Film Club: ‘How a Teen Rapper With Braces Took Over the Streaming World’

Nov 07, 2019 · 77 comments
Kenan Leber(1st Block English) (Hoggard Highschool in Wilmington NC)
I think that Lil Tecca shows that you can achieve your dreams. Lil Tecca shows that very clearly, When he is able to make a hit that went crazy as just a sixteen year old. A few days after this song came out I was listening to it nonstop because I was traveling so much. My family and I went on a trip to France and this song had just come out when we went there. I had a first hand experience of this song being worldwide because we would take the bus around and keep in mind the radio is French station that you can only listen to in that area of France. I was listening to music in my earbuds and I took it out to ask my mom something and I heard this song come on the radio. And I had no idea who this kid was that made such a good song, but I did know he was a young talent. I thought it was crazy that I was listening to a dude and his song just came on the radio in France, it was insane. What I took from this video is that you just need to put in work and have a drive and you WILL achieve your goals and your dreams.
Luke Henderson (Winter Park)
This video shows how that with time and effort hard work pays off, and for Lil Tecca he didn't have to wait very long. Too bad he is a one hit wonder
Garrett (Orlando)
Lil Tecca is an example of how just because you are a teenager, doesn't mean you can't do amazing and inspiring things. I believe that he has paved a path for young artists trying to make it big in the industry.
Bennett R. (Florida)
Tecca is a great inspiration for teenagers his age to go after your goal no matter what it is. He has a great rhythm to his voice and strong appeal to his personality as said by his producers and close friends. Tecca was given an opportunity for greatness and he stole the show racking up one of the biggest things on the internet with his song "Ransom".
Fernando (Orlando)
While a lot of luck goes into success in the music industry, talent ad work combined will take you where you want to go. Tecca had both and made it
Richard , Grade 11 (North York , Canada)
He has his own melody and musical talent, so he sounds very rhythmic. This accompaniment is also very good. Personally, I listen to more rhymes, so I don't know much about this kind of music.
Laura ESL student (Richmond Hill Canada)
Lil Tecca was 16, living with his parents on Long Island when he spotted the Twitter post that changed his life. The teenage rapper, now 17, had been releasing songs on the streaming platform SoundCloud from his bedroom for about a year, using free instrumentals from YouTube as beats. He is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He gained recognition upon releasing his breakout single, "Ransom", which has amassed over 500 million plays on Spotify and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. When his work started to be published on YouTube, three people noticed him. They thought the song would become a trend, so they contact Tecca and hoped they could work with him on this project. After many days of hard work, Tecca's first song was released.
Adrian Rodriguez (Puerto Rico)
Lil Tecca is inspiring because he shows how i doesn't matter what people think of you or your thoughts you can do what ever you want in life and you can make it if you believe in your self and do your best
Preston Olinger (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
I think this video is absolutely inspiring. It shows that it doesn't matter how old you are you can do anything you set your mind to. I really liked his personality, he was really brave and confident, we can all learn a thing or two from him. I also think it is crazy that he already has his dream job as a teenager.
Stacy (Miami)
This is kind of cool. I always wonder it takes to makes beats... and too think it was made in 6 or 7 minuets. I think that anyone can rap but this kind of showed me that it’s not just about rapping, it’s about working hard to get where you wanna be. I strongly think if Tecca did not work hard or push his song he wouldn’t have gotten so big.
🐠🐠Blue Gill🐠🐠 (Angel City)
I think the story of how lil Tecca got big was quite interesting. What stood out to me the most had to be how that producer from internet money wanted to sign him but because of other producers he didn’t. It stood out to me because his original gut feeling was correct in assuming he was correct and that has happened to me many times, especially during tests, so I can relate to that feeling of knowing you are right but then not going with it.
Preston Olinger (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
@🐠🐠Blue Gill🐠🐠 I absolutely agree with you, I have dealt with the same thing, where you go with your gut feeling.Especially on tests and quizzes but I just remind myself to stick with my gut. I wonder if rapping is his dream job?
Kassandra (Thailand)
The moments that stood out to me were when Lil Tecca said that he had never even been in a studio to record until this past year. As well as how the producer determines a lot of the background information about the song. Also, the fact that a specific director was compared to being the reason for a song to be a hit. Through that thought, that would mean all you would need to make a song a hit is a really good music video Director. I also found it interesting that the company let this artist get snatched from their grasp by a big name company. If they had listened to the man who had found him, they would have a huge artist with them now.
Darius Gril (St. Louis, Missouri)
The moments in the film that stood out to me was Lil Tecca’s responses to the interview question’s. You would think he would have been surprised about his success but no; most of his responses were unpredictable and honest.
