After I meet them on the Roc Nation workplaces in New York Metropolis, Lil Uzi Vert is carrying an all-white match — a t-shirt from the cult Japanese label Skoloct, white denims, and a white beanie with the phrase “Them” stitched in a gothic font. It’s two days earlier than the discharge of their new album Everlasting Atake 2, a sequel to their hotly anticipated album from 2020.
To listen to Uzi inform it, this new album represents a return to kind. Final 12 months’s Pink Tape discovered the Philadelphia-born rapper, now 29, experimenting with a slew of latest sounds, together with metalcore. That have, Uzi says, cleared the way in which for EA 2, a clear 16-track challenge filled with the kind of quintessentially Uzi vocal acrobatics that made them a mainstay of the early SoundCloud period. “I’m feeling actually assured about this one,” Uzi says. “I really feel like this one is a giant distinction as in me sounding like this in 2024… [It was about] realizing what artistry acquired me right here and returning to my roots.”
Uzi’s been giving a good quantity of thought to their legacy and affect over all of those years. After we communicate, it’s the ninth anniversary of their first mixtape Luv is Rage. Earlier than then, Uzi remembers, their essential concern was going to promenade — two proms, to be precise. Within the years since, Uzi has amassed a loyal, younger, and really on-line fanbase, which implies they’ve additionally confronted quite a lot of leaks all through their profession. By Uzi’s rely, as much as 80 % of the music that their followers love are leaks. These days, although, they are saying they’ve tightened up their operation and is able to drop music constantly.
At 29, Uzi is now on the forefront of a rap world that that they had a hand in creating. They rely the breakout star Yeat as a detailed pal and somebody with whom Uzi spoke commonly whereas they hung out in rehab final 12 months. “After I first acquired out of rehab, he was one of many first folks to come back see me,” Uzi says. “He stayed at my home.”
With EA 2, Uzi’s tapped again into the colourful sense of creativity of their earlier work, however with a palpable work ethic seemingly borne out of maturity. The album’s rollout went off with out a hitch, a far cry from the times of lengthy delays and false begins. Uzi talked to Rolling Stone about this new period of their profession, their favourite unreleased tracks, and calling up Huge Time Rush to be on their new album.
You dropped Pink Tape final 12 months, and I really feel like that was you experimenting in many alternative baggage.
It was extra so me attempting to face my worry, or attempting to problem myself, like, “Okay, they know what I can do, so let me problem myself actual fast.” And I went primary, so it’s cool, and now it’s time for me to get again to what my folks need.
Pondering of this report, you talked about desirous to get again to its roots. What impressed you to return to that origin?
The best way I challenge my voice. There are lyrics in my songs which are good and lyrics in my songs which are playful, however it’s normally concerning the tone of my voice within the music. They’d say, “Oh, Uzi simply made one other hit.” It’s the tone. So it’s a distinct bag and pocket that I normally get into when it’s time to cook dinner up one thing.
I really feel like that’s the affect that so many youthful artists took from you, which is inflecting your voice and doing among the crazier issues along with your voice. Do you are feeling like this new era appears to be like to you as a frontrunner?
No, they have a look at me as a brother. As a result of that’s not the way in which that I challenge it, and everybody on the earth, even you, may inform I by no means was on my… Nicely, a very long time in the past, I used to be on my excessive horse. However I all the time keep in mind instances when sure folks, after I first got here out, broke my coronary heart on a musical stage as a result of they didn’t give me respect. And I don’t blame them as a result of [it was like], “What have you ever completed?” However then, after I did it, they didn’t need to give me respect. And it all the time hits in another way at the back of your thoughts… I’ve been attempting to embrace them; they’re hugging me, and I flip round, and that’s not what they’re actually doing. So I simply attempt to keep out of all people’s method in a respectful method and solely come round after I’m requested for.
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Are there any collaborators that you just have been excited to work with on this challenge?
Not likely. This challenge is de facto simply me actually getting off. I acquired some vocals and stuff from Huge Time Rush on there.
How did you hyperlink up with them?
I referred to as. That’s the one folks I referred to as. This complete album was only for me to essentially get off, and I made a music sort of devoted to them, and I used to be like, “I ponder if they may say one thing cool to start with, they may harmonize on it and all that.” So I acquired Huge Time Rush.
