With two years in the game, 26-year-old rapper Blac Papi is making a name for himself straight out of the streets of Southwest Philadelphia. The captain of the independent record label Paid Man Hustle has put on for the City of Brotherly Love with the release of projects like his debut, Undeniable, and 2017’s Twelve. Recently released singles such as “Bad Habits” and “Pass the Ball” show the “10 Toes Down” rapper bossing up from the block. Always on his grind, the Philadelphia-bred hustler, who has performed alongside Cam’ron and Juvenile, shows us how to level up in a new freestyle for XXL's What I Do series.

“I’m on another level,” declares Blac Papi. “Tell her I never settle/Thinking Richard Millie, might just flood the bezel/All my niggas rock stars, play with heavy metal/Seen my first million dollars out the fucking ghetto/Told her if I fuck her she should feel special/Nothing like these other niggas, different levels/I’m everything it seems, just check my credentials/Hot in these streets but for instrumentals.”

Growing up, Blac Papi was influenced by legends like Lil Wayne and Jay-Z. “I just always liked Jay-Z growing up. He was always inspiring,” says Blac Papi, whose recent “Pass the Ball” visual pulls inspiration from a classic Hov video. “Listen to ‘Pass the Ball,’” he adds. “Listen to the lyrics, it really fits what was going on in that [Jay-Z's] 'Dead Presidents' video. I’m pulling my guys together, just talking about making it out.”

Watch Southwest Philly’s Blac Papi showcase why the competition can’t mess with him in the video above.

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