Drinking Water (Battle Creek High School)
This filmed showed me how he got from where he was in the beginning and from having one of the top song of 2019 and when he got denied and he didn’t stop trying. Something that surprised me was that he got denied 🙅. Some emotions I will take away from this film is that not matter what happens just keep going and get back on your feet. Your going to have haters and they just hating cause your better then them and they want to be like you. A connection I have with this film is that you need to be proud of what you have accomplished in life and take the credit that you have done.💯
Aaliyah O (Battle Creek, MI)
I think this is very interesting. I know I usually hear about people trying to be SoundCloud rappers and I myself am always very skeptical but it’s nice to see that there are some people who actually have worked very hard and got attention. At one point the internet money producer said “I don’t see it” when he was talking about first making music its lil Tecca so it was up to him and his producer to show how good his ideas are. He showed that he had the skills and the ideas to be good.
Janely Lemus (Los Angles)
I was surprised he was so young.
Charles Walker (Hoggard High school: Wilmington NC)
Lil Tecca I think is different from most rappers today because of how he does not use auto tune as much as others. I will be listening to the radio and all of a sudden I hear a guy or girl that sounds like a robot and doesn't sound anything like a normal person. I will see my friends posting thing about how the go to a concert and I hear the rappers actual voice and it's just so awful. Lil tecca doesn't use auto tune which is why he is different. If you go to a concert of his you hear the same voice that you heard over the radio or spotify. Most rappers don't live at their parents' house and are teenagers. He is just a kid who likes to rap and does it because he enjoys it not because of the money and things like that, but he happened to get super rich while doing so. His song also are not just random words spit out like most rappers do. I can not understand half the song i listen to anymore because they just make sounds out of their mouth and think it sounds good. Have you ever listened to a cardi B song, They don't even make sense its just so bad. His all ties into together and I actually know what he is saying
Kassandra (Thailand)
@Charles Walker while I think your response is very interesting, I also wonder, how do people know what robots sound like, and how do people know that they won’t sound like humans?
Aariyon Harris (Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC)
I really enjoyed this film because it showed how Lil Tecca got to where he is today. This film didn’t just show a timeline of his starting career but it showed how much effort he put it in as well. I was really surprised when in the video it said no one wanted to sign him at first. It was shocking because they said they didn’t think he was going to blow up but look where he is now. The reason why I think he is famous now is because he still pushed through still after being denied to get sign. This can also create a message to others to not give up on their dreams and keep striking towards to it until you reach it.
Max (Gontard)
@Aariyon Harris good point you spotted out there. In my opinion, another massive aspect that helped him blow up was the people around him. Not only did he believe in himself but his manager, Taz Taylor, and a few other people saw his potential and decided to help him out. In my opinion, This whole team was the reason for Tecca becoming a massive rapper today and this message should be passed on.
Jaxon Biba (Hoggard High School Wilmington, NC)
In this film club video about rap star Lil Tecca you hear him talk about his experience from being a local Long Island rapper to becoming famous worldwide. I personally do not listen to rap unless it’s on the radio or with friends. But have heard many of his songs. The now 17 year old’s most famous song “Ransom” has been topping the charts lately and his net worth is now 1.5 million dollars. This video shows how if you put a lot of effort into what you love you can accomplish anything. Lil Tecca had little support other than his manager and producer and many of the beats he was getting were off YouTube. Tecca has always had confidence in his music and you can’t get anywhere without confidence. I think his story should be shared because there are people who make their dreams come true with the right amount of hard work and dedication and Lil Tecca is one of them.
Tai (whs)
This film club was interesting because it shows Lil Tecca's point of view on how he blew up,what it took to get where he is now with the small amount of support he had, such as few people to help with beats and he had to get beats off of youtube which really shows you can accomplish anything if you put in the hard work and if you want it really badly.A moment that stood out was when he said wasn't surprised about getting top 5 on billboard because he knew he was gonna blow up undoubtedly.The message that i took from this is if you work hard and want it really bad, you can get it.I can make a connection to this because in middle school i use to be the worst flute player and when i saw what marching band was like i was like this pretty cool and i want to do this,so i practiced the flute a lot and became top 5 flute player and i wanna be section leader of the flute next year and then be band captain at senior year.
Jordan (New Jersey)
It's interesting to see how social media has allowed a group of young music producers, managers, and artists in Lil Tecca to come together in order to make a big streaming hit. As Lil Tecca states in the video, he hopped on a flight to California to meet a producer he had never seen before, and they made a bunch of songs together, including Ransom. He has a style that is quite unique and catchy, which is what made Ransom blow up so much. Lil Tecca is one of the fastest growing artists in the United States right now and I think it will be interesting to see where his career takes him, especially considering his young age of 16.
sucheth (nj)
I think it's very interesting how the digital age has shaped the process of becoming a famous musician. The typical seasoned musician is no longer the norm. People like Lil Tecca can become famous on the internet with limited experience because of how far the internet reaches. He used beats from Youtube and created one of the most popular streams this year.
