When we saw the "Brick In Yo Face" video by an 18-year-old unsigned Miami rapper covered in tattoos, waving firearms, and a Pinhead mask from Hellraiser, we immediately reached out. It's not every day, after all, that we see a video with that kind of unrestrained intensity. Which is to say, the song sounds like eight rails of cocaine mainlined while standing on top of a fighter jet.
On the phone, Stitches is circumspect, which, if you believe his story as told in music, is more of a professional choice than a personal one. But we did find out some interesting info: He's already collaborated with some heavy hitters in the production world, and ever since his video hit WorldStar, the labels have definitely been calling.
Which is hardly a surprise. Find out more about the mysterious South Florida future rap star in our exclusive interview.
Interview by David Drake (@somanyshrimp)
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Where are you from originally?
I'm from Miami. I'm 18. Cuban-Greek.
What neighborhood did you grow up in?
I was everywhere, man. I was doing my thing everywhere. Thuggin it out.
Where did the idea for the video come from?
It came from my head, and I just made it. It was something simple to me. My boy Chris shot the video, but the ideas in the video were all actually mine. I came up with all the ideas myself. The Hellraiser theme, all of it. It came to my head real quick. Got high as fuck and came up with it.
Are you a fan of the Hellraiser movies?
Naw, I just had the mask, and it just jumped in my head to put it up there.
It's a pretty extreme video. Was there something you were trying to get across with the choices you made in making it?
I just wanted to express my life. That's a part of my life, you know? I've got different types of music, but that's my turnt-up music. I got crunk bangers, the ones you just vibe out to. I'm about to drop another video on Friday.
What's the name of that song?
You'll see it Friday, man. I'm not gonna even say it.
You have a very distinct look—the tattoo on your face. Is some of that face paint? How did you come up with that look?
That's all how I look. The stitches on my mouth—What I stand for is no snitching, know what I mean? I don't like no snitch. There's no face paint, none of that. It's just who I am. I'm about what I say in my music. You just listen to it and it'll speak for itself. That's basically all I can say, you know?
I don't know what it was like in your family, but if I'd gotten a tattoo like that, my mom would have flipped out.
I've been living on my own since I was like 14 years old, so it ain't shit. There was no saying if I could get it or not. I've been inked out—I got that on my face actually when I was 16. I've had all those tats on me already. I had a different lifestyle, man. I grew up fast. I've been living on my own, doing my thing, making my music, my money. Just hustling. I've got a kid. I've got a son. I've got a second kid about to be here.
How old is your son?
Nine months. And the other one is about to come out in about two or three months.
How long have you been doing music?
I've been doing music since I was young. Been doing it for a long time, got a lot of songs. I've got a whole catalog. I've got mixtapes out there already. You can go hear them. They're good.
I saw the one this song is on. How many mixtapes do you have?
I've got one right now. I'm about to drop a whole bunch on LiveMixtapes, all that shit.
Who made the beat for that song?
That was one of my young niggas, he's a producer, he's good. I've got a lot of songs from Scott Storch. He produced a lot of my songs. 808 Mafia, Southside. I've got a lot of people hitting me up now, wanting to work with me.
How did you link up with those guys?
You can go ask them, man, they saw talent and that's it. That's all I can tell you.
What's your favorite song you've recorded?
It depends on the day. Every day I just start listening to one and I'll be like, damn, this one sounds hot. That one sounds hot. And someone on Instagram or someone in my email will be like, "that one's a banger," "that one's a banger." So it's confusing, you know?
Is this the first video you've had that's gotten a lot of attention?
This is my first video that I've put out ever. It's got like seven million views already. That's crazy, huh?
It's a pretty intense video. Who were the rappers that you looked up to when first starting out?
Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa. People like that. I like the people in Young Money. Gucci Mane.
Do you have a favorite rapper?
At the moment I would say Juicy J.
It says on YouTube that you're unsigned as well, is that true?
Yes I am.
Have labels reached out to you at all?
I've had label after label after label after label hit me up. Calling my phone, calling my manager's phone all kinds of crazy stuff.
All since the video?
Yep.
What's your next step? What's your next record gonna be like?
Man, I tell you what. I'm going to have another video up again on the big screen. Probably by Friday. And it's going to be a thang, just be ready for it. That's all I can say.
Are you still in school?
Naw man, I've been out of school since I've been fuckin' fourteen.
What have you been involved with since that time?
Just listen to my music, I can tell you right now ain't nothing in my music fake. I guarantee you that. Listen to my music, I ain't gonna talk nothing over the phone.
