TEEN TITAN

Billie Eilish isn’t the only 17-year-old having a breakthrough year and generating Grammy buzz. Queens native Lil Tecca has broken through during an “Old Town Road”/“Señorita” summer to deliver his first hit single. The track, “Ransom” (Galactic/Republic), which began to dominate streaming platforms just a couple of months ago, continues to top charts as it climbs at Top 40 and Rhythm. The rapid ascent of the naturally gifted teen also led to a #3 chart bow for his debut mixtape, We Love You Tecca. On top of his melodic flow and irresistible hooks on WLYT, Tecca’s charisma shines through in the video for “Ransom” and the swagger-filled dance clips he creates with Triller.

With an undeniable single and successful debut project under his belt, Lil Tecca has laid the groundwork for what could turn out to be a long and lucrative career. Taking a moment to step away from his pursuit of world domination (as his mixtape cover art suggests), the teen phenom was gracious enough to answer a few questions from a pesky biz rag twice his age.

Why do you think “Ransom” has resonated so powerfully that it’s become one of the biggest songs of the year? I think “Ransom” has resonated so much with fans and listeners because it’s a really good song. It’s crazy how everything has gone these past few months, but I knew it was going to go crazy, and something that my fans really wanted when I did a Triller and teased a snippet of it a couple of months before dropping it.

What would a Grammy nomination mean to you?
A Grammy nomination would be lit! It would be an honor to win a Grammy, because it’s something so special and something that a lot of artists dream of.

As “Ransom” hits Top 40 radio, what are your thoughts on appealing to the masses?
I’m really glad that a lot of people like my music, but I don’t make music to appeal to the masses. I know what good music sounds like, so I go into the studio and have fun making it. At the end of the day, I’m just doing me and being myself.

You just turned 17; how do you balance rising fame and enjoying being a teenager?
I wouldn’t call it rising fame, but I’m adjusting to a new lifestyle.