Wakai — Interview
Wakai is a master of mindfulness. The Baton Rouge rapper wields a gifted storytelling ability, blending the nostalgia of his youth with the harsh realities of growing up Black in an unforgiving world. Wakai is relentless, constantly examining the people, community, and feelings that shape his world — for better and worse.
His latest album, Some People Scream, Some People Talk, adds to his distinctive artistry. Throughout the project, Wakai showcases an emotional maturity and awareness absent from most 23-year-olds. Equal consideration is given to production, with beats that amplify Wakai’s personality and the emotion conveyed on each track.
A week after the release of Some People Scream, Some People Talk, I chatted with Wakai about his sophomore album, the concept of home, poetry, and more.
Note: The article features the first half of our conversation — which will be released in full on August 8th on the What’s Really Going On Podcast.
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Noah Lyons: Before we get into the album, what’s it like after you put out a project?
Wakai: Honestly, making an album is like having a kid. You try to nourish and cultivate it, only for it to eventually go out into the world. I can’t tell you how much time and energy I invested into this man. Once it comes out, it’s no longer just my thing. It is for everyone who decides to listen. It’s a surreal feeling.
NL: How did you end up with the title (Some People Scream, Some People Talk)?
Wakai: Initially, it was, “Some People Scream, Some People Cry, Some People Talk”, but I felt that was too long. Every project I make is based on a poem. The last project (To a Dark Boy) was based on a poem I read, “To a Dark Girl”.
This time, I was writing poems throughout the project and had a line that included the title. I knew right away that would be a crazy album name. It’s 16 songs, so the first half is Scream, and the second is Talk.
NL: Do you identify as the screamer, the talker, or both?
Wakai: It was more so reflecting on the times I wanted to scream but couldn’t. Or situations where I would scream because I didn’t know how to verbalize my emotions.
NL: What goes into your process of selecting beats?
Wakai: The beats come first. I’m cut from that cloth of really caring about production. Everybody I work with will tell you I’m big on energy. I always try to pick something that moves me, if not I won’t hop on it. A majority of the time, I pick beats other people have passed on. I don’t know why but that always seems to happen.
NL: What does Baton Rouge and home mean to you? There seems to be nostalgia and love, but also an awareness that everyone doesn’t make it out.
Wakai: “Bittersweet” is the most vivid perspective I give on growing up in Baton Rouge. I know the beautiful parts of the city, but I know the lack of resources and the reasons why people don’t think outside their environment. I want to help, but I know I have to leave. If I had a child, I wouldn’t want them growing up here.
NL: As someone who drove a ’98 Toyota Rav4, I really resonated with “05 Honda.”
Wakai: Hell yeah!
NL: There’s something freeing about being young and driving a car you know can break down at any time.
Wakai: It’s damn near my brand to play with nostalgia and those moments in life. Generally, people’s first whip was shitty.
NL: But it was the best one you had!
Wakai: You had your best memories with it! I wanted a vibrant song, something you could dance to. It’s really a comedy about myself. I wanted the style of the car to be as generic as possible. Niggas know about an 05 Honda! I wanted to put you in a time frame. Regardless of what you are riding, you know what your destination is. It’s liberating because it’s the beginning and not the end.
NL: Earlier you mentioned writing poetry, how has that helped you as a writer?
Wakai: Have you ever seen Black Ice?
NL: Yeah!
Wakai: I loved watching his poems. I always resonated with spoken word poetry. I first got into it when I was around six, learning about Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance. Poetry makes you appreciate words. I like conversational things, poems are very conversational. You form your own interpretation of the tone, reading the words for what they are — which is a beautiful thing.
NL: How can people follow you, and find out about shows, or upcoming projects?
Wakai: Wakai007 on TikTok, Twitter, all that. Wakai on YouTube. Working on a tour right now. I want to keep focusing on the videos, so one more might come out — even a mini-documentary. This is a slow-burn album. As the season changes and summer ends, I feel like people will appreciate the album for what it is.
