David Shabani started writing raps when he was ten years old, and his experiences have only made him more well-versed since then. He was born to Congolese parents in France and has made his way from Paris to Montreal to Dallas and now Austin. David was listening to rap before he could speak English and now performs with an all-Black band.

His latest EP Shabani’s Smooth Sounds of the Summer came out on August 6 and is full of songs that’ll get your head nodding. With a mix of English, French, and Lingala, it truly is an international record.

David talks about his early days of writing, the worst gig he ever had (and how The Fast and the Furious was involved), dives into his favorite movies, and shares his experience with multiple organizations working to improve the lives of others.