Aaliyah O (Battle Creek, MI)
@sucheth I never really thought of how much the process of becoming a musician has changed but I think it really has become easier for more and more people to get noticed
Willow (Florida)
I think this video is very interesting to watch because he went from nothing to something almost overnight when they where making his songs. I think this is inspiring because of the story behind it because he went from being nothing to like everything and being on the carts. I also kind of feel bad for the guy that the kid rapper went to see in LA because he missed out on probably the best opportunity to have one signed that was that he was probably going to be the producers big break but then he didn't sing him (so sad).I also like the song ransom so I could relate to this video so I think is it is a good way to get in touch with the times. But overall I think this video was very interesting and had a lot of things we could learn from in it .
carlee (Florida)
I feel like this was a very interesting topic, as many teens these days are very interested in music. This film talked about how a nobody rapper made it big time in the music industry. I think this video could inspire kids, that listen to artist/rappers like Lil Tecca, to keep working to pursue their dreams, and to keep believing in themselves, even when no one does. I feel like Lil Tecca is a true inspiration to this generation, because now days it takes a lot of hard work to make a hit in today's music industry.
Tyler N. (Apopka, Florida)
What stood out to me was his ability to become famous in the streaming world. What surprised me was how he started how searching up beats on youtube then progressed to making beats with Internet Money. Also, it took him under 15 minutes to create the lyrics to his hit single "Ransom". You need talent and confidence to pull off what Lil Tecca did. I thought it was amazing how young he was when he first became famous in the streaming world. It takes effort, confidence, and talent to create a hit song in this internet age. Although I don't particularly enjoy listening to this genre of music, it is undeniable that Lil Tecca blew up because of his talent and it took little resources to do so.
Richard C. (Wekiva High School)
I found this video interesting because Lil Tecca and his producers were having an interview on facetime about his backstory. Some moments in the film that stood out to me was that Lil Tecca is only 16 and that people thought that he would never get big in rap, but he kept trying to get to where he is now. All of a sudden he gets a tweet from someone saying that they want him to come to Los Angeles to record a song. Something that surprised me was that even though many people didn't think Lil Tecca won't be popular in rap, other supporters and producers thought he had potential and that he's underrated. Some ideas I would take away from this film is why couldn't Lil Tecca make his own beats for his songs. Some questions that I have is how did someone take beats off of someone's music and put lyrics over it and become famous. It's like almost putting no effort toward a song.
Breona Campbell (Orlando, FL)
This video was interesting to watch because it is about a topic I think most will enjoy and not get bored with. Lil tecca, also known as 'the rapper with braces', started off with making music with beats he would find on YouTube. His dad always told him if the beat doesn't talk to him, then don't use it. He is confident in his music and knows that the accomplishments he makes is from the simple fact that he EARNED it. Lil tecca's song "Ransom" went viral; in fact he had everyone excited way before the son dropped by posting a snippet on social media. This shows that hard work pays off.
Maddie R. (florida)
what stood out for me in this video as that he never gave up he wanted something and he had a dream so he worked hard to achieve it and the results were great and loved by many people. what surprised me was that he started off on a low spectrum, he used beats he found on youtube and that he wasn't used to recording in a studio, and then he got signed off by a big record deal and he started to record the music he made at a studio and it just took off from there. As well as the fact that he had such confidence in himself and he doesn't care what anybody thinks about him I think that that is something that is needed to be a good at something is confidence and showing people that you don't care what they think about you it's what you think about you that matters. I thought it was cool how he is so young and it was kind of funny the way he had to make sure everything was okay with his mom and explain things to her before he could do anything. but this kid went form the bottom to the top on his own and with hard work.
Tyler (Apopka)
I like the video because it shows how you can do anything you want as long as you just chase after and keep doing it. This video is my favorite so far because i like music. So to see someone do it and be successful at it then explain how everything happened is highly interesting to me. I like how he said he just got the call out of nowhere. Also how he showed how he used to make music by using beats of of youtube and how he said he had never been to the studio before and that was his first time. I also like how he has a ton of confidence, such as when the man asked him if he was nervous when he first got the call and when he went to go make the song. I like how the producer described Lil Tecca and his music and the beats that he should rap to. I also how it made him seem like a kid still because when he got the call he talked about how he had to make sure his mom was okay with it and that he had to explain to his mom what was happening detail by detail.
