Q. Good day, Exogiino! We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us. The first thing we want to know is What made you want to become a musician?
A. Growing up, I listened to old-school rap and R&B, since that’s what was always around me, and I enjoyed writing poetry, especially for school assignments. By middle school, I started freestyling with friends, which led to mixing my love for poetry with rapping over beats just for fun. About four months ago, I decided to take it seriously and started releasing my own music.
Q. Who are your musical influences and why?
A. My top three musical influences are Michael Jackson, XXXTENTACION, and Lil Wayne. I’ve been listening to Michael since birth, it feels like. I admired how raw and genuinely musical he was—I’d watch his studio sessions and listen to all his songs. X influenced me deeply, not just through his music but also how he expressed himself in interviews and on social media. I really connected with the way he cared about his fans and motivated them to evolve and improve their lives, especially mentally. His words hit me when I joined some of his IG lives. As for Wayne, he’s just a beast on the mic—plain and simple.
Q. What has been your biggest career highlight so far?
A. I dropped my first song about four months ago, and it hit over 50k streams within the first month. I worked hard on promoting it and connected with producers in Houston to help get the word out. It was a big moment for me, especially since I had kept my music to myself for so long. Unfortunately, it got taken down recently due to some impersonation issue—of me, somehow—but it was still a major highlight.
Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A. In five years, I see myself thriving in music, giving myself the freedom and resources to be more creative. I want to enjoy the benefits of my success while giving back to the people who helped me get here. I also want to be someone my fans can look up to, especially those who feel like they don’t have anyone supporting them. Growing up, I often felt that way, without much mental or emotional support, so I want to be that for others.
Q. What Is One Message You Have for Your Fans and Supporters?
A. My advice to my fans is that “To fail does not mean to fall into your grave, but instead to fall into acceptance that you must grow.”
