EXCLUSIVE: K Camp Talks Debut LP, New Fame & Travis Porter’s “Faster”

K Camp may be in the running for this year’s XXL Freshman cover but by no means is he a wet-behind-the-ears newcomer to the industry. The Milwaukee-born, Atlanta-bred rapper has been through the ringer just to get to this point where he’s prepping for the release of his first major label LP.

Even as he ups his assist record with features on tracks by everyone from Plies to Yo Gotti’s artist Snootie Wild. With his latest track “Lil Bit” climbing charts at an exorbitant rate, it seems that the tides are in Camp’s favor.

This comes only a few years after his manager, TJ Chapman—who’s also responsible for a hefty fraction of B.o.B.’s success—sent him back to the drawing board, time and time again. Only a few years after, Camp relieved his mother of her management duties so he could push forward.

It was just over 12 months ago when the “Cut Her Off” creator inked a contract with Interscope Records and he’s already prepared to drop his debut by the fall. It’s not likely that Hip-Hop has a fleeting moment in K Camp, as he’s dropped quite a few smash records since touching down on national charts with “Money Baby” in 2013—proving that’s he’s a couple records over the one-hit wonder limit. These days, in this fickle industry, K Camp’s career is simply a wonder.

Hip-Hop Wired: So about 90% of the album is done? How much do you have left?

K Camp: Pretty much. Really, it’s just putting the records together. Probably adding more instruments. Maybe take a verse out and add one. No major, major shit, probably like one more feature from a big artist we’re waiting on but besides that, it’s just finishing the records up

HHW: You mentioned Mavado on a recent visit to The Breakfast Club. Is he on the album for sure? And Atlanta isn’t known to embrace dancehall or reggae at all, what inspired you to want him on the album?

Camp: No, we don’t have a Mavado record on there yet. Not yet. I met him in New York at Breakfast Club. He’s with it though. We just gotta send it to him and get it back. They ain’t gon’ get it but I bet you people overseas get it. I don’t care if Atlanta get it, sh*t… [laughs] As long as everybody else get it. But nah, there’s a record that I got where the record…  One of my A&Rs Tunji [Balogun], he did like, an island ad-lib and I was like, ‘Mavado would be perfect doing that on there. That sh*t would go ham.’

HHW: Do you think you’d ever become an A&R, like after your career as an artist? You seem to have a knack for knowing what works.

Camp: I’m an A&R now. I think I could [officially], but I don’t wanna do that. It’s cool being an artist on this scale, ain’t sh*t change it’s just that I’m more popular and I can’t do the same s— that I used to do. Like, normal shit. Like, going to Walmart to get some drawers…

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Photos: Press Handout

HHW: What is it with you and this Walmart thing? Did something happen?

Camp: It did! It did f—–g happen at Walmart! That’s why I always bring it up. I was with my chick and I was in there just to get a pair of drawers or a beanie or something and at first I told her, I said, ‘I do not wanna go to this damn Walmart.’ And she tried me, like, ‘Oh. You scared to go to Walmart?’ So I’m like, ‘Okay. Let’s go to f—–g Walmart.’ So we walk in, and it was the stupidest s— I ever did, I think it was the day after Black Friday and that bitch was packed. So a n—- said my name and I’m like ‘F—.’ Tried to hit the corner real quick and go through the aisle and another b—- said my name, like, yelled it. Now there’s all these people coming towards me and I’m like, ‘Chill…’ I just left that s— and had her get the drawers for me. That’s why I always bring it up. I went to Atlantic Station one time, just to get some pizza and all of Atlantic Station went ham. That comes with it so I can’t get mad but I’m still human. I wanna chill. Like, can I get a slice of pizza? Can I get some drawers? Damn. I need drawers.

HHW: It’s funny that you’re on “Find You” with Plies and Lil’ Wayne talking about these “girls from the 305.” Last year, I remember you saying that your wildest experience as a new celebrity at that point was sex on a hotel balcony out there. Has anything topped that since?

Camp: That’s mild sauce. I don’t wanna go into detail with all that. People always asking about chicks. [laughs]

HHW: It can be anything.

Camp: Let me think of something else… Man, there’s a lot of weird s— that happens every f—–g day. I just brush it off. It’s always some monkey s—.

HHW: What’s been your most difficult experience while working on the album? Have you hit any blocks?

Camp: I always hit blocks, that’s normal as an artist. I wouldn’t say I had a bunch of hard, difficult times. The album process went smooth. I took the records I been had, made some new ones and updated the old with new verses and s—. This is my first album. MY album. I can’t treat it like no mixtape. Even though the mixtapes be cold. The biggest thing with artists in the game is that people say the album never equals up to the mixtape and the mixtape be better than the album so I made sure my album was better than my mixtapes. The people around me, me period, we all made sure these records were bigger than what I’d put on a tape. There’s more feeling in my album. There’s no ‘yes men’ in my circle. I don’t tolerate that. I don’t want nobody telling me my s— good when it ain’t good. Off top I’ma know the s— ain’t good and I’m not gon’ put out some wack s—. If I know some s— is just cool and you like, ‘Aw. That s— crazy…,’ and I know it ain’t f—-n’ crazy? Nah, you can’t fool me. I know when some s— is wack and what s— is bumping.

HHW: What’s your favorite track on the album and why?

Camp: I’m not sure of the placement on my project yet but right now it’s the second song and it’s the first time I really talk about my past. I ain’t go real deep, I tried to leave a little room but I really wrote about where I stayed back in Milwaukee… You gotta hear it. It’s called “Change.” Produced by [Big] Fruit. One of my favorites.

HHW: Why does it seem like you’re either totally introspective or totally wild when you’re on these songs. For instance, “Cut Her Off” versus “Blessing.”

Camp: I’m a mixture of both. I’m a chill ass individual but at the same time, I don’t take no s—. When I’m chillin’, I’m chillin’ when I’m turnt, I’m turnt. Hot and cold. Ain’t no middle. I’d say the entire album is more soul than party, like it’s the same K Camp but bigger. I’m talking about more. It ain’t no club s—. I’m getting down and dirty. Just telling different shit, experiences that I’ve gone through. So I’d say: soulful, turnt, chill, smooth… All that s— in one solid ass project.

HHW: Did you expect “Lil Bit” to take off as quickly as it has when you dropped it?

Camp: Yes and no because “Cut Her Off” took off quick and when a record does that, people wanna hear what’s next to see if it’s jammin’ like it’s supposed to be but if it’s mediocre it’ll build slow. If you know you have a banger though, it’ll catch quick and “Lil Bit” caught like I thought it would.

HHW: Do you finally have a set title for the album?

Camp: Yes. And no. I had a title that I was thinking I would keep under wraps for awhile but I got drunk at my mixtape release party and fucked around and said the album title in an interview and everybody f—–g knew after that. But it’s between Only Way is Up and I got another name I’m kinda juggling. We’ll see when the time comes.

HHW: Have you heard Travis Porter’s “Faster”? People seem to like it but the main critique is that it sounds like your “Slum Anthem” track from last year.

Camp: Yeah, I don’t think it sounds like “Slum Anthem.” Mmm… [sings “Faster” hook aloud to himself]. I mean, it is what it is. I like the song. Salute to Travis Porter. I know I’m an influencer out here. Already know that. I hear a lot of K Camp in a lot of these rappers’ songs but that means I’m doing my job.