80 » OpenRoad Driver
How would you describe your experience growing up in Brampton ?
I initially grew up in Toronto and then I moved to Brampton . I claim both cities . My personal experience in Toronto was restrictive . I think that is where a lot of my content comes from , those original feelings that stick with me of being treated unfairly or being displaced because of race or being the underdog . I don ’ t think that ’ s specific or intrinsic to the city of Toronto , but my experience was very much like that . I feel like Brampton was where I was able to expand and find my social self a little bit . My fifth project , Flower City , was inspired by Brampton , which is referred to as the Flower City . I attribute Brampton to the things that helped me flourish my ideas , my mindset . The concepts that I believe in , they formulated here .
You recently released your latest single , “ Tesla .” What motivated you ?
I was feeling like the sun was synonymous with progression , waking me up , and magnifying opportunities . I started to also realize the amount of movement and traveling that I was doing in that time frame that really felt like the convoy for all these gigs , shows , and things that I was doing . It was solidifying for me what my career could look like .
In one verse from “ Tesla ,” you rap , “ Polaris Prize , now I got to maintain .” Have you felt any pressures to supersede your previous career success ? And is there a career milestone that you are vying to accomplish ?
I put the pressure on myself just as much as everybody else . As an artist that is slowly trying to build my recognition , that applies more than ever because a lot of what I ’ ve