You know those artists you hear for the first time, whether it be by word of mouth or some serendipitous surfing on the interwebs, who make you pause and wonder how they’ve flown under the radar for so long? TiRon could very well be their poster child. After being introduced to and subsequently blown away by MSTRD last summer, I started following TiRon on Twitter, where his sensei musings on everything from love to delicious condiments resonate just as much as they do in his lyrics. The man lives and breathes music, and he has a trove of projects and collaborations from MF Doom to Miguel to prove it.
All of this background wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Ayomari, TiRon’s brother from another mother and a fellow disciple of dope music. Most recently, the duo let loose T&A: The Prelude to ASFP and their En Kärlekshistoria EP, a smooth piece of auditory euphoria dedicated to lovers worldwide, which was written and recorded all while on a trip to Sweden.
And finally, A Sucker For Pumps is out in the wild. I caught up with TiRon to talk ASFP, women, L.A., working with Thundercat, and that thing called rap. For some reason, it feels like TiRon’s time, and frankly, it’s about time. xo
PIMB: First and foremost, let’s talk A Sucker For Pumps. You’ve had so many strong projects, but this is your first album. Was your approach any different? Was the idea for the album born out of a particular situation, or was this the inevitable next step for you and Ayomari?
TiRon: I feel like MSTRD was an album but many like to look at it as a mixture– I always look at it as a free album. For ASFP I just felt like there weren’t many realistic albums or songs out about the whole man/woman dynamic. For the most part, every album released this year that touches on that dynamic has seemed very superficial and trivial, and I just wanted to explore it more in depth. I feel like I speak on that well, and I wanted to make something that people can truly connect with and relate to no matter the generation– not just an album that “knocked” or an album full of “cooler than you” lines. Real life music. Musically, I feel like I offer something different than most people, something with longevity, and I think we did that with A Sucker For Pumps.
PIMB: You’ve worked with some incredible artists and producers. Who did you and Ayomari reach out to first for a collaboration (artist, producer, or otherwise)?
TiRon: The collaborations just sort of happened due to random studio sessions. I suppose the first track born for ASFP was “No Wonder”, which was produced by friend and long time collaborator DJ Dahi. He also produced songs on Ketchup (“Quitter”) and MSTRD (“For Your Smile”, “Take A Bow”). He’s a beast, and for some reason I always tend to click with his frequency. It’s never forced. It always just makes sense without any struggle.
PIMB: Speaking of collaborations, there is a photo of you working in the studio with Thundercat, Buddah Shampoo and Nate Welch of D.R.U.G.S. on your Tumblr. How did working with Thundercat come about?
TiRon: Well, Chordz 3D of D.R.U.G.S gave us the joint a while back. Ayomari and I were tinkering around with it until we eventually found the lane we wanted to drive in with it. After fleshing out the song, I just felt like it would be great to bring some musicianship to the table, and Chordz agreed. I’ve known Thundercat for years, so he was really just a phone call away. At the time he was busy with The Golden Age of Apocalypse, but eventually we found the time to make it work, and the song turned out incredible.
PIMB: You grew up in a small town outside of Chicago. On “60901″ you say “Safe to say it ain’t the best place to be/But I claim it like my own, that’s my city that’s my home.” At the same time, you seem at home in L.A. with Ayomari, Pac Div, Blu, and other artists holding down Cali hip-hop. What city do you identify with more today? Or is it more of a relationship between the two rather than an either/or?
TiRon: It’s definitely a relationship between the two. I don’t think I would have that humbled view I have without being from a small town where people don’t have as much. It’s a bit different in L.A. because a ton of these guys who grew up rough would be considered privileged back in 60901, so I think that small town Illinois living definitely helped me count my blessings more. I think it’s the reason I don’t brag a whole lot in my music, because I didn’t grow up in a city where bragging was cool. People really didn’t have too much to brag about…in L.A. it’s different. But I love L.A. because it gave me the ambition and sight to see that the impossible is possible. There is an incredible amount of resources out here that you just don’t get back in 60901– L.A. gave me the spirit and knowledge to truly believe that I can do whatever the fuck I want to do and be whatever I want to be.
PIMB: You’ve said you hate saying the term ‘rapper’. Is that because it’s an inappropriate label for what you do, or is it the mainstream connotation of the word itself?
TiRon: The reason I dislike the label “rapper” being thrown on me is because I value the literary aspects of what I do. It seems like everybody can call themselves a rapper these days and because of that fact, everybody DOES rap, so the title has lost its value. There are no standards due to the fact that very few rappers respect the literary aspects that it takes to be great. They just associate greatness with wealth, so if you have a ton of money, then you’re amazing.
The standards got fucked up and attention was refocused from the meaning of the word itself to the illusion, which is why rap isn’t as respected as other forms of music. We basically got D students graduating with honors….so now no one really respects the school anymore, and the trends are changing faster and faster than they ever have. So fuck a rapper, I’m a writer.
PIMB: Women, love, and the game seem to be the epicenter of your writing whether you’re contemplating, reflecting, venting, or just being playful. How would you categorize ASFP? What is the significance of pumps in particular?
TiRon: I wouldn’t necessarily categorize ASFP. I’ll just say that its honest…which is a rarity these days.
The significance of pumps plays on the idea that women indulge in discomfort in order to please. We all do different things in order to remain relevant and appreciated, to fit the status quo of what is considered beauty or what is considered perfect. So in some way, shape, or form we are all a sucker for pumps, pumps being interchangeable with whatever your vice.
PIMB: The image on asuckerforpumps.com
TiRon: Her name is Amy Phamous, and she’s an icon in my eyes. She’s part of this DJ group with her brother Minh called HM Soundsystem, and they rock parties in L.A. She has amazing fashion sense, and truthfully she’s inspiringly beautiful, not just based on her physical appearance. I just couldn’t see this project without her presence, so we decided to photograph her for the album cover as well as the insert. She embodies the inspiration behind ASFP, the beauty of a hard working woman who, no matter how beautiful or hard-working she may be, still deals with the same struggles that everyone else finds in a relationship. I always say, “Even Hallie Berry got cheated on…”, to describe that idea.
PIMB: In three words, describe your ideal girl.
TiRon: Compassionate, ambitious and beautiful.
