Earlier than Montez Ford grappled with heavyweights for a dwelling, he wrestled together with his love for hip-hop and whether or not he may make his rap goals a actuality. Right this moment, the WWE celebrity is licensed in each arenas: He’s one-half of the tag-team group The Avenue Earnings and is now a burgeoning MC seeking to suplex the competitors together with his latest mixtape, God Is Good. Ardent supporters of Ford shouldn’t be shocked by his mixtape title, being that he’s posted the phrase on his Twitter timeline daily for over seven years and counting.
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“That God Is Good mentality applies all through life usually, from being a child to rising up now and placing the most effective foot ahead and simply placing positivity on the market,” says Ford. “That’s normally what drives not simply me and my spouse, however our model. That could be a mentality. It’s not only a saying. It’s a way of life.”
With an unyielding religion in God, Ford’s acceleration in wrestling doesn’t shock many. He’s obtained reward from The Rock, was beforehand a tag-team champion, and has the most important help from one of many high stars within the firm, his spouse, Bianca Belair. The latter performs the duel function of fighter and cheerleader for Ford, and has achieved wonders for his confidence, as he pulls inspiration from her inside and out of doors of the ring. And although his animated demeanor stays his calling card amongst wrestling lovers, God Is Good finds Tez in additional of a reflective bag. In “Via the Valley,” Ford’s affinity for Sunday Service is the theme, as he and former WWE celebrity AJ Francis take listeners to church. On the flip aspect, he flexes his rap muscle tissue and channels the spirit of former NBA MVP Derrick Rose on this braggadocios effort “09 D. Rose.”
“You’ll [hear] these conversations, songs, and melodies about totally different experiences that undergo our minds and the dialog inside ourselves. We might really feel three other ways about one thing, they usually all could be justified,” says Ford.
Billboard spoke to the WWE celebrity about his new undertaking, God Is Good, his love for Little Brother and Frequent, dwelling as much as his potential contained in the ring, and who he would collaborate with on his dream album.
When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?
Montez Ford: I can go all the way in which again to even like grade college. On the time, after I was in center college, highschool, I used to be listening to folks like ninth Marvel [and] Little Brother as a result of they had been based mostly out of the state I used to be rising up in North Carolina. I heard Drake earlier than Comeback Season as a result of he used to do work with ninth Marvel who was a professor on the college the place my sister was going. All these hyperlinks made me have a hand in it. I cherished recording. Listening to J Dilla for instrumentals and beats [and] Kanye in the case of the instruments. I been in love with it for so long as I keep in mind.
I keep in mind the deep-rooted stuff like listening to Frequent’s Be album, and I noticed Frequent final week after we did Sizzling 97. I used to be like, “Bro, I simply wish to inform you that Be album modified my life.” On the finish of each one having this lengthy monologue about what you ought to be. I keep in mind one of many children stated, “Be a wrestler.” See, I’m like, “That is it.” Hip-hop has this manner of motivating you, but additionally getting you amped on the similar time. It’s for the soul. I been in love with it so long as I can keep in mind.
What different albums did you lean into when creating God Is Good?
Just about all of them. Stevie Marvel’s Songs within the Key of Life as a result of he’s bought a funk kind of groove however you don’t understand Stevie raps and bought melody. He can do every thing. I might undoubtedly say Frequent’s Be album and just about every thing Nas does.
Nas is definitely my favourite of all-time. Kanye’s The School Dropout as a result of just about after I did this School Dropout and Late Registration they’ve skits. I’ve all the time been an enormous fan of idea albums as a result of I ain’t the most effective rapper. If I can inform a narrative, then I really feel just like the idea of the album is best and it makes extra sense. Identical to in wrestling, if we’re telling a narrative with what we’re doing then everyone can relate to it extra. I’m not simply throwing out random bars as a result of I solely bought so many bars.
You’ve been tweeting God Is Good the final seven years. Speak about that idea and why you ran in that route.
I been within the church for so long as I can keep in mind. My mom had us in New Friendship Baptist Church in Chicago. Church put us within the choir and we all the time been closely based mostly within the church. Our complete household may be very church-oriented. Even after I moved to the south I used to be just about getting groomed to turn into a pastor. Who is aware of? Once I retire I’d pull a Ma$e.
