The young artist from Lauderhill, Florida, had been rapping for barely a month when Broward County hero Kodak Black spotted his talent and took him under his wing. Since then, Crix’s hard-hitting anthems have made him one of Florida’s brightest young stars and earned him a deal with Kodak Black’s Vulture Love Label and Capitol Records. His self-assured charisma can be heard on recent songs like the Kodak collaboration “Spin the Block” and the forceful “Power Freestyle.” As he prepares to release his debut project, he’s set on staying true to himself while expanding his sound. Raised by Haitian parents in Lauderhill, Crix credits his upbringing for providing him with a fighter’s spirit. He remembers peers making fun of him and his Haitian classmates and baiting Crix into schoolyard brawls.

Listening to other artists who were rapping about the lifestyle he was living every day made him believe he could do it himself. At the end of each studio session, he jumped in the booth and rapped about his experiences, posting the snippets on Instagram. Soon, Kodak Black went from liking Crix’s posts to bringing the young rapper to the studio, where he showed and proved. While Crix’s life has changed drastically, he was built to adapt. He never chased the spotlight, but the spotlight came to him. Now he feels a responsibility to take his music as far as it can go—and to share the shine with those who came up along with him.