The time has come - we have found yet another incredible artist representing the “V” in the DMV! This next artist is grinding hard to secure his spot in the industry! With an impressive delivery, and a peculiar sound; The DMV AUX presents to you, the freestyle genius himself, Hip-Hop artist, T.U.T.U.
T.U.T.U currently resides in Virginia but was born in Ghana, a country located in the subregion of West Africa. At the age of 15, he made the move to the US, leaving behind a manifold of things he misses, like friends, cousins, and authentic food! “The Ghanaian food here is alright, but it's not the same,” he stated. Moving to the US was a culture shock for T.U.T.U, but he adapted quickly and persevered.
Growing up, he listened to respected Hip-Hop artists like Fat Joe and DMX, who inspired and created a lasting impact on him. He’s also inspired by Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie, Rick Ross, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and the late XXXTentacion - all possessing the ability to create relatable music with hard-hitting delivery, a characteristic he admires.
As our conversation continued, he recalled the time he realized rapping was his calling, “I was listening to “Make It Rain” by Fat Joe featuring Lil Wayne; (T.U.T.U began to sing the chorus) I enjoyed the song so much, I found the instrumental online and started writing to it. From there, I continued to find other instrumentals and perfected my lyricism overtime,” he stated.
Fast forward a few years later, T.U.T.U took his career to the next level and began to take music seriously. Although his mother wasn’t so fond of his choice, he continued to follow his passion, built an in-home studio, released an outstanding EP, “Time Will Tell,” and more!
Among his many accomplishments, T.U.T.U releases weekly freestyles on Instagram every Thursday. #ThursdaysWithTUTU grants his audience fresh freestyles over popular beats with astonishing lyricism and delivery. “My delivery is everything to me, as well as how I sound, those qualities are setting me apart from other DMV artists,” he stated.
In light of the DMV, he shared valid points as an artist coming out of Virginia. “It’s really hard to break out; If you watch any televised rapping/singing competition, like Netflix’s new show ‘Rhythm and Flow,' you never hear about them coming to Virginia,” he stated. However, he hopes to collaborate with other DMV artists like IDK, FreeJacob, Wale, etc. in the future.
When it comes to advice for aspiring artists, T.U.T.U would tell them to never give up. “People will always be in your ear but stick to what you know, and believe in yourself.” In addition, don’t switch up, because if you do, you lose focus. He stated, “There were moments I wanted to give up, but once I think about all the time and money I invested, I have to make something happen.”
Aside from music, T.U.T.U is currently enrolled in school and is studying Information Technology (IT). “Music is still a priority, but computers are interesting, and I’m curious about how everything works,” he stated. He’s also extremely passionate about writing and has written personal books, poetry, and more!
Read more about T.U.T.U with a closer look below.
Say your at home and a natural disaster is coming, you have to evacuate immediately what 5 items are you taking?
My laptop, wallet, phone, headphones, and a pair of shoes.
What’s one of your biggest pet peeves?
Burping, I don’t like it when people burp relatively near me.
If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
I would be in the studio writing more music.
What’s one thing you wish you didn’t have to pay for?
I wish I didn’t have to pay for student loans, and that college was free for everyone.
Would you rather be an extreme couponer or an antique hoarder?
I would rather be an extreme couponer.
I’m not a fan of antique stuff because it may be carrying negative spirits/energy.
Magnified Topic of the Week: T.U.T.U’s EP “Time Will Tell”
In life, we hit roadblocks and obstacles along our inevitable path, and with that, comes hurt, betrayal, and pain. T.U.T.U used those very emotions to communicate to his audience his personal story. “I’m not the type to talk to others, but I’ve learned to move on through creating music,” he stated.
“Time Will Tell” signifies T.U.T.U telling himself that things will change over time and features four astonishing hard-hitting songs reflecting T.U.T.U’s personal experiences and reality.
Check out “Time Will Tell” on all streaming platforms, listen to my favorite, “Tamieka’s Story” below, and subscribe to T.U.T.U’s channel!