We recently connected with Fish Sticks and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Fish Sticks, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
As a kid, my mom instilled confidence in me. She was a single mother of three, and As the oldest, it was my job to be the leader, the example. When my mom had her fourth child, she was put in a coma for 6 months. Seeing her like that is one of the lowest moments of my life. When she came out of it, she wasn’t able to walk and had to be put in a nursing home. Me and my siblings were put in foster care. Through visitations, I could tell that my mom never gave up her faith that she would overcome her condition, and was always the most positive person in the room. Her strength gives me strength and I hope that through my career, I can one day get enough money to take care of her.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I started listening to rap in 2016 after I was put into a private school in southwest Atlanta for 7th and 8th grade. As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to listen to rap, only gospel (which I did not like). the only other type of ‘secular’ music my mom would let me listen to was pop music. Growing up in the early 2010’s I would listen to artists like Big Time Rush, Ross Lynch, and Justin Bieber. My inspiration also came from Disney channel shows that were airing at the time. (also one of the only channels I was allowed to watch)
When I started going to school in southwest Atlanta, In my second year there, it was 2016 and some new kids would put me on the the new wave of hiphop music. this was my INTRODUCTION to hiphop. For the first time I would not have a helicopter parent that would supervise what I listen to and how I spoke. Some of my favorites artists from that time were: Yfn Lucci, Ugly God, Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert, and 21 Savage. These artists helped bridge the gap of the super melodic pop songs that I was used to, and modern hiphop.
The next year, I would go into 9th grade in 2017. This would be the year I would start my rap career. This year in rap would bring phenomenal new artists Like XXXTENTACION & Playboi Carti and fantastic second year performances from my favorite artists of last year Like Uzi & 21 Savage. It was under this climate that I crafted my sound.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The best advice I can give any upcoming rapper is… DON’T DELETE YOUR OLD SONGS. lmao.. I wish I had some of the earliest stuff I was making in 2017-18.
No, but seriously. Outside of the cliché, you know… “only do it if you love it” “it’s about the journey not the destination” “believe in yourself ” etc. etc. I’ll say this: Music is a relationship. sometimes you fall, and sometimes you’re close as ever. It’s important to remember in those times that you feel like giving up that music will always be there for yo even if it’s not. I think that’s true about art in general. I think even the concept of making art and enjoying it (even when you’re not actively doing it) is a worthwhile goal worth living for.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My mom. I know she doesn’t like rap music, but that kind of makes her support for me seem even stronger. She’s always been my biggest cheerleader even if she wasn’t always able to emotionally reach me.
Mainly though, I attribute my skills to my single-minded desire to make it in the rap world and express myself. Seriously, if you knew the lengths I would go for the best art, you’d probably think i’m not right in the head. XP
-Fish Sticks
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fishsticksrap/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fishsticksrap
- Soundcloud: https://SoundCloud.com/jonah-someone
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
