In a sea of unoriginal sounds and forced mystery, Bashfortheworld is a refreshing dose of the real thing.
With only a handful of releases throughout 2023 and rarely being seen in public (outside of his own sold-out dates), somehow Bash’s profile has never been higher. A Dallas native, over the years he’s built a loyal cult following addicted to his unique sound defined by slick-talking bars, heavily Texas-infused production, and his refreshing perspective as a suave Mexican-American embroiled in player ways – and it seems like the general public’s taste is finally catching up to his forward-thinking style with the rise of more unorthodox flow patterns.
Following 2023 highlights like his independently sold-out Nuestra Mundo Tour, countless cosigns from some of the most influential people int he game, a showstopping performance at Rolling Loud Miami, and some of the most underrated releases of the year with singles like “Mundo,” “Diabla” and “Plata O Plomo?,” it couldn’t be a better time for a formal re-introduction with his new tape, Mundo.
A truly singular figure with the utterly cool confidence, extremely impressive independent success, and air of genuine mystery that many of your favorite mainstream artists would kill for, Bash is objectively one of the most exciting rising artists in the game in just about every way. Which is why he was named one of OGM’s Artists to Watch in 2024.
We sat down with Bash for a rare glimpse into his rise, his new project Mundo, and his perspective on the recent influx of new interest – opening up about discovering his own starpower and offering gems on what it takes to carve out a lane as an independent artist in today’s landscape.
Check out Bashfortheworld’s new tape ‘Mundo’ below
Going global with Bash…
AW: There’s a line on “Mundo” that always stands out to me: “One thing about me is I’m never in a rush.” Which I think applies to your understated cadence and calm presence on the mic, but also the thoughtful, patient approach you’ve taken with your career. So that said, why do you feel like now is that right time to drop an album?
Bash: My brother once told me “You only come out once, so take your time with this shit.” So with everything I do I’ve always wanted it to be on par with everything else that’s going on from the jump. And why I feel like now is the time for a project is I’ve realized that a lot of the right eyes are watching. Like there’s this recurring joke with my friends because everywhere we go in Dallas I never think people know who I am, but it turns out they always do. The way I grew up it was “money talks,” but I’ve learned there’s more than that. Just cause you got money doesn’t mean you can just walk into Rolex and buy a 40mm. And I’ve started to realize people might be seeing that thing in me. I never really lead with this foot, but more recently I’ve sat back and realized the shit that I’ve done, and am doing, really isn’t regular. Like who gets co-signs from people like Brent Faiyaz, Virgil, Erykah Badu, Giveon, Uzi? So that’s why I feel like now is the right time: people are watching and it’s for the right reason, so it feels like time to give em what they want.
AW: What was last year like for you and what was the response like to your tour, new singles, etc?
Bash: The response has been good bro, and where I feel it most is on tour. I actually feel like everything that happened last year was a direct result of what we did a year before. Like people really starting to tap into ‘Darkest Before Dawn.’ In 2022, I was at a point where nobody was calling, I’m not signed, and I wanted to see where I stood. I set up my own mini-tour with dates in LA, Houston, Dallas, and Arizona – and when it was almost entirely sold out I got to see live and direct what my following was looking like. I got to see what it takes to make a tour happen: what it looks like on my end as the artist, what the business and gains look like, and also the power I have as an independent artist. After seeing that we decided it was time to drop “Third World” and “International Playas Club”. And then last year in 2023 after “Plata” we set up another tour on our own: 10 stops, all major markets, 500+ cap rooms. All sold out quick. Packing out some of the same venues that were nowhere near as full as the year before. It really hit me though when I sold out Dallas, my hometown in front of 1,500 people.
AW: How was your experience performing at Rolling Loud?
Definitely hit me again in Miami at Rolling Loud. Bro I had a early ass time, no extra stuff going on, and a few minutes into my set the whole place is packed. I don’t really like to beat my chest like this but I really never seen that happen bro. Packed crowd for a daytime slot? As an independent artist? People running to the stage? I never even been to Florida before! So that’s the type of stuff I’m seeing that’s letting me know now’s the time.
AW: In OGM Artists to Watch 2024 I described your sound like this: “Over the years he’s built a loyal cult following around his unique sound defined by slick-talking bars, heavily Texas infused production, and a refreshing perspective as a suave Mexican-American embroiled in player ways.” What do you think about that and how would you describe your sound?
“To be honest I have a tough time with that question. One thing I don’t like is when people try to box me in as “underground” or a “Mexican rapper.” So I like how you worded it. I’m not a Mexican rapper. I’m a man. I’m an artist. I’m from Texas. And I’m Mexican, first generation. Honestly I like when people don’t even know what I look like.”
“To me my sound doesn’t sound any one way and it’s constantly evolving, which I get is a cliché ass answer. When I first started, the music I was dropping was stuff I made when I was like 16, 17 years old. I’m about to be 25. A lot of growing up has happened since then so to me I’m in a totally different space than when I first started making music. But if I had to I think the best way to describe it is something real. And honestly vulnerable, when you listen close I really put a lot of my shit that I’m dealing with in the music.”
“To me the lyrics come first. The beat plays a big part of course, and I think I have great beats and great producers, but poetry has been being said since the beginning of time. I’m a writer fire and foremost. And I feel like that’s what really resonates with people when they listen to music, and me in particular.”
AW: What does ‘Mundo’ sound like?
