Following his March 2 interview at Billboard New York office, a feisty Doe Boy released a video celebrating his No. 1 spot on the Heatseekers album chart from February and declared himself the “biggest, hottest artist ever since.” of 2022”.

While the East Cleveland native’s confidence certainly never fails, it’s his humility that allows him to live in the moment and has been integral to his success navigating the hip-hop industry over the years. of the last decade.

Whether it’s Drake inviting Doe Boy to the Los Angeles 6 Gods estate, LeBron turn on one of his songs, or Kevin Durant want to visit the trenches of Knowles Ave., FREEBANDZ’s rhymer ego never gets in the way and lets him enjoy some of those larger than life moments.

“If LeBron [James] Posting to me right now, I’m going to show this because it’s a big deal,” Doe Boy explains while periodically sipping a bottle of Patron. “That’s not why you should act nonchalant. I’m not one of those people who thinks I’m too good for everything.

The 27-year-old has taken another step in his rise with the release of his all-rounder OH REALLY album – based on his signature ad-lib – at the end of January. Doe Boy wants to expand its fan base beyond grimy street tales in hopes of a mainstream boom in the near future as it serves up something to digest for just about everyone. Look no further than Doe Beezy pushing his pen and gazing inward with the reflective “LIFE GOES ON” deep cut.

“It’s just about growing up,” he continues. “I want more fans and there are more people in the world than people who are just about what I’m like exercise time and shit. There are people who don’t like it at all and I want to touch them too.

Check out the rest of our interview with the Cleveland resident below.

With fans having over a month to sit down with the album, what do you think of the fan reception to OH REALLY now?

They love it. I feel really good about the project. They feel the same way we felt about it when we released it. They received it as we wanted. We thought the impact would be [there]. It happened exactly as I knew it would.

I fell in love with hip-hop after Get rich or die trying. You also talked about being a 50 Cent fan and how he was able to do street records, but also fit in with the ladies.

50’s the GOAT. Growing up, he was my favorite rapper. This shit was life changing, especially with the movie [aspect].

My inspirations 🐐❤️ @50 cents pic.twitter.com/f2GzcKix1q

—DOE BEEZY/FREEBANDZ (@DoeBoyOfficial) December 6, 2017

I appreciate your humility and your ability to live in the moment and not be above some of those cool moments you have.

Rappers, they just pretend. They try to give the impression that they are not excited. They try to look too good for certain things. That’s how I feel. I don’t understand why they do this because they are happy. I don’t know why they act like it doesn’t. It’s corny.

You topped the Billboard Heatseekers chart in February.

If I had fallen on a Friday, I tell you that I would have [already gone No. 1]. But I like the way the #1 Heatseekers look – it’s beautiful for sure.

OH IS REALLY #1 ON @billboardHEATSEEKERS ALBUMBS CHART!!! A BIG BRAVO TO @DoeBoyOfficial 🏆🔥 pic.twitter.com/feTsATIeJj

– Epic Records (@Epic_Records) February 10, 2022

How was hooking up with Rowdy Rebel for “AIN’T MY FAULT” in Brooklyn? I saw you also went to the Pop Smoke vigil.

That’s how it happened. I didn’t even know I was going there. [Rowdy Rebel] was just like, “Where are you?” I said, “I’m at the hotel.” He stopped like, “Come in.” Next thing you know we went to Pop Smoke Candlelight in Brooklyn. I was just a thug with them all day. We went to a house party, went to their hood, then went to the studio.

On “Respectfully,” you interpolated Lil Wayne’s “Steady Mobbin” and “A Milli” with tricky puns. Was he a major influence on your childhood?

Yeah, people gotta catch this, they won’t be hooked. “Rolling with a draco, what’s a goon to a goblin / A Milli a milli n—s I wish”, it’s all about reference. A lot of people don’t understand that, it’s crazy what you’ve done. Wayne was also one of my favorite rappers. All those Dedications and shit. Nobody can fuck with a guy for real.

