While the 2014 Football Recruiting Class produced future NFL draft picks and college standouts Leonard Fournette, Myles Garrett, and Jabrill Peppers, it also churned out a beat maker.
University of Miami Defensive End Chad Thomas who helped lead the Hurricanes to a 9-4 record and a Bowl Win this past year also produced the opening song “Apple of my Eye”, on Rick Ross’ new album “Rather You Than Me”.
In an interview with The Washington Post Thomas, who’s producer name is “Major Nine”, explained how he met the superstar rapper and formed a relationship.
It was either 2013 or 2014. I think it was 2014. Someone set up a meeting with the top high school players on our high school team to meet him at Dave & Busters. A woman that worked for Ross that had a son on the team set it up. I wasn’t going to go at first, but my position coach [Pierre Senatus] just kept calling my phone like, “Where you at?” I’m like, “I’m home.” He said, “I’m coming to get you. We’re going to meet Rick Ross.” I just hopped up, threw on some clothes and went to Dave & Busters.
🍎 Apple of my eye produced by Miami's own @MajorNine .
I thank you.— Yung Rénzél 👑 (@RickRoss) March 19, 2017
Despite being a full-time athlete and student, Thomas feels like the “stick to sports” crowd wont be able to understand how he can manage music as well.
A lot of people just see the image, and they don’t want to pay attention to the process. I can’t really explain the process to people, you know? Everybody probably thinks I’m just sitting there, going to the studio all the time and being there late at night. Really, I’ve got my own studio in my room, so I ain’t got to go nowhere. It’s not like, “Oh, I’ve got to spend these hours on my music.” I really make music when I feel like it. I could be laying in bed and wanna just get up for 30 minutes and make some music. I can’t really explain my process to everybody because everybody will say, “You’re doing too much of this. You need to stick to football.” But I never listen to outsiders because they don’t understand. They couldn’t live my life. I can’t just have a Plan A. My Plan A is school, and my Plan B is football, really. And I gotta have a Plan C and D. I try to learn as much as possible.
Thomas’ career on and off the field seems to be off to a good start as he enter his Junior year on campus, he is regarded as one of the top defensive line prospects in next years draft.
You can listen to the track “Apple of my Eye”,which “Major Nine” produced below.