With his hit “Favorite Song” being one of the most viral songs on TikTok, more people are finding out about the new R&B hitmaker who is Toosii. A blend of hip-hop, R&B, and trap music that reflects his life experiences and emotions, Toosii is a rapper unafraid to put raw emotion into his songs. His hit single "Love Cycle" has over 50 million streams on Spotify, solidifying his spot as an influential newcomer. Praised for his honest lyrics and catchy hooks, Toosii's unique sound has garnered the artist critical acclaim. Fans patiently await the rapper’s sophomore album, Naujour, which is scheduled to be released soon. Get to know the SCMG (South Coast Music Group) artist, Toosii.
Background
Toosii is a rapper from Raleigh, North Carolina. Originally born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Toosii relocated to Raleigh when he was a teen. The artist has been making music since that time. It was during these years that Toosii became the most inspired.
“When I moved to North Carolina, I fell in love with music,” said Toosii in an interview with Flaunt. “I really started paying attention to it. Things finally started settling down and I was still going through stuff, so I used music as a way to cope with everything I was going through.”
Toosii first started recording and taking his rap career seriously at the age of 16. During high school, Toosii would use rap to escape issues while playing football. The rapper’s stage name comes from his childhood nickname of "Toota," which he changed to Toosii after his football teammates said it as a joke.
Toosii's music is heavily influenced by his upbringing in Raleigh, which is known for its vibrant hip-hop scene. He often raps about his experiences growing up in the city and how it shaped him into the artist he is today. In the beginning, Toosii was influenced by his father and brother, who encouraged him to follow his dreams. Today, Toosii has become one of the most popular rappers from North Carolina. The artist also currently has over a billion combined global streams to his record!
Big Break & SCMG
In 2019, Toosii got his first big break when SCMG discovered him. He would sign with the label, resulting in the release of three successful projects. This includes the mixtapes, Who Dat and Platinum Heart and the album Poetic Pain. Platinum Heart would reach No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Album chart upon the album’s initial release. The 17-track album Poetic Pain debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 chart.
“Honestly, it seemed fast because I’m here now,” said Toosii. “I didn’t notice stuff happening because it’s happening to me. It seems I’ve been living like this my whole life, but I haven‘t. I used to be homeless, sleeping out of a car. Now I got my 5-bedroom house, $140K car, jewelry. It hasn’t registered, it all feels fake.”
Toosii would later sign with Capitol Records shortly after releasing his official video for “Love Cycle,” featuring Summer Walker. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the song as a Gold single. Toosii was also featured in the 2021 XXL Freshman Class alongside Flo Milli, Pooh Shiesty, and 42 Dugg.
Social Media
Being the maker of a viral hit, Toosii’s success is also reflected in his social media. The rapper's TikTok account has over 52.8 million likes and 3.7 million followers. His Instagram also does numbers, sitting at just over 4 million followers. In 2022, the rapper took a temporary break from social media. He would do so after denouncing fame on his Instagram account.
“F*** this fame s***,” wrote Toosii on his Instagram Story. “Y’all could have it. This s### [is] lame. People love you then they hate you. I should’ve never even started rapping for y’all. I should’ve just kept my music to myself like I did in the beginning to cope with my problems.” Thankfully for fans, the artist would continue his hit-making ways instead of calling it quits.
What’s Next For Toosii?
With the upcoming album, Naujour, scheduled for an early June release, fans are close to hearing the long-awaited album. Being in the works for years, the album was first teased to fans in early 2022. According to the album’s tracklist, it will feature artists such as 21 Savage, Wallo 267, and Future. The album will contain 19 tracks, including the “Favorite Song Toxic Remix” as a bonus track. Fans are looking forward to the mix of hard-hitting bars, soulful melodies, and heartfelt lyrics they’ve come to expect from the rapper-singer. With many successful projects already under his belt, fans can't help but be excitedly waiting to see what the artist does next.