Read the full interview on YoungCalifornia.com!
Phresher’s energy is unmatched. Hailing from Brooklyn, the East Coast rapper brings a breath of fresh air into the rap game, combining spit-fire flows over hard-hitting production while preserving the lyricism and bars the OGs of hip-hop birthed. In 2016, he unleashed his breakout single “Wait A Minute,” which had 50 Cent calling his phone directly to hop on the remix. Read more…
The record’s official music video with Remy Ma currently hails over 19M views on Youtube alone. In addition, the 30-year-old’s talents had his favorite rapper of all-time Eminem calling his line. It was the moment Em’s manager Paul Rosenberg reached out to have Phresher as a feature on Em’s “Chloraseptic” that changed everything. The two proceeded to perform the record in front of thousands at Governors Ball in New York.
For those who don’t know, who is Phresher?
Phresher is just a cool guy from east New York – Brooklyn, born and raised. I had the big record “Wait A Minute” featuring 50 Cent, then I had “Right Now” with Cardi B. “Chloraseptic” with Eminem. Phresher is working man. Phresher is a cool guy, very charismatic. Love the people. Ultimate humanitarian. That‘s pretty much who I am.
Why should people fuck w/ you?
Because I’m cool as shit. Super talented. Can do everything really musically. I’m dope man, my concepts are dope. The concepts are real. It’s raw, but it’s fun. I’m here to uplift people. Turn Phresher on when you’re tryna turn up in the gym and get busy.
How would you describe your sound?
My sound is like constructive chaos. It sounds all over the place but it’s right in pocket. People love me. It’s real turn up party music. I have some deep things, we’re gonna get into that in the next project. But right now, we’re turning up. Teeing up. Turn up Phresher when you’re about to go out on a Friday night. Turn up Phresher when you hit that gym. It’s crazy music.
Being from New York, how does that play into your life and career?
That plays the biggest part. You know, survival of the fittest. Being from New York, you gotta stay sharp. Because what’s in today, might not be in tomorrow. You gotta keep revamping your style. Constantly trying to outdo the next artist on the block. New York gives you that competitive raunchy rawness, like this my block style! I try to use that with music. This is my game right now. As long as I’m doing it, it’s going to be mine.
How important is it to come to LA as an up and coming artist?
It’s very important! Let me tell you something… NY and LA are similar. This one of the biggest cities in the rap game. You gotta come out here and get that West Coast vibe. It’s like NY, it’s busy. A lot of artists are there, so you get to really get in tune with all the people on West Coast. Very important to me. I actually just got a condo out here, that’s how important it is.
Where’s the condo at?
Hollywood. Right in Hollywood. It’s amazing. Everything goes on right there. I’m in Hollywood for real, right on Sunset Blvd. I love it.
What’s your favorite part about the West Coast?
The weather, the women, and the Runyon Canyon. [laughs] I love to workout, so it keeps me in shape.
“All The Smoke” is a banger. Bring us back to that studio session.
Definitely, “All The Smoke” will forever go down in history. That song is all about my present state of mind, as well as where I’m going period in life. If you don’t fuck with me, I don’t fuck with you. If don’t like me, I don’t like you. If you fuck with me, I fuck with you. And if you don’t, I want all the smoke. Everything that comes with it, I want it. If you not with me, you on the menu. Listen at some point, you gon’ be on this menu. That’s what it’s about it. I’m making everybody regret — whoever fucked me over, if you don’t regret it, cool. You’re gonna regret it.
Did something happen?
A lot happened. The team I had around me just wasn’t the team. Everybody, the PR, the team I had around me. If you ain’t with me right now, I want all the smoke with you. It’s that simple. I want smoke with my old self as well, he’s not even off the menu. This is how you know: I’m at a point where I got beef with my old self, so can you imagine what I got with you? I didn’t like that person I became because I allowed people to take advantage of me. So now, I even got a problem with him. Could you imagine if you ain’t in my body? I’m fighting somebody internally. It’s over! I want all the smoke, everything that comes with it man.
What can we expect from your forthcoming album Big Smoke?
You can expect so much from that project right there. Features from Snoop Dogg – went and tapped in with the big homie. Got my dog Flipp Dinero. Got my dog Casanova. Went and tapped in with a couple females on this project. Nya Lee, some up and coming ones. I got my artist up there, 550 Flokk. We all the way tapped in forreal. The project is so raw and straight to the point. Just backing up that “All the Smoke.” It’s called Big Smoke so you already know I’m not playing. We want all the smoke forreal. Everything is about that new person that I am.
Are you still independent?
Yeah I’m still independent. Never been signed. Been in the game 3 years.
Is there a reason?
I wanted my independence, but we in a lot of talks right now. Right now is the time to really make a splash, and we making it. We got some surprises coming real soon. Summer splashes.
What do you like about being independent? Are there struggles?