Bash: “With this new tape it really feels like I’m coming home. I’ve been out of town on tour, I’ve been seeing people loving the music. I’m not sure if it’s because a lot of my music was recorded a while ago, but to me it still felt like something was still missing. So I really just wanted to come home and lock in with my guys to make new music for the people that love my sound and feels like now. I’m hopping on beats that I love that aren’t necessarily fully Texas sounding, but me myself is what gives it a Texas feel. It’s not just for Texas though or the South. It’s not just for Mexicans or Latin Americans. I feel like this is really a global sound… I guess you could say it’s for the world.”
“As for what does it actually sound like, it’s just a story bro. My story over fly ass beats. Vivid imagery that you can feel and see at the same time. The singles you’ve been hearing will be on there. There’s some club hits on there, it’s got street records. I’ve also got some singing records too, I think people are gonna be surprised by that.”
“This tape really has been like a year and a half, two years in the making. And I’ve been filming my life since like 2017, back when I still had long hair and a goatee. For the rollout, instead of like a proper trailer we put together some of that footage from the last like 6-7 years to show the growth and how it all came together. So I’m excited for people to see that.”
AW: What is the meaning of ‘Mundo’?
Bash: Mundo means “world” in Spanish. It’s kinda like my nickname amongst my guys growing up. Originally the tape was gonna be called ‘Farewell,’ as in like the start of a new chapter, farewell to the old songs, farewell to being broke. But as time went on I was like nah I gotta do Mundo, I don’t need a farewell I need a introduction to let people know who Bash is and what I’m about.
AW: A big part of your sound is certainly your ear for production. Who are some of the producers you like to work with and who’s on the tape?
Bash: Production wise everything is really tight knit bro. And yeah with everything I was saying about me I don’t wanna take away from the production either. I’ve always had great producers and production. These are all people that I work closely with either from the city (Dallas) or from LA. We’re really incubating some dope talent to bring to the forefront with this new sound we got. Like I gotta give it up to Gyft. He produced a lot of the main records from before this that people talk about: like “50-0,” “Darkest Before Dawn,” “Moe Texas,” “Cookout”. On the tape from Gyft is “International Playas Club,” which is already out but I feel like it’s a great song so I wanted to bring it back. My boy Mathaius Young has a few on there. I got this super cold pianist, Kesh. My guys Digital and of course Slum produced a lot of the real hit records on there. New Reign is on there. And Ashton McCreight who did “Mundo.” Real minimal and everyone I work with I want to keep building with.
“At the same time though sometimes I gotta let em know I’m not afraid to go find a Youtube beat and turn that to a hit, cuz that’s exactly what I did with “Third World.” Back when that came out, I think it being like a combination of the Detroit and Texas sound, and people like Erykah Badu and Suki Baby (the girl on the cover of Drake & 21 Savage’s Her Loss) were posting it, shit was back booming and it brought a whole new fire to our whole team.”
What do you feel like is an underrated aspect about your sound?
Bash: “When I think about what people like about my sound, yes my flow is different from the norm, but one thing I do different I think people really gravitate towards and maybe overlook is the stacks on my voice. Which is a sound that has been heard of course, but always in a different pocket. Like I draw my influence from artists like 50 Cent and Rihanna, who had some of the most built up vocal records. It sounds full like a choir, and I think that’s what really grabs people’s attention. Or some artists more in my era who did it well like Xavierwulf, Bones, or JayDaYoungan. So I would take that idea of stacking and apply it in my own pocket. So with that plus the shit that I’m saying, it sounds different. And I think that’s something people haven’t really heard before.”
AW: What kind music do you listen to on your own time?
Bash: “I listen to a lot of stuff bro. Lately though I been listening to a lot my own shit as I’ve been working on this tape. But I’ll definitely listen to some spanish shit, old salsa, Hector Lavoe stuff like that. Also like new age spanish shit, a lot of Domican artists. Puerto Rican artists like Anuell AA, Yovng Chimi. But if I’m just riding around, like today I been listening to Samuel Shabbaz and Babyface Ray. I mostly go by regions. Like I fuck with a lot of Detroit shit, a lot of West Coast shit. If I wanna hear some player shit I put on my boy Niko G4. I like a lot of Florida artists. Texas is automatic obviously. As far as like old school shit it’s basically all from the South: Pimp C, UGK, Bun, Plies, Wayne. It always surprises people when I say T-Pain was one of my favorite artists growing up. I’ll never forget the little radio my mom bought me that and you would just hear T-Pain all day every day. You can hear some of that influence with the singing records on this tape, which I think is definitely gonna surprise some people.”
AW: What are your plans for this year and what are you most excited about?
Bash: “I’m excited for people to hear this tape. I got some crazy music videos on the way, excited to get a little more artistic with the visuals – still sticking to the 16mm/35mm film vibe. And also just excited for people to continue to discover these records. With my previous tape Darkest Before Dawn it didn’t really start to go crazy until last year, so I that’s why I wanted to make sure and highlight the singles I put out last year because I still think there’s a lot of life in them. But don’t worry the Deluxe will be coming soon, I just need ya’ll to really hear these records first.”
“And we’re already setting up another tour this year that’s twice as big. I’m excited to come to new cities, touch bigger stages in the cities I’ve already been to, and of course come home and do another big show in Dallas. I’m doing Rolling Loud again coming up and I’m a lot higher on the bill. Same night as Future, and they just added Ye. I’m excited for that I think this is gonna be the best one in a long time.