I all the time been closely rooted within the church and within the 12 months 2000, I misplaced my sister to a automotive accident. The evening she handed I used to be really gonna be within the car along with her however she informed me, “No.” Not solely her being my savior, however similar to reminiscing even this interview of us having proper now, how daily is valuable. Even me, I’m responsible of it and we make the most of it. So I say God is nice each morning as a result of I’ve an opportunity to get it proper and put positivity and happiness on the planet. Possibly to right a fallacious or if I stated one thing fallacious to any individual yesterday, I’ve an opportunity to get it proper.
Which songs on the album greatest outline the place you’re proper now?
It’s like an idea. Mainly, it’s a dialog between a pair people and it’s their testimonies. It reveals all of us have flaws. All of us have good and unhealthy ideas and that’s regular. All of us have views and concepts and we’re all justified in every thing we noticed. No one is basically actually fallacious however that is their viewpoint. That’s what these songs are. Simply exhibiting these totally different melodies and the experiences of the blokes within the songs. I’ve artists on there however they’re not “mainstream.” It’s some guys I wrestle with and guys who’ve the identical expertise and love for this. It’s an opportunity for them to point out that. It’s solely so many bars I’ve on the market.
More durable expertise for you: First time within the sales space or getting within the ring?
That’s loopy. I might say I used to be really extra nervous getting contained in the sales space than getting inside a hoop. I been doing loopy stuff my complete life from climbing bushes to the navy to going out with an attractive lady. Additionally, stuffed with music that’s whenever you’re essentially the most weak. Having a dialog and then you definately’re opening as much as the world with these intimate ideas and concepts and feelings inside your self.
Unmasking your self like that may be stress at first. It’s additionally the way you ship it. It’s one factor the way you rap or sing a music – anyone can say phrases – nevertheless it’s the way you say it. Not simply the individual you saying it to however are they getting the message? I might undoubtedly say stepping within the sales space is extra nerve-racking. I been doing loopy stuff on a regular basis. I don’t need to suppose after I do loopy stuff, I simply do it.
Within the sales space, you get a number of takes. In the event you fumble one phrase, you’ll be able to return in and repair it up. Wrestling, hell nah. What y’all see is what y’all get. We’ve to repair it versus within the sales space it’s simply a number of takes. It doesn’t take away from an artist’s craft, however with reference to wrestling and making ready me for the sales space it’s totally different.
Wrestlemania, for instance, it’s 88,000 folks on the market and one other 16 million folks watching reside. You go on the market and you’ve got your match entertaining the followers and every thing is reside. In the event you fall or break one thing, you continue to go. Within the sales space, it’s the identical factor. You will have your phrases and also you’re weak along with your lyrics, however if you happen to mess up a phrase you’ll be able to return and may ship it even higher. With wrestling, that intent must be all there directly. It does assist me put together extra after I do need to go to the sales space as a result of now I’m so used to doing issues fast at one shot.
While you performed Bianca [Belair] your music for the primary time, what was that second like for you? Having any individual so shut take heed to you in that mild.
I’m so glad you requested that query as a result of she was really the individual I used to be essentially the most nervous to let take heed to it. As a result of that is the individual I’m essentially the most weak with. I keep in mind each time I’d go along with her to one thing and ensure it’s polished and if there’s one thing I would like to repair I’m like, “It wants a little bit bit extra pitch there.” She’s essentially the most nerve-racking individual I’d wish to pay attention as a result of that is the individual I wish to please on a regular basis and make pleased. Additionally, I’m giving her my most weak state of opinion, however I additionally belief it too. I’m not in search of her to inform me issues I wish to hear.
I do know she’s gonna be very uncooked and trustworthy if that ain’t it. She’s gonna be like, “Babe, that ain’t it. Re-do that.” She’s additionally the individual I belief essentially the most. That’s nerve-racking itself. Particularly the individual you like and also you gonna present her this factor and also you saying these phrases in that tone. It’s like, “Okay!” She’s all the time been uncooked and trustworthy. That’s why I select her initially prefer to put it on the market earlier than I ship it to anybody else. She could be like, “Alright babe, you would possibly want to repair this.”
In the event you may decide one rapper and one producer to make the last word album with you, who would you select?
