20 December 25–30, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Miami Lifestyle Bushy B’s latest project is a Magic City time capsule. BY OSVALDO ESPINO M eeting over Zoom, Bushy B is relaxed, his voice steady, as he talks about his new album Lifestyle, now set to drop next month. The release was pushed back slightly, he explains, just to make sure everything was exactly right. For the art- ist, that kind of intentionality isn’t marketing, it’s part of the ethos. With this project, he’s not just putting out music; he’s capturing a way of life. If there’s one theme running through Life- style, it’s Miami in all its contradictions. Bushy B grew up here, and he talks about the city with an almost affectionate awe. When shooting the video for “Meet Me in the 305,” Bushy B chose neighborhoods he expects won’t be around in ten years. He re- calls the Carol City Flea Market, which was shut down back in 2016. This takes us into a bit of a flashback, “I went to Carol City High. Denzel Curry was in my class. We used to battle at lunch,” he says. Curry, he notes, paved the way for a whole wave of Miami art- ists. “He opened a lane for a lot of people.” Bushy B grew up between Carol City and Opa-locka, and both neighborhoods left their mark. “First place I got into a fight,” he laughs. “Both shaped me to be tough, but al- ways wanting more.” He didn’t land on the title Lifestyle casu- ally. Over the past few years, Bushy B has re- invented himself beyond the studio, whether it’s working out, changing how he eats, devel- oping tastes and habits that reflect a new- found seriousness about his craft and his future. “I always would say… this lifestyle, it’s just a way of living,” he tells me. The album is built around that idea: different ways of liv- ing, loving, growing, and moving through the world. The music isn’t one-dimensional. In- stead, Lifestyle is a showcase of range, inten- tionally pushing Bushy B to new sonic textures. “Make a Wish,” featuring Dej Loaf, was re- corded during his first trip to San Francisco, riding on the high of dreams turning real. He sent the track off, not expecting much, and Dej responded immediately. “We are building a tight relationship for sure,” he says, hinting that this is just the beginning of more collabo- rations. “Patty Cake,” on the other hand, was born during his first time in New York. He re- corded it with a sense of spontaneity, inspired by an in-the-moment conversation in a car and a playful energy that turned into one of the most memorable tracks on the project. Then there’s “Regulator,” where Bushy B dives into a sound that blends nostalgia with live instrumentation. “I did that one in Hal- landale. Me and my boy Dallas were working. I heard the original and knew I could flip it. We added live guitar. A lot of the guys on this project are real musicians who grew up play- ing in church,” he explains. The result is a track that feels both soulful and organic, bridging the polished precision of studio pro- duction with the warmth and spontaneity of musicianship. A surprising highlight of the album comes from Bushy B’s family ties. Flo Rida, who is his uncle by marriage, appears on the project. But Bushy B stresses that he never used that connection as a shortcut. He waited until he felt he had earned it, then went to his uncle’s studio and delivered. The respect is mutual, and he laughs, re- calling his uncle calling him “the hood Mi- chael Jackson”, a compliment he clearly treasures. Beyond his family, he speaks with reverence about local Miami legends like Ice Billion Berg and Ball Greazy, among others, who have challenged and pushed him to re- alise his star potential. Respect from Miami OGs hits different, and Bushy doesn’t take it lightly. Some have labeled him too joyful for Miami’s tradition- ally gritty image. “An OG once told me, ‘You’re not a Miami artist,’” he recalls. “I asked why, and he said, ‘Cause you always smiling.’” He grins, unfazed. “Then he said, ‘You like Pitbull or Flo Rida, one of those guys.’ I em- braced that.” One song on the album has already taken on a life far beyond its initial release: “Scared.” Originally dropped years ago, it’s experiencing a resurgence, and Bushy B em- braces it. “That song changed my life… now all generations know it,” he says. He jokes that the track has four lives. He believes it might become a Florida anthem, something that outlives him. “Once the world knows something, and the people from where it’s created get behind it… they’re rooting for it,” he explains. The music video for “Scared” visually translates that idea. Inspired by his sister’s baby shower, Bushy B wanted to recreate a scene of joy: family, kids dancing, people eat- ing, love as community. “It’s a happy time… we just wanted to paint that on screen,” he says. As the conversation shifts, Bushy B reflects on where he sits sonically in Miami’s hip-hop landscape. The city has always been defined by duality: nightclub-ready anthems and in- trospective street music, grit and glamour, polished productions and raw storytelling. Bushy B can do both, but right now, he’s lean- ing into a more grounded, soulful direction. “I like how this feels,” he says, sounding calm in that clarity. When asked about influ- ences, he doesn’t name artists — he names life. Pressure, family, expectations, growth. Songs like “Heart of the Tribe” wrestle with the burden of being relied on. “I Got Faith” asserts belief in success before the world sees it. “Back on My Feet” is exactly what it sounds like: a comeback. Finally, there’s the name. Growing up, he was simply “Bush,” but there were too many artists with that name. One day, Billion Berg called him “Bushy B” and it stuck. Later, he found meaning in the biblical burning bush, a symbol of a divine message. “It always gave a message to inspire,” he says. That’s what he wants his music to do now. Miami isn’t just a backdrop in Bushy B’s story. It’s the protagonist, and the album is its soundtrack. Before we end the conversation, he tells us, “Everything I’ve done has come from curi- osity.” As long as I’m having fun, I know I’m where I’m supposed to be.” [email protected] Over the past few years, Bushy B has reinvented himself beyond the studio. Photo by Aaron Jackson ▼ Music
