YOUR STEPDAD | CHICAGO ARTISTS TO WATCH RECAP

I was raised on the east side of Chicago, where my entire family was filled with musicians and creative innovators, so the passion for music runs in my blood. I started DJing at eight years old and began making beats when I was ten.

I was a GarageBand enthusiast until about 2024. I started rapping at 15 years old and even won a poetry competition for the play Hamilton, which gave me the opportunity to perform my song in front of a crowd of 2,000 people. That experience made me realize that rap was my true calling.

During high school, I was a YouTuber, which helped me become comfortable in front of the camera. Around 2021, I transitioned to TikTok to promote my music, often using pop culture references to attract the average viewer, particularly high schoolers.

My goal has always been to grow alongside my fan base, so at the beginning of my marketing efforts, I used humor and comedy to engage viewers. After my first freestyle on the radar in 2022, things started to really take off.

Q&A WITH YOUR STEPDAD (MAY 2025)

• When you began your music journey, what was your confidence level?
  • It was pretty high. I had just finished a door-to-door sales job, so I was dealing with rejection a lot. I was already through it, you know?
• Who was your biggest inspiration while growing up?
  • When I was a kid, it was Tyler, but as I got older, I started looking at Kanye for that adult male confidence.
• Did you ever consider giving up during the process?
  • Yes, I don’t think it’s a passion if you don’t think about quitting every day, to be honest.
• What would you say is something you need to work on as an artist?
  • I need to work on my patience with my fan base. I don’t like talking to them a lot, but I understand that it’s part of the brand.
• At what point did you decide to take your musical career seriously?
  • I decided to take it seriously when I started making money from it. I had a job at first, but once I saw earnings from my music, I quit. Now it’s just music for me.
• Where do you see yourself in the future?
  • I’d probably be directing movies, but I’m ready to step back from rap around 2032 for real.
• Are you looking to sign a record deal, or would you prefer to remain independent? Why?
  • If I’m trying to connect with mainstream artists, I’ll need to sign some sort of contract. It’s just a way to level up, so I might have to sign at some point.
• What are your favorite visuals that you’ve created, and why do you like them?
  • I started creating a lot of AI content in 2024, and now many others have jumped on that trend. It just proves that I’m actually legendary, so it’s a bit of an ego thing with the AI stuff.
• What is a highlight moment in your career that encourages you to continue making music?
  • I used to make beats a lot, and when I started sharing them with my friends at school, they said they were fire. If I could get my friends to like it, then I thought others would too.
• Do you write your music?
  • Yes, 100%.
• Do you think having a ghostwriter is beneficial for your future?
  • I think it can be beneficial for artists. It certainly helped Drake, and he’s at the top, so there’s that.
• Would you be interested in collaborating? If so, who would it be?
  • I would love to make beats with Chief Keef. I noticed that I tend to rap in front of the beat, so rapping with others isn’t really my thing, but I’m down to make beats together.
• Are there any specific Chicago artists you’d like to work with?
  • I’d say Chief Keef and Kanye, but again, I’m mainly interested in the beat-making side rather than rapping with either of them.
• What is your favorite thing about being an artist?
  • I love meeting my fans. I have meet-and-greet sessions at the end of my shows, and being able to talk to them is special.
• What’s an exclusive fun fact about you?
  • A lot of people think I have strong confidence, but I actually suffer from severe social anxiety.
• What is a guilty pleasure of yours?
  • Life.
• What never fails to make you smile?
  • Also, life, specifically, nature.
• *FUN FACT*|Name Origin:
  • “When I was 16 years old, on my way to a friend’s house, an older lady (32 years old) saw me making beats on my phone and struck up a conversation. We exchanged Snapchat information, and from that point on, we began to build a friendship.
  • As I was approaching 17 (the legal age of consent in Illinois), we started discussing the possibility of expanding our relationship. I expressed that I wasn’t interested in a serious relationship with someone who had children, as she had two. She was okay with that, so we entered into a sort of friends-with-benefits arrangement shortly after I turned 17.
  • I ended up teaching her oldest son, who was about 8 or 9 at the time, how to efficiently dribble a basketball. From that moment, I began to feel like somewhat of a stepdad. I thought it would be amusing to base my rap career around that slightly traumatizing experience.”

HIGHLIGHTS SINCE MAKING ARTIST TO WATCHLIST

• Released the album blackAlt in October 2025, a full 15‑track project showcasing his unique style and collaborations with artists like Vic Mensa. 
• Dropped singles through 2025–2026 including “2 TRIPS” (December 2025), “dust”, “500K”, and “Journal Entry #9,” helping keep consistent momentum. 
• Continued to release popular tracks like “Positive,” “im (not) okay,” and “Chicago GTA’in,” expanding his catalogue.  
• Maintains a dedicated audience with tens of thousands of followers and consistent monthly listeners — an indicator of organic growth in his underground/alternative hip‑hop scene.  
• Scheduled at least one live show in February 2026, signaling continued performance activity and audience engagement on the road.