Hatesonny is one of the hardest working musicians in all of Chicago. Few artists are as dedicated to making the best music possible with each new project as him. He’s been feeding the city’s underground scene with a steady diet of cunning raps for the last couple years now, consistently topping himself with every new output. A 2020 Artist To Watch, his steadfast development has culminated in one of the year’s best projects, GOLDEN CHILD. 

In nine tracks, Hatesonny floats over a variety of sounds, from the abrasive, bass-heavy beat on “KILL BILL” to the heavenly soul found on “ST. MARK” to an insanely blissful sample that’s featured on “MOONCHILD.” His delivery exudes confidence and maturity on every line. 

Watching HateSonny grow into his own the last couple of years has been an incredible sight to see, as there is seemingly no glass ceiling that he can’t break. We had the chance to ask him some questions about the project, his artistic evolution and what it means to be the city’s Golden Child.

Read our Q&A with Hatesonny below, and listen to GOLDEN CHILD on Spotify and Apple Music.

What stands out the most to me is the range of sound that’s explored. I think it might be the most versatile array of production I’ve heard you rap on yet. What was the beat selection process like?

For the most part I would link up with producers and just set the tone for the type of song I wanted to make. The only songs that I didn’t make in person with the producers were Kill Bill and Piece of Me. Besides that, each song was made with an intention. Me and Nate spent a couple days digging through records finding samples with my pops and linked up to spend time flipping them.

One of the stand out tracks is “GO WHERE I GO” with Indiana rapper Vince Ash, who has been making a name for himself this year in his state's music scene. How did you both end up working together and what’s it like collaborating with an artist across state lines compared to locally?

I had found out about Vince a while ago and I just always fucked with his music heavy, so I reached out. One day me and Nate was just cooking for the project and we both had the thought that we needed to put Vince on the song, so I told him to slide and record and he pulled up and laid his verse down.

Growing pains is a theme that’s always been prevalent in your music, but I feel like it really takes center stage in this project. I’ve spoken to a lot of people that feel like 2020 has really been a year of growing up and learning from our experiences to lead better lives. What’s something that you’ve learned about yourself during these past 8 months?

I learned to move at my own pace, and to be more accepting of my reality and circumstances. I live on a day to day mission to progress and be the most solid individual I can be, and in doing that I found that my route and pace in which I achieve solidarity in myself is different than a lot of people I was around. I also learned how important the energy you carry and surround yourself with is. 

“MOONCHILD” might be my favorite track from the entire project. The song is clear in how it’s about dealing with a relationship turned sour, but I'm curious to know the meaning of one of the lines in the song - “You’re a product of room/Made of gold, I’m a child of the moon.” Can you break that line down for us?

So the song wasn’t really about romance at all outside of a few lines in my verse. The song was meant to be empowering to those who can relate to the struggles and issues I voiced in the song. To be made of gold is a very important piece of imagery to me especially as a black man. My grandma told me when I was younger to never let anyone try to devalue me because of the color of my skin because she said my skin is made of gold. The line in the hook was to say that I don’t want to play by any regulations or any shit like that, and that you are inevitably gonna get entrapped by your direct surroundings. Being a child of the moon came from my big sister who was really into celestial bodies and shit like that, so it was all tied into family in a way.

Other than music, you’ve spent a lot of time this summer actively protesting against racial injustice. How important is it for you as a young artist to use your platform to speak on things that you believe in? How have you been balancing time for yourself in between working on this project and your activist work?

I balance it by always keeping myself aware of what’s going on. When I protest or speak out it’s not something I actively plan too hard on doing. It’s usually just an emotional and reactionary based thing. If I notice that there is some bullshit going on and I have something to say then i’m gonna say it. Same within my music, if I'm making a song and I have something plaguing my mind then I’ll use that as a medium to speak out.

What does being a “Golden Child” mean to you?

Being a golden child to me is to be someone who is purposeful, whether that be to yourself or to those around you. I always had high expectations of myself and in putting that pressure on myself I was able to learn to adapt to shit. I feel like the youth of Chicago are all golden.

What’s next for HateSonny?

More music, I’m already back working. Most importantly more life.