We caught up with Growing Up Hip-Hop star Lil Twist about his role on the show, upcoming project, and his relationship with Lil Wayne.
“I grew up hip-hop under the hip-hop giant Lil Wayne…,” says Lil Twist on how his current role on the popular WeTV reality show reminds him of his upbringing. Twist was only 10 when he released his first single, “The Texas Twist,” shortly thereafter signing with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Records. Twist reached success at an early age and is back with more music and reality tv shenanigans for his fans. Over the past three years, Twist has been carefully curating his next release Young Carter 2, with features from; Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifah, and many more. To this day Twist still consults Lil Wayne for guidance regarding music and life. Lil Twist can’t wait to share what he’s been working on and is aiming for a 2020 release. Check out what else Lil Twist had to say in our exclusive interview below.
The Knockturnal: Was it difficult trying to balance being a kid while working as an artist?
Lil Twist: Not at all, it wasn’t really hard because I started doing music at 7 years old so it’s always been in me to do music. I wanted to be a preacher when I was 5, that’s how I knew I wanted to control a crowd. I’d walk around the house preaching to my family all the time. I’m the youngest of all my cousins and my cousins are rappers so I just followed them wanting to rap.
The Knockturnal: What was it like having your mom as your manager?
Lil Twist: My mom was like the momager – she was the mom and the manager, that’s always just been there since the beginning. She’s the one – after being signed to Diamond records, I started failing in school so she took me off his label and the money that she was getting from her job she would just put it into me and that’s the CD that she had pressed up and that’s the CD I got signed off Young Money from.
The Knockturnal: How did it feel signing to Young Money at such a young age?
Lil Twist: Man, it was amazing, it’s still amazing, but definitely at its peak was crazy coming off Tha Carter 3 was just a sight to see, it was historical. I loved being a part of it and seeing Drake’s whole come up and all of us in hotel rooms and the same bus it was dope.
The Knockturnal: What was it like having Lil Wayne as a mentor at such a young age and what’s your relationship like today?
Lil Twist: It’s the same as it’s always been, Wayne is like a big brother/ father figure. At times I call him Pops when I’m tryna get more stuff done, ‘Pops I needa get this music done, Pops I need a new car,” (laughs) stuff like that. He definitely been a brother/father figure, his guidance always been there for me.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us about your upcoming project Young Carter 2? Can we expect any features?
Lil Twist: This new project that I been working on, Young Carter 2, I been working on the past three years since I got out of jail and I feel like it’s going to put me back where I need to be. I just got a verse back from Wiz Khalifah last night and he murdered it. I got Chris Brown on there like four, five records, Wayne’s on there, Young Money.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us about this season of Growing Up Hip Hop and what it’s like to be on a reality show that showcases people with similar experiences?
Lil Twist: It’s dope, it’s pretty organic to me that’s why I guess I’ve come over to the show and took over. Fan-favorite Twizzy! It’s authentic to my real life, I grew up Hip Hop under the Hip Hop giant Lil Wayne so it’s familiar to me.
Photo courtesy of Instagram.
“Growing Up Hip Hop” air on Thursdays at 9/8c on WE tv.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9FTZH-eYNI
