Meet NGeeYL: South Carolina's Up Next (Interview)

Hailing from Spartanburg, South Carolina comes NGeeYL, laying the bricks for South Carolina rap as arguably the only rapper to come out of his city. NGee is known for his unique sound composed of his monotone flow, lo-fi verses, and trap beats that many have come to love, including his peers.

His last mixtape 'Hiatus', featuring Young Nudy and Valee was only his second project release and earned him cosigns from Lil Uzi Vert who has since become a close friend, as well as 21 Savage, Playboi Carti, and notable athletes like football player DeAndre Hopkins and basketball player Zion Williamson (a fellow SC native).

'Hiatus' undoubtedly put him on the map as a one to watch in rap and as he gears up for the release of this new project NGeeYL is showing no sign of slowing down. Tap in below to learn more about his journey, favorite albums, and life as the biggest to come out of his city.

For those unfamiliar, what is the story behind your come up?

I was popular in the city for doing some other stuff. One day one of my homeboys was rapping, and he told me to get on his song. I got on the song and then when everybody heard it they were like “yeah you need to rap’’. So, I started rapping and then it went up… everybody already knew me, so then I started rapping and I blew up. Well, I haven’t blown up yet but I got signed.

Which artists did you play the most while growing up?

Me

What is your favorite album of all time. Why?

Dang… let me give you three albums: One of them is 21 Savage, Free Guwop … Young Thug, 1017 Thug … and, damn, I like a lot of music but then Young Thug’s Barter 6.

How is the Hip Hop scene out in South Carolina these days?

South Carolina is really divided so where I’m from there ain’t no hip hop scene, I’m the first one to get a record deal. So I would be, on paper technically, the biggest in my city ever. But I can only speak on my city in South Carolina though. There ain't no rap scene in South Carolina where I’m at but I can’t speak for the rest of it, I don’t know them. 

What obstacles, if any have you faced by being the only rapper to come out of your city?

Haters be hatin, police hate me, people expecting me to do all this type shit. It’s a lot, it comes with a lot you gotta be ready like people always want you to do stuff, people think you Hollywood, all types of shit. Also, like I’m the biggest so I can’t look to nobody to help me I gotta figure it out myself.

So, you just dropped a new video, “Real Smoke”. Can you give us some insight into your vision for the visual?

Yeah, we just wanted to do something real, almost comical because I'm not tryna be super gangsta all the time. That’s lame. So we talked about it and then my video director Logan Collins was like we should get a tank, and then he got my army shit and it just looked good and everybody told me it reminded them of “Hot Boys” like Juvenile.  

Working on anything else we should keep a lookout for?

Yep, I got a tape dropping real soon and I got some big features so y’all should keep a lookout.

What message or vibe do you want fans to take away from your music?

Just have fun, be yourself, don’t let people play with you. 

Anything else we should know before you go?

Make sure you go and check out that “Real Smoke” video.