Up Close And Personal With - @iamDURANTE

In this interview I learn more about the FYB rapper about who his family is and if he is a good student or not.

 1. Why do you rap?

 - I rap because music runs in my family and I am surrounded by it everyday. I also have a passion for it , and it keeps me in a good mood ALL THE TIME!. (Outkast Producer Rico Wade is my Uncle and recording artist Future is my cousin.)

 2.What was the hardest song you ever had to write or record?

 - Every song that I have done, have had its up and down, but I think " The Motto Remix" was the hardest because I wrote three different versions and I didn't like either of them, but after we dropped the video, the fans loved it, so I had to love it. 

3. What experiences in your life has made you who you are today?

 - My grandma and my aunt raised me. My mother was on drugs most of my life and I wanted her off the streets and home with me. Everyone in my hood always told me to move forward with the music because I had potential. Then I realized at a young age, if I  blew up I could bring my mother back home with the family and I could get her everything she wanted.

4.How did you become apart of FYB?

 - Me, Jacquees, Issa, Chris,& Tevin are the starting 5 in FYB , we are the ones who came up with all the ideas. Then we started expanding with more artists and actors like Jarok,Justin Martin, DJ Key,TK&Cash, WolfPack, and Shamiek Moore just to name a few. 

5. Who are your biggest supporters in you doing your music?

 - I have several supporters, but I think my family and my FYB crew are the main supporters, because they keep on track if I am doing wrong and they also let me know when i'm doing a good job.

6. Who are your top 5 rappers dead or alive?

 - To keep it plain and simple.... Tunechi, Drake, Eminem,Wale,and T.I.

7. Are you a good student?

 - Yeahh, i'm a pretty good student. A's and B's, no biggie.

8. How do you want your lyrics to affect people? 

 - I want my lyrics to touch people in the want that regular words can't. I want then to connect with people from all types and generations. I also want them to continue to make hip hop better.

9. Have you ever been scared to collab with anyone?

 - Lol Nooouupe Not YET! 

10.If you had a choice what label would you sign to immediately if you had a chance?

 - It would be between YMCMB, Crown World. and Grand Hustle.

11. What was your most memorable performance and or collaboration?

 - My most memorable performance is when I was in the 8th Grade and I was in a talent show, it was my first performance, but I remember it so well because I was super nervous and I knew I had big competition . Me and my group lost, but it was all good because because my FYB brother Jacquees won. 

12. Who do you like being in the studio with? 

  - I like being in the studio with my FYB crew because they will tell if your music sounds good or if it needs any changes. 

13. What is your ideal collaboration for you?

 - I would love to do a collab with T-Pain because he's mad different and that's what make you and your music pop!

14. When everything is said and done and your walking up to the pearly gates what do you want GOD to say to you?

 - I would like GOD to say" Your time is up my boy, I put you though the jungle and you came out on top as a warrior, now join me in a place that's hate free and in a loving peace.