Warner Records Archives - RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture

Atlanta Rapper Da Great Ape Talks ‘Ape Shit’ & T.I. Co-sign

Malc — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 17:45:22 +0000

Hailing from Atlanta, Southern rapper Da Great Ape arises onto the scene with his gritty, true-to-the-street bars. Ape dropped his cleverly titled EP, Ape Shit, back in late-2018. Since its release, the ATLien has been keeping the project fresh by updating it with visuals to accompany the songs on the track. Da Great Ape dropped visuals for tracks like “Well Spoken” and “Out Trap Me” months back.

Last month, Da Great Ape unveiled the music video for the extended play’s final cut, “Dreams of a Dopeboy.” While the title pretty much speaks for itself, the story behind it offers much more. “My house was raided by police three hours later. I guess I spoke that into existence,” Da Great Ape tells us. He’s caught the attention of high-profile artists like T.I. since he began rapping and it surely won’t be the last. Check the interview out below.

What’s the story behind the name Da Great Ape?

I let everyone know they called us great apes in slavery. Also, just me being dominant. I’m a dominant, aggressive individual. I’ve actually been making music since I was a kid. I stopped doing music ten years ago and I started going through things in life. That time I wasn’t making music, I was in the streets getting money to provide for my family.

Then we built a studio in one of my trap spots. I said, “man, I’m going to try this music again.” All the people around me were telling me I need to get back to rapping. So I built it and we started letting producers come over and one of my producers whipped up a beat called “Backend.” I killed the beat and started sending it to everyone and they were like “who is that?” It was me, people were telling me I was wasting time in the streets. That’s when I finally got in the hang of recording back to back. At that point, I wasn’t even concerned about trapping anymore. I got confidence and this is my last shot. That’s the story behind me and the music.

When people outside of Atlanta talk about it, they depict a source of fascination that doesn’t seem quite real. What is your perception of ATL?

Gutter, grimy. I’m from the Southside of Atlanta, I’m from Eastpoint. It’s not so pretty on our side like the Love and Hip Hop side. I come from the rough side where the hustlers get their heart broke.

Obviously, there are huge rappers like Lil Baby, 21 Savage, and Gucci Mane that have come out there. Are there any artists who you feel have kind-of laid the blueprint down to be a successful artist from Atlanta?

Definitely, Jeezy and Gucci. 21 as well, he silent. He’s younger than him, I love his music. I’m a trap rapper so T.I. and Jeezy serves as my main influences. T.I.P is like my uncle. I was introduced to him through DJ MLK, his official DJ. He heard the music and fell in love with it because he can relate to it. I gave up trapping for rap and the rest of it is going to be history. T.I. is one of the only ones who reached out to me and showed me the ropes. It’s much for T.I.P

Are there any artists or producers in particular that you’re working with?

Nobody in particular. Just focusing on my craft at the moment, but to anyone who reaches out I’m down.

Let’s get into Ape Shit, what was your mind space like when you wrote and recorded those songs?

I was in one of my trap houses. When I recorded those songs, I was thinking about everything I been through. I’m really big on storytelling. If you listen to that project, you’re going to get my life story.

Last month, you dropped the visuals for “Dreams of a Dopeboy.” Was that recorded in your neighborhood?

Yeah, we did that one in Eastpoint. It’s the same place that Outkast is from. We shot that in my neighborhood and then rode around the whole city of Atlanta. My whole point is to reintroduce Atlanta and show what’s really going on as far as the rough side. My neighborhood was supportive as well. They love me like the Pope.

That record, I actually went through that situation. Everything I talk about in that song actually happened to me. It’s so powerful to me because as soon as we got done recording that song, my house was raided by police three hours later. I guess I spoke that into existence. It’s a deep story to me. It shows the Atlanta lifestyle and where I come from.

Now that you’ve visually accompanied all the tracks off that project, what’s next?

Right now, we finna release this record with T.I. along with the visuals. I’m just working right now, moving around trying to connect all the dots. I’m willing to work with any rappers or producers, let’s get it.

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99 Neighbors Deliver “Fake Pods” Visuals, Partner With Warner Records

Malc — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 20:12:49 +0000

If you’ve never heard of 99 Neighbors, it’s time to get hip. The Vermont collective is headed by Pat Corcoran, also the manager of Chance The Rapper, including members like Sam Paulino, Swank, HANKNATIVE, and Somba. Other lead members consist of: Jared Fier, Julian Segar-Reid (aka Juju), Aidan Ostby, and Shane Kaseta. In celebration of their partnership with Warner Records, they unveiled their newest single accompanied by visuals, “Fake Pods.”

“Fake Pods” is 99 Neighbors’ first release since their debut album Television. The 12-track project includes standout cuts like “Facts” and “Champion” as well as a lone feature from Chase Murphy. “We have a lot of new music to share and wanted to start off with ‘Fake Pods’ as our first single,” 99 Neighbors details. Hopefully, we’ll hear some more new music soon.

