Houston rapper Kirko Bangz is officially bringing H-Town back with his new mixtape Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa.
After releasing his smash hit “Drank In My Cup” and collaborating with rappers like Big Sean and Wale, Kirko is on a mission to put Houston rap back on the map.
GlobalGrind linked up with Kirko to chit-chat about his new music, his favorite rappers and the Drake comparisons.
Check out the exclusive interview below!
You dropped your mixtape Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa. Tell us about your journey to complete that project.
We had the single “Drink In My Cup”… I’m originally from Texas. I just wanted to represent that and I know that Houston ain’t been on the map for a minute, so I just wanted to bring that back to the table but bring it with a new style – a new era or a new generation of music.
“Drink In My Cup” has definitely traveled far and beyond. That’s one of Kimora Lee Simmons’ favorite songs!
Appreciate it.
How old were you when you started making music?
I was like 15.
Who have been a few of your musical inspirations?
My biggest musical influence is Eminem, basically. I don’t really be into Texas music until just recently, like 2 or 3 years ago when I thought I was going to take this rap thing seriously.
Who is your dream collaboration?
I want to collaborate with Eminem.
What’s your favorite thing to do besides making music?
I be hooping! I got a little game. Anybody who want to get it is getting killed in it.
What’s your favorite color?
Black on black on black.
What’s been your favorite moment while touring?
Damn, that’s a hard one. I’ll say my latest favorite thing is when I was in H-Town and Big Sean was out here. They called me out and I performed for the H-Town crowd and they went bananas.
What’s the weirdest or craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on stage?
Oh, girls be trying to grab my private area.
What’s your most prized possession?
My family isn’t my possession, but they’re my most prized possession in the world – my family.
If I sent you to the most deserted part of Texas and you could only bring two albums, what two albums would you bring?
I’d take Eminem Encore, and I’d take Kanye’s Graduation.
Can you tell us something that most people don’t know about you?
That my name is really Kirk. That’s what I go by Kirko.
What made you put on the ‘o’ on Kirk?
My grandma used to call me Kirko when I was a little baby. And then when I started rapping, I just figured I’d go with Kirko.
When you say it fast, it sounds like Kurt Cobain from Nirvana.
Yeah. I’ve heard that.
What’s something you can’t live without?
Some food! Some soul food.
What’s your favorite food?
My favorite food? I used to say lasagna, but I think I’m getting away from that. Because that sh*t makes my stomach hurt. Just some real down south home cooked meal, like at my grandma’s house.
People compare you to Drake. What’s something that bothers you most about being compared to other artists?
Everything you work for, and all the years you put in, and all the amount of clubs you went to, DJ meetings, being broke, and trying to make your music sh*t work, you know what I’m saying?
And not to take away from Drake or anyone else they’re trying to compare me to, they got their own story as well, but I got my own lane and my own grind. I feel like people just compare you to things because they don’t believe in you yet, and they’re kind of scared to believe in you.
Whenever the ‘cool’ people start believing in you, or your start blowing up and stuff like that, then it’s going to be cool.
It is what it is. I don’t get too caught up in that. I’m a chill person, but it is annoying. At the same time, life is a challenge, and what’s life without a challenge?
In your opinion, who are the top five rappers in the game right now?
Drake, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, too. And just to me, currently, Future go hard too. I know he ain’t the best rapper, but that n*gga go hard. I don’t know about the fifth one – I’m going to say J.Cole though.
Follow Kirko Bangz on Twitter @KirkoBangz.
