What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is Da ReallyYungChild, and I am from Sacramento, California.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
One day my friend and I were messing around and joking about being rappers. We started copying other rappers’ names and making them more literal—so instead of “Da Baby,” we went with “Da ReallyYungChild.” I started making music for fun under that name, and it stuck when I began taking my music more seriously.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
It started as a joke, with me taking free beats off YouTube and just writing whatever came to mind as long as it rhymed. There were no themes or stories; it was just me messing around. Then, after breaking my ankle and finding out I was being cheated on, I felt like I could truly express my emotions and experiences through my music, which changed its trajectory.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
While creating my newest album, I WAS AN ACCIDENT 2, it was originally going to be filled with hard-hitting trap beats and stories about getting cheated on—it was going to be an angry album. But then I got into a new relationship, which completely shifted my perspective. I scrapped the old idea, started rapping on boom bap, old-school style beats, and focused on my experiences growing up and where I am now.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
I want to show that it’s okay to be scared to try something new and put your music out there. I was scared to switch from making joke music that everyone was used to, to dropping serious music. Everyone knew me for funny music, but I took a leap of faith, and now my music is better than ever!
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
I didn’t know how to achieve the new sound I was going for. I tried doing everything from scratch on my own, and it wasn’t working. I got into sampling and started asking friends for help, which made all the difference.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I would love to collaborate with Logic. I admire his creativity and storytelling ability; even though he gets clowned on, I respect his ear for music.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
Hopefully, I’ll have a bigger audience to grow with and more hype around my drops. I aim to have a steady income from music, but until then, I’ll keep working hard.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
More collaboration. I think collaboration is one of the most important and valuable things an artist can have.
We occasionally feature artists on our Bird of Paradise Podcast for in-depth discussions. Would this be something you’re interested in exploring?
Maybe.
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
I want to get into people’s playlists and onto social media so they keep listening to me.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
All platforms, but mainly Spotify and SoundCloud.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
By email at dareallyyungchildartist@gmail.com or on Instagram @da_reallyyungchild.
