Recreation for Sale
For 15 years, Larry June has finished the slow-and-steady race to realize hip-hop success on his phrases. The West Coast rapper is a best-case situation for the unbiased rap hustle.
Interview: Peter A. Berry 
Editor’s Observe: This story seems within the Winter 2024 subject of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and obtainable on the market on the XXL web site. 

Larry June isn’t a life coach, however he appears like one. For the final 15 years, the San Francisco native has equipped recreation from a participant’s viewpoint, turning informal observations into micro manuals for aspiring DIYers whereas wrapping them in flows which are as laconic as they’re engrossing. All through that point, which started along with his 2010 debut album, Cali Grown, the rapper launched a variety of music. Like, quite a bit.

Regardless of being simply 34, June’s unloaded over 30 initiatives courting again to the mid-Weblog Period. Solo initiatives like 2022’s Spaceships on the Blade helped make him a mouthpiece for growing hustlers and shades of vaguely accessible luxurious. Then there are his tapes with producers Cardo Received Wings (Mr. Midnight) and Harry Fraud (Preserve Going), in addition to fellow rappers like Jay Worthy (2 P’z in a Pod). With a stacked catalog, he’s remained unbiased, launching his label, Freeminded Information and partnering with EMPIRE.

Larry not too long ago related with The Alchemist for 2023’s The Nice Escape and Life Is Stunning, an LP he, Alchemist and a pair of Chainz created this previous January. Layered in textured soul beats, understated dexterity and perspective, it’s certainly one of 2025’s strongest releases and proof of an off-the-cuff workman-like routine. Larry has gained an underground fan base and cult standing as a DIY people hero. He’s extra focused on BMX and freshly delivered spring water than the trimmings of movie star—even when he’s ended up concerned in it anyway.

Whereas he’s not an A-lister—and Larry doesn’t aspire to be one—he’s finished an excessive amount of to be thought-about strictly underground. Almost two weeks earlier than this Zoom interview, he, 2 Chainz and ALC have been on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon performing “Life Is Stunning,” the title reduce from their collab album. Their work as a trio earned them a 2025 BET Awards nomination for Finest Group. That efficiency, heavy social media recognition and an expansive checklist of enterprise ventures like Midnight Natural—Larry’s way of life model for which he’s simply unloaded a camo assortment—show he’s in excessive demand. The range of his hustle makes his profession itself a stunning view, one he’s additional illustrating at this time. This week, he’ll launch Till Night time Comes, a brand new joint mission with Cardo.

Calling right into a Zoom interview on a brisk February afternoon, Larry June discusses way of life rap, attending to it in your phrases, witnessing 2 Chainz’s strategies for the primary time, wholesome habits and extra.

XXL: What makes life stunning proper now?

Larry June: Waking up and with the ability to do what I really like. And I feel for even a daily particular person, simply with the ability to get up and have an opportunity to be nice and be there for your loved ones and stuff like that. That’s how I used to be feeling on the time once I wrote that tune [“Life Is Beautiful”] and got here with the concept and that title of the album.

You’ve labored with The Alchemist earlier than, however what did you be taught from working with 2 Chainz?

It was dope with the ability to work with Chainz. Simply seeing his methodology, his patterns on how he wrote his songs and simply attempting new issues, leaping outdoors of the field even on smoother beats. It was enjoyable. It was like training with a dope-a*s basketball participant if that makes any sense. It made me wish to step it up and be extra snug with this sh*t on totally different kind of beats and rap patterns and stuff like that.

Normally, on each album or each tune you heard, I just about began out all of the songs. [2 Chainz] began off just about a lot of the songs, so I used to be kinda going off of his vibe. I used to be in a position to go off of what he was doing as an alternative of me coming with the start of the tune and. writing every little thing.

Hearken to Larry June, 2 Chainz and The Alchemist’s Life Is Stunning Album

You’ve rapped for a very long time now, and also you’ve develop into an icon of way of life rap. Is that one thing you got down to do from the start?

