Lil West is a 20-year-old powerhouse pushing music into the future with everything he’s got. His sound is abrasive but familiar, industrial but saturated. Lil West conquers uncharted territory, and then reports live from his newfound dimension. He’s lightyears ahead of modern trap, but the themes he touches on are current and relatable.
Behind closed doors, Lil West has been running victory lap after victory lap, crafting albums with Take A Day Trip, distance decay, Dmac, and more. Lil West’s versatility is part of what makes him so exciting. His latest album LW17 has brutal Atlanta-type bangers, forlorn emo ballads, future-pop super-bops, and catchy club anthems too. Now, he’s working on four albums at once and can’t wait to turn the mainstream on its head. Check out our check in, right before he makes it big. 
Underground Underdogs: What has your life been like these days?
Lil West: So fucking relaxing bro, everything is real and in motion! I’m probably the happiest I been in a while honestly.
I heard you’re working on multiple projects at the same time right now. How have you gone about doing that?
I’m working on like four projects bro. I have so much shit on tuck, probably like 300 tracks. But it’s all about how I’m feeling day to day, I might be mad one day and do like three Dmac tracks, then next week I might be happy as fuck and do a lot of shit with distance decay. These tapes are like my daily mood swings: happy, mad, sad.
Do you know when and in what order you’re releasing these projects?
The daytrip project will come out first sometime next month or so, the distance decay project will follow up a few months after that, and then maybe another EP and then the Dmac tape will drop last. I’m really ‘bout go crazy cuz I been kinda on a somewhat hiatus but I’m back and locked and loaded.
David Biral of Take A Day Trip (Left) and Lil West (Right)
Have these producers been coming to you in Delaware or have you been going to them to work?
distance decay comes over my crib a lot. We did that whole tape in person, and me and daytrip did the tape in NYC.
What are some goals you have for you and your music?
I just want a forever cult fan base that see the good in me at all times, and I want to meet higher levels with my music sonically.
Who have you collaborated with that you feel really pushed you?
Probably nothing,nowhere. and Night Lovell. They’re my really good friends and they’ve helped me a lot.
Do you have any dream collabs?
I want to work with M.I.A. & Young Thug so bad.
What about their music speaks to you?
On some songs, Thug makes me wanna cry ‘cuz I hear so much pain. He literally has the biggest influence on a lot of new artists. Even me, I love Thug! And M.I.A. is so rare. I feel like if you work with her, you literally made it. I think her being so rare and lowkey makes me fuck with her even more. She’s amazing.
Are there any songs that get you hyped to record? Also, what have you been listening to lately?
I been listening to a lot of ATL Smook, Lil Dude, Yung Lean, and Blood Orange. A lot of UnoTheActivist and Yung Lean’s music makes me want to record, they motivate me for some reason.
Any parting words to our readers?
Lots of new music comin’ soon as fuck! Love y’all forever.
Check out Lil West’s brand new single “Give it all up” down below