Hot 21 Radio

In XXL's Summer 2021 issue, Moneybagg Yo talks about working on his movie Memphganistan, advice from Yo Gotti, expanding his label Bread Gang and more.

Time Today . He was able to knock DJ Khaleds Khaled Khaled LP from the coveted top position, securing Baggs second week at No. 1. In a time when hip-hop is still feeling the negative effects of the pandemic with no touring and limited shows, the 29-year-old artist understands the blessing hes received with this accomplishment. Bagg, who signed to Yo Gottis CMG label and Interscope Records in 2016, has a proven track record for success with his recent releases. Over the last year-and-a-half, the Memphis native has been on a hot streak leading into his album. Now, the respected rhymer, born DeMario DeWayne White Jr., is focused on his upcoming A Gangstas Pain deluxe album, which will feature Lil Durk, Pooh Shiesty and EST Gee, among others. After the LP drops this summer, hell follow that up with I Stamped That, a compilation mixtape featuring the artists on his own indie label, Bread Gang. On a sunny afternoon in May, Bagg, whos dressed in a Gallery Dept. gray sweatsuit with a black fitted hat to the back, is in good spirits. As he rides in the backseat of a black SUV in New York City, the Bread Gang leader opens up about his No. 1 album, the knowledge hes gained from Yo Gotti, making life decisions, the artists on his growing label roster and why he doesnt want his kids to follow in his rap footsteps. XXL: How does it feel to have your album A Gangstas Pain go No. 1 two times in the same month? Moneybagg Yo: It feel good. Twice in one year, thats hard. Thats a blessing. This is my real life. This is like, without music I feel Im nothing, you know what Im saying? Like me, I got a real passion for this game and its just drive. I keep that drive. With A Gangstas Pain, it took me almost a year to make that project. Because I had to live. I had to go through things. I had to keep experiencing like, Im human, too. You mentioned on your song FR, from the album: Forgive me if you met me on them Percs, them was the worst days. Why did you want to speak about that on the song? Yeah, because I was just It had you aggravated. Sometime, Wockeshacan do that, too. Like, it can have you aggravated, but thats why I say, I feel like, when people do that, they supposed to do the drug, dont let the drug do you. So, I feel like I just use it to the best of my ability. I dont dog it out. I dont do anything like that. Why did you stop taking Percs? I just wanted to be more disciplined with the lifestyle and just, Oh, this affecting me in this way? Im gonna eliminate this. Im gonna stop with this cause this do that. I want to do something. I wanna be like this so I got to strive for it. Thats what it is, discipline. How has life changed for you since linking with Yo Gottiand Interscope? Its changed tremendously. Im transitioning to movies, clothing, real estate game. Im understanding the value of plain watches. And, Im also trying to balance real life with this. Im at that point. Cause you gotta give your family the time. You gotta try to fit it in some kind of way and find that balance. Thats where Im at right now. What has Gotti taught you? He put me on the real estate game and the plain watches wave. He put me on that whole wave. And then, you know, somebody said to me like, it always stuck with me from the first time I signed with him, its just chasing your dreams, then you go chase the money. Or you really dont even chase the money. You chase your dreams and you gonna be able to count all the money thats gonna come to you. That stuck with me. Cam Kirk How do you balance being an artist and getting your label Bread Gang off the ground? When you do that, you understand the people struggle. I know what theyre experiencing and what they going through. At the same time, I feel like you got to have people in place for that. You building up, you gotta start from somewhere. So, I dont wanna start when I get likewhen you feel like you done with rapping, then Im gonna start a label. No. You got to go on and prepare, you gotta butter it up. You got to get it ready to be the biggest brand in the world. So, I feel like thats what Im trying to do with Bread Gang. What are you doing to butter it up? I got artists like Big30, TripStar, like pressure. I got this R&B singer Im fixin to getting ready to release, too. I feel like its good to drag them while Im hot. Just like Wayne did with Drake and Nicki . He was still going he bringing them with him. Thats how we doing it. What do you look for when you sign people to your label? You got to, first of all, you got to listen. You can have the talent. Its cool, everybody has the talent, but its more than that to be a successful star. You gotta be able to listen and take constructive criticism and different stuff like that, you know what Im saying? And you just gotta be on time. Im learning that, too. What can you tell us about the movie roleyou have coming up? Yeah. I got a short film coming soon. I want to release it with the deluxe . Im acting. Ive been wanting to Read more