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The Tremendous Bowl halftime present is arguably the most important convergence of music and sports activities in a given yr, however that’s not the one discussion board wherein the 2 industries are colliding. Following within the footsteps of main artist-athletes like Shaquille O’Neal aka DJ Diesel and Damian Lillard aka Dame D.O.L.L.A., Chad Thomas aka Main 9 is seeking to proceed leveling up his athletic and musical careers whereas prioritizing independence at each flip.
After enjoying as a defensive finish for the Hurricanes on the College of Miami, the Cleveland Browns chosen Thomas within the third spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the sixth defensive finish drafted that yr, and the 67th general decide. A yr earlier than he turned a nationwide soccer star, nevertheless, Thomas was already making main waves within the music trade underneath the title Main 9.
In 2017, he scored a placement on Rick Ross’s high 5 Billboard 200-charting Reasonably You Than Me album (alongside Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Raphael Saadiq) on the grand album opener “Apple of My Eye.” Ross’ By 2020 – the identical yr the Browns waived his multi-million-dollar contract – Main 9 snagged one more high-profile placement, this time on Chris Brown & Younger Thug’s Slime & B, which peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and earned nominations on the Billboard Music Awards and Soul Prepare Music Awards. With “Lure Again,” his joint on the album, Main 9 did what comes naturally: He leveled up, and contributed not simply manufacturing help, however a credited visitor verse as properly.
As a lot as Main 9 has made waves by means of collaboration, he’s remained steadfast in pumping out tasks of his personal. Since 2018, he has launched 9 such units – together with 2019’s star-making Soulties – culminating in his two most up-to-date: 2023’s Nothin Main and this yr’s Kardiology. The previous is Main 9’s most radio-ready physique of labor so far; that includes emotionally weak heaters (“Love Don’t Stay Right here,” “A Hustler’s Prayer”) and a splashy Kodak Black visitor verse, Nothin Main boils down one of the best of up to date Florida rap into one thing for the entire nation to take pleasure in. The latter, Kardiology, is arguably Main 9’s largest inventive swing but, an emotional 13-track Miami bass-laced journey by means of the throes of affection.
In a brand new interview with Billboard, Main 9 discusses his new Kardiology undertaking, transferring by means of a number of industries as an artist-athlete and the ever-deepening union between the worlds of music and sports activities.
Clearly, you started your time as a public determine by the use of soccer. Was music all the time in your thoughts? Or had been you extra targeted on the athletic aspect of issues?
I truly began music first. I’ve been doing music since I used to be a child, in order that was No. 1. After which soccer turned No. 1 in highschool. I used to be enjoying earlier than that, nevertheless it bought severe in highschool.
What are a few of your earliest musical reminiscences?
My pops, he purchased me a drum set, just like the little child drum set. That was most likely my first drum set. Rising up, at my grandma’s home, she had a bit of piano in her home. It was a child grand, one thing like that. [Those were] my first devices: drums and piano. I made it into the entire magnet colleges in South Florida. I ended up going to one of many largest ones down there: New World College of the Arts. That was an enormous accomplishment, being the place I’m from. Lots of people don’t make it into that faculty.
Music provides up alternative ways, I executed did an excessive amount of stuff with music. [Laughs.] My final time being in New York, we carried out at Jazz @ Lincoln Heart.
What do you keep in mind listening to rising up? Who and what had been the defining artists and songs of your childhood?
Something ‘80s R&B. S—t, I’m from Miami, so Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, all of the Miami moguls, the South Florida moguls. A bit little bit of West Coast. My music goes in all places. I bought Metallica in my library! I executed hearken to all sorts of music rising up, gospel music, Kirk Franklin. It go left and proper.
As soccer took you throughout the nation, did you decide up any new musical influences from totally different teammates or cities? Particularly throughout your time with the Browns?
It was form of backwards for me, to inform the reality. Once I first touched down in Cleveland, my first residence, the person at valet, he truly knew who I used to be. He was a producer and we tapped in. Once I bought to Cleveland, I tapped in with my teammates, and quite a lot of my teammates supported and are followers of my music. Truly, they was ready on my new music, they weren’t actually placing me onto individuals.
Generally, it’s like that. They’ll put me on to an individual that’s again house. I executed bought put onto a bunch of artists that’s truly superstars now, and it was earlier than their time. Soccer connects you with totally different cities.
You scored a manufacturing placement on Rick Ross’ Reasonably You Than Me (2017). Stroll me by means of how you set that observe collectively and secured that placement?
That relationship been occurring since I used to be in highschool, positively locked in with the entire MMG household, Rick Ross and everyone. I can’t actually inform how the songs come about, they simply name me and say “We’d like a verse” or “We’d like a beat.” I’m on go as a result of that’s household. It wasn’t actually no huge factor about it. I went in and did my verse, despatched it again to him, he beloved it. Once I did the beat for “Apple of My Eye,” he beloved it. We bought a bunch of labor collectively. When that popped out, I used to be simply ecstatic.
Are there any abilities you end up bringing from the sports activities world to the music world or vice versa?
At all times. Music and soccer taught me so much about life. With soccer, doing sure drills and simply having that sample of talent. You gotta know numbers. It positively goes hand-in-hand as a result of ballers is gonna be ballers. The ballers that’s within the area gonna be the ballers that’s within the studio. Jarvis Landry might be the most effective rappers I’ve ever heard.
If I used to be to carry music to soccer, I’d simply be tapping in with individuals. Soccer gamers bought emotions too, they hearken to music and get of their vibe. Who higher to narrate to than your teammate? They’re truly doing it.
Why is your independence as an artist essential to you?
