Rapper Too Smoove Talks New Music ‘Catch a Vibe,’ Mental Health, and Living in the Moment
This week rapper, singer, and songwriter Too Smoove released her new single “Catch a Vibe” featuring Ari Cari. The North Carolina native, who started out singing in church, has taken her musical talents to the masses – her music is available on streaming platforms.
The single release date was very sentimental for the east coast star, it’s the anniversary of her late father’s untimely passing. Warm thoughts of him flood her mind as she takes time to reminisce on the fun memories they created and shared. “We had a great Father’s Day the year before he passed and that was fun – we went shooting. My dad taught me how to shoot but I was on target more than he was so that was always really funny,” she tells The Hype Magazine.
“One time I pranked him, winning fake lottery tickets when we were in middle school and that was pretty funny,” she adds.
The singer-rapper knows the importance of mental health. At first, she tried to skip the stages of grief, but she would soon learn that the denial, anger, and depression were still beneath the surface. She would have to face her deepest pain head-on and heal before jumping headfirst into the final stage of grieving – acceptance.
As she healed and reflected on her life, she had a deep awareness of living in the moment – she wants all of her fans and listeners to do this.
“People don’t know how to live in the moment, they’re so busy trying to chase the next moment and not realizing how good this moment is,” she says.
This week, Too Smoove sat down with The Hype Magazine to talk about her latest single “Catch a Vibe” feat. Ari Cari, mental health, and why we should all live in the moment.
Your newest single ‘Catch a Vibe” sets the tone for all things love & hip hop. What inspired you to write this song?
The beat inspired me. I was already on my R&B wave. On one of my last singles called “Both On Drugs” I was singing so I just wanted to continue singing on records.
After your father passed away in 2020, How has his death impacted your mental health?
It was pretty bad at first. I was doing things that I had no business doing, doing things that I knew better than doing so it was pretty rough.
What did you learn during your journey from loss and grieving about the current state of mental health?
I learned to always heal first before you try to move on with your life. Healing is an ongoing process. I don’t know if you say that you ever heal but my process is healing and the way it looks is like I’m in control. My healing was very reflective – I reflected on my actions the year prior, my dad not being here, what I did, my initial reactions. My dad was my best friend, we had more of a homie relationship where I could talk to him about things that I couldn’t talk to my mother about.
For you, as the writer of “Catch A Vibe,” it’s about living in the moment. What does that mean to you and how can we learn to live in the moment intentionally?
Living in the moment means being carefree and not thinking about tomorrow. It’s about thinking about the now. Try your best not to stress over things that you can’t control.
What’s next for Too Smoove?
I have another single coming out this summer. It’s not an R&B record, it’s a straight Hip Hop record. It makes you move your head and get up out of your set. It makes you want to get up and dance.
Follow I’m Smoove on Instagram @imtoosmoove
Photos by: Pierre J. Walker
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Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
