The Break Presents: Raskim

Raskim may be shy and introverted in close-knit settings, but that doesn't reflect in his music one bit. The Anguilla-born rapper, whose music recently appeared in the Sounds of Anguilla (Volume 1) compilation, wants the world to know that he's the next big thing. Like many MCs before him, Raskim uses music as his personal diary. However, his unadulterated truth on being Anguillan resonates with some, but may be too real for others. Nonetheless, find out more about the 24-year-old's struggles, his goals and plans for the future in this week's edition of The Break. -- Aleia Woods

Name: Raskim

Age: 24

Hometown: Anguilla

I grew up listening to: I grew up listening to Biggie and 2Pac a lot. When I really started to get into [rap] it was from listening to Bow Wow, when Bow Wow just came out, in the beginning. Yeah man, I was like, "Yeah, I can do this same shit too."

Most people don't know I: Most people don't know that I just grew up with my mom, alone. Dad left when I was younger, he was around, but now how he was supposed to be. It was kind of rough for us growing up. I had a lot of struggles and things, getting into all kinds of little altercations with the police and stuff.

My style's been compared to: I don't really sound like anybody -- it's original sound. The one thing that makes Raskim unique and makes people listen to his music, it's about kind of real life. It's things that are really happening in Anguilla, so [I] tell [my] story... Which captures a lot of people's interest in Anguilla because it's about what's happening on the island, the struggles people are going through... We just want the rest of the world to know what's happening in Anguilla, you know?

My standout records or moments to date have been: I think when we dropped the video "Never Left" with Songs of Anguilla. That was the biggest moment, really. Got a lot of gigs from the video, performances here and there, just so people could know who I am.

My goal in hip-hop is: I want to start my own label. A lot of Caribbean artists...Cause there's a lot of talent out here... [It's] important to myself, you know? And I'd like to see everybody make it somewhere, some day.

I'm gonna be the next: I'm gonna be the next biggest artist out of the Caribbean.

Follow Raskim on Twitter plus check out his SoundCloud.

Standouts: "Never Left"

"Home Town"

See 40 Hip-Hop Albums Turning 20 in 2016