The Lil Tensei Interview
Lil Tensei: From Hobby to Hustle in the Memphis Rap Scene
Lil Tensei, a rising rapper from Memphis, Tennessee, has been honing his craft since a young age, driven by a deep passion for music that started with his first track on GarageBand back in 2016. Initially inspired by heavyweights like Chief Keef, Lil Wayne, and XXXTentacion, Lil Tensei has evolved his style by drawing influence from his hometown's buzzing rap scene, citing local legends such as Big Scarr and Pooh Shiesty as key inspirations.
His journey from making songs as a hobby to pursuing music seriously took a pivotal turn in 2022, when his close friends KiddCole and GMuney2K from the rap label SGW recognized his talent. Encouraged by their support, Lil Tensei hit the booth and quickly found his groove, crafting songs that showcased his natural flow and sharp wordplay over beats discovered on YouTube.
His first two singles, “Figaro” featuring KiddCole and “Freestyle” featuring KiddCole, gained traction on SoundCloud and Apple Music, cementing his decision to take music more seriously. Now, after years of dedication and refinement, Lil Tensei is preparing to drop his highly anticipated debut album, "Money Mission," a project he's been crafting over the past two years with a focus on delivering raw, authentic Memphis energy.
As 2025 approaches, Lil Tensei is set to make major moves in the rap game, turning his lifelong dream into reality and proving that his "money mission" is just getting started. Keep an eye out for what's next, because he's ready to put Memphis on his back and take his music to the next level.
https://www.instagram.com/lil.tensei/ https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lil-tensei/1708463874 https://open.spotify.com/artist/4T8B5TCDPA4Ssi4iZd80rO?si=E6yQypJeT1yX1b2VnwTYeg https://youtube.com/channel/UCoQbH28hWC91qzL5aPjbDNg?si=mgKhTDpkl7Q7T9sl
