He’s come a long way since growing up in his two-bedroom house on the Southeast side of Washington D.C. and attending Spingarn High School. His hit single “I Got Ice” can be heard on YouTube, where it’s amassed more than 100,000 views so far since its release this past summer. His name both onstage and off: TopDolla Sweizy.

“It’s my real name,” Sweizy said. “It’s on my I.D.”

Growing up in a rough area has had an effect on many a successful rapper, such as Wale and Eminem, who, coincidentally, Sweizy considers to be prominent influences on his music. 

“I grew up in the ghetto,” Sweizy said. “It affected me because it gave me a story to tell.”

Sweizy says he got into rapping in 2011 when, according to MTV.com, Sweizy did his first collaboration with Yung Chris of the TOB band. Sweizy also cited big names in the industry he’s worked with, such as southern rap sensation Young Thug.

What’s a typical day like for Sweizy? He’ll tell you: wake up, eat breakfast, check Instagram and “be fly.”

Many students at WJ have seen Sweizy promoting his music in the Georgetown Square shopping center, and often wondered about where he comes from and who he is.

“I think it’s pretty cool that he comes to G-Square and actually talks to us,” junior Montana Gowell said. “He seems really cool.”

Sweizy said that his name was created by himself and a friend. Sweizy said that he wants to make as much money as possible before the end of his career, hence the name ‘TopDolla’.

“I’m about my money,” he says. The name Sweizy goes back to when he was in school.

“[That’s] me being me,” Sweizy says. “Instead of saying ‘fresh’ we’d say ‘you be lookin’ Sweizy.’”

Being in the rap industry, Sweizy says he faces lots of adversity. Although he faces many challenges, he never loses sight of his dreams.

“[I’m] trying to make it to the top,” he says. When questioned about people who doubt him, he responds: “Ain’t nothin’.”

Sweizy has even bigger goals in the future, saying he is determined to stay in the game as long as he can and win awards. For now, fans can enjoy his new mixtape, “Hi 5 to the Plug,” which was released Nov. 14, on his birthday. Sweizy expects it to make waves.

“[Fans can expect] lots of crank,” the performer promised.