I might say Alchemist and for the rapper Nas. If I can do two I’d say Hit-Boy and Nas. Nas has been my favourite. I all the time really feel like his storytelling has been the very best, together with Frequent’s as properly. Nas’ supply, swag, depth and the very fact he can rap on something.
I really feel like Nas is among the first guys to really do the jazz beats and rapping over them and incorporating folks like De La Soul and a number of different people did as properly. He’s one of many first folks I heard.
One other one is Q-Tip. Nas is one among my favorites due to his supply and presence. On a particular word, I believe “Blue Benz” is among the best songs. If I had theme music for my life it will in all probability be “Blue Benz.” If me, [Angelo Dawkins] and Bobby [Lashley] needed to get a industrial theme that might be our theme it’s so nasty.
Have you considered taking any of the information from God Is Good and utilizing them as your entrance music?
Sure. I might undoubtedly use one. It’s one referred to as “Via the Valley.” It’s loopy, we having this interview and the entire album is completed, and that’s the one I’m perfecting proper now. That’s the one I’ve put essentially the most vitality into. It simply jogs my memory of every thing from childhood. From choirs to singing within the church and simply God himself. Feeling the presence of every thing in music.
“Contact the Sky” by Kanye West is one among my favourite songs of all-time. Simply the band, the horns and the way grand every thing sounds. I’m not evaluating myself to Kanye, however simply how grand the music sounds. I’ve all the time been a fan of grand-sounding music in hip-hop. Nas can attest to that. Rick Ross’ music may be very grand.
I spoke with Jey [Uso] about him and Jimmy [Uso] going one-on-one at Wrestlemania. That may be his dream match. Have you ever and [Dawkins] ever spoke about what a one-on-one match would appear to be if it ever got here right down to it?
Sure, 100% we have now. We undoubtedly would steal the present. We might actually steal the present and good luck to anyone that might attempt to comply with us. I do know him so properly and he is aware of me so properly.
Once I first bought signed, I used to go over to his house and Sami Callihan’s residences to look at wrestling earlier than I bought signed to WWE. I knew [Ricochet] and also you guys knew them and all them had been within the enterprise. That’s how I met all of them earlier than I bought heavy into wrestling. They’re like “You realize to wrestle?” I’m like, “I’m signed however I ain’t gonna be capable to haven’t any two-minute sequence with you.”
Now it’s 2024 so it’s been over eight years. They are saying if you happen to get to 10 that’s a lifetime. It’s already previous lifetime. With my spouse and Dawks, that is all I do know. We all the time speak about how it will be so stellar and other people would see the distinction in kinds and we’d feed off one another so properly. Talking of Jey and Jimmy, they know one another longer than us so I solely think about the kind of magic they might placed on.
Potential is a phrase I like and hate as a result of folks can simply dangle on to it and by no means breakthrough. I really feel like for you everyone seems to be saying the potential is thru the roof if you happen to go into singles competitors. How are you preventing towards simply dwelling in a world of potential and hoping to crack that ceiling of being a WWE champion?
It’s being ready. At this level, the one individual I may really feel sorry for if I don’t attain my potential is myself. With out being egotistical, if one thing for your self, it. The worst factor you can’t be is ready. I really feel like I might not even do myself injustice however I might do you all an injustice by believing and understanding and having a lot religion in myself understanding I’ve these capabilities and understanding I didn’t fulfill them as a result of I didn’t make the most of these issues or I wasn’t ready.
I really feel like, for me, it’s all the time being ready in the case of promos, appearances or my form, concepts how I wish to current myself. If I’m not ready, then I’m failing myself. In the event you’re failing to plan, then you definately’re planning to fail. Whereas having all this potential and perception, I thank God a lot. For me, it’s like don’t simply hear that, keep ready as a result of at any time – you understand how alternative is – if it comes knocking and also you’re ready, you’re prepared. It’s like, “You’re good, you are able to do this.” Then the blessing comes by your door and also you don’t reply it otherwise you too late otherwise you nonetheless thumbing up the papers since you not ready. It’s solely my fault that I simply let it waste as a result of it was there.
I really feel like, for me, simply all the time being ready, which I’m. I’m prepared. For me, to deal with it’s all the time being ready. Anyone with potential can get mad and say, “It needs to be taking place.” In the event you’re not prepared they usually got here proper now it doesn’t matter how a lot potential you will have. For me, it’s all the time being ready when it’s time.
