Can you share some key moments from your early life that shaped your musical journey?
Video games most definitely. Parappa the Rapper 2 define me lowkey highkey, then some homies put me on to scott pilgrim in middle school and I got lost in the soundtrack of the movie and the ones people used in the fandom for the books. I used to play guitar as a kid and I wish I kept up with it, I still have that guitar at my dad’s house.
Growing up between Osaka and North Augusta, how did these contrasting environments shape your musical identity?
Nothing too crazy I had a normal black kid upbringing but with two involved parents who actually loved each other type shit. The thing about my environment is as a kid it was like I was constantly judged for being weird and I was like “nigga I’m a kid I want to enjoy myself”.
How has your background contributed to the unique sound you’ve developed over the years?
Oh without a doubt. The people I’ve met and the places I’ve been have all made me the man I so proudly am. Shoutout to kid cudi. I try to tell stories from my life now a days, which is making me think about redoing a lot of my old songs and breathe a new life into them.
Your stage name originated from a desire for privacy. How does that origin story reflect in your music?
I guess it’s a flip on the situation. I didn’t want my extended family to find me on social media sites because I be wildin’ and I was dealing with my mom’s health issues at such a young age and had to grow up really fast, now I’m show the world who I am. I started getting popular online with my antics and my old rap name was lowkey annoying me so I decided to just revamp it all.
Losing your mother and facing personal challenges nearly led you to quit music. How did you find the strength to continue?
I’ve never been asked this question like this, like not in this straight to the point way, and you really did your research about me and I really appreciate that. I really been looking back lately and I was an absolute mess. I was doing way too much but I was dealing with losing my mom and thinking the world is about to end. Niggas don’t understand that kind of pain unless they’ve gone through it, and most of these people don’t actual fucking appreciate their moms. I appreciate that woman for everything she’s ever done for me, and sacrifice she’s made for me. SHE BROUGHT ME INTO THIS WORLD. I was doing a lot of crazy shit. I just wanted to feel numb. I felt numb. I didn’t care what I did to myself or who I hurt by my actions. I apologized to the people who like, actually deserved to be apologized to because I wasn’t myself. I was a whole dick but I started standing on business with people right after that. The same people who were mad about how I was acting, were also enabling it. My mom always said I was too nice to people and told me to start being selfish and once I did, I became the villain in people’s stories who really needed a reason to not like me and I’m happy to be tho. I let people talk to me, treat me any kind of way, play in my face, talk shit about me, lie on me, lie to me, gossip about me, and I’m still fucking better than you. That’s how I found my way to continue. I wasn’t going to let people who are scared to like even like themselves make me feel bad about being myself and being aware of myself.
What was the inspiration behind writing “THINK!” and how did the creative process unfold?
I just moved into my new apartment with my girl and I started feeling like writing my feelings while getting everything ready. Like the chorus is how I was feeling and am feeling. I’m getting scared. I am getting older. My friends are growing up. My family is growing up. I hope my music blows up before the world does. I want to change the world and live my dreams and I’m kinda starting to. I want big things, I wanna be a rockstar. Then when I was working at my old job we started talking about nickleback and was playing the song rockstar and I love that song so I wanted to include that as well. The song is basically a diary entry.
The opening line of “THINK!” is quite striking. How does it reflect your mindset at the time of writing?
Everyday it’s something new. Everyday is a blessing. We take that shit for granted. It’s a blessing to breathe air into the world. We need to be more mindful of that. I’m seeing people just stay in arrested development and it’s scary. To limit yourself while you’re aging. Why do that?
How does “THINK!” fit into your broader discography? Is it a turning point or a continuation?
Eh, Continuation. I’m just doing what I feel like doing. But it’s like every new song, I learn something new, I try something new, I execute my ideas in a new way.
What emotions or thoughts do you hope listeners take away from “THINK!”?
Hopeful. That’s actually the name of the file in my Logic pro. Hopeful.
What are some aspirations you have for your career in the next five years?
I want to get some songs on tv, movies, the works. I’m mostly just focus on taking shit in a more focused direction. I need more videos to be honest. So we’ll see.
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