Dope Souf Magazine May 2016 | Page 5

But she said Colbert's up-and-coming status may work in his favor when it comes to public opinion: "If he was already on a mainstream level, this would knock him back a few notches."

"Hit the Quan" became a Top 10 hit on both the Billboard rap and R&B/Hip-Hop songs charts, and it peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100 chart. The music video has earned millions of views, and the single has sold 587,969 tracks so far.

The idea for "Quan" came as Colbert was dancing in his backyard to rapper Rich Homie Quan's song "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)." He rushed to the studio and finished the track in one session — and on a shoestring budget.

She pointed to rapper Tupac Shakur and more recently CeeLo Green as examples of stars who weathered legal troubles.

"Some artists don't come out successful," Anthony said. "Like a rapper Mystikal, who was big in the '90s, was charged with aggravated rape and he served four years and after that no one really heard from him."

"I paid $35 and I didn't look back," he said. "I dropped it on Sunday. By Tuesday I knew it was a hit."

Celebrities including Dwayne Johnson, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar and Terry Crews — along with toddlers, teens and even police officers — have hopped on the dance craze and posted videos featuring Colbert's moves.

The performer said he's wanted to be a rapper since the seventh grade. Colbert said he's always had positive influences around him to help him reach his goals, including his parents.

"My mom's always been in the church, my dad in the military, so I've seen him work very, very hard to take care of our family. I've just been around people that know where they're going," he said. "I'm a Christian, you know. I love God. I pray a whole lot, and I pray to be in a position where I can give back to my people and it's happening, you know. I'm following that dream."