What true is it for a particular person to compose the total world, nonetheless lose his soul? The reply to that ask is one Lil Tecca has already near to phrases with, because the rapper’s meteoric upward push has elevated him to a stratosphere from which many artists sooner than him, and after, private break-landed. The 19-year-feeble Queens native—who rose to the upper reaches of the Billboard charts in 2019 along with his High 5 single, “Ransom”—has refrained from falling into the self-discipline topic and non secular trappings of popularity. Specializing in his self-pattern whereas churning out a succession of hits, Tecca looks to private not allowed the accolades to private long gone to his head, which he credits to his hang accountability.
“I protect myself grounded bigger than any individual,” he tells VIBE when asked how he succeeds in not losing his steadiness whereas exhibiting accountability beyond his years. No longer one for handlers or noteworthy entourages, Tecca has develop into greater than lifestyles within the eyes of many. Shedding his debut mixtape, We Like You Tecca, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, in 2019, and his debut studio album, Virgo World, the next year, nonetheless the “Like Me” rapper soundless provides thanks for the small issues and never takes his platform or daily life as a right.
Having debunked any speculation of being a one-hit-wonder after collecting ten Sizzling 100 singles on his resume, Tecca returns along with his sophomore studio album, We Like You Tecca 2, an album that captures the vibes of his introductory offering and finds him returning to his roots. Launched on Aug. 27 and led by the single, “Repeat It” featuring Gunna, We Like You Tecca 2 aspects additional visitor appearances from Chief Keef, Trippie Redd, Lil Yachty, NAV, and Iann Dior, as smartly as production helmed by Taz Taylor, Web Money, and a bevy of other boardsman who helped Tecca flesh out his ingenious vision. The album is a body of labor that stays correct to the formula that’s made Tecca true into a household title whereas exhibiting the evolution of the particular person at the wait on of the tune.
The budding superstar spoke with VIBE about the creation of We Like You Tecca 2, balancing the highs and lows of popularity, and the clear vibes he hopes to supply of us along with his tune.
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VIBE: You latterly did Rolling Loud Miami and replace of us praised your put as one in all your simplest. How used to be the solutions on the efficiency?
Lil Tecca: I believed it used to be fire, if truth be told, I believed it used to be mighty fire. I believed everybody had reasonably true vitality, to be shapely.
Are you ever nervous or anxious sooner than doing a verbalize?
Yeah, I would with out a doubt jabber it provides me a feeling treasure sooner than I hop on the court docket. Like if I used to be on a sports actions team, it could perchance per chance well give me that identical feeling treasure just sooner than I rep on stage. So reasonably anxiousness, nonetheless it’s treasure an excited anxiousness.
How build you rep over that and put collectively to switch onstage?
Honestly, initially, I rep my outfit. I don’t genuinely treasure talking to of us sooner than I rep on stage so if niggas shapely protect asking me, ‘Yo, bro, you ready? You ready to hop on,’ that shit is tense as hell, I’d slightly shapely pause to myself sooner than I hop on the stage and that if reality be told shapely helps me lots. Upright rock out, for proper.
How would you jabber you’ve grown as a performer?
I know I had to build on a verbalize. So it’s treasure I keep in mind I had reveals performing in entrance of twelve of us so now that it could perchance per chance also very smartly be 12,000 of us within the crew. No topic if it’s 12 or 12,000, I soundless gotta carry that identical vitality because, at the pause of my day, I’m performing my songs. But it completely’s treasure two years within the past, I used to be with out a doubt, I wouldn’t jabber fearful, nonetheless I used to be per chance reasonably more terrified. But now I’m device more plucky with my performances, I’m shapely there to genuinely fabricate my tune. I lost all my timidness, that’s how I’ve grown.
Are there any artists you’ve watched or taken any cues from as a stay performer?
I ain’t gonna lie, I with out a doubt seek for Lil Uzi [Vert] fabricate lots. I with out a doubt seek for Travis Scott lots, those two just there, that’s genuinely who I rep my total efficiency inspiration from Uzi and Travis.
Make you’ve gotten any plans to hit the motorway for a tour in promotion of Lil Tecca?
Most with out a doubt, I bought plans for that. That’s genuinely what I’m most excited for. Hell yeah.
Make you’ve gotten any timetable and must you’ll be doing so?
It must be spherical early 2022 or unhurried 2021, I don’t genuinely know particularly.
Are there any artists you’ve gotten in mind that it is most likely you’ll per chance perchance also very smartly be hitting the motorway with?
I genuinely don’t even know just now, nonetheless I’ll know very soon, though.
Your unique album We Like You Tecca 2 is titled after your 2019 mixtape, which in general attach you on the motorway to stardom. Why did you to judge to revisit the title for this album versus saving it for a mixtape?
In most cases, We Like You Tecca 2, the total We Like You Tecca [theme], it’s genuinely shapely an vitality. It’s treasure at obvious aspects of lifestyles, I rep to obvious emotions and just now, I’m feeling those identical 2019 vibes. So the relaxation moreover We Like You Tecca 2, it genuinely wouldn’t fit the vibe.
