The kid with the cyclops shades’ most anticipated project to date, is also his most vulnerable and most musically transcendent.
1pump never wanted to make music the way he’s doing it now. Since he was two years old, he’s only cared about playing the drums and being himself by exploring the many possibilities of life. The youngest of three, he watched his two older brothers attempt to follow their dreams as musicians, which initially steered him away. In school, he excelled in mathematics, and he attended Norfolk State University on an academic scholarship. It was during his free time – with his roommate Sean, aka CashFlow – spent casually freestyling, when the Virginia Beach native’s lyrical abilities were first noticed. Even then, 1pump didn’t take himself seriously as a rapper, but his friend surely did. CashFlow created a SoundCloud for his friend and insisted on the output of music. It only took a few releases for 1pump to create a strong core following, leading him to gain a feature from Ugly god, who was also in college. Once 1pump started to experience financial success from his headmost drops, he became inspired to fully invest in himself as a recording artist.
That was back in 2017, and since then, 1pump, also known as “HiM”, has been perfecting his craft and maximizing his gifts through numerous creative endeavors. 1pump has always had aspirations of doing big things, even before he picked up the microphone. Some of these aspirations have already manifested themselves, as he was casted in the independent, music-industry-based film, “SHARK”. In the movie, 1pump plays a rapper by the name of “757” who helps the protagonist land his first major record placement. If you’re guessing that the emcee also has plans of his own to break into the film/TV production space, you’d be right. Along with his friend and main cameraman, Adonte (aka Adonteiscool), 1pump has established his own media company called Home Team Productions. Not only does the team produce music videos for the star of the roster, they aim to assist other outside organizations in creating content as well.
If you’re not familiar with 1pump, you may think that SLAY ENT. is just the name of his merchandise, but it’s really the “umbrella” corporation over everything 1pump-related. His newest project, slayR&B, is his take on the genre of music that hits souls. It is as pleasantly cohesive as his last two full-length projects, Scott Summers (2019) and Scott Summers II: The Light Within’ (2021). This time around, there’s an overall sense of sensuality that surrounds this substance-filled effort.
The music is R&B, but on 1pump’s terms (which is how you get a title like slayR&B). On the project, he utilizes his voice as an instrument by tapping into his background as a musician. In doing this, he presents what he feels is his greatest project to date (an opinion to be shared by many). Across eight records, he immerses the listeners into his universe and makes them feel things that are familiar and new at the same time. It’s like the past and the future coming together in an audible experience that is refreshingly authentic and true to the multi-talented artist himself.
In this interview, I had an exciting, in-depth convo with the man of many names: 1pump, 1Funk, the kid with the cyclops shades, and HiM about slayR&B, the creative process behind the project, his inspirations, the experience of playing the drums for Saekyi, and much more.
opening questions
How have the recent tour rounds been?
1pump: Alright, so basically a couple of the shows got canceled. Like, NYC just got canceled and that’s literally our second time canceling New York. We did Virginia Tech not too long ago, that was crazy. What we have done, has been fire. We did ODU (Old Dominion University), Virginia Tech. We did D.C. a couple of times. So it’s been fire playing the drums, being able to utilize that skillset and people be like “Oh man, I knew you made music but you’re crazy as a drummer, or vice versa. Some people who find me on the drums will go home, follow me [on social media] from the shows and then be under the music [commenting] like “OMG this is crazy”. It is fire…it’s all full circle.”
Has there been a standout moment so far?
We did a Sofar Sounds show in Washington, D.C. It was the week of the cherry blossoms, on the day that the flowers bloom.
A shorty that was in the front [of the crowd] asked for a drum solo at the end of our set. At the end of our set she raised her hand and asked. Saekyi’s like “Yes?”, and she’s like “Can I have a drum solo?”, and I literally laughed. And he was like yeah, you gotta give her a drum solo, and that shit was fire.
slayR&B: the most anticipated project
How long did it take for you to work on this project? How long did it take for you to put it all together?
