It’s just a few weeks earlier than Travis Scott’s Utopia Tour, and the considered rehearsal begins lingering within the thoughts of Teezo Landing. Opening up for one among music’s greatest daredevils must be a tall order, however not for Teezo.
“I seen Doja Cat’s VMAs efficiency [this year] and the way she did a medley of three songs in 5 minutes. With my given set time, [I thought] how can I set this 40-minute expertise within the time that I’m given?” Teezo started explaining his recreation plan. “We reached out to the crew that did the VMA efficiency and made a medley of the album, so the manufacturing of the reside association — in the event you love the album, this reside present is gonna make you adore it much more.”
Love could be an understatement, as Teezo’s climb up the mainstream ranks this 12 months has been one among hip-hop’s greatest storylines. His debut album, How Do You Sleep at Evening, shuns conventionalism and serves as a boundless leap of creativity as he fuses his love for rap, rock, and R&B. Whether or not he’s giving deep dives into his household points on “Daddy Mama Drama” or thrashing naysayers on “Unimaginable,” no person can stymie Teezo’s desires of being a needle-moving artist. With cosigns from Travis Scott, Madonna, Janelle Monae, Tyler, The Creator, and Drake (who he labored with twice on For All of the Canine), Teezo’s eccentric aptitude and thrill for theatrics is rapidly turning into a sight for sore eyes within the ultra-competitive music trade.
“I used to say self-sabotage doesn’t all the time seem like hitting your hand with a hammer. It may be not being organized, or not being on time,” says Teezo. “I believe all of that group is gonna fall on each facet of my life.”
Billboard spoke to November’s R&B / Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month about making his debut album How Do You Sleep at Evening?, overcoming low first-week gross sales, and coping with trauma.
You’re one among 5 youngsters and your pops was a DJ. Was that the place your love for music emanated?
I believe so. That and I simply stated not too long ago I all the time miss the DJ facet of it, however I believe one other half he confirmed me was simply tips on how to be a fan. He used to have this drawer stuffed with tour merch that was Frankie Beverly & Maze shirts. I used to all the time put on them to high school and he would all the time get on me speaking about, “Don’t contact my tour shirts” and the way he would handle his report assortment. Even now you go to the home he has these panels of artists and their albums. He’s a real music fan and cinema fan. Simply as costly because the music assortment is, the film assortment is as nicely.
After I FaceTime followers and I see they’ve a wall stuffed with albums and stuff, it all the time kinda makes me take into consideration my dad, particularly when seeing a real music fan who don’t do music. Like one child was going to high school to be a nurse. I assumed he’d be in music as a result of he has a lot music on his wall, however no, he simply loves music. I believe my dad positively taught me simply tips on how to love the humanities.
You talked about your dad being a film buff. Along with your movies being modern and creative, did he considerably form of plant that seed?
No, as a result of earlier than I began capturing music movies, I had any individual educate me the three vital issues of a digicam ,and I simply took it and ran with it. We used to look at motion pictures each Sunday like a household and stuff. I used to be simply watching motion pictures as a fan, however as soon as I began capturing music movies, it simply form of modified it like, “Oh, that’s three-point lighting” or “they’ve the sound design for stuff like that.” So at first, I used to be only a novice watching motion pictures.
You’ve usually use the phrase “no person part,” when describing your self. How have you ever balanced transitioning from that mindset and never being a product of self-sabotage?
The self-sabotage factor is an on a regular basis battle. If I used to be doing music or not, that’s an on a regular basis battle. So far as the no person stage, it’s bizarre for me as a result of I’ve been trying on the similar individual within the mirror each day for my complete life. I kinda nonetheless transfer like that no person part to the purpose my staff has to remind me like, “Yo, you gotta cease little-broing your self.” I kinda like that. I don’t prefer to stroll in a room and anticipate folks to know who I’m. I nonetheless proceed to maneuver like no person is aware of who I’m. It’s some peace there as a result of I nonetheless get to have human interactions and it’s simply little icebreakers and stuff.
Whenever you have been penning a tune like “Unimaginable” was that the origin of how the tune happened?
That story will go into the identical universe. It’s principally me simply projecting and asking myself pondering what they seem like. Possibly they wish to be a painter, possibly they wish to be a boxer, however who was the primary individual to say like, “You may’t do this”? That began a series response to get us to the place we at the moment are. You put up on-line, “You may’t do this,” all the best way to the place we at the moment are. Somebody put up, “That’s inconceivable,” otherwise you inform your mates and so they attempt to make you intention for one thing extra practical. It’s really my query, “Who was the primary individual to say you’ll be able to’t do that?”
I learn your GQ and The Guardian items and also you point out so many influences, like Future’s Youngster, 50 Cent, Frank Ocean, and Future. How does that concoction result in this debut album?
I all the time joke I solely know 10 songs. As a result of any individual could be like, “Have you learnt this tune by such and such?” I’ll be like, “Nah.” I in all probability know who the artist is, however don’t know the songs. After I get within the studio and I’ll sit down, particularly now, they’ll give me a immediate if I’m writing for one thing. I’ll be with the producer, “Let’s play Too Quick, ‘Freaky Tales.’ Let’s play Sir-Combine-A-Lot, ‘Posse on Broadway.’” I believe being a DJ for many of my life kinda helps my music library and database to have the ability to reference and analysis, but in addition understanding to not be an imitation or cowl band. I can go play a Prince report if I desire a Prince report. It’s how can I examine them and pour it into me what I’ve going proper now.
