Podcast Summary: New Rory & MAL – Checking In With Bryson Tiller
Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Rory, Mal (co-hosts not distinctly specified in transcript)
Guest: Bryson Tiller
Overview
This episode welcomes R&B singer, songwriter, and rapper Bryson Tiller, reflecting on his journey from SoundCloud uploads while working at Papa John’s to stardom, the pressures of following up a classic debut, and his current mindset as an artist and creator. Bryson opens up about fame, musical legacy, label pressure, the impact of social media, his evolving relationship with artistry vs. songwriting, his foray into video game design, and what the future holds.
Major Discussion Points & Insights
1. Bryson’s Early Days & Breakthrough
- Uploading “Don’t” While Working a 9-to-5:
- Bryson recalls uploading “Don’t” to SoundCloud while working a day job and being shocked by its viral success.
- “Every day I went to work and I would check my locker... I would run on my phone... refresh. Ten thousand... a thousand more plays than I had before... I was like, yo, what is going on?” (05:10)
- Lack of Confidence & Quitting His Job:
- He almost deleted “Don’t” out of embarrassment, but a friend convinced him to re-upload.
- After Timbaland encouraged him, Bryson quit his job, only to later realize there was no clear plan (“My boy Rich was like, yo, Timlin said he never told you to quit your job... I was sick, dawg.” [10:21]).
- Organic Growth vs. Social Media Pressure:
- “These labels and these people, they always want you to get on social media… But I just genuinely believe that, like, if the music is good, it's gonna catch.” (11:42)
2. Dealing With Fame and Artistic Identity
- Reluctance About Spotlight:
- Bryson repeatedly states he’d prefer to be a songwriter/producer than a superstar:
- “If you could take away all my fame right now, nobody recognize me, like, I'll be so okay with that.” (21:03)
- “I really only do it to feed my family… If I could, you know, just write for another artist... I'd stop being an artist right away.” (27:10)
- Bryson repeatedly states he’d prefer to be a songwriter/producer than a superstar:
- Struggles With Confidence and Criticism:
- Reveals vulnerability in being in the public eye, stemming from high school insecurities.
- “Cause every time I release some stuff, it eats away at me… I just don't like being talked about, to be honest with you. I don't like being in the public.” (27:55)
- Context for "Flop" Album:
- Candidly discusses his own disappointment in his second album, despite its platinum success.
- “It ended up being my worst album to date.” (18:11)
- “That was me on that album… still tall, can dunk, but you were really into it.” (57:27)
3. Creative Evolution & Social Media
- Mixtapes, Gatekeeping, and Tapping Into Fans:
- Tiller’s “Slum Tiller” mixtapes were about creative fun, frustration with label bureaucracy, and sometimes fans gatekeeping his releases.
- On TikTok virality:
- “Power of social media... If I never did that TikTok, nobody would probably still know that song even exists.” (14:13)
- Approach to Social Media:
- Recently tried playful engagement, but doesn’t want to “sell music” or fit into influencer culture.
4. Industry Collaborations and Relationships
- Rejected OVO Signing (Drake):
- Cites lack of communication as reason for not signing with Drake’s label.
- “He just never hit back... at that moment, I got a kid... so I had to go with the most sure shot.” (18:26, 19:04)
- Behind-the-Scenes With Drake & Chris Brown:
- Limited direct contact with Drake after initial discussions; prefers the role of writer over performer.
- On his relationship with Chris Brown:
- “Man, I've learned so much from Chris just being on this tour… he gives it 150%... he doesn’t have bad shows.” (51:12)
5. Musical Impact, Influence & Style
- The Legacy of Trap Soul and Its Descendants:
- Hosts credit Bryson for pioneering the “Trap Soul” genre; discuss its impact on new, younger artists and the evolution of the “sexy drill” sound.
- Bryson prefers not to call followers “sons,” instead respecting them as inspired artists:
- “A thief steals, but a genius borrows. I really respect artists that can figure out a way to borrow from my sound and make it their own.” (38:33)
- Technical Growth as An Artist:
- Asserts he’s now a much better rapper and artist, wanting people to move beyond “Trap Soul” as his defining moment.
- “I don't think people really understand my capabilities as an artist. Even as a rapper, like I'm just a much better rapper than I was on Trap Soul.” (15:30)
6. Process, Seasonality and Double Albums
- Artistic Intent and Album Sequencing:
- “Solace” was made for fall; Bryson intentionally delayed its release so “Vices”—with a summer vibe—could drop first.
