as a Virginia-based artist rapping about New York, he decided to be the new face of both the Bronx and Virginia.

Just late last month, Carter dropped his second project–a 10-track EP titled Presence of a Lord. Presence of a Lord brings a certain type of vibe upon the first few listens. While many artists become stagnant in creating their own sound, it’s refreshing when Levi describes his music as “next level galaxy trap shit.” The whole EP slaps, but be sure to check out the standout tracks “Paid in Full,” “Clearview,” and “Lords Never Die.”

Fresh off the heels of his Lords EP, Carter was blessed with the opportunity to perform at Philly’s annual Made in America festival this last weekend. When asked if he was nervous to perform a huge event such as MIA, Levi confidently shook it off and said, “It was just crazy. It was my first time going on that platform.”

Photo Credit: Marcel White/Roc Nation

Following his Made in America appearance, Levi gave me insight into his brief conversation with Hov. “I talked to Hov the next day. He said ‘welcome home young fella’ and I just gave him a hug.”

Levi continued to detail his experience meeting Hov with, “I hugged my idol. I can’t look at it like that though.” The fact Levi addresses Jay-Z as his idol, but still looks up to him as more than that is priceless.

Roc Nation packs plenty of star power. However, Levi is more focused on blazing his own path without the use of collaborations. That’s something that you have to respect from a new artist in the game.

Nevertheless, collaborations weren’t exactly shot down altogether. According to him, Levi has no names as of yet on a list of people to work with. “Whoever rockin’ with me, I rock with.” If the opportunity presents itself, Levi sees a verse from Hov as a “blessing.”

His next album Still Anti— a nod to his first EP ANTISOCIAL— is still under wraps. I asked Levi what type of sound we should expect from…and he delivered this classic response: “Just expect a truck full of bricks and imagine that truck hitting a wall.”

Well damn! If that doesn’t get you excited about Levi’s music, then I don’t know what will.

https://soundcloud.com/xxlcarter/sets/presence-of-a-lord