Young Twisty

Growing up, Fernando Cesar Lima Filho was exposed to an array of music, from Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Tupac to Eminem, Chris Brown and Drake. A constant diet of R&B and hip-hop music lit up his creative spirit. But the artist admits, “I couldn’t understand anything they were saying because of the language.” 

When his father’s job was transferred to headquarters in China, the family went with him and Fernando ended up learning both English and Chinese while completing high school in the village of Shenzhen. “When I moved to China and started learning English, I started using that knowledge to read lyrics for all these songs,” he explains. “I started writing poetry and then I started writing my own lyrics because I wanted to put that poetry inside those songs.” 

Talented at poetry, art (he likes to create graffiti-like designs) as well as sports (including basketball and football), Twisty brings the same sense of focus and dedication to his music.

His stature and habit of being a fast-moving, fast-talking jokester who often left a mess in his wake led to a pair of nicknames that combined for his hip-hop moniker: “When I was 12 or 13 years old in school in China, I was the shortest in my class, so they called me ‘Youngster.’ Then, my teachers told me every time I had a class I created a hurricane, it was messy. That’s where I got the name Twisty.” 

After making tracks on his own, Twisty decided to raise his game and reached out to CSP Music Group, a full-service artist development, company in Atlanta, Georgia. Twisty’s swagger, relatable lyrics, and background were impressive enough to land him in the studio with songwriter Sam Peezy, a two-time Grammy nominee, and CEO, Executive Producer Christopher Starr to record tracks for his forthcoming full-length debut.  

Young Twisty’s signature style can be heard on “Running,” where he pairs clever boasting rhymes with an atmospheric Latin trap groove: “Twisty running/ you better watch out/ nobody can outrun me/ I’m not a hero but I’m also not a villain.”  The song is his announcement to the world, he explains, “Some people walk and some people run. I’m a person that runs. The song is telling people in the industry that I'm coming and I’m not just about doing things slowly, I’m doing it fast. I’m setting the bar high for what I wanna do.” 

Young Twisty shows off his softer side on the head-nodding grooves “Bad Intentions” and “The Type of Guy,” where it’s all about his desire to get closer to a young lady. “Flex include” is another showcase for his artful wordplay, name-checking Rick Ross, Ray Charles, and Tupac, against a slow-bounce rhythm.

With a full-length project set to debut later in 2019, Young Twisty is ready to conquer his fans with his distinctive flow and engaging personality. “People that are my age and into listening to rap music or R&B music, and people that want a song that relates to their life -- that’s who’s gonna listen to my songs.”