1st has spent much of his career outside the immediate gaze of hip-hop’s spotlight, but he’s no stranger to the success that it entails. Half of Atlanta’s trap production-duo, FKi, the multi-faceted artist’s career began in the studios of Collipark Music and quickly ascended after a basement-studio session with Travis Porter resulted in two Billboard-charting singles. Since that fateful day, 1st has worked behind the boards alongside a staggering list of names including the likes of Young Thug, Travis Scott, Mac Miller, T.I. and 2 Chainz, not to mention his role in kick-starting the careers of Iggy Azalea and “White Iverson” crooner Post Malone.

With backing from Diplo’s Mad Decent, though, the purveyor of sauce will soon enter the spotlight on his own terms as he prepares for the release of his solo debut: First Time For Everything. While there’s no confirmed release date just yet, we caught up with 1st to discuss mixing emo vibes with Atlanta’s certified sauce, cooking up with the legendary Heatmakerz, and a few collaborations that have serious potential to dominate the airwaves come 2016.

UTG: First Time For Everything is set to drop through Mad Decent. How’s your relationship with Diplo evolved over the years?

1st: We first connected back in 2010, just being creative and making beats. The respect level I have for him has just grown because he’s really the busiest nigga ever – from being a dad to being in the studio to traveling every fucking day and still being successful. So I have learned a lot.

More importantly, how’s it feel to be releasing a solo record away from FKi?

I have always been making my own music. So I just feel like it’s time. The sauce has been sealed up for too long. It’s time to spread it across the world.

The record’s first single features production from Heatmakerz; what’d you take away from working with them in the studio?

They’re legends, man – responsible for Dipset, one of the most memorable crews or rap squads of all time. They produced some of my favorite songs – “I’m Ready,” “Dipset Anthem.” I’m actually the first producer they’ve ever made a beat with so that’s an honor.

Are there any other producers you’ve been cooking up with for the record? How about other rappers?

My bros from Atlanta like Sonny Digital. And my bro Post, also Loudpvck. I have collabs with Uzi, Key, ASAP Rocky… You just gotta wait and check out the whole project.

“Hurtin” leans toward the darker side of Atlanta hip-hop. Can we expect more of that style on First Time?

Yeah, that’s just my sauce. I listen to a lot of slow emo music so I like to mix it with our Atlanta sauce. There’s a lot of kickback music on it.

Makonnen recently dropped an EP featuring a guest verse from you on the track “Forever.” What was the creative process like with him in the studio?