"Krone" Interview

Money Boy: “Have a completely different swag today”

Thirteen years ago, Money Boy, aka Sebastian Meisinger, made local music history with “Dreh den Swag auf.” Today, the rapper from Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus has become an integral part of the scene and has been riding a wave of success for quite some time. Before his concert at Vienna’s Stadthalle E, we spoke with him about cash, swag, cancel culture, and his love for American pop culture.

“Krone”: Money Boy, since the pandemic started to subside, you’ve been performing live almost nonstop and releasing new songs on a regular basis. Where does this sudden burst of energy come from?
Money Boy: I feel like I’m more in demand than ever before—my fellow rappers were telling me that a year ago. I could do even more shows, but I pick out the coolest events. I’ve had this burst of motivation for over a year and a half now. The pandemic was an important break for me. During the pandemic, songs I’d already released, like “Drip Drop” or “Perkys,” really took off again. It’s great when well-known rappers like Bonez MC or Gzuz share my songs. A certain hype built up during the pandemic, and right after that, I played as much as possible. I had a lot of fun and wanted to take the project to a new level. I’ve also improved my workflow, and producers like Young Kira—who I work with a lot—have noticed that. When you get validation for your hard work through sold-out concerts or great bookings, it’s naturally motivating. When I see that the new songs are going over well, I bring a whole different swag to the shows.

During the pandemic, there was a lot of time for reflection, which many people used for themselves. What did you take away from this period of calm?
I also had a lot of time to reflect and think about everything. During that time, it bothered me a bit that I didn’t have the same level of motivation and joy for music. But you can’t force that, and it works best when you switch off and relax. I thought about my future plans and came to the conclusion that my career—and music in particular—are the most important things to me. I also did other things, like the YouTube cooking show “Traphouse Kitchen,” which really took off during the pandemic. If I’m completely honest with myself, I always come back to my love for music. By my own standards, there’s still a lot of potential there, and I’m nowhere near done yet. I looked for other things too, but that didn’t feel right or authentic.

You’ve also invested in startup products and are very interested in the business side of things. Is that a passion of yours, just like art?
I think I have a good instinct for things that are taking off. I’m not someone who’s constantly on the lookout for investments. It often happens by chance, and when I have a good feeling, I trust it and follow through. I’m happy to invest then, but that’s enough for me. If I were to dive in headfirst, I might let myself be talked into anything and believe that everything could work out. With all the NFTs and cryptocurrency stuff, I’ve been cautious. When someone pitches something to me, I’m automatically skeptical. I’d rather invest in soft drinks than in crypto.

Rap is heavily influenced by material things. What do physical possessions and status symbols mean to you in your life?
Honestly, they mean a lot to me. I’m a very aesthetic person and I like beautiful things. Buying a cool watch and designer clothes is really important to me. During the pandemic, I wondered if that was necessary, but if I’m honest with myself, it’s incredibly important to me. I don’t have to pretend I don’t care just because it sounds good. That said, intangible things are just as important to me. I place a lot of value on honesty and loyalty and would never cheat anyone. I have a totally clear conscience and couldn’t do something like that. Certain values and integrity are important to me. It’s hard to trust the right people. There are also a lot of great people who don’t share the same moral values as me, but you can still get along with them. When I agree to do something or make a promise, I follow through. When I say something in interviews, no one has to edit it out, like other rappers often demand. The answers come from me, after all.

How does Money Boy like his money best? Cash or on a card? You’re not exactly a big fan of cryptocurrency…
As a rapper, it’s definitely cool to always flex with cash. You can’t always pay with a card, and it would be incredibly uncomfortable for me not to have cash on me. I always have cash stashed away. When a rapper buys a fancy Rolex or new sneakers, I also think it’s really lame if they pay with a card. You have to count out the money and lay down the bills. I don’t want every payment transaction to be documented, because it takes away a bit of your freedom. That’s too much control for me. The best way is cash in a roll held together with rubber bands.

Speaking of “Zwambo”—a slang term for a 20-euro bill that you incorporated into a song that was pretty successful last year. With that, as you’ve done many times in your career, you tried again to start a new trend. Do you see yourself as a trendsetter?
In that case, it caught on well, but sometimes I also let things pass me by. I didn’t invent the “Zwambo”—it was already a thing on Twitter. I then went viral a few times with stuff related to the “Zwambo” or the “Zwamboss,” meaning the 200-euro bill. People loved the topic, which then inspired me to write the song. Unfortunately, “Zwambo” didn’t make it into the top 10 for Youth Word of the Year, which surprised me. But my next favorite was “Auf Lock,” for which I shot a music video in Mallorca.