In a means, but it surely was simply extra of me simply tapping into who I used to be as an individual and with the ability to categorical it via the music. So, it’s like I could be actually studying one thing perhaps every week earlier than that or a pair months earlier than that, and I’m speaking about it and expressing it via my music. It looks like I’m coming off [like] I’m attempting to show all people, however I’m sort of expressing what I’ve discovered and my experiences, and I really feel like lots of people can relate to it.

It’s achievable and for me, it’s simply discuss my life. I really feel like lots of people can relate to it as a result of the issues that I discuss is real-life stuff. I’m simply telling you my perspective on it.

Why do you assume individuals can hook up with you a lot on this stage?

I feel them with the ability to see sh*t firsthand. So, I by no means deleted an image off Instagram. I by no means deleted an previous music video or previous songs I did, even once I was nonetheless looking for myself. So, I really feel like individuals have been in a position to observe again. Folks can observe again and see my complete profession. From me saying sooner or later “I’m going to get a Grand Nationwide,” or “I’m going to do that,” they monitoring the expansion they usually seeing like, Rattling, he really doing it. It’s proper there. He simply scrolled all the way down to the underside. You’ll see [I] manifested every little thing I did all through the lyrics and the songs via the content material I put out. And you may see the expansion.

It’s sort of like a bible to find out how to develop into profitable independently, what I imply? Within the ups and downs, and it’s like I’m dwelling proof of this sh*t. I may not obtained loopy platinum information, however I’m making a dwelling off of these items. I’m in a position to put lots of people in place to achieve success. I’m offering for my household, and that’s all individuals need out this recreation.

Watch Larry June, 2 Chainz and The Alchemist’s “Unhealthy Selections” Video

Who’re some all-time nice way of life rappers?

Speaking to the brand new technology, I feel [Curren$y] introduced that to the forefront. However you possibly can return to artists like Jay-Z. You go to his previous Affordable Doubt album he was actually providing you with tales and providing you with recreation means again then up till now. There’s so lots of them, I don’t wish to depart no one out.

[But] I really feel like these two saved their foot on the gasoline and saved going it doesn’t matter what. Even when it’s on the underground stage to the mainstream stage, they stayed on it they usually by no means modified.

That’s actual. On a associated word, the entire Life is Stunning album is stand on enterprise, however in a chill means. On “Munyon Canyon,” you stated you by no means had a job and by no means had a GED. Is that lyric true, and in that case, is there a job that you simply all the time wished to strive, and also you by no means may?

So, I signed up for a job at Six Flags in ninth grade, however I simply by no means went to the job. However I undoubtedly was accredited. That’s the one factor I ever did job-wise. I hustled. It was niggas coming via the initiatives and provides a job like, “Hey, you wish to go do that little development job?” I am going do some sh*t off paper, knock down a wall. However I by no means had a job on paper, I used to be a product of my surroundings.

I’m in highschool, I’m seeing older niggas getting cash and pulling up in whips, and that’s who I’m with every single day. So, you sort of lean in direction of getting some fast cash, particularly once I don’t have any aspirations of being a health care provider or lawyer. It was by no means a dream for me. I used to be all the time a hustler from a child. I used to rake leaves once I was in ATL, washing automobiles and promoting sweet. I all the time was a hand-to-hand particular person; you give me the product, I’m going to promote it.

So, I wasn’t glamorizing not having a job or a GED. I’m simply saying that it ain’t no guidelines to this sh*t. It’s about being a very good particular person and having the fervour and sticking to it, it doesn’t matter what.

Increasing off the unbiased hustler spirit, what is a few recommendation you’ve gotten for individuals attempting to generate passive earnings?

In terms of passive earnings, I feel my tackle it and [what] was profitable for me was specializing in one factor first. Grasp that one factor and use that as leverage to do one thing else. It’s all about leveraging this sh*t. So, for example, I do music. Lots of people know me, they know me as a very good businessman in music. I can go open up X, Y and Z companies as a result of individuals consider in me as an organization already.

