The newest aspiring rapper from Cedar Park is senior Randy Thompson. Thompson has been writing music since the start of his freshman year of high school, but has been rapping since he was five years old.

“I used to sing along to all the hip-hop music,” Thompson said. “I would memorize every lyric word-for-word and sing aloud.”

Growing up, Thompson said he listened to rappers such as Tupac, Drake, Kendrick Lamar and local rappers in Texas. It was former CPHS student Donovan Scandariato, or “Don Hawk,” that inspired Thompson to start rapping.

“[Donovan] has been doing music for so long and he’s shown me that anything is possible,” Thompson said.

The biggest reasons he has stuck with his dream of rapping is because he says it makes him feel good. 

“Rapping keeps me busy,” Thompson said. “Every time I drop a song and my family and friends tell me they like it, or when people tell me I’m getting even better, it gives me a rush and it makes me proud of myself.”

Thompson said rapping is a way for him to express what’s on his mind and what he’s going through. He said he has a mindset that anything is possible if you have the patience, skill, mindset and drive to get it done, and says that is his message through his music.

“Life isn’t easy,” Thompson said. “However, you don’t have to be miserable. Do what you love.”

In the big picture, Thompson said he hopes to make a living off of his music. 

“[Making a living off my music] is the ultimate goal,” Thompson said. “The next step is to release an album and then start working on getting some gigs.” 

He plans on attending Austin Community College next year, while keeping his mind focused on his dreams. He has a sound artist that makes his beats and edits his music. The next step, as he said, is to get gigs.

You can find Thompson’s link to his music on Soundcloud here.