To coincide with the launch of his bold and anthemic new hip hop project The GOD Album: Rebirth!!!, we caught up with Buffalo NY artist and rapper The Supreme General, to find out more about the music, his journey from the first album to now, and his plans for the year ahead. Here’s how it went.
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Hey – massive new album, great to catch up! For those new to your journey – who first inspired you to make hip hop, and what does the music mean to you?
Thank you very much. I appreciate that greatly.
I was inspired deeply by a few artists. OutKast, 2pac, Nas, LL cool J, Rakim, Master P etc. There are more but those artists particularly had a heavy effect on me. As for what the music means to me, it’s the soundtrack of my life. Now it’s also an essential way of expression for me personally. It’s the music that speaks to me the most. Of all genres (and there are things I appreciate deeply in all of them.) hip hop is the one that brings the most to my life as a whole. I can’t imagine life without it.
We first connected when It’s My Turn.. The Throne Ascension hit the scene, almost a decade ago. What’s been happening in between – how has your mindset and audience reach changed, and what separates this new album?
In between I’ve been through several life changes. Some good, some bad, some remarkable. All I learned from. It’s affected my mindset deeply & I believe it’s colored my music beautifully with a level of growth that shows itself in my output.
Let’s talk about the title of the new project – what’s the intention with The GOD Album, and what does the Rebirth aspect represent?
When I say or reference myself as “the God” I’m speaking more in the psalms 82 sense than anything else. My last album “It’s my turn!!! …the throne ascension LP” was about my growth and principles as a man. Showcasing some of the life development leading up to where I was creatively at the time. The GOD album does the same only it represents the next level. It represents me embracing and mastering that next level.
How did you craft these creative beats and what inspires you to write or freestyle when you get on the mic?
The instrumentals come from some of the best producers around in my opinion including my man Axl Beatz, Quinton Lashley, then Cove ito and my homegirl brownjewelbeats amongst others. The way I write to them is wholly unique to each specific track. Some I write with a hook and a bridge, others maybe only just need a hook, some I just rap all the way through with no chorus at all. It just depends on how the beat is built and my vision for the song which usually comes out instantly as I hear the beat along with the melody I flow with. Then the actual words all come. Every one is its own unique thing entirely. The inspiration for each song strangely enough usually doesn’t become clear to me until well after I’ve written & recorded it.
That sounds wild I know lol but it is 100% true. Sometimes I go into making songs with specific topic direction of course but that’s rare for my album stuff.
The Introduction is a massively impactful, creative and impressive opening track. Tell us about the process of making this one?
Thank you for that very much.
It was a very enjoyable song to make and one of several on this album that didn’t take very long at all to get done. I was just scrolling through Instagram one day and saw Cove had posted a snippet of the track for sale. I listened to the beat and instantly connected with it. It was an instantaneous, & very strong connection that inspired me to write the entire song fully within about 90 minutes just based off the snippet. I mean I finished the entire song, verse, bridges flows vibe and all before I even contacted him to find out if the beat was even still available.
Long story short, it was, I bought it, and went to the studio to finish the song a few days later. The entire song was done in about a week & that’s only because I had to book the session around a few pre-existing modelling obligations. Otherwise I would’ve definitely got it done within 72 hrs max. Sometimes it’s like that when you’re deeply inspired. It’s a really good feeling.
40 Bars later is a personal favourite, for completely different reasons. What does this one mean for you in terms of your artistry and reputation within hip hop?
Thank you so much again. I’m hoping it does a lot for my reputation overall as 40 bars is actually the first song I made after I created the concept of the God album. It’s produced by BrownJewelBeats and to me, perfectly encapsulates the whole vibe of the album and where I’m at currently creatively. I think it also gives more casual listeners who may have missed or otherwise not realized that I’m actually real heavy on the lyrics a chance to see that front and center. I know my delivery can be intense at times making the nuance very easy to miss. I think it helps a lot in that sense.
What made you want to include the more melodic moments like Tales from the bottom of my Henny Bottle?
Tales from the bottom of my Henny bottle was actually the second song I made after creating the God album concept. It’s also produced by BrownJewelBeats and in my head, had a very late night blues-y type vibe. This song is one of the reader ones where the words, melody and flow all came to me at the same time with the hook coming first. After a very impressive night, I based the song on where I was at both literally and mentally at the time while using the description of the entire night as a backdrop. In hindsight, it’s a spiritual successor to a song off my last album called “Through the eyes of the real”. It’s also one of personal favorites.
Which bar from this album stands out as one you’re particularly proud of, and why?
This one: “If I met the younger me what would he have to say? Would he be proud of what I made myself to be today?”
This is, in my opinion, the single most important line I’ve written so far. It’s something I reflect upon very often. & one of many sources of my overall motivation.
How much has your confidence been a key part of your identity, and does it ever work against you having such messiah-like names and album titles in the current music scene?
I’d say my confidence is definitely a key part of my identity. It’s a core element you really need to truly be a good rapper in my opinion. As for the messiah like names/album titles etc. I think that negative interpretation is definitely possible but ever since the wu particularly, along with nas, rakim and several other legends who are known to mention similar themes, people now understand for the most part what those references really mean & that it’s not so much a directly literal reference in the manner ppl would typically interpret them, so to speak.
Are live shows on the cards this summer, and if so, where can we catch you?
Possibly this summer. I’d really like that but I have some current obligations that make live shows more likely in the fall. I gotta tell you I absolutely cannot wait until I do perform again. I absolutely LOVE it and would love to perform out in the UK in the future. I’ll definitely be sending you tickets when I do.
What’s something about The Supreme General that would genuinely surprise fans?
I secretly collect retro video games lol. Don’t judge.
What’s next for you?
I have two more projects coming soon. First comes “…the bachelor LIFE!!!” Which will be out later this year and expands more upon the vibe carried in “Tales from the bottom of my Henny bottle” and “Engaging escapades!!!”. It’s virtually done and will be out sometime this fall. After that we have the next level album called “Imperial!!!”. Thank you for everything. I greatly appreciate it.
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Find The Supreme General on Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram & his Website.
