The artists Moneybagg Yo wishes he could be like: “I just fell in love”
Memphis emcee Moneybagg Yo is a Grammy-award-winning artist who has shocked critics with his sustained growth in the music industry. The ‘Wockesha’ creator is one of many Tennessee natives who has risen to prominence in recent years and his 2021 album, A Gangsta’s Pain, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
Whether it’s Future with his track ‘Codeine Crazy’ or Lil Wayne with his anthem ‘Me and My Drank’, Moneybagg Yo’s ‘Wockesha’, which samples the iconic 1997 song ‘One More Chance’, by The Notorious B.I.G, can be added to list of multi-platinum tracks dedicated to lean.
Following his 2021 project, Moneybagg Yo sat down with DJ Khaled to discuss the feeling of having a number-one album and express the joy he felt being able to work with the likes of Pharrell and Jhené Aiko.
Many have called into question the legitimacy of DJ Khaled’s production, considering the number of samples he uses and his regurgitation of pre-existing arrangements. Regardless, the beatmaker began to delve into the instrumentals of the project and the inspiration behind them.
Speaking about ‘Wockesha’, Khaled expressed his love for the use of ‘One More Chance’, stating, “You know I like flipping samples, but that one was done right. And the way you was flowing on that, you was letting the beat breathe, and you was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to show you how to do this shit in 2021.’”
In an attempt to dig deeper into Moneybagg’s creative process, Khaled asked, “Talk to me about how you made that record. Was it a beat you had in mind? Was it an idea you came up with? What made you write that song? Take me back to that studio day.”
The Memphis native recalled the making of ‘Wockesha’, recounting, “I was sitting in the studio, and to be honest, we were just going through a lot of samples. But I really went in with the mind frame to do a song about Lean, like how Future had all the songs about Codeine. And Wayne did “Me and My Drank.” I was looking for that type of vibe.”
Although Moneybagg Yo didn’t create the beat, he unveiled that he guided the producers Real Red, YC, and Javar Rockamore concerning the sample. Explaining this, Moneybagg detailed, “I’m going through different samples, and then Ashanti spoke to me when she said, ‘One minute, I want you / One minute, I’m running back to you.’ So I’m like, ‘Damn. This is exactly the point I’m trying to get across right there.’”
During his conversation with Khaled, the Tennessee star repeatedly mentioned certain artists, and the producer noticed this. Asking him about his idols, Khaled questioned, “You mentioned Future, you mentioned Wayne. Who are some of the artists that inspire you to be Moneybagg Yo? Who did you grow up with, like, “Yo, I want to be like that.”
Moneybagg Yo came straight back and hailed some of the South’s most iconic MCs, replying, “Growing up, before I took rap seriously, the dope boys and the top kingpins in the streets were my role models. But then, when I started developing a passion for music, people like Boosie, Juvenile, Gotti, Future, and Wayne. I became them. Everything about their life, I just fell in love with!”
The Speak Now creator’s picks were strictly Southern rap artists, which is unsurprising considering his Memphis childhood.