- 2 weeks ago
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🎵
MusicTranscript
00:22I ain't had nothing to prove, I made do like a woman in dudes
00:26Nigga times was hard, my mama yelling
00:52Mornin' mornin' mornin' guys, welcome to VapNation TV, South Africa
00:58Yep, I'm all the way from the south side of Johannesburg
01:02Oh yeah man, so we got another international interview with Laquan
01:08So yeah, I'm just gonna wait for him
01:11Oh yeah, there we go, there we go, there we go, he's here
01:43Yo
01:45Alright, hold on one second
01:47Alright, let's just play some music in the background man
01:51Yes sir, yes sir
02:15Ooh
02:31One second.
02:38All right, let's see how many people join, man.
02:41All right, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.
02:44Otherwise, how's everything going outside?
02:48Everything's going good, man.
02:49You know, just living life, man.
02:50Bless.
02:51What about you?
02:52Oh, yeah, man.
02:53It's just the normal.
02:55All good, all good.
02:56Yeah, yeah.
02:57Can't continue.
02:57Hey, what part of Africa are you from, bro?
02:59South Africa.
03:01Johannesburg.
03:02Yeah, yeah.
03:03Johannesburg, yeah.
03:05Yeah, I'm in the South Side.
03:06For sure, for sure.
03:09Yeah, I was checking your profile.
03:12So you're in Chicago, right?
03:13Yeah, Chicago, yeah, West Side.
03:15The West Side.
03:16All right.
03:17Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.
03:18Yeah, man.
03:19Just for everyone that's going to be watching, can you just introduce yourself, my brother?
03:24Yeah, I go by Laquan.
03:26Like I said, I'm from the West Side of Chicago.
03:28My neighborhood's Austin.
03:30You know what I'm saying?
03:31I do this rap thing, this music thing.
03:33I've been doing it for a while now since I was a kid.
03:36You know what I'm saying?
03:36So, yeah, that's what's up.
03:40Dope, dope, dope.
03:41So what is it that drew you into it?
03:44What drew me into it?
03:46I think that's just like a part of black culture.
03:50You know what I'm saying?
03:51Just growing up, it's just rap and hip hop.
03:54You know what I'm saying?
03:54So that definitely influenced me and along with, you know what I'm saying, some of my favorite
04:01rappers, you know what I'm saying?
04:03Early on from 50 Cent to Nas and stuff like that.
04:06So that's kind of what gravitated me towards, you know what I'm saying?
04:09The rap thing, the music thing, for sure.
04:13Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.
04:15So how did you start with the whole, with the Rex gang?
04:21Oh, Rex gang, so how that started was, so one of my best friends, his name is Kid Pryde.
04:27That started from him, you know what I'm saying?
04:30I think our first rap group, the name was Bloodline, and we just ended up converting it
04:36to Rex gang, and it's short for royalty excellence, you know what I'm saying?
04:41So we just went with that, yeah.
04:44Dope, dope, dope, dope.
04:46Plus, I heard your first project, King Kwan.
04:52King Kwan, yeah, yeah.
04:53Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:54Can you tell us about that, the whole production process, and what inspired you to create a
05:00project like that?
05:01Yeah, so King Kwan, so how that came about, well, that's not my first official project.
05:08I've had projects before that, but I just never pushed them like that, you know what
05:14I'm saying?
05:15That was kind of like pre, like Apple Music and Spotify and stuff like that.
05:19Maybe when I was in school, like 2013 and stuff, and 2012 and 2010 and 11.
05:26That was like SoundCloud, you know what I'm saying?
05:29But I kind of took a break from music in like 2016, and I was like, you know, I got
05:36to get
05:36back on the music thing.
05:37So I came back.
05:38You know, I had management and everything like that.
05:41So, you know, we talked about, you know, doing a project.
05:44So I was just like, man, it's time for me to come back, you know what I'm saying?
05:47So I just, I sat down, I made a few songs, you know what I'm saying, just to get back
05:53in motion.
05:54And I just, you know what I'm saying, I went all the way with it.
05:56So I just made the project King Kwan, you know what I'm saying?
05:59So, yeah.
06:00And the production, you know, a few people that I rock with, you know what I'm saying,
06:04from my city and people that I met online, stuff like that, you know what I'm saying?
06:09So, yeah.
06:11Word, word, word.
06:13So how would you say you define your style of music then?
06:18My style of music?
06:19That's a good question.
06:22My style of music is kind of, you know, it's lyrical, you know, for sure.
06:26I always got to keep that element in it, you know what I'm saying?
06:29Real poetic.
06:30I get into a lot of storytelling in real detail.