One of many issues I’ve seen together with your album and stardom rising is that this “rock & growth” style you created. Whenever you herald any individual like a Janelle Monáe or any exterior artist, have been they somewhat intimidated by that form of sound or did they embrace it wholeheartedly?
They liked it. They liked it initially as a result of [hip-hop A&R veteran] Dante Ross stated one thing in passing that caught with me, “On that first album, you don’t wish to go too bizarre on ’em, ’trigger you don’t wish to push them away. You wish to get there with them — and the folks you do get there, you slowly give them increasingly of what you actually wish to give them.”
I believe with this primary album, the musicianship is thru the roof. The writing is thru the roof however it’s additionally very palatable. Extra palatable than displaying somebody “Mid” or “SUCKA!” or “Handyman,” I believe that is the extra concentrated mixture of the whole lot. All of these songs needed to occur for me to get to my debut album. I believe I needed to make this one very palatable. For those who present somebody an image of me, it in all probability doesn’t seem like you’re supposed to love an artist like this. Plenty of the push-and-pull comes from my imagery, however you shut your eyes and also you hear what’s there.
I do know while you made this album, quite a lot of the music was geared in your sophomore mission. What does that subsequent album seem like?
I’m having fun with my first one, first press run and performing this album. Simply actually having fun with this primary album, as a result of I’m by no means gonna get it once more. If I begin engaged on the subsequent factor, I’d be so off this album and never eager to market it… however we’re going nearly on a month and I nonetheless can’t cease listening to this album. So proper now, for the foreseeable future, I nearly wish to personally ship it to you and ask you, “Have you ever heard it?” Discuss to you about your ideas. Proper now it’s [about] How Do You Sleep at Evening?
When the numbers initially got here out, they weren’t as excessive as some folks envisioned them to be, but it’s an acclaimed album. Have you ever sat with that steadiness?
We speak concerning the “no person part” and the way I have a look at myself, I believe folks in all probability have a look at me with the co-signs and “he been on this album and this album,” however that is nonetheless my journey and my tempo. Nevertheless it was gonna occur, is nevertheless it’s gonna occur. I believe that was extra of a shock to them. I’m even flattered that it acquired a put up like that.
I really feel like that’s reserved for greater artists after they let you know how a lot they offered. I’m lucky sufficient to fall in that class. I’m involved with going by way of one other pack of those and speaking one-by-one to every individual. That’s my focus each day. There’s 8,000 items, however I’m fairly positive greater than 8,000 folks heard the album. I’m proud of that. I do know that I’m touching the folks one-by-one each day. Solely quantity I care about is one and I’m cool with that, as a result of I’m making an attempt to achieve [fans] one-by-one.
One among my favourite songs from the album was “Daddy Mama Drama.” How have been you in a position to develop that bond together with your dad and mom understanding you just about perform their flaws immediately?
We snigger about it. That’s a terrific medication, and a terrific doorway to have that dialog, as a result of it’s a exhausting dialog. I’ll say to somebody on the market who desires to have that dialog: Simply discover how you might get your foot within the door. For us, it was joking about what could be a traumatic expertise, and the way I’m laughing about it — however after that snigger, actually simply expressing how that made me really feel. With “Daddy Mama Drama,” I’m glad persons are gravitating to that one as a result of I hope that it promotes that dialog to have with household.
A number of folks have come as much as me with the second of “Daddy Mama Drama” and asking why it takes, like, this sexual R&B flip. I really feel like I related it to the sins of a father are handed down. It’s like my poor excuse of why my relationships are possibly the best way that they’re. Possibly the hyperlink of why I’m not so loving or solely present my affection by way of presents. It’s due to how I grew up. I haven’t talked to anybody about this on the journalist aspect of why “Daddy Mama Drama” makes that flip, however right here it’s from the horse’s mouth, why half one and half two occurs. It’s a full dialog of displaying a era what occurs to this individual after what I lived.
I learn that your artistry actually started after your girlfriend handed away from gun violence. Realizing the place you’re at in your profession, how have you ever handled that trauma understanding she’s not right here to see the success you’ve been in a position to have?
I used to be simply speaking to a pal, however I haven’t talked to her in two years. I’ve missed my greatest mates’ birthdays in our 20s engaged on this or no matter. Not with the ability to speak to my household as a lot due to this grind and placing my head down and never even processing that loss that I had. I poured it into the work.
Lately, I actually been engaged on being current within the second and processing the whole lot. More often than not, I don’t actually speak about it as a result of the general public I’m round don’t know her or my household. All they know is Teezo Landing. I exploit that to push ahead. After I’m in these resort rooms on my own, I course of this stuff as a result of it’s simply me and the mirror. I’m engaged on being a greater pal, son, and brother.
For those who may title this chapter in your life, what phrase would that be and why?
“Organized.” As a result of I stated in one other interview they needed me to manifest one thing and I stated, “Teezo Landing would be the most organized artist on this planet.”
Earlier than I sing a be aware or go onstage, I believe it begins with, “The place are my keys? The place’s my laptop computer?” It begins from there and if I begin from as small as that each one the best way as much as my skilled, I’d be unstoppable and untouchable. That’s the factor that I’m attacking proper now. I believe that kinda goes with the self-sabotage factor. I used to say, “self-sabotage doesn’t all the time seem like hitting your hand with a hammer. It may be not being organized, or not being on time.” I believe all of that group is gonna fall on each facet of my life.
