RESPECT. Interview: Who Is Chicago’s First Class Bee

One of our favorite releases so far this year is from rising Chicago rapper First Class Bee. His big debut titled Champagne and Turbulence really brings that street essence we never get tired of hearing. We recently caught up with the artist for a conversation discussing his come up, the project, and the Chicago music scene. Check out the interview below!

RESPECT.: When did you decide that you wanted to take music seriously?

I was driving to Miami a couple years ago with my best friend dj-O-Zone, I had some old sh*t playing that I recorded years back f*cking around on my playlist. O-Zone like “yo who’s this?” I was like it’s me, he’s like “say less we getting you in a real studio”, and that was that. I dropped a joint called “All I Know,” it was getting heavy rotation in all the clubs in Chicago, the people f*cked with it and I was like okay then let’s run it up.

RESPECT.: What’s the meaning behind First Class Bee?

So the name came about because everybody who knows me way back called me lil BEE. When I was 19 I decided to open my first business which was First Class barbershop, so everybody in the camp started putting first class in front of their names. First class was chosen because I’ve always wanted to embody a a luxurious lifestyle, and everything of finer taste. We toe tap on every essence of what upper echelon is, and that’s what first class is.

RESPECT.: How has life changed for you since the release of Champagne and turbulence and how did the concept come about?

I feel like nothing really gonna change regardless, cuz we’ve been living good and enjoying this life sh*t with or without the music being there, but if anything I will say people are being very receptive to the music with reactions like “man, he can actually rap, like punchlines and bars rap, no dance moves and extra sh*t.” As far as the name of the project Champagne and Turbulence, if you ever been in the club with me you know bottle popping is my favorite sport, and im a dom P fanatic and we celebrate this champagne lifestyle on the daily, but wether you are sitting in coach or first class, when the turbulence hits we all feel it the same on that plane, so basically it’s a play on how life may seem like is always champagne and bubbly, but we all endure the same trials and tribulations.

RESPECT.: What is your favorite track on there and why?

The first record I would say is my favorite. “Welcome To First Class” because I just feel like it’s an introductory and invitation into this lifestyle, you kinda just hear the lyrics and it’s something everyone would want to be a part of and we welcoming that in, you want to  live your dreams come to first class.

RESPECT.: In your opinion, what separates Chicago artist from everyone else?

Sh*t Chicago speaks for itself, it’s a concrete jungle out here, I travel a lot and when i say I’m from Chicago no matter where I’m at people respect it. Most of the music is coming out the south side so I’m trying put on for the north side of Chicago and my Latino people. Jalisco what up.

RESPECT.: How do you feel about the Chicago music scene as of today?

Man I think it’s cool, I just don’t resonate with a lot of it, the drill sh*t is Chicago and I personally don’t like rapping about guns or killing dudes, I prefer talking about sitting in the back of a ghost and eating some king crab  with a glass of dom p, so yea it’s cool but I definitely want to shake it up a little bit.

RESPECT.:  What is the music world lacking?

By far I would say what the music world is lacking most is guidance and respect. During Roc-A-Fella times they built you up as an entire person. Now, I feel labels just juice you for your music and let you do all the f*ck sh*t in the world. I want to move like Jay-Z. Music labels should have that guidance so there’s structure and more respect out here. Nip taught that and we need more of it.

RESPECT.: Outside of music, what else is important to you? Do you have any other ventures?

Business, I currently have a barbershop and a smoke shop in Chicago, would love to jump into real estate and play the market. Business is key to everything. When you can turn water into wine you are a business man. That is what I always want to be known as.

RESPECT.:What can we expect in your “F*ck you mean” visual that’s on the way?

Expect to see some very dope clean shots, we got a lot of candles and gang. It’s definitely a vibe.

I expect to be 10 times better off then I am now, same way our hair and nails grow everyday we can to. A lot ain’t enough and plenty is never too much. This a marathon.