Creative Producer & Editor // Kuya Allen | Photographer // Harrison Woodard | Art Director // MR (Mitchell Richmond) | Stylist // Joshua Alan Clark | Videographer // Shey Allen |
1. When everything quiets down, no cameras, no crowd, no expectations, what tends to be on your mind?
If I had to write my Will right now, who would get my PS5
2. Creatively, where are you tapping into for inspiration? How are you deciding what to write or create content about?
I want the world I'm building to look sound and feel like how it did when I was 10-12 years old. When the only thing I knew how to make was Cereal. When mixtapes were the sound of Summer ‘07. The house still had carpet. A Black president was running. My mom started dropping me off at parties. I also learned how to take SEPTA (public transportation) by myself. It felt like my introduction to the world.
3. You move with a lot of confidence. Is that something that’s always been natural, or something you had to build to survive?
Natural. In my head i’m the strangest-yet-coolest fucking person ever and anytime I speak i see it as an opportunity for others to believe that as well. It also has a lot to do with being from Philly. You’re either the terrifier or the terrified.
4. What parts of yourself are non-negotiable right now? Something that no matter how large your career becomes, you will make sure to preserve.
No drugs. No clubs. It just doesn’t make sense for me to promote it because I don’t live it.
5. Do you ever feel pressure to keep being “on”? What happens when you’re not?
Being “on” should be in seasons, almost like TV shows. And when you’re not, you’re crafting and curating what the next episodes of the season will be, who the characters are, what’s the plot. When it’s constantly “on” it becomes a soap opera. And only parents fuck with Soap Operas.
6. What do you think people get wrong about you when they only see the surface?
I think people coin me as the “happy” guy so much that they don’t know i’m kinda chaotic hahaha
7. If the music disappeared tomorrow, what part of you would still remain unchanged?
I would wake up at 5am. I would still say the dumbest things out loud in a room until it turns into brilliant ideas. I would still OD on Fruit, Turmeric Smoothies and Ghost Pepper chips. I would still have really good hair, although i might get rid of these damn beads hahaha.
8. Over these next 2 or 3 years, what are you looking forward to the most? Is there anything specific you’re trying to prove to yourself or somebody else?
I gave this advice to an influencer who loves basketball: The Best, Worst and Mediocre player goes out every season 82 times BEFORE even getting to playoffs. That’s not counting countless hours of practice. The lucky players get another dozen. If you can’t show up 82 times a year you cannot say you deserve to be a champion. I’m looking forward to my 82 games a year and being a champion.
9. When someone becomes a real fan of yours, what do you hope they understand about how you think?
I hope every fan is able to understand my sense of humor first. But I can feel how determined I am to be the greatest ever. I want them to see all the DragonBall Z and Kingdom Hearts references I sneak in my storytelling and style consistently.. And that i realllllly love the color blue hahaha