How many “Zwambos” does Money Boy carry around with him in everyday life?
When I recently played a few concerts in Germany, I withdrew 4,000 euros in “Zwambos.” I just tossed them into my backpack, and I didn’t run out of cash for a long time. It feels good to reach in and then pay. The “Zwambo” is the perfect bill. It’s not too little and not too much, and you can always use it to pay for things in everyday life.

You mentioned “Traphouse Kitchen” earlier, which is incredibly popular with your fans. Where does this great talent for cooking come from?
Food has always been very important in my family. Everything had to be homemade, and my grandparents and my father were already good cooks. Cooking is meditative for me. I listen to podcasts and prepare my meals—that’s how I unwind best. Sometimes I feel more like it, sometimes less; I don’t cook all the time. I used to experiment and learn more than I do now.

Has the focus of your career shifted from Vienna to Germany as a result of your collaborations and features?
It’s the biggest market, but I also have to say that Vienna is pretty hot right now in the rap scene. German fans are aware of that too. I share a lot of fans with Yung Hurn, and there are other great rappers from Vienna who are becoming more and more well-known. Germany has the much bigger market, so that’s where my focus lies. A lot of people also ask me why I don’t move to Berlin, but that doesn’t appeal to me. I enjoy spending a few days there, going to the studio, playing shows, or shooting music videos, but I feel incredibly at home in Vienna, so I don’t need to change anything in that regard.

When we last met about five years ago, you told me it was incredibly important to you to surround yourself with a circle of trustworthy people. Did you succeed in that, and has that desire grown stronger over the years?
Today, I’ve become more relaxed about that. Back then, I imposed strict rules and resolutions on myself, but that’s no longer the case. I have no problem letting new people into my life, but I remain cautious when it comes to business.

How have you changed as a person during this time?
I’ve become more open overall—to criticism, but also to new approaches and in a social sense. I like to step out of my comfort zone and do things I’m not used to.

You’ve always had to be resistant to criticism. Alongside your many fans, you’ve always had a large number of haters. Have you learned to deal with that over the years?
I learned that relatively early on, but especially when it comes to justified criticism—the kind you sometimes see yourself—or criticism from people you know and respect. I used to push that away more, but today I embrace the pain and accept it. A lot of good can come from that. When you see that criticism leads to improvement, you feel better about yourself, too. I’ve definitely become much more honest with myself. Instead of pushing certain things aside, I accept them and try to make improvements.

Are there any areas in the creative or business world that you’d like to explore and where you haven’t been actively involved yet?
For example, writing a book or acting—I think both are really cool. I’ve also done a few small things in the acting field and am a huge fan of movies and TV. I haven’t gained much experience yet, but it appeals to me. On the subject of a book: Most people who sometimes suggest this to me always want some kind of biography or a “swag bible,” but I’d be more interested in something else. More like writing a novel, a crime thriller, or screenplays. I’m currently collaborating with a cinematographer who wants to go into filmmaking, and we’re pretty much on the same page when it comes to visual concepts. We’re roughly planning a gangster film with hip-hop influences, similar to what’s been done before—like in “New Jack City.” It’s all still in the early stages, and we still need to find enough time for it.

As an artist who writes quite explicit lyrics, does a term like “cancel culture” resonate with you, or are you completely above it all?
It doesn’t really bother me, but of course you hear a lot about it and form your own opinion on the matter. For the people who want to cancel others, it sometimes borders on bullying and is often very arbitrary and not driven by good intentions. Many do it to generate attention or because they find it funny—you have to take it case by case. Cancel culture has gotten out of hand, but you can’t really cancel anyone unless you do it to yourself.

Do you set limits for yourself when writing lyrics? Are there areas where even your sense of humor wouldn’t go?
For me, there are certainly a few boundaries, though these are well-known in the comedy and music worlds anyway. Basically, I’m naturally in favor of “freedom of speech” in these areas, but you don’t have to tackle every topic. If it veers toward xenophobia, it’s best to leave it alone. Topics that are burdened by our past should definitely be left out.

