Rob49 Talks His New Orleans Mount Rushmore and What The Hell Is Next

Rob49’s rise has been anything but accidental. After years of relentless hustle, gritty storytelling, and a growing catalog of street anthems, the New Orleans native has solidified himself as one of the most electrifying voices in Southern rap.

His latest album, Let Me Fly, is both a declaration of independence and a celebration of elevation — the sound of an artist who’s ready to soar beyond regional fame and claim his place on a national stage.

Let Me Fly arrives on the heels of Rob49’s viral breakout single, “WTHelly,” which catapulted him into the mainstream spotlight and sent social media into a frenzy. With millions of streams and a rapidly expanding fanbase, Rob49 is no longer just one to watch — he’s arrived.

Built on hard-hitting production, unfiltered lyricism, and Rob’s signature raw energy, Let Me Fly captures a young artist at a transformative moment in his career. It’s an album that speaks to the hunger, pain, and ambition that brought him here, while making it clear that he’s just getting started.

With this release, Rob49 further cements his status not only as one of the hottest rappers in the South, but a potential megastar in waiting.

VIBE spoke with Rob49 about his new album, the power of freedom, the rap Mount Rushmore of the bayou, and what the hell is next as he continues his journey.

How are you feeling?

Feeling good, baby. What you on?

What kind of feedback have you been getting from the fans about Let Me Fly?

I ain’t gonna lie, it’s been getting good feedback. Like my last album, I ain’t get that much good feedback. With this one, I see a lot of people like, “Man this sound like something.”

Nearly two years have passed between the release of 4GOD II and Let Me Fly. What was the reason for the time gap?

I just wanted to make some good music. I ain’t want to put [just] anything out because that’s how people die out real fast, putting out trash music. I ain’t want to release no trash stuff so I just waited until I had the right thing to put out.

When was the moment that you knew the project was completed and ready to share with the world?

When I just was tired of making music. I’m like, “Man this it.” Like I can’t go no further.

What inspired the title Let Me Fly?

I just felt like it was my turn. I think we came with enough hits to be solidified in it. So I feel like it was our turn.

It seemed like it’s your appreciation and hunger for freedom just to be free in all aspects.

Yeah, that too. It was so many meanings behind it. I I ain’t gonna lie. It was so many meanings behind it. That’s one of the reasons too, it’s a lot of them.

When would you say you’re at your freest?

When I’m by myself. When I’m by myself I’m just free, I don’t care.

One song from the album that got a lot of buzz is “So Sexyy” featuring Sexy Red and YTB Fatt. What’s the back story behind that song and how did it come to light?

Me and Fatt made the song in Houston, just bullshitting. We made it that Thursday, we we’re going to put it out Friday, the next day. And we’re like, “Man, tell them drop it tomorrow.” Then I thought about it, I texted him when we left the studio, ‘Don’t drop it tomorrow, I got an idea.’ And then I wound up sending it to Sexxy, like “You like this?” She was like, “Yeah,” so she wound up doing it. And we wound up coming up with it like that.

Speaking of YTB Fatt, he appears twice on the album and is one of your closest collaborators. Describe your chemistry with YTB in and out of the studio?

It just feels good. Just being around somebody who genuinely care for you, you know what I’m saying? That’s my dog, even before he was even YTB Fatt. Like before people knew him, I just was always locking in with him. It just felt good.

You get personal on this album on songs like “Hear Me Mama” and “Where I’m From.” What are some traits of facts about yourself that would surprise people?

That’s my favorite type of music to make.

What are the three songs from Let Me Fly that you excited for fans to hear?

“Hear Me Mama,” “Honest,” and “Where I’m From.” Two or the three you named.

Another name that pops up multiple times on the tracklist is Birdman. Being that you’re both from New Orleans, what was it like working with such a legendary figure from your city?

Working with Birdman felt good just cuz like he wanted to do it. He called me, like, ‘Man I want to be on your album. Make sure I’m on every album you drop.’ It felt good just having somebody that really actually wants to be on your stuff no matter what if you go up or down.

How has New Orleans molded you both as a man and a person?

I think it molded me as a man because I done seen a lot of stuff and I know you’ve got to stand up before it. I don’t know, I just play chess with life because I know how sh*t gets.

Speaking of New Orleans, which New Orleans artist would you put on your New Orleans Mount Rushmore? If you could pick four.

Y’all be playing [laughs]. Hey man, you got me. Hold on, man. Lil Wayne, fasho. Souljah Slim. Juvenile. I ain’t gon’ lie, man… probably like Curren$y. Fasho.

That’s a good mix. “Let Me Fly has the bonus track “On Dat Money” with Cardi B. What was it like working with her, and how did the two of you connect?

It was lit. She asked me for a song and I just felt like she was playing about putting it out. I called her like, “Let me do it,” and she just let me drop it like a real nigga.

Your single “WTHELLY” became a viral smash and one of the biggest songs in your career. What inspired the concept behind the record and were you surprised by the success?

I wasn’t surprised by it cause we all knew it was going to be big, my partners and I, but just the whole city was saying “What the helly.” We all were saying “What the helly.” And we’re just sitting in the studio one day and I’m like, “Man, I’m making the song right here,” and that was that. I made it in New York, matter of fact. On Broadway.

Out of all of the memes about clips using the song, what is something that stood out to you the most?

The old people rapping it. It just stood out to me the most cause they got to really go and learn this song cause they like it, you know? So yeah.

What’s next for Rob49? This is where you can plug anything you want to say when you come here. All right.

What’s next for Rob49? More albums. Just keep going, man. For real. More music, and moving forward with my lounge in New Orleans. The Nest New Orleans. It’s like a hookah/restaurant type vibe. If you’re ever in New Orleans, come pull up on me, man.