To say that this era of Hip Hop is flooded with new artists is an understatement. At every turn, a fresh voice emerges, an artist with stars in their eyes of becoming the next huge hitmaker in Rap. Bobby Fishscale's name has been buzzing in the industry for years, but a conversation with the Florida native shows he doesn't simply want to be viewed as a rapper looking to exploit his talents. There is more to the standout than meets the eye, and in our conversation with the rising star, he emphasized that the streets that helped raise him are only a part of his developing story.
Born Darryl Thomas in Quincy, Florida, Bobby Fishscale grew up far beyond the bright lights of Miami. The Sunshine State's popular city is a hub for musical talent, and often, artists flock there hoping to make their marks. The successes pouring out of Miami were something that inspired Bobby. Growing up in the projects and getting involved in the street life was how a young Bobby Fishscale survived. However, he knew that it was just a stepping stone to something more significant. These days, he's taking those lessons and using that as a foundation for his blossoming career.
In our conversation with Roc Nation's latest star, he's clearly not like his peers. You may find him flexing a bit on social media, but as he tells us, he is more focused on adding his voice to the Hip Hop community rather than involving himself in the ills that often derail careers.
"I was young, trapping, and I went to jail a lot. I made a lot of mistakes. I rap about that to motivate people to do right. But like, I did a lot of good stuff, too. So, it can be balanced out. Now, I know the right path, I learned from my mistakes and all the headaches."
With co-signs from artists like 2 Chainz, Rod Wave, Lil Uzi Vert, and Kodak Black, it comes as no surprise that the industry has poised him to be next in line. Additionally, Bobby's "Huncho Fishscale" alongside Quavo has captured attention, and with a new album on the horizon, the industry is zoned in. Most recently, Fishscale returned with his latest single, the Mike Hurst-produced "I Might," further cementing his placement.
Read through our insightful—and often motivational—conversation with Bobby Fishscale as he details leaving his trap life behind him, making his new hustle his music career, remaining dedicated to his craft, staying humble through the fame, and never making excuses.
This interview has been slightly edited for clarity.
HotNewHipHop: It's such a pleasure to meet you, we really appreciate your time today. Let's jump right in—give some insight into your background for those that may not know about your upbringing.
Bobby Fishscale: I started off in the country. You know, being from the country, so we look up to people from like, Miami and stuff. The bigger cities, we always want to get there. So like, you made it to Miami, you got your music to pop in Miami, like, you onto something. All the Trick Daddys, you know, Kodak [Blacks], everybody influenced us. That was the influence and the motivation.
Well, I read that you had used music to get out of the street life. Yet, you also incorporate a lot of that into your art now. Tell us about your developing years as a teen and how that influenced your career.
Oh, yeah, you know, I was young, trapping. So like, the streets, like, I didn't really choose the streets. I was born in the streets. So, I was young, trapping, and I went to jail a lot. I made a lot of mistakes. I rap about that to motivate people to do right. But like, I did a lot of good stuff, too. So, it can be balanced out. Now, I know the right path, I learned from my mistakes and all the headaches.
I think it's just really refreshing to hear artists say that. I was going over your interview with Big Facts Pod, and you were talking about how you're not really in that whole beefing, competition space. It was interesting that you said you share everybody's music, listen to other rappers, and promote everyone. Why is it important to you to embrace your peers instead of getting into the head-to-head space?
I mean, it gotta be just like the whole growing up in the projects. You know, growing up there—being in my project, it was like 100 apartments. Everybody got like four or five people in there. So, you growing up around 500 people that you really got to like because you got to see them every day. And then, going to jail, having to share a room with somebody you might not know, might not like everything about 'em. Going to prison and having to be in dorms, having to deal with so many people. But, everybody got something that you could like about him. Something you could benefit from.
"Everybody deserves a chance. A lot of the music I listen to, they really got potential."
Even in the streets, my plug always told me, before I started rapping and stuff, everybody deserves a chance. A lot of the music I listen to, they really got potential. I look at people, the stage they in. When I was at that stage, I wasn't rapping that good. I wasn't really taking it that seriously. So, I just feel like everybody deserve a little boost, a little acknowledgment for at least trying. 'Cause you could be out here robbing people or something. I feel like you're doing something right, so you deserve a little something, at least.
I really love that mindset for the culture. I'm gonna jump into your music. I heard that you have in your upcoming project is like a hustler's guide, but the "Fishscale way"? [laughs]
[Laughs] Yeah, the Fishscale way.
