Following the attention garnered from “Playboy” in 2022, 4L Javi has been releasing singles since January 2023. Riverside’s rising artist premieres his latest single, “Face Card” produced by Flaugo. Javi heard the track described as “eerie” while making it, gravitating him closer to it. Previews of the single’s music video show the song’s balance of dark with a sense of fun.
Leading up to the release of this single, I spoke with the Inland Empire artist about his current moment and the music being a direct reflection of it. We spoke about meeting G Herbo, his visit to Soundcloud Headquarters, and differences between I.E. and L.A. artists.
What could you tell us about “Face Card”?
Face Card is what my life has been for the past, I would say, year. Once I became single, this song kind of describes me being outside. I’m at different events. I’m with different women. But, I do still miss my love life. I’m not going to say that I miss that person. I just miss being in love…is what I would say.
I saw the skit you made. It introduces the song but it also feels like a transition. I’ve seen a few of your interviews where you talk about Letters 2 U was also about a relationship, right?
Yeah, it’s the exact same one.
So the music is really a reflection of where you’re at in different moments?
Yeah, honestly it is.
Another clip I saw, you were sitting in a studio session when G Herbo was recording. What could you tell us about that session?
I have a friend and he shoots videos. He had let me know he was going to be in there. He asked if I wanted to go. When we were there… there was not a lot of people in the room. It’s like less than 10 people. It was a session for Herbo, and then they shot a video. I didn’t have nothing to really do with it, but that’s actually my favorite rapper. So I was just telling him like, “Yo I f*ck with you.” He’s like, “Oh for sure thanks.” Just regular small talk. Then as he was doing one of the songs, I sat right next to him and he would look back. He’d be like, Yeah that was tight? But in my head I’m like, This n***a just asked me if that was cool.
What about G Herbo makes him one of your favorite artists?
Back in high school, when I got into the Chicago scene, he was one that stuck out to me. He would speak about things that are outside of what you would regularly, I guess, think of. He has survivor’s remorse is what, I think, they call it. He speaks on mental health. I think that’s pretty important. If you can speak on real life shit that is actually happening… I would like to listen to that more often.
Are there topics similar to that, that you feel like you touch on in your music?
I have songs where I have, but they’re not out yet. There’s certain moments that I’m waiting for. I think the albums I’m waiting to make, these songs would fit in. But as of lately, I don’t want to throw one of those out there, and it doesn’t fit with the body of work. I just wanna make it all, but make sense.
Speaking of artists you enjoy, I’ve also heard you talk about Drake. Your name was once Champagne Javi. Is there something about him you take inspiration from?
To be honest, it’s the way that he writes. I feel like he can paint a perfect picture of whatever he’s speaking about. My all-time favorite song from him is From Time. From start until finish you could hear that he’s speaking about certain moments. I actually like that. One thing I took from Drake is definitely when I name drop.
Is there a specific story that you try to tell with your music throughout the different songs you’ve made?
This is about to be very transparent but I think a recurring theme is: I want to be with somebody, but I still want to be outside. I lowkey still want to be a hoe, in a way. That’s the hard part. I want to be with all these other women. But there’s one at home waiting for me too. That’s kind of what I’ve been dealing with.
And the music shows it.
100 percent shows it.
Thank you for being transparent about that. We see a little bit more of your transparency through the recent blogs that you’ve been putting out, 4ortunately Them. You recently posted about going to the SoundCloud headquarters. I saw and heard that conversation you were having with Armin about how to move with music and the things that need to happen. Are there things from that conversation that you have applied or that you’ve changed since then?
Yeah. If you watch it back, there was a part where he was saying there’s a lot of artists who want to do multiple different versions of songs. But it would be a lot better if you hone down on what you actually do and get really nice at that. That’s what I took from him. I’m not gonna try to rap and then switch and then do some other type of beat.
Is there a skill that you’ve improved in specifically?
I would say my writing. I think now I don’t use women’s names as much. Every time I use someone’s name, that’s not fake. That’s a legit person. But it may mess up what they have in their life, you know? I am trying to stop using names.
Something that I’ve seen when I’m reading about you is really emphasizing that you’re from Riverside and you’re from the I.E. Is that something that you try to do intentionally, making sure people know that you’re from Riverside?
Yes. It’s just one of those things where I don’t want anybody to think that I’m from L.A., because I know how that goes. I guess a lot of people in L.A. don’t like the I.E. That’s the main thing that I want, no one to think that I’m from LA. It’s not a diss to LA, it’s just, I’m from the I.E.
Why do you think there’s this musical dislike of L.A. towards the I.E.?
I think that the I.E. doesn’t have their own identity yet when it comes to music. So we take a lot of inspiration from LA, which is not a bad thing but it could get misconstrued. In the sense where you may get some artists that may sound like a Blxst. Then it’ll be like, oh..but it’s from the I.E. though. I’m not sure why, I’m not sure where it even started from, but I think it’s that.
I think for me personally, I want to make my own complete sound. I almost want you not to know where I’m really from.
Are there things you feel, as an artist from the I.E., you have to do that an artist from L.A. doesn’t have to think twice about?
I think I have to make myself more available, at the right events. If you’re out in LA and you make music where you can gang bang, I feel like you get pushed out more. You don’t have to show up at any events. Your song just gets buzzing, because you are a gang member. That’s just how it goes, which is fine, because I like that music too.
Since I don’t bang, I’m not from LA, I’m from the I.E., and there’s no events happening in the I.E. for music as big as in LA; I have to make sure that I make my way out there. Be at these events to have my face out there.
I also want to ask you about a collaboration you had mentioned maybe a year ago with Kalan.FrFr. Is that still in the works?
We had one song, that was in 2020. I think at this point I really want to lock in on what my sound is, and then see who can fit in. I will say he is one of my favorite artists. He’s in my top three, a hundred percent. You know I hope that we do work soon, but I’m definitely not about to force anything.
Next week is October, the year is about to close. What’s something that you would want to do before the year ends?
Before the year ends I want to do another show. Every year since 2021, we throw a show at the end of the year in December. This year will be our third year. I really want to make it something special, have fireworks or something. That’s what I’m working towards at this point.
What does home grown mean to you?
Wherever you started, make sure you take it with you…everywhere. I’m a very home grown person. I can go to Arizona, I can go to New Mexico, and it’ll still feel like I am me. I’m not going to try to fit in with everybody else.
Listen to the transparency below.