Did you develop up listening to them?
one hundred pc. So in that period, I assumed that each boy band, like Bare Brother’s Band, every part, Huge Time Rush, simply anybody, was the epitome of a celeb. It’s nonetheless celebrities, however all people looks like any person proper now. However you know the way a celeb will put you in your home simply by the outfit and simply their complete mannerisms, and also you’re like, “Oh, shit. What am I doing mistaken in life?” They have been like that. I’m like, “Rattling, their unreal life was truly their actual life.” It’s loopy.
So what was it like to only choose up the cellphone and name them and have them be down for it?
Wonderful. You understand how artists are like, “After all.” However I didn’t even actually suppose they knew me. Not that they didn’t know me —it’s like I didn’t suppose they knew me, like rocking with me. And I actually respect that.
Luv Is Rage got here out 9 years in the past at this time. That’s loopy to consider. What modified for you as a person artist in that point?
So again then, it didn’t matter. And after I say it didn’t matter, every part mattered. So later in life, the playing cards that I used to be handed, I performed them properly. Realizing that I performed them properly, I performed all of the bonuses. [Life] was all the time unreal, however it turned a every day schedule, and I needed to get in an area that I’m very lucky to make it out of, however I needed to get an area to the place it’s nearly a nostalgic house, and as I stated, all people doesn’t make it out of that house. That house normally turns into if you have been youthful, and I used to be lucky sufficient to make it out of that house, and right here we’re once more. It’s about to be that point.
How outdated are you now?
29.
And as you develop up, how a lot do you look again at the moment, sort of nostalgically?
It doesn’t even seem to be it was way back. As a result of I’ve by no means completed anything in my life that I may say that nice. I keep in mind going to promenade, and that was lit. However I went promenade two instances.
You went to 2 proms?
I went to promenade with a woman, after which I went to promenade on my own, and I spotted that going to promenade by your self is loopy. And I didn’t know that as a result of, you perceive, I used to be purported to go together with this lady, and we didn’t go as a result of she was my pal’s lady… It’s loopy, these days that’s actually his child mother. It’s actual. However once we have been youthful, she was actually quick, and I used to be quick. We have been common. However we have been going to go to promenade collectively and my man was like, “Yo bro, you attempting to go to promenade with my lady.” I’m like, “No.” I went on my own as a result of I used to be purported to go along with her, after which one other time, I went to a promenade with a woman. Each of them have been a cool expertise.
These are the final belongings you keep in mind earlier than the music took off?
I didn’t do nothing else after that. I went to high school, I graduated, there was a retailer that I labored at for 4 days, and I stop. And my mother kicked me out as a result of she was like, I’m in the way in which. I used to be getting too outdated. She kicked me out. I moved with my grandma to a nursing house. After I moved with my grandma in a nursing house, my pal took me to the studio. We used to rap collectively, proper? I lived in a nursing house for some time, for 2 years. Then, after that, my pal who took me down there was doing very well in his rap profession, and he took me to the studio with him. I went to the studio with him and made a music as a result of I saved telling him that I rap as a result of he was lit. However I actually didn’t. So, I used to be attempting to learn to rap. I used to be listening to Kendrick, Huge Sean, and Drake, however then I listened to Lil B and Mike Jones. So then I used to be attempting to flex all that. That’s why they appreciated me in Philly; I used to be attempting to rap ASAP, too. So in Philly, they like, “Oh, he’s on another stuff. He’s completely different.” After which, simply after that, it occurred.
How did your expertise in rehab in 2023 inform the previous 12 months for you?
It’s all the time with that sort of factor, regardless of if it’s within the flesh, bodily, psychological, or something, it’s all the time a bumpy street, day-after-day, for everybody that ever went by way of that course of. It’s by no means only a stroll within the park. And with regards to that sort of stuff, it’s simply all about being trustworthy with your self as a result of it’s not about nobody else. As a result of should you put it on anybody else, you then’ll be someplace excessive as a kite. You simply should be trustworthy with your self, and when you find yourself trustworthy with your self and get readability, you’ll come to it and wish higher.
How do you are feeling about turning 30?
So my complete factor is that this: no matter age you’re, proper, and nonetheless you have a look at life, when you have extra or the variety of hundreds of thousands of your age, then you’re good. If I acquired greater than 30 million, I’m cool.