06:34So sonically, yeah, it's top tier, you know what I'm saying?
06:39And I also have, you know, harmonies and stuff like that, you know what I'm saying?
06:43So I don't bore my listeners and things like that, you know what I'm saying?
06:46So it's real.
06:48I can't place, like, pinpoint exactly my style because I'm like, I can get all over the place sometimes, you
06:55know what I'm saying?
06:56I'll say I'm entertaining, you know what I'm saying?
06:59Word, word.
06:59Word, word, since you've mentioned that you're a storyteller, I was listening to your song, like, A Trey.
07:09Yeah, yeah.
07:10So, yeah, yeah.
07:11So what, because I saw you were saying, like, it was a true story.
07:15Tell us about that.
07:17Yeah, yeah, it's a true story, man.
07:18So before I dropped my recent project, which is Cooley High, I was planning on doing a project about just
07:28a whole bunch of true stories about people, you know what I'm saying?
07:32So it was going to be about 10 songs about 10 people.
07:37I ended up not doing that.
07:39Trey was the first song that was supposed to be on that project.
07:42I ended up just scrapping the whole project, and I just dropped that single.
07:47So how that came about, I went on Instagram and, like, Facebook and stuff like that, and I, you know,
07:52I asked people, like, you know what I'm saying?
07:54Like, I want to tell stories about people, so if you have an interesting story, let me know.
07:59You know what I'm saying?
07:59I'll interview you, and we can go about it like that.
08:02So a kid named Trey, he hit me on Instagram, and he was like, man, you know, I'm 14 years
08:09old, and I have a story I want to tell.
08:10You know what I'm saying?
08:11I don't know how to tell it, so I would love for you to tell it.
08:15So, you know what I'm saying?
08:15He basically told me a story.
08:18You know, we chopped it up for – we still talk to this day, but we chopped it up for
08:22a few months, and, you know what I'm saying, the story he gave me, I was able to flip that
08:28into lyrics.
08:29You know what I'm saying?
08:30And the most important part about it was he told me that he enjoyed it and he liked it, so
08:35that was what was most important to me.
08:37So, yeah, that's how that came about.
08:40Dope, dope, dope.
08:41I think that's very dope, I mean, that you're able to document someone else's story, and they could actually see
08:49the truth in it.
08:50For sure, for sure.
08:51For sure, for sure.
08:53So, like, does that also even come from, like, because even in your YouTube channels, like, you have, like, a
09:00documentary with your crew, and you document a lot of stuff.
09:04Is it also inspired from that?
09:10Like, I'm, like, a real – so, first of all, I'm, like, a fan of, like, true stories and movies
09:18and stuff like that.
09:20And not even just that.
09:21I'm just a fan of people's stories because I feel like everybody has a story to tell.
09:27So, growing up, I was just always interested in stuff like that.
09:31So, yeah, that's definitely a part of it.
09:33I just like telling stories.
09:35I like hearing stories and things like that.
09:38You know what I'm saying?
09:39So, definitely, definitely.
09:42Dope, dope, dope, dope, dope.
09:44So, with the project that – there was a track you did with Firestar.
09:53Yeah, Firestar from Onyx.
09:55How was that experience?
09:56Because, like, man, he's an OG, bro.
09:58Like, he's a legend.
10:00You know what I'm saying?
10:00Legend.
10:00And, yeah, that's, like, that's, like, one guy we'd all want to work with, like, is –
10:07Yeah.
10:07Yeah, facts.
10:08So, I met him – how did we meet, man?
10:14I think I sent him a song, bro.
10:17Yeah.
10:17And he liked it.
10:19And he DM'd me.
10:21And he was, like, you know, he thought I was dope.
10:24So, I was, like, man, I was, like, man, appreciate it.
10:26You know what I'm saying?
10:27Like, he was, like, man, he was, like, let's work.
10:30So, he was, like, send me a song.
10:32So, man, I rushed straight to the studio that day.
10:36I wrote something, did the song, and I sent it to him.
10:40So, once I sent it to him, he was, like, man, this song fire, bro.
10:44He was, like, I rock with it.
10:46So, he asked me.
10:47He was, like, man, do you want to come to L.A.?
10:49So, I was, like, yeah, I come to L.A., bro, of course.
10:51So, I flew out to L.A.
10:53I met him.
10:54You know what I'm saying?
10:54We went to the studio.
10:56You know what I'm saying?
10:56We just chopped it up and whatever.
10:58You know what I'm saying?
10:59So, now we got, like, a real cool relationship or whatever.
11:02You know, we ended up shooting a video to it, and I ended up signing to him.
