Interview with Tsotsi

There are a lot of dope, unheard rappers from Chicago, and Tsotsi is one of them. Only 16 years old and in his junior year, he's still made a lot of progress as an artist. We discovered him through another music blog, Uplifted, which had featured his most well known song: Hokage Tower.

The song blew up after being heard by a popular viner, and he decided to post it. Since it's release date last year, it's gained over 28k plays, which is no small feat for someone who only has 200 followers. Though he does have one song that is very popular, his other songs still deserve attention. He brings his lyrical talent over usually upbeat tracks, but he can also take a swing at the serious side, like in his song 'Fed Talk', where he talks about police discrimination against black people in America.

He's also shown that he can take his talent over trap-esque beats, even getting on a song 'Village', produced by a popular artist named Lord Fubu. We decided that we wanted to get into the mind of an upcoming artist as young as Tsotsi, so we hit him up for an interview. Read below.

First off, how did you even get into music?

Well, I just started rapping over beats. To be honest, I listened to Acid Rap in 8th grade and I was like 'Fuck, I really wanna make something as beautiful as this'. So I started rapping. I was trash at first, but I gradually found my sound and got a little better. Eventually, I got into Hurt Everybody and they legitimately fueled me to make all the songs I did like 'Hokage Tower' and 'SuperNova'. I even got to record Hokage Tower at the studio with Qari, so that's where I'd say I really got seriously started into music. Freshman year, I was making music but I was actually started doing Xanax like every week, so I was making fucked up music and I was losing my grip on shit. I eventually stopped and I was lucky as hell I didn't have any permanent damage. I never even told my friends I went through withdrawal and I was high almost everyday.

So, recently you've started to get a little more popular, getting a little more clout in the online community. Has anything really major happened to you, since getting all these plays on Hokage Tower?

Well, just a little. I haven't had anyone run up to me on the streets getting my autograph or anything, but I've had a lot of producers hit me up wanting to collaborate and shit. Even producers in my own school are tryna make stuff for me, so I'm grateful for that, but honestly it's not that big of a deal. I'm trying to gain local clout instead of online clout, so I can get booked for more venues and stuff.

Have you been offered to do any shows or got any coming up?

Actually yeah, I have one coming up on the 14th. I'll keep you posted on Twitter for the exact location @VintageTsotsi.

Speaking of performing, you talked a little bit earlier about the history of that Fed Talk song. Can you explain that a little better?

Yeah. I performed Fed Talk at this open mic at school hosted by the Black Student Union. If you didn't know, the chorus for Fed Talk goes, "Fuck 12, posted on the block, screaming Fuck 12." and one of the requirements was not to curse, so I had to edit it. So I switched it to "CPDK, CPDK." and I had that whole auditorium t'd as fuck. The same day, I got pulled into the office and they were talking about how there were police officers in there and the school was getting hella calls, and allat. A lot of the teachers ended up being on my side, but I got a two day in school suspension anyway, it was annoying as hell.

That's messed up. Judging from that song, you have a strong stance on certain issues, and aren't afraid to talk about it, I'm guessing?

For sure. The thing is, the parents only heard the "CPDK" they didn't hear "Looking at the treatment of the white, they do the brown wrong R.I.P to Mike" or "I'm screaming out treat me Caucasian, the lack of respect and the hate is amazing". Selecting hearing is a bitch. But pretty much, yeah. I say what I want in my music because it's my music. I release what I think sounds good, and whatever I want to talk about.

So you don't have a certain direction with your music?

Nah. I try to just go off first instinct. If I make a beat or get a beat from someone and I haven't rapped over anything like it before, I'll still do it if I think the beat is good. I like making music that I enjoy listening to, so my sound might change after I get into a new genre. Like 'Merch', I heard that beat and I was like god damn, this is really good, but it's' hella fast. I took it on anyway and it turned out great.

You haven't released anything lately. What are your plans for music for the future?

I'm working on Grey, my album right now, but I have a single coming out in a few days with Metaphoric, Chase, and Eazy El Loco. It's gonna be on the album for sure, I'm trying to perfect whatever goes on this album. It's mostly solo work but I do have a few features.

Over your Twitter, you've been talking about your group called Majin. Can you explain a little bit about what it is, and what Majin means?

Yeah. Me, Metaphoric, Exile, and Jimmi are all in this group together, probably people you've never heard of. They're all dope rappers, they just don't release as much. But that's the point of the group. Majin was formed because we all take music seriously and want to make it a career, at least I do. Oh, and Majin. Majin is a race in Dragon Ball Z and those bitches are tough, just like us. We don't give up under any circumstances.

You see a career in music. Do you think you're close to launching that career and starting to make money and getting your music out of Chicago?

Not even close. My music is really only popular online and within some places in Chicago. A lot of people fuck with my music at school and shit and other schools too, but I haven't made that many connections. Working with Eazy El Loco is the biggest thing I've done, and I'm very excited for that. I haven't ever done a show outside of school, my first one is coming up, so I don't think I'm going to be getting a huge spike in fame anytime soon unless I make connections. But I'm patient. I'm deadass a warrior, so I'm not stopped by any of the bullshit people wanna throw at me. Taking over the city isn't a one day job, but it's happening.

Support Tsotsi by listening to his music and getting him out there, he really is dope.