Are there lyrics that you wouldn’t write that way today or would completely change?
Absolutely, because times have changed. Back in 2010 or 2011, my music was still like the Wild West. Back then, I was mainly going for the shock value, which I still really love today. I love comedians and radio hosts who totally go for shock value and build their fame on it. A lot of that wouldn’t fly today, and over time I’ve changed too, because you can’t get away with certain things anymore. Back then, you could try a lot of things without getting canceled. But you can still make plenty of jokes without being too shocking. Of course, I was also after attention, but sometimes it was in a cheap way. You can quickly say something outrageous or controversial, but it’s not creative, and you can’t be proud of it. Things change, and that’s a good thing.

From today’s perspective, would you cancel any of your own songs?
I wouldn’t play many of them live anymore, but I wouldn’t cancel anything. At the end of the day, all these songs are art, and I stand by them.

Have you completely laid your alter ego YSL Know Plug to rest by now?
No, he appears in many songs and rhymes, and I still think YSL Know Plug is a cool alias. But I wouldn’t make another album under that name.

In every aspect of your life, you’re heavily influenced by American pop culture. Was there a specific, defining moment in your life that sparked this?
It started with my family and basketball, which I played myself for a long time. I always looked to America, and the culture there appealed to me. In some areas, I’m a big fan of the American mindset—like the idea of freedom and the way they do business over there. A lot of it is about self-reliance and minimal regulation. A lot has changed there too, but that spirit is still there. Over the years, though, I’ve distanced myself from some of those expectations and stopped pretending to be someone else. I love that Americans dye their breakfast cereals in crazy neon colors. I don’t question it much anymore—I just embrace it.

Speaking of the self-employed mindset: Do you feel more drawn to the U.S. than to Europe from an economic standpoint?
When you take care of all the things that are important to you yourself, you feel free in Europe, too. Sure, we pay more social security and more taxes here, but I also benefit from that in many areas. I can’t say which I prefer, and I think things are cool just the way they are.

Could you see yourself living in the U.S.?
That used to be my dream, but I’ve spent a lot of time there now and my opinion has changed a bit. You can stay in the U.S. for up to three months at a time without a visa before you have to leave, and that’s plenty for me. The fascination I used to feel has faded a bit, and when I fly there now, I’m definitely there for business. I fly to meet producers, sound engineers, and videographers because the cities there also offer the best backdrops for music videos. I still go on that cool road trip to a barbecue restaurant, but when I fly over there, it’s always for business purposes.

Are you East Coast or West Coast? On the one hand, when it comes to hip-hop; on the other, purely in terms of geography and scenery.
I’ve always felt a bit closer to the East Coast because I’ve been there more often. Musically and in terms of sound, though, I’m more influenced by the West Coast. I’d also love to go back to Los Angeles because I haven’t been there in a while. I like the lifestyle there. Then there’s the South, like Atlanta—Down South—where there’s also some really strong rap that inspires me.

Given your output, it’s hard to imagine, but have you ever experienced writer’s block or moments where you had absolutely no inspiration over the years?
There have been isolated phases like that every now and then. If I wanted to be cool, I’d say no, but then I’d be lying. Almost all artists go through that at some point in their lives, and once you realize that for yourself, you can deal with it much better. It happens to the biggest names, and they’ve fought their way back at some point too. Before the internet, people thought everyone was perfect and happy, but today the world is much more open in that regard. That definitely works in my favor. I also find it much easier to present myself in public, even with my weaknesses.

Could this openness go so far that you’d eventually make music under your real name, Sebastian Meisinger?
No, I don’t think that’s my style. It’s funny how many people call me by my real name at concerts and on the street. It used to bother me, but now I embrace it and find it funny. It’s all good. But I don’t make music under my real name.

Do you handle your fans’ selfie culture well? After all, you’re a big fan of other rappers and athletes yourself.
I’m a huge fan of it, and as an artist, I see it as validation. Some people like to complain about this, but I think that’s ridiculous. You choose this yourself and want to be famous. If you don’t feel like it, you can wear a mask or stay in the deep underground. When I’m wearing sweatpants and just want to run a quick errand, I’m sometimes briefly unhappy because I don’t look so fresh in a selfie, but that only lasts a few minutes.

Money Boy live
On April 13, Money Boy is playing at the Wiener Stadthalle E. The concert is already completely sold out. But at www.moneyboy.at you’ll find all his other dates, some of which are scattered all across Austria: