Let Em Know: Isaiah Falls
Interview: Peter A. Berry
Editor’s Observe: This story seems within the Fall 2025 challenge of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and accessible on the market on the XXL web site.
For the reason that launch of his debut EP, The Non-public Room, in 2023, singer Isaiah Falls has established himself as a grasp of sultry, nocturnal R&B, making his music excellent for the bed room or late-night drives to after events. Rising up in Orlando, Florida, he naturally developed a powerful affinity for hip-hop, drawing inspiration from native artists as he honed his expertise as a soulful vocalist to observe. In an interview with XXL, he discusses his roots in rap.
XXL: What was the primary rap CD you really owned?
Get Wealthy or Die Tryin’ from 50 Cent was the rationale why I’m so melodic right this moment. He would possibly’ve been a kind of most melodic rappers, too. He was up there. He was a rapper, however he had clean melodies, and I f**ked with that heavy.
Who’s a rapper that you’d say influenced the way in which you place songs collectively?
It’s both Kodak Black or Kendrick Lamar. These two had been heavy influences rising up. Kodak, extra so. It was actually his beats that had been tremendous intriguing to me. After which Kendrick, it was extra so his flows. These had been two rappers that closely influenced my music right this moment. Kodak’s beats all the time, the 808s was all the time smacking.
There was all the time a hearth bounce to it. I feel these components of music, you can see it in how I strategy R&B right this moment. After which Kendrick, extra so, his vocal efficiency, how he makes use of his voice like an instrument. I feel early in his profession, he actually pushed the boundaries of what a rapper may do with they voice, form of much like André 3000. After which for me, it was like I took on each of these components.
What do you suppose is a bonus that comes from easy rapping versus singing?
I feel that it’s the power to simply inform a narrative in its fullness. It’s more durable for R&B to essentially inform the entire story. I feel rappers actually get an opportunity to offer you each element to each a part of a narrative that they’ve been via. And you can hear it in Nipsey Hussle, you can hear it in YG. You can hear it in Kodak. You can hear it in Kendrick the place they actually offer you each element simply since you’re capable of rap a bit of sooner. If you’re singing, you gotta permit area and permit the music to breathe, too.
For those who may have a rap producer produce your venture, who would you select?
The primary identify that involves thoughts is Alchemist. He understands samples and area so nicely. He actually is aware of complement rappers with the most effective beats. It might be so participant. It might be a combination between Curren$y and Pharrell. Both [Alchemist] or Conductor Williams.
At this very second, who would you say is the most effective rapper alive?
I’m going [with] Kanye West. He has accomplished the work. He has given us the hits. He has pushed the style farther than any rapper relating to both altering the type or altering the manufacturing or altering the style. And he all the time understood push issues to the following restrict. My Lovely Darkish Twisted Fantasy might be my primary album of all time. So, I received to place Ye up there for certain.
What’s your greatest “What if?” state of affairs in rap?
I feel Nipsey Hussle would’ve been undeniably one of many biggest artists [if he hadn’t been killed]. He would’ve had a legacy that was silly, plain to the individual that doesn’t even know who Nip is. I feel Nip had the possibility to be really worldwide. If, sadly, no matter occurred didn’t occur. I imagine Nip would’ve been one of many biggest of all time.
Hearken to Isaiah Falls’ EP Fortunate You
The autumn 2025 challenge of XXL journal that includes Isaiah Falls’ interview is on the market to buy right here. The difficulty additionally consists of Joey Bada$$ and J.I.D’s cowl story interviews, conversations with Hit-Boy, Likelihood The Rapper, Curren$y, Rob49, KenTheMan, Bay Swag, Curren$y, Wallo267, Hurricane Knowledge, Hanumankind, Babyfxce E, Ghostface Killah, Conway The Machine, Pluto, TiaCorine, comic Josh Joshson, Vice President of Music at SiriusXM and Pandora Joshua “J1” Raiford, a have a look at the change in album rollouts through the years highlighted by Clipse’s Let God Kind Em Out album and extra.
See Images From Joey Bada$$ and J.I.D’s XXL Journal Fall 2025 Cowl Shoot
