Black Bear

With an album set to drop on Valentine’s Day, rapper Blackbear is expected to make massive waves on the R&B charts in 2019. Born Matthew Tyler Musto, Blackbear left high school in the ninth grade to focus on music. By 17, he’d left home to work on his solo career with Ne-Yo in Atlanta, and in a few short years, went on to collaborate with musicians such as Justin Bieber, G-Eazy, Mike Posner and Machine Gun Kelly. However, despite takeing the industry by storm, Blackbear has dealt with some serious personal struggles along the way. In 2016, he was diagnosed with necrotizing chronic pancreatitis and underwent multiple surgeries. But, despite the threat that this condition put on his life, Blackbear showed no signs of slowing down—releasing two studio albums in 2017. Now he’s ready to share his latest project with the world and, in his own words, describes this album as his “best work to date.”

What did your family think when you dropped out of high school to pursue music full time?

My family was very unsure and they told me to have a “plan B” until I did my publishing deal at 21 for over a million dollars. Then I tattooed my neck to prove I’ll never become a lawyer.

While you’re known as an R&B artist today, you initially began your music career in a rock band? What inspired you to switch genres?

I feel like I just learned a whole new world when I was studying under Ne-Yo when I was about 17. I was living on Ne-Yo’s manager’s couch, making three songs a day. My music became more hip-hop influenced, based on the producers I was working with before I learned to produce my own music later on.

In addition to recording your own music, you’ve also gained a reputation as a songwriter. What went into co-writing Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” and how did the success of this song push you to focus on your own music?