We sat down and asked “P1ZZ1E” a few question’s for his fan’s to get a deeper look at his upbringing.
Q: What city are you from?
P1ZZ1E : I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland.
Q: When did you start making music?
P1ZZ1E : I started making music back in 2022. Originally, my sisters and my best friend Tay inspired me. I always had a passion for music but never actually got on the mic. I remember being shy and having anxiety about what others might think. Music gave me an outlet not only to say what I feel and think, but also to inspire others to tell their stories that no one has heard.
Coming from Baltimore, a lot of people don’t make it out or feel like they have a voice. I always challenged that idea. With music, I have an influence—people look up to me and watch what I do. Through my music, I try to motivate, inspire, and bring others joy. Baltimore is like a spider web, and it’s easy to get stuck in that web. I want to show others that they can break those barriers and reach greater heights.
Q: Tell us about your childhood?
P1ZZ1E : Growing up, I was raised by my parents. I’m the youngest of four siblings — three sisters (Eta, Inga, and Brenda) and one brother (Ian). My family moved here in the ’90s from Kenya, and I was born and raised in Baltimore.
We didn’t have a lot, and my mother and father worked really hard just to make sure we had what we needed for school. I grew up in a loving household. Yeah, we were struggling, but the love and bond we had overshadowed the struggle. My parents taught me how to survive, and that’s all I could ask for in a place where crime and violence are so high. They instilled values in me that made me who I am today — love, obedience, integrity, and respect. Living in a two-parent household definitely impacted my life for the better.
I was always an athlete growing up, playing sports like track, football, soccer, and basketball. But coming from a Kenyan household, I was also tapped into Afrobeats and other genres of music from a young age. I don’t see music as black and white; I see it as colorful. I’m the artist, and I have multiple colors on my palette. My love for music grew over the years listening to artists like The Jackson 5, Sam Cooke, Juvenile, and Gladys Knight. I fell in love with old-school music and samples.
I was always the shy, quiet kid growing up — scared of the world but knowing I was talented. I just had to show them. I come from love, and that’s something I put into my songs today. My family are hard workers, and they support me in everything I do. One thing we live by is: if you’re going to do something, do it 100%.
Q: What artist did you grow up listening to that inspired your sound?
P1ZZ1E : Growing up, my older brother got me hooked on J. Cole at a young age, and from there I developed a love for his music. When I first started making music, J. Cole was someone I looked to for depth and wordplay.
Artists like Lil Wayne taught me versatility, Young Thug taught me creativity, Kodak showed me how to make a catchy bop, and Meek Mill taught me how to tap into my emotions and storytelling. Honorable mentions include Cordae, who is also from Maryland and gave me hope that I could make it out of the city, and Lil Durk when it comes to drill beats.
I try to be versatile with my sound. I feel like a lot of artists in Baltimore sound the same, and I want to be the odd one out. I think that’s what attracts people to my music. My sound isn’t confined to one lane — I can go down multiple lanes and be successful. I truly believe that with my versatility, I’m on the path to becoming the next star out of the city.
Q: Where did you first start recording music? And where were the hang out spots growing up?
P1ZZ1E : Some spots that me and my guys hung out at or around were the Wawa parking lot, B6, LR Village Apartments, the reservoir, and the church on the hill. Usually, we’d be at my cousin Khari’s house or my sister’s house when they lived out in Rosedale.
When I first started making music, I would go to Ground 3 Studio in Baltimore City. They were the first ones to show me love and make me comfortable with just recording and gaining experience. DJ Ok was my first producer/engineer. He helped me tap into my artistry bag by teaching me the basics about music and showing me how to bring energy when I record.
I then started working with KB in the Billion Dollar Basement and Slade in The Chamber Studio. The quality they had at their studios was unmatched and exactly what I was looking for. When I’m home in Baltimore, I always go to one of those two.
Recently, I’ve been going back and forth between Baltimore and Atlanta, recording at Astro Studios when I’m in Atlanta. My producer/engineer is DJ Roos — me and him grew up together, but he moved to Atlanta back in 2021. Ever since I started making music, we’ve hit it off. My most recent song, Fine Shyt, I recorded with him while I was in Atlanta.
I admire my sessions with him because he’s an industry producer/engineer. He always gives me tips and intel about being in the industry and shares the work ethic of other artists he works with. That advice motivates me to be different when I record. Atlanta brings the best out of me — you never know who’s listening while you’re there, and seeing all the plaques and greats who’ve come through the same studio I record at pushes me even more.
Q: Who are some Artist you wanna shout out that you worked with?
P1ZZ1E : Some of the artists I’ve worked with include NoLimit Tim — we have two songs together, Make It and Evil Man. He’s another upcoming artist out of the city who’s catching a lot of attention.
Slade is one of the hardest producers, engineers, and artists out — if not the hardest female artist. I would describe her as the female version of Kanye West.
KB is a talented engineer and a musical genius. He’s worked with big-time artists within the city, including myself.
Shoutout to my guys as well: Ade, Kev B, Meck, and Judahkhi.
Q: If you could explain your sound how would you?
P1ZZ1E : I would describe my sound as evolving — a melodic flow with a smooth rawness to it. I like to capture emotions and sincerity. To truly resonate with others, you have to have an intimate and genuine approach. My cadence and delivery match the emotional weight of what I’m saying.
I try to be raw and authentic because that matters more to me than being perfect. I can rap, but I can also sing. I see myself as a unicorn — rare and unique — or a chameleon, able to adapt and thrive in different sounds and styles.
Q: What is your most recent release?
P1ZZ1E: My most recent release is “Fine Shyt” which is currently available on all streaming platforms.
Q: Do you have anything coming up?
P1ZZ1E : The music video to “Fine Shyt” Will be dropping in the next couple of weeks. I also have a song with “NoLimit Tim” called “Evil Man” which will be dropping around Halloween.
The Artist Connect
“P1ZZ1E ” is one of the most talented up and coming artist on the DMV Area . Make sure to check out his upcoming music, coming sooner than later!
