On The Come Up: Honey Bxby
By Ciara Lee Thompson | Membership Manager, ASCAP Rhythm & Soul • March 27, 2024
Let’s get right into it – how has being from New Jersey played a role in your musical style?
I don’t know, well you know what, I’m very open, very honest, very care-free, that’s Jersey!
Raw and real is what embodies being an authentic artist. Now you’re signed to Atlantic Records, and in a previous interview you stated “It doesn’t happen to a lot of people.” What does it mean for you to be signed, specifically being signed to Atlantic Records?
Well, I’m signed to Rebirth / ART @ WAR and Atlantic Records. So I am signed to a major label as well as my management label. What I meant by it doesn’t happen to a lot of people, it doesn’t happen to a lot of people where I come from. It actually doesn’t happen at all where I come from. There’s only me and another person who got signed out of Asbury, and we got signed in the same year. It never happened, it never happens. It’s the first time it’s actually happened, so I think it’s really cool to be one of the first people to get signed out of my city, and to get to set an example that you know it can happen as long as you put your mind to it and as long as you work really hard, anything can happen.
Love that, because you’ve been working hard – well deserved! Working hard also includes working hard across socials. Social media plays a big role in artistry nowadays, from being discovered to sustaining visibility. As an artist who was discovered via Instagram, how do you manage to stay current and active on social media, and how has it played a part in your success thus far?
Definitely my team, they stay on me about posting and stuff like that because when it becomes a part of your job it definitely becomes a little bit harder – which is so backwards! It becomes a little bit harder because you get stuck, you start to overthink everything you post, you feel like everything has got to be perfect. You know because everybody is trying to go viral these days, so just realizing if you don’t post you’re going to be forgotten, and you have to stay relevant.
I definitely understand that. You mentioned your team: let’s talk about the importance of a good team, who embodies your team and what you feel every artist should have as part of their team for a successful come up?
My team works really hard, like really really hard! Especially my manager. He does a lot, and goes above and beyond for me. If I didn’t have a team I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have today, because it’s a machine behind me. Like I’m kind of just like the face and obviously I do put in work, but there’s a big machine behind me that’s doing a lot of things, that’s pushing me to do a lot of things and are also coming up with ideas for the next moves. There’s no I in team, if you don’t have a good team by your side, you’re kind of on your own and out of luck for real.
Love to hear that, and that you value your team so much!
Absolutely
Well, you have truly been putting in work, this past Fall you were part of Sexyy Reds’ Hood’s Hottest Princess tour as direct support. As your first tour experience, how did you prepare for it?
Uhmmm... I actually didn’t get a chance to prepare for it, because *laughs* I found out a week before I left. So, we tried to get in as much rehearsal as we could and we just kind of went on the road and did what we had to do. Which I honestly think worked out a little better because if I had too much time to think about it, I would have started going crazy. So, I definitely work well under pressure, but that was something I found out rather quickly so I didn’t have time to really process it, or gather a whole show or anything. We really got everything done in less than seven days!
Moments like those really make for the best experiences!
Yeah, it went down hey, so it worked out!
Every artist is different when it comes to performing and touring, but tell me five things you won’t touch the stage without?
I’m not going on stage without my manager being there, it feels so weird! I need to have Hennessy because it gets the jitters out. I need to eat; like I need to have food or else I’ll get really cranky. Lip gloss!
So, manager, Henny, some good food so you’re not cranky or hangry, lip gloss and one more thing...
One more thing, I can’t go on stage without... the microphone, hello!
Well, we definitely will make sure you have that, mic is on! You have such an infectious personality. It shows on socials and in your music, but also through this interview!
Thank you! Thank you!
You’re welcome! Now in addition to touring last year, you also made your television performance debut on BET at the 2023 Soul Train Awards, so congratulations on that!
Yes, thank you!
What was that experience like for you?
It was a dope, very dope experience! I didn’t expect something like that to happen so quickly! That was another thing that was like, yeah hey you’re going on Soul Train Awards while on tour, so you know I had to run to LA and figure that out and that was pretty cool. Another working well under pressure type of experience. It was my TV debut, so it was very different from being on stage and doing your own thing and moving how you want to move. It definitely was different (I had to wear heels on the stage, like what is going on) and then SWV was just walking right past me and I’m like what is going on! It was great, it was crazy!
That’s incredible, it’s amazing! This is your new life, being well prepared at all times and accepting opportunities as they come! I like to tie that into one of the rolling with punches perks of being a woman. As we’re closing out Women’s History Month, what role has women's representation in the music industry played in your career?
A VERY BIG ROLE! Because I’m a girl, I have lady parts and I can’t just continuously look up to men because what are they really showing me besides good music? Having women to look up to as far as music, fashion, TV, everything, icons! Most of the icons are women, 99% of icons are women actually. It’s very important especially for little girls. For them to have something to look up to – even if it is a little raunchy! All the people I looked up to when I was younger was very raunchy *laughs*, but it all worked out for me. Seeing women making something out of themselves and becoming something, whether they came from something or came from nothing, women are important around the world. There would be no people if we didn’t have our lady parts to pop our babies!
Absolutely, so salute to women everywhere! Happy Women’s History Month! So, from saluting women to saluting some of these dynamic collaborations at the start of your career – you’ve worked with the great Busta Rhymes to your Atlantic labelmate Kaliii – who are some of your dream collaborations?
Drake & Kehlani!
Okay!
Yeah, just manifesting it, in the making Drake & Kehlani – oh and Miley Cyrus, like Hannah Montana, that would be crazy!
I definitely can see those features for you! Well, as we’re coming to a close, is there anything else you want your ASCAP family, fans or other aspiring artists to know about you?
That I have a deluxe EP dropping very, very soon and I’m excited. More new music coming out very soon, and a lot of new music coming out this year because I’m not letting up! A lot of consistency happening for 2024!
Love it! You’re off to any amazing start already, so I’m sure we can expect so much more coming from you! It’s a pleasure to have you apart of our ASCAP family! You’re actually the kickoff of our relaunch of ASCAP’s On The Come Up: Spotlight as we’ve run it back for 2024!
Wow really, thank you!
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