New Orleans native Rob49 always had a Southern flavor that helped him stand out as a musician. What started as playful fun in the studio with his friends during the pandemic blossomed into a greater gift, leading him to rap—and now his music has infiltrated a new era of his hometown’s culture. We caught up with the rapper to discuss his collaboration with Lil Wayne and get his tips on entering the industry.
This story originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of ESSENCE magazine on stands June 25.
Girls United: What was your first job, and what skills did you learn there that have guided your career?
Rob49: I worked at Subway—and knew I didn’t want to work another job, so I knew I needed to work hard at music.
GU: When did you know you wanted to become an artist?
Rob49: When I was in college, I saw someone riding to my music— but I hadn’t officially dropped yet, so it must’ve been getting sent out to people. I was like, Wow, people like this, so I kept going.
GU: You recently collaborated with fellow NOLA veteran Lil Wayne. How was that moment, getting to work with him, and how does he continue to inspire your artistry?
Rob49: I remember everything. I was in D.C. and woke up to the song we made, and I did not believe I had a song with Wayne. I couldn’t believe it, and I was excited. It was lit being on the set. I was like, This is really Lil Wayne. As far as inspiring me, he’s a good rapper, so he makes me better.
GU: How do you continue to stay inspired, and what creative space would you say you’re in for this year?
Rob49: Wanting to get better inspires me—because I hadn’t been making music, but now I’ve started. I have so many songs done and am about to turn my mixtape in. I’m here to offset everything everybody has going on. I’m not just trying to go with the flow. I want to do some different things.
GU: With social media ever-present, do you feel like there is added pressure on artists coming up in the digital age?
Rob49: Lately, I’ve been thinking you just need to do you. Some people will like it, and some people won’t—and I will just do what I want and feel inspired to do.
GU: What advice would you give aspiring Gen Z artists, specifically those from New Orleans, looking to break into the music industry?
Rob49: Keep being you. I looked at a lot of people’s success stories and put that into what I was doing—so Gen Z artists should continue to do that, too.
Get performance-ready with Rob49’s essential items:
Photo credit: Ivan Eremin
About the Author: Kenyatta Victoria is the lead writer for Essence GU, working on all things pop culture, politics, entertainment and business. Throughout her time at GU, she’s garnered devoted readers and specializes in the Zillennial point of view.