Offset is stepping into a new chapter, and this time, he’s doing it under his real name. KIARI, his new album, pulls back the curtain on the superstar persona to reveal the man behind it: vulnerable, defiant, and still restless in his pursuit of new boundaries. From reimagining a Drowning Pool classic with JID on the darkly cinematic “Bodies,” to flexing with “Professional,” to baring his soul on “Prada Meyself,” Offset is at his most expansive yet. For our debut Music Cover Story, we caught up with him to talk about the mindset shaping this project, the future of rap in the TikTok era, and what really means to be Offset aka Kiari.
Your new track with JID, “Bodies,” is dark and cinematic. What headspace were you in when you wrote it, and what’s the one line that hits the hardest for you personally?
It was a vibe. JID and I were chilling in Hangzhou China after a show watching the Olympics. We were having fun. My engineer, J Rich, started playing some of my songs. JID asked me to run BODIES back again…and we just started vibing to it…going back and forth with our lyrics. I was in a positive headspace when I made this song…The line that hits the hardest for me is “Sleeping & dreaming talkin’ to the Rocket…He told me, Go Up!…I told him that I got him” It speaks for itself and to how I’m coming on this new album.
“Bodies” uses the “Drowning Pool” sample, super unexpected and dope. Do you actually listen to metal and punk music, or was this just a wild studio moment?
Fans be surprised what I listen to. (laughs). There’s a lot of artists I fuck with outside of rap. We pay homage to Drowning Pool on “Bodies” and it was amazing to see them reciprocate the love to me and JID. They’re legends.
“Professional” feels like a flex, but also like you’re putting your foot down as a veteran in the game. Who or what were you talking to when you made that record?
It was a feel-good record. I’m talking my shit but in a fun way. The video was a vibe too, just partying at Lucien.
Your upcoming new album KIARI carries your real name. That’s a statement. What made you ready to give fans the most personal version of yourself yet?
KIARI is my most vulnerable record yet. Fans are gonna get the multiple sides of Offset. There are records on my album that are fun and upbeat to vibe too and at the same time I have dem records that are really introspective and lyrical. It’s my life put out in the music as I see it. I’m giving the fans a look into the personality traits, KIARI, that make Offset
If someone listens to KIARI front to back with no distractions, what do you hope they understand about Offset the man, not just Offset the rapper?
I’m a man that’s more than Offset. I’m KIARI. I’m human. I’m a loving dad and son and I’m there for my family. I put them first and there’s a lot more to me than what the public sees.
You’ve seen the music game evolve from CDs to streams to TikTok virality. Right now, platforms like Ripe, Duetti, and Even are letting fans invest directly in songs. Do you see that as the future of releasing music or just another hustle in a changing industry?
I’m not familiar with that stuff but what I can say is I rather have a record that slowly builds rather than a #1 record off the bat that falls off the next week. TikTok virality ain’t gonna have longevity. A record that slowly builds to #1 is gonna last longer and make a bigger impact culturally. Don’t chase a hit. Chase a record that feels authentic to you as an artist.
You’ve done stadium shows and viral moments. What’s one moment performing live that made you stop and think, “Damn, this is bigger than me”?
Man why you gotta ask that. (laughs). There have been so many moments in my career that made me say wow I’m doing this. From Jimmy Fallon, SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, having hit records, to GRAMMYs, to traveling the world doing what I love. I can’t choose but I can say I’m blessed and God is good.
If you could send a message to 2016 Migos-era Offset from where you are now, working on KIARI, what would you tell him?
I’d tell him trust your gut with the music. There’s gonna be a lot of people in your ear but you know your music best. I would also tell him, don’t give up when it gets hard…the world will catch on to your talent.
Finally, what’s your favourite track from the upcoming album and why?
I fuck with all my tracks what’s why I put them on the album. I got melodic joints and also records for the clubs to turn up too. It’s hard to choose but the ones that come to mind are “Different Species (feat. Gunna)” and “Prada Meyself (feat. Tezzo Touchdown)”. Gunna is my boy and we relate both coming from Atlanta. We got a lot of records together. “Prada Myself” is one of my most vulnerable records yet where I put it all out there. It was scary recording it but it was therapy for me and I hope fans find solace in it too. Tezzo been that guy and really did his things with the vocals to elevate the track.
