F  L  A  U  N  T

“You know the vibes!” Ron Suno is here to prove he’s way more than a comedian, he’s a rapper in his own right. The Bronx, New York native is one of the artists spearheading the new wave of Brooklyn drill, which exploded into the mainstream light thanks to Pop Smoke (rest in peace). He’s also proud to say he’s the first comedian drill rapper to exist. 

With over 875K followers on Instagram alone, real name Keron Foriest has been entertaining the masses since he started. Posting skits that exude his loud personality and hilarious sense-of-humor, his #WeaveChallenge became an instant sensation — cementing his name in the entertainment industry. 

Currently 19 years old, Ron’s been rapping since the age of 13. His recent single titled “Pinocchio” went viral online, and even received a standout remix from the West Coast’s own Blueface. The original song accumulated 15.8 million views on Tik Tok and 8.8 million on Youtube, while the remix bridged the West and East coast together.

Ron’s music speaks for itself. His bars are gritty, his sound is hyped, and his flow is relentless. Beyond the impact of “Pinocchio,” his other single “Spider-Man” featuring Fivio Foreign (another artist putting on for Brooklyn’s drill scene) is going up: hitting radio airwaves and all streaming platforms. 

Now, fans are patiently waiting for Ron’s forthcoming EP titled Swag Like Mike. Flaunt Mag caught up with Ron via Instagram Live who was quarantined in the Bronx to discuss

How’s quarantine treating you? 

It’s 48 degrees, I don’t see nobody outside. After quarantine, I’m going outside. It’s hard to stay home, I have ADHD. 

I’ve been smoking way too much.

I smoke so much, I think the blunt’s smoking me. It’s to the point the blunt’s rolling me. I’m like “oh shit not again, another blunt. I feel like nah I got to roll another blunt. If I smoke, I roll another one.

Someone said you’re the King of New York. That’s a statement. 

Nah, that’s a fact. You already know, let my supporters decide. Ron Suno the King of New York, people going crazy. I’m up next, 2020 vision. Let me tell you why: I’m the first comedian rapper. First comedian drill rapper. There’s no other drill rappers that’s funny, who do skits. Comedian rappers don’t do drill. 

Were you doing drill before Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign?

My first song was called “Murder” when I was 13, it was drill. My second song was “Drago,” 2 drill songs back to back. I was 13 then I turned 14, dropped 2 drill songs. I started drill, not going to lie. I feel like I did. After this Live, I want everyone to look up Ron Suno “Murder” and look up the year. I’m the first comedian drill rapper, ever. 

Being from New York, what was a 13-year-old Ron Suno like in the Bronx? 

I was all over the place, doing a lot of dumb stuff. Trying to find myself, different crowds I was hanging around with. In the midst of finding different crowds, I bump into a studio. That’s when I stayed out the crowd, I stayed out of trouble once I got in the booth. I found something I liked to do. As I got older, the studio grasped onto me. It’s natural for me to go in the booth and rap so by the time I was already 17, I could go in the booth and have a quick 16. 

NY is the birthplace of hip-hop. Who did you look up to growing up?

Not going to lie, I looked up with Soulja Boy. “Crank That Soulja Boy…” Soulja’s definitely an inspiration, because he started on social media. He’s entertaining. Shout out to Soulja Boy. Chief Keef too. 

Recording your first song at 13, did you know what you were doing? 

Nah, I was actually insecure about my craft. I felt like my music wasn’t where it’s supposed to be. I was scared to show my parents. I was scared to let the world know I made music so I kept it in the shed. I didn't really expose my talent like that, how I should.

At what point were you confident enough to show it? 

As I did more comedy skits, as I got more followers, as I got more of a fanbase, I was able to be comfortable and drop more music because I know my fans will grasp onto it. I dropped music again around 2017, 2018. I dropped “Party On Jump” with my crew, songs started to get a little buzz. After that I dropped “Ball,” then Pinocchio.” After “Pinocchio,” bam. 

