Rob49 has persevered via much more than the common 24-year-old making an attempt to assimilate into grownup life. Raised by his mom whereas his father was incarcerated for many of his childhood, the New Orleans native nonetheless knew his future wouldn’t be boxed contained in the Large Simple’s unforgiving 4th and ninth Ward neighborhoods.
Not many hip-hop tales start with a stint within the Nationwide Guard and pivoting to pursue a nursing diploma earlier than discovering success within the music trade, however that was certainly the case for Rob, who basically fell into rapping after singing within the studio with a buddy.
The yr 2022 proved to be large in Rob49’s ascension, as he rode the relentless “Vulture Island” — which obtained a lift due to a remix from Lil Child — to the largest track of his profession to this point. It was all practically taken away in January when Rob (born Robert Thomas) was reportedly certainly one of 10 folks injured throughout a capturing on the set of a French Montana video in Miami Gardens.
The Geffen Information signee didn’t spend a lot time on the mend in restoration as he’s been locked within the studio with the likes of Lil Durk, and returned to supply up his first venture because the capturing with 4GOD II final Friday (June 9). Draped in an azure blue Amiri sweatsuit with crisp white Air Pressure 1’s straight out of the field, Rob49 is laid-back in dialog throughout his April New York Metropolis go to, the place he might simply be mistaken for Knicks guard R.J. Barrett whereas strolling across the Large Apple.
“So long as you’re doing higher than what you probably did while you began this s–t,” he bluntly says of his mentality in terms of gauging his present success. “I simply wish to make some music. I don’t actually give a f–ok about no fame or nothing.”
Discover extra from our interview with the rising star under, which finds him explaining why he deaded a Hurricane Chris DM, his appreciation for Lil Wayne and why promoting vapes within the military practically acquired him kicked out.
Billboard: How does the elevation in your profession really feel? It is a particular time.
Rob49: I’m grateful. Simply because I do know — like I stated, I acquired signed with 10,000 followers, and something I drop proper now’s gone recover from 10,000 views. So I actually don’t give a f–ok.
Not even sitting courtside on the New Orleans Pelicans video games?
I’ve all the time wished to sit down courtside. When me and my cousin would get some tickets, we might all the time say, “We’re gonna sit courtside.” He stated he was gon’ purchase them — he had religion in himself that a lot. He winded up getting a superb job within the oil enterprise. He graduated highschool earlier than me I stated, “I’m not making it to get that a lot cash in three or 4 years.” I winded up getting it first.
Are the seats free or do you gotta pay for them?
Typically they invite you and typically you gotta pay. I been paying for many of them b–ches although. I be eager to go to the video games I wish to go to.
[Curren$y’s] like Spike Lee down there.
That’s precisely what it’s. They deal with him like that. They deal with me like that too. If there’s a 3 or one thing within the sport, they’ll have a look at me. They f–ok with me like that. They turned my [“Vulture Island”] up.
The Pelicans simply requested me to make a model of “Vulture Island” for them. I simply bumped into Zion [Williamson] on the motion pictures. He’s like, “What you doing right here?” I’m like, “What you doing on the motion pictures?” We went and noticed Scream VI.
Who had been a few of your early childhood musical influences? What was your mother enjoying?
My mother was enjoying Beyoncé. I used to be listening to Lil Wayne, Kanye [West]. I like what 106 & Park had on. At the moment, they had been enjoying Hurricane Chris, “A Bay Bay.” He speaking about doing a track [with me]. I’ll present you [the DM]. I ain’t by no means hit him again as a result of he was trying loopy. He seem like he misplaced all his sauce. That ain’t the identical n—a.
How about listening to Lil Wayne in that prime period of like 2006-2008? That will have been probably the most prolific rapper we’ve ever seen.
I favored the 2013-2014 Wayne, that Sorry for the Wait 2 and “Hollyweezy.” I hearken to that s–t and I’m like, “Rattling.” I don’t know nothing about Tha Carters. That skit along with his momma on Tha Carter V was so exhausting. And the Free Weezy album too. I used to be like seven [during that mixtape run]. I wasn’t listening to no Wayne. I wasn’t listening to nothing however Beyoncé. All I knew was, “To the left, to the left.” No cap.
What was childhood like for you? Have been you enjoying plenty of sports activities?
I used to be enjoying soccer. I hated video video games — I really feel like they had been for folks I didn’t wish to be like. I used to be outdoors all day stealing bikes and s–t.
How about simply preserving that relationship going together with your dad when he acquired out of jail?
Instantly. My daddy used to get me from faculty. It was by no means in regards to the cash. He began working at Walmart and s–t when he acquired out. So he couldn’t go exhausting so it was extra being a father determine.
What was life like throughout Hurricane Katrina?
First, we had tried to go to Baton Rouge and we stayed in a health club. They gave us these peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We had went to Houston, so I bear in mind Houston for 3 or 4 months. Then we got here again house. I stayed within the initiatives so it was bricks. The homes had been f–ked up however the buildings had been okay. They was f–ked up however not unlivable.
Did you actually go to high school for nursing?