Alejandro (Florida)
this film club in my opinion was my favorite because it is about a topic that i enjoy talking about. this video was talking about how lil tecca a very underrated rapper from new york was doubted by the industry and everyone believed that he wasn't able to succeed in the rap game but they were totally wrong once they saw the talent. this was a lesson to me because even when you are doubted by most people you need to persevere toward your goals and don't stop until you reached that goal
Joselyn (Florida)
I thought this film was very interesting because the are showing Lil Tecca on a a facetime call with his manegers and they are talking bout how no one thought he was goood enough to make it in the music industy. He started by using beats off of youtube and then he made a song called ransom that went viral. After this he was being reached out to by billboard magazine. I think this is inspiring because it shows that anyone can make it if they put their mind to something.
Daniel Hernandez (Florida)
I think that now in todays time it doesn't take a whole lot to create a hit song in today's internet age. Little tecca is a good example of this in music especially rap people can make it big really easily. In the new age of the internet someone doesn't need to be talking about something in their songs they can have random topics that don't make any sense and people will still like the song because they think it sounds cool or because they like the beat. It takes little to no skill to get into the industry and get famous. That doesn't mean that everyone in the music industry is bad there are some that have real talent and these are the people that really deserve the fame. So in conclusion to make a hit song in today's internet age it doesn't take that much effort from people.
Molli D. (Orlando, Florida)
This film displayed a fairly relevant topic, internet viral video creates a new internet-famous artist who revolutionizes the music world in some way. Lil Tecca is his name and he is anyone with a particular advantage or background just someone who uses his lyrical and musical talent to composes one of the biggest breakthroughs hits called "Ransom". This song he created the lyrics to in under 15 minutes and had very little struggle writing the lyrics or putting it to a beat. I don't really enjoy listening to music of this style but that doesn't seem to be the subject at hand because no matter how much I may dislike this song it has undeniable success and to me the artist has some undeniable talent looking at his ability to create songs from a borrowed beat and just adding his own lyrics. Lil Tecca seemed show that he knew that he was going to become famous and acted as though this was all meant to be. He creates music that comes from his mind and other inspirations and credits himself and those who helped produce and this seems as of right now, before the record deal, a small project not many working on it except for his and a couple of producers. This film showed me a different kind of entrepreneur taking his talent and not many resources, taking a risk and trying to make something big over something seemingly not so "mainstream". He has created a new name for himself and can take credit for the take-off of his career along with partners who helped along the way.
Deysi (Florida)
I found this Film Club was very interesting. In this film club we got to see an interview of Lil Tecca and his team of producers and manager through facetime. Something that surprised me was that no one believe that Lil Tecca was talented enough to be the next big thing. However Lil Tecca proved them wrong when he made the song Ransom. When Ransom was released it went viral, which caught the eye of billboard magazines. That’s when Lil Tecca blew up. It’s interesting how he began his career in making music with only using beats off of Youtube and from there got discovered and make it to a studio. This is an example of how anyone can become famous through the internet. Lil Tecca’s story overall is inspiring to those that are interested in music. Demonstrating that anything can be possible when you have talent.
Delaney Jocelyn (Florida)
How Lil Tecca would get beats off of youtube and turned out amazinglyis cazy.that was astounding on the grounds that many individuals feel that you need a large number of dollars of hardware and stuff to make a tune. It's cool how he became wildly successful at such a youthful age in light of the fact that there is a great deal of underground rappers and city rappers who don't make it in any event, when they are more established. How the makers and individuals were with tecca since the very first moment and helped him in any event, when big-time marks didn't trust in him was cool. . I'm glad that he got famous and that online life encouraged and keep on helping him yet I trust that he can proceed with this pertinence for a long time to come.
Dominic (FL)
This film club was interesting to me because it shows why rap is too easy. I strongly believe that anyone could become famous by rapping. It takes little to no talent now a days, and as long as you have the right tools you can become famous. I think lil tecca is a prime example of this, his music doesn't talk about anything or mean something. He talks about the present, and art is not about the present. It's about making something with the past and present to push towards the future.
Angelina Williams (Battle Creek, MI)
@Dominic I totally agree with what you’re saying! Most of these rappers and ‘aesthetic’ rappers get in the rap game too easy and when they die an early death because of drugs, money, fame and etc. The media names them legends for nothing.
Esperanza (Florida)
Lil Tecca has accomplished some much by being referred to as the rapper with braces. No one believed in him but he proved people wrong. He is a 16 year old working work to better his life. People can literally start from nothing and grow so much. He made a hit song called Ransom and he needs to keep it up the good work so he doesn't fall off. It hit over 420 million plays spotify and 172 million on youtube. Looks doesn't portray who you really are. You are working hard for you, not to much someone else happy because if that was the case Lil Tecca would've been gave up. People have been wanting him to fail but he didn’t let that happen.You have to thrive through the hard times so you can go to the easy ones. Knowing that you are someone #1 hater should make you work harder to prove them wrong. You don’t want their accomplishment to work.
