Sixteen-year-old rappers, Sugarhill Ddot and STAR BANDZ were featured on Complex’s list of best teenage rappers of 2024. Co-signed by Drake and Meek Mill, Harlem native Sugarhill Ddot just dropped his album, 2 Sides of the Story, which features STAR BANDZ. STAR BANDZ is releasing her debut project in December. They both collaborated on the track “My Baby” and just dropped the music video, which has over 7.8 million views on YouTube. The two are set to appear with Lil Tyler on his MR SKII tour later this month.
How does it feel being your age and having all of this success and views?
STAR: I feel good about it. When the song was first made and I hopped on the collaboration I knew that song was going to be a hit. I think I spoke it into existence. I feel good about being on the Complex list, that’s hard.
Ddot: I didn’t think the song was going to blow up. I released the song myself and she hopped on the remix. I thought it was going to be better than the original, but I didn’t think in one month the song would be big.
Is there a venue you dream of playing one day?
Ddot: I want to perform in the biggest venue in my city, Madison Square Garden.
STAR: I want to do something at the football games.
STAR, when can fans expect an album or mixtape?
STAR: I got my EP all together right now. I got all the songs lined up and I’m planning on dropping it in November right before I go on the MR SKII tour. Every year on my birthday I drop something. Next year on my birthday, I’m going to drop my album.
Ddot, How did you come up with your album cover?
Ddot: It’s basically a young kid in the streets. If it wasn’t for music, I’d still be in the streets right now. The name of the album really means something to me, 2 Sides of the Story. There's two sides of me in the picture. If you look at it, you see the successful me and the young bad me. I tried to show the fans to keep their dreams alive. I didn't know I was going to be a rapper, but I always knew I was going to be something. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into that album and I appreciate everyone who worked on that album with me.
What songs are you both excited to perform on the MR SKII tour? What are you most looking forward to being on tour?
STAR & Ddot: “My Baby,” of course, that song goes up every time. I like performing my songs “Yea Yea” and “Bigger Better Badder” too. Basically, any song that's going to pop up on your TikTok. Whatever the people like, I’m dropping my EP before the tour. I’m working on my deluxe version of the album. We’ll both still be working on music while on tour, so we could release a song and perform it on tour.
STAR, what artist from Chicago influenced your sound the most growing up as a kid?
STAR: I don't really know. I grew up listening to Lil Dirk and Chief Keef; the locals. Maybe some influenced my style but I’ll give it to Chief Keef when it comes to my sound.
What’s the biggest highlight of your career so far?
STAR: Just having shows and people loving who I am. I noticed I have a big influence on kids, that's one of my biggest highlights.
Ddot: I ain’t going to lie, it has to be every show on Smirk. Those are big arenas, 10 to 15 thousand people. When I see those lights, that's just a good moment.
Do you guys think you have what it takes to be the top artist in your cities?
STAR & Ddot: Yeah, definitely. She probably has more competition than me because there’s more artists. But I know I have what it takes.
Listen to 2 Sides of the Story HERE
Watch “My Baby” music video HERE
Watch “Yea Yea” music video HERE