[Because] I’ve executed music my complete life, a part of that was studying how to take action a lot stuff and be that crew for myself. Now that I even have a crew and label that I created, it’s simpler for me to remain unbiased and learn to construct my firm, so I could possibly be one of many huge corporations or be on the extent the place they is. [Independence] is ideal. It’s huge. It’s huge to me, it’s huge to the individuals round me as a result of they perceive how rather more cash you may make and the way a lot enterprise you’ll be able to management or how a lot leverage you’ll be able to have when you’re unbiased.
How do you examine your experiences on the enterprise aspect of music versus the enterprise aspect of sports activities?
As a child rising up in South Florida, enterprise just isn’t taught to us with sports activities. Sure, it’s monetized, you develop up and also you gangsta and so they gon’ look out for you. However enterprise just isn’t taught to us.
When it got here to soccer and I made it to the league, sure, I understood the enterprise, however I form of misplaced love for soccer as a result of the enterprise that goes into it – your complete life is a recreation, however when you get to a sure age or simply earlier than then, your destiny is in one other man’s fingers. With music, I can’t management it, however I can categorical myself and God gave me a present to have the ability to be at a stage the place individuals help me for my present.
You place out Nothin’ Main late final yr, and that featured the main focus observe “Shawty” (with Kodak Black). How did that collaboration come collectively and why was it chosen as the main focus observe?
I recorded my half in LA [probably two years ago] and I despatched it to Kodak and he despatched it proper again. The following time we seen one another face-to-face was at one other studio in Miami. It was speculated to have been his tune, however I don’t the way it went and got here again to me and brodie was able to drop it. Me and Kodak, we all the time doing enterprise. That’s simply that Broward-Dade County connection. It was a blessing man.
Lots of people mess with Kodak — moreover all the opposite stuff, that’s particular person, I do know him for actual. Him getting on that tune… we connecting totally different components of Florida. When T-Ache and Plies did it, that was extra Fort Myers and Tallahassee. We giving that Dade County/Broward vibe, that’s a Florida basic.
Why is it essential so that you can rep your hometown?
I reward Florida, I reward Dade County. I’m from Liberty Metropolis, I’m from Miami. It ain’t no actually huge rappers out of Liberty Metropolis for actual. The most important we might go is Uncle Luke, and Uncle Luke opened doorways for thus many individuals, so many generations after him. To be from Miami and be from a birthplace of many types and quite a lot of music that’s been sampled through the years, it’s huge to let individuals know I’m from the 305. Florida, child! We gon’ rep Florida wherever we go. And we bought a special vibe too.
Miami, South Florida, all that music has been ringing for years, however we getting a special kind of buzz now. Simply being one of many those who created a few of this buzz, it’s huge to me and it’s huge to everyone. So, I’m positively gonna rep all my individuals. I’m gonna rep the entire Florida not simply South Florida.
Who’s in your Mount Rushmore of Florida rappers?
I’m gonna go Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, JT Cash — I’m gonna go away myself out trigger I’ve a mountain on my own – Ice [Billion] Berg.
You lately dropped Kardiology (Feb. 16). What was your imaginative and prescient for the undertaking and what are your objectives for it post-release?
These songs, I already had down. Some songs I added on there as a result of we all the time recording. The give attention to the entire undertaking was simply… these not your typical songs about love. It gained’t come out that means.
Each time you hearken to a special observe, it might give totally different instructions of affection or how love might have messed an individual up or messed a state of affairs up. These songs converse to the individuals, it’s a tune on there for everyone. There’s quite a lot of Miami-style songs — I’m from Miami, so you understand I gotta put that dance in a few of the songs, the bass, the DJ checks, totally different stuff like that.
I used to be supposed to start out the entire Kardiology rollout most likely round 2022, however it is a nice begin.
Why the delay?
It was the instructions of the songs. I file songs, however I’m not the kind of particular person to simply throw stuff on the tape and simply put it out. I wish to be sure you can even have a no-skip tape. It was an entire wait. After which the route of the movies, the remedies, the entire advertising plan behind what we’re gonna do with Kardiology – it’s extra stuff we gotta do. We bought scrubs, I’m gonna play a health care provider in one in every of my movies. We having enjoyable with it.
We’re seeing the sports activities and music worlds proceed to bleed increasingly more into one another yearly, particularly since Roc Nation and the NFL partnered for the Tremendous Bowl halftime present. What do you make of that dynamic and the way do you suppose it may well greatest assist artist-athletes like your self?
Publicity, that’s the most important factor about something we do. Individuals need publicity, they need the world to see what they will do. These artists been out right here, however the world goes so quick. That publicity collides the worlds and makes it simpler for the appropriate individuals to be in the identical room. What they’re doing proper now could be huge. I hope it grows till extra unbiased artists are introduced to those levels.
Do you’ve any recommendation for different athletes seeking to get into music or artists making an attempt to get into sports activities or people who find themselves simply making an attempt to stability each?
Don’t plan on having a life. That was form of my largest factor since I’ve been doing music since highschool. As soon as I began making music significantly in tenth or eleventh grade, that was my means of not going exterior, as a result of I used to be a child [who] was all the time exterior. You gotta perceive that what’s essential gotta keep essential. And if it’s gonna be essential, you’ll be able to’t fear concerning the individuals round you and say they’re not supporting you otherwise you’re not getting that push that you simply want. You bought to be that push. You bought to be all the things for your self. That’s what I imply, you ain’t actually going to haven’t any life. I’m simply beginning to dwell!
Individuals know me for “Okay, we’re gonna go make a sort out, get a few sacks, then come house and drop a success.” When you’re gonna do it, do it. You’re gonna see the world change and also you gonna understand that it’s simpler to get that cash in the event you actually took it significantly.
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