Lauren McRae (flordia)
How Lil Tecca would get beats off of youtube and didnt go to a studio until like a year that was surprising because a lot of people think that you need thousands of dollars of equipment and stuff to make a song. It's cool how he made it big at such a young age because there is a lot of underground rappers and city rappers who don't make it even when they are older. How the producers and people was with tecca since day one and helped him even when big time labels didnt believe in him was cool. I knew that “Ransom” was big but I didnt know that it was in the top five in the billboard charts . Im happy that he became popular and that social media helped and continues to help him but i hope that he cant continue this relevancy for many years to come.
Ella Harper (Apopka)
I thought this film overall was very interesting and fascinating. It was cool that one regular kid went from being and making music by himself to being in a studio with a bunch of people. It just shows that the internet is a very easy way in this generation to get noticed and become famous. I thought it was very interesting that Lil Tecca explaining his story and his inspiration for his music, and just the flow of how he thinks of it. I also thought it was fascinating that the interviewer asked if Lil Tecca had changed ever since becoming a hit, and he said no. I thought this was fascinating because usually, you will hear and even see for yourself, that when an everyday Peron becomes a star they change because of the fame and the money. Overall, I kind of think it is cool that Lil Tecca did not let fame change him.
Jorge (Apopka,Florida)
This film club was fantastic, it was different compared to the different ones I've seen and I would have to say I think this one is my favorite yet. This film club was one that I could really understand because I've seen videos about lil tecca's success, so I understood and knew most of the things they were saying. He is a wonderful musician and a popular one at that, his hit song "Ransom" blow up with a total of over 400 million plays on Spotify and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. He is quite the sensation at the moment. In the video they talked about how a label didn't think he would get popular by the way he looks and the videos I watched said the same but look at him now he is a part of a huge label, and he proved everyone wrong. All in all, I hope the kid keeps at it and that he keeps growing in the music industry.
Jamar (Apopka, Florida)
Lil Tecca's story is inspiring because he started rapping at the age of 16, and using beats he found on youtube. Lil Tecca was unsigned and living with his parents.I think what stood out the most to me was the fact that no one saw Lil Tecca as anything but a soundcloud rapper, and I think it’s sad to even think about that,nobody gave Lil Tecca a chance except Internet Money. I do believe that even if Lil Tecca remained unsigned he still would have become popular. Some rappers today are still unsigned, for example Chance the Rapper. Chance the Rapper is very Famous and yet he is unsigned. Lil Tecca was very lucky to be signed, and I think even without Internet Money, Lil Tecca still would have become a popular artist, and I think that's the message I really took out of the Film Club today.
Jamar (Apopka, Florida)
Lil Tecca's story is inspiring because he started rapping at the age of 16, and using beats he found on youtube. Lil Tecca was unsigned and living with his parents.I think what stood out the most to me was the fact that no one saw Lil Tecca as anything but a soundcloud rapper, and I think it’s sad to even think about that,nobody gave Lil Tecca a chance except Internet Money. I do believe that even if Lil Tecca remained unsigned he still would have become popular. Some rappers today are still unsigned, for example Chance the Rapper. Chance the Rapper is very Famous and yet he is unsigned. Lil Tecca was very lucky to be signed, and I think even without Internet Money, Lil Tecca still would have become a popular artist, and I think that's the message I really took out of the Film Club today.
Jeremiah DeSue (Florida)
What stood out to me was that the media and the internet can make someone set for the rest of their lives instead of going through these hard life goals and spending lots of money to get money. The internet can be a different path in life that if you're lucky can make you lots of money without spends lots of money to get. He was so young and to already be rich is something you don't see everyday so that should tell you that the internet or the media can be very rewarding and theirs not alot of requirements. A message is that do whatever you like or that brings you joy and money will follow.
Steven Aldana (Florida)
What I thought was really cool about this film was that it showed how literally anyone can start out small and grow by believing in yourself and working hard. I was really astonished when they said that he was just 16 years old and he had accomplished such big feats, such as going 3x platinum in Canada. It's crazy that you can become so famous and known at such a young age. It was amazing to see how just one song made him a big hit. Of course, there were some people and producers who didn't believe in him but he didn't care what they said. Haters gonna hate. It also shows how powerful the internet is and with one song or video, it can really make you popular. Overall it was something very cool and interesting and it shows that if you believe in yourself and keep working hard you can overcome any obstacle.
Carlie Abdool (Florida)
what stood out to me was how famous he got out of nowhere but he also worked hard for that but i didnt really know social media would have that big of an effect on someone career and now everyone want him but they didn't want to sign for him before because they thought he wasn't going to be nig. what stood out to me was the fact that he stayed the same when he became big because when some people become big in the music world they tend to lose themselves or get caught up in the fame and from what he said he stayed true to himself and didn't let it all get to him. his story is inspiring because even though nobody wanted him he still kept going to get what hewa nted no matter what. he encourages people to keep going and don't give up on yourself.