That’s a very good outlook. I’m far behind, however…
No, you’re good.
Pondering again to your early stuff and tapping again into that power now, what was it like within the studio with this new report? What did it really feel wish to convey your self again to that place?
For lots of the information, I felt like I used to be in outer house, however the actuality of it, when it got here all the way down to the blending and when it got here all the way down to getting the songs truly the fitting format of how I would like them to be, it was sort of refreshing that I actually labored this tough on these songs, as a substitute of me simply placing songs collectively like I’m going to receives a commission. I actually felt I went in there, and I took the criticism… I noticed the criticism on the web of only a sure method I used to be transferring. And nobody is aware of what my artistic course of was. And typically, regardless that I’m, I suppose, what you name sort of well-known, I suppose that they catch me typically.
Yeah. You’re good at getting caught.
I’m good at getting caught. I received’t be attempting to. So it’s like even me, they don’t know me deleting my social media; it’s me hiding my artistry, rituals or no matter you name it. And it’s like folks nonetheless invade the privateness… It’s okay, I get it, however they’re not going to know the method. So it’s sure issues that your mom and your father don’t present you, so you’ll frown upon them.
You have got a ton of fan accounts. It looks as if each time there’s a candid video of you, you present love.
Yeah. I take note of every part. I’ve no alternative, however they love them. As a result of in the event that they don’t love me, then who will? In all probability JT. However aside from that, I really like them on the finish of the day. The followers may say something. They by no means stated something worse. After I made my mother mad, they ain’t say nothing worse than that. Not anymore, however after I was younger.
I believe I noticed a video the opposite day the place any person handed you a hen.
Loopy. The hen had on some skinny denims.
What’s the wildest fan interplay you’ve had?
Two of them: I had this one child observe me from America to Portugal and stayed outdoors my resort for possibly… Bro, I’m not going to lie, bro. I used to be sort of residing in a resort. Bro, the child was on the market for a month day-after-day. It was creepy. I’ll always remember that child’s face. He’s an orange-haired child. In my life, I’ll always remember his face. He’s in all probability grown now. I noticed him a 12 months and a half in the past, attempting to behave regular. It was so loopy. I noticed him at Guitar Middle a 12 months and a half in the past.
Guitar Middle?
Bro, they have been having a sale in Guitar Middle out right here. And after I go to Guitar Middle, I’m there, and I don’t understand how he acquired the drop on me. He got here in there along with his pal, and he was wanting round with a Corona masks on. And he went, “I didn’t even know you have been right here.” I’m like, “Man, come on.” I don’t actually need to say this, however I sort of respect him. I don’t, however I do as a result of he clearly noticed one thing in me that I don’t see, however simply see it from a distance.
All my followers are boys; they’re like 14-, 15-year-old boys screaming at me. And I’d simply be like, “That is what it’s.” However there was this one lady, and he or she was very completely different. I don’t know what she believed in, however she was leaving bizarre stuff in my automobile. Bizarre stuff: Several types of little dolls and shit. It’s so nutty as a result of she seemed cool, although. She seemed cool in a method that was scary, however she seemed cool. She had a glance. Nevertheless it was like I may nearly scent the look. Nevertheless it was swaggy. She was like… I don’t know. I fuck along with her too. You understand what’s loopy? I in all probability stole a few of her swag. No stink, although. No stink, although.
I believe lots of people have a look at Carti, they usually see his affect. They have a look at Kanye and Drake. I really feel like you’re proper there with quite a lot of these guys with regards to affect.
Mine’s completely different. Mine’s completely different than all of these guys.
How so?
It’s like I gave them 50 artists in a matter of 9 years. And that’s why I all the time could be like this. I’m all the time going to make large songs. All the time going to make hits. All the time going to be who I’m, and by being centered, I’ll be even greater. However that is me. There’s one thing about me. I do know it first earlier than a fan may realize it as a result of it’s me. It’s simply one thing about my way of life that each one the way in which couldn’t change that. Often, a giant star has to vary. I’ll make a giant hit, and you can see me in your native park. It’s actually like that.
You had the Tremendous Bowl joint, “Simply Wanna Rock.” I keep in mind that music leaked sooner or later, after which it went loopy on TikTok. The following factor I knew, it was actually on the Tremendous Bowl.
