Westleaf Staff
What's up Leafers? Welcome to the latest edition of On the Rise where we interview upcoming hip hop talent. Today's guest is Big Beanie straight outta East Baltimore City. Inspired by artists such as Lil Durk, Chief Keef, and Meek Mill, Beanie's sound is gritty yet heartfelt characteristic of the DMV area. Beanie is also an entrepreneur with multiple businesses in the entertainment/creative industry. With Beanie's work ethic and drive we can definitely see him on the rise to the top. Checkout Beanie's interview below!
Westleaf Staff: What's up, Beanie? Your sound is fire. When did you start making music?
Big Beanie: I started making music in 2012 on a cracked iPhone and a recording app with beats playing on YouTube in the background! Me and my brother Kai. I was 13 at the time so I was a big fan of Lil Durk, Chief Keef, Meek Mill etc so that’s where most of my sounds were coming from as far as raps before I found my own flow. Fast forward to 2014-2015 I was getting into my own ways of doing the music learning different rhyme patterns branching out to things I wanted to create even locking in with different beat makers to master my craft. 2020 during Covid we hit the grown running! My first official EP released was Hood Picasso 5 songs that got people more interested in my music and that’s when I saw a gain in popularity amongst underground rappers. Bad To Da Bone was my way in first song that did over 100,00 streams was Do What I Want (feat Bev) then I started getting calls from different indie labels , artists from other states, the females started coming heavier just solidifying my spot. That unlimited love pushed me to Having My Way and people are still waiting for the next BIG project and it’s coming sooner than later stay tuned *wink wink*. It’s not a sequel to none of my old projects and it’s not Pretty Girls Love Beanie it’s something I devoted my time to and took me 3 years to get all the beats curated and placed.
Westleaf Staff: That's dope! So how did your early life shape your interest in music?
Big Beanie: When I was little I listened to everything down to heavy metal just because every genre has its different elements and expressions. Growing up in the era where the internet just started I just was fucking with anything that sounded good to me. My mother had hell of CDs of DMX, Busta Rhymes, Jaheim, Hot Boyz and Mystikal. She tried to get me down with people like Bow Wow and Lil Romeo but I wasn’t into that kiddy shit lol one of my favorite albums of all time was It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot by DMX my sister was big on all of the stuff for kids.
Westleaf Staff: That's so cool. You been rocking with the greats. What city do you represent?
Big Beanie: East Baltimore City, not the county, not Maryland. East Baltimore City!
Westleaf Staff: Shout out to Marylaand. Y'all have a lot of talent. So how did you create your stage name?
Big Beanie: For my OG Fans y’all know I started off as Monsta Dahh Savage that was back in like 2011. Monsta was a family name given to me by my uncle because I was bad as hell as a kid. Then when I matured it was, Marty Menace, again another nickname given to me by my brother Kai. Fast forward my brother Wugg gave me the nickname Scotty so for a few years I went by the name Scotty Baker. Stay with me I know it’s a lot of name to keep up with. When I was in high school I stayed around a bunch of friends that would do anything for me so our school officer would say he move like Carlo Gambino he like the big boss we can never prove it’s him. Shout out to Winfield for making that stage name BigBoss Gambino! Then I shortened it to just Big Bino once I got my big break and I started buying my jewelry and got my drip together I changed it to BigDripper Bino. Only to figure out that it’s a thousand Bino’s that rap. So then I rebranded with another nickname given to me by girls who loved my music they would shorten Bino to Bean or say Beanie lol. So I changed it to that because girls liked saying Beanie better than Bino. They still do! Pretty Girls Love Beanie coming soon!
Westleaf Staff: I love that. So who is your biggest Musical influence?
Big Beanie: I would say my life. I rap about things I’ve grew up around and seen or been through. I won’t say my life was hard but we was broke, I never went without but I wasn’t keeping up with the Jones’s. That lead to like hoes not feeling me or doing me dirty, and dudes feeling like they above me talking down so I would end up in fights and stuff. People overlooking real talent for the ones that have the “Fake It Or Make It Attitude”. So my life has always been my influence on my music I’ve never really had a who but a what.
Westleaf Staff: Dope! Love your grind bro! What's been the defining moment in your music career thus far?
Big Beanie: Can’t lie it’s a bunch and I can go on for days but I think my favorite one is getting a shout out from DJ Hoodrich , DJ Marcè, and I got mad love for Roast N Review. I’m glad he made it through surgery. I met a lot of rappers who actually plugged me in with this platform. I made a lot of celebrity friends those who know they know. It was actually a moment when I thought about doing comedy with my brother Khairy because a lot of people think I’m funny. I would post She A Winner by Trouble and he reposted it every time one of my first industry friends out of many! Rest In Peace Skoob!
Westleaf Staff: It's cool to see everyone in the industry showing you love bro! So what does art mean to you?
Big Beanie: Art is soul. Simple, as long as you put passion in your craft that is your art. You can make a song, draw a picture or wear a shirt you made that others completely think is trash but your soul is in it so you love it! That’s why my music to me is art nobody can like it. I can get zero streams but it’s the hardest most creative shit to me. Have originality with your ideas even if you want to pay homage to older things, innovate it and make it your own while giving the older version its' flowers. Just whatever you do put your soul in your craft.
Westleaf Staff: That's real! Art is soul. Where do you see your music career going over the next few years?
Big Beanie: I’m building an empire with my label The Motion Man Committee. I got gaming with my boy Wayne_No_Johnson on Tik Tok! I got a podcast coming soon with Digital Empath Studios named “Keep It A Bean”. I also have an interview coming out soon with TalkCrazy TV! I just locked in with a great special video FX team ran by Diggz Malone. I have 2 new artists coming out Niyola she’s a beast and Kai Frost is making his debut soon! Twin Sisters Pt 2 is coming soon with Khairy The Comedian! I have new joint projects/songs coming out with FlackoDaDon, YTN Poppa, Macktay, DDH Marlon, and Tay Pulla! I also got in touch with two great models Baby.Siona on instagram and CollyAlexis on instagram! Me and Kid Graphic have a bomb relationship! I also have two Photography brands MediaSharp and DillDaShooter So me running a label and dabbing in multiple fields I have to strive to be a top tier executive in the entertainment field. These next years are planned out to be some of the best years of my music career with the knowledge that I have to apply to my own independent label!
Westleaf Staff: What makes you aa unique artist?
Big Beanie: I’m me. I don’t care about clout. I stay to myself and only have a few friends. I’m hard to figure out. I’m versatile. My morals can’t be bought. I value being a good person to those who are good to me. A lot of artists uniqueness comes from gimmicks and I’m just me. A lot of people called me a bluff, say I be making up stories, and it’s hard to believe me. That’s because the people who I know, the places I’ve been, the style of life I live I’m hard to figure out. I don’t strive off of opinions only facts once people make their mind up about you trying to prove yourself is like beating a dead horse.
Westleaf Staff: That's so true. Glad you're remaining solid, BeanieI wish you much success in your career! Before we go, describe music in three words.
Big Beanie: Tranquil. Peace. Expressive.
More from Big Beanie:
Follow Beanie:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bigbeaniemmc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigBeanieMMC
