Last week saw New York rapper Smoke DZA drop his new album, Rugby Thompson on the High Times record label. We managed to ask him a few fun questions about the music and his career.

What can the fans expect from the Rugby Thompson album?

Creativity and fly shit. What else?

How did the partnership with High Times come about?

Me being the Kushed God and them being High Times our paths were bound to cross, it makes sense.

Who encouraged you the most to pursue a career in music?

My brother Prob. He always told me I was the best. He use to always tell me about visions he had about us and about living in a huge crib and telling our friends they can’t come over and stuff.

What impact has touring had on your career?

Since I’ve been touring I’ve been seeing new things that has brought my creativity to an all time high.

What’s the most fun you’ve ever had writing a song? Either actually writing it or the situation that inspired it?

Some of my funnest records are inspired by things that happened. That’s how it goes for about 95% of my music. And I love to make music with people that I have fun with in real life like Currensy, Action Bronson, Wiz Khalifa, Big K.R.I.T. We’re very close so we always inspire each other.

Which do you enjoy most - performing live or recording in the studio?

Half & half, I love them both. It’s like Kush & Sour.

Which historical musical moment do you wish you were present for?

Bob Marley’s first show in NYC.

Which artist would you most like to work with, dead or alive? And why?

Dead Biggie Smalls. One of my favorite rappers ever in life. Alive Jay-Z. Because both of those artists are the best ever, lyrically and at what they do. I aspire to achieve the same stature.

What is your favorite musical decade or time period? And why?

The 90s. Because I grew up in that decade. And a lot of music in the 90s is classic music today, in this day and age.

If you could have any artist explain the meaning of one of their songs who would it be and what song?

“Allure” by Jay-Z. I get the meaning of allure, it’s about fascination. But there’s so much double entendre in that song I’d love for him to explain.

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