Exclusive Interview with AL99

Artist Spotlight: AL99

The amount of musical knowledge that AL99 has obtained in his 25 years on Earth is more than most people can hope for in a lifetime. The DMV-based rapper has been putting his work in, and now he is blasting onto the scene with his new single “Pop” where he’s not holding back or pulling punches.

In this exclusive Q&A, AL99 opens up about the stories behind the music, lessons learned along the way, and what keeps their passion alive.

MusicsWeek: Who are your biggest musical influences?

AL99: I have many musical influences for different reasons. I draw from a lot of different sounds—hip hop, R&B, rock, pop, jazz, and even some EDM. Artists like Michael Jackson, Eddie Van Halen, and Kendrick Lamar inspire me to explore any sound I am interested in, and their albums that I've listened to for years like Thriller, 1984, and TPAB, always help to remind me that innovation and exploration in my own music should not only be looked at as a possibility, but what I personally should be trying to tap into the most.

MusicsWeek: How do your personal experiences shape your music?

AL99: My music is always based on my personal life experiences. Either I experienced it or witnessed it personally. Every once in a while, I’ll make a song based on current events that we can all relate to as people.

MusicsWeek: Have your influences changed over the years?

AL99: No, my major influences have not changed over the years, but I do get some inspiration from some of the newer artists and producers like Future, Gunna, Young Thug, Pierre Bourne, Zaytoven, and MetroBoomin. Music is always evolving and changing, but the essence of every artist comes from some inspiration in the past.

MusicsWeek: How do you incorporate your cultural background into your music?

AL99: I come from a strong, supportive family rooted in the five boroughs of New York City. No matter if we were in New Jersey, Arizona, or the DMV, my sister and I were raised on old-school values—discipline, resilience, and respect—passed down from our parents and grandparents. Growing up, I balanced sports, academics, and responsibilities, but music always rose above everything else as my true calling.

That upbringing shaped the artist I am today. The beats I create—sometimes soulful, sometimes rock-driven with heavy guitar—and the lyrics I write all carry pieces of my cultural background. If you listen closely, every track is me sharing my story, one verse at a time.
 

I always grew up surrounded by music, and my grandfather Herbert "Toubo" Rhoad set the musical legacy in my family as he was one of the original 5 members of The Persuasions (a legendary acapella group from Brooklyn, NY). Once I really decided I wanted to pursue music as a career and no longer a hobby, I took all the steps necessary to not only succeed creatively, but on the business side as well. My inspiration on the creative side comes from wanting to leave timeless pieces of work that people could relate to and identify with on every level, and on the business side, to be able to leave generational wealth for my family and loved ones while owning my name and work every step of the way.
 

MusicsWeek: What was the first song you ever wrote, and what inspired it?

AL99: The first song I ever wrote I was 7 years old, and it was a collaboration with my sister and my cousin called ”New York City”, we had a group called “The Peacers”. My entire family is from NYC and we just wanted to write a song for our family celebrating where they came from. I remember the day we performed it for the family after dinner! Little did I know I would become an artist 19 years later.

MusicsWeek: What challenges did you face early in your career, and how did you overcome them?

AL99: One of the biggest challenges I faced early in my career was simply not knowing what I didn’t know. There’s no clear handbook on how to start as an independent artist, and navigating that space can feel overwhelming. Luckily, I had a cousin who’s an entertainment lawyer, and she was instrumental in guiding me, helping me get incorporated, reviewing contracts, and teaching me the importance of copyrighting my music and trademarking my name.

MusicsWeek: Who was your first major musical mentor, and what did you learn from them?

AL99: My first major musical mentor in the industry was LBLeoBars, an artist and artist developer from Brooklyn, NY. I met him almost seven years ago, producing songs for him, and after working together on a few tracks—including his project The Rewake—our relationship grew beyond music. LB began teaching me the intricacies of the industry and how I could improve my songwriting. 

I took his Artist Development 7-week course. Through that process, I learned how to refine my stage presence, develop my performance style, define my brand and colors, and commit to daily discipline—like writing sixteen bars a day to sharpen my bars. LB also opened the door to my first radio interview, live show, and podcast appearance. Beyond being a mentor, he’s become a brother in music for life.
 

MusicsWeek: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?

AL99: Outside of music, I’m passionate about many things, but I still love sports and academics, for that matter. I love learning about STEM subjects even now. For fun in my downtime, I'll go on YouTube and watch videos about space and physics. I'm also passionate about giving back and helping others—especially those with unique challenges in life. While watching the types of videos I mentioned before, the next video could be a Dr. Umar Johnson interview or an old Tupac interview, where I'm trying to find ways to build upon their message of uplifting the black community and society in general.

MusicsWeek: Who is your dream collaborator or artist to work with?

AL99: My dream collaborator/artist to work with is Kendrick Lamar. I always dreamt of working with Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen as well, but now that they have passed on, Kendrick is by far my most desired collab. I’d love to also work with some of the pioneers of Hip Hop like Jay-Z and Nas, and on other genres, artists like Pharrell, Nile Rodgers, and producers like Dark Child and Scott Storch.