Music

On a late afternoon video call, Dave East appears relaxed but focused — the kind of energy that suggests both reflection and momentum.

After more than a decade in the game, the Harlem rapper speaks like someone who knows exactly where he’s been and where he’s headed. His voice carries the weight of experience: years of lyrical output, collaborations with heavyweight producers like Harry Fraud and Scram Jones, and a steady rise from hungry newcomer to respected mainstay in hip-hop’s evolving landscape.

Now, with the release of Karma 4 on October 15, 2025, East is looking to the future while honoring everything that’s shaped him. The fourth installment of the series he launched in 2017, Karma 4 is his most ambitious to date — a fully realized project that threads together the raw storytelling fans expect with records tailored for a broader audience.

It’s gritty and polished, confident and vulnerable. And with a star-studded guest list, the album serves as a reminder of the respect East commands across the industry.

Among its standout moments is a long-shelved collaboration with the late Nipsey Hussle, a track that symbolizes East’s independent spirit and commitment to betting on himself. He talks openly during the call about the importance of good karma, the creative freedom that came with releasing the album independently, and how the streaming era has helped him build a deeper connection with fans over time.

Outside of music, East continues to make strides in acting, growing his on-screen presence while maintaining the authenticity that built his name. But Karma 4 is the moment that centers it all. It’s a statement project that pulls from every corner of his identity and pushes his artistry forward with purpose.

VIBE spoke with Dave East about the making of his latest album, expanding his ground as a creative, and his continued evolution as an artist and as a man.

VIBE: You’re currently getting ready to release your new album Karma 4? How would you say that you have evolved the most musically and otherwise from the first one to now?

Dave East: Just getting older, man, I had two more daughters, Kobi and Kasey, since Kairi. And just living. Took a lot of losses, a lot of wins. I felt like it was a really balanced journey for me, as far as the good and the bad, which is regular life sh*t. Nothing that even has to do with the music. And I think just over time of me learning how to channel that energy better into the music, you’re going to hear it on Karma 4.

The project is led by the singles “Bottega Trunks” and “Havana.” How did those songs come together, and what spurred you to preview the album with those two tracks?

The “Havana record, shout to Chad and Lex, Hot Honors, they produced that. It just had like a golden New York bounce to that joint. So I wanted to come out with some energy as far as the first record I wanted to put out. The “Bottega Trunks.” Shout out to Stove God Cooks. That’s the first time me and him got to really collab, [but] we’ve been kicking it for a while. And that’s just a different whole type of sound and vibe. Shout to Nic Craven. He produced that one. But that’s just a more melodic, different sound from me that I feel like I didn’t put out before.

Right. One of the tracks from the album that people are looking forward to is the joint with you and Nipsey Hussle, with whom you built a brotherhood prior to his passing. What’s your recollection of the making of that track?

We recorded a bunch of joints before he passed and sh*t like that. That was one of them. I never got a chance to put him on none of my tapes. So the records that me and him are on together that are out, like “Clarity,” “Blueprint,” he put them on his project. I felt like now with me being independent, and that’s really what Nip stood for [it was time]. He really waved that independent flag, ‘F**k the middle man.’ That’s what he was about. With this body of work, I think it was the perfect time to drop that joint.

Who are some other producers you worked with on Karma 4?

Mr. Authentic. He’s an early dude in my camp. Me and him have been locked in for years. Like I said, Chad and Lex, they go by Hot Honors. They were really the new sound for me moving forward with this project. Nic Craven, too. I would say those two were the newer producers that I hadn’t worked with before.

But I got Mike & Keys on this joint, that’s the home team. I got Buda & Grands on this joint, that’s home team. I kind of mixed it up. I’m always working with the home team, but I like to kind of [collaborate with other producers] if somebody got a new sound or something that fits. If it moves and pushes the music forward, I’m all with it.

Aside from those joints, what are like two or three tracks that you’re excited for the fans to hear? Maybe they’re your favorites, or maybe they brought out a certain emotion or mood?

