At the top of this month, up-and-coming rappers Polo G and Lil Tjay were able to check off one major goal on their growing to-do lists: land on the Billboard Hot 100. Their hit collab “Pop Out” debuted at No. 95 on the chart dated April 6, and continues to steadily inch its way higher — currently sitting at No. 89 in its third week on the chart.
The two young artists started bubbling last year, and both used social media to their advantage by following their own instinct and timing, strategically dropping new songs whenever the previous one stopped buzzing. Eventually, the record labels started calling. Both Polo and Tjay decided to sign to Columbia Records last year.
Although they’re from different cities, Polo G being from Chicago and Lil Tjay repping the Bronx, their fans have been waiting for this collaboration. The making of “Pop Out” felt natural for the two, considering they were fans of each other’s music beforehand. “It was definitely an organic process because we were already fucking with each other’s music,” Polo G tells Billboard.
Polo G and Lil Tjay are determined to put on for their cities, acknowledging that their supporters from their home turfs got them to this point today. Last October, he packed out Manhattan’s S.O.B.’s for a headlining show, confirming the city he loves, definitely loves him back. “My music is generated from New York, and I blew up there, so I really have to give it the credit,” says Tjay. “New York people put me on.”
With an increasingly successful single, an unshakable base of loyal teen fans, and the charisma to match, all signs are pointing to a bright future for Polo G and Lil Tjay. Check out their conversation with Billboard below.
How are you both feeling right now about “Pop Out” hitting the Hot 100?
Polo G: I feel like I’m experiencing something I always wanted to do. I set up my goals I wanted to accomplish this year, so to do it, I felt really great about that.
Tjay: I feel like this is such a great accomplishment and I’m really excited about where it will go.
Did you have a hunch this was the one, or is it surprising you how crazy the track is going?
Polo: I had low-key felt like that early on, before we even made the song. Because I know where we’re from, both of us were hot, and then I knew this song was good in general. So when it dropped — and I wanna say it was like, two or four hours in — there was already about 100,000 views. That was the most engagement I had ever seen early on for a video I dropped, so I knew this one was different. I was like, “Yeah, this one is gonna go off.”
Tjay: Honestly, I ain’t gonna lie. I didn’t know it was going to be this big. I did know it was still gonna be some good shit, though, because I know everyone was waiting for us to collab. So when it happened, the people were happy to hear it and it shows.
Tjay you’re from the Bronx, and Polo you’re from Chicago. So how did you guys link up for the song?
Polo: We were both up on each other’s music and we were fucking with each other’s music. So we knew of each other but it really came together through an A&R over at Columbia Records. She linked us up and we just got in the studio and made it happen. It was definitely an organic process, because we were already fucking with each other’s music.
How important is it for you to be repping your cities?
Polo: It’s really important for me to rep Chicago because it’s like, there are a lot of us going through the same thing in Chicago. You gotta set an example if you can. Everybody knows what’s going on in our city and I just want to step outside the box and do something different and step outside of the box and set an example for the people coming up after me.
Tjay: My music is generated from New York, and I blew up there so I really have to give it the credit. New York people put me on.
What has been the best moment in your career so far?
Tjay: Hitting the Billboard chart. This is the best moment so far.
Polo: I’d have to say the same thing. Overall, me getting to the point I’m at right now. I just think about how I came a long way from this time last year.
I’m sure a bunch of labels were reaching out to you both. Why did you guys decide to sign with Columbia?
Polo: It was when I was meeting people. When I had came to L.A., I had met with like five different labels in a day. The process was starting to get irritating, honestly, and I was starting to get agitated. Columbia was one of those people that was calling me when the process was getting was getting frustrating. Taking flights every time, that type of stuff was new. The person who was representing me at the time just sat down and talked to me, and said I should go with Columbia because they’re coming the best out of everyone else right now. I talked with Columbia, and it wound up being the best fit for me.
Tjay: I was talking to an A&R earlier and he really liked my music. I told him my goals and he told me what he thinks the team could do for me. It was based off of conversations like that, and I felt like they would be the right people to push me.
Tell me about one fan moment that really stuck out to you in your journey.
Polo: Just recently, I had a show in Pittsburgh, and they were really anticipating for me to come. People were, like, waiting for me at the airport, to sign little records that they had and stuff like that. That was the first time I had people wait for me to come to their city like that so they could get my autograph. That felt great.
Tjay: My most memorable moment was when I was able to spend some time with and talk to some kids who are currently suffering from cancer. They’re big fans of my music, and we got together and I got them some food and we talked and all that. That was the best moment for me, because it meant a lot.
What’s next for the both of you?
Polo: My next big goal is my first big project to ever drop, my mixtape dropping next month. I just want that to be one of the biggest projects of the year or the most noticed. Also, I want to make the XXL Freshman cover.
Tjay: I have an album coming up soon, but I just don’t have a date for it yet. I just want my album to be as big as it could be.