HD4President has discovered delight in the city of Baton Rouge. His city has since a long time ago had a rich genealogy of rap hotshots, creating ages of cross country victories like Kevin Gates and Boosie Badazz (both of whom have offered him coaching and exhortation). However, while his ancestors have made vocations off of impactful stories of life in their areas, HD has chosen he’s prepared to move past the aggravation. On his brand new project, To Da Max, he utilizes his setbacks as venturing stones to wins, causing raps that to feel empowering—even hopeful notwithstanding the conditions that birthed them.
He’s experienced the pop star existence with his hit “Touch Down 2 Cause Hell (Bow Bow),” which turned into a viral sensation on TikTok, utilized in recordings by City Girls, Lizzo, Coi Leray, and Latto. In any case, To Da Max shows him sharpening his snares and uncovering a profundity to his lyricism that rises above viral distinction.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. How was it like growing up there?
It was fun. A lot of good days. A lot of rough days. I wouldn’t choose to grow up anywhere else. I love my city, but I understand the pros & the cons of the city too. It was cool. When I was growing up I played football with Lil Romeo. Getting to see Master P at the games, that was motivation for me to keep working and become somebody.
Now who were some of the artists you came up listening to, who are some of your inspirations?
The biggest artists growing up when I was a kid was Juvenile & Solider Slim. Tupac made me fall in love with music, but Juvenile made me want to be a rapper. Lil Wayne, watching his growth from being an ABC rapper to really spitting out the hardest bars & punchlines you’ll ever hear. Just watching Wayne grow always motivated me to grow as an artist.
Is there added pressure on you to put on for your hometown, especially after so many artists before you have had so much success?
Yes. You look at their legacy, and you want to leave a legacy like them, so I gotta work hard. I don’t want to be remembered as nothing less than great. So I’m like “YoungBoy made it that big. Lil Wayne made it that big. Juvenile did what he did.” I gotta find my way to do the same thing. Coming from Louisiana, everybody gotta have their certain thing how they trademark themselves. I can say I’m the first Louisiana artist to blow up on TikTok, I got something I can hold. (Laughs)
When did you actually start making music?
Roughly around ‘96 ‘97. I came from a crazy era of music. It was more of a dream in ‘97, but I stuck with the dream. I told my mama I’m either gonna be a rapper or an astronaut. As I got older the life that I was living, the route I was going, I told my mama I’m gonna be a rapper & a gangster. I just kept growing with the music, and sticking with it. I always tried to better myself, and studying the rappers I looked up to. I remember listening to “N.Y State of Mind” all night, just to learn that song in one night.
What’s your Mount Rushmore of rappers all-time?
Juvenile. Soulja Slim. JAY-Z. Lil Wayne.
Talk to me about the process you had making “Touch Down 2 Cause Hell (Bow Bow Bow)”?
Man, it was really just fun vibes in the studio. I actually came up with the song in the car on the way home. I was driving, my producer sent me the beat a month earlier. He kept asking when I was gonna rap on this beat, I was like give me some time. I can’t rush it, it’s gotta be the right time. I played the beat, I kept saying “I say hold up, shawty smokin’ zaza out the pack, I told her roll up” all the way home. On my way home I called my manager, I said “I’m gonna go home and record the song that’s gonna take us to the top.”
When you put it out did you expect it to get this reaction?
I can’t even lie, I never would guess it. I just knew the song was gonna be the one to take me to the top. I knew it would do numbers on TikTok & Instagram, based off my previous three songs. I had a remedy. I would take a Triller, post it on Instagram, and the kids would take it to TikTok.
Which celebrity that used your song in a TikTok had you the most starstruck?
Had to Gabrielle Union, hands down. She’s a legend. Watching her from when I was a kid ‘til now, it just hit different. Watching the ones that I was a fan of, it’s just different.
Talk to the people more about the visuals for “Touch Down” that you put out?
We was trying to recreate the viral moments. We just got a little bit of everything from the viral clips and inserted them into the video. Everything came together last minute. The vibes was right, people appreciated being there, and I was appreciating them. Y’all made the video lit.
You signed to Capitol/Motown Records, what made you end up picking that label to sign?
We was going back & fourth for some months. Before the “Touch Down” record blew up I had a song called “Can’t Stop Jiggin”. I had that song doing crazy numbers, as well as three other songs doing crazy numbers. They were looking at it like “how is he doing crazy numbers, but he isn’t signed yet?” I’m in the millions, packed shows during a pandemic. Once “Touch Down” blew up I had 12-13 labels calling me in one day. Just heading everyone out, and what they all had to offer, Motown just made me an offer I couldn’t resist. Them paying attention to my catalog before the “Touch Down” record was part of the reason why I signed with them.
You’re set to release your album To Da Max, talk to me about the process making this project?
It’s kinda crazy how it came together. Basically, most on the songs on the project, was done prior to the deal getting to the done, they just weren’t released. They’re fresh songs that I made after “Touch Down”. It’s co-produced by me. It’s a smash hit. When I touch my own records, I don’t ever miss. Every record I produce for myself, they all in the millions. I never hit a million before I produced my own records.
What goals do you have for next year?
I’m trying to get me a platinum plaque. I wanna start off slow and hit big. I want a platinum plaque and a Grammy, I feel like if I work hard enough I can get both. I wanna get on the Jimmy Kimmel show.
Let the people know where they can connect with you on social media.
Everything is HD4President.
To Da Max is out now on all streaming platforms.
