Eli's Rotation
Barretta Is Not in a Race With Anybody
By Diony C.
•June 4, 2026
•4 min read
Queens-based rapper Barretta on nearly 14,000 plays for "fryday," producer Benny, the Prty EP, and what's building next.
Some artists post to be seen. Barretta posts because the music demands it. The Queens-based rapper has been building quietly since 2023: a full album in Adversity, official videos, a TikTok presence with real numbers, and a SoundCloud page that functions like a personal archive. His track “fryday” (produced by Benny) racked up nearly 14,000 plays with SoundCloud comments demanding a Spotify release before he even had one. Then the Prty EP dropped and answered the call.
We caught up with Barretta for a written interview. He talked about organic momentum, how his relationship with producer Benny got started, why some tracks stay on SoundCloud and others make it to the DSPs, and what’s coming next.
"fryday" has almost 14,000 plays on SoundCloud and the comments were asking you to drop on Spotify before the Prty EP even landed. What does that kind of organic response mean to you when you put something out independently?
It would honestly mean the world to me. What can I say? It motivates me and pushes me to succeed and keep going. It reminds me I’m not in a race with anybody.
You and Benny clearly have chemistry on that track. How did that collaboration come together and how do you usually approach finding producers you want to work with?
Originally, I came across a beat he had posted on YouTube and rapped on it. As I started getting bigger, I realized I couldn’t just be on that type of business, so I hit him up to properly buy the beat. Ever since then we’ve been locked in. He’s produced some of my craziest hits.
You dropped "fryday" as part of the Prty EP on Spotify but you still have a heavy SoundCloud presence with tracks that aren't on streaming. How do you decide what goes to DSPs and what stays on SoundCloud?
It’s a mental thing for me, to be honest. If a song has a more exclusive, niche vibe, I’ll leave it for the real ones to find on SoundCloud. Either in the archive or on the main page. But if a song has a more professional presence, I’ll put it up on both.
You have a full album in Adversity, singles going back to 2023, official videos, and real fanbase traction. What does your creative process look like right now? Are you building toward something specific or dropping as the music comes?
I can’t say too much yet, but a large, beautiful body of work is in the making. My creative process is pretty simple: I just get fried, let my ideas flow, and whatever I feel like posting, I post. I’m blessed to have my brother Oliver by my side helping me distribute and really bring my ideas to life.
Who in your city or your circle is working that people need to know about?
Barretta’s Prty EP is out now on Spotify. Follow him on Instagram at @fuckbarretta and on SoundCloud for tracks you won’t find anywhere else.
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Barretta - not related (Official Music Video)