We Like You Tecca 2 dropped on August 27, the day after your 20th birthday. What made you lift that delivery date for this particular album?
It used to be genuinely shapely a twist of fate, we genuinely shapely wanted all the pieces to near wait on collectively in, treasure, a deliberate sense in preference to treasure a rushed-out sense. After which when the 27th came up, it used to be shapely ideal. Sh*t shapely aligned.
Your unique single, “Repeat It,” with Gunna is at this time burning up the charts? How did that be conscious near to lifestyles?
That sh*t, I ain’t even gonna lie, Taz Taylor genuinely put that tune up. He used to be treasure, “At the present time, we gotta compose a complete lot of,” and I used to be treasure, “Facts.” Heard the beat, and then we bought to cooking for proper. But Gunna wasn’t on it at the initiating, I made the tune and Taz used to be treasure, “Who would possibly per chance also soundless you attach on it?” And I used to be treasure, “Gunna,” ’trigger that’s one in all my artists, you are feeling me?
What about you and Gunna build you watched makes y’all click on?
He bought the sauce, bro. So at the pause of the day, Gunna’s a super-gifted dude, so you attach him on a be conscious, he gonna build what he build. And I purchased my share done, too, so it shapely came out delicate so it used to be a proper true 2nd.
You latterly launched the tune video for “Repeat It,” what used to be it treasure filming with Gunna and what had been some memorable moments from at the wait on of the scenes that didn’t compose the final decrease?
I ain’t gonna lie, there used to be this share the build my supervisor used to be pushing a automotive ’trigger we had been all at the wait on of a green screen. And they had been gonna flip the green screen true into a tunnel, which they did, nonetheless he used to be pushing the automotive within the wait on and it is most likely you’ll per chance’t genuinely watch it within the video. But that shit used to be genuinely silly whereas we had been shooting the video.
How concerned are you within the making of your visuals, as some distance as developing the ideas and subject matters at the wait on of them?
I’m not mighty-concerned, moreover for to the level of approving it. But by device of directors, I genuinely try and belief their vision and look what they judge the tune would possibly per chance also soundless peek treasure. But I’m with out a doubt gonna rep into placing my vision into [more] stuff very soon.
One tune from the album that piqued my pastime used to be “Choppa Shoot The Loudest,” featuring Chief Keef and Trippie Redd. How did that collaboration near collectively?
Me and Trippie did that tune within the studio and we had been seeking to settle on out who to build on that tune for a minute because he bought the hook, I fully bought a verse and at that level, it’s in general his tune so we’re treasure, “We gotta attach one more particular person on the tune so it’s balanced, it’s a fleshy tune now.” We had been contemplating for angry lengthy ’trigger it’s treasure a particular variety of beat. So we’re treasure, “Damn, who’s gonna rap on this?” I’m shapely treasure, “Chief Keef.” He bought on it and shapely went loopy.
How primary would you credit Chief Keef and other artists from that drill period with influencing you or your sound?
I wouldn’t jabber my sound, nonetheless with out a doubt the swag. Positively my hair. I purchased dreads, I be shaking my hair spherical. I be wearing saggy denims, every variety of sh*t treasure that. I wouldn’t jabber the sound, nonetheless with out a doubt the swag.
How would you jabber that your writing and recording course of has modified or developed since the making of your first challenge?
I wouldn’t jabber the technique modified too primary, if truth be told. I genuinely wouldn’t jabber it modified too primary.
Who are likely the most producers you worked with on We Like You Tecca 2?
Web Money, Taz Taylor, all of them.
You mentioned Taz Taylor. What about him makes y’all connect and be this form of profitable team creatively?
In most cases, it’s treasure… jabber I’m a photographer, just? And I’ve bought the digicam and he’s shapely placing the stuff within the canvas, treasure, “Yo, I judge it is most likely you’ll per chance perchance also soundless settle on a image of this, I judge it is most likely you’ll per chance perchance also soundless build this.” And I’m treasure, “Nah, switch that reasonably bit to the left.” He’s treasure, ‘Yo, I judge you’d be fire on this,’ and I’m treasure, ‘Alright, I accept as true with you, nonetheless we would also soundless build it treasure this.’ So it’s treasure we shapely be placing shit collectively.
What are three songs from We Like You Tecca 2 you’re excited for followers to hear?
I’m with out a doubt excited for them to hear “No Dialogue” ’trigger that beat is shapely mighty loopy. I judge that tune total is shapely a bump. I’m excited for them to hear “Chopper Shoot The Loudest” ’trigger I’ve been announcing for treasure two or three years now that I would favor Chief Keef on a tune, so after they genuinely hear it, it’s gonna be treasure, “Damn bro, he genuinely did it.” And I’m reasonably excited for them to hear “A Lot Of Me,” I shapely judge that tune is treasure mighty catchy and I feel treasure it is most likely you’ll per chance perchance also play that tune for a 3-year-feeble they in most cases’ll delivery bopping their head and sh*t.
