By: Amaury Aguilera
I’ve always had a passion for music. Growing up in the environment I came from, getting exposure wasn’t easy, and I never wanted to come across as delusional. Because of that, I kept my dreams to myself. I rarely told anyone about my love for music. People would see me singing, performing, or acting like I was on stage and would often call me crazy. Even my family didn’t really know how serious I was about it. I felt like no one could put more pressure on me than I already put on myself.
Sneaking Into Sessions While Cutting Hair
Back in 2020, I was already around a few local artists and music figures. Every chance I got, I would sneak into studio sessions, hoping someone would eventually give me an opportunity to step into the booth. One day, while attending a session with some friends, they encouraged me to give it a try. I ended up freestyling a verse. Ironically, I was the one with the weakest English in the group, but somehow I still managed to leave an impression. Everyone kept telling me I was talented and that I should take music seriously.
At the time, I didn’t fully believe it. I already had a life built around being a barber, cutting hair, paying bills, and handling responsibilities. Music felt like a dream that was hard to reach. Still, the desire never left me. Deep down, I knew that whenever the right opportunity came, I would be ready to take it.
The Night in the Bronx That Changed Everything
That opportunity finally arrived in December 2025. One day, while cutting a friend’s hair, a beat started playing through the speakers. I began freestyling over it, something that was completely normal for me. My friend, however, saw something different. He recognized the talent and happened to have connections with people in music and media. He promised to bring me to a studio session later that night.
That night, we ended up at a professional studio in the Bronx. I’ve been in nice places before, but the setup immediately told me that serious artists recorded there. My friend encouraged me to relax and be myself since I was the only artist recording that night.
The first beat they played was a dembow track. Even though I’m Dominican, I wasn’t feeling it at first because I wanted to show them how versatile I could be. But something inside me kept whispering, “Just do it. Show them.” So I did.
As soon as I started recording, everyone in the room became excited about what they were hearing. By the end of the night, I had recorded three songs. Around 4 a.m., the studio engineer walked back into the room and asked, “That was you in the booth? The Dominican song, that’s a hit. Don’t sleep on it.” Hearing that from someone with experience in the industry, someone who didn’t know me personally, gave me a new level of confidence. For the first time, I felt like maybe this dream wasn’t as far away as I thought.
Putting In the Late Nights
After that experience, I wanted to fully commit to my craft. Another friend connected me with a producer and a studio near my barbershop where I could work whenever I wanted. Throughout December and January, there were countless nights when I would spend all day cutting hair and then head straight to the studio, sometimes staying there until morning. It wasn’t easy, but there was nothing I wanted more.
Along the way, I also taught myself how to release my own music independently. Now, looking ahead, I plan to drop a lot of new music this summer. I believe I bring a unique sound and perspective that the industry needs right now, as a born-and-raised Dominican island boy who can create music in both English and Spanish.
That versatility allows me to connect with different cultures and communities through one universal language, music. More importantly, it allows me to bring people together through the two things that connect us all, love and music. This journey is only beginning.
What Comes Next
I’m excited to announce the release of my debut single, “OG Dies,” dropping on April 17. The track brings laid-back, easygoing vibes heading into the spring, setting the tone for what’s to come as we prepare to make our mark this summer. The dream that I kept hidden for years is finally becoming reality. And this is only the start.
