IDK knows what it’s like to feel misunderstood. Despite having more than a dozen studio projects under his belt – probably a Dries Van Noten one – the 32-year-old rapper doesn’t think his complexities have been properly conveyed through his music. That’s why he dropped BRAVADO + INTiMO.
“I wanted to strip myself down to the simplest form,” he recounts his approach to the enigmatic album.
BRAVADO is the braggadocio. The designer labels. The front-row finesse. The sports cars and sleepless nights. Look beyond that and you’ll find INTiMO – the innermost thoughts, desires and worries IDK he describes as his “true self.”
This internal battle commands the rapper’s psyche and, therefore, the sonic profile of his fifth studio album. Aside from the introductory “HELLO,” each of the songs on the project is labeled with “B” or “i” – “SEE YOU AGAIN (B, i)" is the one cut labeled with both letters.
“I care about sh*t so deeply, but I like to be fly at the same time,” he laughs.
BRAVADO + INTiMO is a contradictory compilation that, somehow, makes perfect sense. The “B” tracks are interspersed with the “i’”’s, among lyrical easter eggs hidden in each – and while each “side” has its honed-in sound, IDK’s sleek no-time-wasted production design connects all twelve cuts into a cohesive case study of self-discovery.
What does it all mean? IDK will tell you, though he thinks you’ll catch on regardless of whether he does or not.
“This is really the first time I didn’t have to explain the meaning behind an album. Everyone has seemed to understand it.”
How did you come up with the name of the album?
I’ve always been connected to my fans. We have a friendship, almost. We talk about sh*t on Reddit and Discord, but I felt like “Some of you guys don’t get me.” To me, [my thought process] seems pretty straightforward, but I realized, to others, I’m pretty complex. So I thought, “You know what? Let me strip myself down to my most simple form.” And that is BRAVADO and INTiMO.
What defines each side?
BRAVADO is the flexing and the fashion. All that sh*t. But at the same time, I care about so much, like the advancement of humanity and mankind. That’s the INTiMO. This is really the first time I didn’t have to explain the meaning behind an album. Everyone seemed to understand it.
Aside from the introductory track “HELLO,” every song on the album is labeled either “B” or “i” except for “SEE YOU AGAIN (B.i),” which is labeled with both letters. Why is that?
It puts you in that battle of BRAVADO and INTiMO. A lot of the BRAVADO comes from the INTiMO. It makes you feel safe when you hide behind a braggadocious or cool persona. But deep down, INTiMO is who I truly am. That song sums up the contrast. There are songs like “CHECK! (B)” where I’m rapping all this stuff about a girl – that sh*t isn’t real. That’s me talking sh*t but it’s not real. Who I really am is the other side – this kid who is just trying to figure himself out.
"That [BRAVADO] sh*t isn’t real. That’s me talking sh*t but it’s not real. Who I really am is the other side – this kid who is just trying to figure himself out."
On “HELLO” you say – “this is not your typical concept album.” How is BRAVADO + INTiMO an atypical concept album?
It’s not your typical concept album because I’m not really talking about a specific concept. Rather, the “concept” is in the project’s very specific sound design. Even when the drums change, the melodies still fit together; that’s exactly what I wanted to accomplish.
The singles you rolled out were all very different. How did you decide which ones to pre-release?
I wanted to ensure I wasn’t setting any expectations for my listeners. I do so many different things on this album, and I wanted the singles to set the stage for that. I wanted people to understand that this album will take everyone on their own, individual journey.
How do you want people to approach the album?
As if you’ve never heard of me before. This album is a rebirth. I feel like I’ve figured out who I am, and this album is me communicating that through my music.
What are your favorites on each side of the album?
On INTiMO, I love “MILES TRUMPET (i).” I wanted to go with that one as a single, but I went with “SUPERNOVA” instead because it felt more urgent to me. On the BRAVADO side, I really like “DENiM (B)” with Joey Bada$$ because it’s precisely what I’m talking about right here.
[flips camera] This is the couch and chairs I was talking about when I said “Sittin' on cloud nine, but it's really my couch / Pierre Jeanneret's, the original ones.” Later in that verse, I say “The neighbor's complainin' / The HOA sayin', I'm sayin' I don't know what they sayin' / I'm never in town.” My neighbors love me but they are always trying to get me to come to HOA meetings and sh*t. I’m like “Yo I’m tryna drop an album!” I also really like “CHECK (B)” because it's so original for today. You’ve got that sort of Pharrell and The Neptunes type of energy to it, but I’m rapping a little like JAY-Z. But it’s still IDK. But you can tell I f*ck with JAY-Z. It’s just something that’s not happening in hip-hop right now.
