Lil’ Baby Suplex -Interview By: Liam Sweeny

Music soothes us, and when we’re having a lousy day, it can be our sole source of healing. But it can also be a steam vent. It is always an outlet for the performer, and sometimes it’s the only way we have of understanding the pain of someone we can’t see eye-to-eye with. And we get what we seek from music.

Lil’ Baby Suplex speaks his truth with flow and meter. He doesn’t make his sound to order, and he may not be out purely to entertain the masses. He has something to say and his voice adds to the choir of people that make up the grand orchestra that is Albany.

RRX: When I start interviews, I do as much research as I can. Cool part of that is it mostly just means rocking out to people’s jams. I’m rocking out to ‘Drinking,’ right now. You don’t hold back, I mean not at all. Okay, so yeah, you hold back just enough to keep it creative. It’s good to let it all out. But is it a double-edged sword, do you think?

LBS: I always try to be as authentic as I can in my music, I feel like people can tell when you’re trying to bullshit them. It’s definitely tricky because you want your music to be real as possible but at the same time you don’t wanna expose too much ya know you wanna leave certain things for your fans to find out as they keep f***g with you and growing with you

RRX: I love ‘Lil’ Baby Suplex.’That’s a cool-ass name for a rapper, because you never expect a wrestling reference. It’s like the RZA being hooked on old school kung fu movies, and suddenly you got Wu-Tang. So, was it from a love of wrestling? What made you decide on ‘Little Baby Suplex?’

LBS: It definitely came from wrestling. I’m not sure what it was but I’ve always had a love for wrestling as long as I can remember and I try to keep that in my music whether it’s references or just the persona I put on when I’m outside. I’m pretty sure one of the homies called me Suplex randomly and it just fit too well not to use it. 

RRX: As I listen, there’s talk about drugs, especially things like Percocet, opioids. And you’re not taking any stance on it; it’s just in the music. In some cases, you’re talking about the burden of it, and sometimes it’s just a reference to our general culture. So, I’ll ask what you think about the role drugs have in music, and in life?

LBS: Drugs are a tough topic because I feel like they’ve had a big part in music as a whole but they’ve also been a lot of musicians’ downfall so it’s a very fine line. I feel like it’s the same in life. You could do drugs and have a sick time or you can do them and they’ll ruin your life. You gotta be smart and know what’s best for you. I don’t try to pick a side on it and I’m not trying to teach anyone a lesson. All I can do is be honest about how they’ve affected me and my life, good or bad. People just need to be smart about what they put into their bodies.

RRX: I have always had a general rule in my writing; don’t write about my life but come as close to it as possible. I say that because as much good as there is to doing it, there’s the potential for it to blow up in your face. It’s like people know you until they know you too well. With your music, how much of your real life do you allow in?

LBS: That’s back to the authenticity I try to bring to my music. I really don’t hold anything back when it comes to subject matter. I’ll talk about anything and if people wanna judge it or get offended so be it. I feel like when you’re your true self in your music then people will get that and when they meet you in person it’ll make even more sense you can’t create a real connection with the listener if you’re not talking about stuff they been through or they deal with day to day or even just what they wanna hear that’s how you create real fans you gotta be real and appeal to your market

RRX: You have a following, a good scene in Albany. I heard, and correct me if I’m wrong, that you have a lot of friends in the skater scene around Empire State Plaza. And it’s cool for me to ask people about the scenes they’re in, because I’m always finding overlaps. What would you say about the people in your scene that sets them apart?

LBS: Well, I like to be around people who can blend with any group so I would say my homies are a part of a whole bunch of different scenes and we can really make any scene our own. That’s what we’re bringing to the game and that’s what we’re doing everywhere we go and people reciprocate that energy every time.

RRX: As I said in one of the previous questions, you don’t hold back. You rap about drugs, you rap about guns, and it’s a part of life, it is what it is. But there are a lot of people who hear rap and hip hop and think it’s a bad influence on people. Never mind that metal lyrics can be just as bad in different ways. What’s good about the bad?

People say that because they don’t have to deal with it in their everyday life and they’re scared of it cause they don’t want it to effect their little bubble where I’m from we face that stuff head on and j feel like rap music in particular was always kind of similar to the news you hear what’s going on it different cities around the world you hear the new slang and you’re seeing the latest clothes in the videos so I feel like talking about the reality of what’s going on outside is the least I can do. Otherwise, people who know me in real life would know it’s fake. I feel like when you’re doing anything artistic your environment plays a big part in how it comes out so you gotta let people know.

RRX: This is where you answer the question I didn’t ask. Remarks? Comments? Educate, enlighten, emote – the floor is yours.

LBS: Final Remarks: I really appreciate you guys for giving me this opportunity and showing me love on your platform. The questions you asked were sick. I can tell you really care about what you do that made me more excited than I already was. I just want everyone seeing this to know I’m in a great space and I’m ready to make everyone who believed in me the last few years to know it’s our time but I’ll keep it short and sweet. BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR coming soon. The most handsome rapper is back. Be ready or be quiet.