These Two Singles From Chicago’s Next Rising Star Will Surprise You

Sultanthegiant is a singer/songwriter from Chicago, Illinois who’s got tons of potential. Getting his start in music through the same local program as Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Noname, Sultanthegiant’s road to the spotlight may be inevitable. The young singer’s smooth yet eccentric tone will remind you of alternative R&B artists like Brent Faiyaz. But the thing that makes Sultanthegiant unique is definitely his songwriting. You’ll find yourself repeating his lyrics because they’re real. They are from the heart, so that’s where they hit you. Combine that with an acoustic influenced instrumental containing a strings sample that is either overly happy or extremely depressing, you get the R&B song you’ve been missing (production by Kyle McIntyre).

We were pleasantly surprised by the emerging artists’ latest single titled ‘Stand Up One Mo Time’; so impressed that it made us dive deeper in to his catalog. We came across another song titled ‘Don’t waste your time’. The Chicago artist holds nothing back vocally, especially on the second verse. Sultanthegiant ditches the self reflection for a bit and directs his attention to the ladies. He brings out his inner Weeknd in pursuit of a love interest who may or may not be taken. Listen to ‘Don’t waste your time’ by Sultanthegiant below.

If you’ve read this far, you’re in luck. We got a chance to ask Sultanthegiant a couple questions to get some more insight. Learn more about the rising star out of Chicago, Illinois.

 

Where are you from?

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: I’m from Chicago, Illinois . I lived in the uptown area till I was 17, then my family moved to Chicago lawn.

 

How did SULTANTHEGIANT find music?

 

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: My friend wanted to be a SoundCloud rapper, so he brought me into this YOUmedia studio and we recorded in this wooden box in the wicker park area library. I was helping him record one of his songs and he played me this beat. It was something by Tundra Beats, I started writing and fell in love with it. And every since then I’ve just kept working on making music.

 

 

Fun Fact: Various YOUmedia studios around Chicago played major parts in the careers of artists like Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, NoName, Alex Wiley, and more.

 

Are you more introverted or extroverted?

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: I’m more of an introvert. However, I have extroverted tendencies. I go out and I like going out to parties ;however, I have been told I have a tendency to be distant ,which is true. It’s one of the reasons I love making music, it kinda helps me articulate what I wanna say without having to say it. It helps me articulate it into a space I rate as of one person.

 

What are some of your favorite lyrics from ‘Stand Up One Mo Time’?

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: My favorite lyrics is the pre chorus: “Everytime I look around/ I don’t want participation/ it feels like everyone’s hating/ and kicking when they down”. I just like how those lyrics flow into one another and how seamlessly it flows into the chorus. The pre chorus acts like a tightening and the chorus acts as the release.

 

I can tell the single is inspired by real life. In the song, are your words directed at someone in particular?

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: The words are directed towards myself. It’s about feeling tired and frustrated. I was at that point where I just everything and anyone. However, I remembered there is always light at the end of the tunnel, which is what kept me going.

 

This year, have you grown more as a person or an artist?

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: Both, personally I can’t separate my artistry from me as a person. So as I grow as a person I also tend to grow as an artist. When I was younger and more immature, I was naïve to how intricate the song creation process really was. However that has changed , I’m now much more particular with my art and I think it’s partially due to me growing as a person.

 

Tell us about your project ‘Cleaning Out The Garage’?

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: Cleaning out the Garage was my first official mixtape. And I honestly love and hate it at the same time. I finished the mixtape after making music for about 5 months during quarantine. I love it because I honestly think some of the songs on it are good and represent the ideas I had for my music. However, at the same time I look back at it now and I can’t help but think “damn, I could’ve done that way better”.

 

 

Do you still feel like you’re “falling through the air”, or did you figure out how to fly?

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: That’s actually funny, I no longer feel like I’m falling through the air and I’ve finally figured out how to fly. It took me falling on my face a couple time’s admittedly but that’s apart of the journey. Now I just have to make sure I don’t fly too close to the sun.

 

Where can new fans follow you?

 

 

SULTANTHEGIANT: Fans can follow me on Instagram and Twitter through the name Sultanthegiant. In addition fans can listen to my music on any platform by using the name Sultanthegiant.