Molly Santana
Interview: Peter A. Berry
Editor’s Be aware: This story seems within the Summer time 2025 concern of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and obtainable on the market on the XXL web site.
In an business looking for new superstars, Molly Santana’s pushing her method into the highlight. A chief producer for zoomer slaps, the Los Angeles- primarily based rapper swirls staccato flows and braggadocio into a superbly fashionable mixture of celestial rage raps and ethereal melodies. That blend of sounds is one she’s been perfecting since breaking out along with her EP Molly’s World in 2021. It’s additionally an audio aesthetic that permeates Molly’s newest challenge, Molly and Her Week of Wonders. Launched in Could, it’s a dynamic effort that factors to a brand new stage. However now it’s time to take a look at how she acquired there. Talking with XXL, Molly, 20, breaks down 5 of crucial songs of her profession.
“Chain Swangin”
“‘Chain Swangin’ was the primary time I felt like I caught one for actual. That was introduction to everyone for my sound. I keep in mind simply seeing a bunch of movies going loopy on TikTok. I used to be posting so many TikToks with me to that music, hoping that it might catch on. However it lastly did. I keep in mind that was the primary music that I believe lots of people heard from me.”
“I Know”
“I all the time have a bunch of producers round. And typically that makes me somewhat shy, so I gained’t actually get to get into that mode of vulnerability on the mic. Each single line and [me] having to repair it in entrance of individuals on a regular basis makes me somewhat bit uncomfortable. I believe that’s why that music turned out that method. I simply [had] full freedom. I may report all of the melodies and all of the stacks and harmonies and every little thing by myself timing, and no one was round.”
“Nothing Like This”
“It has the least streams on the EP, I believe one of many least streams out of all of the songs. I believe it ought to be in motion pictures, video video games and commercials. It also needs to be performed on the rattling radio. It’s so universally uplifting, and it sounds new, but it surely nonetheless sounds classic. It’s simply fireplace. I like that music a lot. I want it acquired extra shine.”
“Set Up”
“All the things’s a setup. Even relationships or simply individuals, associates, people who find themselves jealous of you, they lure you in and so they set you up. They simply wish to find out about you, take issues from you, or take time away from you out of your life. Take your ardour or energy away from you.”
“Home windows Up”
“That’s the primary music that I dropped in my entire discography the place I got here actually, actually, actually chill. The entire music, I made it tremendous fast, and it’s actually, actually chill. I believe it highlights my voice very well, and that’s why individuals linked to it as a result of it’s extra common, and it’s simply simple to take heed to.”
The summer time 2025 concern of XXL journal that includes Molly Santana’s interview is obtainable to buy right here. The difficulty additionally contains interviews with all 12 members of the 2025 Freshman Class and producer Cardo Acquired Wings, in addition to conversations with Key Glock, Larry June, Aminé, Monaleo, Fredo Bang, Nardo Wick, Tech N9ne, X-Video games snowboarding champion Zeb Powell and extra, plus a glance again at what the 2024 XXL Freshman Class has been doing and a deep dive into who’s the greatest and finest XXL Freshman ever.
