Deviating from a good portion of today’s Hip-Hop landscape, UFO Fev prides himself on being a true student of Hip-Hop culture.
Coming from Thomas Jefferson Houses in East Harlem, Anthony Ortiz, also known as, UFO Fev stands tall on his affinity for raw, uncut lyricism and makes that fully apparent across his sublime discography, which consists of 15 thoroughly crafted EPs.
Being a direct product of New York’s inner-city streets, Fev’s dedication to the culture is undeniable and he continues to be an underrated, yet invaluable asset to its Hip-Hop community.
When it comes to his talent, Fev is a top-notch, lyrical marksman with poignant flows and catchy hooks for days. Similar to Benny The Butcher, Joey Bada$$ and Roc Marciano, Fev is upholding the torch of golden-era Hip-Hop and reinvigorating it all in the same breath.
Having already dropped a well-acclaimed project this year: “Sunsets In The Ghetto,” Fev is looking to bolster his flame with the release of his most recent project: “Blood On The Bills,” all of which is exclusively produced by Canadian producer Finn.
On September 21st, Fev dropped his lead single: “Wash The Bills,” which has already amassed over 9K views on YouTube.
In recent time, JaJuan Malachi of The Knockturnal was afforded the opportunity to “break bread” with UFO Fev over at Sweet Chick in Williamsburg. During the excursion, Fev spoke about a number of things including his origins, his relationship with Fat Joe, his passion for Hip-Hop culture, what it means to be a Puerto Rican rapper, what’s currently on his playlist, how he discovered his name and much more.
Here is how the conversation played out:
JaJuan: What’s up Fev!
UFO Fev: What’s good Twin.
JaJuan: So to kick things off, I wanted to ask: Coming up in East Harlem, who would you say were some of your biggest musical influences growing up?
UFO Fev: Beanie Siegal, I love Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Cam’Ron
JaJuan: Juelz Santana?
UFO: Nah, he wasn’t on yet. I’m trying to think about a time when I was young. When I didn’t have too much going on. Hearing the Puff album. P. Diddy and The Family: No Way Out. You know what I’m saying. That was monumental right there. I remember the first time I heard that and then after that comes The Dipset, you know, the 2000s era. By then, I was already also listening to the West Coast guys, The South, you know, BG, Choppa City, The Ghetto. That was like one of my favorite albums. My dad was into freestyle music, so I always had a knowledge of that. As I grew up, I started to like Latin music, Spanish music, and Reggae music. Heavy Reggae music.
JaJuan: What about like Bachata?
UFO Fev: That’s later on when I grew up to understand what that was. That used to be like Dembow music back then before Reggaeton got famous and stuff. Bachata was a thing for older folks back then. Like, you got to the parties and you’d hear that. Cleaning the crib, my grandmother would always listen to that kind of stuff. That always turned me off until I got into my teenage years. It was girls. When I started liking girls is when I started listening to more music. Girls always had the music. They always had the CDs and like the headphones and stuff and would put me on. As I grew older twin, my influences started going into Jazz and Reggae Soul Music, you know a lot of funk, R&B, heavy R&B and stuff like that outside of Hip-Hop.
JaJuan: So like the Jon B’s, the Ginuwine’s
UFO Fev: Ginuwine, Dru Hill
JaJuan: Tyrese
UFO Fev: Tyrese. If we’re staying in the era, we’ve got Keith Sweat. Who else we’ve got, Case at the time. You know Donnell Jones.
JaJuan: Yeah, yeah! Fire!
UFO Fev: Yeah, you know that fire! Total!
JaJuan: Brandy!?
UFO Fev: Whatttt?! Brandy man! My dad loved Brian McKnight. Brian McKnight was that guy! Brandy was IT though! Brandy had that vibe! That’s a fact. Usher! Can’t forget Usher. I learned how to slide out my sneakers because of Usher.
JaJuan: I feel that. They were all immaculate vibes fasho. So when did you first believe that making music could translate into a real-life profession?
UFO Fev: For myself, I always understood it was a profession because I didn’t get paid for it but me being around people in the music industry like my dad and other producers, other artists, just being around them seeing them make money. Like there’s this producer by the name of Develop. He did “Fireman” for Lil’ Wayne and “Rap God” for Eminem. I used to hang out with him. My dad has a lot of friends in the music industry as well like Marc Anthony and stuff. So, I always knew the music industry was a successful place but for me twin, until someone actually paid me once to perform, then I was “oh aight” and began to take it seriously. I guess at that time, the stuff I was taking was good enough. I was thinking “oh aight, someone will let me perform and they’ll pay me.” I didn’t need anything else after that. That was validation! I remember the envelope, the card said thank you!