11:05You know what I'm saying?
11:06So, yeah, that's big bro right there.
11:09He a real OG in the game for real, for sure.
11:12Word, word.
11:13Because, yeah, because, like, you know, I mean, him featuring you was, like, whoa, that's dope.
11:18But, like, him signing you, then how was that experience, bro?
11:23Because, I mean, yo.
11:24Man, it's a real good experience because I think, like, growing up, everybody just, people
11:29that do music, even though that signing the deal isn't, like, per se making it, it's saying
11:36that you're signed.
11:38It sounds like you made it.
11:39You know what I'm saying?
11:40So, I think everybody that did music, they just want to say, like, man, I got signed
11:45or something like that.
11:46I think that was always a goal of mine and a dream of mine since I was a kid rapping.
11:50So, just to say I got signed to Onyx, man, it's a blessing, bro.
11:54You know what I'm saying?
11:55Like, for real.
11:57Word, yeah, because, I mean, to this day, they still do their thing, you know?
12:01Because, like, even, I think they came to this side, I think it was 2015 or something,
12:11like, on one of our festivals here.
12:14So, like, one of the popular festivals here.
12:16So, yeah, man, their performance was just dope, dope, dope.
12:21Yeah, man, a lot of energy, bro, a lot of energy from them, man.
12:25Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:27So, what would you say, like, are those OG lessons that you got and the guidance you got
12:34from FASTA?
12:42Um, one thing he told me, I guess, like, stay consistent, you know what I'm saying?
12:48He also, he tries to tell me, like, you know what I'm saying, I always make sure I pick the
12:52right beats and stuff like that, you know what I'm saying?
12:56You know what I'm saying?
12:57Just little jewels and gems here and there, you know what I'm saying?
12:59I also get a lot of guidance from his manager, which is my manager, too.
13:07His name is Perry.
13:08He gives me a lot of advice every day, you know what I'm saying?
13:11Like, just stay grounded and stuff like that, you know what I'm saying?
13:15So, it's just like an OG telling a youngster, you know what I'm saying, to keep doing, you
13:20know what I'm saying, what you're doing.
13:21And Fredro, he also told me, like, man, he's one of the best rappers I ever heard.
13:25And he's been around everybody, Biggie, Tupac, all that, you know what I'm saying?
13:29So, it's like, that coming from him, man, that's just keeping my head, you know what
13:33I'm saying, telling me to keep doing what I'm doing.
13:36So, yeah, word.
13:38Word, word, word, word, word, word.
13:40Plus, this year, you released your track, I mean, your album, was it Cool Haley or something?
13:47Coolie High, Coolie High.
13:49Yeah, Coolie High, right?
13:51Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:51Plus, you got Mike Jones in it?
13:54Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:55Wow, bro.
13:56So, like, you're fortunate, bro.
13:59Like, you've got all these OGs and stuff, bro.
14:01Word, yeah, word, yeah.
14:03Facts, facts.
14:03Word, right?
14:04So, how was, like, with your second project?
14:11Tell us more about that.
14:13Yeah, my second project, Coolie High.
14:15So, I got the name.
14:17The name was inspired from a movie, a classic movie about Chicago in, like, the 1970s.
14:23So, basically, it's about a movie with, like, young men, you know, being friends and just
14:28going through the ills of the ghetto as far as, like, gang activity, even falling in love
14:36with women, you know what I'm saying, having sex with women, things that young men go through,
14:41you know what I'm saying?
14:42So, I thought that was a good parallel, you know what I'm saying?
14:45Me being from the same city and going through the same things like that, you know what I'm
14:49saying?
14:50So, I thought that was a good parallel to intertwine, you know what I'm saying?
14:53So, that's how that came about.
14:55That's how the name came about and, like, the topic came about, you know what I'm saying?
15:00Word, word, word.
15:01Because if I'm not mistaking, you're guys like Common and Kanye from the same area as
15:09you, right?
15:10Yes, sir.
15:10Yes, sir.
15:11Yep.
15:11Common, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Twister, a few rappers like that, yeah.
15:18Word, word.
15:18So, like, how do you feel like you have, like, big shoes to fill up, considering that there's
15:28huge artists like that?
15:30Yeah.
15:30Because, like, even last time...
15:33Nah, yeah, go ahead, bro.
15:34I'm listening.
15:34Go ahead.
15:35Yeah.
15:35Because, like, even last time I was asking Still Will and the other guys that I was interviewing
15:42from Philadelphia, you know, like, how they have Black Thought and those smells from Philadelphia
15:50and all that stuff.
15:51Yeah.
