In a recent exclusive interview with Beatlibrary, rising Florida rapper Zai1k shared his journey from recording songs in his childhood home to becoming a viral sensation on social media, amassing over 12.5 million views on a single performance duet. Zai1k's magnetic personality and undeniable talent have quickly captured the attention of fans and industry insiders alike.
Born and raised in a home filled with music, Zai1k credits his father, a neighborhood DJ, for sparking his passion at a young age: "I would always record myself singing songs as a kid, and my dad always played loud music round the house as a kid".
Growing up, Zai1k's musical influences included Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Kevin Gates, Quando Rondo, Young Thug, and Toosii. As his tastes evolved, these artists played a significant role in shaping his unique sound, blending elements of R&B, hip-hop, and rap into a cohesive style.
Breaking into the music industry is no easy feat, and Zai1k is no stranger to the challenges faced by aspiring artists: "One of the biggest challenges would be getting heard... I had to work on overcoming that challenge by just simply working social media". His perseverance has paid off, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram playing a crucial role in connecting with fans and catapulting his career to new heights.
The turning point came when Zai1k's song performance duet went viral on TikTok, garnering over 12.5 million views: "I just saw a TikTok one day, and I did a duet to it, and it went crazy. It felt great knowing I had all these people hear the same thing I hear when I rap and sing". His success on social media has led to opportunities he could only dream of.
When it comes to his creative process, Zai1k keeps it simple: "Just throw on a beat and feel it". He also emphasizes the importance of having the right people around during the creative process, as their energy can influence the final product. With his relentless drive, undeniable talent, and unique sound, Zai1k is well on his way to leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.
As Zai1k continues to make waves in the music industry, fans have much to look forward to, including an exciting new collaboration. Teaming up with YVNG CHRIS, Zai1k's upcoming single 'Cruise CNTRL' promises to deliver a fresh fusion of their distinctive styles, and we can't wait to hear what these two dynamic artists have in store. Don't miss out on this exhilarating new track—be sure to pre-save 'Cruise CNTRL' using the link below, and stay tuned to Beatlibrary for more exclusive content on the artists you love.
Can you tell us about your early life and what initially sparked your passion for music?
I would always record myself singing songs as a kid and my dad was a neighborhood DJ. He always played loud music round the house as a kid.
Who were your musical influences growing up, and how have they shaped your sound?
As kid I listened to people like Chris brown and Justin and as I got older I started listening to people like Kevin, Quando Rondo, Young thug and Toosii.
What were some of the challenges you faced breaking into the music industry, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges would be getting heard. It could be stressful knowing you have talent ,but you're not getting heard by the people you want to hear you and I’m still overcoming that challenge by just simply working social media.
Your song performance duet went viral with over 12.5 million views. Can you share the story behind it how it felt to achieve this level of success?
Not really much of a story behind it, I just seen a TikTok one day and I did a duet to it and it went crazy it felt great knowing I had all these people hear the same thing I hear when I rap and sing.
How has social media, particularly platforms like TikTok and Instagram, played a role in your career and connecting with fans?
Tiktok plays a big role in a lot of people's music careers! One day you could be sitting in a room recording a tiktok and the next day you’re in LA shooting a music video.
Finally, can you walk us through your creative process when developing new music, writing lyrics, and finding inspiration?
My creative process is simple just throw on a beat and feel it and having the right people around you or in the studio with plays a big role in the process.
