For the past few weeks, Pusha T has been conducting a lot of interviews to promote his upcoming album, “It’s Almost Dry.” Last Friday (April 8), the New York rapper appeared on an episode of Desus & Mero to explain how his feud with Drake came to an end. On April 11, King Push sat down with Charlamagne Tha God to discuss working with Jay-Z, how fatherhood has impacted him, losing his parents, and more.
Here are the 5 takeaways from these interviews:
Pusha T explains how his feud with Drake came to an end
The rivalry between Pusha T and Drake made for fantastic diss tracks at the time, but the feud is in the past. During his conversation with Desus & Mero, King Push elaborated on what drove him to come to terms with his old opponent.
“I just do not like the energy of mentioning my son in that type of energy or any kid in that type of energy, it’s just not my thing right now. Like, I got my son and you know, with me, I’m just not going to play about anything involving [my son]. Like, I don’t play nothing. So, it’s like, ‘You know what? I’ll just [move on from it].”
Pusha T talks about how parenthood impacted him
At the start of the interview with Charlamagne Push discussed his fatherhood experience and how it impacted him as a person.
“It’s made me a lot more selfless,” he said. “I feel like I was an extremely selfish person and now it’s like, I don’t consider anything without him in mind.”
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Push also expressed his devotion to his kid during a chat with Desus and Mero, saying: “My son is 20 months and he is by far the best thing I’ve created. Best thing I’ve ever been a part of. The best thing I’ve ever created. The best thing just in life. […] It’s selflessness that [comes with being a father] and I’m very selfish, I am a super selfish person but with my son I have like totally taken myself ou. It’s all him first.”
Pusha-T takes advantage of the pandemic by teaming up with Ye and Pharrell at the same time
Both Pharrell Williams and Ye were heavily involved in the preparations for the release of ‘It’s Almost Dry.’ Kanye West, for example, co-produced “Diet Coke,” the album’s debut hit, while Pharrell produced “Neck & Wrist.”
“I feel like, I had the best of both worlds in regards to production and in regards to two people [Ye and P] that actually understand who I am and they like two different things for me that I feel are both really great. So, just from that aspect, I just feel like, man, this body of work is untouchable because it does not lean too heavy on either side, it’s like, you get the whole spectrum. Probably my most well-rounded body of work.”
Push also explained why he hadn’t worked with both of them at the same time before, despite the fact that he had always had that access.
“I haven’t always had the time that I needed with both of them and I think that pandemic sort of afforded me that. During the pandemic, I really went down to Miami and sat at Pharrell’s compound and we would get up at six in the morning and really try to find a record, or maybe we didn’t find a record that day, maybe we just found a melody and then we go ride bikes at noon and then come back the next day at six in the morning and [repeat the process]. We took our time and we found everything we were looking for.”
See the clip below:
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Pusha T describes what it’s like to work with Jay-Z
Following the release of his new song, ‘Neck & Wrist,’ the 44-year-old rapper revealed what it’s like to work with Jay-Z. King Push has collaborated with the iconic rapper multiple times throughout his career. “I treat the whole situation very delicately,” he said when asked how a Pusha-Hov feature comes together.
“Musically, I reach out to him when I feel like there is absolutely nothing else great I can say on this record, and the only person who can give the record an uptick is somebody who I can not say what they can say. I can not speak what Hov speaks. I’m not there. I didn’t hear anybody else for ‘Neck & Wrist.’ Anytime I’ve ever sent him something it’s always to just outdo what I’ve done.”
Push further explained the process of reaching out to Jigga, saying:
“I send him the record with the vocals, with the hook, with everything and I’d be like ‘Do you like it?’ and he’ll say ‘Man, what am I supposed to say to this?!’ He always goes through that motion and he’ll hit me back. He sort of just walks me through what he’s gonna do with the record.”
King Push also said that he had no idea Jay-Z was going to reference Biggie’s death in his verse.
“He don’t tell me nothing man, but it was so great. But if you know him, he’s always going to reference whatever is sticky in the media. He lets nothing slide.”
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Pusha T talks about the “hustle” spirit of emerging musicians
Following Charlamagne’s claims on how, in his opinion, younger artists may have chosen a “life imitates art” attitude, Pusha T gave his thoughts on the major contrasts between generations.
“The younger generation looks at the business as a hustle and I respect the hustle.” Pusha feels that young rappers have more freedom nowadays to put their spin on tracks and experiment with other genres, which then leads to sales.
“It works the other way around for the youth today because they have so many other mediums and means to make money and be successful that we didn’t have so it’s like, you know, I don’t expect them to be as passionate. […] They can do 20 things, don’t have to be masters at it, and it can work out for them. I respect it, I get it.”
Check out the full interview below:
