 What they gonna do with me now? I'm still a twerk of the town Don't need assistance, I'm hooking them down Reaching the smiles and the frowns again And you're tuned in to another interview with twerk of the town And let us know who we got in the building today Stop You know, like where you coming from? So I'm gonna visit you from South South Carolina, but I've been in Atlanta since I was 15 So I'd like to say, you know, I'm tall, so raised, but Atlanta made And I think that that's so important, especially on Black History Month Because before 1921, y'all, y'all don't know, Tulsa was like the mecca for Black art And entrepreneurship and all that So I think that it's really, really important that that's like, that's in your blood No, for sure, for sure So what was it like growing up? I know you said that you moved from Tulsa to Atlanta when you were 15 Yeah, I was like back and forth Okay, so like what was that like? Coming up in Tulsa, I definitely would say It was, it was real slow, you know, compared to Atlanta You know, we got a lot of talent down there We got a lot of, a lot of stuff going on down there But you know, definitely when I moved to Atlanta, like it was, it was, it was a lot faster You know, a lot more opportunity, you know what I'm saying? And yeah, it was, it was like Okay, so what age did you start making your music? Was that? I was around like, I thought I was about 12 Okay, so you were already making music by the time that you were in Atlanta So did you notice a difference in the type of music that you were making from when you were in Oakland? I mean, I feel like I worked with a lot of producers and a lot of songwriters And a lot of people that were musically inclined So I feel like what they did rubbed off on me a lot in Atlanta So, yeah From early or was that like your more BC years? I feel like it was probably two, three years being down there Okay, so like what was the first like song that really like got you out there that blew up? I actually did a remix to Lifestyle by Lil Ddub And it was me and my homeboy Yoshi man We literally did like a organic video, you know, posting it on Facebook Literally got like two million views in like two days Nice And ever since I've just been, I just stay consistent and build my fan base And I noticed like even on your Instagram, you still have some of your old like covers For show, for show And those are dope, do you feel like your, do you feel like your fans were like initially picking up with the original songs that you were making Or was it more of the covers that had It was, I feel like it was both Okay I remember it was times when I dropped the original records, you know, on YouTube And they would catch a lot of traction You know, and obviously it was the covers that kind of got me my attention But like whenever I dropped my originals, they also got attention So it's kind of both Cause I know like the song just dropped last year But I remember that like when it takes time like I ain't got no hug Yeah You I did that on Vine Epic, they caught a lot of viral attention It was like my first viral vine So what made you remake that song last year? I made it a couple, I think it was about a couple years ago But the reason why I made that it was, it was really a real story, you know It was like a real, it was like an actual thing that I had went through, you know I went through, I've had a girl at the time And she, she ended up screwing a dude Or like smashing a dude that I knew from my home sound He actually sung as well Yeah And he tried to like, try to like come back at me after I made the, the, the, the The beat you know the whole record Oh really? He tried to like remix it and say I fucked your hoe and all that type of stuff But I really did that cause it was, you know, I was just, I was just young And I was prideful See, I don't even know who's a lot of rap beef going over Oh you just put me on, I might have to say this Okay, so like would you say that like your real life stories inspire a lot of the music that you made? No, for show, for show, every, every song that I made I created out from real life experience Oh really? Yeah, if it wasn't mine it was somebody that I knew, so Do they know when you make it? Yeah, for show, you know, for show, for show Have you ever? Sometimes Have you ever lied and told somebody there's someone who's about to really Man it's gonna be outside man Okay The new R&B nigga has arrived, yup The new R&B nigga has arrived, that's a very strong, we gon' get into that statement But let's talk about the song real quick, so like what kind of sounds can we listen, I know a visual is coming out too Yeah for sure So what can we look out for like from that song, like what type of feeling can we give? I mean really, I really wanted to bring back that vintage sound to R&B You know what I'm saying, that real soulful singing You know, cause I feel like a lot of people sing rap nowadays So I wanted to like make a statement like I'm the new voice of this generation You know what I'm saying, like I