Fresh off a national tour with fellow rap artist Freddie Gibbs, and upon the heels of releasing his latest video for “IDK,” the latest track from his These Things Take Time EP, DC born rapper Chaz French spoke to us about the “IDK” video, the DC music scene and more.
Can you speak about the concept for the video for “IDK” and how you developed it?
Chaz French: The first
we did in New York, so the second one we wanted to do in DC so we could show DC in a brighter light and a different space in just a more creative way than what’s been shown. Not to say that nothing has been creative but we just wanted to really push the envelope a little bit, but also keep it simple and talk about day to day things that you go through being from the area or just coming up in this generation in general. It was creative, they came up with the concept and we just bounced ideas off each other and then it came out the way it did. It was dope.
Being from DC, how would you describe the DC music scene?
Chaz French: Up and coming. Gogo has so much influence on the area like at one point that’s all people listened to. So now like to be a rap artist from there it’s really cool. It’s dope to see everybody coming together, it’s coming how we want it to. I guess I’ll give it a couple of years until it’s like New York or LA or Atlanta. It definitely has the potential to be that though.
Why did you feel now was the right time to release Things Take Time?
Chaz French: I mean I just feel like my first project came out in 2013/14, so I just felt like it was the right time. I was just in a happier space with the kind of music I was making. I felt like people needed the brighter side of Chaz French. They needed a darker side, I guess.
What are some of your favorite songs on These Things Take Time?
Chaz French: That’s so tough because I made those songs with so much bad things happening, so I think every song has its own significance. But it really depends on what mood I’m in, so today I would probably say my favorite songs would be “Mind To It” and “Questions.” “Mind To It” is just like a song that motivates people, like a lot of fans hit me up and be like ‘I listen to “Mind To It” whenever I feel like I can’t do something’ [or] ‘I listen to “Mind To It” when I feel like I’m going through something where it’s like I want to give up.’ It’s really a motivational song, as well as “Questions.” It makes people think but at the same time it makes people want to sing along and dance to it as well. So those would be my two favorites for the day, tomorrow it might be something different.
How has touring influenced your music?
Chaz French: It was definitely fun seeing new cities and new faces everyday. So in between I’ve been recording [and] it’s definitely opening my mind to a whole different light. Looking at what people like, seeing the songs they react off of it’s like ‘ok maybe I need to make more songs like this or less songs like this.’
At what age did you start making music and know that that is what you wanted to do?
Chaz French: I started making music when I was like 7 or 8, but of course it wasn’t like anything serious. But in the ninth grade I did a talent show, I did a song over the Cassidy and R Kelly “Hotel” beat, and everyone liked it, all the girls and shit really liked. I got great feedback so I was just like wow I really should take this serious and then from there I just grew and developed as an artist.
Who are some of the artist who have influenced you?
Chaz French: Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Marvin Gaye, Amy Winehouse, Frank Ocean, Drake, Kirk Franklin, everything I just love music. My first project I bought was Kanye’s Late Registration and Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon so those really had that effect. Then as a teen all I listened to was Lil Wayne and shit. But then when I was going through processes when I was really going through growing pains it was definitely like Kid Cudi, Frank Ocean, Amy Winehouse, Drake, like music that was vulnerable and told a story.
You worked with Wale on the song “No Shade,” how did that collaboration between you two come about?
Chaz French: I mean that’s family, so it was bound to happen anyway. I was in LA for the first time in a minute and he reached out and was like ‘come to the studio.’ So we were just going through records and seeing what we wanted to do, then I ended up playing him that record and he was just like — that was the record he wanted to jump on in particular.
You also worked with Kevin Ross on “Be Great,” how did that collaboration come about?
Chaz French: He was in DC and he was recording his album, and we had already linked before for a record and then he was like ‘man I think this would be perfect for you to get on’ so I went to the studio. I think we did that record in like 30 minutes. It was fun and quick. It’s one of my favorite records actually.
What would you say you bring to the music scene in particular with your music?
Chaz French: I think I bring a positive vibe, not to say that everything that’s out isn’t positive because I guess that’s what you make it, but I just bring an honest truthful feel to music. I’m gonna tell you things you don’t hear on a regular basis. I just want to inspire people to do better or become a better person than they already are. I do a lot for people, I’m a people person. I put other people’s problems before mine . I like to do that through music as well and give people hope and give people an everything is gonna be good … everything gonna be ok, but it’s also a patience process and within that I learn a lot about myself as well.
Are there any up and coming artists you worked with that we should know about?
Chaz French: I did a record with Switch the MIA and Santigold.
You are also nominated for XXL Freshmen Class of 2016, what would being named an XXL Freshmen mean to you?
Chaz French: That would be amazing because growing up when I first found out what that was I was like ‘oh I really want to be on that cover, I really want to be apart of that.’ That’s like a goal coming up as an artist. I think that’s a great platform for other people to find out who you are that may not know who you are and be around other artist of that caliber. I guess you’re being rewarded for the work you put in thus far. That would be amazing
Is there anything else you have in the works you would like to tell us about?
Chaz French: Just more music and more touring, that’s it.
