Tell us a little about yourself?
Most of my kin call me Youngblood but, as a rapper, I go by Big Homie. Iām from the United States; Iāve lived all over, so I claim a lot of love for cities in the South & Midwest & even out on the West Coast. My love for hip-hop runs as far back as I can remember; even though Iām relatively new to writing and recording, I feel like (if you really know me) music was always going to be involved in my path somehow.
How did you come up with your artist name?
At first, I wanted to go by āMiddle Childā. Iām the middle of 7 children, suffer immensely from the effects, and that particular J. Cole single was in HEAVY rotation when I first started writing. But it was actually the lyrics at the beginning of his second verse that formulated the transformationā¦.
āIām dead in the middle of 2 generations, Iām little bro and big bro all at once; Just left the lab with young 21 savage, Iām bout to go and meet Jigga for lunch.ā
My full artist name is actually Big Coach the Big Homie. āCoachā & āCoach Youngbloodā was always thrown around by some of my peers, and the āBig Homieā vibe comes from my roots and connections in so many relationships/communities.
Iāve lived in 7 states and worked overseas in multiple countries, making lifelong friends along the way. Iām at the early end of the āmillennialā spectrum but still feel like my ability to appreciate the old classics as well the new wave is essential. Big Homie is a product of moving through multiple environments with a desire to learn from experience & speak everyoneās language.
How long have you been in the music industry?
About 2 years give or take. I met my team in the spring of ā18 but didnāt have any ambition or knowledge about the subject of recording. They were just looking for any kind of contribution, so we took our time getting to know one another, talking music and becoming comfortable with the vibes. I made my first āverseā about a year later in the spring of ā19.
How did you get started in the music business in the first place?
Tetrahedron Crew is the team that put me on. I moved to Oregon and met them, they were already making a ton of music and we instantly linked over beats and similar aesthetics. They convinced me it āwasnāt that hardā to make a song, which I couldnāt fathom. It was really a snowball effect though once i started writing. I love to write anyways, but never really found a lane i wanted to contribute to. The hip-hop way was inevitable once they helped show me the ropes.
How would you describe your latest single?
I guess āI Canāt Feel My Faceā is considered the latest single, itās doing really well off the new album āRainy Season Musicā.
Itās a fun, island vibe of a beat, that has a hook that everyone loves to sing and a flow that letās you rap along with Homie haha. I think we knew we had a hit with this one right away. I think it works on both levels – it has potential to just get you dancing which is what half of the people are here for, and simultaneously contains lyrics that are relatable and raw.
When can fans expect the visuals for the single?
Oh you KNOW we going to the beach hahaha. Iād honestly love to go back to Sierra Leone to film it on the coast! We will take our time with this one though because it has to be PERFECT haha.
Who are your inspirations in the music industry?
I love artists who are multi-faceted and show a wide range of skills and vulnerability with their work. People like Jaden, Badu, Gambino, Outkast. And not just on some music shit either. I love how ASAP MOB is working on Substance abuse awareness. Or all the work Akon is doing in Africa. I hope philanthropy and service are embedded in my career.
How do you go about writing a song and what is your process?
Iām at my best with some simple headphones, my Notes app open, and the beat running out of my Files tab so I can see everything down to the second. Back when we made Vectors, me and Ahavaās first tape, Iād say each verse took me 2 to 3 days to write. I would walk the halls of my work, pouring over each word and cadence, haha it was such a process! These days itās more like a few hours to get it done, then a few touch ups here and there before I record. The writing is by far my favourite part of the entire effort to get a song out.
What is the concept behind your forthcoming project if working on one?
āQuiet Placesā is the 2nd act of a 3 part play of songs I wrote and recorded when I was in Africa. Itās a 4 song EP, conceived over a 2 month period when I was really going through it and I didnāt have a lot of will to write anything. Plus I had nowhere to record and the Dry Season had just taken over so I was just wasting away. This tape symbolizes that time for me, and continues Big Homieās story. I really do love these 4 songs though, they helped me get through it and provide a symbiotic bridge to the 3rd act.