Jessica Alejandre (School)
I find it so interesting that someone or anybody can come to the media and just tweet or post something and just off of that they can get famous. Most of their fans and names came from the media; this is what the media can give to many people. Also even though nobody wanted to sign with him he did not give up in any kind of way. This film club also shows that anyone could become at any age, you do not have to be a certain age to become famous. Lil Tecca is probably an inspiration to many younger kids that what to become rappers. This might encourage them not to stop and just ti keep going.
Payton F. (Florida)
What stood out to me in this video is how young Lil Tecca is, he is really successful for someone his age. Knowing that someone close to my age is this successful is crazy to me. Lots of young people will try and become successful but only a few will succeed. Even though he had talent nobody wanted to sign him, they couldn’t recognize his talent. His story is inspiring because even though nobody wanted him, he didn’t give up. He didn’t let that setback stop him. Thanks to social media, Lil Tecca has become a star. He blew up almost overnight. He can become a role model to the younger generations since he is so young and successful. When people become celebrities they tend to change themselves and lose who they are. Lil Tecca, however, hasn’t changed. He is still the goofy kid his producers know and love.
Darius Gril (St. Louis, Missouri)
@Payton F. I agree with everything you said, especially about the part of him not changing due to fame.
Adolfo (FL)
This person is interesting because of what he's done and how their friends came together to make an idea a reality and to think he has only barely passed the 16 years it really does show what you can do if you are with a group of friends who share the same passion and want to help you. I feel it would influence other people who also have the same talent.
🐠🐠Blue Gill🐠🐠 (Angel City)
@Adolfo That is a truly powerful message and I see what you are saying if you work hard there is nothing you can’t do.
Jameson Jean-Charles (Apopka, Florida)
Many people try to pursue the career of rapping but not everyone succeeds. Unlike a teenage boy who goes by the name "Lil tecca" who Blew up from his hit song ransom and became a platinum artist. I found this film very interesting because knowing that someone not too much older than me blew up is crazy. Also, this is a rapper I listened to I've listened to Lil tecca's album called "we love you tecca" and I find it enjoyable. WHat stood out to me is that how the interviewer was asking the producers and the director how they met tecca and how they gave him an opportunity to make something big. A teen like Lil tecca has inspired many individuals and they will have dreams too.
Cj (Apopka)
I found this video intresting becuase it is about a rapper who I have listened to many times and how he got his big break to fame.It was impressive because he went from a regular teen into a Bilboard top 100 teen in less than 3 years. What I liked from the video is how they kep pushing and pushing until he finally got his break as a know rapper and other people not sighning him because they didnt think he had the talent and this shows you that when somebody says that you cant do it or its too hard for you have to tell yourself that I can do it and I have enough confidence so I know that I can do it. And also it was intresting because he had been making videos in his bathroom of him rapping so it was cool that he suceeded.I wonder how many people in the world start off singing/rapping in thier room and then get a big hit out of no where.
Daniel Adolph (Apopka)
I find it so interesting how you can make a really big hit out of nowhere and be so famous that I find it so impressive. When he made a great success, what really surprised me was, but no one wanted to sign with him, but that didn't stop him. Even when he was famous, unlike most rappers, I thought it was really cool that he stayed the same man, they were popular and they were like another individual.
Daniel Adolph (Apopka)
I find it so interesting how you can make a really big hit out of nowhere and be so famous that I find it so impressive. When he made a great success, what really surprised me was, but no one wanted to sign with him, but that didn't stop him. Even when he was famous, unlike most rappers, I thought it was really cool that he stayed the same man, they were popular and they were like another individual.
Truc (Apopka)
With the major presence of social media in today’s society anyone, anywhere can become a celebrity. Many of today’s major influencers grew their fan bases and their names through the use of social media. Billboard charting rapper Lil Tecca broke out at the young age of sixteen with his unique musical talent and lyrics. Some moments that stood out to me in this film were Lil Tecca’s calm attitude during his breakout period and how he said at the end of his video that “Me and my fans earned it.” It showed that he acknowledges that he got where he is with the support of his fans and that he remains the same person. I am not a rap fan, so the fact that I recognized Lil Tecca’s name before watching this film club really shows me how big of a celebrity he is. Watching this film club surprised me because I didn’t realize that Lil Tecca was so young, I believed he was just one of those other twenty something years old mainstream rappers. Lil Tecca’s story proves that success and fame can be found at any age, with talent and dedication someone will recognize your potential.
