Shwayze initially took the music world by storm in 2008, introducing a smooth delivery and chill vibe with his self-titled debut album. Seven years and a handful of records later, he’s evolved from one of hip hop’s most promising young stars to party rap royalty with his new EP, King of the Summer. The California-based rapper took a moment between sold-out shows of his tour to talk to Myspace about his new album, his favorite drink, and what a “Shwayze Summer” really means.

What should people know about your new record, King of the Summer?

Well, my last album, Shwayze Summer, came out in 2013, and that was my first one on my own label (Feel Good Ent.) and my first true solo record. This one, King of the Summer, is a little bit of that, but it’s a more evolved Shwayze sound. It’s a really fun record—it’s just summer songs and party songs. I have another one coming out in the fall, and that will be more seasonal. It’ll be more chill and more lovey-dovey.

Did you set out to make King of the Summer a party record, or did that just happen?

I usually don’t think ahead. I usually get three or four songs in and then see where it’s going. This one, I had the idea that I wanted to do it in installments. In the music industry, there are no rules that say how I have to release music. I want to flood the market with music. There’s King of the Summer, then there’s the one in the fall, and now I’m already working on one for next summer.

How has your music progressed since your first album in 2008?

When I first started, Cisco (Adler) and I were just having fun. There was no pressure coming up or anything, we were just making music. It was cool because I got the experience from being on a major label before I started doing everything independent. Now, I’m doing everything from the producers to the DJs, because it’s all on my label, so everything feels like a lot more of an accomplishment. As far as the evolution of the music, I’m all about becoming a better musician. The record this fall is going to have a lot more live aspects; it’s going to be a lot more rock-based.

What’s the perfect “Shwayze Summer”?

I just love traveling all around the country and meeting fans from different places—seeing what summer means to them. Growing up in Malibu, summer for me was always the beach, some pretty girls, chilling with my homies, maybe have a barbecue on the sand. Now, I go to Indiana and it’s all about hanging out at the lake, or I’ll go through the Midwest and it’s sitting on bales of hay drinking beer. It’s about what summer means to each person.

What’s the perfect Shwayze drink?

Well, my favorite drink is tequila on the rocks with a wedge of pineapple.

Do you think your “party rap” sound opens you to a wider fan base than some other more aggressive styles?

I go to shows and I see 16-year-olds in the crowd and it blows my mind. I’m like “Did your older brothers and sisters introduce you to this?” But I also see fans who are close to my age, and I just turned 30. There are a lot of rappers and musicians out there with a lot of different styles, so I think you’re going to get whatever you’re looking for. Shwayze albums are for chilling out and having a good time.

Do you ever think some of your fans want to see a more serious side of Shwayze?

I definitely think that. This was a party record. The fall is going to be more chill, and next summer is going to change things completely. People are going to see a different side of me. I’m going to be reintroducing Aaron Smith, that’s my real name. Shwayze is about having a good time, but Aaron Smith has a child; Aaron Smith has been through a divorce. I started planning this all out before I made this record. I’m going to take my fans for a ride.

Are you worried that some of your fans aren’t going to like the other side of your music?

I’m not worried about that at all. My fans have seen me go through a lot, from my time with Cisco to the divorce. Some people are going to say “This sucks, we want the old shit,” but I’ve already been through that and I know that my real fans are going to be there with me. It’s still going to be Shwayze music, it’s just going to be different.