Signed to Meek Mill’s Dreamchasers label, Tafia has been a prominent figure from the Miami, Florida rap scene. Tafia actually put out over 40 music videos, and was consistently grinding for three and a half years before being signed to a major (Roc Nation/ Dream Chasers). Caught in tiffs with the law, he was embattled in a troubled past that saw Tafia locked behind bars for seven years. Overcoming the same, Tafia has unloaded the baggage and evolved into one of Florida’s bonafide rap stars. His latest effort Mention My Name sees the gritty emcee hungrier, refined, and a certified hit-maker. Helmed with features from deceased Memphis rap phenom Young Dolph, Davido, Rob49, Jeremih & Vory, Tafia is assured, indispensable and calculated on this effort. Although he’s in between a thick schedule of shows, Remixd Mag caught up with the prolific emcee on his recent LP, relationships in the industry, upcoming singles and more.
Check out the exclusive interview below.
Congratulations on the project. What was your thought process going into this on the back of your Gansta Grillz project Street Clarity?
It was really me just buckling up making a body of nothing but hits, and potential hits and let the fans choose instead of just making more songs just for me. I wanted to make songs that a lot of people could gravitate to. I was in that zone just creating vibes that people from different parts could create to, whether you in the club, in the streets or whatever. I just got to mix it up.
Talk to us about the features on the project. You had some really noteworthy artists on there. But who did you want to work with and just couldn’t get it across the line?
Probably one with Future. I think he would have been hard on “In The Stars” fosure.
Do you have any favorite song off the record?
“Nobody” with Vory, that’s one of my favorites. It’s based off a real story & a real situation. When you hear it, it kinda gives you chills, a little bit. It puts you in deep thoughts. Vory is really talented with his singing & rapping. He has this thing where he’s able to be real soulful.
How was it connecting with Dolph on a rare posthumous verse on “Paper Route”? What’s something he managed to impart with you that you carry with you to this day?
Me and Dolph never got a chance to link up. I sent him the song, and he sent me the verse back. Every time he would come down to Miami, he would always FaceTime me and catch up. We’re always running around and our schedules are busy so we’d miss each other, but he just did it off the love. He’s definitely a real one for that. He showed the type of love that’s not common. He was really genuine. He would always tell me to “Stay hungry and don’t stop going. Even when you blow up, keep that same hunger”
Being signed to Meek, how much influence does he have on how you move, your music, and just you as a person and creative?
He lets me do me. He believes in me a lot. He’d give me ‘lil advice on how to move in the industry like “don’t make it a priority in the game to work with different artists” – but I really came up like that, I didn’t really care for features like that if you look at my mixtapes. I could have like four different flows on one song, and Meek knows this. He advises me “if I reach out to certain people and they don’t reach back, just keep it moving”.
In terms of the Florida rap scene, you’re one of the hardest out. How do you feel about the scene as it is right now, and wo are you paying attention to?
Florida is lit right now. I’m holding it down for Miami. The younger generation really have they foot on the games’ neck. As far as who I mess with, Cheeks Bossman, Blackie Chan, Bambino, Frank Castle, there’s a bunch.
“No Cappin” featuring ROB49 is definitely ringing off. It has this no-filter edge to it. How did you and Rob link up?
I met Rob in the studio. I already had the song done and everything, Me and him been cool, and I told him he was gonna blow even before he started this crazy buzz. He actually did that verse for me literally just when things started going up for him, so it was all love.
Could fans look forward to a joint tape from the both of you?
Fosure! We really cool like that, He’s running around, I’m running around, but that’s my guy.
What else can we look forward to, and what are some of your plans in the short & long term?
Yeah, I got the merch out now, that’s Mention My Name hats & hoodies, make sure you click the link in my bio. We gonna shoot about three-four more videos, look out for that Dolph single “Paper Route”. So tap in.
You can stream Mention My Name through the link below:
Support his latest merchandise line through the link below:
https://downrightmerch.com/collections/tafia
