Will Hagle was Ray Bradbury’s great-nephew.
San Antonio might as well be Mars. The city is distant, alone in the universe, so musically isolated that its best nationally-recognized act is the Butthole Surfers. When asked if there are any local San Antonio artists that served as inspiration to him growing up, Milli Mars’s response was, simply, “Not at all.” It might be too early to suggest future generations of musically-inclined San Antonians will have Milli to reference when faced with that same question, but his new album Red Klay makes that scenario much more likely. (Premiere below)
The album title plays off the latter half of Milli’s name as do the first two songs (“Mars” and “The Rover”), but the rest of the record is a more scatterbrained representation of the artist as a whole. He pays homage to his earthly residence through about 15 seconds of slowed, low-pitched Texan rapping on “Dinner,” courtesy of quips about riding around town and wanting to fuck local news anchor, Isis Romero. His love for Japan is once again put on display in “Bushido.” Women and weed too. Pop culture references include both Predator and “The Running Man,” and each is delivered slowly and carefully in Milli’s rich, deep voice. At times, especially on “Mars,” Milli reminds you of Pusha T: a clear enunciator of wisdom, confident enough to rhyme “Chicago” with “Chicago,” without the preceding line losing meaning.
Most of Red Klay’s production is well, spacey. Slow, heavy beats with limited samples and instrumentation, a dark minimalism that allows for his voice to be the main focus. The beat for “Transform” has a zany electro feel, which Cakes Da Killa fills with a verse that marks the project’s lone feature. The primary outlier is last minute album addition “Champion,” but Milli even flips the upbeat title and piano-driven beat with a deceiving downer refrain.
Contextualizing music based on the city in which it was made is a classic critical crutch (almost as much as alliteration). But it’s a necessary discussion when it comes to a city of 1.4 million people, none of whom are known rappers (or at least non-French speaking rappers). We can view images from Mars in near-real time, but our own perception of the world is limited by our physical surroundings. Which leads to my first question:
What are the best and worst parts about being a musician in San Antonio?
Best worst part about this shit is? I mean.. even hate is a form of passion. So I have learned a lot about life. Being in a city where no one has done it on a level to make you want to tip your hat. It can leels like being in a lions den full of kittens. I say that because anyone I’ve ever caught heat from ( non-directly, just thugs of the internet) has always been a fan first. The best part is thick women making me tacos and seeing my city react to the music. Love is love
Do you feel a responsibility to represent Texas, the South or San Antonio specifically in your music? What about Japan?
I feel the responsibility to represent myself, God gave me a gift I’m just doing what I feel is real. People get lost in this shit wanting to fit into categories. I create the pace and let the listener decide where they want to place me. I just hope they dig it. As far as Japan, I’ve been a martial arts movie buff and a fan of the culture all together.
A Dutch company wants to send humans to colonize Mars by 2025. Would you want to be on that ship?
First off, no one asked me to move on me. I don’t even smoke dutches but as far as the Dutch going to live on me it’s cool.. Just plant weed
How did the collaboration with Cakes Da Killa come about?
Didn’t even know Cakes until we did this collab my homie Santi with URNR sent him the track and he dug it. We talked on the phone and clicked off top.. Cakes can rap, plus he is just cool in general in my book.
There are songs on the album called “Dirty Pretty Things” and “Cruel Intentions.” You have lyrics that reference Hidalgo, Blow, Home Alone, Toy Story, Aladdin, Batman and Old School. Aside from making clever punchlines, how does film inspire your work? Can you rank those movies?
I fucking grew up on films. One of my favorite of all time is Raging Bull.. Home Alone is fucking classic.. Fuck uninvited guest. Hidalgo is classic.. Blow taught me not to ride around with drugs with crazy women which I do anyway..
Don’t.. Do.. That.. Shit
Toy story was the first of it’s kind. Batman, I can’t talk about that because, well, I am Batman. The only Batman that sucks is the one with Arnold’s bitch ass as Mr. Freeze who killed Tookie Williams, thanks Mr. Freeze
Old School was genius but anything Will is in is dope besides Bewitched. My favorite is Casa de Mi Padre.
Aladdin was a classic! He stole shit and had a genie and a bad ass woman with a tiger and a dope ass spot of her own ,plus her dad was short so if he popped off he could easily kick him in the mouth.
There are no skits on Red Klay, but there are animal noises. Where did the idea for that come from?
I wanted people to feel my emotion throughout the tape. I wanted them to feel like they were there..
You’ve mentioned that your name is derived from the god Mars. What are the best stories or lessons you’ve learned from mythology?
A cool chick I know actually brought that to my attention. But Mars is really a metaphor for space. I needed to separate myself in order to become what God intended me to. One of my favorite stories in Greek mythology has to be the story of Heracles and Atlas. How Atlas tried to set Heracles up for destruction, but Herc saw through that shit and ended up setting him up in the end.
What producers did you work with on Red Klay? What would your dream collaboration be?
Man, this tape came together quick. Producers involved were Arsonal, Stounson, Phil the editor, and Prophile — all those dudes did a great job.. I haven’t met Stounson Arsonal or Phil but will be collaborating with them again.
My dream collaboration would be something with Rick Rubin.
Have you had the chance to meet Isis Romero yet?
Have not met her yet, but she has hit me up on twitter. She loves me and she doesn’t even know it
