Talent knows no age. For California’s Bobby Brackins, writing hits is in his blood. You may have heard couldn’t avoid Chris Brown’s “Loyal” this summer as well as Tinashe’s “2 On.” Besides working with other major artists, he’s working on some music for himself. He just released the video to his previous single, “Hot Box,” which you can watch below. After that, be sure to read our interview with him about how those hits came about and hearing his own song on the radio his prom night.
You’ve had a string of hits this summer, from Chris Brown’s “Loyal” to Tinashe’s “2 On.” What was going through your head when you realized that you not only had these hits but they were on the radio at the same time?
It was a great feeling because they both went #1 this summer. Maybe one song going #1, people could consider that luck but two #1 songs in the same summer is more than luck to me. It’s like we’re making good music and we’re going to be around for a while. It’s real talent and real creativity that’s causing these records to gravitate so well with the people.
So with that success, did it push you to work harder this summer or did that give you a moment to breathe and enjoy the summer?
Everybody wants to work now. My schedule is crazy. I’m not letting up. I’m still working super hard. I’ll take off next summer and do some traveling and vacationing. But while the getting is good you gotta get it. People get too comfortable and that’s how you fall off. I’m not taking this success as any time of means to slow down.
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Going back to when you were in high school, I heard that one of your songs was on the radio your prom night. What song was that?
It was thing song called “Ride or Die Chick.” It was with this group I was in called Go Dav. It had like 15 million views on MySpace which was like the biggest online song of 2006. It went viral before people even knew what going viral even was–before Youtube and Soundcloud. It was cool but if it came out today, it’d be a whole different story.
That’s a crazy way to start your prom night, too.
It was amazing. It was actually, we were leaving prom. We all got back in the limo to head home. It felt like an accomplishment. At that moment, it felt so good that I knew, I wanted to keep making music. Hearing my first song on the radio, in the limo, on prom, with a bunch of pretty girls. “This isn’t so bad. This is kinda cool.”
I heard that you might be working with Rihanna. Are there any other big tracks that you’re working on now?
Yeah, after “Hot Box” I have a really big song of my own coming out that features Zendaya and Jeremih. Zendaya is one of the biggest, young stars in the world and Jeremih, he just had the #1 Urban song with YG. And I just did another song with Chris Brown. It’s on his album. It’s called “Came To Do” and a lot of people, they’re liking it. They’ve been playing it in the clubs a lot. I think it’s gonna be a big record. Hopefully, we have this one that Nicki Minaj is supposed to be doing. It’s looking really good. I just don’t wanna jinx anything before anything happens.
Now that you’ve had some success as a solo act, would you say you have a preference for writing for other artists vs. doing your own music?
I really enjoy doing both. It’s best when it’s my song because I’m able to travel and do shows. I like being able to travel and go places. I just like hearing the songs being played, whether I’m on them or not… knowing that that royalty check is coming in and people generally liking the music I’m working on.
When you wrote for other artists, do you have a particular artist in mind or do you just write and it lands in someone’s hands?
When I did “2 On,” Tinashe was there with me in the studio. Then how “Loyal” came about, me and Ty Dolla $ign, it was supposed to be my next single, but Chris Brown’s manager ended up hearing it and they wanted it for Chris’ single. We didn’t write “Loyal” with the intention of giving it to Chris Brown but things happen in weird ways.
Do you feel any type of way to see what “Loyal” has become, knowing that it could have been your single?
I’m happy with it. “Loyal” and “2 On” were two of the biggest songs of the summer. I’m happy that “Loyal” got that big. I don’t mean in just America but all over the world. It’s a fun song. People can relate to it, girls and guys.
Speaking of writing songs, I gotta ask about Ray J’s “I Hit It First.” Were you in the studio with him for that?
That song has so much controversy around it and stuff. We were in the studio together but it came out way after the song was made. It didn’t really come out in a positive light. It is what it is. There’s no going back. Ray J is on my other song called “143” which was really big so me and Ray J, that’s my friend. He’s a dope singer. I like him as a person. We got good chemistry in the studio.
Switching gears, congrats on that BMI award by the way.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Does that push you even more to work harder?
The BMI award was for “Loyal” and my friend, Nic Nac, was there with me. I’ve been making music with him since I was 15 years old.
You’ve mentioned that you don’t want to write an album just yet and you’re focused on singles. Can you elaborate on that?
I’m just focused on singles right now. It got a million views in a month on my Soundcloud. It still has a lot of life to it. I’m going to do some shows with G-Eazy. It’s all about getting more fans. I’ll probably put out a free mixtape for my fans before I put out an album. It’s not there yet. It’s a process. When I know it’s time to put out my official album, it’s going to be amazing.
Who are two artists that you’d like to work with, one dead and one alive?
Someone who’s passed away, maybe Marvin Gaye. I’m really good at writing songs for singers. Me and Marvin could make something crazy. With somebody that’s alive, I would say Beyonce. I feel like she’s the queen.
It’d be wild to get all three of you on a track.
That’d be too crazy. That Beyonce one, is still a possibility. It’s all about working. You never know who’s going to hear a record. It’s all about being consistent.
UPDATE: DJ Mustard blesses the track with a remix and features Choice and Terrace Martin.
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Bryan Hahn definitely did not hear his song on the radio on his prom night. He’s on Twitter (@notupstate).
