The Rise of Bizzy Crook

Bizzy Crook, whose real name is Lazaro Andres Camejo, sat down with New Times at the dimly lit Maple & Ash in Downtown Miami. We ordered the 'I Don't Give a Fuck' cocktail, which kind of set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Bizzy comes in relaxed, wearing a simple black tee and pants. You don't expect this with the flashy reputation that most rappers have nowadays, but he's got this calm demeanour as we get served our first dish of chips and caviar.

For those unaware of who Bizzy is, he's been around the block in Miami, making music since he was a young teen, and has been coming up with some of local rap's most interesting concepts. He's been inspired by acts like Kanye and Jay Z growing up.

The latest concepts come in the form of Underdogs Win Eventually, the first project he releases under Ty Dolla Sign's label EZMNY. "Underdogs Win Eventually is the most important album of my life. I've been writing 2–3 songs a day for the last three years," he shares as we begin to dive into the seafood tower being placed on our table.

"This is my story. I started when I was 16, doing Grind Time battles. I've always been right at the door, and it kept closing. People — especially in my family — counted me out. But like the tortoise and the hare, I kept going. My motto is: it's never over. Dreams don't expire. If you don't give up, you'll win. It's not just belief, it's science. If you work every day, sacrifice, and give it 100%, it has to happen."

He begins to show us concepts for the album, including letterman jackets, merch, and a cartoon bulldog that is said to be the project's mascot. It feels like the College Dropout inspires it, but Bizzy tells us he's adding his own Miami flair to the project. With the record being ninety percent complete, we should be hearing new music later this year.

Always a businessman, Bizzy has had a good couple of years behind him, getting the opportunity to work with artists such as Drake, Giveon, J Cole, and Leon Thomas.
"When you're writing for others, you don't overthink it as much. That's the most liberating part of it — you just become a vessel. When you're writing your own stuff, it's more analytical. You're thinking about brand, story, album concepts — does it fit the project? Writing for other people is more freeing. It's like you're just channeling something."

The most important of these collaborations is with labelmate Leon Thomas, with whom he has had a friendship since 2017, before hits like "Mutt" would end up in the picture. "Leon is my brother. I've learned a lot from him — he changed my life. To be able to change your life with a gift like writing… It's proof of a higher power to me. Sometimes I write things and I think, 'That wasn't me. Where did that even come from?' It's surreal."

Their relationship and dynamic have proven successful, with Bizzy credited throughout Leon's breakthrough album, "Mutt," including the remix with Chris Brown. "Man, that was crazy. I had a friend way back who told me, "I can see you writing for Chris Brown," and I just laughed, like, "Yeah, right." But now, to see it actually happen — it's beautiful. Leon is the hardest-working person I know. It's still unreal."

Thanks to the project's success, Bizzy's name is on the Billboard Songwriters list alongside Tyler, the Creator, and SZA.

Another indication of Bizzy's rise is his signing to Ty Dolla's EZMNY record label, which has moved him from independent rapper to certified artist in the sense that he now has the resources to approach the next level.

"Honestly, it feels like home. Shawn Barron and I have a solid relationship — he was the first to ever put me in a writing session back in 2016. Leon is my brother. Ty and I are friends. I don't think I've ever been around Ty sober — we're usually out in Miami till 8 a.m. These are people I genuinely consider family." He is thankful to the freedom that the team at EZMNY has given him: "I called Shawn to pitch my rollout plan, and he cut me off like, 'You don't have to sell me. I trust you.' That kind of trust from a label is rare. It gave me my light back."

The light in Bizzy's mind is definitely shining as not only has he become one of the best songwriters and artists in the business, but he's also of Floor 13 Distribution, a company he opened up to help find the best A&Rs.

"As someone who's been independent for 95% of my career, I've seen the flaws in the system. I was one of Empire's first artists. With Floor 13, I asked myself, 'How do I fix what's broken?' One issue I saw was that as companies grow, it becomes harder to connect with real people. These companies start signing artists based on movement—not talent—because that's what brings in money," he shares.

"So my solution was Floor 13 Distribution. Instead of signing artists, we sign A&Rs. An A&R might sign 10 artists, but if we just sign one artist directly, now we have to hire a team. Our concept is to empower passionate music lovers — no matter where they live — and teach them how to find talent and become partners. We've got a packed roster: Lil Pump, Don Q, 26AR, Honey Bxby… and over 400 A&Rs," the rapper explains.

Bizzy is partly inspired by his relationship with A&R Shawn Barron, which is why he's so passionate about his Floor 13 project. As we dig into our main course, he tells us that Shawn is "the last of the true A&Rs" who doesn't look at TikTok views but is willing to take risks on artists. Something that is lost in the industry.
Throughout our conversation, we develop the sense that Bizzy is as much a businessman as an artist. A hustler at his core, the road has been long, and at times, he wanted to quit, but Bizzy continued to grow not just as a creative but as a person.

He talks about his kids and personal life throughout, telling us stories of how real his music can get with tracks like "13 Reasons Why," where he raps about his depression and struggles.

After years of struggle and a robbery that changed his life and perspective, Bizzy feels like he's on the right path. "Who I was a year ago and who I am now are two different people. When you're chasing a dream, it can feel like you're walking a path without signs. You don't know if you're going the right way. But then God steps in. After 18 years of uncertainty, I signed a publishing deal and a record deal within 30 days. That was my confirmation from God. Now, I'll never doubt Him again."

With that being said, Bizzy goes on to tell us about the Church he grew up across the street from. A place where he first met God, but would not dictate how he followed religion. "I grew up across the street from a Christian church, but I've studied Islam, Judaism, Santería — you name it. Church didn't give me the conviction I was looking for, so I searched. I found God outside of religion. Once I stopped trying to box Him into one system, I understood Him better. Every religion holds truth".

Aside from spirituality, Bizzy prioritizes mental health. "I think the brain is the most important part of the body. Growing up Black and Latino, therapy was seen as something only 'crazy' people needed. That's a lie. Billionaires go to therapy. They know something we don't. Therapy changed my life. It helped me address trauma, fix habits, and grow. Mental health is the captain of your ship."

As dessert begins to be carted in, we can only deduce that it sure is sweet being Bizzy Crook nowadays. With an album on the way, we're sure to continue hearing from him.