Alex Goby (Florida)
I find it so interesting how you can make a really big hit out of nowhere and be popular that I find it so amazing. What really shocked me was when he made a great hit, but nobody wanted to sign with him, but that didn't stop him. I thought it was really great that even when he was famous, unlike most rappers, he remained the same guy, they were popular and they were like a different person.
Melanie Arias (Florida)
I find it so crazy how you can come out of nowhere make a really big hit and be successful I find that so amazing.What really surprised me was when he made a super a big hit but no one wanted to sign with him but that didn't stop him. I thought it was really cool that even when he got famous he stayed the same person unlike most rappers they become famous and they are like a whole different person. No that it is bad for change but sometimes it can be a bad change rather than good.Lil tecca must be such an inspiration for kids out there that want to thrive in the music industry. Watching this made me notice that you don't have to pay people or be famous to get a big hit. This showed that in order to be successful you have to have hard work confidence and dedication.
Lily N :) (Apopka FL)
What stood out to me was the fact that he stayed the same when he became big because when some people become big in the music world they tend to lose themselves or get caught up in the fame and from what he said he stayed true to himself and didn't let it all get to him. What surprised me was just like I was saying how he stayed humble and didn't let everything get to him and use that to his advantage. I would take away the fact that if you put your heart to something that you truly want to do you can accomplish anything, he stuck to his dream and kept putting himself out there even though he may not have been getting big at the time he still believed in himself which is important when trying to make it in the music industry. This film reminds me of others artists that are really big in the industry right now and how they started off just like him and how they are now really big in the industry and so it's like cool to see how these small artists can become like the big artists in the industry now in the future.
Aniya W (FL)
What it takes to create a hit song in the internet age is to be yourself and be creative. It's cool to see someone who is in our age group succeed and do big things at the age of 16, he can be a role model to the young generation due to his hard work and dedication to make it to where he is now and all the support from his fans. What stood out to me in this film was him staying humble and how the fame and the money didn't wash away his true personality, you see all these up and coming people or other famous people losing themselves and thinking they are better than everyone else. I also liked how even though he had people in his corner seeing his true potential and all the possibilities that he could bring the record labels still didn't want to sign him, but Tecca kept going and did not let that drive him away from his success.
Alexander (Florida)
lil tecca thrived to success he worked very hard even though no one believes in him eventually he got invited to a group and start his song he was planning on he gave tips on what beat is good or not he says the beat needs to talk to u if not the beat isn't good also he said that he searched up beats on multiple platforms when he was younger which was really interesting. people never believed lil techa would become a success they thought of him as a kid trying to become cool until he proved everyone wrong with his hit music ransome having millions of fans and a great career which all started with him looking up beats and rapping to it
Tadjina (FL)
I have heard my brother play this song in the house before and of course seen it in tik tok. I didn't know who the name was since it was the only song i listened to, to this day i didn't know lil tecca as a top writer.  It was like a song that went hard but you never heard of the artist, you listen to the song a lot yet you wouldn't be able to tell who made it.  The video gave off a chill vibe, like this kid who went to school, who was considered as ordinary as another classmate turned big after a song. One day was all it took to get famous, he really made the definition of an overnight sensation. To believe that he became famous from a song is wild. Like one day he could be chilling making his own beat than get spotted by a producer and then on song could get him a contract with a label. Now he's on the stage like thats where he belongs with fans and other artists with his song trending on all type of social platforms. It is what people would consider a once in a lifetime chance.
Jessica G (Florida)
What i thought was really cool about this film was that it showed how literally anyone can start out small and grow immensely by keeping positive and working hard. I was really surprised when they said that he was just 16 years old and he had accomplished all those things already. It was amazing to see how just one song made him a big hit. It did state that there was some people and other producers who didn't believe in him but he didn't care what those people said, he stayed positive and earned it. It also showed how you can spread your ideas and creativity by using technology and the internet that can have a big impact on your fame. All the collaborations with the producers and other people really helped him out and was such a big thing compared to when he made his own videos and music by using youtube to do it. Overall it was something very inspiring to me that showed you can accomplish almost anything if you stay positive and work hard.
Deborah D (Apopka, FL)
The facetime about Lil Tecca was about who he is and how he rose in fame. At first, he was not recognized and passed on by many. Despite this, the first two songs, he did became big hits. His song titled "Ransom" brought him to fame and even fortune after being shared and viewed numerous times on the internet. With the help of the people that believed in him and helped him and his music reach out and spread to his present, nation-wide audience. Now, Lil Tecca is working with an actual record company to produce much more music than he could in the past while "Ransom" is still his top song. From starting at just the age of 16 and living in Rhode Island, to growing up and earning enough from his music to live in Los Angelas, Lil Tecca grew to be much more than people once thught he would.