Any plans on touring to promote your latest single?
BRUH. If we could, I would! Can you imagine? Not just the single, but anything off of RSM, LIVE?!?!?! Fire marshall shit.
What did you buy with your first check off music?
Oh that just went right back to the team. There is so much to do when it comes to management and marketing, I havenāt hit that rapper lick just yet. I feel like every dollar spent at this moment has to be about foundational work, we just tryna eat.
What are must haves when youāre in the studio working?
Water, weed, wineā¦ā¦ Haha but for real though, I donāt need much, at least at the moment. We cheffinā in closets sometimes, just to turn around make hits! As long as the team is nearby, and we got swishers, Iām gucci.
What is the best piece of advice in this business you actually followed?
Not sacrificing my vision for what people think could happen hypothetically. I understand that people feel like they only have one chance to make a first impression, but i think if you focus on longevity, youāre only going to grow as an artist, and those same naysayers often give credit where credit is due.
Will you be collaborating with any other artists in the future?
Bruh I HOPE so. I love the creative process of working with new artists, and once we take the operation global, anyone thatās got the desire and drive can link with me.
What artist have you had the pleasure of working with and what was it like?
Damn, I probably gotta shout out my guy SM De Editor for this one. Bruh YOU A REAL ONE. Haha he sent the bikes to come get me at my crib and we whipped out to a local studio in town. It was real trap house vibes and he was definitely on his boss shit. The booth was dope and he was gassing me up to everyone there haha. It was actually kinda crazy and the adrenaline had me blackin cuz I snapped on my One Take Drake shit and the studio went wild hahaha! A lotta love for that man and those people!
Name an artist(s) that you would love to work with?
STORMZY! I love that UK drill shit and ever since I went to the Wireless Festival and EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. in the crowd knew the lyrics to āShut Upā, Iāve been a fan.
Do you think your music is mostly enjoyed more for the beats or for the lyrical flow and content?
I think these days, in general, most people are just here for the vibes, which means they love a good beat. I am fortunate enough to have a lot of older peers and colleagues who still compliment me on my lyrical acumen, but most of the texts and DMās say, āOH I LOVE THAT BEAT BROā.
What area do you need to improve on in regards to your career? (Example: Better production, Delivery, Stage presence, etc..
Iād say I need to improve it all. Iām still painfully new to a lot of the intricate details that go into making a great song. I canāt wait until we are a fully functioning machine, and I can use every second towards learning. There is always room for improvement and thank God my team challenges me every day and Iām not surrounded by a bunch of yes men.
What’s your all-time favourite song?
All Of Me – Joe Budden feat. Emanny
I know, I know, everyone hates Joe. But you werenāt there when Mood Muzik 3 (The original with DJ Onpoint) came out and the world stood still for 7 minutes and 26 seconds while that song played for the first time.
Iām here for the lyrics and the storytelling, the flow and the pain, and to me, this was it. To truly paint such a beautiful picture was for me at the time the epitome of what music could be. I actually fought back and forth with a lot of songs for this question, but this one is the truth. I NEVER skip this song if it comes on shuffle. No matter the mood.
What was the last album you listened to?
I Can See The Universe From Here – Yog$
its funkyā¦.
Your favourite artist of all time and why?
Iād probably have to say itās a tie between Gambino & Drake. The parallel similarities and the chords they hit in my life throughout my entire maturation are no coincidence. I watched both from the very beginning, and I think any artist would be so lucky to experience an iota of the growth that either of those artists has gone through.
Whose your fav five artist right now?
Probably Saint JHN. Can you name a time āFreedom Is Pricelessā is not appropriate to be played? Plus iām tryna get that Honda Accord on my right wrist. Motivation.
In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?
Drake. He birthed all of yāall. And not only that, whoās co-sign hits harder? I believe if he walked away from streaming platforms, the game would inevitably change. WHO ELSE IS DOING THAT????
