Hailing from Georgia and driven by a lifelong passion for music, talented artist Greatness is steadily carving out his place as one of the most exciting voices in the rising tide of independent hip-hop.
Drawing inspiration from legends like The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and Jay-Z, and armed with a formal education in recording arts, Greatness blends lyrical precision with raw emotional depth. Following the success of Thiz Iz Not A Drill in 2024 and a prolific 2025 that included Mundane Thoughts: Chapter 2 and C2MT (DELUXE), he’s now preparing to launch his highly anticipated new project PROLOGUE.
In this exclusive interview, we dive deep into his creative journey, standout collaborations, and the vision fueling his relentless momentum.
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Greatness, thank you so much for taking the time for this interview. Your latest releases, like your album “Mundane Thoughts: Chapter 2” and your Ep “C2MT (DELUXE)” showcase your incredible talent and artistic vision. We are thrilled to know more about your artistic journey, so let’s start from the beginning—how did growing up in Georgia shape your love for music and the kind of stories you wanted to tell through hip-hop?
Growing up in Georgia can influence you in many ways because of the plethora of talent in the state within arm’s reach. You see so many artists like yourself achieving the same goals you’re after, so it doesn’t seem impossible.
You’ve cited legends like Biggie, Nas, and Jay-Z as influences. In what ways have their styles helped you form your own unique voice as an artist?
I like the way they tell stories and the way they paint pictures with words, you can literally close your eyes and it all plays out in your mind as you’re listening to their records.
You pursued a formal education in recording arts at the International Academy of Design and Technology. How has that academic background helped you navigate the business and technical sides of the music industry?
It taught me all the intricate things about the business and how it’s more than someone just hitting record on a computer. It taught me about sheet music while at the same time teaching me how to conduct/go about the business side of things.
Your 2024 full-length Thiz Iz Not A Drill was packed with raw energy and lyrical depth. How do you reflect on that project now, and how did it set the stage for what came next?
Thiz Iz Not A Drill was an idea that took me a couple of years to get together because of the time I took off from music. I knew it had to be catchy to garner the attention I wanted and the buzz I wanted to build. It had to have radio/club-friendly beats while at the same time not sacrificing my creativity and not water down the lyrics too much.
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In 2025, you’ve been incredibly prolific. Mundane Thoughts: Chapter 2 dives into some heavy themes. What was the core inspiration behind that album and its storytelling arc?
Well, it’s all a story…all of the projects are tied together somewhat. Mundane Thoughts was created to solidify my comeback. It’s not too different from TINAD, but at the same time, it’s very different, especially as far as the sound of the records and beats selected for it.
Tracks like “Trophies” featuring Young C and Deezy Authentic really stand out. How did that collaboration come together, and what was the creative dynamic like between you all?
Me, Deezy Authentic, and Young C go way back, all the way to elementary school. We always said one day one of us has to make it in this industry, we’re brothers from different mothers, patnas with different fathers.
Your C2MT (DELUXE) EP shows a different energy, especially with the opening track “LANGUID.” Can you tell us about the creative process behind that EP and what message you wanted to send with it?
That EP is to get people ready for the direction we’re going as far as the sound of the music goes, it’s very heavily Jazz influenced, it’s something that wasn’t expected, also it’s a way to make hip hop more elegant. Rap doesn’t have to be tough all the time; it’s about mending our sound with a somewhat classical touch while also keeping it urban enough for the genre. It’s about exploring heavy instrumentation… almost orchestra-like.
Your lyricism often explores introspection, ambition, and struggle. How do you tap into those emotions and translate them into powerful verses that connect with listeners?
I just envision what I want, and I go for it. I feel like everyone has a purpose in life, and music is mine; it’s what I was put here for and what I’m supposed to do to make my contribution to the world.
What’s the story behind the upcoming project PROLOGUE? What does this new chapter represent for you artistically and personally?
“PROLOGUE” is actually the opening of Chapter 3, and it’s about giving you a feeling of tranquility, which is the actual title for Chapter 3 “Tranquil Ambience.” It’s peaceful because I’m in a peaceful mind state in my personal life right now.
How has your approach to songwriting and production evolved between Thiz Iz Not A Drill, Mundane Thoughts, and now PROLOGUE?
The first 2 projects were sample-heavy, more radio-friendly, sort of a trendy sound, as I said before, PROLOGUE is heavy on instrumentation and messages, almost as if it’s a film score.
Are there any producers or artists—either emerging or legendary—that you dream of working with in the future?
I’ll work with anyone as long as the timing is right and fits the overall direction of where I’m going or trying to go with the music…it has to make sense.
How do you balance creativity with consistency in a music industry that often demands rapid output and constant content?
I record a lot and the challenge I give myself is to not make any projects the same…that’s where I challenge myself because I have to have a challenge…the challenge is always how can I make this project different from the last while not sacrificing the integrity of the projects…so now I strive to make completely different sounding projects while keeping all of them tied together.
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From your perspective, what separates a good rapper from a great one in today’s hip-hop landscape?
In today’s landscape, there’s so much music that it can be overwhelming to try and separate good from great. You can have a good artist that surprises you and makes a great album, or an album with high replay value, while at the same time, you can have a great artist that gives you a mediocre album.
What message do you hope listeners take away after hearing PROLOGUE in full?
I hope it gives them anticipation for what’s to come because it’s only 3 records but I hope they understand where I’m going creatively.
Lastly, what advice would you give to other independent artists who are trying to break through and leave a meaningful mark with their music?
Just keep going, people are going to lack on support and every record you make is not going to be a hit, just take the constructive criticism and improve…never stop though.
Greatness, it was such a pleasure having you with us. Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans and our readers?
I appreciate you all for going on this journey with me as we all watch it unfold in real time and grow into something massive.
Check the links below, discover more about Greatness and his music, and remember to add his songs to your favorite playlists!
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