- What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and when did you first realize you wanted to be a musician?
Well, before I decided I wanted to be an artist, I used to take dance seriously and wanted to be a successful dancer. I used to have a dance group when I was younger and through that dance group, we recruited a guy who also used to rap. He introduced rapping to me & previously to that I wasn’t interested in being an artist at all. One day we were walking to one of my homies cribs and he told me that he had a rap he wanted to spit for me so I told him to go right ahead. He spit the verse and I just remember it having such a profound effect on me so much so that after he was done I knew I wanted to be an artist as well.
- What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an emerging artist, and how have you overcome them ?
The biggest two challenges I’ve faced so far is not really having support from the people around me, which this year actually, I’ve been able to make things make sense to those around me because of all the success that has been coming my way as a result of how long I choose to give my focus to music & how hard I’ve been working. The second adversity I’ve faced is not really having the right mode transportation to get to the places I need to be once I’m able to create moves for myself. This is something I’m still overcoming but I’ve learned to balance things out by making sure that I am applying pressure with marketing and promotions on the Internet/social media so my presence can be felt in the places I can’t be.
- Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound and style?
My biggest musical influence would have to be Michael Jackson. My style very much so is influenced by him in terms of fashion as well as the way I perform. Earlier, I mentioned I was a dancer and when I was younger through the means of television and the DVDs I watched, he was a mentor to me. The way he performed and the energy he exerted during his performances were unmatched and had a long lasting effect on who I am today as an artist.
- How do you approach the songwriting process, and where do you draw inspiration from for your lyrics and melodies?
For the most part, I just let things come to me and when it hits me, I write it down but I don’t limit myself at all. With me choosing to make music my profession and take it seriously, I also am aware that as an artist, I should be exercising my songwriting & freestyling abilities. Sometimes, I’ll put on a beat and try to write to it whereas other times I’ll throw on a instrumental and just freestyle to it. I am a student of the game and a student of life in general, so I incorporate and am inspired by the things that happen in my life and what I see on a daily.
- What can listeners expect from your upcoming album or project, and how does it differ from your previous work?
Listeners can expect a straight heat from me. In the last couple of years I have figured out how to brand myself properly and in turn it has made it easier to figure out how I want my music to sound. “Littest on Earth” …. “Hardest Artist/Producer in the World” … these are the things people will mention when my name is brought up so the music will mirror those titles. Fast paced, hard hitting, upbeat, fun and turnt music. The goal is to have people lit and having the time of their lives.
- How has your background or life experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Because of the fact that both of my parents are not from North Carolina and one of them is not even from the US, it has made me go harder because I don’t really have much here in NC. I don’t have much family or resources around to make things happen how I wish to so it definitely makes me go 100 times harder. For the most part, my family believes in the idea of being successful from going to school or working a 9 to 5 so many people weren’t or aren’t really confident in my music career and that as well just makes me go harder because I have something to prove to myself and to them. Growing up, although we had enough, a lot of the time we were often struggling to keep the bills paid and as result of that, we didn’t get new things very often and for the most part we got what was a necessity rather than getting what we want it all the time. Having that in the back of mind continues to motivate me day after day because it’s a huge reminder that this music has to work for me considering I don’t come from much.
- Can you talk about a particularly memorable or inspiring performance you've had, and what made it special?
Most definitely, when I was in 7th grade, I performed in a high school talent show and actually ended up winning the high school talent show as middle schooler. That memory will always stand out to me because it showed me that you can do anything you want and It doesn’t matter where you come from or how young you may be. I had high schoolers asking me for my autograph and to sign their shirts. At that time I just thought that s*** was crazy in the best way possible.
- What do you hope listeners take away from your music, and what message do you want to convey through your art?
I want the listeners to take away from my music that you can just be you! It doesn’t matter where you come from or who you are as long as you’re putting yourself out there and you believe in yourself, anything is possible!
- How has the music industry changed since you first started, and how have you adapted to those changes as an artist?
Well, it’s pretty much been the same since I started taking music seriously. Selling records, selling CDs, and labels giving artist development etc. is before my time, I was still a dancer so for me it’s been pretty much the same. Streaming services and stuff like digital distribution etc is all in my era so for the most part, I’m comfortable with it all.
- What advice would you give to other emerging artists who are just starting out in the industry?
I would tell people two words, be you ! Do not try to ride anybody else’s wave. Do not try to sound like any other artist because that is not with these labels are looking for. They are looking for original sounding music these days especially in the hip-hop category. Be unapologetically you, develop your own sound and always believe in yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you that what you’re doing is a dream. There are thousands of people who are living that “dream” you wish to achieve…so how is it a dream? Just believe in yourself, have a strong will and you’ll get where you want to be in life.