By Mick Dillon / The Jambar
Just days after taking the stage at Coachella, Philadelphia-based rapper Armani White took to the streets of downtown Youngstown on April 18 to headline the 12th annual Federal Frenzy.
Federal Frenzy featured 23 artists performing at five different venues from 2-11 p.m. including Varsity Club, Twisted Roots and V2 By Vernon Wine Bar and Tarattoria along with YSU PenPro Main Stage and The Summit FM Stage on Federal Street. White rounded off the night with his headlining set on YSU PenPro Main Stage.
White’s passion for music started at a young age, where he used writing as an outlet. He said writing has helped him explore his emotions and put words to feelings he didn’t understand.
White released his debut album “Keep in Touch” in 2019, and he has since gone on to garner over 1.1 billion streams across all platforms.
“Keep In Touch” served as an ode to White’s late father, Lee Tolbert, who died in 2016. The eight-song project was built around horns, which paid homage to Tolbert’s love for singer Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” a song the two shared memories with.
“The whole project felt like things I wanted to say to him for years but could never find the right way to say it,” White said.
White ended the festival with the album’s outro track, “Thanksgiving,” in memory of his father.
“That was one of the only songs I ever got to show him and be like, ‘Yo, this is something I’ve been working on.’ It was special to me,” White said.
Personal struggles have always been a common theme of White’s projects. His 2021 album, “Things We Lost In The Fire,” is no exception. The album serves as White’s personal diary centered around his 2019 arrest for arson, which he was released for two months later after the charges were dropped.
“I want to do a journal entry, then I want to create something really realistic,” White said. “The beauty of making music is that you get to watch someone go through their human experience. So, like ‘Things We Lost In The Fire,’ you get to watch me be this version of me that was dealing with this stupid arson charge, that wasn’t even really arson.”
White broke into the mainstream with his 2022 release, “BILLIE EILISH.” The single now has over 460 million streams on Spotify and has gone on to receive U.S. Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Shortly after the release of “BILLIE EILISH,” White signed a record deal with Def Jam Recordings. The deal opened the door to his first major label release, “Road to CASABLANCO.” The nine-track EP featured hits such as “GOATED” and “SILVERTOOTH,” featuring rappers Denzel Curry and A$AP Ferg, respectively.
As for what’s next, White gave The Jambar exclusive details regarding his upcoming tours and projects.
White said he has one album finished, which will be released in a month, as well as another one in the works. He also has an upcoming tour to be announced, which will feature a show in his hometown of Philadelphia.
