Like many others including J. Cole, Ab-Soul, Post Malone, Tech N9ne and more, Pro Era flag bearer CJ Fly dropped his latest album Fly Trapon December 8th. CJ, like his friend and label mate, Joey Bada$$ is known as a member of Brooklyn’s new class of heavy hitters, but on this particular album, he sprinkled in some of that down South seasoning to give all the feels of trap royalty.
CJ came through #DXLive where HipHopDX Editor-in-Chief Trent Clark, HipHopDX Features writer Ural Garrett, Marcel Williams and myself got to speak with the 23-year-old on many subjects, including first and foremost why his Cinematic cohort Joey was left off of Fly Trap.
“I don’t wanna do the predictable move,” CJ said when Trent asked why the album is devoid of a Bada$$ feature. “Joey and I have like two or three songs it’ like, let it be those classics and then the next time we do [a song] it’s gonna be like ‘Oh shit,’” he added.
“I don’t want to keep them what they expect. What’s going to be the excitement when we do it again? Because every joint me and Joey have are classic in my opinion.”
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The joints CJ was referencing are “Sup Preme” and “Hard Knock,” but the two recently reunited for a blistering eight-minute freestyle for Statik Selektah’s Shade 45 radio audience.
When the Pro Era squad gets together it’s all love but still, rap is bloodsport even amongst friends, and CJ says even though it’s friendly it’s still competition when it’s time to hit the booth. “It’s friendly competition but of course you wanna take out your homie if they’re doing well. It’s like a leapfrog effect. Your friend takes a leap forward, you’re like ‘Oh shit! Watch me do this.’” noted CJ, who also says he listens to everything because his competition is rap as a whole. “I listen to everybody. I’m in competition with the whole game so I try to be the best.”
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See the full interview below and tune in to #DXLive every Thursday from 6pm-8pm EST on HipHopDX’s Facebook. Fly Trap is currently streaming on Apple Music.
