Q. Good day, Essence! 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. One of my brothers actually started doing music when I was around 13, and because of that, he inspired me to do music since I was a teen. But I always thought I didn’t have the right assets to do it. When I turned 17 and saved some money from my first job, I decided to follow in his footsteps and start booking my own studio sessions.
Q. Who are your musical influences and why?
A. I would say a huge musical influence for me would be J. Cole. I always loved the fact that he spoke about real, ongoing issues many of us face on a daily basis. From his voice to his rhyme scheme, everything was always perfect. I feel similarly about Meek Mill and admire the fact that with every song and lyric, there is passion—a passion he doesn’t have to explain because you can feel it through his music.
Q. What has been your biggest career highlight so far?
A. My biggest career highlight would be winning my first performance. That was huge for me because to know me is to know I can be very introverted at times. I was so nervous that people weren’t going to like it, and I let it discourage me. But I went up there and performed my song Dolo, and everyone loved it. After that, it felt like I was finally getting some flowers for all the hard work I put in.
Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A. In five years, I couldn’t honestly tell you where I see myself for sure, but I do know that no matter where I’m at or what I’m doing, I’m happy. I think there’s no bigger goal in life than to be satisfied with what you’re building for yourself.
Q. What Is One Message You Have for Your Fans and Supporters.
A. One message I have is: DON’T STAY ASLEEP. I say this every time I drop music because it’s true. I also appreciate all the love I’ve been getting already and the motivational texts. I reread them a lot, and they encourage me to keep pushing.