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RESPECT. Premiere: Atlanta Star Robnhood Tra Delivers Visuals For New Single “Robnhood Robnhood”

Malc — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 19:11:40 +0000

College Park rapper and lyricist Robnhood Tra premieres the visuals for his new single, “Robnhood Robnhood.”

As one of Atlanta’s many rising stars, Tra garnered the attention from not only his city but labels alike thanks to the release of his breakout single “Thirty8.” The visuals have boast over 200K Youtube views since its release back in January. However, just a year ago Tra, who is one of seventeen children, was sitting behind bars for eight months for several different crimes. The ATL emcee was stealing from the rich to give to the poor, hence the name “Robnhood.”

Since Tra’s release from jail, music has been his only passion. In late-2018, Robnhood dropped off his debut project, Exit 66, which cleverly shouts out the neighborhood he grew up in. The ten-track offering includes standout cuts like “No Love” and “South On My Back.” After watching peers like Lil Baby and Gunna rise up to the top and go “global,” it looks like Robnhood Tra’s poised to join them with his latest string of singles. Check out the video premiere above and get to know more about Robnhood Tra below.

Where did you get the name Robhood from?

So basically, I came up with Robnhood when I went to jail. I was doing bank fraud and anything necessary for that cash. I felt like I was the modern day Robinhood. I was doing anything to feed my people and anyone around me. I wasn’t the only known by Robnhood.

Tell me what was it like growing up College Park. Who did you listen to?

I’m from College Park so that’s one of the worst parts of Atlanta. It has one of the highest crime rates right now. The statistics are, if you’re born here, nine times out of ten you’ll never leave. This is a fucked up little city. Sixth grade was when I really started thugging. I was super poor growing up. I got seven on my mom’s side and eleven on my dad’s side so I was always unfortunate. It was always something so I jumped off the porch when my uncle died and my mom started drinking. I really just started taking care of myself and then I went to jail. Once I went to jail, that really made me realize I gotta take this music seriously. That’s my story, that’s why I feel like I’m a Ferarri in the junkyard. That’s the title of my forthcoming project.

Growing up, Ludacris. You know, he’s from my side of town. His videos were stupid crazy. He was fucking the video game up in the ’90s and early 2000s. Him and all of the Atlanta rappers really. Future, he’s my favorite artist. I really feel like he be rapping like me. Future says stuff I would say so he’s relatable to me. [Young] Thug too, ’cause he’s versatile. I feel like he be getting high and saying anything.

Before the fame, you made an appearance on AE’s 60 Days In: Atlanta. What was your biggest takeaway from that experience?

For one, I was locked up for real. The best thing that happened to me from that for real was getting my own clout and million people seeing my face. I got to capitalize from that, being the business that I am. I’ve always been on my Robnhod shit so I was like “I’m finna capitalize off all of this publicity.”

Let’s get into music, you dropped your debut project ‘Exit 66’ last August. Where were you at in life when you recorded that project?

Them folks not even ready. I have hits in the vault. I really want to drop it today. When I drop, I’m like “move out the way, I’m the man.” I’m having features on this one as well. I don’t want to name drop ’cause I don’t want to give away the tracklist. They know it’s up though.

You released “Robnhood Robnhood” today, how did you come up with the video concept?

So basically, I was just on some mad shit when I went in the studio. I felt like someone had tried me. You know how rappers be when they at a certain level, but I’m not like that. I don’t care how much money I get, I’ma still be the same person. Anyways, I had gone in the booth and started rapping: “Your boyfriend a bum and he need him a job / Black on black business, we move like the mob.”

After I did the song, I was like fuck it. I chose the junkyard because the project is called Ferarri In The Junkyard. I told the whole gang to pull up and we were like fuck it, we’re gonna have black on black out there. I had thirty hoes out there in the summer sun, no cap. When I made this song, I’m not saying I’m an emotional person, but I’m a Scorpio. I use music to express myself, that’s how I turned to music.

Do you believe in zodiac signs?

Yeah, I believe some of it is true.

Is there any artist you’re looking forward to working with in the near future?

I wanna say Future, Ludacris, 2 Chainz. Really everybody from my side of town.

When people hear Robnhood Tra, what do you want them to take away from your music?

I want them to know anything is possible. I came from the slums, if you go to my Instagram you can see. I’m nothing like these rappers. I want to give the hood hope for real. Show them that even if you come from a fucked up situation, you can turn it into something positive. I did it.

I know I named my tape Exit 66 because that’s my hood, but I used to walk down there every day. Everybody who knows me and sees me now, it’s different now. They feel like they can do it. I’m really showing the youth there are different ways to do stuff other than illegal shit. Where I’m from, that’s all there is to do. We don’t have any parks, centers, or programs. When I get rich, I want to open a recreation center.

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