Fly Fierra on Ownership, Wannabe Rappers & What's Next for The Flying Cranes Recordings
When you think of dope rappers coming out of North Carolina, J. Cole, Rapsody and YBN Cordae might be on your list. But, save a spot for Durham's next new hope, Fly Fierra. Coming up in the 90s and early 2000s on that good ol' OG music, Fly Fierra got his start at an early age, eventually going on to found his own label imprint, The Flying Cranes Recordings in 2012. Since then, it's been nothing but up for the multi-talented musician. Peep his exclusive interview for Fly Fierra's story, thoughts on social media and fake wannabe rappers, plus why he likes to maintain a low profile online (it'll all make sense once you read it). Right now and only on Hype Off Life 👊🏾
What was it like growing up in the 90s and early 2000s in North Carolina?
Mainly martial arts, skateboarding and wrestling hearing music from the streets at home and on the internet, I was flooded with heat and beautiful sounds my parents always played all kinds of records when I was younger and all through my life.
Who are some of your favorite artists of that time?
I've hinted at it before but I'll let you guys figure that one out. Really only a handful of guys that specifically influenced me but there are a few other honorable mentions. But it mainly comes back to those guys they are literally my heart one of the main reasons I do this. Forget everybody else. LOL
"Build your own style and sound so you can last and have some longevity in this game"
Fly Fierra
Where were you in your life when you realized Hip Hop was in you?
Funny story... well, I was always in the band even throughout high school but back in 8th grade I was an undefeated wrestler and won MVP. I used to rap Wayne's "No Ceilings" on ringside. As I waited for my match I had a homeboy named Zakee Harrell (R.I.P.). They called him squirrel because he resembled a squirrel not really but really (LOL), due to him being small.
He used to spend the night at my house/hood and we would box and joke around. Me and him had the fastest trained hands so we would mess with our other homeboys and get their hands and combat right. But, he later died in a shootout crash after high school, and shortly after that, I found out he wanted to be a DJ...
I overheard him rapping a certain part of Wayne's verse then he went blank/cold like he got stage freight... I then realized he couldn't rap/remember a certain part. So, I finished the verse silently so he wouldn't hear me....that combined with other times where grown people would tell me to rap and would tell me to keep going they wanted more or blah blah blah...
It almost gets boring when you are too damn good and always been on your A++ game. But, never settle or get satisfied always strive for better and better...That's when you have truly reach self-mastery/perfection!
How did you come up with your stage name, Fly Fierra?
Just basically me being from the South, my influences, being one of the youngest, flyest talking kid around and Fierra meaning Fire or spicy and me having a bunch of fire tattoos... I didn't think about it at first, but ironically being from the state "First in Flight" it started to make sense and it only was right. People soon started to call me that way before I was. In later years I naturally grew into it and later adopted other names. People call me like five different names nowadays like Fierra The Fourth Hokage, Fierra San, etc.
You founded your own label, The Flying Cranes Recordings way back in 2012. What steps or situations lead up to that move? What is your #1 goal as it’s head visionary?
Well to answer both questions, really to just strengthen, expand and help polish up everybody else's artistry/brand/movements and just to protect and grow my catalog to where it is today and even further and also to put other acts I admired on different projects and records to build a super wall of just brilliantly made rap records that stand the test of time and make an impact on the culture and world.... A company that has longevity and that's not just my kids, but everybody can continue to eat and live comfortably when I'm gone and continue the legacy and movement.
Your flow is diverse, unique and very fly. How have you honed it over the years?
I have always been super dope just over the years I've stayed training year after year increasing doubling, tripling and quadrupling my workload, only getting nicer and nicer... I make like at least 16 records everyday mastering and creating so many verses, flows and cadences, hooks etc. You just become an all-around pro or in my case a super pro. I've always been a pro since 14-15, just now it's on an unmatched level. The more I matured, the sicker I got. From production to lyrically destroying dudes...
Well, mainly to shed light on the kids and the world show and introduce them to new thought patterns and parallels seeing the world for what it is what they are up against the true enemy...undoing all the brainwashing suggestive programming these systems put, not just on my generation but most the world has been tricked to believe its all a big game from politics and pharmaceutical to the water depo and food and drug administrations all in bed together administering poisons for profit. It's insane but no matter what happens they will have to answer to universal God for going against nature and the natural way things should go/be.
Your catalog is very expansive. Which songs did you have the most fun making?
I use to keep track of that, but like I said I've recorded/record so much - 100 projects mixed in with unreleased material - just to narrow it down, I would say some records off my first 12 or 13 projects like "Dedication to the Flyness", "Can You Feel" It and "I love Heat" because that marks the part in my career where I stopped writing songs on paper.
I recorded "I love heat" and "kokimodo" with no pen or paper and after that, I kept it going. So, World class rhymers, Living legend and everything else, I wrote in my head and recorded it. I actually can't write on paper anymore, my brain is just so hyperactive. I remember my lyrics and rhymes at the drop of a hat.
The only downside of that is remembering all your old classic records ontop of new records, and of ones you currently working on all without writing on paper its TRUELY a challenge/test. But comes natural to me everybody has their own writing process.
