Today marks a major milestone for rising artist Davontae, aka Drizzy Tae, as he drops his highly anticipated new album NC-17.
It’s been a big week for the Arkansas native — he just turned 18 a few days ago, and now he’s stepping confidently into a new chapter with a 10-track project that blends Pop and R&B sounds, a leap from his early days rooted in rap.
Tae wrote and recorded the majority of NC-17 at age 17, hence the name.
“This album is really my first step into adulthood,” Tae says. And it shows — the record explores themes of first love, tour life, heartbreak, and self-belief, capturing the raw emotion and transition of being 17 in today’s America.
Drizzy Tae has been at it since he was just 9 years old, making noise with rap singles like the fan-favorite “Heart Closed” with Luh Kel, and “Rock Star” with Lil Zay Osama.
But his sound began to shift after working with platinum producer Travis Marsh, who encouraged him to lean into the smooth, emotional soundscape of R&B — the genre Tae always quietly loved.
“One cool full circle moment is that one performer I looked up to as a kid was 2kBaby — and he’s actually on this album!” Tae shares. That collaboration comes in the form of the track “Softest Woman.”
“Basically, this shows me that if you continue to believe in yourself, any of your dreams can come true.” He adds, “I want to thank all the people who have been on this road with me. I’m so thankful for the fans who lifted me up when I was down. This album is for all of you.”
So, what’s next?
“I’m about to drop the music video for ‘Rock Star’ with Lil Zay Osama — we shot it last time I was in L.A.,” he says.
Another full-circle, dream-come-true moment for Tae — and just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a huge year for this talented young artist.
NC-17 is streaming now on all platforms.
