Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Hip hop is everywhere, no longer only in the traditional cities such as New York and Los Angeles. Well over ten years ago, the South emerged prominent in hip hop. The three main cities in the South producing stars have been Atlanta, New Orleans, and Houston.
But, following DJ Khaled's We The Best movement, Miami emerged as a force in Southern hip hop. Birmingham, MS has an emerging hip hop scene and it is being led by Drill Boy Ent. The main artist on the label is Ace Da Future. Ace is leading the pack, trying to move Birmingham hip hop into the mainstream.
Ace Da Future talked with Hip Hop Vibe and discussed his career, business ventures, and the Birmingham hip hop scene.
HHV: How long have you been rapping?
ADF: Well music been my life since birth-coming up I played the drums,then that lead to rapping around 11 years old.
HHV: How long have you actually been releasing music?
ADF: I been doing show's since 1998 I was like 15 years old, rapping with H.R.C.- High Rolling Click, but I debuted my first single with my group, Dem Get Crunk Boyz, just me and my brother, Mr. Eddie.
HHV: Where did you come up with the name Ace Da Future?
ADF: I had a CD full of beats for my mixtape, I was 22, I felt like I grew out the name, Yung Ace, so when I looked at the CD and I was like "this could be my name and I ran with it."
HHV: When did you launch Drill Boy Ent.?
ADF: Drill Boy Ent. is a family thing, so in our eyes we are all CEOs, we, as a unit, stepped onto the scene in 2006, everybody didn't see eye to eye, so everybody went different ways. So me and Brizock crunk it back up in 2008 and we never looked back, but when ever you hear Hustleville or Drill Troopz they are Drill Boys for life.
HHV: What is a Drill Boy?
ADF: Our logo is a drill drilling through concrete and that's how our minds think, we drill everything that comes in our path.
HHV: Aside from yourself, who is an artist to look out for on Drill Boy Ent.?
ADF: Brizock is on the come up with his single, "Wrap Dat Money," getting spins on a few internet radio stations, so when you see me on the scene you'll see him. Also I got brothers and little cousin's that go hard too, but you all will hear from them when the time is right.
HHV: What do you plan to show fans on the mixtape, A Glimpse into the Future?
ADF: On my mixtape, A Glimpse into the Future, really I want to cover all subjects and a lot of different styles. I don't want to lead my fans to just crunk club bangers or commercial songs, or even trap music. I'm trying to really bring everything I got on this mixtape so my fans won't be expecting just one style because Ace is not just a rapper, I am a songwriter. I write about what I been through and where I'm headed and the lifestyle I live.
HHV: In what ways will people learn more about your movement?
ADF: You will hear about it through word of mouth or through the internet, because I not just another rapper, I am a business man first. Drill Boy Ent., we have our own promotional company and our own printing company; which is becoming worldwide and growing fast. So if the music pop or it don't we still will be getting money and I am still going to be a power house in my city, Birmingham.
HHV: When will you be releasing your album?
ADF: Well, first I think we are going to drop the Drill Boy mixtape and flood the streets with that. At the same time, my mixtape will drop. We are not thinking about the album at the moment we are just pushing these singles out so they will remember the name. When the world is ready for the album, I promise we will give them what they ask for.
HHV: Who will you be working with on the album?
ADF: Independent, we are still pushing for a couple of major artists to hop on a couple of hits like The Party Boyz, Pastor Troy, Travis Porter, Dirty Boyz, and probably Rich Boy and whoever else. But, real talk, we don't need no features, and if I need one I got click of rappers I mess with that go hard in my city.
HHV: How do you manage rapping, running Drill Boy Ent., and maintain a personal life?
ADF: It's hard, I am not going to lie, but this is my life. Our best problem is my printing company growing so fast and keeping us so busy that we really don't ever have to write music or record when we want to because we are so busy taking print orders and our promotional company is the same way. All we do is throw parties and open mics. At the moment, we just make sure we all stay on the same page, keep rocking shows and keep pushing our names to brand it. But regular lifestyle, we don't live a normal life and we have not even blown yet. That's how I know this lifestyle is for us.
HHV: Do you have a tour planned to promote the new music?
ADF: At the moment, we use out of town shows as promotional shows even though we are making money. We will be in Atlanta at the beginning of February and Cleveland at the end of February. So we are taking posters and CDs with us, so when we leave, our music and name is still there. We also plan on for spring break to hit Florida hard and summer time we are going to do a lot of traveling.
HHV: Do you have any shoutouts?
ADF: I want to shout out my nigga, he was my other half R.I.P. KINGWOOD, because this is who I'm doing this for. Also shouts out to Sarah, Hustleville, Drill Troopz, Nick Paul, Wiley, Juggarnaut Mafia, GMC, Pshyched Out Posse, C.O.B., Naimah, my city, Birmingham, MS., Nina, Loyalty, Fred P, Lil Haze, Way da Future, G-Souf, Vito, my nigga MJ da Barber- he does all of my futuristic haircuts, all of my FB friends, & my hoods.