On August 3rd amidst a frenzy of mainstream projects being released, underground artist Bag Ty released a 5 track EP titled Destined for Greatness. The EP hosted by DJ Phat goes through a variety of emotions, showing the true trials and tribulations of the streets. An impressive project for someone who has only been rapping for “a good year and change now.”
Bag Ty was raised in a single parent household after his father was deported back to Canada. “I used to go to Canada all the time. I spent a lot of my childhood in Toronto, but that don’t really influence my music. Everything I saw or done been in ATL. I learned everything here basically.” He added “I’m Jamaican also. That’s a fun fact.” He may come off as a jokester, but still clearly someone to be taken very seriously. “I’m not with the antics or gimmicks, so my grind gonna be slow. I’d rather have 100,000 REAL FANS than 1 million fans that know me for stealing shit out stores or smoking in stores. [Laughs] All that shit lame to me.”
The North Atlanta based rapper spoke on how he connected with DJ Phat and why he wanted him to host the new EP.
“I saw his name around and when I first started rapping, he really fucked with me and I could tell he believed in me. That’s why I let him drop all my music. Because it’s not just ‘I want a Ty song on my page,’ it’s ‘I believe in what he got going on.’”
The trap sound on this EP and other music by Bag Ty comes from his early influences. “A lot of Atlanta music. Outkast, old Gucci, old Jeezy, DG Yola. I’m still on my trap or die shit.”
The songs are short but deliver a strong message, serving as a perfect teaser for a longer project. This EP gives listeners a glance at the fast life of Bag Ty. Immediately starting out with aggression, “Free Bill” comes on to set the tone. Telling the story of Bill’s 20-year sentence, Bag Ty reinforces how he remained solid. “Never snitched or took no deal, big bro waitin’ on that appeal.” This track has features Tyrone Fisher, which may be an unfamiliar name to some. “Tyrone Fisher is my blood brother that’s why he the only feature on the EP. He’s fire the people gonna catch on sooner or later.”
The next track on the EP is “Say the Word” Bag Ty stays vigorous, using a raspier flow than the previous song. This track goes into the various connections possessed by Bag Ty. You name it he’s got it, he’s the “Bossman in my hood.” He previewed this song on Twitter a while back, and it got a great response from his following, perhaps one of the more anticipated songs off this project.
Third up is “Homicide Freestyle” which was produced by TayMasterChef. As expected from the title, this song keeps the high energy going and even kicks it up a notch with lyrics like “”Swear to god if I gotta pop, I’ma pop em first.” The middle placement of this track is right where it needs to be.
The tone of the EP shifts with “Rain” in which Bag Ty does some self-reflecting and reminiscing. This track is much more melodic and calmer than the first three but still sticks to the same type of content as the other tracks, maintaining the cohesiveness of the project. “Rain” opens a bridge to the grand finale and really shows the versatility of Bag Ty.
Closing out the project is “No Trust” which reiterates one of the themes on this project-being cautious at all times. He speaks on some of the paranoia he faces as a result of past events. It’s the perfect end, almost serving as the close to a movie with all the storytelling that has been done throughout Destined for Greatness.
He gave his take on his own project and which of the songs he enjoys the most. “That’s a hard question for me ‘cause they all mean something to me. Probably rain though. ‘Cause I was really doing that shit in rain or snow. Homicide too though simply because that’s how I live. I don’t trust no one. I just don’t want people to catch on to me when I die because that’s so lame to me. I’m living fast so you gotta keep up. If I get a chance. I’ll be big. Mark my words…My plan for the future really I couldn’t call it. I’m supposed to be on a tour, but we will see. I might drop one more project before the year is over…I got hella FIRE unreleased music, I just gotta grasp the fans wit my ratchet music first. That’s what they want. I take my time with projects though. I really think about shit before I post it. I’m self-conscious so everything gotta be perfect to me.”
“Shoutout my brothers Tyrone, Tayjon and Trenton. That’s it really. Also big shoutout my engineer Nyck. That’s my dawg for real for real.”
You can listen to Destined for Greatness below as well as on Apple Music or Spotify.