DM: Who would you most likely want to colab with at the moment?
Awthentik: There are so many dope artist out there. Off the top, I want to collab with all the heavy hitters from my area. I like what Logic is doing right now. I’m literally bumping that new mix tape he just dropped right now. I’ve done so much already with artist that I wanted to and did work with that I am just blessed. Oh.... I'd also love to collab with Jake One on the beats.
DM: You perform at the Fillmore often did you start out in the open mic circuit in the DMV?
Awthentik: I do and have performed at many open mic showcases (my favorite being
Godsilla's Up and Up Open Mic) but that was never my circuit or my path of getting shows. I’m a do-for-self kind of guy. The first time I did a show, I went to a restaurant on U Street, which was owned by my friend’s dad, and I asked him to do a private show there. He agreed and my first show had about a 150 people at it that all paid to attend. I have never been about being put on by someone else, I always want to be the person putting people on.
I'm a leader. When people started taking recognition of these smaller shows I was doing, the word got around and over the years has just led to bigger and bigger opportunities.
DM: What’s next for you?
Awthentik: I'm just trying to stay busy. Working on the new album meanwhile grinding on the road doing shows and appearances wherever people are willing to hear some of this real, raw hip hop. I just love what I am doing, and I am fortunate to have found a way to make a living off of doing what I love and what I am good at.
DM: Any advice to up and coming artists that you wish someone would have told you coming up?
Awthentik: Study your craft. Perfect your craft. Just cause you have talent, doesn't mean you will be well off. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
*Thank you for your support and we at Dominext wish for you the best of success for your endeavors in the future… DM