I would definitely say “Stand On That” with Jeremiah. And I would say “Can’t Get Enough” with Jacquees just because I get a lot of feedback about me not really doing a lot of female-driven records. And those two are definitely female-driven. I just can’t wait to see the response to them.

Right. You got any other features besides those?

I got Mozzy on a joint. Skyler Blatt did the outro. Wiz Khalifa, me, and Wiz locked back in. Key Glock. That was the first time me and Key Glock were able to connect. Rest in peace to [Young] Dolph, that’s how I kind of got with Glock, through Dolph. My brother Cruch Calhoun. I got Neek Bucks on there. I got King Streets on there. I got Maino on there. I got some joints on there, man. I don’t want to leave nobody out, but it’s definitely balanced out as far as features.

In addition to Hip-Hop, you’ve also built your resume as an actor. What’s the latest news on those fronts?

I just got cast for a new movie. I can’t really speak on the details and sh*t like that, but maybe later this year or top of ’26, that information will be coming out. I got cast [for another project]. It’s a different type of film, too. A different look for me. So I’m looking forward to that.

You recently appeared on Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon 3 streaming event. How did that opportunity come about, and what was that like tapping into the streaming world?

That was dope. I was in L.A. already running around, getting this album ready to roll out or whatever, and they invited me over there. I f**k with Kai Cenat. I like his whole platform and just what they’re doing for the youth right now.

I feel like for me, that was a great look to premiere the Nipsey record up there because I felt like I brought Nip up there with me, you know what I mean? Big shoutout to the whole streaming world. I like what they’re doing. I like how they’re pushing the culture forward. That was a great opportunity.

What would you say is the best karma you’ve ever had?

The best karma? Just in life?

Yeah, whatever you feel.

(Ponders briefly) I think I put out good energy. I think the way I’ve been with my parents, my mother, my father, my grandmother, all of the people that raised me. I think the way that I’ve been back to them has given me good karma. It’s giving me a great way to navigate through this life.

They always say, ‘Watch how you treat your parents. Watch how you treat your people that really raised you or cared about you.’ So, I think a lot of my good karma comes from just how I am as a father. How I am as a son. How I was as a grandchild. God bless my grandma’s soul. My aunts, my uncles, you know what I mean? I’m always respectful. Nobody’s perfect, but I’ve I’ve always been respectful to those that I know really, truly love me.

I think the karma that I’m seeing from that now is the success. Me being able to live out my dreams and do the things that I once really sat and dreamed about and had no idea how I was going to do it. Now, all that is a part of my reality. I think karma is just putting [out] good. Whatever you put into the universe, it’s going to come back to you. I mean, in some form or fashion. It’ll come back.

Do you have any plans to tour in support of this album?

Hell yeah. We’re putting that together now. Definitely going to touch overseas with this one. In the U.S., of course. But yeah, we’re putting that together right now.

Do you have any thoughts on any acts that you’ll bring along with you?

I’m not sure right now. I’m going to see.

Will there be a Karma 5, and how long do you plan on keeping the series running?

You know what’s crazy? Somebody asked me that the other day. I feel like the title Karma is something that I could keep going with. But yeah, I don’t know when I’m going to stop that one or when I’m going to do Karma 5.

I’ve got so many other projects and other bodies of work that I’m already cooking up and working on. So, I might tap back into the Karma series later on at another date, but right now, I’m all about Karma 4, intro to outro. That’s what I’m pushing right now.

What’s next for Dave East?

Just more music, man. More acting, me [being] more in the fashion world. Just more of everything that falls under my umbrella. I feel like I’ve branded myself in a way where the sky’s the limit. I could tap into a bunch of different platforms and worlds, and it’s all me.

None of it’s forced. I ain’t sold my soul or none of that weirdo sh*t. I think about just moving forward, watching my daughters grow, sh*t like that. And just branding myself even more as a staple when it comes to New York City and Hip-Hop in general.

Listen to Dave East Karma 4 below.