San Diego based hip hop artist Star2 just unveiled his new single and visuals for “I Wanna Get F’d Up’ featuring renowned rapper Luh Kel. The artist, who has been making waves in the hip hop scene since his release of “Hollup Girl”, is best known for his poetic and earnest lyricism as it relates to love and romance. 

With and through “I Wanna Get F’d Up”, he gets vulnerable about a time in his life where he was left heartbroken and defeated. He confides: “I wanted to write a song with the backstory of the best relationship of your life that blows up out of nowhere leaving you wondering what happened- leaving you in pain and wanting to self-medicate. It was a dream come true to do a song with Luh Kel, my dude. Our song is the diary of a toxic relationship with a toxic shawty you loved heart and soul who cheated. Even though it’s hard because you really love that one person – there is at least one time for everyone when after a breakup you just want to be gone – gone from the universe.”

Featuring stripped down lyrics that connect deeply with his painful emotions over a melodious and flowing hip hop beat, the song offers a way for others to resonate with their own experiences of toxic love, while inspiring hope for healthy connections in the future. PopWrapped caught up with Star2 to find out more about his new single and video, what it was like working alongside Luh Kel, and what’s next on his bucket list.

Star2 is a very interesting name. Is there a specific meaning tied to your name?

My last name, Htoo, is pronounced like the number two – the H is silent. Htoo means gold in Karen and is very valuable – worth more than money. Star is a popular man’s name in the Karen culture and I feel I’m destined to become a Star!

Can you talk me through the song-writing process for “I Wanna Get F’d Up”?

My feelings just poured out. I have had plenty of heartbreak. I tapped into those feelings and they all came out. Wanting to get f’d up is pretty standard when you are in that place of misery. The hook is about a good dude being out there in the world, trying to make it and his girl betraying him. And the sub hook is about wanting to numb the pain and escape. In the verse, I tell the story of a relationship starting out great then exploding and going to shit.

The single is about heartbreak, toxic love, and disillusionment. What advice can you give to others who are experiencing a similar situation? 

Hang in there and hope for the best? Some days you really want to give up on love. Others, you keep that little flicker of hope that love will find its way to you. We all deserve it.

What was it like collaborating with rapper Luh Kel? 

Luh Kel is big and I didn’t know what to expect. He was so real and such a great dude. I have nothing but respect for him. He really liked the song and hopped on quickly. He had his own relationship problems that he was going through too so he could relate.

Was there a certain sound you were trying to achieve on the release?

I was going after that muffled feeling of being f’d up. Some of the sounds are like being underwater which we put visually into the video. The French horn in the song also gives a kind of out of this world effect, but lonely and all alone.

The visuals for “I Wanna Get F’d Up” are out of this world. How did you come up with the concept?

I thought about replaying the fighting part of a relationship – when you know it’s gone and can’t be saved. Also, I wanted to show the horrible plunge into the abyss when it’s over and she’s really gone. Feels like the end of the world…like the apocalypse! Then there’s that feeling of falling backwards off a cliff and being trapped under water. It all came together as that kinda drunken dream-type vision you might have after passing out, from drinking and taking pills to forget the whole thing and to stop the horrible emotional pain!

You have a really compelling backstory, born as a refugee in Thailand, migrating to the United States, and overcoming so many struggles to get to where you are today. How is this reflected in your music?

My next EP is called ‘Real Life’ and draws on my struggle growing up in the camp and in poverty in the U.S.  I have a great new song featuring Lil Poppa called Real Life, the title track that drops in November. My music reflects my own drive to make it out of some bad places. I also want it to be an outlet for the pain of those who are struggling too.  Life can be very hard.

Finally, what is next for Star2?

I have 13 tracks ready to share with the world.  I am also now recording a second project.  I am looking forward to performing live soon.  Stay tuned for more music videos and great new music.

Check out the video for “I Wanna Get F’d Up” above and for more information on Star2, give his page a like on Facebook or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.