Him All Alongside
Memphis rapper Key Glock is not any beginner, however he’s simply getting began. Wager on it.
Interview: C. Vernon Coleman II
Editor’s Word: This story seems within the Summer time 2025 difficulty of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and accessible on the market on the XXL web site.

It will take a blind man to not see that Key Glock is leveling up. It’s laborious to overlook the bumblebee-colored Ferrari Purosangue with an estimated price ticket of $430,000 (not counting all of the customizing) or the 20-plus, 20-point diamonds in his enamel. With a current nod from Beyoncé, a brand new take care of Republic Information, and a high 10 album debut as well, the 27-year-old South Memphis rhymer is a chief instance of persistence and expertise paying off in a serious method.

Key Glock is 9 calendars right into a profession that began with the 2016 mixtape Complete Lotta Errthang. The next 12 months, Key inked a take care of his cousin Younger Dolph’s rising indie imprint Paper Route Empire and went on a run of solo and collaborative tasks, together with Glock Season (2017), Glock Bond (2018), Glockoma (2018), the Dum and Dummer mixtape collection with Dolph (2019, 2021), Son of a Gun (2020), and the albums Yellow Tape (2020), Yellow Tape 2 (2021) and Glockoma 2 (2023).

Dolph’s loss of life in November of 2021 marked a darkish second in Key’s life and profession, which brought on him to fall again and mirror. However two years later, Glock returned to kind and bounced again with the album Glockoma 2. Then the anthemic King Wonka and Hadouken Beats-produced monitor “Let’s Go,” which appeared on the Glockoma 2 deluxe in the summertime of 2023, spawned one of many 12 months’s finest bangers. All eyes had been in his route as soon as once more.

Key parlayed that platinum success and anticipation for his follow-up album into a serious label take care of Republic Information this previous March. He launched his extremely anticipated Glockaveli album in Could. The mission debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart, Glock’s highest chart accolade for a solo launch. He cemented the hassle with a headlining tour that led to June.

Glock’s hustle by no means stops. His subsequent priorities are his European tour, his Cutthroat Information imprint and releasing one other album this 12 months.

XXL caught up with Key Glock simply days after Glockaveli’s launch in Atlanta. Over a blunt the dimensions of a Beats Tablet speaker and a double espresso cup effervescent with purple Sprite, Glock opened up about his new album, tour life, his keys to success, Younger Dolph’s legacy and extra.

XXL: How are you feeling now that the album is out?

Key Glock: I ain’t gon’ lie. It feels good. It appears like I simply had a celebration as a result of everyone was completely satisfied for me. All people was celebrating prefer it was theirs.

What was your thoughts state going into this album, versus your different tasks?

It was all over. As a result of I had took like a year-and-a-half off from music. From like, the media, from social media. Simply being outdoors, principally.

What’s your tackle why Glockaveli was so extremely anticipated?

I solely left them with “Let’s Go” to take heed to since 2023. And I really feel like if it wasn’t what it’s now, I don’t suppose individuals would have appreciated the wait. So, I positively suppose it’s well worth the wait.

Whereas the album was delayed, you signed a serious label file take care of Republic after being impartial for years. Do you are feeling like you need to have made the transfer earlier? Do you are feeling like that is the proper timing for it?

It took a whole lot of pondering. It wasn’t nothing like a pair days. It wasn’t nothing like a pair weeks. It took like seven to eight months, virtually, for me to decide. I believe the whole lot occurred for a cause. It’s like this wasn’t even compelled or rushed. It’s one thing I at all times wished to do, nevertheless it wasn’t like on my thoughts.

You didn’t have any options on the album, however you probably did have producers from Memphis. How necessary was it to you to maintain that M-town sound?

As a result of I simply love paying homage to my roots. Touching again to the place I got here from.

One of many issues individuals are highlighting concerning the album is the beat choice. What goes into your thought course of for choosing beats?

It’s sure devices, principally. And sure sounds hit the physique completely different. It catches your consideration, principally, earlier than you even hear a phrase. Not even with my music, however simply how instrumentals is interval. Some songs, you’ll hear it on a regular basis. You may not know a phrase, however you continue to would possibly transfer to it.

You bought some fire-ass samples on there. It looks like you simply received an outdated soul.

Most def. That simply comes from my childhood. I used to be raised by my grandma. I used to be at all times round my nice grandma, too. I at all times was round them kind of songs, that kind of music. You don’t get away from it. It sticks with you.

King Wonka produced a number of tracks on there. Clearly, you had a success with “Let’s
Go.” How did you guys initially hyperlink? What do you suppose makes your working chemistry so good?

It was loopy, bro. I don’t know no person else received a narrative like this. Me and Wonka linked in 2016. I wasn’t even signed but. I wasn’t even actually simply taking rap critical simply but. He was on YouTube. He was making Younger Dolph-type beats, Chief Keef-type beats, Younger Thug, Gucci Mane-type beats, stuff like that.

I used to be simply beginning to file. I’d go to YouTube and seize these beats, or I’d rap on an precise artist beat. I discovered him and I DM’d him on Instagram. We’ve been locked in ever since then. He’s been on each certainly one of my tapes. He versatile as hell.

What are your ideas on the Memphis rap scene nowadays? Loads of artists are doing their factor. You appear to be one of many artists that’s main the pack.

I like to see it. It’s been occurring, however I’m completely satisfied it’s getting extra mild now.

How do you are feeling you’re pushing the sound ahead?