Talk a little about that. I also heard that each of the music videos will be a lesson of some sort. What's that all about?
Well, that was mainly on my team, because my team, they not really in the streets. They never really went through what I went through. So, a lot of the stuff I talk about, the conversations, they really be interested in. They really asked a lot of questions. Even with the music, when I have to do the lyrics, they be like, "What you mean by that?" I have to explain it to them, and they be like, "Oh, okay, okay, okay, you just taught me something."
So, with the "Fishscale way," like, let's start out with the intro, you know. I tell people about my struggle, what I went through. Like, if maybe a friend of yours went to jail or something. You sad and want to give up, maybe your engineer or maybe somebody love, your brother or something, went to jail, and he won't give up. Maybe he caught six months or two years or something. My brother caught 36 years, so if you're gonna use that for an excuse, you need to find another excuse.
I went through the same thing, but I overcame it. So, that's like, one of the rules. And with one of the videos we shot, it was like, don't get high off your own supply. Even if you're selling merch, you can't wear a new outfit every day and lose seven outfits that you sell for $100 apiece. Over a month, you done lost $3,000, and if your profit was only $2,000, you'd have made a whole company lose because you want to wear that merch instead of selling it. So, don't get high off your own supply. But it's a lot of knowledge and lessons. And I don't want it to be just in the drug form because I don't do that no more. But, I use the same principles from the street Iife. Selling my merch, marketing my music, marketing artists. It's just guidelines to life.
It sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders. What advice would you give to other artists, either coming up in your space or already established? What is a bit of Bobby Fishscale guidance?
Never not do something. There's no reason that you can't do something. I got homeboys like, "Oh, why I ain't got no beats?" Why don't you just download a beat off YouTube and then come up with some content, you feel me? Like, excuses only satisfy the person who makes them. So, even if you want it, I'm like, why do you shoot no video? Okay, shoot it on your phone and do the little Triller, the little TikTok. Do that. It's no reason why you shouldn't do something. You're an upcoming artist.
"Excuses only satisfy those who make them."
Shout out Luh Tyler. He is—one of his first hottest songs, "Law and Order" or whatever, he recorded on Bandlab on his phone. And to this day, he never re-recorded, remastered it, remixed it. It was quality enough to get the world's attention. So, the studio should never be a reason why you want to say an excuse. 'Cause 'til this day, I still record on my phone. If I'm on the road, trip, airport—I use GarageBand. I started using GarageBand. I'm on the plugin headphones right now. If I hear a flow or something, I get on my notes, and I do voice memos all day. But just put it in the work. Even now, I gotta do two songs a day mandatory.
I love that you said, "Excuses are..."
Excuses only satisfy those who make them.
That's it, I'mma take that for me.
Right, no excuses.
This is my last question; I ask it to everyone I interview. So, we know celebrity is an illusion, right? Like people, audiences, fans...they think they know you based on the interviews you do, or the music you make, or whatever they see in the blogs or whatnot.
Right.
There are always these expectations for artists to live up to the standard of what the public thinks they are instead of just being naturally who they are. What is something about you that doesn't always translate because people have this veil of celebrity around you? Or they think you're just a Florida rapper, or think you're just another artist out here trying to make money? What's something about the heart of you as a person that people don't often get to see?
The humbleness! Like, you gotta see the humbleness. 'Cause I could be doing way more flashy stuff. I could be just, out more, but I'm just humble. I just take everything as a blessing. And I don't disrespect it. That's one thing about it—you gotta respect the position you in. I don't just go to regular stores like that, I don't really want to put myself in a position. I kind of pick and choose everywhere I go, I really don't look for trouble. If trouble there, I'mma just go the opposite way.
So, people should embrace the humble ones more. It ain't all about going to jail, the stuff that people glorify. I got homeboys who don't trap, who don't rap, who work jobs, who got nice stuff. And you know, I embrace them like they should be, but the world don't. Even though I say I don't work a nine-to-five, I respect everybody who do work a nine-to-five. You got no worries, you know.
I just think we need to embrace the hard workers. The engineers, all the people. The interviewers! People like y'all to bring it to life. Y'all don't get famous too often, but y'all should. Even y'all on this call, I feel like y'all questions is better than a lot of people questions. So, the humble ones should get more glory. But other than that, you know, I'm just Bobby.