Kyndall Bass (Apopka,Fl)
The film was very interesting because it was about Lil Tecca and my brother still blasts the song "ransom" to this day.  The video kind of made it seem easy for Lil Tecca to get his career started. I think it looked easy because in this day and age it is so simple to gain popularity because of the internet. The internet is a good place for anything and if you are trying to get a career in entertainment its an even better place. Back in 2010 or 2012, it seemed to me that if you wanted to get famous you had to be on Disney channel or something. Now it seems everyone's career is taking off because of a meme. I also thought that it was cool that Lil Tecca was only 16 at the time of making this song and the guy said that he has stayed the same as when they first met him and the fame didn't change him.
mia (earth)
i believe that to be able to become famous or well known you will need to put some works on the internet even if all the work is not fully your own.  one moment that stood out in the film was when one of his producers said that lil tecca had not changed much since he started working with him after the interviewer asked him if anything had changed about lil tecca since he got famous. this stood out because most of the time people change their personalities and facade once they become famous to please their fans and it is usually negatively as they have to pretend to be someone they aren't. something else that stood out was when lil tecca said he expected to get famous once the producers reached out to him because he said he worked hard on his music and a positive result comes out.
Zadia (Portland)
@mia I agree with what you said about when he didn’t change his personality because of the fame.
Vander (Apopka FL)
The video shows what it takes to blow up on the internet and it talked about what he did and even though he was not the easiest to look at he made it and that he rose up and that he made 6 songs in one night and but the producers did not think he had it except one  that signed a contract he made the beat in 6-7 minutes each then he went and cole bennet was the one to sign it he blew up there was a bidding war with the labels and now he has concerts and everything he made it his now big
Crystal Z. (Apopka, FL)
The film club was about this rapper that started in Long Island and how he made the song that made him blow up. The rappers name is Lil tecca he is 16 and he is from Long Island where he recorded his first songs by himself at home. He has this one song that he made which he appeared on Instagram with and it caught attention from a producer. The producer contacted him to go to Los Angeles and record with him. The song they recorded was the one that got Lil Tecca recognized and put him on the charts.  It took some time after the song came out for him to get signed on to a label. Now he is signed to this to a major record label and making music. Overall the film club was about his journey to making the song that is his most known and made him become the rapper he is today.
Lindsey Chestney (Florida)
It was surprising to find out that he is a young person just like all of us in high school. What stood out to me was how there was the one guy who from the very beginning knew that he would blow up and be someone. It was surprising that nobody wanted to sign him at first but he kept trying. What stood out to me was when someone asked if Lil Tecca changed after becoming famous and they were saying no. That stood out for me because usually when people become popular they get cocky and sometimes rude. I was a little surprised when Lil Tecca was asked if he expected to get famous and he said yes he sounded confident in himself because of his hard work, even after a lot of people doubted him. An idea I can take out of this video is being confident and working hard is part of being successful because without hard work you won't be able to get far and if you don't believe in yourself because you have to be able to back up your hard work.
Spensha.E (Apopka, Florida)
What stood out to me was that no matter what background you come from the internet always shines a light of possibility for you to become big one day, even if it's just on accident or it was at first for fun. I didn't expect this person to actually be one of those people that accidentally got big due to something they found fun doing. I had heard this song many times before and though i don't really like rap i had took a liking to it. So to find out this rapper is like in high school and is not some big rapper with a comeback song or a current rapper with a catchy song caught me a bit off guard I guess.
Aliyah X. (Florida)
I believe that to create a hit song in the internet age, you need to post something, anything, on the internet, and hope you get noticed. You have to get yourself out there. However, not-so-talented people have gotten famous simply because of their connections. One moment in the film that stuck out for me was when the interviewer asked the producer if Lil Tecca had changed since his rise to stardom, and the producer said that he hadn’t, he was the same guy. I thought this was really sweet because a lot of the time when a person gets popular, especially on the internet, they change their personality, usually negatively. Something that surprised me was when Lil Tecca said that he expected to get famous when the producers reached out for him, which at first I thought sounded conceited until he clarified that if you work hard and something good happens at a result, you shouldn’t be surprised.
Alex Goby (Florida)
What stood out to me was the fact that when he became famous, he remained the same because when some people become popular in the world of music they seemed to forget themselves or get caught up in the fame and from what he said he stayed true to himself and didn't let anything get to him. What amazed me was how humble he was, how he didn't let it all get to him and used it to his benefit. I'd take away the fact that if you put your heart to something you really want to do you can achieve something, he stuck to his vision and kept putting himself out there even though he might not have gotten big at the time he still believed in himself, which is crucial in the music industry. This film reminds me of other artists who are really big in the industry right now and how they began just like him and how big they are in the industry now and so it's as fun to see how these little artists can become like the big artists in the industry now in the future.