By Derrius Edwards – @rawcommnc
When you hear the word “slap”, people often think of pain or the physical act. When I hear the word slap, I think of the influence, the man behind the artist.
From overcoming the hardships associated with imprisonment, this St. Louis artist shows no mercy in his delivery. Applying pressure with releasing his hit single entitled, “I Go Hard” featuring QC The Label artist Lil’ Baby, with Yella Beezy hopping on the remix, Slap is on one to say the least.
In this over-the-phone interview, we were able to get a glimpse at what influences this St.Louis’ native .
Q: What inspired the name Slap?
A: My friend gave me that name when I was in 7th grade. Shit, it just stuck with me. He died in 2008, and I will never let that go.
Q: How did you get your start with music?
A: I was always into music. While serving my time I was able to sit back and think. I decided this is what I wanted to do once I got out.
Q: How has being locked up changed your life and what was the best thing to come out of it?
A: I had time to think and evaluate life. I don’t feel no man need to be locked up, for certain things.
Q: What inspires your creativity?
A: Everyday life…my everyday life. I don’t talk about nothing I haven’t seen or done. Just givin’ it to you how I get it.
Q: Describe your music in 3 words
A: Real, Raw, Rare
Q: Favorite collaboration so far?
A: Uhh..I ain’t gone lie…Yella Beezy know what I’m sayin’. Straight up, shout out to Yella. He made me want to keep going. It wasn’t just a feature, it was real. I got respect for all them duded (regarding artist Slap has worked with).
Q: Any noticeable differences between St.Louis music scene and Atlanta’s?
A: St.Louis is live every man for themselves, there ain’t no teams, no loyalty. I mean, it ain’t a lotta money flowing through the city. There’s more support in Atlanta.
Q: Any messages behind your music?
A: I want people to know the real of the real. Lotta rappers make it seem like everything good, when it ain’t good all the time. I just wanna give people the real, I just want you to hear me. Once you really in the streets it ain’t all good. I lost one of my friends the other day. Like, it ain’t good at all. That’s why I’m kind if throwed off right now.
Q: Any future plans outside of music?
A: I have all kind of plans. I’m trying to do whatever, acting, all that shit. Trying to make something out of my life, and make my mama proud, that’s the honest truth.
Q: What single are you really trying to push right now?
A: That Lil’ Baby and Yella Beezy, half the video done right now.
Q: What is something you’ve learned early on in the music industry?
A: Get paperwork on everything, cause ain’t no loyalty in this music shit. I done took so many losses in thinking everyone as genuine as me. Coming from the streets in my way of thinking, diving head first.
Q: Any closing remarks?
A: Go download Slap on all major platforms. “I Go Hard” remix featuring Lil’ Baby and Yella Beezy, “Can’t Go Backwards” ft. Ralo. Like I said, I’m just tryna make my mama proud.