15:51So, would you say, like, you being from Chicago, like, you have, like, that pressure or, like,
15:57you know, those shoes to fill up, considering, like, you got those type of ochis from your
16:02hood?
16:03Yeah.
16:04Nah, honestly, I don't think I, like, I have the field shoes.
16:07I think when you start getting into stuff like that, you're not building your own legacy.
16:13I feel like you're trying to, I feel like when you do stuff like that, you're more so
16:18trying to build towards somebody else's legacy or make somebody else proud and happy.
16:23You know what I'm saying?
16:24Stuff like that, that's cool.
16:25I would love to make, like, legends in the game, you know what I'm saying, accept me and
16:29all that.
16:30But I think, like, I think I should just build towards my own legacy and worry about what comes
16:36with that.
16:36You know what I'm saying?
16:38So, but, yeah, I definitely respect and love and everything they did, you know what I'm
16:43saying?
16:44And the people that came before me, I definitely respect and salute that.
16:47But I think I'm more trying to build my own legacy and worry about what I got going on.
16:52Because if I try to worry about filling somebody else's shoes, I'll get lost along the way.
16:57And I probably won't even accomplish what I'm trying to accomplish, you feel me?
17:01Word, word, word, word.
17:02So, like, who are the five MCs you'd say are your favorite?
17:08And, like, who are the five MCs you would, like, want to work with?
17:14Okay, my five favorite MCs of all time, number one, Nas, number two, 50 Cent, number three,
17:23Biggie, number four, Jada Kiss, and five is like a three-way tie.
17:32It's like, five could be Jay-Z, it could be Eminem, or it could be Rakim.
17:37So, yeah.
17:38And, like, five MCs I would love to work with.
17:40I would love to work with Royce, the 5'9".
17:44I would love to work with, obviously, like, Drake, Kendrick, J. Cole.
17:51That's obvious.
17:52And, like, a fifth that I would love to work with.
17:56Who'd I love to work with?
17:59Lupe Fiasco.
18:02Dope, dope, dope, dope, dope, dope, dope.
18:04So, like, since it's December now, are you planning on doing any performances?
18:13Yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure.
18:16I just had a performance last night, and I'm planning on going on tour with Onyx overseas soon.
18:25I'm not sure on the dates yet, but definitely, definitely.
18:28Oh, like what, is it Europe, or?
18:30Europe, yeah, Europe.
18:33Oh, yeah, yeah, that's dope, because I know hip-hop is very big, that side.
18:38Yeah, man, it's like a whole other world over there, that's why it's hip-hop.
18:41Yeah, in the UK, because you just see the whole concert filled with white boys and stuff.
18:47Yeah, bro, I swear, bro.
18:49Yeah, bro, like, I'm like, yo, so, like, sometimes when I see the videos, I get shocked, you know.
18:55Yeah, it's crazy, it's crazy.
18:57Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
18:58They love that shit, man.
19:01Yeah, yeah, yeah.
19:03So, like, are you planning any projects?
19:10Right now, I'm not sure, but, you know, anything can happen, anything can come up, you know what I'm saying?
19:15But I think Onyx, they got an album dropping for the label, so I'm working on songs and shit for
19:23them as far as that, you know what I'm saying?
19:25So, they're going to do, like, a compilation album with everybody that they signed, and songs from, like, Fredro, Sticky,
19:31and all that, you know what I'm saying?
19:32So, that's one thing I'm working on right now.
19:35Oh, dope, dope, dope.
19:37Yeah, man.
19:38Yeah, I think we should also maybe interview them sometimes when they have the time.
19:43Yeah, definitely, definitely.
19:45Yeah, yeah, yeah.
19:46Yeah, definitely.
19:47That's dope, that's dope, that's dope.
19:48Sure.
19:49So, yeah, man.
19:50Man, before you leave us, man, can you kick us with a 16th bar, you know, just a little something
19:58of what's coming?
19:59Yeah, for sure.
20:01Like, I'm back, missus.
20:03Hold on one second, man.
20:04Hold on.
20:06I'm doing an interview, young man.
20:08Let me do this real quick.
20:10Say hi.
20:10Say hi.
20:11Say hi.
20:12Then we get to the elite.
20:13Say hi.
20:14What's up, little man?
20:15You good?
20:17You good?
20:18Welcome, bro.
20:20She's watching your video.
20:23You are?
20:23Let me finish this, okay, baby?
20:25Okay.
20:25Hi.
20:25That's why I was trying to find a quiet room.
20:28A quiet room, yeah, man.
20:32But, yeah, I say, my back misses.
20:36I black on tracks, the raps missed it.
20:39I'm from the rack, the hat twisted.
