Sprite: Next Success

Turbeazy Takes A Major Step Forward By Establishing His Visual Identity

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There are a lot of things an artist needs to do right to make it big, and one of the most major of those factors emerged over the past decade or so: social media. A creative’s online presence is how most potential fans first see them, so if that part of your branding isn’t strong, it can be off-putting to potential fans. New York rapper Turbeazy is putting in work on the music side of things, but when it comes to social media, he’s lacking.

That’s according to Shawnae Corbett-Rice, an artist manager helping Turbeazy boost his online branding in a new episode of Next Success, presented by Uproxx and Sprite. Being productive doesn’t always mean being polite, so Corbett-Rice was transparent with Turbeazy by telling him that his social media game is “pretty weak.”

Turbeazy was initially surprised by the assessment, but knowing that Corbett-Rice was there to help, he dove headfirst into a photoshoot, a strong first step in helping to establish his visual identity and brand.

So, how did the re-branding effort go? Find out by watching the video above, which also goes more into what Turbeazy is about as an artist. To better get to know Turbeazy and learn about his triumphs over past setbacks, check out the Next Success hub.

Ausar Gets To Work On A New ‘Homies’ Video With A Big-Time Creative Partner

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Ausar is a promising up-and-comer from the musically rich city of Chicago, and now the rapper has been granted a tremendous opportunity to make good on his potential.

In a new video from the Next Success series (presented by Uproxx and Sprite), Ausar gets the chance to work with Quincy Banks, an established creative pro in Los Angeles. The name may not be familiar, but his work certainly is: He’s contributed key visual elements to projects by artists like Lizzo, The Rolling Stones, and Charli XCX, among plenty of others. Needless to say, having Banks on your side isn’t something that should be taken lightly.

In the clip, the two meet up for the first time and quickly get to talking about the project at hand: a new video for Ausar’s song “Homies,” breaking down the track and what they want to accomplish with the visual for it.

To learn more about the behind the scenes process between mentor and mentee check out the above video. And check out Ausar’s completed music video and a bit more on his journey by checking out our Next Success hub [hub link].

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Talecia Tucker Knows How To Stay Focused On The Big Picture

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It can be daunting to change careers, especially during a pandemic, but Atlanta artist Talecia Tucker is finding her way through that transition just fine.

After high school, the Georgia native went from studying fashion to putting that knowledge to work while establishing Pretty Major, a unisex clothing brand. In 2018, however, a new passion flared, with Tucker taking an interest in photography and the idea that they could pursue that professionally.

Tucker went to grad school to sharpen their skills, but unfortunately, the pandemic got in the way, causing her to leave the program she had enrolled in. Tucker isn’t stuck at a crossroads, though; they’re combining their two primary talents, leaning on the belief that her background in fashion can give her an edge when it comes to photography.

“I like pops of color,” Tucker says, “so even when I’m photographing, I’m thinking about colors and the moods that are associated with color. It’s the same with my fashion.”

Regardless of the medium, for Tucker, it’s all about forging connections while making work that represents their community and intersections of their identity.

“I’m an artist first, and being an artist, I like to connect to other people through my art, whether that be through a lens, through fashion, or through zine-making,” Tucker says. “I think what gives me a unique perspective is wanting that connection and that being a through-line in all my work.”

As any artist will attest to, rejection is part of the process, but Tucker isn’t letting it slow them down.

“I face rejection when I’m seeking funding, whether it be through grants or trying to find investors for my company,” Tucker says. “I’ve also been able to retain my artistic voice through it all. It’s set me back in some ways, but in other ways, it has helped out.”

When facing setbacks, Tucker finds both support and inspiration from her mother.

“My mom is my biggest inspiration,” she admits. “She has gone through a lot more trauma, and she’s still able to be a positive person and to encourage me to go after my dreams. In those moments when I’m feeling down or encounter a setback, I think my mom is my biggest supporter and I don’t want to let her down in those moments.”

When it comes time to emerge from those moments, Tucker finds a way to focus. “I don’t want to discount the fact that it does knock me down,” Tucker says, “but I always think back to the big picture: That one setback, one ‘no,’ one rejection letter, is not going to stop my vision. Even if I get down, I have to pick myself back up and look at the big picture.”