wanted to like make that statement And with my whole project that I got coming out of it Nice, and when can we use it like that? Uh, I about a couple months, something like that Okay, so like just in time for summer Yeah, something like that Okay, so what was it like working with baby? It was lit, it was lit Me and Shine Gear actually created the record, we wrote it together Shout out to Shine Gear, he helped mold me He helped me, he helped me, he helped my style out a lot But we wrote the record, he was like man you know baby it sounds nice on this record So we called, we called the big company up, you know, I was the person that we both signed to Shout out WPAC over music And it was like yo, we need to get this to baby man, it just shit hard You know what I'm saying, we sent this to baby, he liked the record, he hopped on it A little like a week later we shot the video in LA Nice, so that was a quick turnaround For sure, it was lit So how do you like being signed to WPAC? I love it, I couldn't wish for a better label Oh really? For sure What makes it so weird? It's, I mean like, we're a family You feel me, like, I like the fact that they don't just throw us out there like that They literally take it slow and like really like, like help us figure out who we are And just like, just really just, you know, just keep us in a loop with everything So like, what was the set towards you getting signed to them? Like, what did it for you? So I was actually, I was actually a Linux mom Singing Singing to different people, you know, I was like man, like I don't got nothing going on I'm about to go into Linux mom and just sing for anybody famous that I know So I seen Adrian Brunner, I seen Rico, he's now signed to WPAC as well I'm over there And Rico's an AB and I just walked up to him and I was like I did that, right? And like, the whole mall just looked at me Yeah, cause I was like, wow That was like, wow, he can really sing So Rico, Adrian was like, I can't do nothing for you, I'm a boxer bro But shoot, you're an amazing talent You know, Rico took my number down and he introduced me to Gooch And then Gooch took me to the studio and introduced me to the big dog And then I got signed, like a week later Wow, that was like, so that's what you know you really got it Cause we live in New York and we see people singing on the train Yeah, I was definitely singing before And I was like, I was literally selling my CDs Like I used to make 300 dollars a day like selling 30 CDs a day I made a lot of equipment, my job and everything So were there any times while you were doing that that you felt like You would have had to find another option or did you always know that you knew that I always knew that I could sing really well So I knew that somebody was going to pick me up Something was going to happen out of that You know what I'm saying, but I just didn't know when I was down, I mean I was in the ages just grinding Just sleeping in my car, staying in people's house that I don't know You know what I'm saying, everyday just getting out of hustle And it led me into the right situation And I think that part of your story makes it that much more impactful And inspiring because you really had to grind to get where you at right now It definitely wasn't easy, it wasn't easy at all So you said something along being like the R&B nigga is here Don't quote me because I don't know if that's worth what you said But are you the only R&B artist signed to Whoopay? Yeah for sure And how does that feel? It's lit It's lit? It's lit for sure I feel like all the artists on Whoopay we got our own lanes Ain't nobody trying to be nobody else Everybody got their own thing that we bring to the camp And so how do you feel like R&B artists are received in the time we're living in? I feel like R&B is well, you know it's living We got a lot of R&B artists out there Shout out to all my peers, you know like Jacquees, you know Vito You know Trey Chris, you know R&B is still living It's still still living and well So I mean are there any upcoming R&B artists that you feel like You know people should have on their radar Because a lot of times we get into conversations about like R&B artists not really getting their shine time And not getting their flowers that they deserve Because a lot of the focus right now is on like the rap stuff Because that's what really seems more prominent I was at I mean there's a lot of other coming R&B artists, you know Like I said Vito for instance, you know that's my boy Shout out to Vito, you know what I'm saying Like he's doing amazing, you know you got that You got that, you got that record And I think he's going to drop a project So you know I'll love him and I'll love to all my other peers Would you say that R&B artists are underrated? I wouldn't say that No? I wouldn't say that I feel like just certain people listen to R&B And certain people listen to other music And how do you feel like it compares though to like the night Because a lot of people compare it to the 90s R&B I feel like you kind of like tap into that 90s Like you give me like those throwback gems But do you feel like that's like what we're getting now? Not right, I don't feel like this is what we're getting right now No, I just feel like you know You know it's just R&B has just evolved You know what I'm saying But I'm not saying there's nothing wrong with R&B right now I'm just saying that R&B has evolved You know everybody do what they own way And you know how to start One of those how to start with Because last year literally I want to say like down to the date last year You did an interview You said like the R&B artists were going to be like taking over basically For sure Yeah you said setting the game on fire That's exactly what you said So do you feel like now looking back a year later that's what's happening? I feel like everybody setting the game on fire now That's a safe answer Everybody got their own set Everybody got what makes them you know authentic And what makes them you know What compliments what they do You know like It's a lot of us out here You know we got Lucky Day He's doing this thing You know we got Brett Fias He's doing this thing You know the toxic R&B vibes You know you got how to start with the 90s vintage You know what I'm saying Real R&B saying really You know what I'm saying We got a lot of talent out here So you know I don't I don't sleep on nobody I respect everybody what they do And I respect everybody else Because you know you never know What people have to go through to get there Of course So like what's generally the feedback That you get from your music Like what do people usually tell you when they hear your music People love it People really like They're literally like You just sing I haven't heard a voice like yours since the 90s Yeah Yeah I mean like you even You put out Fool And that was That was a hit I like that Michelle And I saw that Like you said But you didn't even Think that that was going to be like Yeah I mean I know it was a great song You know my team will be pick it out But like I ain't think that it was going to be You know what it is But I didn't hate it I hated it Brown's got 2 million views I hate that record But it didn't chart it Like 20 on the chart It went up It surprised the hell out of me But you just posted something on Instagram Like for Valentine's Day With Fool Was that from this song something? Yeah it was It was? What was that? I just wanted to do a dinner man Show love to the ladies you know Some ladies that I knew I'm just inviting them out You know and gave them some Same some gifts like some flowers Some teddy bears And really just let them know it's love That was nice I appreciate that Speaking of Instagram I have to ask you like Where's all your stuff on Instagram Like you only have 2 holes I'm actually branding right now Doing enough to drop my new single Baby March 4th is coming out You know I might have a lot of other eyes on me So you know I just wanted to You know start fresh Start new And just really be brand myself So what does this rebranded Highland Star look like? Just Highland Star on steroids People start popping it You coming harder than before I'm popping it I'm popping it So are we hearing new sounds Are you sticking to your sound? For sure I'm sticking to my sound My music is going to be incredible You know I just feel like You know I'm a type of artist That I feel like I always use improvement I'm never good enough So I like to push myself To be the best To be the best in my own way And just to be great in all areas And just cover the board And how do you know When you need to be pushed Like what are you comparing yourself? I mean I just I'm always like critiquing myself I'm like my biggest critic You know I always make my music And I always try to You know perfect my image As if like person in the back room Is like I'm trying to like I'm always trying to appease The person that I know Is going to hate what I do Mmm I know people are going to love me But it's always going to be people that Are going to hate you So you got to always keep in your mind Like it's going to be that one person In the back room like man It's like I don't know what So like I think about that person So I'm always trying to outdo myself Is there anything that you've ever Heard about yourself? Hey that was like What? Is it? No No? Oh that's good And I ask because you seem to keep Like a pretty positive like Name friends Yes I'm like everything good I stay out of the BS I don't put my two cents and stuff But no again You seem very wholesome Not for sure I saw you on tic-tac with your girlfriend No it definitely wasn't my girlfriend She was a social media influencer And I just I decided to do it I decided to She's my friend though She's my friend But I decided just to do A singing video with her You know And so it happened it got like A million views Yeah that's how it was And I was like I don't know Because I'm on post So what is it like dating Like you're a singer So I feel like there's already Like a perceived soft side To you know