Deal with one factor, grasp that, leverage that to do that and that, after which no matter you like to do, you can also make cash off of it. I really like the hand-to-hand gross sales; I really like promoting the product. So, the very first thing I bumped into was merchandise. I began off promoting merchandise out of the trunk, and I used that to get cool with warehouses and have the ability to collab with larger manufacturers and constructing a group. So, I feel simply considering of 1 factor and mastering that.

What’s a very powerful factor you assume younger artists ought to perceive earlier than leaping into pursuing music full time?

I feel first you should see in case you actually wish to do it. And never simply need the notion of an artist or the life-style or fame. Do you actually love making music, genuinely? I feel that’s the very first thing, since you wish to put your time into one thing that you simply love. And in case you don’t adore it, when it’s a time the place you’re discouraged, you going to surrender since you don’t adore it anyway.

It’s like a chick coping with you that sort of such as you somewhat bit, however when sh*t get difficult, I ain’t actually feeling that. Onto the following. So, I really feel such as you need to have the ability to love what you doing, so adore it. Put your finest into it and be your self.

You’re often called a wholesome man. What are some issues that you simply’re doing to work out and keep match proper now?

For proper now, I haven’t been biking as a lot. I feel proper now, I’ve simply been sort of focusing extra on a food regimen. Weight loss plan and recording. So, once I’m not on tremendous, I’m impressed proper now. I’m within the studio quite a bit, what I imply? Proper now, I get up within the morning, I quick till round one o’clock. I drink my spring water, I quick, however I do fruit and veggies, perhaps some  aw spinach [in] a inexperienced juice.

I’ll take walks whereas listening to music or drive to a random little seaside, take a stroll round there as a result of I’m [in] impressed mode. I’m in my mode the place I’m impressed to make music, however once I’m not, I’m biking, I’m jogging, I’m doing outdoors exercises quite a bit.

I do a variety of sh*t with my son, too. So, I gotta find time for that as properly. Proper now, the final couple months, I’ve been specializing in food regimen and simply music and it’s loopy. The food regimen is essential. Off my food regimen alone, I misplaced 20 kilos simply by consuming totally different.

You talked about your son. How previous is he, and do you see any of your self in him?

13. He’s his personal self, however he’s undoubtedly a younger man. Very accountable. He is aware of precisely how he need his stuff to look and he’s assured. He’s a very good particular person, well-mannered. I see a variety of me in him from the best way he speaks to individuals, the best way he carries himself. We’re a product of our children, man. So, we all the time gon’ see these traits, man. Particularly if you’re a very good dad or mum.

I’m glad he ain’t out right here attempting to go rob no one or act like he’s anyone he’s not. He stands behind what he likes. And that’s what I really like about him, man. He’s himself; he’s not attempting to be like Lil Larry June.

You’ve finished quite a bit up to now, however what do you assume your legacy is in hip-hop up to now?

I don’t know. I gotta wait and see, ’trigger I’m simply being me. The individuals will discuss in a while. So, it’s one thing I gotta simply see. I can say what I might need my legacy to be. I might need individuals to look again at me and be like, “Man, he impressed me to alter my life and eat wholesome and make investments and be a proud dad or mum.”

I might love for the positivity to be spoken on my title regardless of every little thing I went via prior to now or something like that. I might love for that to be my legacy. I might love if individuals can be like, “Man, he the primary individual that made me wish to go purchase a motorcycle.” That’s sort of what I need as a result of that’s simply me. I hope I can lead that for the following technology and anyone else who wish to come within the recreation and really feel like they won’t actually be accepted as a result of they totally different. That’s kinda what I would love my legacy to be.

Watch Larry June and Cardo Received Wings’ “On The Unda” Video

Hearken to Larry June and Cardo Received Wings’ Till Night time Comes Album

The summer season 2025 subject of XXL journal that includes Larry June’s interview is obtainable to buy right here. The problem additionally contains interviews with the 2025 Freshman Class and producer Cardo Received Wings, in addition to conversations with Aminé, Key Glock, Monaleo, Tech N9ne, Nardo Wick, and extra. There’s a look again at what the 2024 XXL Freshman Class has been doing and deep dive into who’s the largest and finest XXL Freshman ever. 

See the 2025 XXL Freshman Class Artists and Producer