JaJuan: Do you have any vivid memories of that moment?
UFO Fev: Yeah, it was the Knitting Factory downtown. Before it went to Brooklyn, it was originally downtown in the city. There was a manager who had an artist that was running around. J. Cole was running around too but he wasn’t Cole at the time.
JaJuan: Haha, he was pre-Cole.
UFO Fev: Yeah, pre-Cole. They were doing spot venues and stuff. The manager in that circle. He was a family friend as well. He saw me doing my thing and he asked me to come perform and he paid me and that was the first time I really got love. Like someone paid me, the other artists showed me love. I was like “alright cool, this is something I wanna do.”
JaJuan: Gotchu! So you spoke about your Dad. Would you mind speaking to your Dad’s influence on your career?
UFO Fev: Yeah, he was in a group called TKA back in the 80s and 90s even up until like the 00s. They had a “greatest hits” album and stuff. I just understood the business watching him. He went through the ups and downs of the industry. It was easy to navigate myself and know that I wasn’t invincible and that there were certain things I had to be aware of
JaJuan: So he put you onto game.
UFO Fev: Yeah, he put me onto game without putting me onto game. Just watching was the best teacher because when he would vent and when I got old enough and we would talk. He would explain it to me a little better and stuff but I was there. Just the feeling of knowing something was wrong before knowing what’s wrong. I got to see that. And as I grew, I went through that in my own trials and tribulations. You can’t escape it. My Dad is my biggest inspiration in terms of knowing that “an artist doesn’t do business” and that “a businessman is not an artist.” The two are separate. When you’re an artist, you’re an artist. And when it’s time to do business, it’s time to do business.
JaJuan: It sounds like he had a profound impact for sure.
UFO Fev: For sure!
JaJuan: So what have you been listening to recently? I know we spoke about it a little bit inside.
UFO Fev: Aside from myself and the projects I’ve been creating, Freddie Gibbs. We spoke about that. I got .38 Spesh on my joint. A little Ari Lennox, Black Thought, Danger Mouse, amazing project. Illmatic. Always listening to Illmatic. A little bit of Tribe. You know, Midnight Marauders. I always like to go back and forth from new to older and stuff like that.
JaJuan: You like to get a little taste of everything.
UFO Fev: Everything! Depending on the drive because I’m a heavy driver. I’m always getting in the car, so I like to. If I’m not home, I’m tryna just sit in the car and turn up the speakers. Give it that little car test. I’m always listening to music. It’s a big part of my days.
JaJuan: Dope! So tell us about the origins of your name? ‘
UFO Fev: UFO Fev! The UFO!I got that as I matured. It’s like knowledge of self. The way I was rhyming! The cadence! My flow. Everything was different, especially for a Latino. That’s where the UFO comes from and the “Fev” part, I got from Black Rob, may God rest his soul. Black Rob titled me “Fev.” He heard I was rhyming one day, I had bumped into him. We were passing one another, talking and like a movie, I turned around and he was like “I heard you’re rhyming out here.” He was like, “I heard you got a little fever?” I was like good lookin’ Rob! That’s how I got the name. It kind of just stuck.
JaJuan: Wow! That sounds hella nostalgic! So I know you and Fat Joe have close ties! How’d y’all first link up?
UFO Fev: I met my big brother Fat Joe through Dre of “Cool & Dre.” He’s the one who introduced us and linked us up. After hearing my music, he introduced my music to Joe and then Dre found me and he told me he wanted to meet me but also that he wanted to introduce me to Joe first. From there I met Joe and we’ve been together ever since. He’s been a mentor. I’ve been riding with him. He took me overseas a bunch of times, shows, we’ve got records together. Like you said, everything organic. I rock with him.
JaJuan: That’s fire! What’s some guidance that he’s provided for you, in terms of how to navigate your career a little better?
UFO Fev: A lot of patience! He’s taught me a lot of patience when it comes to the industry. Give people the benefit of the doubt! Don’t be so arrogant and expect everyone to jump. I’ve learned that with him. Just watching him I’ve learned that, just seeing how he works with people. Always smiling, always cordial! But mostly twin, I’ve also learned how to just be a loving person because he conducts himself on love! He doesn’t radiate any negativity. He likes to stay positive and allow his blessings to get to him. Verbally, he says so many things. You know, he talks. He loves to tell stories. There’s so many gems that I have with him that I learned. Just to be a better family man and to be happy with what I’ve got and to not worry about anything else.
