With Erykah Badu & D-Smoke Co-Indicators: AJ McQueen Is Hip-Hop’s Greater Floor

I met rapper AJ McQueen just a few quick years in the past when he was a performer at a rap contest in Houston, Texas. At the moment, I had no concept what he was coping with in his private life, however that was a pivotal second for the St. Louis-born artist. He received that contest and I knew that I used to be bearing witness to one thing very particular.

In the present day, the journey for AJ McQueen continues. We linked in Philadelphia for a moderately serendipitous link-up. On this unique sit-down, he mentioned his journey within the music business, his psychological well being, and his upcoming tour. Soulful and intentional, he talks about his evolution and his place within the motion of Hip-Hop.

The “Sorry, Ma Was Distracted” tour begins on June 2nd in Houston and can characteristic his full band and background singers.

AllHipHop: So let’s discuss a bit bit. To start with, the way you’ve been?

AJ McQueen: Been. Nice. Actually, final 12 months was the worst, greatest 12 months of my life. What I’m, it’s straightforward to get on right here to say I’ve been nice leaving at that. However no, I’ve been nice as a result of you understand, I imply typically you bought to deconstruct and reconstruct, however I’ve been nice. I’ve been supreme. I really feel wholesome. My psychological well being is evident. I, and I really feel like that’s the right reply. That’s what I’m engaged on answering nowadays when folks ask me that, being extra current with my reply. So I really feel nice due to lots of different issues. For positive.

AllHipHop: Yeah. So I met you in Houston and that was an awesome expertise seeing you not solely within the earlier beginnings of what you’ll finally turn into, but in addition to see the way you handled virtually like a state of affairs that was not optimum. And we have been within the scorching warmth. And I don’t know if Houston was prepared for you.

AJ McQueen: You say? Man, I’m not going to say you off base. I don’t suppose you was off base. I believe that I’ve referred again to my mom and my dad after I was youthful, simply being advised that I’ve at all times been earlier than my time. I imply, lots of us heard that, however till you see these issues beginning to manifest, I believe musically, creatively, I might undoubtedly say that I’ve simply at all times been earlier than my time. However then being in a metropolis like Houston, a metropolis that’s actually transferring at their very own tempo. However I at all times noticed the imaginative and prescient and thru the grace of God, I undoubtedly knew that I might be the place I’m at now for positive. And I say that in probably the most, not cocky approach, however undoubtedly I name it God-confidence, you understand what I imply? Undoubtedly a God for that approach. I knew I might be right here and I’m nonetheless rising too for positive.

AllHipHop: Considered one of my homeboys from Delaware despatched me your music. We at all times trade music. We didn’t speak about you. Nothing. He simply despatched me a number of songs and I used to be like, I simply shot him again some footage. Yeah, yeah, I do know. I do know this man.

AJ McQueen: And like I say, for artists like myself, unbiased artists, artists that’s going towards the grain and wish to transfer with their very own tempo, folks like your self undoubtedly wish to offer you flowers as a result of the affirmation alongside the best way means loads to us for those that we respect. You understand what I imply? On this subject, you’ve been on this house for years. Undoubtedly staple of Hip-Hop. So the affirmation years in the past, that’s planted to the place I’m at now. Now I’m in a position to tour the nation underneath my very own model, Godbody Vitality. I’m in a position to put my folks in place, launch the music I need, go to the areas I need, and create strategic partnerships by all of it. So I respect that. Shout out to your homie too that despatched you to music

AllHipHop: How have you ever felt the folks receiving your music? As a result of the best way I have a look at it’s it’s a vibration and it doesn’t actually matter the place you might be or who you might be.

AJ McQueen: I imply, it’s lovely as a result of I make soul music. You understand what I imply? I had anyone ask me that lately, how would you categorize music? And I used to be like, nicely, I wouldn’t essentially categorize it in any respect. I imply it’s for the listener, the way it resonates together with your spirit. However what’s been the phrases of selection that folks have been utilizing is soul, soul, hip hop. I had anyone inform me the opposite day, they was like, man, you’ll’ve been one of many Soulquarians. So it’s lovely within the Hip-Hop house.

I’m undoubtedly an MC. I’m intentional with my lyrics and intentional with my phrases, however I additionally consider that there’s a godness with the music. I’m in a position to discuss my life and folks in a position to see themselves in it from my songs about psychological well being, my songs about Black love, my songs about navigating the streets and evolving. And that’s actually what my music represents, evolution. And I really feel like anyone, regardless of the age, the race, the creed, none of that evolution and rising I really feel like hits us all. And that’s an area that I reside in…

AllHipHop: Okay. Okay. Have you ever clicked up with anyone? After I take into consideration the vibration, I take into consideration different artists as nicely. Have you ever gotten any bonds with anybody?

AJ McQueen: Yeah, within the final 12 months I’ve acquired co-signs from Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, India.Arie, Ghostface. These folks have DM’d me personally, reposted my music (and extra). I simply did a music, you’re the primary individual I’m sharing this with, however I acquired a joint with a D-Smoke.

AllHipHop: Yeah. I like D Smoke.

AJ McQueen: My music is soul. So what I like about it’s I’m in a position to construct with [anybody]. I can go from a D-Smoke to a Lauryn Hill, right down to Damian Marley. As much as Anita Bake. I like Hip-Hop that approach, however I also can rap with anyone else. So the D-smoke joint is unquestionably on the deluxe album of Sorry Ma, I Was Distracted. And I acquired just a few surprises that I received’t give out till it’s clear, you understand what saying.

June 8, 2018, Houston, TX