As tough crowds go, one way or another, gang members will at least give you their opinion straight.
So it takes guts, even for a Compton native like Buddy, to put his music to the test with that particular audience. Yet that's exactly what the rapper/singer did in previewing his Harlan & Alondra album for such a listening party.
"I was hanging out with Nipsey Hussle and his friends," he says, referring to his fellow Los Angeles rapper. "Some O.G. gangstas that had never met me or heard me before."
Much to his relief, their response to Buddy's record was sincere and positive. "I seen some real Crips stand up, punch a wall, tell me how tight my s**t is."
Having survived that scrutiny, the artist born Simmie Sims III is now sharing his full-length debut with the rest of us. Affectionately named for the cross streets where he grew up, Harlan & Alondra officially drops today via RCA Records, with choice guest appearances by Khalid, Snoop Dogg and Ty Dolla Sign, among others.
"I just wanted to bring all eyes on my street," he says. "When people talk about my album, they'll be talking about my city."
Demonstrating a keen ear for streetwise soul, the cohesive and catchy record exudes West Coast vibes past and present, from the G-funk grooviness of "Real Life S**t" to the smoothed out singalong R&B of "Trouble On Central." It's a kind of homecoming at a time when the greater Los Angeles area just bursts with hip-hop talent, notably including Compton-bred contemporary rappers like Kendrick Lamar and YG.
"I really appreciate growing up there and having all the experiences that I had as a kid," he says with pride. "I feel like it made me the person I am today."
At the age of 24, Buddy has already logged quite a few years in the proverbial rap game, having originally signed with superproducer Pharrell Williams' as a teenager. While that didn't translate to an immediate album drop, their time together yielded tracks like "Awesome Awesome" that showed his growing promise. Mere months shy of Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, the two joined forces on a Neptunes-produced cut "Staircases." Buddy looks back at his circuitous come up on Harlan & Alondra cut "Find Me 2," mixing reflective insights and familial reminiscences.
"I've had the opportunity to witness a bunch of awesome artists while they were in the process of making their albums," he says, including sessions with Pharrell at the helm. "Being able to be a fly on the wall in some of those rooms, once I had a platform to make my own I already had an idea about how to go about it."
In 2017, he took further steps to build a name for himself with a pair of buzzworthy EPs, including one in collaboration with Kaytranada, the 2016 Polaris Prize-winning Canadian producer behind Chance The Rapper's "All Night." Some will recall Buddy's guest appearance alongside Chance on BJ The Chicago Kid's "Church," which spent 11 weeks on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts and peaked there at No. 44. His extensive history of features includes tracks with established hitmakers ASAP Rocky and Wiz Khalifa as well as in-demand EDM producer Alison Wonderland and RCA labelmate Cousin Stizz.
Still, those mainly familiar with Buddy from what he's done with Kendrick, Pharrell or Nipsey shouldn't expect more of the same from Harlan & Alondra.
"It's a whole 'nother vibe," he stresses. "Add one more to the list of Compton legends."