The album’s cover art marks the second time you’ve worked with Bolin Lee on an album’s visuals. Could you say more about why you decided you work with him again?
I’ve been working with Bolin Lee for a while now. He’s a visual artist from China. Virgil Abloh put me onto him. His thing was painting a lot of Asian and white men in black and white, and I asked him to paint Black women in bright colors. He did it for me and it’s hanging right here. [flips camera]
I was like “We should do an album cover,” and he was like “I’ve never done one before but I’d love to.” We first collaborated on Simple. with KAYTRANADA back in 2022, and I loved it so much that I wanted him to make a whole series this time.
"Fashion is my BRAVADO INTiMO ... I like wearing things that juxtapose what you think I should wear."
You talk about fashion and design a lot. How do they play into your artistry?
Dries Van Noten was a big part of the Simple. rollout. I wore his scarf on the album cover. That was the first time Dries messed with a rapper and we actually displayed the album’s art in his store.
Fashion is my BRAVADO INTiMO. I used to get made fun of really badly in school for my outfits, and by the time I was in sixth grade, I was so depressed and scared to go to school because I knew everyone was gonna make fun of my clothes. In eighth grade, I started to dress. I was the first person in my school bold enough to rock skinny jeans when they first came out. My bravado stemmed from not wanting to be made fun of anymore. I feel the most secure when I dress how I want to.
How would you describe your style?
My goal with my style is to trick the judgment algorithm in your mind. I like wearing things that juxtapose what you think I should wear. If I’m driving a specific car, I’ll wear an outfit that surprises people when I get out. I get out of the Lamborghini and I have taste – most people who drive Lamborghini’s don't have the best taste. Sometimes I’ll just throw on a pair of glasses to f*ck you up. If I look like I’m on some street sh*t, I’ll just put on some glasses so people are like “Wait hold on – is he an intellectual or is he street?”
You’ve spoken about drawing inspiration from house music. Did that genre influence BRAVADO + INTiMO?
I drew a lot of influence from Goldie. He’s not as much House, but more Jungle and Drum and Bass. I love the way he uses this specific drum pad. I started playing around with that same drum pad and drew a lot of inspiration from that. I like to match lyrics and beats with drums you wouldn’t think they’d go with. It creates a whole new sound.
What else inspired this album?
I took the most inspiration from MF DOOM. He’s the primary influence. I wanted to take stuff that he would typically do and do the opposite but still have that same feeling. This is the first time I’m saying this, but I have some stuff from him that I was talking to his team about potentially putting on this project. But I ended up deciding to hold onto it.
"I care about sh*t so deeply, but I like to be fly at the same time."
How do you not compare yourself to others or even yourself?
I'm going to talk to my fans, but with this project, as I said, I went into it as If I had no fans – that way I'm not comparing myself to myself. The funny thing is, though, everyone dropped music this week. So this project will be the biggest test of how I compare myself.
How do you want people to be listening to this album?
I think the first two listens should just be you really hearing it. I made this album to be played in the background. You don’t have to listen to the lyrics. I’ve put myself in a place lyrically where if you don’t know how to look for certain things, you probably won’t realize the depth of what I’m saying.
Can you give an example?
On “CELENE IN THE TRAP (B),” I come in very hot. In the first line, I say “Live from the underground, I got many sounds / Manny Pacquiao with the Glock and the switch / Keep on talkin' in circles, I give 'em plenty rounds.” Manny Pacquiao. Punching. Many rounds. Writing rounds. But then a Glock with the switch – a gun with an automatic switch, rounds. Circles – rounds.
“I do the kick and the hook, b*tch, I'm versatile / Like what's his style? / I could go Dior or Balenci or Celine in the trap” – No I’m sorry I gotta show you. [moves to other room]
I say “My mugs porcelain, that's a fact, like what's up now?” [lifts mug] Porcelain. My teeth are also porcelain. My mug is really a smile. You wouldn't know that. I wanted the music to feel good beyond the lyrics because 99% of people will not get the lyrics. It’s just what my mind does. I don't write. I just say it and it comes out. Those are the lyrics. Do you like my voice? Do you like the way the beat sounds? Do you like the way it feels? As long as those things are first, none of that porcelain sh*t matters.
Stream 'BRAVADO + INTiMO' – out everywhere now.
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