Image Credit: Hass Irv (Instagram)
Harlem bred, Hass Irv is the next big thing coming from the Big Apple. He is best known for his work with Rich The Kid on his single “Celine,” which comes with heavy bass and tunes for the streets. He moved from Africa at the age of 6 or 7, growing up he looked up to artists such as Nas and Kanye West. He describes his sound as being universal and his all-time favorite kicks are the Black Cement 3’s. In 2019, he will be releasing more music and says he can’t wait to share it with his fans. We got a chance to speak with Hass about his experience working with Rich The Kid on his recent single ‘Celine,’ and being mentored by Pusha T for “1800 seconds.” He also ditched on which kicks are his favorite right now and which artist he would be down to do a collaborative tape with.
Check out our interview below.
RESPECT.: Being from Harlem, who are some rappers that inspired you growing up?
Hass Irv: Some rappers that inspired, I wouldn’t just narrow it down to rappers. I would say influencers in general because I was always a fan of music it was really just the whole package itself. Growing up, I really looked up to people like Kanye West, T.I., Nas, Lil Wayne, ASAP Rocky because they kinda went against the rules. Those are the people who didn’t follow the rules and made it to where they are. Like they didn’t go to college, grow up on the nicest street or whatever and they went through hardships to get to where they at and made it.
When you first performed at SOB’s, how was that?
My first performance at SOB’s was dope. It wasn’t the biggest performance I’ve ever had. It was a great experience. I feed off the crowd energy and I feel like I set the tone for that. So it was just another regular performance for me. It was like 300 people there. I had crowd control, it was fun. That’s the best thing I can say for any performance I’ve done. Just fun.
Image Credit: Instagram
How was it working with Rich The Kid on “Celine” ?
It was dope, especially because I knew of him and his music for a long time. Around this time I started making music I was listening to some of his songs that were well known. Watching him grow and me getting into music and me growing and working with him I was like wow, this is crazy just being able to rap and knowing who he is and starting to rap and then ending up working with him in such a short time. It just shows me that anything else I want to do is possible. I look at it as motivation.
You was also included in Pusha-T’s “1800 seconds” which highlights unsigned artist, how was it to be able to have him as a mentor?
Growing up alot of my older relatives, my cousins my uncles they all came here from Africa. They were young just like me when I was really like 6 or 7. They was already in high-school listening to Pusha-T. Just growing up around them and to know they listened to Pusha. When I was growing up that wasn’t what I was listening to the earliest I can remember listening to music and the internet was really big.
To know that people really close to me respect him as a legend, and me being able to work with him is an honor. Because I know those people probably look at me crazy like “you working with him and you’re my little brother or cousin.” Just seeing people’s reaction to the actual situation show’s me how big it is.
How do you handle criticism?
I don’t get in my feelings. I get upset when people are too easy on me because I feel like now you just trying to go with it because of who I am just to keep me happy. I like when people tell me bad stuff but criticism in general, because now I feel like now you being real with me and you not just being a ‘Yes man’ and just going with the flow. Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has a weak point. There’s some stuff that I may have that’s different but it’s definitely some stuff that I don’t got that you can point out easily. So when I get criticism, I really look at it as, I don’t get as much criticism as I think I should get but, when I do I appreciate it.
What are your plans for 2019?
2019, I’m just planning on dropping alot of music. Alot of people been in support of me in terms of music or whatever in general. Alot of people like my music when I drop my music they automatically on it. People might feel music deprived of me maybe I don’t drop enough or I don’t give them enough of what they want. So I’m going to give the audience what they want. Give them live music and my project should be dropping in Spring 2019 unless something crazy happens (laughs).
How do you describe your sound?
Universal. Like a universal remote. I work on any TV. I just feel like I’ve been exposed to different outlooks of the world where I can resonate with different people of the world. I’m not small minded when I make music, I try to make it for anybody. I make my music based off my emotion, I feel like all my music is based off emotion and trying to get people to relate to what I talk about.
Which Pair of Kicks is your favorite at the moment?
The Air Jordan 1’s. I hate going with what everybody has, but I got to the point like forget it.
All-Time Favorite Kicks?
If I had to pick one shoe for the rest of my life, I would have to pick the Black Cement 3’s. Those are like my first pair of Jordan’s and they mean alot to me.
If you could do a collaborative tape with any artist, who would it be?
Definitely someone from the South or Atlanta. That would be lit. Right now, I would choose Offset. It would be fire, too much heat.
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