North Carolina-based rapper Toosii is an entirely self-driven and strong-minded artist, fiercely dedicated to following his own instincts and one-of-a-kind vision. Since signing with South Coast Music Group (the label that catalyzed DaBaby’s rise as one of music’s biggest breakout stars in recent years), the New York native has turned heads with his melodic flow and autobiographical storytelling, endlessly demonstrating his willingness to pour unguarded emotion into every song. With his talent boldly spotlighted on his debut studio album Platinum Heart—a February 2020 release whose tracks have surpassed 50 million in combined streams—the 20-year-old now embarks on the next chapter of what’s already proved to be a formidable career.

Throughout Platinum Heart, Toosii showcases the diversity of his sensibilities, offering up everything from the hard-hitting and high-energy “Why You Think” to the heavy- hearted “Mercedez” to the graceful and guitar-laced “Choir Music.” That ever-shifting sound reflects Toosii’s refusal to conform to any one genre or style, a quality he’s embodied since self-releasing his debut EP Why Not Now in late 2017. As his 2018 single “Karma” generated serious buzz throughout the Raleigh area, the then-18-year- old began playing local shows, and soon landed his deal with South Coast Music Group. His first release for the label, the Who Dat mixtape arrived in April 2019, with Toosii heading out on tour with Summer Walker later that year.

As evidenced by the deliberate lack of features on Platinum Heart, the self-described loner finds the freedom of working on his own infinitely satisfying. And while he’s more than proven his massive appeal, Toosii’s main motivation for making music lies in the emotional release he finds in the creative process. “I’m an empath, so everything I do in life, I give to people—I’ll give you the shirt off my back,” says Toosii. “The one thing I have for myself is music, and I really try to let myself have that. I know a lot of other artists are focused on making people happy, but I just try to focus on making something that I love.”