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Smoke DZA’s Mom Inspired His New EP ‘We Outside’—Without Knowing It

In a POLARIS exclusive, the Harlem rapper breaks down the six-track EP he cut with Mike & Keys in five days, and the mother whose questions about his voting plan shaped it.

By POLARIS · POLARIS — reporting produced by POLARIS, published on RAP TRENDS ·

Two men seated side by side on a darkened set under purple and red lighting. One wears a red cap and a patchwork NBA varsity jacket; the other wears a hooded sweatshirt reading Defend the 14th Amendment.
Photograph supplied by POLARIS.

Photograph supplied by POLARIS.

Smoke DZA is outside with a purpose. In this POLARIS exclusive, the Harlem rapper breaks down his new EP with Mike & Keys, We Outside, and how his mother’s constant encouragement to vote helped shape his political awareness.

DZA says he recorded the music in just five days, calling on his friends to bring substance to the project.

“Every record I sent, it had a disclaimer of what I was doing,” he explains. “Everybody showed up and rose to the occasion.”

The six-track EP brings together Benny the Butcher on “Statue of Limitation,” Big K.R.I.T. on “We Gon Be Straight,” and Beanie Sigel and Styles P on “Diamonds Can’t Save You.” Other tracks include “Exact Change” with Kai Ca$h and Fergie Baby, “1v1 vs. The System” with Reuben Vincent and WHOISTEVENYOUNG, and “Food for Thought” with Chip tha Ripper and Bun B.

Behind that sense of purpose is his mother, who kept pressing him to participate—even through political frustration—asking when he was coming to vote and making sure he had a plan.

“When I am outside, I’m outside for a purpose.”

Watch the first of two Smoke DZA segments POLARIS is publishing today for the midterm elections.

Get Smoke DZA and Mike & Keys’ new EP We Outside in stores and on streaming platforms now.

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