103.7 Da Beat Artist Spotlight - Howie Stackz & Westside Don

Q& A interview for 103.7 Da Beat mobile app

Introduce yourself to the 103.7 Da Beat listeners,

or in this case readers



What was life like growing up in Chicago?



Howie Stackz: Don from out west. I was born in rush but grew up mainly in Florida. I moved there when I was 3. I came back at 16 so I still got to experience a lot of shit but I went to school

In the burbs. "Imma small town n*gga who don't like lil sh*t". Chicago my birthplace though so it's got a special place in my heart.





Westside Don: Growing up out west, is home from me it's my first love so to speak. I had a lot of my first experiences out west. I can go travel around the world and Chicago will be the only place I truly call home.



Chicago has thorough history of artists, from mainstream success like Kanye West to underground artists with cult followings like PsychoDrama..... who did you grow up listening to any Chicago artists and where do you guys feel you fit in the scene?



Howie Stackz: Kanye was one of my original inspirations back in the 2000s, but I fw Twista, Crucial Conflict, Do or Die, Psychodrama, Kelz, Lupe, Molemen, Mc Juice, Typical Cats, MC TREE, to name a few. I used to go to see some of these guys at the metro in 2006 it was lit. I always been a fan of the music from the crib even though I had a southern/eastcoast & West Indian background.





Westside Don: As far as Chicago artist I grew up listening to Kanye west of course, Lupe Fiasco Westside native lol, Common, twista, R. Kelly, and Do or Die but outside of Chicago



I'm lead heavy towards the east coast and southern rappers, artist like Jay-z, pimp c, dmx, 50 cent, Jeezy, Gucci, Luda, biggie, 3 6 mafia, really had a impact on me growing and now I'm a Drake fan lol,



Also right now I feel me and Howie make party vibe music nothing too serious, not saying we can't do it but that's just sorta what we make when we collab.





A little over a year ago you guys dropped "What's To You?", How has that campaign been going? What made you guys come together for a collab project?



Westside Don: We still campaigning the album trying to get as many listeners as possible lol, so the promotion road ain't been easy but we getting it done.



Like the second time invited Howie to the studio we made locked in and my engineer suggested we should do a project and we did it.



Howie Stackz: I swear "locked in" is still our hit. We still making content and trying to get it on the radio. What's to you is a cold album man. I met bro in June 2024 and pulled up to a session of his in October 2024 and the rest was history. His engineer knew my engineer and bro was like yall should do a tape. Now we be crankin out music together.



What are must haves when you're in a recording session?



Westside Don: For me liquor and less ppl as possible ion need 30 mfers in the studio session just talking to be talking...



Howie Stackz: I just need my notepad in my phone I write quick. A lil bit of liquor helps too. And yea not too many mfs disrupting me as well.



Cubs or White Sox?



Westside Don: Nasty choice either way lol



My dad was a cubs fan and they winning right now so imma say cubs they made me a lot of money on FanDuel



Howie Stackz: I'll have to say Sox plus I stay right by the stadium right now but don't be quizzing me on baseball I enjoy a live game and that's it.



Howie Stackz, you just dropped "Fried Hard", tell us a little about that ?



Howie Stackz : Fried Hard is just me talkin mad shit, but I always talk shit in my music. It was a clever way for me to talk about where I am in my life right now. It's out everywhere too go check it out. I got the video for "Lemon Pepper" coming soon with Skope Mag. Them beats hittin too it's gon make you wanna dance. It's good for riding on the interstate too. Whole time. I'm gon have to send yall some

Of that too soon.. options goin crazy right now.



Westside Don, Do you have any solo work coming out or already out you want the people know about?



Westside Don: Right now I got a couple singles out like "Colder at night", "my baby", "all day" and "fuck em"

All of these songs are on all streaming platforms under Westside Don.



I will be dropping and album real soon I'm almost finish with it a few tweaks and it's a go

Soo you know imma send it ova when it's done