Let’s talk about “Pinocchio”! Were you feeling yourself in the studio? 

Believe it or not, I didn’t know “Pinocchio” was going to be that one song that’s going to hit. But I knew it’s going to hit because I kept going over the song in the stu. [clasps hands] I kept trying to find something to make it better, the ad libs. Something about that song kept making me want to work on it. “Pinocchio” had my attention. That name “Pinocchio” is too catchy for me, I’m like nah. I was just in the stu having fun. 

How did you think of that title?

I was thinking about a lot of people who lie. There’s a lot of liars out here, so I got a lot of clips for people who be lying to me. “Extended the clip like Pinocchio...” that’s a fact. “Pinocchio” is really is for the kids too. I have a kid fanbase, they like “Pinocchio.” 

I’m sure the Blueface remix had everyone locked in. 

Most definitely, especially from the West Coast. Blueface comes from LA so to do a song with somebody from New York, that’s crazy. It’s national. East Coast to the West Coast, we’re going crazy. LA to the BX!

How did that collab come about?

It started from Wack 100, Blueface’s manager. Wack’s daughter was doing the Pinocchio Challenge. It’s crazy because if you’re young, you’re going to know what’s going on or what’s trending because you got social media. If you’re a kid, you’re a mini A&R. You find talent. Wack 100 saw it on Tik Tok, my manager hit up Wack 100. They had that management talk. Boom, Blueface got on the song. Shout out to my manager and Wack 100, they made that happen. It was lit, shout out to Blueface. We’re definitely going to do a video real soon.

Have you tapped in with Blueface in real life? 

Yeah, we went to the stu. We went to the club together, we definitely tapped in.

You’re too young for the club!

You know what it is? I look like a grown man. Look, I have my beard. When I walk in the club, they’re like “he’s good.” These strip clubs, I’m throwing mad ones. I’m throwing a whole life savings. The strippers love me. 

Have you been tapped into Demon Time?

I’m on Demon Time, always. I want that spot, I’m really the best rapper in the Bronx. Best rapper in New York right now, that’s how I’m feeling. If anyone don’t like it, wassup? I really do this rapping shit. I got 300 songs for everybody I got to work for. 

Lil Tjay recently said he’s the King of New York.

Shout out to Tjay, I just left their video shoot yesterday. That video’s going to be fire, featuring Fivio [Foreign]. 

How active are you on TikTok? 

Yeah, my TikTok’s Ron Buno. I got an alter ego. I got Ron Suno and I got Ron Buno, it’s 2 parts to me. Ron Buno means you’re lowkey. 

You started off as a comedian, how did that happen? 

Me being funny, that’s my personality. Me being natural. I can’t force the way I act so whatever I did, I had to put it on camera for my supporters to see. My comedy is me expressing myself, what I’m thinking. All my skits are relatable. I do skits that everyone can feel and they can agree on. I don’t do skits that’re crazy exotic, I’m not that type of person. I do hands-on, real-life skits. 

Is it hard for people to take you seriously with the music, knowing that you’re a funny comedian? 

I love that, I love when people don’t take me seriously. At the end of the day when people meet me in person, my energy isn’t what you expect. I’m not going to let you come onto me like “yo that’s that funny n*gga. Look at that stupid goofy n*gga, do a skit for me.” I’m not that type of person. I’m different, I’m from the Bronx. I really grew up in the Bronx all my life, I’m aggressive as everybody else. Anybody who knows me, they know Ron Suno before he’s doing skits. They knew Ron Suno when he was outside. 

I’m more positive now because I’m trying to make a difference. We have family to look after. We have a lot of people watching over us so I’m trying to make a difference, stay positive. You can’t achieve anything with negativity. You have to always keep your energy positive to see the better light. People want to see you at your worst, so I don’t let any hate get to me or justify who I am. People say “why are you a rapper?” This is what I do. This is me. It’s always going to be a unique person. It’s always one of a kind. Michael Jackson’s different, nobody can be like Michael Jackson. There’s only one Michael Jackson. There’s only one Michael Jordan, that’s why I got Swag Like Mike [laughs]. 

