Pusha T on New LP, Running G.O.O.D. Music: ‘I’m the Last Rap Superhero’
What are your specific duties as the president of the label?
I’m responsible for overseeing releases, rollouts and pretty much everything else that’s fan-oriented — bringing the business full circle, whether it’s merch and things as a collective that we can do with touring.
What is your vision for the future of G.O.O.D. Music?
I feel like the music should stay on the course of what it’s been doing and stay with everything that’s creative. I mean, I feel like we’ve been sticklers for creativity and things that have staying power. As far as new artists go, we’re going to continue looking in that direction and keep making wise choices in regards to artistry.
Talk a little about your philosophy when it comes to discovering new talent.
As far as talking about talent that I would want to bring to the label, if we’re talking rap, I’m talking about fully self-contained artists that have a vision. I feel like that’s what’s happening in hip-hop right now, especially with the kids. These kids are totally self-contained, they have very strong outlooks and they’ve accumulated their own following. They created their own touring circuits and they shoot their own videos. It’s all about, to me, finding the greatest ones that encompass all of that.
Do you see yourself as a mentor?
I don’t think I see myself as a mentor, but I definitely try to help. I admire what’s going with youth today. With all of the creative energies that they have, I do try and push the ones that I meet and the ones that I know to really make a business out of it and to live their lives doing something that they love.
Switching gears, let’s talk about your upcoming record King Push — Darkest Before Dawn: The Prequel. What sorts of themes were on your mind as you were crafting lyrics?
I feel like my lyrics are just dark and scathing. I feel like the lyrics on Darkest Before Dawn are uncompromised hip-hop and really speaking to my core fan base. Basically what’s been known in my discography the entire time. I feel like I’m the last rap superhero. I really do. I feel like everybody else, they seem to be a bit victimized and I don’t feel like that’s me.