Moneybagg Yo Talks Meeting Denzel Washington, Attending His First Wedding & New Album ‘Speak Now’
Perhaps nobody in rap capitalized on the stillness brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic than Moneybagg Yo.
The CMG rapper posted four Hot 100 entries with the vengeful “Time Today” and the Debarge-sampling “Wockesha” powering his 2021 A Gangsta’s Pain album, which completed Bag’s transition to commercial stardom and gave him his first No. 1 project atop the Billboard 200.
Three years later, Moneybagg returned with his fifth studio album, Speak Now, released Friday (June 14). The 32-year-old feeds his core fan base with plenty of trap flossing, designer flexes and street motivation over thumping trap beats and hi-hats courtesy of Tay Keith, Turbo and more.
“I feel like I don’t got nothing else to prove,” Bag casually admits to Billboard during his visit to the Big Apple. “I got all these plaques, I got success. I’m just letting them know I really do this. Don’t play.”
The Memphis stalwart does innovate on his latest LP too, which finds Bag getting more melodic testing out his vocal range while teaming up with Chris Brown for the infectious “Drunk Off U” [and there’s more where that came from]. He slides across the state to Nashville for the country-leaning “Whiskey Whiskey” featuring Morgan Wallen, a collab that was two-years-in-the-making.
Bag’s an open book with his chiseled rhymes, delving into life experiences behind his Prada shades, like having Denzel Washington rock his blinged-out AP watch while grabbing lunch at The Polo Lounge, or listing his entire wing order at J R Crickets when he’s in Atlanta.
There’s more heat in the stash, too — as Moneybagg Yo will deliver a project sequel, fittingly titled Forever Hold Your Peace, later this year, which will cater more toward the ladies. “I’m versatile,” he adds. “I feel like I can play in different lanes.”
Give our interview with Bag a read below, which dives into him meeting Washington, attending his first wedding, working with Wallen and more.
Billboard: What was your mindset heading into this album?
Moneybagg Yo: It was just trying to deliver a body of work for my day-one fanbase who been rocking with me since Federal 3x— that type of vibe. That’s kinda what I did. I also mixed it with a sequel, which is called Forever Hold Your Peace. It’s gonna be the more melodic vibes. It’s dropping a couple months after Speak Now. I did stuff like “Drunk Off U” with Chris Brown kinda singing.
How was that kinda singing on there and experimenting with your voice more?
Just trying different stuff like I got 80 of those type of songs before even Chris [Brown] got on it. I was experimenting and playing with the craft and the talent. It came out good and I put Chris on it. I got one called “I Feel It,” and the Morgan Wallen situation.
How did the Morgan Wallen relationship form?
He’s actually a big fan of me. We been locked in for like two or three years. We had the song when we first locked in off the rip. I had it for like a year and a half, or two years, and he’s been on me about putting it out. “When that song coming out?” And all this s–t. The perfect time is now.
Coming off of A Gangsta’s Pain, do you feel like you have anything left to prove?
I feel like it’s really about enjoying what I’m doing and expanding at the same time. I feel like that’s it. I feel like I don’t got nothing else to prove. I got all these plaques, I got success. Just basically coming off a two-year break. I’m just letting them know I really do this. Don’t play.
You had to remind everyone one time with that post [to Instagram] of all your plaques.
And I think I missed some, to be honest. It was like some s–t. It’s a blessing. All that is.
How do you feel your music’s been able to resonate with a wide range of people from different cultures and backgrounds?
Even with what you said — like, I’m kinda singing on “Drunk Off U,” it’s not forced. It’s like, “All right bet, he doesn’t sound too bad. He’s vibing on there. Can we get more of that type?”
“Gangstas Relate” with Lil Durk – talk about that record and him sending his verse back in less than 20 minutes.
How that came about — he hit me the night before I had to turn the album in. “You in L.A. let’s do something.” I’m like, “Boom,” sent him the record. He sent back all the snowman emojis and sent that motherf–ker right back, like he was sitting in front of the mic or something. It was good, though.
What’s the quickest you’ve ever sent back a feature?
It went so crazy. Money Mu, the “Hittin” remix. He’s from Atlanta and it made noise. I was rushing I had somewhere to be. I had my girl, Ari, she pulled up with me when we in the A. I’m like, “Take me over here to do this feature right quick.” I’m just thinking, like, “I’m getting some little money, I’ll just pull up in the joint.” I do it and leave. I didn’t know when he dropped it — I’m going in the clubs and it’s going crazy. S–t’s turnt up.
As someone who’s had hits, what makes a hit record to you?
