Known for his thoughtful lyricism, vivid storytelling, and faith-inspired messages, Bill B. is an artist who brings honesty and substance back to hip hop. Originally from Ohio and now based in Dallas, Texas, he creates music that explores the realities of faith, fatherhood, ambition, disappointment, and personal growth. His recent singles, "Right There" and "The Usual," showcase his ability to pair soulful boom-bap production with transparent reflections on life's challenges and God's faithfulness through every season.
Listen to "The Usual" here.
Listen to "Right Here" here.
In "Right There," Bill wrestles with uncertainty, setbacks, and unanswered questions while holding onto the belief that God remains present through it all. Meanwhile, "The Usual" finds him examining legacy, family, and the tension between pursuing success and staying grounded in what matters most. As he prepares to release his first full-length solo album this August, Bill continues to build a body of work that speaks directly to listeners navigating purpose, perseverance, and faith in a complicated world.
In this exclusive interview, Bill B. discusses his artistic journey, the personal experiences behind his music, the influence of boom-bap culture, and how his faith continues to shape both his life and creative process.
Q: For listeners discovering your music for the first time, how would you describe who Bill B. is as an artist and what you want people to take away from your music?
I'd describe myself as an artist that tries to bring honesty, soul, and substance back into hip-hop. My music is rooted in real life experiences - faith, fatherhood, pressure, ambition, setbacks, and growth. I'm inspired by lyricism and storytelling, but I also want people to feel something emotionally when they hear my records. More than anything, I want listeners to walk away feeling understood. Whether somebody is fighting doubt, chasing purpose, or trying to stay grounded through hard seasons, I want the music to remind them they're not alone in that process. I also want to help provide language to people going through life that don't have it for what they are going through.
Q: "Right There" balances reflective lyricism with a soulful boom-bap sound. What inspired the track both musically and personally?
I grew up loving records that had soul in them (Willie Hutch, Teddy P, Anita, church choirs) music where the beat itself felt alive and the lyrics carried weight. In addition, the boom-bap foundation gave me space to really talk instead of just perform. Personally, the record came from a season where I needed to remind myself that God is with me in my setbacks, failures and growth. You can know there's purpose in your life and still wrestle with uncertainty and mistakes at the same time. "Right There" was me processing that tension honestly while still holding onto hope.
Q: The song touches on doubt, perseverance, and growth through difficult seasons. Was there a specific moment or experience in your life that became the emotional foundation for the record?
This record was really inspired from frustration I was dealing with after moving from my hometown Columbus to Dallas and back in less than a year. I went through a season where I felt like I failed my family. I was grieving unfulfilled dreams, failed attempts and the loss of friendship while trying to hold on to the belief God was doing this for my development.
Q: Boom-bap hip-hop has such a rich history and culture behind it. Which artists or producers helped shape your sound and approach to storytelling?
A lot of artists shaped me in different ways. Artists like Kendrick Lamar showed me how vulnerable and layered storytelling can be. Armond Wakeup inspired me with the balance between introspection and relatability. I've always respected lyricists like Lupe Fiasco and Taelor Gray because they can paint vivid pictures while still making music that feels soulful. Production-wise, I love producers that sample emotion into the music - where the beat feels cinematic but grounded at the same time. That's the type of atmosphere I want my records to live in.
Q: After releasing "Right There," what can listeners expect next from you creatively? Are there more singles, collaborations, or larger projects currently in the works?
Definitely more music and more world-building creatively. I'm working on records that expand on the honesty and transparency people heard in "Right There," but I also want to push myself sonically. Right There is the first single to lead off the rollout of my first solo album dropping this August. Excited to share my first full body of work with the public.
Q: Through uncertainty and unanswered questions, "Right There" points toward someone remaining present through it all. How has your faith shaped the way you process struggle, growth, and perseverance in your own life?
My faith has honestly been the anchor through every difficult season of my life. It's taught me that perseverance isn't always loud or dramatic - sometimes it's simply waking up every day and continuing to trust God even when you don't fully understand what He's doing. A lot of my growth came from learning that struggle doesn't automatically mean abandonment. There were moments where I felt uncertain, overlooked, or discouraged, but I still experienced God's presence in the middle of it. That perspective changed how I handle pressure and disappointment. Instead of letting hard seasons define me, I try to let them develop me. And that's really the heartbeat behind "Right There."
