Pusha T Speaks on Kanye West & Solo Work

Complex sat down with G.O.O.D. Music’s Pusha T as part of their “Mantras” segment. The Virginian rapper delves into a range of subjects such as working with Kanye, and solo work among others. Read an excerpt of the piece below, whereas it can be read in its entirety here.

Now that you’re on G.O.O.D. Music and solo, will there be an adjustment to your rapping style?

Pusha T: I tell people a lot of times, the dichotomy of the Clipse is Pusha is the brash one and Malice is the more introspective, conscious one. But when you’re in a group, there are roles that you have to play. With me being by myself, you’re going to get more of what might have been Malice’s role when I was in the group. It’s not that I don’t think that way…he’s just better at that than me. [Laughs.] That’s his first thought when wordplay is my first thought. You’re probably going to get a little bit of me articulating really introspective things and getting the full spectrum of me.

What is it like for you rolling without Malice?

Pusha T: It’s really not a big deal to me. When we’re together, there’s been plenty of days where we’ll come do an interview and I’m just not into it. I just don’t answer, and he gets that sense of me and he takes the reign. Right now, it’s all on me. No days off. So I can’t really slack. Having him with me, I can slack. Other than that, it’s not really much of a change man. I mean, I guess I’m in New York and he’s not here. But in the studio at home, he’s there. He’s like, ‘Yo, that’s crazy,’ or ‘Yo, that’s mean.’ The visual to the public is what it is. But you got to remember we’re brothers, like we’re brothers. This isn’t made for TV. This is family.

Photography: Complex