By K.B. Tindal
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
North of the border, Canada has become a hotbed for hip hop. Several Canadian hip hop artists have broken into the United States market and Billionaire B has done the opposite, going from America to Canada to record. Earlier this week, Billionaire B released The Prestige 2, his latest mixtape.
Billionaire B released this project on the heels of collaborating with many of the biggest names in hip hop. These names include The Weeknd, a fellow transplant from Canada into the United States market. But, on his latest mixtape, Billionaire B worked with two of the biggest rising American artists, Future and French Montana.
With his mixtape out now, Hip Hop Vibe talked to Billionaire B about his latest mixtape, which dropped this week. The Prestige 2 is one of the top mixtapes to drop this past week and Billionaire B opened up on it. Billionaire B talked about the overall focus of the mixtape and his work with Future and French Montana.
Read the entire interview below:
Compared to your other bodies of work, how would you rank The Prestige 2? This is my transitioning project, helping me get my brand out there. My concepts got a little more detailed and this is my best project in reflection of me as an artist and where I want to go.
In recording this mixtape, you traveled back and forth between Los Angeles and Vancouver, how did each city influence the project? Honestly, I was in between those cities, and also Detroit and Toronto. But, musically, all of my songs are relative to something I experienced. So, being in these different cultures and seeing the lifestyles influenced my music and it’s necessary for me. I cannot be in my same space, I have to be nomadic to see how people do it from the nightlife to their fashion. Just keeping up with the world.
Is there a particular song off the mixtape that you plan on pushing as a single with a music video? Actually, I shot ten videos for this project (laughs), as crazy as that sounds. But, off the reaction from the fans, I am pushing “The Luxury Art” and “The Flex Song.” Both of those records have gotten a lot of strong reactions from the fans and the latter song gives me a chance to reflect with my female audience.
Which collaborations off this project were your favorites? My favorite had to probably be “You Never Know” with Violet C. That would probably have to be my favorite off this project. Just being able to create this and get a story off it and sharing experiences made this song special. This song was based off a real experience and I rate it as my best collaboration off the project.
How did you end up working with Future and French Montana on this mixtape? On the one with Future, that is actually a remake. Sometimes, I have my fans send in a track they want me to remake. But, with French Montana, he was working with some producers I was working with and his hook was laid and I just jumped on the track. Still, that puts me in a position where I am relevant enough to stake my claim among the elite artists in the game. That reminds me that I can possibly emerge as an independent artist.
With Future and French Montana rising from mixtapes to mainstream success over the past two years, do you see something similar happening with your career? I mean, I feel like it could happen for me very soon. My music now, I don’t try to make a separation between a mixtape and mainstream sound. But, my music is having a lot of mainstream success, getting radio play, performing at SXSW, NXNE, and so many other big shows. I am transitioning over with no problem, I just make my music.
In addition to Future and French Montana, you also worked with The Weeknd, will you be working more with him in the future? To be honest, when I collaborate, I do my music based off the emotion on the instrumental. Whoever I see fit for the song is who I choose. I would love to work with The Weeknd and many other artists again, but I do not premeditate my collaborations. But, if my fans want it, I will do my best to make it happen.
You have ties to Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Toronto, but you are originally from Detroit and what was it like growing up there? Honestly, it’s a tough city bro. There is no way around it, but everywhere I been, I would never want to be raised anywhere but Detroit because it challenged me and motivated me. There are no opportunities out there and when you get a chance, you take advantage of it. So, whatever comes, you appreciate it because it doesn’t come along like that and with the rising artists coming up from the city, it feels good to see it come up. I travel a lot, but I love to still be recognized as a Detroit artist and I am thankful to have grown up there.
Setting yourself up as one of hip hop’s next major stars, who are some established artists you model your career after? Man, I look at my music and then I look at the artists, not from a musical standpoint, but from consistency and business. One thing I want to be known for is having a brand, as opposed to being a trend, like Jay-Z and Nas, even Drake is considered one even though he is somewhat new. They have chances to do so much more than music with fashion, television, film, and even publishing magazines. But, day in and day out, as I create my music, I keep my brand in mind and it is worth it in the long run. I want to be one of those artists who go on to put out ten albums of quality.
Where can we find you on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? Instagram and Twitter is @Billionaire_B and everything else is on my website, BillionaireB.com.
Follow K.B. Tindal on Twitter @KBTindal.
