So Ambitious 304: The Future of Music is AI: How Black Creators Can Win the Next Creative Era
What happens when two visionary creators collide at the intersection of comedy, technology, and music?
In this episode of So Ambitious, host Felicia Hatcher sits down with Zayd Portillo (creatrgd) and King Willonius, creator of “BBL Drizzy”, to unpack their journeys in tech, AI, and cultural innovation.
From viral comedy hits to groundbreaking AI music, Zayd and King are pushing boundaries on how Black creators can own their narratives, monetize their IP, and turn moments into movements. They reflect on early experiments with Clubhouse, YouTube, and Twitch, the birth of viral songs like BBL Drizzy, and how AI tools are reshaping artistry, ownership, and community.
This conversation is equal parts hilarious and profound, revealing the tension between incubation and deadlines, internal validation and external recognition, and what it really takes to stay consistent (even when the world doesn’t quite understand your vision yet).
If you’ve ever wrestled with impostor syndrome, felt pressure to deliver under deadlines, or wondered how AI is transforming creativity, this episode is for you.
KEY POINTS
- How early experimentation on YouTube, Twitch, and Clubhouse sharpened creative skills
- The viral phenomenon of BBL Drizzy and what it revealed about culture and community
- Navigating impostor syndrome and redefining what it means to be “creative”
- The role of deadlines, hackathons, and incubation periods in producing great work
- Why Black creators must embrace AI tools to own the next wave of innovation
- Balancing business deadlines with the creative process
- Building future-ready platforms: virtual artists, dome experiences, and AI-driven IP
- How faith, timing, and consistency shape long-term creative success
QUOTABLES
“Comedy is the easiest way to introduce people to scary new tech.” - Zayd Portillo
“Sometimes you’re just the vessel — the idea is bigger than you.” - King Willonius
“If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.” - Felicia Hatcher
“Great art is polarizing. If people love it and hate it, you’re onto something.” - Zayd Portillo
“We need to stop saying we’ll get left behind in AI and start saying we’re mastering it.” - King Willonius
RESOURCES
Zayd Portillo
IG | @creatrgod
IG | @kingwillonius
IG | @feleciahatcher
IG | @blackambitionprize
So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media