[08:26] — Dropping Out of Mississippi State
Sophomore studying finance, FAFSA running out — he called his parents, took a Dollar General job, and funded his first project full-time.
[10:13] — First Project Leads to Def Jam
His project Calonic with Staccato caught the ear of Def Jam co-founder Lyor Cohen, who flew Pell and his manager out to LA.
[21:02] — Sleeping in the Car on Tour
Early East Coast tours with no hotel budget meant sleeping in his Honda Element in Walmart parking lots — but he was living his purpose.
[28:02] — G-Eazy Remixes 11:11
After meeting at a New York rooftop party, G-Eazy remixed 11:11 two years later — it trended on Billboard and blew up his visibility.
[34:23] — Freestyling for La La Land
He said yes to Lionsgate, freestyled on the spot in Hollywood Hills, and landed on the radio in the opening traffic scene.
[38:28] — Experimental Soul and Beautiful Mistakes
His best music comes from imperfection — like freestyling the hook for Juice, which went on to millions of streams and Apple commercials.
[43:49] — Why He Rejects AI in Music
He loves the human process and won’t use AI for ideas or vocals — it devalues writers, producers, and vocalists.
[50:51] — GLBL WRMNG Music Incubator
Co-founded hub at 3116 St. Claude for independent Black and POC artists in New Orleans — free, focused on splits, royalties, and keeping talent in NOLA.
[01:01:54] — 1% Better Every Day
Core message: believe in yourself, put in the work, and get 1% better daily.
He walked away from college and the music industry called.
In this episode of From NOLA with the Forstalls, Local Legends, Jonathan Forstall sits down with New Orleans artist Pell to break down the real story behind his rise, from growing up in Gentilly to navigating Hurricane Katrina, rebuilding in Mississippi, and ultimately chasing music full-time.
Pell opens up about the moment he bet on himself, working jobs to fund his first project, and how that grind led to a life-changing call from Def Jam’s Lyor Cohen.
This is a raw conversation about identity, resilience, and what it really takes to carve your own lane without chasing trends.
In this episode:
- Growing up in New Orleans and early musical influences
- Living through Hurricane Katrina and starting over in Mississippi
- Teaching himself music, performing in college, and building a fanbase
- Dropping out of college to pursue music full-time
- Funding his first project while working at Dollar General
- The moment Def Jam’s Lyor Cohen reached out
- Why belief, timing, and team matter more than talent alone
New Orleans doesn’t just create artists, it builds storytellers. And Pell’s journey proves that sometimes the biggest risk is the only move forward.