Who have been some of your favourite artists that youāve been able to work with?
Ahava, Caveman, FKA Entropy, Kami Ka, Rising P, B Spark, SM De Editor, Lauā¦ā¦ I just started but all of these artists are worthy of studio time with the new artists in the game.
How do you feel about the current state of music?
Itās the WILD WEST! Granted, there are a few monopolistic tyrants giving shiny crumbs & sheckles out to 99% of the game but I see it as a power to the people situation. The fact that we can just have a mic and a laptop and make a song is incredible. I think there is good and bad to it not being about talent as much anymore. I think there are MILLIONS of talented artists at this point. I think blogs like this and the growing HHT movement are creating new gatekeepers and on a macro level I think it looks like the way out of the oppression. I feel like i could go on and on about the state of affairs, but overall Iām optimistic; I think we have the will and desire to outlast the wear and tear of the game.
Any dream award shows you hope to one day play at?
Itād be cool to make a song that gets picked up in a soundtrack, then maybe do the oscars. Iām a bit of a cinephile so iām tryna harass some directors.
What is your main goal as far as music?
I hope it helps people like it helped me, thats all. Iāve had some truly dark and down moments, and music saved my life. When people hit me up and say they love something Iāve done because it helped, thatās it.
Who would you say your music relates to the most?
People who feel stuck, code-switching our entire lives to appease a generation of buffoons too prideful to let go of their material things. Iām here for the revolutionaries.
What separates you from other artists? (What’s makes you different?)
I think I have a unique perspective coupled with patient experience. I like to think I spent most of my life analysing the game, and jumped in with a worthy effort. If you listen to my last album, should I not be here too?
When youāre not in the studio, What do you like to do for fun and relaxation?
Iām still a big gamer at heart, I love any one player game with a painfully intricate campaign, I feel like the puzzles and sense of completion help with my creativity. When itās warm Iām at the beach or skateboarding, Iām still tryna kick this soccer ball around and Iām always down to link with the homies for whatever.
If you could work with any producer who would it be?
Prolly 40. Haha, I realize most of my answers are OVO based but when you a fan, you a fan. His ability to make the hairs on my arm stand up to this day, on songs Iāve heard a million times, that’s beyond talent. Itās ethereal.
Whatās the biggest highlight of your career thus far?
Releasing our music on streaming platforms and talking to my mom about it. I donāt really care about too much right now, I just love making music and sharing it with my family.
What is your dream venue to perform at?
SHUT DOWN WIRELESS, SHUT DOWN TWITTER!
Whatās the name of the last book you read and by whom?
Heart Of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
Whatās your favourite sports team and why?
Manchester United. I remember the first time I saw them play back in the 90s. It was against Sheffield Wednesday for a cup final on a grainy television. I loved soccer more than anything at the time but alas, we rarely got to see any games. They were it though. Swag personified. I knew I was a Red Devil that day and every day after.
Whose your favourite actor or actress and their best movie?
Denzel – Man On Fire or Pacino – Scent of A Woman
Name someone famous who inspires you and why?
Jaden – I want to do something like heās doing with Just Water. I think one of the largest crimes to humanity is the lack of access to clean drinking water in so many communities. We can also do better about our footprint. Some sort of endeavour with water would be ideal with what I want to pursue in the future.
What can we expect from you in the future?
A LOT. If all goes according to plan, I have 6 more solo projects coming out this year, along with multiple group and joint efforts with my team, Tetrahedron Crew. I want to treat this year like a āmixtapeā phase and get our foundation set for what’s next!
For now, itās all about streaming āRainy Season Musicā and getting ready for āQuiet Placesā.
Where can the fans check out for your music?
We are streaming almost everywhere you can find music right now. My newest release āRainy Season Musicā is a 12 track LP I wrote and recorded while living in Africa, and it just came out January 29th, you should check it out! Thereās also a ton of older music from last year available in the same place, take a minute to see how much weāve grown!
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