At this time in this generation, I feel like it’s impact. It’s gotta have impact. Everyone can drop records, just because who you is — but if you analyzing the game people who are very successful, you’ve been seeing records come out from these artists and they ain’t been ugh [snaps]. You got the more upcoming artists [hitting] [claps]. It’s just gotta be an overall good record.
On “Tryna Make Sure,” did you say that Pharrell sent you a Louis Vuitton bag?
I was saying, like, making a call and shouting him out. I was like, “Ay, send me the bag at Louis.” I was going in the Louis stores and s–t all the sizes be so skinny and little. They fit for him. So I’m like, “Send me the bag at Louis!”
I saw you and Quavo step in to help recruit this high school quarterback, Antwann Hill Jr., to [the University of] Memphis. That’s pretty cool.
Quavo actually hit me — like, it’s official, “My boy about to come through the city. I need you to take care of him.” I’m not a big fan of football — basketball is my preference — but I told Quavo I got him. I went back up with him. It was kinda like how we locked in with Ja [Morant]. We made him feel good and at home in the town.
Were you at a wedding last week with Quavo?
Two or three days ago, with the Gumbos. The couple got married so I popped out. It was an experience. I had never been to no wedding. The ceremony was boring, but after the ceremony it was [cool].
They try to give you a mic?
They ain’t do that, but they gave Quavo the mic, though. He grabbed it and just performed. It was crazy.
That was your first wedding? That’s crazy. Did you bring a date?
Nah, she was actually sick at the house. It was like [one] plus God damn five or six with us. It was a vibe though.
I was listening to a 2Pac interview and wanted to get your thoughts on this quote: “In this country, as a Black man, you have five years where you can exhibit maximum strength. Once you turn 30, it’s like they take the heart and soul out of a man.”
I feel like when you turning 30 and get in your 30s, this is when your eyes open. You really see life for what it is, and you start moving and different. You almost wish how I’m thinking at 30 when I was 25 or whatever. All that comes with timing. I’m just moving better and thinking clearer. I see s–t for what it is. I been dealing with so much crazy a– s–t. I was just listening to Pac.
What’s your favorite Pac song or album?
All Eyez on Me. What’s the [song] he got with Scarface? “Smile.” That’s the one I have to listen to to keep me going.
What kind of business ventures do we have going on?
Yeah, we got a tequila liquor we’re gonna start pushing. I got a water we’re looking for distribution for right now. This is my clothing line I got on right now. It’s actually called Lof. This is in Japanese. Doing a high-end fashion brand. I’m trying to expand that. I got a restaurant in Memphis called Cache 42. It’s a lounge with an upscale side to it. I got a strip club in Miami that I’m 50/50 with a partner. Taboo Miami by G5ive. Just marketing and branding the club, I actually dedicated a song to one of the tracks on this album, called “Taboo Miami.” I got a little something going.
Do you have any advice for younger artists when it comes to dealing with labels?
I tell them to stay independent as long as they can. You gon’ get to a certain level where you’re gonna need some help. Everybody needs somebody. If your dreams and aspirations where you want to be up there, you’re gonna have to align with somebody to go to that. We can only go so far. Second, whatever you’re doing and whatever your craft is, force it on the world. Everybody don’t get it when you first put something out. No shade, look at some of the artists that’s out today. To be honest, they’re not lyrically talented. It’s more dumb-downed music that’s taking over the world. Just don’t think too hard. Force it on ’em, they gon’ get it. It’s gotta be ear-candy.
We’ve seen a lot more people in hip-hop focusing on their health, and I feel like you’ve been part of that.
Yeah, s–t, I worked out last night and this morning. My bro said, “You coming like an athlete or something. Damn, slow down.” I just want to look good in my clothes. I want to try to create more opportunities. Get on some of these magazines. I need to be on the cover of Billboard with the shirt off with the Louis scarf. That’s the type of timing I’m on. I want to feel good anyway.
Before you go, how did you link up with Denzel Washington?
I was with my PR eating at the Polo Lounge chopping it. I was wrapping up a meeting with her, and he was sitting to my right and looking. I’m like, “I want to go over and say something to him.” He just sitting there looking. Poker face. When I was paying for the tab, I stood up, he told me to come here. I went over there, he got to sweet-talking. His son was a big fan. We got to talking. S–t turned from a “what’s up” to “sit down and have lunch.”
We really had lunch. He was telling me about the movies. Training Day. He was like, “With me, you gotta know how to be Shakespeare, and you gotta know how to be the man in Training Day. You gotta know how to do both of them. That’s what made me different. That’s why I’m at the caliber I’m at. I know how to really do this.” I felt him, and we wrapped it up with a picture. I was like, “Yo, put on a watch!” He was looking like, “Man, you shining.” I was like, “Put the watch on!”
Michael Saponara
Billboard
