The King of the West Coast himself stops by the UNDRGRND Studio following the release of his new Feb 2024 project, The B*tch Tape (with Andrew & Pofsky).

@rjmrla @pofsky3 @undrgrndmagazine

Interview filmed and edited by Gavin Banksy & Audrey Sliger

Written article below by Andrew Mason

Rodney Brown Jr., a.k.a. ‘RJMrLA,’ is the epitome of the underground rap star. The 30-something-year-old Los Angeles native has been relevant for over a decade now, had his 2015 hit “Hoes Come Easy” turn RIAA Gold late last year, and promises a 2024 with multiple project drops.

But in a city so criticized for ‘tearing down its own people,’ how has RJMrLA—whose stage name is as bold and braggadocious as they come—managed to maintain the respect from not only the fans, but his rap peers for so long?

Despite not gaining traction ‘til his mid-to-late 20s, RJ began writing music “way back before high school. I’ve been rapping before I could even understand rap.” He tells UNDRGRND Magazine memories of his mom playing Snoop Dogg throughout his childhood, a major musical inspiration in RJ’s developmental years.

RJ himself admits that he did not expect the support from top LA talent right off the bat. He recalls his 2017 show at The Novo DTLA, a night RJ brought out hip-hop icons ScHoolboy Q, OT Genasis, YG, and of course, Snoop.

“It’s surreal meeting somebody you first met on TV,” RJ says of Snoop, emphasizing that receiving the approval from such LA staples added to his confidence as a growing act. If somebody like Snoop Dogg could get behind a new rapper calling himself ‘Mr. LA,’ then nobody could tell RJ nothing.

“Most people seek validation from the Internet,” RJ says. “I’m inspired by stepping into rooms that people dream about.”

The full story of RJ’s come up—with bangers like “Hoes Come Easy” (2015) and “Get Rich” (2016), Rolling Loud appearances, international tours—is documented well already, and chances are you know the story.

But if RJ is going to claim the throne of the West Coast, he needs more than just acceptance from LA rap elite and some smash hits. What proves RJ’s really king is his longevity, the long term trajectory. The fact that this deep into his career, RJ’s dropping some of his best work yet, running his own OMMIO ENT label, touring independently, and taking care of a family.

In November 2023, he released OMMIO Grillz, a full-length collab project with DJ Drama and the East Coast legend’s Gangsta Grillz series. A month later, RJ was featured on Big Hit’s The Truth is In My Eyes album, UNDRGRND’s vote for the most authentic hip-hop release of the year.

“Big Hit’s a dope person and he’s got a story to tell,” RJ says of the recently freed Big Hit, who spent a majority of his adult life incarcerated. “He’s a living testament of where we don’t want to be, but sometimes with the cards we’re given, and with the state of the judicial system, that’s where we end up.”

RJ took his feature on “Red Lotion” a step further, partnering up with Big Hit and Jay Worthy for a timeless music video you should watch by scanning the QR code on this page.

Jumping to February 2024, RJ released his Valentine’s Day inspired The B*tch Tape, a 12-track project featuring Ty Dolla $ign and OMMIO ENT artists Siete7x and Bree Carter. The tape’s lead single “Just A Fuck,” produced by UNDRGRND alumn, LowTheGreat, showcases hard hitting West Coast energy with the classic hooks and fire bars we want from RJ.

“I’ve played [The B*tch Tape] for feminists and they love it,” RJ says, “so if I can get past that, I can get past anything.”

How has RJ been able to keep the energy of the city so up in recent years? RJ admits he took some time away from releasing new music during peak COVID. Instead, he spent this time learning new ways to attack the game and promote himself, by observing newer players like Zoe Osama and Kalan.FrFr, amongst others.

“People look at me like a prophet,” he says. “I’m just really in tune with what’s going on.”

RJ says he also solidified his team and support system during the pandemic, and feels like for the first time he can truly fill the role of “a boss.”

“Being a boss means having employees,” RJ says. “For the first time in my career, there’s finally a ‘Team RJ’. For the longest time I relied on my talents, but there are people who know how [to promote an artist.]”

Part of RJ’s newfound mentality has been taking better care of his brain and body. He tells UNDRGRND that while he exercises, does breathing work, and reads and writes to keep his mind at rest, his biggest focus is staying “high vibrational.”

RJMrLA’s hunger for continued stardom is nothing less than inspiring. Sometimes you have to take a step back, observe the game and know when to strike. Aside from the major co-signs and a gold record, it’s RJ’s master plan that’s made him a shark in the hip-hop world. And for that, we say he truly lives up to the West Coast crown he has acquired.