Interview with ElCamino (Black $oprano Family)

Peace king. We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to ask you some questions because we’re huge fans of your music and have been tuned in since you released the “ELCAMINO” EP in 2017. In fact, that project was somewhat released with the Griselda Records imprint, when Griselda wasn’t yet the phenomenon it is now. But you were never officially affiliated with Westside Gunn’s label and only recently joined Benny The Butcher’s Black Soprano Family. So, how did your relationship with the Griselda members initially come about? And can you tell us more about that early period of your career?

Around 2016 I met Westside Gunn and I lived with him and Conway for a year or 2 in Atlanta during that period. That’s around the time where I learned everything I needed to know as far as running businesses, watching West and I learned how to get my ass up and go to the studio on my own from Conway. Then Benny moved to Atlanta and that’s when I learned how to hustle in this rap thing. So I pieced together something from each of the guys and added what I already had and now this is what you see.

Why, during all these years, did you decide to remain independent releasing many projects on your own (until you officially joined B$F) despite your long-standing connection with the Griselda guys?

Because when I didn’t get signed to Griselda, Benny gave me 2 options and one of them was to do this shit independently and keep building, that’s what I chose. I never signed a contract before, so I was just trying to do what I saw done minus a label being behind me. I feel like it gave me more time to grow as an artist and as a man also.

Why and how did you join Benny The Butcher’s Black Soprano Family?

Truthfully I was never signed to Griselda and after I moved back from Atlanta I had already had a good relationship with Benny & Dj Shay, and Shay always pushed me to work. I’m just a guy always trying to make self improvement and Shay’s constructive criticism is what elevated me above other artists, and me and Benny have been close since those Griselda 5 days (the 5 in like Griselda headquarters). 

Again Benny is a Buffalo giant that I would always see him like at the barbershop as a kid and shit but we never spoke until we were introduced by West or it could have been Conway. But I always looked at bro like a big brother figure considering he brought me everywhere since day 1, so it was only right I stuck with bro and signed with him in 2022, it made the most sense and I would never go outside of where I come from.

How has Buffalo, New York, influenced you and your music? Can you tell us something about your personal life story and what it was like growing up in Buffalo from your perspective?

I grew up poor in Buffalo but being broke in Buffalo wasn’t really that bad, some would say those were the best years of their lives being that they probably lost family since then. I could say growing up in Buffalo were the best days of my life, it wasn’t until we was young adults when shit got fucked up, you know people started dying, friends started going to jail, that’s really how it is in a nutshell it was sad times and it was good times.

Buffalo is a city where you pretty much got the opportunity to do whatever you want in life, it’s just not enough information out there in arms reach and nobody’s gonna tell you what’s possible, they’re just going to tell you to get a job and go to work which is cool, but Buffalo is a place you can live out your dreams if you follow them.

When did you decide to start rapping and you realized that you had a special talent?

I honestly wanna say around the time I started enjoying weed. We would just be on some hippy shit sitting around with the guys free styling.

We are amazed by your hustle, focus and work ethic despite your young age. In fact, during your career you released a ton of dope projects on your own and you’ve been running a successful clothing brand too ( “Anti gun violence”). What pushed you so hard and what has been your plan behind your clothing brand “Anti gun violence”? How was it born and what’s your vision and biggest ambition about it?

I always wanted to make clothes. It started off with growing up poor and having to make clothes I use to cut shit up, bleach it, type, dye it, customize my kicks shit like that just to separate myself. And I couldn’t afford a lot of shit but I knew if I cut a pair of cargo pants I could make them into cargo shorts. But what really kept me going this entire time is coming from nothing.

I always had dreams of being a businessman and going down to my 12th floor office in downtown Buffalo, and that was my first step towards that office. I got 2 other businesses as well, but Anti Gun Violence was the start of me owning businesses, that was like my first foot forward into the corporate world and it’s continuing to grow. It means what it says you know anti gun violence because let’s be real we all lost loved ones to gun violence.

You recently released your official release with B$F “They Spit On Jesus”. Can you tell us how this album and its collaborations were born and the story behind this title?

“They spit on Jesus” is a phrase and it’s the Truth. I told my family I ain’t gonna be a religious speaker lol but you gotta look more into the details to really understand the pic, you also have to know to understand, ‘’They spit on Jesus’’ the title is simply what happened and what’s happening today.

The first thing that catches the eye is certainly the cover artwork, certainly impactful and somehow provocative. Who created it and what did you want to communicate?

Abran Issaac created the image. I feel like the picture is amazing. I feel like if the Egyptians engraved it into a rock in those times they were around, it would be a historic ancient artifact from its perception and the details.

And a lot of people don’t realize that’s all we see today. Everything is about sex. I can’t scroll for 8 seconds without seeing something sexual lol like God see y’all. It is worth nothing that in today’s society, where sexual content dominates various platforms, this image stands out for its artistic merit and ability to engage viewers without relying on explicit themes. It serves as a refreshing reminder of the diversity and depth that exist within visual arts.

What projects do you consider most important to your career so far and why?

ELCAMINO, Walking on Water, Don’t Eat The Fruit, Lot & Abraham, Let there be light, They Spit on Jesus, those are my favorites because those are the ones I personally released, everything else I just got money for and they put out whenever they want. You could actually hear the difference in the albums usually when I don’t promote them, they suck, they more like mixtapes with album rollouts. I only say they suck because I don’t personally organize them.

The loss of Dj Shay ( R.I.P) during Covid epidemic shocked all of you. How important was him to you? What were the greatest lessons you have learned from him?

Very important, and we knew that if we were going stronger it was because of what Shay symbolized: hard work and dedication. He was one of the few people who believed in us.

What can we expect from you in the next months? Can you tell us something about your upcoming releases and your next goals ?

I got some shit. Up my sleeve. I just need everyone’s attention this time when it’s my turn again.