Big Toodie: From Kentucky Courts to the Mic, Building a Lane of His Own

Big Toodie

Concealed Media recently sat down with rising Kentucky artist Big Toodie, whose energy, resilience, and raw perspective have been shaping a new sound in the South. From hoop dreams to hard lessons, Toodie’s story is about turning setbacks into a purpose driven pursuit of music.

Toodie first picked up the mic in 2018, after his time playing college basketball at Cincinnati State and JCTC. What started out as freestyling with teammates on late nights turned into a full-fledged career when friends pushed him to take rap seriously. “They was like, you gonna be done hooping, you should probably rap buddy,” he recalled. “I tried it, liked it, and then it just been that ever since.”

When asked to describe his style, Toodie explained that it’s not the typical trap narrative. “I say I created my own genre,” he said. “It’s like for people who’s in the streets but don’t want to be in the streets. It’s got metaphors, comedy, seriousness, swag street stuff but not just killing all day.”

Since dropping his breakout single “Mike Bibby,” Toodie has stayed consistent, releasing seven more singles, with the latest being “Premium 93.” This steady output reflects his growing focus on not just making music but pushing it the right way. Unlike before, when he simply dropped tracks without promotion, Toodie is now leaning into the business side. “More people gotta hear this stuff,” he emphasized. “Most artists ain’t gonna tell you I just want to be rich. But if you want to do it this way, you gotta be famous too. You ain’t gonna be no local joker.”

Toodie’s journey has also included overcoming serious obstacles outside of music. He once faced a case connected to a fatal incident where someone broke into his home, but after a long legal fight, he was found not guilty and released. That chapter, while difficult, only strengthened his determination to move forward and focus on his career.

That hunger is sharpened by experience. After serving time, Toodie came home determined to stay focused. “I had a plan the whole time, just like I got a plan with this,” he said. “This life way better than that life. The respect I get is real. You gotta actually be somebody. You gotta be something people want to be.”

Still, Toodie’s drive isn’t just about music—it’s also about fatherhood. With an 11-year-old and a 4-year-old, he says being present as a dad has helped him grow as a man. “That just helped me really with my character,” he reflected. “I might be [rough] but it mean well at the end of the day.”

With roots in Kentucky but influences stretching to Detroit and Atlanta, Big Toodie is carrying his state on his back as he builds a name in hip-hop. As he put it: “Fast money ain’t always good. If taking it slow gonna get me further, then I’m with that.”