Ty Dolla $ign is headlining a free concert on behalf of Brisk Iced Tea and Taco Bell at Island Gardens, Miami on Thursday (July 21), so it was only fitting that was top of mind when the Grammy Award-nominated singer/producer hopped on the Zoom call.
Brisk announced the launch of Brisk Dragon Paradise Sparkling Iced Tea, the brand’s first-ever sparkling tea, in partnership with Taco Bell last month. So now, Brisk is bringing Brisk Dragon Paradise to Miami with what they promise to be an “unforgettable food and music experience.”
Speaking to HipHopDX,Ty Dolla $ign explained what it’s like performing again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and what drew him to the partnership in the first place. By the end of the brief conversation, it was clear what Ty’s favorite Taco Bell items were, his love of iced tea (the drink, not the rapper) and how much he’s looking forward to being back onstage.
The 40-year-old Los Angeles native also noted he’s cooking something up behind-the-scenes but wasn’t ready to divulge any details. As the multi-faceted artist prepares for the show — which may or may not include tossing back a few bean burritos — read the transcript below.
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HipHopDX: What made this the right partnership for you?
Ty Dolla $ign: Brisk, been a big fan of them for a while, just ever since a kid, and Taco Bell, another one of my favorites. Just overall, I’m just hype to partner with them to celebrate the new Brisk Dragon Paradise Sparkling Ice Tea at the Dragon Paradise Event in Island Gardens in Miami on July 21. It’s going to be lit. I need all my fans to pull up!
HipHopDX: You’ve got that down, damn.
Ty Dolla $ign: For sure, memory right?
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HipHopDX:Yep. That’s pretty impressive.
Ty Dolla $ign: Thanks.
HipHopDX:The world has changed a lot since the COVID-19 pandemic. The concert industry was shut down for a really long time. How is it being back out there performing again?
Ty Dolla $ign: It feels so good to know that I still have people that still like my music. Shout out to all of my fans out there and we’re going to keep on going. We still here.
HipHopDX: Were you nervous to get back onstage again after a year off, plus? Or was it like riding a bike?
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Ty Dolla $ign: I was more so, just super stoked, super excited to get out there and just go crazy and feel that energy again.
HipHopDX: You’ll feel it in Miami on July 21, that’s for sure.
Ty Dolla $ign: Can’t wait.
HipHopDX: How important would you say it is for artists to team up with brands like Brisk these days? A lot of artists are doing endorsements. You got Fat Joe with White Castle, Ice-T with Cheerios, which is something I never thought I’d see in my life, stuff like that. Is it important for artists to do these endorsements?
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Ty Dolla $ign: It might be more important for the brands to do this.
HipHopDX: That’s a really good point.
Ty Dolla $ign: Yeah. But it’s dope that we can all just help each other on our journeys. So I’m happy to be a partner with Brisk for sure and Taco Bell. It’s going to be lit.
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HipHopDX: What’s your favorite Taco Bell item?
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Ty Dolla $ign: You know what? I’m so happy they just brought it back. Well, this is more the newer ones. My first, first love was the bean and cheese burrito with no onions. You got to have the mild sauce. Don’t forget my mild sauce. And now, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten to the hot sauce. And then my other favorite was, they took off for a while and now they brought back, is the Mexican pizza. And I’m super excited about that. So they better have it on the taco truck that’s going to be there because, of course, they’re going to have a taco truck.
HipHopDX: I think we all lived on Mexican pizzas and bean burritos from Taco Bell in high school.
Ty Dolla $ign: On God. On God.
HipHopDX:We’d get dropped off at the bus stop and it was right next to the Taco Bell and you’re like, “Oh I got like $4, what should I get?”
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Ty Dolla $ign: Right. I swear to God. There was another one called the MexiMelt. There was like a chicken MexiMelt or beef MexiMelt. I don’t think they still have it, but they need to bring that back as well.
HipHopDX: You’re putting it out there so hey, they might just do that because Ty Dolla $ign could be the next face of Taco Bell, too.
Ty Dolla $ign: Let’s go.
HipHopDX:Anything else you want your fans to know about what’s going on in Ty Dolla $ign’s world since it’s been such a while?
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Ty Dolla $ign: To all my fans out there, you already know we’re coming. I’ve been working hard on something very special. So just know what’s coming and thank you guys for staying down for so long and let’s keep it going.
For those in the Miami area, they can pre-register for the free show here. For fans outside of Miami, Brisk is leveling up a one-of-a-kind national sweepstakes to make sure the biggest fans of Brisk, Taco Bell and Ty Dolla $ign get a chance to experience Miami as a true VIP. Winners score a trip to South Beach with a friend that includes (2) VIP tickets to attend Brisk’s “Enter Dragon Paradise” event on July 21, (2) General Admission tickets valid for all three days to a Miami Hip Hop Music Festival from July 22 – July 24 and a stipend for weekend activities. To enter, consumers must:
- LIKE the designated “Enter Dragon Paradise” sweepstakes post on Tik Tok or Instagram
- FOLLOW @DrinkBrisk on Tik Tok or @Brisk on Instagram
- COMMENT tagging their travel buddy with hashtags #SweepstakesEntry and #BriskDragonParadise
