Where are you from, and how did your hometown shape your sound or mindset?
I’m from Los Angeles. Not like “moved here after college” LA – I am LA. The city raised me. From beach runs to backyard kickbacks, from Lakers games to late-night taco trucks, LA is in my blood. I put the L in LA. Everything I make, everything I say, has this city’s fingerprint on it.
When did you first fall in love with rap music? Was there a moment or artist that sparked it?
Probably around 5 or 6. I’d be riding around in my mom’s car, different stations playing, but when the rap hit – I was locked in. It was like a jolt. Then I saw 8 Mile and that was it. I wasn’t watching a movie.- I was watching my future. I knew what time it was.
What was the first track you ever recorded, and what do you think of it now?
First track I ever made was called “Slowdown.” Sophomore year at USC, I was baked with some boys and just hopped on the mic in a buddy’s apartment. Didn’t overthink it. Just did it. The file came back and I couldn’t stop listening to it. Neither could my boys. Still one of my favorite records, not gonna lie. You can find it on my SoundCloud – shoutout to Mark Foti, my frat bro who jumped on the track too.
What are you working on right now, any upcoming projects or collaborations in the pipeline?
I got a full album in the works – Grasshoppers. 12 tracks. I’m aiming for a fall drop. It’s got a little bit of everything, but all of it sounds like me.
How would you describe your current sound compared to when you first started?
It shapeshifts. I don’t box myself in. Sometimes I rap like I’m sprinting. Other times I’m floating. The beat tells me what to do and I just listen. One thing that’s always the same though – I’m never boring.
Is there a dream collab you haven’t done yet but really want to make happen?
Tedy Andreas. Dude’s lowkey the only one in the game that I feel like is in my lane. I respect everyone doing their thing, but I genuinely think I’m better than most of them. Tedy’s the only one I see and go, “Yeah, he gets it.”
What inspires your writing process: real life, imagination, or a mix of both?
It’s a blend. I’m not gonna sit here and say every bar is gospel truth. Some of it is fiction, some of it’s flex, and some of it’s facts. I write about places I’ve been, brands I rock, hotels I’ve chilled at… but yeah, I’ll throw in a wild line here and there. Makes it fun. Makes it me.
How do you stay focused and creative when the industry can be so noisy?
I don’t feed the noise. I check Hypebeast or HypeM here and there, but I don’t live in the matrix. If I listen to too many artists, I start drifting. I stay locked in on my own wave. That’s where the best stuff happens anyway.
What’s one lesson the music game has taught you the hard way?
If you’re scared, don’t rap. The game’s wild right now. There’s real danger out there. People dying over this. I’m not with the gangster sh*t. I don’t play with guns, I don’t run with killers. I stay in my zone. Music’s my weapon. Not the streets.
What advice would you give to someone trying to make it as an artist right now?
Stop overthinking. If you’ve got bars, find a beat, record the damn thing, and put it out. Don’t wait for blogs, don’t beg for co-signs. Drop it. Let the internet eat. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What’s something your fans might not know about you but should?
I’m single and honestly? I want a girl. Not for clout. I’m not chasing IG models. I just want someone real. I’ve had my fun – I’ve had too many exes. Now I want a best friend. Someone who gets me. I’m 31. I want to be married by 36. Kids by 37, maybe 38. I’m not chasing looks anymore. I’m chasing peace.
Last words to your supporters, what do you want them to take from your journey?
I’ve been through it. Multiple rehabs. Sober livings. Overdosed twice. I’ve done every drug you could name. Don’t glamorize that life. My advice? Don’t go past alcohol and weed. Once you start dipping into the deep end, you start losing pieces of yourself. I’ve lost friends, time, and parts of me I can’t get back. So yeah – sip, smoke, chill with your crew. But don’t let the high become your identity. That road ends ugly.
