In His Own Words: Albee Al on Getting Another Chance at Rap Success

In his own words, New Jersey rapper Albee Al talks about staying out of trouble, his new Free the Real mixtape, and lessons he’s learned over the years.
Itās been three years since New Jersey rapper Albee Al has talked to any major press. So Al, who calls himself “the King of New Jersey,” is all smiles during our Zoom conversation. He’s in the middle of his press run and ā after nearly facing life in prison ā heās just happy to be seen.
āIām trying to smile more but I hope they donāt see my teeth,” Al told Okayplayer. “You know, Iām a wolf.ā
Born and raised in Jersey City, Al, real name Albert Robinson, is the son of a rapper. His father, also named Albee Al, was part of Sweet, Slick and Sly, a hip-hop group that would perform with rap legends like Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie. But his father died of cancer when he was four years old. And as a child, growing up in Marion Gardens housing projects, Al was surround by the streets, outside and in his home.Ā
āThey gotta understand who I am. Where I come from and my background,ā Al said. āItās not just the men in my family. My uncles, everybody, and the judges know the Robinson family. My grandmother was a gangsta. She shot my fatherās best friend. I come from gangsters.āĀ
Throughout the 2010s, Albee Al gained regional fame, known for his very specific rhymes and hyperactive rap style. Over the decade, he would release hood favorites like Super Saiyan and Koba. However, every time he would pick up momentum, trouble would come. In 2019, five years after beating a 2010 murder, Al got charged with attempted murder charges. He accepted a plea last month and went back to the studio. With all that time to reflect, the result is Free the Real, a project that Al describes as “all emotion.”Ā
A couple of days before the project dropped, Al spoke about love from his hometown, his new album and lessons he’s learned over the years.
As told toĀ Kia TurnerĀ

Photo Credit: Daniel Vasquez / @danielvasquezphotos
On New Jersey’s place in the rap sceneĀ
When I was gone, I would listen to music on the radio, and Iām like, āWhereās Jersey at?ā So when I came home, they knew that Jersey was back. I know, no one was really taking off from Jersey so I guess when I came home, it felt like āFinally, hereās hope!ā They know Iām coming with that shit so they know I got us.Ā
It was always love in Jersey. Even when I thought it wasnāt. I used to have that mindset of thinking people donāt care or people be hating. But, nah, Jersey always arguing for me. Other states say, āwho yāall got?ā and Jersey would always say āWe got Albee Al.ā Thatās why I go so hard. It feels good being the person my State trust.Ā
On trying to prove he’s a changed man to the public
I really want them to understand that Iām focused on business. Iām focused on music. I know theyāre afraid of the street shit because Iām a street nigga and I come from that and showed and proved so many times how I can get with my temper. But Iām just trying to show them that itās in the past. Itās all about the grind, taking care of my family, and putting my people in position. When they act scared, thatās doing nothing but stopping my bag and taking food out my familyās mouth.Ā
I feel like Iām a misfit but at the same time, I got my own lane. Itās literally no one talking about what I talk about. Everyone talks about street shit and what theyāre going through. Itās the way I explain it. Iām what theyāre missing. Iām a misfit picking up where I left off. Iām more detailed, more graphic. My shit have you grabbing your arm, feeling those chills. I really went through shit.Ā
On his new tape, Free the Real
This tape is an offspring of Koba. I got the Koba attitude. The Koba attitude is like, “If you aināt fucking with me, I aināt fucking with you.” This tape is all emotion. Itās harder than Koba. But that will always be a classic because of how I painted the picture. I got Mozzy from Bay Area on the tape, Iām putting the āThottieā remix together now.Ā
āIām From Marionā is probably my favorite record off the tape. That song is my life, it explains who I am. It explains my mindset of where Iām at today. Itās the way Iām thinking and itās going to help people understand why I move the way I move. Like I finally get it. Iām moving like a superstar and not a street nigga. Of course, Iām that but Iām way more than that.Ā
āMy Facultyā is actually a song I did before I went to jail. Thatās the only song on there that I did before I went to jail. Itās a lot of emotion in that one. I wrote most of this project while I was locked up and I would always hear people say, āI want the old Poeā and Iām like āWhat the fuck is the old Poe? Iām Poe!ā I had a bunkee and he was like my biggest fan. He knew all my old shit. He used to be rapping it and say, āYou need to come like this.ā So thatās when I knew. I had to find that old Poe that people wanted. Poe was hungry. Talking my shit. Talking about what I aināt have and how I had to get the shit I have. I had to go and get that that Poe.Ā
The lessons heās learned over the years
Iāve learned so many lessons along the way. They say the game is to be sold not told. You gotta pay with experience. You gotta go through shit to know that. My lesson with that is I gotta stop handling all my problems with violence. I have anger issues so when I get angry, I just go. I worked on that my whole time in jail. Donāt put yourself in those positions.Ā
Some people just aināt got it. Some people go their whole lives looking for it and still canāt find it. I got it. I always had it. This shit aināt nothing knew, it didnāt grow overnight. I had it when I was a kid and I knew it. Everyone around me knew it. I just always lost focus when I was about to blow. Always went to jail or did some crazy shit. I always get my wings clipped when Iām about to take off. In jail, I knew I couldnāt fly. But I knew Iād get my wings back.Ā
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Kia Turner is a journalist and music historian from Newark, New Jersey. Managing her album-based series Deconstructing or talking about Pussy Rap, you can find the Hoodaville princess at @ChasingKia on all platforms.Ā