What is Future’s involvement in day-to-day creation with your projects?

He produced all my projects. What’s crazy is that this project is definitely his favorite of all. His favorite song there is “CRY FOR ME”, and the shit I had with Vory. He was like, “D–n, you’ve really found your pocket and you’re really in your bag.” You can just say the growth and he really inspired the whole thing. When I need him, it’s like “Hey, what do you think?”

I was in LA with him and [Kanye]. I’m not going to lie, his Netflix documentary – the dude is crazy. He reminds me of me though. I’m not fried to the point like he does, but the manifestation part. He knows where he wants to go and he’s going to do it exactly the way he wants to do it. I would like to have a camera that follows me all the time. I’m about to start though.

What is your relationship with Kevin Durant? He wants to stop on Knowles Ave.

I was just talking to him. You know, I had to make sure he knew I was here. It’s the buddy. He’s a good guy for real. He is really into the culture. It’s a n—a hood. KD is with the s–ts. He does not care. He commented, “Take me to Knowles Ave.” It’s crazy for real. It’s Kevin Durant. This goes back to what we were talking about earlier. It’s not anyone. He talks about trying to come to my neighborhood. He’s coming on Knowles for sure. Watch him. I just found out he was a rapper.

Kevin Durant funny as hell 😂 pic.twitter.com/QznkuAImiC

—DOE BEEZY/FREEBANDZ (@DoeBoyOfficial) January 17, 2022

Even LeBron James posting a video to one of your songs here must have jacked up the price.

It has changed a lot. People were like, “Oh shit.” It’s LeBron James, not just anyone. When LeBron sings your song in the middle of the party, and he gangbangs in a meeting full of white people, you’re not even supposed to do that in there. Everything about shit got him spinning so much.

My nigga @King James go crazy at “Walk Down” 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/klsXKaIw1b

—DOE BEEZY/FREEBANDZ (@DoeBoyOfficial) May 22, 2019

Your journey to get signed to Freebandz is crazy. I can’t imagine that happening today with you for the first time in Future’s UStream and then getting his phone number through a member of his team.

I tricked the n—a with his phone number. He left that motherfucker on my voicemail. It was probably two years later to be signed. I was doing my thing while working. I was just doing me independently. I was always doing the mixtapes with Lex Luger and focusing on trying to blow myself up and I knew that would come when the time came.

In the past you said “some days in jail are fun”. Expand what you wanted to say there.

When you’re in prison, you have to make the most of it. I don’t want people to have the idea that prison is fun. I don’t know, but when you’re in there, some moments are funny as hell. You are dealing with so many different types of people. N—how funny as hell in there. You do shit the best you can.

With Young Dolph and Nipsey Hussle killed in their hometown, does that change the way you move around Cleveland?

Yeah absolutely. I understand most rappers get killed in their hometown. The hate in your hometown will always be different in your hometown than anywhere else. The motherfuckers really don’t like you and have reasons not to like you.

I know I have to get around some type of way in the city. I don’t really like being there, but I do for certain things. Ultimately, that’s where I’m from, so I’ll always embrace it and put it on. It’s what makes me who I am. The shit that happens is what makes Doe Boy, Doe Boy. Normally when I’m there I don’t have security for real.

What was it like getting locked in with Drake and having him hit you for coming to LA to bring that “Oh really” there?

This shit was also another moment. Just fly to LA and go to his house and see how he works, it’s hard. This guy really thinks he’s the president, for real. He really moves like that. He told me he could bring me to Canada, and I had crimes.

Do you have stuff in the stash?

We could. [Laughs.]

What do you hope people take away from this album?

He grew and ruled. He’s next level with that shit. I still have a long way to go.

Drake and Doeboy in the studio pic.twitter.com/t1famxsqB0

— DrakeDirect (@DrakeDirect_) May 30, 2021