DUO is likely one of the smoothest artists you’ll hear about in 2025. He floats between singing and rapping completely, and his melodies are off the charts. DUO began taking music critically after a severe knee harm ended his soccer profession whereas he was at Clark Atlanta College. It was nearly a blessing in disguise, because the harm compelled him to pivot full-time into appearing and making music. DUO stepped into the Star Studio to debate his musical journey to this point.
Why do you go by DUO? I am going by duo as a result of really sing and I rap. Lots of people say, what are you into? You do hip hop or R&B? And I’m like, I do each. So it’s the duality, however it got here from simply, like, even rising up, I used to be a Division I soccer participant, and I used to be a theater main, so I at all times sort of was in two totally different worlds on the identical time. So it was similar to I at all times lived in that duality area.
Who’re your musical inspirations? Oh, man. So rising up, it’s totally different pockets. So if I used to be on the gospel aspect, I’d say like your Fred Hammond, your Kirk Franklin, in fact. On the R&B aspect, I’d say positively your Usher, Ginuwine and Tank. After which on the hip hop aspect, Tupac, LL Cool J and Nelly. So simply the folks I used to be rising up listening to.
Why did you begin appearing? I simply knew I at all times had it. Like rising up within the church, I used to be the child who knew how one can imitate everyone within the church who simply sort of at all times had a artistic thoughts. So once I bought an opportunity to take a category freshman yr from some elective, my lecturers had been like, man, you actually are pure. I noticed that I say appearing is the athletic sport of emotion, so I simply nonetheless needed to practice my craft to grow to be nice at what I’m doing.
What impressed “Useless In My Eyes?” It was only a dialog we was having. I’m all about male vulnerability and conserving it actual. Like one factor about me, man, I’m not this Hollywood kind that simply performs it too cool. It’s in all probability the appearing in me. I’m in a position to faucet into the realness of what’s actual and tales as they occur. There’s males who do ladies mistaken, however there’s lots of males getting finished mistaken too.
You previewed your new music “Promise Ring.” When will it’s launched and what impressed the music? So I’m pondering it’s coming down the pipeline in March, Ladies’s Appreciation Month. Yeah, proper on time. Following Valentine’s Day. So this one is simply going again to the vulnerability. To me that is extra of a narrative a few promise to you. I discovered you. You who I wish to be with. And so I’m going to sit down right here and make these guarantees to you. So yeah, it’s referred to as “Promise Ring” and it may be engagements. It may very well be a bodily Promise Ring, however it’s extra so in regards to the general guarantees, just like the particular person you like. Simply decide to them and lean in, man.