So, at the end of the first Scott Summers event which was in 2019, I was like “It’s time to work on Scott Summers 2.” At the end of the SS2 event, I was like “Alright, it’s time for slayR&B”. That’s when I started. I really did go into sessions, hand crafting songs for the album. We ended up with 8 songs. We had plenty of songs, so I chiseled away at it. I got to the number 8 because I was just like 8 turned sideways is “forever (infinity)” and I feel like this is that “forever music”. So I went with 8 and I felt like that was solid and went with the most contagious 8 songs. I probably made 15 in total. It took from like 2021 until 2023 [to put together], cause I finalized it a few months ago. So it was basically a two year trip. The first song that I made for slayR&B didn’t even make the album, and I even made that track well before I said it was time to make this project.
When, in the process of creating this album, did you make the decision to add the “radio-station-like” vocals as a through-line between tracks?
I always love an album that flows. I’ve been trying to perfect the flow of an album with skits for [the duration of] all of my albums. Now, I think I’ve finally perfected it. It’s the perfect amount of skits, and the perfect amount “not skit”, you know. It is just a good blend. The idea [of the through-line]- I don’t even think I did that. I just hit up Alex for added vocals. I think I gave him some scripts, but he came up with the radio station-type thing. The “Smooth Al”, he came up with. I did tell him to say the “smooth, smooth, tunes” part, but he came up with the questions to ask. I just came up with what shorty should say back, type shit. Then I hit up Oneek for the added vocals for [the rest of] that joint.
Let’s get into some of these tracks. What can you tell me about the process behind “Sometimes”, and why you’re proud of it?
Alright, so Marqbeez [is] on the beat. We went to the same high school. We might not have known each other then, but we went to the same high school. He went there with one of my older brothers.
I was kicking it, and I told him I had the R&B project, and we’re hands on with it. He played me that beat, the “Her Song” beat, and the “AintBeenHome” beat. All of those beats, I found at the same time in one sitting with him. I gradually worked on those and they ended up being the ones that made it.
I really like “Sometimes”. It was a process with it. I had a draft of it and showed it around. Then Cam Murdoch told me that he really loved the song. He told me that it was a really good performance song for call-and-response. That’s when he told me to do the [sometimes with the echo]. And I was like “Oh, bet, perfect!”. And so that’s when I went back in and added that good call-and-response part, on some bridge-type of vibes.
For real, that song just spoke to me. Basically, the beats talk to me, bro. I go in and it’s natural. That’s really one of the ones that’s like “this is some [true] R&B”. We’re really in a little toxic bag, but it’s facts as fuck. Like “Smoke a blunt sometimes, just sometimes. We don’t gotta fuck.”
I didn’t even have a question about this song but “Transparent” is a personal favorite, and after mentioning it to 1pump, he spoke highly about it as well.
That’s actually my favorite song. That song is crazy. It was made in a crazy moment. I’m standing up in the muthafuckin’ living room after being in the studio all night. It’s the next morning. I think I made that shit on my birthday, or the day after my birthday. That shit was random though, and it’s a good ass song. I was at peak “had shit to talk about”, you know what I’m saying. One of the bars was literally – the cool shit about it, is I was recording with CashFlow, and he was tryna do something or say something – I basically put my finger up to him and was like “Shhh”, then hit record and said “I’m sorry I don’t need you”. That take was literally me talking to him. That’s why the name of it is what it is, because it’s full transparency.
Tell us about how “Her Song” was made with Paige Joiner.
I got that beat from Marqbeez and I recorded on it. Imagine the song with no Paige on it – I had that. And I was belching [on the recording]. My brother even told me – he was like “That’s not good for you. You shouldn’t be doing that.” But I was learning how to use my voice. That’s what this album was really about, me trying learning how to use my voice as an instrument. Anyways, I had the song and started wishing that I had a girl on it, because I couldn’t hit what I was trying to hit and what I wanted to hear. So I hit up Paige, told her what I wanted, where I wanted it, what I wanted said, and she just did her thing. We already record at the crib, but we ended up recording in my room for whatever reason – I don’t know why. I think I had everybody there too. I had Marqbeez there and everything. I tried to keep the sessions as intimate as possible, to really get hands on with it, you know. I wanted muthafuckas to be like “Oh, I fuck with this, or Oh I don’t fuck with this”, and I allowed a lot of post production. This is me really getting into the art of post production, so I fuck with it heavy. After Paige got on it, Marq revamped the beat around the vocals.
