So maybe there was a kernel of truth to that whole moment when Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck were trying to punk the pop culture world by documenting the former “retirement” from acting, so he could pursue a career in the hip hop. The resulting (and underrated, hilarious) film “I’m Still Here” focused on the disheveled, bearded Phoenix mumbling his way into rap infamy, but could the actor really have a side-career as a beatmaker? Well, it seems whatever he’s doing has earned the attention of Kanye West.
Clipse member and Kanye associate Pusha T (he drops the killer guest verse on “Runaway,” if you’re wondering who he is) is getting ready to unveil his first official studio album, My Name Is My Name (he’s had a few mixtapes out in the interim). Originally slated to drop last month, it’s been delayed, but not without good reason. Kanye has been helping him make it as good as it can be, which means providing Pusha with some fresh beats to drop verses over, and it turns out, one of them was created by none other than Phoenix himself.
“As soon as I heard it, I was like, ‘Listen. I hope you’re not playing this for me just to show me how good this beat is,'” Pusha excitedly told Vibe (via Pitchfork). No word yet on the name of the tune, but we just got even more interested in the upcoming disc (we were already stoked based on Pusha T’s spring jam “Numbers On The Board“).
Anyway, check out Pusha T’s interview below. No word yet on the new street date for My Name Is My Name.