Interview: Waka Flocka Flame Talks New Ad-Libs, Next Album, and Favorite Color

This was easily one of the funnest interviews I’ve ever had the opportunity to do. Waka Flocka Flame is one of the most interesting characters in hip-hop right now, and he’s got an attitude unlike any other. It’s part of what makes his music so controversial, but also what makes him so entertaining—he brings a really honest enthusiasm and passion to everything he does, without over-thinking things or biting his tongue. Some of the questions at the end got kind of weird when I just started throwing out random things at Waka, but he answered them all without any hesitation, proving that he’s always ready to roll with the punches.

Read on to hear about Waka’s next album, new adlibs, favorite color, and choice of condiments.

Hey, is This Waka?
Yeah, that’s what’s up man, who is this?

This is Brendan, with Pigeons and Planes.
Brendan?

Yeah, Brendan.
What the fuck is up, playa?

(Laughs) Not much man, how you doing?
Ay, sometimes don’t you just want to curse? I want some cursing in my interview.

(Laughs) Alright, that’s cool – curse all you want, we’ll print it
Nah, Brendan, you gotta curse in this interview

Alright Flocka, I’ll fucking curse!
(laughs) Yeahhhh!

How was your Thanksgiving?
Ah man, that shit was so good. The food, it was so good. That shit was good, I spent it with the family.

Is your whole family back in Atlanta?
Yeah, I was there with my girl and the whole family. You know how that goes.

I hear you’re working on that new album? Is that coming soon?
Yes, new album – Triple F Life: Friends Fans & Family, it’s coming, man. It will be out in the first quarter. I changed my mind, because it was supposed to be out in the fourth quarter, but I felt like I hadn’t put my all into it. So now I’ve got to go in.

Flockaveli has become almost a classic in its own right to a lot of people, do you think this is going to top it?
Is it gonna top it? It’s gonna blow past it. This is another classic, of course.

How is it going to be different from Flockavelli?
It can’t be too different because it’s the same person doing the record. It’s going to be an upgrade, a new album.

With that last album you definitely created you’re own lane, and a lot of that came from the collaborations with Lex Luger. Are you working with him again?
Yeah! Of course! I’m going with him on the radio, with the single. When me and Lex get together it’s something serious.

Do you have any features lined up for the album?
I’ve got a lot of features for the album. I’ve got to get DMX on there. I might have to grab Big Sean and them… I’m going to have to grab my generation for this album, the rappers from my generation.  And you know Tyler, The Creator is on it.

We saw the video from when you were at one of Odd Future’s shows, can you tell me what it’s like to hang out with them?
Oh man, them guys is loud! I thought I had a crazy-ass show. They cool, man. If you do nothing else with them, you’re going to have some fun. It’s a life experience, it’s like going to Six Flags. They have their own style, their own way. That shit’s just fun. I like hanging out with them.

I’m personally a huge fan of your “Ocean Mobb” collaboration with Soulja Boy
Oh, that “Ocean Mobb” thing, man?

Yeah, how did that collaboration happen?
“Ocean Mobb” I had thing where it’s for the people that like to jump into the crowd, the artists that dive into their crowds at the shows. So I was like, “Yeah, we gotta do it, and we’re gonna call it the Ocean Mobb.”

Your verse on the actual track is all about partying and having fun, but the way you deliver it seems almost angry – where do you get that passion from?
I guess when we were first doing that song that’s just how I felt, we were just turned up. The delivery has just got to be turned up, because that’s how we were feeling at the time in the studio. It was a big party in the studio, like 3 in the morning when we laid the track.

What’s your favorite thing to rap about?
Partying. I wish my bedroom was the VIP in the club.

Do you ever worry that rapping about partying, drugs, drinking and all that has a negative effect on the kids that look up to you?
Oh, that’s a good question. Honestly, it’s a double-edged sword. I do and I don’t. Some people will look at us and say, “That’s just your style, you make us wanna party,” and some people will be like, “Damn, man! Waka be turned up!” You know I do what I do and say what I say, and I would say there’s a yes and a no to that question.

Outside of music, who are your role models?
My mother. That’s my role model.

Good answer. So you’re really the king of ad-libs right now in hip-hop – are you going to be trying out any new ones soon?
Yeah, I got some new ones. This new one’s coming for the album. [Ed. Note - here is where Waka demonstrated his new ad-lib. It was hard to understand, so instead of mistranscribing it I've uploaded the audio from the interview.]

You’ve brought up quitting the rap game a few times now, is that something you’re still considering?
No. I feel like I would be letting a lot of my family down and a lot of fans. It wasn’t just me when I made that statement, when I made that statement I was just selfish. I was in a selfish state of mind. So no, I can’t quit.

There have been a lot of great hip-hop albums coming out in the last two years, everyone’s still talking about Watch The Throne and Take Care. Do you ever look at those as competition or inspiration? Or do you just concentrate on doing you?
I don’t look at nobody as competition. I just concentrate on doing me and doing what I do.

We just got sent a song by a mashup artist who put your track “No Hands” over a country instrumental. We were wondering how you felt about collaborating with styles outside of hip-hop.
Oh man, that’s serious. You know what’s crazy? I wanted to get a country guy singing on one of my hooks on the album.

Do you have anyone in mind?
That’s something I have to look into.

If you could work with anyone in the industry right now, who would it be?
Nas.

Is he your favorite rapper?
Nah, it’s Tupac.

You’ve been a major figure in hip-hop for a few years now, how would you say everything’s changed since you first started out?
Since I came up? I feel like I changed the sound of hip-hop. I feel like my sound changed things because before me was saying things like hip-hop is dead, or there was no fun to it anymore. I came out with a new scene and a new sound, you know what I’m saying? I put life back into it. I feel like that.

If you weren’t a rapper what would you be doing?
God honest truth, I don’t know.

What’s your favorite color?
My favorite color is burgundy.

Why?
Oh, I just love it. I just like how it stands out, I love it.

Ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Which is the best?
Ketchup.

If you had the opportunity to work with Justin Bieber, would you do it?
Yes, I would.

What do you think that would sound like?
I don’t know, that’s a good question.

Pigeons or Planes?
Pigeons.

Why is that?
They do what the fuck they want. No fear of anything.