You can’t talk about hip-hop landmarks without mentioning Memphis. Amongst dozens of young gritty rappers leading the new generation of rap, Lil Migo is making sure that he leaves an imprint through his music. The Heavy Camp artist is no stranger to heaving sub-bass and puncturing hi-hats accompanied by an aggressive flow, which can be seen on viral songs such as “No Love in My Heart” and “Truth.”

Lil Migo’s commercial entrance to the game came by way of Blac Youngsta, who introduced the artist through songs like “You Can See” and “Get Here,” although his solo catalog is incredibly good and considerably a great start when diving into the newcomers in Memphis’ buzzing rap scene. Lil Migo broke through the ceiling upon the release of King of the Trap, which contains features from Yo Gotti, 42 Dugg, Moneybagg Yo, Rich The Kid, and several others. The songs carry his hustler’s spirit of motivation while also showcasing his diversity with offerings for the ladies to feel, lyrics for those who are ready to boss up, and much more.

After making major waves with his major-label debut, Lil Migo is back for more with the release of King of the Trap 2. It’s a project that while spanning across fifteen hard-hitting tracks, finds Migo telling authentic stories in the braggadocious nature that we all love. It boasts features from fellow hometown heroes Blac Youngsta and Duke Deuce as well as Lil Jairmy, Quavo, and the legendary OG Da Juiceman. With King of the Trap 2, Lil Migo undoubtedly displays growth as an artist, delivering an endless array of trap anthems and club bangers.

For our latest interview, Lil Migo chops it up with us about his new mixtape, his Memphis upbringing, sneakers, and much more! Check it out below.

The first installment of King of the Trap dropped back in March, what was your favorite part about putting together that mixtape together?

That was my first real mixtape. I was dropping other little EPs on iTunes, but that was like my first real tape. It was me actually working on it and putting it together because the other ones were like compilations of music I had already put out. It was just a good experience seeing it come together and learning how to do certain stuff. I think we went top #14, that’s good for my first tape. I ain’t gone lie, I was shocked as hell. I knew it was going to go top 100, but I didn’t know top 15.

Aside from all the features, what do you think makes this project not only different, but a huge step up from the previous?

This project is just me getting better, you see me getting better with each one. I got different artists on there; you know I’m CMG so everybody expects you to have all the usual CMG artists featured on there. I wanted to work outside the box and do something different, I tried different music with different people.

You even have OG Da Juiceman on the project, who hardly does any features these days, how did “Trapped” come about?

That was hard. He don’t really do features like that, but the crazy thing is, I was on him before he even did the song. Him and my uncle are cool, I used to listen to him coming up. When I was high school, back in MySpace time, I used to have him as my background song. It was really massive for me to work with somebody before me.

We did the song in person. We were in the studio together, me and him are locked in. We was in the studio like five times before that, it’s just that night we went out and did it. I had my producer AC going through beats, chilling, smoking. I pulled up the beat and he was like “I fuck with this one.” I let him go in there and do his thing. He had started off and the rest is history.

What song off the new project means the most to you?

I would say really all of them. Every song on there because I worked hard on every song on there. That tape really means a lot to me, and anything that wasn’t, I just left off. I like to be the person to work with the people before me and up and coming. You never know, somebody that’s under you can pass you so you never know who’s turn it is.

How would you describe Memphis, and particularly where you’re from, to someone who’s never been there? And do you feel it’s changed in recent years?

I grew up in the northside called Frayser. I’m in the same hood Gotti grew up. It’s still the same but you don’t even see kids outside anymore. When I grew up, we used to ride bikes and they don’t even play basketball. When I was coming up, we used to ride bikes and play basketball. Now, they’re in the house on the phone or somewhere on the game.

One thing that I like about your generation of Memphis rappers is that y’all are able to put your differences aside and run it up whereas older generations seem to still be going at it with each other.

Everybody in my city is divided and doing their own thing. I’m probably the only rapper that’s cordial and understanding. I mess with Duke Duece, Pooh Shiesty, BIG30; all of us came up at the same time. All of us got a different sound, I’m more mellow serious and it brings back that real music we missing.

I hope my city could come together one day and everybody be cool and do music together. Maybe we could be like Atlanta, but you everybody be having their own self egos so you know how that goes. Sometimes it might not even be them, it’s the people around them and they in their ear telling them this and that. You know how that shit go, but hopefully one day we can all come together.

What’s your favorite pair of kicks at the moment?

I like Yeezys, Jordans, designer shoes. I wear more regular shoes than designer shoes sometimes. I don’t care for a lot of designer, but I’ll wear it. My favorite pair right now is the Off-White Dunks, the ones with the different colored laces. I’m not going to lie, I’m going crazy with them.

I feel like despite all the battles you faced with, you still prevailed and really made a way—did you ever feel like giving up and what would you tell somebody going through your situation?

Plenty times I felt like giving up. Even when I still was getting recognition, I felt like fuck this shit. That’s why I’m lucky that I had people around me to keep me going. That’s why I always rap about things that happened in my life, everything was a learning lesson. I’m thankful for it all, that was the goal: to inspire people and pave the way for people like me. But I’d rather make music that lasts ten years than a few months. The ones that come fast leave fast.

I’d say the same thing that Blac Youngsta told me: just keep going. That’s the best advice he ever gave me. Even when you think things aren’t going your way, just keep pushing because you never know what’s on the other side.

Talk to me about your relationship with Youngsta, how’s it grown over the years?

We locked in, it’s nothing that can come between us. We can talk anytime, any day. We aren’t the type to leave anything in the air, we communicate and everything is already understand. He’s like the big brother I never had because I always felt like the big brother to other people if that makes sense.

Now that you’ve tasted a little of the material success, what are your biggest goals right now?

I ain’t gone lie, I don’t want to just rap. I can see myself being a CEO with my own label and my own artists. As I’m growing, I want everybody around me to grow. That’s really my main thing, to get my people where they need to go or at least start them off. I’m not just doing it for me, it’s not even about the money anymore. It’s more than just music.

If you enjoyed our interview with Lil Migo, check out our interview with New York rapper Ron Suno!