To hear Uzi tell it, this new album represents a return to form.
Im feeling really confident about this one, Uzi says.
Uzis been giving a decent amount of thought to their legacy and influence over all of these years.
Garrett Bruce*
By Uzis count, up to 80 percent of the music that their fans love are leaks.
Lately, though, they say theyve tightened up their operation and is ready to drop music consistently.
He stayed at my house.
Thinking of this record, you mentioned wanting to get back to its roots.
What inspired you to return to that origin?The way I project my voice.
Theyd say, Oh, Uzi just made another hit.
So its a different bag and pocket that I usually get into when its time to cook up something.
And I dont blame them because [it was like], What have you done?
But then, when I did it, they didnt want to give me respect.
This project is really just me really getting off.
I got some vocals and stuff from Big Time Rush on there.
How did you link up with them?I called.
Thats the only people I called.
So I got Big Time Rush.
Did you grow up listening to them?100 percent.
Its still celebrities, but everybody feels like somebody right now.
What am I doing wrong in life?
They were like that.
Im like, Damn, their unreal life was actually their real life.
You know how artists are like, Of course.
But I didnt even really think they knew me.
Not that they didnt know me its like I didnt think they knew me, like rocking with me.
And I really appreciate that.
Luv Is Ragecame out nine years ago today.
Thats crazy to think about.
What changed for you as an individual artist in that time?So back then, it didnt matter.
And when I say it didnt matter, everything mattered.
So later in life, the cards that I was handed, I played them well.
Knowing that I played them well, I played all the bonuses.
Its about to be that time.
How old are you now?29.
Because Ive never done anything else in my life that I could say that great.
I remember going to prom, and that was lit.
But I went to prom two times.
But when we were younger, she was really short, and I was short.
Im like, No.
Both of them were a cool experience.
And my mom kicked me out because she was like, Im in the way.
I was getting too old.
She kicked me out.
I moved with my grandma to a nursing home.
When I moved with my grandma in a nursing home, my friend took me to the studio.
We used to rap together, right?
I lived in a nursing home for a while, for two years.
But I really didnt.
So, I was trying to learn how to rap.
So then I was trying to flex all that.
Thats why they liked me in Philly; I was trying to rap ASAP, too.
So in Philly, they like, Oh, he is on some other stuff.
And then, just after that, it happened.
Its never just a walk in the park.
Because if you put it on anyone else, then youll be somewhere high as a kite.
If I got more than 30 million, Im cool.
Thats a good outlook.
Im far behind, but…No, youre good.
I really felt I went in there, and I took the criticism…
I saw the criticism on the internet of just a certain way I was moving.
And no one knows what my creative process was.
Youre good at getting caught.Im good at getting caught.
I wont be trying to.
You have a ton of fan accounts.
It seems like every time theres a candid video of you, you show love.Yeah.
I pay attention to everything.
I have no choice, but they love them.
Because if they dont love me, then who will?
But other than that, I love them at the end of the day.
The fans could say anything.
They never said anything worse.
When I made my mom mad, they aint say nothing worse than that.
Not anymore, but when I was young.
I think I saw a video the other day where somebody handed you a chicken.Crazy.
The chicken had on some skinny jeans.
I was kind of living in a hotel.
Bro, the kid was out there for a month every day.
Ill never forget that kids face.
Hes an orange-haired kid.
In my life, Ill never forget his face.
Hes probably grown now.
I saw him a year and a half ago, trying to act normal.
It was so crazy.
I saw him at Guitar Center a year and a half ago.
Guitar Center?Bro, they were having a sale in Guitar Center out here.
He came in there with his friend, and he was looking around with a Corona mask on.
And he went, I didnt even know you were here.
Im like, Man, come on.
I dont really want to say this, but I kind of appreciate him.
All my fans are boys; they are like 14-, 15-year-old boys screaming at me.
And Id just be like, This is what it is.
But there was this one girl, and she was very different.
I dont know what she believed in, but she was leaving weird stuff in my car.
Weird stuff: Different types of little dolls and shit.
Its so nutty because she looked cool, though.
She looked cool in a way that was scary, but she looked cool.
She had a look.
But it was like I could almost smell the look.
But it was swaggy.
I fuck with her too.
You know whats crazy?
I probably stole some of her swag.
No stink, though.
No stink, though.
I think a lot of people look at Carti, and they see his influence.
They look at Kanye and Drake.
I feel like you are right there with a lot of those guys when it comes to influence.Mines different.
Mines different than all of those guys.
How so?Its like I gave them 50 artists in a matter of nine years.
And thats why I always would be like this.
Im always going to make big songs.
Always going to make hits.
Always going to be who I am, and by being focused, Ill be even bigger.
But this is me.
Theres something about me.
I know it first before a fan could know it because its me.
Its just something about my lifestyle that all the way couldnt change that.
Usually, a big star has to change.
I will make a big hit, and you will find me in your local park.
Its really like that.
You had the Super Bowl joint, Just Wanna Rock.
I remember that song leaked at some point, and then it went crazy on TikTok.
It was Labor Day or something.
The studio was closed.
I dont like recording in my house.
I dont like doing any of that.
I like going to the studio, the feeling of having a job.
It was like 4:00 in the morning.
I recorded on… some of the little speakers, you know, the little ones.
My friend and I will be dancing on TikTok.
I made it just for that.
I wanted to have my own theme song.
So Im like, Im just going to make it.
And everybody, they liked it.
Most of my music that people know, its all leaks.
Ive had some hidden gems on leaks.
People definitely helped me decipher, like, Oh my God, this is a hit.
And Im like, Ew, this?
Im like, Oh, all right.
And Im listening to it.
Im like, Oh shit.
My ears just fried, not theirs.
You almost get to test it out in public.Yeah.
Always remember that my ears are fried, not yours.
Not even Cant Save Her?Do you like that one?
I aint going to lie.
I aint going to lie.
You got me on that one.
Thats the one, bro.
I aint going to lie.
Sometimes you cant put it out.
Is everything on this new album newly recorded, or is there any old stuff?Yes.
Everything is newly recorded up until you get to the bonus track, and I went 50/50.
How long have you been recording it?For a while.
I went through different phases right afterPink Tape.
So there was no overlap betweenPink Tapeand this one?No.
I had to clear space; thats why this was that.
Has a shift happened for you?Not the past few years.
I just started last month, bro.
I aint going to lie.
I told you, I just was in another space; I had to chill and get back right.
I just have to provide for my family.
And its a difference between providing for yourself and providing for your family.
And thats all its about.
And I always want my family to be comfortable simultaneously as Im comfortable.
Or at least, if I make them look bad, at least they put up and rich.
You droppedPink Tapelast year, and you got this album this year.
Are you in that flow now where were going to expect more frequent releases from you?Yeah.
Im not even lying.
They thought I was lying a few minutes ago.
Now the tape is coming, everybodys like, You werent lying.
They swore I was lying.
They were cursing me out.
This time, before I even know any official dates, Im already locked in to start rehearsing.
Im going to try this time.
I want it to be a point where everyone can get it.
I want it to be in the middle of high fashion and normal every day.