singers Especially male singers Who sing about like the kind of Stuff that you do Yeah So what is it like dating I mean it's cool I've already had a real relationship Since I got my record deal though And that was Like a couple years ago Yeah I haven't really been in a real relationship I kind of just been chilling out And all that But I still have fun Okay That's for sure So I mean getting back to the music Like we were talking about like 90s music And all of that And I'm just so curious to know like When we Because I think we're like around the same age When we get older And you know we haven't cooked out And we got like our grandkids there And so what do you think are going to be Like the cookout songs Then like based on what we have out now Mmm That is a hard question I know That is a hard question That right I don't really know like I feel like I'm going to have to wait until that time comes Really? I don't even know You don't think that there's any song now That you'd be like Oh yeah man I hear this at the cookout Like this song I mean it's probably like lifestyle about the There's a lot of shit just You know what I'm saying You're lying That's because you covered it That's because you really I just couldn't be on my cookouts here Like Like Gerald You know You know what I'm saying Like I don't know But you think What you think I don't know That's why I'm asking you I really don't I really don't even know Like I feel like we're going the way to see that I feel like I can see some like scissor That's my girl That shit is hard as fuck And summer walk I don't You know what I really don't either That's That'd be some housing star You know what I'm saying You know what I'm saying Like if you had to name like five artists That you would like to collab with Who would they be Definitely Breezy I got that on my board at the crib You know I feel like I'm definitely going to work with Breezy I don't want to work with Summer walker she's amazing So I feel like we'll make a dope do it together Who's another one Usher Just got along It's going to be the link Okay Yeah Yeah That's all I'm going to talk to right now I can't wait You don't got two more Hmm Only thing You named all like singers You don't think you have like a like a rapper Right I like a big Sean Hmm Kendrick Lamar Okay Yeah I like that Okay so you mentioned Usher And of course I know like you won the climax challenge It's a show It's a show That's a usher man What was like the I guess aftermath of that Like It was I was honestly surprised You know Like when I went on the story And I heard my voice I'm like wow Like he really He really He really rocked With the way I sung this record Like You know what I'm saying That kind of gave me You know The extra push that I needed to know That Usher actually acknowledged Me doing a cover to a song Have there ever been Like any other like co-signs That you've gotten Yes A walker reposted me When I first started I did a remix to Fetty Wop's joint You know what I'm saying Shout out to Fetty He reposted me Yeah It's been a lot of people That's the show we love 112 Slim Shout out to him Fire But yeah That's dope So you mentioned that Breezy is on your board Yeah Like your vision board Yeah Okay so like Is this a 2022 vision board Just a career vision board I feel like I make a vision board Every time I complete all my goals You know I wrote down everything You know For me getting signed To be working with major artists You know That was my first vision board Now that I've done that I wrote another vision board When I sing over on board number one In the next three months You know what I'm saying Like I'm writing down all these goals Because what I've noticed Is that they actually work The infestation Yeah they really actually work Okay so I mean just hold up Some of the stuff that's on your vision board But what can we look forward to In 2022 Definitely Definitely a lot of new music I'm working on a project right now Like I said Be ready for big Don't make me big Coming out March 4th It's lit Show But the project coming after that You know I definitely don't want to be a single artist I'm gonna be an album artist You know what I'm saying Like I'm really gonna put out A real body of work That's gonna really shift the culture That's a bold statement I believe it Okay Alright so like Is there any words of advice That you would give to like Upcoming artists Yeah man you know So all the upcoming artists out there Man you know keep going Stay focused Never give up on yourself Never be afraid to show your talent No matter where you at with it And just really just man Just keep working It may seem like You're never gonna make it It may seem like Nobody's never gonna take you serious Like But just keep going Keep going and don't take nothing for granted Okay And if there's anything else That you would like For people to know Make sure to follow me on all social media Is a highland star H-Y-L-A-N-S-T-A-R-R And get ready for Don't make me big Featuring a little baby March 4th Yeah Alright y'all