Describing himself as “that fly Haitian kid from Miami, Florida bringing that pressure when it comes to the music game,” Bucc intentionally sets himself apart from the bass sound that Miami hip-hop is known for. With each one of his records, the Kingg Bucc brings the utmost highest energy, infectious melodies, and captivating wordplay — proving himself as a lyricist.
Most recently, he tapped NLE Choppa for his newest single titled “Turn Me Up,” his first release from his forthcoming project SWIPER SEASON, STILL SWIPING (the follow-up to SWIPER SEASON). The name King Bucc fits the situation now, declaring himself “the king” where he’s from.
AllHipHop: What was it like growing up in Haiti?
Kingg Bucc: I remember Haiti vaguely. I was really raised in the Bahamas for quite a while. I do remember Haiti, I’m from one of the poorest parts. I can’t really remember it too much, but I remember Bahamas fully. I came to the States around 7 or 8.
AllHipHop: What was the household growing up in Miami?
Kingg Bucc: Miami’s a wonderful city, but growing up it came with a lot of hardships. You’re losing people you love to gun violence or people going to jail. I didn’t really have that much family here in the States, all my family is in Haiti. I vowed that when I become a bigger artist that I’d take them out of that situation because it’s crazy out there right now. You see the news. Growing up, it was crazy but I always had a love for music. That kept me sane and semi out of trouble.
AllHipHop: Who were you listening to coming up?
Kingg Bucc: Ludacris, T.I., B.I.G., Pac. Honestly, I started listening to JAY later on in my life because when I was younger, I didn’t understand what he was talking about. When I started doing the things he’s talking about in real life, I became a huge JAY-Z fan. I was listening to everybody, I don’t just listen to hip-hop. I listen to everything.
AllHipHop: You say your musical DNA is different from the bass sound that Miami hip-hop is known for. Can you describe that?
Kingg Bucc: I still incorporate the Miami bass sound in what I do. Miami got the bass sound, but we also have this other sound called jook music. I have this record called “2009 & Beyond,” I took the bass sound and the jook and put it together. It was an experiment, but it went well. It meshed perfectly. I put a sound together that embodied Miami. I have a lot of Miami sound in what I do. I try to incorporate other sounds as well too, because I travel a lot. Every time I go to a different city or state, I learn something new.
AllHipHop: “2009 & Beyond” is such a vibe, were you feeling yourself?
Kingg Bucc: I was definitely feeling myself. [laughs] I put those things together. The reason I called it “2009 & Beyond” is because in 2009, I remember being really young and that jook sound being the wave. Till this day, that is still the wave in Miami. That sound is going to be here forever. That sound represents Miami, other than the Miami Bass with what Disco Dave, Uncle Luke, Uncle Al did.
AllHipHop: Linking with NLE Choppa on “Turn Me Up,” how’d that collab come about?
Kingg Bucc: That collab just happened, we just did it. One of those records where it was very quick. We went in there, did the video and put it out. We didn’t waste no time. We linked through a mutual friend. He’s in Atlanta at the time. I was in the studio, he came to the studio and we laid the track down. The single’s out right now, video’s out right now “Turn Me Up” available on all platforms, go get that.
AllHipHop: Best memory from the video shoot?
Kingg Bucc: A lot of good memories from that video shoot. [laughs] I remember we had these glasses we were going to use for the video, it was in the treatment. I gave the glasses to Choppa, forreal forreal no bull he said “Hey man, I can’t wear these glasses, it’s going to mess with my third eye.” We really used that in the video, that was real. It wasn’t scripted. One of the crazy moments because I wasn’t expecting that.
AllHipHop: The visual’s almost at a million views, how does that make you feel?
Kingg Bucc: I feel good, it’s about to be my first million. More millions to come. I don’t want to toot my own horn but I got some other features with A-list artists coming out in 2021. I’m looking forward to that.
AllHipHop: Was that you doing the Shoot dance?
Kingg Bucc: Yeah I was. I was in Memphis, we shot parts of the video there, so it was like one of those “When In Rome” moments.
AllHipHop: What is it you want fans to get from your story?
Kingg Bucc: Believe in yourself. I know that sounds cliché but really do believe in yourself. Statistically, I’m not supposed to be here. With all of the things I’ve had to endure from my childhood: no parents, no mom, no father at one point. Making a way, surviving. The stats would say that I’m not supposed to be here, or be given an opportunity to even have a song with certain individuals or be in the room with certain individuals because I had a lot of things that were against me. A lot! I’m dealing with the judicial system, things on the streets, family and hardships. These things a lot of people might break down to or self-destruct, but I never did. I kept on believing it was a bigger purpose for me. I want everybody to believe in themselves and really go hard for what you think you’re supposed to be on this earth for.
AllHipHop: Talk about remixing Drake’s “Toosie Slide,” what made you want to do your own version?
Kingg Bucc: I felt it was necessary. Everybody was doing stuff to other beats. I needed to body that track right there. Nobody wanted to play with it, I had to do it.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Kingg Bucc: I can say this now: weed. [laughs] A beautiful female, beautiful women give me inspiration. I need some ginger ale, I’m always drinking ginger ale in the studio.
AllHipHop: What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?
Kingg Bucc: Robbing or scamming… nah I’m playing. [laughs] I really haven’t thought about that, this is it for me. There’s no plan B. Probably be in the streets, not gon’ lie. This all I know.
AllHipHop: You’ve come a long way, how does It feel to be where you are today?
Kingg Bucc: It feels good. Shout out to my mom, she passed away 2 years ago. Out of everybody, she believed that I could do this. It feels great, I wish she was here to see I actually got a deal. Wherever she is, I know she’s proud because that wasn’t what people envisioned for me. It feels great.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from your forthcoming project SWIPER SEASON, STILL SWIPING?
Kingg Bucc: Y’all can expect some crazy features, from some very very very big artists. Y’all can expect more pressure. Wait on it, SWIPER SEASON, STILL SWIPING dropping
soon.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself?
Kingg Bucc: I want some accolades, so I can feel like I did something. You see behind me, I need a couple of plaques right here. When I walk in here, okay I really accomplished something. The job’s not done yet. I want to change the world through music. I want to change the whole atmosphere on even how we view artistry because I take that seriously as well.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
Kingg Bucc: Make sure y’all go watch the video “Turn Me Up” featuring NLE Choppa. It’s out now, available on our platforms. I want to shout out AllHipHop. I appreciate you for this interview, this is surreal for me.