You all are beautiful.. Thanks for helping me sing all these songs for us. #TTTT #strugglewhatmadeus @rigoshotme

A photo posted by Chaz French (@chazfrenchhh) on Dec 21, 2015 at 1:24pm PST

Being that you recorded this tape in multiple places, how does the culture of other cities compare to D.C. culture?

Chaz French: I didn’t really pay attention to stuff like that. When we were recording, I was literally just in work mode. Some of the places I went it was to literally just record. I didn’t really get to enjoy the nightlife and stuff like that because we were really just in the studio. But I did get different vibes in different areas. I don’t work nowhere like how I work in D.C., though. I’ve done most of my best stuff, I feel like, in D.C. I also don’t like big studios either. When I was in New York, the studio was no bigger than my room in the house. But I came up with “Question” and “Sometimes,” so it really just depends what studio I’m in.

What’s it like to be a D.C. artist presently compared to a few years ago? Has anything changed for the city as far as the industry?

Chaz French: I feel like this is the perfect timing. I think we’re in a time in D.C. where it’s a perfect time and everything is coming together. I know my manager was telling me that back in the day people would look at you like whatever if you were a rapper. Now, everybody is a rapper, but it’s not frowned upon. Go-go, I guess, had so much of an influence, but back in the day, no one was paying attention to rappers.

How do you hope to hope to contribute to the overall hip hop scene?

Chaz French: I just want to do what I can to stay in my lane and keep doing what I do. I only want to speak to what I know how to do. I feel like that will get you so much further. Do what’s good for now, you know what I’m saying? If I stick to what I know, then I can have a bigger impact on not only my city, but on all of hip hop culture. Five years from now I want to have projects that are played 20 years from now.

Is there anyone particular you want to work with this year?

Chaz French: I want to work with Kid Cudi. I was just telling my brother the other day that I cannot leave this Earth without working with Lil Wayne. I just have to get one thing, an ad-lib, or something. I was listening to all the old Lil Wayne the other day, and I was like, bruh. His impact on rap is crazy. When he was the biggest rap star, he was the BIGGEST rap star. I’m not picky, but I would love to work with Erykah Badu. I would love to do a song with Bryson Tiller. I just really relate to his music and go through some of those situations.

Where do you hope to see yourself in maybe 5 years?

Chaz French: Five years from now, I see myself headlining my own shows with a few festivals under my belt. Hopefully I’ll have a Grammy nomination. I want to make sure my kids are taken care of, as well as my whole family. Mainly, having that cult following. Those fans that will come out every night, no matter where I’m at.