Sex sells; and LoveRance is living proof of that. His debut single “Up!” has been making waves on the charts all summer long, peaking in the top 20 on both the Billboard Rap Songs chart and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart.
Inking a deal with Interscope Records back in April, today, this Bay-Area native plans to continue the tradition. He’s currently prepping the release of his follow up mixtape, Freak of the Industry inspired by the Digital Underground song of the same name. VIBE had the opportunity to chat with LoveRance a few weeks before its release to discuss his breakout success, the upcoming mixtape, and the crush he has on R&B vocalist, Elle Varner.
VIBE: “Up!” is undeniably one of the hottest songs of the summer, but it didn’t come easy. What has been the most rewarding part of your career thus far?
I would say, just hearing the other artists on the record. I feel just like, the amount of people on the record, the big names on the record, it’s just very exciting to hear. Just a few months ago, I was playing in my car, vibing to their music, now I’m hearing them on my song. So, that’s been one of the best parts about my song and my career thus far.
Where’d the inspiration come from to record that record?
The inspiration came in a very funny way. Me and the homies was chilling in the studio and one of our mutual friends came with one of her friends that we never met before. Her friend was very unattractive I should say, and she was tired of guys beating around the bush about certain stuff as far as sexual acts. So, she just wanted to get straight to the point, and was like, “I just want a guy to beat it up.”At first, I didn’t pay her any mind, and neither did anyone else in the room pay her any mind. But after two or three more times, it kind of sunk in and the song came about.
With that in mind, where else do you draw inspiration from?
I definitely draw inspiration from the people. Not just from my peers or friends, but I also draw from people randomly, and stuff I see on television. Majority of my stuff is for the ladies, so I get most of my stuff from just interacting with girls. Plus, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social networking sites, I also draw inspiration from there too. I get to photos from people across the country. I also get to see people’s thoughts from across the country.
“Up!” has also spawned a number of remixes, including the all-popular one with 50 Cent. How did that collaboration come about?
I believe he heard the record a few months prior to getting on the record, and then when I signed to Interscope, it was kind of like, “How would you feel if we got 50 Cent to do a remix verse?” And, 50 Cent is a really big artist, so I was like, “Definitely. If you can make that happen, please make that happen.”
Sex sells; and your music is living proof of that. What about that subject do you find appealing?
I just find that it’s something that everyone can relate to, even if it’s not sex. Also, people do it. People see it. It’s not like everything else. Plus, I’m not talking about standing on a corner. I just feel like everybody can agree and disagree with certain stuff. I feel like everybody can get their point across very easily when talking about sex. You do it, see it, been around it, the reason why we’re here, is because of it.
The name of your upcoming mixtape is Freak of the Industry. If you had the chance, which three industry chicks would you freak with, and why?
(Laughs) I definitely would go with Janet Jackson first. Ever since I was young–ever since the Velvet Rope album, I was like, “Yo, Janet Jackson is a little freak.” Everybody wants a cougar nowadays so I would pick Janet Jackson as definitely one. Number two, I don’t why, but I’m starting to think of Katy Perry as very attractive. Just because I try almost anything once, so I’ll definitely go with Katy Perry. The third of course I’d have to do—I really have a crush on Elle Varner right now. So yeah, Elle Varner.
Was that the reason behind the “Refill” remix?
Definitely. My friends know it’s definitely true. So everybody was like, Rance why don’t do you that. Summer Jam was week prior to me dropping that, so they thought it had something to do with our city’s Summer Jam. I was like, “No.” I didn’t have the time to record the actual verse, and when I eventually had time, it just so happened to be a week prior to the Summer Jam. I have the biggest crush on her. (Laughs)
When can we expect your mixtape to drop?
Right now, it’s looking like the end of July, and now we’re just finalizing some stuff. What we want to happen is to have the second single out and to be surfacing then drop the mixtape right behind it at the end of July.
So now that you’re signed to Interscope, you definitely have a second single on deck then?
Yeah. I actually have second and third single ready to go, but like I always tell everybody, I’ve never been the type of artist to say, “Oh, this is my second single.” Even if I drop the second and third single and somebody picks up the mixtape and is like, “Yo, our city, our area is messing with this song from your mixtape.” Every time I’m in that city or that area, I dfinitely will be doing that song off of the mixtape, and on top of that shoot a video for that. I feel like the people put me in the position I am in now, getting the music, downloading the record, however they go the record. I think the people, at the end of the day, want their voice to be heard.
Do you have any features on either of those records?
I do, but I can’t say yet. The paperwork is not done yet, so we don’t want to say no names, then it’s like, “We got your second single, but that isn’t the person you said that was on there. Well, yeah what had happened was.” Until then, I can’t give you any names, but just know there’s a feature on there.
Elements of your Bay Area roots have shown up in your music already, can we expect to see more of that in the future?
Definitely. This is where I’m from, I’m raised. I’m definitely influenced by the past in the present. We’re very cultured out here and we have different kinds of styles that I feel can put us in the forefront, not only in hip-hop, but in music. It’s going to be fun to see people’s reactions from the other side of things, just by traveling. Everybody is well minded about where I’m from, they just think that ‘ghost riding the whip’ or songs of that such, which we do that type of stuff. But it’s big. There are like 10 cities in the Bay Area. It’s going to be great to show people my point of view of the Bay Area, and also some of my friends’ point of view.
For fans and those who are beginning to engage in the LoveRance movement, what do you want your audience to ultimately take away from you and your career?
I definitely want them to take a person who has fun doing what he loves to do. Whenever my name is brought out in discussions, I want people to be like, “That kid had a good time. Everything he raps about was true. He always brought the girls out and they became the concept of the party.”