Spreading his signature style from the Bay to the A, Figg Panamera is a beloved and influential figure in multiple time zones. Attacking a piano-heavy trap instrumental with a melodic and metronomic flow, Figg boasts about his booming business on “Phone Ringing,” his latest single. Chopping it up with his stylistic descendant Kevin Gates, a man perfectly at home on phone-related bangers, the two emcees trade witticisms and count their cash as their Nextels chirp in the background.
“On the song, you hear me say ‘wind it up,'” explains Figg. “That’s a shout-out to the old school wind-up rotary phones.” Phone Ringing” is the latest single from Cali Boy Down South, Figg’s upcoming album, following “Money Talk,” Figg’s hard-hitting collab with 21 Savage.
His first official album since moving from San Francisco to Atlanta and changing his name from JT The Bigga Figga, Cali Boy Down South hits stores on June 9.
Figg Panamera speaks on “Phone Ringing,” stating,
“When Kevin Gates started his own label around 2012/13, I helped mentor him about digital distribution and running an indie label. We talked a lot about trapping and the important of keeping your phone busy. We recorded a full album, which I released but I held onto this song because I knew it was special. He’s a phone fanatic. He came up with the concept of ‘Phone Ringing’ and this was before his big hit ‘2 Phones.’
With me and him, the phone stay ringing. He just got sentenced to 30 months and I want to help keep his name out and keep his buzz going. Trapping isn’t just about doing illegal things. Trapping is taking advantage of time to make money. You’re trapping if you’re a publicist calling your clients. Trapping is constantly working. You could be sitting in the office on Facebook or Instagram liking pictures but a trapper will be sending DM’s for business while they’re on these platforms. You wasting time.”
Pre-order Cali Boy Down South: https://empire.lnk.to/CaliBoyDownSouth. Listen to “Phone Ringing” featuring Kevin Gates now.