Ironically, their inescapable demise opens the door for newcomers to burst through, all jockeying for an opportunity to be considered the next big thing. Some make the most of that opportunity (i.e. Drake and Nicki Minaj), while others fail to capture the imagination of the general public (insert the name of almost any rapper or singer who hasn’t made it).
So who’s up next? Who has what it takes to make a name for themselves as the next great, black talent?
While the answers to those questions have yet to be written, rolling out spent the day with three young men — all with serious designs on auditioning for the role of entertainment’s next big thing. By the end of the day we were calling them the New Rat Pack, a deserving nod to an energy surrounding the trio that reminded us of the days of yesteryear … the days when Sammie Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra formed a famed collective of the same name.
This is the story of those three men … but if it’s left up to them, the words that follow will merely serve as a prologue to their future in music.
Lil Twist
As one of the youngest members of the Young Money collective, it’s easy for pundits to dismiss Lil Twist when considering legitimate contributors to music’s current landscape for grown-up listeners. The talented lyricist wants none of that talk, though. “I make music for the older crowd too,” he says defiantly. “I don’t go for one crowd, because I wouldn’t want one crowd at my show. I go for all ages, and all races. If they just take the time to listen, they will [realize] that my music has something for everybody.”
When one does take the time to listen to Lil Twist’s music, they may find that his music is steeped in the contributions of those who paved the way before him. “I focus on everything and I watch everything, so I always have something to talk about in my music,” he explains. “I listen to André 3000 a lot and that is my favorite rapper. He knows how to talk about whatever … he puts words together nicely, so I respect that. And, of course, my brother Lil Wayne; they are both very talented and are major influences on my music.”
Lil Twist’s time studying the greats has also provided him an opportunity for self-reflection. “I think I have a shot,” he shares when pressed on his future. “I work really hard. I stay in the studio … it’s my life. I never have time to be a normal teenager. I’m always hungry and go get it. You can call me to play ball, and I’d rather be in the studio. That’s why I have over 400 songs for this one album, because I never stop working. I’m in the studio from 10 [a.m.] to 10 [p.m.]. I don’t see another teenager working as hard as me. I’m just being honest.”
Khalil
Quiet and unassuming during our Rat Pack photo shoot, it was difficult to initially get a handle on the budding star Khalil. The 15-year-old R&B crooner apparently lives by the mantra of speaking softly and carrying a big musical stick. But that didn’t last long. All it took was one question about his passion for the craft, and the words began to flow … words that revealed a young man who was just as passionate about defending his calling, as he was about the music itself.
The query was simple enough. “Why you … why now?” Khalil jumped at the opportunity to respond. “Really, right now, there is no other young R&B artist,” he offers. “There is no other artist dancing, etc. The lane
is wide open for me … it’s really wide open! I feel like … I’m about to slide in and take it. I’m going to give this music a young feel, while still giving something that adults can listen to as well.”
As the conversation continued, the young Def Jam signee revealed a vulnerable side — a side that not only showed his humanity, but also displayed the fears of every emerging artist. “My fear is, what if I come in and it doesn’t work,” he confesses. “But I feel like everyone has that feeling. Hard work eliminates my fear though, and I don’t let it get to me … I just try to keep pushing. At the end of the day, I have a desire to be big. I want to be that number one artist. When it comes to that I have to realize this is my chance, so I have to work hard to make it my reality. Some days I’m tired, but I don’t have time for that right now. I have to get it done.”
Aaron Fresh
The final member of the new Rat Pack conglomerate is Aaron Fresh — a young artist filled with enthusiasm for both his native land, and his incredibly bright future. Co-signed to Ncredible Records (Nick Cannon’s imprint) and Island Def Jam, Fresh was all too eager to talk about the diverse background that has molded this young man into the person presently standing before us.
“Being raised in Trinidad was huge for me, especially when it comes to my music,” he shares. “We have all kinds of music from the Caribbean, and I incorporate it all into my music. I try to present the best of both of my worlds, which includes my upbringing in Trinidad, as well as the traditional American pop and R&B that I love as well.”
While his upbringing has certainly played a pivotal role in his development, Fresh was also quick to give a deserving nod to the mentor he consistently hears in his ear as he pushes on towards greatness. “This journey has been such a great experience for me,” he explains. “In many ways, it’s been enlightening. Having Nick Cannon as a mentor has been huge. He has taught me a lot about the industry and about the things that I have to be on the lookout for. Things happen so fast, and you have so much presented to you that it’s easy to get the big head. But I’m just focused on staying humble and working hard … that’s the only [thing] that matters to me. Now don’t get me wrong, I love hearing people tell me that I’m great. But I also have to stay focused on who I was before all of this happened.”
The Outlook
As the future continues to rapidly unfold for these three talented young men, they are well aware that their success isn’t guaranteed. Will they succeed in becoming America’s next musical icon? Well that remains to be seen. In the meantime, we look forward to enjoying the view from here as they strive for greatness. –dewayne rogers
