Innanet James: The Artful Life of an Online Rapper

Inspired by determined strivers like Lil Wayne and Anderson .Paak, this MC uses abstract wordplay, political positivity, and youthful exuberance to capture feelings that often seem just out of reach.
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Rising: Innanet James: The Artful Life of an Online Rapper

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Photo by: Innanet James

Innanet James’ demeanor matches his delivery. In a starkly lit Brooklyn basement, the 21-year-old rapper answers questions softly, but—as on the mic—he gains momentum with each word. But no matter how excited he gets, he remains assured, in control. “The words pop out at me,” he says, trying to explain how his verses work, before deciding that it’s better to show than tell: “I watch Ashley ash her cigarette/Ashes and pop some acid,” he starts, revving up some fresh lines from a song he’s working on. “On some Cyndi Lauper shit/Having fun inside of my castle/Flip whose tassel/Tasers tag you/Taylor Swift is skipping sandals.”

It might not be easy for anyone but him to see exactly how these trippy, free-associative thoughts are tied together, but James’ technical prowess is crystal clear as he flawlessly makes his way through one tongue twister after another. The absurdism only represents one side of the Maryland MC, who has already shown multitudes throughout his discography—even if it’s just three songs deep. “Vice City” is indulgent, a smooth boast about enjoying yourself; “Black” is political and proud; and “Summer,” his best yet, is unabashed fun.

He has an EP, Quebec Place, in the works, but Innanet James is not in any particular rush to ascend or become famous. He takes things as they come and then excels once they do, and it’s that attitude that makes “Summer,” in particular, so irresistible. He captures the season’s beatific ephemera without dwelling on it. It’s not something you can explain—just feel. As he raps on the track, “Summertime shine like summertime do.” The sense of inevitability is contagious.

James grew up listening to rap, R&B, and go-go, the lively funk hybrid native to the D.C. area. (His mother wouldn’t let him go to raucous go-go shows as a young teen, but he snuck out anyway.) And the local style is a clear influence for a rapper who’s as happy to go over a dance beat as he is a screeching guitar solo, as he does on another unreleased song.

Motivated by people who told him he wouldn’t make it, he decided to make hip-hop a full-time pursuit about a year ago. “I don’t know nothing else for life,” he says. “I love music, so that’s all I want to do.” He’s looking to project this sincerity outward—though not in a self-serving way. Talking about the positive reactions to his feel-good anthem “Black,” he says, “If I could give people that feeling, then I’m happy.”

Innanet James: "Black" (via SoundCloud)

True to his moniker (which started as a joke), Innanet James is all about everything online, from his admiration for Chance the Rapper’s exclusive web release Coloring Book to pirating Captain America: Civil War. He first linked up with his label, Fête Records, on the web, too—even though it turned out he lived only 10 minutes away from its co-founders. Still, they may as well have been halfway around the globe, given that the producers with whom he’s worked, MZA and the Kount, are from Hawaii and Canada, respectively. He spends endless hours looking for beats on SoundCloud. “That’s pretty much my whole day,” he says, surprised once he thinks about it. This is just what he does now.

Pitchfork: What made you want to be a rapper?

Innanet James: I grew up listening to Raekwon, Ghostface, 50, Wayne. Around third grade I wrote my first rap—and that shit was trash. But I kept working at it. I took breaks here and there then picked it up again when I turned 20.

Was there a particular record that made you want to rap?

The “Upgrade U” freestyle on [Lil Wayne’s] Da Drought 3. I actually wouldn’t be rapping if it weren’t for Da Drought 3. It spoke to me. It was like, “Yo, he wrote something incredible and you should try and do the same thing.”

What sort of things would you do for fun as a teenager?

Regular dumb teen shit. The dumbest thing I ever did was steal my stepmother’s car to drive to this girl’s house one night, before I had a license. I got back to my house at 4 a.m., and my parents wake up at 5:30 a.m. So I thought: OK, I’m gonna hold onto to the keys and move the car back to the spot that it was in before they wake up. But my dumb ass slept ’til 7:30. They came banging on my door like, “Somebody stole the car!”

Innanet James: "Vice City" (via SoundCloud)

What were you doing before deciding to rap full-time?

I was working at DSW and going to art classes. I took a graphic design class but didn’t like it. It wasn’t my thing. Then, one day, as I got to work, I was like, “Fuck that shit.” I turned right back around, went home, and just started writing raps.

Who is a current artist that you admire?

Anderson .Paak. Like when he says: “Six years old I tried my first pair of Jordans on.” I don’t know how old I was when I got my first pair of Jordans, but I know what it was like when I got my first pair of Jordans. I wore them joints out the store. I felt that shit.

What are your goals for your upcoming debut EP?

I want it to evoke emotion when you hear it. I want you to be proud when you hear “Black.” I want you to dance when you hear “Summer.” I want you want to be like, “Oh, that’s witty as shit.” I want you to see the words.


CORRECTION: The original version of this story referred to Innanet James’ forthcoming EP as Portraits for Free, but the title has been changed to Quebec Place.