Splitting his time between attending college at Jackson State University and crafting melodic trap bangers, Lil Lonnie is one of Southern Rap’s most charismatic rising stars. An auto-tune-heavy banger with an infectious hook, “Switch Up“ is a highlight from Lonnie’s TKWGO 2 mixtape. Viewed over one million times on YouTube and WorldStarHipHop since its release on Sunday, the video for “Switch Up” begins like a typical trap video, with Lonnie stunting outside a neighborhood convenience store with a video vixen, but takes a turn for the artistic–live-action footage alternates with black-and-white storyboard-style animation. Released in June 2016, TKWGO 2 is the sequel to last year’s underground hit They Know What’s Goin’ On, which was a popular independent mixtape on LiveMixtapes in 2015, and features appearances from Bryson Tiller, K Camp, and Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd and production from Big Fruit, Will-a-Fool and others.
Born and raised in the notoriously tough Virden Addition region of Jackson, Mississippi, Lil Lonnie made music as a means of escape. In high school, he started his hip-hop career as a producer and after gaining some statewide attention, Lil Lonnie decided to demonstrate his skills behind the mic. He released his breakthrough single, “I’m The Type” in early 2015, which opened the doors to local radio and club shows. Lonnie is currently a student at Jackson State University in Mississippi, where he studies Mass Communications.
TKWGO 2 is packed with radio-ready highlights, including “Colors,” a melodic anthem that has racked up over 2.7 million views on YouTube and the Billboard-premiered “Change Up,” a skeletal kick-drum driven trap banger about staying true to your day ones. Featuring a hook from R&B star Bryson Tiller and production from Big Fruit (Yo Gotti’s “Law”), Soundcloud users have played “Change Up” over 437,000 times. Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd joins Lil Lonnie on “Jealous,” a low-key ode to pimpin’ produced by Trell Got Wings. In June, K Camp joined Lonnie for “Special (Remix),” a video debuted on WorldStarHipHop. It’s only a matter of time before one of these tracks finds its way to radio and propels Lil Lonnie to the next level of stardom.
Watch “Switch Up”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0LNPUT9lpw
Check out the WorldStarHipHop Premiere: http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhm6zS24nbK5CH6wgo
Download TKWGO 2 on LiveMixtapes: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/39367/lil-lonnie-tkwgo-2.html
Contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Lil Lonnie.
Jackson is the largest city in the state of Mississippi. Despite its size and extensive history, the challenging city motivates Lil Lonnie to make his way out. The youthful 20 year-old rapper with the hickory voice released video single “Colors” in 2015, and pushes ahead. Now with more than 1.5 million views on the low-key visual, the Soundcloud audio achieved more than 100,000 plays in one month without any label, marketing staff, or a gimmick. For his peers, the colorful contents of Lonnie’s T.K.W.G.O. (They Know What’s Going On) mixtape is welcomed escape for people of Jackson and cities like it.
“Switch Up”: http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhm6zS24nbK5CH6wgo
“Special (Remix)” ft. K Camp: https://soundcloud.com/lillonnie-1/special-feat-k-camp // https://youtu.be/7rezOcV_TpI // http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhLPnE84Npfb4QGiy1
TKWGO 2: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/39367/lil-lonnie-tkwgo-2.html
“Change Up” ft. Bryson Tiller: https://soundcloud.com/tsomusicgroup/lil-lonnie-chane-up-feat-bryson-tiller/