What’s one thing you think Canada can learn from America?
If you want it you got to take it. In Canada we are a little more reserved and humble, but sometimes you have to go and seize an opportunity when it’s presented in front of you. You have to be on your hustle a little more.
You’ve always straddled an interesting line between mainstream and underground. Which direction do you think your career’s headed?
I think it’s all about finding your own lane. I have a line about that on my last album: “I’ve been staying in my lane which means there’s no traffic.” To me, that means that if you are doing your own thing you don’t have to worry about styles, trends, etc. You are doing you. I think that’s more important than ever these days. There are less conventional radio, video and magazines outlets so you have to build your own following. I don’t try to please everyone, just my core fans.
How do you feel Down Home changed your career?
First off, the recording of Down Home was great because I got a chance to work with Classified for a whole project. It was great having one producer and having the connection with him where it was cool if he said a verse was just ‘okay’ because I didn’t want anything to be okay. I wanted to go back and write it and make it stronger. Working with cats like Maestro, Joell and Saukrates was an honour. They are all artists that I respect and being on songs with them made their fans check out my stuff as well.
What’s a life motto you try to live by?
Stay driven. It was the name of my first EP and then became a program I do where I go speak to students in schools. But it’s definitely a motto too. You are going to face challenges but you have to keep going. Can’t quit!