The Break Presents: Q Da Fool

Maryland locals searching for the next legit DMV rap star might want to take an extended look at Q Da Fool, a 21-year-old Largo, Md. resident with a strong work ethic and a knack for mayhem.

Since bursting on the scene with his first solo project Trap Fever in 2015, the former Pakk Boyz member has kept his foot on the gas, unloading project after project over the last three years.

Arrested for attempted murder at the age of 15, the Muslim convert's endured a life inextricably tied to the streets. That lifestyle underscores songs embedded with a sense of unrepentant gangsterdom. The titles of projects like 100 Round Goon, Rich Shootah 2 and I Empty Pistols make that much clear. With millions of views on YouTube and a steadily growing fan base, it's safe to say his approach, which also includes bits of melody, is definitely doing its job.

Although his lyrics are confrontational, Q, who's collaborated with DMV artists like Fat Trel, Wale, Shy Glizzy and Chaz French, is all about unity. Putting the area on the map is one of his biggest goals. "Rico Nasty, her first video, she was in my house," Q explained during a recent stop at XXL's Manhattan office. "I just be showing love. I just wanna sign a whole bunch of people from my city and just turn up."

Turn up is something Q does a lot of in his new video for "Not Playin," premiering exclusively on XXL today. In the visual, Q takes a bit of time off from his trap exploits to hit the strip club and throw some bills. The Zaytoven-produced track is a banger, and Q's got loads more tracks with the famed Atlanta producer in the stash.

You can check out Q's new video for "Not Playin" below and cop the track here. Get to know Maryland's latest gem Q Da Fool in this week's edition of The Break.

Age: 21

Hometown: Largo, Md.

I grew up listening to: "Gucci Mane, C-Murder, Soulja Slim, Juvenile, Master P—I liked listening to them."

My style’s been compared to: "I heard one time somebody said I sound like if Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy had a son. That's the only thing I heard before. Nobody don't tell me I sound like somebody for real. That's the only comment I ever really heard. They say we [DMV rappers] all sound the same."

Most people don’t know: "I like to read books. That's something like a lot of people probably don't know. My life out there, I don't be hiding nothing. They know what I like to do. I be doing it in front of everybody. I used to play the trumpet when I was in elementary school."

My standout moments: "Something I did, I think [that stands out is] I work with everybody in my city. Like Fat Trel, Shy Glizzy, Wale—that don't happen where I'm from. That just don't happen. People don't work together. It's a lot of hate out there. I'm the first one that did it. I worked with everybody, I linked up with everybody, I don't got no problems with nobody, like—it's all love. So I think that's a standout moment because you can't even get nobody to do that in our city."

My goal in hip-hop is: "I wanna have my own label like No Limit, like, Cash Money, I wanna have a Rich Shootahs. I wanna do all that. By 25, I wanna be so up in my career I can put my city on. I be putting a lotta people on. Like, if you see, I'm in a lot of people's videos."

I'm going to be the next: "I'm gon' be the next Denzel Washington [laughs]."

Follow Q Da Fool on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Standouts:

100 Round Goon

Rich Shootah 2

"Guns & Bells"

"Dogged Up"

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