Describe the recording session during the making of “Without You”.
That was when I discovered the power of adderall. For real. And, I be hearing layers. With that song, when the beat switches up…I stole the flow from “God is in control” (by James Hall and Worship/Praise). So I really just went to church with that.
When I heard the beat, again, it just spoke to me. And [once again] it was at peak content living, where I really had something to speak about. That’s where I was at, at the moment, and it went crazy. I knew that was the one. The beat spoke for itself, too.
After I made that, I felt like Kanye. And that was after I made “Her Song”, “Love”, and some of the shit that didn’t make it. So it was like “I have a little practice of how to use my voice”.
The session for “Without You” was a long session, but as you’ll hear, it comes out perfectly. I recorded everything with Nuel, and I would send my stems to Hanz to mix. It was a process to label everything, and to have it clean so we could send them. The longest part of the process was getting all the vocals mixed from two different people when I was layering up [vocals] like that, but it all came together perfectly. “Without You” is the perfect song to me. I feel the same way about “Transparent” and “Euphoria” but those were made before “Without You”. So I had some practice, which led me to feel like I then found the formula.
You’re gonna hear that and it’s gonna smack you across the face. No one’s ever heard 1pump do things like this. I did shit on there that niggas from this area haven’t done in a long time.
I could’ve made a beat tape with those beats because they all sounded beautiful without any words on them, and that’s the type of production I was looking for on this album.
This is something not to be played with. I’m really taking a turn into a different realm, and this is what we’re gonna do.
Is there anything you want listeners to take away, specifically, from this album?
Basically, the fact that I really make music, I am an artist, not just a rapper. I can rap, but I’m an artist. Don’t expect me to be in a box. Don’t expect me to make the same thing over and over, but also don’t get upset if I do. Just know I’m gonna do whatever I feel like doing. It’s like doing digital art or making a painting or something.
I just want them to fuck with it – well not really cause I [actually] don’t care if they do. I just want them to hear it, and feel it. It’s a piece of me in every one of these songs.
closing questions
What’s your pre-show routine before hitting the stage?
Drinking hella water all day. I’m probably not going to eat, or I might eat some french fries, or some fruit while I’m in the green room. I’m going to drink a Yerba Mate, and I’m definitely going to smoke some weed, and pray. Those are some of the concrete things that I do every time.
What do you do, in times where you may not feel as inspired? What helps you stay motivated or get back on track?
I live life, cause that’s where the true inspiration comes from. I’m grateful that I’m able to detach from my artistic self and just go relax. I love my job and feel like that’s important. It’s fire to be able to go to work and do stuff that’s still productive and that inspires me at the same time.
When I’m not feeling inspired I tap in with my peers, because they’re probably busting some shit up. That nigga Rasta (448 Rasta) been dropping that fire, and this nigga Frankie (FrankieFromTheTrap) been dropping and it’s fire. Zero (zerothegod) been dropping and it’s fire. So just watching my peers really helps as well when I’m not doing anything. Also being able to play the drums, you know.
I really have a bunch of different shit. I’m about to be on my food review shit, and I’m about to start reviewing movies too. I just try to keep myself busy with my endeavors, and find inspiration within them.
Is there anyone that you’re in competition with, respectfully? Who’s releases do you really pay attention to?
It’s more of a respect thing when BigBabyGucci drops. He’s definitely an inspiration because we really came up at the same time, we have a lot of mutual friends, and we’re cool. I respect his artistry. But it’s really no competition, because I put myself in competition with myself.
So, what’s next?
I am probably going to do the first slayR&B performance, coming out as the “purple suit bandit”, at Utopia Feni. [Other than that], more visualizers coming and more projects. The projects are getting longer because I’m getting better.
You can stream the most anticipated album, slayR&B here.
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Watch all slayR&B visuals here.