Musically, The Sunshine State has been on a hot streak as of late — but when it comes to that street shit, Brokeasf is the name to mention.
The Florida native has taken social media by storm, amassing millions of streams across platform before going viral with some assistance from TikTok, the music industry’s AI A&R. Brokeasf isn’t your average rapper, nor is he your average 18-year-old jit. Jacksonville’s budding star is full of ambition and a proportional amount of disdain for his opps, who evidently aren’t “doing nothing, just getting fucked over.”
Drug induced paranoia and trigger-happy mentions help curate the vibe for his troubled lifestyle. “Where I come from, it’s crazy. Growing up black, you know how it is ya feel me. I was in the streets, I didn’t play sports,” Brokeasf shares. “It’s a lot of street shit, that’s strictly what my city bout — and that’s strictly what I’m bout,” he continues. A byproduct of his environment, growing up in South Florida was the furthest thing from normal, it was eat or be eaten. With a cantankerous disposition that’s often misunderstood, the Cinematic Music Group signee naturally gravitated towards rap as a creative escape. But when your back is against the wall, opportunities don’t suddenly appear, you have to create them.
Efforts like ‘Off The Map’ are short, yet suggestive in conveying Brokeasf’s sinister unveil. Outside of treating his opps to a game of target practice, a glimmer of introspection on record provides insight into a near death experience that catalyzed the rising emcee’s infectious grind. At 14-years-old, the unforeseeable happened, Brokeasf almost lost his life to the street shit. However, in retrospect, optimism outweighs misfortune, the teenage composer is actually glad that the incident happened. “People think I’m crazy when I say I’m glad that happened,” Brokeasf admits. “That shit did a lot. If that ain’t happen, I feel like I’d be in worse situations.”
In the face of adversity, you either sink or swim. Brokeasf channeled his inner Michael Phelps and swam like never before, ushering in a newly embraced soundscape of drill-inspired mentions overtop uptempo production. The fresh-faced newcomer is unapologetically blunt with his delivery. With co-signs from both Trippie Redd and Rich The Kid, Brokeasf is showing signs of being far more than a one-hit wonder by today’s standards. With each release, his lyrical versatility is on full display, citing public approval by way of a stout social media presence. Most recently, he penned a featured verse from Detroit’s own 42 Dugg, linking up to pose a query that addresses people who have a lot to say: “How you out here beefing and you broke?”
A natural wordsmith, the Floridian rapper attacks the beat with tactical precision. In the same breath, he’s rather reserved, offloading short responses that leave no room interpretation. To understand Brokeasf is to identify with pain and to understand what it means to overcome. Even in the midst of our brief conversation over-the-phone, sirens disguised as background music echoed in the distance, an eerie confirmation — Brokeasf lives the life he raps about. He’s still trying to make a way out.
His perspective towards the future carries a sanguine approach, but Brokeasf is understanding of the moment, living in the now. He’s able to accept the past for what it was, embracing a struggle that gave birth to his unfaltering work ethic.
Our full conversation, lightly edited for context and clarity, follows below.
With 2020 being a breakout year for your music, what prompted you to pursue a career as an artist early on?
Where I come from, it’s crazy. A lot of killing and shit, wit young people. Growing up black, you know how it is ya feel me. I was in the streets, I didn’t play sports.
I like music a lot. I had a thing for music, but I didn’t rap. After I got into that, shit started poppin’ off.
What was it like growing up in South Florida?
It’s a lot of street shit, that’s strictly what my city bout — and that’s strictly what I’m bout.
Is there any significance behind your artist name, Brokeasf? That’s different to say the least.
Shit, that always been my way of being unique. To be honest, that shit don’t got no meaning behind it, it mean a lot of shit.
In your song “Off The Map”, you allude to almost dying after being shot. That’s crazy to hear, especially when you consider your age. How did that incident affect your life going forward?
People think I’m crazy when I say I’m glad that happened. That shit did a lot. If that ain’t happen, I feel like I’d be in worse situations.
Ion think I would’ve took this route.
What is it like having so many opps? That sounds stressful.
Them niggas ain’t doing nothing, just getting fucked over.
Talk to me about new single “How” feat. 42 Dugg. How did this song come together and what’s the overall message?
Dugg hot, we had to get that in. I fuck wit Dugg.
In terms of Floridian culture, what exactly does it mean to be jit?
That shit just in my language. Niggas outta town try to put a meaning on that shit, but I call everybody that shit.
Everybody a jit.
