17 February 12-18, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | BIZZY CROOK BY OSVALDO ESPINO New Times has had its eye on Bizzy Crook for some time now. Last August, we sat down with the Miami musician and producer to catch up on his career journey and the releases he was quietly lining up be- hind the scenes. Since then, Bizzy has done exactly what a People to Watch is supposed to do — rise. A couple of weeks ago, Bizzy brought home a Grammy as a credited writer on Leon Thomas’ Best R&B Album, Mutt. A dream once spoken into existence finally materialized on music’s biggest stage, solidifying his place in a city that’s watched him grind for years. From Downtown Miami to the Grammy Stage Bizzy Crook, born Lazaro Andres Camejo, met with New Times at the dimly lit Maple & Ash in Downtown Miami. We ordered the “I Don’t Give a Fuck” cocktail, which more or less set the tone for the night. He arrived relaxed, wearing a simple black tee and pants — a sharp contrast to the flashy image often associated with rap. There’s a calmness about him as chips and caviar hit the table. For those unfamiliar, Bizzy has been around the block in Miami, making mu- sic since his early teens and consistently de- livering some of the city’s most thoughtful rap concepts. Growing up, he drew inspira- tion from Kanye West and Jay-Z, funneling ambition into long-term vision. That vision comes into full focus with Un- derdogs Win Eventually, the first project he’s releasing under Ty Dolla Sign’s EZMNY label. “Underdogs Win Eventually is the most im- portant album of my life,” Bizzy tells us. “I’ve been writing two to three songs a day for the last three years.” As a seafood tower lands on the table, he opens up about the personal weight behind the title. “This is my story. I started when I was 16 doing Grind Time battles. I was always right at the door, and it kept closing. People, espe- cially in my family, counted me out. But like the tortoise and the hare, I just kept going.” His mantra hasn’t changed: It’s never over. Dreams don’t expire. “If you don’t give up, you’ll win. It’s not just belief, it’s science. If you work every day, sacri- fice, and give it 100 percent, it has to happen.” Bizzy shows us early concepts for the al- bum: letterman jackets, merch mockups, and a cartoon bulldog mascot. The inspiration feels College Dropout-adjacent, but with a distinctly Miami edge. At the time of our con- versation, the album was already ninety per- cent complete. Always the businessman, Bizzy has spent the last few years quietly building an impres- sive résumé, writing and collaborating with artists like Drake, Giveon, J. Cole, and Leon Thomas. “When you’re writing for others, you don’t overthink it as much,” he explains. “That’s the most liberating part, you just become a vessel.” His relationship with Leon Thomas dates back to 2017, long before Mutt would become a Grammy-winning album. “Leon is my brother. He changed my life,” Bizzy says. “To be able to change your life with a gift like writing, that’s proof of a higher power to me.” That partnership paid off in a major way. Bizzy is credited throughout Mutt, including the remix featuring Chris Brown. “I had a friend years ago tell me, ‘I can see you writing for Chris Brown,’ and I laughed,” he says. “Now it actually happened. It’s still unreal.” The success landed Bizzy on the Billboard Songwriters list alongside names like Tyler, the Creator and SZA, while also leading to his signing with EZMNY, a move that shifted him from independent grind to fully re- sourced artist. “Honestly, it feels like home,” he says. “Shawn Barron was the first person to ever put me in a writing session back in 2016. Leon is my brother. Ty and I are friends. These are people I genuinely consider family.” That trust, he says, reignited his creative spark. “I pitched my rollout plan, and Shawn cut me off like, ‘You don’t have to sell me. I trust you.’ That kind of freedom gave me my light back.” Winning, Reflecting, and What Comes Next We caught up with Bizzy again after his Grammy win, still processing the moment. “It felt like a dream,” he tells New Times. “I had to pinch myself a few times. This was a dream I had when I was eight years old. It’s this far-out goal every musician has, even be- fore we know how we’ll ever get there.” Rather than slowing him down, the expe- rience fueled him. “I left inspired. Excited to get back home and into the studio and put all this energy to work. I’m still processing it all, like, did I really just win a Grammy?” That momentum carries directly into Un- derdogs Win Eventually. His new single, “What Do You Like,” features Ty Dolla Sign, with the album not far behind. “Ty is the greatest artist to be signed to,” Bizzy says. “He’s selfless. His energy is always, ‘What do y’all need me to do?’” He lets New Times in on an exclusive: the album features Ty, Leon Thomas, Rick Ross, C Stunna, Benny The Butcher, and Leven Kali. Beyond music, Bizzy continues building on the business side through Floor 13 Distribu- tion, a company designed to empower A&Rs instead of chasing trends. “As someone who’s been independent for most of my career, I’ve seen the flaws in the system,” he says. “With Floor 13, I wanted to fix what’s broken.” The company now boasts a packed roster and over 400 A&Rs worldwide, driven by in- stinct and taste rather than metrics. After years of struggle, self-doubt, and personal loss, Bizzy feels aligned with his purpose. “Who I was a year ago and who I am now are two different people,” he says. “After 18 years of uncertainty, I signed a publishing deal and a record deal within 30 days. That was my confirmation from God.” When asked what he’d say to artists still fighting for their moment, his message is un- wavering. “God gave you this dream for a rea- son. It wasn’t a coincidence,” he says. “It’s going to get hard. You’re going to be tested. Get away from anyone who doesn’t believe in you, friends or family. Lock in.” He pauses, then delivers the line that’s fol- lowed him his entire career. “If you pass all the tests, your dream will come true, and it’ll be greater than you ever imagined. It’s never over. And never give up on that dream.” LEILA COBO BY FLOR FRANCESCHETTI If there is someone we should always keep an eye on, it’s Leila Cobo, who embodies the spirit of curiosity, drive, and the kind of boundary-pushing that reshapes industries. At a time when Latin music has evolved from a so-called “niche” to a global pop phenomenon, Cobo has stayed busy orchestrating that shift. After years as Billboard’s Chief Content Officer for Latin Music and Español, Cobo was recently promoted to Co-Chief Content Officer for the global brand, alongside Jason Lipshutz. It’s a career milestone that under- scores the undeniable influence of Latin mu- sic in the U.S. and beyond. “I hope this shows how important Latin music is today,” she says. “It was invisible for a long time. Now, it’s universal.” Cobo, who is a trained pianist, originally set out to write about classical music, but she quickly recognized a gap: no one in Photo by Anika Katherine Music Music Bizzy Crook >> p18 P E O P L E TO W ATC H 2026
