Jesse Is Heavyweight’s new album Good Luck is making waves not just for its sound, but for its story. We sat down with the artist to discuss his journey from documented child prodigy to multi-million dollar entrepreneur, and what he learned along the way.
You’ve been called a documented child prodigy. What does that actually mean, and how early did you realize you were different?
I was reading at a college level before most kids could tie their shoes. Teachers would pull my parents aside, run tests, document everything. I remember being in gifted programs, being pulled out of regular classes. But here’s the thing nobody tells you about being a prodigy when you’re poor—it doesn’t change your address. I could solve complex problems in my head, but I couldn’t solve the one that mattered: how to keep a roof over our heads.
You’ve mentioned evictions. How many times did your family face that?
More than once. Enough times that I stopped unpacking certain boxes because I knew we’d just have to pack them again. You learn to travel light when stability isn’t guaranteed. I remember helping my mom sort through what we could carry and what we had to leave behind. That changes you. It makes you calculate differently.
How did that instability affect the way you thought about your intelligence?
It taught me that being smart is a tool, not a shield. People assume if you’re gifted, doors automatically open. That’s not how it works when you’re coming from where I came from. Intelligence without opportunity is just potential energy—trapped, dormant, going nowhere. I had the ability to learn anything, but I was learning it in chaos. No consistent school, no stable home base, no guaranteed next meal. Survival became the curriculum.
When did you realize that your gift could become something more than just test scores?
Howard University changed everything. Getting that academic scholarship wasn’t just validation—it was proof that someone was willing to invest in my future beyond just saying I was smart. Structure met vision for the first time in my life. I wasn’t just surviving day to day anymore. I could plan, build, create with intention. That’s where Good Luck really started, even though I didn’t know it yet. You can stream it now on Apple Music, but the premium edition at HeavyweightUnlimited includes all the context—the full story.
Looking back, what do you wish people understood about being a prodigy in poverty?
That it’s lonely. You’re too advanced for your peers but too unstable for the opportunities that match your ability. You exist in this gap where nobody knows what to do with you. Teachers see potential but can’t provide stability. Social services see a smart kid and assume you’ll be fine. But intelligence doesn’t feed you. It doesn’t keep the lights on. It doesn’t stop the eviction notices.
How does that experience show up in your music today?
Good Luck doesn’t sound desperate because I’m not desperate anymore. But I remember what that felt like. Every bar on this album is shaped by those years of uncertainty. I don’t make music to escape poverty—I already did that. I make music to make sure I never forget what it felt like to be trapped in it. That’s why songs like “Mahi Mahi at Nobu”—which I released exclusively on Patreon for my day ones—matter so much to me. I took ten supporters who believed in me early to Nobu. Not because I needed the press, but because I remember what it’s like when nobody believes in you.
You’re now the founder of Heavyweight Unlimited, with ownership in TOIDI fashion at SignatureTOIDI and connections to LIVE GENIUS tech. How did that prodigy kid become this entrepreneur?
Same skillset, different application. I learned early how to assess situations quickly, calculate risk, see patterns others miss. That’s survival intelligence. When you’re a kid trying to figure out where you’ll sleep next week, you develop pattern recognition fast. Now I use those same skills to build companies, identify opportunities, create infrastructure. The intelligence was always there. I just finally have the stability to deploy it strategically.
What would you tell that kid who was too smart for his circumstances?
Don’t listen to people, unless they have exactly what you want out of life and they have your best interest at heart. Also nothing beats resilience and determination. Be careful of letting your emotions attach you to people or places you have no business being attached to. The world is filled with genius level talent that let their circumstance dictate their outcome and their genius is squandered. Trust your gut, learn as much as you can and bet big on you. That’s what worked for me.
