Diggy Simmons Is Ready to Dive Back Into Music

Since releasing his debut album, Unexpected Arrival, in March of 2012, Diggy Simmons has gone mostly quiet on the music front. However, the wait may be soon over as Diggy has slowly begun to deliver new material, releasing "Ain't Bout To Do" featuring French Montana in October, "Honestly" in November and "Fall" at the end of the year. He's teasing a new EP, Out Of This World, which is likely to precede his upcoming sophomore album. With the 19-year-old breaking from music for the last two years, expectations are high and the young MC has grown from a 15-year-old with surprising skill to a man during the wait.

XXL recently sat down with Diggy in anticipation of his approaching EP, as well as his upcoming 20th birthday celebration concert at Irving Plaza in NYC tomorrow night (March 20). The Simmons heir not only chopped it up with us about his upcoming projects, but he also told us his thoughts on the comparisons between his family and Fox's runaway hit show Empire as well as his appreciation for Kanye West's often misunderstood mentality. —Miranda J.

XXL: What’s been going on? You've taken a long hiatus from your last album.
Diggy Simmons: Well, since then I released a record called “Honestly.” With that record, it was crazy to see the reaction to it. I don’t think I’ve ever so quickly gotten so many views on a song. I know the video just hit like half a million on YouTube. Then we released the “Fall” video and the song and “Ain’t 'Bout To Do” with French Montana. It’s just been about getting the fans happy with the music, just the excitement of it. It’s what I love to do, so I’m just giving it.

What were you up to after you dropped your debut album?
It was a two year hiatus. Traveling, I traveled. [I went to] Haiti, Jamaica. I went to the Bahamas for my birthday 'cause I remember saying when I was going as hard as I was, "When I get a break, I need to go to Atlantis." So I did do that, for my 18th birthday. So a lot of traveling and, I wouldn’t even call it soul searching, I guess I’ll just say I was living life. When you’re about to become an adult, you’re figuring everything out. So that’s what that was about.

There’s talk if an EP called Out Of This World. Is it coming?
It’s just a matter of putting the finishing touches on it, just making sure everything is in tip-top shape. I may be adding a song. So we’re just still recording in general because I’m recording for the album as well right now. So it’s an exciting time.

What’s the concept behind Out Of This World?
I think my biggest change, from before the hiatus until now, is what I’m taking about now. Obviously, a 20-year-old is going to talk about way different things than a 14 or 15-year-old is going to speak about. So it’s just like the content change. [There are] people who I’ve dealt with or had to deal with [who] aren’t in my life anymore. It’s just life experience.

DJ Mustard worked on “Ain’t 'Bout To Do.” Is Mustard heavily involved with the EP?
Actually, Mustard is the only other producer besides the [main] producers that are on it. Their names are B-Ham and Sapphire; one is from Houston and one is from Virigina. They just came together and they're working together out in L.A. from time to time. They did my whole EP together. Mustard is the only person who has the one single track.

If the rest of the project is just two people, why bring in Mustard?
It’s Mustard, of course. But right before I came out with my last album, I had met Mustard. And we were near the deadline and everything [for the LP] so me and Mustard couldn’t make a track. We picked up right where we left off.

Why did you want B-Ham and Sapphire to produce the majority of the project?
Their sound. Very talented. A lot of live instrumentation, whether it’s bass or violin. There are a lot of added elements in the songs that make me happy. I love the production side as well. I’m going to start producing; that’s something I just took into account. I’m going to start learning keys so I can produce myself.

Aside from French Montana, are there any other features?
I guess I kind of want everything to be a surprise as of right now, but there are three other features on the EP.

How far are you along are you with the album?
We’re pretty early because right now the EP is the focus. We’re going to finish that up. But it’s like, I love to just record, period. But what I do have for the album is really stand-out, which is cool. It means it’s going in a great direction.

I’ve seen lately in a lot of editorials about the show Empire that the closest thing to the scenario going on on the show is Diggy Simmons. Do you see any similarities? Have you watched the show?
I’ve watched the show. I think it’s great. Comparisons? Do I see it? I don’t know. I just really enjoy it for what it is. I never really compare it to myself. But I mean, it’s doing very well, so I guess it’s flattering.

A while ago you mentioned not wanting to do reality TV anymore but wanting to get into acting.
Yeah, throughout the duration of the pilot season [of Run's House] there were different things that I went for and I’m going to continue to audition and make myself visible in the acting realm and take classes, too. But it’s been going really well, there are some different things on the table that I’m excited about.

What else can we expect from you?
I'll just say I’m going very music-heavy. That’s where I am right now. I’m just inspired by my life experiences. It could be like, I’ll get a thought and then I’ll just kind of start making lyrics to it. I’ll voice note it so I don’t forget it 'cause that’s one of the worst things you could do. So, just keeping my ideas intact.

Is there anyone that plays a mentor role for you?
My dad. Just in life, definitely my dad.

Rappers?
I love Kanye. Did you see the video of him dancing? I know you did. I loved it because the thing about Kanye is he does what he wants. He’s a free spirit, he doesn’t care what people think. I just always loved Kanye for him being a unique individual. That’s why I posted the video because it just made me happy. I love seeing Kanye do what he does. Since the “Jesus Walks” days, that’s Kanye.

Is he someone that you aspire to be like?
More of a mentality-type of thing. I think if you can keep a mentality of there not being a ceiling or a box that you’re put in, that’s a great way to think. And that’s where he is.

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