"The grind doesn’t stop and hope is not a plan. You can’t record music and hope someone finds you. You gotta grind to get it especially with the way the music business is at this point. The labels not taking chances these days."

Over recent years, B. Baby has performed and recorded songs with various other artists such as Boyz-N-Da Hood, Chris Brown, Mack Maine, Chingy, Curren$y, Lil Wayne, Memphis Bleek, and Lloyd, which enables him to consider himself the industry’s newest rising star, having worked with so many promising artists. Baby has been on his mean music grind for years and has seen a good amount of success in his fast-climbing career. He has combined years of experience on the road, along with street style and class to develop his unique sound. On the real, with all this going on, we wonder if he’s ever been swagger jacked?

B. Baby sits with Yo! Raps and discusses his success stories that are so impressive that we wish we had time to list them all. One impressive moment was performing live at the 2005 VMA’s as well as “Hotel MTV”. This doesn’t particularly boost his ego, because despite those things he admits to us that he’s a nice guy and will forever remain humble.

In 2009 he released, The Sky Mall mixtape, which highlighted his versatility and demonstrated his ability to appeal to all music lovers. It certainly worked, because The Sky Mall was well-received causing a domino effect of respect and love in the streets, drawing attention and attracting a mountain of new followers for B. Baby, the artist. It just goes to prove that hard work does pay off. Be on the lookout for him, there’s way more to come. Unlike other intimidated artists, the Baby is here to stay.

You consider yourself to be the music industry’s newest rising star. For those new to your music, you have been on your music grind for years and have seen a good amount of success in your career. Tell us about some of these success stories

I consider myself a hard worker and I’m a humble guy so I take my success in stride as it comes. I’ve preformed at the 2005 VMA’s along with Young City at “Hotel MTV”. I’ve worked with many big name artists, sparked the interest of many producers and artist looking to collaborate and gained fans of my music and movement. Despite those things I know there’s much more to be done so I use those accomplishments as fuel.

Over recent years you have performed and recorded songs with various other artists such as Boyz-N-Da Hood, Chris Brown, Mack Maine, Chingy, Curren$y, Lil Wayne, Memphis Bleek, and Lloyd -- that’s a strong line-up. How did you get hooked up with them, and are there any more features with other well-known artists soon to come?

A majority of the connections with these artists came from to touring. The other portion came from building up my network. I think that many people forget that these artists had to start somewhere and in most cases they are willing to work with other good artist but you never know until you ask. Currently, I wanna do a track with The-Dream, he got some heat. I also wanna do a street banger with Yo Gotti, Young Dro, and Brisco. We just reached out to Dro’s team so we’ll see what happens with that situation.

In 2009 you released, The Sky Mall mixtape, which highlighted your versatility and demonstrated your ability to appeal to all music lovers. How was the mixtape received and were you happy with its outcome?

The Sky Mall was hot but there was room for improvement. It got mixed reviews. There were a lot of people that liked the direction I took the project, however, there were some people in the hood that felt like I neglected them. Now I know how far I can take it before I lose people. It’s all a learning experience.

You’re currently working with music producers/teams such as Sucram, Ready Made Muzik, and Cracka Lack, along with others to produce hot new records for your upcoming projects. How is the collaboration coming along and when should we expect an official album from B. Baby?

When it comes to album material you wanna make sure it’s the best you can bring to table -- you gotta give the people their monies worth. I got a few records stashed for that but it’s a work in progress what’s hot today may not be tomorrow.

As far as your swagger, you have combined years of experience on the road, along with street style and class to develop your unique sound. With all this going on, have you ever been swagger jacked?

It’s funny you asked that. I actually did a song which addressed it called Trendsetta. I was seeing a lot of my influence in other up-and-coming artist work so I had to let them know I knew. It’s hard to jack my swag though because it takes some cheese. My average outfit could run you over $800 between the shoes and jeans alone or you might see me spraying a $350 bottle of Creed cologne easy. I represent the slick G’s.

Hailing from Baltimore, MD, by way of Sarasota, FL, you’ve surely come a long way. How was the transformation, and which town do you rep for life?

Aw man, it wasn’t an easy switch. I actually moved back and forth between the two cities a few times so it took me minute to find my niche. I had to make sure I represented both places equally but I got it now. I represent Sarasota at this point; this is where I rest my head, so I gotta put on for them the most.

Your MC name, B. Baby, is pretty catchy, but you’re also known as Frequent Flyer B. What’s the inspiration behind both aliases?

B. Baby became an alias of mine after a trip to All-Star Weekend in Atlanta with Young City. We were hanging with Wayne during the Squad-Up days and it started as a joke because I was so young but it stuck ever since. I came up with Frequent Flyer B while I was working on The Sky Mall and people around me, at the time, drifted toward calling me that so both names became official. They both seem to do the trick.

As far as competition, who would you consider to be your ultimate competition in the music game? Do you have any rivals?

I try not to look at other artist as competition. I personally feel that there is always some level of hate involved in the industry especially when you consider someone as competition. A lot of people like me so I’m not sure that I have any rivals but there are those that know I mean them when I say, “Fuck you” [laughs].

Are you a signed artist, or are you independent?

I’m currently working with Slip-N-Slide Records as an On Da Grind artist but I’m a free agent. We are in the process of setting up meetings with a few labels now. We got a few reports that these labels are gonna like to see.

With the music industry and the economy being so challenged, what is your best advice for other recording artists?

Yes, I tell artist to “always be selling” when your an artist your trying to sell people on a specific image or personae so you must portray that image at all times. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the club, chilling on the block, or in Wal-Mart at three in the morning if you don’t look the part then you lose the sale. The last piece of advice is they need to remember that the grind doesn’t stop and hope is not a plan. You can’t record music and hope someone finds you. You gotta grind to get it especially with the way the music business is at this point. The labels not taking chances these days.

Aside from you being so musically proven, are there any other hidden talents we should know about?

I’ve been told I should’ve been an actor so that’s always a possible venture.

Are you in the game to stay, or are you just stopping in? How deep is your passion?

[Laughs] Is that really a question in your notepad? I got so many people counting on me to make it in the entertainment field so it’s really deeper than rap for me -- it’s about building my brand and solidifying my movement. I’m putting things in motion now to ensure that everybody on my team eat no matter what so I’m definitely here to stay.

Where can we find your music online? Wanna share some links with your followers?

Of course! I believe your network is your net worth so I’m always willing to speak to the people and my music can be found on any of my links; I’m always grinding so I ain't hard find. They can find me at: twitter.com/iambbaby, myspace.com/officialbuckybaby, slipnsliderecords.net/bbaby, and youtube.com/buckybabytv. If they wanna talk business they can reach me at buckybabymusic@gmail.com.

I wanna thank you and the staff at Yo! Raps for the opportunity. I appreciate it! Oh and my Street Talk mixtape, hosted by DJ Purfiya, is available for download now.

- By Inga “International” Newson

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