Born and Raised in Maryland Big Holly was able to tap into his artistry at a very young age! In middle school he signed a deal Universal although he did take a break after his deal. He picked backed up to continue perfecting his craft. If you were to listen to his music you will see that it has those classic, flashy feels, especially with his lavish lyricism. With the recent release of “Please Holly Please 2” he is giving us just a taste of how he’s coming this year!

We got the chance to speak with Big Holly about signing at an early age, the influence of the DMV and much more!

Check out our exclusive interview below:

Mikala: For you, I know you’re from the DMV area ? How was it for you growing up in Maryland?

Big Holly: It was tough. I lived in the trenches, you know, but I always lived with my parents so made sure I was straight. My mom was the type of person if she had her last $100 she would spend that shit on making me look good whether than having me going out looking bummy. She didn’t really let me see a bad time.

Mikala: What would say really motivated you to pursue your rap career?

Big Holly: Just the culture here. Where I’m from in the DMV area I played in a lot of GoGo bands growing up. I was always outside. I was in the clubs at a young age. During my young age GoGo was really big. That’s where A LOT of people started at. If you played in a band then you damn near transition to rap. I actually rapped when I was young too! I actually had a little deal with Universal when I was young too! 

Mikala: Oh Wow! How old were you when you signed?

Big Holly: I was in the 6/7th grade! 

Mikala: With You being that young would you recommend for someone to sign to a record deal at a young age?

Big Holly: Nah, not if your parents don’t know what’s going on! My parents weren’t really hip so we got finessed like shit. With me being young I wanted to go outside, play with my friends to play football and basketball like regular kids but I couldn’t because I was always in the studio or rehearsing and shit. 

Mikala: You know in this day and age a lot of parents want their kids to start music super early. I have a daughter so I wouldn’t necessarily put her on the forefront like that until she’s ready! 

Big Holly: Back in the day it wasn’t no Tik Tok, It wasn’t no Instagram so it wasn’t the thing to do. Parents wasn’t really pushing they kids to do that type of stuff but now since everything is so social media based a lot of parents are doing that because it’s easier to get famous. 

Mikala: Since you were signed so young did that give you any type of leverage?

Big Holly: Not really. Once it’s gone it’s gone you gotta start over type shit. It was there for a minute but I really stopped rapping to focus on being a kid. 

Mikala: Fast forward to you pursuing your rap career now, what challenges would you say you’ve faced along the way? 

Big Holly: My biggest challenge is being heard. It’s hard to get heard especially globally. You can be lit in your city all you want but if nobody else hears it then you’ll just be here. Support too. A lot of people will watch my stuff and be like “we heard your shit” I’m like damn why you ain’t like my shit (laughs). 

Mikala: You know what I’ve come to terms with, realistically people don’t really support you til you blow up! 

Big Holly: That’s right! It’s crazy! 

Mikala: For an area like the DMV who has an endless amount of talent; why do you think it’s so hard for someone to break there?

Big Holly: Me personally, I don’t think my city is together as much as we should and I don’t think everybody who made it here, It’s not that they don’t help people but they’re afraid to help because of the way our culture is. It’s a lot of crabs in the barrel type vibes here! 

Mikala: Now getting into your sound when I was listening to your music I was like you know exactly what the people want. Your sound is also distinct! How would you describe your music to them?

Big Holly: It’s a lot of melodies for one! I try to give people what our culture is talking about now and what goes on in our culture. I don’t really rap about a lot of guns and shooting people because that’s not what we do. My biggest goal is to get money! “Million Dollars Boys”, That’s my stuff for a reason! Anybody can shoot somebody but we’re more so on motivational music. Our energy isn’t even focused on that! We focused on getting money, putting our mama in a crib, moving to the hills, pulling up in a Rolls Royce. That’s the type of shit that we vibe to, that’s the type of shit we do in real life! 

Mikala: With your new project “Please Holly Please 2” I want to know all about it! 

Big Holly: This project has a lot of versatility on their, I got songs with some people from Detroit and Detroit type beats. We got upbeat songs, slow songs. It’s another type of vibe! It shows a lot of growth, it shows that I can do a lot of different things. I can go with upbeat songs, I can come down and have a girl singer on my song and give Summer Walker vibes. When I think of me as an artist I think of versatility. I’m not just one sound! 

(Stream: ‎Please Holly Please 2 by Big Holly on Apple Music)

Mikala: Wow I love that! Who would you say are some people that you want to work with in the future?

Big Holly: I would like to work with Thug, Keed… I like they sound. Moneybagg Yo, Lucci! 

Mikala: I can definitely see that! What would you say is some of your goals as an artist for 2021?

Big Holly: 1. Get some big features. 2. Get some more shows. 3. To make a name in Atlanta. With Atlanta being black Hollywood if you make it there you can make it anywhere! 

Mikala: You better manifest that! 

Big Holly: Manifestation is Key!