Straight Flexin': A Conversation with Rae Sremmurd

Firmly establishing themselves in the rap game with their debut single “No Flex Zone!,” Atlanta-based duo Rae Sremmurd are a fresh tour de force on the scene, bringing a youthful and energetic steeze to a genre dominated by the arguably more matured and veterans alike. But when you have OGs like Yasiin Bey requesting your single, you know you’ve made a mark. We were able to sit down with the two brothers Swae Lee Khalif and Slim Jimmy, Aaquil to ask them about their debut full-length album, who inspires them and what lessons they can share to their fans.

How’s your debut album coming along?

Swae Lee Khalif: We are planning to release it on top of January. Right before that, we plan to drop the Shrem Life EP. As for the album, we try to be secretive about it as much as we can, but we can say that we have some big features lined up for it.

How would you outline your relationship with Mike Will Made-It?

SLK: Back when we were still living in Tupelo, Mississippi, we used a different name. At some point we were discovered by Mike’s production camp, which is called Ear drummers. They gave us an opportunity to move from Tupelo to Atlanta, Georgia, and a fresh start in the music industry. We sat down together and recorded a few songs. They loved the result so much, that they showed it to Mike, and it’s been a wrap ever since. We have a crazy chemistry together. He’s like a big brother to us. It’s like we’ve known him forever.

What projects have you coming up?

We have a lot of mixtapes coming with a lot of different DJs, but our main focus is the album at this moment. Besides that, we are just living life right now. We are so fully immersed in music, which has been therapeutic for us — especially after all these crazy months.

How do you see the music scene in Atlanta these days?

SJ: It’s forever changing. You can also say it’s recycling. You have young artists coming up, and at the same times also the older acts, like the Jeezys, keep dropping the heat.

SLK: I feel it’s constantly evolving and getting more crazy. People experiment more with melodies. They way people approach beats, hooks, and flows, I’d say it’s definitely less structured now. It’s a good thing as it keeps our music culture moving forward.

Would you say you’re fashionable? Did you guys stop by the New York Fashion Week?

SJ: No, we didn’t have time unfortunately. I’ve seen people sharing some impressions on snapchat though.

SLK: Fashionable? Swagged out for sure. (laughs)

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in this industry?

Slim Jimmy: The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is, stay consistent. You coming with 1s, you have to keep coming with it. Seems like an easy formula but we’re definitely up to this challenge. Wait till January.

SLK: Everybody’s not your friend. And watch what bridges you burn.

Any final words you might want send out to our readers and aspiring artists?

SLK: Believe in your brand, keep working, stay consistent, and always be crazy. Don’t try to be someone else. Be a treeeeendsetter.

SJ: Don’t smoke cigarettes because they kill you, but pot makes you live longer.