One to Watch: Virginia’s HardHead da BOI
HardHead da BOI is an upcoming artist out of Virginia. His most recent full-length project was named “Bloods in Black,” which delivered smashes such as “Background and “Like wolves.” He’s also worked with many major stars, including actors such as Omar Gooding from the sitcom Smart Guy, and the movie Baby Boy, Nipsey Hussle’s DJ, DJVIP, and Robert Curry from P Diddys’ Making The Band, the singer from “Day26” and Trill Entertainment’s Shell Thuggaman! The list goes on.
Music runs in this talented artists family; his grandmother is Kim Lewis of the Sweethearts aka the Lovables, which is a well-known female doo-wop group from the 60s which included Barbra Sullivan as well as her sister Shirley Sullivan, wife of Cuba Gooding Sr. of the world-famous group “The Main Ingredient.”
HardHead da BOI is extremely grateful and motivated to pursue his opportunities after being diagnosed with cancer! Every since his diagnosis, he has decided to take his music seriously and has since released numerous videos on YouTube, 3 albums, and a handful of features.
The best is yet to come from this young lion. HardHead da BOI has new releases in the works, and it’s time for the world to pay attention.
He’s a phenomenal Rapper with much to say. Check out one of my favorites of some of his past work titled “Pain”! Don’t forget this name, Hardhead da Boi; he’s on the rise.
I Look forward to seeing and hearing more from HardHead da BOI but in the meantime, we got him to weigh in on a few things
From the inside looking out, who is HardHead da BOI?
Inside of what me? Or from whose perspective you might be trickin me, what that mean, be a lil more specific! Lol
What was the defining moment that brought you to music seriously?
Shit I would say after I got out da hospital during treatment doing chemo and radiation is when I made that choice. I think it started with an artist from Richmond. You might know him, his name’s Redrum he was fuckn with dj khaled and had that song with Young Money Yawn. But yea we did a track an shot a vid for it after that I just kept going.
What’s the most fun for you about making music?
Aw mayn lol. Hold up, so look it’s like even when I’m not in the studio my head is, so I’m always in da mood. If you ask me when I’m scrolling them beats I know if I want it 3 to 5 seconds of it playing. If that mother fucka slapping hard like that mayn sometimes I cut it right off don’t wanna hear it again till I’m in the studio lol and a niga hitting the record button! By that time you know what time it is, off the top and I’m turnt up! Don’t get it twisted though, It didn’t start like that though so it doesn’t always go like that. But either way I can see it like it’s playing in my head you feel me, like I can feel it so when I get in front of that mic I just exert it raw pain but yet raw passion. If you ain’t got neither you won’t understand it. But yea I’m writing, I’m freestyling which ever. Me personally I think the pen is stronger! But YES super YES. 104% YES if need an I’m short on time YES, I can come up with a song in 15 minutes. When picking beats I feel I’m extremely picky, Ive had beat packs of 30 n pick three lol. I usually stick with the same producers though them nigas deliver every time even on the fly so that definitely helps the process. Ain’t like it’s all me that’s for sure. In that studio a mumble can get it bracken.
Recovering from cancer, how has it affected your creative process?
Lmaoooo mayn is you being for real ? Cause that was some funny ass shit! Hell yea it be fuckn with me. Why you think I be off top sometimes? A niga done forgot the lyrics at home! Mayn that chemo on top of the radiation being so close to my head. Bra I had, I think like 28 treatments. Memory be tripping now days, da BOI gotta improvise sometimes lol. Naw but fareal though it pushed me. More than you can imagine “background” ain’t called “background” for no reason! It took getting sick and I mean real sick for me to see shit, I mean I’m still thuggish it is what it is but I see shit. I feel I got a gift and I better use it while I have it cause one day it’s gone have to go back. Be grateful not wasteful cause it can be taken at any moment. I been creative I got the gift of gab, boi all I gotta do is go through it. I’m an artist, you ever seen a ugly painting that ain’t ugly an sell for thousands? Yea that’s me somebody gone like it, beauty comes from the eyes an ears of the beholder and you can hear my pain! I go through shit, stay solid, and then be creative and make music about it for y’all. Well really for me cause I love music like you do. I wanna hear it, lol. Look, being diagnosed with cancer gave me one more thing to paint about. Hold up, think about it, Let that sink in. BOI
What’s the most satisfying for you about making music?
Hearing my voice and saying damn that’s me! Sometimes I get chills I mean when I wrote “my pain” I was fresh outta jail, my homie just passed in the kitchen, 6 or 7 in the morning with a fucked up afro and too small crocs on with my foot hanging off the back…. With the chills tears and a pistol, feeling that shit. Knowing I just created something I told you, Picasso lol. I know my grand mama smiling down, she the one started this shit had a niga singing early with my sisters back in the day and those memories make me feel good, music also makes me feel good. Hypothetically let’s say I was the only one who can listen to my music, I would still make it! Music satisfies me, making music satisfies me, now about listening to music whether you mainstream, indie or local whatever if I like it it’s gone get slapped in my whip.
What’s been your funniest WTF moment thus far in your career?
Aww should I answer that let me think about it…. Just playin as we speak, me and Twain Gotti have a slight album we gone give y’all. I tell you that much, everything else, well the left hand doesn’t tell the right hand what it’s doing but I’ll give you a hint since you the HYPE magazine….. ACTION. Did I answer ya question bro cause if I didn’t my bad you just gone have to ask em another way lol
Instagram: @hardhead__da_boi
YouTube: https://youtu.be/aaDgWke2F04
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/
About the Author
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.
