For PaydaiOTW, the path to music wasn’t a straight shot—it was a pivot from the basketball court to the studio. Sitting down on The Unpleasant Thought podcast, the rising artist opened up about her journey from playing college basketball to finding her passion for music, photography, and even crocheting her own outfits.
Hailing from Hopewell, Virginia, PaydaiOTW originally saw herself excelling in sports. Standing at 6’3”, she played basketball through middle school and college, spending three years at Georgia Tech before a brief stint at George Mason. With a father who once hooped alongside Lamar Odom at Rhode Island, the game ran in her blood.
But fate had other plans. During quarantine, she picked up photography, a creative outlet that unexpectedly led her to music. What started as capturing moments at an open mic event turned into an impromptu poetry reading—and one month later, she was in the studio recording her own songs.
PaydaiOTW doesn’t fit into just one artistic box. While she primarily raps, she refuses to limit herself to one genre. She’s also a fashion designer, creating intricate crochet outfits that take 30-35 hours to make, proving her dedication to every aspect of her artistry.
“I don’t like being put in a box,” she shared, emphasizing her commitment to full creative freedom. That philosophy extends to her music as well—she prefers crafting full projects rather than dropping one-off singles, taking inspiration from artists like Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Migos, and 2 Chainz.
Since stepping into music, PaydaiOTW has released multiple projects, with her latest mixtape, Enigma, showcasing her evolving sound. She’s already performed in cities like D.C., Richmond, and Philadelphia, and collaborated with various artists, including a track with the 247 artists collective called “Trill Sound.”
Her creative process is unconventional—she often writes lyrics before hearing a beat, using a metronome to shape her flow and actively contributing to the production process.
Fans can expect more visuals soon, as PaydaiOTW has two music videos on the way for Enigma tracks “MTAC” and “Keep It Up.” She’s also working on a new project set to drop before the end of the year and will be featured on a cipher-style collaboration.