Yeah, I used to be making an attempt to do my prereqs. That’s like math class and s–t. So folks say nursing, however I didn’t do all that. I used to be making an attempt to go to high school for nursing, however my associate stated he wished to go to high school for nursing. He informed me I couldn’t. I went to Southern and he didn’t find yourself going to school.
I did one semester, after which I winded up dropping out and making music. I went to the Nationwide Guard after [high] faculty to get into faculty. I feel that was the most effective issues that occurred to me in my life for actual. That s–t make you’re feeling like you can do something.
You had been promoting Juuls and vapes within the Nationwide Guard?
Yeah, info — and so they ended up catching me. That was earlier than I even knew about Juuls. I felt like we was the primary ones to actually uncover that. We’d see everyone vaping. They was making an attempt to do it the place you don’t get caught as a result of these dudes smoke cigarettes. I didn’t get kicked out for that. I used to be about to inform them folks too.
I bear in mind my first time getting restarted, I had acquired into it with this dude. He stated I known as him a racial slur or one thing. I swear on my brother that he was deadass mendacity. They tried to restart us. They known as me and my canine from Memphis. We go downstairs, and so they like, “Pack y’all baggage, too.”
I’m pondering they ’bout to change our firm, as a result of there was two corporations beginning collectively — Alpha and Bravo — and we acquired the identical commencement date. Then they acquired Charlie began eight weeks after us. So we thought we had been going to Bravo. We walked via Bravo and went to Charlie. I simply dropped my baggage like, “F–ok y’all!” They’d nothing however 40-year-olds and we had been the youngest folks in there.
Have been there women within the military with you?
They acquired women in there. Ladies out their thoughts within the military. After I first went to my job education, that they had a woman in there, and she or he had a Twitter — everyone like, “This woman from Twitter.” I’m pondering she popping on Twitter. I’m in my room someday and so they like, “You noticed the woman from Twitter outdoors lunch as we speak.”
I’m like, “Yeah, who’s that? Present me her Twitter.” Man, this woman was ass-naked on all her Twitter. She enjoying with herself. She that sort of woman. I’m like, “What the fuck?” And he or she within the coaching with us. I jumped in her DMs. The entire battalion knew her however me.
You kinda simply fell into rapping too, proper?
My identical associate that informed me I couldn’t go to high school for nursing, he was the rapper. I used to be making an attempt to get behind him, however he was making an attempt to sound like Roddy Ricch. I had made a track within the studio with him. They felt like I used to be good at it earlier than I felt like I used to be good at it.
Me and him had gone to a celebration and so they had some stay performances. He’s like, “Let me pay them $250 to allow you to carry out.” I tapped him, “Our time is gonna come.” I in all probability had like 1,000 followers. The identical folks making an attempt to pay me $60,000 now. That was like three years in the past.
In Miami, we had paid for King of Diamonds for a piece for my birthday, and my folks had acquired into it with them, and so they wind up not letting us within the membership. We sitting on the market trying silly — however now they simply gave me that bag to go in that b—h [a year later].
YoungBoy followers had been pissed that you just posted the picture of you working with Durk. They thought you guys wouldn’t collab now. Would you wish to work with him?
I don’t know what they was speaking about. I imply whoever f–king with me, I’m f–king with it. It’s music on the finish of the day. I seen that s–t.
What sport did you are taking from Birdman?
He simply texted me. I bear in mind when he first met me and I solely had like 5,000 followers, and he was telling me that I used to be going to be the one. He simply informed me to maintain going. That’s the one sport he ever gave me.
What’s the “Yeet, Yeet” ad-lib imply on “Vulture Island?”
Yeah, I made it up. That’s just a few bulls–t I stated on there. I believed it sounded good. It actually was my ad-libs. I used to be simply punching in making an attempt to catch a vibe on the track. I bear in mind enjoying it for my momma and she or he stated, “That sounds so good however simply take that yeet, yeet half out and say one thing else.”
I’m like, “No.” She been a superb A&R although. I bear in mind enjoying “No Kizzy,” which goes loopy on TikTok. I feel I used to be at 10,000 followers earlier than I signed something, and she or he informed me, “Don’t launch this track. The world not prepared for this.”
What’s the largest buy you’ve made within the final yr or two?
Most likely a sequence. I didn’t even wanna purchase that chain. I knew I needed to get a sequence, and I couldn’t maintain coming with the lil’ boy chain — as a result of they gonna have a look at you want a lil’ boy.
How’d you go broke out of your preliminary signing cash?
I didn’t go all the best way broke. I went near broke. I don’t be tryna spend as a lot as I used to be spending. I didn’t don’t have anything to point out for it for myself. At the least this time, it’s not going to that no extra, and I acquired s–t to point out. Momma acquired a crib. I have to get a monetary advisor as a result of I don’t be taking a look at my account.
Are you gonna drop one other venture this yr?
Yeah, I’ma drop one other venture proper after this. Most likely like three or 4 months [later].
How are you shifting in another way after the capturing?
Simply shifting higher. Sensible actions — everybody is aware of what good strikes are. I’m shifting like [Drake].
