If you put your name into Google, it brings up as many videos of freestyles and cyphers as it does MP3s and mixtapes – like your ‘This Charming Mixtape’ - the fun hip-hop that many of us grew up listening to. Do you think kids today are misinformed as to what hip-hop actually is?

Yeah I think people lost like, you know, the fun and when artists just kept it real with their music and gave that art edge to it. They gave the kids something to dream about, something to fantasise about back when there were no negative messages, it was just fun. It’s great just getting my music out and seeing how people react to it you know, people share it with their families, friends… it’s just one of those things. Everybody’s real excited, we’re excited and we’re happy to dish out more music to everyone.

Artist like yourself, Wale and The Cool Kids have come through using old school techniques like mixtapes. How important have the tapes been to your success?

The mixtapes are very important. It’s like my platform, my microphone, my medium, my way of connecting with people. I can get away with a mixtape because I’m from the streets and I have a hip-hop background so an artist like me can benefit.

Like, if you take an artist in a band, they can’t make a mixtape. So I was like, ‘you know what, let’s put out this promo mixtape and get people excited’. It lets people know what’s going on with my music. I put ‘This Charming Mixtape’ out at the top of the year and people were responding to it, and so were the press. Now we’re touring with the mixtape.

It’s been an amazing platform. It’s been played on the radio too and it’s kind of overwhelming because I had no idea it was gonna blow up like this. So we’re just having fun and enjoying the ride. We’ve got a lot more music for you guys but we’ve had to put it on hold because of the mixtape but hopefully the situation’s gonna get way better and we’re gonna have the album out real soon.

I mentioned The Cool Kids. Last year, they came through with an 80s-influenced sound. You’re kind of doing the same thing but taking it one step further and bringing it back to it’s roots, back to Brooklyn. How much has where you grew up shaped they way you sound?

A lot - because Brooklyn gives you this certain attitude. It’s the people I hang out with out here like, the things that I’ve surrounded my life with and the things that I do that inspires my music. My friends inspire my music so Brooklyn’s definitely a big thing.

Also, I’m so into legends like Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and James Brown. Those guys, their careers was so unreal, people don’t like to talk about it that much. It’s like, of course everybody knows that James Brown is the best, but his career has been so unreal, people don’t pay attention to it but it inspires me a whole lot in what I do and my upbringing, so it’s very influential.

How much of a part has electronic music played in what you do?

It’s been very influential, because my producers are into that. They love that kind of music. It really makes people dance and it’s a great sound - it’s undeniable. It’s taking over the airwaves over here. We no longer have this Down South/Atlanta/Crunk music on the radio - now we got like Lil’ Wayne tryna do some electronic stuff! Nah the sound, it’s really great.

You’re working with Mark Ronson?

Yeah the future collab is in the works. Mark’s a great guy, great producer. He has this great air about him and you’re gonna hear some stuff from us real soon..

I trust you’re looking forward to coming over to Europe?

Aw man, I’m so looking forward to it. We’ve been talking about it all week.

Any cities you’re most looking forward to hitting?

Most of the guys are looking forward to Amsterdam and me too. Enough said!

And your stint at SXSW, how was that?

It was amazing, we met a lot of great people, the shows were great, good weather… it was a good time overall.

Finally, when is the album coming?

We’re gonna get working on the album after we tour, which should be over in the summer. We’ll definitely update everyone and let everyone know how it’s going.