As we discuss in the interview with Rocky's producer Clams Casino below, the idea of an almost-entirely-unknown artist getting such a massive record deal, prior to even releasing his debut mixtape that alone fostered anticipation and intrigue in the artist.
There was also the fact that the then-23-year old managed to sign a $3 million RCA deal, basically off the strength of one viral song- this was simply unheard of, and the rap world immediately paid attention. The New York-bred artist had separated himself from the landscape at the time, by diving into a sound that was not common in NYC, indeed, it was heralded as Southern-inspired, and this alone was something to discuss and debate.