The previous two years were a whirlwind for you, with all of the success you’ve had. How would you jabber the recognition and accolades private affected your outlook on lifestyles and the of us in it?
I feel treasure the device I peek at lifestyles, I’ve been regarded at it. It’s shapely sooner than I purchased to a obvious level of view, it wasn’t genuinely proved to me. It used to be obvious times the build I believed obvious of us had been on some variety of thing, nonetheless per chance I believed I used to be tripping. And now I’m treasure, “No, I wasn’t tripping, it’s the reality,” you are feeling me? I genuinely shapely proved to myself that I wasn’t tripping, that’s the fully thing.
What’s been the ideal adjustment to being a star and making money?
The ideal trade you gotta private is shapely level of view because at the pause of the day, at the same time as you develop into whatever of us name a rapper or a renowned particular person—whatever you wanna name it—you with regards to develop into this non-human entity the build any individual can shapely focus on sh*t to you all day lengthy they in most cases request you to not private emotions from it, you are feeling me? So, it shapely becomes a trade in level of view, I genuinely don’t care what none of y’all are talking about. You genuinely shapely tag that it’s shapely Instagram because you develop into one in all the those which would be getting talked sh*t on in preference to being the those which would be talking sh*t. So that you’re shapely all the pieces from an total varied angle.
What would you jabber are essentially the most memorable experiences you’ve had since the initiating of Virgo World that bled into the creation of this album?
I’ll jabber what molded this album is for sure replace self-reflection. And shapely, treasure, working on myself, despite the indisputable reality that it’s studying a fuing chapter a day or meditating. Upright those two issues private done bigger than meeting any individual or having a conversation with any individual. Upright taking that peek wait on into myself to search out myself in preference to seeking to search out myself in exterior whatever-the-hell is-going-on and sh*t that don’t private an impact on me. I’m shapely afraid about what genuinely affects me and what’s proper in my lifestyles and that’s what made this challenge and all the pieces more proper and shapely more fun.
Possess there ever been any moments you feel sorry about popularity or need it is most likely you’ll per chance perchance also revisit lifestyles sooner than the recognition now and over again?
100%. There private with out a doubt been times treasure that, nonetheless you know… it is what it is. Right here is what nias chose to build and you gotta keep in mind, it’s treasure a polarity in lifestyles. You might per chance’t devour lifestyles with out hating lifestyles at the the same time at the pause of the day. Some days, I’ma rep up and feeling true and a few days, I’ma rep up feeling evil. I shapely gotta settle on all the pieces. When I’m feeling true, I’m feeling true and when I’m feeling evil, I’m feeling evil and I don’t whinge about it. I don’t compose myself feel sorry for myself ’trigger I don’t judge of myself as that huge, so it is what it is.
NAV, who you’ve collaborated with previously, looks on the be conscious “About You.” Dispute the chemistry between the two of you, both for my share and professionally?
I’ve been listening to Nav since he used to be BeatsByNav. I used to be listening to him in 2016, you are feeling me? So shapely to private him on my songs now would possibly per chance be shapely some fleshy circle sh*t. Like, it’s shapely mighty fire [for that] to occur.
Though-provoking forward, who are some artists you’re searching to collaborate with that you haven’t yet?
Sh*t, as everybody knows, on the first one, there had been no aspects moreover for for the “Ransom (Remix).” On the 2nd one, we had a pair of of us. On this one, it’s a pair of of us, nonetheless on future ones, there’s not genuinely any those that I’m particularly [seeking out]. It goes tune by tune ’trigger when I’m making a tune or when I’m contemplating ’bout tune, I genuinely don’t be contemplating treasure, “Yo, this would sound fire with me and this particular person.” That’s never how I believed of tune, so it could perchance per chance well genuinely private to near wait on situationally. But I build wanna compose a tune with Drake, though.
Over the previous few years, who are some artists you’ve linked with that you created a brotherhood and bond with?
Nah, I don’t genuinely haven’t any brotherhood without a [other] artists.
At the present time, branding outside of hip-hop looks replace artists’ honest. Make you’ve gotten any plans to pursue more alternatives outside of tune?
100%. Music is shapely treasure the 1st step. I don’t wanna be a rapper for my total lifestyles. I don’t wanna be 38 [years old] and I’m sitting there within the studio working on my tenth album. I wanna private already bought some sh*t that’s excessive ample that I will attach my total period on. Sh*t is device bigger than tune.
What message or feeling build you hope listeners will settle on some distance flung from listening to this challenge?
Upright freeness. Upright realizing that nothing that you watched is excessive is excessive. No longer one in all the issues that you watched are proper are genuinely proper. You also can rep up day after lately and private a proper self-discipline and then you with out a doubt tag that nothing that I believed I used to be stressing about, losing sleep over even ever mattered. And that’s what I would favor my followers to make a chance from it. Upright, treasure, that sense of freedom. Like, ‘I’m free.’
What’s next for Lil Tecca?
Clutch working on myself. Clutch bettering at whatever I’m doing, whatever I decide to build.