Doubters And Rejection Only Fuel Turbeazy

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It can be hard to live up to the standard set by your parents, especially if one of them made their name in your industry. But up-and-coming New York rapper Turbeazy is both following in his father’s footsteps and blazing his own path.

Turbeazy remembers going to his father’s concerts as a kid; formative experiences that gave him his first exposure to hip-hop. When his dad became a DJ, Turbeazy took advantage of the moment, feasting on a fully fleshed-out collection of rap records that also helped to influence his career choice.

“At school, I used to freestyle,” Turbeazy says, “and one day somebody told me I should rap, so I ended up going to one of these kids that somebody put me on to that had a studio.”

Thanks to a laptop his mother gave him, Turbeazy kept recording, even while in the Army. When he got out, the education continued with classes that helped him forge a career as an audio engineer at Manhattan’s Fight Klub Studios.

When he records now, Turbeazy is sure to keep one foot in the past, allowing the influence from his father’s career and record collection to find its way into his music.

“In order to move forward, you gotta be able to know and acknowledge the past,” he says. “I still feel like that needs to be represented. It’s something that I was raised to appreciate, coming from a household of an artist and a person who was deep into hip-hop culture. I love and appreciate how far music has evolved.”

While Turbeazy is forging his way forward, his journey hasn’t been without challenges.

“When I was in the Army, nobody really wanted me to rap,” he says. “They thought it was funny. I had a few supporters, but when it was time for me to leave, they were saying, ‘You should re-up and stay in the Army. You can be a good soldier.’ I was like, ‘I want to go to school. I want to be a rapper.’ People were like, ‘That’s a stupid idea.’”

He also remembers being rejected when he tried to pass somebody in the industry a flash drive of his music. It’s something that could discourage someone, but Turbeazy turned it into fuel, telling us that it made him “want to go harder.” And so far, that persistence is paying off. Turbeazy’s profile is steadily increasing and he has songs racking up tens of thousands of plays on platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud. The way Turbeazy sees it, staying positive and dedicated, especially when the goal seems so far away, is the only way forward.

Chicago Has Influenced Ausar On All Levels

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Family is important, but for rising rapper Ausar (who you might remember from Netflix’s hip-hop competition series Rhythm + Flow), it represents the key to him becoming the budding star that he is today.

After laying down his musical foundation with the gospel sounds he learned in church with his mother, his brother got him into hip-hop.

“We would write and listen to instrumentals,” he says. “It went from me being competitive with my older brother over having to have the best verse to me really having a love for hip-hop.”

Ausar grew up in Chicago, a proud city known for its many beloved hip-hop icons. For him, the city was pivotal in his development.

“It [Chicago] has influenced my style. Chicago has influenced me on all levels,” he adds, giving a nod toward his music and his efforts to show up for the community as an advocate and example.

Besides hip-hop, Ausar has learned a lot of lessons from the game of basketball. Most importantly, discipline. “More than anything, knowing that it requires a regiment to get to where you’d like to go,” he says. “The results come directly from the work you’re willing to put in. On the other side is knowing your role within the team. Knowing when to step up and be a leader. Knowing when to fall back and rely on the people around you. You have a team for a reason: you can’t do everything on your own.”

That drive and positive mindset haven’t made Ausar immune to challenges in his career, though.

“Every step on the road, I’ve faced some form of rejection to get to the yeses,” he says. “I’ve had instances where I entered competitions and I felt like I was good enough, but didn’t end up winning. It killed my confidence. Then I came back around, did the work, was right back in those same positions, and succeeded in them.”

His experience on Rhythm + Flow ended in disappointment, but he knows how rare an opportunity it was and he’s using it as a building block.

“I was knocked out in the first round, but years later, we’re getting the results we were looking for,” he says. Ausar’s absolutely right on that. His recent single, “Homies,” has been gaining traction on streaming platforms and is racking up tens of thousands of plays.

As Ausar continues his journey, he hopes that other up-and-comers like himself can observe and take something away from it.

“I’m continuing to be myself and be a resource and an outlet for anybody who needs one,” he says. “I think a lot of people feel like you have to fit into a very particular box in order to be successful, but that’s not the case at all. As long as you stay true to you, you’ll find it.”