The American rapper Kid Ink, who performed at RedFestDXB earlier this month, tells us about his latest album, Full Speed – and why Kanye West needs to stay on-message.
How did you get Usher involved in the first single from the album, Body Language?
That was the first song we did, and it wasn’t intended for an album – it was just “here’s Usher, have you got anything to send him?” He sent it back and it sounded like a single. We’ve built a cool relationship now, where I’m seeing Usher in so many cities – there’s a lot of love and support there.
You worked with Chris Brown for a third time on Hotel – following the 2013 smash Show Me. How did you two hook up in the beginning?
We’re in the same circles in Los Angeles – that’s where I’m from, he lives there now – and we just kept in touch until we’re in a position where I’m saying: “I’m finishing an album, I’ve got this single which is pretty crazy – listen to it.” And we just kept our relationship.
This is your second record on a major label – was it easier this time around?
This one was kind of easier because, mentally, I had a moment to just have fun. I felt like the first album did what it needed to do in justifying to my old fans that I’m still the same person after being signed, and also proving to the new fans the type of records I could make. So there was less pressure to prove anything.
Full Speed comes just 12 months after My Own Lane. So can we expect another LP this time next year?
I think I should take a longer break, maybe a year and a half.
How sick do you get of people asking about your tattoos?
Ha. There are certain questions you get again and again, but at the same time I’m really into tattoos and the culture, and I represent it enough to talk about it. It’s something that I love as much as music. I want people to feel I don’t have tattoos because I’m a rapper – I have tattoos because I like tattoos.
What was the best album of 2014?
Beyoncé had the biggest album, for sure, technically, how she released that and how it was sold.
So what do you make of Kanye’s defence of Beyoncé at the Grammys?
He has his points, some things that had to be said because of the person he is, that’s what you expect and that’s where the controversy comes from. The stuff that he says – it makes sense, but sometimes the sentence gets prolonged so much that you lose the point. When you rant too long, people kind of lose where you started. You’ve got to learn to break it up a little bit.
• Full Speed is out now on Sony Music Middle East
rgarratt@thenational.ae