In a candid conversation on the Bounceback Podcast with B. Luke, Gloucester, Massachusetts rapper Ant Ignorant shared his journey through personal struggles, legal battles, and his evolving music career.
Early Life & Legal Troubles
Growing up in a musically inclined household, Ant Ignorant was surrounded by the sounds of Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, DMX, The Lox, and Ja Rule. Despite excelling in school early on, he became rebellious in middle school, facing frequent suspensions—something he partially attributes to the stigma of having siblings who were often incarcerated.
At 14, he spent a month in juvenile detention for assault charges and spent two years on house arrest while fighting the case. Eventually, he took a plea deal that put him on probation until he turned 18. Shortly after, he was arrested again for breaking and entering, receiving an adult probation sentence of 4-5 years, which he completed successfully.
Finding Music as an Outlet
During his house arrest, Ant Ignorant turned to music, recording with a Neumann microphone. Music became a form of therapy for him, admitting, “I don’t talk to nobody.” However, he put music aside for years until his sister’s passing reignited his passion. Finding an old hard drive with his past recordings pushed him to take another shot at his craft.
Now, he’s focused on building his catalog, prioritizing quality over quantity. His unique writing process involves structuring verses backward, starting with the ending and working his way to the beginning. He also enjoys collaborating, describing it as “sparring lyrically.”
Industry Challenges & Creative Independence
While passionate about music, Ant Ignorant is mindful of the industry’s challenges. He spoke on local politics, gatekeeping, and favoritism in the music scene, which have made him consider expanding beyond his hometown.
Rather than rushing into live performances, he wants to see a return on investment first. He also prefers recording at home instead of paying for studio time, as it gives him creative flexibility. If he can’t write a song in 15-20 minutes, he moves on to the next.
Despite these hurdles, he remains committed, balancing music with his job and the responsibility of raising two stepchildren.
What’s Next?
Ant Ignorant teased upcoming visuals for Fast Forward and Fast Forward Part 2 and revealed he has unreleased tracks waiting for the right moment. He continues to promote his music on YouTube and Instagram under @ant_ignorant while being selective about social media engagement due to its distractions.
Closing the interview, he left listeners with a simple message: “Stay out of trouble.”
