Few MCs are coming smoother with it than Seafood Sam. The Long Beach hero has an unassuming slickness to his sound, a glorious amalgamation of classicism and futurism, a sonic time capsule that keeps on revolving. The rapper has been active for years now, but has seen his acclaim reach a new threshold in the last year or so, with 2023’s EP “Afros In The Wind” a preface for the grand prize to follow – his latest record.
Standing on Giant Shoulders, Sam’s newest LP released a month or so ago, is incomprehensibly rich; in character, timbre and message alike. The dichotomy of old and new is vivid, from the dusty soul-tinged cadences to the forward-thinking production choices. Bolstering features from an eclectic array of artists – from Goya Gumbani to Pink Siifu – it’s a body of work that feels cohesive yet surprising, with Sam’s effortless and elegant story-telling and laidback persona centric to the record’s accessibility.
We caught up with the rapper to discuss inspirations, Long Beach, and the meaning behind the new album.
Listen to Standing on Giant Shoulders…
Read the exclusive interview…
Talk us through your musical origins. What made you first start rapping?
Watching Lil’ Bow Wow premiere on 106 & Park, that’s when I knew what I wanted to do.
In your early days, who was an inspiration to you?
Allen Iverson & Lil’ Bow Wow.
How has your Long Beach existence influenced the way you write and create?
Being from Long Beach definitely helped with the range. It is so many different backgrounds in one area, so with that being said I had to learn how to make one song connect with many people from different walks of life.
Does your music reflect you well as a person?
100% .. I said to myself a long time ago that once my time is up.. I would like my music to live on and not portray a persona or gimmick but what’s real and authentic.
From where does your love of vivid and intricate lyricism come from?
Lol, that’s just how my mind was designed.. I could literally be watching a documentary on an animal of any sort or something and in the mist of watching, my mind starts to brainstorm certain bars with the information I just heard and I’m not doing it on purpose, It just happens like that.
Your style often mixes the old school with the new school. Is that something intentional – an ode to the past but a gaze into the future?
Exactly, I am the futuristic artefact. In everything I do, if you pay attention you can find the homage or even me just simply giving a OG a shoutout keeping their name afloat.. it’s all love and I truly appreciate those before me.
Congratulations on the new album! How are you feeling about its release?
Thank you, it’s a relief.. I was working on this project for over a year getting everything together and during that time the anticipation to drop was building. Also from hearing all the talk about to the current state of hip-hop it made me even more excited to throw my 2cents in the mix and change the narrative. So besides relieved I’ll also add absolutely proud.
Sonically, what were you trying to achieve with the record?
I want this album to sonically introduce a shift in music and turn it back to when artists cared more about the process of making a timeless piece of work.
What are the main thematic driving forces across the LP? What are you trying to say?
The overall force behind this album was the word “grown” no matter the topic or tempo I wanted the music to feel mature. The ups and downs in life evolve you as a person so it’s only right I show off the evolution in my music.
In what ways is the album a reflection on your journey and a celebration of where you are from?
It’s a reflection on my journey because I haven’t stopped… from rapping over beats on YouTube in my closet to performing overseas and now being able to have my album (all original no samples) on vinyl is a reflection on dedication.
Love the feature picks! Where did those collaborations stem from?
Like James Brown said “Do it feel good?”… Every collaboration was based on a naturally feeling. Wasn’t going off status or popularity but simply just if they fit perfectly with the message and sound.
Following the album’s release, what does the rest of the year have on the cards?
More shows, visuals, collaborations & traveling… (all that good stuff)
What does success look like for you?
Mom’s crib paid off, pops has got a couple old schools parked in his driveway, being able to support my son through college or whatever he wants get into, two to three side business ventures and a couple Grammys.