Casanova talks Roc Nation’s pre-Grammy brunch, working with 30Roc on “Free At Final,” touring to Nigeria and mnore.
Casanova has lots to be completely satisfied about as of late. The Brooklyn rapper’s life is an entire 180 from the place it was earlier than. He’s not on parole after spending chunk his life out and in the justice system. In consequence, he’s been touring extra, which included an inaugural journey to Africa, and he’s contemporary f the discharge his most enjoyable challenge up to now, the aptly titled, Free At Final.
“Typically you may be free however your thoughts’ll be locked up,” he informed HNHH in regards to the challenge’s title. “After I was creating the challenge, I felt so free. I went to Africa, I got here again, completed the songs, did this, and I felt like I’ve been dwelling so lengthy, away from jail and I nonetheless didn’t be at liberty. I obtained f parole, I used to be capable of journey. I mentioned] ‘Nah, that is free eventually. This music is free eventually.’”
Commissary was catered to the streets by the stress his followers. Cas delivered precisely what his day-one followers wished whereas nonetheless displaying a extra industrial pleasant aspect to himself with tracks like “Left, Proper” and “Go BestFriend 2.zero” with G-Eazy and Wealthy The Child. He defined that the liberty that he felt whereas creating Free At Final was a product taking the chance to do what he desires to do musically.
“I really feel like Free At Final, I used to be capable of do what I wished to do, what I’m sayin? Commissary, I believe I used to be doing it extra for the followers as an alternative me. Everyone was like, ‘I would like the gutta Cas,’” he mentioned. “However generally, I wanna have enjoyable too and make music. This challenge, I type gave everyone their very own music to love.”
Free At Final, a collaborative effort with EarDrummers signee 30Roc, arrived in mid-February. He reiterated that the challenge was merely him immersing himself within the joys being liberated, each mentally and bodily.
Free At Final opens up with “Relapse” — an aggressive but introspective banger that finds Casanova reflecting the road life from what looks like an intoxicated state. “I’m holdin’ court docket in these streets/ Maintain that thang ‘trigger I obtained beef/ Take your life, I’m a thief/ I’ma apply what I preach,” he raps on the hook. “They don’t know the ache/ They will’t see the tears/ Locked up in a cell/ Confused for all them years.”
Casanova will get into his bag on his newest document, flexing his melodic supply much more and displaying indicators vulnerability. “Like Me,” which he lately launched a video for, is the closest factor to a love ballad we’ve heard from Cas.
The challenge was led by the only, “2 A.M” which options Toronto’s Tory Lanez and one the main figures in Afrobeat, Davido. Casanova’s relationship with Davido is deeper than music. The Roc Nation signee met with the Nigerian famous person after a present in New York Metropolis. From there, they developed a relationship that will later lead Casanova on a life-changing journey to Nigeria.
“When someone let you know one thing, it’s totally different than while you see it with your personal eyes,” he mentioned . “I simply assume I simply left Nigeria with lots weight f my shoulders. I used to at all times be ungrateful. That made me grateful, that made me grateful for the place I’m in. I’m signed to the Roc, I’m being profitable legally — it simply made me humble myself.”
“2 A.M” wasn’t essentially created with Davido in thoughts. After hailing down Tory Lanez to hop on the Afrobeat-infused observe, Cas defined that 30Roc informed him that he wanted to get an afrobeat artist on the observe. He admitted he was initially baffled by the concept getting within the studio — not as a result of he wasn’t a fan however as a result of he didn’t know the place the traces between hardcore NY hip-hop and afrobeat would cross.
“They at all times inform me, ‘let’s get within the studio,’ however I used to be like, ‘what are we gonna document?’” He recalled with fun. “I obtained “2 A.M.] and I’m swingin’ with this. And he hit me proper again.”
The Davido collaboration was one other humbling second for Cas. He admits he didn’t totally comprehend Davido’s celeb till he landed in Africa.
“I noticed blocks individuals following him, working after him. I used to be like, ‘maintain on. That’s dope.’ He’s only a actual dude. He didn’t have to try this for me. He was good on his finish.”
Casanova is an fascinating case within the rap sport. Hip-hop is undoubtedly a younger man’s sport, whereas he emerged within the sport in his late 20s. He’s a brand new artist, technically, however he stands alongside some hip-hop’s legendary figures. Signing with Roc Nation is a giant transfer, not solely as a rapper however as a Brooklynite.
Cas was amongst music’s elite at this yr’s pre-Grammy Roc Nation brunch with the likes Jay Z, Beyonce, Kevin Hart, DJ Khaled, Diddy, and plenty of others. Regardless of the high-prile celeb visitor checklist, Casanova undoubtedly stood out. The rapper was the life the get together, busting strikes whereas livening the spirit the unique occasion — he even reiterated that Jay Z wants to offer him his personal part subsequent yr. Meek Mill, who was additionally in attendance, developed a friendship with Casanova over time — leading to his look within the Philly rapper’s “Intro” music video.
As Meek Mill campaigns for jail reform throughout America, Cas can be sharing an vital message with the youth. The rapper lately revealed that he spoke at City Hall about the juvenile criminal system, a subject that’s had an affect on his personal life. Though he admits that he and Meek by no means chopped it up about their social activism, he praised the Philly spitter dedication to lift consciousness on the matter, particularly understanding that there’s lots at stake.
“I’m proud him for what he’s doing. That’s nice. It takes lots to try this, it takes lots rising to try this,” he mentioned. “As soon as you set your face on one thing like that, you actually obtained to remain out bother a lot extra ‘trigger there’s gonna be individuals you as a task mannequin, you to carry you down — a complete lot stuff. I’m undoubtedly completely satisfied for him.”
It’s undoubtedly been a busy yr for Casanova however he’s solely getting began. The rapper revealed that his debut album is already full with a summer season launch date in thoughts: “I’m thinkin’ August.”
“This yr y’all gon’ get that work, undoubtedly,” he concludes, confidently. “And I believe I’m simply getting higher and higher and higher at my craft, that’s all it’s.”