It's been two years since Pusha T dropped his proper debut My Name Is My Name, and the Virginia rapper has been promising the sequel, King Push, since before his debut released. We've been patiently awaiting news of the project, and last month Pusha gave us more than we were asking for -- announcing two albums, starting with the prequel to King Push, Darkest Before Dawn.
DBD is scheduled for a December 18th release, and will be Push's first project since being named president of GOOD Music. The rapper spoke to Rolling Stone about the shift in sound on his upcoming project, as well as the status of Kanye West's SWISH, and the near-mythical Cruel Summer 2.
Read some excerpts from the interview below, and check out the full story here.
On the feel of his upcoming album:
There's nothing low-key about it. I feel like the album is very aggressive and very abrasive. It jumps out at you. Lyrically, I'm always one for clarity and I don't think people will miss anything.
On his lyrical approach:
I feel like my lyrics are just dark and scathing. I feel like the lyrics on Darkest Before Dawn are uncompromised hip-hop and really speaking to my core fan base. Basically what's been known in my discography the entire time. I feel like I'm the last rap superhero. I really do. I feel like everybody else, they seem to be a bit victimized and I don't feel like that's me.
On the shift from MNIMN:
In regards to the sound, I feel like My Name Is My Name is a bit more lighthearted than what I just created. I sat with Timbaland, I sat with Kanye, I sat with Sean Combs, Boi-1da, Nashiem Myrick, Mario Winans, Baauer, Mano and got from each of them the darkest part of their souls on these beats, and it marries everything I'm doing right now lyrically.
On Kanye's album:
I haven't worked on it at all, but everything I've heard is phenomenal and it has nothing to do with any of the other records that were released before. That's all I can really say about it. He's super meticulous about the messaging about his album but you guys are in for a treat.
On the possibility of Cruel Summer 2:
That's definitely on my mood board. I'm totally on that and I'm going to make that happen. That is a goal of mine and I reach my goals.