It feels good. Those that’s below me received their very own sound, too. Memphis as one received its personal sound, however inside Memphis, it’s completely different sounds, too.

There are occasions on-line just lately the place you talked about that individuals counted you out. Have been there any specific situations?

You recognize while you and different individuals begin off collectively at a sure level, and y’all each develop, however one would possibly develop sooner than you. Or all would possibly develop sooner than you, in order that they really feel that they’ll belittle you now or don’t need to f**okay with you no extra. So, it’s that type of state of affairs.

I don’t let it get to me. I simply use it as motivation. Simply to indicate you, like, alright, do y’all factor. I don’t want y’all. Y’all may be the Avengers. I’ll be Thanos.

There’s an apparent Tupac Shakur connection with the album title. Why do you suppose ’Pac is so revered to today?

It’s like while you’re an actual individual, like how everyone calls themselves actual, while you’re simply real and sensible and simply received good vitality and a very good spirit, it’s going to dwell on. Whether or not you need it to or not, individuals are going to signify you even when they met you or not.

“YOU CAN’T COMPARE NOBODY TO ME. NOT EVEN ON THE MUSIC LEVEL, BUT JUST PERIOD. I’M ONE OF ONE, FOR SURE.”

Is that one thing you try to do as an artist?

I don’t try to do something so far as someone trying as much as me or attempting to be like me. I need everybody on this world to be like them. I used to be hard-headed rising up. I identical to discovering out sh*t alone as a result of what would possibly give you the results you want may not work for me.

We could possibly be on the identical basketball crew, however you may be a three-point specialist. They solely drafted me strictly to get rebounds. They’re not going to place me in your place. That’s how I have a look at it.

You simply had a headlining tour within the U.S. and also you’re occurring an interview run. What’s your favourite factor about touring?

The followers and their vitality. The followers maintain me going. The followers get me out of my little darkish place.

Beyoncé used your 2018 music “Gang Sh*t No Lame Sh*t” throughout her Cowboy Carter Tour in Could. Did she attain out to you for that, or did you peep it when everybody else peeped it?

I don’t even know who to succeed in out to succeed in out to her. Nah, it’s all love, although. It’s all love. I f**okay with it.

What did you suppose while you noticed that? She’s like the most important feminine artist on the planet.

Nah, that’s love. That’s love. I rock along with her husband. I rock with [Jay-Z]. When me and Jigga see one another, it’s all love, for certain.

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs used your monitor “Watch Da Throne,” off the brand new album on social media, too. You’re getting a whole lot of large seems. Is it your crew placing these performs collectively? Or of us seeing you shining and reaching out, or a bit of little bit of each?

It’s actually each. It depends upon the state of affairs. People who I present like to, they simply present love again. It’s simply real.

Is there somebody you came upon was a fan that stunned you?

Will Smith. Yeah, he was bumping “Gang Sh*t No Lame Sh*t.” Yup. Will Smith. Denzel Washington. Randy Orton. I received a pair guys, for certain.

Why do you suppose these large stars are serious about your motion?

Mainly, it’s the love I present them, too.

In your new music “Hallelujah,” you talked about YNW Melly. Have you ever been maintaining together with his authorized state of affairs?

Recently, I’ve been maintaining extra with it. I really feel just like the system is dragging it alongside as a result of they’ll. So long as bro maintain his spirit excessive and his vitality good, God positively gonna determine it out for him. He can’t go away it in no person palms however his.

On the monitor “Made a Manner,” you stated: “I’ve been f**ked up, down unhealthy and snaked out.” Are there any situations you possibly can consider that made you provide you with that line?

It was only a time interval I used to be going by way of. I used to be simply utilizing my frustration on the beat on the time. As an alternative of bodily getting it off. And reminiscing on the identical time.

Do you discover that issues like that put the battery in your again?

Yeah, most positively. It made me push myself. The internal me pushes the outer me to ensure it retains going.

What are Key Glock’s present keys to success?

One: Don’t take any opinion unfavorable. Two: Belief your intestine. It doesn’t matter what. Even when your mind says in any other case. Your intestine is God chatting with you. Three: Think about your self.

So, what’s subsequent for you after this tour?

I’m gonna chill for a pair weeks, and I’m going proper again on tour. Going again on a European tour, and I’m gonna be engaged on my different album whereas I’m over there. May need two albums this 12 months. Glockaveli is finished. Let’s get again to work. The work ain’t over.

What’s a very powerful factor you realized from Younger Dolph about music and life normally? How do you apply that to your life?

His coronary heart to provide. It rubbed off on me like actual large as a result of I understand how it really feel to not have, and I understand how it really feel to be blessed. My companions ain’t received what I received, however they know what’s mine is theirs. So, it’s like I simply be completely satisfied God blessed a ni**a to have the ability to bless someone else. That’s a part of what I cherish probably the most. His coronary heart to provide.

How would you like him to be remembered?

Like he’s now. It’s being achieved the best method.

How would you like Key Glock to be remembered on the finish of the day?

I simply need everyone to recollect me as being completely different. You’ll be able to’t examine no person to me. Not even on the music degree, however simply interval. I’m certainly one of one, for certain.

Hearken to Key Glock’s Glockaveli: The Don Album

The summer season 2025 difficulty of XXL journal that includes Key Glock‘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 Received Wings, in addition to conversations with Larry June, Aminé, Monaleo, Tech N9ne, Nardo Wick 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.

See the 2025 XXL Freshman Class Artists and Producer