20:41They let the cat out the bag, the cat hissed.
20:44I'm uncanny, do it for one's family.
20:46I do it for the heart and for those that can't stand me.
20:49My favorite rapper, Killin' Me, just won his first Grammy.
20:52Meanwhile, I'm on the hill, it's gettin' antsy.
20:55Time passes like it's runnin' to one.
20:57I'm cool like a young nigga with a blunt and a gun.
21:00I fuck her like she ain't a hoe, shit.
21:02I'm lovin' the fun.
21:03It's like I'm livin' in a moment, like I'm 101.
21:06Uh.
21:07Cypress Hill jump around, but I'm idle still.
21:09Sunday school at 16, but is the Bible real?
21:12I always believed in God, but that's just how I feel.
21:15They threw the book at me with no survival skills.
21:18Yeah.
21:19Oof.
21:20Dope, dope, dope, dope, dope.
21:22Can't wait to hear that completion, bruh.
21:25Yeah, bro.
21:26Word.
21:26Yeah, I gotta be the first time to get it.
21:29Yeah, for sure.
21:31What's up, what's up?
21:32Yeah, man, so just before you leave, man,
21:34just let the people know where we can reach you
21:37for your social media handles.
21:38Yeah, um, Instagram, man, that's really what I got.
21:42You know what I'm saying?
21:43All I got is Laquan underscore BG Instagram, man.
21:46Hit me up.
21:46You know what I'm saying?
21:47I don't mind talking to people, you know what I'm saying?
21:50Real humble and all that, you know what I'm saying?
21:52So just hit me, you know what I'm saying?
21:53And I appreciate you for having me, bro.
21:55Shout out Hip Hop, Asian TV.
21:58You know what I'm saying, bro?
21:59We definitely gotta do some more of this, bro.
22:01Like, your platform, bro.
22:02No, definitely, just tell Firestar and Sticky
22:09whenever they're free, you know?
22:11Yeah, I got you, bro.
22:14Yeah, man.
22:15Yeah, plus I saw your video where you were kicking some bars
22:21with Kid Pride, man.
22:22He's dope, too.
22:22Oh, yeah, that's my guy.
22:24I gotta link y'all, bro.
22:26I gotta link y'all.
22:27Yeah, definitely.
22:28Definitely, he's on Instagram, right?
22:31Yeah, yeah.
22:32Yeah, I'll have him DM you, bro.
22:35All right.
22:36Sweet, sweet, then.
22:37Thanks again, eh?
22:39Yeah.
22:39See you, bro.
22:40Got you, bro.
22:41Peace, peace.
22:42Salute.
22:43Salute.
22:49Oh, guys.
22:50That was a wonderful interview.
22:54Oh, yeah.
22:55That was dope.
22:56That was dope.
22:57I enjoyed that one.
22:58Yeah, guys.
23:00You're watching Hip Hop Nation TV from South Africa, Johannesburg,
23:04Southside.
23:05My name is Piro, but I'm usually known as Ecliptic.
23:10Yeah.
23:11So I'm not only a podcast, I'm also an artist myself.
23:14So, yeah, guys.
23:16It was fun doing this interview with you guys.
23:20I hope you guys enjoyed it.
23:22So, yeah.
23:23But, yeah, I just want to thank everyone that watched.
23:27Um, is it Crazy?
23:30Is it Crazy?
23:31G-Y-L-Y?
23:32Thanks.
23:33Um, Hip Hop Foodspot.
23:35Thanks for watching.
23:37Ace Solo Carper.
23:38Thanks for watching.
23:40Huncho 606.
23:42Thanks for watching.
23:43Um, Taya.
23:47Thanks for watching.
23:48Yo, everyone that joined.
23:49Um, thanks.
23:51Shout out.
23:51Shout out.
23:52Shout out.
23:52Shout out to everyone that joined.
23:54Um, Alec.
23:57Yeah, thanks for joining.
23:59Um, yeah.
24:00Shout out to all of you guys.
24:02Um, so, yeah.
24:02Peace.
24:03We out then.
24:05Um, yeah.
24:06But before I leave, I'll just play a song, um, by Laquan.
24:11So, yeah.
24:11That's what's up.
24:48So, yeah.
24:51It felt so easy.
24:52Shout out.
24:53Shout out.
24:53Shout out.
24:54Shout out.
24:54Nick.
24:55Shout out for watching.
24:56Thanks to all of you guys.
24:59Shout out to all of you guys for watching.
25:01Thank you so much.
25:03Um, yeah, man.
25:05So, yeah.
25:07See you all next time.
25:08Peace.
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