Drizzy Tae is only 16 years old and already living out his dreams on the daily. Nicknaming himself “The Young GOAT,” This rising star hails from a small town in Arkansas called Camden, with a population of approximately 10K people.
The crazy part is, Drizzy started music at the age of 8, but decided to stop after getting bullied in school about his dreams of a music career. Thanks to the pandemic and everyone locked inside their homes, Drizzy Tae found a resurgence of interest in music and decided to pursue it full-time — while still balancing being a kid.
In describing himself, Drizzy states he’s “a musician who hopes to motivate others with his work ethic and positive attitude. When I make music, I want to motivate the youth. Because I’m 16 years old and I know how it’s feels to be a kid who needs drive and someone to look up to. I would love to be known as a positive influence of the youth. I know how it feels to see someone and look up to them, and then all they do is flex on you in their songs. The message I like to hear is if they can do it so can you. I try to put that out there in front of my people’s faces, and I link with them online and be a support in whatever way I can so they can see and get that motivation for themselves.”
Most recently, Drizzy dropped a standout collaboration with Luh Kel on “Heart Closed,” as well as released his own single and visual for “I’m So Fly.” amount others.
The Source caught up with Drizzy Tae in downtown Los Angeles to discuss his background, favorite artists, collaborating with Luh Kel, opening for Soulja Boy, studio essentials, wanting to inspire the youth, and more!
You’re tall. Did you play sports at all?
[laughs] I just hit my growth spurt last year. I used to play sports. But when I played sports, I was trash. I wasn’t really trash, I didn’t have the height yet. But I really had a passion for music though, that’s what took over. I might’ve been in sports, but music took over for sure.
What was the moment you fell in love with music?
The moment I fell in love with music is one time my dad brought me to the studio, when he was doing music. I kept begging him to try something on the mic. They had some sessions booked so I didn’t get to try nothing, but that was the moment where I was like okay, I want to do music.
Who are your favorite artists?
Gotta be Drake. I feel like that’s a popular answer, but… Other than Drake though, other guys gotta be somebody like Lil Yachty, Tory Lanez or Lil Tecca.
You’re from a small town in Arkansas, called Camden?
I’m from a very small town, it has 10K people in it. Everybody knows everybody. One school, one Walmart, one McDonald’s. It’s one of them.
Did that motivate you more?
I will say that did motivate me more. When you know the odds are against you, and you know you ain’t really the most perceived to make it, it motivates you to be like okay, I’ma prove everybody wrong. Coming from where I come from there’s not a huge music industry. But I found Tik Tok. But believe me when I first started off, nobody believed.
How would you describe your sound?
My sound is developing still, because I’m still a bit young. I recently started working working working two years ago. My sound is developing, but I’d describe it as melodic pop/rap. Positive, I don’t really make too much negative things. So I’d say melodic pop, positive music.
Can you talk about getting bullied for your music?
You know how people do, they pick on you for things that they might be scared to do. So if someone’s scared to do something themselves, of course they’re gon’ pick at you for it. I see that now because the same people who used to bully me, they want to make music from my hometown. But when I was a kid, I used to get bullied. They used to cut my songs on in the class and make everybody laugh. I was the laughing stock. I let it stop me, I actually quit music for two years because of it. Then my dad motivated me to come back, in quarantine. That’s when I came back to music. Perfect timing I guess.
How’d you get your name?
My real name is Davontae, so I took the Tae from Davontae and Drizzy from Drake. Because Drake’s a big inspiration to me, we just had it. We had the name since I was young.
Talk about linking with Luh Kel on “Heart Closed.”
Luh Kel is a fire dude, he had great energy too. Some rappers, they’re stuck up a little bit. But his vibe was open, he was really accepting and calming. Really, our managers clicked together. They put us together and we made a fire song. He pulled up on me in the studio and we did it. A couple days later, we shot the video before I left from LA, and it’s been up ever since.
What was it like in the studio with him?
His vibe was amazing, and it don’t take him long to record a song either.
Best memory from the video shoot?
When he knew my lyrics to my part of the song, because that was big for me. Shout out Luh Kel and his manager.
What inspired “I’m So Fly”?
I just wanted to try something different. My sound is mostly melodic, so I wanted to do something a little bit hard into it. You know the new type beats that have been coming around with the vocal samples and the aggressive 808s? I wanted to try something different, so I got in there and I did that. I put it out on my 16th birthday and it’s kinda set the tone for me trying new stuff and growing up.
How excited are you opening for Soulja Boy?
It’s happening this weekend, I’m excited. I’m super excited. As far as that goes, I feel like he doesn’t really get his props as the creator of the movement. Because anybody who really blew up off the internet is because of him. He did his thing with Myspace and the ringtones, so shout out to him. A legend.
How’d that happen?
Our managers once again. Shout out to my manager too, Lea. She’s the GOAT, undeniable. We’ve been talking for years, but we recently started pushing the gas when we dropped the song “Heart Closed” in January. Ever since then, she’s just been on her job. She also manages Lil Zay Osama too. He’s got an amazing story and career and treated me like a little brother. So for me and Zay to have her as manager, we’re beyond blessed.
Be on the lookout for me and Zay song coming soon. Shoutout Zay!
Have you opened for someone as big as Soulja Boy?
I did something for a Bankrol Hayden and Polo G. I was super nervous for it, it was my first big show. But now, I feel like I can do this. I just got the feeling like I’m made for this. I got that feeling, so I’m super excited. But nervous? Not really though. Maybe check back with me after the show lol.
How was it opening for Polo G?
Crazy, super crazy. I watched his come up since 2018, 2019. To be able to be in the same room as him, crazy. It’s crazy to think about.
What’s the biggest cosign you’ve gotten?
Probably Lil Durk. Once again, Lea. She gets me in the right rooms. She got me in the right room. He told me to keep going, and that’s one thing I replay on my head a lot. Shoutout Durk and Dj Bandz. When he dapped me up and told me to keep going, that meant the world to me. For that to happen with Durk, Fredo bang gave me some words of encouragement on a FaceTime too.
I love Fredo!
Yeah me too. He’s fire.
Three things you need in the studio at all times?
I need a Gatorade, my phone, and probably an engineer. Because if I’m in the lab, I’ma need an engineer for sure so I can just focus on my craft. I do record and produce myself alone too when I’m at home in Arkansas.
What do you got going on music-wise? Are you dropping a project?
I got a mixtape coming October 4th, it’s called The Young Goat 3. I started a series called The Young Goat when I was 14, so this is going to be the last series of it. Because I’m getting older, I can’t call myself The Young Goat forever.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Pretty much video games. I like video games. I like 2K, GTA, games like that. GTA San Andreas, GTA V. That’s what I’m on. Hope to have my music in one soon!
Any goals for yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
My main goal is to inspire others. Remain myself, be as thankful as possible for the small moments and appreciating the journey. Eventually, I want to retire my parents. But that’s gon’ come. It’s not even really a goal, it’s more so something I know I’ma do.
Anything else you want to let the people know?
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t listen to the haters. Don’t take things too serious and live every moment.
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