Victor Scott II has obtained a number of consideration recently, and for good purpose. The 22-year-old outfielder swiped 94 bases this previous season between Excessive- and Double-A, then added 18 extra representing the St. Louis Cardinals within the Arizona Fall League. Furthermore, his left-handed stroke produced a .303/.369/.425 slash line over 618 plate appearances in opposition to Midwest League and Texas League pitching. Flying beneath the radar when he was taken within the fifth spherical of the 2022 draft out of West Virginia College, the speedster is now extensively considered as one of the crucial promising gamers within the Cardinals’ pipeline.
The main focus the Atlanta native has obtained recently has understandably centered on his plus-plus wheels and his improved hit device. Neither of these topics was broached once I spoke to Scott over the telephone in early December — this a couple of weeks earlier than he graduated from WVU with a level in Interdisciplinary Research. As a substitute, we mentioned his burgeoning music profession. Scott isn’t solely on the quick monitor to the large leagues, he’s additionally an completed rapper.
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David Laurila: You’ve recorded various rap songs. Inform me about that.
Victor Scott II: “It’s one thing I can’t actually do in-season, and I couldn’t actually do at college, as a result of I didn’t have a studio. Right here at dwelling, I can get in there with Quinn Carter — certainly one of my finest buddies from again within the day — to form of hang around and make music. It’s therapeutic. It permits me to get no matter off my thoughts, and in addition to be imaginative. It’s a cool little outlet, man. It’s nice.”
Laurila: Do you’ve your personal studio, or do you lease area in a single?
Scott: “We mainly have a studio of our personal. All it actually takes is a microphone and no matter mixing software program you want. From there you’re just about set. We’ll be engaged on a venture this offseason”
Laurila: What’s the venture?
Scott: “It’s referred to as ‘From the Shadows.’ It’s solely going to be like six or eight songs, however then I’ve my very own venture as effectively. It’s going to be referred to as ‘Coronary heart Management By Strings.’ I feel it’s going to be 15-20 songs or so.”
Laurila: How a lot have you ever recorded beforehand, and the place can folks discover your music?
Scott: “I’ve recorded round 50 songs, and doubtless launched round 20 or 30 of them. They’re simply accessible on-line. YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify. Form of these major platforms.”
Laurila: I perceive that you simply document underneath the title “Argo.” What’s the story behind that?
Scott: “So, sooner or later certainly one of my buddies was asking me, ‘Hey, what’s your rap title going to be?’ I used to be like, ‘Man, let me assume on that.’ Then, actually on the best way dwelling, I noticed the financial institution Wells Fargo. I simply forgot the Wells, took the ‘F’ out of Fargo, and made it Argo. So nothing loopy. I obtained it that approach, and it form of simply caught with me.”
Laurila: I used to be questioning if it was perhaps from Greek mythology…
Scott: “No, nothing to do with something like that. It’s simply form of a reputation.”
Laurila: When did this all begin for you?
Scott: “It was in faculty, in all probability 2021. We have been freestyling sooner or later, and certainly one of my buddies was like, ‘Hey, I’ve obtained some tools, it’s best to come attempt it out.’ Then we have been in there for about two hours, three hours, simply doing no matter. Subsequent factor I do know, I used to be like, ‘Man, I form of need to make a tune.’ That tune turned, ‘Perhaps should you observe and obtained a bit of higher, you possibly can provide you with some totally different flows, totally different voices, and actually do one thing.’ Positive sufficient, I stored working towards and the music turned, I assume, likable to folks.”
Laurila: Did you’ve any form of music background previous to that?
Scott: “I used to be really within the choir in elementary college. Then I used to be in a band from sixth grade to tenth grade. I performed the trombone, and form of these wind symphonies. So there’s a little historical past behind the music. However not a lot the rapping, the R&B, and all that good things.”
Laurila: How would you describe your music?
Scott: “In case you’re ever using in a automotive by your self — perhaps you’re coming dwelling and it’s late at night time, and even early morning — it’s the kind of music you’d placed on. It’s melodic. It’s a really vibe tempo. It’s clean. I’m form of your man in that realm. It’s positively not something that’s tremendous vulgar, or something like that. It’s form of chill.”
Laurila: Are any of your songs geared towards baseball? Are you in any approach trying to bridge no matter hole exists between baseball and rap/hip-hop tradition, perhaps assist entice extra younger members of the Black group to the sport by way of music?
Scott: “Yeah, for positive. On this subsequent venture, a number of what I’m rapping about is form of baseball and what it’s like within the minor league season. One tune is known as ‘By no means Neglect.’ It mainly talks about how generally there are naysayers — this goes for all times usually, too — saying that you could’t do that job, that one thing is unattainable, or no less than not sensible for you. The tune form of talks about that, and how one can show them unsuitable. One other tune that’s going to be on there may be referred to as ‘Ardour.” It’s about work ethic.
“There are a number of other ways to attach, not simply the Black tradition, however anyone who could really feel like, ‘Hey, I’ve individuals who don’t consider that I can do one thing.’ I’m talking by way of my music nearly, as a result of that was me as a youthful child. Rising up and being smaller, there have been at all times folks saying that I wouldn’t have the ability to do one thing. Even now, it’s like ‘Perhaps he gained’t have the ability to produce within the large leagues,” and even ‘He could not have the ability to do that in Triple-A.’ There are at all times going to be folks saying adverse issues that may influence you. That is form of a tune that claims, ‘Look, I’m not going to let something like that faze me. I’m going to proceed to work. I’m going to proceed to be myself, put together myself to the be one of the best of myself.’ I can say that by way of music.”