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While his musics fantasies ofunchecked, hedonistic indulgenceoften verge on self-destruction, hes been disciplined as of late.
Hes got a new album coming soon, a collaboration with legendary producer Q-Tip currently titleduknowhatimsayin?.
Hes cut back on the imbibing.
He then ordered himself a double Patron on the rocks.
It was two in the afternoon on a Monday.
Living well doesnt have to be incompatible with living large, hes learned.
As we wrapped up our conversation 40 minutes later, he cued up another double Patron.
Dannys Housefeels a lot like Saturday-morning entertainment.
I was more intoHang TimeandSaved by the Bell.
I had one punch line about that, like, Off the same pills that had Jessie Spano tripping.
I know youve seen thecaffeine pill freak-out video.
I lovedPee-wees Playhouse, too, but I loved the movies more.Big Top, all that shit.
I fuck with Pee-wee Herman.
What I liked aboutPee-wees Playhousewas how it sucked you into Pee-Wees world.
Everybody has that friend!
I dont want to get got!
Its a touchy subject, involving kids and everything.
Thats all some fucked-up shit.
Somethings up, thats all.
Do you think thatDannys Houseshould be watched on drugs?
Does it go well with weed, or should people see it straight?Either way!
Me, personally, Im high enough by the time I start watching something.
Gaspar Noe says that drugs only go with music, not movies or TV.Hes right.
Musics all around you, its easier to take it in.
You cant not listen, unless you plug your ears, but why would you plug your ears?
you’re free to focus on the beat or the vocals and still take in the whole song.
Id listen to a whole song that way.
Thats how I learned to do ad-libs, by listening to the stems on their own.
I used to do that with Jay-Zs album,Hard Knock Life.
Hes didnt get enough recognition in his moment.
Id have liked to see L in that setting.
How did you handle interviewing?
The producers wanted it to feel more like a conversation than an interview.
Some were people Im just huge fans of, like Ron Funches and Nikki Glaser.
On every show, its people I really want to talk to.
That made everything go real smoothly.
But itd lose the personality.
Personally, I just want to save that for my real life.
[Vampire Weekends Sunflower starts playing over the speakers.]
Jonah Hill directed thevideo for this song, after he didAint It Funnyfor you.
That song is about showing pain to the public and them not receiving it, or laughing it off.
In the years since your last album, has that aspect of your personal life changed?Its better.
Ive been taking it easy.
Before, I got so butthurt about how people received my music.
Now, its just fuck it, go get it.
You only got so much care and love to give.
Family, friends, I got that.
Apart from that, fuck it.
I do not care!
I do not care enough to engage.
I save all my cares for the album.
Like, the fuck?
Ive got to be swinging around on chandeliers and shit?
Im supposed to be slippy-sliding my way into a big pile of coke?
You recently changed your look, getting your teeth done and your hair shaved.
The teeth thing is just about being healthy, to be honest.
I was going to the dentist and they were like, Man, you all fucked up.
If you dont take care of this shit, youre gonna be in dentures at 40.
Nothing sexy about being in dentures at 40.
Do you think about your career in phases?
Youve got the new album coming soon.
I might think Im a New York rapper now, or this is my interpretation of that.
I pulled a lot from late 90s, early 00s East Coast artists, Jay-Z and Nas and Camron.
I learned a lot from working with Q-Tip.
Theres that classic debate about whether younger rappers coming up today put image over hard bars.
What do you think?
Thats so far gone now.
Its all normal now, wearing skinny jeans and building your fan base online and the street fashion.
Its hip to be square again, might as well look as presentable as possible.
Im almost 40 years old, so Im just embracing getting older.
Ill do a goofy shirt here and there, but I dont need to look like a damn teenager.
Dudes look so corny when theyre pushing 40, walking around in Off-White shit.
Whats wrong with you, man?
With a new album comes a new tour.
How does that fit in with you trying to take it easy?
Is that hard to do on the road?You just gotta go about it a different way.
Doing music, you’re free to look at every night as a party.
But Im into basketball, so I think about putting out each album as an NBA season.
Every nights another game.
Im on some athlete shit.
Otherwise, you know about idle hands, they get a man in trouble.
Especially when youve got these devices.
[Holds up smartphone.
]I say this shit, but well see!
It could all go bad in one day!
