A few weeks back, I went out to Portland, Oregon to speak to Makonnen. He moved to the Pacific Northwest in the fall of 2016 despite not knowing anyone out there, or never having visited before. His reasons why are manifold, and, in our new feature interview, he expounds on them in great, amusing detail. We also talk about some other topics that will be of interest, including his relationship and feelings toward Drake and Migos, his plans for new music with Mike WiLL Made-It, and his recent announcement that he is gay. Below are some excerpts.
On coming out: It’s like, yeah. I like cock! I've had sex with vagina. Maybe one day later on if I want to maybe, you know, whatever — I don't know! I'm living and learning. But right now it's like, yup, I'm 27, I'm gay, this is me, whatever y'all. But you just get told, “Oh you gay, you this, you bi, you a faggot, you this, you straight, why you out here playing with this girl," da da da. I was like, “Lemme start figuring out what I’m doing.”
On Migos questioning his "credibility" in trap music in light of his announcement: Did someone mention credible and not mention incredible? That's really my only comment. Was there not an "in" front of that credible? You see how friends do in interviews. So it's like, Oh well. With friends like these, who needs enemies. And now you gotta come back with some sorry ass excuse. Nah. That’s only cause you got the #1 record and you didn’t wanna fuck it up.
[But] they ain't got no problem with gay people! They fuckin' song is “Versace”! Like, the fuck! Nigga, [Gianni] Versace is the gayest nigga. They ain't got issues with him, why they got issues with me?
On Drake: He’s all in my face telling me, “You one of the greatest songwriters ever,” da da da. Just blowing me up, bruh. And I’m the little kid from tragedy right now. You could see it. It was written all over my face! I’m depressed as fuck!
Why you wanna play these games? When you got the goddam mansion out in Calabasas that I came out to and played y’all songs and ended up making you scared because you saw I could make songs on the spot? Why y’all wanna play these games? Why didn’t you just tell me you didn’t wanna fuck with me anymore and just let me go about my way? Why’d you make me chase you all the way the fuck around? And make me look like a fucking fool? Why would you do this?