JaJuan: It sounds like he’s had a profound impact for sure.
UFO Fev: That’s a fact! Just watching him be successful. If there’s things he has to deal with as a man, then I have no reason to complain. I have no reason to complain about the stuff I have to do. He’s well off but he still has to do a lot. Parents, lady, kids, industry. Like, he’s still active.
JaJuan: So being a rapper of Puerto Rican descent, do you ever feel underestimated? And how do you combat that?
UFO Fev: Absolutely! I usually write some more. Don’t get so hard on myself. But absolutely, I do feel underestimated sometimes but that’s just moments. I’m only human. That usually comes from social media and stuff. You know, when I see things going on but if I don’t delve into that realm, I’ll be alright. I’ll be good. People salute me for what I do and that’s all I need. Plus we get paid for it, so there’s really no reason to complain but like I said twin, if I dive into that realm and I see others highlights, then yeah I start feeling some type of way. Try and stay out of our own way sometimes.
JaJuan: Haha, I feel you. It’s not even worth it.
UFO Fev: Don’t hate on yourself. Don’t let them see you sweat
JaJuan: So what is the inspiration behind the concept of your latest single: “Wash The Bills”? Where’d that even stem from?
UFO Fev: To zero it in, it just comes from. The rhyme was just like braggadocious rhyme. It fit around the project but the concept was a person having a lot of money that they can’t spend. Metaphorically, “Wash The Bills,” you use a laundromat, put your money in soap. Realistically, you have to find ways to spend the money. You can’t just sit on it. It doesn’t work like that. There’s another record on the project called “Taxman.” It kind of plays into the same realm but it comes from the perspective of Uncle Sam. I rap from the perspective of actually being like “what is taxation?”
JaJuan: That’s hella intriguing. It sounds like a very refreshing perspective.
UFO Fev: It’s not as deep as it sounds. You know, it’s dope. Still fly shit though.
JaJuan: Dope! I’m boutta be on the lookout for that.
UFO Fev: It’s about to be on “Blood On The Bills”
JaJuan: How many tracks do you have lined up for that?
UFO Fev: There’s ten joints on the project. All produced by Finn. He is a Jamaican born producer by way of Canada. He might be Canadian born. Um, he’s a good brother from Toronto. He’s part of a click called BBM. Gold Era is the label. We’ve got some vinyl coming out. Vinyl’s available at GoldEramusic.com. Go purchase that. And the merch is available as well. Well produced by Finn, front to back. It’s hard! If you listen to any of my projects, you expect a good cohesive body of work and that’s what it is for sure.
JaJuan: It’s funny that you mentioned Finn because I meant to ask about Finn. How’d y’all team up?
UFO Fev: I was recording with Terminology and Statik Selektah. There was someone who reached out via DM on his behalf that told me that he was interested in hollering at me. I replied and was like “sure man, link us up” and sent a batch right away. I started working on them. I started diving more into his catalog and I got to learn more about him and how he works and that made me look forward to actually getting it done. He’s a dope producer. He has stuff out that’s already dope with other artists. Not just in Hip-Hop but in the Jamaican and Hip-Hop category as well. I can’t wait to do another one. I can’t wait to get to Canada too!
JaJuan: Gotchu! Are there any artists that you’d like to collaborate with that you haven’t yet?
UFO Fev: Absolutely! I usually like to just allow it to happen but you know, Anderson .Paak, would love to rap with Pusha T, Freddie Gibbs. I’d love to work with a lot of R&B artists. I’d love to work with all the legends if I can. Would definitely love to collaborate.
JaJuan: So how has being a father impacted your grind? Would you say it’s made you more hungry?
UFO Fev: It’s definitely made me more hungry. It’s made me more of an introvert too. I stay out of the way. I come outside when plentiful and when needed. And just stay focused and stay on the grind and stay away from politics, more or less. That’s what it does.
JaJuan: Hmm, I feel that. So what do you have lined up for the rest of the year?
UFO Fev: Uh, “Blood On The Bills” is next and I look to do some shows coming up. Some more videos. Some more merch and more albums. I don’t know if I’m going to take some time off or if I’m going to drop consistently.
JaJuan: I’m looking forward to that. So before we wrap it up, is there anything else you’d like to say before we wrap it up?
UFO Fev: Yeah, follow me on all socials: @ufofev. Much love!
JaJuan: Appreciate you!
To Keep Up With UFO Fev, Check Him Out On Instagram
Photos Courtesy Of @sinematic.studios