- “Who wants to hear this shit? In the summertime?... As soon as I finished Solace, they wanted to put it out, but I was like, nah, let's wait, because I made it for the fall.” (41:11)
- Collaborations and Picking Features:
- Chooses collaborators based on mutual respect, not hype:
- “I decided to rock with people that... been wanting to work with me, respect me.” (43:09)
- Chooses collaborators based on mutual respect, not hype:
- His “R&B with Women” Collaboration Idea:
- Considers doing a collaborative R&B project with female artists, referencing “Could’ve Been” and “Insecure” as standouts.
7. Songwriting and the Alpha Male Problem in Music
- Wants to be a “trusted pen” (like Pooh Bear or Pharrell), but finds male artists too competitive.
- Finds women more collaborative:
- “The girls, they always like, yo, let's work... That's why I have more features with women than I do with guys.” (63:42)
8. The Pressure of Following a Classic
- Heavy pressure to repeat the magic of “Trap Soul”; the impact of public expectation and the desire to create without worrying about legacy.
- “Every time I release a project... it's an energy pool... Trap Soul being my first album, and me just wanting to be good... seeing so many people say I was bad, just went into the craziest depression.” (57:35)
9. Music Industry as a Game and Future Aspirations
- Developing a Video Game – "Brutal Industry":
- Focuses on the music industry, mixing anime and fighting genres.
- “It's about the music industry... you are the protagonist... you get to experience things you will experience in the music industry. It's a fighting game.” (55:38)
- Use of AI in Creativity:
- Mixed feelings about AI music creation. Uses AI as a creative tool but is skeptical of entire catalogs being fed to train virtual artists.
- “When you use AI as a tool, I feel like that's when it's best... using it to write a song, that's crazy.” (68:11)
10. Personal Fulfillment and Current State
- On Happiness and Looking Ahead:
- “I'm so happy, man. It's one of the best years of my life… My life is so good right now.” (69:51)
- Maintains that if another field (like game design) allows him to provide for his family, he’d walk away from music’s spotlight.
- On His Legacy:
- Grateful for the support, but not attached to fame.
- Emphasizes moments over chasing classic albums or critical praise.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On his early SoundCloud success:
“I genuinely thought somebody was, like, pulling a prank on me... This one had 10,000 plays. Just like, yo, this is crazy. Something's happening, you know?” (05:10) -
On quitting his job for music:
“So, yeah, I went down there and... he wasn't really rocking with [the songs]... he gave me a little bit of cash... And then I was like, how does this work? Am I signed right now?” (09:56) -
On the OVO situation:
“If I'm being so blunt, honest. The only reason I didn't sign is just because, like, bro didn't hit me back one time and I was just like...” (18:26) -
On preferring writing to fame:
“If you could take away all my fame right now, nobody recognize me, like, I'll be so okay with that.” (21:03) -
On double albums and seasons:
“Solace was always like a fall album to me... on Solace, I was really talking about my feelings and things I was going through, and I was just like, who wants to hear this shit? In the summertime?” (41:11) -
On using AI:
“When you use AI as a tool, I feel like that's when it's the best... using it to write a full song, that's crazy.” (68:11) -
On collaborating with women:
“The girls, they always like, yo, let's work... That's why I have more features with women than I do with guys.” (63:42) -
On artistic pressure:
“Every time I release a project... it's an energy pool. Trap Soul being my first album, me just wanting to be good, and people think I was good... seeing so many people say that I was bad... I went into the craziest depression.” (57:35)
Key Timestamps
- [03:42] – Bryson joins the show
- [05:10] – The “Don’t” story and viral beginnings
- [08:21] – Quitting his job and first industry interactions
- [11:42] – Thoughts on social media and organic growth
- [14:13] – The power and pitfalls of TikTok and gatekeeping fans
- [18:26] – Drake, OVO, and major label bidding
- [21:03] – Preferring writing to fame
- [27:10] – How public scrutiny affects his creative choices
- [41:11] – Sequencing albums based on seasons
- [55:34] – Details on his video game project
- [68:11] – AI in music and creative work
- [69:51] – Bryson on happiness & his outlook
Final Thoughts
Bryson Tiller offers rare honesty about creative insecurity, the weight of public expectation, and the tradeoffs of fame versus artistry. His humility about past “failures” and focus on doing what fulfills him—whether making music or developing games—brings refreshing clarity in an industry obsessed with legacy and visibility. The episode also showcases the evolving role of genre, internet virality, and collaboration in contemporary R&B/hip-hop.
If you’re interested in the trials of modern musicianship, hip-hop/R&B’s evolution, or just want to hear an introspective artist speak on success and struggle, this episode is essential listening.