Yeah there’s definitely struggles. Budgeting at times. The label takes care of a lot of things but when it has to come out of your own pocket, it gets tough. Especially when things aren’t moving as fast as you want them to move at a particular time, that’s when it becomes a struggle. It’s growing pains, things you learn. It’s on you, and I like it that way. I like when it’s on me. It’s go time right now. Whether it’s independent or major, it’s going down regardless. It’s time to move on them, I’m very excited.
What is it you want fans to get from your story?
Perseverance. I want people to know there’s always a way in whatever you wanna do. Take the time to learn yourself and improve yourself. You need to know where you’re at and where you’re tryna go. You have to understand everything doesn’t come easy, but it’s worth the wait. It’s always a chance to be bigger. Never become complacent, there’s always room for improvement. That’s me. I tell people all the time, I’m success, I’m failure, I’m everything. I’m all in one, but I’m perseverance. I go hard, I know it’s another level. The next time you meet me, it’s gonna be a different type of level up. Come and interview me at my penthouse. Interview me at the Staples Center suite. Always the glow up man, it’s for real. What I want people to take from me and my story: there’s always a way.
What are some goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
I want to be multi-Platinum artist. I haven’t gone Platinum yet, that’s one of my first goals. Definitely wanna go Platinum for a single and an album. I’m big into fashion, so definitely wanna get the artist merch off the ground. Definitely to get other artists off the ground. I have a lot of artists under me, I’m looking to get their careers off the ground as well. Take them to the next level in a label-type situation.
What’s your label?
That’s what we can’t talk about right now, one of the top secrets. That’s why I’m so excited honestly, I’ve never felt so empowered like now. It’s on me. You have the right people around you and it’s on you. I’m excited, definitely looking to be CEO of the company. Multi-Platinum albums. Get my artists some multi-Platinum albums. Multi-platinum singles. Take it all the way up. I love music, we ain’t going nowhere. I’m gonna be in this game for a long time. Even when it’s over for me recording, I’m gonna be still in this game. Bringing the next big thing. Might be my daughter years from now.
What’s a normal day in the life? Walk us through.
I get up, I work out. Definitely gotta work out! Drink my shake, I make my phone calls. Speak to management, speak to my lawyer, speak to the team. Then we hit the streets. If I don’t have no interviews, do a little shopping. Always in the mall, then shows at night. You know everything happens at night right? Nightclub, parties. I party a lot. Now, I record more than party honestly. I take music a lot more serious. I’m in the studio every other day, more than ever and I love that about myself now. I don’t care what’s going on, the earth stops when I’m in the studio. Don’t call my phone from 1pm-5pm, I’m recording. I’m not the biggest night person when it comes to recording, I have fun.
Because you like to party?
I party a lot. Out of 7 days a week, 4. I’m going to the club. I don’t smoke, I barely drink, so I’m just catching the vibe. I love fun. I’m naturally a fun person. Always tryna catch a vibe.
3 things you need in the studio?
I need Bel-Air champagne. I don’t smoke but I gotta have Packwoods in there. [chuckles] And my engineer Zues.
What’s the best encounter you had with a fan?
My wildest encounter is when I was on the Riff Raff tour. This girl jumped on staged and as I’m performing, she’s pulling my draws down. I’m holding the front of my draws right here, that’s all I have. Ass out and everything. I’m performing still. Security pulling her, she wouldn’t let go. She’s pulling my draws and everything, that was the wildest ever. She’s like “I love Phresherrr!!!” That was crazy, that was an amazing performance. Ass out, security pulling her and I’m still performing. I’m like “yeah, I’m here!”
I went to Riff’s show in LA.
Riff throws pizza. He does not play. He gon’ do his coke, and he’s gon eat pizza. He eats a lot of pizza. Riff throws pizza and cheese at the show. He don’t really like cheese. He takes the cheese and throws it at the crowd, omg.
How was touring with Riff Raff?
It was crazy. Riff does a lot of drugs. [laughs] That’s when I first found out about coke honestly. I didn’t know nothing about coke until he asked me “do I party?” I’m like “yeah I party, of course!” He’s like “yo it’s under the sink.” I’m like “ohhh that party!? My bad Riff, I don’t go to those parties.” That was wild. I said “damn Riff!” He’s like “I thought you knew about partying?” I said “nah man, I never went to those parties. That’s a different kind of party for me.” [chuckles] I party hard, he’s like “yeah this is party hard.” Riff don’t play. He goes hard.
Who’s the most played artist on your phone?
Drake. Drake man, he’s my guy. All day. I met him once, but it doesn’t count. We just dabbed hands. Drizzy, it don’t count. We’re gonna be doing something real soon.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on IG?
My favorite person to follow right now is Giselle. She’s a socialite, she’s very fun to watch. I like her outfits and things she tries on. She’s always half naked, I like that. I follow a lot of naked women honestly. I like to know who’s out there and what they’re doing with their lives.
Anything else you want to let us know?
Phresher loves everybody. Phresher loves the people man. Big Smoke, as much as he wants all the smoke is as much as he loves people. I’m here to stay. Follow me everywhere @Phresher_DGYGZ. It stands for Da Generals Young Generalz. F is too original, so get that outta here. I’m Phresher than everybody.
No Comments