Cardinals Prospect Victor Scott II Doubles as Argo the Rapper

Victor Scott II has acquired lots of consideration these days, and for good cause. 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 towards Midwest League and Texas League pitching. Flying under the radar when he was taken within the fifth spherical of the 2022 draft out of West Virginia College, the speedster is now broadly considered as one of the crucial promising gamers within the Cardinals’ pipeline.

The main target the Atlanta native has acquired these days has understandably centered on his plus-plus wheels and his improved hit software. Neither of these topics was broached after I spoke to Scott over the telephone in early December — this a number of weeks earlier than he graduated from WVU with a level in Interdisciplinary Research. As a substitute, we mentioned his burgeoning music profession. Scott just isn’t solely on the quick observe to the large leagues, he’s additionally an achieved 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 — one among my finest pals from again within the day — to sort 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 might have your personal studio, or do you hire house in a single?

Scott: “We principally 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 mission this offseason”

Laurila: What’s the mission?

Scott: “It’s known as ‘From the Shadows.’ It’s solely going to be like six or eight songs, however then I’ve my very own mission as effectively. It’s going to be known as ‘Coronary heart Management By Strings.’ I believe 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 possibly launched round 20 or 30 of them. They’re simply obtainable on-line. YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify. Type of these major platforms.”

Laurila: I perceive that you simply document underneath the title “Argo.” What’s the story behind that?

Scott: “So, at some point one among my pals 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 bought it that approach, and it sort of simply caught with me.”

Laurila: I used to be questioning if it was possibly from Greek mythology…

Scott: “No, nothing to do with something like that. It’s simply sort of a reputation.”

Laurila: When did this all begin for you?

Scott: “It was in faculty, in all probability 2021. We have been freestyling at some point, and one among my pals was like, ‘Hey, I’ve bought some gear, you need 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 sort of wish to make a music.’ That music turned, ‘Possibly in case you apply and bought just a little higher, you’ll be able to provide you with some totally different flows, totally different voices, and actually do one thing.’ Certain sufficient, I saved working towards and the music turned, I suppose, likable to folks.”

Laurila: Did you might have any sort of music background previous to that?

Scott: “I used to be truly 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 sort 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: “Should you’re ever using in a automobile by your self — possibly 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 easy. I’m sort of your man in that realm. It’s positively not something that’s tremendous vulgar, or something like that. It’s sort of chill.”

Laurila: Are any of your songs geared towards baseball? Are you in any approach seeking to bridge no matter hole exists between baseball and rap/hip-hop tradition, possibly assist entice extra younger members of the Black neighborhood to the sport via music?

Scott: “Yeah, for certain. On this subsequent mission, lots of what I’m rapping about is sort of baseball and what it’s like within the minor league season. One music is named ‘By no means Neglect.’ It principally talks about how typically there are naysayers — this goes for all times generally, too — saying that you may’t do that job, that one thing is inconceivable, or not less than not sensible for you. The music sort of talks about that, and how one can show them unsuitable. One other music that’s going to be on there may be known as ‘Ardour.” It’s about work ethic.

“There are lots of other ways to attach, not simply the Black tradition, however anyone who might really feel like, ‘Hey, I’ve individuals who don’t consider that I can do one thing.’ I’m talking via 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 ‘Possibly he received’t have the ability to produce within the huge leagues,” and even ‘He might not have the ability to do that in Triple-A.’ There are at all times going to be folks saying damaging issues that may impression you. That is sort of a music 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 the most effective of myself.’ I can say that via music.”