Rapper Big 10 Has Labels On The Phone After Swiper Man

Big 10 Is An Atlanta-based Rapper That Burst Onto The Scene With His Hit Single “Swiper Man”. During His Exclusive Interview With INSIDE Monthly At Picture Studios, We Discuss His Journey As A College Football Player, His Progress In The World Of Music And Why He’s Easily The Best Dressed Member In His Family.

Where were you born, and what was your childhood like?

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, well, north of Atlanta, Georgia, Stone Mountain, Snell Bay area. My childhood was smooth. I’m the second youngest, of like seven siblings. Being the youngest, you get babied the most. You know what I’m saying? So being one of the youngest, you get babied the most. So it was smooth, though, but there was ups and downs.

What music do you remember listening to growing up?

I remember listening to everything. My sister, my older sister, she does music as well. She’s a singer, so I remember listening to like Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lil Wayne. I remember listening to everything.

How did you end up going to college in North Carolina?

My college journey was crazy. I went to Georgia Southern at first, for football, and it just didn’t work it out. I ended up going to two junior colleges (JUCO), a JUCO in Miami and a JUCO in Kansas. And when I was in Kansas, North Carolina A&T was the first school to offer, and I came here, and I didn’t really know much about HBCUs, but once I came here on a visit and felt the culture, it was like I didn’t really have no other choice but to come here.

In what ways is Greensboro different than living in ATL?

It’s a little bit slower paced, but the same thing I like about living in Greensboro is the same thing I like about ATL. It’s kind of spread out. So it’s probably the only thing that’s a little different. It’s a little bit more fast-paced in Atlanta because it’s a bigger city and stuff, but not too much different, though.

Who is the best-dressed member of your family?

Me, easily.

Who puts you on to the hats that you wear in your videos?

The hats I wear in my videos are actually from one of my friend’s companies. It’s called Shop Blavic, and they have ski masks, and I just tore them up and made them into a hat.

How did you know that Swiper Man was a hit?

Swiper Man, I kind of knew it was a hit when I made it, and it was crazy. I was on the road doing the training for driving trucks, and I had booked a studio session. I knew it was coming in. I booked a studio session. I was like, I ain’t been in a studio in a minute, and I ain’t have no song ready. I got to be there tonight. So I had just put on a beat, and the beat was called Bubba Man. As soon as I saw the Bubba Man, I heard the beat, I was like, okay, Swiper Man, and I just started putting it together. I was like, yeah, you know what I’m saying? Then when I recorded it, I was like, yeah, this is really like THE ONE. I got to put it out the right way.

How has your music evolved since you first got started?

It has evolved tremendously. That’s what I would tell people all the time. If there’s really something you want, anything, it’s just time in. It’s going to always make it better. You’re going to get better over time. I remember I started rapping in the middle of COVID, but not really. Just me and my friends. I would never even like, you know how people be in the car, and they turn on the beat, and everybody freestyle? I wouldn’t even freestyle. I’d be silent. I’d tell them I’m not even about to rap. I was just a football player, but then after COVID, it just clicked. Then after that, I had bought a studio set. I bought a whole studio set, and I spent hours and hours in there. At first, my friends, they were like, I play it because you’re cool, and I mess with you. Now it’s like they be calling me playing it because they like it. It just spent hours and hours in there. It evolved tremendously.

How did the collaboration with Cinco Millionz come about?

Me and Cinco, man, we became cool. He had come to our campus, and Cinco just got, like, I had told him he got something that I admire. He comes in the room, he’s going to talk to everybody, and he just has a good spirit. I’m kind of more silent in a way. You know what I’m saying? Sometimes people see me, and I don’t know, they take it different ways. Oh, he’s shy. Sometimes they be like, oh, he must be cocky. He don’t want to speak or something. But most of the time, it’s just like I’m just standoffish as a person. I told him that. Cinco, when I saw him, I was like, bro, you got a great spirit. So it was just like we had tapped into each other, and then we made a song. Actually, it was a real good song. It was called Big Flesh at first. And we ended up never dropping it. And then I came up here, and I was like, man, Swiper Man was going. I had a song. I had another song that I knew, with like, just a hook. I was like, it’s going to do something. You know what I’m saying? I finished it off. And I was like, all right, Cinco, come pull up, let’s do this. Made the song, shot the video all in the same day. You know what I’m saying? So we did that back to back to back. The song wasn’t even mastered by the time we shot the video. Had to get it mastered afterward.

Do you have any other nicknames before music?

AJ, Alex Junior, because I’m my dad’s first son. So, you know what I’m saying? They called me 10 because I played football. My football number was 10, 10K in high school. So, like, that’s where the big 10 came from.

What would you be doing if rap wasn’t an option for you?

I’d be doing what I do now…driving trucks. I’d be on the road. I’d probably be on that more heavily than now. I know my pops tell me I need to be getting more active. He tried to tell me; I don’t know, I’m a dreamer. He did tell me rap might not work, but it’s going to work.

Which pro sports team would you buy if you could?

People might not like the answer, but I’m gonna say the Atlanta Falcons. I’m going to ride with my Falcons every day. I don’t care what people say.

Who would be the lead actor in a film about your own life?

The lead actor? My boy Ty. He could be the lead actor. Well, he’s got great character, great energy, so I know he’ll kill it.

Where are the best spots to take a date to around town?

In Atlanta, I would definitely say it’s a place called Puttshack. It’s an adult mini-golfing place. The whole course would be cool. It’s got a whole bunch of different things. Some of the courses have beer pong. It’s a cool place, so Puttshack for sure.

Do you believe connections are more valuable than money?

Yeah. I’m not going to lie. I feel like money is a little bit more valuable than connections, but connections are definitely important.

Who would you love to eventually work with?

Probably Lil Baby. Being from Atlanta, I look up to him. He’s the reason why I started rapping and they way I want to rap. I don’t really like to rap about a whole bunch of street stuff. To me, he doesn’t. He raps about money and motivation. When I listen to his music, I get motivated. That’s what I want people to do, when they listen to my music, they’re like, “Okay, I need to get some money.” Even if it’s not the same way I do. You know what I’m saying?

What should people expect to see from you in the future?

A whole lot of videos. Probably a whole bunch more EPs. I know right now, I’m kind of trying to enter that stage and be more than just a drill trap rapper. I got a whole bunch of more singing songs. Not singing, but harmonizing. So they can see a lot more harmonizing. But they’re definitely going to get the same Swiper Man. A lot more of that, too. Just a lot more of everything. I think the end of the rest of this year and the start of 2024, it’s about to just see me back to back to back.