I have to be responsible with my character, my image and my reputation.
I put so much pressure on myself. I'm my toughest critic. I always push myself to go harder than I did last time.
I'm competing with myself to outdo previous achievements, but I can't feel any pressure from the fans, the media or the people at all because I know what I'm capable of.
We run into police brutality often and it's always a problem that we always have to protest and speak out.
I wanted to get people to feel where I'm coming from and connect with people who are feeling the same way that I am.
I'm an old soul. When I was a kid all the kids would be playing and I would be sitting on the steps with the teachers just watching.
As far as the melodic style, I feel like I'm in my own lane.
If I wanted to play soccer, I'd step out on that soccer field like I'm the best soccer player. Even though I don't have that much experience, I always try to have that type of confidence in myself just to make people believe it.
Music is so important. Because in Chicago it's up to us to tell the stories nobody else will.
I knew when I left school, my stomach would probably hurt from having nothing to eat, and I would be going back to those same circumstances that were breaking me.
I didn't want my son to see the same things I had seen growing up or have to go through the same things I went through.
There's so much stuff that you see every day that you want to talk about, but I'm not the type to open up, so the only way I could open up is through music.
I just wanted to be able to say that I raised my kids and my family around a better environment than I was brought up in.
I wanted to be a sports broadcaster like Stephen A. Smith.
One thing I can say as far as people from black communities dealing with trauma or PTSD is putting some trauma centers or some type of therapy sessions and some after-school programs for the kids, so they can have a real outlet to express themselves.
The same day I was supposed to go to college, I ended up hitting the studio and then poppin' out on the block after that.
I'm versatile with my sound. I can switch it up a lot.
I've been a signed artist, but it's only been a full year-and-a-half. I'm still kind of new to money and this kind of lifestyle, so me being in a messed up predicament wasn't too long ago.
When the Chicago rap scene came about, I listened to all of the upcoming artists like Lil Durk, Chief Keef and G Herbo.
I have only so many songs to choose from when I'm deciding on the album. So I learned that I'm a little slow as far as dishing out music, but I learned to be patient with myself and not rush anything.
