4batz Talks Upcoming ‘Thank U, Jada’ Project, Linking With Drake & Ye’s Genius

Nearly a year ago to the day, 4batz released his “Act II: Date @ 8” single, which went on to power the Dallas native’s rise with a boost from Drake, who hopped on the remix and helped Batz earn his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ye (formerly Kanye West), SZA and Robin Thicke were just a few of the stars to lend co-signs to the R&B singer while fans seemingly had something to say at every step of Batz’s ascension, whether that be his signature Shiesty look, the duality of his street persona matched up with his airy vocals and some even falsely accused him of being an “industry plant.”

The 21-year-old looks to build on his Rookie of the Year campaign with his Thank U, Jada project, which is expected to arrive at the top of 2025.

“I want people to know I’m uncut. I’m a regular n—a. I don’t give a f–k, but at the same time I do for the right things,” Batz tells Billboard News. “I want people to know that I’m an honest person and I feel and I want to bring an evolution to music and start my own little thing.”

Last year, 4batz pulled up to one of Drake’s shows — his first concert ever — and got some advice from the 6 God when it comes to being a prolific performer.

“I asked him, ‘Bro, how do you perform like that?’ He said, ‘Look up House of Blues by 2Pac.’ I looked that up and I studied him,” Batz recalls. “I bring energy. If I’m turning up, they gonna turn up … That’s one of the things he told me.”

Batz added to his list of star-studded collabs when Ye hopped on the remix to “Act III: On God (She Like).” He called West the “smarted person” he’s ever met in his life thus far.

“Genius. He actually the smartest person I ever met in my life,” Batz says. “[Ye] drove me two hours to Santa Barbara. It’s just me and Bianca. I’m like, ‘Huh? I’m really in a car with Kanye West.’ And he’s recording me. I’m in the backseat and he’s playing his music.”

Growing up in Dallas, 4batz felt his options were limited to the streets, school, basketball and rap, but he refused to be boxed in while taking a risk in being emotional with his music. Partly inspired by heartbreak and losing his father, Batz began singing.

“I kinda got tired of the same spectrum of everybody has to be this type of person,” he added. “Where I’m from, being emotional ain’t the coolest thing in the world. You don’t get no cool points for that. My whole thing was I got my feelings hurt and I was like I don’t have nothing else to lose.”

Watch the entire interview with 4batz above.