How often do you come to Los Angeles? 

You know what’s crazy? The first time I went to LA, I got a blue check. I got verified right off the plane. My manager got me a blue check. Shout out to @bogod.sbl, my boy be working. Artists need to know you have to have a good management team who’s going to support you, who’s going to get you to the next level. That’s what my manager does. 

What inspired “Spider-Man”? 

The kids, my supporters. I used to go to different schools before the quarantine: high schools, middle schools, elementary schools. One question I’d ask is who’s their favorite superhero? A lot of kids were saying Spider-Man, so I got the idea why not make a song called “Spider-Man” and still be a drill rapper? [chuckles] You have to be different. I made a “Spider-Man” song for the kids, and made it drill for the older people listening too. It’s the best of both worlds, everybody can like the song. Spider-Man’s different. I feel like Spiderman, because I really climb to the top.

How do you catch a vibe in the studio?

When I’m in the booth, I can freestyle. Some songs I freestyle, some I write. It depends how I feel in the stu. It’s all about comfortability. Me personally when there’s a lot of people in the stu, 9 times out of 10 I have to freestyle. It’s the moment, there’s so much to talk about. You’re with mad people, you’re having fun. You go in the booth, I go crazy. But if I’m by myself and I can concentrate, I’m going to write something that I know is going to mean something. I’m going to write something I know has a message. If I’m having fun, freestyle. 

What are 3 things you need in the studio?

I need Do-Si-Dos, that gas. GP, that Gary Payton. I need good munchies. If I’m in the stu, Sour Patch Watermelons. I got Kit Kats. You have to have a big ass bottle of water. The waterbottle has to be a gallon, just for me. I need a nice big gallon so I’m never dehydrated. 

Are you independent still? 

I’m partnered up with United Masters, shout out to United Masters. I’m SBL the label too. If you see me or see my guys, you have to throw up the L. SBL lifestyle, we’re the real L’s. 

Who’s in your Top 5?

I only listen to me, because I have to perfect my sound. I only listen to other people if we’re in the car. If I’m on aux, I’m not playing anybody else. I play me. Since I’m a rapper, the more you listen to people the more you get influenced by them. Other people can listen to music because they don’t do it. I’m trying to get my sound, I’m nice. I have 300 songs. 

What are some goals for yourself at the moment?

The goal right now’s to get that BET Award, that Grammy. I’m trying to get my own TV show, get in a movie. Trying to do all that and make a difference in the world. I want my work to change how people are living. I want to make the world a better place. People always feel like you have to go through negativity because the next person or what everyone else is doing. If you follow your happiness, you’re always going to be happy regardless of what other people think. It’s a lot of shit going on. You got the Coronavirus, a lot of people aren’t making money right now. You have to find your happiness. I’m good. Ron Suno is 2020, you see me. 

You seem very mature for 19, have you always been ahead of your age? 

Yeah, I always look older. I always grasp older attention, so I hang with older people. All my friends are older than me. I only have one young friend Kyle, who’s one year younger than me. 

Someone said you got to be in movies. 

That’s a fact. Real soon, you’ll see a Ron Suno documentary. That’s the goal. 50 cent when he made Get Rich or Die Tryin' and Eminem made 8 mile, I’m going to have Ron Suno: me. Trey Songz is my cousin. That’s why I look like him. 

That means you need a Trey Songz song!

Yeah! [Trey Songz voice] I was chill. Not going to say yet but next year, I’m going to bring out my source. I’m doing the drill wave now, next year I’m going to do R&B. Fuck it. I can sing. I’m not saying I can really sing, but melodizing... all you have to do is have nice autotune and a good voice, you’re good. I go in the booth, good voice, drink a lot of hot chocolate. Honey cleans your throat so you drink a little honey, you good. Drink water, [starts singing] Stop playing.

Ron Suno is repped by Avery “Msartistry.”