Smoke DZA is the Kush God, described as “your favorite stoner’s favorite stoner.” The Harlem, New York native reps the East Coast in all ways, including down to the basics of hip-hop.
Growing up to the likes of Biggie and Jay Z, Smoke DZA, real name Sean Pompey, prides himself in his ability to actually rap.
Fast forward to 2019, DZA unleashed his joint mixtape with Curren$y titled Prestige Worldwide, which arrived on Black Friday of this year. The project is spearheaded by lead single “3 Minute Manual” produced by MonstaBeatz.
AllHipHop: Why are you everyone’s favorite stoner?
Smoke DZA: For multiple reasons, you would have to ask them. [chuckles] But I smoke really good weed and I keep good energy.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite?
Smoke DZA: My favorite right now is Luigi OG, that’s my go-to right this second. That’s from out here. It’s just the closest to the strongest OG that you can smoke.
AllHipHop: That doesn’t put you out?
Smoke DZA: I mean, they all put me out. But I like to be tranquilized by good weed. [chuckles]
AllHipHop: How much did you smoke today?
Smoke DZA: I never really count, but I smoked a good portion.
AllHipHop: At what point did you & Spitta decide you wanted to do a whole project together?
Smoke DZA: Well any time me and Spita record, we end up doing a project worth of s##t. We don’t record a lot but when we do, it’s a fair share of records. This was the first we did it with intent to put out a tape. Because we’ll run a session and have 4 or 5 songs with no purpose, just do it. He’ll use it for him, I’ll use it for me. We’ll split whatever else up. But this particular time, I hit him like, “Yo I’m coming to New Orleans, and we locking in!” He’s like “alright cool.” That’s exactly what happened.
AllHipHop: What’s the vibe in New Orleans?
Smoke DZA: The vibe in New Orleans is always cool. Gumbo, good weed, my friends, cool cars and s##t.
AllHipHop: How long have you know Spitta?
Smoke DZA: I’ve known Spitta since 2008.
AllHipHop: How much gas is he smoking?
Smoke DZA: A lot! A session with us, we might run through a zip or 3… depending on how long it is. We smoke weed. I can’t say we sit there and count how much weed we smoked. We just smoke until it’s time for us to depart. [laughs]
AllHipHop: “3 Minute Manual” is super inspiring, bring us back to that studio session.
Smoke DZA: We were just gang: smoking weed, watching movies and eating wings from We Dat’s (spot in New Orleans). Chicken tacos and different s##t. We were f##king watching Why Do Fools Fall in Love, telling jokes. Then we went to the studio and laid that, and 6 other records.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to get from this one?
Smoke DZA: I mean, we rap. We tell good stories. We’re just giving a vibe. Supporting the after Thanksgiving leftovers, good weed and Prestige Worldwide to listen to.
AllHipHop: Best memory from the video shoot?
Smoke DZA: Getting it done. [laughs] Because it’s a f##king movie anytime I’m with that kid. It was shot in New Orleans, don’t get me going. Some of it was in French Quarter, some of it was in Jet Lounge, some of it was at one of his cribs.
AllHipHop: What’s the significance in the title Prestige Worldwide?
Smoke DZA: We got it from “Step Brothers.” They had a slogan called “Boats and Hoes” and “Prestige Worldwide” was their rap group. I came up with it randomly being funny, and he loved it. Us being brothers and it just being funny, that’s really what that is.
AllHipHop: You also did a whole project with Benny The Butcher. What was that experience like?
Smoke DZA: Well I love to rap, and Benny is rapping at a very high level – he has been. I like to spar with my peers. He’s a family member, so it was good to actually get in and get it done. It’s good to get it done.
AllHipHop: What’s it like creating a joint project with someone vs. solo?
Smoke DZA: I don’t want to sound like I’m being lazy, but it’s less work. [chuckles] It’s exciting to share the stage with somebody else cool, and get s##t done.
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AllHipHop: You recently posted “all the money in the world won’t give you piece of mind.” Can you elaborate on that?
Smoke DZA: That was a Dave East line from a song, the joint with Teyanna Taylor. I mean, that’s just real. You can’t buy peace. Money can’t buy you that. It buys you locations and places to go but if you don’t have peace inside, then it means nothing.
AllHipHop: What’s your relationship with Dave East?
Smoke DZA: I f##k with Dave, that’s my guy. Good guy right there.
AllHipHop: New York mob ties?
Smoke DZA: Definitely New York mob ties. I’ve known East for a long time, I’m very proud of him and where he’s at. Just showing love to my comrade.
AllHipHop: How important is social media for your career?
Smoke DZA: Social media is important for my career because I’ve touched a lot of people I’ve never seen before, and that’s through the social media and them being able to find my music by following me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, MySpace back then. It’s pivotal to my message because I don’t have to be in these places for them to be in tune with me.
AllHipHop: Favorite person to follow on IG?
Joefreshgoods because he got swag. He’s actually one of my spirit animals, my style fashion spirit animals. He’s a big guy that knows how to put it together. A lot of people don’t show love to people that they get inspiration from, I’m not afraid because it is what it is. It’s one of my favorite accounts, just to see the fly s##t. Check the outfits, see what fly s##t is dropping.
AllHipHop: Do you feel real hip-hop is hard to be seen nowadays?
Smoke DZA: No. People can find whatever they want to find. If people are into real hip-hop, they’ll find it. The internet is the source for anything. If you want to listen to EDM, if you want to listen to soul, if you want to listen to mumble rap, whatever. You can find it.
AllHipHop: Who’s in your current Top 5?
Smoke DZA: I listen to a lot of Griselda, so that’s 3 out of my 5. I’m listening to East’s new s##t, and I’m listening to Wale. That’s my 5 right there.
AllHipHop: You cool with Wale too?
Smoke DZA: Yeah that’s my brother. I love Wale. He’s a good guy, very misunderstood.
AllHipHop: Favorite part about LA?
Smoke DZA: The weed.
AllHipHop: What are some goals for yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
Smoke DZA: Well I own my catalog right now. So for me, it’s just to continue to own my catalog. Just do cool s##t and collab with my friends, s##t like that.