I recorded that music in my pal’s house. It was Labor Day or one thing. The studio was closed. I don’t like recording in my home. I don’t like doing any of that. I like going to the studio, the sensation of getting a job. Everybody was asleep. It was like 4:00 within the morning. I recorded on… among the little audio system, you understand, the little ones. My pal and I shall be dancing on TikTok. I made it only for that. I needed to have my very own theme music. So I’m like, “I’m simply going to make it.” And all people, they appreciated it.
Is that sort of a factor for you the place you sort of make one thing for your self, after which the response determines what you do with it?
Not anymore. I’ve a good home now, and my life is completely completely different, however I’m nonetheless the identical me. However 80 % of my music that individuals know… Nicely, I’ll say 20 % formally is put out by me. Most of my music that individuals know, it’s all leaks. So I simply needed to tighten the home up, and I hate that individuals decide me on my leaks as a result of leaks are clearly unfinished, however it’s what it’s. I’ve had some hidden gems on leaks. Folks positively helped me decipher, like, “Oh my God, it is a hit.” And I’m like, “Ew, this?” I’m like, “Oh, all proper.” And I’m listening to it. I’m like, “Oh shit. My ears simply fried, not theirs.”
You nearly get to try it out in public.
Yeah. All the time keep in mind that my ears are fried, not yours.
Talking of all of the leaks which have sort of floated round, is there an unreleased music of yours that you just want you have been in a position to launch formally?
Not likely, as a result of if I ever get the urge to place it out formally, I’ll do it.
Not even “Can’t Save Her?”
Do you want that one? I ain’t going to lie. I ain’t going to lie. You bought me on that one. That’s the one, bro. I ain’t going to lie. It’s loopy as a result of they leak that, and it’s a distinction if you leak a music that’s a lot of a grail. Generally you’ll be able to’t put it out.
Is every part on this new album newly recorded, or is there any outdated stuff?
Sure. Every thing is newly recorded up till you get to the bonus observe, and I went 50/50.
How lengthy have you ever been recording it?
For some time. I went by way of completely different phases proper after Pink Tape.
So there was no overlap between Pink Tape and this one?
No. Under no circumstances. I needed to clear house; that’s why this was that.
I observed you talked about music nearly as a job, and it looks as if you’ve been treating it extra formally previously few years. Has a shift occurred for you?
Not the previous few years. I simply began final month, bro. I ain’t going to lie. I instructed you, I simply was in one other house; I needed to chill and get again proper. I simply have to offer for my household. And it’s a distinction between offering for your self and offering for your loved ones. And that’s all it’s about. And I all the time need my household to be snug concurrently as I’m snug. So simply acquired to ensure I put in quite a lot of effort so I don’t make anybody look dangerous. Or a minimum of, if I make them look dangerous, a minimum of they put up and wealthy.
You dropped Pink Tape final 12 months, and you bought this album this 12 months. Are you in that movement now the place we’re going to anticipate extra frequent releases from you?
Yeah. I’m on go. I’m not even mendacity. They thought I used to be mendacity a couple of minutes in the past. Now the tape is coming, all people’s like, “You weren’t mendacity.” They swore I used to be mendacity. They have been cursing me out.
I imply, it took how lengthy for Everlasting Atake? As a result of we have been listening to about that for a minute.
That was completely different. That was completely different. I didn’t have some extent to show. Everlasting Atake One, it makes a lot sense, bro. It’s so loopy the way it adopted alongside. Everlasting Atake One was the introduction of me going to a brand new realm. I went to a brand new realm, and every part was wonderful. It was loopy. It was good. Then I spotted, “Wait, it’s too good.” And I needed to make myself uncomfortable actual fast to understand what I used to understand earlier than I used to be wealthy. And after I realized it, I used to be like, “Okay, again to sq. one musically.” Not checking account, however musically. So, again to sq. one musically with what you’ve acquired occurring. Feels like some shit.
Do you intend on touring this report?
Sure, one hundred pc. This time, earlier than I even know any official dates, I’m already locked in to begin rehearsing.
What sort of expertise are you attempting to convey into the stay efficiency on this period?
I’m attempting to be a human visualizer. I’m going to do that time. I would like it to be some extent the place everybody can get it. I would like it to be in the midst of excessive style and regular day-after-day.