Why do you choose to maintain a low profile online?
Real Hip Hop OGs and legends don't suppose to post or engage in the childish games... Fans are fans there is no need for them to see you using the bathroom or eating or just chilling... Some things are reserved for private chilling... Some things only...
Artists really water down their star power and brand when they constantly showing themselves doing things other than Making Dope Music like especially on these cheap apps like snap whatever and that book...Why would I keep paying to see you in person or come to any of your shows if I can just click on my phone and see everything you doing every time of the day. LOL.
Back in the day only time you seen your favorite or a star was on TV or heard them on record and rarely interviews. Other than that you had to go to a concert and actually pay. Other than that you couldn't see 'em or even know what they look like... Example Scarface of the Geto Boys, another one of my OGs who you gonna see a few times appear on some Down South Crane sh*t I got in the works later on extended version.
But, you didn't know what Face even looked like until what, like his 2nd solo album in really... Real fans knew but the general public didn't have a clue they just knew the voice... It made it even better if you so happen to see so and so you was like Damn there he or she goes...now it's so diluted its depressing. Lol
"I've always been a pro since 14-15, just now it's on an unmatched level"
Fly Fierra
How do you feel about the internet and social media as a whole?
Honestly, social media is mostly for perverts and fake wannabes to perpetuate and front a lifestyle they not living... And for broken desperate attention-seeking females to post random, desperate statuses about either their baby daddy or how much there "kid" comes first in hopes for "likes" and validation... As if any of that mattered its really a cry for help. You can find all the fake rappers and narcissistic females on Facebook and also secret haters.
As any true artist, you’re always putting out good music, with no signs of slowing down. What new things are you working on we should keep an eye out for?
Well, I have quite a bit of things I'm facilitating from the subsidiary label Cranes On Radar, putting out younger up and coming talent helping them develop and shaping their sound, find and build their own unique identity and catalog all as their own individual solo artist before they're ready to sign or be affiliated with the Flying Cranes main roster/label.
Overseeing different pub deals for The Flying Cranes Recordings. I have over 100 different projects, no features, no major label assistance. I'm literally talking to Guinness and I'm the youngest to have this size catalog that I have and put out this many EPs without no features assistance, having complete ownership of everything... The Beatles are at like 192, The Beach Boys 49, The Kinks at 69 EPs, David Bowie At 37 and Prince is at 7. And all of the following had major label assistance and the projects was littered with features. Not to take anything away from them, but Fly Fierra Of The Flying Cranes Recordings Iis At 100 plus EPs. Honnestly, but I'm stopping and setting it at about 30 - 40 EP solo for the record.
Then me and my OG Trademark Da Skydiver gonna kick off Phase 2 and wreak havoc with “Dragstars” The EP/album which is guaranteed to be harder than hard. Part 1, Part 2 and obviously a Part 3, if we made it to 2. Lol. And I got other alternate projects in the cut just in case, like “Flamingo Crane”, “Fierra Skydiver”, “Chris and Alex” and we could keep going, the list goes on.
Skydiver keeps it too trill. But, after this, you're going to start seeing an influx of collaborations from me and a lot of other OGs and guys I've got to know over the years who are Top-level MCs, not just in the studio but on the stage and in person until my first major solo album...
"This truly is a marathon. If you a sprinter this ain’t for you chief!"
Fly Fierra
Tired of all these trash studio gangsters and wannabe rappers mane. There is a formula and format in order to make this shit. If you don't know how to make this shit GTFO. It is not for everybody and now days everybody and there mama trying to like just because you got a few poorly shot videos on YouTube or you recorded 3 songs in a closet/makeshift studio does not qualify or make you a legit RAPPER. LOL
Like just stop. Its become a clown show, where the “Bag” out weights the “talent”. That's why most artists fail, because they in the game for the wrong reasons, money and not for the love of music. They never truly had the passion nor skill. So, in turn once the money stops flowing in you stop hearing from them, or they stop dropping stuff and if they do its one record/song maybe 2, and they beg and plead for fans to support and donate and buy their stuff, threatening to never put anything else out...
That's not what an artist is. A true artist creates no matter the circumstances. Whether its money involved or not... What's even worse is they don't create their own company or own their own merchandise masters/recordings or even their publishing or start their own thing, so they will always be looking for handouts. And it's only so far they will go as an artist only being driven by money...
Its a recipe for disaster. The chances of y'all/these wannabe rappers with barely 2 years under their belt getting a song on Billboards or on radio is 2% to none... Stop trying to rap and sound like these guys and girls you hear on the radio that are only hot for the moment/maybe a few years, then you don't hear from them or they disappear... Build your own style and sound so you can last and have some longevity in this game... This truly is a marathon. If you a sprinter this ain't for you chief!
Lastly, is there anything else we should know before you go?
Keep your eyes peeled for your boy and all that The Flying Cranes have in store! And whatever you guys and girls decide to do in life make sure the love and passion is there... The money and everything else you desire will manifest as long as you stay the course and continue to fine-tune your own Destines and Futures... Rhyme Hard Youngin's and shine bright darling's. I love ya mwaaahh.
Peace, Love And Smoke
