At his album listening event, the New York rapper discussed his love of R&B, making music that lasts, and asking fans to invest directly.
Iman Nunez knows he can rap. With when will u call?, he wanted to find out what else he could do. During an album listening event and Q&A with Arden Franklin of The Four Side Company, Nunez described a project shaped by heartbreak, late-night drives, and the R&B he listens to on his own time.
Franklin called it “the best project of his career.” That is a big endorsement, but Nunez’s explanation of his ambitions gave the discussion its substance. He wanted a new creative challenge, with songs he could return to years from now and still stand behind.
The R&B Behind when will u call?
For Nunez, the direction began with his listening habits. Classic R&B already soundtracks his drives, and he wanted to bring that influence into his own work. The goal was a personal project with room for the feelings that tend to surface after hours.
“I rap very well… so I wanted new challenges. I wanted to make timeless records that I feel like I could play 10 years from now and be like, ‘Yo, this is something.’”
That ten-year test helps explain his approach. A strong verse can grab someone’s attention immediately. Here, Nunez described wanting songs that would hold that attention over time, giving melody and emotional storytelling more space alongside his rap instincts.
It is an ambition listeners can understand without knowing his catalog. Most of us have records we return to long after the moment that introduced them. Nunez wants to make something that earns that kind of place in someone’s life.
Making Room for Other Voices
Bringing that idea to life meant finding collaborators who could help him stretch. The album features Abby Jasmine on “you and me,” SWEATA on “bed-stuy baby,” and TJ Brown on “ticky.” Sol ChYld and Rondon also join him on “passing by,” adding to a project that spans 12 tracks.
During the Q&A, Nunez discussed how those relationships helped shape the music. He highlighted Aaron Green’s vocal presence on the opening and closing tracks and Nico Br’s contribution to “do you luv me?” His acknowledgments gave the audience a look at the people behind the record and the choices that brought it together.
The producers had their own challenge. Nunez credited Jesus AG, Dizzy, Banko, Theory, and Nine with adapting their approach for the project. Working toward a more soulful sound asked something different of collaborators accustomed to harder rap production.
His account made clear how much he valued that flexibility. He had a direction in mind, but reaching it required other people to hear the possibilities and contribute their own ideas.
Keeping His Circle Close
As the discussion moved beyond the music, Nunez spoke about growing without losing his core values. He connected that process to faith, trusting God’s timing while staying ready to act when inspiration arrives. Creative ambition, in his telling, still requires the discipline to follow through.
He also emphasized the friendships behind the work. His circle includes peers from the 914 and the wider New York scene, people with whom he shares both history and ambition. They want their work to travel beyond home, and he spoke about pursuing that reach together.
That context gives the collaboration list more meaning. These are relationships he sees as part of his growth, with shared goals that extend beyond finishing one album.
Asking Fans to Invest
The listening event also introduced a different approach to releasing his music. Nunez described the FIRSTPRESS launch as his first time putting an album directly up for sale. Attendees could scan QR codes to purchase the project, making direct support part of the evening’s conversation.
Released September 29, when will u call? is available through FIRSTPRESS, with a minimum price of $9.99. Purchases include access to stream and download the album.
For listeners, the invitation is straightforward: spend time with the music and support the artist making it. For Nunez, the bigger test will take longer. He has already said where he hopes these songs will be in ten years: still worth playing.
