K Camp has Something to Prove

For the first time in a long time, K Camp is on his own. Following the release of his most recent album, Vibe Forever, the Atlanta hit-maker is an independent artist. After years of patiently waiting, the 32-year old is fully in control of his career. 

“You can tell what mindset I’m in when you hear my music, and with this current album, it was more of a `I can't wait to get free’ type shit,” K Camp says jokingly. 

The platinum rapper has fulfilled his recording obligations with Interscope Records—the record label that distributed his music since 2014. Under his partnership with the major label, the multifaceted artist released the Billboard charting hits “Money Baby,” “Comfortable” and “Cut Her Off.” 

His Time is Now 

Don’t count K Camp out. It was only a few years ago that he showcased that he still knew how to make a hit. In 2019, his track “Lottery (Renegade)” went so viral on TikTok that it became the app’s first sound to reach over 20 million videos. 

On his latest project, Vibe Forever, K Camp continues to prove that he still has a knack for crafting bops. His ability to create the hypnotic flows and melodies that had made him famous almost a decade ago shines throughout his new 12-track project. Just listen to the singles “Woozie” and “Holy Spirit” or the noteworthy collaborations with Ne-Yo and Doe Boy.  

As the free agent prepares to explore his next options, he chopped it up with ONE37pm. Here, K Camp talks about the inspirations behind his new music, his excitement for the future and what it would take for him to hop on the house music wave.

On what inspired the vibe of “Holy Spirit”… 

Um, do what the hook say?  I can't chase no hoes, but I can chase the check. I think I was just in that mode. It could have been anything at that moment, man. Could have been a text message I got. It could have been a phone call I got. It could have been a DM I seen. “Holy Spirit” and “Woozie” were probably recorded the same week. So that's how I was feeling at that moment. You know what I'm saying? I had just got out of a relationship. I ain't saying them songs are based on my relationship, but you know how you’re feeling when you are fresh out of a relationship?. You popping shit, you feel me [laughs]

“Holy Spirit” is a bop. You know what I'm saying? When I heard the beat I knew it was gonna make the project. I knew it was going to stir a couple of people up.  It’s called “Holy Spirit.” It got like a little church vibe to it and I'm talking crazy on it. Not too crazy, but I'm talking a little crazy on there. I don't mean no harm.

On what vibes inspired Vibe Forever… 

It was a wide range of everything, man. I recorded all these songs in different places. Probably like three records on the album were made in Miami. Some were made in Atlanta. It was really a little bit of everything.

On being an independent artist…

It means ownership. It means more paper. It means more creativity to do what I want. It means being free with my art. It means dropping when I want to drop. Dropping in real time is necessary nowadays. You have to have a pulse on the culture and on what's really going on. I feel like I'm so tapped in with my fan base and the culture. And like if I got a record that fits a time at that moment, it has to come out at that moment, because that's when it's going to be the most impactful. You can't wait in this era. It gets tricky.  

If you don't catch it at that perfect time, it ain't going to react the way you think it's going to react. I feel like the major labels play a certain way where they might miss the moments and then they try to catch up to the moments. But with the independent system, you are free to do what you want at that moment in time. So I think I'm going to have fun with it. I've been wanting to do this this way for a long time. It's just back to the roots. But now I got more money than I had when I was in the basement in my mama crib, you feel me?

On his keys to longevity… 

It ain't too complicated. A lot of folks make that shit complicated. I’d say, knowing yourself, being true to yourself and being in tune with what the hell is going on as far as technology, music and the world in general. Really knowing what the hell's going on, because once you out the loop, you out the loop and everybody can tell that  your sauce has run out. One thing is just keeping that flavor. Keeping that vibe alive. Keeping that hope up. Stay prayed up. Believe in something, Keep your mind clear and just have a set goal that you achieve and go to the next one. It's just about building blocks, man. This shit a journey.

On staying in tune… 

Being outside bro. Being outside and being on that phone and just knowing what's coming next. Just seeing the transition in music. All this shit comes in waves. Like every five to six months you can expect— especially these days —you can expect some new shit, whether it’s a type of sound or a new type of artist. You just gotta be alert and always wanting to know what's coming next, instead of just being so content with what's now.

On the success of “Lottery (Renegade)” on TikTok...

It really wasn't an approach to TikTok. We ain't make the record for TikTok. It was just momentum that we built over the years and us being advanced and tapped into culture. Me knowing to make the music that can fit in the times and being aware of where the sound was at the time. At that time it was heavy 808s banging. This is when DaBaby was going crazy. So all it was just nothing but just boom, boom, boom. When we dropped “Lottery” the world needed that shit at that moment. And it just hit the algorithm and it went. The stars aligned. Honestly, I was surprised, but I was like everything is on God’s time . We’ve built up moments for that to happen, so when it happened we was like it’s bout time, let's go.

On what would inspire him to tap into house music...

Me going to London or Austria or wherever the hell they’re blasting that shit at a high volume [laughs.] Or me wanting to try something. Before I got in the game I always used to try shit. I used to rap on just pop beats, reggae beats, like all types of shit, just to try it out. I was just seeing what type of artist I was. A lot of those songs might not have been heard by anybody. They probably stayed in a hard drive, but I was just trying shit. So I'm like that house music wave ain't nothing new. But if you're going to play that game, you just got to tread lightly. Because if you go that way and it don't work, how are your fans going to look at you? If it do work, then you got a whole new set of eyes and potential fans.