24Lefteye represents the real Atlanta. At the forefront of a new wave of talent buzzing out of the South, he’s already made a name for himself, on his own terms. His success in the streets emboldened Lefteye to dream beyond Edgewood, from under the tree – that same tree that’s viewed as a rite of passage within his close-knit community. “I was just under the tree last summer selling big dimes,” he shares.

The life of a Henxhmen is often misunderstood, but for Lefteye, it’s all about being a team player: he’s a hometown hero by definition.”I’m just one of the key players right now doing my thing, I’m tryna shine.” Admittedly, his music channels a certain level of intensity that often promotes violence, swaying between walk down anthems and trigger-happy mentions – but that’s 24Lefteye: that’s his reality. He’s as transparent as they come, penning his life on beats in an effort to make it out of East Atlanta, Zone 6 to be exact.

In Lefteye’s words, if it wasn’t for Ola Runt he wouldn’t be rapping. Yet, he managed to spend ample time in the studio, learning from a distance before deciding to try his hand at rap. Under Ola’s tutelage, Lefteye made it beyond the tree: he empowered his neighborhood as a symbol of hope, allowing everyone to bare witness to the birth of a young legend.

Last month, Lefteye released Money On My Head Vol.1 – 13 songs of pure maniacal behavior and drug-induced euphoria. In partnership with Geffen and Cinematic Music Group, this solo effort features standout tracks like “Washington Street” and “Industry”, fan favorite cuts that have garnered mass appeal since their initial release.

At this stage in his young career, Lefteye’s taste for success is more ravenous than ever before. He’s a torchbearer by definition, keeping momentum alive and holding things down until Ola’s anticipated return. A voice of reason for the silenced, 24Lefteye is super trendy and making all the right moves — at his own pace.

Let’s kick things off here, how has your day been? 

Good man. I’m geeked outta my skully.

Personally, what does it mean to be from Edgewood?

It means a lot, knowing what I came from and where I’m at now: I was just under the tree last summer selling big dimes. Now, I’m in L.A. ya know, in the hills kickin’ shit wit big brew. I love Edgewood, that shit made me. Edgewood loves me. 

I hear about Edgewood often. I feel like that neighborhood is a staple within Atlanta’s rap scene.

Yeah that’s the one you don’t get to see on TV. You know how everyone just came to the All-star game, having fun and allat, parties type shit – they ain’t gon’ show you Edgewood though. Not Edgewood avenue, Edgewood neighborhood, Zone 6, allat shit. They ain’t gon’ tell you bout that. They don’t show that on Love & Hip Hop, none of that: that’s the real Atlanta. 

When you hear the phrase “Front Street”, how does that make you feel?

The shit makes me feel like an important member of the team, reppin’ front street. See, like with the Lakers – see how Kobe was a big star for the team, but they done had Magic and all type of shit. I’m just one of the key players right now doing my thing, I’m tryna shine.  

Looking back on things, when did you first decide to try your hand at rapping?

I always liked music coming up. But just on some shit with me fucking with music, I used to always be around folks who do that shit. If you always in the stu, you ain’t gon have nothin’ else to do but try that shit one day. I’ve probably been making music for like a year or two now.

It’s evident Ola Runt played an important role in your journey as an artist. What has his incarceration done for your work ethic overall?

One of the biggest roles. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here right now, I’d probably be under the tree still. I can’t wait til they let him out so we can both shine together. I got the same work ethic, never slowed down. That’s what I was saying earlier about the team shit – when somebody get injured on the team, you don’t cancel the game. I’m working the same way since he left, even harder forreal. I’m tryna keep this shit going so when he get out Front Street still relevant, he relevant, everything just, ya know what I’m saying – 5L trendy and shit. 

With everything you’ve experienced throughout life, how have you managed to not get tricked out of your spot? 

I just stay blessed and keep working. A lot of shit I used to get in trouble and do, that shit was cuz I was broke. I had too much time on my hands. Now, I’m not broke. I’m doing this interview with you, I got a session after this, just too much time to work. I ain’t got time to do lil’ shit like falloff, I got too much to lose. 

This is kind of a two-part question here: Talk to me about your recording process, do you freestyle or punch in — and how natural is it for you to make music that promotes violence and/or drug usage?

I punch in, every bar – bar for bar. I don’t write none of that shit. That’s my life, that’s what I’m around. I don’t even wanna make no song about shit I ain’t even doing. I can’t cap, this what’s really going on wit me. Sometimes I say shit in my songs and I go back and listen and be like damn, maybe I gave them a lil’ bit too much of my life right there. 

With your art, do you feel like it’s more emotional or personal for you? 

Emotional, personal, allat. It’s whatever, the first thing that comes to mind. When I go in, I don’t have the song pictured out, so whatever I come out with at the end I’m going wit it. 

Life of a Henxhmen & Money On My Head Vol. 1 carry such a dark undertone in terms of title association. What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned while growing up in Atlanta? 

You can’t trust nobody and you better get you some money. That’s the only thing I ever learned out the streets or just in general. You should really know that. 

May 5th, Life of a Hexhmen 2, it’s official – lock the date in everywhere. 

With your music, do you care to be understood or are you okay with just creating, no desired outcome in mind?

It don’t really matter to me, but I’m tryna make more music that everyone can catch on too. A lot of people may not understand my music because you never went through what I went through. That’s just like if someone was to say some expensive ass shit that I never heard of or had, I don’t know what that is, I’m not gon’ catch the context for that shit. Some folks never heard about some of the shit I’m living or doing. Some folks don’t even know what pouring a fo’ is. 

Through the eyes of 24LeftEye, what does success look like: what does it mean to truly make it out of Zone 6?

For me, I’m just not out there no more. I could always go back. I’m outta that shit, I don’t gotta be there everyday. It was a time when I was there and I had to be there, I couldn’t go away from home. My home somewhere else now, I’m past that in my life. I’m still Zone 6 5L, but that shit ain’t nothing but trouble. 

It sounds like you’re in a pretty good space now. 

Yeah, I’m slow rolling. 

At this stage in your career, what about signing with Cinematic Music Group felt like the right decision to make?

Cuz Jonny Shipes, the man who owns Cinematic. We was already bool before I signed. We been kickin’ shit, it was just a genuine relationship. I already wanted to sign with him if I was gon’ rap, I wanted to sign with Cinematic. 

That’s crazy to think that you actually know him personally. You’d be surprised how many artists have signed to a label and haven’t shook hands with those that sign their checks. 

We used to be kicking shit before I signed. That my real mans. I talk to Jonny all the time, like that’s my family. I stay calling him, he stays calling me to make sure I’m straight. He gave me an opportunity. 

What’s more important, loyalty or respect — and why?

I don’t know to be honest with you. I don’t care how nobody feel about me. I got folks around me right now who I love and they say they love me, but I know that’s not truly honest. I still love them to death, but I don’t know if they loyal. I’ma still keep them around me, but that shit don’t bother me. Even if you don’t respect somebody, you gotta try them for them to feel disrespected. Just cuz you don’t respect somebody that don’t mean you disrespect them. I don’t care how nobody feel about me. I’ma still be 24Lefteye at the end of the day: I got 24 in the middle of my face. 

Outside of the music, what’s your legacy: how does 24Lefteye want to be remembered? 

At the end of the day, I’m Ahmad, that’s my name. I was Ahmad, then I went from Ahmad to Lefteye, then I went to 24. At one point in time, I was 365 cuz I felt like 365 days out the year I was tryna get to it. My legacy gon’ be who I become. I came a long way from Edgewood. Cinematic, 5L shit – Free Ola and Free Ksoo.