South Florida is hip-hop's current hot spot. It was evident when artists like Kodak Black, Denzel Curry, XXXTentacion, Lil Pump and Smokepurpp began gaining traction and blessing XXL's Freshman covers in the last three years. And that trend continues with 1WayFrank, a rapper out of Fort Lauderdale who is intent on keeping a light on the Sunshine State.

The road to stardom wasn't the smoothest for 1WayFrank. When the rapper was just 16 years old, both his mother and brother were deported to their homeland of Exuma in the Bahamas. According to Frank, his mother "was a gangsta," while his brother was apprehended by Ft. Lauderdale police for walking around with a shotgun. Frank began living with his aunt and skipping school with friends. "I used to be freestyling and getting high with my homeboys and shit," he tells XXL.

He got his initial break once his Dj808-produced twerk anthem "Aye Girl" went viral four years ago, amassing more than 7 million views on YouTube and nearly 12 million streams on SoundCloud. He then went on to collaborate with fellow Floridian Kodak Black on the song "Make It Happen." "We had spoke a little bit before he went to jail," Frank says. "I was trying to work with him but he got locked up."

Like Kodak, 1WayFrank's rhymes detail his rough upbringing and how he copes with his past. His Southern drawl reels you on the seven-track mixtape Sunland Stunna, his 2017 offering that's proved to be his most successful project to date.

"Making a song is real easy ’cause I listen to the beats before I record it," 1Way explains in regard to his upcoming tape, Nigga From Lauderdale. "I get three songs done in an hour, so it ain’t nothin to make a mixtape. The project is set to span 10 tracks, and will include beats from several up-and-coming Florida producers.

Get to know 1WayFrank better in the latest edition of XXL's The Break.

Age: 22

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

I grew up listening to: "Lil Wayne, Boosie, Juvenile and Future. Boosie—he's from down South [too.] We're real similar."

My style's been compared to: “Like the Black Drake.”

Most people don't know: “I’m a pimp.” [laughs].

My standout moment to date: “My biggest song is ‘Aye Girl.’ Ever since I put it out, it's just been going. I've seen people in Paris have been dancing to the shit, so I knew that’s a good song."

My goal in hip-hop is: "To be the best at what I do."

I'm going to be the next: “I just wanna be me. I don’t wanna nobody else."

Follow 1WayFrank on Twitter and Instagram.

Standouts: Sunland Stunna

"Green Crack"

"Make It Happen"

"Aye Girl"

"Drippin Sauce"

K Camp's "97" featuring Rich The Kid, Bobby Kritical and 1WayFrank

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